A/N: In reference to Kuro'Owari's critique I have this to say:
I didn't realize I was spelling the Sunagakure wrong and it will change from here on to the correct spelling.
Ichidaime is also a correct way to state the Shodaime. In Japanese numeral counting, it goes: ichi, ni, san, shii, go, roh, seh... etc, and the numbers often have variations on each other. Many Japanese do not use "shii" for 4 because it has a root for the "death" in it. ((You know, shinigami, Shinto, etc...)) So, my calling the first hokage Ichidaime will not change, but thank you for pointing this out.
And last... But certainly NOT least. My dear, dear readers: Do not tell me how to write the plot of the story or format. The entire point of Sun Flowers is to make it quick and ephemeral, like the life of a sun flower. My plan was to have this story end at Part IX, or part X, but I shall see now. And 3.5k+ words isn't enough for a chapter? Oh my. I'll work on the word count, but I can only do so much. -
Thank you for reading and reviewing, the critiques are much appreciated but I may ignore some suggestions to keep my vision of this story alive. Please continue R&Ring and commenting.
-Rainumora
Naruto gasped and squirmed against the chakra-tentacles, his remaining air quickly vanishing from his lungs the more he struggled. Reaching for a kunai, he sent his chakra across the blade, slashing at the tentacle that was connected to his ankle. Instead of cutting, it absorbed the chakra, making the tentacle even stronger.
Looking over to Gaara in desperation, Naruto felt his world start to fade. If he didn't hurry, he might not be able to cast an air-jutsu onto his friend. Concerned for Gaara's safety rather than his own, Naruto preformed a string of seals, green chakra forming around his hands. In a final motion, he brought his hands apart, a thin layer of chakra, similar to plastic wrap, appeared. Shifting over to Gaara, he placed it across his friend's mouth and nose. He preformed the seals again for himself, placing the air-jutsu across his face, the darks spots in his vision disappearing. This was a perk of being an air-type; he could breathe underwater.
Naruto motioned furiously to Gaara, but either the man was passed out or couldn't see him, and Naruto got no response. Swearing inwardly, he shifted around, feeling his mind returning to normal. He wouldn't die of drowning, but he could only maintain this chakra for fifteen minutes at the most.
"POWER!…Give me your… POWER!" The remnant screeched through the water, and the tentacles wrapped around Naruto's neck and wrists. It seemed to sense something powerful on Naruto's stomach, and ripped the Hokage's robes and undershirt off, the fading Kyuubi seal coming into view. "Power!" It screeched, and jammed its tentacles into the remaining prongs.
His entire body shuddered and his brain seizured. Naruto let out a scream of pain as the seal was forcefully unlocked from an outside source, the Kyuubi's full power ripping through his body. Red and black chakra bled through his body, the man's eyes rolling the back of his head.
The head and shoulders of a fox started to push its way out of the seal, the water-chakra boiling as the Kyuubi's fierce existence was suddenly let back into the physical world. It growled and snarled, the remnant screaming in pain as it was boiled into oblivion. "Not you! I did not know it was you! Forgive me!" It shrieked, the water forming into a whirlpool as it tried to get away from the Kyuubi.
"There will never be forgiveness for your kind." The Kyuubi stated, raising its upper body from Naruto's stomach. "Now that I am free, I will feast on your existence!"
Suddenly, Naruto's hands grabbed the Kyuubi, pushing the chakra-yokai back into his body. "I would never allow you to be let into the world!" The Hokage roared, his body shimmering blue from his own chakra reserves. "I stated once that I would conquer you, and I do not go back on my word!"
The Kyuubi let out a cry of pain, snapping at Naruto's fingers and arms with its still-forming head. "You are a parasite! Not a host! You always call for my aid; you can do nothing on your own!" It growled, pushing itself out a bit more.
"You are the parasite!" Naruto screamed, and the water exploded around him, a sphere of blue chakra forming around his body. Glyphs formed along the surface of his chakra, and it started to swirl, like the Rasengan. "I refuse to let you dominate me anymore!"
…But his power alone wasn't enough.
The Hokage struggled to hold the Kyuubi in, and by letting all of his chakra go into a mass Rasengan, he couldn't push the Kyuubi back in or seal it. He couldn't do it on his own… He was worthless, a worthless ninja…
White chakra laced through his blue chakra, solidifying the new submission jutsu Naruto was trying to make. The Rasengan swirled around his body faster, and suddenly is shrunk, pressing down, forcing the Kyuubi back into his body. The white and blue chakra settled across his skin, shimmering as it zoomed towards his navel, the snout of the Kyuubi starting to disappear.
"Fool! I will not stand for this! I-" The Kyuubi's last words were cut off, and a large swirl appeared around Naruto's belly button, solidifying the Yodaime's seal. He had four prongs left.
x.x.x.x.x.x
Naruto woke sometime later, a figure leaning over him, trying to see if he was still alive. "Hnn?" He managed to breathe out, his entire body feeling numb and partially paralyzed. His fingers twitched, and he managed to bring his arm up to push away him blonde, wet hair from his eyes, but even that motioned pained him. He noticed that they were outside, the distant stars twinkling above them. That was some what of a relief.
Gaara came into view, and the equally wet red-head was relieved. "You're alive." He stated, drawing back from Naruto to give the other some room. "Can you move?" Naruto made a grunting sound, which Gaara surmised to be a "no".
Sand formed underneath Naruto, cradling him delicately and bringing him into an upright position. Even though he didn't move, his stomach muscles screamed in pain. "Did you see… W-what happened?" He asked after a moment, wincing as he talked.
The Kazekage shook his head. "I only saw you in a white ball of chakra before I passed out again. The receding water took us out into the desert- we came up in a natural oasis." Leaning back, Gaara looked around.
Naruto observed their surroundings, trying to find some landmark that could tell them where they were. Aside from a few date trees and bushes, all he could see were sand dunes. "Are we still… Still in the Sangakure?" He murmured, feeling his stomach retract painfully.
"Yes, but on the very out skirts. We're on the border to the Wastelands." Gaara replied.
The Wastelands was the greater desert that the Sangakure was connected to via a string of mountains and sand tunnels. The vast desert took up the entire southern tip of the continent that the Sangakure was on, and led to the ocean. If they managed to get into the Wastelands, they wouldn't get out easily. It was a lawless place where the outlaws of all the ninja villages and countries were sent and congregated on their own.
Gaara pulled out a red food pellet from his front pocket, popping it into his mouth. "All of my chakra was drained from that spring, how is yours?" He asked, shifting forward to lean over to drink some of the oasis water.
"F-Fine… Actually." Naruto was surprised, and frowned, looking down at his stomach. He had no clue where his shirt was, but at least the Kyuubi was dormant, if for a time. "W-what should we d-do now?"
The Kazekage wiped his mouth off, sitting down in front of Naruto. "There's not much to do. I have to wait for my strength to rebuild, which shouldn't take too long because of the military rations, but I have to get you back safely. Until then… I can tell you what my Father wrote in his diaries."
Naruto nodded, and immediately regretted the motion. "Please do."
"Our Fathers were not allies like we are, Naruto, but there was a certain respect between the two men from what I have heard and read. The Sangakure helped the Konohagakure when the Kyuubi attacked, and after seeing my Father's valor, your Yodaime gave him a string of beads. I… I think I may have them with me." Gaara took a moment to go through his pockets, and pulled out a set of silver beads. "The Yodaime never told my Father what they were for, only that in a time of great need either he or his successor would know who to give them to."
Gaara leaned forward; placing the beads in Naruto's upturned hands. "I have a feeling that these beads will help you with the seal. I found that out from the Elders in my village, who stated that silver and the amount of chakra infused into these nine beads would create a powerful sealing jutsu. I figured that this would have something to do with what you are looking for."
"T…Thank you Gaara-kun." Naruto said, a bit surprised. His task was getting even more confusing. He had no guidance for what he was supposed to do, and he only received cryptic information or information that he didn't know what to do with. Feeling somewhat overwhelmed, Naruto closed his eyes, griping the beads tightly in his right palm.
He had to figure out the purpose of all of this work. Sure, it could be for granting him complete and dominate synchronization with the Kyuubi, but was there something else as well? And what about these chakra-springs that seemed to be made of Jinchuuriki remnants? Where and why were they forming?
Naruto opened his eyes, slowly letting his hand relax. "This was what I needed to continue with my journey, thank you." He stated, completely sincere.
"You can thank me when we're back in the village." Gaara replied, standing to dust himself off. "Can you move now?" Naruto tried to sit up, but he only managed to yelp, falling back down. "No matter, my sand can carry you." Flicking his hands like an orchestra conductor, his gourd reformed grain-by-grain on his back.
The two lifted off from the ground, floating on sand-discs. Gaara led them northeast, following a trail that was forming in the dunes below. "Unfortunately we'll be back well into the next night. There is probably uproar in the village."
"Hnn… Yes… Probably." Naruto murmured, falling back asleep.
x.x.x.x.x.x
Naruto was dreaming. He had to be. There was no way that he was back here, back in this place…
The Hokage was standing in the center of Haku's Ice Mirror jutsu, watching as his younger self and Sasuke were nearly killed by the water ninja's jutsu.
How could he observe this? This defied all logic… Frowning, he suddenly leapt forward, trying to desperately yell out to himself not to accept the Kyuubi's gift of power, to keep himself free of that taint. Before he could do so, the scene changed.
He was in the Chunin exams, fighting Orochimaru. He had just stopped that monster's great snake, stating his infamous, "who's the chicken now?" to his rival, Sasuke. Here, like before, he had accepted the Kyuubi's promise of power.
"Why… Why did I rely on it so much?" Naruto asked, dropping to his knees as the scene fast-forwarded in his life to his meeting with Orochimaru again, this time on the Heaven Bridge. It was obvious that Kyuubi's control over him had grown, along with its power. "Why am I being shown this?"
A soft, white light glowed in front of him. A small orb appeared which slowly turned into a white, docile Kyuubi. It was the one that had stopped him and the larger Kyuubi from destroying each other. "Who are you?" He asked, reaching forward towards the figure, only to fall into another vision, this one of him suppressing the malignant portion of the Kyuubi back into him.
Suddenly, it occurred to him. "Are… Are you Yin?"
The Kyuubi opened a single eye, bright blue and silver staring back at Naruto. Possibly… It whispered, and slowly formed. This Kyuubi, in comparison to the one that Naruto knew, was soft and sweet, the very opposite of what he experienced. I can only help you in small ways, but I am part of the solution you seek.
"Are you a yokai, like this Kyuubi?"
Yes.
"Than how…?"
I am the Light yokai, the Yin to this Yang. It stated, and slowly grew larger, nine tails swishing behind it. You need to find me, Naruto, find me within yourself.
"But where are you!?" He asked desperately, reaching for the Yin. "I can't find you!"
All good things are Yin… All love, no matter how foul it turns, starts with Yin. It replied, and started to fade into oblivion.
"No! Don't go! I have so many questions that I need someone to answer, you can't just leave me here!" Naruto cried, scrambling for the other Kyuubi. "Please…!" But it was already too late, that Kyuubi was gone, leaving Naruto to his dreams and nightmares.
x.x.x.x.x.x
"How is he?" Temari asked, looking down at the sleeping form of Naruto. "Sakura-san said she did all she could, but she wouldn't say anything else. Is he going to die?"
"I do not know. He fell into a deep sleep when we were traveling back from the spring, and has yet to woken up. Sakura-san said it was a self-induced coma, similar to meditation." Gaara replied, the Kazekage sitting next to Naruto's hospital bed. It had been three days since their return, and Naruto had yet to wake up once from it. "He is a strong person; he will not give up so easily to death."
"I hope you are right, Gaara. Ah, Kakashi-san and Yamato-san, I was just leaving." Temari bowed to the two jounin, quickly exiting to let them talk in private with Gaara.
The two jounin looked as if they had had no sleep for the past week, and they probably hadn't either. Kakashi's one visible eye was droopy and puffy, and Yamato seemed rather agitated. "I need you to tell me exactly what happened, Kazekage-sama." Kakashi stated, sitting on another chair directly in front of Naruto. "I have to tell the village what happened if he doesn't come out of this coma."
Gaara was a bit annoyed at these two. They pestered him night and day for information as to what happened, but he refused to reveal anything. "It was personal business between two Kages; I cannot reveal it without Naruto's consent." Looking to the sleeping form of his friend, he could only sigh. "If this goes on for another week, then I will tell you."
The two jounin seem satisfied with that answer, and left the hospital bed. "I am sorry that it has come to this, Naruto-kun." Gaara stated, and pressed his hands into his thighs. "I am truly sorry…"
x.x.x.x.x.x
It took Naruto a week and a half to get out of his coma, and everyone in the village was relieved, especially Sakura. She had worked day and night trying to bring Naruto back, trying every treatment known to ninja, and hadn't succeeded once. It was pleasing to see him better, but also a little bit frustrating. After all, he had gotten better without her help, just like many other times before.
"How are you feeling?" The kunoichi asked, checking Naruto's pulse with her fingertips then his pupil responses with a small flash light. "If you feel woozy that's a bit normal."
"I… I'm fine Sakura-chan." He whispered, staring up at the ceiling. Naruto was a bit shell-shocked from what he had learned, and had a flimsy grip on reality at best. "I would like some time alone, if possible."
"Of course, call for me if you need anything." In truth, she was a bit miffed, but obliged with what he wanted. He would come forward in due time.
Turning to leave the room, she glanced over her shoulder again, watching as the new Hokage slowly sat up, wincing and touching his stomach lightly. Sakura had checked him all over for serious injury, but aside from the usual scrapes and bruises she found nothing. Somewhat confused to his predicament, she closed the door behind her self, leaning against it with a heavy sigh.
Perhaps his chakra core was damaged from a blow to the stomach? Sakura thought, but then frowned again. He had been hit in the stomach before, and it didn't affect him like this at all. It must have been a Hyuuga-like chakra manipulation on his body. This worried Sakura even more; it could spell disaster for the Village if the Hokage came back unable to use jutsu. She sighed. There was nothing she could do. She could only treat him in the ways she knew how to, but that may not be enough…
Looking up as she heard footsteps, Sakura watched as the rest of her team came around the corner. The two jounin were not very pleased with what had happened, but Kakashi had a bit of a sense of humor and understood Naruto more-so then Yamato. They stopped a few feet off, but seeing Sakura outside was an indication that Naruto was not seeing visitors. However, Kakashi did not let the medical-ninja dissuade him.
Pushing his way through, he opened the door, seeing a rather morose looking Naruto. "Hokage-sama," he stated, using titles to show this was a serious conversation. "Tell us what is going on."
Naruto looked up at the group of ninja, feeling annoyance, fear, and all around ferocity gather in his stomach. He wouldn't be able to worm out of this.
x.x.x.x.x.x
Sakura was bitterly angry, Kakashi was pondering something, and Yamato was all around displeased… And Naruto had only told them he had left to go see the chakra spring. He didn't have the heart to tell them the greater picture, and probably wouldn't be able to for sometimes. Out of habit, he touched his stomach, feeling the unfamiliar, vibrating sensation of his new, but temporary, seal. At least he had bought him self time.
"How could you do such a thing, Naruto!? You're our Hokage now and you can't run around acting like some stupid kid!" Sakura shouted, her fist clenching as if she was going to hit him. Naruto blanched, trying to scoot away from the woman. Luckily Kakashi intervened.
Unlike the others, Kakashi had some semblance of what was going on, but didn't have the complete details as to what was going on or what to do. "Naruto-kun, Sakura-chan is right… What you did was in very bad taste and all around stupid. What if you had been kidnapped?"
"But… Gaara-kun was with me, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto winced at how pathetic his voice sounded.
"And what if you both had been kidnapped or killed? The two strongest ninja villages without kages and in an alliance with each other would be easy prey for the surrounding nations." Yamato replied, glaring at the blonde. "Really… And we thought you had matured…"
"This is a real disappointment, Naruto." Sakura replied, sighing and leaning on his bed, "it really is…"
This was too much. Naruto was growing more and more angry by the minute, and these three kept on chastising him! "I AM NOT A CHILD!" He roared, the Kyuubi's chakra flaring around his body. It was benign and wasn't trying to take him over, but it still reacted to feelings of anger or hatred. "I am your Hokage! Do not ever act as if I am your equal! We are friends, but the situation has changed. Do not treat me like I am a child, Sakura, Yamato, Kakashi!"
The three were a bit stunned at this outburst, and a veil of thick, unsettling silence went over the group. After a moment, Sakura burst into angry tears, "Naruto! You jerk!" She screamed, and gave him one large, chakra-infused punch that sent the man across the room. In a similar manner, but without the violence, the two jounin left.
"I'm such an idiot…" He muttered, sitting up slowly from ground, placing his hands on his crossed legs. "Such a fucking idiot…" Letting his head hang, he scrunched up his eyes, trying to form into as small a ball as possible.
Another person knocked on the door, and Naruto didn't even bother to look up, guessing that it was Sakura coming back to wail on him again. "Really Naruto-kun, you have absolutely no way with women." Gaara stated in his familiar, monotone voice.
"Do you hate me as well?" Naruto asked in a self-pitying whisper. He didn't want to look up to see another face full of anger and disappointment for him.
"Of course not, I could never hate a friend, Naruto." Gaara stated, walking forward with slow steps. He seemed to be assessing the situation. "But it appears as if you're going to have a hard time from now on. Your team morale is broken, and for the most part they are annoyed with you." Naruto nodded, looking up at Gaara after a moment. It was nice to hear that at least one person didn't hate him in the world right now. Gaara took a seat in front of Naruto, small grains of sand reaching forward to settle on Naruto's jaw, healing his swollen flesh slowly. "You will get nothing accomplished with that sort of team."
That hit Naruto to the core, and the man looked at the ground again. Gaara was unbearably honest at times, and he let out a heavy sigh. He wouldn't be able to go anywhere now, let alone Sound. "What do I do?" He asked.
"I can create a sand clone to pose as you for your trip back home which can buy you some time to get to Sound." Naruto nodded, surprised, and somewhat elated at the plan that Gaara was scheming. "After that, though, you will be on your own. I cannot accompany you because of my duties here and nor can I spare any ninja. But," he saw that Naruto was becoming downcast, "you will be able to finish what you have started."
"Yes… That's true."
"And one more thing…" Gaara said, pulling out a small, wrapped package from his left pocket. "Take this, it will help you if you fall into serious trouble."
Naruto took the small parcel, a feeling of love and happiness for Gaara welling up in his chest. Gaara didn't even ask him if he was too scared to go or state that Naruto was too weak, or too unskilled, or something that would hold him back. At times, he was grateful for the honest nature of his friend. "Thank you Gaara, for everything." Naruto slowly stood up, pulling out a set of spare robes from in his pack, placing the parcel in his shuriken pouch. "When should I leave?"
"Immediately."