Shadows within a Dream
By: Kisu
A/N: No I'm not dead yet! Bwahahah! And this fic is so long…I want to end it soon though. Maybe 5 more chapters? We'll see. I hope you'll it. I wanted to explore Sasuke's past a bit. R/R! XD (and my titles suck now…so nyah) Also I made a mistake, Cho and the twins are Cloud-nins not Mist-nins. I had to reread my other chapters to make sure.
Disclaimer: I am not the great Kishimoto-sama! So I do not own anything. Except Saya, Shiko, and Cho. Which are original characters so…don't get confused!
Chapter 3.6: Children of the Lost Village
"So you have finally came Uchiha Sasuke. I thought you got lost on your way." Kabuto spoke up as he adjusted his glasses. A slow smirk crossed his lips as he examined his sleeves for any piece of lint. Hiding brief irritation that the stoic boy did not respond to him, he gave a huge sigh and straightened. "It's too bad though."
The silent boy's eyes flickered for a second.
"That you were too weak to kill your friend, Uzumaki Naruto." Kabuto continued. "I guess I have to finish him off after all." He chuckled and proceeded to walk away.
"If you ever mention him in front of me again," Sasuke stated, darkly. "I'll kill you." Kabuto paused in mid-step and fought the uncomfortable aura that had suddenly fallen upon him. The hair on the back of his neck prickled as he slowly turned around.
"You? Kill me?" Kabuto asked in amusement. "I'd like to see you try, brat."
"Now, now Kabuto." Orochimaru murmured from where he was sitting in the shadows. "Let him have his way. After all Sasuke-kun is a wonderful asset to me." Kabuto glared at the silent boy and gave a nod of submission. "I was waiting for you Sasuke, I'm glad you made the right decision."
"I came to become more powerful and nothing else." Sasuke replied, coldly. "After I kill Itachi, I will leave."
"Leave?" Orochimaru repeated in mild surprised. "Who said you can leave, boy? Once you taste the dark side, you'll never want to leave." The seal on the boy's neck glowed in the darkness with a faint light and the boy hissed in pain. He clamped a hand over the seal and fell to his knees. "Because that seal means you belong to me, Sasuke-kun and never forget that."
Sasuke jolted upright in bed and gasped for air. The window next to his bed was open and the thin curtains floated on a cool night breeze that wafted through the opening. He shivered as his body temperature cooled down and his sweat made him cold. Swiftly he reached over and slammed the window down and swept his damp sheets to the floor.
"Why am I remembering now?" He whispered before getting off the bed. Pulling a pair of pants over his shorts and a black shirt over his head, he jammed his feet into sandals and rushed out the door.
"You're awake!"
He groaned as his eyes fluttered open and winced when he was met with bright light. After a few tries, he opened them fully to see a white ceiling and the bright sunlight that shone through an open window. Slowly he looked around and settled on the smiling form of Sakura. Her hand that was clasped in his tightened and he blinked. Then he decided to sit up.
Sakura frowned as he shifted and gave a gasp of pain. "Shit." He hissed as he shut his eyes. He could almost see the stars circling around his head since that small movement left him breathless.
"You shouldn't move, Naruto." Sakura said in disapproval. "You're still recovering."
"I haven't felt this weak in a long time." He muttered. "So what happened?"
"You got hurt." Sakura said as he eyes shone with unshed tears. "Again."
"Sorry." Naruto replied.
"You don't mean it." Sakura sniffed as she glared at him. "When Sasuke brought you back, you were so pale…I thought you were…"
Dead.
The unspoken word lingered in the air between them and Naruto opened his eyes to stare at a far corner. "Konoha was never good for me. So did we pass?"
"Yes." Sakura said, drying her tears. "And the Hidden Cloud-nins were disqualified. Tsunade-sama pulled out all the ninjas from that village. A few other shinobi from outside villages also failed."
"What's next?" Naruto asked.
"You don't really think that you are going to continue participate in you condition, do you?" Sakura began.
"Sakura." Naruto stated, calmly. The kunoichi tightened her grip on his hand once more.
"There is going to be a tournament like the one when were Chuunins, but first we have to fight a Jounin and we have to do it in pairs again." Sakura explained, quietly. "Our partners will be randomly selected again."
"Hm." Was the blonde's response.
"Naruto…" Sakura sighed.
"Help me up, Sakura-chan." Naruto interrupted her. Sakura blinked before standing up and helping him sit up. The sheet around his shoulders fell to his waist and the blonde looked down, letting his fingers glide along the bandages around his chest. His left arm was also bandaged up to his elbow and Sakura was watching him with concerned eyes. "In the past, I could just peel off these bandages and be fine. But now…"
"It's Sasuke again, isn't it?" Sakura demanded. "He was the one who did this to you. Just like that time that you almost died!"
"Don't talk about it ever again, Sakura." Naruto told her, quietly. "Things in the past should stay in the past, especially when it is an issue that is forbidden to talk about. This was no one's fault but mine."
"Naruto, you're one of my closest friends and I don't want to lose you." Sakura snapped. "I'm not going to sit back and watch you die!"
"Can you do me a favor, Sakura?" Naruto asked. Sakura nodded after a moment of hesitation. "Heal me so I can start training."
"But-" Sakura started.
"Please." Naruto added. With one more disapproving glance at him, she nodded wordlessly and summoned chakra in her hands.
Long after Naruto was gone, Sakura stood by the window in the hospital room. The white curtains billowed around her as she stared over the village, reflecting the small joys of warm sunshine, the laughter of children, and the birds that flew overhead.
"Sakura?"
She turned around to face her teacher and the fifth Hokage of Konoha.
"I let him go, Tsunade-sama." Sakura said, tiredly. "I can't hold him back."
"His spirit would never let him settle down and by an ordinary ninja. He sees the world as something he wants to conquer." Tsunade told her with a gentle smile. Crossing over she settled her hands gently on Sakura's shoulders. "But after researching, I have come to a conclusion."
"Will it help Naruto?" Sakura asked, brightening up.
"Surgery." Tsunade said, grimly.
"So just like Lee, you can save him?" Sakura gasped.
"Lee didn't have a chakra system to begin with." Tsunade replied. "But this procedure is ten times more difficult because it deals with the chakra system. Only my grandfather performed it once and the patient ended up dying a few years later. In addition, Naruto has two separate chakra systems and since he has merged with the Kyuubi, his chakra system is unlike any other."
"So the chance that he has to survive is…" Sakura asked in fright.
"Perhaps 5 and no more." Tsunade told her. Sakura stumbled and was glad for the support that Tsunade had placed on her shoulders.
"5?" She repeated weakly. The Hokage nodded silently, a grave expression on her face.
"It's either that or I will seal off his chakra valves forever. So he can be a ninja like Lee."
"But…but Naruto will never be happy like that!"
"Excuse me."
Both of them swung over to the door and Tsunade bristled at the intruder. Her expression softened when she recognized her second pupil. Hyuuga Hinata stood in the doorway holding onto a small bouquet of wild flowers. She was dressed in a white fighting dress like the one Sakura and Ino used to wear and her hair was tied back in a low ponytail.
"Hinata?" Sakura blinked. "Sorry but Naruto was dismissed from the hospital earlier."
"I missed him again." Hinata sighed. "I couldn't help overhearing but maybe I can help."
"Hinata?" Tsunade straightened and turned around to face her. Then she smiled widely. "Why didn't I think of it before?"
"Stop following me!" Cho yelled at the silent man. "Are you deaf or something?"
"No and women are troublesome." Shikamaru sighed as he rolled his eyes upwards. "I was assigned to keep an eye on you so I have no choice but to follow you."
"I don't want you!" Cho glared. "I want Onii-san!"
"Well if he was released from the hospital there is only one place he would probably go first…" Shikamaru said, lazily. Cho gasped before he could finish his sentence and dove into the nearest stall. "…Ichiraku's."
"Nii-san!" Cho squealed as Shikamaru lifted the half-sheets that hung around the stall. The girl was clinging onto Naruto like he was her lifeline.
"Okay, okay." He heard Naruto said, comfortingly. "I'm still hurt Cho-chan so you have to let go."
Surprisingly the girl did so and Shikamaru sat down next to him. Naruto turned his head and gave him a nod. "Well you look worse than Akamaru's shit." Shikamaru commented as he took in his appearance.
"Nice to see you too, you lazy good-for-nothing." Naruto scowled.
"Nii-san, why are you eating ramen? You should eat something healthy." Cho commented as she tugged on his sleeve.
"But the ramen here is the best!" Naruto protested as the old man behind the counter sighed and shook his head.
"She's right, Naruto. Ramen isn't good for a recovering ninja." He told him, although his eyes were twinkling merrily. Naruto sighed and Cho tugged on his sleeve again.
"Let me cook you something, Nii-san. Saya and Shi-chan also wants to see you." Cho said. She turned and stuck out her tongue at Shikamaru. "But you're not invited."
Shikamaru simply raised an eyebrow.
"All right." Naruto said as he paid for his bowl of ramen. "You three have explanations that I haven't heard. Leave her in my care, Shika. It'll be fine." Shikamaru sighed.
"I don't think that they are able to be trusted." Shikamaru replied. "And even if they are to be trusted, I'm going to get an earful from the Hokage."
"Well then, tell her this." Naruto told him as he stared straight into his eyes. "I trust them with my life because they were my former students."
"Hey…what?" Shikamaru exclaimed as what Naruto just said, dawned on to him. Cho stared at him silently and formed a few quick seals with her hands. Then, they disappeared in a cloud of smoke. "Dammit Naruto!"
They reappeared inside a small house and Cho sighed softly as she let her hands drop back to her sides. "Saya! Shi-chan! I brought Onii-san." She called out. Naruto blinked when they received no response and Cho tugged on his sleeve. "They're probably in the kitchen making lunch."
"Lunch?" Naruto repeated as he blankly followed Cho through the hallway.
They entered a cozy kitchen and Saya turned around when they walked in. Shiko looked up from where he sat at the kitchen table and quickly glanced away.
"Ah, Naruto-kun! Sit down." Saya said as Cho bounded over to the stove. Shiko silently got up to pour a mug of tea for him and slowly placed it in front of him. The corner of Naruto's lips twitched at the unspoken apology.
"It feels good to be with you guys." Naruto said after a while. He settled his arms down onto the table and rested his head on top of them.
"It feels good to be with you too, Nii-chan." Cho replied, warmly for all of them. She began setting the table and Shiko stood up to scoop rice into small bowls. Naruto watched them with a small smile as they moved about and closed his eyes. He breathed in, in-taking the smell of cooking fish that was a signature of the village of Saba. All three of them were the children of the lost village.
His blue eyes clouded over as he envisioned the village going up in smokes and flames. It was a memory that was still fresh within his mind and reminded him of how useless he had been.
"Nii-chan, let it go." Cho said as she placed a hand on top of his. He blinked and realized that now; they were all sitting around the table with the food in front of them. Shiko was studying him silently while Saya looked a little concerned on his behalf.
"It was my fault." Naruto whispered, heart-brokenly. "Nothing will ever change that."
"It wasn't." Cho replied, sharply. "Don't blame yourself."
"Itadakimasu." Saya murmured.
After the dishes were put away, they sat in the TV room. Naruto leaned back against the couch and let his eyes drift halfway shut. "Now tell me, what happened after I left." He said.
Cho glanced at Saya and Shiko before closing her eyes regretfully.
"After you left, Kazuo became more of a tyrant then ever and no one liked him." Cho said. "He began to believe that you had a special effect on the village so he set out to bring you back. But he also wanted to train someone as soon as possible to become the next Raikage. He decided that I would be part of the bonus. I told him that I only wanted to marry you and he agreed if I helped him kidnap Hinata-san."
"Of course Shiko and I were disappointed." Saya spoke up, quietly. "But Raikage also made us a deal. If Shi-chan and I brought you back, Shi-chan could marry Cho and I could marry you."
"So we were all lied to." Cho said, sadly. "Now I hate Uncle Kazuo more than ever!"
"It's only been a year since I last you all and you've grown up so much." Naruto spoke up after a moment of silence. "But I'm sure you've learned that growing up also comes with responsibility. I don't want you three to ever fight, because if you do then you'll have nothing left. Friendship is the most important thing besides family."
"Sensei." Shiko suddenly said. "Why couldn't you use your chakra to heal yourself?"
"I was injured while fighting Itachi." Naruto said, quietly. "That is why I can't use my chakra anymore."
"No!" Saya gasped as Shiko's eyes widened. "I'm sure that you'll recover!"
"I don't think so Saya. But thank you for your concern." Naruto chuckled. "And Shi-chan don't call me 'Sensei' anymore. I taught you three what I knew but I'm not qualified in being called a teacher."
"Sensei will always be Sensei!" Saya frowned stubbornly. Naruto shook his head and turned to look over when Cho grabbed onto his left arm. Her hands glow a soft white as she healed his arm. After a moment she stopped and placed her hand on top of his chest.
"Onii-san, what did you do to yourself?" Cho whispered after a long moment of silence. "Your chakra system is almost completely destroyed!"
"I used a forbidden jutsu." Naruto told her. "It's a jutsu that I learned from Itachi himself."
"Where is that bastard now?" Shiko demanded, rising to his feet.
"He's dead." Naruto murmured. "Everyone from your village has been avenged."
"Nii-san, come back with us." Cho tugged on his sleeve. "There's nothing for you here now. Hidden Cloud needs you more than Konoha!" Blue eyes softened on Cho's soft doe-like eyes. "You can be Kage of Hidden Cloud and overthrow Kazuo! You've always wanted to be a Kage, right?"
"I-" Naruto began.
They were suddenly interrupted by a cloud of smoke. All of them turned as the smoke cleared and Saya and Shiko shifted into a defensive stance in front of Naruto. Cho stood up as she finished healing Naruto's wounds completely.
"You're not going anywhere Naruto." Shikamaru drawled as he stuffed his hands into his pant pockets. "We have a problem."
"What is it?" Naruto asked as he stood up in concern. Shikamaru glanced at the Cloud-nins in amusement as they shifted once more to position themselves for an attack.
"Sasuke never showed up for patrol so we were wondering if you've saw him." Shikamaru said, casually.
"Sasuke is missing?" Naruto exclaimed. "Did you check his place?"
"His window was opened and his bed was unmade. It seemed like he left in a hurry." The lazy Chuunin informed him.
"I have to find him!" Naruto yelled as he rushed out of the room.
"Nii-san!" Cho cried out.
"Wait, Sensei!" Saya protested. "We'll come with you!" She made a move to run after the blonde but Shikamaru intercepted her.
"What gives?" Shiko growled as he raised his kunai.
"You three aren't going anywhere." Shikamaru stated. "Our Hokage wants to see you."
Replies to reviews!:
Momochi Zabuza: Thanks for reviewing when I didn't update ahahah! I'm sure there were some mistakes some where...especially grammar ones. Jealousy? Hm...Neji and Gaara seems to be a bit peeved at Sasuke all the time. I'm sure Kakashi will come in soon too.
Dadaiiro: Naruto will "regain his powers" soon, I guess. But for awhile he is going to have to rely on taijutsu.
Dark Mimiru-Chan: It's so hard to write fluff when I'm on an angsty role....I'll try to add some in soon.. XD
TenshiKaitou: I can't help it...I must explain everything before I end the story! XD And since the setting of the fic is after the Orochimaru incident...ppl want to know what happened...right? right? XO
Aragornthia: I will never stop writing my fics! coughs Just a little delay...
Kyuubi-kun: Have you tried pepsi-spice? it just tastes like...very carbonated..cinnamony pepsi...and it's red.
KageKitsune16: I have to stop injuring Naruto in my fic...do you know how many times he has been hurt? Ahahaha! XP
To all others who replied: Thank you for reading my fic! Yes I will update soon...and I will take all your suggestions/reviews into consideration! 3