Do I Have A Purpose Anymore?
Chapter 6: A Cry for Help is Heard
Naruto skidded to a halt, as he heard a voice seemingly whispering in his mind. His feet dug into the ground and kicked up a large cloud of dust causing Nel to cough, as he looked to the left and right.
"Naru-kun (cough) why did we (cough) stop?"
He looked around rapidly, as the dust began to clear. Something was present, but he could not see it only sense it.
'Do you feel that?' Naruto internally asked his tenant.
"Hmm? I feel nothing, you must be paranoid kit. Perhaps we should find an inn, so you can rest yourself fully."
Naruto shook his head, drawing a confused look from Nel as he did so, while silently declaring.
'I don't need sleep. I'm wide awake, and someone or something is present with us.'
"I sense no one."
Naruto was beginning to grow frustrated, as he could not find this strange presence that seemed to be observing him, and that he alone was aware of.
'Well I do! Now shut up so I can concentrate on finding it!'
The demon lord snorted in contempt before he grumbled his agreement.
"Very well, I shall be silent for now."
Free of any more voices in his head, the rogue nin closed his eyes and stood stone still for a moment. As Naruto concentrated, his adoptive daughter's voice began to fade into the background, as he looked about for anything out of the ordinary, not with his eyes or ears, but with his spirit. Naruto felt...something, but it was a ways off and not moving. Was it a threat? He could not be sure. But someone or something was there.
'Who goes there?' The blonde Jinchuuriki shouted in his mind.
Unfortunately, the only answer he received was nothing. This was growing tiresome and with a sigh, Naruto reverted himself back into normal vision and opened his eyes to find Nel still perched on his shoulder peering down at him, her hazel-colored eyes filled with both curiosity and concern.
"Naru-kun, are you okay?"
Naruto gave a rueful smile, as he reached up to ruffle Nel's green hair causing her to giggle.
"I'm fine Nel-Tu, I was just looking for someone."
The little Arrancar frowned at Naruto's forlorn look before leaning over and giving him a small kiss on the forehead like any good daughter would do and asked.
"Is Naru-kun lonely, does he need a wife-chan?"
Naruto nearly stumbled to the ground and blushed at his surrogate daughter's question, as he exclaimed with exasperation.
"Nel-Tu, I can't just grab a wife-chan out of the blue."
"Why not?" Was little Nel's inquisitive response.
Naruto grumbled under his breath, as a tick mark appeared on his head. Already annoyed by not being able to locate that mysterious presence he felt, Naruto accidently shouted at Nel in a fierce snarl of a voice, as he reached for his mask.
"Because that's not the way things work!"
Nel sniffled and tears began to form in her eyes causing his hand to halt.
"N-Nel didn't mean to make N-Naru-kun angry."
He mentally smacked himself across the face.
'You stupid baka! Stupid, stupid, STUPID! Now look what you did!'
Desperate not to make her cry, Naruto did the only think he could possibly think of, as it looked like the invisible dam that held her tears back was about to burst wide open any moment now.
So he changed the mood by reaching up to grab her and in an instant he had gotten her under the arms causing her sniffles to stop, as she wondered what he was about to do. Naruto gave Nel a wicked grin, as he did so she stuck out her tongue in response setting the stage for what he had planned.
"C'MERE YOU!" Naruto cackled, and then he was mercilessly tickling her causing the little Arrancar to squeal with laughter, as she howled with merriment.
"NARU-KUN! THAT TICKLES!"
"EXACTLY! BWHAHAHA!"
After two minutes of the torture, Naruto decided that Nel had enough and stopped his tickle attack leaving her laughter to slowly fade away, as she gasped for air. Taking a moment to catch his own breath he wondered what it was that had brought this all about in the first place. Then it hit him, like a boot to the face from Rock Lee.
Suddenly, out of nowhere he got a flashback or to be more precise, flashbacks. Blurred images and memories, as they roared through his head at warp speed.
(Memory Flashback #1)
"I'm, I'm sorry Naruto-kun, I can no longer be with you."
"What are you talking about Hinata-chan?"
"My, my father has put me into an arranged marriage; I will be getting married next week."
"Ma-married, what do you mean, with...with who?"
Hinata finally forced herself to gaze up and see the look of pain etched on Naruto's face. She reached up to touch his cheek and with tears in her eyes softly said.
"With Kiba-san."
"Kiba,….but you don't love Kiba, you love me."
"It, it doesn't matter who I love Naruto-kun."
"What do you mean it doesn't matter, of course it matters!"
"N-no, it doesn't, because next week I will be getting married to Kiba and nothing can change that."
"Of course we can change that Hinata-chan. We'll go to baa-chan Tsunade for help or we can just runaway together. But you don't have to get married to Kiba, especially when you don't love him. You don't have to do this, you love me and I love you."
Naruto looked down and saw the pained sadness on Hinata's face, before leapt into his arms and he had held her so tight, afraid to let her go, as she wept into his chest and in a choked voice said.
"I'm, I'm sorry, but Lady Tsunade can't do anything and I have to marry Kiba, I have no choice."
"You do have a choice! Why don't you stand up to father and tell him no!"
"Be-because I can't."
"WHY!" Naruto shouted in frustration with tears rolling down his cheeks, before pushing Hinata away from him.
"I'm sorry Naru-kun, I can't tell you why? I want to say no to this marriage, but I can't refuse my father on this matter."
"You mean you won't refuse your father as always." Naruto spat with disgust.
"Please believe me Naru-kun; I do love you with all of my heart and soul." Hinata exclaimed in desperation.
"Yeah, you love me, but just not enough to refuse your father or your clan of getting married to someone else. Goodbye Hina-chan, I hope you will have a happy life." Naruto bitterly declared before he turned around and walked away leaving Hinata weeping uncontrollably on the ground.
(End of Flashback #1)
Naruto remembered the feelings of grief that had overwhelmed him, the pain, the loss, so much to bear, too much to remember, as he saw other images flash through his head.
(Memory Flashback #2)
"I love you Ino-chan! I'm sorry I wasn't able to say those words to you six months ago when you uttered them to me. I was too scared and wrapped up in the pain of what had happened with Hinata. But you asked me to give you a chance and I'm so glad I did. Being with you has saved me from the pain and despair I thought would never go away. I know this seems sudden, but you were right Ino-chan, you are the one that I can love. And I do love you, Ino-chan."
Naruto then leaned over and gently placed his soft lips against hers.
This was difficult for Ino to resist; she liked how his lips felt when it touched hers, the way it lit a fire in her soul. But she couldn't do this; she couldn't, no matter how much she enjoyed it.
"Naruto." Ino coughed out in a choked voice while breaking off the kiss.
"I'm, I'm not in love with you anymore!" She cried out, tears running down her face.
Naruto stood rigid and motionless looking at her, the hurt in evident in his voice as he found the words.
"Wh-what do you mean you don't love me anymore? You, you told me you loved me! Did, did I do something Ino-chan? Please tell me what it is and I can fix it!"
"You didn't do anything Naruto-kun. I'm, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you Naruto-kun, I still love you as a friend, but it can never be more than that.
"Why Ino-chan, please tell me why?"
"I'm in love with someone else!" Ino exclaimed, more in an attempt to convince herself rather than the now broken boy standing before her.
At that moment Shikamaru stepped out from the shadows of the trees and sheepishly walked over to stand next to the weeping kunoichi. Naruto glanced back and forth between his friend who couldn't look him in the eye and his now blonde ex-girlfriend before reaching down and placing her hand into the Nara boy's hand.
Ino was in taken aback when Naruto did this and she looked up and gasped in shock at the visage Naruto now bore upon his face. Ino gazed at Naruto and noticed a brief flicker of pain flash through his eyes, before he dropped the engagement ring onto the ground and was walking away into the night in silence.
(End of Flashback)
Then another image flashed across his mind, one of Sakura rushing past him towards Sasuke to attend to his injuries when he had brought the Uchiha back and fulfilled his promise to the girl.
'What pathetic bullshit!' A voice rang out inside his head, but not that of the Kyuubi. This voice was dripping with venom, and disdain, as Naruto suddenly found himself standing on a white plain. All around him were images of his time with Sakura, Hinata, and Ino flying everywhere, as if he were caught in the middle of this storm of his past
'Who are you?' Naruto asked, as more images of his past roared through his head.
In response a dark silhouette appeared indistinguishable at the moment, but with a dark, ominous, and deadly aura to it.
'I never thought sifting through your head would be such a chore. You really are an idiot at times, as your women did a number on you.'
Naruto frowned as he clenched his hands into fists, all the while receiving images, all of them mistakes that he had made in his past.
'Whatever you are, why are you making me relive this?'
An image of him letting Ino go and putting Shikamaru's hand in hers, while walking away without a word.
Screaming his fury at Sakura, before he finally snapped and went rogue.
Standing outside of the temple at Hinata's wedding, unable to object or stop the proceedings, but wanting so very badly to do so. Catching a fleeting glimpse through the window of Hinata and she of him and how her pale eyes had looked deep into his, the sadness evident within them before she turned her gaze away from his.
Grief overcame Naruto, as he placed his hands over his ears, while the voice droned on in his head.
'I truly am disappointed.'
The figure then began to take shape and Naruto nearly fell backward in shock, as it was revealed to be that of Momouchi Zabuza himself. But something was different about him. Gone was his usual outfit and harsh attitude. Now, he just seemed disappointed and sad, while as for his outfit it consisted of what appeared to be a...black kimono?
'Are you the one who's been talking to me?'
Zabuza snorted, and the sneer could be seen through the wrappings he wore over the lower half of his face.
'Oh look, we have a winner!
'Why are you doing this to me?' Naruto pleadingly asked.
Zabuza pointed his free hand at him, one finger jabbing the rogue nin in the chest.
'I let you take this weapon for your own because I remembered your will of fire from years ago when you battled me and Haku. I thought you would prove to a better master of it than I ever was. But if these little memories of your women playing you for the fool are too much for you to handle, then perhaps I may have overestimated you.'
Naruto's head snapped up, revealing him glaring furiously at the dead nin, and Zabuza could feel the massive killer intent directed towards him. The blonde Jinchuuriki's voice was laced with hate, sadness, determination, and so much more.
'I may have made some mistakes with the women I've chosen to love, some really STUPID mistakes, but I've put that behind me. Right now, I have a friend who needs my help and I won't be done in by some old rotting corpse of a ninja!'
The next words of the infamous Demon of the Mist threw Naruto off balance despite his iron determination.
'I'm not an old rotting corpse of a ninja; I'm the soul or spirit of that ninja. I only exist within the confines of my zanpaktou, which you now wield. Because you now hold my blade I'm able to link up with your mind alone. That's why your furry tenant and no one else in the living world can sense me.'
'Then what do you want of me?'
'What I want is to see my blade reach its full potential in power and I think you might have what it takes, to unlock that TRUE capabilities of my blade. You certainly show more promise in doing that than I ever did when I was alive.'
A second later, the blade appeared in the hand of Naruto, who spun it about and sheathed it into the strap on his back.
'Why did you contact me like this and why the torture session of those memories?'
'Because I can only contact you once before I fade away to another plane of existence. As for the memories you suffered, I needed to know if you would be mentally and emotionally strong enough to handle what is to come. To be honest, I'm still not fully convinced that you are, but I have little choice now, take this.'
Zabuza handed him a piece of parchment, the tan paper old and worn with age and yet somehow, it still miraculously held itself together. Gently unfolding the parchment Naruto saw it was a series of land markings and paths written out on it.
It was a...map, confused he looked up at Zabuza who began to fade away, as if beckoned by some unseen cue.
'Oi! What's with the map?'
'Listen well. Follow that map. It will lead you to an old hideaway of mine. When last I checked, it was still in pretty decent condition. You will meet a man there. Show him that blade and he will let you pass. From there on you will start your journey to unlock the power of your zanpaktou. A power you will need for your upcoming battles if you wish to save your friend.'
Zabuza was still fading away, as was the white plane upon which the two of them had stood. He was nearly gone now and he wasn't saying anything else. Futilely, Naruto reached out for him, but his hand passed right through the apparition, as he called out to the fading nin.
'Hey, I've still got some questions for you!'
However, Zabuza spirit had disappeared and his voice echoed after his now out of sight body.
'Those are not for me to answer, farewell.'
Naruto's eyes snapped open, and he sucked in a ragged breath. Nel was still talking and Naruto realized that what had seemed like minutes in speaking with Zabuza's spirit had only been a few seconds in real time. Naruto also felt something and looking down he saw it was the map that Zabuza had given him in his hand.
As the blonde missing nin stared at the piece of paper in his hand, Nel stopped talking when her intensely curious gaze now locked on the scratched headband he wore about his neck.
"Oooh, whath that?"
Naruto blinked, as he felt a tug on the headband and felt the fabric slip past his neck as it came loose, but he paid no heed to it, as he was still trying to comprehend what had just happened.
'Only a few seconds passed here, yet it felt like I spent ten minutes, in...in...whatever that place was.'
Nel was oblivious to her adoptive father's musings and was fixated on the shiny metal Hitai-ate she held, as she ran her hands over it lovingly like it was a new toy.
"Wow, thith is really pretty, can I keep it Naru-kun?" Hearing Nel's question brought Naruto out of his contemplation and staring down at her he soon recovered himself. Smiling as she stared hopefully up at him, Naruto knelt down and placed her back on his shoulder and said.
"Hmmm. you want to wear my headband?"
Nel nodded eagerly as she hung it down in front of his face.
"Mm-hm!" The little Arrancar answered before her face fell, as she realized something.
"But I don't know how to tie a knot?
Naruto gave a small sigh, as he took the headband from her.
"Hold still."
(One minute later)
Nel bore a sparkling smile upon her face, as her new scratched headband was shining brightly from around her throat just as Naruto had worn it. As Naruto ran down the road following the map that he had been given his surrogate daughter squealed in delight.
"This is the best, thanks Naru-kun!"
"You're welcome." Naruto mumbled, as he took a left at a nearby river running alongside the fast moving water.
"Where did we get the map?" Was yet another inquisitively curious query from Nel.
"From a friend of mine."
"When are we going to get breakfath?"
"Soon."
"How long-?"
'Oh boy. This is gonna be a LONG day.' Naruto silently thought, as he rolled his eyes.
As he ran into the morning light, he grinned with amusement, as his adopted daughter Nel giggled with laughter from the speed he was running and chided him on
"Faster Naru-kun! Faster!"
Naruto chuckled before some of the Kyuubi no Youko's red chakra misted about him, lending him more power and speed.
"Hold on Nel-chan, this could get a bit rough!"
The little green-haired Arrancar gripped his shoulders tightly, once more her eyes filled with eager excitement and anticipation, as the light glistened off her headband.
"YAAY! LET'S GOOOO!"
Then, as if it was even possible, Naruto kicked his speed up yet another notch rendering him and his new daughter a black and green blur to all that might have seen them.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Uchiha Madara frowned as he sat in the throne room of Princess Yukia Fujikaze. It had been well over a week since the Yukia's vassals had made contact with the Kyuubi No Youko container in Wave Country according to Zetsu. However, Zetsu further reports that Naruto has yet to show up at the boat to bring him to the Land of Spring.
'It would appear that he smelled a trap. Sly little devil...' Madara thought to himself.
Apparently, that stupid Jinchuuriki was no longer the imbecile he once was. For if he had been then the baka should have come running here as fast as his legs or a boat could take him. Naruto had always been headstrong and should have been easy prey for the remaining members of Akatsuki to capture.
Alas, this was not so and for not the first time in his life the first Uchiha cursed himself for founding that blasted village along with the First Hokage. Apparently somewhere along the way, this stupid gaki had learned caution and now seemed to be exercising a great deal of it.
'Looks like this won't be as easy as I thought...'
"Don't think I've forgotten our little game, Uzumaki. You may have gotten smarter since the war, but I will have my revenge, and once I have you in my clutches…..!"
A sinister cackle escaped him, as he gazed upon the havoc that he had reeked throughout the Land of Spring, which was now covered once more in deadly blizzards, and lethal avalanches. Sooner or later he would have to come. Although the Kyuubi brat may have become wary of a trap, he would not leave a friend in need.
"…..You will perish!"
His ranting was interrupted, as he felt the presence of Zetsu behind him, causing him to pause, and stare out into the snowy night from the lone window before him.
"Yes, what is it?"
The plant man hesitated a moment before speaking, both of his halves equally fearful to deliver the news that he was about to speak. "We...
Madara cut him off, as he stamped a steel-toed boot into the icy floor of the room, cracking it, and making the base shudder ever so slightly. His back was still turned, but you didn't need to see his face to know that he was not happy.
"You lost her didn't you?"
Zetsu gave a stiff nod, and prepared himself for the worst, as he raised a hand in front of his face, to ward off a potential attack fearing that his death had come.
It never came.
"Leader-sama?" Was his nervous query, as he waited for an answer from the radically powerful Uchiha, who was not moving an inch.
"Tell Suigetsu and Deidara to continue their pursuit of her. Failure will not be tolerated. I want her found. NOW!"
The deadly tone in his voice almost made Zetsu feel sorry for the two Akatsuki members. He gave a grateful bow then turned to make his exit.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Naruto looked at the map and groaning muttered to himself..
"Go through the abandoned factory? What the hell?"
Nel seemed more excited and asked.
"Whath ith a factory?"
The scene was a gray and dreary one. A dark and abandoned factory set against the backdrop of the morning sun coated in mist. The only sign remaining of a long abandoned village that had stood quietly amongst the forest. It was peaceful despite the dull grey of the former plant, which stood out now amongst nature.
However, that tranquil peace was soon shattered, as a section of the third floor was burst open, leaving a massive hole, from which a streak of gray and yellow leapt. The figure hit the ground with a loud thud, and the sheer force of her all forced her to one knee, as she had now broken something in her left leg. She wore a ragged outfit that was in tatters and her left arm hung loosely at her side, as it had been broken before she had smashed a hole in the wall. Fear was all over her face as she pressed a glowing green hand of chakra to her twisted ankle calming the swelling, as she looked every which way, panic in her eyes.
For just a moment, she dared to hope that she had lost them,…she was wrong.
Then, as if in slow motion, two figures in Akatsuki cloaks landed behind her, unfazed from their fall, whilst she was out of breath, and badly hurt. The one who held a sword sneered down at her, as she looked over her shoulder at him, fear all over her.
"Looks like your outta luck."
The other Akatsuki member Deidara smirked, as he reached into his clay pouch.
"She was running for dear life, but it looks like her times up, huh? You gave us a lot of trouble back there."
Frightened as she was, the woman still found the nerve to spit in the face of her captor, who gave her a disgusted look, as he wiped off the saliva.
"You little bitch!" Deidara spat in anger.
Suigetsu frowned at her defiance and unsheathed Samehada. Raising the infamous sharkskin scaled blade in his hand, Suigetsu once again felt grateful that Madara had blessed him with one of the legendary Seven Swords of the Mist after its original owner Hoshigaki Kisamehad been killed during the Fourth Great Shinobi War.
The young dark-blonde woman stiffened, as she felt the rough skin of his shark like blade on her neck.
"H-Help..." She muttered weakly, but of course no one came.
Naruto's ears pricked up. "H-Help..."
Deidara laughed aloud.
"Help, who would want to help a Jinchuuriki?"
As the sword headed towards her in a downward arc and in a moment of desperation something inside of her snapped!
"GET AWAY!" She screamed.
Instantly, a blue aura surrounded her and from that cloak like chakra two tails burst forth, as her appearance became more feral, whilst the sheer intensity of her energy forced them back and away from her, as she screamed with fury at her two pursuers.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"
But then much to her horror the blue chakra cloak flickered out a second later, as exhaustion took its toll and left her gasping for breath and barely able to stand. Looking down at her hands, she felt her brief glimmer of hope fade away along with all feeling in her legs, as her knees buckled.
"N-no!" She stammered, as she her knees hit the ground, and just barely was she able to summon enough strength to catch herself on her hand, let alone try to summon forth the chakra again. She had nothing left.
Suigetsu chuckled, as the chakra leaked into the bandages that wrapped his blade.
"Thanks for the meal." Calmly he strode forward, sword in hand.
"Now, since you won't behave, I think I need to take an arm."
Time seemed to slow, as he raised his blade up and his jagged teeth formed a cruel smile on his face.
The flow of time returned, and he swung his sword down-
The defeated woman just closed her eyes, and waited for the pain.
It never came, as she heard a fierce snarl and then a surprised cry. Fearfully, she opened her eyes and got the shock of her life.
There was a tall blonde-haired man standing before her and he was holding back the blade of Suigetsu with his own impressive sword.
An amused grin appeared on his face, while Nel watched in safety from her hiding place in a nearby tree. With his other hand, he reached across to his mask and slowly, deliberately slid it on, indicating that he was in battle mode, as he sarcastically asked in a hollow metallic echo of a voice.
"Mind if I join the party boys?"
The young woman was in dull shock, as a shadow clone of her savior helped her to her feet. Someone had heard her after all...
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tsunade was horrified as she received the news from Ino and asked with disbelief.
"He knocked out Shikamaru and beat up Chouji so badly that he's now in a coma?"
The Yamanaka heiress nodded sadly, it had taken her three days to bring her injured teammates back to the Leaf village. Ino was tired metally, physically, and emotionally from this ordeal with Naruto.
"Yes." Was all Ino could softly say due to her fatigue.
Tsunade shook her head in mute shock before her gaze fell to a picture of Jiraiya and Naruto sitting on her desk, as she commented with sadness.
"He's changed these past few years, he's not the Naruto we knew, not anymore."
"Hokage-sama. I would like to request permission to pursue Naruto. I might be able to….."
Tsunade slammed her hands down upon the desk, as Ino winced from the explosive interruption.
"Absolutely not, you're part of the damn reason why he's like this! You are by no means to go after him! In fact after what's happened, I should recall Team Gai before they encounter him."
A knock was heard at the door, and she turned her wrath upon it.
"WHAT IS IT?" Tsunade roared, as she was in no mood for any pleasantries whatsoever.
An anxious ANBU burst through the door, unaware of the current situation.
Lady Hokage Tsunade, we have learned Hinata Inuzuka has gone missing and left the Leaf village within the past few days! We only learned of this when we caught several Inuzuka clan members attempting to leave the village in pursuit of her. Under ANBU questioning, her husband and the Inuzuka clan heir Kiba Inuzuka believes that she has gone off in pursuit of the missing nin Naruto Uzumaki."
For a moment nothing happened, as an eerie pall of silence fell over the Hokage's office before a shout erupted from the buxom blonde Hokage that seemed to echo throughout the Leaf village.
"WHAT!"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Author notes: There's chapter six up and running for your enjoyment, I hope?Once again, I was required to do a lot of rewriting from the original version. The first change being the elimination of the Zetsu vs OC Asaki Fujiakze husband to Yukie Fujikaze. I had already not included the husband or daughter from the original in a previous chapter. The second change was Madara's ability to track Naruto via a mystical globe. I never realized it up until now, but if Madara had the ability to always track and know where Naruto is. Then what would be the point of him and the remaining Akatsuki going to the trouble of laying a trap in the Spring Country to lure him there? The final change I made was in replacing Kisame with Suigetsu, as I want to keep some of the canon elements in place. The timeline of this story is essentially six+ years after the Fourth Great Shinobi War.
I'm still very pleased that this revised story seems to be a hit with most people. I still urge all of you who are fans of this story and have not checked out my story "Naruto vs. Sasuke: The Aftermath" to please do so.I truly believe you will enjoy reading that tale as much as you do this one. I also want to thank those readers who take the time to leave a review for the tale. They're very helpful in letting me know how the story is progressing with all of you. And they really do assist an author out in knowing what people like about a story. Thanks again to everyone for all of your support.
Take it easy and be good!
Kingkakashi