Naruto Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ A Strange New World ❯ Dreams and Nightmares, Hopes and Fears ( Chapter 17 )

Dreams and Nightmares, Hopes and Fears

 

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

 

It didn't take long for Kurama to finish the final length to Otogakure. However the moment that he stepped inside the Village Hidden in the Sound, he could feel the difference in the air. He knew that something had happened. He walked through the quiet halls to Orochimaru's rooms and knocked on the door. Kabuto answered. "You are late." He said accusingly. "Why does getting one boy take so long?"

 

"When you are being hounded by Konoha ninjas it does take a while." Kurama said defensively. "The others sacrificed themselves so I could get him here as soon as I could." He could hear a strange voice call him into the room, and he dragged Sasuke in when Kabuto moved away from the door. Without looking, he knew that the other person in the room was Orochimaru, no matter how much his eyes screamed that it wasn't. "Orochimaru-sama, I am sorry that I never got here before you were reduced to taking such a form." Kurama said as he pushed Sasuke before him. "However I did get your boy." The gold eyes looked Sasuke over, taking in his form of undress. "They had an Inuzuka with them, with his dog. I had to try and confuse them long enough to get him as close to the border as I could before being caught. Luckily I confused them further with a wood clone. What would you like done with him?"

 

"Take care of him until I require him." Orochimaru said, hearing protests from Kabuto. "Kabuto, he has proved himself in my eyes." He said harshly. "This was his test. He could have stayed in Konoha and told them about where we were, he did not. He did what I asked of him, nothing less." His gold eyes met Kurama's. "You have proved to be a worth while asset." He said as he pulled Kurama closer. "However, I still have not changed my mind about you."

 

"I also have not changed my mind about what I will do if you try it either." Kurama said, almost flirtingly. He could see a flicker of uncertainty in Orochimaru's eyes, before it was once more replaced by a look of superiority. "You like being in control of any situation." Kurama whispered into Orochimaru's ear. "As do I. The difference is that I will back up what I say with action." A clawed hand ran over Orochimaru's cheek. "Maybe you'll get your wish some night, but that night is far off." A claw pierced the skin and Kurama raised the offending finger to his lips, licking the blood off. Kurama pulled away, and saw a look of undisguised lust in the other's eyes. "Come along, Sasuke." Kurama said. "Let's see if we can find you some clothing." With that Kurama and Sasuke left the room, Kurama feeling Orochimaru's hot gaze on his back.

 

Eventually the two teams met up where they had separated. Hiei looked over the people before him. It had been a waste of their time. Orochimaru had Sasuke, and he could feel the disappointment of the teams flood the area. "We should get back to Konoha." He said eventually. "There are those among us that will sleep for a week to regain their strength." He looked pointedly at Lee, who knew that Tsunade would knock him out until he was better. "We tried out best, and we didn't succeed. We will find where Sasuke is and we will get him back though." He looked at the Sand ninjas, who were helping their Konoha counterparts out. Slowly they limped back to Konoha, where Tsunade was bound to be waiting for them.

 

When they entered the gates, however, it was their Jounin team leaders that rushed out to greet them. Sakura and Kakashi waiting at the back, knowing that the teams were unable to retrieve Sasuke. They could see Naruto running away from the group, and neither followed him, knowing that the Kyubi container was upset that they couldn't get his love back.

 

Naruto ran and ran, and it wasn't until he arrived at the Uchiha Mansion that he knew where he had been heading. He wanted this to be a nightmare that any moment and he would wake up in Sasuke's bed, next to him. He soon reached the bedroom and threw himself on the bed, hoping that he would get a prod and a 'wake up, dobe' from his 'teme'. Alas it never came, and it hurt him. He knew then that it was, indeed, real. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder, and he threw himself into Hiei's arms crying.

 

Hiei went stiff when he felt Naruto throw his arms around his neck. He wasn't used to the sensation of being hugged. Not even Yusuke dared to do that to him, however he allowed Naruto to do so. He was upset; there was a good reason for him to hug the apparition. He would suffer contact if his Yusuke were taken from him so cruelly. Hiei had feared that the contact would 'de-demonise' him, but it hadn't. Naruto needed his strength. "We will get Sasuke back, even if we have to prise him from Orochimaru's dead fingers." Hiei said. "Orochimaru and Kurama will regret taking Sasuke from Konoha, that I promise you." When Naruto pulled back, Hiei could see the red eyes of the Kyubi. "They will not get away with taking Sasuke, that I promise."

 

 

As time passed swiftly on, very little was learned about Orochimaru's whereabouts, or that of his village. Nothing had been seen of the Otogakure ninjas since the fateful day where Sasuke had been taken. It was almost as though the village never existed at all, all except for the brief rumours that could be heard from any villager. Tsunade knew that Sasuke was probably a part of some scheme that was playing around in Orochimaru's mind. Something disgusting if she knew her old team mate's perverted mind.

 

In an effort to improve relations between Konohagakure and Sunagakure, the new Kazekage, Temari, had requested a trade, the grandson of the Third Kazekage for the grandson of the Third Hokage. It turned out that the grandson that she had 'chosen' was only Subaku no Gaara. In return Tsunade was to send Konohamaru to Suna in his place. However, Temari, knowing the reluctance to send a pre-Academy graduate had also requested that a tutor be sent with the child for as long as Tsunade required the reassurance that Suna would do nothing to harm the relations that they were supposed to be building.

 

So here they were, Tsunade, Shizune, Kakashi, Konohamaru and Ebisu. All trying to encourage Konohamaru to freely choose to go to Suna, but not even Gaara's threats seemed to work. Eventually they had to get Naruto to speak with Konohamaru. To see if he could convince him to go, and after a few knocks about the head and a few threats, Konohamaru thought that he was sufficiently convinced that going to Sunagakure would be a good move. Tsunade then moved her attention onto the next problem; getting Kakashi to accept Gaara in place of Sasuke.

 

"Please, Kakashi-kun, he would be much more use to Konoha in a team, and your team is the only one with one team member short." Tsunade said. "I don't want you to force you to take Subaku no Gaara , but I will if I have to." Grumbling, Kakashi agreed that Gaara would join Team Seven, and he led Gaara out of the office to find him a place to stay.

 

Finding a place for Gaara to live was very easy, it seemed. They had met up with Rock Lee just as they left, and he had gladly offered to give Gaara a home. Kakashi only got a moment to tell Gaara where the group met up for training before the sand Genin was dragged away by the overly enthusiastic Konoha Genin..

 

 

Later that night, a messenger from one of Konoha's spies in the Land of Rice Fields, reported that a group of people, led by a man matching Orochimaru's description, was heading towards the mountains. On that information, Tsunade called Kakashi and Iruka to her office. "I have got some news on Orochimaru's location." She said. "Rouse your teams because I want you to leave as soon as possible." The Jounins nodded. "Oh, and take care in case this is a trap. I do not want to lose more Jounins to Otogakure than I have to." Again they nodded. "Take care, and come back in one piece. Later that night the two teams left, heading north towards the Land of Rice Fields, not knowing what they would encounter.

 

 

ONE WEEK LATER

 

"Did you do it?" Orochimaru asked Kabuto, who nodded.

 

"I made sure that the Konoha spies that we know of saw me and the others heading towards the mountains." Kabuto said as he dropped the transformation jutsu that allowed him to look like Orochimaru. "I am sure that they will send a messenger to Konohagakure. All we need to do is to await their response." He bowed to Orochimaru. "What do you suspect that they will do?"

 

"Tsunade will send a team, if not two to check out the rumours. If they are proven to be true then she would send others." Orochimaru said. "Most likelt she would send the strongest team that she has available to her at the time. Currently it is the team of Umino Iruka, who just so happens to be Kurama's old team mates as you know. I suggest that we take Kurama with us, he would find it amusing to kill those that he once called allies." Orochimaru said as he pulled himself to his feet. "We should leave soon, Kabuto-kun. Waken Kurama and tell him to take his 'pet' with him. No doubt the Kyubi would want to see him again before he dies." Kabuto did as Orochimaru instructed. It didn't take them long to get from Otogakure to the place where they were to ambush the Konoha teams, and they lay in wait for their arrival later that day.

 

Kuwabara had been constantly using his Suegan the moment that they had crossed the border, trying to make sure that they didn't fall into any prepared traps that the Otogakure ninjas could do. However, even he, needed a rest, and so he had stopped using the Suegan under the instruction of the two Jounins, and they had decided to set up a camp in the next clear glade, little knowing that it was exactly the glade that Orochimaru and his followers were quietly surrounding with a mass of altered humans.

 

 

Kakashi and the rest of his team checked the area to make sure that it was safe to rest in, and the group set up a first watch, consisting of Gaara and Yusuke, the rest turning in for the night, until it was their watch.

 

Kurama watched what was happening. 'So they have the dangerous Sand ninja from the Chuunin exams with them.' Kurama thought. 'He could be a problem for us to deal with. Looks like I shall have to deal with him. I'll have to tell Orochimaru this.' He motioned to the other Otogakure ninja beside him, and told him that he would be back momentarily, once he had spoken with Orochimaru.

 

Orochimaru looked up from where he was sitting when he heard Kurama softly call his name. "Orochimaru-san, we could have some problems." Kurama said as he then proceeded to tell Orochimaru what he had witnessed in the glade, about the appearance of Subaku no Gaara with the two teams.

 

"That is very good to know." Orochimaru said as he looked at the others. "I never thought that the Sand would, once more, align themselves with the Leaf village. I guess that is a problem that I will have to try and over come." Orochimaru looked over his 'army'. "We may as well test their strength. Kurama, you and Kabuto will stay with me, they can handle them, and if they cannot, then we shall just have to find another way to get rid of them."

 

 

Gaara was the first to become aware of the change. Something felt off, and he quickly set up the alarm. The moment that he did, the camp was set upon by a mob of Sound ninjas. It left the group fighting for their lives, and not even Gaara's automatic sand shield could totally protect him from all the attacks aimed at him. Instead he had to lash out at his enemies, using the control that he had been practising since he had left Sunagakure. He could feel the bloodlust of the Shukaku raising to the surface, a lust that he made his own.

 

Through all the fighting, the Kyubi was getting more impatient. He wanted to find any information about Sasuke's whereabouts, and then he suddenly caught Sasuke's scent off of the air and Naruto reacted by running towards where the scent was coming from, attacking those that dared to stand in his way. The charka surrounding his body taking a distinctive 'fox' shape around him.

 

Kurama could see the change in Naruto's form, and quickly notified Orochimaru of the new situation. The three dragged Sasuke from the scene, with Naruto following closely behind them, the Kyubi host becoming more powerful by the minute, as first he accessed one, then two tails. However Naruto was moving quicker than they were and soon caught up, throwing himself at Orochimaru, dragging him down by the extra weight. "Let him go!" Kurama shouted, holding a thorn against Sasuke's throat, making Naruto growl, looking between Orochimaru and the thorn at Sasuke's creamy skin. Naruto refused to let Orochimaru go, however he didn't cause any more injury to the man.

 

 

Some time later and the others arrived. By then Kabuto had abandoned Orochimaru and Kurama to whatever fate held for them. Iruka and Kakashi eventually encouraged Naruto to release Orochimaru, and they immediately placed a charka displacement tag on Orochimaru, preventing him from using his charka. As for Kurama, they were forced to take his word that he would not attack them with plants.

 

 

As they travelled back to Konohagakure, Kurama was allowed to grow plants to use in healing Orochimaru's wounds. Tenderly, he cared for the wounds that Orochimaru wore. "Why are you doing this?" Orochimaru asked one night as Kurama dealed with the bite that Naruto had inflicted on him. "Why do you care what happens to me?"

 

(A/N: Shuichi is now the dominant personality, and therefore he is once more going to be refered to as Kurama, while his other form is Youko)

 

"I know that you lied to me about my friends." Kurama said as he dabbed at the wounds. "I know that it was because of my Kekkai Genkai that you wanted me." Kurama looked up, revealing green eyes. "However, I cannot watch another suffer, even if he tried to trick me in the past. My other half wanted to kill you, but there is just something that told me not to, that it would be a mistake." He changed his form back to Shuichi's true form, who was once more the dominant personality. "Sasuke helped me see through your lies and deception."

 

 

 

FLASHBACK

 

"Like hell is that true!" Sasuke shouted at Kurama. "They are your friends, and you never even told them about this so-called plan! What else are they supposed to think?" Black eyes met gold as they glared at each other. "Even Naruto could see how reluctant Yusuke was to fight you, and even you could see that Yusuke was reluctant to face you again once you kidnapped me!"

 

"You don't know anything, you stupid child." Kurama growled, once more his suspicions were brewed up. "You have never been betrayed before."

 

"My own brother killed my entire clan, I think that is a good enough betrayal, don't you think?" Sasuke said. "He killed them, and then he forced me to witness him doing so." Kurama could see the pain that Sasuke had bore for so long. "Yusuke and Hiei are your friends. They would stick by you through thick and thin, however it is you that turned your back on them. You cannot say otherwise." With that Sasuke turned his back to Kurama and closed his eyes.

 

Kurama moved to his desk and opened a drawer and took out the letter that had told him about the betrayal and looked at the writing, before comparing it to both Orochimaru's and Kabuto's. The writing style matched Kabuto's closely. He then realised that Orochimaru and Kabuto had duped him into betraying his friends so easily, that he mentally kicked himself. Why hadn't he noticed this sooner? How could Orochimaru lie to him so easily?

 

END FLASHBACK

 

 

Orochimaru looked at Kurama, trying to figure out what he would do. "I made my choice, Orochimaru-sama. It had been made up since the moment that I left Konohagakure with you and Kabuto-san." Kurama eventually said. "I don't change my mind once it is made up. I will live with the consequences of my actions, I can't do otherwise. I will not be accepted back as a member of Konohagakure after I betrayed the village once, and I wouldn't want to if you were going to be kept chained up in whatever cell you will be put in." Orochimaru could only stare at Kurama. What was he planning?

 

"Thank you for your support, Kurama-kun." Orochimaru said.

 

"I will hear no more on this." Kurama said forcefully. "Come on." He helped Orochimaru to his feet. "It is best to not show a weakness to them, is it not?" Orochimaru gave a slight smile. "For the moment it is best that we go with them anyway. You heard yourself that Akatsuki has started to get more active. They already have one of the tailed demons, at least if you are in Konohagakure they will have some trouble getting to you, Orochimaru-sama."

 

 

Kakashi and Iruka watched the interaction between the two renegade ninjas. They were speaking so quietly that they couldn't hear the words, but Kakashi could tell what they were saying by using his Sharingan eye to read the movement of their lips. "It looks as though Orochimaru knows something about Akatsuki, or has something to do with them." Kakashi said. "Definitely Kurama knows more than he is letting on there." Kakashi pulled Iruka a little closer to examine the wounds that he had received from the battle, most would heal, given a little time, but there was one that was bothering him, especially since neither of them knew much about the medical side of the ninja arts. Iruka, of course, grumbled that Kakashi was acting like a mother, and that a few scratches wouldn't matter much.

 

Naruto was still holding Sasuke in a tight hug, his eyes never leaving Kurama's form. He wouldn't allow them to get his beloved Uchiha again. "Naruto… Naruto, you can let me go now." Sasuke said, trying to prise Naruto's arms from around his body. "C'mon, dobe, I'm not going anywhere!" He heard laughing from behind him. "Hiei, this isn't funny, how would you like to be attached to an over protective fox?"

 

"You haven't seen how Yusuke reacts when any of his friends are in danger." Hiei said as he walked over, and gripped Naruto's wrist. "I'll have him let go of you in a moment." A moment later, and with a few curses aimed at Hiei, and Sasuke was free. "Naruto, get a hold of yourself." Hiei said. "He is quite safe with us all around him. Neither Kurama or Orochimaru could do anything to take him away from you without one of us stopping him first." Naruto only nodded, before pulling Sasuke against him again, this time the grip wasn't so tight.

 

Yusuke pulled Hiei against him. "You are too sweet for your own good." He said, enjoying Hiei's indignation at being called 'sweet'. "I should have dragged you around Ningenkai more often if this was going to be the result." The look that he got from Hiei was priceless. "Aww, come on, you know that you secretly loved being there. I am sure that you had your eyes on my ass on more than one occasion." He didn't get a growl from that, and Yusuke laughed. "I thought so!"

 

Gaara and Sakura looked at each other. Has the whole world gone mad? All Gaara wanted to do was to go back to Konoha to be with Lee, although he was getting used to his new group. He also knew that he would be reassigned to another group now that Kakashi had Sasuke back, and he hoped that it was with Lee's team, if he could choose any to be with. He could hear Sasura sigh. "What is wrong?" He asked.

 

"Everyone that I like seems to go… weird." Sakura said quietly. "I used to like Sasuke, but he is now with Naruto. Then I liked Kurama and he betrayed Konoha, and looks like he is utterly devoted to Orochimaru. Then I liked Lee, who likes you. I'm destined to be alone!" Gaara wished that henever asked. He was no use to emotions himself, and now here was one upset kunoichi and he didn't know what to do. He cursed his sister for 'agreeing' that he would be the best person for this job. Iruka looked over and saw how upset Sakura was and walked over, much to Kakashi's grumbling.

 

"Sakura-chan, come here." Iruka said as he wrapped his arms around her. "It isn't your fault, nothing is, you just have to find someone who will be your special person." He could hear quiet sniffling. "There is no use for tears, Sakura, they won't help anything." He could feel Sakura nod. "Just because the ones you like don't like you back, don't fret. Your special person could just be around the corner."

 

“Do you really think so, Iruka-sensei?” Sakura asked, Iruka nodded as he stroked her hair.

 

“The moment that you stop chasing and start looking, you'll see the one for you.” He looked over to Kakashi and smiled. “Just don't wait years to tell that person what you feel. If he is the one for you, then he will love you as much as you love him, without any doubt.”

 

 

Orochimaru followed Kurama's gaze over to where his friends were. “What's the matter?” He asked, then he saw the slight blush on Kurama's cheeks. “Are you regretting your decision?”

 

“Life is full of regrets, especially if you have lived as long as I have.” Kurama said. “I may have the body of a seventeen year old, but I have all the memories of Youko Kurama, all his dark past and the thoughts that accompany it. Every memory haunts both our lives.” He plucked a grass stem from the ground. “Be lucky that you do not have such a problem, Orochimaru-sama.” Orochimaru could see how pained Kurama was. “I would not wish immortality on anyone, not even my worst enemy.” He looked over at Hiei. “I am sure that Hiei would agree with me on that. He was cast out by his kind because he was male, and not female. The other two have it easy in comparison.”

 

Orochimaru placed his hand on Kurama's shoulder. “I am sure it just depends on what you see as regret.” Orochimaru said. “I doubt that I will regret half of the things that people think I would.” Kurama looked over at him.

 

“You will, Orochimaru-sama, I never thought that I would regret leaving Kuronue behind, but that is the biggest regret of all.” Kurama said. “I could have saved him if I wanted to. Then there was Yomi, I could have trained him better, kept a closer eye on him, but instead I turned an assassin on him. I will never forgive myself for what has happened to either of them.” Kurama looked at Orochimaru. “You will regret having fought the Third Hokage, having me face him. He meant a lot to you, even though you are angry at him for something.” Orochimaru looked at Kurama as though he had grown another head. “I mean it, Orochimaru-sama, there will come a time that you will regret things that you have done. Maybe you don't regret them now, but I am certain that one day you will.”

 

“Maybe I shall, however at the moment I feel no regret of the actions that I have taken.” Orochimaru said as he walked towards Kakashi. “Kakashi-kun, I was wondering if it was possible to go to Otogakure. If I am going to return to Konohagakure then I want to return in the same body that I left in.” Kakashi studied him with the Sharingan and could detect no sign of deception. “I would much rather that than remain in this body.” Kakashi motioned to Iruka, who walked over. The two Jounins spoke quietly about Orochimaru's request and they eventually agreed to go along with it.

 

“Very well, Orochimaru, we shall go to Otogakure.” Kakashi said. “However, the first sign of you trying to escape and I'll kill you if I have to.” Orochimaru gave a single nod. “I am glad that we are on the same level.” Kakashi said as Iruka told the two teams about the detour. “Oh, Shuichi, come here.” Kakashi said, watching as the nervous kitsune approached him. “We need to get rid of your hair. I have experience on what you can conceal there.” Kurama nodded as Kakashi pulled out a Kunai and cut the shiny hair. Lock after lock of the red hair fell to the ground, making it look as though it was blood-soaked. “All done.” Kakashi said as he returned the Kunai back to the holder. Kurama looked down at the hair sadly, it had taken him a year to get it the way that he wanted it, and anyway he would have done the same thing if he knew what they knew.

 

 

Two weeks later and they finally returned to Konoha, leading their two captives through the gates. From her vantage point, Tsunade watched the groups walked through the streets, three larger than they had left. It was only when they got closer that she realised that they had returned with Orochimaru. She dashed from the balcony, and met Jiraiya on the road down. Finally Konoha had two of the renegade ninjas back. Now all she had to do was to arrange cells for them.

 

 

Author's Note: I have had a number of requests to put a Youko/Orochimaru scene in the fic, so I am warning those that do not wish to read such a chapter that the next one will be Youko/Orochimaru. If you don't like, then may I suggest that you skip reading the next chapter, as it has no real bearing on the fic, unless it turns out particularly popular.