Hello! This is my 8th chapter. Hope you like it! LEAVE REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Tailed Beast"
Dreaming
Chapter 8
Secrets Revealed
"No wonder you were so calm when I told you that I held the Nine-Tailed Fox. You hold the Two-Tailed Cat! This is amazing!" exclaimed Naruto.
"Sorry I didn't tell you before. I was really nervous, plus Nibi keeps saying that you're holding me back." Yasuko rubbed her neck awkwardly. Her attitude was more pleasant now that her secret was out. Naruto could see it in her amber-colored eyes.
"Well, well. She did have a Tailed Beast just like you said," said Kyuubi.
'Honestly, I thought she was part of a noble clan, like the clan of the First Hokage, because she can handle many different earth-style techniques,' replied Naruto. He didn't linger on the thought of Yasuko's secret for very long because they had other matters to settle. Finally Naruto said, "That fight with Orochimaru slowed us down and I'm pretty worn out from the battle. Maybe we should rest here for the night."
Yasuko nodded then spoke to Nibi for a little bit.
"Maybe sticking with the kid might not be such a bad idea," said Nibi.
'Why all of a sudden the change of heart?' asked Yasuko inquisitively.
"I saw the way the kid fought the Sanin and he's pretty good," replied Nibi.
Their conversation continued until Naruto started a fire. He set up a stand and hung a pot from it. He took out a prepared pack of ramen out of his backpack. He poured the broth and noodles into the pot to let it cook until it was ready.
"Is there anything that you eat that isn't ramen?" sarcastically questioned Yasuko.
"Not really," replied Naruto, oblivious to the sarcasm implied.
Yasuko took out some dumplings and some soup out of her pack. She ate quickly and silently. She enjoyed the cool sea spray as it hit her face. The water was refreshing against her travel-stained skin. She enjoyed the sounds of the waves crashing against the shore. Yasuko also enjoyed the smell of salt in the air. The ocean was one of the only places she could find solace. She spoke into the air with a crystalline voice saying, "This island is really peaceful. This is one of the only places that I feel content in staying."
Naruto understood what she meant, but he didn't understand what she felt. He took some time to absorb his surroundings. At once, everything became crystal clear to him. His body and soul where interlaced with the rhythm of the ocean's current. Everything was at peace. After an hour of peace they both pulled out their sleeping bags and quickly drifted off to sleep.
The Nine-Tailed Fox was near the gates of the village. There was a blond-haired man standing on a giant toad performing many hand signs while other ninjas from Konoha.
"Kushina, hold on," said the blond-haired man.
In a hospital, Kushina's cries from birth pains could be heard in all the floors.
"Minato, where are you!" cried Kushina.
Minato was still performing hand signs when he saw Fugaku Uchiha run up to the monster.
'Good,' thought Minato, 'his family's Sharingan has been able to control the Fox before.'
When he completed his hand signs, a bright flash extended from him to the Fox.
"I am sorry, my son. Naruto, I hope you can manage without me." A single tear slid off Minato's face.
In the hospital room, Kushina had died giving birth. On her baby's stomach was a seal. One of the doctors said, "She will be remembered always. As for the child," hesitated the doctor, "sadly, he will be resented for the rest of his life here in the village. As for myself, I hope the Fourth Hokage's legacy will live on in him."
Naruto woke up suddenly. The sun was already in the sky. Yasuko was nearby, cooking in the fire. Whatever she was cooking smelled delicious.
"Finally you're awake. You've been whimpering in your sleep for a while," said Yasuko.
"What are you cooking?" asked Naruto.
"I caught some birds not too far away from here. I've skinned them, and now I'm cooking them," replied Yasuko.
While they were eating, Naruto retold his dream to Yasuko, explaining everything in detail.
"Wow, that was some dream," commented Yasuko.
"I felt as if it were real," added Naruto.
"Well, one thing's for sure. You are the son of Kushina," said Yasuko.
"What?! How do you know that?!" exclaimed Naruto.
"Her full name is Kushina Uzumaki," said Yasuko. She paused and then started saying, "In the Whirlpool Country, where I'm from, people talked about Kushina all the time. The guys say that she was the most beautiful woman ever to be born. Women were jealous of her beauty. Many ninja spoke about her unique ninjutsu style. There were rumors that said that she was engaged to a person named Minato Namikaze, also known as the Fourth Hokage. There is a possibility that you're related to the Fourth Hokage," said Yasuko.
"Wow…those two are my parents. I…I," stumbled Naruto.
"It's overwhelming isn't it?" said Yasuko responding to Naruto's surprise.
"Yeah, it is. Who were your parents?" asked Naruto suddenly.
"I never met my parents," responded Yasuko.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," responded Naruto in a tone of pity.
"No, no, it's fine. I have been able to live on my own, so would never need them anyway," solemnly said Yasuko.
"Who took care of you when you were left alone?" asked Naruto.
"I lived in an orphanage," replied Yasuko.
"Why did you leave?" asked Naruto.
Yasuko gave a small smile. "I didn't leave, I was kicked out. This guy who worked at the orphanage was playing sports with all the boys. I asked if I could play and he said that girls were too weak. Then, I made a bet with him. I bet that if I won a fighting challenge, I could play with them. So, then all the boys wanted to make it a contest so that everyone could participate. After many fights, the guy and I were in the final match. We fought using many different ninjutsu techniques, but in the end, I won. The guy was so mangled and distraught after the battle that he needed to go to a mental institution. After that, they kicked me out and I've been living alone ever since."
"What was the guy's name?" asked Naruto.
"Zabuza Momochi," replied Yasuko. She continued saying, "He was the person who taught me how to use water-style techniques."
"You can use earth and water-style techniques?" asked Naruto surprised.
"Yeah, why?" asked Yasuko.
"You've never used them," replied Naruto.
"I try not to use them too much. He taught me how to use the Silent Killing technique which involves various water techniques," said Yasuko.
"I've heard of that technique. It's used by the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist," said Naruto.
"That's right. I heard that Zabuza left with a new apprentice. Another Swordsman named Kisame Hoshigaki joined the Akatsuki. I don't know what happened to the rest of the Swordsmen," said Yasuko.
"We should get going," said Naruto.
"Yeah, we should," said Yasuko.
As they packed to leave, Yasuko paused to look at the rising sun. The sea mist exploded into sky, creating many star-like crystals reflecting off the white rays of the sun. They looked like little stars against a light-blue sky. The spray had fallen on her black hair giving the appearance of many stars in the night sky. This scene was disrupted by an unfamiliar sound.
The sound was like the sound of several trees falling, and that was exactly what it was. Several palm trees from the small jungle area in the middle of the island had collapsed. Naruto and Yasuko went to see what the matter was. When they arrived at the area of the numerous collapses they saw to figures wearing cloaks with red clouds on them. One of the figures had black hair and eyes as red as blood. The other had pale blue skin and many shark-like characteristics.
"Kisame Hoshigaki, long time no see," said Yasuko with an unreadable expression on her face.
"Yasuko Matarisho, I haven't seen you since you were being trained by Zabuza," said Kisame. He smiled, showing all of his pointed teeth in jagged rows.
"You know her?" asked the other figure.
"Yes. She was the most powerful apprentice Zabuza ever had. Itachi, can we kill her? I need to get some practice before going after Six-Tailed Beast," said Kisame with an inhumane voice.
"Just make sure they don't make it to the village nearby. We wouldn't want them blabbing about our presence, and try not to overdo it. Your style of fighting is highly distinguishable, so keep your power low," said Itachi. He switched his look from Kisame to Naruto. "You, you were the one who nearly killed Deidara."
"And you were the guy who took him away from us before we could finish him off," said Naruto.
"Tsukuyomi!" exclaimed Itachi.
Suddenly, Itachi's eyes turned into a pinwheel-like circle. Blood ran down like tears from his eyes.
The world went black. All of Naruto's vision was blocked by an eternal darkness. A small glimpse of twilight broke the darkness. Then, Itachi stood where there was light. Houses slowly started to appear. People were lying on the floor, dead. Many were struggling to hold on to their lives until Itachi walked up to them and finished them off with his katana. Each person screamed as death slowly crept up to them until they were finally cut off from the world, left in nothingness. Naruto's stream of thoughts had stopped as the gory scenes of bloodshed passed through his eyes. The crimson liquid was splattered everywhere on the ground.
"Do you know where we are?" asked Itachi in a solemn tone.
"The Uchiha Estate," replied Naruto, still shocked from what he had just seen.
"Correct," said Itachi, "but, do you know what is occurring?"
"No," said Naruto, trying to keep his cries of fear from coming out.
"What is taking place is the Uchiha Massacre," said Itachi.
"Why did you do this?!" exclaimed Naruto.
"To test the limits of my power," replied Itachi.
Suddenly, Naruto was tied up against a wall with chains. Itachi slowly walked toward Naruto, katana in hand. He lifted his arm and stabbed at Naruto. It hit Naruto in the heart, stopping the flow of blood within Naruto's body. The scene replayed again, and Naruto was unharmed. Two Itachi's stood in front of Naruto. They both plunged their swords into Naruto's heart. Each scene repeated itself with more Itachi clones popping up. Intense pain grew within Naruto's body with each stab he took.
"That's enough! Release!" exclaimed Kyuubi.
The Uchiha Estate slowly faded away into the darkness. All was lost until the real world came back. Hours had passed in the world created by the Tsukuyomi, but in the real world, not even half a second had passed. Naruto quickly fell onto the floor, gasping for air. Kisame gave a skeptical look at Itachi.
"Did you use the Tsukuyomi?" asked Kisame.
"Yes, and I am sorry for denying you a chance for practice, but we have to go," said Itachi, his voice trailing away with a gust of wind.
Itachi took a couple steps back and then disappeared into thin air. Kisame did the same. After their transportation, Itachi scanned his thoughts.
'So, Kyuubi was able to release Naruto from the Tsukuyomi,' thought Itachi.
"Itachi, are you ok?" asked Kisame.
"Yes, why?" asked Itachi.
"You know what happens after using the Mangekyou Sharingan," said Kisame.
Itachi's vision blurred. "Yes, I know."
