Like the sudden strike of midnight, time passed, shifting forward like grains of sand through the hourglass. Naruto watched as it did so, standing still in its midsts all the while. Events of the world flew past him so swiftly that he could barely catch when exactly he was as time flew back to the present. The new present and all its goodness.

Oh, he was excited!

He had just caught sight of the image of Pain in Konoha when his sight suddenly flashed red before bleeding into black and he became surrounded by pitch darkness.

Minutes of this quiet darkness passed.

Nothing happened and he began to sense that something was wrong, his body suddenly numb. What was that flash? Why's everything black now?

A chill ran through him. "Hello!" he called out. No answer.

"Oracle, what's—"

His words stopped short in his throat as his eyes adjusted to a change of light. Night, he supposed. It was hard to tell with the thick layer of smog, or smoke, he couldn't be too sure. This was the present though, he knew that at least, so wherever he was, maybe the mountain, it didn't matter. What did was that things were fixed.

Ahead of him, he could make out the image of a figure, drawing closer he recognized it as Jiraiya's back by the stark red against the green attire underneath it, and the ever spiky hair of his, glowingly white. He drew closer still, listening to the sound of his voice. He was talking...To himself?

"I'm such a failure."

Naruto was right behind him now, not even two feet away, his eyebrows arching upward.

"Every single time I fail. Then what good was I? Hmph, a failure. Some legacy I left behind..."

He had said legacy so mockingly, it hurt and downright appalled him. "Jiraiya-Sensei!" he said, trying to tap him on his shoulder.

The man froze rigidly before turning around slowly...

And revealing his black sclera.

Naruto doubled back, nearly tripping over his feet.

"Sensei," he cried. "What's going on?"

Why did he have the same eyes as the reanimated? Why was he here and not back home in Konoha?

"Sensei?" the man scoffed, pulling out a bottle. "Some sensei I turned out to be. Now I have you haunting me too."

Was he drinking? Or rather pretending to if he was really reanimated. And what was up with his attitude!

This was not the Jiraiya Naruto knew. This was a petty bum who had stolen his attire and been reanimated that way, Naruto was sure of it now. But for a poser, there was no denying the trademark features he had, the stature, even the wart on his nose.

So this was Jiraiya? But...

"What the heck is going on here?!" Naruto demanded, smacking the bottle out of Jiraiya's hand with a vicious slap. It clattered to the ground noisily before spreading its liquid around the cold rocky ground.

Jiraiya glared. "You're persistent just as you were back then."

"Back then? Like when I met you in the Rain? Well, I'm back now and I demand to know what the heck's happened to you!"

"Hmph, as if you don't know already."

"Yeah, I don't, so start talking!"

"See after that encounter with you, that hallucination—"

"It wasn't a hallucination! It was real—I was real then! See? I'm here now, back!"

"No. You're a hallucination." Jiraiya laughed mockingly. "Because, the last I checked, dead kids don't have their own families. They don't grow to be adults. Dead kids can't become Hokage. You're just an illusion produced by a weary mind, Naruto. A very weary mind, a dream after I've just lost too many students. Failed them...I wish it wasn't so..You were supposed to be different. But even that proved wrong and you're dead just as the rest."

Naruto swallowed, feeling a wetness at his eyes. "Dead? What do you mean..."

"After the Rain, I had to update Tsunade with some intel, had to come up with something, and when I got back home you had already been captured...And Naruto, the world went straight to hell from that point. With you dead, I didn't think it could get worse. But it did."

Now the wetness was started to build up and fall.

"No," he whispered. "This—this isn't right!" He shook his head, refusing to believe it. "That's not what happened! When Pain attacked Konoha, I defeated him! I had some help, but I did it, and we talked it out. Then he sacrificed himself to repair the damage he had caused."

Jiraiya looked at him scoldingly. "You died, boy, and no amount of denial, from either of us, is going to change the fact that you were not ready for Pain when he came. You were defeated as easily as Kakashi was. So young...I soon after followed but that Kabuto, he brought me back in his war for the Hachibi. Now I'm forced to watch until everyone that's left is sucked dry by that cursed tree."

He buckled to his knees. "No! This isn't right! IT'S NOT! Where's Hinata, my kids! Where are they!? They have to be waiting for me right now—I need to get back to them now!"

Jiraiya scoffed. "Ghost, they never existed, and neither do you anymore. Now quit haunting me and let me rot in peace."

Emotions were bubbling up in him like a storm. He was translucent, and empty, and fading, and lonely and scared, and he let out a tear-filled roar. And like a shattering mirror, the image of the world around him crumbled, its pieces falling, falling, as did the blood from a body, so many years ago, fresh from defeat.

"Why was I defeated?" he whispered in the darkness.

And he knew why. After Jiraiya had died, he had trained, trained hard, fast, desperately, so he could defeat Pain. If the toad had never come, at least not at that point, had not urged him to train in the sage arts...Naruto Uzumaki would have been defeated. His Kyuubi ripped from him after many pain-filled days. And he would have died, only at the age of sixteen.

_-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-_

He couldn't move. Couldn't see. Suddenly he was having flashbacks of his time in prison, it had been for nearly a year. Sasuke shifted and it dawned on him. That's exactly where the current him was now. He was bound and blindfolded. Jerking he cried out, "What's going on?"

He was given no direct answer but what sounded like a kick to the bars of a cell. Footsteps continued on, ignoring him. He breathed quietly, listening still.

He could hear voices.

"That one guy's execution is today," a voice said.

"Yes, Itachi." Ibiki's voice.

"Took them long enough to officially pin the death on him."

"No, after all these years of service he turned himself in, hoping that that would spare the other one. But makes no difference. They all dug their graves and it's sad, even those who were children back then have to bear the consequences..."

Execution? Sasuke shook his head, anger filling him. To die a death worse than a dog. For public display. Just what had happened between the time of Danzo's death and now?

"And him? He was only six at the time."

"I know. I had figured we could arrange for...more friendly methods, but then yesterday the Jinchuuriki weapon was captured by the Lightning. Another war will no doubt come and our citizens are already on edge. He won't last long, not when all this spawned from that cursed clan."

"Yeah, they're all just another Madara, waiting to happen...No, worse than Madara. I would gladly take that arrogant rebel over the mess that coup d'etat caused."

A set of boots stomped their way in his cell and a couple of what he assumed were guards stood beside him, latching onto his shoulders as if he were some dangerous threat. How could he be, when they had weakened him so? And now that he thought about it, he shifted, feeling a right hand...

We never fought that last time, then. And he's a tool now...Just what is this? A coup, they still it? So the village imprisoned me? He could only give educated guesses and all of them were equally dark as they were plausible. A desperate Hokage and council could do a lot under the disguise of martial law to make the people feel safe.

Ibiki's voice: "Seeing as how events have transpired as they have, and we're on the cusps of a fifth war and we can't waste our time and space on you any long, I'm going to ask you one last time. The people need resolution, and they won't have it any other way any longer. You must choose."

"What?"

"You have two options before you. Two paths. One, submit to Hyuuga authority and merge with their side branch. You will though, be surgically fixed, so don't get any ideas. Furthermore, you will awaken your sharingan and surrender them for research."

"And the second?" he intoned, voice laced with acid. Activate his sharingan? If war had broken out, and the Uchiha been blamed, he would not have joined Team Seven, and had he not, the events that led to him to awakening his Sharingan wouldn't have transpired.

"Be executed just as all the Uchiha before you. The ones who caused this mess in the first place, the scum."

Sasuke jolted forward, attempting to kick Ibiki but suddenly intense heat seared through him, vividly from his forehead. Crying in pain, he fell to the concrete floor, groaning as it burned still.

"Don't forget the Hyuuga's seal is still on your forehead," Ibiki said, voice almost speaking out of pity. And pitiful he must have seemed, sprawled on the floor of the jail cell.

He laid there still, unable to get up.

None of this was right. How could it have even happened?

In the distance: "What will it be, Uchiha?"

He thought of Itachi's words. Of his mission. Better one clan than a village, because had it been the village, a war would have raged. Contempt and hatred would have grown, only further spurred by the outright murder of Danzo. Even if his death had been explained as natural, the blame would have still been shirked onto his enemies.

And Sarada would have never been born.

Oh, Sarada. What have I done?

He thought of Sakura, under the sheets, clinging to him, not wanting him to walk out that door like they both knew he would. Thought of Boruto, his fist swinging, his smile, thought of them together, him and Sarada, of their world, the one they were in and would have created together, growing ever the stronger, happily, until they had surpassed even their parents, Uzumaki, Hyuuga, Uchiha, even Haruno. United.

He sucked in his breath, shaking his head. This fate, it was far, far worse. The world was in hell. Everyone was.

Now he understood Itachi's fear. Why he did what he did.

He strained one last time, wanting to rip himself out of this cell, to rip his Uchiha family graves, if they were even given any, apart, to somehow summon the souls and plant them back in their bodies. But even if he could, this would happen again. Again and again, because they had refused to let their hatred go. The paranoia, and contempt. Both sides. It was sick. Disgusting.

He swallowed dryly. Execution or subjection.

He was handed the crying newborn.

"Careful with the head," Sakura exclaimed, wearing nothing but a sheet, her voice raspy after going through a natural labor.

He would have responded a curt "I am!" but all he could do was stare at the baby in his arms, the surprisingly light baby that weighed less than even the blade at his hip, her umbilical cord freshly cut and clipped. Her eyes, so big, looking up at him expectantly. Her sweet innocent eyes and all he could feel was the sudden desire to protect her. To protect her world.

And he smiled. "I'm a father."

Itachi...I'm a father.

He closed his eyelids, a forlorn resolution filling him.

She was laid over her mother's bare chest. They'd fallen asleep and laying together they both looked so peaceful...

He pictured them that way now, mother and child, still so new, in that one moment as he gave Ibiki his answer.

"Just kill me."

"Alright. Prep him."

_-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-_

When he opened his eyes, he found himself back on the mountain, the prophecies of their choices, given. A mirror the being had said before.

Hysteric, Naruto was arguing with it, obviously discontented with what he had witnessed. His future outcome.

"What good are your stupid powers if you can't even do your job right—he still died!" Naruto was screaming.

The being merely blinked with disinterested. "They showed you exactly what your desire was. They gave him another day but eventually, all humans must face Death. With the shinobi kind, it is more frequent, is it not? Yet you still fight on."

Naruto's hands covered his face as he fought back a sob. "You expect me to let my teacher be sacrificed again!? I mean, does it really come down to me or him?! I can't do that!"

The being shook his head, eyes still widely opened. Blank. "Petty human, do you not realize it was he who chose to go?"

Sasuke nodded, stepping forward. "He's right. It's not even a matter of us versus them."

"What?!"

"It is not a god who destroys this world. It's us. Our choices."

A sense of desperation filled Naruto. "We just made the wrong ones! We'll pick again! Go save Obito, or kill Madara, talk to the Sage of Six Paths—anything but let them...let them die again!"

"You know better," Sasuke said, tone chastising.

Naruto's knees wobbled and he sunk to them, punching at the dirt. "Why can't we bring them into this time of peace? That's all they needed and fought for! This era!"

"Because they forged it." A single tear slid down the Uchiha's cheek before he wiped it away.

"I know they did...But does it have to be? When we intervene we'll be together. Surely the results will be better and we'll achieve more and—"

"Twenty-four hours is not enough to change an entire history or regrets. Besides, your loss is nothing compared to those around the world. We're not gods, Naruto. It's not our call."

"Sasuke, we have to, alright. I mean, what about your family!? This could be chance we need to change their path, we'll just go back before everything and—"

"I have a family."

"Sasuke..."

He looked to the Oracle, something in him radiating with reluctant defiance. "We will not take the offer. We do not need your gift."

Naruto's face shot up as he looked to Sasuke.

"What are you saying Sasuke!? Do you not realize how insane this is? You really gonna just throw this away?!"

Sasuke merely stared at him for a moment and Naruto could only wince, looking down despondently. No matter what they chose, Kaguya would still come and even if they intervened then, more of the Ōtsutsuki clan would take her place threatening the world. And it was doubtful that they would have the same advantages they did then without the pain filled path.

Somehow all of this was spoken to Naruto through just Sasuke's expression. Finally, the Uchiha looked the other way, his fist clenched together tightly. "Stand up, Naruto."

And he did, his head still bowed from a great sense of loss.

The being spoke, its voice somehow sounding more monotone than it had before. "Do you accept this choice? It shan't be given again."

"I..." Naruto's hands were sweating, his heart racing. But. He closed his eyes, saying words he would forever hate.

"I do."

Like a tornado, wind swept around them. Naruto pulled up his arms, attempting to cover his face from it. Then it stopped and the being was gone. He stared at the spot it had been floating when a hand touched his shoulder.

"Come on," Sasuke said gently. "Let's go home."

"Yeah..."

It was a long and quiet walk down that mountain. The longest one in his life.

Naruto soon thereafter visited his sensei's grave. On it still lay a copy of the book Jiraiya had written about the gutsy ninja. But now it showed signs of weather, the cover had baked, the pages dried awkwardly...

Naruto picked the worn copy up, thumbing through the sacred pages before tracing over the name of the main character with his index finger. Time had corroded the ink but he knew well the word that was printed there, so many years ago:

Naruto.

It was this single name that had inspired his parents.

Inspired him.

Set his course.

Drawing his sensei's book close to him, he smiled, even as he wiped his eyes.

FIN

Author's Note:

This should not have taken almost half a bloody year to write! It should have taken a short time, especially considering the last few paragraphs were written before even the Prologue was! The moment I knew what this "one-shot" was, I knew how it would end.

Anyway, about this concept. As you can hopefully tell, it is heavily influenced by the song of the same name and if you've not listened to it, I HIGHLY recommend you do, listen to both Tim Buckley and This Mortal Coil sing the song because it is a beautiful song. A very and truly beautiful work that like Jeff Buckley's retweak of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, should be listened to by everyone.

As for the rest...

Part of the original brief musing was inspired by an extreme sense of deja vu one night at work and subsequent thoughts of loops. Also, it would be criminal of me to not bring up the fact that though I have not read the event (yet), I've watched the animated movie for it and it was a source of inspiration as well, the Flashpoint from DC Comics in which Barry, the Flash, attempts to go back in time to save his mom which triggered enough butterfly effects and ripples, that the world he returned to was completely different. Thus in order to save it from destruction he had to go back and stop himself from saving his mom's life. It's on Netflix right now. (But it doesn't have the epic twist about who that reality's Joker is, and believe me, when I looked it up I was thrilled with what they did with that reality's "Batman".)

And finally, at the time of this story's conception, when the majority of it was planned and the ending was written back in December, I had been binge-watching How I Met Your Mother again, and the further it gets along, the more it will make you cry over Ted. His journey to get to that mother and the sad truth at the end. It's also on Netflix right now. Oh, shut up. I work retail. The hours at both places were down back then. But seriously, try it out. It will make you laugh, and then it will make you cry. The trials, the deaths, their friendship. It's a journey worth sticking to. Trust me.

Anyway, I know this ending sucked. Fiction is supposed to not be realistic, right? That's the whole point of it, right, giving us a happy ending? Escapism? Not always, and not here. Naruto didn't get to save Jiraiya and Sasuke had to face that night again, knowing everything. But as I stated before, this one-shot was about acceptance. Growing up. Sometimes things happen, you can't change it, and even if you could, would it really be for the better? Sometimes I think yes, but if you look back in time, through history, and really think about it, the answer is no. We may selfishly wish yes, God, yes but it makes us grow. We learn from the mistakes. We need them, even though it hurts.

Life is precious, treasure every moment you have and live as if today is your last day so you have no regrets. Love, for so much of our grief with others is just not worth it, and be safe.

—HotPinkWriter

Gawd this was like so serious! I'm sorry XD I just couldn't get it out of my head and I know it's heavy-handed, forced, and probably filled to the brim with holes of logic but I just wanted to get this out. It's not like I didn't warn y'all in the beginning. Seriously, always read the author's notes.

Oh, and there will be an alternative ending. Ignore it if you found this just right. Read if you want a little more of this depressing mess. It will not save Jiraiya or Itachi, though, only shift Naruto's decision into a different direction as he does choose one day, just not one you'd expect, and one I don't believe would step on too many butterflies.