Beta by: RedCommandar72. Cheers to her for being super cool and kind! She has recently joined a new job and is editing for us. Thank you dear.
A/N: I apologise for any and all error left, although we try, we are still bound by the laws of being imperfect humans. Sorry for the long wait as well, my year has not been good (Got COVID, recovered; but resulted in a not so good exam. I might be a little depressed too.)
1.5 Catching Fire
People always had an exceptional number of expectations from one Asuma Sarutobi. He wasn't sure if he was able to fulfil any of those expectations and frankly, it mattered very little to him. That is beside one Kurenai Yuhi, when it comes to this extraordinary kunoichi, he was ready to do just about everything.
When she informed Asuma about their upcoming parenthood, his first reaction was a surge of bubbly mirth, mixed with wonder, warmth, excitement and lastly a vest sense of belongingness. Asuma had abandoned his cigarette and had gone and embraced Kuranai in a huge bear hug. The red eyed and red-faced woman had hugged him back and asked him if he was ready to be a dad.
Asuma had the sudden urge to cry, but he didn't, dads don't cry. Dads were supposed to be big and strong and protective. Asuma had one heck of a father and he was going to be one of the best dads ever! Asuma had said he was thankful for the most beautiful gift God has bestowed upon him and he was beyond happy. The day was perfect.
Asuma sighed thinking about Kuranai and his unborn baby. He needed to propose to her soon as well. The wind chakra user knew there was always a chance that he will kick the bucket before he gets to see his child, every shinobi does, but the particular hellish shit he had found himself in right now, might just do the trick and kill him. If he survived this religious painted-skull-face-dipshit, it would be a miracle.
Damn it!
Even Asuma's language was affected by the cussing dipshit. The Hokage had informed Asuma of the risks of going after Hidan and Kakuzu, but he still went on the mission, despite all the warnings. Duty comes first after all, whatever happens next will happen.
At least, that was Asuma's believed before he was hit by the scythe and saw the creep called Hidan lick his blood and had get control over his body. Shikamaru was awfully calm for some reason and Asuma wasn't sure who was scarier at this moment. Shikamaru or the freaky skull-faced guy.
"What is the matter? Running out of chakra already? You shitty brat?" Hidan asked all the while maintaining his disturbing grin.
"No, I am not. You shouldn't have insisted on fighting alone old man," Shikamaru answered and Asuma shivered. What was the Nara talking about? All their allies were injured and Kakuzu hadn't moved yet, if the guy does move, they were all dead.
Before Asuma could continue with his thoughts a loud band was head in a distance, must be one of the traps going off. The Akasaki's were momentarily distracted and Asuma made his move and got out of the hell circle Hidan had placed him in.
Well, his injuries were quite fatal, there was still a good chance he would die. Asuma still stood up holding his injured stomach. Hidan let out a blood chilling scream and tried to launch at Asuma again, this time Hidan even managed to move despite the Shikamaru's justu binding him.
"I still have your blood you leaf scumbag; you are going to DIE!"
"Thanks, but no thanks," Asuma said putting some more distance between them.
"Hey Duckbutt, Ice-hime, look there is a talking skull there!"
"Yes Sai, we have eyes."
Asuma couldn't help but let out a reviled sigh. Kakashi's brats were here. Seems that the Hokage had sent out Sasuke, Sai and Haku. Kakashi and Naruto were back in the village learning to take her Rasengan to the next level, Asuma had no clue what that next level was, but he would like to see it.
Right, he got to survive first.
Haku rushed to Asuma's side and bless her soul, supported his weight without ceremony.
"We will patch you right up, Asuma-sensei," Haku said in a low voice.
"We are leaving," Kakuzu said suddenly and before anyone could start any fight, grabbed Hidan, kicking Shikamaru out of the way.
"No so fast," Sasuke growled, his eyes turning red, swiftly pulled out his Katana and launched himself in Kakazu's direction. Kakashi's brats are brave, Asuma would give them that.
For a second Asuma thought Kakazu died since the younger Uchiha had managed to put his katana directly where Kakazu's heart was. But to Asuma's horror it didn't happen. Kakuzu pulled the katana off and tossed the blade like no bodies business and with the same momentum threw a water jutsu powerful enough to drown the Uchiha and ran off with a loud Hidan dragging along.
Sasuke got out of the water jutsu with a brooding look. "Not a word Sai," Sasuke said, his red eyes brazing with anger and disappointment. Asuma have to hand it to Kakashi's brats for having untimed comical moments.
Sai instantly faired back with a cheerful smile, "I wasn't going to, but you do look like a drowned rat."
Sasuke turned to his team mate with vengeful eyes.
Haku was still supporting Asuma's weight said, "Sai, please not now. Can't you see Sasuke is upset? Sasuke forgive Sai for now, he means no harm."
She must be the peace maker of the gang, Asuma concluded.
Sai and Sasuke both turned to their dark-haired female team mate and sulked like children.
"Okay," they said in union, a little reluctantly.
"I get creeped out every time they do that," one of the chunin on the mission whispered. Asuma couldn't agree more, they looked too much alike for comfort, if Sai had the red eyes as well, they would be easily mistaken for being twins. Answering together didn't helped.
"Anyway, let's get to a safer place and patch everyone up. We need to report to the Hokage soon," Asuma said. Also, he needs to see Kuranai as soon as possible. Almost dying made things clearer for him. He had one wedding to plan.
"Hey Sensei," Shikamaru called out once they have started to move. "Apologise first, okay?" the Nara said and when Asuma nodded in affirmation, Shikamaru jumped ahead without words.
Haku was taken surprised and asked, "What does he mean sensei?"
Asuma chucked. "Oh, don't worry Haku, I know what he means." Haku didn't pry.
Later Asuma had the right idea to apologise to a fuming red eyed Kunoichi for almost dying before asking if she would do him the honour of being his wife. Kuranai had cried, threatened to kick his ass if he tried to die on missions again, like that was his fault, and said yes.
Asuma grinned like an idiot, life was good.
A week later, two teams lead by Shikamaru and Kakashi went ahead and eliminated Hidan and Kakuzu.
Two days after that the two tails and five tails jinchuuriki were captured by the Akasaki.
A month later Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sanin's was gravely injured in a covert mission in the hidden Rain village and went into a coma. He was saved by one of his summons who had reverse summon him back to mount Myoboku and he showed no signs of waking up. *
Line break...
Punch. Kick. Left hook. Slam upside. Right hook. Repeat.
Sweat was dripping from Naruto's head and she furiously wiped her face as she continued to practice her form. She had been at it for a couple of hours now. Her body ached and she was drenched from head to toe in sweat and mud. Even so, Naruto was unable to stop. Her body was sore all over, but she still couldn't stop. Naruto was angry.
No, she was furious.
Why Sensei, why didn't you bring me with you? Wasn't I strong enough?
Was she? Would it have helped if she was with Jiraiya when he was on that cursed mission?
When Naruto was given the news of what has happened to Jiraiya, Naruto hoped he would wake up soon. Jiraiya was one of the best Shinobi the world had even seen, but when Tsunade went to Mount Myoboku and declared that there was nothing she could do, Naruto was devastated. After the death of the third Hokage, Jiraiya was like a doting grandparent of sort to Naruto. She would never admit it, but she cared for the self-proclaimed super pervert like her family. Sasuke, Sai and Haku had tried their best to cheer her up, but she had asked them to give her some space. They knew she was hurting and were reluctant to leave her be, but Naruto found she was good at shaking off persuasive teammates when she wanted to.
Pa, one of Jiraiya's summons and come and asked for her to begin sage training and she would be leaving soon.
Naruto knew this much, if Jiraiya never wakes up, she was going to hunt down that Pein and kill him.
With a loud thud the training dummy broke into tiny little pieces and she sagged back, panting.
Not strong enough, still not strong enough!
Naruto stood up and tightened her hand wraps, ready to continue. Before she could, her fist was blocked by a hand.
"That's enough, Naruto!"
"Let me go Itachi, now!" Naruto growled out, jerking her hand away.
Itachi didn't bother to move away. He simply blocked her path and stood in front of her, his face not giving any of his thoughts away. A perfect poker face.
"Everyone is worried about you; it has been almost eight hours. You need to stop and come back down," he said simply.
Naruto's eyes started to turn crimson and Itachi could feel the hairs at the back of his head standing up, the fox's chakra was pouring out of her slowly.
" I. said. get. out. of. my. way," Naruto said and for a moment Itachi was speechless.
Her gorgeous blue eyes were now crimson, the whisker like marks which he secretly adored since they reminded him of kittens got darker and larger, Itachi could see her fangs getting longer.
Itachi panicked a little, but refrained from showing anything on his face. Naruto had been training for close to eight hours now and she must be at the bottom of her chakra barrel. If the fox tried, he can and would take control of her body.
Itachi activate his sharingan. Let the damn fox try, he would not allow any harm come to Naruto.
"I know how you feel Naruto. I have been in your shoes, but there are other who would want you back. This village needs you; You friend needs you," he closed the distance they had between them and cradled her face on his palms softly, looking deeply in her enraged eyes. "I need you too, come back to us, Naruto," he finished softly.
Naruto's crimson eyes seemed to have startled with their contact. Slowly the red chakra in her system started to seep back and the physical markings of a fox started to fade away. Naruto took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Itachi waited, monitoring her chakra, for her to open her eyes. Naruto didn't disappoint and slowly opened her eyes, blue as a clear summer sky, just the way he loved them.
" 'Tachi," she whispered and reached up to cover his hands still holding her. "I- I'm sorry," she looked down.
Itachi surprised both himself and Naruto when he leaned down and brushed his lips on her forehead, a feather like touch, barely there.
"No need to apologise, I am here and it will be okay. Trust me."
Naruto's eyes widened both at his action and words. Itachi slowly brought his hands down and gave her a small soft smile. He wasn't sure how Naruto would react to his impulsive action. Well, in his defence it was either kiss her forehead to kiss the lights out of her, he chose the friendlier action of the two. Itachi didn't regret his show of affection, but he was a little worried about Naruto's reaction, to his satisfaction and secret smugness, a small blush formed on her cheeks.
Itachi grinned, this girl was too cute for her own good.
Their sweet moment was broken when Naruto's stomach made itself known and Itachi's good mood went straight to drain. "Naruto, when was the last time you ate?"
Naruto took a moment to answer making Itachi's mood go worse.
"I don't remember, last night?"
Itachi shook his head and started to drag Naruto away from the training filed. "Do you have any idea how bad it is to starve your body when you are training? Honestly, between that foolish brother of mine and you, I am surprised I don't have a head full of grey hairs. You are going to have a full dinner now, understand..."
A bewildered Naruto let herself be dragged by the older Uchiha while he rants on and on. Naruto let him rant. No one would believe Itachi Uchiha was capable of speaking more than three words at a time, but it was quite true. Oh, and in case anyone had any confusion, Itachi was one heck of a Mama Bear by nature. Naruto secretly loved this side of her best friend. She never told him, but whenever Mama Bear Itachi makes his appearance, Naruto had to fight the urge to cuddle him tightly.
Itachi was just so cute!
Much later, at her home, well fed and very tired Naruto would realise three things.
One, she thought Itachi was cute and second, she might just have a crush on her best friend and thirdly, she was in so much in trouble if that is correct.
Line break...
Sora woke up drenched in sweat and his body was trembling all over. What was the dream he just had? What was happening? He jumped down from his bed and went to the bathroom attached to his room and splashed icy water over his face.
The dream he just had was so vivid, it almost seemed real. Damn it!
He was back in the Fourth Shinobi Great War and had taken a brutal hit from Madara to his head and had lost consciousness for a few minutes. Naruto had caught his free-falling body and had saved his life. Sora knew this has happened, one of Naruto's clones had indeed saved him back then. But in the dream what happened next was something else.
"Are you okay?" Naruto asked, concern sipping in her voice. "I can replenish some of your chakra, I will dispel though," she said holding his head on her lap.
"No, just give me a moment. Madara hits hard," he had answered.
Naruto let out a small laugh. "Yes, he seems like a heavy hitter." She then looked down at him with a tender expression and brushed away some of his hairs from his forehead. "You do remember our promise, right? Gaara?"
"What promise?" he had asked confused and Naruto frowned at his words.
"You head must be worse than it seems. Damn! Old Madara does hits hard."
"What promise Naruto," he had sat up when he enquired again.
"Did you forget you told me you loved me since I head butted you and I promise to be the strongest shinobi of all so that we can be together once this is over dattebyo?"
"I confessed to you?" he asked stupidly.
Naruto looked over him with concern. "That's it! You are getting a replenishment right now. You did hit your head really hard. Want me to call a medic?" she asked trying to look for his injury.
"Please answer me Naruto, is this true, I did tell you? And you will have me?" he had asked, his mind spinning, somehow in the mist of fighting the most brutal battle of his life, he felt more alive than ever. Was Naruto really going to return his feelings?
"Umm yes, that happened and yes we promised. Listen I am transferring you rest of this clone's chakra. Okay? It is not much, but it will heal you right up. Now, don't die on me, okay?" she said with a charming smile while her warm chakra sipped inside his system.
"No wait, Naruto-"
This was when Sora woke up. He rubbed the sleep off his eyes. What was that dream? Was his mind finally breaking apart and was showing him illusions? His Naruto wasn't aware and even if she did, Sora knew the results of his universe. They all died. Period.
Sora decided to abandon sleep and got out through his window. Early morning air did manage to make Sora feel a little better, but an uneasy feeling remained in his gut. The dream felt too real and for the rest of the day Sora was unable to forget his dream. Little did he knew; it was one of the many dreams to come.
A/N: * I have not written the whole Pein vs Jiraiya arc. If any one is interested, let me know, I will write it. It is not particularly needed for this story and I can't promise to make it funny either.
Read and Review people. My depressed soul can use some loving now.
