Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Chapter Five: Eye of the Storm
The group walked in silence for the next hours not believing what had just happened in the past and not caring where the random route they selected was leading to in the future. Naruto was witnessing the memories of the last several hours in a never ending loop that he couldn't seem to shake off or hide behind his usual mask of happiness and ignorance. He couldn't ignore this.
Flashback
" AHHHHH!" Sasuke screamed as he charged Kakashi with his Chidori.
The group watched in horror as they saw a once great shinobi fall slowly to the ground with lifeless eyes.
" Sasuke! You…. Naruto screamed in fury as he unknowingly brought out an enormous amount of the Kyubi's powers he had within him. Tears rolled down his cheeks and flooded his face as he looked at his best friend in hate.
Sasuke smiled and said, " Naruto you bakka, don't you get it? You'll never beat me, no matter how strong you are, I'll always be stronger than you. You're too attached. I've rid myself of all my emotion except hate. Now I'm stronger than anybody! My power is also now limitless."
" WHAT HAS OROCHIMARU DONE TO YOU? THE SASUKE I KNOW WOULD NEVER DO THIS!" Naruto couldn't believe his Sensei was…..dead….dead, as lifeless as a stone. He would never be able to hear Kakashi's voice again, nor be able to yell at him for being late. He would also never get to train with him again, and it was all Sasuke's fault.
" The Sasuke you know is gone! Back then I was pathetic, willing to die for the cause of happiness. Orochimaru has nothing to do with this. I rid myself of my emotion in order to obtain power. It's over, now I will destroy you. Goodbye Nar-"
Sasuke was suddenly stopped as Naruto tackled him into the ground. Sasuke got up and smiled. " Come Naruto, I will show you what true power really is."
" KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!" Naruto shouted as he created just one other clone.
" One clone? I don't believe how weak you are." Sasuke stated. Naruto and his bunshin jumped up into the air and disappeared. They each appeared by Sasuke's side taking a hold of his arms. Sasuke then jumped up pulling the Naruto's along with him and shouted, " SUGUKI NO JUTSU!"
A dark aura formed around Sasuke which then exploded sending each Naruto back down to the ground. Sasuke landed on his two feet and looked around for his blue-eyed friend. Naruto or his clone, however, was nowhere to be seen. Amazingly, neither was anyone else, it was just Sasuke, all alone on the rocky terrain.
Just then, a punch to Sasuke's stomach made him clench his gut as he fell to the ground. With immense power, Sasuke felt a kick to his head which sent him sliding across the earth. Still nobody was seen. The beatings went on for hours until Sasuke fell to the ground with his eyes closed.
As he opened them a moment later, realizing that nobody had disappeared at all, it was all an illusion. " Genjutsu!" Sasuke shouted as quickly got up and leaped back a few feet. He saw Naruto with clenched fists looking straight at Sasuke.
" Since when did you learn Genjutsu?" Sasuke asked suddenly unimpressed.
Naruto didn't reply. Instead, he charged at him with extreme speed. Sasuke dodged with some difficulty and managed to kick Naruto in the back of the head.
" Naruto, you can't beat me no matter how hard you try. Your anger has subsided, and now you are devastated. You no longer have a killing intent. I'm leaving now, goodbye." With those words said, Sasuke dashed off towards the forest that was miles away.
Present time
The group had managed to get the women out of the village who were well enough to walk. Sakura walked in shock that her long lost love had finally returned only to destroy her sensei whom she cared for oh so much.
Naruto walked in disappointment with his head down as if his neck was not functional. When he did look up, Naruto's deep blue eyes no longer looked playful and joyous, they looked hurt, anybody who happened to look at them would pity him for they could see the pain he was going through.
There was silence within the group as well as the terrain. Once they had entered the forest, even the birds seemed silent. Peace may have been restored, but they had all lost a member as well as a friend.
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Two weeks later, the group mournfully entered the gates to their village and reported to the fifth Hokage, Tsunade.
Tsunade's POV
- Hn looks like they're finally back. What's….oh crap!-
Tsunade called upon three Anbu members.
" You, go enter Kakashi's name as dead in Konoha's records, you two, go inform the whole village of this terrible incident and announce that the funeral will be in two days."
Normal POV
Tsunade watch as Naruto, Lee, and Neji all placed Kakashi's dead body softly on the floor at her feet.
Before the Hokage could ask, Naruto said sadly, " Sasuke…..I don't know why…."
One tear rolled down Naruto's cheek as his face got from sad, to even sadder.
" I'm sorry Naruto-kun," Lee said half bowing out of respect. Naruto raised his hand and shook it telling Lee that now was not the time. Neji stayed silent throughout this whole time.
When he finally did speak, it wasn't of Kakashi, it was to inform the Hokage of the mission. " When we got there, the Earth village was in ruins, and the Tsuchikage had died protecting the village from the Akutsuki. When we were about to leave, funny enough, the Akutsuki came to take Naruto. However with help from three teenagers just like us, we managed to defeat almost every one of the six that had attacked. Only one had escaped. Sasuke came and ran at us with his Chidori but Kakashi got in the way and now this is what has happened. All in all, we failed our mission, and lost a shinobi and a friend. We are all ready for the consequences we deserve."
" There will not be any consequences, seeing as how none of this was your fault. If anything you should be awarded for killing off five members of the Akutsuki. However that is not the last of them. But even though now would be a very good time to chase after the last four members of the Akutsuki, I'm afraid that we must pass. I cannot spare any Jounin to chase after them and the funeral will be held in two days. Now you may go. There is no reward money this time. But get some rest and I hope you all feel better, you're diosmosed." Tsunade said as she waved goodbye to the two chunnin and one gennin.
" That's it? Just like that we can go home, you expect us not to worry? How can you be such a heartless old lady? What about Kakashi's body, what will happen to the Akutsuki, what're we going to do about our sensei, what are we going to do after the funeral, I have so many more questions that I need to have answered and you just send us off like that?" Naruto asked feeling angry.
" NARUTO! Get out of here you annoying pest! I'm not in the mood to deal with this!"
" WHAT? Deal with this? It's all the same to you isn't it? A mission is a mission and as long as it's carried out, sacrifices can be made? You cold, ruthless, heartless, old bi-" Naruto said his voice rising and filling the room he was in. But before Naruto could finish, two Anbu members came and escorted him out of the building with necessary force.
They all went back to their house to rest from a very sad day.
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DAY 1
Naruto awoke at 2:00 PM and got out of bed. Suddenly his heart started to beat faster and faster as he remembered the day before. Again the memory of his sensei perishing under the power of the Chidori played over and over in his mind. Naruto felt sad that Kakashi had died by the very same technique that his sensei had taught Sasuke.
" Why Sasuke, why? What's happened to you?" Naruto shouted out loud as he punched the wall beside him causing a large whole to form. Naruto looked at his knuckles to see the damage he had done. The skin was off and blood dripped from his fingers down to the floor.
After Naruto got dressed, he went out to consent his old academy teacher, Iruka-sensei.
" These things happen Naruto, it wasn't your fault. You must understand that Sasuke is now corrupted. Orochimaru has toyed with his mind for too long. I'm sorry Naruto, it was inevitable. Hey how about I take you to get some ramen huh?"
Naruto shook his head. Iruka couldn't believe that naruto had actually turned down ramen. He had never done so before, even in the darkest times, Naruto would always be happy to eat ramen at his favorite place. Iruka had never seen Naruto so down before. He knew that there was nothing anybody could do, only time could heal this wound and turn it into a scar. There was no way of avoiding it. At this point, nobody could cheer Naruto up, not even if Sakura came right up and kissed him right in the mouth.
To Naruto the day went by so slowly, seconds seemed days, and hours seemed years. However the day still passed.
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DAY 2
Naruto did not wake up that morning, when Iruka came to his former student's apartment to find out what was wrong, he found Naruto lying in his bed sleeping. After several attempts of trying to wake Naruto up, ( attempts such as: shaking naruto, yelling at Naruto, rolling Naruto off the bed and on to the floor, kicking Naruto, pulling Naruto's ears, punching Naruto's stomach, and banging Naruto's head over and over again with a skillet.) Iruka rushed him to the Hospital.
" What happened?" Asked the nurse as she rushed him into the emergency room.
" I don't know, when I came to get him he was asleep but he wouldn't wake up. But he's still breathing. I was hoping you could tell me what is going on. Is he going to be ok?" Iruka said with a worrying face.
The nurse shrugged as she took Naruto to the ER where Iruka could not enter.
Hours later, Tsunade came out and told Iruka, " Naruto has entered some sort of coma, it appears he does not want to wake up. There is nothing we can do, it is all up to him. Naruto will wake up when he is ready. I could be any time. It could be now, or even years from now. I'm sorry. Oh by the way, we did find bruises all over Naruto's body, you wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?" However after the Hokage finished, she noticed that Iruka wasn't even in the room no more.
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After the sun was down, a misty night came to be. Naruto still hadn't woken up yet and Kakashi's funeral was ready to take place in the morning.
However, late at night, a mysterious dark figure in an all black cloak entered the gates of Konoha silently after easily disposing of the two guards outside.
Gai Sensei out for a midnight training stroll (now back from his mission and devastated after having lost his eternal rival), took notice of the figure heading toward the Hospital grounds.
" Excuse me, what are you doing around this time of night?" Gai Sensei asked ready to fight at any moment. However, one peer into the deep blue eyes of the figure made Gai Sensei fall unconscious on his back.
The Shinobi managed to sneak into Naruto's room undetected by anyone else. He lifted a hand and placed it on Naruto's forehead. Suddenly a soft voice spoke silently, " Kai!"
At that moment, Naruto opened his eyes and got up realizing the stranger in his room. " Who are you? What are you doing here? What time is it?"
" Calm down, I know how you are feeling, just remain calm please. I'm not here to hurt you, I'm simply here to offer you a job." The figure said.
" A job? Like what, kill somebody? What are you talking about?" Naruto asked feeling even more confused.
The figure then removed the hood to reveal his head. The person had blond hair, as shiny as Naruto's was. Amazingly, the person had the same blue eyes and skin tone as Naruto as well. This man's hair was shaggy and long, going all the way down to his shoulders. Naruto however, did not see any headband representing where he was from.
" Allow me to explain. I know how you feel Naruto. My name is Hirumata Atamuri."
" How do you know my name?" Naruto asked raising a finger to point.
" I've been following you, observing your every move, and now I've made my conclusion." said Atamuri.
" WATCHING ME? AAHHHHHH! STALKER!" Naruto shouted as he backed away until his back was against the door.
" SHHHHH! I've decided to train you. Your friend Sasuke is becoming powerful. Soon he will be a threat to this place, to this country! Come with me, however I warn you, the training will not be light, and it will not be easy. I will take you under my wing for five full fledged years. No more and no less. However it is your decision."
" How do I know this isn't some kind of scam and you're an evil shinobi here to capture me for my powers? For all I know, you can even be weaker than me." Naruto said stubbornly.
" I'm asking you to trust me, please. You feel as if your sensei's death was entirely your fault, it was you who decided to stay after all. After five years, I can guarantee you that this won't ever be an issue again. You will have the speed, the strength, the courage, and the ability to act in a split second making the right decision in no time. I place myself to be one of the strongest shinobi on the face of this planet. It is your decision all in all, but I can make it so that nobody's blood would ever be spilled on your account again. You would have the definite ability to save them. Five years, five solid years is all I ask of you. I must leave now, what do you say?" Atamuri said as he opened the window and prepared to jump out of it.
Naruto followed behind him leaving all his belongings including his Konoha headband taking only the hospital clothes that he had on him and some ninja sandals.
With that, Atamuri and Naruto disappeared into the darkness leaving the Village of Konoha behind.
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DAY 3: KAKASHI'S FUNERAL
At 6:00 AM, the Hokage was informed that the " Blond Patient" had disappeared. She then dispatched a handful of Anbu members to search for Naruto immediately. She could not go herself, she had the funeral to attend to.
Kakashi's coffin lay on a stand by the stone where all the names carved into it were shinobi who had died for the village. Kakashi's name was already on there. Every member of Konoha passed by the coffin and placed anything from a rose, to a kunai on the stone. At the end of the day, Kakashi was buried right next to the stone. His name was carved nicely right next to a name who had taught him the meaning of friendship, Obito…
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NEXT DAY
Naruto had turned out missing after the Anbu came back with no information on his whereabouts what-so-ever, and Kakashi was dead. But, aside from those two horrible facts, peace was finally restored for the current moment.
Nobody could argue the fact that somewhere deep down, deep down, underneath all the sadness and misery, the village of Konoha……was……..happy. Happy for once.
Sakura had no team now, so she stuck with her trainer, Tsunade.
Naruto's former trainer, Jiraiya, was not happy. Although Naruto and him had always fought and argued, he still thought of Naruto as his own son, willing to die for him at all costs. However, his son, was now….gone. He was devastated, however, he did not show it one bit. He just carried on his life as if nothing had ever happened.
So peace was restored at last. The village was in for some minor corrections. They could not do anything about Naruto leaving, or Kakashi dying, they could only accept it. Which in time, they did.
2 and a half years later…
The peaceful village had not forgotten about the devastating incidents, but they had put it aside to let the past keep it. Only bringing the memory up in the darkest of times. Everybody was now fine, for now……
Author's note: I hope you all liked this chapter and btw, I may not write in a while but plz don't give up hope, plz constantly check and I'll have updated soon enough. Thank you for all your support.