Previously: As Nagisa began her Sage Training, Sakura was still in disbelief that Naruto wants to quit being Hokage. Three hours later, Naruto and Nagisa returned to the village after Sakura took on four mysterious shinobi, who had invaded.

As Nagisa, in her Sage Mode, was ready to take the remaining two intruders, Sakura tells Naruto about the situation with Sasuke Uchiha...

Naruto: Rewind ~ Chapter Seven

The rain continued to pour down hard as Sage Nagisa and her shadow clone stared at the two dark-clothed ninjas who invaded the village. She smirked as she said, "Your move..." The two ninjas jumped into the air and out of her way. "Wrong move!" Nagisa shouted as she and her shadow clone perform handsigns, "Fire Style: Flame Dragon Strike! (Katon: Enryuugeki!)" Two flame bullets shot in the sky and exploded, engulfing the ninjas.

As the explosion was shown in the dark, rainy sky, Sage Naruto and Sakura rushed over to give Nagisa some help. However, Naruto had a serious look on his face and Sakura knew it too.

(Flashback)

"You talked with Sasuke?!" Naruto asked. "Yes, I did," Sakura replied, "He said something about if it wasn't for you and this guy, by the name of Garudo, he would've never left the village to join Orochimaru." "Garudo?!"

Naruto had recognized the name Garudo before. "It's not the first time I've heard that name," he replied, "The other day, I saw Hinata." Sakura was surprised as well. "She, too, heard of Garudo." "She did?" Sakura asked.

'Something's off here...' Naruto thought. "Come on, let's go help Nagisa!"

(End Flashback)

'Garudo Inugami...' Naruto thought. 'That's definitely Nagisa's father...He seems to be the key to all of this. I mean...Sasuke staying in the village, even after he learned about what Itachi did to his family? My mother is still alive?! This is definitely not the world Sakura and I live in... This could only mean on thing...a Genjutsu?'

Sakura looked on at Naruto. 'Why am I upset that he saw Hinata the other day?' she thought. 'Sure, Naruto had always been jealous of Sasuke, everytime I was with him... Then again, despite them still being just friends, Hinata's feelings were always real...' Sakura lowered her head...her mind was loaded with confusion right now.

The two ninjas freed themselves from the explosion as they immediately took out Nagisa's clone instantly. "Is that how you want to play?!" she shouted as she rushed in. All three of them jumped in the air again, using their fists. Nagisa quickly knocked one down as she was going toe-to-toe with the other.

'Come on, Nagisa!' she thought to herself. 'Naruto taught you better than this!'

(Flashback: Three Hours Ago)

Mount Myoboku

The Sage Training was turned up Naruto and Nagisa, battled each other in the sky. Going in for a big strike, Nagisa's fist hit Naruto's and causing a big shockwave up in the air. Fukasaku just smiled as he saw Nagisa hit the ground and was knocked out of Sage Mode. Naruto landed seconds afterwards.

"So," Fukasaku began, "how did it go this time?" "She lasted a lot longer than last time," Naruto replied, "She's almost at my level!" "But, it isn't fair!" Nagisa wined, "This has been the tenth time! No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to win against you!" "I'm a lot older and wiser than you are!" Naruto replied, "I'm not exactly going to go easy on you, especially when it comes to training!" "Nagisa-girl," Fukasaku replied, "Frog Kumite is different from any Taijutsu you have experienced. Now that you're a Sage, your body is opened up to a whole new level. Once you master the Frog Kumite, and your Sensory capabilities, no one in the village can stop you."

Nagisa, understanding all of that, sat back up and said, "Okay, Naruto! I'm ready to go again!"

(End Flashback)

"Thanks, Naruto!" Nagisa said, continuing to fight, "I finally get it!" Breaking away Sdownwards, missing the ninjas completely. However, the shockwaves pushed them back as the building that they were standing on was nearly split in half. In a rush, all three of them headed over to a new rooftop.

Nagisa laughed in embarrassment. "Guess I need more training," she said smiling. "Nagisa!" a voice said. Nagisa looked over to see Naruto and Sakura come to her aid. "Naruto! Sakura!" "Looks like you're getting too enthusiastic with you job!" Sakura said. "Nagisa, are you ready!?" Naruto asked smirking. One of the two ninjas escaped once more. "Oh no, you don't!" Sakura said punching the rooftop, creating a crevice so the other couldn't move. Clapsing their hands together, Naruto and Nagisa rushed in. "Sage Art: Giant Rasengan! (Senpou: Oodama Rasengan!)" Molding their chakra together, they formed the spiraling sphere, piercing through the ninja, which turned into smoke on impact. "Where did the other one go?!" Sakura said looking around.

As the last ninja made his way to the gate, someone wearing a hood over his face appearing in front of him as lightning lit up the skies. "I'm sorry," a voice said, "Was I interrupting your escape!?"

"Is everybody okay?" Kakashi asked after immediately showing up to help. "Kakashi-sensei," Sakura replied, "Yeah, everybody is fine. Huh?" She stopped to see Nagisa staring out into a dark area of the village. "Nagisa, what's wrong?" "Chakra just disappeared," Nagisa answered. "Chakra disappeared?" Kakashi asked. "She's right," Naruto replied, "Another person with chakra is heading this way..."

In less than three seconds, the same person wearing a hood appeared on the same rooftop in front of them. Everyone kept quiet. "It's been a long time hasn't it, Kakashi?" the voice said as the person removed the hood from his head; the appearance of the face was a black-haired person with blue eyes, a leaf insignia headband over his right eye. Nagisa reverted out of Sage Mode and smiled big. "Daddy!" she shouted running over towards. 'Daddy?' Naruto thought. 'Then, that means...!' Sakura thought.

Kakashi walked over to Nagisa's father and said, "I didn't think you would show up, considering that you've retired. But, it's good to see you again, Garudo..." The name, itself, caused Naruto to revert out of Sage Mode. 'Garudo?' Sakura thought. 'As in Garudo Inugami!? That's Nagisa's father? But, it can't be! He looks like...' She turned her head to look at Naruto, who thought, 'He looks just like me...'

"What brings you by, Garudo?" Kakashi asked. "I was going to check up on Nagisa when it was about to rain," Garudo said petting his daughter on the head, "I just never really counted on invaders in the village." Then he looked behind Kakashi to see both Naruto and Sakura. "Naruto! Sakura! It has been awhile..." Naruto and Sakura looked at each other and played along for the time being. "Y-Yeah," Naruto replied, "It has been." "I see you've been looking like yourself!" Sakura replied, then diverted her eyes. 'Oh boy, what a cheesy answer...!'

"Well," Kakashi began, "I guess we're all happy about the whole reunion thing..." "Kakashi," Garudo then replied, "Those dark-clothed ninjas...I think I know who they were..." "You do?" "Yes, but it's best that no one, amongst this group, should ascertain the situation..." "I'm inclined to agree myself. Therefore...Naruto, Sakura, and Nagisa! We talk back in my office once all of the Jounin assess the damage, as well as casulties." "Then, we'll help out, too!" Nagisa replied as Naruto and Sakura nodded in agreement. As Kakashi, Garudo, and Nagisa left to go help, Naruto and Sakura looked at each other once again, this time in confusion.

About two hours of assessments, there was some good news: No casulties, and the damage was minimal. However, the rain continued to pour as the thunder and lightning stopped. Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura, Nagisa, and Garudo all met up at the Hokage's Office to talk about the situation.

"Garudo," Kakashi spoke, "what was it about those ninjas?" "If I'm right about this," Garudo began, "Those ninjas were remnants of Orochimaru's army." "Remnants of Orochimaru?" Sakura asked. "But, that can't be..." Naruto said, "We overheard, by some bandits, that Orochimaru was killed!" "Yes," Kakashi then said, "This is true because, Garudo here, was the one who killed Orochimaru." "It was you?!" Sakura asked. Garudo nodded in agreement.

"So," Naruto began, "What were they doing here?" "My guess is..." Kakashi replied, "...they were here to kill the hero of the Fourth Shinobi War. You, Naruto..." "Why me?" "You're the hero who stopped the war," Garudo said, "Not to mention, you're next in line to be Hokage. There's no other reason to find and kill you..." Sakura, silently, lowered her head. 'Next in line for Hokage...' she thought. "I think," Garudo continued, "they wanted to kill Naruto, then have Orochimaru reborn again to take over the Ninja World."

"Revive Orochimaru?" Sakura asked, "From the dead?" "Daddy, can something like that happen?" Nagisa asked. "No, Nagisa," Kakashi replied, "Besides Edo Tensei, no jutsu in the world can bring the dead back to life. There's only one way for somebody to be revived. However..." "The Scroll of Time..." Garudo replied. "What? You mean..." "Hold on!" Naruto said, "What is this "Scroll of Time"?"

"According to the stories, I heard when I was a kid," Kakashi began, "There existed a scroll that can allow ninjas to travel back in time to and from a certain point. It was also called the Scroll of Temporal Dimensions. Unfortunately, even the 1st Hokage, and many after him, including the Kage from other nations couldn't find it. Some say that it's just a myth..." "If it's just a myth, why take the chance?" Naruto asked. "Because many people died in the war," Garudo replied, "But, it wasn't the war that was shocking...it was after it..."

"After it?" Sakura asked. "Other outkasts wanted to restart the war in their own way," Kakashi said, "One day, an S-rank mission of the highest calibur was issued. Even though, it was partially successful, the lost of lives that day was unbearable..." "Three days, going into the mission..." Garudo stopped and took a deep breath. "My wife...Nagisa's mother..." he then said, "...was killed..." Sakura's eyes lit up in shock as she turned to look at Nagisa, who had her head down. "Nagisa..." Naruto said in silence. "That wasn't all," Kakashi said, "The Leaf Village was in dreadful mourning..." "Kakashi-sensei," Sakura said, fearing to ask the question, "Who else died on that day...?"

Garudo and Kakashi closed their eyes in shame. "Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked again. "Might Guy, Ino, Chouji, Rock Lee, Ten Ten, Shino, Kiba, and many others..." The answer put Sakura into shock; Naruto's reaction became erratic. "That is a lie!" he shouted, grabbing Garudo by the collar, "There's no way that nearly all of my friends could have died on that mission! It's got to be some type of genjutsu trick! Please, tell me that it is!" "A Genjutsu? Naruto, you have it all wrong!" Garudo replied, "I was there after they told me, my wife was killed. The body count was horrendous. Whatever world you had been living in, I can assure you, it wasn't an illusion. Besides, Sasuke, Hinata, and Shikamaru, who were also on that mission..."

Naruto let go of Garudo as his mind started to process all of this. Nothing he experienced, or what he saw, made sense anymore. An S-rank mission that nearly got all of his friends killed? Sasuke was back in the village? He, Hinata, and Shikamaru were few of the survivors? Naruto's mother was still alive? Was all of this an illusion or not? More questions popped in; he didn't have an answer. Due to the shock, Sakura fell to her knees. "Naruto," Kakashi replied, "I know this must be hard for you and Sakura. I'll let you two rest for tonight, because tomorrow, you two are going to find the Scroll of Time and retrieve before anyone can use it."

"Kakashi, i think it's best that I go with them," Garudo replied, "I may have an idea of where it might be..." "Then," Kakashi began, "You three are to meet at the village gate, first thing in the morning."

Another hour passed as Garudo and Nagisa made it back to their home, outside the village.

Walking inside, Nagisa started to ask her father a question. "Daddy," she began, "Are you sure that Naruto and Sakura are going to be okay? I mean, they did take it pretty hard when they found out that friends were killed..." "They'll have to look to each other for that answer," Garudo replied as he kneeled to talk to her, "No one is more upset with what happened that day more than me. Once we get the Scroll of Time, everything will be exactly the way it should be."

"Let me come with you, Daddy!" Nagisa pleaded, "I owe it to Naruto and Sakura!" Garudo smiled and nodded. "Pack your stuff and get ready. Remember, we're meeting them at the gate tomorrow."

Naruto and Sakura's Apartment

Naruto looked out the window in frustration at the heavy rain that was pouring outside. He took off his jacket and headband so they could dry. Sakura, who was still depressed over what she heard, had taken off her wet clothes and got into her robe, sitting on her bed.

"This can't be real!" he said to himself, "Everyone is gone...?" Then he banged his fist onto the wall.

"What if it is real?" Sakura said. Naruto turned around and saw her shaking in her robe. He walked over and sat down beside her. "Sakura?" he asked, "Are you okay?" He put his hand on her shoulder to stop her from shaking. He flinched afterwards. 'She was this cold?' he thought.

Instinctively, Sakura placed her arms around Naruto's waist. "If this is real..." she said just above a whisper, "...then we'll never see most of our friends again, are we?" A tear fell down her cheek seconds later. Naruto couldn't say anything; for the first time, he couldn't give a single answer to the whole situation. "I'm truly afraid..." Sakura then said. "Afraid?" Naruto said. "If most of our friends are dead, then I'm afraid of losing the ones we have!"

Naruto was taken aback; he had never seen Sakura so scared before. "What about Sasuke?" he then said, "Shouldn't we tell him this, too?" "I'M TELLING YOU THIS, YOU IDIOT!" Sakura shouted. She lifted her head for him to see her tear-streaked face. "Please, Naruto! You're the only one who has seemed to make me smile! Please, tell me that everything will be okay!"

After everything that's happened to them, Naruto just couldn't lie to her. But, he continued to stare into her eyes. Sakura reached towards him; seconds later, they engaged each other in a kiss. Naruto's hands began to undo Sakura's robe. At the same time, Sakura began to take off Naruto's shirt as they both fell on the bed.

As they regain their senses, Naruto continued to stare into Sakura's eyes as he found himself on top of her. "Sakura..." Naruto whispered, after noticing that her robe was open. "It's okay," Sakura said, "Tonight, I just want to be with you...We'll worry about tomorrow. For now, come to me..."

The light in the apartment was shut off afterwards as the rain continued to pour...

As Naruto and Sakura begin consummate their relationship, the troubles they seem to have are disappearing. For tomorrow, the two of them and Garudo must now search for the Scroll of Time, after Orochimaru's minions attacked the village.

However, what did Garudo Inugami mean that "everything will be back to the way it was?"

A/N: The last part was definitely outside the box for me! I've never done that before! In the next chapter, Naruto will finally get answers from the source, itself!