AN: I am really sorry for the really, really late update. I lost my muse and I just couldn't get any creative juices for this fic. Now, I had to force myself to write the next chapter. I think it could be better...but ugh, I just couldn't think of anything. Anyway, here's the the next chapter. Now, suffer with me.
"Itachi, what are you doing?"
The nine year old boy looks up and sees his mother staring at him in curiosity.
"I'm making paper cranes, Okasan," is Itachi's reply and shows her the unfinished paper crane he has been folding.
"When did you learn how to do that and why?" His mother - Uchiha Mikoto - asks him.
"I just woke up today knowing how to do it. And I'm doing it because it is quite relaxing…You should try it, Okasan. I think you will enjoy it," is his next response, smiling at his mother.
"You just learned it while you were asleep? How is that even possible?" she looks at him in disbelief.
"I don't really know what the process is, but I did learn it last night. Maybe when I was dreaming at that time," he answers her.
"Do you always remember everything that happens in your dream?"
"Not really, but I do remember speaking to people last night."
"Oh? Do you remember who they were?"
"I can't remember them…It was all a blur, Okasan," he says sadly.
"That's fine Itachi if you can't remember the dream. I'm sure they were probably people you know in real life," his mother assures him.
"Probably," Itachi mutters, but deep down he feels that his mother is not correct in her assumption.
He feels that the people in the dream are someone he hasn't met before.
Still he dismisses the feeling and continues to fold his origami while his mother talks to him.
Later…
Within the Sound Village.
"Let's end your training for today, Kimimaro-kun," Orochimaru says to him.
Kimimaro simply nods his head and wipes the sweat from his forehead. He looks at the place where they usually train and sees the amount of bones protruding from the ground.
He has used his kekkei genkai a lot today and it is not enough for him. He wants to prove himself to Orochimaru, who has helped him so much since the Snake Sannin took him in.
He needs to prove himself worthy of becoming Orochimaru's next vessel.
If only he has a healthy body, then Kimimaro will be content with his life.
However, he is not.
He is not happy with himself at all.
Kimimaro inwardly sighs.
I need some kind of distraction to keep me away from these negative thoughts. He thinks. A new way to cope… If only I have something that can lighten my mood after training.
In an instant, he recalls something from his dream and he can't help but want it.
A dessert called dango! I want to try it! I remember it being really good when I ate some of it in that dream! I hope it is as good as in real life! He inwardly perks up.
Orochimaru is about to leave him when Kimimaro suddenly can't help but ask the Snake Sannin, "Orochimaru-sama, do you know where I can get a dango?"
The Snake Sannin turns and levels a look of complete astonishment at Kimimaro.
"Why the interest, Kimimaro-kun?" the man inquires curiously.
"Because I remember eating it in a dream and I really love it. I was kind of hoping that it would be as delicious in real life as it was in my dream," is Kimimaro's answer.
"You dream of food?" Orochimaru asks, sounding amused.
"Yes, but it was only last night," He says almost defensively. He tries to hide the flush of embarrassment in his face, but completely fails.
Orochimaru lets out a chuckle before he says, "You can go with Kabuto to the town today and buy some. I, too, would like some to eat."
Kimimaro beams at the Snake Sannin and bows, "Thank you, Orochimaru-sama!"
"Of course," the man replies, patting his head.
Now, I can eat a dango! Kimimaro thinks with joy. Although I wonder why I dreamt about it in the first place…I remember talking to someone in the dream, but I don't know who they were…Perhaps I will be able to remember them later if I try hard enough to remember.
"Go ahead Kimimaro-kun and look for Kabuto. He will show you the way to the dango place nearby," the Snake Sannin interrupts his thoughts.
"Thank you, Orochimaru-sama!" is his quick but happy response. "I shall take my leave then!"
The man simply nods his head and Kimimaro is soon out like a shot. He runs away in search of the bespectacled older boy Kabuto, who must be in his laboratory.
Time to eat some dangos! He thinks again, his entire body vibrating with excitement.
Later that night…
Haruno Sakura falls asleep once more and wakes up in her dreamscape with Inner Sakura waiting for her in their glade.
"Hello, Sakura-chan!" Her black and white Inner greets enthusiastically.
"Hi, Inner-chan!" She says in response, smiling at her. "So do you know who is visiting us tonight?"
"Yes, a ghost with unfinished business and a man-child with a huge chip on his shoulder and who is hell bent on revenge," is Inner's reply.
"Are we going to be facing some kind of fight this time Inner?" Sakura asks worriedly.
"Don't worry, Saku-chan. Your dreamscape is a neutral ground. So there won't be a fight happening here. I can assure you on that," her Inner replies.
Sakura lets out a sigh of relief at Inner's assurance. She hates it when she sees people fighting. She prefers it when people show kindness to each other rather than open hostility. It will just make her upset if people are at each other's throats. Thankfully she won't see anything like that in her dreamscape.
"When do you think they are arriving?" she asks as both her and Inner sit down on the grassy ground.
"In a minute," is Inner's patient response.
"Ok," she says and settles down to wait for someone to arrive.
They don't have to wait long when they see someone appear in front of them.
The man has spiky blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He is also wearing the white and red Hokage robes. She can see a glowing red aura surrounding him, which Inner explains to her that it is negative energy that can slowly be removed while the person is spending time in Sakura's dreamscape.
He looks extremely familiar, Sakura thinks as she looks up at the man.
The man looks around him curiously before his gaze finally lands on her and Inner.
"Well, this is strange…and who might you both be?" He says to them.
"Hello, my name is Haruno Sakura and this is Inner," she introduces herself and Inner to the blonde haired man.
"It's nice to meet you both," the man replies, smiling genially at them. "My name is Namikaze Minato."
"You are the Fourth Hokage!" Sakura can't help but exclaim, her eyes wide with wonder. She learns about him from her mother, who told her the story of the Fourth Hokage's heroic exploits one night before she went to bed.
"Yes, I am," the Fourth Hokage replies, smiling down at her.
"So how come you haven't passed over yet to the Tranquil Lands? Does that mean that you still have unfinished business to do?" She asks the Fourth.
"Indeed I still have unfinished business. I'm watching over my son and some of my students, who are still alive," the Fourth explains.
"Oh I didn't know that you have a son! What's his name?!" is Sakura's next excited inquiry.
"His name is Uzumaki Naruto," The Fourth answers, now smiling in bemusement. "I think he's the same age as you right now."
"I think I know of him! Is he the blond boy who usually plays on the swing by himself?" she questions.
The Fourth suddenly looks sad when she states that.
"Yes, that's him…" the blonde replies softly. His bright blue eyes now dark with sorrow.
"If he's your son, then do you mind if I become his friend?" She says to the Fourth, who looks surprised at her words.
"Do you really want to be his friend?" The Fourth asks her, cocking his head to the side.
"Yes, I really want to be his friend!" Sakura nods her head eagerly, "I wanted to for a long time after I noticed that he's always by himself in the playground. I just didn't have the chance to approach him…but now that I know that he's your son, then I will not hesitate anymore and become his friend!"
She watches as the Fourth softly smiles at her.
"Thank you, Sakura. I think my son could really use a friend," he admits to her, sounding hopeful.
"He and I are going to be best friends!" She tells the Fourth, who chuckles at her enthusiasm.
"I'm sure you will both consider yourselves best friends once you two meet," is the blonde man's comment.
Sakura just grins up at him and says, "That's a promise!"
The Fourth reaches out to pat her in the head and Sakura can't help but beam at him.
"Certainly, Sakura," the blonde man remarks. "Anyway, can you answer my question for a moment?"
"Sure. What's your question?" she replies, looking curious.
"Where exactly are we? This is the first time I've been here…" the Fourth says, looking around the glade again.
"You are currently in Sakura's dreamscape," Inner explains to him. "A neutral place where all the people with past traumas, unresolved problems and restless souls gather, whether they be alive or dead."
"Your dreamscape?" The Fourth says and directs his attention to both Sakura and Inner. "Is this your kekkei genkai?"
"Yes, it's my kekkei genkai. Although it's my family's top secret. Only my family knows about this ability. My family likes to pretend to be civilians to guard this secret from ever getting out," Sakura informs the Fourth, who suddenly looks contemplative.
"Am I the first one who came here then?" the blonde man inquires.
"No, you are the third one to come here. I met two boys last night. Both said they were ninjas like you,"
"Oh? Who were they?"
"Usually, Sakura can't divulge information to others who come here unless they are present in a certain situation. However, since you are no longer alive and can't tell another soul, we can tell you who they were," Inner imparts to the Fourth. "The boys' names are Kaguya Kimimaro and Uchiha Itachi. They spent some time in this dreamscape last night."
"I know of Uchiha Itachi, but not the other one. Itachi is Uchiha Mikoto's son. A friend of my wife when she was still alive," The Fourth tells her, appearing sad again.
Sakura opens her mouth to reply but is interrupted by the sound of another man's voice.
"Minato-sensei?"
She looks towards the voice and finds a dark-haired man with a terrible scar on the half side of his face. The man is currently staring at the Fourth Hokage with an odd look on his scarred visage.
"Obito? Is that you?" The Fourth asks, looking shocked at the sight of the dark-haired man.
Sakura looks at both of them and silently wonders how they know each other.
AN: I know nothing really happened in this chapter. So sorry about that. You can check for my writing updates on my tumblr. Just search bloomsburry-dhazel. Anyway, please don't hesitate to tell me what you think!