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CHAPTER RATING: T

…

Episode 8: Emissary, Part IV: Vision

Naruto sat up from his dream.

What…What was that…? He held his head in his hands.

What did I see? Come on, remember.

He stood up and changed into his normal clothes. Pulling a pen out of a drawer, he grabbed a piece of paper.

I'm out for a walk, I need to clear my head. Be back soon.

He folded the parchment and placed it on his pillow. After he exited his room, he turned towards the exit.

"Where are you going, young man?" The elderly woman at the front asked. He let out a breath and smiled while turning around.

"Obaa-san." Naruto said with a smile. "Thank you for taking care of me, if you see anyone ask for me, could you tell them that I'm going for a walk?"

"Of course I can, aren't you the boy who was dead tired when he came in with that group of people?"

"Yeah, that was me, if you see them; please just tell them that I need some time to clear my head."

"I will," she said with a smile. "You take care of yourself now." Naruto nodded and exited out of the inn. He walked down the lone dirt road in the quiet evening.

What was that…I saw…

He took a deep breath, and began to walk through the forest. In the calm of the night, he searched his thoughts as best he could.

What was it that she said? His mind raced as it recalled the words of the mysterious figure.

Naru-…I know…hi-his…history…never…regret…p-pro-promise.

His head slightly ached as he tried to piece together her words. He grasped his head in his hands. He gently rubbed his temples as his mind raced. He continued to walk through the peace that the quiet night offered him, and took a seat on the edge of a cliff that overlooked a valley.

Apologize…I'm…sorry…Forgive me?

What does this all mean? He thought to himself. He focused his mind, trying to recreate her image that was broken by the haze of his dream.

…

Hinata turned in her sleep. She turned towards the door and opened her eyes.

Something wasn't right.

She put on her clothes and walked over to Naruto's room and gently knocked on the door.

"Naruto-kun…?" she quietly said while opening the door. A stream of light entered his room as she peeked in. The beam of light grew when she fully opened the door. She was greeted by nothing but a bed with a folded piece of paper on the pillow.

What's this? She took a seat on his bed and folded open the note.

"I'm out for a walk. I need to clear my head. Be back soon." She turned to notice a robe that sat was folded and set on a chair. In a rush, she sprinted down to the main desk to the inn's exit.

"Where are you going, Miss?" The elderly lady interrupted Hinata's footfalls.

"Obaa-san, have you seen a blonde-haired man pass through here? Did he leave?" Hinata asked.

"Oh, him! He told me to tell anyone who asked about him that he's decided to clear his head."

"Which way did he go?"

"It sounded to me that he wanted to be left alone."

"I need to talk to him. I really do, please tell me where he went?"

"…It's fine, he went that way." She pointed to the right of the exit. "I don't know if you will be able to find him though, he left a while ago."

"Thank you, Obaa-san. I'll be able to find him." Hinata replied with confidence. The elderly woman smiled and waved as Hinata dashed out of the door.

I know I'll be able to find him.

"Byakugan!" she whispered. Noticeable veins began to form around her eyes. She continuously scanned the horizon with her vision, waving her head from side to side.

There he is.

…

L-Lied…to…y-you…all…this…t-time.

He held his head in his hands and felt a droplet of water fall from his eye.

Tears?...Why am I…

He heard a rustling behind him and turned around.

"N-Naruto-kun?"

"H-Hinata? What are you doing here?" She walked up and sat down beside him.

"A-Are you feeling well? What's wrong?" Naruto's eyes flinched at her question.

"N-Nothing! Nothing's wrong." He smiled. She brought her hand to his cheek and wiped away the streak of liquid.

"Then why are you crying?" she asked; gently she clasp her hand on his cheek.

"…Just a weird dream. To be honest, I don't know why." She offered him a comforting smile, took hold of his head and brought his lips to hers. He closed his eyes as he felt the soft pressure. She slowly pulled him away.

"I'm here for you." She whispered.

"I know." He replied.

Across the horizon, an orange glow began to rise. Naruto brought himself closer to Hinata and wrapped her arm around her. She blushed as she brought her head and rested it on his shoulder.

Together, they watched a new day's dawn.

…

The next day, the new Team 7 was in the middle of a clearing; surrounding them were the trees of Konoha, streams of light broke through the thick canopy, creating specks of yellow light through the entire forest floor.

Kakashi signaled to the team.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Two shadow clones appeared beside Naruto. They nodded, each clone rushed towards Hinata and Sakura.

The first shadow clone jumped towards Hinata and delivered a kick that she blocked with her forearm; she smoothly slid down to his ankle and tossed him towards a tree. He flipped in the air and planted his feet into the tree itself; with his momentum he flew back towards her. She caught his arm and slammed him onto the ground, the clone disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

…

Naruto felt a pain rush to his mind.

…Lied…to…you…a-all…t-this…time.

Please…for-give…me.

Naruto rested his head in his hand again.

"Naruto! Are you alright?" Kakashi asked.

"Y-yeah, I'm alright." He replied.

…

The other shadow clone charged towards Sakura, doging her attacks the best way he could. He jumped up and brought his fist down, she delivered a leg sweep and knocked him over onto his back. She raised her fist and struck him down.

…

More pain shot through Naruto's head, his grasp tightened around his temples, he shot up to his feet, holding his head down.

"Hey, Naruto! What's wrong?!" Kakashi asked. Naruto didn't reply.

"Sakura, Hinata, that's it, something's wrong with Naruto!"

…

Memories raced through his head again

But…I…mean it

I…

…

His breathing became erratic, his heart rate increased.

"Hey! Naruto, calm down!" Kakashi held Naruto by his shoulders.

Naruto grasped his hear with his right hand.

…

I mean it…

I…I love you.

…

"Sa-Saku…"

His knees gave way, and fell with a loud crash onto the forest floor.