Naruto Shippuuden: Altering Time
Chapter One: The Aftermath
A/N: Okay so chapter one is out. This chapter is about how the characters handle Sasuke's death and discuss about what they are going to do about the Akatsuki. R&R if you please to give me inspiration!
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Sixteen year old Uzumaki Naruto sat alone on the top of Hokage Mountain, letting himself drift off in his own thoughts. It had been five days since Sasuke's funeral, and still it felt like the pain would never go away. He was this close to getting Sasuke back, so close to destroying the Akatsuki once and for all, but instead three members escaped, and probably went into hiding, leaving Naruto with no other trail to track them. Right now, feeling lost and depressed, Naruto wanted to be alone. Even though others tried cheering him up (Ino and Sakura especially), he remained expressionless and destroyed on the inside. The thought of having no Sasuke around him to aggravate him made him feel worse. Naruto had taken the Uchiha for granted. No more will he ever hear his rival's voice. The word 'dobe' had disappeared the moment Sasuke had died. 'Where do I go from here?' wondered Naruto, letting his jacket flow loosely in the strong wind. Despite the fact that Tsunade was glad that the Akatsuki had retreated, probably for a long period of time, Naruto knew that she didn't understand his pain. It was frustrating to know that the 'wise' Godaime was ignorant of the Uzumaki's feelings.
Haruno Sakura stood behind Naruto, bearing a worried expression on her face. She approached him slowly, knowing very well that he was too fragile to be reminded of Sasuke's death. "Naruto?" said Sakura, her voice bringing Naruto back down to earth from his distant thoughts. He turned around and looked at her with a wounded look, which softened her heart almost immediately. He walked towards her and stopped when their whole figures were only a few inches away from the other. Sakura gazed up at Naruto, finally realizing how tall he really was. The blonde frowned slightly as he leaned forward towards her lips. Sakura felt herself lift her right hand upwards and run her hand gently through his hair, then stopping at the back of his head and pulling him closer. Naruto saw her close her eyes and open her mouth slightly, but he couldn't kiss her now. Not now of all times. There was just no emotion within him anymore. "I can't," whispered Naruto, feeling his heart break into two. "There's nothing inside me."
Sakura's eyes were still closed; she didn't care if Naruto didn't want to. She wanted to let him know that she was waiting for him. 'I'm always here for you,' thought Sakura. Naruto sighed and muttered, "Sakura …" She moved forward and glued her lips onto his and drowned him in her sweet, warm love. Naruto's lips didn't move, nor did he bother to deepen the kiss. Even though he had waited so long for this moment, he never imagined that it would be now. They stayed like this for a few minutes before Naruto pulled away slowly.
"I told you I can't," drawled Naruto, his blue eyes gazing into Sakura's green eyes.
"Don't be like this." Sakura straightened Naruto's collar and smiled. "Sasuke wouldn't want you to be so listless all this while." Now, Naruto noticed that tears were welling up in her eyes. He immediately wrapped his arms around her and let her rest her head on his shoulder. Sakura put her arms round his neck and sobbed. "I'm trying to be strong for you, Naruto," whispered Sakura. Her words melted his heart. Naruto squeezed her tightly and said, "I'll be here for you. I'll make things right."
"How can you? Our best friend's dead!"
"I … promise you. I'll make the pain go away."
Sakura smiled weakly and kissed Naruto on the cheek. She had never seen him so understanding before, especially when they were still Team 7. Right now, she knew that he had matured … so much until she fell for him. Sakura knew her puppy love for Sasuke had gone, and now it was true love that was being developed between her and Naruto. The blonde smiled and cupped her chin. "I love you," said Naruto, before leaning in for another kiss. His lips held the sweet taste of honey, and Sakura indulged herself in it deeply. When they both pulled away, Naruto finally said, "It's time we got off this rock," softly.
Sakura nodded and clutched his hand as they descended the rocky steps back down to Konoha.
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"Kakashi," called Tsunade from the outside of the Jounin's room. The silver-haired Copy Ninja glanced sideways at the door and sighed. Jumping off his bed, Hatake Kakashi proceeded to the door and opened it. He greeted Tsunade and let her in, then closing the door quietly. "What brings you here, Tsunade-sama?" asked Kakashi, while slipping his Icha Icha book into the drawer without hesitation. The Hokage turned to the window and said, "I just wanted your thoughts on what to do from here." Kakashi raised his eyebrows and asked, "Shouldn't that question be for the Council?" Tsunade shook her head and folded her arms. "They think it's time we took a rest from the Akatsuki," replied the blonde Hokage. She turned to Kakashi with a dark expression on her face and continued, "I don't think we can give the three a chance for freedom. Not after what they did to the Uchiha kid." Kakashi nodded; he knew that she was right. The Council turned ignorant after being notified that three members had escaped with one injured. They thought that it was no longer a threat, but Kakashi and Tsunade knew very well that they would start recruiting again soon. And this time they would have more advanced plans and better members.
Kakashi stood next to Tsunade and said, "We should track them down." Tsunade looked to Kakashi and asked, "But how? They left no clue, no trace of where they are going to go next. They are obviously going into hiding and planning to contact their leader for more members." Kakashi knew very well who the leader was. It was the masked member, Tobi. He had tried looking for the Akatsuki mastermind, but it seemed as though Tobi had disappeared off the face of the earth for the moment.
"Then we must improvise and use all thinking methods to create a theory." Kakashi blinked and stared out at the moon. "There's a chance that one of our theories, if investigated properly, could uncover a clue leading to the Akatsuki's location." Tsunade nodded with an understanding look and said, "Very well. We shall start in the morning, shall we?" Kakashi nodded, but did not hesitate to tell Tsunade to head back. Instead, he chanced upon a newer subject. "What about Naruto?"
"I know he's been very devastated and depressed," said Tsunade flatly. "It just needs time."
"He'll never have enough time because it's Sasuke that died."
"I know Naruto's strong, Kakashi," said Tsunade with finality. "He can handle it in time to come." She headed for the door and reached for the knob. Before she could even get a grip on it, Kakashi piped, "What if he wants revenge? Or wants to … change certain things?" Tsunade frowned and replied in a quick tone, "Just keep an eye on him then." When the door closed, Kakashi turned back to the window and looked out at the rest of the village. If his hunch was correct, Kakashi knew that Naruto would think up of a plan and try to change what was done. He just had to obey Tsunade's order and keep an eye on the blonde. Sighing, Kakashi began to think about the Akatsuki.
They had escaped, that's for sure, and they were still alive somewhere. He was worried about those three. He knew very well that they would go find Tobi and receive orders for new members, but his ultimate worry was Uchiha Itachi. He would be the target before Pein for Naruto, Kakashi predicted. And the worse part was, Sasuke had only reconciled with Naruto just recently; two days before his death. Kakashi could remember it like it was just yesterday, and not a week before.
-----------------------------FLASHBACK-----------------------------
Uchiha Sasuke stepped casually into Konohagakure, his expression merely an unreadable surface. The Jounin stationed at the East Gate stared at Sasuke for a moment before shouting to the other perimeter guards, "Uchiha Sasuke's here!!" Sasuke, before he could even explain, was surrounded by multiple Chuunin and Jounin. Shaking his head, he quietly went along with them. There was nothing for him to hide. They took him up to the Hokage's Office, but before they even approached the entrance, Uzumaki Naruto let out a shout of joy. "Sasuke!!" hollered Naruto as he ran towards the Uchiha teen. Sasuke smirked and gave the overexcited blonde a wave, indicating a change in his attitude. "Naruto," said Sasuke as Naruto stopped in front of him, panting heavily. "You came back!"
"Only because I need your help …"
"About what …? And where's your Team Snake?"
"They … retired momentarily … or maybe permanently."
"Oh, so you're coming back to stay, right?!"
"Why else would I be here talking to you like three years ago?"
Naruto grinned and patted his best friend on the back. Sasuke shrugged and said, "I'm about to be interrogated." Naruto chuckled and shrugged too. "There's nothing I can do, y'know."
"Just get Team 7 at the training grounds and I'll tell you about it."
Naruto watched the Jounin bring Sasuke up to the Hokage's Office with a small smile on his face. Instead of being out there looking high and low for Sasuke, he came right back to Konoha. 'What a relief,' thought Naruto. Without hesitation, Naruto ran off in search for Sakura, Kakashi and Sai. As soon as Naruto appeared in front of Kakashi, the silver-haired Jounin said, "I saw almost everything. Thanks for interrupting the Jounin escort and ruining my rep, Naruto." The blonde laughed and scratched his head nervously. "Sasuke wants to see us. Including Sai," said Naruto flatly. "At the old training grounds," finished Kakashi, "isn't that right?"
"Yeah!"
Kakashi smiled; he had never seen Naruto this happy before. "Just head to the training grounds now and I'll go get Sakura and Sai," ordered Kakashi as he disappeared.
"Sasuke!" called Sakura, waving at the approaching Uchiha excitedly. Sasuke smirked and folded his arms and greeted, "Long time no see, huh?"
"You betcha!" exclaimed Naruto.
"I'm sure you've met Sai, right?" asked Kakashi, pointing to the pale boy standing behind Sakura.
Sasuke nodded and leaned against a nearby tree. "Hey I have an idea," Naruto said, "why don't we spend time together today and talk about Sasuke's problem TOMORROW?!" The raven-haired teenager sighed and teased, "You never change, do you, Naruto?" "Is that a challenge!?"
"I'll take you on anytime."
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Kakashi chuckled to himself and leaned against the wall. Those days were over, he knew. Naruto would probably never treat Sai the same way as he treated Sasuke. There was no replacement for the best friend of Uzumaki Naruto. Turning to the drawer, Kakashi pulled it open and grabbed out the familiar orange book that he was so engrossed with before the Hokage interrupted.
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Next chapter: Visiting Sasuke
Really, I hope I can bring tears to the reader's eyes by the end of this story, or hopefully chapter two :D