CHAPTER RATING: T

Chapter 34: An Empty Night Sky

Naruto opened his eyes, and saw Killer Bee, his fist still extended.

"You did it, bro." Killer Bee congratulated. "You managed to gain control of the Nine-Tails." Killer Bee stood up and extended an open hand. Naruto gratefully accepted the offer, and was pulled up to his feet. "But we sense that something is still wrong." Killer Bee dropped his head low. "You may have gained control of the Nine-Tails, but the thing is…"

"…You still don't have what we do." The Eight-Tails chimed in. "Naruto…Listen." He warned. "You have gained control of the Nine-Tails, but this only means that he will serve you with contempt…And every Servant looks to overthrow his Master."

"What does that mean?" Naruto asked.

"You have let your emotions take control of you in the past; and that has lead to many dark events that still haunt you to this day. If you wish to succeed in your goals, if you want to truly control the Nine-Tails, you first need to control yourself. Keep calm, for your sake, and the sake of those you wish to protect."

"I-I understand." Naruto confirmed. He spoke to words with uncertainty, he knew what he had to do, but…

Can I really do that?

He regained his wits and looked towards Killer Bee, his mentor through this ordeal.

"Yo, what's the deal with that glare? You got some issue you want to share?"

"Octopops…What are you going to do now? Thanks for everything, I couldn't have done any of this without you. But, what will you do?"

"I'm just gonna chill, just gonna sit here, and focus, just gonna sit…still."

"For how long?"

"For as long as it takes. Then I'll return home."

"…Would you come with me to Konoha? I think I could really use your help, knowing what I'm going to face in the next few weeks."

"We know what you'll face, but that ain't our race. That's something that you have to deal with, and it ain't our personal business."

"Ah. I get it. Thanks again." Naruto stood up and began to walk back to camp.

"Yo, good luck out there, brother." Killer Bee said as he sat down. Naruto looked back briefly, offered a weak smile, and continued on.

…

Sakura opened her eyes in a cold sweat.

"Sakura, what's wrong?!" Kakashi caught her as she fell backwards. "What happened? Are you alright?" Kakashi looked into her eyes, and noticed a blank stare in her gaze. He gently shook her. "Hey! Sakura!"

She blinked quickly, and shook her head.

"Kakashi-sensei…?" Tears rolled down her eyes as she spoke. Kakashi helped her to her feet. "I…I'm fine. I just…I just need to take some time to relax."

"Yeah, here, we made a spot for you to lie down." She was helped down to her back. There, Sakura closed her eyes, trying to clear her thoughts. It seemed like her thoughts still haunted her, in her mind, only nightmares presented themselves.

...

Hours later, on the ship travelling back to Konoha…

Naruto walked down to the crew quarters, Kakashi stood, arms crossed in the wooden doorframe.

"Kakashi-sensei…I need to talk to you."

"I figured as much, what's wrong?"

"I need to talk to you about Sakura-chan."

"I'm listening, go ahead."

"She looked into the Waterfall of Truth. Do you know what she saw?"

"Naruto…" Kakashi took a deep breath. "…We all looked into that waterfall." Trying to keep his composure, he took another deep breath. "…We all saw things that we didn't want to see; things that we had thought that we locked away deep within ourselves that would never emerge. But in that realm that embodies our minds, we saw…As you did, our true selves. I don't know what she saw, but it must have horrified her as much as it did to Gai, and myself." Kakashi explained. "You weren't there to witness it, but when Sakura woke from her trance, she was in a cold sweat, tears were streaming from her eyes…And her gaze." Kakashi closed his eyes, and shook his head.

Naruto listened intently for him to finish the thought.

"…Her gaze was so empty. I've only seen that gaze in the youngest, most inexperienced shinobi that have witnessed the horrors of what they have to do; a look of utter shock."

Naruto sat in silence as he listened.

"Really. T-Thank you, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto finalized as he turned and headed back up to the deck. He looked up and saw Sakura. From his point of view, it looked as if she was sobbing, her shoulders moving up and down. He stared for a moment, contemplating on what he should do.

He took a silent step forward.

A loud creak interrupted the crashing waves. He saw Sakura's head flinch; she turned around and looked towards him. Her expression almost empty, but filled with sorrow and doubt.

"N-Naruto…" she stuttered while wiping away her tears. She stood in eerily still on the wooden deck.

"Sakura-chan…What, what happened? Is there something wrong?" He moved towards her and opened his arms.

He moved to comfort her.

She abruptly took a step back.

"I-I don't know, Naruto…I need some time alone…I'm-I'm sorry." Sakura stepped back further, and turned away towards her room.

Hopelessness overtook Naruto's heart. He took a breath, and leaned over the ship, watching the waves crash against the ship's hull. He closed his eyes, and took in the sounds of the ocean.

A memory, a promise, made long, long ago, reappeared in his mind.

…

There they sat together, in a secret hot spring that only he knew about. In the darkness of the night, fireflies burned through the thick forests of Konoha. He looked into her teal eyes, glowing brilliantly with the faint glow of the fireflies.

"Sakura-chan, you are the Light, in my Darkness."

She looked deep into his eyes as she answered him.

"As long as there are stars in the sky, Naruto…You will be the only one in my heart."

…

He looked up into the sky.

There was not a single star in sight.