Chapter 6- Past and Future
"Are you alright, nii-san?"
Neji blinked couple of times, "Hinnata-sama?"
Hinnata smiled, "You're alright… Tsunade-sama used one of her strongest jutsu to save you…"
Neji got up and found he wasn't hurt anywhere, "… Hinnata-sama where is Naruto… what happened to him?"
She remained silent…
"Hinnata-sama…"
"After you became unconscious…Jiraiya-sama tried to attack Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun took the hit for him…"
Neji felt like his heart stopped beating, "…is…is he dead?"
She looked down, "Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun both fell down the cliff… no one is sure… everyone went looking for him…"
Neji got up, "Hinnata-sama, you have to tell me where he is!"
Hinnata didn't reply…
"Hinnata-sama… you like him as much as I do… we have to find him… if Orochimaru or Akatsuki finds him first…"
"Orochimaru-sama, if Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun are not alive," started Kabuto but was cut off by Orochimaru.
"No there is no doubt that they are alive…Naruto-kun might be in a weak state but he won't be dead…"
Kabuto looked uneasy, "… What…what are your plans with Sasuke-kun and Arashi-San?"
Orochimaru smirked, "Sasuke-kun did his part, I do not need him anymore…"
Kabuto remained silent…
Orochimaru got up from his chair, "find their location… we will take Naruto-kun away from Akatsuki."
Itachi and Arashi were discussing some matters when suddenly the doors banged open…
"There is a problem!" yelled Deidara as he rushed towards the two.
Arashi stood up, "What is it? And this better not be another one of your stupid problems where people think you're a girl…"
"No…wait what?"
"Never mind that, what?" asked Itachi
Deidara looked back at Itachi, "It seemed like our plan failed… Naruto-kun seemed to have saved Sasuke from Jiraiya's Rasengan and from what I heard they are both missing…"
"Dammit…" murmured Arashi
Itachi looked at the Akatsuki leader, "Knowing my brother Naruto-kun would be alive but we would have to find him fast…"
Arashi seemed to be thinking for a moment then, "Itachi you and Deidara locate Naruto and find him before Orochimaru…"
"Orochimaru?" asked Deidara
"He would take advantage of this situation… pity I was hoping Konoha would take care of him for me… "
Itachi looked at the formal 4th Hokage… 'He's the most intelligent person I met…he would be someone I would never want to have as an enemy…' he thought
Arashi smirked, "besides I think Orochimaru and I…""Arashi and I…"
……………
"…were both trying to use each other…"
(Sasuke's POV)
"Sasuke put me down…" He said in a quiet voice but I was still able to hear because his face was close to my ears.
I had to admit I was badly injured from falling from that cliff but I knew that Naruto was in worst situation then me… I mean if he didn't take the hit for me… I would be the one dieing…
"No…" I said firmly as I kept walking carrying Naruto on my back…
Dammit, I didn't know what to do… we were in middle of nowhere and Naruto was just barely alive…
When there was a silent I started to ask many questions to him to make sure he was awake… because if he did fell asleep… at this rate he probably would die…
"Naruto just don't fall asleep, ok?"
No reply…
"Naruto... I never got to ask you how your battle went with Hyuuga at the chunnin exam…"
"…There is nothing to say about it…" he replied in a weak voice…
"Why aren't your wounds healing? Isn't that your demon's job?" I asked kind of getting desperate
There was a pause, "There is no nine-tail fox in me anymore…"
I was shocked but didn't stop walking, "What do you mean?"
"…I fused with the demon long time ago… its powers are now mine but it isn't here anymore to heal my wounds."
I did feel like crying… for once in my whole life I was scared… scared that I might lose him…
"baka…"
I tried to sound normal, "what did you say?"
"You are an idiot Uchiha Sasuke… just like… your …brother…" I noticed he was breathing harder now…
"…"
"…you're worrying about me when you should be worrying about yourself…"
"Wha-?" I never got to finish my sentence… because at that exact moment Naruto found a way to make me let go of him and threw me to the side. I rolled for a couple of yards and when I looked to where we were standing Naruto was there dripping with blood.
I looked to the side of him and saw needles that from what I could tell Naruto blocked... but how was he able to do that? He was at an inch from death and still he managed to accurately block the needles…
"Impressive Naruto-kun… but you did not need to do that… none of them were aimed for you…"
I looked up and was shocked to see Orochimaru…
I got up and started to walk towards Naruto, "what- what is going on!"
Orochimaru smirked, "Sasuke-kun… you are in my way of possessing one of the greatest powers in the world…"
I understood then… If they were trying to take Naruto I probably would have put up a fight… so when my guard was down… when my attention was fully on Naruto… he was going to kill me…
There was no way I could fight in this weakened state and when Orochimaru stepped towards me there was nothing I could do… "dammit," I murmured as I closed my eyes…then…
The sound of Orochimaru's footstep stopped…
I slowly opened my eyes and saw… Kakashi?
"Kakashi? What?" then I looked back and saw rest of Konoha's ninjas.
Jiraiya walked towards me and I turned my attention to him, "Don't you realize now Sasuke… that you made a mistake?"
Yes I did know… but I didn't say anything…
"NARUTO!!!!!"
I looked around and saw that it was Sakura who yelled… then I looked back at Naruto and saw he was collapsed on the ground, "Naruto!" I yelled as I tried to run over to him but Kakashi stopped me.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING LET GO OF ME!" I yelled at him but he just held on to me harder then led me back to where the fifth Hokage and the rest of the people were.
"Sasuke calm down, you can't even fight in this state, let Jiraiya-sama handle this!" said Kakashi.
I glared up at Kakashi then turned my attention to Naruto who was still on the ground and the one called Jiraiya standing in front of him.
There was a silence then Orochimaru smirked and turned around, "We'll settle this at another time… you have bigger problems to worry about." Then he disappeared…
"Bigger problems what?" I heard Jiraiya say.
I was confused myself… until…
"RASENGAN!"
Jiraiya barely had time to turn around but when he did he was hit by a tremendous force… one that was used by Naruto…
Everyone was shocked including myself… no one expected Naruto to be able to use a jutsu at this state let alone using it on Jiraiya.
"stay… away… from me…"
Tsunade stepped forward, "Naruto we're only trying to help you here!"
Jiraiya started to get up, "Naruto if you use anymore of your energy you are not going to make it!"
I felt helpless… all I can do now was sit and watch… am I… am I really that weak?
I tried to get up but someone grabbed my arm and this time it wasn't Kakashi…
"Sasuke-kun, please don't do this! You're going to get hurt!" yelled Sakura.
"It doesn't matter about me! Naruto's life is what is at sake! If no one does anything he's going to die!"
"Sasuke-kun…"
"Are you stupid? Can't you see Naruto needs help not me!"
Lee stepped forward, "Sasuke-kun there is nothing we can do… I hate to admit but Naruto-kun isn't going to let any of us get close to him…"
"This isn't fair," said Ino her eyes already forming tears, "we were the ones who did this to Naruto and yet he has to suffer…"
"…Sasuke-kun please…don't get involved in this!" said Sakura, "even if you do it won't do any good!"
"You don't understand do you!" I yelled, "It was my fault that he is in this state! I –" but I was cut off by Kakashi…
"Sasuke… you have anyone to blame… blame me…"
I was shocked, "wh-what?"
(Normal POV)
Kakashi didn't say anymore he turned around and walked toward Naruto…
Naruto glared at him, "You know I still have chakra left… and even in this state I can easily kill you…"
"Kakashi are you crazy!" shouted Jiraiya, "You can-"
"I KNOW!" Kakashi yelled back, "but… this is my fault… Naruto, I should have noticed when I was told by the 3rd that you are the carrier of the nine tail fox that you are Arashi's son… the one I swore to protect with my life… I did favor Sasuke over you… and now I look back at those times and think if I just paid a little more attention to you and treated you and Sasuke equally would we all be in this situation now…"
"…You can't change the past, Kakashi-san," said Naruto, "…I am not going back to the village just like that…"
"… I know…" Kakashi pushed his forehead protector up revealing his sharingan, "but… I will take you back to Konoha… even if I have to break your legs…"
"Kakashi sensei…" Sakura said quietly…
Ino looked shock, "He's gone mad! Tsunade you have to stop him!"
Sasuke looked at Tsunade…
Tsunade closed her eyes, 'Kakashi even though you didn't know… maybe Arashi did make the right decision to choose you as Naruto's guardian…' She opened her eyes and looked to her right… and there, few yards away was Arashi… 'Arashi… so you are here… what are you planning? What are your real intentions?'
Sasuke looked at where Tsunade was staring and was shocked to see the formal hokage… 'What is going on? Why didn't he just jump in there and take Naruto?' now that he thought about it this whole thing was weird…
Why did he make alliance with Orochimaru when he was quite capable of destroying Konoha by himself? Why didn't he just take Naruto's demon powers for himself if he is that cold hearted enough to be leader of Akatsuki? And why… why does he have eyes that doesn't seem to hold any hatred?
"RASENGAN!!!!!!"
"CHODORI!!!"
Everyone turned back to the fight but there was the flash of light as two of the most powerful jutsu…
Sasuke opened his eyes and found himself in a dark room… he looked around and saw the other Konoha ninjas except Kakashi and Naruto…
"What just happened?" asked Kurenai rubbing her head…
Gai looked around, "Where are we?"
Then suddenly there was light and they were standing in Konoha Village.
"I think… the impact of Rasengan and Chodori led us to either Naruto or Kakashi's memory…" said Tsunade…
Jiraiya looked at her, "So your saying we can see them but they can't see us?"
"Yes…"
"Look over there!" said Sasuke as he pointing at Kakashi who appeared to be around 12…
"…Sorry for being late… a black cat crossed my path…" said Arashi as he walked towards Kakashi…
Everyone looked at each other… suddenly realizing where Kakashi got the habit from…
Kakashi glared up at Arashi, "This is pathetic why can't someone else be my teacher?"
Arashi bent down and ruffled Kakashi's hair, "oh come on don't be like that…"
"HEY! STOP!" yelled Kakashi… "God, I can already see that I will hate you…"
Arashi smiled making him look just like Naruto, "Well no matter what you say I won't leave… so you just got to let go of that pride of yours and learn to get along with me…"
There was a silent then, "Your crazy…"
Arashi: -sweatdrop-
We were strangers
Starting out on a journey
Never dreaming what we'd have to go through
Now here we are
And I'm suddenly standing
At the beginning with you
………
The scene suddenly changed…
"What the heck!" yelled Ino.
Jiraiya looked around, " I think this is a different memory…"
"Sensei! You can't go! " said Kakashi as he blocked the double doors…
Arashi stepped forward, "Kakashi, it is my duty as the fourth Hokage to protect the village at all cost…"
"You said you won't leave! You said you won't leave like my parents did!" tears formed in Kakashi's eyes but didn't bother to wipe them…
No one told me I was going to find you
Unexpected, what you did to my heart
When I lost hope
You were there to remind me
This is the start
"Kakashi…"
"I won't let you do this! Why couldn't it be someone else?"
Arashi walked past Kakashi… "because they are not the Hokage…I am… I'm sorry Kakashi…"
………
When then scene changed again there was Kakashi who had cuts on his face was crying and around him was many ninja…
The third Hokage went up to him, "Kakashi… there was no other choice for him…"
Kakashi looked down, "…I know…"
"I need you to come with me Kakashi… "
After they walked for several minutes in silence Hokage opened the door to his office… inside was Tsunade and Jiraiya …
Tsunade was holding a child that couldn't have been much older then 6 month…
"Kakashi, Arashi put you as the guardian of his only son…" said the third, "…If you won't take care of him Tsunade can-" but already Kakashi was holding the child.
"I swear I'll protect him with all my heart and soul… until the day I die…" Tears rolled down Kakashi's face…
Life is a road, and I want to keep going
Love is a river I want to keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever
Wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
At the end I want to be standing at the beginning
With you
Sasuke looked at Kakashi who wasn't wearing his usual mask… he looked happy… like he found a secret to life's happiness…
………
Kakashi slammed his hand on Third Hokage's desk, "Hokage-sama I can protect him! I give you my word I can!"
"Kakashi… if he stays with you he might find out about his past…"
"What is the problem? What if he finds out who his dad was? He should be proud that his father was the Fourth Hokage!"
"Kakashi there is many things you are not aware of about the child… "
"Then tell me!"
Hokage looked at him, "That I cannot tell you… not yet…"
Kakashi looked frustrated, "Whatever it is I can take care of him…"
"I'm sure you can Kakashi but it is for the best…"
I knew there was somebody somewhere
Like me alone in the dark
Now I know my dream will live on
I've been waiting so long
Nothing's going to tear us apart
They looked around and found themselves in a very different scene. They were in Konoha still and many children and their parents were in front of the ninja academy all wearing Konoha forehead protector… all except a kid who was sitting on a swing away from the crowd.
"Tsunade-sama is this…?" Sakura asked
"This is when we all graduated from the academy…except Naruto," said Sasuke answering her question…
Ino looked at them, "So… now we are in Naruto's memory…"
Kiba looked around, "Seems like it…"
The scene changed quickly…
"What is going on?" asked Lee
Tsunade looked serious, "I'm guessing Naruto's mind is unstable… so we can only see flashes of memories…"
Sasuke looked at her, "…unstable?"
Sasuke: "Become stronger than me…"
Sakura: "He's becoming accustomed to interfering with my love...He's just annoying..."
Naruto: "I'm going to become the Hokage… and make everyone realize my existence!"
Kiba: "HAHA! You well never become a Hokage…you know what I'll become Hokage for you…"
Naruto: "I'm going to… receive the title as Hokage!"
Neji: "Few are born with the fate of being Hokage…"
"Hey that kid over there… he was the only one who failed …"
"Serves him right…"
"If he becomes a ninja it would only cause trouble…"
Arashi was standing in front of Naruto, "Naruto are you going to just lay there? Are you going to give up?"
Naruto started to get up "… no… I…I'm going to show… them…" he lost balance and fell to the ground.
"Arashi-sama stop!" Itachi stepped in front of Naruto, "His chakra is already low!"
Sasuke was shocked… he really never saw his brother trying to protect someone…
……
They were all suddenly in a dark and silent room… silent until…
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"
"Kisame! Look at my artwork!!!" yelled Deidara as he chased Kisame, who was running for his dear life…
"WHAT THE HELL!" yelled Itachi as he entered the room… he was obviously sleeping because he was only wearing black pants and fishnet shirt…
Kisame cried in happiness when he saw Itachi, "ITACHI! STOP HIM! HE'S GOING TO KILL ME!!!"
Itachi slapped them both hard on the back of the head…
Deidara looked up at him, "Hey what was that for!"
"Shut up both of you! Naruto-kun is sleeping!"
" Geesh Itachi your acting like you're his mother or something…" muttered Kisame as he turned around…
"What did you say?" asked a dangerous voice behind him… Kisame slowly turned around and barely dodged three kunais aiming straight at him…
"AHHHHHHH!!!"
"What in the world is going on!" yelled sleepy Sasori as he watched Kisame and Deidara getting chased by Itachi who was holding ten kunais.
Sasori blinked then, "…are we playing tag? –flower background- yay!" starts running behind Itachi without knowing what the heck is going on.
The Konoha ninjas who was watching this memory that time was too shocked to speak… they didn't expect the Akatsuki to be… this… childish…
Then four kunais aimed at each of them were thrown.
They turned around and saw Naruto…
"Can you all just be quiet?" he said in a low voice
Silence then…
"Naruto-kun!" said Deidara as he wrapped his arms around Naruto, "YAY your awake! I wanted to show you my new artwork (jutsu)!"
Itachi walked towards them and pushed Deidara off of Naruto… and with a big thud he landed on the hard floor…
"Sorry about that Naruto-kun… I'll get them to be quiet if you still want to go back to sleep…" said Itachi as he pretended to not notice Deidara, whom he was stepping on…
"It's fine… it's almost time to wake up anyways…" said Naruto as he looked up at Itachi…
Itachi was about to say something but someone walked towards them from behind…
"What was all that racket I heard?" asked Arashi
They all bowed except Naruto... and Deidara who had no choice…
Arashi sighed, "oh well… Naruto, Itachi get ready for your training… and as for the rest of you… grow up…"
Deidara finally threw off Itachi, "I couldn't breath!"
Arashi walked past Deidara and stuck a duck tape on his mouth.
Itachi, Kisame, and Sasori laughed as Deidara struggled… and Naruto, Sasuke noticed… he smiled for the first time in weeks…
Tsunade looked at Jiraiya, "...are they really like this?"
Jiraiya was shocked himself, "Why are you asking me why don't you ask Orochimaru!"
Ino's eyes twitched, "I really wasn't expecting this..."
Sakura looked at her, "You think I was?"
'and here I thought Itachi was a quiet type...' Sasuke thought
"I can't train Naruto today so Itachi... can you take my place?" asked Arashi to the Akatsuki members standing in front of him...
Itachi closed his eyes, "of course..."
Deidara stepped forward, "Hey that is not fair! Itachi got to play with him last time..."
Itachi glared at him, "because unlike you I actually won't be beaten by him in 5 seconds!"
Deidara glared back, "I guess there is one way to settle this..."
There was a silence in both the Akatsuki members and Konoha's ninjas...
"... rock, paper, scissor..."
All konoha ninjas fell to the ground...
"...I can't believe this..." said Sasuke...
"...just when things were dramatic..." said Jiraiya...
"I win..." said Itachi as he walked away with Naruto...
Deidara thought for a moment, "... does rock really beat paper...?"
Kisame, Sasori: -sweatdrop-
When everyone blinked they were back to the present…and both Naruto and Kakashi were lying on the floor…
"KAKASHI!"
"NARUTO!"
And life is a road and I want to going
Love is a river I want to keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever
Wonderful journey
Both of them slowly started to get up…
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I want to be standing at the beginning
With you
Naruto started to walk towards Kakashi who was looking down at the ground, barely standing with a kunai in his hands…
"KAKASHI! DON'T JUST STAND THERE!" yelled Jiraiya
Tsunade was about to run towards Kakashi but…
"Tsunade-san… stop…"
They looked back and saw Arashi…
Sasuke glared at him but then turned his attention back to Kakashi and Naruto…
"You are too weak Kakashi…" Naruto grabbed the kunai with both hand and ran towards him…
"KAKASHI SENSEI!"
Kakashi slowly looked up… his mask was gone and there were tears in his eyes…
Naruto stopped only a few feet away from Kakashi his eyes wide…
"How should I say this… my first impression of you guys are… I hate you…"
"…sorry a black cat crossed my path so…"
"You three are growing at a rapid rate. Especially you, Naruto… You've grown the most."
"…What do you think you two are doing on top of a hospital?"
You always favored Sasuke and almost never paid attention to me but…
The next thing they knew Naruto was gone and so was Arashi…
"Kakashi sensei are you alright?" yelled Sakura.
Kakashi looked at them, "Yes… I am…"
Tsunade smiled… 'So Naruto… you haven't completely lost your old self… you couldn't kill him… no matter how hard you try…'
And life is a road, and I want to keep going
Love is a river I want to keep going on
Starting out on a journey
Life is a road and I want to keep going
Love is a river I want to keep flowing
In the end I want to be standing at the beginning
With you…
"Naruto-kun are you alright?" asked Itachi
Naruto looked at him, "Yes… mostly…"
Arashi put his hand on Naruto's shoulder, "Itachi would you give us a moment please…"
Itachi looked at him then at Naruto, "hai…" he said then went out…
When the door closed Arashi looked at Naruto, "You didn't kill him…" he said simply. His voice showed no anger…
'…but…' Naruto looked down, "I can't hate him…"
Arashi smiled, "one week… in one week we well go to Konoha… "
Naruto looked up, "Why one week?"
"Well, Konoha seemed to have contacted for help…."
"and who might that be?"
Arashi smirked, "You might know him… after all he is much like you…"
"There is a chance Naruto would go back to Konoha…" said Arashi with slight amusement in his voice…, "…but for whom I wonder… Kakashi or your dear little brother?"
"Arashi-sama, what are you planning?"
Arashi looked at Itachi, "…that I cannot say…"
Itachi remained silent… it would be unwise to say something reckless to Arashi… after all you don't know what might happen if you do…
Arashi got up from where he was sitting and walked towards the window, "Itachi-kun you always done anything I have asked of you, every mission, every commends, every requests. Not to mention you went beyond my expectation…so this time I'll give you something that you want…" he looked back at him, "…So what would it be? "
There was a silence. What did he want? It kind of seemed like he had everything he ever wanted in life…
"Itachi… have you ever wanted to go back in time and live your life differently?"
"You don't have to go if you don't want to…I can make an excuse to tell father…"
"…I won't cut my hair until the day I realize what meaning of life is…"
Itachi looked down, "….the answer to that is…nothing that you can give me…"
Arashi smiled at Itachi, "Naruto... isn't it?"
Itachi looked up sharply...
"Sasuke-kun, are you alright?"
"You were so brave to come back from the sound village!"
"Sasuke-kun please go out with me!"
Sasuke wanted to just stab them with his kunais but he knew that would only get him into more trouble…
Ever since he got back girls have been swarming around him but he noticed that he wasn't the only talk among girls this time. Every once in a while he heard girls on the street talking about Naruto… wondering where he is and how he looks completely different…
………
-knock- -knock-
"Come in," said Tsunade
The door opened and came in Sakura…
Tsunade looked up, "Sakura?"
Sakura walked towards the fifth Hokage, "um…I was wondering if Kakashi sensei was alright…"
Tsunade started to clear up her desk, "Well… he seemed to be feeling bad about how things went but I think all he needs is just time alone to think about it…"
Sakura looked down, "I..I'm sorry…" she said looking at the ground to hide her tears.
She looked up again, "…about what?"
"I never got to know Naruto… all I ever thought about was how to impress Sasuke-kun… I never cared about his feelings…" tears dropped to the floor
"I don't know what to do… Sasuke-kun is back but I'm not as happy as I thought…"
"Sakura… we figured out a way to bring Naruto back…"
Sakura looked up
Tsunade smiled, "Gaara of the Sand is already on his way…"
"Gaara of the Sand, you came faster then we expected…" said Kakashi
"…you're Uchiha's teacher weren't you?" asked Gaara in his usual cold voice, "...your not much of Naruto's teacher though… you barely paid any attention to him…"
With that Gaara walked right past Kakashi…
ok this took longer then I had expected… anyways… I know lot of people were asking me which side is Arashi on… well… it's a secret and you weren't able to tell because I tried to make him a little bit mysterious…
also I was planning to draw some pictures of this fanfic… like cover if it was a manga… and the new Naruto… anyways I was just wondering what you guys thought…
-song in this chapter was called "at the beginning…" if you have time listen to it at youtube