Twist of Fate
Chapter 6 : Critical
Synopsis : Sakura and Lee join in with their comrades, as Kakashi and Gai rush in with Naruto that hangs between life and death.
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Pairings : Unknown for now. Suggestions are welcomed
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Disclaimer : I don't own Naruto but wish I did
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Timeline :
- This takes place when Shikamaru, and the team he created went after the 4 Ninjas that took Sasuke with them. In other words it's right after Neji finished his battle with his opponent in Manga Volume 22 Chapter 198.
- Sasuke was NOT put in the wooden barrel to begin with
- Sakon is one of the four ninjas under Orochimaru's command. He's the ninja that seems to have two bodies of some sort ( Chapter 200 )
- Kimimaro was sent by Kabuto ( Orochimaru's right hand ) since the four ninjas were taking too long to come back to Orochimaru.
- To me, all underlings of Orochimaru are male, so sorry if they were any females that I wasn't able to spot.
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JUTSU LIST :
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JAPANESE WORDS
- baka = idiot -
- dobe = dead last -
- Arigatou = Thank You -
- Urousai = Shut Up -
- Chikushou – Damn it / Damn
All notes concerning future reviews will be replied at the bottom of the story.
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*Battlefield*
Kakashi, Gai and the two Anbu finally arrived at the scene where Kyubi's sudden burst of chakra had been felt. They scanned the area carefully with their eyes, as they found many blood stains on the ground, as well as a body not far form their own position.
"Looks like there was a war here ..." Gai let out when someone tapped his shoulder.
Gai and Kakashi turned around, as the Anbu pointed to a direction. Among the blood stains to the ground and trees, a single and small figure stood in the middle of the battlefield. His back turned to them, while his clothes were no longer orange but a deep red, as well as his hair.
"Naruto ..." Kakashi let out, as the group stepped forward but still kept their guard up in case the enemy was still around.
Within seconds, the 4 shinobis now only stood a few meters away from the blond boy, when they all froze in place, eyes widened.
"Kyubi ..." Gai let out as red eyes glared at him and the others that accompanied him.
Upon hearing the boy's true name, Kyubi turned his head to put faces on the voices he heard, as he noticed that they were in complete shock.
"The seal has not broken ..." Kyubi mumbled as he raised his arm in front of his chest, while he placed his free hand on the sleeve of that arm.
"Be on guard." The Anbu spoke out, as he reached in his holster to grab a kunai.
"Wait!" Kakashi ordered them as he blocked their way with his arm, but kept his eyes on Kyubi.
"Why isn't he attacking?" Gai asked a bit worried and surprised that the great demon fox hadn't dealt with them yet.
"Something isn't right ..." Kakashi let out, as he slipped of his headband over his single Sharingan eye and stared at the fox.
Kyubi remained silent, but his deadly glare gave them all cold shivers, as they noticed how he grabbed the fabric of the sleeve and pulled it back up to his elbow, to reveal what was underneath.
The skin seemed undamaged, until blood started to surface, and slowly the many cuts revealed themselves. These were all given from his first opponent, Sakon, when he battled him alone. Kyubi let out an evil smile, as he began to breath heavily, while more droplets of blood fell to the ground.
"I never thought I would die with the brat ..." Kyubi trailed off as he felt death was coming to him and Naruto.
"Kakashi ... His eyes ..." Gai pointed to the Kyubi's eyes as they seemed to constantly change between the deep blue of Naruto, and the crimson red eyes of the Kyubi.
Kyubi coughed, as he placed his wounded hand before his mouth by pure instinct, to only remove it later to find more blood on his hand. A trail of blood rolled down form the corner of his mouth and dripped past his chin.
"Chikushou ..." Kyubi let out before his eyes rolled as his body fell to the ground.
The moment Naruto's body began to fall, Kakashi quickly moved to his student's side, as he grabbed him by the waist. Kakashi slowly kneeled to the ground, as he carefully laid the boy on the ground in a sitting position. Gai and the two Anbu members gathered around them, while the boy's head rested against Kakashi's shoulder.
"Naruto?" Kakashi spoke out his student's name with worry, as he brushed his tainted red locks of hair from his eyes.
Naruto slowly opened his eyes to reveal they were a light blue, as Kakashi was very much relieved to see Kyubi no longer had control over the boy's body. Gai kneeled next to his long time rival, as he looked at the boy as well, to notice the flow of blood seemed to increase with time.
"Sasuke ..." Naruto spoke out his rival's name softly as he coughed up some more blood, and showed he was in pain.
"We met Shikamaru's team, he's back in Konoha ... You brought him back ... Naruto ..." Kakashi congratulated his student with a sad smile.
"Kakashi!" Gai raised his voice as he pointed to the boy's chest.
Kakashi leaned forward, as his eyes widened from what he saw. Blood started to gather on his chest, as no apparent wound could be found at first, but now, blood leaked out, as Gai quickly placed a hand over the wound in hopes to buy them some time.
"I ... I ..." Naruto let out as both Jounin's heads stared at the dying boy with surprise.
"Naruto, don't close your eyes!" Kakashi ordered the boy as he shook him a little to keep him awake.
"I kept my promise Sakura-chan ... I brought Sasuke back..." Naruto whispered his last words, as his eyes slowly closed and darkness consumed him.
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Kakashi shook his student gently, in hopes to reawaken him, but with no success. Gai on the other hand, had his hands full to stop the bleeding from several places over the small boy's body.
"We have to get him to the hospital now." Gai spoke out with worry, as he still had his hand pressed against the boy's chest.
Kakashi nodded, as he slowly and carefully lifted Naruto's wounded body into his arms, while Gai gave out specific instruction to the Anbu. Kakashi now stood with his wounded student in his arms, as Gai lost no time to join his eternal rival's side, as the Anbu stood in their original position.
"We'll scout the area to find the intruders." One of the Anbu spoke out.
"We'll be sure to send all available Anbu teams here once we're back in the Village." Gai informed them, as he began to make many hand signs and channeled his chakra.
Within seconds, both Jounins were surrounded in a large and thick cloud of smoke. Once the smoke dissipated, Gai, Kakashi and Naruto were no longer on the battle ground, as the Anbu vanished as well, to look for the intruders.
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*Konoha Hospital*
---- Room 201 ----
Sakura and Lee rushed inside the room as they noticed all the sad and worried expressions all of them had.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura shouted with joy as she rushed over to his bedside.
"This is going to get more troublesome ..." Shikamaru commented, as Asuma couldn't help but laugh a little by his comment.
"I'm glad to see you're all safe and sound." Lee stated as he walked inside the room.
"Not all of us ..." Kiba commented, while Akamaru whined.
"Sasuke-kun ... Those curse marks ..." Sakura started, as Sasuke simply stirred aside to evade the pink haired girl's touch and gaze.
"I think it would be best if you came over here young lady." Tsunade pointed next to her.
"S...Sure..." Sakura let out, a bit disappointed that Sasuke rejected her once more, even after she revealed her feelings to him.
"Kurenai-sensei?" Lee spoke her name.
"Yes?" Kurenai replied.
"Where's Naruto-kun and Neji?" Lee asked, which earned him the worried eyes of everyone present in the room, except for Sakura, that had yet noticed herself.
"As blind as ever to even notice your own teammate?" Neji commented from the corner of the room.
"Neji!" Lee shouted as he rushed over to his teammate's side.
"If Neji's there, then where's Naruto?" Sakura asked as she looked around in the room, no sign of her comrade.
"He's still out there ..." Kiba answered with a growl.
"Out there?" Lee repeated, confused, just like his crush, Sakura.
"Ask Shikamaru ... He knows more than anyone else ..." Neji mentioned as he looked away from his green teammate.
"What's going on?" Sakura asked with worry towards the lazy shinobi.
"It's too troublesome to repeat myself ..." Shikamaru stated, but deep inside of him, he didn't want to admit he might of placed his friend in danger.
"All of you calm down and rest. I sent Kakashi and Gai, along with a few Anbus out there to retrieve Naruto. They will find him. We just need to be patient." Tsunade stated as she was well aware that if they all got too emotional, it wouldn't help the current situation or the one to come.
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*Somewhere ...*
Orochimaru sat down on a chair, in the darkest corner of the room, as he waited for his servants to return with his prize.
"Once I get Sasuke-kun's body, I'll be able to get rid of Itachi for underestimating me as well to eliminate Konoha Village once and for all." Orochimaru told himself, when he felt two distinct chakra coming his way.
Orochimaru had regained part of his strength, as he stood up and made his way towards the door, and came face to face with Kabuto and Kimimaro. Kimimaro was the one that supported Kabuto's weight, as they entered the room, but easily felt the stares of their master.
"I see that Naruto-kun was there ..." Orochimaru stated as Kimimaro helped Kabuto so this one could sit on the nearest table.
"Hai ... Unfortunately, I have some bad news Orochimaru-sama ..." Kabuto stated, as he had a hand pressed against his stomach.
The snake's smiled quickly faded as he felt no more chakra near their camp site, as Kimimaro evaded any eye contact with the master.
"Where are the others?" Orochimaru asked with a serious face expression.
"The others are most likely dead ..." Kimimaro answered since Kabuto hadn't been informed of the others.
"Nani!?" Orochimaru let out in anger.
"Konoha sent a bunch of genins after us, and we underestimated them ... Especially the impact the Kyubi brat had on Sasuke-kun ..." Kimimaro answered as he knew he would be punished for failing his mission to retrieve Sasuke.
"I should have killed that damn kid when I had the chance ..." Orochimaru cursed as he turned his back to his underlings.
"We might have failed to retrieve Sasuke-kun for now ... But, I have news you that will most likely make you feel better ..." Kabuto stated, as he finished healing his wounds and stood up.
"And?" Orochimaru waited for the good news.
"Uzumaki will no longer be a nuisance for you ..." Kabuto stated as he replaced his glasses and smiled.
Upon hearing the news, Orochimaru turned back to face his right hand man, as Kimimaro made sure to stay at a safe distance.
"You were able to perform the jutsu?" Orochimaru asked to be sure.
"Hai. Although they failed to bring Sasuke-kun this time, they managed to inflict great damage on Naruto-kun's body. Of course the Kyubi healed it every time, but with my jutsu now on him, not even Tsunade-sama can heal him." Kabuto stated with another smile.
"Good. With that brat gone, things will be more easier for next time." Orochimaru stated.
"Orochimaru-sama, I accept any punishment you have instored for me, for failing to bring you Sasuke-kun." Kimimaro stated as he kneeled before his master, and lowered his head.
"Stand up. I have already lost 3 of my best shinobis. And when the time comes, I'll have a need for you, and perhaps you can redeem yourself for your mistake. Until I give you word, guard the grounds." Orochimaru ordered his last shinobi.
Kimimaro bowed before his master, before he stood up on his feet, and left the room, so that his master and Kabuto could have time alone to speak of what to do next.
"For Sasuke-kun, it does anger me that they failed, but I'm low on chakra to even perform the correct seals to obtain the young Uchiha's body. But when the time comes, this time, I will obtain what I desire, and this time, you will not fail." Orochimaru informed his right hand man.
"What do you want me to do?" Kabuto asked.
"I want to know everything that happened." Orochimaru asked.
"Very well." Kabuto said as he began to explain how things went down.
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*Konoha Hospital*
---- Room 201 ----
Minutes passed, as most shinobis remained silent, lost in their own thoughts and confusion over the latest events in their Village, while Neji, Kiba, and Shikamaru each explained how things went down since the beginning of their mission.
"I was depleted of chakra, Kiba and Akamaru were too bruised and wounded, while Sasuke had his curse activated. Naruto took the obvious choice left to us. He stayed behind, to buy us enough time to reach the Village." Shikamaru continued as Kiba growled while he sat up on his bed, with Akamaru in his arms.
"That idiot had no doubts. But the things he said were strange ..." Kiba commented, as he looked over to Sasuke and Shikamaru.
"What kind of things?" Tsunade asked the question that was also on Asuma's and Kurenai,s mind.
"Before the last part of the Chuunin exam, me and Naruto went to visit Lee. But when we got there, we found Gaara that actually tried to kill Lee for no reason we understood. After some weird talk, Gaara called himself a monster since he was merged at birth with that Shukaku thing. And then Naruto mentioned he wasn't the only one with a monster inside of him..." Shikamaru trailed off as Kiba took the responsibility to say the rest.
"Before we left, he reminded Shikamaru of that event, that he alos had a monster inside of him. The weirdest thing is when that creepy ninja threw a kunai in Shikamaru' direction..." Kiba trailed off as the three adults stared at him.
"That idiot ..." Sasuke spoke out as he raised his weaken body in a sitting position.
"The kunai pierced his hand, but when he removed it, it healed quickly. And then he was talking to himself, before this strange red chakra appeared." Kiba finished as he looked over to Shikamaru.
"Red chakra!?" Kurenai let out in surprise, while Asuma and Tsunade exchanged worried looks.
"The Kyubi's chakra ..." Tsunade thought.
"But Naruto couldn't possibly defeat him ..." Sakura commented as her closed hand was near her heart.
"There was no other way ..." Neji stated which earned him the glare of the pink haired girl.
"There must have been! Why didn't you even help him!" Sakura yelled out in anger.
"It was his decision... He analyzed the situation, and the only way for us the team to survive, was if he stayed behind ..." Shikamaru stated with sadness.
Sakura was about to yell at the poor boy again when a nurse ran inside the room and gripped the doorframe. She seemed horrified and scared as she panted hard from most likely running through the halls.
"Tsunade-sama!" The nurse yelled out.
"Yes?" Tsunade spoke out as she turned to face the nurse.
"They found him! Kakashi-sensei and Gai-sensei just brought him in! We need your help and expertise now!" The nurse yelled out, which earned her the attention of everyone in the room.
"Naruto?" Sasuke let out.
"Hai!" The nurse replied.
"How bad?" Tsunade demanded to know right away.
The nurse looked down at the floor before even answering due to all the other present in the room.
"I ..." The nurse mumbled, as she couldn't find the words to describe the situation.
"Where is he?" Tsunade asked, seeing that what she feared might have happened.
"He's in Room 101 ..." The nurse informed her.
Immediately, Tsunade rushed out of the room, as the nurse followed her. The rest of the genins and Jounins exchanged worried looks, as Neji and the others began to move to get out of their beds, while Lee and Sakura tried desperately to keep them from doing that.
"You mustn't!" Sakura shouted as her hand were gripped on Sasuke's arm.
"Let go!" Sasuke ordered the pink haired girl, as this one saw the anger and guilt the Uchiha boy felt, and retreated to give space to the boy.
"Lee ..." Neji spoke out his name.
"Neji you really shouldn't with that wound ..." Lee spoke out with worry.
"I'll be fine, I just need to be there ..." Neji mentioned as Lee caught a small glimpse of worry in Neji's eyes.
"OK." Lee replied, much to everyone's surprise as he slung one arm around Neji's waist and supported Neji.
"Lee-san! You could get ..." Sakura spoke out with worry, as him and Neji walked towards the door.
"Sakura-san. I barely need those crutches anymore, besides, Tsunade-sama told me to simply take it easy on training. She never mentioned about supporting a teammate." Lee stated as he continued and walked out of the room.
"Lee-san ..." Sakura was surprised by the boy's strength and friendship, as she turned towards Sasuke and decided to do the same.
"Sakura... What are you ..." Sasuke mumbled when he noticed how Sakura had flopped his arm behind her neck, and her own arm was around the dark haired boy's waist.
"I want to be there for Naruto too. And you'll be no good to him if you injure yourself again." Sakura stated as Sasuke was surprised by the girl's determination.
"Come on Kiba. I think we better get going too." Shikamaru held out a hand to help Kiba out of bed.
"Thanks ..." Kiba mumbled, as Shikamaru helped him out, while Kiba made sure to not drop his companion.
The rest of the genins exited the room, while Asuma and Kurenai looked at each other and smiled slightly.
"This mission brought them closer ..." Kurenai commented.
"Hai ..." Asuma replied before both of them exited the room as well, and headed for were the rest would end up.
---- Outside Room 101 ----
Kakashi and Gai stood outside the room, next to the transparent glass that showed everything that was happening within it, including Naruto's wounded and unconscious body.
"Kakashi! Gai!" Tsunade shouted, as she caught a glimpse of what was inside the room.
Kakashi and Gai couldn't help but look down to the floor, as they knew Tsunade really liked the boy. For a few seconds, the Hokage froze, but then the nurse snapped her out of it.
"We have to hurry or we might lose him ..." The nurse murmured as she grabbed Tsunade's hand and guided her within the room.
"Get me Shizune and find Jiraiya!" Tsunade ordered to a nearby nurse who ran down the hall to transmit the message to a superior.
Moments later, Tsunade was inside the room, while Kakashi and Gai leaned against the wall, with sad and worried expressions. Their clothes soaked with Naruto's blood, as they both looked down on their hands, covered with their student's red and warm blood.
"Gai-sensei!" Lee yelled out, a few meters away, as he supported Neji's body the best he could.
"Lee! Neji!" Gai replied with a small smile of seeing both his students safe and sound.
"Where's Naruto-kun?" Lee asked as Gai's small smile quickly faded upon hearing the other boy's name.
"Lee ..." Neji elbowed Lee as his eyes were focused on the transparent glass, where you could easily see the many nurses around a bloodied body, while Tsunade gave out orders.
"Oh my ..." Lee said as their eyes widened by the sight.
Moments later, Sakura, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Kiba, along with the two Jounins appeared followed from behind their students. All looked over to Neji and Lee and wondered why they hadn't spoken, until their eyes met the sight as well. Sakura gasped in horror, as she placed a hand over her mouth, while the boys eyes widened in shock.
"Kakashi! What ..." Sasuke wanted to ask, but then his gaze fell upon his sensei's bloodied vest and hands.
"Tsunade's in there trying to keep him alive ..." Kakashi mentioned as he turned his head to only seethe nurses surrounding a bloodied body.
"How did it happened?" Kurenai asked, her eyes wide open as well, while Asuma swallowed hard.
"We don't know ... When we arrived, he was in the middle of a blood pool, as well as one of the shinobi that tried to take Sasuke's dead. I assume the other escaped ... But ..." Kakashi trailed off as Gai decided to step in.
"We think Kabuto was also present." Gai explained.
"Kabuto?" Kurenai repeated the name.
"Where's Shizune!?" Tsunade yelled out form within the room, which caught everyone's attention.
---- Inside Room 101 ----
4 nurses were present in the room, as well as 2 doctors and Tsunade herself. 2 nurses remained by the boy's side, while the doctors were busy inserting needles in the boy's arms, while the other two nurses had scissors in their hands and cut through the thick fabric in order to expose the wounds.
"Don't you die on me Naruto." Tsunade hissed, as the nurses finally discarded the orange jacket on the ground that was already tainted by the boy's blood.
"How can he be still alive after all that blood loss!?" A nurse shouted in surprise by the fact Naruto was still alive.
"Don't talk like that! Make sure to keep him alive! And clean the blood off him so we can see exactly from where the bleeding comes from!" Tsunade ordered them with anger, as she was cleaning the boy's face from the blood that tainted his tanned skin.
The nurses lowered their heads in shame as they quickly walked away form the bed to grab some white towels, while one of the doctor's brought the distinct machines at the head of the bed. He carefully placed the oxygen mask over the boy's mouth and nose and flipped the switch one, while the other doctor, placed a few patched over the boy's chest to monitor his heartbeats.
Where the patched were placed, the nurses had quickly wiped off the blood so these would remain on the skin and not slid off and also give false signals. Once the blood was wiped off, they noticed the main wounds were inflicted in his shoulder, near his heart, and in his stomach. Other wounds did appear as deep cuts, as though the boy had received kunais all over his body.
Tsunade immediately placed her hands over the wound on Naruto's shoulder, since that one seemed the most threatening. She gathered her chakra, but despite her efforts, nothing seemed to change, while the nurses simply stared, while the doctor monitored the boy's breathing and heartbeats.
---- Outside Room 101 ----
Kakashi had to remain strong, just like the other Jounins, but this was a sight which a sensei never wanted to see, one of his own students, hanging by a thread, between life and death.
Kurenai couldn't help but look away momentarily, as Gai placed a hand on Neji and Lee's shoulder to show that they weren't alone to worry about Naruto. While Kiba and Shikamaru exchanged worried looks before setting their attention back inside the room. Sakura couldn't hold her tears back, while Sasuke knew he should comfort his teammate.
"What the hell happened out there?" Sasuke asked himself, as he continued to watch his comrade within the room.
"Where is he!?" A female voice yelled at a nurse.
"You can't yell in a hospital ... And I need the name of the patient you wish to see ..." The nurse mumbled in fear.
"That brat is my only student. So tell us where he is." A man yelled out in anger.
"Naruto. His name's Uzumaki Naruto." The female spoke out the name of the patient they wanted to see.
"Oh my ... The poor boy is in Room 101." The nurse replied to the other female.
All heads turned to see from where the disturbance came from to see that Tsunade's best friend had finally arrived, along with Naruto's sensei, the legendary sennin, Jiraiya.
"What's his condition?" Jiraiya asked the Jounin.
"Judge by yourself ..." Kakashi replied as he pointed to the transparent window that gave view within Naruto's room.
Jiraiya looked inside as his eyes widened. Indeed it was not a nice sight to see, but he was somewhat glad that so many had gathered to watch over Naruto's condition despite the horrifying sight of it.
"I'm going in there with you." Jiraiya stated as he grabbed Shizune by the arm.
"Jiraiya-sama you can't Tsunade wouldn't approve ..." Shizune protested until they heard Tsunade's voice.
"Both of you. In here. NOW!" Tsunade yelled out to her friend and former teammate.
Within seconds, Jiraiya and Shizune came within the room, as the others could only continue to observe and wait for the results.
---- Inside Room 101 ----
Shizune followed Tsunade's instruction, while Jiraiya made his own way to his student's side, while the nurses continued to wipe off the continuous blood flow on the blonde's body.
"Why does it keep flowing?" Shizune asked, as her hands were above Naruto's wounded shoulder as well to aid Tsunade.
"I don't know. Something's wrong ..." Tsunade let out as she concentrated more chakra to her hands.
"He's waking up ..." Jiraiya mumbled as Tsunade stopped what she was doing and immediately placed a hand on the boy's cheek and stared at him.
Naruto slowly opened his eyes, but his vision was too blurry to see who 's eyes were looking into his own, although he did feel something warm near his cheek.
"Naruto?" Tsunade spoke out to him as she saw the confusion in his eyes.
"Old hag...?" Naruto spoke out with a strained voice.
"Shh. Save your strength." Tsunade told him as she placed two fingers on the mask, above his lips.
Seconds later, Naruto coughed up more blood as the machine that monitored his heart rate started to make more high pitch sounds. Naruto seemed to have trouble to breath, as his lips parted for more air, his hands began to bleed.
"Tsunade! His ... His hands...." One of the nurse spoke out as she pointed to the hands.
"Bandage them up! And bring some more O negative blood." Shizune took command as she concentrated once again on the wound.
"Naruto?" Jiraiya spoke out as he noticed the boy's breathing slowed down, just like his heartbeat.
Naruto simply closed his eyes, as he whispered one word on his lips, but was barely auditable.
"Kabuto ..." Naruto whispered before he went unconscious again.
"What did he say?" Tsunade demanded the sennin.
"He said Kabuto. Isn't that the guy that went after you a month ago?" Jiraiya asked.
"Hai ... He also nearly killed Naruto ..." Tsunade let out, as the genins on the outside of the room could hear their conversation very well.
---- Outside Room 101 ----
"Kabuto? Wasn't that the guy who helped us in the forest?" Sakura asked Sasuke, as she tried to wipe those tears away.
"Hai ..." Sasuke replied, but his eyes never left his companion.
"Kabuto ... So he's responsible for this ..." Kakashi told himself as he looked back inside the room.
"Tsunade-sama!" A doctor yelled inside the room.
"What's going on in there?" Sakura said when they noticed the worried faces of the two sennins and the nurses.
---- Inside room 101 ----
"What!" Tsunade snapped at the doctor.
"Curse symbols ..." The doctor mumbled as he pointed to the boy's neck and stomach.
"Nani?" Tsunade and Jiraiya let out at the same time as they examined it closer.
"What the ...?!" Shizune let out, surprised as well by these unknown marks.
Before anyone could say anything more, a loud and constant beep sound remained, as they all looked up towards the doctor who monitored Naruto's heart.
"Oh no ..." Shizune let out.
"It can't be ..." Tsunade let out in surprise as she noticed Naruto wasn't breathing anymore.
Tsunade lost no time as everyone seemed shocked by the fact Naruto's heart had stopped beating. Tsunade placed her hands, crossed together, above Naruto's heart, as she tried to leak her own chakra in the boy's body.
"Shizune what are those marks?" Jiraiya demanded and answer as he shook the female out of her trance.
"It's a forbidden jutsu for the medic-nins to use because it's too dangerous for the user and the one it's used on ..." Shizune explained as she joined in to help Tsunade.
"What does it do?" Jiraiya asked.
"I don't know! It's forbidden knowledge that was destroyed decades ago!" Shizune replied under the pressure she was being placed on.
"Chikushou ... Why doesn't it affect him!?" Tsunade yelled out as the nurses remained in place, and away from the body.
For 15 minutes, Tsunade and Shizune worked hard to make their own chakra flow within the body and to heal the damages but with no success. At this point, the genins on the other side were all sad, as Sakura was already in tears. Jiraiya looked back at the blond and noticed how a small smiled had formed on his lips.
"You brought him back Naruto ... You kept your promise to her ..." Jiraiya thought as he took a peek at the pink haired girl.
"I'm not losing him! I'm not losing any more people!" Tsunade yelled out as Shizune had stopped her chakra flow due that it was now almost depleted.
"Tsunade-sama ... I don't think ...." Shizune stated which earned her a deadly glare from the Hokage.
"Why isn't that damn fox helping him!?" Tsunade stated and immediately this got her the attention of the Jounins, the nurses, the doctors, and most of all Jiraiya.
Jiraiya rushed over to the woman, as he grabbed her by the arms and stopped her from continuing her useless efforts. She struggled as she could but the fact her chakra and strength had been drained, couldn't let her escape from the sennin's grip.
"Let me go!" Tsunade demanded.
"You can't do any more for him ... He's gone ..." Jiraiya told her with sadness.
"I won't allow that to happen! Naruto deserves to live more than anyone else ..." Tsunade spoke out as she lowered her head, tears began to form in her eyes from the reality of the situation.
"Tsunade-sama ..." Shizune approached her friend to try and comfort her.
"Naze?" Tsunade let out in half anger and sob.
"Why what?" Jiraiya spoke out.
"Why aren't you healing him!? Don't you get it yet you stupid fox!? If Naruto dies then you go down with him! So what the hell are you waiting for to give him back to us ... Give him back to me! Kyubi!" Tsunade yelled out as Jiraiya quickly placed his hand over Tsunade's mouth, but it was already too late.
Tsunade fell to her knees as the tears continued to flow, while the doctor finally turned off both machines, while the nurses all lowered their heads in respect for the boy.
"He never deserved this ..." Tsunade mumbled as Jiraiya placed a comforting hand on her shoulders.
---- Outside Room 101 ----
Sakura burst into tears, while the others all lowered their heads, to hid their own tears, while Sasuke continued to look inside the room, as the doctor pulled up the sheet up to Naruto's neck.
"It can't be ... Naruto can't be dead ..." Sasuke let out, eyes widened in surprise.
TBC?
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Well I hope the chapter was to your liking, and there's one more twist to come! But right now I'm more worried about the death threats I'll get since technically, Naruto's dead ... And I know I'm evil for leaving it there, but if I didn't the chapter would have been way longer and people would have to wait longer for the next chapter to come out ... So let me know if you throw things at me ne? And of course what you think!
P.S : Nice long chapter here. 5000 + words. Suddenly had the idea how to write this chapter cuz for 2 weeks I was like 'what do I write?' turned out good in my opinion. Let me know ne??
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REVIEWS
EmeraldBlossom : Sorry to tell you this but I'm female, so I can't be a bastard lol. Well I'm sure I'll be dodging things from you just after how I stopped this chapter, but no worries, another twist will occur in the next chapter. So let me live long enough to write the next one ne?
Litch Sieger : I wonder is it was a bad thing of the Jutsu I came up with?? But heck my story so I can do what I want with it. Plus a Jutsu like that didn't exist so I had to make it up for this story to continue!
Ookami Kage : Glad you enjoyed the fic! I can't wait for you to update your own fics. And my offer still stands, if you need some help, let me know ne? I have my yahoo messenger opened most of the time, as well as my MSN. I ever help a few other writers with ideas and stuff. Sometimes it's good to talk to someone else about your ideas and they could get better ne?
Jiyu Hatell Kodai : He's between life and death right now, more dead the way I ended the chapter, but I'm being cruel towards Naruto, but keep reading to find out the next twist!
RedMirage07 : Sorry for the late update! I had many problems! I'm happy to know you enjoyed the fight scene cuz those are the hardest to actually write in my opinion.
Silvermist91 : For the other genins to find out about Kyubi, that will soon come, give me a bit more time, with Naruto on the dead side so far and Tsunade's rants about the stupid fox not helping, I'm giving them hints, but Shikamaru of course will most likely be the first one to figure out the truth on his own, without the adults telling them.
Reyoko-chan : Well things went form bad to worse ne? But I'm giving an update on our return team as well as Sasuke. Hope you enjoyed sicne this chapter was a bit hard to write.
Arbil : Well, I guess you didn't like how this chapter ended since Naruto's now dead. But no worries, there's one more twist in this story. That's why I called it Twist of Fate after all ne? As for Naruto's wounds. The Jutsu Kabuto used, reopen all wounds last inflicted on the body in the past 24 hours. And you know, he did get wounded a whole lot, but what saved him was Kyubi's chakra, but that Jutsu also seals in Kyubi's chakra from healing our poor Naruto.
Peter Kim : I'm considering a sequel, but not too sure about it yet. I know this story should end soon, since the main storyline will be over, they did bring Sasuke back and now the Leaf know why Orochimaru wanted Sasuke. But it's in my mind somewhere.
Gopu : Thanks for the compliment!
Anon : I still have a little trouble with my grammar but put that aside and I'm sure the story is good so far.
Jonathan Shim : I really don't know the answer to that question but I just got the information out of the Mangas. In my opinion there would be a limit to how many he can create but this is anime!
Kuroi Hikari : I massacred my poor Naruto and in this chapter things were getting form bad to even worse!
Red Rose : Sorry for the long update but I had trouble in my normal life, work and school you know? So hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Shadow Eclipse : I'm glad that you enjoy my story so far!
CurlSofSerenity : I'm happy to know you enjoyed it so far.
Insanechildfanfic : Thanks for the compliment!
Hasuka : I'm a big meanie! But I couldn't help it but cut it there or else it would be a too long chapter and I needed to update.
Rubymoon17 : I did such a sad but yet great cliffhanger! I'm proud but I hurt my poor Naruto. And this chapter was even worse!
Dragon89 : Well I didn't say he die, that's why this chapter was critical and I do notice I leave the readers hanging between is Naruto dead or alive?
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Next Chapter :
No Previews!
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Thanks for all those that reviewed!
Read and REVIEW!
Until next time!
Ookima
PS : Check other stories and review them too ;)
Chapter 6 : Critical
Synopsis : Sakura and Lee join in with their comrades, as Kakashi and Gai rush in with Naruto that hangs between life and death.
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Pairings : Unknown for now. Suggestions are welcomed
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Disclaimer : I don't own Naruto but wish I did
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Timeline :
- This takes place when Shikamaru, and the team he created went after the 4 Ninjas that took Sasuke with them. In other words it's right after Neji finished his battle with his opponent in Manga Volume 22 Chapter 198.
- Sasuke was NOT put in the wooden barrel to begin with
- Sakon is one of the four ninjas under Orochimaru's command. He's the ninja that seems to have two bodies of some sort ( Chapter 200 )
- Kimimaro was sent by Kabuto ( Orochimaru's right hand ) since the four ninjas were taking too long to come back to Orochimaru.
- To me, all underlings of Orochimaru are male, so sorry if they were any females that I wasn't able to spot.
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JUTSU LIST :
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JAPANESE WORDS
- baka = idiot -
- dobe = dead last -
- Arigatou = Thank You -
- Urousai = Shut Up -
- Chikushou – Damn it / Damn
All notes concerning future reviews will be replied at the bottom of the story.
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*Battlefield*
Kakashi, Gai and the two Anbu finally arrived at the scene where Kyubi's sudden burst of chakra had been felt. They scanned the area carefully with their eyes, as they found many blood stains on the ground, as well as a body not far form their own position.
"Looks like there was a war here ..." Gai let out when someone tapped his shoulder.
Gai and Kakashi turned around, as the Anbu pointed to a direction. Among the blood stains to the ground and trees, a single and small figure stood in the middle of the battlefield. His back turned to them, while his clothes were no longer orange but a deep red, as well as his hair.
"Naruto ..." Kakashi let out, as the group stepped forward but still kept their guard up in case the enemy was still around.
Within seconds, the 4 shinobis now only stood a few meters away from the blond boy, when they all froze in place, eyes widened.
"Kyubi ..." Gai let out as red eyes glared at him and the others that accompanied him.
Upon hearing the boy's true name, Kyubi turned his head to put faces on the voices he heard, as he noticed that they were in complete shock.
"The seal has not broken ..." Kyubi mumbled as he raised his arm in front of his chest, while he placed his free hand on the sleeve of that arm.
"Be on guard." The Anbu spoke out, as he reached in his holster to grab a kunai.
"Wait!" Kakashi ordered them as he blocked their way with his arm, but kept his eyes on Kyubi.
"Why isn't he attacking?" Gai asked a bit worried and surprised that the great demon fox hadn't dealt with them yet.
"Something isn't right ..." Kakashi let out, as he slipped of his headband over his single Sharingan eye and stared at the fox.
Kyubi remained silent, but his deadly glare gave them all cold shivers, as they noticed how he grabbed the fabric of the sleeve and pulled it back up to his elbow, to reveal what was underneath.
The skin seemed undamaged, until blood started to surface, and slowly the many cuts revealed themselves. These were all given from his first opponent, Sakon, when he battled him alone. Kyubi let out an evil smile, as he began to breath heavily, while more droplets of blood fell to the ground.
"I never thought I would die with the brat ..." Kyubi trailed off as he felt death was coming to him and Naruto.
"Kakashi ... His eyes ..." Gai pointed to the Kyubi's eyes as they seemed to constantly change between the deep blue of Naruto, and the crimson red eyes of the Kyubi.
Kyubi coughed, as he placed his wounded hand before his mouth by pure instinct, to only remove it later to find more blood on his hand. A trail of blood rolled down form the corner of his mouth and dripped past his chin.
"Chikushou ..." Kyubi let out before his eyes rolled as his body fell to the ground.
The moment Naruto's body began to fall, Kakashi quickly moved to his student's side, as he grabbed him by the waist. Kakashi slowly kneeled to the ground, as he carefully laid the boy on the ground in a sitting position. Gai and the two Anbu members gathered around them, while the boy's head rested against Kakashi's shoulder.
"Naruto?" Kakashi spoke out his student's name with worry, as he brushed his tainted red locks of hair from his eyes.
Naruto slowly opened his eyes to reveal they were a light blue, as Kakashi was very much relieved to see Kyubi no longer had control over the boy's body. Gai kneeled next to his long time rival, as he looked at the boy as well, to notice the flow of blood seemed to increase with time.
"Sasuke ..." Naruto spoke out his rival's name softly as he coughed up some more blood, and showed he was in pain.
"We met Shikamaru's team, he's back in Konoha ... You brought him back ... Naruto ..." Kakashi congratulated his student with a sad smile.
"Kakashi!" Gai raised his voice as he pointed to the boy's chest.
Kakashi leaned forward, as his eyes widened from what he saw. Blood started to gather on his chest, as no apparent wound could be found at first, but now, blood leaked out, as Gai quickly placed a hand over the wound in hopes to buy them some time.
"I ... I ..." Naruto let out as both Jounin's heads stared at the dying boy with surprise.
"Naruto, don't close your eyes!" Kakashi ordered the boy as he shook him a little to keep him awake.
"I kept my promise Sakura-chan ... I brought Sasuke back..." Naruto whispered his last words, as his eyes slowly closed and darkness consumed him.
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Kakashi shook his student gently, in hopes to reawaken him, but with no success. Gai on the other hand, had his hands full to stop the bleeding from several places over the small boy's body.
"We have to get him to the hospital now." Gai spoke out with worry, as he still had his hand pressed against the boy's chest.
Kakashi nodded, as he slowly and carefully lifted Naruto's wounded body into his arms, while Gai gave out specific instruction to the Anbu. Kakashi now stood with his wounded student in his arms, as Gai lost no time to join his eternal rival's side, as the Anbu stood in their original position.
"We'll scout the area to find the intruders." One of the Anbu spoke out.
"We'll be sure to send all available Anbu teams here once we're back in the Village." Gai informed them, as he began to make many hand signs and channeled his chakra.
Within seconds, both Jounins were surrounded in a large and thick cloud of smoke. Once the smoke dissipated, Gai, Kakashi and Naruto were no longer on the battle ground, as the Anbu vanished as well, to look for the intruders.
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*Konoha Hospital*
---- Room 201 ----
Sakura and Lee rushed inside the room as they noticed all the sad and worried expressions all of them had.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura shouted with joy as she rushed over to his bedside.
"This is going to get more troublesome ..." Shikamaru commented, as Asuma couldn't help but laugh a little by his comment.
"I'm glad to see you're all safe and sound." Lee stated as he walked inside the room.
"Not all of us ..." Kiba commented, while Akamaru whined.
"Sasuke-kun ... Those curse marks ..." Sakura started, as Sasuke simply stirred aside to evade the pink haired girl's touch and gaze.
"I think it would be best if you came over here young lady." Tsunade pointed next to her.
"S...Sure..." Sakura let out, a bit disappointed that Sasuke rejected her once more, even after she revealed her feelings to him.
"Kurenai-sensei?" Lee spoke her name.
"Yes?" Kurenai replied.
"Where's Naruto-kun and Neji?" Lee asked, which earned him the worried eyes of everyone present in the room, except for Sakura, that had yet noticed herself.
"As blind as ever to even notice your own teammate?" Neji commented from the corner of the room.
"Neji!" Lee shouted as he rushed over to his teammate's side.
"If Neji's there, then where's Naruto?" Sakura asked as she looked around in the room, no sign of her comrade.
"He's still out there ..." Kiba answered with a growl.
"Out there?" Lee repeated, confused, just like his crush, Sakura.
"Ask Shikamaru ... He knows more than anyone else ..." Neji mentioned as he looked away from his green teammate.
"What's going on?" Sakura asked with worry towards the lazy shinobi.
"It's too troublesome to repeat myself ..." Shikamaru stated, but deep inside of him, he didn't want to admit he might of placed his friend in danger.
"All of you calm down and rest. I sent Kakashi and Gai, along with a few Anbus out there to retrieve Naruto. They will find him. We just need to be patient." Tsunade stated as she was well aware that if they all got too emotional, it wouldn't help the current situation or the one to come.
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*Somewhere ...*
Orochimaru sat down on a chair, in the darkest corner of the room, as he waited for his servants to return with his prize.
"Once I get Sasuke-kun's body, I'll be able to get rid of Itachi for underestimating me as well to eliminate Konoha Village once and for all." Orochimaru told himself, when he felt two distinct chakra coming his way.
Orochimaru had regained part of his strength, as he stood up and made his way towards the door, and came face to face with Kabuto and Kimimaro. Kimimaro was the one that supported Kabuto's weight, as they entered the room, but easily felt the stares of their master.
"I see that Naruto-kun was there ..." Orochimaru stated as Kimimaro helped Kabuto so this one could sit on the nearest table.
"Hai ... Unfortunately, I have some bad news Orochimaru-sama ..." Kabuto stated, as he had a hand pressed against his stomach.
The snake's smiled quickly faded as he felt no more chakra near their camp site, as Kimimaro evaded any eye contact with the master.
"Where are the others?" Orochimaru asked with a serious face expression.
"The others are most likely dead ..." Kimimaro answered since Kabuto hadn't been informed of the others.
"Nani!?" Orochimaru let out in anger.
"Konoha sent a bunch of genins after us, and we underestimated them ... Especially the impact the Kyubi brat had on Sasuke-kun ..." Kimimaro answered as he knew he would be punished for failing his mission to retrieve Sasuke.
"I should have killed that damn kid when I had the chance ..." Orochimaru cursed as he turned his back to his underlings.
"We might have failed to retrieve Sasuke-kun for now ... But, I have news you that will most likely make you feel better ..." Kabuto stated, as he finished healing his wounds and stood up.
"And?" Orochimaru waited for the good news.
"Uzumaki will no longer be a nuisance for you ..." Kabuto stated as he replaced his glasses and smiled.
Upon hearing the news, Orochimaru turned back to face his right hand man, as Kimimaro made sure to stay at a safe distance.
"You were able to perform the jutsu?" Orochimaru asked to be sure.
"Hai. Although they failed to bring Sasuke-kun this time, they managed to inflict great damage on Naruto-kun's body. Of course the Kyubi healed it every time, but with my jutsu now on him, not even Tsunade-sama can heal him." Kabuto stated with another smile.
"Good. With that brat gone, things will be more easier for next time." Orochimaru stated.
"Orochimaru-sama, I accept any punishment you have instored for me, for failing to bring you Sasuke-kun." Kimimaro stated as he kneeled before his master, and lowered his head.
"Stand up. I have already lost 3 of my best shinobis. And when the time comes, I'll have a need for you, and perhaps you can redeem yourself for your mistake. Until I give you word, guard the grounds." Orochimaru ordered his last shinobi.
Kimimaro bowed before his master, before he stood up on his feet, and left the room, so that his master and Kabuto could have time alone to speak of what to do next.
"For Sasuke-kun, it does anger me that they failed, but I'm low on chakra to even perform the correct seals to obtain the young Uchiha's body. But when the time comes, this time, I will obtain what I desire, and this time, you will not fail." Orochimaru informed his right hand man.
"What do you want me to do?" Kabuto asked.
"I want to know everything that happened." Orochimaru asked.
"Very well." Kabuto said as he began to explain how things went down.
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*Konoha Hospital*
---- Room 201 ----
Minutes passed, as most shinobis remained silent, lost in their own thoughts and confusion over the latest events in their Village, while Neji, Kiba, and Shikamaru each explained how things went down since the beginning of their mission.
"I was depleted of chakra, Kiba and Akamaru were too bruised and wounded, while Sasuke had his curse activated. Naruto took the obvious choice left to us. He stayed behind, to buy us enough time to reach the Village." Shikamaru continued as Kiba growled while he sat up on his bed, with Akamaru in his arms.
"That idiot had no doubts. But the things he said were strange ..." Kiba commented, as he looked over to Sasuke and Shikamaru.
"What kind of things?" Tsunade asked the question that was also on Asuma's and Kurenai,s mind.
"Before the last part of the Chuunin exam, me and Naruto went to visit Lee. But when we got there, we found Gaara that actually tried to kill Lee for no reason we understood. After some weird talk, Gaara called himself a monster since he was merged at birth with that Shukaku thing. And then Naruto mentioned he wasn't the only one with a monster inside of him..." Shikamaru trailed off as Kiba took the responsibility to say the rest.
"Before we left, he reminded Shikamaru of that event, that he alos had a monster inside of him. The weirdest thing is when that creepy ninja threw a kunai in Shikamaru' direction..." Kiba trailed off as the three adults stared at him.
"That idiot ..." Sasuke spoke out as he raised his weaken body in a sitting position.
"The kunai pierced his hand, but when he removed it, it healed quickly. And then he was talking to himself, before this strange red chakra appeared." Kiba finished as he looked over to Shikamaru.
"Red chakra!?" Kurenai let out in surprise, while Asuma and Tsunade exchanged worried looks.
"The Kyubi's chakra ..." Tsunade thought.
"But Naruto couldn't possibly defeat him ..." Sakura commented as her closed hand was near her heart.
"There was no other way ..." Neji stated which earned him the glare of the pink haired girl.
"There must have been! Why didn't you even help him!" Sakura yelled out in anger.
"It was his decision... He analyzed the situation, and the only way for us the team to survive, was if he stayed behind ..." Shikamaru stated with sadness.
Sakura was about to yell at the poor boy again when a nurse ran inside the room and gripped the doorframe. She seemed horrified and scared as she panted hard from most likely running through the halls.
"Tsunade-sama!" The nurse yelled out.
"Yes?" Tsunade spoke out as she turned to face the nurse.
"They found him! Kakashi-sensei and Gai-sensei just brought him in! We need your help and expertise now!" The nurse yelled out, which earned her the attention of everyone in the room.
"Naruto?" Sasuke let out.
"Hai!" The nurse replied.
"How bad?" Tsunade demanded to know right away.
The nurse looked down at the floor before even answering due to all the other present in the room.
"I ..." The nurse mumbled, as she couldn't find the words to describe the situation.
"Where is he?" Tsunade asked, seeing that what she feared might have happened.
"He's in Room 101 ..." The nurse informed her.
Immediately, Tsunade rushed out of the room, as the nurse followed her. The rest of the genins and Jounins exchanged worried looks, as Neji and the others began to move to get out of their beds, while Lee and Sakura tried desperately to keep them from doing that.
"You mustn't!" Sakura shouted as her hand were gripped on Sasuke's arm.
"Let go!" Sasuke ordered the pink haired girl, as this one saw the anger and guilt the Uchiha boy felt, and retreated to give space to the boy.
"Lee ..." Neji spoke out his name.
"Neji you really shouldn't with that wound ..." Lee spoke out with worry.
"I'll be fine, I just need to be there ..." Neji mentioned as Lee caught a small glimpse of worry in Neji's eyes.
"OK." Lee replied, much to everyone's surprise as he slung one arm around Neji's waist and supported Neji.
"Lee-san! You could get ..." Sakura spoke out with worry, as him and Neji walked towards the door.
"Sakura-san. I barely need those crutches anymore, besides, Tsunade-sama told me to simply take it easy on training. She never mentioned about supporting a teammate." Lee stated as he continued and walked out of the room.
"Lee-san ..." Sakura was surprised by the boy's strength and friendship, as she turned towards Sasuke and decided to do the same.
"Sakura... What are you ..." Sasuke mumbled when he noticed how Sakura had flopped his arm behind her neck, and her own arm was around the dark haired boy's waist.
"I want to be there for Naruto too. And you'll be no good to him if you injure yourself again." Sakura stated as Sasuke was surprised by the girl's determination.
"Come on Kiba. I think we better get going too." Shikamaru held out a hand to help Kiba out of bed.
"Thanks ..." Kiba mumbled, as Shikamaru helped him out, while Kiba made sure to not drop his companion.
The rest of the genins exited the room, while Asuma and Kurenai looked at each other and smiled slightly.
"This mission brought them closer ..." Kurenai commented.
"Hai ..." Asuma replied before both of them exited the room as well, and headed for were the rest would end up.
---- Outside Room 101 ----
Kakashi and Gai stood outside the room, next to the transparent glass that showed everything that was happening within it, including Naruto's wounded and unconscious body.
"Kakashi! Gai!" Tsunade shouted, as she caught a glimpse of what was inside the room.
Kakashi and Gai couldn't help but look down to the floor, as they knew Tsunade really liked the boy. For a few seconds, the Hokage froze, but then the nurse snapped her out of it.
"We have to hurry or we might lose him ..." The nurse murmured as she grabbed Tsunade's hand and guided her within the room.
"Get me Shizune and find Jiraiya!" Tsunade ordered to a nearby nurse who ran down the hall to transmit the message to a superior.
Moments later, Tsunade was inside the room, while Kakashi and Gai leaned against the wall, with sad and worried expressions. Their clothes soaked with Naruto's blood, as they both looked down on their hands, covered with their student's red and warm blood.
"Gai-sensei!" Lee yelled out, a few meters away, as he supported Neji's body the best he could.
"Lee! Neji!" Gai replied with a small smile of seeing both his students safe and sound.
"Where's Naruto-kun?" Lee asked as Gai's small smile quickly faded upon hearing the other boy's name.
"Lee ..." Neji elbowed Lee as his eyes were focused on the transparent glass, where you could easily see the many nurses around a bloodied body, while Tsunade gave out orders.
"Oh my ..." Lee said as their eyes widened by the sight.
Moments later, Sakura, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Kiba, along with the two Jounins appeared followed from behind their students. All looked over to Neji and Lee and wondered why they hadn't spoken, until their eyes met the sight as well. Sakura gasped in horror, as she placed a hand over her mouth, while the boys eyes widened in shock.
"Kakashi! What ..." Sasuke wanted to ask, but then his gaze fell upon his sensei's bloodied vest and hands.
"Tsunade's in there trying to keep him alive ..." Kakashi mentioned as he turned his head to only seethe nurses surrounding a bloodied body.
"How did it happened?" Kurenai asked, her eyes wide open as well, while Asuma swallowed hard.
"We don't know ... When we arrived, he was in the middle of a blood pool, as well as one of the shinobi that tried to take Sasuke's dead. I assume the other escaped ... But ..." Kakashi trailed off as Gai decided to step in.
"We think Kabuto was also present." Gai explained.
"Kabuto?" Kurenai repeated the name.
"Where's Shizune!?" Tsunade yelled out form within the room, which caught everyone's attention.
---- Inside Room 101 ----
4 nurses were present in the room, as well as 2 doctors and Tsunade herself. 2 nurses remained by the boy's side, while the doctors were busy inserting needles in the boy's arms, while the other two nurses had scissors in their hands and cut through the thick fabric in order to expose the wounds.
"Don't you die on me Naruto." Tsunade hissed, as the nurses finally discarded the orange jacket on the ground that was already tainted by the boy's blood.
"How can he be still alive after all that blood loss!?" A nurse shouted in surprise by the fact Naruto was still alive.
"Don't talk like that! Make sure to keep him alive! And clean the blood off him so we can see exactly from where the bleeding comes from!" Tsunade ordered them with anger, as she was cleaning the boy's face from the blood that tainted his tanned skin.
The nurses lowered their heads in shame as they quickly walked away form the bed to grab some white towels, while one of the doctor's brought the distinct machines at the head of the bed. He carefully placed the oxygen mask over the boy's mouth and nose and flipped the switch one, while the other doctor, placed a few patched over the boy's chest to monitor his heartbeats.
Where the patched were placed, the nurses had quickly wiped off the blood so these would remain on the skin and not slid off and also give false signals. Once the blood was wiped off, they noticed the main wounds were inflicted in his shoulder, near his heart, and in his stomach. Other wounds did appear as deep cuts, as though the boy had received kunais all over his body.
Tsunade immediately placed her hands over the wound on Naruto's shoulder, since that one seemed the most threatening. She gathered her chakra, but despite her efforts, nothing seemed to change, while the nurses simply stared, while the doctor monitored the boy's breathing and heartbeats.
---- Outside Room 101 ----
Kakashi had to remain strong, just like the other Jounins, but this was a sight which a sensei never wanted to see, one of his own students, hanging by a thread, between life and death.
Kurenai couldn't help but look away momentarily, as Gai placed a hand on Neji and Lee's shoulder to show that they weren't alone to worry about Naruto. While Kiba and Shikamaru exchanged worried looks before setting their attention back inside the room. Sakura couldn't hold her tears back, while Sasuke knew he should comfort his teammate.
"What the hell happened out there?" Sasuke asked himself, as he continued to watch his comrade within the room.
"Where is he!?" A female voice yelled at a nurse.
"You can't yell in a hospital ... And I need the name of the patient you wish to see ..." The nurse mumbled in fear.
"That brat is my only student. So tell us where he is." A man yelled out in anger.
"Naruto. His name's Uzumaki Naruto." The female spoke out the name of the patient they wanted to see.
"Oh my ... The poor boy is in Room 101." The nurse replied to the other female.
All heads turned to see from where the disturbance came from to see that Tsunade's best friend had finally arrived, along with Naruto's sensei, the legendary sennin, Jiraiya.
"What's his condition?" Jiraiya asked the Jounin.
"Judge by yourself ..." Kakashi replied as he pointed to the transparent window that gave view within Naruto's room.
Jiraiya looked inside as his eyes widened. Indeed it was not a nice sight to see, but he was somewhat glad that so many had gathered to watch over Naruto's condition despite the horrifying sight of it.
"I'm going in there with you." Jiraiya stated as he grabbed Shizune by the arm.
"Jiraiya-sama you can't Tsunade wouldn't approve ..." Shizune protested until they heard Tsunade's voice.
"Both of you. In here. NOW!" Tsunade yelled out to her friend and former teammate.
Within seconds, Jiraiya and Shizune came within the room, as the others could only continue to observe and wait for the results.
---- Inside Room 101 ----
Shizune followed Tsunade's instruction, while Jiraiya made his own way to his student's side, while the nurses continued to wipe off the continuous blood flow on the blonde's body.
"Why does it keep flowing?" Shizune asked, as her hands were above Naruto's wounded shoulder as well to aid Tsunade.
"I don't know. Something's wrong ..." Tsunade let out as she concentrated more chakra to her hands.
"He's waking up ..." Jiraiya mumbled as Tsunade stopped what she was doing and immediately placed a hand on the boy's cheek and stared at him.
Naruto slowly opened his eyes, but his vision was too blurry to see who 's eyes were looking into his own, although he did feel something warm near his cheek.
"Naruto?" Tsunade spoke out to him as she saw the confusion in his eyes.
"Old hag...?" Naruto spoke out with a strained voice.
"Shh. Save your strength." Tsunade told him as she placed two fingers on the mask, above his lips.
Seconds later, Naruto coughed up more blood as the machine that monitored his heart rate started to make more high pitch sounds. Naruto seemed to have trouble to breath, as his lips parted for more air, his hands began to bleed.
"Tsunade! His ... His hands...." One of the nurse spoke out as she pointed to the hands.
"Bandage them up! And bring some more O negative blood." Shizune took command as she concentrated once again on the wound.
"Naruto?" Jiraiya spoke out as he noticed the boy's breathing slowed down, just like his heartbeat.
Naruto simply closed his eyes, as he whispered one word on his lips, but was barely auditable.
"Kabuto ..." Naruto whispered before he went unconscious again.
"What did he say?" Tsunade demanded the sennin.
"He said Kabuto. Isn't that the guy that went after you a month ago?" Jiraiya asked.
"Hai ... He also nearly killed Naruto ..." Tsunade let out, as the genins on the outside of the room could hear their conversation very well.
---- Outside Room 101 ----
"Kabuto? Wasn't that the guy who helped us in the forest?" Sakura asked Sasuke, as she tried to wipe those tears away.
"Hai ..." Sasuke replied, but his eyes never left his companion.
"Kabuto ... So he's responsible for this ..." Kakashi told himself as he looked back inside the room.
"Tsunade-sama!" A doctor yelled inside the room.
"What's going on in there?" Sakura said when they noticed the worried faces of the two sennins and the nurses.
---- Inside room 101 ----
"What!" Tsunade snapped at the doctor.
"Curse symbols ..." The doctor mumbled as he pointed to the boy's neck and stomach.
"Nani?" Tsunade and Jiraiya let out at the same time as they examined it closer.
"What the ...?!" Shizune let out, surprised as well by these unknown marks.
Before anyone could say anything more, a loud and constant beep sound remained, as they all looked up towards the doctor who monitored Naruto's heart.
"Oh no ..." Shizune let out.
"It can't be ..." Tsunade let out in surprise as she noticed Naruto wasn't breathing anymore.
Tsunade lost no time as everyone seemed shocked by the fact Naruto's heart had stopped beating. Tsunade placed her hands, crossed together, above Naruto's heart, as she tried to leak her own chakra in the boy's body.
"Shizune what are those marks?" Jiraiya demanded and answer as he shook the female out of her trance.
"It's a forbidden jutsu for the medic-nins to use because it's too dangerous for the user and the one it's used on ..." Shizune explained as she joined in to help Tsunade.
"What does it do?" Jiraiya asked.
"I don't know! It's forbidden knowledge that was destroyed decades ago!" Shizune replied under the pressure she was being placed on.
"Chikushou ... Why doesn't it affect him!?" Tsunade yelled out as the nurses remained in place, and away from the body.
For 15 minutes, Tsunade and Shizune worked hard to make their own chakra flow within the body and to heal the damages but with no success. At this point, the genins on the other side were all sad, as Sakura was already in tears. Jiraiya looked back at the blond and noticed how a small smiled had formed on his lips.
"You brought him back Naruto ... You kept your promise to her ..." Jiraiya thought as he took a peek at the pink haired girl.
"I'm not losing him! I'm not losing any more people!" Tsunade yelled out as Shizune had stopped her chakra flow due that it was now almost depleted.
"Tsunade-sama ... I don't think ...." Shizune stated which earned her a deadly glare from the Hokage.
"Why isn't that damn fox helping him!?" Tsunade stated and immediately this got her the attention of the Jounins, the nurses, the doctors, and most of all Jiraiya.
Jiraiya rushed over to the woman, as he grabbed her by the arms and stopped her from continuing her useless efforts. She struggled as she could but the fact her chakra and strength had been drained, couldn't let her escape from the sennin's grip.
"Let me go!" Tsunade demanded.
"You can't do any more for him ... He's gone ..." Jiraiya told her with sadness.
"I won't allow that to happen! Naruto deserves to live more than anyone else ..." Tsunade spoke out as she lowered her head, tears began to form in her eyes from the reality of the situation.
"Tsunade-sama ..." Shizune approached her friend to try and comfort her.
"Naze?" Tsunade let out in half anger and sob.
"Why what?" Jiraiya spoke out.
"Why aren't you healing him!? Don't you get it yet you stupid fox!? If Naruto dies then you go down with him! So what the hell are you waiting for to give him back to us ... Give him back to me! Kyubi!" Tsunade yelled out as Jiraiya quickly placed his hand over Tsunade's mouth, but it was already too late.
Tsunade fell to her knees as the tears continued to flow, while the doctor finally turned off both machines, while the nurses all lowered their heads in respect for the boy.
"He never deserved this ..." Tsunade mumbled as Jiraiya placed a comforting hand on her shoulders.
---- Outside Room 101 ----
Sakura burst into tears, while the others all lowered their heads, to hid their own tears, while Sasuke continued to look inside the room, as the doctor pulled up the sheet up to Naruto's neck.
"It can't be ... Naruto can't be dead ..." Sasuke let out, eyes widened in surprise.
TBC?
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Well I hope the chapter was to your liking, and there's one more twist to come! But right now I'm more worried about the death threats I'll get since technically, Naruto's dead ... And I know I'm evil for leaving it there, but if I didn't the chapter would have been way longer and people would have to wait longer for the next chapter to come out ... So let me know if you throw things at me ne? And of course what you think!
P.S : Nice long chapter here. 5000 + words. Suddenly had the idea how to write this chapter cuz for 2 weeks I was like 'what do I write?' turned out good in my opinion. Let me know ne??
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REVIEWS
EmeraldBlossom : Sorry to tell you this but I'm female, so I can't be a bastard lol. Well I'm sure I'll be dodging things from you just after how I stopped this chapter, but no worries, another twist will occur in the next chapter. So let me live long enough to write the next one ne?
Litch Sieger : I wonder is it was a bad thing of the Jutsu I came up with?? But heck my story so I can do what I want with it. Plus a Jutsu like that didn't exist so I had to make it up for this story to continue!
Ookami Kage : Glad you enjoyed the fic! I can't wait for you to update your own fics. And my offer still stands, if you need some help, let me know ne? I have my yahoo messenger opened most of the time, as well as my MSN. I ever help a few other writers with ideas and stuff. Sometimes it's good to talk to someone else about your ideas and they could get better ne?
Jiyu Hatell Kodai : He's between life and death right now, more dead the way I ended the chapter, but I'm being cruel towards Naruto, but keep reading to find out the next twist!
RedMirage07 : Sorry for the late update! I had many problems! I'm happy to know you enjoyed the fight scene cuz those are the hardest to actually write in my opinion.
Silvermist91 : For the other genins to find out about Kyubi, that will soon come, give me a bit more time, with Naruto on the dead side so far and Tsunade's rants about the stupid fox not helping, I'm giving them hints, but Shikamaru of course will most likely be the first one to figure out the truth on his own, without the adults telling them.
Reyoko-chan : Well things went form bad to worse ne? But I'm giving an update on our return team as well as Sasuke. Hope you enjoyed sicne this chapter was a bit hard to write.
Arbil : Well, I guess you didn't like how this chapter ended since Naruto's now dead. But no worries, there's one more twist in this story. That's why I called it Twist of Fate after all ne? As for Naruto's wounds. The Jutsu Kabuto used, reopen all wounds last inflicted on the body in the past 24 hours. And you know, he did get wounded a whole lot, but what saved him was Kyubi's chakra, but that Jutsu also seals in Kyubi's chakra from healing our poor Naruto.
Peter Kim : I'm considering a sequel, but not too sure about it yet. I know this story should end soon, since the main storyline will be over, they did bring Sasuke back and now the Leaf know why Orochimaru wanted Sasuke. But it's in my mind somewhere.
Gopu : Thanks for the compliment!
Anon : I still have a little trouble with my grammar but put that aside and I'm sure the story is good so far.
Jonathan Shim : I really don't know the answer to that question but I just got the information out of the Mangas. In my opinion there would be a limit to how many he can create but this is anime!
Kuroi Hikari : I massacred my poor Naruto and in this chapter things were getting form bad to even worse!
Red Rose : Sorry for the long update but I had trouble in my normal life, work and school you know? So hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Shadow Eclipse : I'm glad that you enjoy my story so far!
CurlSofSerenity : I'm happy to know you enjoyed it so far.
Insanechildfanfic : Thanks for the compliment!
Hasuka : I'm a big meanie! But I couldn't help it but cut it there or else it would be a too long chapter and I needed to update.
Rubymoon17 : I did such a sad but yet great cliffhanger! I'm proud but I hurt my poor Naruto. And this chapter was even worse!
Dragon89 : Well I didn't say he die, that's why this chapter was critical and I do notice I leave the readers hanging between is Naruto dead or alive?
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Ookima
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