Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto....don't kill me....
Times Change
Chapter Two: Explanation?
"Well?" Sakura asked expectantly.
"I'm sorry. I can't... explain. There was too much going on at the time and I needed to sort out all my cluttered thoughts." He whispered softly while pulling off his hitai-ate. "I'll be back later." He said as he dropped his hitai-ate. "I'll be back for this." He then performed a simple seal and disappeared.
"I'll go after him." Sasuke said before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"These kids are going to be the end of me." Tsunade muttered before taking a swig of the spiked punch.
2
Sasuke ran through the trees quickly. He could sense Naruto's ever stronger chakra somewhere near by. It was amazing how much people could change in just a few years, but had Naruto really changed so much that no one really knew him anymore?
"Naruto?" Sasuke called out as he lifted away some branches. As he stepped out of the forested area he saw the boy sitting on a rock with his hand on his forehead shading his eyes. His fingers were twisted into his hair and his elbow was only being supported by his one standing up knee and his other arm supported his whole body. "You know, you look like the Yondaime." Sasuke said trying to start a conversation.
"Komizu." Naruto murmured simply.
"Who was that?" Sasuke could tell by the tone in Naruto's voice that whoever it was, was dead.
"I met her in the new Crystal country. She was a mute girl. When she was little she got strangled and her vocal chords got crushed. She sold necklaces on the street to make enough money to pay off her dad's alcohol debts." Naruto started to put one of his hands in his back pouches. "We became fast friends. I was a real talker wasn't I?" There was the slightest hint of a smile on Naruto's lips. "I talked, she listened. She was the first person that actually listened to me without a look of contempt on her face. I guess I sorta fell in love with her. When I noticed, I felt like I was betraying Sakura." Sasuke noted how Naruto no longer added 'chan' to the end of Sakura's name. "So I started to avoid her. When I finally figured it all out, I went to her usual spot only to find she wasn't there.
"I went back several times but she still wasn't there. I finally asked around and found Komizu's house. When I went inside, there was her father, crying. I got mad and beat out the information I needed. He had sold Komizu to some bandits to pay off greater debts. When I finally found their hideout I was too late. They had raped her and killed her. I...I "foxed-out". There aren't many times that I "fox-out", but, when I finally stopped, I had killed them. Every last one of those bastards." Naruto was now fiddling with a pebble necklace while tears of regret poured down his face. "I just held her in my arms. I remember feeling helpless, useless, just...worthless. And the look on her face showed me that she had been in immense pain. I carried her home and when I got there, her father had stabbed himself. I buried them and sat for three days straight just contemplating. If I hadn't been so self-absorbed I could have saved her, Komizu. One of the few people that cared about me, one of my 'precious people' that Haku talked about. Just like you, Kakashi, Sakura, Hinata-chan, Tsunade-baachan, and those select few others. Haku could have been one of them." Tears were definitely visible.
"Naruto..." Sasuke's cold mask had softened.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come back. I should have stayed away. I just wanted everyone to be happy. Instead, they send the whole ANBU after me. I must be such a nuisance." Naruto didn't sound choked as most crying people did, he just sounded remorseful, apologetic. "I'll just leave. I'll go back to the Tsukigakure maybe. I'll still be a missing-nin though... I don't care. I'll stay far away from here." Naruto started to get up. "Sasuke, if there's one thing I've learnt on my travels, it has to be, never be afraid to express how you feel. And if you really want something, go for it." Naruto was still crying but he had a small smile on his lips.
"Naruto..." Naruto stopped and his steps hesitated. "Don't go. Everyone was so sad when you were gone, even Kiba." Naruto didn't move but Sasuke chuckled. "We...we all needed you. Me, to keep the balance between Sakura and I on the team, the same goes for her. Neji needed you to keep him in line. Kiba, to keep him from being dead last. Shikamaru, to give him something else to do and well, you get the point. You were part of our balance. With you gone, we were incomplete. Do you understand?" Sasuke asked without turning to look at Naruto.
"You're using past tense." Naruto stated bluntly. "You needed me. I was part of the balance. You were incomplete. Me coming back will just disrupt your balance all over again. You'll do better with me not here." Naruto stated sadly. "I'll just go pick up my hitai-ate and be gone." He murmured and disappeared.
Sasuke sighed and disappeared as well.
2
"...And so, I must leave. It would be better for all of us." Naruto smiled softly and turned to leave, his hitai-ate back on his head. But, just as he had turned around, the door burst open and a young girl stumbled in.
"Uzumaki... Naruto?" She asked before semi-collapsing.
"I'm right here Kaira." Naruto said with seriousness plastered onto his face. "What's wrong? What happened?" He asked the blood-covered girl. Her hair was black-purple tainted red because of the blood. She blinked a bit revealing bright green eyes.
"Tiago is attacking the Korikage... The Yukigakure is under severe attacks... They sent me to get you... Jiya...is still back there. Please, save her, Naruto-kun." The girl, Kaira, whispered softly before collapsing.
"I will." Naruto whispered back.
"Naruto?" Hinata asked confused.
"What's going on?" Kiba asked looking totally miffed.
"I'm sorry, but I really have to go. This is Kaira take her to the hospital. I'll be back as soon as I can. Ugh, I just hope no one has died on me." Naruto cursed under his breath and handed Kaira over to Sasuke then disappeared in a jolt of lightning.
"So, what should we do with her?" Neji asked calmly.
"Do what Naruto said. Take her to the hospital. It looks like she passed out from blood-loss." Shikamaru said informatively.
"I'll go. Hokage-sama you should write up a report or something that Naruto is and will be back. Neji, Kiba, Shino and Lee should follow Naruto to give him a hand in battle." Sasuke took on his commanding ANBU tone.
"Right." They all said in unison.
"Neji, you'll get a chance to test out that new katana. I'd help, but Naruto has entrusted me with someone. Be good." He said before disappearing.
"Let's go." Lee said loudly.
"He's more annoying than I am." Kiba sweat-dropped.
2
Naruto ran swiftly into the mountains. At the speed he was going it wouldn't take him anymore than an hour to get to the Yukigakure, the village hidden in the snow. He had spent most of his time in the Crystal Village and the Yukigakure. The people from those two villages had accepted him.
As he ran, Naruto was glad the Kyuubi had worked on his stamina and chakra control. He had to remember to thank the damned fox. When Naruto had left, the fox had acted like his mentor, his father. And then Naruto had gone around and found more teachers. He had learned from the best, to be the best. It took a lot of hard work and a lot of teachers and a lot killing, but Naruto had finally accomplished his title. Some even named the way he killed people, or, how the people he killed died. They'd called it "Death in the Eyes of an Angel" while others had called it "Death by the Demon Angel". To Naruto, it was all quite amusing. He really didn't care about what they called his way of killing. If someone was bad, they deserved to die, if someone was good, they deserved to be protected.
Along his travels, Naruto had also learnt how to see through deception. If someone was trying to trick him, Naruto could see the lie; he had learnt to read eyes. That is why some called him "Angel Eyed Demon". He liked that name. But, it stuck too strongly for Naruto's liking. Like super glue to paper. It just wouldn't leave. And so, when he wanted it gone, it was still there.
It didn't take him too long to find out he was being followed. He could sense their chakras closing in fast. Neji, Shino, Lee, Kiba and Akamaru. It wouldn't hurt to have them join him in this war that raged on between the Tiago, the crazed, power-hungry, egotistical, bastard that wanted revenge on the Yukigakure and the calm, peaceful and powerful Yukigakure. Then again, they would be sworn to secrecy if they ever told a soul about what they saw in the Yukigakure.
Well, Naruto would not wait for them. He would continue his fast moving pace and reach the Yukigakure by morning. That was the plan and he would stick by it. He was taught to always follow his plans. His teachers always thought his plans were stupid, but they always ended up working. And so would this one. He was positive.
Kay, so here it is. Sorry it's short. I just wanted to update fast. I'm in an updatey mood at 10:05 PM.....yeah....tell me what you think and whether or not you want me to continue. And dudes? Here are the review requirements since i hate reviews that say 'plz update'. 1) Either tell me your favourite or least favourite part, I love those reviews. 2) If you're just going to tell me to update, please don't review. I mean, if you can't think of anything to say then don't please. 3) Don't tell me you love my fic (unless you've already written something useful) because I seem to find a lot of these. and 4) Critique me if you must but lets not be too harsh. Lets face it, I suck as a writer and you have to admit that everyone makes small mistakes so if it's something small that porbably no one else notices don't tell me that it's a mistake because, frankly, if no one else notices then it must not matter that much. However, if it's a stupid mistake, do tell. I hate making those.
Okay, Reviews!!!!:
EmeraldBlossom: Yeah no kidding. Glad you liked it.
Kurokukaze: I'll do my best! Thanks for the review. I like how Naruto is described as well.
Cookie6: Oh yeah...Neji got a sword....yeah...
Someone: Total Mary Poppins .
Merodi: I know!!! I know!!! I fixed it!!! Sort of....Yeah...about the swearing thing...fixed that too.
ITSAME: I didn't even know they had different names. I'll think on it. Damn, thinking like Jiraiya is hard when ur a girl....stupid old fart...pervy old fart....
Noname: No prob. I'll work on it.
Shadowdragon: You know....you scare me....scary reviewer....
gold-dragonrider-of-pern: Once again, I hate your name. It's too hard to type. I'll work on this when I can....don't have much time nowadays.....
Yeah! review if you want me to continue!!!