Long time, I know, been busy, enjoy
Naruto CH70
Gakuto Aikawa was an unimpressive man, in the grand scheme of things he is nothing special in the slightest, late '20s, only ever managed to obtain the rank of Chunin, not even Elite rank and especially not Jonin but that was ok, life had been good to him for the most part. He'd never been severely injured or traumatised in the line of duty, the pay was decent, his job never got too dull or stressful, he had good friends and family, though some he's had to say goodbye to.
Airi Aikawa, Gakuto still gets some chills when he hears her bearing his last name, beautiful, kind, caring and a master with the thread and needle, enough so that she works at a little shop close by where they live. He thinks himself pretty lucky that he got the honour of marrying such a woman.
Atsuko Aikawa, their only child and the centre of their world. He felt his heart sink at the thought of his little dove.
Gakuto opened the door to his home and stepped into the apartment, the living room and kitchen occupying the same space, like a studio apartment. Airi looked over to him from her place at the table where they would eat as a family, the sombre look on her face, the tears at the corners of her eyes as she clearly still didn't agree with the decision he made last night. Her eyes wandered to the package in his hand. He said nothing, simply nodding to her and made his way down the hall.
He stood outside Atsuko's room and took a deep breath before stepping in with a warm fatherly smile "hey my sweet little dove"
Atsuko weakly turned her head to gaze at her Dad and smiled just as weakly, her face deathly pale and clammy, hair slick with cold sweat "Dad your finally home, have you finally got my medicine?"
He sat at the edge of her bed and continued to smile "y-yeah, I do, but this will be the last one you get from the old doctor ok as I am switching you over to a new one, a better one, I hear she's amazing".
Atsuko looked slightly scared "really, are you sure?"
"Yes, it is for the best"
Atsuko nodded "ok"
Gakuto opened the small box and pulled out a syringe and vial, using the needle he draw out the contents as Atsuko lifted herself up with what seemed like great effort on her part and presented her left arm. Gakuto sighed at the sight of all those barely faded jab marks. Atsuko was one of those people who suffers from some unknown illness and since she is the only one with it and does not seem to be contagious her case had seemingly been deemed low-priority and any investigation into her case has turned up nothing useful, nothing that could be used to make a cure and not even anything that could at least be used to suppress the symptoms. For weeks he and his wife had been forced to watch as their baby girl was fading away.
Until a couple of years ago when the 'Doctor' as he simply called himself one day approached him and gave him a miracle treatment, something that could combat his daughter's illness, not cure it, never cure it, he was no fool in that sense, even if the Doctor could do that he bet he never would, all the easier to keep him on the strings and dancing.
Gakuto is a traitor, has been for years now and hates every minute of it but he does not regret doing it for if he didn't take the deal he's pretty sure he'd be standing before his little girl's grave, filled with regret for never taking the deal.
Today though is different for today is the last time he'll be doing this.
"Ok, you can open your eyes now it's over" he said with a small chuckle to Atsuko who had her sweet brown eyes closed the whole time, she seemed to really hate needles these days.
She breathed a sigh as he father put a sun flower-patterned plaster over the prick mark "I hate these" she said with a pout
He stroked the plaster and her tiny arm "I know sweety"
She gazed away from her father "d-do you think the new Doctor will also make me take jabs?"
"Maybe"
"I hope not, they sting"
"How are you feeling?"
She tested her breathing and smiled "I feel a bit better".
"That's good" he leaned down and kissed her suddenly on the nose before picking her up out of her bed and holding her close, she squirmed, she didn't like being treated like a baby but he didn't care, not today "I love you Atsuko, I love your mother, I love everything that you both brought into my life"
She ceased squirming at her Dads unusual words and tone, her dad wasn't rare with his affection, but this felt different to her "Dad?".
"No matter what you hear about me, I want you to know that I love you" Gakuto suddenly felt not only tiny arms but long slender ones wrap around him from behind
"We know honey, you did your best and no one can ever fault you for that" nothing but love flowed from her voice, even as it quivered, he felt her head press in his back and felt the tears soak through his shirt.
Atsuko didn't know what had both her Dad and Mum so sad before but she knew what she needed to say "I love you Dad"
He felt his eyes warm and water up "and I love you both"
Soon after he left his house with a shuddering breath, the task ordered of him fulfilled days ago the medicine would not be given to him before it was fulfilled and now he was gonna turn himself in, inform the Hokage of his past and most recent treachery, about how he'd delivered a message to the Uchiha boy and all the other things he'd done for Orochimaru over the years.
It was all happening so fast!
Tsunade was sitting, hunched over her desk, hands folded before her face, hazel eyes sternly focused on everyone present before her "Sasuke Uchiha has gone missing".
Those words drowned out the voices of the world to Naruto, it had been only yesterday since he'd seen Sasuke, they had all been back in the village for a few days now, Hinata's treatment had been a beautiful success, everything had been returning to normal, even peaceful and now..."Sasuke where are you?".
"Are you ready?" asked Kimimaro
"Yeah" uttered Sasuke with not even the slightest tremble as he looked back, eyes steady and seemingly indifferent to the place he called home "goodbye everyone".
Naruto was back at his apartment, rushing to gear up to pursue after Sasuke.
"He's not answering and I feel him growing distant from us" informed Hirofumi to Naruto.
"Has he been Kidnapped?" asked Naruto anxiously as he stuffed a scroll in one of his jackets pouches.
"I don't know about that, it feels more like he has been willingly refusing my attempts to make contact with him".
Naruto threw his arms up in the air, nearly shouting his frustration "why!? why would he ever do that?".
"I don't know Naruto" he said with soft worry before his whole demeanour shifted and his tone hardened "but we're gonna find out".
Naruto mimicked that attitude perfectly as he tightened his mum's headband "you betcha we are!"
Dawn was breaking as everyone assigned to the apply named Sasuke Retrieval Team gathered at the gates, reports gathered suggested a direction that Sasuke and his potential captures were heading in. The group consisted of Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru who has been assigned as the leader, Neji, Rock Lee, Shino, Kiba and Choji.
Naruto was both out of focus and never felt more determined in his life, Naruto tore himself from his thoughts and spotted Sakura talking with Ino, looking like she was comforting her about Sasuke. Naruto almost felt like he nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt something bump his shoulder and spun around to see the almost constantly fed up face of Shikamaru.
"Hey" greeted Shikamaru, rubbing his neck "listen Naruto, we are gonna get him back"
Naruto nodded "yeah" his tone made it clear that this was something he needed not just wanted.
"And well...I can't imagine how you're feeling but I need you to trust us to help"
Naruto was confused by that "I do trust you Shikamaru"
"Not just me Naruto, not just Sakura either" Shikarmaru's eyes and tone deepened as he leaned slightly in "all of us, trust us to have your back, you may not see it but all of them over there trust you, you've won it, they trust you, even Kida does now, the way he now looks at you is worlds apart from school"
Naruto didn't know what to say, trust, that word was surprisingly difficult for him to picture on people that aren't the closest to him.
Sasuke: trust
Gramps: trust
Hinata: trust
Shikamaru: trust
Choji: trust
Kakashi Sensei: trust
Sakura: he has learned to trust with great effort
Jiraiya: doesn't make it easy but deep down he knows he can trust him.
But now Naruto was being asked for the first time to trust more broadly, to hope that old prejudices don't secretly hide amongst his fellow Genin waiting to rear their ugly heads. Fear of rejection and misplaced hatred still hurt more than any punch to the face ever could, but now that very fear could get him and others killed if it still existed and he couldn't afford that, not if they were to get Sasuke back!
"Oi!" he shouted startling everyone and making all eyes fall on him "I have something to say! I am Naruto Uzumaki! And the Kyubbi lives within me! Like it lived in my mother before me and in Mito Uzumaki Senju before her!"
Everyone was stunned silent, how was anyone meant to react to news like that? What was anyone meant to do afterwards?
"Naruto" whispered Sakura, understanding how hard this must be for him to do, to attempt to clear the air entirely.
Neji cocked a realising eyebrow "well that explains your...strange powers"
Rock Lee whistled high "and I thought I had a great burden"
Choji and Shino didn't say anything, giving a respectful silence.
Kiba hmm'd "the Kyuubi? That giant fuck-off monster that attacked the village long ago? It's inside you?"
Ino also jumped in "yeah, that thing is inside you!? How? Are you even you?" she started making gestures with her hands "like two minds like that inhabiting the same body..."
Kiba scratched his chin like something was making sense to him "That explains the fox smell"
"Hey!" snapped Naruto "I do not smell like a fox!"
Kiba smirked "you do a little" Akamaru seemed to yip in agreement. Naruto looked disbelieving and quickly sniffed under his shirt collar.
Ino seemed to be the most affected by this, scrambling for answers to what seemed to be her many questions "are you-" she was stopped short by a bonk on the head by Sakura making Ino squeak "what the hell!?"
She crossed her arms and gave Ino a stern look "He's fine Ino, he's still just the same old Naruto ok!"
"Did you know about this!?" demanded Ino as she gestured at Naruto
Sakura nodded, seeming oddly proud "of course he told me, we're Teammates"
"You never thought to tell me?"
"We've only just barely gotten back on speaking terms and besides it's his secret!"
"Well, you've never had much of a problem spilling other peoples secrets before!"
"What can I say I'm a different person now" she said standing proud, something that only seemed to irk Ino further.
Ino turned to the rest of the group "anyone else knew about this! What about Sasuke?"
Naruto jumped in "ever since we were seven...eight?" he scratched his chin, uncertain of the exact day now.
Shikamaru put a hand up "I figured it out on my own around the Chunin exams" Naruto nodded to that.
Ino's face was nearly red "and you never thought to tell me!?"
Shikamaru shrugged "hey it wasn't my business to share, plus who knows what the consequences are for just going and spreading that info around"
Naruto stepped forward "everyone but the younger kids pretty much know about this, hell for what was most of my life I didn't even know, I didn't know why people hated me so much and I didn't know why they told their children to hate me but now I do and so do the rest of you and if any of you can't accept this about me then you might as well not come with me to get Sasuke back!"
"Well it's a good thing I ain't going because I have gotta go and rest on this" said Ino pausing for a second "Naruto, I hope you get Sasuke back, please" and with that, she walked off alone.
Kiba shrugged "I ain't going anywhere, hell you need me and Akamaru here to find the guy remember! So what!? Like you having a giant fox inside you is gonna scare ME off! HAH!".
"We are all a little strange" chimed in Shino.
"I second that" added Choji.
"I Third that" added Shikamaru
Sakura gave a funny look "I ain't strange" she said under her breath. Her inner self doubted that.
"Naruto my good friend you have only deepened my burning respect for you!" stated Lee very passionately.
"I very much doubt that the Kyubbi has any influence over you as a person, I believe you to be free and only you" added Neji.
Shikamaru slapped Naruto on the shoulder "well there you have it, now we better get a move on before he falls out of our reach"
Naruto looked around at everyone and felt no uncertainty from them about him and broke out into a full toothy grin "yeah, well come on then let's go! Let's go get Sasuke back!" he shouted, sprinting out the gate.
4 hours later
Kiba and Akamaru were the spear tip of this formation, closely following the sent of Sasuke Uchiha, Kiba will admit to himself that he never thought that he'd ever have to get familiar with the scent of any of the boys of his village, especially Sasuke of all people, Mr cool, Mr pretty boy, Mr perfect, Mr all the girls love, Sasuke! But before all that Sasuke is whether he likes it or not one of their own, a part of their pack, the great pack of the Leaf Village, Kiba will see him back then he will try and scrub his scent out of both his and Akamaru's nostrils.
Kiba scrunched his nose "how often does he eat tomatoes?"
"Pretty much all the time" answered Naruto startling Kiba who didn't realise he'd said that out loud.
"I've seen him eat them whole" added Sakura from the other side of Kiba.
"I sometimes worry about his teeth, but he has milk often with them so I think it's alright" further explained Naruto.
"I think I once saw him have, like, a tomato milkshake" Sakura seemed to shiver at the memory "urgh! I don't how he can drink that, the colour alone"
Kiba had nothing to say to all that, he pretty much just wished he never said anything to start with and just went back to following the scent, at least he would have if he hadn't taken notice of Naruto staring a hole into the side of his head "w-what?"
Naruto just seemed to stare blankly with the question that had yet to be spoken shining in his eyes "doooo, um, welll ugh. Do you eat dog food?"
"What!?" yelled an outraged Kiba, his face now red up to his ears and only made worse when everyone suddenly burst out laughing at the question, a small chuckle even able to be heard from Shino with Sakura and Lee easily being the loudest. Kiba was about to get Naruto back for his dumb question when suddenly the scent suddenly grew thick and he knew it was time to focus "everyone, we're closing in".
Branches and leaves zoomed by in a green blur, rays of breaching sunlight flickering across the metal leaf village plates each of them shared. Neji activated his Byakugan expanding his field of view as far as it will go "I see Sasuke and eleven others" Neji gasped slightly "they know we're here, we have incoming! eight of them! they look to be grunts!"
Shikamaru frowned but seemed to be thinking up the necessary countermeasures to this info "seems we need to make a choice fast then, we can't all afford to be held up in a long fight now or else we might lose them for good"
"Hey Neji, you keep eyes on Sasuke ok" shouted Kiba along with Akamaru.
"I'll punch an opening for you guys" declared Rock Lee with a slam of his fist into his open palm.
"Same here, well I won't be with my fists but I am good at dealing with large numbers" chimed in Shino.
"Line them up and I'll roll them over!" shouted Choji with a fire in his eyes.
Naruto smiled, grateful "thanks guys".
Shikamaru nodded " well okay then, Lee!" the bowl cut perked up "hit them hard and fast! Throw them off as much as possible they won't expect someone with your speed and power so suddenly, use your Gates if you must, hell take a few of them out if your think you can!"
Lee grinned and gave a sparkling thumbs up.
"A hundred meters and closing in!" updated Neji.
Lee jumped, flipped and at that moment he cast off his leg weights with practised ease and landed on a branch like he was as light as a feather before a green fire burst to life around him and he kicked off it like his footsteps were now bombs. At first, Lee thought he'd rush them and land a few blows but he needed to provide an opening more than anything the fight can come later, so Lee had an idea, an idea inspired by his fight with the Sand Spirit. Lee came up to a tree and kicked it in half and with the follow up before the two severed pieced could touch launched it at the shocked Nins catching over half of them. Lee counted 3 so he got five with that move.
The remainder seemed too shocked to even bother with attempting to stopping the advances of Naruto and co as they zipped passed taking the opening and quickly vanishing into the distance after Sasuke.
"Did that just happen?" asked one of the Sound Nin.
"I believe it did, but still" responded one of the other Nin's.
Kiba laughed "ya damn right! This guy here is a friggin beast and believe me when I say that it should really mean something!"
Lee powered down and laughed "oh come Kiba I ain't a beast I'm a human! Don't be silly" he obliviously corrected as he slapped Kiba on the back way harder than he was realizing.
"Dude I am hyping you up!" yelled Kiba
Lee stared at him cluelessly, Kiba swore he saw the hamster on the wheel until "ohhhh" he said before slumping over "sorry for wasting your efforts".
"You know for a guy that is so happy all the time you are surprisingly serious" added Choji.
"Indeed" chimed Shino.
"The power of a beast huh?" echoed one the Sound Nins, an unnerving edge in his voice.
"Haha, yeah beast power, funny you should say that" added one of the others
The Genin were confused by this sudden shift in confidence but then their attention was drawn to the sound of wood creaking in the distance as suddenly the previously thought wiped out Nins started returning one after the other with only some minor injuries.
Kiba flinched back and voiced everyone's thoughts "what the hell? You caught them off guard with that! how the hell did they find the time to protect themselves anyway?"
One of the returned Nins chuckled "oh don't you worry you'll find out soon enough"
"A group of them are still coming after us?" rhetorically announced Kimimaro
"I wouldn't underestimate them" commented Sasuke
"Very well then" Kimimaro turned his head to look back at Tayuya "deal with them"
Tayuya grinned "sure why the fuck not"
Neji frowned "another one, this one is stronger, her chakra is kind of like Sasuke's"
"Ok you, Naruto and Sakura go on ahead, I'll deal with this one" ordered Shikamaru
"No" declared Sakura
"What!?" said a shocked Shikamaru
"If she is anything like Sasuke you are gonna need help! I'll be your muscle" announced Sakura
Shikamaru cocked an eyebrow and even chuckled "you? My muscle, no offence Sa-"
"Trust her Shikamaru!" interutped Naruto, grinning
"Hey, you'll be surprised by how hard she can hit now" added Neji with a small smirk, remembering what she did to Kabuto and many unfortunate rocks.
Shikamaru was confused on this sudden utter certainty in Sakura "what happened on that trip?"
Sakura, almost reading his mind smirked "I got a major power-up you'll see!"
Shikamaru sighed "what a pain, to be hearing about this now, ok! I'll take the help but you do as I say ok? I don't what to be having to save your ass"
Sakura frowned "those days are behind me"
"Those days are never behind anyone" said Neji but not with a tone of judgement, just thoughtfulness.
"Yeah you're probably right, we all need saving sometimes" added Naruto "I bet ever Kakashi-Sensei needed saving sometimes".
"Yeah, your not wrong, even I needed saving once or twice" Shikamaru turned to Sakura "let's just try and not trip over each other is all I'm really saying, alright?"
Sakura was happy to hear that no one was looking down on her for her times when she was in need "I'll follow your lead alright, hell you're the highest-ranked one here remember"
Shikamaru looked down at his new flak jacket like it was the first time "ah yeah, so guess if I wanted to I could just force you to go on ahead"
"Oh no you don't!" yelled Sakura
Shikamaru smirked "I'm kidding, let do this, I wonder how Ino is gonna feel about this team-up?"
A sly smirk crossed Sakura's face at the mention of that "oh I bet the look on her face will be priceless"
Neji tensed "she's here!" Neji's eyes widened "she has summons!"
Suddenly a Giant appeared before them, a towering 15-foot tall behemoth of muscle that roared a sound that felt like it shook the heart. Sakura though quickly skipped forward darting up some branches and launched herself at the Giants face.
Shikamaru was trying to shout in protest but was stopped by both Naruto and Neji, Shikamaru felt like his jaw was ready to come off when all of a suddenly with a blow that looked like it barely leave a dent in a cheap door the giants head did a sudden 100-degree turn, the side of it's face shaking like a disturbed puddle, teeth and blood flying out of it pucked mouth as it was sent flying off its feet to the forest floor below before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
Naruto turned to Shika, gesturing to Sakura with a thumb "so what do you think?"
Shikamaru now overcoming his shock, grinned almost savage "well I can work this into a few plans"
Naruto grinned "cool" with that he and Neji began to move again "have fun you two!" he shouted before moving on, both of them zipping past a baffled and cursing Tayuya. The last thing Naruto heard before getting out of earshot was something like "I'll fuck you up pinky!"
Barely two minutes had passed after leaving Sakura and Shikamaru, Naruto could just about make out the three shapes up ahead. Neji piped back up "heh, seems it's my turn, good luck" with that Neji picked up speed to confront the quickly approaching figure of Kidomaru, Neji rotating in mid-air to deflect multiple strange arrows that looked hastily made away from himself and Naruto.
But it was not perfect as Kido was able to close in on Naruto and the boy saw it coming. The Uzumaki felt a wave of anger overcome him and was uncertain of what the expression must have been on his face because the excitement on Kidomaru's face of having succeeded in getting close to him vanished fast and was replaced with what Naruto could only think of as primal fear as he suddenly shot some kind of web out and retreated from him just as fast.
"I think people are starting to take notice of your strength" commented Hiro, like he was running right beside him.
Kurama was not one to let such a statement stand unchallenged "either that or he sensed my awesome power" he added, sounding like a talking mountain in the distance
"Maybe Kurama or maybe he noticed gramps"
Hirofumi laughed to that "perhaps"
"AS IF!"
"This is it!" whispered Naruto as he began to borrow from Kurama, his eyes shifting to gold and a single-tailed cloak flaring around him, his speed increasing causing leaves too close to him during his passing to be removed from their branches. Now he was close he could see Sasuke and the man beside him, this man took notice of him allowing Naruto a good look at his face, pale skin, white straight hair, green eyes, thin eyebrows with two big, perhaps decorative, red dots above them.
Suddenly Hiro spoke up "Nauro leave this one to me"
"W-what?"
"He is going to attempt to stop you so Sasuke can get away, the last defence, I'll handle him while you go after Sasuke and stop him from going down this...path he is on"
Naruto was silent for a moment before he summoned up more of Kurama's power as Kimimaro and Sasuke reached the end of the forest and disappeared out of sight, in that moment he focused all that Chakra into the Spirit Clone Jutsu. Naruto never knows where he will appear exactly, in that moment he briefly wonders if maybe gramps decides that himself.
Eyes radiating gold Naruto landed in a clearing and saw Kimimaro standing in the centre clearly awaiting him, Naruto saw in the distance the receding figure of Sasuke "SASUKE!" Naruto desperately called out about to give chase until the cool figure of Kimimaro starting addressing him.
"Naruto Uzumaki" he addressed with the most placid tone he think he has ever heard anyone say his name with.
Naruto didn't have time to waste with this guy "you know my name? Great! Now get out of my way!" he shrugged, brushed it aside and started stomping forward
"I can't do that" he said flatly, one of his arms tensing, getting ready for something the threat made very clear.
Naruto didn't cease his march forward and grinned.
Kimimaro cocked an eyebrow at that out of place expression.
"Well maybe I can help you move".
Kimimaro snapped his head around but in a flash it was met with a vicious backhand that sent him off his feet and rolling shoulder over shoulder across the grass. Naruto didn't waste a second of this opening only sparing a moment while at fall sprint to make eye contact with his gramps.
Hirofumi watched as Naruto disappeared into the distance before returning his attention to Kimimaro watching the young man drag himself back up to full height "well I guess it's now just you and me, Kaguya Clansmen". Hirofumi took notice of the burning dislike he was now receiving from the young man, he didn't feel it stemmed from the backhand he'd just gave him either.
"There is no doubt about it you are the stranger".
"The stranger? is that what your boss calls me?".
The previously unreadable face of the young lad showed a look of umbrage "you have become a thorn in his side, you are partly responsible for his suffering!".
Hirofumi smiles insulting bright at that "now hearing that does help improve my mood".
Kimimaro's frown deepened at that, his eyes now unable to keep the anger in him from showing "I will bring my Lord your head!"
Hirofumi's tone and stare evened out so much that one would almost consider it void as he simply stated "no you won't"
Kimimaro rose up to fall height and unfurled an arm from his robe, from beneath his skin a bone bloodlessly protruded and then kept on doing so until eventually it fell lose, the young man catching it before it could touch the ground.
Hiro smirked "I thought as much, the once in a century or so Kekkei Genkai, The Bone Pulse"
Kimimaro frowned "you know this power of mine?"
"Indeed, I also know a fun fact about it, there has never existed two wielders of that Kekkei Genkai at the same time within the Kaguya Clan, it would always be that only when one holder dies does another appear, seemingly at random amongst the newborns" Hiro stroked his chin "given the fact that within the water nation there has been a blood purge can I assume that there are not many of you left?"
"As far as I'm aware, I am the last"
Hiro paused for a second "so it as I feared" "how old are you?"
Kimimaro locked eyes with Hiro "I fail to see how that matters right now?"
Hiro shrugged with a welcoming gesture "humour me?"
Kimimaro was silent for a good moment before relenting with what he saw as trivial information at best "Lord Orochimaru estimated my age to be somewhere between 15 or 16"
Hiro sighed heavily, putting his hand to his face as if almost ready to shed a tear "you are a child then and perhaps even the last of your blood, I do not wish to kill you, I'll make you an offer" he gestured to this field to this whole space they were in "a turning point for you right here and now"
Kimimaro looked at him curiously, he could not say what was keeping him from just going for this bastards heart.
"Promise that you will stop serving Orochimaru from this point onwards and I will let you go"
Kimimaro cocked his brow ever so slightly at that "what kind of offer is that? I could quite simply lie to you and return to him"
"Trust me when I say that I could spot a lie like that easily" his stare, the very eyeballs in their sockets didn't even seem to waver when he said that.
"I believe you when you say that, now let me make myself clear there is nothing you can say, do or offer that will make my loyalty and faith in Orochimaru waver!"
Hiro seemed to think on that for a moment, very brazenly displaying little concern for Kimimaro "for now kid I am not going to hold you to that, I will leave that offer on the table until I deem you a lost cause, you are still young it's far from being too late"
"You don't understand anything, now I think it is about time I claim your head for my lord"
"I assume you fight only with your Kekkei Genkai?" something in Kimimaro's eyes said yes to that "Ok then let's make this fair I'll only fight you with two things, one my bare hands and two earth Jutsu and hell if you start making things really hard all of a sudden! I'll think about using my Sharingan! What do you say!?"
Kimimaro didn't care "it's your funeral"
"Okay then!" with that Hiro pulled his arms out of his sleeves, his shoulders rolling out of his robe allowing it to fall and hang around his waist, leaving him bare-chested in the midday sun. The reveal of his bare body was enough to make Kimimaro flinch back as his form spoke something terrible. Hiro revealed his form of tightly wand muscle, built and carved from who knows how many years of training and battle. Everything was without scar until it got to his lower abdomen where there lade two odd discolourations like two somethings had run him through. Hiro tore off a piece off one of his sleeves and used it as a makeshift hair bob and tied his hair up in a ponytail, leaving only a single lock to fall between his eyes "you ready?".
Kimimaro didn't utter a word as he lowered himself, like a spring pressed tight, ready to unfurl "die" being the only word he was willing to speak before launching himself forward to the awaiting spectre.
"Sasuke!" yelled Naruto into the dark cave.
"Go back home Naruto"
"What!? Go back home? Without you? Have you gone crazy!?"
"No, I've never felt saner or clear-minded in my life, now I know what I need to do"
"Need to do? what does that even mean?" Naruto waited for an answer but nothing was coming fast enough "Sasuke come on! Tell me what's going on with you! Are you under a Genjutsu? did Itachi do this to you? Has Orochimaru done something again? Please man I'm begging you, you're freaking me out!"
"Ok I'll try and explain but know this that I am set on my course no matter what" with that Sasuke appeared in the sole source of light within this cave, his Sharingan glowing within the shadows of his face "follow me...Naruto".
End of Chapter
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