Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Mended Hearts ❯ Shifting Perspectives ( Chapter 23 )

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I wish I did, but I don't.

 

Original Summary: AU Naruto hides many secrets from Konohagakure no Sato. As time continues, Naruto's precious people learn the hard way that many secrets are best left untouched, and that Naruto is not at all what they believed.

 

New Summary: AU Beginning and ending with his name, Naruto's past is veiled in mystery. Even as Kakashi teaches him the meaning of affection and love, Naruto's secrets come into the open, and it falls to Naruto's precious people to protect and support him as his father's name and legacy threatens to crush him and destroy the Hidden Village of the Leaf.

 

Chapter Summary: In this final chapter of this story of love and heartbreak, the War of Nations has ended. Kakashi's final link to his past lies unknowing and uncaring, trapped in his own mind. When the unexpected happens, nothing will ever be the same again…

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Chapter 24: To the Bitter End~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

It was not a surprise to Yamanaka Inoshi when Hatake Kakashi came to him for help about Naruto's condition. Considering how protective the man was of the people close to him, Inoshi was surprised that it had taken him so long, but then again, there were rumors that an old friend of Kakashi's thought to have been dead had actually returned to Konoha as a Oinin, and Kakashi had found out by sheer chance. The second part of the rumor was that said friend had died a year or so into the War. If that was so, then obviously Kakashi, suddenly alone, would push to find a reason and a way to wake his young lover as soon as possible.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Tsunade stood at the foot of the bed with Jiraiya perched at the window. Kakashi sat next to Naruto while Inoshi sat on the other side. Swiftly, the Yamanaka's hands blurred in a series of seals.

 

“Shintenshin no jutsu!” Inoshi murmured, and his body went limp in the chair…

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Everything was dark, was the first thing that Inoshi noticed. The second thing he noticed was the multitude of sakura petals and white feathers that drifted from the sky and landed on the glossy black surface of the floor which rippled as though it were water.

 

“This is nothing like what I've seen before,” Inoshi murmured, his voice echoing in the vast darkness, “Is this really Naruto-kun's mind?”

 

The faint sound of rattling chains drew his attention, and Inoshi turned in surprise.

 

“Dare da…” the voice was faint, tired, pained, and listless. “Dare da… Who's there?”

 

Inoshi followed the voice, his every footstep causing the floor to ripple.

 

What he saw in the distance made his eyes widen in shock and he raced across the vast darkness, and the cage covered in chains with the cross behind it, and the person with white feathered wings chained to the cross and the chains that bound the gigantic fox which connected the cage to the crucifix.

 

“Naruto-kun!”

 

Pale, cerulean eyes opened, and Inoshi slowed to stop directly below the naked figure.

 

“Anata wa… dare da…” the young man said…

 

Inoshi stared at the boy in shock. “Naruto-kun? What is all of this?”

 

“You do not belong here…” the words came out dully.

 

“Naruto-kun!”

 

“You don't belong here~! Kami-sama gave this refuge for Vessels, you should not be here~!” the words rose in volume into a hysterical scream.

 

The glossy surface of the floor convulsed and rose up. Inoshi's eyes widened in shock as the liquid like substance that had been the floor wrapped around his arms and legs, dragging him away. Once he was aware of the movement, he began to struggle, drawing forth a kunai and slashing at the water.

 

The chains began to rattle, and the fox raised its head, red eyes flashing, and began to throw itself against the bars of the cage, howling in what seemed to be a mad rage. The white wings fluttered, and began beating wildly, pure white feathers flying loose and filling the air with a storm of the feathers, and a bloodcurdling, pained scream left the blonde's lips as Inoshi tore through the substance, and to Inoshi's horror, cracks began to appear in the surroundings as if he were in a glass container.

 

Then Inoshi found himself back in his body, and the heart monitor blaring a flatline…

 

“Naruto!” Tsunade yelled, shoving the Yamanaka head out of the way. “Shizune! Summon Sakura and get the other medics in here!” her hands glowed with green healing chakra.

 

“Stay with us, Naruto!” Tsunade cried.

 

The room was filled in a matter of moments, and all Kakashi, who stood in the corner, watching the chaos with wide eyes. It was a blur of movement, shouts, and chakra that surrounded the bed, with the occasional glint of golden locks as a medic shifted to the side, revealing the figure on the bed.

 

Then suddenly, Kakashi found himself and Tsunade outside of the room, Iruka had his face in his hands with Genma holding his shoulders, murmuring soothingly into the Chunnin's ear, his eyes sparkling with unshed tears. Hinata and Sakura were holding onto Neji and Sasuke respectively, and Tenten and Ino stood with a shocked Kiba and Lee with a seemingly impassive looking Shino, the trails of wetness on his face the only indication of his feelings. Jiraiya was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest and his bangs covering his eyes while the Five Hunters stood together, the faint rippling of their chakra being the only sign of their distress. Shizune was with Kurenai and Asuma, their faces carefully blank.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Kakashi laid the flowers gently at the monument, his features blank. His fingers traced gently over the name carved onto the dark stone…

 

Kazama Uzumaki Naruto Kazuki

 

“I love you, Naruto…” he whispered, and a single tear fell from his eye and landed on the petals of the lilies…

 

A harsh, cold wind blew past, carrying with it the quiet gasps and sobs of the grieving jounin…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CSA Version 7 Mended Hearts What Are You Hiding?