Chapter 12: Konoha.

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To all of my loyal readers, I just want to stop and say Thank you. Don't worry, I'm not saying this because the story is ending, in fact it's about to become very interesting. And I really want to thank all of those who took the time to review, even if it was one word (Cough LunaCough) And those of you that did more, you guys are what made me write a sequel.

Past Tense is about to get...interesting too, I'll give you a spoiler, skip this part if you don't want to know. (asdkfanosldcowefeKibaturnsintoawarewolfandckelwnalcneekuybi) Did you catch it? If not, just read to find out. Oh and lots of other freaky things happen too, not to say it wont get strange in Future Tense. I'll give you a clue, Naruto. But you wont find out what's going to happen to him for a while.

So thanks, I just wanted to write this because I hit page 100 on this story...104 right now, I hit 100 in the last chapter.

SDI

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White light...He became aware of white light as if it was imprinted into his eyelids, the only thing he'd known before was darkness. One moment he'd been fighting Iruka, the next...Now that Sasuke thought about it, he was the only one fighting that fight. 'W-what happened to me?'

He couldn't feel anything, as if the rest of his body wasn't even there, just this White light and his barely coherent thoughts. In fact nothing he thought about in that moment had reason or logic, not until his senses started to return to him. His mind turned on as soon as he heard voices, and his eyes fought to open instinctively.

Despite his best efforts, the best he could do was to open them so little that he could see only slits. His body didn't seem to be responding to him, as it should. That's when he became aware of the pain , it wasn't too bad but...it effectively kept him from making a sound or movements, except for his barely opened eyes. 'Where...am I?'

"I...don't even know where to begin..."

He knew that voice, it was Sarutobi, the President and Konohamaru's grandfather. He figured he wasn't talking to himself, or to him since he wasn't even sure if he was conscious or not. So most likely everyone was in the same room, he'd figure the hospital since he was in so much pain.

"Well first, I do want to thank you, Iruka, Kakashi, Asuma. All of you deserve to be commended for your actions, and Gai. I'm not sure how you managed to get the word out about the Sound when there was no communication but it was amazing that you did, and you fought bravely in the counter attack. Also you two... what are your names?"

He could hear Lee responding, "Lee."

And then Shikamaru after him. "Shikamaru."

Sasuke was finally able to see past the blinding white light, which had turned out to be a light fixture that he was under, and look around though still only able to barely open eyes. Dimly he saw Sarutobi, he could see that he was in the man's office, standing before him. Looking up he could see Naruto...who was holding him in his arms, for whatever reason. Kakashi, Iruka, Gai and Asuma were all behind Naruto, Lee and Shikamaru to Naruto's left and Konohamaru to Naruto's right. Looked like everyone was here, which could only mean that they were really in for it.

"Well Lee and Shikamaru, you two fought bravely also, especially for some one your ages." Sarutobi said. Lee looked away nervously from all of the attention and Shikamaru still kept his usual expression while he nodded. "And Konohamaru, the first thing I have to ask you...what were you thinking?" The calm before the storm.

Konohamaru dropped his bandaged head, shifting with a cast on his right arm which was in result from the explosion in Orochimaru's transport when it was attacked. There were plenty of cuts and bruises over him, his clothing hid more of the serous injuries. "Whatever I was thinking, It wasn't worth it..." He sighed, clinching his fist so tightly that his shoulders started to shake, but it became clear that that shaking wasn't from being tense after a sob emitted from him.

"I'm sorry. I should have listened to you!" Konohamaru shouted, tears forming in his eyes and streaming down his cheek. "I...should have listened..." The boy became completely silent, but his body was still shaking and tears were still falling freely, it was obvious that was trying to hold back. It raised the question just how much he was actually holding "I'm sorry, I don't care what happens anymore, punish me, charge me with treason, whatever, but I'm sorry."

"..." Sarutobi looked over him from where he was, he couldn't help but feel sorry for him even though in a way he brought this on to himself. "I knew something would happen too you, this is why I said no."

"I know...I just...had to get out...but..." Konohamaru felt his throat becoming dry, his stomach felt nauseated and he had this horrible oppressing feeling in his chest that made him want to curl in to a ball and whimper until he had nothing left. It was strong that it became hard for him to breath and he couldn't help but pant audibly. Nothing he'd ever felt had been this bad, he couldn't take it and finally he just broke down and cried.

"Konohamaru"

"It wasn't their fault..." Konohamaru managed to call out, indicating Naruto and for whatever reason, Sasuke too. The air around everyone became immensely tense at the moment, with a completely unknown cause to Sarutobi. There were a lot of things he didn't know...and just about everyone else couldn't help but feel uneasy at that fact.

Sarutobi looked over the crowd, everyone seem to avoid his gaze now. "...Could you all leave the room, I need to speak with Konohamaru." Naruto really tensed then, he felt horrible for him. He could only shake his head and sigh as he turned to leave the room, stepping in to the hallway outside with everyone else.

Sasuke got the feeling that a lot had transpired before he came to since nothing was said too Naruto, or maybe he'd awaken just in time. But the main thing on his mind was that he'd not been mentioned once, he should have been the topic of discussion all considering. '...' At the moment he decide to focus on moving...he felt some sensation now, enough to make a sound and more lightly. "...a..Uha..."

Naruto glared down at him, immediately dropping him as if he hadn't realized that he'd been holding him all of this time. "Bastard." He snorted.

Sasuke was immediately awakened completely, his eyes shot open as his back slammed into the carpeted ground. He sat down, cringing from the pain in his torso at the sudden movement. "Ahhhaaa!" He grunted, panting as he looked around. From what he could see everyone had disburse in to different parts of the White House already, he was sure no one had left yet. The only people around him were Naruto, who was leaning against the white walls with his arms folded, and Iruka.

Naruto had a sling on his right arm, along with plenty of bandages other then the one around his head. Iruka had the closest thing to a cast around his stomach from that puncture wound on his right side, his left leg and arm had been tended to and wrapped, along with the back of his neck and head. There was also a strip of the medical cloth across the bridge of his nose from the scare that'd been reopened in his attempt to reach Sasuke and Konohamaru before on Orochimaru's transport. It look like they'd succeed in making him come back...but everything was off. "How...long have I been out?"

"Shut up." Naruto growled.

"Naruto...?"

"Shut up!" Naruto said even louder, the last thing he wanted to do was to see or hear him, infact every move he made seemed to make him react in some type of way, it was clear why.

Sasuke still wasn't sure what was happening, he felt dazed, clouded, as if in a dream. Now that he looked at himself the only thing that seemed to be seriously wrong was the gash on his head Naruto had given him right before he'd pushed him off a 20 story building... "Why...were you carrying me?"

Naruto looked at him in a way he'd never seen, he could tell at that moment that Naruto's already fueled anger had reached it's peak. He snapped and lunged at Sasuke, grabbing him by the neck with his only available arm. Sasuke still wasn't sure what was happening, but he was sure that Naruto's hold with one had was stronger then it had been on Orochimaru's tower with two.

"Naruto!" Iruka reached around Naruto's side and pulled him back, making sure to agitate his injured arm slightly to insist compliance. "Stop."

"Stop! That bastard"

"I know...just..." Iruka had an unnatural calm about him in every movement he made, a false smile across his lips...but his eyes, just looking into them made Naruto desist. He looked as if he'd been hurt, he looked sad, but he also look oddly normal all at once. Naruto immediately recognized that look, he'd been using it for years, that mask he put on to cover any pain from outward appearance, anything he was feeling that he couldn't let anyone see. Iruka had been using that mask since he'd been a child and perfected it well, few if anyone else could see through it but some one who did the same thing at the same level of perfection. Seeing it from the outside was enough to make him listen. "Please stop."

Naruto snorted, looking at Sasuke as Iruka released him and keeping his eyes fixed on the other boy as he walked a few feet down the hall and leaned silently against it again. Sasuke found himself unable to respond, still dazed and surprised, out himself...it was either whatever medication he'd received or a concussion, probably both.

Sasuke turned to Iruka, "Where...am I?"

"The White house." Iruka explained, he found it imposable to look Sasuke in the eye when he spoke to him now.

Sasuke shook his head, trying to get rid of his current feelings. "How...long have I been out?"

Iruka shrugged "A day roughly."

"Why...am I not...I mean, why"

"Why no one mentioned what you did?" Iruka knew what he meant, the question would come up eventually. "You can thank Konohamaru for that. I don't know why...even after all that's happened between you two he begged us not to say anything...He was..." Iruka shook his head and sighed. "I don't know why I'm listening...for him I suppose..." For him...and for Sasuke weather he was willing to admit it.

"Doesn't mean your off the hook."

Sasuke looked back towards the other end of the hallway where Kakashi was standing unnoticed, "So why did you do it?"

"Do...?" Sasuke could barely remember what he'd just said, his mind was in such a disorganized state. He felt like he'd been minuscule amount away from memory loss, it'd been Naruto that did it, slamming his head in to the ground. Not to mention whatever had happened to him after Kakashi had knocked him out, he was sure he'd gotten substantial amounts of damage then. "I...?"

Just then the door to Sarutobi's office opened and Konohamaru emerged, looking no worse or no better then when they'd left him. His eyes were red from the crying and he was still sobbing, "Damnit!" Konohamaru yelled, punching the wall hard enough to leave behind a long crack, He yelled again, throwing another, and another, and another...

"Konohamaru."

Surprising Sarutobi got to him before Iruka could. "Calm down."

Konohamaru turned away, lifting his arm over his teary eyes. "I can't believe I was so stupid..."

"Konohamaru, what's wrong?"

"You know what's wrong..."

"No, something had to happen your not telling me. What is it?"

Konohamaru shook his head, still trying to avoid all eye contact. "It happened just like I told you."

Sarutobi looked back to Iruka questioningly, only receiving a shrug in return. Konohamaru shook his head finally just walked away, glaring at Sasuke as he passed him. Sasuke still felt unlike himself, wondering what exactly had been given to him to make in this way but he didn't say anything. No one really wanted to hear from him anyway, it would only incite rage from Naruto, he didn't much care though. But why hadn't anybody said anything about him?

Sarutobi looked in the direction Konohamaru had gone questioningly, he hadn't even gotten around to punishing him before the boy just looked himself "What happened to him back there?"

Iruka sighed "He wouldn't tell me, but I guess it was hard on him, when I saw him again he was covered in blood and had this on him." Iruka reached in to his pocket, shifting around slightly until he emerged with a silver object, a dog tag.

Sarutobi looked over it carefully, but at first sight it had been familiar to him "...Reedamaru's...what the hell did Orochimaru do?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure all of it wasn't Orochimaru." Iruka turned and away, clearly indicating Sasuke, "Is there anything else Mr. President?"

Sarutobi was still watching the hallway where Konohamaru had left moments ago, didn't seem to be paying attention until he responded. "No, you can go, I don't think I'm be able to get answers out of anyone but Konohamaru. And I'm sure have other things to do since the storm. "

Sasuke stood idle, waiting for someone to say anything, of course he knew things. He wasn't exactly sure what Orochimaru did to Konohamaru but he knew something about it. But Iruka was silent, and Naruto just looked away , Kakashi's visible eye shifted between him and Sarutobi but other then that he was quiet. With a sigh Sarutobi headed back to his office, calling in a secretary and a few other staff members of his administration. He had so much to deal with right now, but he was sure to get to the bottom of this.

By the time Sasuke looked away from the door, Naruto was gone and so was Iruka, only Kakashi remained, the same question still being asked.. "So why did you do it?"

Sasuke glanced back at him.

"The medication they gave you, I'm sure you noticed it, is probably still in effect but I'm sure you can think of some type of answer."

Sasuke still felt confused, disoriented, dazed, the only answer he could come up with was "I don't know." He was barely aware that he remembered anything, he'd never felt this way in his way and he didn't like it at all. "I'm not sure."

"So you've sold out the person who cared for you the most, and you betrayed and tried to kill the person loves you." Kakashi folded his arms "Even worse, you hurt Iruka."

Sasuke got a distinctive grimacing feeling at the tone of Kakashi's voice, he knew there'd be some subtle reprehension or some outright castigation from him at least. "What are you going to do?"

"Nothing."

"What?"

Kakashi closed his eyes and placed his hands in to his pocket "You heard me, everything that happens to you next is your own fault."

"My own...what do you mean."

"I'm not going to do anything, we'll see if your just the bastard Naruto called you...among other things... or is there's something left of the Sasuke from before."

"?"

"You really don't look like you know what's happening now so, just as soon as the medication wares off." Kakashi turned and walked away, but paused for a moment. "And I'm going to be watching you, just in case you actually are a bastard and I need to...ehem, get back at you for what you did Iruka. If you try anything..."

"Why didn't anyone say anything about what I did?"

Kakashi began walking "Konohamaru. But I wouldn't say anything to him right now, not sure what he might do anymore... Whatever, you probably don't care about him anymore anyway right?"

With that Sasuke was left alone with his thoughts, What could he do now? What Next? Wait until this feeling he was carrying wore off, then he could think rationally.

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Sasuke walked down the long, white steps of the federal building, looking along Konoha from his view since this was the city's highest point. It appeared that over half of the city had been leveled, every inch was covered in debris and wreckage that had been thrown round. In places, water still remained, especially around ocean front and harbor which was halfway under. Obviously no place had any power except for locations such as hospitals that ran on generators, there wouldn't be any to the places still standing for quite a while, priorities.

Naruto walked past him, still completely silent, it was unnatural. "Naru"

"What now Sasuke." Naruto said, not even looking at him "Your going to just rub it him, how you screwed me and Konohamaru over, how you beat me. There's no reason for you to even talk to me, just go back to Orochimaru, leave me alone." He told him fiercely, rubbing his injured arm lightly over the sling. "If you ever say anything to me again I swear I'll"

"Naruto!"

Naruto glanced back and saw Lee running towards him, Shikamaru trailing behind. "Thick Brows?"

"I'm so glad your alright!" Lee said, grabbing him by the shoulders and hugging him, "When that storm came I really hoped you weren't caught in it."

"I was nowhere near it...but it looks like Konoha didn't get off easy either." Naruto sighed "Hey Lee...when this happened in the past, what happened next."

Lee thought about it for a moment, then turned to Shikamaru, he wasn't too clear on details since he'd left soon afterwords, Shikamaru explained for him. "Konoha was totaled...I see it recovered though...But I wonder how after something like that."

Naruto shrugged, "I don't know, I never paid attention in History class."

Shikamaru shook his head and smiled. "Figures, just like him."

"We'll see you later Naruto." Lee said. "Tell me if there is anything I can do for you." Giving him a smile and a quick thumbs up before heading off in a separate direction with Shikamaru.

Naruto shrugged and continued walking, Lee was still certainly energetic "I have a feeling there really isn't anything."

Sasuke sat down on the steps, watching Naruto's retreating form and then glancing back towards Lee and Shikamaru. Thinks went from strange, to horrible in such a short period of time, just like the past he supposed. Sasuke waited a moment before picking himself up and walking down in to the soaked streets...

And that's when it hit him, The medication finally wore off and he felt his usual orientation and state of mind returning, rational thought came with it. And then the overview of everything that had happened...everything.

"..."

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Konohamaru lay on his bed, curled tightly into a ball with his head buried in to his knees. He'd never felt like this before, the overbearing pain in his chest was surreally strong. He tried to fall asleep, something to get away from it, all of it was just too much. First his parents died, then he was captured and tortured by Orochimaru, highlighted by being thrown into a container filled with the chopped bodies of his mother and father. Then to make things worse, Sasuke, who had always protected him, did something like that with out warning or reason. And made it very clear that he did it own his own, followed by a few other harsh words. And Ebisu...he didn't deserve to die, not at all.

"Why can't I just sleep...let me sleep damnit...just let me sleep." Konohamaru moaned, sulking heavily. He was trying is best not to cry anymore but it was just too hard, just too much for him. Like falling into a deep hole that he couldn't climb out of no matter how hard he tried, and the hole was himself. The hole was draining him, he was starting to feel empty and alone, like he had nothing left.

Sarutobi opened the door, turning on the light that Konohamaru hadn't noticed he'd left off. "Konohamaru."

"Yes?" He didn't look up, he knew who it was and he didn't want to face him.

"Sarutobi cleared away some clutter and sat down next to the bed, the whole room seemed to have been trashed by Konohamaru. "Remodeling?"

"Sorry."

Sarutobi shook his head "Don't be sorry, just tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing, I'm fine."

"Your lying, What aren't you telling me?"

Konohamaru curled up even tighter, he didn't want to be having this conversation. "Nothing, it happened just like I told you."

Sarutobi sighed "What did Orochimaru do to you?"

Konohamaru shuttered, biting his lip in order to stop himself from saying anything, but then he realized he'd been silent, and that was suspicious. "Nothing. It was just like I told you!" He said angrily, he was getting mad that his grandfather didn't believe him.

"Alight, I guess you'll tell me when your ready...But I did come here to tell you something."

"What is it?"

"It's Ebisu."

Konohamaru felt his insides turn, just thinking about it made him sad to the point where he felt nauseated. "..."

"Commander Asuma found him, he's alive."

"What! Really?" Konohamaru immediately turned around.

"Yes...but he's in critical condition, the doctors are saying they hope he'll stabilize by tomorrow...But"

"But he's going to be alright, right!"

Sarutobi paused, he didn't want to tell him the truth, he looked so helpful right now. "Well... He hasn't waken up or even responded, in a coma most likely."

"So...he's not..." Konohamaru curled back in to a ball, that nauseating feeling was even stronger now.

"To be honest, it's amazing that he's even alive now."

"He's not going to survive?"

"I'm sorry but...no."

Konohamaru became silent, tears filling his eyes again.

"Are you going to be alright?" Sarutobi asked.

Konohamaru didn't say anything, he felt like he couldn't speak if he tried. "..."

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"Gai-sensei." Lee called out, running towards him while avoiding as much debris as he could. Each step he took cause the water along the concrete to splash upward. Shikamaru trailed behind him, his hands casually in his pocket as he surveyed the damage around him. By some miracle Gai's house still stood, If it could avoid being blow up by a tank then a storm probably was noting for it.

"Lee, Shikamaru." Gai sat solemnly on his front lawn, his arms folded and his legs crossed with a tired and annoyed look on his face. He was staring at the spot where his Garage used to be as he sighed deeply. "That makes car number 3."

"Well...look at it this way, you still have your health, and we did survive even in these odds." Lee said, he tilted his head to the side as he thought, it was really hard to come up with reasons. "And...you still have your house...Oh yeah! You did really well protecting us, I thought we'd drown for sure."

Gai looked at him, seeming to instantly regain his energy "Your right Lee! No point sitting around feeling sad when there's so much to be happy about." Gai sprang to his feet, dusting himself off."

If there was one thing Lee could do, it was feed off of Gai's constant energy, seeing him happy made him happier. "And the way you handled that machine, it was amazing."

Shikamaru watched curiously, wondering how easy it was for them to build each other up. Maybe when he was younger he would have thought this kind of behavior troublesome and annoying, but now it was really cute. 'Lee...' He found himself smiling, not bothering to hide it.

"So what do we do next?" Lee asked.

Gai paused for a moment as he thought, tilting his head towards the sun as he did so. Truly a picture perfect "The future's possibilities are endless, especially at a time like this."

Gai cuffed his hands together and looked admiringly at him "That is so deep Gai-sensei." He let out a deep breath contently, then turned to Shikamaru, who seemed oddly amused. "Hey Shikamaru, so what do you think?"

"You two seem to be better at optimism then me, I'll leave it up to you two." Shikamaru said, taking another look around. He could even still see the tread marks over the grass from the tank.

Lee ran over to him, wrapping his arms around the boy's neck "What do you think is going to happen next?"

Shikamaru allowed himself to be embraced, leaning back slightly "No telling..."