Naruto: Return From Darkness

"Kyuubi Speaking"

Thoughts

Speaking

/

Jin and co. continued to follow Pakkun, through the forest, increasing their pace as they went. Eventually Pakkun stopped and sniffed the air for a few seconds, "Someone is just up ahead, I don't recognize their scent."

They continued for another couple hundred feat until a shinobi around their age, with a Sand Village headband and what looked like a scarecrow on his back.

"No farther, you'll have to go through me." He sneered, moving the scarecrow like package to his side.

Jin turned to the girls and whispered, "I'll distract him, you two move onto Sasuke."

They both nodded and prepared to jump into action, but were stopped by the appearance of another shinobi their age.

"Shino!" Sakura exclaimed in surprise.

"Sorry to intrude, but I'll be the one to fight this guy, hurry on to help Sasuke." He said from behind his high collar.

Jin nodded in gratitude, and the group continued on their way, receiving glares from their enemy as they went.

Shino and the Sand shinobi switched their focus to each other, and jumped to meet each other.

/

Hiro reappared in his home in Kumo, dropping to his knees as he did.

I messed up big this time, didn't I... He asked the Kyuubi.

The Kyuubi took a few moments to respond, "It turned out well with Itachi, we'll just have to wait and see."

Hiro nodded and stood up, I just have to talk to him and explain everything. He slammed his fist against the wall, causing the whole building to shake. I shouldn't have come to Konoha.

"There were some people there that are still important." The Kyuubi explained.

Hiro paced around for a bit, running things through his head, This just complicates things, of all the people to find out it had to be Jiji! Hiro said in anger.

Kyuubi got slightly enraged himself, "This was your choice! I told you this wouldn't be a good idea but you pushed it."

Hiro looked at his feet sheepishly before looking back up at his friend. I stand by the decision I made.

The Kyuubi smiled and said, "Alright, what are you gonna do now then?"

Hiro opened his eyes, Protect those precious to me!

He moved into the bedroom and pulled out another scarf from his dresser. He wrapped it around the lower part of his face, "I forgot about Jin!" He realized.

I hope i'm not too late! He thought to himself as he disappeared in a flash of light.

/

Jin, Sakura and Ino led by Pakkun raced through the trees, hurrying to help their comrade.

"He's just up ahead!" Pakkun exclaimed, "He seems to be fighting someone, so everyone be careful!" The all steeled themselves and moved just a bit faster.

Eventually they reached an area where there were less branches and a much wider space. Before them stood Sasuke, bleeding from a few wounds and clutching his arm. And standing opposite him was Gaara who was covered in what looked to be the upper body and head of a sand monster.

"Sasuke!" Sakura shouted jumping towards him.

"Took you guys long enough." Sasuke said quietly, before sinking down to his knees.

Jin assessed the situation before moving up to where Sasuke and Sakura stood.

"We need to get out of here, that guy isn't human." Sasuke said weakly.

Jin frowned, "It's not like you to run from a fight Sasuke." He commented.

Sasuke turned to his comrade, "This guy isn't human, I impaled him and he just shrugged it off." He said without breaking eye contact.

Jin shuddered, "Alright lets retreat then, Sakura you take Sasuke and then I'll pull up the rear."

The group nodded and moved to leave, but as soon as Sakura turned around, she felt a long thick rope like object wrap itself around her waist. Before she realized what had happened she was thrown from her position by Sasuke's side and slammed into a tree. And then everything went black.

Damnit, he's fast! Jin said whipping around to face Gaara.

The Sand genin stood confidently, an evil smirk splayed across his face. Part of his strange monster body had detached itself and had Sakura pinned against a tree.

"Looks like there's been a change of plans..." Jin said, gritting his teeth.

Sasuke slumped to the ground without the aid of Sakura, "We need to get out of here, he's gonna kill all of us if we don't." He said, pure terror evident on his face.

"We can't leave Sakura." Jin said, clenching his fist in frustration.

"No, we need to get out of here... Just... Just leave her!" Sasuke said frantically.

Jin's eyes flared with anger, he picked up Sasuke by his collar and shoved him up against a tree, "How can you say that! Sakura is our comrade, an important part of Team 7!" Jin said angrily. His face fell as he could see his words had no effect on the Uchiha, "She would so the same fore you if you were in her shoes."

Sasuke wriggled out of his grasp and said down up against the trunk, he held his head in his hands and began moaning softly.

Jin turned to Ino, "Watch Sasuke, I'll free Sakura." he said his confidence wavering slightly.

Ino nodded and jumped to her comrades side, picking him up and moving him out of dangers way.

Jin cracked his knuckles, "It may have only been a short time, but Hiro did teach me a lot." He smiled and jumped at Gaara.

Gaara laughed and swung his arm out in front of him, throwing out sand shurikens. In mid-air Jin pushed air chakra out of the bottom of his right foot, allowing him to sail over the projectiles. He flipped a few times before landing on another branch. Focusing chakra in his legs he rocketed towards Gaara, sending out air chakra along the outside of his forearm, making it like a scythe. Gaara tried to dodge, but moved too late thus Jin's arm easily passed through his midsection. Gaara's top half slid off of the rest of his body and tumbled down to the forest floor.

Jin kept sailing, doing a few flips in the air before planting his feet against a tree and clinging to it with chakra.

Ino's face turned into a massive grin, "You did it Jin!" Jin merely held up a hand and returned his attention to the boy laying far below on the forest floor. He built up strength in his legs and pushed off the tree, leaving two marks where his feet had been.

He flew through the air until he was above the half of Gaara's body that laid below him. He felt rage build up in the air, and looking down he could see his work wasn't quite finished yet.

The half of Gaara was already reforming, and even though injured, managed to thrust his arm out aimed at Jin. Jin being in mid air, quickly shot a blast of wind out of his hands and flew back to another branch, crouching down after landing to assess the situation.

Gaara, now having regrown his legs, stood up and screamed in rage, "Blood... blood! BLOOD!" and began to laugh too. He abruptly stopped and clenched his head and wailed in pain.

"Yeah this isn't good, we need to retreat and regroup now!" Jin shouted, jumping through the air towards his comrades. He landed on the branch with Sasuke and Ino when a huge blast of smoke surrounded the area all around them.

Once it cleared the three shinobi were greeted with a massive hulking sand beast before them.

"Is- is that... Gaara?" Ino asked very much so frightened.

"This is getting worse by the minute." Sasuke stated, "We need to leave now, while we still can."

Jin looked shocked and glared at his teammate, "And leave Sakura? I already told u once before, there's no way i'm doing that!" He shouted at him, his anger growing.

Sasuke glared back at him, "It's a better solution than all of us dying!"He said, pushing Jin back.

"Fine you to leave, I'll save Sakura by myself." He said, turning his back to them.

"Suit yourself, it's your funeral." He said, jumping away from the impending conflict.

"Jin... Why?" She managed to get out.

He shrugged and smiled, "I'm not too sure myself, I just feel like it's the kind of thing Hiro would do."

Then he gave Ino one last look before jumping towards the massive creature before him.

His first move to take it down, was to cripple it by taking out its legs. So he gathered some wind chakra in his arms and sent it out, targeting its legs.

The slice managed to hit it's target, but didn't cut in very far and only served to enrage the creature.

The creature, seeing Jin, reached one of its very large arms out to grab him. Jin attempted to evade by pushing himself in a different direction with even more air chakra, but the beast anticipated this and splintered his arm off into tons of appendages, not giving him an opportunity to escape.

"Damn, so this is it? This is how it ends?" Jin said to himself, in a frustrated sort of way.

He heard a laugh, "Not if I can help it." He heard a voice say, before he was grabbed and transported to the top of the trees.

Falling down onto his butt, he looked to his mystical savior.

Before him stood Hiro, looking angrily at the beast who had threatened his student's life.

"You... You're here?" Jin said in disbelief.

Hiro smiled at Jin, "Of course, what kind of mentor would I be if I didn't keep my precious little student from harm. And anyway, this guy is way out of your league."

Jin looked at the huge beast, "What is he?" he asked his teacher.

Hiro thought for a moment before answering, "He's like me, except... the hate over took him."

Jin was puzzled by his answer, "Like... Like you?"

Hiro nodded, "Yeah, don't worry i'll explain it all later. But first," He closed his eyes, "Let me finish this."

Hiro's eyes turned into slits and he jumped from his perch way up high. His whole body was flooded in a coat of yellow light and below him appeared a massive yellow fox.

This should only take one shot... Right? Hiro asked his furry companion.

"We stand far above that mess of a Junchuriki, just one hit." His companion responded.

Hiro crossed his arms and nodded, and the massive golden fox he stood upon bounded forward.

As they neared Gaara, the beast opened its mouth and released a series of wind bombs aimed at stopping Hiro. They easily dodged and neared their target.

The beast braced itself and Hiro and the Kyuubi slammed into it, knocking it back quite a ways.

"It's off balance, now!" and he grabbed Hiro and flung him towards Gaara, who was attached to the creature's head.

The hulking thing managed to catch it's breath faster than they imagined and thrust a hand out to crush the impending bullet named Hiro.

Hiro smiled, Damn, none of these enemies has any real idea what i'm capable of, do they? And he unsheathed one of his swords.

He brought it down in a single vertical slash before returning it to its place.

The massive creature's arm split in half and it wailed in pain, "OWWWW OWEEEEE! I'M GONNA MAKE YOU BLEEEEEED!"

But that turned out to be very wrong as Hiro had already landed on the monster's torso so and was nearing Gaara's true body.

When he reached it he looked down at the boy before him. He could see the pain and struggle in the boy's face. He sighed and placed his palm on the boy's forehead. He used his other arm to steady it, before focusing all of his power in a single point.

The creature howled louder this time, "NOOOO NOT THERE! NOT AGAIN! I WAS JUST FREEEEED!" Before being absorbed into the seal on Gaara's forehead.

Hiro landed and caught Gaara before the boy fell the the forest floor.

Hiro disappeared in a flash of light, before reappearing near Gaara's sister, Temari.

She looked surprised by the arrival of an enemy, and even more so that he was carrying Gaara, "What are you doing with my brother!" She shouted at him.

Hiro walked up to her and handed him Gaara, "He's only unconscious, when he awakes tell him I will meet him in the Sand Village in one month."

She looked confused, "What do you want to do with my brother?" She asked him.

Hiro looked at her and thought for a moment, "He and I are very similar, I just happened to be lucky. If given the chance I would love to help him."

With that Hiro disappeared again, leaving Temari even more confused.

He reappeared next to Ino and Jin who were carrying Sakura's unconscious body.

"Hey." he said to the two.

They both jumped frightened by the new presence. They both looked over and saw Hiro laughing to himself.

"Hiro!" They both said in unison.

He smiled, "I handled things, i'm gonna have to leave you two with this I have other things to do." The two looked a little sad.

"Don't worry," He laughed, "This won't be the last time you see me."

And then he disappeared again, leaving them alone again.

/

The Sand Shinobi were forced out of the the village, along with Orochimaru. Konoha had been hit hard, their casualties were great in number but they would survive as they always did. And so the cleanup began with everyone doing their part. And a midst the chaos, Hiro and the ninja from Kumo slipped out very quietly. Hiro left nothing except for a quick letter on the desk of the Hokage.

It read: I will be back. Once I figure out where I stand we can talk about it all. Don't tell anyone. Thanks Jiji.

/

It has been long, hasn't it?

My bad guys, though I don't know how many people are actually reading this haha.

But regardless I still feel this weird need to continue.

Well regardless hope you enjoyed, I'm sure ill see you all again. Thanks.