"Where fire meets wind and where earth meets water". Naruto gasped as he needed to steady himself against the wall. He could feel the rough surface of the sand walls pulling in his skin. "a hot misty place in a swamp."
"could that be it"
A ninja stopped in the hall and went up to the Hokage. "Hokage-sama are you alright? Shall I call on a medic?"
"no. really. I am fine"
"…if you say so sir…" he rose and walked away, leaving Naruto all on his own. He closed his eyes hard, seeing bright colours flash before him. A loud and clear voice spoke to him. "ho ho ho. A hot misty place in a swamp? What is it you speak of?"
Naruto clenched his hand, knowing exactly who spoke to him. "Kyuubi"
"I know exactly what it is, and where it is. Tailed beasts were born from there. Ho ho ho. But you will never find it"
"go away."
"ho ho ho. Even if you found it, you would never ask for peace or protection…I know what you'll ask for…"
" I said go away!"
"a lover's resurrection"
The wall broke and fell, the sandy dust covering the entire hallway. His hand hurt from the blow, and he clenched it and fell forward on his knees. He gasped for breath and heard the hurried steps from people rushing towards him. This. He could not take this.
"Naruto!"
"Naruto!"
"Naruto!"
-
Far away, far, far away, green eyes greeted ever lasting sunrise.
-
Shikamaru gazed into the glowing ball with folded hands, his usual uncaring expression was replaced with a harsh and worried look. The blond haired sand woman, with a dark haired child on her arm stared back through the illuminated ball.
"so…he's been getting worse?"
"yes. Yesterday there was reports of him talking to people who were not there – and he is searching for some imaginary place"
"oh…imaginiary land?"
"yes."
A moment passed between them.
"I…I do not feel well about saying this, but…maybe we should …just make you Hokage already. He…may not have long again."
"Temari. I will not become Hokage, I refuse to be, until he is no longer in this world, or until he says it himself" he said stubbornly.
Temari frowned and readjusted the child in her arms. "You cannot seriously mean that. What about the wellbeing of Konoha?"
"I do mean that. Naruto may not be right at the moment, but I wish to still stay here until his return. I'm am confident in knowing that he is on the track of something."
"Shikamaru…"
"No. No Temari. We cannot loose faith in him. We have not done so before, and so we shall not begin to" his gaze was stern and hard, making his girlfriend realise that no matter how many reasonable arguments and threatful glances. Shikamaru would not allow Naruto's dream to be given away this carelessly.
"I see"
The ball flickered and it's light died out and left the Hokage office illuminated by the dark moon. Shikamaru could not help but hate the world and it's obscure and insensitive ways. He dared never to sit in Naruto's chair, it belonged to him. He had no nostalgic feelings for this room either. The dark blood stained floor still had not let go of the blue writings from the ritual Orochimaru had peformed here.
He bent down and touched the dried blood, thinking of how many who had possibly died for just a taste of the power, being a Hokage brought. Shikamaru himself would never in his entire life desire this and its responsibilities – but somehow he always knew he would end up sitting there, ruling and guiding the people of the fire country. It was though not a dream and he hated it with his guts.
Shizune opened the door, and stared at the melancholic ninja sitting on the floor.
It had to get better soon.
It had to.
-
Tohru had with hasty steps approached the room where Naruto stayed in the wind capital. Temari had a stern and angry hand on her shoulder, leading her roughly through the hallways. They had not said a word to each other since the tiny girl had arrived after a three day journey. She was tired and really just wanted to go and sleep, but her body ached to see the Hokage well and happy. She wanted to talk to him…
A month had passed and there had still not been any visible progress in either finding Sakura or restoring peace. Shizune had even spoken to her of Naruto with great sadness…the young girl wanted to know why.
The door to the room she was lead in at, was enourmes sand door.
"whe…"
"the library" Temari said quickly and opened the door and dragged her down the long corridors and stairs. Every wall they passed with covered with ancient scrolls, torn and worn books, and new manuscripts. She couldn't help but awe at the sight, and would have stopped in her tracks, if the older woman had not forced her to go on.
"why is he in the library?"
Temari hissed. "killing himself. That is what he is doing."
The corridors went on, and the books became darker and darker and more sinister with every step. The words that appeared on their backs, stood in languages she could not understand. The rooms then without warning became dark, and only a small light ahead, gave them some idea where to go. Temari did not even flinch, but Tohru felt frightened by the aura that they hastily approached.
She had been trained enough to sense who was who, and this surely felt like Naruto, but…
The leak of brutality and lust was overwhelming.
What…had happened to him.
The light grew stronger, and the shadow of a man looking through thousands of books became clearer. His hair was spiky but dull. His face full of excitement, but was tired. His blue eyes didn't seem as blue as they used to.
Tohru though…felt an anxious presence.
Temari pushed her towards the table and crossed her arms. "Tohru-san is here. So…what you need her for"
The smaller girl surpressed a gasp when the Hokage looked up at her. He looked…different. So different…he had visible cheekbones. Naruto looked as if he was deadly sick.
"Naruto-sama!" she exclaimed and took at step forward. He smiled and stood up. "Tohru-chan. You are here, great!"
She stopped and stood there worridly. "I…you asked for me."
He smiled even brighter. "I did! And it is so wonderful that you've come here! See I need you to help me! How are your earth skills coming? You can use them?"
Tohru moved nervously from side to side, thinking how ironic it was. The first time she met him she would do anything in her power to defy him and humiliate him, but here she was, standing in front of the weakest state she'd ever seen him in – and..she was nervous.
"I…can move earth, that is all. No techniques…so…I'm not that great"
The weakened Hokage still beamed and went on about how great this was.
Temari and Tohru exchanged a brief look.
Both wondering what the hell he was up to.
-
Ever lasting sunrise.
-
Ino, Neiji and Kiba looked at the great room in front of them. Why had they been assigned to lead the small child Tohru here? And been asked not to leave for Konoha? What was this all about, it made no sense. Should they not worry about going back to rebuild Konoha and it's defence. No.
They were going treasure hunting.
-
"so! Tohru and the rest of us are going to hunt down and old legend"
Neiji sighed. "have you gone mad? A legend?"
Naruto smiled brightly. "yes! We're going to search for an ancient city, where a wish can be granted"
Ino threw her arms into the air. "He IS crazy!"
"no! I'm not! Kyuu-"
The blond haired woman kicked the table. "enough Naruto! This is going to far! We've just gotten out of a war less than a month ago! We do not have time to go treasure hunting!"
"But Kyuubi said…"
"I DO NOT CARE WHAT KYUUBI SAID! HE IS MESSING WITH YOUR HEAD!"
-
"…why are we going anyway?" asked Ino as the sand blew against their covered bodies, as they made their way through the sand towards the fire country once more.
Neji shrugged. "because we simply can't say no to him – and I guess…somehow we believe he has got something."
Kiba sat quietly on Akamaru and stared at the limping Hokage. He frowned. "he looks more sick than the last time I saw him."
Ino readjusted the bag on her shoulder. "maybe it is Kyuubi taking over his body. It might lead him into a trap."
A moment of silence passed between them.
The hyuuga man then said something that made a lot more sense. "maybe that's why we're here."
"huh?" they both replied.
"we're his bodyguards. Ino's able to take control of his mind and push the tailed beast bag. I will be able to protect us if Kyuubi goes loose and Kiba will be able to smell if Kyuubi gets too strong."
Yes.
They would protect him with their lives.
-