The Dishonored Raven, the Fox that Never Was, & the Man that Wept
By Pyro Yuki
~Author's Note~ (Please review!)
You guys are so determined to know if NaruHina happens…lol. I'm still thinking about it… ;) fyi- I'm trying to make this story as similar as the real story as i can. Not plot-wise, but funny-wise. Naruto is smarter, but also has his moments because he IS Naruto.
(LOL! It seems that each time I post a new chapter, I gain at least 500 more views in the long run…hehe…nice. :D)
Sorry for not uploading anything the past few days. I've been too busy to finish this chapter until now. Family stuff.
It's getting a little bit harder to think up stuff for the future story, but college is also coming around next week so i'll have even less time to write. :( Please be patient for chapters.
Thanks for the poll votes and poll-reviews. It is now closed and 'Click it' is now deleted. You'll just have to read it to see which of the couple's won it.
Enjoy~~!
… Tends to mean a tiny time skip or some other scene
Italics are the words inside the dream. Sometimes thoughts…sometimes the dream itself. Sorry 4 confusion~!
All original characters and story belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 8: Naruto's Ghosts
When the adults grabbed Naruto, Sakura, and Neji they vanished and reappeared just outside the building. But they didn't stay there for more than a second before springing away again. They continued to jump from building to building until they had reached the Village wall. There were two guards there, but they weren't even Hyuga so they passed them without any trouble at all.
Naruto and Sakura fell onto the ground when they stopped jumping and were going to run all the way to…where-ever it was that they were going. Neji looked like he knew all of this would happen.
"M-mom! Who are all these people? Why is Neji here?" Naruto turned to his Mother. She was looking kinda pale.
"Don't push yourself, Kushina." Guy warned her, looking concerned.
"I-I'm alright. Just a little unused to all this. I'll be back on my feet in a couple of days." Kushina replied to him, leaning slightly against a tree.
"I could carry you. We can't stop for long." Guy offered.
"Okay-"
"Mom?"
"Oh yeah, this is Guy and Anko. Anko's the one who gave us the drug. They are friends and we have many more, but I can't explain much right now."
"That's right. We need to meet up with Jiraiya-san at least by tomorrow and go on from there. The Hyuga and Akatsuki will be on our tail by tonight." Anko snapped.
Kushina turned to a still trembling Sakura. "I'm sorry you got involved in all of this, Sakura-chan, but we need you to stick with us. They won't hesitate to hurt you too." She told her gently. Sakura nodded, trying to stop tears from coming out.
Soon they were running again. Sakura was running beside Naruto, but wouldn't look at him. Guy was carrying Kushina on his back with Anko running just behind him as a look out. Neji was in front with Naruto and Sakura with his Byakugan. He kept looking around straight ahead.
"Neji…talk to me. Why are you helping us? You're a Hyuga." Naruto asked, trying to get what was going on.
"That's true but…after my chakra ceremony, I began to question…"
"Question what?"
"If the Hyuga Clan were just pawns in the Hokage's game." Neji narrowed his intense pearl eyes. "I used to think that the Hyuga Clan was the most elite Clan in the Leaf Village because of our Clan's skills. But then I began to REALLY see what was going on."
"What made you change your opinion? What does the chakra ceremony have to do with it?" Naruto asked him.
"Everything Naruto. The day after the chakra ceremony, I realized that the world should be flowing with chakra. But somehow that's not the case. The Hokage can give chakra or choose not to. That's very odd considering the world used to be full of ninja, don't you think? People stopped trying to be ninjas right around the time the Fifth Hokage took office. And only the Hokage's advisor's Clan, the Hyuga Clan, are able to use chakra and train to be ninja? That's funny considering all the textbooks we've read in school talk about ninja like they are from the last century and the people have moved on from that. None of it makes any sense." The Hyuga genius stated out.
Naruto blinked in surprise. He had never thought of it like THAT. He only saw the Hokage as a threat to his family and the Village. Though he never liked the Village before, Kushina had convinced him otherwise.
"How did you know who to talk to?" People must have been suspicious if Neji poked in the wrong place. Even Naruto knew that.
"Luckily, I was able to ask Guy-sensei. He trusted me with the truth and I decided to save my Clan from the Hokage…If I can save my Clan than the people of the Village won't hate the Hyuga anymore. Peace between Clans will be restored as well."
Naruto smiled at Neji. He was a pretty good guy after all. "You can do it, Neji! I'll help you too."
"Thanks Naruto…you know, you are a lot like-" Neji shut his mouth. You are a lot like that Naruto too.
"Hm?"
"Nevermind." Neji scanned ahead.
Naruto shrugged it off. He still wondered how one night could change his mind about so many things. Oh well…must be a genius thing.
The group had stopped to rest for the night by a large waterfall. Anko showed them that there was a cave behind the waterfall. They didn't exactly pack anything so they just slept on the cold stones towards the back. Neji had first watch, then Anko. Guy slept on one side of the cave while Kushina, Naruto, and Sakura slept on the other.
As Naruto's eyes were dropping, he couldn't help but notice Sakura trembling.
"Hey…Sakura?"
"W-What?" She whispered back.
"Sorry I got you all mixed up in this. I really am. You should be back in the Village instead of with us."
"…It's not your fault Naruto. I chose the door that brought me over to you, Hinata, and Sasuke. I'm just confused because all of this is happening so fast. All I know is…"
"If you stick with us or go back, you'll be killed." Naruto sighed, finishing her sentence for her. It was obvious to everyone. If Sakura ever went back, she'd be questioned then killed. Maybe even killed before questioning. Being the daughter of two dead rebellious parents, she wasn't going to get off easy.
Naruto tried to give her a confident smile. "Then you'll just have to come with us. See the world, and then save it. That doesn't sound too bad, now does it?" He chuckled a little.
Sakura was startled by his confidence in her. "Um…I worked at the Leaf Hospital every day after school. Little things, but I know b-basic first aid care. I-I'll try to contribute to the group anyway I can, Naruto…"
Naruto smiled happily. That was great to know that Sakura had some First-Aid knowledge. Every little bit helps in a bad situation. "That's great Sakura! I'm sure everyone else will be happy to know that too." He whispered back.
Sakura smiled shyly, and then turned to her other side to get some sleep. Thank You, Naruto.
Feeling a little better now that he knew Sakura was a little less scared, Naruto finally gave into sleep. He let his eyelids close on themselves and began to pass out into sleep.
At last…
Naruto found himself walking alone in a huge, dark, and wet underground sewer-like place. It creped him out but he kept walking. He could hear his footsteps on the wet stone he walked on.
"Where the hell am I?" His voice echoed everywhere.
At long last…
Naruto stiffened as he heard a dark voice coming from a much darker hallway. It sent shivers down his spine and he began to walk faster towards a place he didn't know.
Naruto suddenly saw bright light up ahead and he made a dash for it. It blinded him and he covered his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Minato…I used up all your time." His mother's voice called from the light. Her voice was so shaken but determined.
"No…you said all I could have said." A man's voice Naruto didn't recognize made him freeze. A tear slipped out of Naruto's eye unconsciously, but he knew that voice belonged to his Father.
"Mom?! Dad?!" Naruto shouted out but he still couldn't see anything. He could only hear a baby crying out all alone for the longest time.
When he finally could see anything, he realized that he was in the Leaf Village again. He spotted a young version of himself just walking down the street. He was surprised to see himself with three whiskers on each cheek, but he was startled as he looked at the people watching him.
Unspoken anger and coldness shown in every Villager's eyes. It was different from the looks he was given growing up. He had been looked at in anger, but that was it. This was hate…and a cold desire to just be rid of him. They didn't even want him alive.
He saw himself shoved around by shopkeepers and adults but unable to do anything. He felt anger and sadness from the little Naruto.
Why…Why do they hate me? What have I done?
Naruto realized the sad voice was coming from the little Naruto's mind.
I'm just an orphan so why are they so angry? I'm tired of getting hurt…Just…Just leave me alone!
Naruto felt the emotions grow until the boy couldn't take it any longer. The little Naruto had begun to shout out at the adults.
"Just leave me alone, damn it! I haven't done anything wrong!" Tears leaked out and little Naruto ran.
Naruto watched days and years go by. Little Naruto was always alone. It pierced his heart. Where was their Mother and Father?! He was the son of the Fourth Hokage for god's sake! And Kushina would have killed anyone that dared to hurt him. But they just…weren't there.
A hollow place in little Naruto brought everlasting pain to the real one. He clutched his chest.
Hinata….Sasuke…where are you? He called out in silence. If he didn't have his Mother, then he should at least have his friends.
But they weren't anywhere…no one was.
For eight long years, no one had bothered to care about little Naruto. All the children in his class were afraid of him or were told to avoid him by their parents. His anger only grew. What was so BAD about Naruto that everyone wanted to avoid him?
Finally, little Naruto had had enough. He would GET their attention and respect! One way, or another. He didn't need friends!
Naruto watched as little Naruto went to astonishing lengths to be noticed. Pranks on the Villagers, acting out in class, being loud and arrogant, and making Sasuke his goal. Shikamaru, Kiba, and Choji were kinda his friends but that was just it…KINDA-FRIENDS. Little Naruto didn't take them seriously and neither did they.
Naruto wanted little Naruto to make real friends with someone. The kid needed a friend far more than he ever did. Compared to this Naruto, he had it pretty good. Little Naruto didn't even have one parent. Naruto worried for his other self.
"I'm going to be Hokage one day! BELIEVE IT!"
Little Naruto's outburst one day took even Naruto by surprise. So that was his answer to getting people to respect him- becoming the number one shinobi of the Leaf. But as usual, everyone laughed at him. Only the sensei never laughed at him.
Years in the Ninja Academy passed until he was about to take the graduation test. A clone jutsu.
Other Naruto had become the class clown by then and Naruto was slightly embarrassed. He hadn't been so great with his own studies but at least he took them seriously. Other Naruto's grades were worse than his counter-part's scores. But he always acted like a tough-guy, especially around Sasuke. Even the real Naruto was irritated at Sasuke's attitude. The guy was so freaking arrogant, Naruto really wanted to punch him.
He also noticed that the other Naruto had a soft spot for Sakura instead of Hinata. He was so surprised at how confident Sakura was that he could sorta understand the boy's attraction to the pinkie…until she'd punch other him in the face or throw him on his butt. All because he was in the way to Sasuke.
Naruto didn't know what to think about that. Other Naruto was already a loud idiot…maybe liking someone incredibly violent was something that other Naruto liked. He certainly wouldn't have bothered with Sakura. If he ever showed her that affection and she punched him in the face, he'd get the hint. But the counter-part was determined to show Sasuke up to win not only his class's affections, but hers as well.
Naruto blushed slightly when he noticed Hinata glancing nervously at other Naruto from time to time. Now if only his other self wasn't as oblivious as a rock. He thought briefly of his letter to Hinata. It dawned on him that he had no idea where it was. He slightly panicked at the thought of someone finding it.
Oh well…looks like it's not going to matter now. I'm truly sorry I couldn't stay friends with you like I promised, Hinata…But I'm on the run with my mom, Guy-san, Anko-san, Neji, and Sakura. Man, we're like a traveling show of freaks! Naruto's sweat dropped at the thought of it. Isn't that called an adventure though? Some part of his asked.
Then the day came for other Naruto's graduation test. Naruto snorted as he saw him paint on all the faces of the Hokage, minus one Obitio Uchiha. But he wondered what his Father would think if he saw his own face painted on by his son.
This time, he was caught by Iruka-sensei. Iruka-sensei was a little more laid back than Naruto's Iruka. But he would still punish Naruto for his pranks.
"We will be repeating the transformation technique since NARUTO was late!"
"AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!" The class moaned.
"Like I care!" Naruto snapped, stepping in line.
Sakura went first…then Sasuke…then Naruto.
"Transform!"
*POOF*
A naked pig-tailed blonde replaced Naruto.
Naruto's face went beet red and he turned away as Iruka-sensei took a nose-bleed to the floor. It was official…his other self was a pervert.
"NNNNAAAARRRRUUUUTTTTOOOOO! Cut the crap! This is your last warning!" Iruka-sensei roared at him.
A little time later, the other Naruto took the test….and failed it. Naruto sighed. He wished he could somehow help this knuckle-headed version of himself. Even though some parts were different, some parts remained the same.
Naruto scowled as he saw things unfold. Little Naruto was stealing some important scroll to pass his exam. Something about that didn't feel right, but other Naruto went ahead to the secret location anyway. Only Iruka-sensei found him first.
"Who told you that?"
"Mizuki-sensei told me! Believe it! He told me where to find the scroll…and this place," Naruto's voice and smile faded slightly at Iruka-sensei's shocked face.
Kunai flew out at them.
"Look out!" Iruka-sensei shoved Naruto out of the way and was hit to a tree.
"I see you found our little hide-away."
"So you were behind this? I should have known." Iruka-sensei growled.
"Naruto! Give me the scroll, now!" Mizuki-sensei shouted at him.
"W-wait a minute! Wha-What's going on?!" Naruto looked stunned.
"Naruto! Don't let Mizuki get the scroll! It contains information that could put the Leaf in danger! Mizuki used you to get the scroll for himself!" Iruka-sensei gasped, pulling a kunai out from his leg.
Naruto tensed, anger rising at being used like a dog.
"Naruto, Iruka is trying to trick you 'cause he doesn't want you to keep the scroll."
Naruto looked confused.
"Stop lying! Don't let him trick you!"
"Ha! I'll tell you who is REALLY lying to you-" Mizuki chuckled.
"NO MIZUKI!"
"They've been lying to you your whole life, Naruto. Since the law 12 years ago."
"Wha-what…law?"
"Everyone knows it but you. It's one of those laws that no one is allowed to speak of."
"What is it? Why does everyone but me know it?" Naruto's blood was growing colder.
"DON'T TELL HIM!"
"The law is…that no one can tell you that the Nine-tailed Fox is sealed inside YOU!"
Both Naruto's eyes opened in shock. WHAT?
"The Nine Tailed Fox that attacked the Village and killed Iruka's parents has taken over your body. YOU ARE THE NINE-TAILED FOX!"Mizuki growled.
"STOP IT!"
Naruto was barely listening anymore. His whole world was turning up-side down and in-side out.
"They've all been keeping secrets from you your whole life. Didn't you think it was strange how they treated you? Like DIRT! Like they hated you for just being ALIVE!"
"NO! NONONONO!" Naruto growled through his tears. Now he knew WHY! But WHY did it have to be HIM?!
"That's why you will never be accepted in this Village! Even your beloved sensei HATES YOUR GUTS!" Mizuki went on.
Iruka grew quiet.
"DIE NARUTO!" Mizuki hurled a giant shuriken at him. Naruto turned to run away but it was closing in-
"NARUTO! GET DOWN!" Iruka yelled. Naruto dived for the earth.
The sound of steel piercing flesh sounded out through the forest. Naruto opened his eyes and looked back to see his sensei facing over him. The giant shuriken pierced him in the back. (And probably the spine too)
Iruka spat up a few drops of blood. Naruto stared in fear at him. WHY?
"W-Why?" He choked out
"Because…we're the same." He grunted. "When I lost my parents, it was like nobody cared. They just forgot I was there. My grades dropped…I became the class clown. I'd do anything for anyone to look at me. I did things I'm not proud of…and I had to pay for it. It was so hard for me."
Tears began to flow down onto Naruto. "I-I know that's also how you feel, Naruto. You feel lonely and it hurts inside….and I could have been there for you more. I let you down and I'm sorry. No one should suffer like that…no one should live like that."
Powerful emotion swept through Naruto and tears also rolled down his eyes. It was like he too wanted someone to say that to him. Not just other Naruto. He may have had his Mother, but he still hurt inside each time he was hated by the other adults. He never trusted any other adult but his Mother. To have Iruka-sensei actually say that to him…even if he wasn't his own Iruka…
And what exactly did they mean by the Nine-Tailed fox inside that Naruto?
"Don't make me laugh! Iruka was orphaned because the NINE-TAILS killed his parents! Now it is inside YOU. He'd say anything to get the scroll from you now!" Mizuki cut in.
Naruto wasn't so sure….about anything anymore. So he ran.
"Naruto!" Iruka-sensei called.
"Hehe…"
Naruto was dashing through the forest. Iruka-sensei said things that touched his heart…but was it lies? The Village had hated him because of the Nine-Tails inside him?! Why didn't ANY of them just come out and say it?! Why all the LIES?!
"Naruto! Everything Mizuki said was a lie! Quick! Give me the scroll!"
Iruka's voice made him freeze and hide. Naruto peered out and saw another Naruto hit Iruka in the stomach.
"How did you know?! Naruto?!" Iruka-sensei growled and turned before poofing into Mizuki. "How did you know it was me and not Iruka?!" he growled.
The other Naruto grinned and chuckled, but slumped to a tree before poofing into Iruka-sensei.
"Because I'm…Iruka."
"Why are you protecting that FREAK?! He's the one who killed your parents!"
"I don't care what you say…you're not getting your hands on that scroll."
"As if you can stop me! Don't you get it? Naruto is just like me." Mizuki snorted.
"How's that?"
"He wants the scroll for his own power and vengeance. That's how beasts are. He'll unleash the Nine-Tails on the Village through the scroll."
"…Your right."
Naruto flinched. So he was right…He never believe in me. It was all a-
"That is how beasts are. But that's not who Naruto is. He's nothing like that. He works hard and puts his heart into everything he does. Sure he messes up…and they jump on him. But his suffering only makes him stronger. That's why he's not a beast or like you. He's Naruto Uzumaki! Of the Village Hidden in the Leafs!"
Tears ran down Naruto's eyes. Hope flared in him along with relief. Naruto smiled. "Go for it, other me!"
"HA! If you really believe that. I was going to save you for later but you're getting in my way. YOUR FINISHED!" Mizuki came at Iruka-sensei with a giant shuriken
Naruto flew at Mizuki, knocking him off to the ground. The shuriken went flying off.
"Not bad…for a punk." Mizuki got up to his feet. Naruto glared at him. He was going to protect the scroll and Iruka-sensei no matter what!
"If you lay a hand on Iruka-sensei…I'LL KILL YOU!"
"Ha! As if you co-"
"SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!" Naruto yelled. A thousand or more Narutos appeared out of thin air.
"""""Hey! Over here! No! Here! Get ready for a pounding! Hell yeah!""""" All Narutos called at once to a panicking Mizuki.
"GET HIM!" The real one called and an all-out brawl on Mizuki commenced.
Naruto laughed. "That's one way to do it! A million me!" He chuckled with happiness as he saw the next day came around.
"…Check again, Shikamaru! I've got my headband! I'm a full ninja now! Believe it!" Naruto smirked as he retorted to the skeptic.
"Hm…whatever." Shikamaru walked off.
Naruto went over to his seat beside Sasuke's. Seconds later, Sakura burst through the door with Ino.
"I was here first!"
"No way! My shoe was one forth into the door before yours, Ino-pig!"
"Billboard-brow!"
Naruto smiled shyly away from Sakura. He was finally going to be cool for once.
"Sasuke~!" Sakura ran over and totally shoved Naruto aside.
"Hey!"
Sakura ignored Naruto, much to his pain. "Sasuke, do you mind if I sit next to you today?" She purred.
"Hey! No fair!"
"That's right! I got here before you!"
"Shove off!"
One by one the girls in the classroom were making an uproar over Sasuke. He ignored them all.
'GRRRRRR!'
Naruto leapt up onto Sasuke's desk and crouched down to his eye level. The raven looked up slightly at him.
"GRRRRRR….." Naruto actually growled in the most popular boy's face.
He only glared back at him.
"NARUTO!" the girls screamed.
"Cream him, Sasuke!" The girls were calling out.
'Why are they so obsessed with him? Sasuke! Sasuke! I'm just as good as he is! What's his deal?!' Naruto shouted in his head. (I couldn't agree more, Naruto)
They glared at each other until sparks literally flew between them. Their noses were maybe an inch from each other.
The girls continued to fight until Naruto felt someone shove him forward. He was easy to unbalance crouching like he was.
The sound of two guys kissing hard could be heard as a startled Naruto was kissing an equally startled Sasuke.
They broke it off quickly, both boys grabbing their own necks and looked disgusted. Both were also gagging.
Naruto felt faint. "I just…kissed Sasuke…..OH HELL NO!" He roared, taking a step forward to kill this Sasuke. He had taken three steps when he froze.
"Kehehehehehehe! I finally caught up with you and what do I see? You sucking face with another boy."
Naruto turned sharply over his shoulder to see…something he couldn't explain.
A transparent form from red wisps of chakra crouched a foot behind him. It wasn't a man but Naruto wasn't sure what animal it was either. It was just a red chakra beast with glowing blood-red eyes and a jagged toothy smile. It was maybe a little bit bigger than him but it was on four legs.
"Who…WHAT are you?!" Naruto shouted. His eyes flicked back to the scene he had been watching before but he gasped. The scene had frozen. Like someone had pushed paused on the T.V. remote! Sakura and the other girls were in frozen rage and pummeling a poor fearful Naruto.
"What did you do?!"
"Would you rather see yourself getting punched by girls? Shut up and pay attention to what I have to say. First thing you should know is I'm the Nine-Tailed Fox."
Naruto stared and gasped as he finally saw some similarities. The nose, ears, claws…
"You have no tails…" Naruto narrowed his eyes. Fury blazed from the beast as it let out a roar.
"You idiot! I AM THE NINE-TAILED FOX! This form is the chakra that wasn't sealed by the Third!"
"How can that be?! My mom told me everything! You were sealed inside my Father! The Fourth Hokage!" Naruto took a few steps back.
"That may be true, but somehow my original's loose chakra was absorbed into you the night you were born. I'm only the product of all that chakra's subconsciousness. That night, your mother, my former jinchuriki, carried you through the village. In her weakened state, she was in no condition to be able to absorb the scattered chakra. I also hated her with a burning passion anyway. You, however, were different. The chakra that would become me was drawn inside you almost naturally. Now I know why."
Naruto blinked and suddenly they were back in the underground sewer. Only this time he was in front of an enormous cage. It was very dark inside that cage and Naruto had a feeling that a gigantic fox should be on the other side. The No-Tailed chakra form was in front of that empty cage.
"Somehow, my original should have been in here if your memories are correct. Over the years I've been forced to bury my chakra inside you until the right time. You didn't even know of my existence until now."
The fox-demon grinned and Naruto shivered. "What are you talking about?"
"You have your chakra back in full force now. Our chakras are different, but eventually they will melt together."
Naruto looked scared. What would happen then?
The beast tipped his large ears like he could hear something. "I must leave you now to the rest of those memories. I have only two more things to say to you though. The first: When you're ready for real power, find The Beasts' Den and seek out Lapis." As the beast spoke, the world around them was trying to phase back into the classroom they had left moments ago. The ghostly fox was disappearing as well.
Naruto was confused but the words were stuck to his throat. Who was Lapis? What was The Beasts' Den?
"And another thing: I'd practice not getting mad if I were you. If you never want to see me again." The beast chuckled before vanishing into thin air.
"Wait! What the hell does all that mean?! The Beasts' Den?! Lapis?! And what do you mean I should practice not getting mad?!" Naruto shouted out finally but got no response.
But almost in defiance, the 'memories' that the No-Tailed demon fox mentioned just continued to play on without answering anything. It was almost like the demon had never interrupted anything.
Naruto sighed. Nothing was making sense. And the new feelings and memories he was experiencing didn't help him at all.
He protected some old guy from two Hidden Mist Missing-Ninja.
He deepened a bond of friendship with Sasuke.
He went on numerous missions that he wasn't happy about.
He went into the Chunin exams and yelled at the proctor, then battled out of a terrible forest to save his teamates' very lives. He was outraged at Neji for calling Hinata weak and beat up Kiba and Akamaru.
Then things got worse from there. Sasuke was becoming totally crazy for power to avenge his Clan. It deeply hurt Naruto and Sakura.
At the same time, Naruto defeated another jinchuriki, Garra of the Sand. The red haired boy really freaked both Narutos out. That is, until Naruto punched his head.
Naruto learned a move the Fourth Hokage personally made. Apparently this Naruto didn't know that Minato was his father. He learned a move called…the Rasengan.
He ran into Itachi, Sasuke's older brother and mass murderer of the Uchiha Clan. He was so freaked by that guy, he knew that his life was in danger. Especially from the blue-sharkman behind him. But luckily he was saved by the Toad Sanin…however, not before seeing Sasuke trying to kill his brother in revenge.
Sasuke was slipping out of his life for good and it terrified Naruto. Nothing Naruto or Sakura could do to stop him from leaving the village either. He only wanted power to be able to kill his brother.
Naruto and his friends were going after him to bring Sasuke back. It was their last chance to knock some sense into him. Only they all fell behind in their own battles with the Sound Ninja Four. To each his own battle. Naruto finally caught up with Sasuke at the Valley of the End. It was somehow a sign.
Sasuke…Are you really trying to…to kill me? To get the power to kill Itachi?
Both Narutos were drowning…drowning in the darkness and sadness that came from Sasuke's betrayal. The feelings made Naruto remember his own betrayal to his friends. It may not have been this intense, but surely they felt something like this? How could he have done such a thing to them?!
"You'll never understand how I feel! You never had a family! You've been alone from the start!" Sasuke's voice roared at the Narutos. Sharp pain pierced their hearts.
"You're right…I've been an orphan all my life. I've never had a Mother or Father at home to tell me 'welcome back' at the end of each day. I don't have any siblings either. But…that's why…I just can't let you go, Sasuke."
Naruto looked at Sasuke's activated Sharingan.
"Because you are the closest thing to a brother I ever had, Sasuke. That's why…I just can't let you give yourself up to Orochimaru! Not now…Not EVER!"
This startled Sasuke Uchiha briefly. He had always just seen him as a pe-…who was he kidding? Naruto meant the same way to him. A brother and rival. Still, an all-out battle between Sasuke and Naruto continued.
Back then…when I found out that there was someone else like me. Someone all alone. I was really happy. I could finally meet someone who shared the same loneliness that I've had for years. But I…just couldn't work up the courage to talk to you. Not only that, but you were so far ahead on me in school that I felt that I just couldn't talk to you yet. So I made you my rival instead.
Other Naruto's serious thoughts entered Naruto's mind. His true feeling about Sasuke Uchiha. That Naruto never knew what it felt like just to be friends with Sasuke.
"The bonds that you and I have…I've going to sever them so that I can finally get the power I need to kill Itachi."
Naruto looked angry but close to tears as well. Did all their friendship mean nothing after all?
They fought viciously with all they had. Sasuke was superior in skill but not in strength like Naruto.
"I'll NEVER let you sever our bonds, Sasuke! Because we are friends! Sakura, You, and Me!" Naruto snarled at him. "I'll bring you back even if I have to break EVERY bone in your body!"
Eventually, odd things began to happen. A massive reddish-orange chakra cloak surrounded around Naruto.
Naruto gripped his shirt and choked at the feeling. It was searing pain that was spreading from his belly to his whole body, just like the cloak. The other Naruto's eyes had become red with cat-like pupils. Naruto's canines and nails grew longer like Kiba's. The other Naruto went onto four legs like the beast within him. A single red chakra tail came from the other Naruto's pants.
The pain soon died down, but it still made Naruto's own skin hot and uncomfortable. "Is this the Nine-Tails' chakra? It burns…" He choked out.
Sasuke was also changing. His skin became swallowed up by the Curse Mark on his shoulder, turning it gray. The whites of his eyes blackened and his blazing Sharingan shined with three tomoe. His black hair was thicker and became a darker gray. Hand-like wings grew from his back.
Both were preparing for one final attack. Naruto was forming a purple Rasengan and Sasuke, a black Chidori.
Both leapt for the final strike.
"Rasengan!"
"Chidori!"
A purple orb of chakra formed around them. Inside, Sasuke attacked Naruto's chest and Naruto slashed Sasuke's headband. The chakra grew and turned black. Then light enveloped the orb and the two Leaf shinobi inside it. Naruto stared at Sasuke until his vision faded out and he was out cold.
Naruto later woke up in the Leaf Hospital all bandaged up like a mummy. Jiraiya was there at his window.
And the rest was history. Other Naruto would leave the Leaf Village behind to train under the Toad Sanin in the passing years just so he could save Sasuke and protect his friends better from the Akatsuki in the future.
…
"…Naruto? Naruto, wake up!"
Naruto opened his sleep-encrusted eyes to feel someone pinching and pulling at one of his cheeks. It was Sakura.
"Sakura-chan? What the hell?!" Naruto moaned, brushing her hand away.
"Everyone is getting ready to leave. Y-you need to wake up," she told him. He bolted right up and felt sharp pain in his back as he realized he had been sleeping on a few pointier rocks. He ignored it though.
Naruto looked all around him. Indeed, everyone else in the group looked freshened up and ready to leave at a moment's notice. Anko and Neji had gone out to search the area before taking off.
"Why didn't anyone wake me sooner? And what about food?"
"You were pretty restless last night, Naruto, so I told them to let you sleep a little more." His Mother told him, handing him his slightly cleaner jacket. "As for food, I'm afraid we only have time for food pills right now. Thank God that those things don't really go bad over time." She handed him a medium black pill.
He bit into it once and swallowed. He didn't know how an old food pill was going to help but he trusted his Mother.
"Sorry…"
Naruto stood up stiffly, thinking about what he had seen. He stared at his Mother while doing so. Why was there another Naruto he dreamed about? And why wasn't Kushina there for him? Also, the Nine-Tailed fox?
"W-What's wrong, Naruto? What's with that look?" Kushina looked a little worried. Her son was giving her probably the most serious look he'd had in his whole life.
"N-Nothing." Naruto looked away. "Where are we going?"
"To head towards the Checkpoint and then the next one to meet up with Jiraiya-san. It'll take most of the day, so don't lag behind," Anko answered, returning with Neji.
"Anko?" Guy asked.
"It's clear. No one is near this place. We can leave right away." Anko reported.
"Okay, let's go everyone." Kushina stood up and the group left their waterfall-camp behind and dashed back into the trees. This time the younger members were in the front and the other in the back. Neji was leading them.
"Neji-san? W-What are we looking for? How will we know when we see the Checkpoint?" Sakura asked, glancing over. Naruto was in the middle and Neji on the other side.
"Anko-san told me that I'm to look for an old shrine by an old war burial."
Sakura's face turned pale with fear. "A b-b-b-burial?!" She moaned.
Naruto tried not to think about how the other Naruto was scared stiff of ghosts and ghouls. He looked anywhere else but Sakura and Neji.
"It's not so bad. It's just a quick stop for a break and a chance to eat or search for any Hyuga that were sent out after us. We're heading towards the Land of Grass. It has better hideout locations." Neji explained calmly. Naruto was a little worried about how calmly he had said Hyuga, like it wasn't his Clan.
As time wore on, Naruto was actually impressed with the pills. He wasn't hungry at all anymore. And energy flowed through him, as only he guessed that chakra would.
"Naruto…Did you see it?" Neji asked, letting curiosity get the better of him. Naruto looked sharply over at Neji.
"See it? See what? I-I don't see anything." Sakura squinted her eyes and looking ahead, thinking Neji was still talking about the Checkpoint.
Naruto looked at the ground as he ran, his eyes swimming with the memories.
"Yeah…I saw it." He forced out, roughly. "You were an asshole to Hinata." He glanced at him, wondering what he would say to that.
Sakura looked so confused. Naruto wondered if he should level with her about his dreams…but then he'd have to tell her about other-Naruto's affections for her.
To his immense surprise, Neji actually looked embarrassed. "Y-yeah, well…That was a whole other me. I'm sure you know what I mean."
"CHHHHAAAAAAA! IF YOU IDIOTS DON'T TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON, I'LL-!" Sakura burst out at them, raising an angry fist. Both boys turned to see a Sakura similar to their own other-selves, bristling in all her pink-furious-glory. What the heck?
But before they even opened their mouths, Sakura blinked and looked away. Her face was red. "I-I'm sorry! I-I-I don't know where that came from!" She whimpered.
Naruto exchanged a look with Neji. Was it possible that Sakura also got memories from another life? If so, then how come she didn't sound like she knew what they were talking about? Or was that just a sudden spark from the other-Sakura? She never touched the chakra-sphere, but she might have gotten some of her other-self's personality from that odd shock wave.
It made Naruto's head spin. Too many odd things were happening at once!
"It…It's alright, Sakura-chan. We were just talking guy-stuff. No worries." Naruto sweated as he twitched a smile though.
That only made Sakura blush in more shame. "O-Oh…" Just what did Naruto mean by guy-stuff?
They were half an hour to the Checkpoint when trouble struck.
Anko narrowed her eyes at the sound of rustling through the trees and three Hyuga jumped out at them.
"Stop where you are! You are under arrest for acts of terrorism against the Fifth Hokage, The Hyuga Clan, and Leaf Village! You are to stand down!" The Hyuga team leader shouted at them.
"Look at that! A whole bucket list of things we did in one day. You guys sure did a fantastic job of summing all that up for us. Just for that, run away and I might let you live." Anko purred, swinging a kunai carelessly in her hand. Guy and Kushina stood protectively over the three kids.
"Don't make a fool of us!" The Hyuga sprang. Two were met with the adults.
"At least make this challenging!" Guy shouted, giving one Hyuga a Bruce Lee kick to the face before the poor guy could even defend himself.
Kushina was forced to help Anko because the woman was having trouble attacking and defending herself from another Hyuga's Gentle Fist style.
Leaving Naruto, Neji, and Sakura alone to face the last one.
Neji stood in front of them all, poise in the same Hyuga fighting style. "Whatever you do, don't let his Gentle Fist touch you or it's over." He told the other two.
"I know. You did a number on me, remember?" Naruto chuckled.
"Hm, how could I forget?" Neji smirked, deflecting the other Clan member's first strike. Naruto stood back with Sakura. She was shaking in fear as each jonin and Neji fought off the Hyuga.
Neji's Gentle Fist style hadn't changed at all. It was like he had never forgotten it. He was toe to toe with the older Clansman.
"Don't worry, Sakura-chan. Neji can't lose to these guys." Naruto told her. She looked at him with her green eyes and blinked. Why does he always call me Sakura-chan? He never used to before. Come to think of it, he's never acted this strangely before.
"NHHH!" Neji retreated, gritting his teeth at the pain and holding his wrist. He had gotten cocky with his fight. "Damn!" He growled.
"Neji! Lose this fight and I'll kick your ass again!" Naruto shouted.
"I know that!" Neji ran at his former Clan member again. "Palm Rotation!" He twisted in a familiar fashion that Naruto knew. Like a doom of spinning blue chakra.
The Hyuga was blown away into the bushes while the other two had vanished from sight.
"Let's get going! We can't stop now!" Kushina shouted, panting slightly. Anko had gone to Guy while she dashed over to check on the kids.
"Alright, let's go." Neji agreed and soon they were on a full-on sprint for the first Checkpoint. It was evening before anyone had said a word.
"Neji-san, you need to get your wrist wrapped up. The pain must be hurting-" Sakura told him after glancing worriedly at him for a while. He was actually sweating as he held in the pain.
"I'm fine, Sakura."
"Like hell you are! When we reach the Checkpoint, I'm wrapping that arm up!" Sakura snapped suddenly. This time, it was her worrying that got the best of her shyness.
"…Okay, Sakura. Thanks." Neji sighed, letting his pride go. He couldn't slow down the group.
"Anko's got a few bruises on her but she seems fine." Kushina spoke up, getting a mean glare from Anko.
"The Checkpoint is right up ahead, everyone!" Guy announced, seeing a tiny dark figure sticking up from beside the fence. The group saw the old shrine and burial grounds behind the figure, which was hardly bigger than a human baby.
"Pakkun!" Kushina tensed but then cried out joyfully as one of Kakashi's ninja hounds stood up.
"Hey everyone! Long time no see." The tiny pug grunted.
Sakura and Neji jumped as the dog spoke. Naruto would have too, if he hadn't known the pug from training under Kakashi.
"Everyone, this is Pakkun, a Leaf Ninja Hound that trained with Kakashi." Kushina introduced delicately. She knew how touchy some of Kakashi's dogs could get. Trained WITH and not Trained BY was one of them.
"Hey kiddos."
"H-Hello…" Sakura stared back. Neji and Naruto gave a nod.
"Pakkun, how are you able to be here? Who summoned you?" Guy asked, giving his rival's dog a hard look while Anko and Kushina scanned the area for another person.
"Kakashi was able to summon me. Believe it or not, he got some of his chakra back. He wanted me to relay some information to you."
"What is it?" Guy asked, eagerly wanting to know the information from his rival and how in the hell he got his chakra back.
"He will meet you at the second Checkpoint with or without Sasuke tomorrow. He wants me to stay with you guys just in case he has to track my scent with the other hounds. That's it."
Anko sighed. "Okay, but I don't see how he's going to make it in time. We're going to have to wait on our butts until he gets there."
"He'll make it, Anko. That's just the kind of man Kakashi is. I bet you that he'll get there even before us! But I won't let him win! Let's go!" Guy burst out. Naruto and Neji groaned.
"Can-it, Guy! Give us a break! We are not super-human." Kushina snapped then glanced at Sakura as she approached her.
"Kushina-san? Do you have any dressings? Neji-san got hurt." Sakura asked.
"Sure, Sakura-chan. Here, you better hold onto this." Kushina put down her bag and pulled out a first aid kit. She handed it to Sakura with a wink. The pink haired girl's eyes widened. Had Kushina heard her and Naruto talk last night?!
She took it with shaking hands and scampered back over to Neji. She sat him down on a boulder and took his hand gently to examine it. Naruto watched.
Sakura was focused on wrapping the wound while Neji told her just where his chakra was cut off.
You know…she's pretty cute after all. She's just more gentle and kind.
Naruto's eyes widened when he thought that to himself and looked sharply away when Sakura looked up at him, feeling his stare on her.
WHAT was he thinking?! Just because the light shone on Sakura's face just right, he was having these thoughts?! Sure she looked very caring, but soon she'll just become shy again and only think about Sasuke. He didn't need that!
I gotta keep other-Naruto's feelings away from mine. He's the one who liked that crazy Sakura, not me! That's dangerous thinking, Naruto!
He shook his head as he walked away back towards the adults and Pakkun.
"Naruto, come with me and Anko. We're going to set traps for ninja and game to eat tonight. We'll reach the next Checkpoint by tomorrow." Kushina told him.
"Okay, where are we heading?" Naruto asked.
"The river nearby."
Chapter End
Sorry again that it took this long!
Naruto's dream-memories have been revealed, along with a few other surprises. It all makes Naruto conflicted about Sakura, who is 90% better than the other Sakura.
As for the 'ghost' Tailed beast, what is The Beasts' Den and who is Lapis?
Kakashi and Sasuke should now be on their way.
But what about Hinata and Obito?
Next Chapter: The Fox and Bird Hunt