ZY: Collage take up waaaaaaaaay too much free time. Well, here's the next chapter.

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Dreams of Passion turned into Reality, Chapter 7; Truths and Actions.

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"Soooooo, what did you want to talk to me about?" Naruto asked again. He had never seen BOTH of his parent having that serious look at the same time. Minato took a deep breath and ask his son "Do you know about the Kyūbi or the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon?" Naruto stated that he did and he said that Minato was the one to defeat the Kyūbi. The blond Genin grinned and added that he'll do something even better then his father when he becomes Hokage.

Naruto quickly noticed that both Kushina and Minato weren't smiling at his comment like they usually do. "Naruto... You need to know the truth about the fate of the Kyūbi," The Fourth Hokage stated seriously.

}i{ }i{ At The Lee Residents }i{ }i{

"Lee I know you're upset, but at the time I wasn't allowed to tell ANYONE, even if you ARE Neji's Soulmate," Kakashi said watching Lee pacing back and forth. Gai was sitting in a chair by the door. The Dream Empath asked his green clad friend to be here for this. "Is that why you told me to use my action to show him that he could trust me?" Lee nearly shouted. Kakashi nodded and said "Lee, I'm so sorry for doing that to you. But I was telling you the truth when I said that you needed each other. But, you need to show him that you're his Soulmate slowly." Lee sighed and said "Maybe I should just let Neji see my Soulmate Dreams..." Kakashi shook his head and said "I can't let you do that, Lee." The green clad teen asked why. Gai answered "Because both he and Hinata have been betrayed by people they thought they could trust." Kakashi's head snapped to Gai and asked why he had to bring that up. "Kakashi, he needs to know, and the last thing I want happening is for both of them to get hurt, especially since this effects BOTH of them," Gai stated in a serious tone. Lee couldn't hide his shock when he asked "What happened to them?" Kakashi told the teen to sit and that he'll explain everything.

}i{ }i{ At The Inuzaka Residents }i{ }i{

Shino was being attacked.

Who was attacking him? A hoard of adorable little puppies were climbing all over the Aburame taking turns licking his face. Kiba arrived on the scene to see this. The Inuzaka tried to shoo them away and telling them that the only one who would be licking Shino was him. "They are quite an energetic group," Shino stated as he adjusted his glasses. Kiba chuckled and said that puppies tend to be full of energy. Shino kissed Kiba on the cheek and said "The adult dogs put them up to it, didn't they?" The Inuzaka nodded with a sigh and said "Sorry, but the Alpha's getting up there in age and he just wants to make sure that either Tsume-nee or I continue the family line. Nee-san hasn't found anyone or had her Soulmate Dreams yet, but I have." "So they're pestering you because of it," the Aburame said softly. The dog-nin nodded.

Kiba had an idea and smiled a wild smile. Shino wasn't sure if he was going to like this or not.

}i{ }i{ At Hokage's Office }i{ }i{

Naruto was in utter shock. He just couldn't believe what he just heard from his own parents.

How... Could... How could they keep THIS kind of thing from him? This entire time?

"You sealed the... the Kyūbi... inside me?" Naruto finally got out.

Minato and Kushina nodded. The red head said "It was suppose to stay seal within me, but a masked man broke the seal while I was giving birth to you..." the Hokage finished "And the Kyūbi attack as soon as it was released, the masked man disappeared, and left us with the demon... The condition Kushina was in... She wasn't strong enough to survive the seal... I know you were just a newborn at the time, but you had your mother's blood and... There was no other choice... There were so many lives on the line... I'm sorry Naruto..."

The first thing that came to Naruto's mind was the battle on the bridge close to a week ago. The vile red chakra that emitted from him when he was beyond enraged. Hinata told him about it, he thought she was seeing things out of grief, but now...

How could his parents do this to him?

Naruto stormed out of the office.

Kushina and Minato watched him go. They wanted to fallow their son, they really did, but they knew Naruto needed some time to himself.

}i{ }i{ At the Lee Residents }i{ }i{

"Oh Kami... No wonder..." Lee said covering half his face with his hand. Kakashi was right, the he couldn't just show Neji his Soulmate Dreams to win him over now. Not with the way things are.

"Lee... You have to go slow with Neji, slowly show him that he can trust you as a teammate, then friend, and finally as his Soulmate. You can heal him. Hinata's damaged in the same way, I'm hoping that you and her team can help heal her too," Kakashi said placing a hand on Lee's shoulder. "Sasuke... Really never left their side for that entire time..." Lee mumbled under his breath. Gai nodded. "How am I suppose to get close to Neji when he won't let me?" Lee asked, not really sure what to think. "Small steps, Lee, small steps. I'll help you with some of those steps," Kakashi said with a smile. Lee was happy for any help he could get.

"I won't give up," Lee said with a serious look in his eyes. "That's what we're hoping for you to say," Gai said happily.

}i{ }i{ With Naruto }i{ }i{

He just ran. He didn't care where he was running to, he just needed to get away. So, by the time Naruto was out of breath he was standing in front of the Ninja Academy.

Iruka was walking out when he saw his former student out of breath. "Naruto? What's wrong?" Iruka asked Naruto as he walked up to him. The blond looked up at the teacher with tears in his eyes, it was so very obvious something was wrong. "Naruto, how's about we talk about what's on your mind in my office, I have a couple of instant ramen there," Iruka said with a small smile, he knew the blond needed someone to talk to.

}i{ }i{ At Konohagakure General Hospital }i{ }i{

A little baby was happily gripping his teeny tiny hand around a pinky finger, cooing with joy.

"Looks like someone's happy to see the two of you," said a passing nurse. Kiba looked up from the crib, the baby still had a grip on the dog-nin's pinky, and asked "Has anyone offered to take him in?" Shino picked up the little life and cradled him in his arms.

"Giiiii gooo gaaa," the little baby giggled happily. He didn't know what the people were talking about, but he was happy that Red Cheeks (Kiba) and Gwasses (Glasses = Shino) were here.

The nurse shook her head and said "No, sorry. Poor thing still doesn't have a official name, we've been calling him Mori no Akachan." "Forest Baby..." Shino said softly, holding the infant close. "I know, probably not the best thing to give to the little guy, but we couldn't use Nanashi (1). We already have three unidentified bodies here, so it wouldn't be appropriate to give to a baby," The nurse said with sad smile.

"Ziv..." Shino said letting the baby suck on his finger. "Pardon?" the nurse asked. "Can we call him Ziv?" The bug-nin stated in a soft voice. Kiba wrapped an arm around Shino and said "So, not a bad idea huh." The bug-nin nodded and said "Yes, your family might be alright with it, but..." The dog-nin stated "He's young enough, so maybe your dad'll be good with this little fella."

"Oh? Are you planing on adopting him?" the nurse asked the duo, both of whom nodded.

The baby, now named Ziv, cooed happily.

}i{ }i{ At The Ninja Academy }i{ }i{

Iruka placed a cup of heated instant ramen in front of Naruto as he sat down with his own cup. "Alright, Naruto, tell me what's wrong," Iruka said with a soft smile.

"My parents... Have been... Keeping a REALLY big secret from me... For my entire life," Naruto finally said, just staring at the cup. "How big?" Iruka asked. "Bigger then the village," the blond said sadly, he didn't want to tell his teacher about the Kyūbi. Iruka lost both of his parents in the Kyūbi attack all those years ago and Naruto REALLY didn't want Iruka to hate him.

"Was there at least a good reason for keeping it a secret?" Iruka asked the blond teen. "Yeah..." Naruto said softly. Now the teacher KNEW that something was wrong. "Naruto..." Iruka muttered before saying "I'm sure your parents kept this a secret for a reason." Naruto casted his eyes to the side and said "I know... But it still hurts..." "Do they love you?" Iruka asked suddenly. Naruto blinked in confusion. "Do your parents love you?" the teacher asked, making his point clearer. This made Naruto think about all of the things his parents did.

His mother bandaging his arm when he was six, after he scrapped it.

His father teaching him how to throw a kuni knife when he was seven.

His parents throwing him a surprised birthday party when he turned eight.

Minato scolding a 9-year-old Naruto for something.

Kushina making her special ramen for her Soulmate and son.

There were no indication that his parents showed any signs of regret or hate in any of Naruto's memories, just the love and care that any parent can give their child.

"They... Do love me..." Naruto stated in a bit of shock. Iruka smiled softly and said "You sound as if you don't believe your own words." "Thanks Iruka-sensei," Naruto said softly before digging into the ramen. The teacher was happy to help.

}i{ }i{ At Konohagakure General Hospital }i{ }i{

Kiba and Shino just signed the final paper. Now, Ziv was officially their son.

The little baby giggled happily.

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Iruka walked Naruto home, where his parents were waiting for him. Minato and Kushina immediately embraced their son. They needed to finish their talk with Naruto, but that can wait. Iruka left with a smile, happy that the family was back together.

}i{ }i{ The Next Day, at the Hyūga Estate }i{ }i{

Choji and Ino (okay, mostly Ino) were cooing at little baby Ziv. Shino really wanted them to stop. Naruto looked to Kiba and asked why they actually adopted the baby. Kiba happily grinned and said "There were plenty of reasons why we did, but the main one was to give the little guy a name and home." Ziv giggled when Choji made a funny face. "Ano, does Shino's dad know about this?" Naruto asked, knowing full well that the pair already told the Inuzakas. Kiba shook his head and said "He's currently on a mission in another village, so he doesn't know yet." The blond didn't know the older Aburame all that well, so he wasn't sure if he'd approve of the adoption.

Kakashi clapped his hands, getting the four teams' attention. "Alright everyone, shall we get started?" Gai stated happily, looking over the Genins. The Green Beast spotted the baby and immediately raced over to the tiny life. "Awwwww, aren't you a cute wittle thing," Gai stated as he playfully tickling Ziv's chin. The baby started crying and Shino quickly scooted away from the Jōnin and tried to calm Ziv down. Kiba was next to Shino in two seconds flat, trying to help calm the baby. Asuma chuckled and said "Gai, I think you shouldn't be near the little fella anytime soon if you're going to scare him." Gai sighed in saddness. Kurenai chuckled a bit.

Kakashi then said to the rest of the teams "We're going to practice our team formation, as well as protecting our Dream Emaths. So who wants to volunteer to be Neji's client? And Sasuke, Hinata, you two are playing the defense, so don't even volunteer." Neji didn't seem too thrilled with that. Shikamaru volunteered, saying something alongs that line of the whole thing being a drag.

A Hyūga servant brought out two pillows for Neji and Shikamaru to sit on. The young Dream Empath thanked the servant, whom bowed and left.

"Ok, lets begin," Asuma said with a smile.

Ziv finally stopped crying. Kiba placed him in a baby carrier (which was attached to a baby stroller), covered him in a blanket, and gave him a pacifier to suck on. Shino adjusted the covering so that the sunlight wasn't in Ziv's eyes. Akamaru plopped down next to the stroller, he wanted to make sure nothing happened to this new "puppy" and the new heir to the Inuzaka clan.

}i{ }i{ Two and a Half Hours Later }i{ }i{

Training was certainly sweat inducing. Okay, Neji wasn't really sweating, but he was exhausted. He entered Shikamaru, Choji, and Kiba's Dream Plane, not at the same time but one after the other. From what Kakashi explained, Dream Empaths use their chakra to enter someone's Dream Plane and that they also use their chakra to stay in as long as they need. That explains why Neji seemed exhausted despite not sweating.

"Lee would you mind getting everyone something to drink? Milk preferably," Kakashi asked the teen, whom said sure and headed into the estate (after switching his shoes for slippers). Sasuke sat down and allowed Neji to rest his head on his shoulder. The male Hyūga wasn't use to going into so many Dream Planes. "Is he alright?" Ino asked when she noticed Neji almost sleeping on the Uchiha. "I guess three's his limit," Kakashi said as he placed a hand on the Hyūga heir's shoulder, then added "Hinata, make sure he eats something full of protein later today and make sure he starts eating at least a cup of yogurt for breakfast starting tomorrow. If he doesn't he'll start getting headaches." Hinata nodded, said she'll make sure he does, and asked "Do you know when his Dream Defense (2) will awaken?" Kakashi sighed and answered "The only thing I can say is, "It'll awaken when it's NEEDED". Right now it's not needed."

"Dream Defense?" Naruto questioned.

"It's basically a Dream Empath's self-defense, but a Dream Empath can't use it when they're in someone elses Dream Plane. Unfortunately, it doesn't awaken along side the Empath ability. It'll only awaken when it is truly needed," Kakashi explained, then added sadly "Mine... Awoke... *places left hand over his covered eye, the one with the Sharingan* An hour before I got my Sharingan... When I really did need it... I just wish... I could've..." Gai placed a hand on the Dream Empath's shoulder. The Green Beast knew exactly what he was remembering. "Ano... What is your Dream Defense?" Sakura asked the older Dream Empath. "It'll be easier to show you then tell you," Kakashi said walking to the center of the training ground, then asked "Who would like to volunteer to be my attackers?" Naruo did, mostly because he was curious. Choji was also curious, so he volunteered. Tenten volunteered as well.

Shino and Kiba were currently checking on baby Ziv, whom was fast alseep in the carrier with the pacifier still in his mouth. Neji's eye opened slightly, he wanted see this even if he couldn't lift his head at the moment. Because of that Sasuke stayed where he was, but he did say "Nabi-chan, now's not a good time to "kiil" me, if you hadn't notice Neji isn't going to be moving anytime soon. Let him rest." Hinata's younger sister, Hanabi, was standing behind the Uchiha with a kuni in hand ready to strike. "Nabi-chan, you can try to "kill" me when I'm not being used as a pillow," Sasuke said as the youngest Hyūga plopped down next to him and said "You're not playing fair." Hinata lead against the porch pillar and said "Hanabi, Sasuke let Neji used his shoulder because he was tired, not to prevent you from "assassinate" him." Neji was too tired to agree with the heir. "Please tell me you're not really going to kill Sasuke," Sakura asked the youngest Hyūga nervously. "Naaah, she's not actually going to kill him," Hinata said with a chuckle before adding "It's a bit of a deal to make Hanabi keep up her training." Hanabi nodded happily and said "If I can land a "killing blow" on Sasuke-nii *holds up the kuni, which turns out to be a toy* with this, he'll be my loyal servant." Sakura couldn't help but think it was a bit unrealistic.

"You're not hoping he's your Soulmate, are you?" Ino couldn't help but ask, the last thing she needed was competition from a Hyūga. Hanabi blinked in confusion, then cringed a bit when she realized what the platinum blond was asking, and said "Eeeeeeeewwwwwww gross, no way. Sasuke-nii's practically like an older brother to me. Plus, he already had his Soulmate Dream." Ino squeaked in surprised. "Nabi-chan, you wanna watch Kakashi-sensei fight?" Sasuke said quickly, trying to get the youngest Hyūga off the topic so the blond girl couldn't ask anymore questions. Looked like it worked, Hanabi quickly focused on the fight.

"Alright you three, come at me with all you got," Kakashi said with a smiling eye. Naruto, Tenten, and Choji blinked in confusion and said in unison "Really?" The silver haired man nodded and said "Yup, if you want me to show you my Dream Defense, you have to actually strike to kill." The trio wasn't really sure they wanted to. Kakashi stated that his Dream Defense won't kill them.

Naruto summoned ten clones, Tenten summoned a javelin from a scroll, and Choji turned into a giant ball. All three launched their attack simultaneously.

Hanabi's eyes lit up at the scene. Sakura couldn't help but note the personality difference between the Hyūga sisters.

Kakashi took a deep breath.

Suddenly, Naruto's clones were poofed, like they were killed, Chijo bounced out of his ball form, and Tenten tripped over her own feet. All three slammed into one another and fell to the ground, literally right at the silver haired Jōnin's feet.

What happened?

Naruto looked up at Kakashi, whom looked like he had a daydream-like look in his visible eye. "My Dream Defense allows me to negate any and all types of abilities," Kakashi said as he helped the three to his feet. Gai happily jide in a "We can basically call it a "Null-and-Void" type of ability." This was soooooo wicked cool!

Wait a minute...

"Any particular reason why you didn't use this when you fought against Zabuza?" Naruto asked as soon as he realized what could have happened. Kakashi raised his visible brow, his eye was back to normal by this time, and said "And prevent you and Sasuke for collaborating with one another and getting over your "argument"? Plus Dream Defense is a bit of a cheap trick in a fight and I like to use it when it's completely nessasary." Naruto realized that his family friend was right, about him and Sasuke working together. If Kakashi used his Dream Defense during his fight against Zabuza, then the blond and the Uchiha would still be angry at each other (ok more of Sasuke still being mad at Naruto).

Sasuke was thinking the exact same thing at Naruto when Lee and two Hyūga servants came out with ten glasses each on a tray. The green clad teen noticed Neji resting his head on the Uchiha's shoulder. Lee knew they were friends, but he couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy tug at him. "Thirsty anyone?" the green clad teen asked the Hyūgas and Uchiha before adding innocently "Is Neji alright?" Sasuke nodded and said "He's fine, but I think he fell asleep." Lee placed the tray he was holding on the wooden floor and said "You mind if I move him off your shoulder for you? I am pretty sure your shoulder is numb." The Uchiha's eyes narrowed and said flatly "My shoulder is fine."

"Sasuke, Hinata, you two are teaming up with Shino for this formation," Kakashi stated towards the small group before adding "Take a drink and let Lee take care of Neji." Neither Hinata nor Sasuke liked this. "Need I remind the two that you DO need to expand your trust circle? Lee's trustworthy, he's not going to hurt Neji," Kakashi said with a stern look in his visible eye, then said to Lee "Just let Neji sleep, alright. If he wakes up, make sure he drinks something." Lee nodded as he handed Hinata and Sasuke a glass, both took the cups and downed the contents and handed them back to the green clad teen, whom place them back on the tray. Lee carefully moved the sleeping Hyūga off the Uchiha's shoulder and cradled Neji in his arms. Sasuke was still a bit wiry of the green clad teen's intentions, but he allowed it.

Both Hinata and Sasuke walked to the training grounds, the Uchiha rotated his shoulder (the one Neji was resting on), trying to get the blood flowing again. Okay, so Lee was right about his shoulder going numb, but he wasn't going to admit it. Sakura and Ino followed the two.

Hanabi stared at Lee in a way that made him VERY uncomfortable. "I'm not going to hurt him! I swear!" Lee stuttered out, making sure he wasn't squeezing Neji, whom was still asleep in his arms. "You like Neji-nii, don't you," Hanabi said seriously. "Huh?" Lee blinked in confusion, that was when the youngest Hyūga repeated "You LIKE like Neji-nii." Lee's eyes softened and said "Of coarse I do, he's my teammate." The green clad teen knew exactly what she meant, but he decided not to let her know that he knew, not yet anyway. Hanabi puffed her cheeks and said "Not THAT kind of "like" Lee." The green clad teen raised a brow in pretend curiosity and asked in that same pretend tone (but Hanabi wasn't aware of this) "Then what kind of "like" do you mean?" "Forget it," Hanabi said as she folded her arms and thought 'He's waaaaaaaay to dense.' The green clad teen moved the sleeping Hyūga so he was in his lap. Neji snuggled closer to Lee, getting into a more comfortable position, and smiled. The Taijutsu user smiled as well and let the sleeping Hyūga be. Hanabi saw this and thought 'Yup, he totally likes Neji-nii.' Shino noticed that too.

}i{ }i{ To Be Continued... }i{ }i{

1) Nanashi basically means Nameless in Japanese.

2) Dream Defenses are abilities unique to Dream Empaths are used to defend themselves from ninjas or any other type of threat. What the Dream Defense does varies from Empath to Empath.

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ZY: Comment would be nice.