Ploytoid: SSSSIILLLVVERRR
Look, look, I know what you're going to say and I just want to apolo-
Ploytoid: YOU GAVE ME SHIT WHEN I WOULDN'T PUT YOUR STORIES THROUGH GRAMMERLY BUT WHEN I DO YOU DON'T UPLOADE THEM!
What like the two chapters you uploaded WITHOUT letting me read them first?
Ploytoid: don't change the topic motherfucker, your laze ass could've had this chapter uploaded almost a week ago!
Ummmmmmmmmm...all rights reserved for Kishimoto! *runs away*
Ploytoid: oh hell no! HANABI WATCH OUR SHIT, I GOT A DEAD MAN TO CATCH.
Hanabi: *scrolling through a magazine* Whatever.
Chatper 23 - Surprise Visit!
After everything was said and done Hinata and Naruto found themselves sitting happily at Tsunami's house watching Ino and Kurenai spar. Naruto was too sure how Ino compared to her past self, as he couldn't remember ever seeing her train with Asuma or really go all out in a fight. Well, there was her match against Sakura at the chunnin exams but they wanted to think this Ino was stronger.
Though he didn't want to see his former teammate beaten by Ino, he most certainly wouldn't mind Sakura getting a much-needed reality check. Assuming Kakashi had yet to break her out of her fangirl stage like before of course. "So Naruto-Kun," Hinata said disrupting him from his thoughts "what happened at the ramen place exactly, first you lied to the old man, and then you looked like you saw death when that masked man came by."
Naruto sighed realizing he had again forgotten to inform Hinata about crucial information. 'Seriously I need to write this shit down.'
"Well Hina-chan, let me tell you a story when Kami first started making life she created her angles. The first angle she ever made was named Meachiel, and bare in mind I don't know the whole story, but Meachiel rebelled against Kami and would later be sealed away for a very long time... Before he got sealed away however he killed his brother and took up the name Niyari to Neko or En-En for short."
Naruto spent the next couple of minutes quietly explain to Hinata all he knew about En-En, and how he had come to visit Naruto a multitude of times as well as his conversations with Kami about him. "So when the old man said his name was Satanel I thought his name was until En-En actually walked in."
"So this En-En is dangerous then?"
"Oh yeah, extremely. So much so that Kami and the freackin Shinigami told me not to fight him. But right now he seems more interested in me than wanting to hurt me."
"Any Idea what he actually wants?"
"No, not really. But my best guess is he wants to stick it to Kami somehow, but she assured me that she and Shinigami-sama were going to take care of him. For now, I have a question for you Hin-chan. You're part Inuzuka?"
"Right, Father told me right before we left the village but my mother was Tsume-san's older sister. The actual conversation we had was..." she stopped and blushed as she remembered her father's words "well to put it simply the Clan elders at the time thought my father shouldn't marry someone from the Inuzuka and they took offense to that when my mother decided to marry him she was banned from the Inuzuka."
"Wow, that's rough, but speaking of your clan elders, how do we explain the Tenseigan? Once we tell them about it, they're going to try something."
"I've been thinking about that; maybe we should make it look like the Byakugan equivalent of the Sharingan's Mangekyo? Like the next stage of the Byakugan that can only be unlocked under very specific circumstances?"
"That might work, we'll also have to train with it, see if it gives you any added abilities like the Mangekyo."
"Well, when I used it against you it converted my chakra into Yen chakra. And I knew that, instinctively, it boosted my physical capabilities too."
"Well from what I understand Kami told you it's what happens when you mix Otsutsuki with Hyuga. Which makes me think it's comparable to the Rinnegan. The Rinnegan gave its user the ability to mold their chakra into any element so maybe we should try that the next time we spar. That would make a useful tool for when Pain attacks the village."
Hinata smiled sadly and chuckled to herself. "To think all it took for me to admit my feelings were for you to nearly die."
"Hey now don't joke about that" Naruto said lightly slapping her shoulder "I thought Pain actually killed you."
"But you have to admit I looked badass doing it." She leaned her head against his shoulder.
"Oh yeah, you looked so cool getting your ass handed to you."
"Coming from the guy who was pinned to the ground at the time."
"Hey! That was after I took out five other Pain's on my own."
"Naruto, Hinata get over here," Kurenai said interrupting the two. As they approached Kasamaru had gotten up from her spot on the porch and followed behind. Ino was sitting down out of breath. Kurenai opened her mouth to say something but the appearance of Haku and Zabuza stopped her. The fact that they came by themselves didn't bode well.
"We lost him" was all Zabuza said as he went inside visibly upset.
Haku decided to explain "we followed Fēng for about a mile into the woods before his tracks vanished. We think he recovered enough chakra to use the Shunshin jutsu. We tried looking for signs of him within a two-mile radius of his last known location but didn't find him. Sorry, Kurenai-san."
Kurenai sighed "it's fine Haku-san. Oh," Kurenai had just remembered something. She reached into a pouch on her hip and removed a letter from it, before handing it to Haku. "A messenger from Kiri came by while you two were away. That's for you and Zabuza-san."
Haku unfurled the scroll and quickly scanned over its contents. "Mei-sama assumes Zabuza-sama and I had already finished our task and is sending ninja to Wave to set up trade relations with them. They should be here by tomorrow and will be staying a while it seems."
"We may be able to leave then tomorrow then. Nevermind you three go make sure your stuff is packed and you're ready to leave tomorrow morning. I'll have to talk to Tazuna-san to arrange a boat to get us back to the Land of Fire."
"Hai! The three said before running inside.
Haku bowed to Kurenai "I am sorry Kurenai-san again for losing Fēng."
"Don't worry about it Haku-san, Fēng is the Leaf's problem. I should honestly be thanking you and Zabuza. You two really helped out."
"We simply followed orders Kurenai-san."
Kurenai. chuckled "well I'm glad you did."
She followed Haku into the house and found Naruto backed into a corner with Zabuza looming over him. "Is everything alright in here?" She asked.
Zabuza looked back "yeah" was all he said before giving Naruto a dark look, before stalking away Haku right behind him. Kurenai approached Narut with a raised eyebrow.
"I just found out... something I was supposed to know and well he was just making sure I didn't tell anyone."
"Anything I need to-"
He didn't let her finish bolting past her and speaking quickly he said: "nothing that concerns the Leaf I swear."
And just as Zabuza's muscled frame was about to leave the room Hinata asked "did it have to do with what you told me about Haku?"
Naruto would swear later he heard glass crack and break as Zabuza paused midstep. Naruto slowly turned to face Hinata with a look of horror as he could barely mouth the words "but why?"
Zabuza slowly turned around "Naruto" he said quietly but Naruto was already out the door. In the blink of an eye, Zabuza was at the windowsill "You can't escape boy."
"Just try not to kill my student Zabuza-san," Kurenai said with a sigh pinching her nose, but Zabuza was already gone. "Seriously what did Naruto learn that was so bad?"
"Well, Kurenai-sensei it's really not my story to tell." Hinata looked at Haku who had now entered the main room of the house.
Everyone was looking at her and she was confused "...what? Also, where is Zabuza-sama I need to show him Mei-sama's report."
Naruto stood absolutely still using the absolute minimum energy needed to breathe. Zabuza was about ten meters in front of him looking around. He was the same kid who painted the Hokages monument wearing bright orange when he was eight and still managed to outrun and hide from an entire ninja force.
Hiding from Zabuza would be a piece of "AHH" Naruto ducked as Zabuza's cleaver hacked into the tree Naruto had been leaning against. "Are you crazy they could have killed me!"
"And if a blow that obvious and loud had hit you, you wouldn't deserve to call yourself a shinobi. But.." Zabuza sheathed his sword "you've lasted almost an hour had you not gotten cocky at the end I might not have found you."
"What is this a test?"
Zabuza grabbed Naruto by his collar suddenly and pressed him against a tree. He grabbed his blade and placed the curved slot right over Naruto's throat "no just my assessment, now on to business. You lied to me."
"What...what do you-"
"One simple question, did you tell anyone. You said no, your Hyuga friend said otherwise."
"Look, look, Hina-chan already suspected Haku was a girl. All I did was confirm her suspicions before she used her Byakugan to confirm them for herself. "
Zabuza was going to say something until a voice interrupted him "Naruto-Kun? Zabuza-san?"
"Oh good," he said "I get to do this to both of you, over here Hyuga-san!" He said louldy and shortly after Hinata appeared from beyond the brush.
"Ah Naruto-kun there you are" she approached Naruto but looked around, where was Zabuza? She could have sworn she heard his voice. That was until she felt a dark aura behind herm turning around she saw Zabuza looming over her.
"Now listen here Hyuga-san I-"
"Zabuza-san" she cut him off "if this is some attempt to intimidate me it's not working."
"Excuse me?" So caught off guard by her comment was he that he accidentally dropped his dark and menacing look.
"Naruto may not have the same luxury as me because he's an orphan but if you so much as touch me not only will it turn into an international incident between Konoha and Kiri but the entire Hyuga clan will be out for your blood." She tilted her head and smiled sweetly "but if you don't care about that then by all means please continue."
Zabuza was staring at the sheer audacity of this girl, flabbergasted for a few moments before he just sighed and walked away muttering to himself. "Shit was so much easier as a missing-nin, could have just killed the brat BUT NOOO had to accept Mei's damn invitation."
"Hina-chan" Naruto said when Zabuza was a sate distance away "what the hell just happened?"
"I just didn't feel like dealing with Zabuza's macho bullshit. If he doesn't want us to tell others Haku's secret he can just ask us." A bush nearby rustled getting both of their attentions as Haku emerged. "Speak of the devil."
"Ah hello Naruto-san, Hinata-san. I was looking for Zabuza-sama, I heard that he may have gone a little overboard.."
Naruto sweatdropped for what felt like the hundredth time that day "you're telling me."
A few days later
"Goodbye, now ninja-sans," Tazuna said with a bow at the edge of the city "and thank you again for all your help."
Kurenai laughed "pleased it was the least we could do, with these Kiri ninjas here anyone looking to take over Gato's business is going to have a tough time, but if you have any more trouble please feel free to request ate help again okay?"
Tazuna laughed and handed Kurenai a woven basket with a cloth covering the top "this is from Tsunami, by the way, it's full of some of her cooking. Her way of saying thanks."
"Oh so gracious I'm sure my students will appreciate it. Have you thought of what you're going to name the bridge when you finish it?"
"Well I was gonna name it after your student Naruto cuz he saved my family and all that but after much thought, it'll be the Bridge of Fire and Water after you and those Kiri ninjas helped Wave."
"Well, I'm sure Lord Hokage and Lady Mizukage are going to like you. It was a pleasure Tazuna-san but I and my team are going to leave now."
Tazuna waved them off as the group began to walk away, Naruto a little saddened by the fact he no longer had a bridge named after him but happier for the fact that Haku and Zabuza lived through the ordeal.
"Alright team in a little hit we're going to pick up the pace, if we run fast enough we can turn this into a two-day trip. Naruto can you seal this away for now?" she handed Naruto who placed into the storage seal on his left wrist. "Okay, Team Seven let's run!"
Once the team was out of the eyesight of the village they picked up the pace and took to the trees. And they ran and ran and ran. For hours until the three kids were sweating up a storm and out of breath. Kurenai for her part was doing marginally better. She signaled a halt, and the group leaped to the ground trying, and failing for the most part to catch their breaths.
"Good job you guys, I'm impressed you all were able to keep up with Naruto's stamina. How are you feeling?" She asked as she handed Ino a water flask.
One arm shakily reached up to grab it thankful "cant. Feel. My feet. " ino replied between breaths.
Hinata slouched against a tree "how are you feeling Naruto-Kun?" She wasn't as beat as Ino was but she was far from ready to do that again.
"Me? I'm fine I could go all day at this rate."
"Great we made good time, we should just be near the river where our boatman should be waiting and then after that, if we keep up like this we should be back at the Leaf sometime around mid-day tomorrow."
Kasama approached Hinata panting, though she remained on the ground for the run she did an excellent job of keeping up with the group. "Aww whose a good girl?" Hinata asked scratching her chin. Hinata had grown fond of the ninken, and she liked to believe Kasamaru had grown fond of her too.
"I don't want you getting too attached to her Hinata, once we return to Konoha the Inuzuka are going to be taking her, and huh?" A dark purple smog began filling the area "Poison! Everyone don't...breath...it… I!" Kurenai sank to her knees before dropping unconscious, Ino and Hinata falling seconds later.
Naruto had his sword out, the poison has no effect on him. He quickly made three clones pumping them with as much chakra as he could "You guys protect my team as for whoever made this mist, a poison this weak won't affect me so how about we settle this like men."
"Oh Naruto-Kun, you should know by now" En-En started to emerge from the Earth in front of Naruto "I am a far cry from a simple man."
"Oh hey En-En, it's actually good to see you I have questions."
"As do I Naruto-Kun, as do I."
"First..why the poison?"
En-En chuckled "well it would be simple enough to just knock them out and then talk to you, but I figured making YOU come up with an excuse for all of this would be much more fun."
"Okay, secondly why are you here? And I don't mean here, here I mean in Kiri. First at the restaurant and now, why?"
"Well the restaurant is a...different matter as for the here and now I came to deliver a message." A hole opened up in the air beside En-En and he reached into it before tossing something at Naruto about the size of a soccer ball. It rolled and stopped right a Naruto's feet.
Naruto almost threw up as the decapitated head of Obito stared back at him in shock. "But..what...what is this?"
"Well your mission from Kami was to stop the resurrection of Kaguya was it not? And I figured the Akatsuki would be a fun tool to play with but he had other ideas."
"I figured you would love to use Kaguya to cause even more chaos."
"I tried her once, who do you think lead her to the divine tree, or killed all of its guards so that she might eat of its fruit? But alas in the end she failed. Never give failures a second chance. And please whenever we do come to blows at the end of all of this, try not to blow yourself up as you did with her okay? It'd really put a damper on things."
"Wait how do you know of that?"
"Please Naruto, I still retained my ability to travel between universes even after all this time. All I had to do was figure out where your old universe was and whew" he whistled "that place looks like straight armageddon. This merging thing that Kami's trying to do has not treated your old world kindly."
"Ex...excuse me?"
"Oh yeah, I'm talking earthquakes, fissures, tsunami's, erupting volcanoes. People were scrambling trying to figure out what was going on and well just trying to survive. I give it another week before the merge is complete."
"But..but why? Is Kami doing that?"
"Oh no, she is not, Time doesn't like to be messed with guess she's taking it out there instead of here."
"Wait...wait.. you visited my old timeline..." Naruto narrowed his eyes "did you do anything?"
"Nothing too bad...besides you learn EXACTLY what I did in say ten minutes?
"What do you mean ten minutes? What's about to happen?"
"Ah stop worrying so much just enjoy the ride...anyhow our team should wake up in a couple of minutes...tik tok Naruto-Kun." And he was gone..again. Naruto was getting real sick and tire of this.
"Ah hell...what do I tell my team? Welp this is as good a plan as any." Naruto took his sword and start cutting himself all over his body, top of his shoulder, his calf, across his chest and put a few minor injuries here and there. He could blow himself up to stop an aging Kaguya, this was easy. He leaned himself up against a tree after putting a few injuries on his face, also including but not limited to a broken nose.
"Geeze Kit, did you have to go so far?"
'Figured I might if I want to sell it. What do you think about En-En's revelation?"
"Well, he killed Obito so that puts a massive dent in Zetu's plans for now. As for the Akatsuki being under his control, well that can't be anything good."
Naruto would have loved to continue the conversation but it appeared his comrades were coming too. "Oh rise and shine sleeping beauties," he said faux panting.
"Naruto!" Kurenai ran over to him once she was conscious enough to realize the state her student was in. "What happened?"
"Some rouge ninja, I think that Gato hired. They took exception to the fact we killed their income, once they realized poison wasn't going to work on me they attacked. Made some clones to protect you guys and well the fight didn't last more than a couple minutes. Considering it was two of them things could have been worse. Besides...my healing factor is already healing the worst of the damage."
Kurenai walked over to Ino and Hinata to help them up 'that doesn't make sense. If they were skilled enough to sneak up on four of us AND Kuramaru how did Naruto manage to beat them?'
"Tell me Naruto did you happen to tap into your gekke Genkai during this fight?"
"Um yeah, a little bit at the end."
'Strange, I should be able to sense remnants of the Nine tail's chakra then. I'll worry about it later.'
She shook her head, for now, she was thankful Naruto was able to fend off their would-be attackers. "Alright, they may come back so Hinata activate your Byakugan for a little bit to ensure they won't catch us off guard again."
"Um...Kurenai-sensei there's a small problem with that...I can't activate my Byakugan anymore."
"What?!"
Ino looked over to Hinata "so what this new dojutsu of yours has just taken over your Byakugan entirely?"
"Basically, and the Tenseigan draws a lot of chakras to use, I won't be able to hold it for an extended period of time."
"Alright, then we improvise activate it in 30-minute intervals check and see if anyone around us and deactivates it, alright?"
"Kurenai-san is that you?" A voice beyond the treeline called out and it sounded very familiar to Naruto...was that Kakashi? Said Silver Haired Ninja appeared followed closely behind by Team Seven.
"Kakashi-san, what are you doing here?"
"You don't know? Naruto here sent a carrier pigeon to the Sasuke saying Gato hired Zabuza and his assistant, the Third sent us to act as back up we left the Leaf Noon yesterday."
'Wait how could Sauske know..unless...'
"You'll know in like ten minutes.'
'He didn't...he wouldn't have...'
Naruto chuckled and scratched the back of his head all eyes were on him..."oh yeah I think I might have been tired when I sent that though I think Sasuke might have misread it too, I didn't know if Gato had hired any more missing-nin so I requested back up..heh heh...honestly I kinda forgot about it."
Kurenai sighed "it was smart thinking Naruto but next time I need you to tell me something like that. I would have stalled things until they should up. I'll explain things on the way back but to cut it short the mission was successful. Though I'm glad you brought Kibs we were just ambushed by some poison users. Mind if he takes point?"
"Okay?" Kakashi said confused "Kiba take the lead and Kurenai I would very much like to hear this, I hope us coming wasn't a waste of time..."
Kasamaru barked and that caught Kiba's attention "hey is that a ninken?"
"Right...during our mission we ran into. Rouge Inuzuka going by the name Fēng. Kasamaru here was his until he sided with Hinata surprisingly. We were going to give her back to the... Inuzuka ...clan...are you okay Kiba?"
Kiba had lowered his head. His bangs were covering his eyes and his fist was shaking clenching and unclenching his fist. Akamaru whined and tried snuggling to Kiba's face but he just pushed him away which shocked EVERYBODY present. Akamaru was Kiba's best friend even above his own classmates. He was the one person, or dog in this case, that Kiba NEVER pushed away.
"Which way did he go?" He asked darkly.
"I'm assuming you know this Fēng then Kiba?" Kakashi asked.
"Yeah, the greatest disgrace the Inuzuka clan ever produced...he would not accept the fact my mom was the heir and not him. He tried fighting her for the spot and lost badly. Because of that, he tried killing her soon after she found out she was pregnant with my older sister Hana in a surprise attack."
"My that's terrible but I have a feeling this is a little more personal than someone trying to kill your mom." Kiba walked away scratching the top of Akamaru's head quietly.
"That's all there is to it Kakashi-Sensei."
Sasuke walked up to Kiba "you know you can talk to me right Kiba?"
Which caught Naruto off guard and made him kind of jealous in a way. Sasuke tried to kill him at least three times before even being remotely friendly to him. And yet here he was trying to get Kiba of all people to confide in him. "Ya know how you wanna kill Itachi Sasuke, well Fēng's the only bastard on my hit list and if I ever get a shot at him, I'm taking it.".
"But who is he to you? Or is all this hate because of the fact he's a traitor and Inuzuka values loyalty above all else?" Kakashi was worried about his student. Kiba had always been the hot-headed goofball that ended up being seen as comedic relief more than anything else. He very seldom acted very seriously outside of combat. He reminded Kakashi a lot of Obito.
"Mom won't tell me the full story but something happened before she became the clan heir that left the spot empty. Fēng thought the spot rightfully belonged to him and couldn't accept the fact and challenged mom for the position in a trial by combat. He lost hands down and when he failed at that he tried to assassinate her."
"Ah so he tried to kill your mom presumably while she was in the early stages of her pregnancy with you, that's why you hate him?"
"Yeah" Kiba's hair was still covering his eyes and he had yet to pick up Akamaru who had been trying to get on his normal perch atop Kiba's head.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Don't lie to me idiot, there's something else you're not telling me."
"There's nothing else to tell. The pitiful asshole couldn't deal with his loss."
"He's your father isn't he?" This was said by Hinata who stepped up to Kiba and place a hand on his shoulder. "That would explain how he knew Kasamaru at the very least." She said the second part to Naruto and Hinata.
Kiba apparently didn't hear the second part as his gaze was fixed on the ground "yeah" he said softly "he's my father. And no one in the Inuzuka compound let me forget it either. The clan heir, son of the clan's greatest traitor."
Sakura and Ino gasped and Kakashi shook his head before saying "Kiba it doesn't matter who your father was, his actions don't make you the ninja you are today alright?"
"Don't lecture me about that Kakashi-Sensei. I've had it from my mom ever since I joined the academy, I'm not having some stupid identity crisis, this bastard tried to kill my mom that's all there is to it."
'Wow"'Naruto thought to himself, he and Kiba hadn't really been that close after he came back from his training trip with Jiraiya..or well not as close as he would have l8ked considering how close they had been as children but still...he never knew there was so much depth to him. This had never happened before.
"Fēng probably got killed in some backwater no-where where no one could identify him."
'Yeah most likely..but now he's in the picture and I feel like we haven't seen the last of him or Sozun for that matter.'
"Well alright Kiba, but please don't let your need for revenge override your better sense. Going after him isn't worth it." Kakashi put his hand on Kiba's shoulder before looking at Kurenai. "Well, I guess we should start heading back to the Leaf right?"
Kurenai nodded but stopped "Kakashi could we talk in private for a moment...there's a certain matter we need to discuss." Naruto didn't fail to notice the glance she sent his way as she said that.
'Figures..'
"For that matter Naruto," Sasuke said stepping up to him "could I talk to you in private as well."
"Okay?" He said confused...a sharp cry caused them to look upwards as a Falcon dived and perched herself on Sauske. Heiwa wasn't it? He was having strange flashbacks to Sasuke calling her Hanrana, but ah well. The two also walked away from the group.
And the moment they got out of earshot..."SMACK!"
Sasuke's fist smashed into the side of Naruto's cheek sending him to the ground where Sasuke got over him and grabbed his jacket, pulling him up slightly. Were those tears coming out of his eyes? "Oy what the hell man?"
"How dare you?"
"Excuse me?"
"You gave us all hope...you made us believe we could win...with you, we stood a chance, and then what did you do? BLOW YOURSELF UP! Do you know your father asked me what happened to you after we got back? He asked ME! How was I supposed to tell him that..and if Kakashi hadn't stepped up I would have had to...to..."
"All I had to do was figure out where your old timeline was.."
Sasuke's hands were trembling now, and his grip had loosened to near non-existence but he continued, Naruto was too stunned to say anything. "And then after you died and everyone went home Hinata literally drank herself to DEATH Naruto..and then everything else went to hell."
"Whew," he whistled "that place looks like straight armageddon."
"All of Iwa's volcanoes erupted, Kiri got hit by one massive Tsunami after another, a massive fissure opened up and swallowed the entirety of Suna. A massive thunderstorm and hurricane wiped out Kumo...and a massive forest fire swept through Konoha. And when it all seemed hopeless a man approached me.."
"What the hell is going on here?" Sauske asked himself, aiding fleeing villagers into a nearby cave system, one of the few spots untouched by the wall of fire that blazed all around and through Konoha. It had come out of nowhere...a lot of people were burnt and dead before anyone even realized what was going on.
Shikamaru came upon the rear coughing and waving smoke away, the few ninjas with them even remotely proficient in wind jutsu were trying their hardest to keep the smoke away while those proficient in water style tried in vain to keep the fire from spreading any further. Akamaru came up limping behind him. "Shikamaru!" Sasuke called out catching his attention, but he just looked down and shook his head.
'Dammit, the Kage tower got caught in it too...but Kakashi's a smart man, he found a way out.'
"Doesn't matter get everyone inside and then pull all ninja available away, Konoha is lost, all we can do is hope we can escape the fire before it catches up."
Shikamaru nodded and ran away from the group, right as the flames exploded in a massive blast encompassing everything Sasuke could see. "SHIKAMARU! Dammit everyone in now!" Sasuke jumped to the back of the collum of fleeing and panicked civilians and closed his eyes for the moment, he had used up most of his chakra in a vain effort to save Ino and Sakura who had gotten trapped trying to save some civilians, but he should have enough for this.
His eyes opened and his Mangekyo Sharingan activated "Amaterasu!" Black flames roared to life blocking the fire from Konoha from advancing any further. "That should hold it for a while and ugh!" He fell to a knee clutching his bleeding eye. That had used way too much chakra.
"Very impressive Uchiha-kun..very impressive indeed..." Sasuke turned to see a strange man hanging upside down from a tree branch beside him. He was wearing a long brown cloak that seemed to be defying gravity and a weird fox mask.
"Are you an anbu? You need to get inside and help those civilians escape. I'm going to wait here for my chakra to recover and see if I can contain the fire."
"Even if you had the chakra reserves of Naruto-Kun with all the biju I doubt you'd be able to do that but I digress" the man flipped over to land beside Sasuke. "What's happening right now is nothing short of divine attribution and honestly fuck those villagers I'm not here for them, I'm here for you Uchiha-kun."
The man placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder and the Uchiha faded out of existence as the black flames of his Amaterasu faded out and the blaze expanded and expanded and expanded... and En-En watched in silence as the fires leaped past him. The cave would undoubtedly collapse on itself but he took a moment to stare in awe. An entire dimension collapsing upon itself was a rare event indeed. One he thought he'd only get to experience once in a lifetime.
As for Sasuke, he felt like he was falling. Everything was black, but his stomach was twisting into a giant knot. He couldn't move a muscle like he was frozen in place. 'What is going on?'
"Can't move can you?" Sasuke couldn't move his eyes to see but he could tell that the masked man was falling with him, perpendicular to his body. "Not surprised, interdimensional travel is difficult your first time around. But don't worry this shouldn't last much longer." Just as he said that Sasuke's body touched the ground and he found himself inside a familiar looking house. His house...maybe the Uchiha compound hadn't surrendered to the fire yet.. "ah there we go."
The man dusted himself off "you have to take me back" He looked at Sasuke"those people won't be able to outrun the fire if it gets into the cave!"
"Uchiha-kun...Uchiha-kun look out your window..what fire?"
Sasuke ran over to a nearby window and looked out. Just like he had said, Sasuke so no signs of the inferno that had ravished his village. "What is this a genjutsu?"
"I promise it is most certainly not."
"Who the hell are you people?" Both men stared as a third party entered the room holding a kunai and Sasuke could only stare..was that a younger him? "I won't ask again who are you?" At that age, he would have been a genin before he left the village.
"Ah yes," the masked man said, "now comes the difficult part."
En-En held out both of his hands and both Sasuke's turned into white orbs. He clapped his hands and both orbs smashed together, almost fighting for control before mixing and becoming one. The orb started to grow and grow until it took the shape of younger Sasuke. He fell to his hands and knees panting before clutching his head in agony. En-En sighed "Shinigami is so much better at that than I am."
What was going on? He had been preparing to go to training when...wait for training with who? Kiba of course why would he forget that..but why was he training with Kiba? He was on Kurenai's team..no wait that was Naruto..but why was it Naruto..."AHHHHHHHHHH" He screamed as all the old information he possessed started clashing with the new.
For a few minutes, he didn't know what was real from fiction and it almost drove him insane. "I'll keep this brief because I can smell the Inuzuka coming, I've brought you into the past where Kami sent Naruto after he blew up Kaguya. Have fun."
"Wait" Sasuke called out before he could leave "why...me? Why only...me?"
En-En tilted his head "why? Simple Uchiha-kun out of all the people in your old timeline you were the only person Kami didn't want to come here."
The door slammed open as Kiba came in and saw Sasuke on the floor, Heiwa on a coffee table nearby looking worried "Sasuke! Are you okay?" He ran over to help Sasuke up "Woah dude are you alright you feel super hot!" Not to mention he looked extremely pale.
Sasuke grabbed his forehead and leaned against Kiba's shoulder panting "thanks" he said and slowly walked over to a couch.
"Should I go get a medic or something?"
"Don't worry about me, food poisoning combined with some strenuous training last night. I just need some rest and I'll be fine, do you mind telling that to Kakashi-sensei? I don't think I'll be making it to practice."
"Yeah of course, do you need me to get anything else?"
"I'll be fine thank you." Sasuke closed his eyes as Kiba walked out, trying to piece together events. Not even ten minutes ago he was fighting for his life and now, if that strange man was to be believed, he was in the past..where Naruto was...supposedly. which would line up with the events he could remember...
Sasuke bolted upright, against his body's wishes..' what is today...?"
He went over to his calendar 'shit if things happened the way they were supposed too then Naurto's already in Wave.. dammit I have to help him. No way am I letting him die again! Not before I get some answers at the very least. Luckily his Sharingan had long ago memorized Naruto's handwriting and he could score a rather convincing copy.
With that, he started heading towards the exit until Heiwa made a noise and titled her head. "Oh, you..." Sasuke didn't know how to feel about her. On one hand, this new version of him was best friends with Heiwa much like Kiba was with Akamaru. On the other hand, it was still weird. "I guess you can come." He extended his hand and Heiwa made a happy noise before landing on his arm and climbing to his shoulder. Once he had cleared his clan compound, he took to the roofs to reach his compound faster.
Everything felt so weird. This was Konoha years ago...but everywhere he looked he saw the fire that had taken it all. Plus his mind was still piecing together everything. This new past..all the different decision's he had decided to make, the newfound respect he had for Kiba of all people. The fact he had discovered Naruto's parents and jinchuriki status much earlier. How Naruto wasn't the same old weakling.
'Well that makes sense if he really did come back in time as that weirdo said, but the more I think on everything that different...the more it seems likely.' It didn't take him long to reach the field where Kakashi was sending Kiba and Sakura through some drills. But upon his arrival, the group stopped.
"Ah Sasuke," Kakashi said, "Kiba told us you weren't feeling well...and I have to say I believe him, you don't look too well, are you sure you're well enough to be here?"
"No time for how I feel" Sasuke replied throwing a tied scroll into Kakashi's hands "looks like Naruto and his team ran into in Wave I got this. They, or at least he is, are requesting back up."
Kakashi read the scroll quickly "Zabuza Momoichi and an unknown ice style user? That'll definitely spell trouble for Kurenai. I see no reason the Hokage won't send us to so you lot pack up and be ready to leave within the hour, meet by the south gate while I get official orders.
"After that, the only question was how far we could get before Sakura couldn't run anymore."
"Sasuke you...you remember everything?"
"Not by choice some strange man just grabbed and then I was here and I'm so confused and I need some answers. Because it feels like I actually traveled back in time but everything is just so DIFFERENT."
"Tell me was this man wearing a greenish fox mask?"
"Yes..." Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
"Sounds like you ran into En-En."
"En-En?"
"He was the first angle Kami made, it's a long story that I'll tell you later when we have time, but if you want answers then wait until tonight, we can ask Kami herself."
"You have a way to talk to Kami?"
"Right..." Naruto sighed, by now both boys were standing and staring at each other. How was he going to explain everything to Sasuke? Guess from the start.." when I died Kami sent me back in time so I could do things the way she had planned, I.E. resealing Kaguya instead of killing her."
"Wait, that doesn't make sense, why send you so far back? Why not to right before the fight with Kaguya?"
"Um...as a gift for a crappy childhood is what I was told."
"Okay, and why does she prefer Kaguya be sealed away rather than killed?"
"Because she and Shinigami had plans that I disrupted by killing her?"
"Alright and by sending you back in time with all your future knowledge, knowing you would change A LOT of things, wouldn't that mess up even more plans?"
"Ya know," Naruto said, slightly irritated by Sasuke's questions "they were rather vague on the details." He was more annoyed at the fact he hadn't asked these questions himself.
"Well then looks like we need to talk to Kami, so hurry up with whatever you have to do."
"Trust me when I say Sasuke it'll be easier to do this tonight when everyone is sleeping."
"Hm.." Sasuke walked away heading back to the group. There was only one thing bugging Sasuke, more specifically a few words.
"Out of everyone from your old timeline, Kami wanted you here the least."
Later that night
The group made camp with relative ease, Sakura and Ino complaining slightly about sore muscles but still happy for the company. It wasn't soon until most everyone was asleep, save for two boys. "Alright, Naruto now what?" Sasuke asked impatiently. Naruto pulled out a strange rock with some weird marking on it. He raised an eyebrow.
"Put your hand on this and channel chakra through this, it'll take us to see Kami."
"Right..." he did as Naruto said and soon enough was screaming much like Naruto did when he first traveled through the spirit sigil. Until he found himself floating beside Naruto in an endless expanse of black with tiny white dots of in the distance...before the most beautiful woman Sasuke had ever seen seemed to just materialize into existence in front of him. She gave off a warm and welcoming radiance.
"Ah hello Naruto-kun, to what do I owe the-" she turned her head to look at Sasuke who found himself unable to move. Not because he was scared nor was he being forced to stand still but because, well...
'This is freaken KAMI what do I say? What do I do?'
Kami sighed "I assumed it was some remnant time energy, but I see my son is still trying to toy with me. Hello Sasuke-san, I understand you must be very confused."
"I was...and then...I..." Naruto actually chuckled, it wasn't too often that you saw Sasuke stumbling for words. Kami extended one slender finger to Sasuke's forehead and an orangish white glow consumed his body before it left a few moments later.
"Soul manipulation was never his strong suit."
Sasuke looked at his hands, the fog that had been clouding his mind, trying to separate fact from fiction about his old life, and this new one was suddenly gone. He opened his mouth to say something but was cut off.
"Now mom before we begin this delightful discussion, let's answer the question on everybody's minds. Are you going to demerge the two souls residing in Sasuke then send him back to his timeline? It would be such a shame if you did, after all the time I spent getting him here."
All three of them looked towards the voice as En-En appeared laughed to himself. "You," Sasuke said with narrowed eyes.
Ploytoid: Dun Dun DUUUUUNNNNN..Will Sasuke stay or will he go? I'm running the show at the moment so you guys let me know in the comment section and I'll let yall decide. Now you say the thing *Kicks me*.
*Crying and Bruised* did you have to leave Hanabi in charge?
Ploytoid: yes, now say it.
Okay, okay..yall should check out Ploytoid's most recent story, A Pagan's View which is a Harry Potter fanfic heavily inspired by Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Can you let me go now?
Ploytoid: I don't know, what do you think Hanabi?
Hanabi: *cracking her knuckles* I could another shot at him
Help...help...HELP!