Naruto Uzumaki was eighteen years old. His adventures had ended long ago, and he had even overcome death!
His life had become rather calm, as calm as a life could be as Hokage of Konoha.
Naruto was "wandering" around Konoha where they had gathered to head into the Festival to watch the eclipse.
"Naruto! Stop wandering! We're leaving!" Sasuke called.
Naruto rushed to join them.
"What's with you?" Sasuke asked. "You seem so strangely cheerful."
"I am not sure." Naruto said. "It feels as if all this peace is a long dream."
"Never say that, dobe." Sasuke chided. "If you say that, you might wake up."
"What are your plans for the year, Sasuke?" Naruto asked.
"I plan to resume my duties, and of course to visit a lot. Lately I've felt so drawn to that old temple at the edge of Konoha." Sasuke said.
"I am going to continue working as Hokage, and I feel drawn to that place too..." Naruto said.
"Let me know when you figure it out," Sasuke said. "Did you hear about Sakura, Ino, Hinata, and Tenten?"
"What about them?" Artemis asked, preparing the Eclipse goggles.
"They are missing." Sasuke said. "Right after you were named Hokage they disappeared."
"That's awful. We need to search for them ttebayo." Naruto said.
"Today's the day of the biggest total solar eclipse of the century." Sasuke pointed out.
They both put on their goggles.
"It's getting kind of dark out." Naruto heard a ringing sound. "A bell tinkling?" he thought. "Such a clear, pretty sound..."
There was a woman, standing next to the fountain.
"Are you..." She looked up at him. "...looking at me?"
She had long dark hair, bright blue eyes, and was wearing a dark blue dress.
Naruto nodded. "I can see you."
He walked forward, his hand touched hers...and then...
A bright light shone in the sky.
"No! The awakening must NOT happen! Naruto!"
The woman's visage faded, and she was a young girl. She was about eighteen. Her hair was pixie cut, but that same dark shade. Her eyes were that same sharp dark shade of blue.
Her eyes met Naruto's and then without warning she turned away, and grabbed the hand of a redheaded woman who appeared to be her sister, and the two disappeared in the darkness of the eclipse.
"The new moon is completely hiding the sun..." Sasuke remarked, beside him. "The tradition is to make a wish. I think I would wish to find those missing girls."
Naruto paused. At the moment thoughts of everything passed away. His only wish was to solve the mystery of that woman...to see her again.
It began to get very...very...dark...
"Odd," Naruto said. His eyes widened suddenly, and he doubled over in pain.
"Naruto!" Sasuke called.
"I-I'm fine..." Naruto lied. "Just a little dizzy."
"What was it..." he thought. "That pain..."
The two looked into look into the sky. A flying craft with spotted sails appears in the air. Voices call out from it.
It was the four missing girls!
"Come on! Come on! The circus is here!" Sakura called.
"The city of lights, filled with beautiful dreams!" Ino called.
"The land we've longed for! We've been waiting and waiting for this time!" Hinata called.
"The arrival of our Eclipse Circus!" Tenten called.
The craft vanished.