Next chapter is up and running! Enjoy and feel free to point out mistakes/inconsistencies/etc. (Standard disclaimer applies)
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
I'm going to kill that clock.
Tick...
Slowly. Piece by piece.
Tick...
With a very large hammer.
Tick...
Tick...
WHACK!! Too bad only a pillow was at his disposal. Still, he smiled in smug satisfaction as the now-cracked and troublesome little noisemaker slid effortlessly off the wall and crashed onto the floor.
Which, of course, alerted his guards. He glared at them as they jumped in and then stared at the offending piece of technology and himself. What did they know? They didn't have to worry about going insane from the constant TICKING! If he never saw another wall clock again...
"What the crap was that?" asked one of the Masked Bandits, as he liked to call them.
Glare.
"Um, would you like us to remove the clock?" another one volunteered.
Smile, clap, clap, nod.
The three looked at each other, grabbed the thing, returned his abused pillow, and left the room muttering something about how "Obito" would love to hear about "this," whatever the heck that meant.
He didn't care. There were more important things to worry about, like his throat and his memory. Thanks to Mr. Ponytail's mind games, he'd regained one brief memory, and it wasn't a pleasant one. In fact, it filled him with a sense of dread and terror for what he had almost done to himself.
Let's see...small meadow, beautiful night, holding a knife to my own throat. Did I leave anything out? Hm. No, I didn't think so. Great. Just what I always wanted--to be mentally unhinged. Even Mr. Ponytail seemed rather disturbed by it.
Oh, and the best part was the pretty little nickname they'd saddled him with already. Goldie. What, did they think he was a dog or something? He sighed. What a wonderful life he had woken up to yesterday. Apparently, everything was going so well that he'd opted to end it all rather than sticking it out. Was he a coward or brainwashed? It was impossible to tell. After all, he was a stranger to himself.
And to them, as well, since he'd "crash landed" there without any identification of any kind, being stark naked and all. For some reason, "Goldie" just couldn't get over that fact. Unhinged was one thing. Outright insane would be more than he could bear.
The patient spent the next half hour staring at the hospital's ceiling, wondering who and what he was. If it was something bad, maybe he this was a second chance and he could become something better, instead. Maybe...
Someone was approaching the door. He could smell it. How, he couldn't say, but it was one more question he wanted to ask his old self as soon as they'd "reunited," so to speak. He considered the possibilities as his doctor walked in to check on him.
In complete silence, of course. Goldie couldn't really blame him; seriously, it's not like he could talk back or anything. But still, wasn't there some sort of research on the effects of the lack of human interaction? The doctor walked back out after making a couple of quick notes on a clipboard.
I'll take that as a "no."
As he walked into the hall, however, he stopped and appeared to be discussing his recent findings with another person. Probably one of the guards. Maybe they were running an illegal gossip ring or something. He chuckled in his mind at that--grown men gossiping like teenage girls. Ha! Take that, Masked Bandits!
So it came as quite the shock to the young blondie when an older blondie slid past the guards and into the small hospital room. Whoa...he hadn't sensed this guy at ALL.
Interesting.
"Well, kid," he started off (not gaining any cookie points for calling him a kid), "the doc says that your throat is healing nicely and that you should be getting your voice back pretty soon, within the next week, I'd imagine." The boy on the hospital bed slapped his hand to his forehead, leaned back on his pillow--the faithful friend that had helped put that clock in its place--and threw back his head in a silent scream of frustration.
The other guy laughed, earning him a nasty glare that would have frozen the sun. He shut his mouth very quickly. "U-uh, you'll be happy to know that you're cleared to be released from the hospital, at least." The boy was not impressed. "I, uh, took the liberty of finding you a place to stay for a little while, too. You'll be staying with Obito till we figure out who you are. Ok?"
No response. Why should he even bother nodding? It's not like he had any say in the matter.
"Um...he should be along shortly with some clothes..." Mr. Sunshine trailed off nervously. Goldie didn't care. He was mad and wanted to take it out on someone. Darn. Now he wished he still had that stupid clock. He could use a little target practice.
An impatient voice interrupted his inner musings. "Hey, let me in, Lizard! My sensei's in there and told me to come by!"
"It's alright. You can let him in," Minato assured the guards. Then Obito walked in and Junior Blonde stared.
The first thing to enter "Goldie's" mind? Hedgehog. He had to bite his cheek to hold back the grin. However, that didn't stop "Hedgehog" from noticing.
"What's so funny?"
Oh, nothing, except that your hair is so pointy that it could be used as a weapon. Now he really did grin.
The black-haired youth tossed the bag he carried onto the floor next to the bed, opened it, and pulled out a chalkboard, an eraser, and some chalk. "Here," he said.
With silent laughter on his lips, Goldie wrote the animal's name down, reasonably sure that no one would understand it.
He was wrong. Minato's guffaws actually echoed, they were so loud, and Obito, well, he was a little...slower. "I don't get it. What does a spiky mammal have to do with anything?"
Yeah, right, like he was about to tell. Minato was apparently thinking along the same lines. "Never mind, Obito," he managed to choke out as he struggled to contain his laughter. "Never mind."
"Anyway," his dark eyes narrowed suspiciously as he introduced himself, "I'm Obito Uchiha and you and I are going to be roommates for awhile."
Uchiha...there was something about that name that seemed vaguely familiar, as though he'd heard it in a dream once, long ago. It made his headache come back and he cradled his head as he waited for the stabbing pains to pass.
They didn't. Instead, brief images and faded voices seemed to echo in his mind. "...would you know!....suffering now because I had those bonds!.." "...I'll do anything it takes to stop you...even if I have to--"
"GOLDIE! Snap out of it, kid!" Hey, what's up with all the shouting? You're just going to make my head hurt worse, you idiot. He looked up at the yelling blonde and concerned Uchiha, irritation flashing in his bright, blue eyes. Darn it, I was remembering something! Why couldn't they have left him alone for five minutes...
"Geez, thank goodness! We were getting worried. You were unresponsive for about five minutes." Hm. Never mind. "We called for a nurse, but she had an emergency down the hall and won't be here for another few. You ok?"
Yes, yes, he nodded, wanting to get this over with.
"Did you remember something?" Obito asked, finally asking the question that was clearly plaguing his mind and would keep him up all night long without an answer.
Goldie rolled his eyes and wrote something on his chalkboard.
"Yes, and I would have remembered more if you hadn't interrupted me."
The dark-haired boy was a bit insulted, but Mr. Sunshine ignored the slight barb. "What did you remember? Write down everything you can."
"I don't really understand it myself, but I saw a waterfall with giant statues. There was a boy there, and he had strange eyes. I think he was trying to kill me, but I wasn't scared."
Minato's eyes widened as he read. For a moment, his gaze darted to his student before looking back at Junior Blonde. Then, he motioned to Obito and the two left the room, presumably to have a little "conference."
Goldie figured he might as well take a nap.
Sakura, the more time that passes, the more I realize just how far we've come and how much has been gained and lost along the way. We gained strength, careers, and irreplaceable friends and families. But there are days when I wondered if what we lost in return was worth it. What happened to having a childhood? We'd both like to believe that being shinobi had no effect on that, but we also both know that's not true. How can being turned into killers not have consequences? My childhood was never much to speak of, but what little of it I'd had was ripped away the day Haku died. I tried to hold onto it a little longer, anyway, but masks just can't replace the real thing. And yours ended the day Sasuke walked out of the village, leaving you unconscious on a cold bench. Or was it before? Ever since he got that curse mark, you've never been the same. But you know what? With all that we've done in spite of that, I can't say I regret it...
"Hey, Minato-sensei," his student turned to him, "what's up? You look a bit freaked out."
"Not freaked out, as you put it, but somewhat disturbed. He only reacted like that after you told him your family name."
"Yeah. So?"
Minato sighed. Sometimes it was really irritating trying to get through to Obito. And what's more, he was sure at least part of it was an act. Ok, so he hoped it was an act, because, if not... "Did you read what he wrote? It said 'strange eyes.' There aren't exactly a whole bunch of different dojutsus running around, you know. Also, he mentioned a waterfall with giant statues. Ring any bells?"
He waited patiently for the light to go off in the young Uchiha's head.
.....
.....
"Oh! You mean someone with a sharingan was trying to kill him, and maybe at the Valley of the End, don't you?"
"Or Goldie was trying to kill him there, yes. Which is why I think it would be best if he didn't stay with you, after all." The disappointment practically screamed from the chunin's face. He'd have to buy him some ramen later to make up for it.
"...I understand." The look of utter dejection tugged at his sensei's heart strings. Yes, some ramen was definitely in order. "But then, where's he going to stay, Sensei?"
"He'll have to stay with me, in that case. You and I both know Kakashi's out of the question."
"Yeah, no kidding. Old Ice Cube would have Goldie tearing his hair out in half an hour."
"Uh-huh, and since his mind's fragile enough already..." he let his student fill in the rest, then left him to go back to inform the troubled teen.
His decision to take in "Mini-MInato," as one of the guards had called him, could prove to be more trouble than it was worth. As a jonin and a team leader, he had several responsibilities that would make the arrangement difficult. Plus, it could also be a double-edged sword; the kid could keep an eye on him, after all. If he were a spy planted by Iwa and learned a bit too much about a certain technique of his, for example, the consequences would be horrendous.
It'd be like walking on egg shells. Maybe he could get his old teacher or one of his friends to help...
The man looked at the kid as the nurse checked him over, unplugging him from whatever contraptions they'd had him hooked up to, and released him into Minato's care. Sullen and (of course) silent, he was clearly less than thrilled to hear about his living arrangements. Or was it something else? Sure, his place was nowhere near five-star accommodations, but it had to be better than living on the streets, right?
As soon as he was dressed, the two of them left without a word, the elder leading the way. Strange, but he got the distinct impression that Goldie was more than a little troubled to be leaving, even though he clearly hated staying, and that it had nothing to do with where he was going.
"What's wrong? I thought you'd be happy to leave."
Blue eyes didn't even glance in his direction. That's some attitude that kid's got. Maybe Kakashi wouldn't have been such a bad placement, after all. Still...there's something about him. And his looks! If I didn't know any better, I'd say we were related, but I don't have any relatives. At least, I don't think so. Dad did have a somewhat questionable reputation, but that was before he met Mom. Then again, looking at this kid makes me wonder. I guess I could compare their DNA, since Dad's is still on record. That would clear things up quickly. He thought for a moment and decided to go for it. What was there to lose? Nothing. What was there to gain? Maybe a brother. Yes, he'd definitely go for it.
Naruto's not emo or anything; he's frustrated and scared, just like any normal teen would be after losing his memory and realizing that he'd tried to kill himself. He doesn't remember that he was once an adult and so has no knowledge or maturity to fall back on. He's just winging it the best he can.
Did you catch the interaction between Minato and Obito? Obito is probably going to be one of my favorite characters because of the way he handles his teacher so easily.
As for why Minato won't test his own DNA to Naruto's, it's because it wouldn't occur to him that he could be his son. Time travel would be the last thing he'd think of with a father that had a player's reputation at one point in his life. Way to go, Blondie.
As for whom Ayu really is, I'm leaving that one up to debate for the moment.
And Naruto's future wife and sons...I have an idea for this, but I'd like some input on whom they should be.
Thanks for all the reviews, and I'll try to keep getting chapters up there fairly quickly to keep you happy :)