Two and a half years later
Sasuke stood in the endless sea of hills, watching the mental wind cause the grass to move in waves.
"Sasuke." Riku's voice said behind him.
Sasuke turned, and there stood Riku. "I have taught you all I can, and know it is time to reward your patience." He said. Suddenly, a black Keyblade with a red handle appeared in his hand. "This Keyblade has a bad name, for years it has been destined to do evil when it yearns to do good," He said, holding the Keyblade out in front of him, its point facing the sky, "A lot like you. This Keyblade hates its name; will you give it a better one?"
Sasuke reached for the Keyblade and grabbed it, "Absolutely."
Orochimaru smiled in his throne room. He paced from wall to wall in euphoria from simply having the eyes that sat in his head. He had already learned four hundred new jutsus and he was loving it. "Sasuke you utter fool, you have no idea how easy your clan had it."
He instantly regretted mentioning that name. Sasuke, despite all odds, was still alive. He sat there, in a bubble of consciousness in the middle of the snake's soul, and despite Orochimaru's knowledge that he could not get out, it still put him on edge.
Suddenly, a pain flared in his chest. "AAH!" He grabbed his chest and fell to the floor.
Instantly, a nurse, Karin ran in, "Ororchimaru-sama! Are you ok?" she asked, running at him.
The pain stopped. Orochimaru, clutching his chest began to stand. "Yeah, yeah, I think I'm okay." He said. even though he felt incredibly light headed.
The pain in his chest hit him again. "AAAAAHHHHH!" he fell back to the floor, writhing like a worm. Then, in his head, a loud voice, louder than his own screaming, spoke.
"I want my body back, snake."
Suddenly, the pain grew sharper, Orochimaru looked down at his chest, and saw a bright, white blade poking through him.
"And I'll get it back."
"AAAAHHHHH!" the snake yelled.
Karin came over, and stood over him, running through every medical jutsu she knew.
But that didn't matter.
Suddenly, a shockwave burst through the room, throwing Karin into the wall. Once the shockwave died, Orochimaru stood up.
Karin looked up at him, "O-Orochimaru-sama? Are you alright?"
Orochimaru looked down at her for a second. Before reaching up, and tearing off his face. Underneath was the face of a sixteen-year-old boy with onyx black eyes. The new face stared down at the girl for a moment, with cold, unfamiliar eyes. "Orochimaru is not here." He said, before a light shone from his hand.
Four figures approached Konoha in silence. They walked up to the gate, where the guards sat, who after seeing their leader, let them through. Three of them were cloaked in black robes that covered their whole body from head to toe. One of them was fairly short, only about mid-thigh's height, while the other two seemed about average height. They could easily blend into any crowd.
The fourth was easily recognizable, Jiraiya the Toad Sage.
They were back.
After the four figures took four steps into Konoha, the robed figures stopped, Jiraiya contiued to the Hokage tower. "So," said a masculine voice behind a cowl, "Want to make our big entrance?"
"Of course." A feminine voice said from the other taller figure.
The short figure only looked up at the two. "Unfortunately, I have to leave." He said in a squeaky voice, "But I can already tell that you two are going to be some of the greatest masters."
"Thanks, your Highness." The cloaked man said, "Say 'hi' to Sora for me."
"Will do." Mickey said, before disappearing with a teleport.
The two remaining figures turned to the Village ahead of them. "Well, best not keep them waiting."
They suddenly disappeared.
Jiraiya opened the door to Tsunade's office, and found her doing some menial paperwork. She stopped for a second, and looked up. "I never thought I'd be so happy to see your perverted face, again." She said before finishing the page she was on.
"Thanks." Jiraiya said.
"So where are your students?" Tsunade asked.
"Well, if you'll turn around, you see them, kinda."
Tsunade looked confused, until a boom sounded behind her. She turned to the window, just in time to see the words 'Naruto is back' written in flaming explosions. Suddenly, a streak of flame launched from the words, and headed for the Hokage tower, just in time for another explosion, this one five times as large as the first write 'Hinata's back too' A little smiley face exploded in existence before another streak launched itself towards the Hokage tower, landing on the roof.
About four minutes later, two cloaked figures came into the office, the smell of smoke was strong on them. "Yo!" One said, before pulling down his hood to reveal Naruto's face. His hair had grown longer and wilder, and his hands were covered in gloves that looked too small for him.
"Hello, Tsunade-sama." The other said, pulling her own hood down. Hinata looked up at her with a big smile. She had longer hair, and unlike Naruto's in anyway, it was neatly groomed and looked perfect.
"I suppose that you were responsible for the giant flaming letters?"
Naruto smiled, "Maaayyybe."
Tsunade sighed. "Some things never change."
Suddenly, her door burst open, and in the doorway stood a young man with a gentle face. He wore black cargo shorts, a green shirt, and a short blue jacket hung from his shoulders, covering the top half of his shirt. His eyes widened before a big smile grew on his face. "Naruto! Hinata!"
"Haku?" Naruto asked in disbelief.
"The one and only." Haku said smiling, before running up and giving both of his team members big hugs. "Oh, I'm so glad you guys are back!"
Tsunade and Jiraiya watched the three of them. They smiled big smiles, until Jiraiya hugged Tsunade. She looked at him, and he looked at her with a very serious look on his face. Tsunade sighed, knowing well enough what he was going to say.
"Alright, alright, enough with the reunion." Tusnade said, "At least in here. If you are going to catch up, do it in your own room."
"Whatever, Baa-chan." Naruto said, "Hinata, if you'll do the honors?"
"Of course." And then, with only a mumble, the three of them disappeared.
"Okay," Haku said, sitting down in the living room of the luxurious Namikaze estate, "Tell me everything."
"Well, that's a lot to tell. Well, first of all, do you remember the story of Sora?"
"Of course!" Haku said.
"Good, that'll make this a lot easier." Naruto said as he pulled up a chair for Hinata and himself. "Well, we were just starting on our way when we ran into King Mickey, who instantly began teaching us all of these cool fighting styles to use with a Keyblade. He then had Hinata go through 'the dream,' where she chose the rod then the sword, this should give her a great affinity to magic, which as proven by even today means that she is much strong with magic than I am.
"Anyway, on the mission I learned several new jutsus, Hinata learned and invented some new spells, I became stronger, and we both learned a super-awesome move that can blow anyone out of the water."
"Unfortunately we need our Riku nearby to do that." Hinata said.
"Well, there is that little detail, but other than that, we're doing awesome!" Naruto said.
"Well, I'm glad we're on the subject of Sora's life, because I think it's time for a new addition."
"Oh? And which one is that?" Naruto asked.
Haku smiled as water began to form in the air around him. "Well, it's really quite simple." The water began to move in front of him, forming a large blob that hung in the air. "You have Lee the mage, so it's time for…" He paused for dramatic effect as the water took form and then froze into a solid object, a blue and black shield. "Haku the defender." (For those of you who need a visual reference, Vexen's shield).
There was silence. Until Naruto spoke one word. "Nice."
Team Seven walked into the Hokage's office.
"Hello, Team Seven. After having the latest report from our spy network we have found that Orochimaru is dead. Nrormally I'd have ANBU check this out, but Haku has been begging for a mission for the last few months so I'm giving you guys a chance. Now do me a favor and don't mess up."
"No problem, Baa-chan." Naruto said, before grabbing the hands of his teammates and dragging them out the door. "We'll be back in a couple of days!" Naruto yelled to the Hokage.
Team Seven stood on the border to rice field country, and now, standing here on the canyon, it was easy to pick out Orochimaru's hide out.
It was the smoking pile of rubble about ten miles north of where they stood.
Naruto posed dramatically on a fallen tree log, while Hinata pushed her eyes to the limit.
"I think there's some Heartless down there, but it's foggy." She said before closing her eyes.
Naruto stood up. "Well, if the Snake's down there we mustn't keep him waiting."
"Actually, I think we should be fashionably late, myself." Haku said.
Naruto smiled, "Ah, it's good to be back among friends."
"But I thought I was your friend, Naruto." Hinata said, sticking out her bottom lip in a fake pout.
"Of course you are." Naruto said approaching her, "in fact, you're my best friend." Naruto kissed her.
"Wow." Haku said, "Your relationship evolved pretty fast."
"Believe it."
The three of them quietly and quickly made their way to the smoking pillar that marked where Orochimaru's lab once was. They had already encountered a few stray Shadows and dispatched them quickly. "They seem to be disorganized and leaderless." Naruto observed.
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Haku asked.
"Both. Good because it means that the Heartless have no one to give them orders, they will mill about and be scattered. Bad, because as soon as they feel our presence and the presence of the Keyblades, they will attack."
"So what should we do?" Haku asked.
"Destroy them before they can get to us." Hinata said.
"Exactly." Naruto said.
"Sounds like a plan then." Haku said.
In less than twenty minutes, they came upon a large crater that held the brown walls of the Snake's lab.
The three of them stood in the crater, facing a large tunnel. "Hey Haku," Naruto said, "I'll give you fifty ryo if you go in."
"Fifty? That's it?"
"I'm sorry, I sneezed, I meant five hundred and fifty."
Haku stared into the darkness of the tunnel. "Well…fine. But only because I'm hard up." Haku led them into the tunnel, his shield leading the way. It was quiet, and dark. Haku tripped on something. "Ah!" he said, in a voice just above a whisper. "Ow! Guys, it's too dark for me to see, I can't keep going."
Naruto whispered. "Hinata, can you give us a light?"
"Yeah, just give me a second." She said. There was a sound of shifting cloth, and then the word "Lightara*." was heard.
A small orb of light appeared in her hand. At first it was dim, before growing brighter and brighter until it revealed a good six feet in front of Haku and a good twelve behind.
Haku suddenly wished he had been left in the dark.
A mutilated skull, with giant fanglike teeth, four eyes, and five horns sticking out from his forehead sat in the dust, looking at him with its empty sockets.
Naruto looked at it, "Probably one of Orochimaru's experiments." He said before kicking the skull away.
"Alright, I don't like this." Haku said.
Naruto grabbed him. "Come on, relax, the worst we'll find down here are some Heartless."
Suddenly, a soft, grinding sound could be heard, it sounded like a whisper. "Heeeeellllllppppp." A ghostly voice said. "Sssssaaaaaavvvvvveeeeeemmmmeeeeeeee." A hand dug into the ground in front of them, emerging from the darkness. The arm pulled a body into visibility.
It, for that was all anyone could really call the creature that was groping towards the light, was a sickly, pale thing with scaly patches covering its torso. Beyond the torso was a snake's tail. The figure pulled itself closer, its face to the ground. Finally, it approached the light enough to see that it only had one arm. It lifted its head, and showed its three, unnatural eyes, its two, long fangs, and that half of his face was disfigured by maggots that were slowly eating the face away. "Iiiiiittttttthuuuuuuurrrrrrtttttttsssssssttttoooolllliiiiivvvveee." It said. On its forehead, the number 30956 was branded into a patch of skin. "Kiiiiillllllllllmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeennnnnnooooooowwwwwww."
Naruto looked at it with pity, before mercifully stabbing it in the heart with a Kunai. "I'm sorry."
In the tunnel, they met no more disfigured experiments, for this, they were all thankful.
They continued through the tunnel until they came upon another crater. It had the same brown walls and was filled with debris. But that wasn't the only thing it was filled with.
It was also filled with Heartless.
The Kingdom Key suddenly appeared in Naruto's hand, Hinata took out Star Seeker, and Haku made his shield. Naruto took one look at his comrades before charging into the crater, taking out four Shadows before moving on to some Soldiers. Hinata quickly joined him, followed by Haku.
Naruto looked almost graceful as he began slashing away at the Heartless, in fact, anyone of them that got within his arm's reach was obliterated. Suddenly, a Heartless, a Soldier, charged him. Naruto only looked at it, before hitting it with a Fire spell.
Hinata looked equally graceful. But, instead of using her Keyblade to do the damage, she was using almost only spells. "Fira!" She cried, as she incinerated a small group of Shadows. "Thunder!" She yelled, sending lightning bolts down on the Heartless. When she finally could use no more magic, she began to swing Star Seeker, and she did so with the deadly grace of a serpent.
Haku was charging like a mad man, using his ice needles to weaken the lines before charging in, throwing caution to the wind. He came in, expertly using his shield to bash at the Heartless before using it like a blade and slashing at them.
Eventually, the Heartless were gone. Naruto stood in the center of the crater, a serious frown on his face. "Alright. I think we're done here." He said, hiding the Kingdom Key. Hinata and Haku both nodded in agreement.
They turned to leave, when suddenly, out of nowhere, a Shadow jumped onto Naruto's back. "Ah!" He cried, startled at the surprise attack. Haku and Hinata could only stare with wide eyes as the Heartless began to eat away at his strength.
Suddenly, a bright, gold, blur flew from the edge of the crater towards Naruto. It killed the Heartless on Naruto's back. "Hey!" they heard a voice say. The golden blur suddenly began to head back to the edge of the crater, where a gloved hand caught it. "Wake up, Naruto."
Naruto's eyes widened as he looked to the origin of the gold blur. "No way."
There, on the lip of the crater, stood Sasuke Uchiha, but not the Sasuke they remembered. This Sasuke stood in a New organization robe, smiling. He also wore gloves that were too small for him. His black eyes seemed to hold a kinder, wiser light behind them.
Naruto looked at his hand. He was holding the Dark Keyblade. But it was different. Its once pitch black blade was now a gold, and the blood red handle was a deep blue. From the pommel hung a chain, and at the end of the chain, hung a circular disk that was onyx black on one side, and red on the other, the red side had a tomoe at every third interval. "Hey, Naruto." Sasuke said, "Long time no see." He jumped down to the crater floor.
Naruto looked at him, eyes wide, before they narrowed. "Baka!" He said, punching him in the chin.
Sasuke landed hard, but not before jumping off the floor, and landing a blow of his own on Naruto. "What was that for?"
"You left, duh." Naruto said, kicking him in the face.
"I want to come back, dobe." Sasuke said, punching Naruto's gut.
"Sure you do, just like you love Sakura." Naruto said, giving Sasuke an uppercut.
"Do I have to spell it out for you? I want to come back." Sasuke said, kicking the boy.
"What a change of heart!" Naruto said sarcastically, as he punched Sasuke in the gut.
"Well getting locked up in your consciousness and having a pedophile use your body kinda helps you see the world differently." He said, moving behind Naruto and kicking the back of both knees.
Hinata and Haku just watched the whole thing, Haku face-palmed while Hinata seemed to get more and more annoyed. Suddenly she rolled up her sleeves, and mumbled "Handaga*."
Naruto was holding Sasuke in a choke hold. "You still left, you moron."
Sasuke slipped out of the hold and kicked Naruto's rear end, sending him forward. "I'm coming back, idiot!" He said.
Suddenly, two spectral hands wrapped themselves around both Sasuke and Naruto. Hinata came up, showing that the hands were hers, before yelling at the both of them. "SHUT UP! THE TWO OF YOU, SHUT UP! NOW STOP FIGHTING BEFORE I WHIP BOTH YOUR REAR ENDS!"
Naruto sighed. "Yes dear."
Sasuke stared at her in shock.
"Now let's get out of here." Hinata said.
Tsunade sighed as she continued working on her paperwork. When suddenly, a knock sounded at the door. "Come in." she said.
The door opened, and in stepped in Naruto, Haku, and Hinata, who had a large, purple, spectral length that stayed outside.
"So, is Orochimaru dead?" Tsunade asked, noting the large purple thing.
"Well, we didn't exactly find proof positive that he did." Naruto said "Well except for this." He nodded to Hinata.
She smiled, before moving the spectral growth to the door. A figure in a spectral hand appeared in the doorway. Suddenly, a voice cried out. "Lower! Lower!" thud. "OW!"
"Sorry." Hinata said, lowering the hand a bit to show Sasuke rubbing his forehead, which had smacked against the top of the door.
"I'm going to get a major headache for that one." Sasuke said as the spectral hand moved him towards the Hokage.
"And this is?" Tsunade asked.
"Oh, right, you never met," Naruto said, "Baa-chan, Sasuke-treme, Sasuke, Godaime Hokage."
"You call her Baa-chan? I didn't pick you as one with a death wish, Naruto." Sasuke said.
"Well, I never picked you to leave the village."
"Touché." Sasuke said.
Tsunade cleared her throat. "So I send you after a snake and you come back with a runaway."
"Yes and No." Sasuke said. "I killed the snake bastard, so they found out what happened to the snake. And I'm not a runaway. I was young, stupid, and self-centered is all. I would have come back give the chance."
"But you didn't for almost three years." Tsunade said.
"That's because I wasn't in control of my body and I was locked in a bubble of consciousness."
Tsunade raised her eyebrow. "Then, pray tell, how did you escape."
Sasuke smiled. "I'm glad you asked." He used his hand to summon his Keyblade. "This is how, my Keyblade, Light in Exile."
"So I'm supposed to be impressed?"
Naruto spoke up, "Well, Tsunade-sama, I was actually hoping that you would be."
"Why?" She asked.
"Because, if I'm right, which the probability is very high that I am, Sasuke is my Riku."
And cut! Next Chapter, Sasuke's fate, and the Other Darkness.
* Custom Spells
Hand, Handara, Handaga: Creates a spectral hand that can be used to grab and punch things from a distance, -ara & -aga forms allow for defensive manouvers
Light, Lightara, Lightaga: Creates a small ball of light that can be used to light rooms. -ara & -aga forms allow the ball to be used as an offensive weapon against Heartless and Nobodies.