A/N : Due to a situation with parents, I haven't been near a computer for a while…but I am back and hopefully writing a chapter every few days or so…if not, it will be around a week…no promises however! I live a life besides this story (although I may wish otherwise)! So here you go, the next chapter in …The Calling from Heaven!
Reviews!
Irvin lizalde: Thanks for the praise! And yes, Naru/Saku is the plan )
winxclubluver: well thank you! Sorry for the long wait!
MindlessManiac: Wow, reviews like yours make me keep writing! Thanks!
angel61991: Sasuke won't be showing up for a little while…but soon!
Kris: Well, I'm glad that you find the plot original! That's my aim! Heh, yes it is funny how it takes them a while! And cookies are always accepted!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto…go bug someone else!
The Calling from Heaven
By Indomitable Soul
Remembrance
Chapter 3
"Naruto?"
Naruto stood in the doorway and stared at Sakura. Naruto thought back to the many times in his youth that he had asked her to go out with him many times. These memories were hard to conjure, for it had been a long time for Naruto. He had seen many more years in Heaven than those he had missed in this realm of existence, because Heaven was timeless. Five years here was an eon spent away. It was as a distant dream to him, not fully real but at the same time incredibly so. Now, being back, he had those memories return to him in rushes. He had always admired Sakura. He remembered back to times when she had pounded him, to his cheering her on at the Chunin exams…
Sakura, on the other hand, vividly remembered the times with Team 7, and the experiences they had shared, from meeting at the Academy, to their mission to Wave Country. Memories experienced of the Chunin exams, and the departure of Sasuke.
Neither of them moved for a few moments until Naruto slowly said "Hello Sakura."
Sakura started crying and jumped on him.
"You Idiot! Where have you been? We've all missed you so much, you have no idea!"
Naruto smiled slightly and released himself from Sakura's hug. It was then that he thought back to the years he had spent in Heaven, training for the bloodshed to come…
Naruto had only just decided to go with Michael, when he felt a tug on his very soul towards the sky. He looked up and saw what he could only describe as whirlpool of light, which was sucking him in. At first he felt fear, but this was quelled when he heard a soft, yet powerful voice speaking to him.
"Do not be afraid…"
Naruto was pulled into the light and a sudden feeling of excitement and joy entered every fiber of his being. Words cannot describe the things that Naruto saw in that whirlpool, but for a moment, he had become a part of time it's self, and had seen the beginning of time, and its end. He had seen a myriad of people's lives, great and small pass him by, and yet left him looking backwards at them. This sudden overwhelming sense of the miniscule nature that we all live, oblivious in our own happy world, gave him a gut-wrenching thought that he was no bigger than an ant, and his life had no sway whatsoever in the realm of all existence.
Then, as soon as it had started, it was all over. He felt that overwhelming thought leave his mind, as a new sense of awe filled his heart.
He was literally standing in a field of light, and surrounding him was grass, not green, but a strangely golden hue that glowed in its own light. As he looked the up to the sky, he saw not an endless blue, but the universe it's self, with whole galaxies in front of him. He felt himself reach out to touch them, but felt only the glowing warmth of the air. At this, he noticed that the air was different as well, not stale, as he had been accustomed to in his apartment, but strangely pure and sweet. He drew in a breath and found himself letting it out with a large smile.
"You are called…"
Naruto turned his head around to see a Man standing in the distance, beckoning Naruto towards Him. He couldn't tell who it was, for He was hidden in a silhouette. Naruto ran towards Him, and felt himself literally fly over the golden field. He felt a sudden joy in this, for he had not felt this free in his entire life. As he approached the Man, an unexpected flash of light blinded him and he threw out a cry of pain. As this happened, a heard a voice in his head speaking to him.
"Do not worry. If you were to look upon My face with those eyes, you would die. I am merely changing them so that you may…"
Naruto felt his eyesight returning, only to find that he was seeing now what others could only dream of. No longer was his eyesight limited to the visible spectrum, but could now also see wavelengths and heat. Also, he found, that they were now literal portals into the past, present, and future. As he slow realized the awesome power of this, he looked up at the Man.
What he saw, no mortal eyes could stand to see, and Naruto now knew why. There are no words to describe him that we can really say, but to the limit we have he was magnificent, awe-inspiring, kind, beautiful and awesome to behold. Naruto knew that he would never meet or encounter anyone like this for the rest of his life. He didn't know what to say to the Man, or what he should do, but he felt himself falling to his knees. The man walked over to Naruto and pulled him to his feet.
"You don't need to say anything. I understand what you want, what you need, your desires and dislikes, those you love and those you…hate. I know all about you, Uzumaki Naruto, and I can see what you will become as well."
Naruto looked up, tears in his eyes, and simply said "Kami-sama."
Naruto looked back at Sakura, who was still crying and said "Well, Sakura, I've been…around."
She frowned through the tears, but it quickly turned into a smile. "Well, I'm sure that you will tell me when you're ready. But what have you been doing all this time?"
Naruto smiled and said simply, "Training."
Sakura fought hard not to yell at Naruto. "Training? Why, you could do that right here! There was no need for you to leave-"
Naruto put a finger to her mouth and said "There was. I will tell all of you about it, but there is a time appointed for it, and that is not now. There is still time until…I must reveal all…"
After saying this, Naruto slowly walked back into the house beckoning Sakura in.
"I'm going to change, so if you would wait here, please…"
She entered the apartment, slightly shocked by the calm and graceful movements that he walked around with. It was as if…no, that couldn't be! Floating…heh! Sakura chuckled inwardly at this, but her amusement slowly turned to awe as she heard Naruto say from the next room, "What's so funny?
"Uhh…Nothing! W-why do you ask?"
Naruto walked out, now wearing a simple red shirt and baggy sweatpants with the symbol 'Heaven' on the right legging.
"Well, I felt you chuckle, and was just wondering why you had. That's all."
Sakura gulped slightly. "Oh…ok…"
Naruto walked out the front door, and Sakura followed him. They walked through the streets of Konoha without saying a word, Naruto staring up into the sky, occasionally closing in his eyes and taking a deep, thoughtful breath. Sakura on the other hand was completely at a loss for words! The old Naruto would have been an energetic loud-mouth at times like this, and now he had absolutely nothing to say! She was strangely happy about this, though a part of her missed the old, happy-go-lucky Naruto that had a grin all of the time. Soon, they reached the Training ground Naruto had been before his departure. Sakura was dying to ask what he had been doing, but decided that forcing the issue would make it harder for him to open up about it.
Naruto stopped in front of a tree with deep, circular marks running through it and smiled. "Rasengan…" He said softly. Sakura heard this and smiled. Naruto turned around and stared back at the Hokage's faces on the cliff side. "It's been a long time since I've used that technique…and many others." Sakura stared at him. Hadn't the Rasengan been one, if not his favorite technique besides Kage Bunshin? He smiled softly and replied as if hearing your thoughts. "Where I have been, it was not needed. Actually, I had forgotten about most of my techniques until I had returned." Sakura decided that waiting to ask again would kill her. "Just where have you been? How could the Rasengan not be needed? Naruto, you have to tell me!"
Naruto turned and started walking back to his apartment. "I'm sorry Sakura, but I cannot tell you. Its not that I don't want to, I just can't. Please don't ask again. You will know when the time is right, as will everyone else." Naruto continued back home, leaving Sakura at the tree, with many unresolved questions…questions that had multiplied at his statement. She decided that continuing to pester him would go nowhere, so she decided to go to the only person who she thought could find out.
Naruto got back to his apartment and sighed. He really did want to tell everyone about his experiences in Heaven, but he knew that to tell them this early before the war would only endanger them, and possibly jumpstart a battle that shouldn't come for some time.
He went over to his bed and sat cross-legged while closing his eyes. Suddenly, he felt a familiar presence in the room. Without opening his eyes, he nodded once at the direction of the presence. "Michael," he said opening his eyes. He knew that Michael would not be there in a physical sense, but his spirit was in the room.
Hello Naruto.
Naruto looked in the direction of the aura. "Please give my thanks and gratitude to Kami for the smooth arrival."
No need. He hears what you say right now…as always.
Naruto smiled. "Of course." He felt the presence then move towards the door, as if leaving, but it turned and said,
Although I am sure you already know this, but you have a year before the dark portal opens. I pray that you have a safe and peaceful time until it begins.
Naruto nodded "All of it is in Kami's hands." Naruto felt Michael's presence leave the room and he lied down on his bed, hoping that the next year would indeed be filled with peace.
And he fell asleep.
Naruto woke the next morning to rays of light in his face. He sat there staring at the window, gleaning the warmth of the suns rays before starting his day. He soon got up and took a warm and soothing shower. His mind was still partly troubled; he had many friends and acquaintances with whom he had yet to see again and he was slightly worried as to what their reactions would be. He hoped that they were like the last days meetings.
After getting dressed in a simple pair of jeans and a tight tee-shirt, he brushed his teeth and hair, and stepped outside. It was a beautiful day in Konoha, and promised to be an extremely warm spring day. After taking a quick jog (which to most people just seemed to be a very strong breeze going past), he decided on going to the Hokage's office to get either a job to occupy his days or at least take about what he had missed.
He walked his way up the street towards the tower, but was stopped by the sight of two masked men fleeing from a local grocer. Naruto quickly surmised the situation and stepped in the way of the two robbers, who skidded to a stop.
The first robber snarled "Get out of our way, punk, or we'll blast you to high heaven!"
Naruto chuckled at this. "Sorry, I've already been there."
The robber spat and nodded at the other one. "Trash him!"
Naruto watched as the thief ran down a side alley, while the other one pulled out a gun and shot at Naruto.
Time paused as Naruto used his eyes to slow down time, watching the bullet sluggishly make its way towards him. He regarded it with apathy as he plucked it right out of the air and returned time to its normal pace.
The robber gasped visibly at the man in front of him holding the bullet he had just shot at him like it was no big deal. He turned to run but felt himself slip into a deep sleep when a voice entered his head.
'Time to sleep for a while…'
Naruto watched as he fell over and felt for the other robber's spirit energy…there it was. He stopped time completely and ran over to where he felt the energy coming from. After jumping several buildings and traversing sever roads, he came across a frozen man, running in the direction of Konoha's gate. He slowly put his arm out in front of the man and returned to normal time.
The man ran right into Naruto's arm, and as with any clothesline, he went unconsciously flying into the air. Naruto deftly caught the man in one arm, and calmly walked back to the grocery store.
As Naruto approached the grocer, he saw that the other robber had already been apprehended by the local Leaf-nins. As they saw him approaching them, the grocer stated, "Yes, that's him! He stopped the robbers!" Naruto calmly put down the robber and he was quickly handcuffed by the nins and hauled off. Most of the people who had seen the whole incident were staring at Naruto with something of awe in their eyes. He was thanked by the grocer and before walking away, the Leader of the nins approached him. Naruto, being no fool, quickly recognized the grotesque green spandex body suit and large eyebrows. Naruto had no trouble guessing that this nin was none other than Rock Lee.
"Very well handled, as the reports state! You have mine and everyone's thanks!" Lee flashed his good-guy pose, which had Naruto chuckling to himself.
"It was no trouble, and there was no damage inflicted."
Lee looked questioningly at Naruto. "I heard that a gun was used! You are not harmed?"
Naruto quickly replied "Uh, no! No, I'm fine! He, uh, missed! Yeah!"
Lee looked as though he didn't believe Naruto, then suddenly sent up a loud yell.
"Your luck is proof of the power of Youthfulness! Yosh!" Naruto sweat dropped, and suddenly Lee got a curious look on his face.
Lee asked questioningly, "Do I know you? You seem very familiar…perhaps from the academy, or something?"
Naruto smiled. "Yes, you do know me, although it has been a very long time since I have been back to Konoha." Lee pondered this and immediately came up with…
"NARUTO! AS I SAID, THE POWER OF YOUTH SHINES ON!"
Lee grabbed Naruto into one of his Gai-like hugs which would normally break a person in two, but Naruto didn't even flinch, except for the fact that it was uncomfortable to be hugging Lee.
"Uh, thanks Lee. I appreciate your welcome, but I did need to go to see the Hokage before this whole incident happened."
Lee stepped back and flashed Naruto a toothy grin. "Very well, my friend! I must not make you late to see the Hokage! But know this! One of these days I want to test out how strong you have become on your travels!"
With this, Lee and the rest of his 'task force' continued on their patrols shouting something like, 'Youth will prevail!' and the robbers were taken to jail. Naruto smiled to himself and continued to the Hokage's office.
Naruto continued into the Hokage's office and walked in, despite repeated warnings by Tsunade's secretary not to enter. He opened the door to feel a vase smash against his forehead.
"That's what you get for not…knocking…"
Tsunade now not only realized that it was Naruto, but saw that the vase had done absolutely nothing to him. The broken fragments lay on the ground, but no damage appeared on Naruto's head. Shaking the feeling off, she nodded to Naruto.
"Well, what are you doing here, Naruto?"
Naruto, who seemingly hadn't even noticed the vase, gave a little laugh, then coughed.
"Um, well, you see, I was wondering if there were any jobs or missions that I could start doing to occupy my time…"
Tsunade stared at Naruto and replied, "Sorry Naruto. Without a team, you aren't allowed to do missions. You have to be a Chunin to do those, and your technically still a Genin."
Naruto was about to protest, when Tsunade continued.
"Lucky for you, however, the Chunin exams are starting again in a few weeks. The only thing that may hamper your doing the exam is the fact that you need to be on a team of three to complete the tests. Unless…"
Naruto had been down at hearing his inability to do stuff, but heard her coming rebuttal, and perked up again.
"The only way to give you missions would be to have you skip Chunin completely and become a special Jounin…but before you get too excited, you will have to be tested to see if you are battle worth enough to become one."
Naruto was happy at this chance, but thought that the testing would be bothersome. He knew that he could literally take out Tsunade without flinching, and that he was probably the strongest being in this existence, until the gates opened in a year. Yet this fact didn't seem to faze Naruto, and he showed his excitement to return to missions.
"Sounds great Tsunade! When will I be tested?"
Tsunade called in her secretary. "When is there time to test this young man out for special Jounin?"
The secretary looked at her schedule. "Hmm, it seems that you are testing someone else this afternoon, actually. Inzuka Kiba."
Tsunade nodded and told Naruto that He would be tested with Kiba. Naruto heard this and smiled. He wondered how his meeting Kiba again would go…?
A/N Once again, I want to apologize for the long wait for this chapter. Hopefully you enjoyed it! Next time we will start the Special Jounin test for our hero!
Some of you may feel that Naruto is overpowered…and that's the way it's supposed to be. He wasn't trained in Heaven to face a couple wimpy demons…he's going to be fighting hoards of them…not to mention a certain demon lord you all know and love (?)
Until then, this is Indomitable Soul signing out!