Disclaimer:
This is my twist on the Naruto Franchise. I do not and have not ever owned the rights to Naruto, or any of the Characters. Mashashi Kishimoto is the rightful owner of Naruto. Please support the official release.
Chapter One: Disarray
The sky erupted into angry thunderous screams, as the darkened clouds began to crackle with flashes of light. The sound echoed throughout the clearing, and then the rain began. Quickly, it began to pelt the crimson covered ground. The fresh smell of rain was overwhelmed by the bitter stench of blood. There had been a battle, a horrible unforgiving battle, which left deep scars on both the land and those who fought.
The once beautiful, tranquil valley of Sakuragukure, had been home of the final push. Awful, truly awful, was the state of the valley. Crimson reds, bled from the fields of wild flowers, clouding the crystal clear streams. "Why..." A weak voice broke over the storm. A blonde man was sitting by the blood filled stream. The man wore a black long sleeved jacket, under a white short sleeved haori. Written on the back in crimson red kanji, was the word Rokudaime. The man's clothing was nearly in tethers, and completely drenched in blood and sweat.
He stared down at his hard calloused hands, with his lifeless, dull cerulean eyes. "Why..." He repeated, as tears slowly streamed down his battle worn face. He was tired, so goddamn tired. He had constantly been fighting, barely surviving since he was twelve. He still didn't understand how this happened. After the Fourth Great War, there had been peace. An uneasy peace, but it was peace nonetheless. One little spark, one goddamn little spat, broke the alliance he fought so hard to build. He had failed. How could he ever look at the old pervert again, he had left him one mission. One helplessly impossible mission, but it was his dream. For awhile, he was happy; he thought he had done it. But just like that, it was lost, and for what? A goddamn war over missing supplies.
"People are stupid, ruthless, greedy creatures. This was always going to happen." A deeper stern voice alerted the blonde, to his arrival. He was a tall man, with long black hair. His bangs obscured one of his eyes from view. He wore a long black cloak, which seemed to repel most of the rain. He looked down at the blonde, with a sorrowful expression showing in his visible onyx eye. "You can't save everyone from themselves, Loser. No matter, how strong you are. People will always allow their primal urges to take over." Gently, he placed a hand on the blonde's back.
The blonde continued to silently weep, for the casualties of this pointless war. After what seemed like hours, the blonde spoke. "I'm done Sasuke." That was all he said, as he left the crimson mess of a valley, and his frozen friend behind.
The black-haired man, now known as Sasuke, was rooted in his spot as he watches the blonde leave. He was unable to speak, let alone follow. The blonde, the happy, hyperactive, idiot of a blonde, was broken. The contagious, annoyingly bright smile, he always wore was gone. Never in his life, had he seen him like this, was this the man who never gave up. The man, who had chased after him for years. Who had fought tooth to the nail, to bring him back. Who refused to ever believe he was unredeemable. But now, he was hollow, a fragment of his former self.
"Hokage-sama!" Respectful yells of admiration, brought the blonde's attention back. He had mindlessly returned to the forward camp lost deep in his thoughts. He nodded at his shinobi in acknowledgement, as he headed towards his tent. It had been a very long day, and even longer battle. It was dreadful, so very dreadful, he had lost so many of his shinobi. He was not looking forward, to all the last of kin, he would need to inform.
He let out a deep low sigh, as he lay down on his cot. When he was younger, much younger, he had always proudly told anyone who would listen that one day he would become Hokage. But that was just some childish idealistic dream. He hadn't fully understood the crushing weight, which the title brought with it. He just wanted someone, anyone to acknowledge him back then, but now all eyes are on him. How long has it been? Ten, maybe twelve years, since he took over for Granny Tsunade. His face stiffened, as he remembered yet another person, he failed to protect.
He was just a boy back then, first he lost the old pervert. Another tear came rushing down his face, as his thoughts went to Pervy Sage. He wasn't the best mentor, that was very true, but he loved the man like a grandfather. His heart had never really recovered from his loss, and then immediately after he lost Granny Tsunade. She was a tough old bat, that was for sure, but not even she could protect the village from Pein.
The blonde Hokage slowly drifted off into an uneasy rest. He hadn't even changed out of his battle worn clothing. It had been close to a week since; he had the luxury of sleep. He had been in the Frontline, for most of the fighting. He wasn't sure; he would ever recover from the entire trauma. People he once, considered allies and even friends, had so readily turned on him. He hated this; he despised everything about this shinobi world. The cycle of hatred, was far too great. "Oh Pervy Sage, what am I supposed to do...?" He muttered desperately, as sleep warmly embraced him. The warmth blanketed his heavy mind, as all his thoughts faded to darkness.
Not far from the Hokage tent, the medical tent had been set up. A young, beautiful woman, with bright bubblegum pink hair, was diligently working. Her long hair had been pulled back into a messy bun. This was a far cry from her usual twin ponytails, reminiscent of her master. She was wearing a red sleeveless top, which trailed off behind her waste in a tail. She wore plain white shinobi pants, and high heeled sandals. Her face was scrunched up in concentration, as her hands glowed with bright green chakra over her patient. His wounds slowly began to close up, as his face relaxed.
The beautiful pink haired woman opened her eyes, revealing magnificent emerald orbs. She smiled down at her handiwork, as she softly comforted her patient. "You should make a full recovery." She said in a soft cheery voice, as her attention was directed to the entrance of the tent.
Sasuke had quietly appeared, standing next to the entrance flap. Her eyes widened at the sight of him. "Sasuke-kun is he..." She started, only for Sasuke to raise a hand to silence her. "Naruto is fine, Sakura. But..." He said, as he began to think about the blonde's words, as he left the gruesome battle field. The pink haired woman, now known as Sakura, eyed Sasuke expectantly. He had always been one for mystery, but this felt different. He was purposely not telling her something. What happened to Naruto? She felt the tears swelling in her eyes, threatening to crash down her face at any moment. Was there something wrong with her blonde, her cheery happy blonde? What could've possibly happened? She couldn't help, but round on Sasuke. Her heart was pounding mercilessly in her ears, she couldn't lose him. Not him of all people, he was her constant. Her ever vigilant sentinel, the one who always was there.
"Wha-what happened?" Her voice threatened to crackle, as she found herself rushing forward to the stony black-haired man. She grasped at the collar of his cloak, as she stared pleadingly up at him. Sasuke was shaken from his thoughts by the sudden appearance of Sakura. He looked down painfully at her pleading eyes. He knew the moment he told her; she would go hunting for their friend. His visible eye fluttered around the crowded tent, as he motioned for them to leave.
Better to discuss this away from prying eyes and ears. The last thing they needed is more concern for their idiot of a Hokage. Sasuke led the pink haired woman towards a clearing. It was quite lovely here, one of the few untouched areas. It was a small clearing, a beautiful, pristine pond surrounded by blossoming trees. The bright pink petals, playfully danced throughout the air, as a gentle breeze blew. The black hair man let out a deep sigh, as he rounded on his companion.
"It's bad Sakura, he is lost. I never have seen him like this. It's like he is hollow, his eyes were dead. He barely said a word, but he left me standing there. He said he was done; I don't know what to do. He isn't acting like himself." He started, but stopped at the sight of the woman. Silent tears were streaming down her face, causing her emerald eyes to glisten. She had a weak smile on her face. Why was she smiling? He shot her a reproachful look, as he began accusingly. "Do you not care...?"
The look she gave him caused him to immediately freeze. Her eyes held a fury, he had never seen. When she spoke her voice was unsteady. "Don't you ever." She threatened him, as her fists began to crack sharply, as she clenched them. "Of course, I care about him! He is my closest friend! The only person who has never left me!" Her emotions had gotten the better of her, as her tears began to flood down her cheeks more steadily.
Twice in one day, Sasuke found himself at a loss. He looked down with sorrow at the crying mess, which was the strongest woman, he had ever known. What is he supposed to do here, comforting emotional troubles has never been his forte? For crying out loud, he was the one who gotten lost in his need for vengeance. He let out a sigh, as he reached and unsteady hand towards her head.
Sakura froze for a moment, as she felt Sasuke begin to pat her head. It wasn't exactly a comforting motion. Dear God, he is literally the worst at this! She let out a soft chuckle, over her sniffs. She looked up towards the last remaining Uchiha, with a soft smile. "Thanks Sasuke-kun." She whispered, as she began to wipe away her tears. She needed to find Naruto, knowing that idiot; he would end up doing something reckless.
Before Sasuke could stop her, the pink haired woman was off. He let out another sigh. "I knew it. No doubt heading straight for that idiot." He said, as he watched the blur, which had been Sakura. He shook his head. "Those two are exactly alike, whenever it comes to each other, all common sense is gone." He said, as he shifted awkwardly. He turned his face towards the sky, night was beginning to fall. Through the murky dark clouds, he could see the slight glimmer of stars.
"It's nice to see, that such beauty can still exist in this chaotic world." He whispered smiling to himself, as he watched the stars become more brazen in the darkened sky. Who would've thought, him of all people would turn out this way? Obviously, it was all thanks to Naruto. His best friend? No, that didn't feel right. His brother? Yes, which was what the blonde was, his brother. And now he was broken, and here he did, not know how to even help. He closed his eyes, and found himself lost deep in thought.
Sakura didn't even bother to glance behind her, as she took off towards the camp. Her heart was racing, as the camp became closer in view. She didn't know what she was going to do, but she knew he needed her. This time, this time for sure, she would be the one to save him. She felt her heart pulsating rapidly, the closer she got to his tent. The Anbu guards stiffened at her approach, but quickly relaxed upon seeing her. "Sakura-sama, what brings you here so late?" An owl masked Anbu called out, in an almost teasing tone.
She rolled her eyes, knowing that it was none other than her former teammate Sai. For some reason, he had gotten it in his head, that she and Naruto were more than just friends. I mean yes, she loved him, but can't a woman and a man be friends without something else going on? The nerve! She sent the Anbu, a threateningly sweet smile. "Can't I just check up on the Hokage, after returning from a battlefield?" She asked sweetly, but the other Anbu stiffened at the hidden threat. They slowly began to step away from their captain. They knew from firsthand experience from Tsunade that, that particular tone meant pain. Lots and lots of pain. They shuddered slightly at the memories.
"And this couldn't wait, until a decent hour?" Owl continued to jest, playfully at his old teammate. Quickly, his fellow Anbu carefully edged away from him. Crunch! That was the only sound heard, as Owl was sent flying. His broken porcelain mask was all that remained. Even behind their masks, Sakura could tell the Anbu were gaping at her. She let out a huff and rounded on the remaining Anbu. She shot them a look, which said it all. Go ahead, I dare you.
The Anbu raised their hands in surrender, as they sidestepped to allow her entry. Once out of earshot, they turned to each other. "Crazy bitch!" One of them muttered, when he was sure she could no longer hear them. The other Anbu nodded in agreement.
Naruto found himself, once more in the familiar sewers of his mind. The sounds of splashes echoed throughout the cavern, as he began to make his way to the fox. It's been years, since Kurama had forcefully brought him here. "Oi, what gives Kurama?" He called out loudly, as he approached the familiar cage. He wondered why; the fox insisted on it remaining this way. Once he had tried to make it a lush forest, only to have it reverted back, upon his next visit. The fox sleepily, opened one of its enormous red eyes.
"Kit..." Kurama yawned, at the tiny host outside of the cage. "Pleasure to see you again. Come closer kit." The fox swished one of its mighty tails, motioning for the man to come inside. Naruto rolled his eyes, as he obeyed his oldest friend. "Kurama, what's this about?" He asked impatiently, as he slid into the cage.
Once the man, had entered the cage, Kurama's form began to shrink. In a blinding flash, the fox began to morph smaller and smaller. Until finally, it took on the appearance of a striking, young, woman. She had beautiful flowing red hair, which danced playfully through the air, like that of her once tails. She opened her eyes, to reveal beautiful crimson orbs.
Naruto was stunned, his mouth hung slightly open, as he stared wordlessly towards the fox. Fox? More like girl? What is going on? He opened his mouth to speak, but found no words would come. A soft chuckle broke the silence. "Kit? Earth to kit." Kurama prodded playfully, at her frozen friend. She shook her head, wearing a wicked smirk. "The reason wh..." The girl began, but was interrupted by the blonde.
"Yo-You're a girl!" The blonde shouted incredulously, as he finally was able to find his voice. "This whole time..." He began, but was quickly interrupted by the girl. "No kit. I am but pure chakra. I don't have a gender; well at least as you humans define them. I am simply me. Male, female, human, fox it simply doesn't matter." Kurama explained, as the blonde grabbed his head.
He may not have been the smartest person, but this definitely didn't make any sense. Kurama let out a sigh, as she extended her hand. She gently caressed the blonde's cheek. When she spoke once more, it was in a softer tone. "Kit. This is not important. I am worried about you. Your thoughts have been sporadic, and grow darker by the day. Your ever, annoyingly, bright outlook has become cloudy. I changed to this form," She motioned to herself, with her free hand. "To help soothe, your troubled mind." With that she gently pulled the man, into a hug.
The hug was surprisingly warm, he felt tears stream down his cheek. His mind was flooded with images of his mother, well the chakra image of his mother. "Oh…" He softly whispered, as he realized what Kurama was doing. The fox had taken the form of his mother. Of course, she would, who else would be able to ease his unsteady world. Naruto felt his heart swell, even in the darkness, still some light can be found. "Thank you, Kurama." He whispered, as silent tears streamed down his face. To think that Kurama, was once so filled with hatred. This was, the only proof he needed that the world could be changed for the better.
He may have failed this time, but he would find another way. Too many people's hopes hung on him, for him to just give up. "What should I do Kurama?" He asked weakly, as he broke away gently from the embrace. Kurama stared at him, carefully taking in his whole appearance. "I couldn't tell you, kit. I have never been one to fix things. I am simply a mindless beast of destruction remember." She said with a wink, as she forced him from the seal. A soft whisper echoed, though his mind as he returned to darkness. "Trust your heart; it has always been your best quality." A soft smile graced his lips, as a single tear rolled down his face.
Sakura pushed open the flap of the tent, and slowly entered. She scuffed at the sound of the Anbu outside. "Bitch? Oh I could show you a bitch..." She started, but then shook her head at the thought. Her concern and primary focus, was for her oldest friend. "Naruto." She softly called, she moved further into the darkened tent. Her eyes began to scan the décor. Paperwork was sporadically piled all over. The table, which had been where most the battle planning took place, had a large map on it. It was a map of the elemental nations; markers filled the spots where skirmishes had broken out. She let out a deep sigh; this pointless war had touched just about every point of the map.
Iwa had thrown the first stone, both metaphorically and figuratively. All because, they were convinced Suna, had been withholding supplies. Tears glistened her beautiful eyes once more; Temari had been one of the first casualties, along with her unborn child. She had been on her way to ease tensions, when Iwa attack her caravan. And from there the remaining two Suna siblings wanted blood. Could you blame them? Their sister and unborn nephew had been murdered for no reason.
When Shikamaru heard, his fury matched that of the others. Stricken with grief from the loss of his wife and child, he demanded blood. Naruto had tried everything, to soothe the tensions. Tediously working, setting up summits, but alas it had been too late. War had begun. It didn't take long for the other nations to make power grabs, and the Fifth Great War had erupted.
Sakura's eyes quickly located the blonde. He was covered from head to toe in blood and grime. Her eyes softened, as she watched her sleeping friend. His golden sunshine hair looked so out of place with his filthy body. He looked so young; peaceful even as he slept on. "Oh Naruto..." She whispered softly, as she moved closer. She quietly sat down next to his bed. She reached up and gently took his hand into hers. Delicately, she caressed his calloused fingers. "You're an idiot. Always pushing yourself to hard, and taking on everyone's burdens." She whispered, as she buried her head into his hand. Her tears cascaded down onto his skin, as she silently wept.
The droplets, which speckled the blonde's skin, caused him to subconsciously reach up to comfort the sobbing woman. She blinked blankly; the warmth from the blonde's fingers tickled her senses, as he gently caressed her cheek. "Naruto." She whispered, as her eyes shot towards the still sleeping blonde. "Even in your sleep, you can't help but comfort me. You truly are too good for this world." She said tentatively, as she softly muzzled her cheek against his hand.
As if sensing, the tender moment Sai walked into the tent. "Called it!" He exclaimed, as he eyed Sakura with a smirk. He reached up and wiped the trickling blood from his mouth. "If you are quite done. Could you wake up dickless? We need to start returning to Konoha." He said with a sneer, as he left the tent. Sakura's face was burning brightly in the darkened tent. She quickly let go of Naruto's hand and readjusted herself. She brushed off her pants, as she called in a slightly louder voice. "Naruto! Wake up Naruto!" As if on cue, the blonde shot straight up. He quickly reached for a Kunai, only to have his hand stopped by one of Sakura's.
"Relax Naruto; you are safe in you tent." She reassured him. The blonde's facial expression soothed, as he took notice of the young woman. "Sakura-chan!" He said, as his bright sunny smile graced his lips. Her heart thumped uncontrollably, as her eye twinkled in the darkness. There he was that's the blonde she had always known. With his breathtakingly beautiful smile. Warmth, that's the best way to explain it. He was warmth, like the radiating beams of sunlight. He is too pure, for this hell of a world. If only he could be this happy forever, but the moment he walks outside, the stress and darkness will creep back.
"What are you doing here?" Naruto's sleepy voice brought her back to reality. She crossed her arms in front of her with a huff. "I wouldn't have to come check on you. If you weren't such a reckless idiot!" She shot at him, as she turned her face to the side, to hide the growing blush on her cheeks. Naruto sat up and rubbed the back of his head, oblivious to the blush. "Yeah, I guess you're right" He chuckled, as he got up.
"Anyway, did something happen?" He asked, as he began to stretch. Sakura nodded, as she turned to leave. "Sai said we needed to head back to Konoha. And before you ask, he didn't say why. Also, I'm glad you're okay." She said softly, as she left the tent. Naruto stared at the entrance, for a brief moment, and then shrugged. Odd, sure he had seen Sakura worry before, but lately she had been acting strangely. He'll need to check on her later, possibly after they returned to Konoha.
Naruto was about to head outside, when he realized he was still in his filthy clothing. "This won't do." He muttered to himself. Sure his guards had seen him like this, but he couldn't publicly appear in this. Quickly, he reached into his pouch and removed a scroll. In one sweeping motion, he tossed the scroll into the air, while simultaneously biting a finger. He smeared his bloodied finger across the scroll, and with a small puff of smoke, a new outfit had appeared. "I really love seals! Thank you, Pervy sage!" He exclaimed, as he began to change into his clean clothing. The outfit was exactly the same, as the one he worn previously. It consisted of a black jacket with orange trimming around the collar, sleeves and bottom. He wore orange shinobi pants, with black sandals, and another white haori with red flames the sleeves and bottom, along with the crimson Rokudaime written on the back.
He reached up and ran his hand, through his messy golden locks. "Man, my hair is getting long!" He said, as he pushed the bangs from his face. Naruto reached into his pouch once more, and pulled out a small band. He quickly pulled his shoulder length hair back, and neatly tied it into a ponytail. He then grabbed his forehead protector, and tied it around his head. Satisfied, he turned towards the entrance of the tent and made his way out.
Once outside, the blonde was greeted with the sight of his remaining shinobi. He was slightly taken aback by the sudden appearance. "Hokage-sama!"They cheered happily for their leader. Naruto raised a hand to quiet the jeers and yells. "It has been a long few years; we have fought many grueling battles, and have lost many comrades and family." He said with a somber look, filling his expressive cerulean eyes. "But we finally pushed the enemy back, broken their resolves. The war is over. We can finally return to Konoha. May we never forget those, who gave their lives in the hopes of peace?" The blonde then reached up and brushed away a few tears, which threatened to fall from his eyes. The pointless war was finally over. His heart felt heavy, as he remembered those he lost. He put on his cheery mask of a smile, as his shinobi began to celebrate.
Sasuke and Sakura closely watched their friend, as he plastered on his fake smile. They have known the man, far too long to believe his charade. He was emotionally wrecked, though he hid it well. With that the armed forces, began to pack for their return home. There was an emotional haze with the camp, sounds of happiness, grief and contentment reverberated across the clearing, as they broke down the temporary home. After a few hours, the shinobi began their journey back to Konoha.
The return trip took the shinobi, close to two whole weeks. When they finally arrived back in Konoha, the caravan of Shinobi looked much worse for wear. They were finally home! No more battles, they could finally rebuild their lives. Slowly, everyone started to live again. Everyone except for a certain blonde Hokage.
Naruto was sitting in his office, going over some final paperwork for the new treaties. He let out a deep sigh. He was truly relieved the war, was finally over. Yet, he couldn't get over the grief he felt. He had failed; he had promised both Pervy Sage and Nagato, he would find true peace. "What am I supposed to do now..?" He questioned to know one in particular, as he placed his head on his desk. He was stuck. He didn't feel like himself, and he didn't feel like he deserved to be Hokage. He had lost many under his reign, gone through two bloody wars. He glanced up at the wall, at the photos of the previous Hokage. Everyone of them had fought and died for this village, and he just lead others to their deaths. He had no right to be here, he wasn't a hero like them. His teary eyes lingered on his father's photo. "What should I do dad?" He pleaded, as the tears began to stream down his face.
"Maybe, it's time to go?" The deep growl of Kurama filled his ears. "Go? Go where?" Naruto asked back, as he stared blankly. There was a brief silence, before the fox responded. "Anywhere kit, you have done your duty. You have lead this village for twelve years; don't you think it's time to take a break?" Kurama said, as the blonde silently considered the idea. Where would he go? What would he do? Who would he become? He had always had one goal, and now that he had achieved it what else was there to do? "Maybe you're right. I can't do this anymore." The blonde finally responded, as he began to scribble a note.
He walked to the window and raised an arm, instantly a hawk landed. He tied the note to its leg and raised his arm for the bird to take flight. He walked over to his desk and grabbed his hat, one last time. He placed his hat on, as he awaited their arrival. Naruto stared out his window, looking down at his village. It was bittersweet, it almost looked peaceful. A slight knock on the door, brought his attention back to the room. "Enter." He said in a low voice, as he returned to his desk.
Five Years Later
The Hokage tower was ablaze in the darkened night sky. It was one of the few buildings, which was still lit in the early morning. Finally, having finished with the dreadful paperwork, a young man was staring up at the photo of his predecessor, his friend, his rival, and sometimes teacher. The young man reached into his robes, and pulled out his pipe. He raised it to his mouth, and lit it with a small fire jutsu. For awhile, the only sounds were that of him inhaling on his pipe, and the soft scratching of his beard. A gentle knock interrupted the man's thoughts. "Come in." He said in a gruff voice, as he turned to his desk.
Once he was seated, his eyes were meant with the sight of a beautiful, bubblegum pink haired woman. She was wearing a long white coat; her hair was pulled back into a messy bun. She was carrying stacks of paper, and was looking completely exhausted. "Hokage-sama," She greeted the man respectfully. The man sigh at the honorific, he raised his hand to stop her. "Sakura-san, how many times do I have to tell you? Konohamaru is fine. "He said, as he took a long drag on his pipe, and stared painfully at the paperwork.
"What brings you here so late?" He asked glancing up towards her. She gave him a small smile in response. "Oh these? Just the latest files, which need your approval." She said teasingly, as her eyes subconsciously, drifted to the portrait of her blonde friend. She really missed the hyperactive blonde. A slight frown graced her lips as she thought of him. "I miss him too, Sakura-san. It's been five years, since he left. I really hope he is finding peace, wherever he is." Konohamaru said, as he gazed over at the portraits once more.
Sakura turned her eyes toward her leader, as she noticed a small book poking out from underneath some files. She raised an eyebrow, and quickly grabbed it before the man could stop her. Her eyes narrowed, as she read the title; Icha Icha: Rebirth. Sakura's eyebrow began to twitch, as she stared at the book. She never thought she would ever see a new volume of one of these. She flipped the book over to read the about the author section. "You men are all the same. At least that's one good thing about Sasuke and Naruto, neither of them would be caught dea..." She started, but was stunned by what she saw. The new author of the series was none other than Naruto.
Sakura tightly grasped on to the little offending book, as her eyes began to narrow accusingly. "Did you know, about this?" She asked with venom, her eyebrow began to twitch more. Konohamaru sweat dropped, as he began to stumble over his words. "Well, yo-you see..." He nervously rubbed the back of his head, much reminiscent of the in question blonde. "H-he may have sent me and advance copy... b-but I haven't read it…" Just as he managed to say that, Sakura opened the book and a book mark came falling to the floor.
She deadpanned at Konohamaru, as she through the book at him. It crushed hard into his face, causing a steady stream of blood to trickle down from his nose. "Now, now Sakura-chan, it's not his fault, that he understands magnificent literature!" A sing-song voice erupted from the window seal, where a slender man was sitting. He had long blonde hair, which was pulled back into a high samurai style ponytail. His bangs elegantly framed his face, his trademark whiskers still visible. His beautiful cerulean eyes seemed to sparkle like the night sky. He was wearing a short-sleeved orange haori, which was trimmed with black flames. Underneath, he wore a plain black jacket, and black shinobi pants. They were wrapped at the bottom, with orange bandages, which were tucked into his black shinobi sandals.
It was the very man himself, the former Rokudaime, the hero of the fourth and fifth wars, the savor of the village. It was her closest friend, the one and only Naruto Uzumaki. Her heart clenched painfully, as she stared over at the blonde. She felt tears begin to stream down her face. He was here; he was really sitting right in front of her. It's been five years, five long horrible years. The last time, she had gotten to see him, was a little over a month after their return. The man had been so busy with treaty talk, after treaty talk, she hadn't so much as gotten a glance of him. It was on this rare occasion, she had barged into the office and demanded he took a break. She knew him, like the back of her hand, and knew he hadn't been taking care of himself. So she did the only thing, she knew would work. She forced him to take her out on a date, and it worked like a charm. They had a wonderful time, but that didn't last long. Soon after the date, he was dragged back into another emergency.
That continued for the next couple of months, until finally everything was handled. Just like that, he was gone. Konohamaru was made the intern Hokage, while the best trackers had been sent out to find Naruto. All that was left behind was a note and his forehead protector. It was a simple note, it just stated he was retired, and he was going on a journey. Sakura kept the headband, it was the last thing she had of him.
"Nar-Naruto..." Her voice broke, as she stared tearfully at the blonde. Before she could do anything, she felt his strong arms wrap around her in an embrace. "Long time, no see." His voice tickled the inside of her ear, as she was momentarily stunned by his sudden action. Without warning a fist was crushed violently into his stomach, sending him flying back into the wall with a crash. "You! You leave for five years! And not so much, as a letter?! And all you have to say is "Long time, no see."! I've been worried sick!" She screeched at him, tears streaming like rivers from her emerald eyes.
She wasn't dumb, she knew why he had to leave, but it hurt none the less. He was her best friend, the only person who was always there, until he wasn't. Yes, she may be being immature and selfish, but she didn't care. In this hell of a world, he was her only constant. "Ouch..." His painful groans brought her attention back to him. "That really hurt, Sakura-chan." He whined; in a voice she hadn't heard for years. Since before he was made the Rokudaime, it was almost childish and full of life. "He's back, he's finally back." She thought, as she smiled to herself. Her blonde had finally come home.
She crossed her arms, and stuck her nose up into the air. "Good!" she miffed, as she turned on her heel and left the room. She slammed the door behind her, causing a few of the portraits to become askew. "Oh boy…" He sighed, as he remembered, how Pervy Sage always dealt with an angry Granny Tsunade. He smiled softly to himself, they had become just like them.
"Well, that could've gone better." A voice broke his thoughts, as he turned towards the source. He let out a small gasp, he had completely forgotten about Konohamaru. The man, was sitting quietly behind his desk, he held a somber expression. He looked so tired. Naruto couldn't help, but smile as he was so reminiscent of the old man. He even had the pipe! How things have changed. "Hey Kono, how's it going?" He asked with his bright sunny smile.
Konohamaru was instantly reminded of the man's former self, it was like looking into the very past. The man standing in front of him was no longer the defeated war veteran, but the sunny blonde he looked up to so much. Naruto was back, his hero, his rival, his big brother. "What brings, you back so late?" He asked with a curious voice, as he eyed his friend suspiciously. When he left, he was a glimmer of his former self, and he knew better than most that the blonde wouldn't return without a cause.
Naruto stiffened a bit, under the piercing glare. He let out a soft chuckle. "Should've known better, you Suratobi, are really perceptive. The old man, was the only one, who could always see through my pranks." He said, as he rubbed the back of his head. The blonde got up and walked in front of his friend's desk. "I've come to say goodbye." He said flatly, as he took a seat a crossed from his bewildered successor. Konohamaru was about to protest, when the blonde held up a hand to silence him. "What I am planning on doing, is very dangerous. One wrong move and it could be disastrous. No, it won't affect the village. I will take the entire backlash. Kurama says we have about seventy-five percent chance of failure. But it is something, I need to do. If it all goes right, I could save many." The blonde stopped for a moment, as he gazed at his old friend.
"I'm not going to jus..." Konohamaru started in outrage, but was interrupted by the blonde. He took on a tired expression, as he spoke. "It's too late, the boss has already started. It will be over shortly, come what may." He smiled up, at the stunned looking Hokage. "Incase the worse should happen. I know the village is in great hands." With that the blonde disappeared with a small puff of smoke.
"Dammit Naruto!" Konohamaru shouted, as he threw a pile of paperwork a crossed the room. Why does it always have to be him? Why does he always need to save everyone? Konohamaru slammed his fist into his desk, the sudden impact causing one of the portraits to fall. He looked over at the broken frame of a much younger Naruto, with the same sunny smile he always wore. He let out a sigh and quickly summoned his Anbu commander. "Owl!" A man with short black hair, and an owl mask appeared in front of him. "Search the village, find Naruto. I don't want him to do whatever he has planned. I refuse to let him sacrifice himself." With that the Anbu, quickly disappeared.
Sakura found herself, walking a familiar path, leading towards training grounds seven. Every time, she finds herself at a loss, she always winds up back here. The one place, which will forever hold dear memories. The place, where she and the two boys became a family, under their beloved late Sensei. How she deeply miss Kakashi-sensei, and his ridiculous love for those perverted books. And of course his eye smile, which always gave her much reassurance. She let out a soft sigh, as she began to reminisce about a past life. She didn't even notice the blonde gazing down at the memorial stone.
"Hey guys. I know it's been awhile, and I miss you all more and more every day. If only, I had been strong enough to protect you. But this time, this time for sure..." He whispered, as his hand traced the names of his fallen friends and family. "Watch over me, Kakashi-sensei, Pervy Sage, and Granny Tsunade. One way or another, I'll be seeing you all soon." He said, as he walks towards a complicated looking sealing array. He paused for a moment, and closed his eyes, within a matter of seconds he was standing before the large cage. He looked up at the fox, with a wide smile. "Well Kurama, if we don't make it..." The fox let out a low huff, as it pierced him with a crimson glare.
"Don't go getting all sentimental, Kit. We aren't dying like this." Kurama said with a devilish grin. "But it has been a headache, brat. But I wouldn't have any other idiot human." The fox said, as he held out his enormous paw. Naruto smirked and bumped it. "Believe it!" He yelled, causing the fox to roll his eyes, but he still wore his smirk.
Naruto blinked, and found himself back in the training grounds. He glanced, once more around his old training area, and wore a sorrowful smile. Memories rushed to his senses, as tears streamed down his face. That was a different life, a happy easygoing life. He sighed, as he pulled out a kunai and sliced open his hand. He began to trickle blood across the seal, as he started a long series of hand signs.
Sakura eyes narrowed, as she saw a figure weaving numerous hand signs. Quietly, she moved in closer to get a better look. Her heart started racing, as she recognized the blonde. "What are yo...?" She started, but her eyes nearly doubled, as she noticed the large sealing array. She was by no means proficient in Fuinjutsu, but she could recognize a complicated seal anywhere. Whatever the blonde was planning, it would require an enormous amount of chakra, and anything that cost that much always came with a price. She paled, as she stared at the blonde. No! She refused to lose him again. Without thinking, she rushed towards him.
She scraped her arm on something, and felt the warm blood streaming down her arm. She didn't care; she needed to get to Naruto, before it was too late. She sprinted a crossed the grounds as fast as she could. Droplets of her blood, trailing behind her as she went. Just as Naruto had finished the hand signs, and slammed his hand on the ground, he noticed the pink haired woman. His eyes widened, as they were enveloped in a blinding light.
A/N: Hiya Everyone! This is my first time writing one of these. I hope it was okay! I really enjoy these types of stories, and have some fun plans going forward. i really hoped you enjoyed reading it, as much as i enjoyed writing it! please feel free to give me feedback, but please dont be too nasty. if you enjoyed this story, i hope you will check out my other one!