DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto

Okay… here it is PART 5 of FADING .. Please read and review!

FADING- part 5

ON THE ROAD TO THE VILLAGE HIDDEN IN THE LEAVES

SAKURA

It was hard to imagine what Naruto must be feeling right now. He was so different… foreign.. And it scared her. All she could think of right now was her own feelings. Emotions chased thoughts, making her unstable.

This man, this new Naruto was something so different from the impish friend she had made. A hero in her mind. But this man, this man was so hard to grasp. He showed no evident emotions. He was still, awkward and quiet. It tortured her to no extent. Would she be able to care for this foreign young man? Would he ever regain his memories? Naruto was fearful of his past. He kept his eyes off of everyone and hardly spoke. It wasn't difficult to bring him along. He wanted to remember, but he made no effort to do so. God… what was she suppose to do? This man frightened her and yet she worried over him. He seemed so lost.

They made camp late in the evening and Sasuke put his bed roll a littler farther away from the rest of the group. He seemed troubled and this worried Sakura.

He had hardly spoke and seemed caught in his thoughts as they traveled. And thus he tripped several times. He wore the bruises already. At one point, Sasuke had tripped almost falling down a ravine when Naruto had moved in an inhuman blur to catch him. For a moment Sasuke had looked up at Naruto with longing eyes. He peered intensely at Naruto's face as if trying to find some evidence of his former friend and rival. Naruto blushed and took a hasty step back releasing Sasuke. Everyone stared as Naruto's blush which soon began to dissipate. Sasuke refused to look at Naruto after the incident.

They made camp and Sakura and Kakashi fell asleep. Naruto stared up through the branches at the night sky, while mumbling under his breath. Sasuke strained his ears to catch what Naruto was saying, but was unable to decipher anything. It would seem that Naruto was speaking in another language.

NARUTO

The trip so far was an awkward silence filled with tension. He had tried his best to remain in control of his undulating fear and sadness. Who were these people to care so much. They had taken every opportunity to find small things that might help or comfort him. It was unconscious for them as if their thoughts had taken over their minds and their subconscious was the only thing that kept them moving. Who was he to them? And the look the man… Sasuke… gave was Naruto something more than curiosity. It was filled with pain and love. He hadn't known how to react, so he blushed. It was unnerving and he felt sad. Who was he to this Sasuke.

It was late and the pink… Sakura and Kakashi… were sound asleep. The boy was watching Naruto covertly and he itched to confront him. Who was Naruto to him? He mumbled under his breath in a language that he had quickly grasped in his aimless travels. His intelligence and physical abilities unnerved people and made him nervous. Who was he? Or rather, what had he become? He had questioned his subconscious, but it did not reply. And the demon within him curled up whimpering whenever he confronted it. Who was he?

Naruto ranted quietly about the injustices of the world. Why couldn't he remember simple things that would make others smile. Yes he wanted them to smile. Not to fear him, but to love him.

THE GATES OF THE VILLAGE HIDDEN IN THE LEAVES

In the distance the reunited team 7 could see a crowd. A patiently waiting crowd. Their eyes searched the road, looking, peering with hope and fear. Team 7 halted just out of view of the gates when Kakashi signaled them to.

"Sakura, Sasuke… umm.. Naruto. Sakura and I need to speak with those people," he indicated the growing crowd, "before we enter… Naruto stay here with Sasuke. Okay?"

"Yes." Said Naruto quietly. Everyone looked at him. This was the first time he'd opened his mouth in the past couple of hours. Kakashi and Sakura took their leave, leaving Sasuke and Naruto to stand their awkwardly.

"Naruto.." Sasuke said hesitantly.

"Yes?"

"I know this is hard for you… If you need anything… I'm always here." A look of deep gratitude covered Naruto's face and he smiled. His eyes sparkling making Sasuke inhale his breath sharply. Naruto was gorgeous.

"Thank you." Was all Naruto said.

MEANWHILE

Sakura and Kakashi reached the gates. Everyone peered around them trying to find Sasuke and Naruto, but at the moment no one else was to be found. Tsunade was the first to react.

"So was it, or was it not Naruto? And where is Sasuke?" She asked imperiously. Everyone murmured.

"Yes… It was Naruto. I want to explain something first before we have him come here…" Kakashi said.

"What?" Asked a curious Ino.

"Well," Sakura continued, "He's not the Naruto you'd remember. He's incredibly intelligent, he's quiet, depressed and often rude. And a little violent. In addition to all this his amnesia is also a problem. It only affects his memories…"

"He's also… well.. He still possess Shinobi skills… but he also possess unique abilities," Kakashi shuddered visibly, "that don't… well… the best way to describe it and it will sound rather crude. He has certain abilities which are inhuman and I'm not talking about Kyuubi. I talked to the Kazekage and he informed me that Naruto's abilities exceed all rationality…"

There was an awkward silence. "I'll go get him. And Sasuke." Sakura said at last.

Murmurs ran through the crowd, anxiety gripped them and frowns creased their faces. Tsunade curse under her breath. What was she to do now…

In the distance Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto's form slowly became visible. When they their appearances came into focus everyone's jaw dropped, some flushed crimson, others inhaled sharply and Hinta fainted. Naruto was a god. His beauty was unmatched. It surpassed Sasuke's to some extend. And the two of them standing together was eye candy, a real treat.

Opposite poles of beauty and alluring natures. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! Several fan girls ran up to the back of the crowd and pushed their way forward to greet their Sasuke-kun, only to go weak in the knees or get nose bleeds.

"Umm… hello." Naruto said in his low harmonic voice cutely blushing. Several guys and girls fainted right there and hard to be carried away in stretchers by gapping medics.

(I KNOW REALLY DRAMATIC! Sorry- Author's note)

"Naruto…" Tsunade managed before rushing over to him and pulling him into a hug. Naruto looked down at the woman like she was crazy before his face went red from trying to breath. Tsunade's hug tightened.

"Umm… Kokage-sama… I think Naruto is having difficulty breathing" Sakura managed giggling. Tsunade looked up and Naruto's red face and quickly released him. Who was he that two kages had had such fondness for him?" Naruto asked himself.

"Umm… I know this will probably be… well uncomfortable, but… what's your name, Hokage-sama?" Tsunade took a shuddering breath.

"My name is Tsunade, but you used to call me Hokage-baba!"

"I used to call you a hag?" Naruto asked puzzled.

"Since you don't remember… and I won't repeat myself… I'm fifty. I just use my chakra to hide it." Tsunade said blushing horribly.

"Oh." Naruto said raising an eye brow in disbelief. Chuckling slightly.

Soon Naruto's closest friends had made their way over to him and reintroduced themselves awkwardly.

"Umm… nice to be reintroduced." Naruto said meaning it. He was happy and sad that so many people cared about him. It wasn't fair that he could remember.

LATER IN TSUNADE'S OFFICE

"Naruto… we're going to need to question you… do you feel up to it?"

"I guess so, but I doubt there will be much I can answer." He said uneasily and a little sad. Tsunade hugged him before motioning several ANBU forward.

Naruto waved at Tsunade and the rest of team 7 before following the ANBU out.

"I hope he'll be alright." Was all Sakura managed. Sasuke's brow was creased in anxiety, his face was paler than usual.

SOMEWHERE WITH THE ANBU

Naruto sat on a single wooden chair gazing up at the four ANBU uncomfortably.

"Naruto, we're going to put you under hypnosis. I want to prepare you… it might be painful."

Gritting his teeth Naruto answered "Anything. I want to remember. I don't want to make them sad any longer." The ANBU looked at each other before promptly putting Naruto into a hypnotic state.

"Naruto I want you to go back to the day after you sacrificed yourself to save the village."

"Alright." Naruto said, his voice coming out in a whisper. A tear fell down his cheek. "It's really hot, it feels like my skin is burning, it feels like… the heat is under my skin…"

"Where are you? What does this place look like?"

"I can't see it, but it smells. It smells like something died, but also like something new. The smell is coming from me. All I can feel and smell is me. I'm dangling, but nothing is holding me. The only other thing besides my body is gravity. It's constantly pulling and pulling, but my body won't give into it."

"Do you hear anything?"

"Yes… whispers and something is beating. It's my heart."

"Can you tell me what the whispers are saying? Just listen a little more. What are they saying Naruto?"

"They're saying… born again, born again. The unborn, undead is born again-"

Naruto began to scream. His body began to convulse. He screamed out "It hurts, it hurts! Make it stop! Make it stop."

Blue fire began to flow out of Naruto's body. It was like acid. The chair Naruto sat on suddenly crumbled and then was gone. And he fell to the ground convulsing more. The ANBU jumped away from the blue fire.

One unfortunate ANBU didn't move so fast and his boot caught on fire. He screamed a terrified and pained scream as his boot burned away.

"Naruto, wake, wake up NOW!" The ANBU screamed. The fire stopped returning to Naruto body and with one final scream and convulsion Naruto fell unconscious.

THE HOSPITAL two hours later

Naruto's body was curled in on itself and he whimpered in his sleep. Sasuke could resist it any more. Gently he eased himself onto the bed and pulled the heavenly beauty into his arms. He stroked Naruto's back and Naruto stilled gently and relaxed in Sasuke arms. Sasuke breathed a sigh.

Naruto's eyes flickered open and he said sleepily. "Sasuke-teme, what are you doing." Sasuke nearly dropped Naruto surprised and weary in a moment. Naruto was awake and found himself in Sasuke arms. What if he reject him? God he was so stupid, but then Naruto did the most surprising thing of all. He put his arms around Sasuke's waist and snuggled closer. Naruto promptly fell back asleep on Sasuke's lap. Then did Naruto's words him… Naruto had called him teme. Happy tears fell onto Naruto's face. Sasuke brushed them away and stroked Naruto's hair from his face.