...
Who's reality is it?
...
The day had been quiet after the events of the last couple of days. They had all done their best to keep up with Jiraiya as he set a fast pace all morning until suddenly, he dropped to the ground to look around.
"Naruto, what do you see over there?" Jiraiya asked, pointing between the trees in the distance as he took out some supplies from a sealing scroll.
"I think it's an Anbu sitting in a tree, but he looks asleep or something," Naruto said as the girls came up behind him to get a look for themselves.
Hinata activated her Byakugan and focused all her attention on the figure before moving over to Jiraiya. She seemed shocked as she placed a hand on his shoulder to make him pause in whatever he was working on.
"He's not breathing. How can an Anbu just die like that? There are no wounds or signs of a fight," added Hinata, trying to come to terms with this new reality.
"There are a lot of jutsu that don't leave a mark," Sakura mentioned while shielding her eyes to get a better look.
Standing tall, Jiraiya took out a quill and scroll and drew a seal on the paper before forcing chakra into it and dropping it on the ground. The lines of the seal quickly spread out in front of them in a latticework of lines, more like a spider's web than a seal. As the lines moved forward, they all stopped as if hitting an unseen barrier, and in a flash, the seal leaped into the air, forming a glowing wall in a great arch.
"That is the forward edge of the genjutsu fog. It's too thin to see with the naked eye, but it's clearly having an effect," explained Jiraiya again, pointing at the dead Anbu.
Ino spun around and faced the legendary Sannin, saying, "You don't think everybody is dead in the village, do you? Did we do all this for nothing?" Her voice was rising as panic crept into her tone.
"Don't get your panties in a knot. From what we could find at the adventurers club, this genjutsu is meant to keep everyone in a dream state as it takes over the world before siphoning all the chakra into itself for whatever its ultimate plan is," said Jiraiya, his voice steady and reassuring.
Walking up to the glowing wall, Naruto put out his hand as it slowly moved toward them. They all watched as the Fox chakra and the barrier glowed even brighter until Naruto leaned back.
"The fox said he can force his way in, but whatever is making this will know we are coming," said Naruto, shaking his hand to cool it down after getting overheated from the chakra battle.
Staring at the moving wall of chakra as it slowly made its way to them, Jiraiya had his full attention on it, as if this was another bikini contest. Until, with a grin, he turned to them, saying, "I have a plan, but it's going to require you to trust me in this."
"Any plan that starts with 'trust me' is a bad plan," said Ino, crossing her arms over her chest.
"We should give Master Jiraiya a chance before we judge him," said Sakura, not wanting to agree with her rival.
Jiraiya didn't seem to care for what any of them said as he once again started drawing on a scroll, this time in fine detail. It began to look more like a piece of art than a seal. His brushwork was so detailed it looked like it was going to come alive. Pausing, he studied his work and added one or two more swirls to the middle and edges. Then, taking a step back, he took off his overcoat and pulled off his shirt, displaying the physique of a much younger man. He was well-muscled and toned, far from the old pervert he pretended to be.
"Okay, kids, stand back; this may not work," and with those words, Jiraiya held the scroll out in front of himself and sent a burst of chakra into the paper. The seal glowed brightly for a second and then leaped off the scroll onto his chest. At first, it seemed to burn into his skin before appearing as a black tattoo across his chest. Not one to wait, he walked up to, and then straight into, the glowing wall of chakra. It seemed to bulge around him and then, with an audible pop, he was through it to the other side.
His playful wave back at them did nothing to make them feel any safer as he walked back to them to pull his shirt and overcoat back on.
"It's a bubble shield or seal, call it what you will, but it keeps the foreign chakra from entering your body. Now, take your shirts off so I can get to work," said Jiraiya, picking up his brush and inkwell.
"See, I told you, never trust someone who says 'trust me'," said Ino, backing away.
With her eyes glowing and the veins around her eyes bulging, Hinata stared at Jiraiya and then the chakra wall. Then, with a long sigh, she said, "He is right, the seal needs to be on the skin to work," and, to everyone's great surprise, she reached back and untied her top, letting it drop to the ground, soon followed by her bra.
Now fully bare from the waist up, she said, "Don't just stand there, get this over with," as Jiraiya did his best not to grin and started to draw the same seal lines over her chest and down onto her breasts. Soon, she started to look more dressed than not as the lines covered her in an intricate display of skill and art.
"Do you think she is bigger than me? I don't think so, do you?", said Ino, turning to Sakura.
A light blush covered Sakura's face as she said, "Ino, you're a pig."
Laughing, Ino said, "Oh, poor Sakura, the one thing you never learned from your master was the enlargement jutsu," with these words, Ino had to jump behind Naruto as Sakura looked like she was ready for round two of their fight.
"Ino, stop playing around," said Naruto, who had been looking everywhere but at Hinata, not wanting to get into any trouble.
"Okay, here goes nothing," said Jiraiya, placing his hand on Hinata's breastbone and sending a burst of chakra into the seal. He seemed to have learned a thing or two from his first attempt as this time there was no burning, only a bright glow that soon faded, leaving Hinata looking like a member of the Yakuza.
"Now, who is next?" said Jiraiya, and to his and Ino's surprise, it was Sakura who stepped forward, stripping down to stand in front of the old pervert. Her eyes were glaring at him as if daring him to say something about his figure.
"You know, she does have a nice little set on her, don't you think, Naruto?" said Ino into Naruto's ear, making him turn and look. Seeing a half-naked Sakura getting painted in the middle of the forest brought out some fantasies he didn't even know he had, as he couldn't pull his eyes away from her.
As soon as the flash of chakra faded, and Sakura pulled on her clothes, Ino walked over with a sway to her hips and a grin on her face. "I guess it's my turn. Be gentle; it's my first time," she said, trying to break the somber mood that seemed to be everywhere.
Watching Ino get painted, Sakura moved to stand next to her. Without looking at him, she said, "I hope you enjoyed yourself." Then, seeing Naruto not taking his eyes off Ino, she huffed and walked away, kicking an unsuspecting tree, knocking it down with a crash of leaves and dirt.
Unlike most seals, this one didn't fade away once active, and Ino seemed to like the look as she was in no hurry to get dressed. She walked over to Naruto, running a finger down her chest as if to draw his eyes to her.
"I like the look, what do you think?" she said, her voice carrying a hint of seduction, as her eyes locked onto Naruto's.
Naruto, feeling a rush of emotions and conflict within him, nervously licked his lips. He couldn't deny the allure of Ino's new appearance. With a deep breath, he walked over to Jiraiya, removing his shirt. This time, Jiraiya had him turn around, carefully inscribing the seal on Naruto's skin to avoid overlapping it with the one he already had sealing in the Fox.
The air was charged with tension as the intricate patterns of the sealing jutsu marked the trio's bodies, forever altering their appearances. The forest seemed to hold its breath, mirroring the intensity of the moment, and with a flash Naruto joined them ready to move past the barrier and save the village.
…
Peering out of the underbrush the group looked at the mighty walls of the village and its main gate wide open allowing any and all to simply walk in. The chunin gate guard seemed to be sleeping and as Naruto remembered that wasn't any different than any other day he walked past them.
"I don't see anything different.", said Naruto looking at the people moving around the gate and into the village.
"Oh really then what do you call that.", said Ino pointing past his shoulder at a girl carrying a basket upside down as she walked into the wall next to the gate and backed up and doing it again and again as if she was stuck in a loop.
"Ya that isn't normal.", said Sakura
"Let's go, kids. We have a village to save," Jiraiya said, his attempt at cheer falling flat on them as they proceeded into the village, unchallenged.
As they walked through the market, a surreal scene greeted them. Fresh fruits were haphazardly displayed next to week-old rotten baskets as if the shopkeeper didn't know any better. Shoppers wandered about aimlessly, their vacant expressions locked onto stalls without any intention of making purchases before they eventually headed home.
The oppressive atmosphere of the genjutsu fog weighed heavily on them, pressing against their seals in an attempt to subdue their willpower and weaken them into inaction. They were surrounded by a village in a collective trance, and the challenge to anyone that was still awake felt like a lost cause.
Maybe Sasuke or Kakashi Sensei are still awake?" Naruto suggested, his attention drawn to a ninja who inexplicably fell from a building, seemingly forgetting how to use chakra.
"It's worth a shot, and then we head to the old man. If the Third is still able to see through this genjutsu, then we have a chance," Jiraiya proposed, leading them down a side street toward the Uchiha compound.
After a few minutes of searching, they realized that their old sensei and teammate were nowhere to be found. Sasuke's house was in shambles as if a crazed twelve-year-old had been living there, wreaking havoc in a fit of anger.
"If they had planned to train using the Chidori, wouldn't they have gone outside of the village?" Hinata questioned as she examined a wet scroll with some writing about the Chidori.
Leaving the village behind, they ventured into the mountains. There, they discovered Kakashi and Sasuke training. Sasuke repeatedly shouted "Chidori" while striking his fist into the rock face. Strangely, there was no chakra in his hand, and upon closer inspection, they found his hand was a bloody mess of flesh and broken bones.
Meanwhile, Kakashi sat on a rock, holding his little orange book upside down and gazing at a blank page, seemingly ignoring Sasuke's self-inflicted punishment.
"Sasuke, stop! You're ruining your hand," Sakura shouted as she rushed over to restrain the raven-haired boy. With her intervention, Sasuke turned to look at her with a blank expression, as though he had never seen her before.
"Kakashi, we need your help," Jiraiya declared, taking the book from the Jonin's hand. To their astonishment, even the theft of his beloved book failed to elicit a reaction from Kakashi, who continued to stare blankly at the spot where the book had once been.
"We can't save them right now," Jiraiya stated, his voice laced with a sense of helplessness. He knew that attempting to wake them up and heal Sasuke in this state would be futile, and their priority was breaking free from the genjutsu's grip.
With a heavy heart, Sakura withdrew from Sasuke leaving him to once again walk into the rock face but at least now he was using his hand but his face to challenge the wall.
"This isn't good; he is going to kill himself if he keeps doing that," said Ino, pointing over at Sasuke. Hinata didn't hesitate and, with a dozen quick strikes, dropped Sasuke to the ground.
"That should keep him down for the rest of the day. If we win, he will wake up sore; if not, then we all die anyway," she added, walking past them all, and heading back to the village.
Back in the village, they walked right past all the guards in the Hokage's tower, and without a single knock on the door, they walked into the Hokage's office. They found the Hokage staring out the window, smoking his pipe as paperwork piled up around him undone.
Like Kakashi, not remembering anything of the Forest of Death's tower battle, the Hokage was lost in thought as he stared out over the village he had protected for the last 50 years. His gaze was a thousand miles away, looking into the past, lost. He was lost to the here and now, a powerful shinobi unable to break free of a genjutsu that at its core only commanded them to rest, to take it easy.
"Hokage!" yelled out Jiraiya, "Hey, old man, wake up." He yelled, but to no effect, as the three young shinobi stood behind him in shock that the most powerful person they had known all their lives was frozen in place with a cloud of tobacco smoke floating around his head.
"We have to go this alone," said Naruto, more to himself than to the others, as the feeling of being overwhelmed not by the genjutsu but by his own internal doubts weighed on him.
"We head to the Forest of Death now before this gets any stronger," said Jiraiya as he leaped out the window in a shower of glass and broken hopes, with his three companions close behind.
Towering trees with thick, ancient trunks stretched towards the sky, their canopies forming a dense, leafy ceiling that cast dappled shadows on the forest floor. The sheer size of these trees was awe-inspiring their branches filled with the lost dreams of all those that had to fight to the death for the title of Chunin.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the team encountered an assortment of creatures. Massive spiders with intricate, shimmering webs hung like monstrous tapestries between trees, their eight-legged creators lurking nearby. Snakes, some thicker than tree trunks, slithered through the underbrush, their eyes alert and tongues flicking in and out to taste the air. Birds of prey circled overhead, their shadows passing over the group as they leaped from one massive tree to another.
The forest was teeming with life, from the smallest insects to the largest predators. They could hear the croaking of frogs near a murky pond, see the quick darting of lizards on the forest floor, and even spot the occasional glimpse of a squirrel or raccoon-like creature scrambling through the branches each as large as a man. It was a stark contrast with the eerie silence that hung over the village.
"Naruto, take the lead, you know where that cave is,", said Jiraiya knowing that Naruto had lost hundreds of his shadow clones in his last fight at the cave.
Taking the lead, Naruto's new goal was to locate the cave deep within the forest, the place holding the creature responsible for the genjutsu ensnaring the village. They knew they were getting closer when they stumbled upon a clearing, an unusual break in the dense forest where the towering trees gave way to a rocky outcrop. The ground was littered with leaves and moss, and the lifeless bodies of shinobi who had wandered too close. The air was tainted with the faint aroma of damp earth and death.
They could see the entrance to a cave, partially concealed by the landslide from Naruto's last battle, but it had been cleared and was now open to the world again. Within that cave lay the source of the genjutsu, the creature manipulating not only the village but also the rest of the shinobi world. As they moved towards it, their hearts raced, the pressure of the genjutsu growing stronger. The seals painted on their bodies at first turned warm, then hot as the lines etched into their skin began to burn.
"Fuck!" Ino's voice carried through the cave, a raw expression of pain and frustration as they stood at the cave entrance. She frantically clawed at her shirt, the lines on her skin radiating a faint, eerie blue light that intensified the sensation, akin to the torment of a sunburn, a sunburn from falling asleep in the sun for eight hours. "Is it supposed to hurt this much, old man?" Her pointed question at Jiraiya's back went unanswered as he ventured deeper into the cave.
The cave's passages twisted and turned, like the convoluted corridors of a nightmare. The eerie ambiance surrounding them seemed to feed on their fears, amplifying their apprehension with each step.
The rocky walls exuded an unsettling darkness as if they absorbed the malevolent energy seeping from the very heart of the cave. The air felt thick with ancient evil, a tangible sense of dread that clung to their skin like a slim dripping off a decaying body.
Their footsteps echoed ominously through the chamber as if the cave itself whispered tales of long-forgotten horrors. Shadows twisted into grotesque, nightmarish shapes, defying rational explanation as there was no light but the glow from their own skin.
Despite the excruciating pain and discomfort that gnawed at them, they pressed on, learning to control fear was one of the first lessons back in the academy. Each step led them further into the depths, closer to the source of the genjutsu and the sinister power that had ensnared their village.
As they ventured deeper into the labyrinthine cave, they couldn't help but wonder what unspeakable horrors awaited them in the shadows and whether they could emerge victorious against this evil force that lurked within, ready to consume their very souls.
"You said there was a portal or pool of some kind?", asked the legendary Sannin as he pulled the jug containing the Sword of Totsuka out of his coat and gripped the handle.
Do you mean that thing?" Sakura's voice trembled as she peered around the corner and laid eyes on the sinister, glowing pool suspended in the air. Its eerie radiance cast elongated shadows that danced menacingly across the uneven cave walls, filling the chamber with an otherworldly, haunting ambiance.
Jiraiya's grip on the jug tightened, his knuckles turning white as he felt the gravity of the situation intensified. The Sword of Totsuka held immense power, but he knew it was only one weapon against an evil that defied comprehension. It was as if the very essence of dread had taken physical form in the heart of the cave, and they were about to confront it head-on.
"What's the plan?" Naruto's voice was firm as he positioned himself at the front, ready to unleash an army of clones, even as they could only die to slow down whatever lay on the other side of the ominous portal.
Sakura joined Naruto, her eyes fixed on the swirling, black pool that was the gateway. "The scrolls in the library mentioned that this is a portal between worlds, a place that exists beyond time and space," she explained, her voice steady as she tried to hide her fear.
Jiraiya took charge as he pointed towards the portal. "The source of the chakra is in there," he stated. "We have to go in, find it, and stop it. Hinata, stay by my side and be ready to pick up the Sword of Totsuka. Naruto, I'll need you to flood the area with clones once we cross over. And you two, girls, do your best to stay alive."
With a sense of flair and a touch of showmanship, Jiraiya reached into his coat and retrieved a large scroll. He unfurled it dramatically, creating a pathway that extended from their current location to the ominous threshold of the portal. Placing his hand firmly onto the seal, he ignited it with the natural energy he had been infusing into it over the past few days. A fierce battle between darkness and natural energy erupted within the cave. However, as the light surged, it forced the darkness back, clearing an untouched path to the portal.
The black tentacles that had reached out to them as they walked toward the portal turned to dust upon contact with the chakra-infused pathway.
Pausing at the simmering pool of ever-changing colors, they all took a deep breath. Then, as one, they leaped into the darkness with only their unwavering conviction and Naruto's boundless optimism propelling them forward.
"Where are we?", said Ino as she looked around, the ground beneath their feet was a living nightmare. It writhed and pulsated as if it were made of the flesh of some colossal, otherworldly beast. It emitted a low, guttural moan that reverberated through their very souls. Each step they took sent shivers down their spines as if the earth itself were alive and filled with evil.
The flora and fauna of this horrifying world were distorted and monstrous. Trees with gnarled branches resembled skeletal hands reaching out to ensnare the unwary. Their leaves were a sickly shade of green, and their bark oozed a noxious, toxic substance. The eerie whisper of the leaves sounded like a chorus of tormented souls.
Bizarre and grotesque creatures roamed the nightmarish landscape. They had twisted and deformed bodies, their shapes defying any sense of logic or reason. Some had mutilated wings that flapped erratically, their movements jerky and unsettling. Others slithered along the ground, leaving a trail of foul slime behind them.
A river of oozing, viscous liquid cut through this horror show. Its surface was a swirling maelstrom of unnatural colors, resembling a river of blood and poison. Foul odors emanated from the river, and grotesque aquatic monstrosities swam beneath its surface, their forms contorted and horrifying.
The very air was filled with discordant and dissonant sounds, as if tortured souls were crying out in agony. Unseen horrors whispered dark secrets and malevolent incantations.
"This looked like the forest of death from a thousand worlds all in one place", said Sakura thinking more along the lines of a doctor or a scientist.
"Is that a moon or a sun.", said Naruto looking up between the trees. The world was full of a gray light that washed all the color from their clothes but still allowed the landscape its own colors.
As they moved further into the surreal and nightmarish landscape, the group couldn't shake the feeling that something ominous lurked nearby. The very air seemed to hum with tension, and the psychedelic monsters rippled with an eerie energy all around them.
The forest around them continued to twist and warp, and strange, ghostly figures darted between the distorted trees. The dissonant melodies in the air grew more intense, making their heads spin.
Suddenly, Naruto's sensitive instincts kicked in. He felt a disturbance in the dream world, a presence approaching. It was as if the very ground beneath them trembled in anticipation.
Sakura's heart raced, and she clutched her fists, her knuckles turning white. Jiraiya, normally confident and composed, looked on edge, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Then, out of the nightmarish landscape, it emerged—a nightmarish, shifting, and indistinct form. It was a half-formed Ten-Tails, a grotesque entity that defied logic and reason. Its appearance was a chaotic fusion of shapes and colors, an embodiment of madness and terror.
The dream-like world itself seemed to pulse with the Ten-Tails' presence. Trees contorted into monstrous shapes, and the ground quivered beneath their feet. The landscape churned and roiled as if reacting to the monstrosity's arrival.
With each step the creature took, the very fabric of the dream world twisted and contorted around it. The once-happy and psychedelic atmosphere turned into a nightmarish realm of horror and despair.
As the half-formed Ten-Tails approached, their sense of dread intensified. It wasn't just a physical presence; it was a malevolent force that invaded their minds, fueling their deepest fears and anxieties.
"That is what killed my Naruto.", said Ino and Sakura as if speaking as one.
"Not yet but soon, soon it will be ready to tear down this unfair universe and make room for a new beginning.", said Menma as he dropped from the head of the Ten-Tails and landed before them.
"Naruto, you deal with him, Hinata come with me.", said Jiraiya as he leaped over the head of Menma pulled out the Sword of Totsuka, and attached the creature with all his might.
Naruto and Menma faced each other, their eyes locked in a fierce battle of wills. The tension in the air was palpable, and the forest around them seemed to hold its breath.
Naruto's blue eyes turned red as they blazed with purpose as he unleashed a flurry of shadow clones, each one bearing the symbol of the Nine-Tails. They surrounded Menma, their kunai flashing, and the anticipation of their impending clash was electric.
Menma's crimson Sharingan glowed ominously as he activated the Black Nine-Tails within him. Dark chakra swirled around him, forming a menacing aura. His long, black cloak billowed in the night wind, and his silver hair shimmered in the moonlight.
Their battle began in a blur of movement. Naruto's clones charged at Menma, their kunai flashing. Menma's Sharingan tracked each clone's movements with precision, and with a swift swipe of his hand, he deflected their attacks. He moved with a fluid grace, his reflexes honed to perfection.
Naruto unleashed the kyubbi, and now fueled by the power of the Nine-Tails, leaped into the air, performing a series of hand seals with lightning speed. His Rasengan crackled with energy as he descended toward Menma. The force of their collision sent shockwaves through the forest, shattering trees and upending the earth. The ground seemed to bleed as it broke open and the creatures of the land ran into the darkness.
Menma countered with his own jutsu, summoning a swirling vortex of dark chakra. The Black Rasengan clashed with Naruto's, creating a violent storm of energy that threatened to consume everything in its path. The ground quaked, and the very air crackled with power.
The battle continued, and Menma's control over the Black Nine-Tails became evident. He unleashed tendrils of dark chakra that reached out to ensnare Naruto's clones, absorbing their power and leaving them lifeless husks. The forest around them withered and twisted as his energy spread.
Naruto called on Kurama allowing all of the fox chakra to enter his body, his eyes taking on a red glow in appearance. His senses sharpened, and he gained access to the fox's energy. The ground beneath him softened, and he melded with it as if he weighed the fox.
He launched himself at Menma, moving at incredible speed. His fists, empowered by the strength of the red fox, struck with unstoppable force. Menma's Sharingan struggled to keep up with Naruto's blinding speed, and he found himself on the defensive.
Their battle reached its climax as Naruto unleashed his ultimate move, the Rasenshuriken. The spiraling vortex of wind and chakra sliced through the dark energy surrounding Menma, dispelling the Black Nine-Tails' influence. Menma's powers waned, and he staggered back.
With a final, explosive clash, Naruto's Rasenshuriken collided with Menma's Black Rasengan. The resulting explosion lit up the night sky, a brilliant display of power. When the smoke cleared, both ninjas stood panting, their strength spent.
But the battle was far from over. Naruto, with his unwavering will, summoned the power of the Nine-Tails once more. Chakra surged through him, and he transformed into the imposing form of the Nine-Tails Cloak. His eyes became fierce slits, and his roar echoed through the forest.
Menma, would not back down as he called upon the Black Nine-Tails with renewed intensity. The two titanic beasts clashed, their tails whipping through the air with devastating force. The forest shook, and the very ground trembled beneath their might.
It was a battle of colossal proportions, a testament to their incredible abilities and indomitable spirits. The night bore witness to their clash, the moon above reflecting the fierce struggle below.
As the battle raged on, the echoes of their ancestors seemed to spur them onward. The spirits of the past watched with bated breath as the destinies of Naruto and Menma hung in the balance. Then as Menma staggered back, near spent of all his chakra, the black nine tails faded away back into his seal to regain strength. Naruto was no better as he gulped in his lungs full of air trying to regain some control.
Staring into the eyes of Menma he knew this was not the end of their battle as soon as he would regain strength so would his twin. This would be an endless battle between equals.
"I will kill you and then I will kill all the worlds!", screamed out Menma as he raised a fist then his eyes grew wide and he looked down to see a leather-gloved hand protruding from his chest with his heart gripped tightly in her fist.
"For me children you murdering bastard.", said Sakura as she pulled her arm free and crushed the still beating heart in her hand.
"Way to go Sakura, didn't know you had it in you.", said Ino as she walked over to Sakura kicking the dead body of Menma just to check if he had two hearts or some other trick.
Hearing footsteps they looked over to see Jiraiya and Hinata, they looked like they had been in a battle and lost but for the fact that they were still alive. Jiraiya was missing his overcoat and Hinata was charring the jug that contained the Sword of Totsuka.
"It's done.", said Jiraiya looking each of them in the eye as the world started to fade away back into its rightful form. The forest of death appeared around them as the full moon brightly shined down.
"Now what?", said Ino, and with that word she was covered in a flash of white light and faded away. Naruto turned to Sakura but it was already too late as she was also consumed in a blinding white light.
"NO NO NO, this can't be happening.", said Naruto looking at Hinata who with a smile gave him a wave before she too was consumed in a flash of light.
"What? What happened, I don't understand.", said Naruto as he moved to face Jiraiya hoping his new sensei didn't fade away like the others.
"They came from another time, another place, and now that we have changed their past they had no reason to come here in the first place.", said Jiraiya as he bent down and picked up the jug, "Be happened for them, they are returning to a place they belong."
….
As the blinding light dissipated, Hinata's heart pounded against her chest, her breaths shallow as she peered at the blank, colorless ceiling of her childhood room deep in the clan compound. A chill crept through her bones, was she back, did she have to do it all over again?
With trembling hands, she hastily dressed herself, rushing into the bustling village, she found herself surrounded by joyous villagers, their smiles told her that the horrors of her past had not happened. Was this the past, future, or a whole new world, she had to know what happened to Naruto.
A piercing scream tore through the air, slicing through the tranquility of the morning. Hinata's eyes darted toward the source, only to witness a gut-wrenching scene unfold before her very eyes.
Minato Namikaze, his once proud visage contorted with anguish, staggered into the village square, clasping the lifeless form of Menma in his trembling arms. A wail tore through the air as Kushina, her anguished cries rending the fabric of the village's facade, collapsed at the sight of her slain son.
In the distance, a murky silhouette materialized amidst the darkness of the forest of death. Hinata's Byakugan, with its powerful gaze, pierced through the distance, revealing the seething fury of the black nine-tails drawing closer to the village. Dread coiled in her stomach, choking her with the realization that she once again would face the destruction of a peaceful village. This inevitability of her past becoming her future sent a chill up her back, and paralyzing fear filled her very soul. Without Menma to save Minato would not be willing to break the walls of reality and the grim understanding that she would soon face the nightmare of her world alone.
…...
Ino groaned as she slowly regained consciousness, the memories of the past few months filled her head and as her heart raced the cool silk sheets covering her naked body pulled her out of the nightmare of the past, the sheets felt like a lover touch as she rolled over into her back. The aches and pains she felt reminded her of a time when she and Naruto had made love all night until even his endless energy ran out.
Hearing a door open she sat up and watched with wide pale blue eyes as Naruto walked into the room wearing only a towel and a smile drying his hair as he moved to the bed.
"Hey sleeping head, I know we almost broke the bed last night but the kids will want breakfast before going to the academy.", said a grinning Naruto as he finished drying his hair and dropped the towel on the floor. God she always hated that about him but now only love filled her heart.
Leaping out of bed in all her naked glory Ino ran into Naruto's arms giving him the best kiss of his life, "I think we have time for one more go don't you think my Hokage,", she said pulling the towel from his hips.
…..
Sakura jolted upright in bed, her eyes wide with sheer disbelief. The vivid images of Menma's blood on her hands as she crushed his heart filled her mind's eyes. Looking around, she spotted the sleeping form in the bed next to her. The blonde hair on the pillow and the snoring were music to her ears. Naruto, her Naruto, was there with her, and as her heart slowed down, she looked around the room she had so carefully crafted into a loving home, pushing the memories of the past out of her mind.
She was back, and the world was once again under her control. She was once again the wife of a Hokage who ruled the world in peace; she ruled him as any good wife would. Reaching out to shake him awake, it was still early morning, and she knew he loved to have some fun before going into the office.
Just as her hand rested on his shoulder, the bedroom door burst open.
"Wake up, wake up, Mommy, we want breakfast," yelled out the two small children as they jumped on the bed and started to bounce around like two miniature Narutos on a sugar high.
Hugging her children close, she thought, "Yes, I am home," and she would be paying a visit to the Hokage's office later today to show him just how very much she loved him.
….
"Sensei, now what?" said a confused and, for once in his life, depressed Naruto, walking alongside Jiraiya as they made their way back into the village. They had been silent up to now, both lost in their thoughts, overwhelmed by the events of the past day. The battles they had just fought, the people they had saved, and most of all, the ones they had been forced to kill, still weighed heavily on their minds.
When the three girls had vanished in a flash of brilliance, it had hurt Naruto to his core. He had raged at the loss and then wept on Jiraiya's shoulder, but the old sage had no words to comfort his young apprentice. The world was cruel, and there was no changing that.
Stopping just inside the main gate Jiraiya took a deep breath and looked around at the village. The people all seemed normal as if nothing of the past month had ever happened and maybe it didn't for all he knew, time travel was funny like that. Only they knew what had happened and the old Sage could think only one thing, 'Good, they don't need to know,', as he turned to Naruto and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We live, we laugh, we cry a little more. That is all we can do.", said Jiraiya in his most Sage voice. "I for one am going to get royally drunk." With those words still echoing in the air, Jiraiya used the most basic of jutsu and flash and stepped into the nearest bar.
Wondering deeper into the village Naruto looked around looking to all the village like some tourist that has never been in a hide village before. Down the end of the street, he spotted Sasuke walking with their Sensei, jogging up behind them they turned to see who was making so much noise.
"Sasuke, how is your hand? Did you finish training?", said Naruto bouncing on his feet hoping Sasuke at least remembered something.
"Dobe, what do you want?", said Sasuke glaring at Naruto with that dead black eyes of his.
"I just wanted to see how your training was going.", said Naruto knowing now that Sasuke didn't remember anything.
"I think you need to worry about your training, Ebisu was going to train you in ninja skills and manners but he told me you never showed up to training.", said Kakashi not bothering to lower his book as he spoke.
"Don't you worry about me, Dattebayo, I am going to become Hokage remember.", yelled out Naruto as he turned and ran down the street not wanting them to see the pain in his eyes.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" yelled out the person Naruto ran into as he blindly dashed down the street. Looking down, he could see Ino lying on the ground. Extending his hand to help her stand, she slapped it away and got up.
"What is wrong with you? Don't you have any manners?" said Ino, brushing the street dirt off her shirt before locking eyes with Naruto.
"Hi Ino, sorry about this," said Naruto, rubbing the back of his head and grinning at his fellow blonde.
"Don't 'Hi Ino' me, try to use some manners," said Ino, placing her hands on her hips and leaning forward to stare at Naruto.
"Sorry, Ino-san," said Naruto, not knowing what else to say to his one-time lover who clearly didn't remember him. "Are you going somewhere? Maybe we can, you know, hang out."
"I am looking for Sasuke. I don't 'hang out' with losers," said Ino, using finger quotes to emphasize her point as she pushed him to the side, continuing her hunt for the Uchiha.
Now even more depressed, Naruto started walking to the only place in the world where he knew he would be happy: Ichiraku Ramen and the smiling face of Ayame. Heading over to eat the food of the gods, he found Team 8, with their Jonin sensei Kurenai Yuhi coming down the street. The other members of Team 8, including Hinata, Kiba, and Shino, were following closely behind.
Not able to stop himself, Naruto ran over to Hinata and hugged her. "Hinata, I missed you so much," he said into her hair as he pulled her close. The shock of her crush being so close sent Hinata's head spinning before she fainted in his arms.
"Naruto! What do you think you're doing?" yelled Kurenai as she pulled him off Hinata and allowed Kiba to pick up the limp Hyuga princess.
"I must say, you are acting stranger than normal," said Shino as Kiba held Hinata in a bridal carry.
"Sorry, sorry," said Naruto. Not knowing what else to do, he ran off, deciding that Ramen would be his only goal now. As he ran down the street, blindly turning here and there, letting his feet guide him to Ichiraku, he was stopped by a voice he both loved and feared.
"Naruto, what are you doing!" yelled out Sakura as she stomped over to him.
"Going to Ichiraku," was all he could say as she walked right up to him, the smell of her hair filling his world, and she was so close he could feel her breath on his cheek.
"I don't care about that, have you seen Sasuke? I need to ask him something," said Sakura.
"He was over there, he was with Kakashi-sensei," said Naruto. As Sakura walked past him to chase after her crush, Naruto grabbed her upper arm.
"Sakura, wait, I wanted to ask you. Do you want to get Ramen with me," said Naruto as Sakura spun around to glare at him. It was like a little lightning bolt flashed in her eyes as she pulled back her arm and pounced on him with all her might, yelling out "NO."
As he lay there on the street a few feet away, Sakura marched over and said, "And don't you ever touch me again!" With that, she turned and ran off down the street on the hunt for her mystery man.
Finding his way to Ichiraku, Naruto sat in his regular seat and with a fake smile said, "Ten bowls of the Naruto special." As Ayame ran back to tell her father about the order, Naruto dropped his head down onto the countertop.
"My life sucks," he said out loud, not caring who would hear him.
Feeling a hand on the back of his neck, he heard someone say, "Yeah, my life sucks too." Looking up, he found himself gazing into the soft brown eyes of a girl. She had two Chinese-style buns on her head, along with short fringe-bangs. She wore a pink sleeveless qipao-style blouse with red sleeve trimmings and yellow fastening buttons, paired with dark green pants.
As the bowls of Ramen were placed in front of them both, Naruto grinned at the girl and said, "I'm Naruto, and I am going to be Hokage someday."
"That is a great goal. I am Tenten. How about I help you with that," said Tenten, deciding to give up on her longtime crush and focus on something new.
The END.
...
Thank you to all my readers and reviewers for reaching this end with me. Until fanfiction is able to fix their system I am going to hold off on any new stories. If you have any ideas just PM them to me and I will see what I can do.