A/N: Hey. So I missed last week. For some reason or rather for the last three chapters I always write the chapter on Saturday. It's either procrastination, deletion or a rewrite. In that order.

Now I have an idea. As a little gift to y'all I have a thing to do for these author notes. A little section where I just give some writing advice. Take with a grain of salt. Some of it is professional advice that I've taken from YT videos while others are just me.

I'll start small. Write that fanfic in your head. Do it. No matter how unpolished it may seem. Someone out there is gon read it and enjoy it. That's all it is, ladies and gentlemen, a leap of faith. Anyways onto the story.

This is I from when the chapter is coming out. My phone's screen said fuck you and is now rapidly turning black. My phone is where I write this. So for now. This fic is on hiatus while I get a new screen. I don't know how long that will be.

Enjoy this chapter though.

She fully believed they were going to clash their forearms again. She had braced for the feeling of skin on skin contact and the minor toll it would take on her body when she was forced to a stop.

Instead it seemed like Naruto had learned from his previous experience and twisted his body out of reach a second before they were to clash.

Persea's eyes widened. She stomped her foot on the ground to stop her momentum. She turned to her opponent, already knowing it was too late.

The kick snapped her neck to the side and her cheek was overwhelmed with a stinging feeling one could only get with a hit on the face. She stumbled sideways from the force. Her hands instinctively came up to her cheek to nurse it.

She ran her tongue on the inside of the spot, almost instinctively. The skin felt bloated on her face. She could feel the bruise forming already.

She turned back to her opponent. He was smiling. A smile so infuriatingly smug that Persea almost charged at him right then and there. She took a deep breath and focused. It wouldn't do if she were to get upset.

From that brief interaction she'd discerned his advantages. She was strong, stronger than him but he made up for that in speed, technique and stamina. If the fight continued like this she would lose without even landing a hit. She didn't want to lose. Especially if it wasn't a workout for him.

She wouldn't be able to bridge the gap in technique or stamina but maybe she could do so in speed. She needed time though if she wanted to do that. Something he wasn't going to allow.

Left with no other option; she charged, this time with her right elbow as her attacking body part. Naruto moved his head out of the way and to the right. She smirked. She shot out her arm out of its folded state on her elbow and moved it to his face.

Unfortunately for her, he had no problems dodging that as well. He leaned back and her arm sailed over his head. At the same time he brought his leg up, gripped her arm so she couldn't escape, and launched an upward kick at her jaw.

She barely moved her head out of the way. Once the leg was back down she immediately went on the offensive. Her hands were still being held and she didn't want to take a chance with her legs so she did the next best thing. Her head.

Naruto was two steps ahead of her though. He jumped into a backflip as she moved in. His leg made contact with her jaw, with the click of teeth clashing coming right after. He let her go and nailed the backflip. She was sent a few feet off the ground, surprising them both.

His first hit had sent her stumbling but now he was able to send her flying, even with gravity working against him.

The force sent her into her own backflip but hers didn't end up so well. She landed on the floor with a deafening thud. Her breath was thrown out of her lungs and her chest burst into pain. She took a few seconds to catch her breath.

She was about to get up before a light bulb flickered in her brain.

She stayed on the ground and pretended like she was hurt more than she was, withering on the ground and pretending like her ribs had broken or something. Truly? Most of it really wasn't a show. That hit hurt, okay?

Her trick had the intended effect of making Naruto pause. He wouldn't come close to help her but he wouldn't attack her either. Too much of a risk.

The idea was solid but it had one major problem. Naruto would sense her actions way before she was done. An issue she had no solution to but she had no other choice. She wasn't going to lose.

Her withering stopped. The first indication to him that something was wrong. Her closed eyes were the next. He took a step forward. Persea cursed her inexperience. Hare had told her she was going to get faster at doing, that she wouldn't need the visualization but that wasn't today.

Naruto took another step forward.

She stopped her complaints and focused on her task. There were only ten steps between them. A ten steps she couldn't waste like she'd done the previous two.

Her surroundings shifted. Instead of the dark walls of shut eyes she was in a lush area. She didn't stop and admire the sight like she always did but instead rushed to the center. A large tank sat there. Massive taps, each with holes larger than her head, adorned its sides. Each leading to a shallow stream. She approached the nearest one. It didn't matter where she got it but that she did.

Loud thuds started approaching her. She couldn't see him approaching but she could hear and feel it. Naruto finally seemed to notice what she was doing. She twirled the taps until they couldn't move anymore. Torrents upon torrents of water rushed out the taps. She looked at the streams they were going to. Streams she had to get full to win.

She took a moment to open her real eyes to see Naruto's location. He was but three steps away. His arm was raised for a punch. If she stopped now he wouldn't allow her to continue later. She closed her eyes and went to check for progress. The streams weren't even halfway. She would be hard pressed to say they were quarter. Naruto took another step.

If she left the taps open they could-.. actually she didn't know what would happen. If she left it for too long then she would rid her tank of all its water. Along with it just not being practical to pump that much into her system. Not only did it mean that she wouldn't have any chakra to use for anything else, it also meant that she would kill Naruto. Yeah not happening.

But if she did open it for a bit then she could fight while gaining chakra. She opened her eyes. Naruto was a step away. Too late for her to react.

Her body moved by its own accord.

Her arms, pumped heavy with chakra, pushed her off the ground and into their air in a stellar spinning backflip. Her eyes met Naruto's as she sailed over him, both looking up at each other. She twisted her body around, with the help of his shoulder, so she was looking at the back of his head and her legs were facing the ground. She wasn't done yet though. She put her hand underneath his chin, around his neck, removing all traces of chakra from her arm. She landed on her feet. She twirled so she was facing forward again and pumped loads of chakra into her arm.

With a shout she released the chakra in that arm in an explosive burst that sent Naruto flying. She smiled and turned off the tap.

The water, chakra, in her veins was enough.

Naruto bounced on the ground for a few minutes before landing on the wall with a loud crash

She imagined that she had him down for a bit but he immediately came up, rubbing his throat. She stepped back. Her eyebrows rose up to her forehead. "How?" she asked. Naruto looked quite puzzled too but didn't give her the courtesy of a response.

He instead started matching towards her. Once again her body moved on its own but instead of attack she leaned into a fighting stance. Her hands were curled into fists. Thumb outside this time. Her body did not feel like it was primed to attack but to counter. A style she never thought of using.

Naruto paused. He turned his head to the side but didn't question it outwardly. He kept moving forward. She waited. Naruto started charging again. This time he didn't betray where he was going to attack.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened them. He was in front of her now.

He threw a punch though her eyes noticed his leg tensing. A feint. She still dodged the punch, just in case. Just as thought, a kick was launched to her side. She smiled and grabbed the leg from midair. She lifted her other arm over his knee.

Naruto's pupils shrunk to pinpricks and he jumped with his other leg and shot it to her face. The arm that was lifted came to block it. He used her arm as leverage and pushed away from her. She followed.

Naruto dodged the first hit. She followed up with a knee to his chest. He blocked, something that wasn't an option a few minutes ago. She snarled. She wasn't going to lose her strength advantage.

Her next punch had chakra in it. Naruto noticed that. He tilted to the left. She continued moving towards him. He clearly wasn't expecting that. She shot out her leg, ballerina style, to his chin, all of her available chakra stacked into it.

His head barely moved out of the way. Tilted to the side. She brought her leg back down, releasing a little burst to increase the speed. Her leg connected with his shoulder with a satisfying pop. She expected him to crumble but he didn't and gripped her leg in its held up state.

Oh. Fuck. . . . Gabe. That's your answer.

He squatted, hand held up so her leg wouldn't fall that much. He then kicked out her other leg. A split. She couldn't do a split.

Her hips exploded in pain. Naruto let go of her leg, realizing his mistake. She immediately crumpled on the ground. She folded into herself. She made an indescribable hissing sound with her lips. Naruto bent down to her level.

"I'm so sorry. It wasn't on purpose, I swear." At her questioning look he elaborated."When I'm fighting I like- it's- Argh!" He paused, taking a minute to collect his thoughts

"Fuck, this is hard to explain." Neither he or her reacted to his cursing.

"When I'm fighting someone I don't see them- let me explain," he said at her open mouth. "I just react to their movements in the best way for me to win. It doesn't matter who it is. I'll just react and stuff. If- if that makes sense."

She groaned on the ground. He knelt next to her. Nervousness briefly gone. "So, do I win?"

That brought her to attention. "Hell no!" she growled.

"I mean you are kind of down right now…" The unspoken message was unspoken.

"I'm just watching.. stuff"

"What? The wall?"

She glared at him. "You know what? I'm actually just catching my breath. You know- 'stop and smell the roses' kind of stuff."

A snort. "Your story.. uh.. seems to be shifting. Dontcha think?"

She groaned on the ground again. "Help me up then." He opened his mouth to say something snarky but she interrupted, "I swear if you don't help me up; I will turn you into a popsicle on the wall."

He laughed. "A popsicle?" She nodded her head affirmatively. He rolled his eyes but put his arms underneath her armpits. She pushed off the ground as he lifted her, connecting her head with his jaw. His head was forced straight up with a click.

She backpedaled to get away from him. "Payback," she quipped. Naruto looked back at her with a downright murderous expression.

"That was dirty," he complained.

"How does that saying go? All's fair in love and war? Something like that."

He shook his head exasperatedly but focused back on the battle. An excited smile spread across her lips. She was actually enjoying this.

She nullified the distance between them. She threw a kick to the side of his head. He dodged. He threw a hook. She blocked.

Attacks were thrown by each of them, none of them connecting cleanly. Her back pressed on a door. Her attention was briefly brought to that fact. Naruto used that moment to launch a flurry of punches at her.

A few connected before she could react. She moved backwards. Past the width of the door. Naruto launched at her with a punch. She could dodge or block but she decided to do the the coolest option. She gripped the handle of the door and opened it. Naruto's fist connected with solid oak. The door slightly cracked. She rose an eyebrow.

"Showboat," he said, going around the open door and approaching her.

"How are you getting stronger?" she asked instead. He looked down at his arms.

"I don't know. How are you learning fighting techniques?"She shrugged. Fair point. They both tensed their legs.

They were close enough that she didn't need to leap or do any fancy thing to reach him. He threw an elbow. She grabbed it and pulled him close, shooting out her back. It connected and she used his momentum to help her with flipping him over.

He wasn't allowing that and curved his body so he would land on his feet. He then grabbed her and went for his own flip. Before she was even above him she had kicked off of him and flown back. Naruto smirked and ran to catch up to her

Persea looked back to where she was going to land, trying to formulate a plan. The door was blocking her path. Naruto was now by said door. Leg tensed for a kick when she inevitably slid down the door. She hit the door with a thud, causing more cracks. She didn't notice.

Naruto was covering all avenues of escape. His position was in a position that she wouldn't be able to jump off to the front or right. To her back was the door and to her left was the hallway leading to the stairs.

She chose the latter option and jumped into the hallway. Naruto gaped. She was like the tide; unpredictable. She liked that. It sounded poetic.

Naruto didn't let his surprise show for longer than a second and followed after. Her feet barely touched the floor before she had to jump back to avoid a jab.

She scaled a massive distance, going almost to the stairs. Naruto made it look like a measly step. He threw a palm at her face. She ducked. A knee. She went even lower. She swept her foot at the only leg he had on the ground. He jumped over her, launching a kick at her head.

It connected. Her head was forced down. Naruto landed on the other side and prepared a kick for her back. She attacked before he could launch it. He was forced to move back. She pressed on.

They were now by the staircase. It was a looming thing on their right. Persea knew if she were to fall there she would die or get very hurt. She doubted that Naruto would survive either. They didn't relocate the fight. Too focused on the thrill.

He caught her in the gut. She was suspended in the air. A combo of punches was thrown into her midriff, each sending her a bit higher. A kick to the chin finished the combo and sent her flying back.

She landed on the ground. Immediately her feet landed on the ground she released a burst of chakra from her legs to breach the distance.

Attack, block. Attack, dodge.

Thus the cycle continued for the next few minutes. None of them getting the upper arm for longer than a few seconds.

He crouched. Hand outstretched to hit her stomach. He didn't get the chance to.

Her knee impacted his jaw with a loud click and pop. He staggered back. His back connected with the wooden post things. Those balcony-esque things that would allow you to look directly below your location by bending over it. Those things.

With a start she realized; he had nowhere to go. She would reach him wherever he went before he could do anything. And he wasn't tall enough to easily get past the wooden post things behind him. And that was not considering how dangerous that would be. If the stairs closer could kill him, the ones farther down could definitely do that. Either way; he wouldn't try it. This was, as dramatic as it ended up being, was just a spar.

A spar that she'd won.

A sigh escaped her lips. All the tenseness escaped her. She put her hands down and got out of her stance. She approached, hands open for a hug. She was sappy like that. "That was a pretty good workout, don't you think?"

Naruto didn't respond. Her arms fell to her sides as concern filled her instead of happiness. She hoped she hadn't gotten him more upset. "Don't you need to like move your jaw back in place?" she asked, instead, "Like.. wouldn't it get healed that way and mess up your talking and stuff?"

He didn't respond again. She approached quicker. "Are you okay, dude?" He didn't respond again. "I'm sorry if I made you upset and all that. We can have another spar. Later, obviously. I'm not in the best of shape."

He didn't respond.

The sound of a thousand birds chirping sounded in his ears. The valley lit up in a blue hue. The water sparkled with color. Naruto could see the afternoon sun going down below the horizon. The sky was green instead of its usual blue.

He was on the head of the First Hokage this time. Each time this scene played in his head he was in a different area of the valley of the end.

Sasuke charged like a bull at him, accursed sharingan eyes looking pained and regretful. Naruto pursed his lips. He'd chosen his side. He couldn't act somber now. He'd chosen power and revenge over him. That was fine. But he pretended like he cared. That pissed him off.

Unlike most times he could move. He watched Sasuke approach him. He waited until Sasuke was right in front of him, that's when he moved. His body and mind refused to go through that pain again. He crouched. Sasuke ran into his shoulder. A squeak of pain. He didn't allow him to stay there and diverted him past his shoulder and off the valley. The weight was a bit lighter than expected so he slightly overshot it.

He turned to look at Sasuke falling. He would be fine.

Naruto waited until he would stop his decline. By chakra or ninja tools, Naruto didn't care. He just knew he would. He didn't.

A small sliver of panic filled his lungs. An urge to help him pulled at his mind. He forced it down. Even if he didn't stop himself, he would be fine.

So Naruto waited. Sasuke was falling at incredible speeds. Uneasiness filled his gut like a full course meal. The valley almost seemed to shrink under his gaze. Bile filled his throat. The water seemed to rise up as Sasuke fell to it.

He didn't move. Sasuke hit the water. Not with a splash but a loud crack. Naruto furrowed his eyebrows. Sasuke didn't submerge but descended. Like platforms following the other.

Naruto jumped down to check up on Sasuke. His legs wobbled on the landing. He paid that no mind. Why hadn't he done anything? Sasuke wasn't suicidal. Naruto knew he wouldn't allow himself to die before he completed his goals.

He couldn't bear seeing Sasuke die again.

He landed next to the body. The floors felt solid under his feet. Sasuke looked smaller from here. His hair was longer too.

The water changed color. A dark wood brown replaced the blue waves. The valley tightened around him. The color all the while fading to a painted white. Sasuke's clothes shifted.

Naruto felt understanding creep into his heart. Thick dread followed after. Masses of panic accompanying it like tartar sauce with fish. His heart beat felt a little louder in his chest.

The facàde of Sasuke Uchiha faded and Persea Jackson was the body before him.

"No, no, no," he whispered so quietly that it could be mistaken for wind. He gripped her shoulders and brought her up. He put his ear to her green lips. The universe didn't grant him the courtesy of a breath.

He put his head to her chest. Over her heart.

A beat passed. Her chest stayed unmoving under his head. The sound and feel of a beating heart was all he yearned for now.

Nothing.

Her head was dyed pink. His head was by her chest. The dampness on that area was not her blood. He gripped her closer. Persea's body moved like a ragdoll. Her head fell to his shoulders. A wail broke from his throat.

Creak

Thud. Thud.

Naruto's head shot up. The dull thud of footsteps echo below him. Loud chatter and laughter.

Naruto rose in attention. Confusion made space for dread. Panic gripped around his neck in a vice grip. He prodded at Persea's body. Her body was cold to the touch. How long had he been there? The stairs were completely covered in darkness. He could barely see his own fingers in front of him. Had he been here till evening?

"Come on!" he hoarsely whispered. It was futile. He knew that.

He pressed his ear to her lips once again. Not even a faint idea of a breath. He gulped. The footsteps approached closer. They were by the door. Sally and his mother.

At the first name, he bristled. How would he explain this? He knew how Sally would react. He wouldn't blame her. He couldn't.

The second name brought a question. He imagined his mother. Who had raised him, given him a home. Things he had fantasized about back in the Hidden Leaf. She'd bought him sweets, showered him in attention and love.

He could trust her. He could trust her with this… she would understand.

Naruto's body still twitched.

Trust was like a blade. Once you broke it, it was an arduous process to fix it and even then it would never be the same.

He separated his mother from Hare. Something he had failed to do for the last month. He had fallen back to his perception of her as his mother. He'd trained with her. When he should have been foaming at the mouth, cursing her out.

Hare Natit had lied to him. Broke his trust. Fuck any reasons she had. She'd lied to him about his family. She hadn't even brought it up again. Try to apologize or anything that could make him think of her in a good light.

How could he trust her after that?

If he were to stay would depend on the answer to that one question.

When the two women opened the door; Naruto Uzumaki was gone.