Hey! The next chapter is here! This chapter is going to be the last one, flashback central. This is going to be one of the most depressing chapters you will ever read in this story…and maybe the longest. I was watching Band of Brothers and typing this at the same time. Not a good mix if you want to be happy.
Some pairings you will not find attractive, (I wrote some of them and I didn't even like them…). Yes, there is some romantic stuff in this chapter, but it's not what you think.
Thank you to Reviewers:
RasenShuriken92, Shadow of a Life, Silvdra-zero, EXpERieNCed, justareader07, DBZLOVER, Tristan76, Clemerl, Inisha, swiftrabbit, Lykaos, Meroez, Ookami, and Blodh Skilor
Now read on!
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"Wait, so you are saying that Naruto is demon?" Ichigo asked, interrupting Toshiro from the story, "I know you told me not to interrupt until the end, but…I sensed some strange power around him something purely evil…" Hitsugaya frowned.
"Like I said it was his father's fault…Naruto is not a demon." He said sharply, tensing his shoulders, "I don't know how he was so forgiving…but that was Naruto." Ichigo was beginning to become sympathetic, but he wanted to know more about what happened.
"So, what else happened?" Kurosaki leaned a little, eager to listen to Toshiro story. Hitsugaya looked at him with an exasperated expression. It made the young white-haired shinigami look really old.
"Well, I continued to guard Naruto. At first I thought of him very stupid and childish…like you." Toshiro added, Ichigo twitched, "But he turned to be something else…a friend. I didn't see him as a hollow." Hitsugaya sighed, "He told me stories of when he was alive. They were incredible. I was never bored the twenty years of working in Sector SS. I enjoyed every day."
"What? Twenty years of being locked up? That sounds like it would be boring." Ichigo stated. Toshiro smirked.
"Not with Naruto…he is very…random." He said, with a small smile on his lips "Sometimes I would come out to find him not in his cell. Turns out he was using some strange 'jutsu' that hides him. You know Naruto came from a village of ninjas, the Konohagakure. He dreamed of being the leader or known as Hokage. He became the Rokudaime, succeeding his dream." His smile faded, "Though he had no road to tread on."
"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked, not being able to interpret the metaphor. Hitsugaya sighed.
"Since the day he was born, the entire village hated him." Toshiro began.
Flashback
"I was beaten almost daily as a kid. I had no friends, and I had many nightmares. Since I was an orphan, I lived at an orphanage. No one adopted me. The caretaker made me live in the attic, by myself. One day I ran away, and began living under a bridge. I traveled around the village at night looking for food. I remember all the people calling me names, beating me. I didn't know why at the time. I asked the Sandaime, but he never told me. I remember my fifth birthday; I nearly died. Twice, once in the village, a second time a nurse tried to kill me at the hospital. I was saved, by an ANBU named Kakashi Hatake. Who was my sensei later, but I wouldn't learn that until I turned seventeen." Naruto paused, "As a toddler I cried myself to sleep all the time, but the day I turned five, I stopped crying. I learned to smile, even if I was sad, I smiled. I no longer wanted to cry. I wanted to live, be happy, and move forward. Even if it was delusional, I didn't care. I wanted to move forward." Toshiro was angry.
"Why didn't you do anything? Why not ask the Sandaime to help? Why didn't do anything!" Hitsugaya asked, he flinched when Naruto's eyes met his. Sadness, knowledge, and neglect pierced the shinigami. Naruto wrapped his hands around the bars of the cell and rested his chin next to the bar.
"No one would listen to me. You think that someone would care for a child that held something that killed everything they loved, cherished? Do you think a stranger would lend a hand out to a child who was hated by everyone? The Sandaime had bigger problems to deal with than an orphan who was ignored by the village." Naruto took in a deep breath, "Being a leader means you have priorities…and the Sandaime had those. The Hokage couldn't help me anyway; the elders of the village wouldn't allow the Hokage to help me."
"But why?" Hitsugaya growled clenching his fists. Naruto looked in the frustrated eyes of the shinigami. "You were just a kid!" he yelled, "No one should do that to a child." Naruto's eyes closed, and when they opened, they were blood red. Hitsugaya felt a tremendous, evil spiritual energy surround him. Toshiro backed up. Looking into the hollow's eyes, he saw hell. Naruto closed his eyes again, Toshiro was shaking.
"Because in reality…I am the demon that destroyed the village." Naruto said quietly, "The Kyuubi and I are living in the small body, and I depended on the demon to keep me alive, and the demon looked to me to live as well." Uzumaki turned away from the shinigami, "Even my own friends feared me…" Naruto slipped into the shadows of the cell.
End of flashback
"That day I regret the most…because I never said that he wasn't the demon. I was scared for once. His eyes were…not his own. I saw many people's deaths in those eyes, but I was so scared." Toshiro closed his eyes trying to rid of tears threatening. "One of the first mistakes of many." Ichigo couldn't believe what he was hearing. Hitsugaya was sharing his feelings with him, and Toshiro was giving him more than a story. He was sharing part of his past, soul, and making himself vulnerable. The orange-haired shinigami felt a little awkward. Toshiro was trusting him. "I feel that is enough of the story for today Ichigo." He stood up, "I will share more this tomorrow."
"Ok…" Ichigo got to his feet, and felt a little dizzy. Hitsugaya walked with Ichigo out of the building. Kurosaki didn't know what to feel other than tired, and depressed. He said his goodbye to Hitsugaya only to find he wanted to find out more about what happened. He knew that Toshiro wouldn't tell him any more so he thought of the one person who would tell him more.
Naruto Uzumaki, the hollow himself.
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Aizen sat rather bored at his chair. A couple of hours ago he sent some the Espada to check things. They had not come back, and he was not a very patient person right now. He knew most of the shinigami were very weak. Besides the Gotei 13, but they were under his concern. The Soul Society was weak for now, and wouldn't be able to bother him. "Now what are you doing Naruto…" he asked himself. The hollow was beginning to get on his nerves the more he thought about it. Uzumaki was once a very helpful pawn. Aizen knew that Naruto had abilities beyond his own comprehension, and as an enemy…things would turn out very bad in the end. Before the Espada was fully formed, Naruto was part of it. Uzumaki was number one, and for a reason. Aizen rarely had sent to take care of anything.
"Aizen-sama you seem rather bored. Or do I sense apprehensiveness…and fear?" Gin walked into dangerous territory, he felt the chill of Aizen's zanpakuto against his neck. However, it didn't faze Gin at all. He just grinned, as usual. "Kuku, I was merely joking." Aizen seethed his weapon, "But you do seem rather concerned." Gin tilted his head a bit. Aizen sighed; he knew Gin was rather playful. Gin had always loved to get on his nerves. Since Luppi died, well Aizen got more visits from Gin. Maybe it was a bad idea to make Grimjow number six again.
"Naruto appeared sporadically, and I don't want him to interfere with what I am doing…so concerned maybe, but fear…out of the question." Aizen explained, Gin chuckled, "Have you heard anything about the Espada that I sent out?"
"Actually they found a shinigami and brought him in for questioning. Your non-violent words…were not fully exploited." Gin explained, "Do you wish to see this shinigami?" Gin didn't have to ask, Aizen was already going down to the holding cells. "Kuku, someone is very concerned." He said to himself. Gin followed Aizen's example and headed down to the holding cells as well. When Gin made it to the cell, he saw a rather weak shinigami chained to the wall suffering from some rather harsh injuries.
"You shinigami, will tell me what you know about a hollow named Uzumaki Naruto." Aizen said with a stone face. The shinigami glared at him, and didn't say anything, "I should tell you I am not very patient now, so I'll ask you again. What do you know about the hollow, Uzumaki Naruto?"
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Ichigo had never been into the underground. Ichigo remembered that Nari was working the elevator and wondered why he wasn't there, but Toshiro would probably explain later, he was just curious what Naruto would say, or if he would even talk to him at all. As soon as Ichigo reached the cell of Naruto, he saw the hollow sitting the farthest from the light. Another thing he saw was the cell that original held Naruto was completely destroyed. So instead, Naruto was placed into the cell across from the destroyed cell. "Well, well, if it isn't Ichigo?" Naruto said, Kurosaki could tell that the hollow was smirking. "What brings you here, ne? Did the prodigy tell you to come here? Or this for some questions…I see you are very curious…"
"I wanted to know a little more about you." Ichigo stated, Naruto's body twitched, "Toshiro told me a few things and I wanted to hear things from you." Ichigo squatted to the ground trying to see the hollow eye to eye. Naruto moved out of the shadows, his black and red eyes stared into his soul. Naruto placed his pale face in between the bars. He had a forced smile.
"What makes you think I would tell you anything?" Naruto inquired, "Surely you don't think I'll tell you anything…after all you got me into this mess." He pointed out. Ichigo glared at the hollow, Naruto was challenging him. "You know, I wouldn't want to ruin your petty thoughts of the Soul Society." Ichigo ignored him.
"Toshiro said you were from another world, is it true?" Ichigo asked, Naruto frowned, "He mentioned that your hometown didn't like you. He said that were beaten almost daily." Naruto growled, rolling his eyes. Kurosaki saw how much he acted like a child.
"Mentioned that did he?" Naruto moved away from the bars and sat on the hard concrete, "Toshiro never learned to stay out of people's business." He sighed looking up seeing the harsh grey of the cell, "If you must know, then I lived in a village which hated me. A village that tried to kill me. I was beaten quite often." He stopped for a moment, his eyes now upon Ichigo, "Did you come down here to remind me of dark past, ne?" the shinigami ignored the question.
"You had friends, what happened to them?" Ichigo asked, Naruto's eyes closed. The hollow retreated back into the shadows, "Hey don't ignore me!" Ichigo shouted. The hollow didn't seem to respond in any manner. Kurosaki sighed and stood up and was about to leave the room.
"They died…a long time ago." Naruto said quietly. Ichigo stopped and turned his head, "I had quite a few, as a human. Though, I know they all hated me…it was nice to pretend that I had people that cared for me." The chains clanked across the ground, giving Ichigo a chill. "Because I was too weak…they all suffered, and died at an early age."
"What did they die from?" Ichigo walked back to the cell. Naruto was quiet, and Kurosaki swore he heard a small sob.
"Isn't obvious? A war happened. Most of them died that day, some young as sixteen." Naruto scraped his nails against the concrete walls. "If I remember it was Ino, Chouji, Kakashi, Tsunade, Shizune, Sai, Hinata, Iruka, Neji, Lee, and Kankuro that died that day. Sasuke, Sakura, Shikamaru, Gaara, Temari, Gai, Ten-Ten, Kurenai, Shino, and Kiba were the only ones who survived. Not including the deaths of the other shinobi from the five nations." Naruto sighed. Ichigo felt remorse for the young hollow. "It was all my fault…if only I had been stronger." He mumbled.
"Well not everyone died." Ichigo said, but Naruto growled at him, "It's true, you said all your friends died, and how can you possibly prevent their deaths it's a war!" suddenly Naruto slammed against the bars of the cell, his hands crushing the bars. Naruto's eyes full of a killing intent.
"I could have prevented the whole war! If only I wasn't so naïve! If I wasn't as stupid as a child! I could have stopped my friend from destroying himself, I could have killed the Akatsuki, I could have saved Neji's father, I could have stopped Itachi from killing everyone in his clan!" at this point tears were falling off the hollows cheeks, "I was weak! I couldn't keep my promises! I now I pay for it, and I will pay for it entirely!"
Ichigo sensed an evil spiritual energy surrounded the child. Ichigo pitied the boy, who was blaming himself for everything. Kurosaki wondered if he had ever acted like this.
"You were a kid, how were you supposed to do anything?" Ichigo asked the boy calmly, Naruto smirked darkly. "It's not like it was all up to you from the very beginning." Naruto chuckled; his laugh was twisted, and sounded very strange.
"Oh, Ichigo." A very deep said, it was definitely not Naruto's own, "You have no idea!" the boy was grinning ear to ear, "The day I was born, I had a sealed fate. I was the only one who would save the world! I would lose everything because that was my fate!" he looked at his hand as a dark energy swirled in it. Ichigo placed his hand on the hilt of his sword ready to defend himself. "And now I have power…but it is too late to do anything." The energy vanished. After a few minutes of silence, Kurosaki opened his mouth.
"What happened to all your friends? I know they died…but how?" Ichigo asked curiously. Naruto looked up to Ichigo with dark eyes; with a sad smile, he shook his head. He reached between the bars only to have his chains stop him. He motioned for Ichigo to come closer.
"It is something I can't tell…I have to show." Naruto reached out, "I won't hurt you…I just need you to come closer." Ichigo moved up to the bars, and Naruto lightly touched his head, "I will show you my memories…but be aware my memories are very dark." There was a flash, and then Ichigo and Naruto were standing in the field.
"Where are we?" Ichigo asked, Naruto didn't say anything but instead a blonde-haired boy ran through the field, and girl with pink hair followed.
XXXX
"Sai! Sai!" the boy yelled. He was covered in blood and it was raining outside with occasional lightening and thunder. The girl didn't look any better than Naruto. Suddenly a body significantly different than the others came into view. "SAI!" the boy yelled and with a final leap landed next to the pale teen. He was coughing out some blood, "Come on I brought Sakura, you'll be ok." He tried to reassure the teen.
"Naruto hand him over to me!" Naruto gave Sakura the battered body of Sai. "He suffers from internal bleeding and has his lungs pierced. Chances of survival are slim." She analyzed the body quickly.
"N-naruto…S-sak-kura?" Sai said, his eyes halfway open. He coughed up some blood, "W-hat are you d-doing?" he tried to speak, his breathing irregular, blood seeping from his wounds.
"Be quiet, you're going to make you wounds worse!" Naruto told his friend, Sai looked at the blonde with sad eyes, "Sakura can't you hurry!"
"Naruto, I'm trying!" Sakura was using her healing jutsu on the teen, Sai just sighed.
"Don't worry Sai, Sakura will save you!" Naruto sounded stressed. His hands trembling while he gripped Sai's hand.
"D-dick-head, I don't-t believe in that bull-shit." Sai said, Naruto's eyes widened, "I am going t-to die…my injuries are too severe…"he hacked out more blood. Naruto shook his head.
"You will survive!" Naruto yelled, and Sai smiled a genuine smile.
"I-I am just glad I could have such c-caring friends…I finally was able to smile for real N-naruto…" Sai took in a deep breath coughing a bit. "M-my only regret…is not being able to s-see y-you s-smil-le o-one m-more time…"
"No bastard! Don't die on me!" Naruto yelled at Sai, the teen still smiling.
"I-I'll s-see y-you a-again N-naruto…sayonara…" Sai took his last breath and his eyes glazed over. Sai died with a smile on his face. Naruto couldn't believe it.
"Wake up…wake up! Sai!" Naruto shook his dead friend. Sakura grabbed Naruto's arm.
"Naruto…it's too late…he's already gone…" Sakura whispered tears in her eyes. Naruto let go of his friend, and closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry…I couldn't let you see me smile one more time…"
XXXX
Sakura was fighting of the enemy, with her strong punches, and a boy dressed up in green completely, helping fend off the enemy, "Damn they just keep on coming!" Sakura yelled. Not knowing that one of the enemies he punched was still alive. Naruto was trying to find Sakura, once he saw her he saw the enemy get up getting ready to finish her off.
"Sakura!" Naruto yelled trying to get her attention. Trying to run to help her, he was stopped by three of the Zetsu clones. He tried to get through them but they didn't let him. He quickly killed the Zetsu clones, to find he was too late. The enemy was going to run her through with a blade. "Saku-" his eyes widened when he saw the boy dressed in green took the blow for her. Sakura turned around to see the boy with the bowl cut stabbed through the heart.
"L-Lee?" Sakura trembled a little. The boy with the bowl cut smiled. She watched as the boy kept fighting. Even with a blade through his heart. He defended her from all the Zetsu clones. He released his inner gates, taking out all of the enemies around.
"Eighth gate open!" Lee yelled, as a tremendous power released. With five quick movements, all the enemies around them fell to the ground dead. Lee then crumpled to the ground. Sakura ran over to him.
"Why the hell did you do that!" Sakura yelled, Naruto ran over. Several other allies surrounded Lee as well, "Why the hell did you save me?" she asked anger in her voice. Lee smiled at her.
"Sakura-san…you are too beautiful to die." Lee stated simply, "I may just be a blind fool but I couldn't let you die…no not you."
"I never loved you and yet you still save me?" Sakura held the green beast in her arms. Lee chuckled, "Why?" she asked him again.
"Sakura-san will always be the one I love…no matter…what…" he coughed a little. Gai, his sensei ran over to them. He dropped to his knees next to Lee. "Sensei…I want to thank you…"
"Lee! You cannot die!" Gai commanded, "You can't…" He felt Lee grab his arm.
"Sensei…please live on…" Lee's hand dropped to his side, and his eyes slid closed. Sakura then moved his hair from his forehead, and tenderly kissed him there.
"That's for being my hero." She began to cry.
XXXX
Naruto found Neji dying on the ground, next to his dead cousin Hinata. He silently lay next to the girl, his eyes blank and remorseful. "Neji…" Naruto went to check the Hyuuga girl to see if she was dead. Neji watched Naruto with his eyes.
"She's dead…" Neji stated, Naruto confirmed what Neji said. "She died…protecting me." He sounded lost. Neji was bleeding heavily from his side, "I won't make it either…" Neji sighed, "I lost too much blood." He explained his state.
"I wish I could have…" Naruto saw Neji lift up his hand.
"Hold your tongue. You couldn't have if you wanted to." Neji said sharply, "I have already accepted this…but the question is will you?" he asked, Naruto didn't know what he was saying. He hated metaphors.
"I'm sorry." Naruto said, tears falling from his eyes, "I never wanted this to happen…" the blond stated with a tired expression. Neji closed his eyes. Naruto got worried and rushed over to his side, "…Neji?" Naruto received a light hit on his head, he became confused.
"Idiot, no one wanted this to happen." Neji smirked, he lowered his hand from the blondes head, "You know…Hinata loved you…so very much." Naruto looked at the body of the dead Hyuuga, and smiled sadly. "I never understood why when I was younger…but now…when I am dying I realize why." His smirk was replaced by a smile, "You maybe a dense, foolish, compulsive, and one of the most stupid ninja I have ever met." Naruto frowned at this, "…but you have the nicest most passionate and forgiving soul I have ever met…"
"Neji…" Naruto felt guilt rising in his self. He remembered hating Neji and thinking him as the most arrogant person he met. He regretted thinking that.
"You taught me that fate didn't exist…you taught me I wasn't already at the end of a road…and I thank you for that." Neji laughed, and Naruto saw the Hyuuga crying. "I only wish I had learned what you taught me earlier in life. Maybe I wouldn't have turned to be such a damn fool myself."
"Neji you are not a fool." Naruto placed his hand on the Hyuuga's shoulder. Neji smiled brightly before he closed his eyes. More tears falling from Neji.
"I am a lucky bastard…aren't I Hinata?" Neji looked to his cousins dead body, he laughed again, "I am happy that I got to live a life fully…and even through my darkest times, I have no regrets. For I learned valuable things…from even the most…foolish people." His chest started to rise and fall less and less, "But in the end…I was the…fool…" Neji stopped breathing. What was strange was that both the Hyuuga died with smiles on their faces.
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Sakura and Naruto had come upon Shikamaru. Who was mourning the last two members of his team, Ino and Chouji. Naruto watched as Sakura ran over to her best friend and rival. Naruto walked over to Shikamaru, who sat next to his best friend Chouji. He smiled sadly at Chouji, "I guess it's time to say goodbye…Chouji…Ino." Shikamaru looked at the two.
"Hey, don't m-make me hurt you…lazy ass." Ino said playfully, "I'm not dead yet." She grinned. Shikamaru smiled at the girl. Ino was missing her left arm and she was slowly bleeding to death.
"Yeah, Shikamaru…I'm not dead yet either." Chouji repeated to his friend. Sakura sat next to Ino and wrapped her hand in Ino's. Ino squeezed Sakura's hand as tightly as she could.
"Ino…" Sakura felt tears forming in her eyes, "I-I." Ino glared at the pink-haired kunoichi.
"Ah, save me the tears…" Ino laughed a bit, "I know you are stronger than that…" she tried to comfort her oldest friend, "Wouldn't want it to ruin your pretty face." She smiled weakly. Sakura gave Ino a big hug, but Ino didn't' have the strength to return it.
"You will always be my best friend!" Sakura sobbed holding her friend. Ino chuckled softly.
"I guess in the end you got Sasuke, huh?" she said, but Sakura didn't let go, "You next time I won't go so easy on you." Sakura placed Ino back on the ground.
"Next time eh…" Sakura gave the blonde girl a sad smile.
"Come on Sakura!" Ino yelled as loud as she could, "Let me see your dazzling smile one more time…" Sakura smiled tears coming down her face. Ino then closed her eyes, "That's more like it…" Ino then looked to Chouji, "I'll see you later." She winked, and blew a small kiss to Chouji. He smiled, and then Ino looked to the sky, "I'll see you…" she passed on. Sakura sobbed loudly.
"So in the end Ino loved you…" Shikamaru said to Chouji with a smile, "That's just like her…hiding her feelings until the end." Shikamaru felt the sting of tears.
"Come on Shikamaru…not you too…" Chouji laughed a bit, "We don't need Sakura and you crying." Shikamaru laughed a little as well. Chouji's wounds consisted of many deep gashes, too many, his body beyond repair.
"I guess not…" Shikamaru rubbed away the tears from his face.
"Ino and I will be seeing Asuma-sensei." Shikamaru looked at his friend and nodded.
"That you will do…" Shikamaru confirmed.
"Now you have to find yourself a nice girl…can't let a fat-ass beat you."
"I will…"Shikamaru knew that Chouji was going to pass on soon, "Just tell one thing to Asuma-sensei…tell him I know who the king is…and I will protect the king." Shikamaru said.
"Ok…I will tell Asuma-sensei…sayonara my friend…" Chouji's head rolled to the side and Shikamaru let a few tears fall. Sakura was still grieving for her friend.
XXXX
In a medical tent, Naruto sat next to his two Sensei, Iruka and Kakashi. Both in critical condition. Kakashi had been impaled through the chest. Iruka was found missing a leg, now bleeding to death. Naruto had just found out. "Kakashi-sensei, Iruka-sensei…I didn't ever want to see this happen…" Kakashi and Iruka turned to look at their student.
"Well hopefully not…"Kakashi said with a little humor only to grip his chest painfully, coughing. Naruto put his head in his hands, "Naruto…"
"I'm sorry." He whispered; fresh hot tears rolled down his flushed cheeks. Kakashi and Iruka watched the boy with sad eyes.
"Naruto…you can't blame yourself…" Iruka told him with a weak voice, "Don't make me have to raise my voice…" he said.
"But-" Naruto was about to argue but Kakashi sat up causing him to cough out some blood as hold his chest, grimacing in pain. "Kakashi! Don't do that!" Naruto tried to lay Kakashi back down on the bed, but he grabbed his arm.
"Minato-sensei would be proud of you Naruto…your father would be proud of you…" Kakashi painfully said. Naruto's eyes widened, "I'm proud of you…I am glad that I was your sensei."
"Kakashi...Oji-san…"Naruto felt Kakashi becoming very weak. He pulled the silver-haired man into a hug, "I am glad you were my sensei!" He cried. Kakashi weakly hugged back and Naruto carefully placed the older man back on the bed. He turned to Iruka and hugged him as well.
"I am so proud of you…I really am." Iruka held the sobbing teen. "Even from the beginning I was proud, and now…even at the end I still am…"
"Tou-san…" Naruto sobbed. He let Iruka go, and not being able to bear seeing another one of his precious people die. "I'm sorry but I can't stay here…" he left the room crying his heart out.
"He is a good kid…I guess I'll have to tell Minato…"Kakashi smiled.
"I'll miss that trouble maker…" Iruka added. Both his teachers agreed.
XXXX
It was three days after the war, and the world was at strange peace.
Tsunade requested that Naruto, Shikamaru, and Sakura visit her. Naruto had no idea why, but it had to be important. As the three walked into the Hokage's office, he saw Gaara standing in the office with Temari. Kankuro was not with them, "Gaara…is your," Naruto saw Temari give him a glare, but Naruto understood what had happened.
"Naruto I'm glad you came." Tsunade said she was facing the window leaning back in the chair. Her desk was clear, which was odd for the Hokage. "This is a very important matter…"
"May I ask why the Kazekage is here?" Sakura watched the two sand siblings. Tsunade sighed.
"I thought friends of Naruto should be here…it is a very special day…" Tsunade added with a rather soft voice. Naruto was concerned why she was acting so different. Shikamaru's eyes widened, before he looked at the ground with sad eyes.
"What's going on? Baa-chan?" Naruto asked the old woman, Tsunade didn't say anything. She was very hesitant.
"This war has had a very large toll to this village…as well as the other villages." Tsunade became oddly quiet, "And…we lost many good people."
"Just tell me what the hell is going on!" Naruto yelled, the blonde was trying to get a response from her, but she didn't even twitch.
"Congratulations Naruto. You have been elected to be the next Hokage." Tsunade announced. Naruto gasped slitely, he smiled, but then vanished. Sakura then realized what was going on; she covered her mouth with her hand and turned away from the scene.
"Why?" Naruto asked the fifty-year old, "Why am I becoming the next Hokage?" Tsunade was silent, "Your hiding something." Naruto finally caught on.
"Naruto…" Tsunade started, "I'm dying." She said. Naruto's heart stopped.
"Baa-chan…" Naruto shook his head, "Not you too!" he yelled.
"The jutsu I created is starting to have a toll on me…"
"Can't Sakura or Shizune…"
"Shizune is dead."
"You can't!" Naruto grabbed the woman's arm and turned her around. He was shocked to see she was very old looking, and instead of her usual soft skin, very wrinkly and unfamiliar oldness, "Baa-chan…" Gaara grabbed Naruto's arm.
"It is my time." Tsunade said closing her eyes, Naruto enveloped the old woman into a hug. Tsunade gave Naruto a bone crushing hug, but Naruto didn't mind. Sakura also joined in and hugged the woman. Gaara stepped back, Temari watched with down cast expression. Shikamaru decided to comfort Temari, and laid a hand on her shoulder. She looked at him with a small smile. "Sakura remember you have to keep this idiot in line when I am gone." Tsunade said the three of them parted from the hug. "I'll have my hands full dealing with Jiraiya…" she closed her eyes.
"That you will…" Naruto laughed, rubbing away the tears from his face.
"Now Naruto…you lead this village in greatness…" Tsunade smiled, "That's an order."
"I promise." Naruto closed his eyes.
XXXX
Five years later Naruto found himself sitting next to Kiba, who lay dying in the hospital. Sakura who was now deemed the best of medical jutsu's couldn't find anything wrong with him. Kiba had never been the same after Akamaru died in the war. Naruto sat next to his once rival who had retired from being a ninja around the time the war ended. Naruto knew that Kiba couldn't move forward from the day Akamaru died. Sakura stated he had lost the will to live. Life support was the only thing keeping Kiba alive. "Heh, guess I lost all my spirit." Kiba had a sad grin. "I guess I found myself missing the old days."
"I wish things were different Kiba." Naruto sighed, leaning forward in the chair next to the bed Kiba was resting in. "I am truly sorry…part of me wants to tell you to move on…but I know what it's like to lose something important." Naruto unconsciously grabbed the pendant with all of the names of his friends he lost.
"Naruto…" Kiba growled, "Don't follow my example, if you do I will kick your ass!" the Inuzuka warned him with a smirk, "And you know I would could take you!" he joked lightly. His smile faded, "But…I can't move on…I lost my best friend that day…I felt like I died that day…" Kiba sighed, "But unlike Ten-Ten I actually am here." Naruto remembered that Ten-Ten had lived through the war, but losing her squad traumatized her. One day her parents checked on her at the hospital she didn't talk, move, just breathed. She was there, but she was not at the same time. Ten-Ten now was a living doll, just sitting in the hospital. Only last year did her parents finally decide to have her killed from lethal injection.
"Kiba do you really want to…" Naruto began to ask.
"Yes, I want to die." Kiba answered, "I don't want to suffer any longer…I have no reason to be here." Kiba closed his eyes, "I want see my friend again. I have been waiting for years to see him." Kiba looked at Naruto with bleary eyes, "Please don't make me suffer any longer." Sakura walked into the room, eyes sullen.
"I understand." Naruto said, giving a sad look to Sakura. She nodded her head and walked over to the life support. "I'll miss you Kiba. Sayonara." Sakura pulled the plug and Kiba smiled.
"Thank you…" his eyes closed, and Kiba was gone.
XXXX
Eleven years after the war.
Sasuke was walking with Naruto. Today was Naruto's birthday and there was a festival held on Naruto's behalf each year. Sasuke wanted to spend the day with his friend. For some reason Sasuke was strangely nice to Naruto today. Naruto saw that Sasuke was wearing his ring today, which he rarely did much to Sakura's distaste. Sakura was the only one that loved Sasuke after the war, he was considered the traitor. It was ironic how Sasuke and Naruto switched places over the years. Naruto the hero, while Sasuke the hated one. It saddened Naruto that the people didn't accept him back. While Naruto had always admired Sakura, he was never the one she loved. He was happy for the two, but sad that he had no one to love for himself his love died long ago. Naruto was trying to enjoy his birthday, but he was concerned on why the Uchia was acting so strange. "What is up with you today Sasuke?" Naruto finally asked. Sasuke glanced at him before looking away.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Sasuke said giving him a 'Sai' smile, Naruto frowned. The Uchia was hiding something from him, "It's a nice night isn't it?" he tried to change the subject, but Naruto wasn't buying it. "I wonder how Kakashi, Obito, Itachi and Ino are doing?" he asked. Naruto remember Sasuke's and Sakura's four children, one named after Sasuke's brother. The only girl named after Sakura's best friend. They had named the two middle children after Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke's cousin. Strangely enough, they all held the personalities of each person they were named after. Naruto thought after Sasuke and Sakura's first child it would be enough, but apparently not. Sasuke got along with the children so well, it was surprising. Naruto snapped out of his daze.
"Tell me what's wrong?" Naruto asked again, but Sasuke ignored him. In fact, the Uchia was trying to lose him in the crowds. Naruto persistently waded through them. He then reached the Uchia and grabbed his arm. "Sasuke don't-" Naruto saw his friend fall to his knees. "Sasuke!" he yelled people from the crowd moved away, gasping, "Some one get a doctor!" Naruto yelled, a couple of people ran listening to the Hokage's orders. Sasuke was coughing up lots of blood and he gripped his left shoulder. "Sasuke what's wrong?" Naruto got down to Sasuke's level, placing a hand gingerly on his right shoulder.
"I was trying to get out of the crowd…before this happened." Sasuke said coughing. Naruto saw that the curse mark was acting strange. "Damn Oorochimaru…" he smirked darkly.
"You mean…you knew this would happen and you didn't tell me?" Naruto asked, Sasuke didn't respond, "Why? Sakura could have helped you!" Naruto yelled. Sasuke gave him a cold look.
"Dobe…you and Sakura have worried over me too much…I didn't want you to-" Sasuke heaved over and coughed out more blood.
"Teme." Naruto said quietly, "That's because we care about you. Friends care for each other no matter what." Naruto squeezed his friends shoulder.
"You and Sakura consider me a friend after all I did to you? I tried to kill you several times, I left you, I-" Naruto stopped him flicking him lightly in the forehead.
"You tried to kill us, but never did." Naruto eyed the Uchia with an intense stare, "You left us behind, but you came back." Sasuke's eyes widened. "You see Sasuke, you may have left us for a while…but friends never let go…friends stick together." Naruto smiled, "Too the end." Tears leaked from the blondes eyes, as he latched pinkies with the Uchia. Sasuke trembled a little before tears came down his own face.
"Dobe. I guess in the end…you were the strongest." Blood seeped out from the Uchia's lips. Sakura ran over to her husband.
"Sasuke!" she yelled, looking at his state, she was crying, "You knew all along! Then why didn't you tell me?" she glared, tears raining from her. Her children trailed behind her.
"Father." Kakashi Uchia looked at his dad with a sullen look. He was holding baby Ino, in his arms, "Why?" the eight-year old asked him.
"Nii-san, why is Tou-san crying?" Itachi, the four-year old, asked gripping his older brother's, Obito, arm. Obito looked to Kakashi for any help, but Kakashi didn't say anything.
"Tou-san is just preparing for a long nap." Obito answered with a heavy heart. Itachi nodded, and Naruto sighed.
"You idiot…if you only told us…" Sakura sobbed.
"You wouldn't be able to do anything…" Sasuke whispered. Obito ran and gave his father a hug. Sasuke then saw Itachi do the same. Kakashi watched from the sidelines painfully. Sakura joined in the hug. Kakashi being the oldest and most distant from anything touchy-feely, or showing emotion started to cry. He ran to his father, Ino in his arms, and hugged him. Sasuke felt his own tears show. Naruto stepped away from the family, and watched his best friend die.
"I'm going to miss you dad!" Kakashi cried out, tears gushing out.
"Me too!" Obito said.
"Sleep tight daddy." Itachi said. Hearing this truly broke Naruto's heart.
"I love you, more than you know Sasuke." Sakura said in her husband's ear her heart broken.
"I will miss you all as well." Sasuke said to his family, placing a small kiss on each of his son's and daughter's forehead. He turned to Sakura and kissed her lightly on her lips with a sad smile. He turned around to Naruto.
"I'll see you later…right dobe?" Sasuke asked.
"I promise." Sasuke sat back on his knees and looked up to the starry sky, and closed his eyes.
"Thank you…for a second chance…" he then let go of his last breath.
"Sleep tight daddy." Itachi said again.
XXXX
Fourteen years after the war. The day the war was officially proclaimed over.
Naruto had almost died from an attempted assassination. The first he has ever had, and the only one he would ever have. He sat in his chair in the Hokage's office stunned. What he had just witnessed in his office was like a nightmare. Sakura standing in front of his desk, her blood splattered onto his face, and a sword through her heart. Her eyes were strangely calm. Naruto's eyes were the size of saucers. Sakura looked at Naruto with a serious face, "Hokage-sama…I'm glad your ok." She said. Naruto didn't even know what happened, bewildered. "We saved you in time…" she whispered before clasping on his desk, blood turning all his paper red. Her eyes wide open, and her mouth slightly ajar. He saw the assassin behind Sakura with kunai through his neck. Shikamaru was standing inside the broken glass window. He had a gaping hole through his abdomen, he was panting.
"Naruto…thank god…" Shikamaru fell to the ground weak due to blood loss, "We didn't think we could make it…" Naruto finally out of his shock ran over to the suffering Shikamaru. "Don't even try to save me. I'm done for." Shikamaru announced. "I'm sorry…about Sakura."
"How? Was there anyone else…" Naruto asked Shikamaru.
"Shino…didn't make it…Temari…she…" Shikamaru grew silent. Naruto understood. Shikamaru and Temari had been married for about five years now. They were expecting a child, but now, everything was gone. "We knew about the assassin for several days…because Temari told us that an assassin was coming from Suna…the same assassin that killed Gaara." Naruto's eyes fell.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Naruto asked.
"We didn't know what he looked like, or who he was working for…" Shikamaru told him. The pineapple head grimaced in pain. Naruto was witnessing the last of all his precious people die.
"I guess I'm saying goodbye to my last friend from childhood…" Naruto tried in a weak attempt to smile. "When you get up there…would you mind saying hi to everyone for me…" naruto asked, "Tell them all that I miss them." Shikamaru nodded.
"That I can do Naruto…" Shikamaru smiled and leaned back resting his head on the floor, "Just one more request." Naruto nodded, Shikamaru's eyes closed, "Please for my, Kurenai's, and Asuma's sake…watch over the kid." He grinned. Naruto remembered that Kurenai died during childbirth and that was the same week Gai died. He was killed during a mission, but Naruto knew that he let himself be killed.
"That I will do…see you later Shikamaru." Naruto said, but Shikamaru was already dead. There was a poof of smoke in the room three ANBU ninja ran over to him.
"Are you alright Hokage-sama?" A youthful voice asked.
"Konahamaru…Moegi…Udon…they're all dead…" Naruto's eyes had no emotion, they lost their luster.
"Nii-chan…" Konahamaru reached out to touch Naruto, but Naruto turned around swiftly and he had a smile on his face.
"Don't worry…I'm ok." He walked past the trio, "Now I'm quite busy, I have a funeral to plan…"
XXXX
Ichigo was shaking when he opened his eyes to the real world. He looked at his hoping he was in the real world, his hands trembled uncontrollably. Naruto withdrew his arm and crawled back in the shadows, "Those were my memories. Do not be fooled…now if your curiosity is satisfied…leave me be to my own misery…" Naruto said, chains clanking against the concrete that surrounded the poor boy. Ichigo heart was still hammering against his chest. He was feeling haunted by the memories of Naruto. He left the hollow and desperately wanted to see the sun, feel the freshness of air. He ran to the elevator. Once he reached the outside, he let out a deep breath. He knew he wouldn't sleep much tonight.
XXXX
End of the depressing chapter. I felt it was necessary to explain how everyone died, so you know what Naruto came from. Reading the manga Naruto, I get the vibe that things aren't going end well. If you ever read 666 Satan, (Masashi Kishimoto's brother wrote it), Seishi Kishimoto said they have similar writing and drawing style. 666 Satan's ending not a happy conclusion. Besides that, I think Naruto needs to bring out more dark qualities.
I don't like writing romance because people are excessively picky on who should be with whom. This is the only time pairings will show up (I think). I will not be adding in any romance into the story. Er, sorry if you were expecting that. I know some pairings were strange, like Choji and Ino, but I thought it would add more drama to the story.
The Sasuke and Sakura pairing, I know most people dread. The reason why I choose it was because Sakura was the only girl who still loved him after all the crap he did. I would call that commitment…or desperation.
I only named Sasuke's and Sakura's kids after previous characters is because I didn't know what else to name them. Of course, you can give a character a random name, but it doesn't quite fit.
I also wonder who had the most depressing death. My brother said Sasuke's was the worst, only because children were involved. I though Neji's and Sai's were sad. Overall, everyone's deaths were horrible. I love writing tragedies though…don't ask why.
Don't think the flash backs won't end after this! They will continue. Didn't I would explain the entire life of Naruto in the Soul Society all at the beginning?
R&R!
Ok, this is where I have to type the rest of the story. I wrote the first four chapters to see if I could actually work with the plot. Now that I have published those chapters, I must type. The more reviews the more time I will work on this story. (I have a life…even if you don't believe me, I do).