The loud persistent knocking is what disturbed my rare night of dreamless sleep. Pulling my covers over my head, I mumbled a, 'Go away' before sinking into the warmth of my mattress. The soft texture under my body made me really open my eyes. Expecting to expect my body being on a futon, or something similar of sort, I sat up startled to see a familiar set of walls that surrounded me, shielding me from the harsh sun. How did I end up here? Tossing off the covers, I jumped to my bare feet only to have the banging start once more.
"Hold the fuck on!" I shouted as I glared at the wooden thing. Whomever was knocking might've heard the anger in my voice because they stopped right away.
Reaching up, I pinched the bridge of my nose to think. Only to realize the last thing that came to mind, was I fell asleep, tracing one name on the memorial stone. Looking around, my eyes automatically sought the photos, my eyes widen when I saw that there were only two photos on my dresser. Where the hell were my other photos?! Running over to my dresser, I had to bite my lower lip to keep from crying out as I tore through my drawers to find those damn photos. They were all I had of what was left of my heart. There was a photo of Naruto, Sakura, and I in the formation of the new time. There was also another photo of the two of us together, it was snuck shot on their request that I didn't know about until this photo was made for me. Who the hell would steal a photo? To steal from the infamous Hatake Kakashi? Gritting my teeth, I slammed the door shut before snarling as the door was pounded on this time, only it was light.
Getting dressed, pressing my mask over my face as I reached out to turn the knob, "What do you…" I stopped in the middle of my thoughts as I seen a child that couldn't be no older than twelve years of age. His hair was blonde, and spiked. His face looked up, first I saw fear then I seen a look of disappointment. His deep blue eyes looked up at me, almost as if they were studying me. "Na…Naruto?" I asked, not really trusting myself right now. I brought my fingers up and performed the sign for "release", then opened my eyes again only to see Naruto cocking his head to the side, staring up at me as if I lost my mind. If he thought I lost my shit now, he didn't know how I felt. Walking inside, I reached out to grab a kunai before piercing it through my shoulder until the pointed tip was pierced through my flesh. I groaned at the pain before dropping to my knees, to have the blood flooding down my arm, down to the tips of my fingers. Closing my eyes, not wanting to see Naruto gone, I jumped when I felt a small hand touching my skin. Looking up I saw him, I saw a little of his guard drop. It never fazed me how different Naruto really was than from when he acted. As Naruto gotten older, and we were on missions together, we'd sit and talked things out. It took him saving my life from Pein for me to really see him, and under his cover. It was what made me realize how hard my heart squeezed for him, whether it was out of sorrow for how things tragically went down before that night, or it came from how much I've became to care for the elusive fox.
Snapping my head from the past, future, I didn't know what it was called, when I felt the sting of disinfectant being poured onto the wound, I turned my head to growl at Naruto only to find him holding out my arm to wrap up the wound to my shoulder. Summoning another Naruto, he made the clone wrap the bandage as he kept my arm still. Skillfully wrapping it, he made sure I could place my arm down my side, "You all good now?" He said softly.
I nodded, "Yeah, I think so. Arigato Naruto…" I whispered. He shrugged and revealed something he's never revealed to me, not even in my time line.
"You learn neat tricks like that when you're getting ambushed by people." He whispered so quietly that I wasn't even sure I heard right.
"You were abused Naruto?" I growled darkly.
He jumped, turned around and rubbed the back of his head and grinned. "Ha ha, don't mind me Kakashi Sensei. I came to tell you, you're four hours late! The Chuunin exams start tomorrow!"
I cringed. Shaking my head, I stood up, "Stay out here Naruto, just for a second then we can go to the team together, okay?" He nodded. I got up and went to my closet, I grabbed my clothes before heading to the bathroom to change. What the fuck was I going to tell Sasuke and Sakura? Was Naruto going to reveal what the hell happened today? After a quick shower, I slipped out of the curtain to dress and come out with Naruto sitting down on my bed his legs crossed with his eyes closed. Slowly I reached to grab his shoulder only to make him come at me, staring me down with a kunai next to my throat. Swallowing hard, I raised my hand gently and patted his wrist, "Naruto…it's me." I whispered softly.
After what seemed like hours, must've only been a minute at the most Naruto lowered the attack position and rubbed the back of his head, "Sumen-Nasai." He whispered before we both left quietly.
As we walked, I was trying to come up with something when I heard Sakura say, "You're late!" Sasuke gave me a dirty look. "Maa Maa…" I started before Naruto jumped in, surprising me for the second, well third time today.
"I had to get him out of the book shop, he was staring at the book collections." Sasuke rolled his eyes and Sakura glared at me. I shrugged, "What can I say? I love good books." I shot a grateful look to Naruto and he gave me a smile I didn't see until years later.
Can I prevent my nightmares from fully coming true? I didn't know, but I sure in the fuck knew I was going to give it the best I fuckin' could.
#TBC
