Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Life for a Life ❯ Old friends? ( Chapter 13 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

I do not own Naruto

We are going to start seeing more Naruto action now. In the previous 12 chapters, I more or less wanted to establish who Arashi could have been. But now as we are getting closer…well you will see….

Chapter 13

One month later…

Naruto ran down the halls like his life depended on it. And in a way it did, when he and Sakura first accepted this mission, Tsunade or Baa-Chan to him, was rather reluctant. To a degree, he can understand why, but by then had to know…

Had to know about why Sasuke let him live, after their fight in the Valley of the End. He thought he knew the youth, he had thought he and Sasuke despite being rivals, were friends. Brothers even….

Pausing in mid step as even more tunnels seem to appear before him, he makes a series of hand seals that have become almost second nature to him. On each side as the smoke appears, two more shadow clones appeared. Nodding his head to both of them, the three take off to search and open any doors for a clue to the Uchiha.

That was one advantage to know the Shadow clone jutsu at least. Do a lot of searching, in a much shorter time.

Pausing as he hears what could only be an explosion in the right of the complex, Naruto draws a sense of panic. Running towards that sound, for he could not bear to lose his other friend Sakura to anything, he had to be sure the pink haired ninja was all right.

Left right, right again, his could sense the clone that was closest following the young woman and their leader Yamato towards the ruins of a room. Finally within range he disperses all clones and runs after her. He sees Yamato as well as Sai paused in the middle of it looking up at something…

Or someone…

Running out into the open air, he looks and he finds his eyes widening in a mixture of hope and disbelief.

Sasuke…

“Naruto…”

Silence is all that there is in these few precious moments. His whole team was back together in a way, and it was something that he wanted to savor. Even if it was for only a short time…

“So everyone is all here? Where is Kakashi-sensei?” The dark haired youth asks.

“I am Yamato, I am leader of this mission on Team Kakashi!” States the elder of the four in front of him, Sasuke simply studies him. And almost as if he never existed, brushes him off as he looks at the other.

“And is he my replacement…?” The longed for youth questions. “The one who is here to kill me?”

Sakura and Naruto both whirl to look at Sai with anger in their faces. Although he does not show it, a part of Sasuke is relieved. They had not betrayed him, as he had done them…they were still worthy to kill.

But before they could say anything Sai speaks. “That is true. I was originally sent to join Team Kakashi and in turn use them to track you down and kill you. But talking with them, getting to know their desire, their need to protect that bond they have with you. I chose not to! Their want, to get you back, to bring you home with them reached me. I want to help them protect their special person!”

Sasuke for the first time in three years, shows a flicker…a flicker of emotion, one that neither one of his former teammates notice, as it is squashed down as surely as it had come.

“Those bonds you wish to protect are gone…”

Naruto just stands there, his face down as he hears the words uttered by his former teammate. His body trembling with rage…disappointment and despair….

“Why…. If that was you breaking our bonds! Why didn't you kill me back then! TELL ME SASUKE!”

The Uchiha simply tilts his head to a side as if contemplating something. “I did not do it because I refuse to do what he wants me to do. I will not obtain power through his means. It was on a whim that I let you live back then.”

Leaping down, now Sasuke hears the gasps of awe and surprise from all in the area except one. The one whose body he has casually draped his arm upon. “And it is on a whim that I kill you now…” He whispers in Naruto's ear as he withdraws his sword, holding it high. “After all you should be training if you have time to come and chase after me. It is your dream to be Hokage is it not…”

Naruto just stands there, his voice hitting home within Sasuke, all thought he does not show it. “Can one become Hokage when he can not even save one of his friends? What do you think, Sasuke?”

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Elsewhere and at the same time…

Back in Konoha, his body still not to full power, but thanks to Kakashi and the others, was getting there. Arashi jumped as he avoided a sweep of his legs out from under him. His body aching and searing with pain, he knows that this is more of a challenge then an actual sparring.

Considering his help for the sparring part was away on a mission….

About to take a swing at his former student, Arashi pauses in mid punch and begins to gasp in pain.

“Finished already Arashi-san? We are almost to breaking your record for moving…” Ino asked curiously. The young medic was waiting over by the trees and bushes, she was there simply as a safety net for both men. Kakashi during the fight had been using his eye and working to get used to the draw it had upon his body.

In the beginning Ino had to every so often, take away some of the pain, so that the two men could function once they were done.

Nowadays, the young woman hardly needed to.

Shaking his head, Arashi gasped as something seemed to tug at him. Closing his eyes as he collapses to his knees, when the elder opens them once more, he turns to find himself in a dark sewer…

Confused for a moment, he hears a familiar dark and malevolent speaking…

You are weak!

Allow me to lend you my power,,,.

Free me, release the seal!

“GET LOST! I DON'T NEED YOU!”

Racing now as he realizes where he is, he is in the shadows of his own son's seal! Running through the shadows, Arashi arrives at a small part of it where there is light. There he witnesses, not just his son, but a dark haired youth beside him.

“So this was where you get your power from Naruto.” The youth said with a hint of sarcasm. “Who knew something like this was inside you.”

“Sasuke…”

If it is not an Uchiha, the cursed clan of the Sharingan eyes. Even now you can see me inside Naruto.

It seems you have seen the Sharingan before, then you are the Kyuubi no Yoko….

Remaining in the shadows Arashi pales, as he sees that the Nine-tailed is manifesting itself within his son. Wanting to stand there beside his son, he feels something powerful holding him back…

Something against his will as he struggles to walk forward….

Your eyes are impressive, much like his eyes…Madara Uchiha…

“And I am supposed to know this person?”

Watching as the youth reaches out to the smoke like form of the demon inside his son, it dissipates in a fierce grasp of his power. But as it disappears, the demon looks towards the shadows where Arashi stands and laughs…

One last thing Uchiha…do not kill Naruto…you will regret it…

Feeling himself being flung back to where he was rather painfully, Arashi opens his eyes to find, Ino over him. Her hands glowing green as she heals him of whatever it is that had happened, he gently shoves her to the side as he gets up.

His blue eyes shifting through so many emotions that the two can see, that they become confused…and worried.

“Ino tell Tsunade I need to see her as soon as possible. “

Confused and nodding her head, Ino takes off, as Kakashi stares at his former teacher with questions.

“Don't ask…but I have a favor to ask of you once Ino comes back with the Fifth.”

His arms crossing, Kakashi knows that whatever happened just now, that this was not a request from Arashi.

But a request from the Fourth…

“What is it?”

“Go to the Uchiha compound…find me every scroll you can get your hands on referring to their family history.”

His eyebrow rising at this, the Copy Ninja nods his head in acceptance.

“Care to tell me why?”

“I am not sure, I can explain it. But somehow I believe we will find a lot of answers, to things that have been puzzling me. And I think Konoha as a whole is not going to like it.”

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There I think this part came out right…had to fight with it though…

Question you may ask…

Why did Arashi get drawn to the seal? He made the seal, I think he would somehow sense when the Fox was manifesting itself on its own and not manifesting by sharing its power with Naruto.