Author Notes
Sorry for the delay, a lot was happening. I was finally able to find a beta for this chapter, so many thanks to naomi-stories for her edits! :D We all love you! Enjoy!
A week passed and Naruto wasn't able to get out of bed. The main issue was the killer headaches; it felt like his head had split into two. The pain continued to grow until he couldn't take it anymore and broke out in fits of screams. Then came the heartache and the agony, he was hit with pulses of broken memories. In the beginning, the blond wasn't able to see anything. His brain felt like a broken VCR that had suddenly been fixed. Every image was a blur. It took a while to organize them, and even then, he wasn't sure about the right chronological order. Yet after a while, his brain adjusted and through the pain, he was able to see some memories.
He saw the first time he'd met Sasuke, the raven-haired male had the appearance of a small kid. Naruto felt his eleven-year-old self's emotion spurt to engulf him. Feelings of sorry for the lonely kid and wanting to add him to his group, mixed with bright and joyful sentiments pulled at his heartstrings. Naruto's eyes teared at the memory. He saw how the light shone inside Sasuke's eyes when he asked him to be friends.
Another came showing Naruto welcoming the mysterious kid into his home. Apparently it was after school, they had their backpacks alongside their gakuran on. Sasuke was a bit uncomfortable but Naruto's cheerful attitude soon made him more relaxed. A happy smile presented on Sasuke's face. Naruto hated how he'd forgotten that expression.
A not so beautiful memory presented itself, it filled him with dark emotions. It was the first time Sakura met Sasuke. The blond was always crushing on his best friend. Seeing how easily Sasuke was able to snatch her heart from him ruled his heart with jealousy. Naruto snickered at the memory. How childish he was.
Multiple memories showed next, their first cultural festival, their first trip out of town, first new year's, first Halloween and many more joyful events that he just couldn't find it in his heart to forgive Sasuke for robbing.
Naruto's body was taking it hard, recovering slowly from the gulps of memories. His father had forced him into going to the hospital – having seen how bad his son's condition was – but no pain reliever was able to soothe his heart. The blond knew in his core, his soul was suffering the loss of Sasuke and he just needed to find a way to cope. After two days of being admitted, he'd decided to leave to his house against his father's and the doctor's wishes. He cooped inside his room, left only for the bathroom and to eat. Naruto tried to organize the past life that he was just seeing.
It was hard and he breathed hell in it, but he kept on remembering. He found that Sasuke was honestly a very big part of his life. He was enchanting, cool and smart. He did everything impeccably. It was not strange that the girls in his class alongside his childhood friend would direct feelings of affection to him. He remembered how his bitter feelings shifted, from being jealous of Sasuke to being jealous of the girls' shouting love confessions to him. However, when Sasuke just laughed at every confession he got, Naruto was proud to have him all to himself.
Every time a girl was ignored because of him, he felt superior. Until the day came when he was old enough to be able to put a label on his feelings. He liked Sasuke. He was in the same poet as those crazy stalkers, maybe even worse. He'd resigned his life with Sasuke as default. In a second, it was all-natural. The memories told Naruto about the past that Sasuke kept hidden. They told him of a younger self, a different world yet similar emotions. Why did Sasuke feel the need to shield it away, he couldn't tell.
Naruto remembered when his father died, the hurt that patched a black hole in his heart reopened. He also recalled the strange way Sasuke detached himself from him, how many times he went to beg Sasuke to see him. His younger self was devastated by the way he was being treated. He and Sasuke should have been together forever. Nothing should have come between them, the blond was broken to see his relationship with Sasuke shatter right before his eyes. He needed the raven-haired male to be by his side, but that didn't happen.
Then Sakura got into an accident, she kept battling to keep her life, and Naruto clutched at every optimistic cell in him not to lose her. She was the sister he never had, and if he had lost her, he didn't know if he'd be able to keep breathing. Disasters were just coming to take his most important people away from him.
That's when Sasuke came to him, his memory blacked out as to what had happened between them. Yet, he recalled that Sasuke was very broken. Naruto couldn't forget Sasuke's expression at that time. He could still feel the hug that Sasuke gave him, very tight as if he didn't want to let him go. Naruto's tears fell again. Multiple times he had relapses when he reached that memory. He'd break out in fits of screams and pains, so Naruto tried to connect the dots. His brain told him that that was probably when Sasuke tried telling him everything. Apparently Sasuke didn't lie about his weak constitution.
Then Naruto remembered the last time he saw Sasuke. The raven-haired male was wearing a black hoodie, he had asked Naruto to meet in the garden near the café they frequented, Naruto flew to the location, glad at any chance to meet Sasuke. However, he wasn't ready for what had happened.
Touching his lips, the blond recalled vividly the soft kiss that was planted onto his lips before Sasuke took it all away. His heart hurt more than his brain did at that particular memory. The blond honestly didn't feel like Sasuke was justified erasing his memories. Whatever the cause was, the raven-haired male took something that wasn't his. Naruto knew that what Sasuke did probably was something he thought of long and hard, yet he just couldn't excuse it.
Naruto still believed that he and Sasuke could have worked everything out; there must have been a different way. As he clutched his aching head, he silently shed tears onto his pillow. Right now there was no one to shout to, no person to hit and no Sasuke to bitch to. He was totally alone. The only person who knew his exact feelings – perhaps more than he did – was nowhere to be found. Naruto didn't even know if Sasuke was dead or simply ceased to exist. What did vanishing in fits of bubbles mean? The blond scratched his head many times but to no avail.
He was alone and had no answer to the mysteries. Yet again.
Sakura was worried, to say the least. She has gone to Naruto's house the following day but Minato told her that Naruto was feeling sick, he couldn't meet her. Her insides were brimming with worry when the days continued and no word came from him. Even when she found out the blond had been hospitalized, she wasn't able to meet him. Sakura allowed a sigh to escape her lips. Placing the pompoms on the bench beside her, she pulled the ring holding her hair up, down and allowed air to tangle the silky pinks.
In a second, Ino was sitting beside her. The light blond-haired beauty gave her friend a playful shove. "Forehead, you've been down for a while now, what's wrong?"
Sakura felt her nerve flare at the nickname but ignored it, unconsciously bringing a lock to hide her forehead. She puffed out a reply. "Nothing. Everything's just too messed up these days."
"Tell me, you'll feel better when it's all out." Ino gave an encouraging response as she put her own pompoms near Sakura's.
The jade eyed cheerleader gave a tiny smile. Her friend was really worried about her, it's not always that Ino allowed her kindness to show – especially to her. Sakura contemplated the effects of saying too much and ending up revealing Naruto's secret, but right now, she just didn't know what's right anymore. Deciding that it's best to share at times, she gently spoke.
"It's Naruto. I haven't seen him for a while now…" Her face took on a sullen expression
"Well," Ino started, already having an answer prepared. "You said he's sick, right? Even Kakashi-sensei confirmed it."
"Yeah, I just don't know how to explain it. He's sick but… something's off about him." Sakura's brows furrowed trying to get her point across.
The light blonde scoffed and said. "What do you mean? Off how?"
Sakura's face twisted as she tried to find the right words to use. "Like he's hiding something and doesn't want me to know. I can help him if I do, I just know it –"
"Let me stop you right there, Sakura," Ino said loud enough for her friend to hear and low enough not to attract the attention of the other cheerleaders. "I'm going to say this now because I think you're taking things the wrong way. The relationship you have with Naruto is not right. You two are friends and all, but you shouldn't forget that he'd confessed his love to you. It's true that he said he's alright after you dumbed him, but he only did that because he didn't want to disrupt the atmosphere of the group. You need to keep your distance for a while, don't get too caught up in your inner hunch and forget reality."
Sakura's face sweat-dropped and she shook her head. "It's not like that, Ino…"
"What do you mean?" The blond ran a hand through her silky ponytail and continued talking. "When Naruto was missing for a while, you went crazy searching and questioning people, I found it odd, but I let you do it because I know once you put your mind on something you never let go. Yet this time, as your best friend I can't sit down and watch this. Naruto is fine. He can handle his own shit. You need to leave him and focus on yourself. I realize this is hard to hear, but believe me, it's for the best of you. Don't run behind your hunch all the time." Ino finished with a satisfied expression, feeling good that she has finally spoken her mind.
Sakura's worries didn't lessen with her friend's words. She knew they were wrong since Naruto wasn't the Naruto they knew. However, she couldn't tell that to Ino. How could she speak of Naruto's secret and expose him like that? A: Ino won't believe her, and B: it would be betraying the blond on so many levels. Sakura just couldn't do that. Suddenly she felt really tired.
"I can't tell you everything but your words are wrong, Ino." Sakura sighed. "Naruto doesn't think of me that way anymore."
"Are you sure?" Ino retorted, tone mocking to an extent. "Naruto has been in love with you for as long as we all can remember, you pretended not to see it, heck we all pretended not to see it, but that great love doesn't vanish overnight, it's been a few months since you dumbed him… that's not enough time for him to heal if you catch my drift."
Sakura's face had a soft smile as she spoke. "Ino, listen, Naruto has bigger issues than love to deal with right now –"
"We're in high school, aside from goofing around, falling in love, what's there to worry about?" Ino jokingly stated, interrupting her friend.
Sakura wanted to point out the ambiguous future they still had to deal with, but she stopped halfway. Ino meant well, but she didn't have all the information to give solid advice. Sakura looked at the clear skies, had she known nothing, she probably would have thought Naruto was keeping a distance because of love just like Ino did. Sighing, she gave a tiny smile.
"Thanks, Ino, I'll try to think about it from your point of view."
The beautiful blond, twirled her hair as she stood up, showing off the body that made her beat Sakura in the school's beauty pageant last year, earning the crown. "I know you are only saying this to put a lid on the topic, but seriously, you need to give Naruto his space. Too much love smothers people, Sakura."
With those as her parting words, the head cheerleader went back to practice. Sakura sighed and tied her hair back into a bun, focusing on practice, for now, she took her pompoms. Since, the best way to keep busy and forget the dark cloud on her heart called Naruto was practice.
Naruto looked at his reflection in the mirror. Bags highlighted his eyes. His hair was more of a mess than normal. His body was sprayed on the floor aimlessly. Traces of tears were visible. He looked older than he felt. He honestly had no power to get up or make himself anything. He knew he needed to shower but he didn't have the energy. He was in mourning. Losing Sasuke was really overwhelming.
Sasuke was his other half.
He felt so stupid. It took him all this time to come to a realization his soul made so easily. He was sure he was drawn to the mysterious Uchiha since he was a child; because he was his soulmate. As cliché as it was, it was the truth. Naruto just couldn't hold it in any longer. He felt like he was betraying himself. Yet Sasuke was nowhere to be found. How could he restore the balance? How could he get him back? Accepting Sasuke's departure was a no-no. He won't do it. If there was magic in this world, then he'll use it, magic took Sasuke from him and magic will bring him back.
But how could he do that? He needed help, he needed someone to stand by him as he defied destiny. Sakura? No, he couldn't mix her up in his mess again. Memories of her near-death experience were still showing vividly inside his head, he felt like this was one of the reasons Sasuke apologized to him that night. Then who? Who could believe his insane story with all its unimaginable twists? His eyes grew wide when a name flashed inside his head. Hyuuga Neji.
He recalled a distant memory of when he was introducing his friends to Sasuke, Sasuke was very reluctant to befriend Neji. Actually, throughout their lives, Sasuke would always keep a low profile around Neji; he always didn't like to socialize with him. If a trip happened where Neji was there, Sasuke would find some excuse to ditch or leave. Naruto always thought the raven-haired male just didn't like the brunet, but what if there was something more to the story? Sasuke was a jigsaw puzzle and maybe one of his keys was the Hyuuga family. Naruto's eyes brimmed with hope. It was a tiny thread, but right now, he was going to cling to anything remotely tangible.
Not wasting time on anything, the blond put a jacket over his sappy look, took money from the drawer, his cell and headed out to Hyuuga Neji's residence. Ten minutes by car, that was how close he was to the other. He walked out of the cab and headed to the front gate, it's been a while since he came over to Neij's and his Japanese-styled house was as magnificent as ever, one look and anyone would know the privileged financial status of the Hyuuga family.
Naruto waited as a formal tone answered the intercom, he stated his name and asked for Neji. Not a minute later, the calm and collected tone of his friend answered him. Something in Naruto felt relieved. He didn't know why, but on the ride there, he just kept thinking all these scenarios of what he'd do if Neji wasn't there or if he refused him. Sighing that he wasn't out of the woods yet, the blond asked if he could come in.
A few minutes later, he was sitting crossed-legged across Neji. The other had a blue yukata on, showing to the blond how stuck to tradition his family was. Naruto felt somewhat conscious of his attire but right now this wasn't important. He gulped down the feelings inside him to try and make coherent words.
"I need your help, Neji." Naruto started, eyes gazing at his fisted hands, amazed at how steady his voice was. "I... I lost someone very important to me and I want you to help get him back."
"You mean Sasuke-kun?" Neji's face was very calm as his posture.
Naruto's azure orbs widened. He looked up in amazement and a gentle smile was plastered onto the other's face. "H-How did you know?"
"I know a lot more than you think I do, Naruto-kun." The brunet gave him a kind grin that revealed nothing, continuing with that sweet tone of his, Neji said. "I know that you have gained all your lost memories and I know the price was most likely Sasuke-kun's life. I also know that you've been brought from the future to here."
Blue eyes couldn't contain the bewilderment their owner felt, Naruto exclaimed through the shock. "How?! Since when?!"
Neji put a hand under his chin and thought backward. "I suspected something was wrong when you were showing behavior that the previous Naruto didn't. Probably my biggest clue was when I didn't feel the love you had for Sakura-chan. It was like a switch you turned off. Something that big doesn't just vanish instantaneously. So the reasonable explanation was that you were a different 'Naruto'," Neji elaborated. "From there it was easy to tell you came from a different time. By the mature way you acted at times, your school record improved drastically," He allowed a chuckle to go out. "The Naruto I know won't be able to do that in a short time. Not to forget, you were more in control of your emotions, fewer tantrums, no craziness… and your aura… to put it simply was broader."
Naruto bit his lower lip, still confused but Neji's words made it easier. He can skip the boring introduction now and just get right to the topic, he needed to get Sasuke back. "Why didn't you come and talk to me if you knew everything from the beginning?"
"Naruto-kun, you have been brought to this timeline out of Sasuke-kun's selfishness. I humored it enough not to report the incident but interfering any more, that was something I couldn't do." Neji's gentle tone got a little bit rougher. The order-loving self he had took the stand.
"Report to whom? And what about my memories? How do you know of their presence, Sasuke had wiped his existence from everyone's memories, why are you different?" Naruto questioned, emotions jittered from the exhaustion within.
Neji closed his eyes and when he opened them, they flashed a pure whitish color. Startling the blond to no end. Maintaining those horrific yet beautiful eyes, the brunet explained. "I'm uncertain if you know about this or not, but my family is what you can call energy-harvesters. In the old times, a lot of people were able to do that, to yield the energy of their souls, however, as it proved to be dangerous, man has sealed that knowledge away and only a few people know of it." He smiled eerily. "My family is one of those who do."
Naruto recalled when Sasuke spoke to him about the soul's energy and how there were few people on Earth still able to use it. Blue eyes filled with confusion even more, but slowly, he was able to understand everything. Naruto asked further.
"That still doesn't answer my question. Why do you know about the memories?"
"Sasuke-kun simply wasn't able to erase mine. I sensed that he wanted to do something like that so I protected my memories of him in a way he wouldn't notice." The burnet clarified. "For some reason, I didn't want to lose memories of him or of everyone remembering him. Besides, I hate when people try to manipulate my head."
"So… if you knew everything from the beginning, why didn't you tell me?" Naruto shouted halfheartedly, clutching his fist. Thinking about all those times when he was lying on his bed shrouded in mystery, if Neji had shared his knowledge then he could have saved Sasuke… he could have changed this outcome.
"As I said, I can't interfere." Neji sternly reminded him. "Naruto-kun, do you know why Sasuke-kun chose to erase his existence even though it hurt both of you?"
Blond locks moved sideways as Naruto shook his head. He had a tiny clue, but nothing was affirmed as the subject was redeemed to a bubble fiesta. "..."
The long-haired brunet took on an explaining posture and opened his mouth, with a tone that was both calming and soothing, he enlightened. "It's because the universe refuses him to have company. When I first met Sasuke-kun, I could feel there was something else inside of him, his core was perishing and withering away. But you gave him a line. Your soul was helping him recover, but that wasn't right. You see Sasuke-kun had reached the end of his lifespan when you two met. In the universe's absolute law, he should have died back then. Yet, you interfered, your existence was like a pure soul helping a wounded one so the universe couldn't do anything to harm you. However, that wasn't applied to your family and friends."
"You… you don't mean…" Naruto felt his heart clench in pain.
"Yes," Dark brown locks fell on Neji's face as he continued. "Your father was killed in an unfortunate accident; it was a signal for Sasuke to stay away from you. However, he didn't do that and Sakura-chan fell as the second victim. Sadly, I couldn't do anything as I watched the sorrow engulf all of you," Neji bit his lower lip, remembering his powerlessness. "Sasuke-kun has decided to stay away from you because it was the right thing to do. What he didn't know was that he's been taking energy off of you, so your bond became deeper than normal, and you have grown weak. Weak enough not to have the energy to withstand anything happening to you anymore."
Naruto heard the words as if they were foreign to his ears, but it all made sense. The way he was pushed away, Sasuke's sad but harsh words and looks. And how his life had taken an unfortunate twist so suddenly. However, the human in him refused to believe everything just like that. Yet through his inner suffering, a very interesting thing popped inside his head.
"Neji, humor me this," He spoke in all puzzlement. "how do you know all this? Sasuke brought me back to the past, a past before my father died and before Sakura's accident. No one should be familiar with those events as they haven't occurred yet. The past in which they have happened was changed by Sasuke… right?"
The brunet shook his head. "I thought you'd ask this sooner… well, as I said, we are energy-harvesters. What does that mean? We use our soul's energy so we are very sensitive to any change in energy. Sasuke-kun used the forbidden arts to change your fate, but that only changed in your life. Other people, especially us, we weren't affected. He wasn't powerful enough to change everyone's fate, if he was, he wouldn't have omitted to erasing memories." Neji explained as best as he could.
"So you mean to say that everyone else recalls the events of my father's death and Sakura's accident?"
"No, that didn't happen yet. Okay, how about you think of this like this, every single person has a line to live, from birth 'till death. We walk different lines. Of course, they intertwine at times, but everyone has his or her own line. Now, what Sasuke-kun did was take your line and bend it." Neji gestured with his hands. "Like bending a tree branch. So the events in your life were reversed according to time. The death and Sakura's accidents were erased, however to me, that didn't happen. I recall I lived time with you having lost your father and with Sakura being hospitalized, it's in my future, having been erased doesn't mean the emotions and the memories I have been."
"Doesn't that mean that Sakura-chan and my father should also have their lines bend?"
"Not necessarily. In the case of your father, what happened to his line was simple, the endpoint was stretched. In Sakura-chan's case, the accident is delayed in the future. She will get into a car accident, but it won't have a major effect on her life." He smiled showing his gentle soul. "Don't worry."
Naruto still had some areas that felt grey, but he felt like this was the best he could understand without entering too deep. It made him already queasy. Sasuke did a lot of things for him, to protect him. A tiny smile found its way to his lips. Really, how much did Sasuke love him to do all this?
"Neji," The blond started, having gotten another question up his sleeve, "I can't believe all this… let's say what had happened was because the universe was punishing Sasuke and I, but catastrophe happen. People die all the time. Why did Sasuke think this was something targeted only for us? It could have happened to anyone!"
The brunet nodded, accepting Naruto's words. "But it didn't. Besides, he lived long enough to know the difference between a natural disaster and a warning. I also agree with his presumption, Naruto-kun. Your affiliation together was something the universe didn't accept. I have no idea why Sasuke-kun is being punished, but whatever it is, his existence in your life was unforgivable."
"That's just horrible. Whatever sin he committed, Sasuke has paid more than enough! He should be given a second chance! Every person has the right to have that!" He was unconsciously shouting, veins popping in his forehead. Neji allowed him this.
Naruto didn't realize how confounded his nerves were, everything was just too much. He felt sorry for his Sasuke. Why must he suffer so much? Vividly, he remembered the lonely looks inside Sasuke's eyes. He'd catch him looking at space every once in a while and Naruto was always afraid he'd lose the other to something that he couldn't fight. Slamming his hands on the hard floor, the blond hated the world for judging this fate onto Sasuke.
"Naruto-kun, please, calm yourself down." Neji softly spoke after having enough of Naruto's outburst. "There are things in this life that no matter what we do, we can't change them. Sasuke-kun's fate is one of those things."
"I won't allow it!" Firmly, Naruto retorted. "I can't have him vanish into thin air on me like this! I need to bring him back, Neji, please help me!"
By now, Naruto was holding Neji by the shoulder. The brunet saw the despair inside Naruto's soul. He took a deep breath and returned his eyes to normal, before saying to the blond.
"I…cannot help you, Naruto-kun. I can use my energy in certain ways but even I can't revive the dead. Sasuke-kun is no longer alive. I'm so sorry."
The words felt like knives being pierced onto his heart. It was something that he didn't listen to. Frantically, Naruto begged.
"There must be something, think Neji, think! You're smart, maybe I can't undo the thing I did, maybe if I think hard enough I can give him back my energy –"
Neji didn't like being the one to put out Naruto's hopes, but this was something he as his friend needed to do. With a voice that understood what it meant like to lose someone you love, Neji spoke.
"If there was a way, I would have told you without a second thought, Naruto-kun. However, even if you think back on it, you can't give your energy to someone who isn't here. Sasuke has lost his physical body and his soul has scattered through. We don't even know where it went for us to call it back. Even if we were able, miraculously to do that, finding a body to attain the soul is impossible. Playing with the dead was never something good." Neji pleaded, eyes losing their cool. "Please, listen to me, don't allow despair to engulf you. Sasuke-kun gave his life because he didn't want to suck yours anymore. Don't waste his sacrifice –"
Naruto didn't even hear the rest of the Hyuuga's words, his ears were shut tight and his eyes saw nothing but anguish. He was about to move away from Neji's room and head to whatever place that could help him, yet before he could storm out and commit whatever heinous act he thought of to anger the universe, the door to the room softly slid open.
"Naruto-kun, I might have a way to help you."
And there stood non-other than Hyuuga Hinata, the angelic quiet girl with a smile on her face.
Hinata has never in her life went against the wishes of her cousin Neji. He was the wise one in the family and his decisions were just. All the elders agreed, even though she was the one who was going to succeed the family, she would have gladly given him that position. However, the male refused and told her he liked being in the shadows, securing her from all sides without being the focus of attention, he said in all confidence that she is the best fit for the spotlights. Yet here they were, he obviously was telling her that even though she's ranked higher than he was, her wishes won't be answered so easily. The girl knitted her brows and stood her ground.
They were currently sitting discussing Naruto's situation.
Her family had known something had changed in the current reality but weren't able to determine what exactly. The Hyuuga family was a family of shaman. Aside from being highly prestigious with wealth beyond belief, they held another position in society, currently not many believe they could do it, but once in time, maidens from her family were said to be able to speak with the gods. When she was little, her mother always told her stories of the past. She was fascinated and always liked to believe that there were many things naked eyes weren't able to see, and dismissing their existence was foolish.
Humans were foolish, they forgot the gods that have helped them for centuries. Yet she wouldn't do that. She was different, she will keep believing in their existence and in their mercy. She will face the disbelievers with a kind smile and a strong heart. Much like what she was doing right now.
Neji sighed and rubbed his head. She tried thinking of a simple way to explain everything in a way for Hinata to back down.
"We can't interfere, Hinata-chan." Sternly but softly he spoke, eyes faintly glowing. "You are driven by your emotions to help him, but that's not right. If by a phenomenal chance we were able to bring Sasuke-kun's body to life, his soul is no longer here. It has vanished. You and I both know that you can't and shouldn't interfere with the world of the dead. Breaking those rules would only bring us misfortune."
"But Sasuke-kun's soul hasn't moved on, yet! I'm sure he's still here." Hinata gently spoke her mind.
"No, he's not. Just because we remember him doesn't mean that he's here, besides, both you and Naruto are forgetting something very important." Neji paused. "Sasuke-kun's will. He was the one asking Naruto to cut ties with him. Why do you two want to interfere then, respect his wishes –"
"I can't do that." Naruto finally spoke, having been listening to their conversation from the sidelines, he was looking as shabby as ever.
"Naruto-kun…" Worry was all over her face as she looked his form up and down. The blond flashed a strained smile her way and assured.
"Don't worry, Hinata-chan, I'm alright. Now," He directed his vision to Neji. "Sasuke's still here, I can feel him. I won't stop searching until I find a way to get him back."
Neji looked at him sympathetically. "I know how you feel, if something were to happen to Gaara, I would turn every corner to find a way that would bring him back. However, this doesn't justify you destroying our world to make it happen. If you mess with the dead, karma will come to haunt you. Your soul would be a petty price. Do you think Sasuke-kun wants that to happen? He has sacrificed his happiness and life to keep you safe and sound. Now, say you brought him back and sold your soul in the midst, do you think it'd please him?"
Naruto understood every word the other was spouting and he really agreed with it, but his feelings screamed that he shouldn't back down now.
"You're being selfish." The brunet spoke smoothly but with a positive tone. "You're still only thinking about yourself and your feelings. You want him back because life without him is hard. You haven't thought of what bringing him would entitle. Will he be happy? Does he want to be back? From what I understood, Sasuke-kun has been alive for a very long time, don't you think he needs peace now? Death is heaven's way of showing us that our misery and struggles come to an end somehow, so before you go on a rampage, think about him for once. Think about Sasuke-kun's happiness."
Hinata felt Neji's words to be too hard as Naruto's face darkened, but she couldn't stop her cousin from saying them. Neji was acting the role of the bad guy because that was the right thing to do. He said the words Naruto didn't want to hear to wake him up. It was a silly and dangerous idea to bring Sasuke-kun back, all of them knew it.
Naruto wanted to counter Neji's words but he couldn't. Through this week of agony, he didn't think of Sasuke's wishes once. He only thought to bring him back. It was because, until the very end, Sasuke kept on protecting him. Telling Naruto only bits and pieces and lying flatly over and over again. Naruto now understood why he did it. But his heart just hurt do much. He was like Neji said, thinking of himself… yet he still believed Sasuke's fate shouldn't end with death. From his broken memory, he was able to think that Sasuke was honestly happy to be with him, it felt unfair to have all this happen and Sasuke dies without him seeing that smile again. He just… couldn't have that type of end.
The blond opened his mouth to speak, but Hinata beat him to it.
"Neji-san, how about this then, Sasuke-kun was able to bring Naruto-kun from the future, can't we do the same?" She reasoned. "Can't we just send Naruto-kun to a time when Sasuke-kun was still alive? He can persuade Sasuke-kun not to end his life and all would be well."
Naruto's eyes widened at her words. He hadn't thought of it. Throughout the events, he'd forgotten that he was hauled back from a future he was living by Sasuke. A light seemed to shine inside of him at that and he looked with shining eyes at the now very troubled looking Neji.
"No… you two wait, that won't work," Neji burst their bubbles again. "Sasuke-kun played with time – a grave act – which cost him a lot, we can't do that. Breaking time and rules of the universe will only put us in more troubles than not. Besides, no one here can do it, you know that Hinata-chan."
Hinata nodded with her head hanging low, yet in a split second, her eyes lit up, with enthusiasm as the mean act, she beamed towards the two males. "There is! Tsunade-Oba-san! She can do it! And you know she's old enough to know all spells that we don't. Please, let's ask her!"
Hinata's delightful attitude would trick anyone who didn't know who the person she was talking about was. Neji cringed recalling their great, great, great grandmother who lived secluded deep in the mountains. He'd met her a couple of times, but it was only on necessities. The woman didn't like people much, she had reached a stage where seeing a person brought her nothing but headaches. Isolating herself from the world was her strongly believed the choice of freedom, unlike Sasuke who was forced to it. Neji really didn't want to do it, Tsunade-Oba-san was someone who had a vicious temper. However, when Naruto kneeled before him, bowing his head and all, the burnet couldn't say no, for after all, much like Hinata, he had a soft spot for the blond.
"Fine." He replied to their pleading eyes. "But Naruto-kun, don't hold too much hope in her. She's a hard person to appease."
Naruto nodded, finally finding the power to show an honest smile. "Thank you, Neji."
The minute his feet got inside the small cottage on top of the mountain, Naruto felt like puking. A sense of overwhelming gravity pushed all his muscles down. It took all his might not to fall flat on the ground. Hinata and Neji had their eyes on him. His own widened a little when he saw how those lilacs orbs glowed in the dark shed. Naruto had no idea what was going on, but he knew he needed to prove himself here. Falling down would only mean that Sasuke was gone forever.
The blond was told by Neji before they got close that once they were in the presence of Tsunade-Oba-san, they can't help him or interfere with anything that she does. He told him to be prepared because she doesn't like weak people. But the blond never imagined that he'd be hit with this malevolent force so early on. Hinata's eyes were silently giving him encouragement.
The two Hyuuga went inside the cottage easily, Naruto used all his energy to follow them. One step at a time, his body complained and sweat was soon to break out, yet he kept on walking. It felt like his back was carrying one thousand kilos of hard stones. His spine complained and the muscles in his body were overworked. He reached to a stage where the only thing sustaining him from falling flat on his face was sheer willpower. Magic, witchcraft, energy call it what you may, he was faced with an opponent he wasn't able to see. However, regardless of the disadvantages, he cleared it. Thirteen steps, his brain calculated with care, he took them with a strong heart.
"Well done." A strong gush of air-filled the vicinity along with the loud, resonating voice.
In a second, everything levitated. Naruto was able to breathe evenly again, the nails and heaviness he felt disappeared and the weight on his body lifted. Suddenly the so dark cottage wasn't that dark, light shimmered from the ceiling, bringing Naruto's attention to the center of it. A female sat on big black cushions, her sandy blond hair was tied into two pigtails, and cross-legged, she observed him with sturdy chocolate orbs. Her big breasts and young features made it hard for Naruto to see her as Neji and Hinata's great, great, great grandmother. The woman looked nothing short of forty. Her pure and spotless complexion was a shred of clear evidence to her young age. In the center of her forehead, a purple rhombus tattoo was engraved, it shone faintly as if asking to be acknowledged.
Naruto took a deep breath as he felt the fierceness of the situation he was in. It took a lot not to allow his body to fall right there and now from exhaustion. The woman seemed to momentarily ignore his existence as she directed her eyes to Neji, in an annoyed tone that told of her dissatisfaction, she questioned him.
"Hyuuga Neji, five years ago, I made myself clear to both you and your father," Neji cringed at this and his face darkened. He knew coming here won't be accepted easily. "Never to come here again."
A memory flashed inside Neji's head at her words, he was still thirteen or so and had accompanied his reluctant father to come and seek Tsunade's help. However, the woman fiercely refused and in a very unwelcoming way, threw them out of her mountain. Neji gulped down the fork in his throat, recalling his broken arms, sweat-dropping, he coughed.
"Excuse us, Oba-san, but if there wasn't something 'urgent', we wouldn't have bothered you." Neji blurted out in all respect.
Naruto noted how Neji's head was held down in a pleading position, flickering a glance Hinata's way, the girl was in similar attire. Naruto believed that he should as well show respect, so he allowed his head to lower a little bit.
"Urgent?" She glanced at Naruto, her brown eyes boring a hole in his head, then back at her intruding grandson. "The only thing that I see urgent enough to disturb me is the end of the world."
Hinata answered her this time around, voice loud but respectful. "Oba-san, it as well could be that! Please just hear us out. We really need your help. I beg you!"
Bowing to her great grandmother was something Hinata was accustomed to. She knew that deep, deep, deep down, her great grandmother won't be able to refuse her; because putting aside her own position as the head of the family, her great grandmother was very fond of her. Unlike Neji, Hinata's thoughts of Tsunade were nothing but pure and joyful. Yet she still maintained a clear mind, her grandmother was sweet to her, but that didn't mean she won't harm her. There was always a thin line that no one in the Hyuuga knew where it lied, it was a line Tsunade drew between her and the outside world, keeping it at bay. Unfortunately, Hinata was also part of the world.
Tsunade's glaring orbs seemed to dim out for a second, Naruto noticed the half kind smile that showed on the blonde's face. Tsunade put a hand under her chin and urged her grandchildren.
"Alright, since you're bowing your heads so much, I will at least hear you out. Tell me, child, what is it you want?"
Neji knew he wasn't the one being addressed so he did everything in his power to make his presence scares. Of course, signaling Naruto to keep his mouth shut. Hinata's face glowed and she started.
"Oba-san, our request is something that you can do, as hard as it is… it's not impossible. Yet it will change life as we know it. Perhaps our reality won't change that much, but it will affect another's." She glanced at Naruto, Tsunade's eyes followed. "We want you to bring Naruto-kun to the past. precisely to a point before Sasuke-kun had died."
Tsunade had no idea who her granddaughter was referring to, but from what she could conjure up, the blond was the presumed 'Naruto-kun'. Then who was this 'Sasuke-kun' she spoke of?
"Elaborate."
Hinata was about to, but Naruto held up his hand. Neji was close to slapping him on the face. All his warnings fell on deaf ears, right now he just hoped that Naruto won't have them annihilated.
"Allow me that, please." Naruto looked her straight in the eyes, he didn't want to be disrespectful, but somehow, talking with his head down wasn't something he was used to, unlike the two Hyuuga.
Tsunade gave him a nod. "Allowed."
"My name's Uzumaki Naruto. I came from a future different from your reality. To me, this place lies in my past. At first I thought it lied in everyone's past, but Neji explained to me that every single person has their own timeline, other people' have nothing to do with them. So I'm the future Naruto of this past Naruto." Naruto took a breath, then continued. "I lost someone very important to me, he was always by my side, he gave up so much for me but I never noticed. I regret leaving him alone. I regret the choices I made in the past. I regret a lot of things. That's why I need your help. I want you to aid me in bringing him back, or even if that wasn't possible, I want to at least give him a life that he wants. A life he deserves."
Naruto fisted his hands, feeling his blood rush into them. Tsunade listened to him attentively, didn't interrupt until she knew he had finished playing his tune, then in all easiness, she answered.
"So… he's dead. The Observer is dead."
Naruto's eyes widened at her words and he questioned. "Y-You know Sasuke?"
Tsunade shook her head, swaying her pigtails in the process, dismissing his words. "Not by that name, but I did. Once in a time, our paths crossed. I have learned of his presence in this current reality, however, his departure was an event I haven't foreseen."
"It shouldn't have happened. He died because of me." Naruto's words were filled with guilt.
"That's something neither of us can be certain of. He could have died because simply it was his time to go. Your actions have put into motion something inevitable. Uzumaki Naruto, allow me to answer to your request." Naruto hung to her next words as his life depended on it. "I refuse."
His whole body shivered at her words, Neji sighed in the background whilst Hinata pleaded.
"Oba-chan!" She called the nickname for her grandmother, "Please!"
"Hinata, I promised to hear you out and I did. Now leave. You have no business with me anymore."
"Understood, great grandmother." Neji bowed his respect and headed to the door.
Hinata bitterly bit her lips, she knew her grandmother's words were final. If they were to press this anymore, she would attack. Neji's actions were the right thing to do. However, Hinata couldn't feel satisfied with all this. Clearly, not even Naruto.
"I am not leaving." Clear, azure orbs shone brightly, a passion burned from within. "I'm sorry but you're my last resort. I can't go back empty-handed. I will not leave."
Before Tsunade could make an action, Hinata held Naruto's hand, trying to coarse him. "Naruto-kun, let's go back. When grandma says no, she never changes her mind. Throughout our lives, we never heard that she did so. Please, if you stay, she might kill you, let's go back."
Naruto gently shook his hand from her grip. "I'm sorry, Hinata-chan, but I can't go back with you. Even if she kills me, I need to get him back."
"Naruto-kun…" She pleaded with a soft tone.
Neji couldn't take it anymore and walk-in, he took Hinata's hand and pulled. "Hinata-san, he made his choice and he won't budge from it. Let's go."
Feeling her heartbreak at not being able to help Naruto, the girl bit her lower lip and followed behind Neji. The long-haired burnet gave his friend a pat on the shoulder with a 'good luck' comment, before he disappeared with Hinata in the darkness of the night. Both of them wishing that their grandma has mercy on their fallen friend. For, after all, it's been a while since she killed a human.
Tsunade watched with keen eyes the young man's relentless soul flourish. Five days have passed since her grandchildren have gone, leaving behind this stubborn child. The first night, she refused him and shut him out. From what she saw, he was a normal human, held little to no knowledge of the supernatural but had strong, pure energy. In all her life, she could count the number of people with similar energy. It was a puzzle actually. His energy was sturdy and clean. Much like a child's. Pure energy was very hard to come by these days. Humans were filled with dark emotions polluting their energies. One of the reasons why she secluded herself deep in these mountains was to escape that pollution. However, she looked at the dark energy seeping from her fingertips, she was unable to do so.
Uzumaki Naruto kept bothering her. She kicked him multiple times, sent wild beasts on his tails and even changed the air to suffocate him, yet her door still kept on being knocked. When Neji and his father had come to ask her assistance, one day was enough for them to give up. No one could withstand her harsh methods. Nonetheless, this child in his second decade of life was proving her wrong.
Currently, she was looking down on his weak constitution sprayed on the hard ground. Five days she tortured him. Slapped and kicked, slashed his skin with knives and marked that tans skin with black bruises, she even went as far as breaking his arm. No food was given, only drops of water. Tsunade was old, old enough to know she couldn't kill him. It would be easy as breaking a twig, but she mustn't. The world needed pure energy, she won't be one of those taking it away. Looking at the moaning blond with lifeless orbs, Tsunade spoke wisely.
"The pain you're under won't help you atone for the sins you believe you committed. There's no meaning to it. Your endurance doesn't fascinate me. You won't impress me. Giving up is simply the rational way out."
Naruto wanted to speak but the pain was too severe, his vision was also blurry. Yet he knew he needed to make his point across, her words were spot on. In the beginning, he believed that whatever pain he felt was alright, Sasuke felt worse, he thought it was honorable to go through this for the other's sake, yet by the third day, his mindset changed. It was apparent to him that it was a selfish act on his behalf, he wanted physical abuse to wash away his inner turmoil. He wanted to be numb. The emotional pain was far worse than the physical one. By concentrating on the later, his brain would allow him time to rest. Naruto selfishly thought about himself yet again.
Coughing up some blood, he used all his willpower on a few words. "Sasuke… bring… Sasu…ke … back…"
Tsunade turned away from him and back to her cottage, throwing him one word as an answer. "Refused."
Naruto felt tears roll down his eyes before his vision went black, his body finally giving up on him. He didn't even feel when he was carefully carried and taken inside the dark cottage. A couple of hours later, his eyes flickered open. It took a while to adjust to the strong light inside, but slowly, Naruto did it. Sitting up, his body groaned. He noticed the bandages that were wrapped around him, touching his chest, he peeked inside a wrap and some kind of greenish herb was placed inside. He concluded that it was something to help him heal. His bruised lips twitched upwards in a smile.
"Don't overthink my generosity. I couldn't have you die on me. I'm not a murderer… well, not for the wrong reasons." Tsunade's voice resonated from his left side, bringing Naruto's attention to her.
The blond bowed slightly – as much as his injuries permitted – and showed his gratitude. "Thank you, for everything you did."
"You didn't hear anything I said."
"I heard," Naruto affirmed. "But regardless of your reasons, you did me a favor. That's something you should be thanked for."
The blonde woman closed her eyes for a second, a tug showed at the corners of her lips. "You're a funny child."
"I'm often told I'm stupid, so I think that's an upgrade." He flashed her his trademark grin, making his eyes appear as tiny fox slits. Tsunade marked to herself how the bright energy was gushing out of him uncontrollably.
"The Observer, why do you want to bring him back?" Her voice was sound. "Death is the end of everything, to call someone back from there, is it love? Affection? Regret or guilt? Or do you want to make yourself feel better, vanity?"
Naruto's smile dimmed down a bit, he thought of the right answer but found out that he didn't have it. "I don't know… a little bit of everything I guess. But I just can't accept it. My memories tell of a person I didn't meet. Isn't it unfair? Sasuke spent his life trying to make me happy and the only thing I gave him was unhappiness –"
"That is untrue," Tsunade interrupted his answer. "I do not believe The Observer was unhappy. He might have been lonely, but it's a path he chose willingly, thus happiness was something he found with his decision. Keeping you safe was his happiness. I have lived long enough to know the hearts of men. Your feelings of guilt as misplaced. In all truth, it'd be easier to just accept it and live the rest of your life normally. Make use of the chance he gave you. Dwelling on the past has tragic results."
"But I can't do it. Sasuke's my future. If he's not there, I can't do it." Naruto objected with all resolve.
"You have been living a great deal of time without knowing of his existence, if you prefer that, I can wipe all memories for you once more. The unhappiness you're feeling will also disappear."
The blond's eyes widened, horrified at her words, and afraid she would do that without his consent, he drew away from her. Tsunade smirked at his behavior, she waved her hand to him and commented.
"Rest assured, I won't do something like that without permission. Unlike The Observer, I believe one's memories are their own. No one has any right to interfere with them."
Naruto nodded at her and before he forgot, a question popped into his head. "Excuse me, there's something I wanted to ask for a while now, you keep referring to Sasuke as 'The Observer', does that mean you know what he is? Do you know his story and the reason he's not allowed to come close to anyone?"
It took a while for the woman to replay to him, and just when the blond thought she didn't hear him and was contemplating asking again, her voice filled the cottage with words of ice that sent him shivering.
"He mascaraed his entire clan."
Thank you for sticking with me, I promise the next chapter will be up faster than this one! Lol Reviews are welcomed!