118Hello all Storm here with a new story! Here we'll be seeing something rather different happening during the Sasuke Retrieval Mission, with some rather harsh truths being revealed to Naruto, along with him being comforted from an unlikely source. So, without further ado.
I own nothing
Naruto panted as he glared across the river at Sasuke, the two boys standing on opposite sides of the Valley of the End. The two having begun fighting each other, in order to achieve their own goals. Naruto, so he can bring Sasuke back to their home village and fulfill his promise to Sakura. While Sasuke was attempting to go to the Snake Sannin, Orochimaru, and gain the power he needed to kill his brother, Itachi.
At first, Naruto had tried convincing Sasuke to come back peacefully, telling him how Shikamaru, Chōji, Neji, and Kiba risked their lives on this mission just to save him. Along with the fact that all Orochimaru wanted was to take Sasuke as his new host, hoping that'd convince his teammate to come back. Only for Naruto to angered when Sasuke showed he didn't care about the others or considered them comrades anymore, nor caring about Orochimaru wanting him as a host. The Uchiha only cared about achieving his goal, refusing to let anyone get in his way of it.
This leading to both boys engaging in a fierce fight, with Naruto tapping into part of the Kyūbi's Chakra, while Sasuke had gained the third tomoe in his Sharingan, allowing him to more easily see and counter Naruto's attacks. Both of them beginning to feel the strain, with how long they've been fighting, but also refusing to let up.
"You're wasting your time, you know. Nothing you do or say will make me go back to the village, and you can't beat me either." Sasuke said, getting annoyed at being delayed in leaving, which may provide more time for reinforcements to show up and stop him.
"I don't care! Even if I fight until my body gives out, I will bring you back Sasuke! I made a promise, and I intend to keep it, no matter what!" Retorted Naruto, with Sasuke scoffing at his words and declaration.
"A promise? Let me guess, you made a promise to Sakura, that you'd bring me back." Sasuke said, while shaking his head at the foolishness of it all.
"Yeah, I did. She showed up, just before we left the village and begged me to bring you back. And that's exactly what I'm gonna do." Said Naruto in determination, with Sasuke looking at him for a few moments, before he smirked, then to the whiskered blondes confusing the Uchiha started laughing lowly.
"What's so funny?!" Naruto demanded angrily, believing Sasuke was laughing at his promise or that Sakura asked him to bring him back.
"Sakura really didn't tell you, did she? She saw me before I left, she knew exactly what I was doing." Revealed Sasuke.
"Nice try, but she did tell me that. That she tried stopping you, but you wouldn't listen." Said Naruto, thinking Sasuke was trying to catch him off guard, with the Uchiha's next words doing just that.
"Did she also tell you, that she offered to go with me." Sasuke said, smirking at Naruto's shocked expression.
"Wh-what?" Naruto asked, not expecting to hear that.
"That's right. When she couldn't convince me to stay, she willingly offered to go with me, to take her with me. She even dared to claim she understood the pain of being alone, to no longer have a family or anyone, anymore. Even when she acknowledged she had a family and friends, yet if I left, she believed it'd be the same as being alone. And now, because she couldn't convince me to stay or let her come with me, she ran crying to you, Naruto. Practically tricking you into making a promise to bring me back, fully knowing that you never break a promise. And here you are, like a loyal dog, eager to please its master." Sasuke said, sneering, with Naruto looking at him in shock while shaking his head in denial.
"No…no! You're lying! Sakura would never try and leave and abandon her friends and family!" Naruto shouted, refusing to believe Sakura would willingly leave the village, just to be with Sasuke.
"And you think that would stop her? You wanna know something else, she actually envies you, because you don't have parents. Sakura told me, before we met Kakashi. You remember, after you jumped me and tied me up, I escaped and found her after you disguised yourself as me. She said, you weren't raised right because you don't have parents, that you were selfish and bratty, that you were all alone. That's the kind of person you made a promise to, someone who doesn't care about anyone, but herself and her own needs. Believing she could ever understand the pain of being alone, and willing to use your crush on her to manipulate you into doing what she wants." Said Sasuke, while was Naruto shaking in rage as he glared at Sasuke with red slitted eyes.
"SHUT UP!" Naruto roared, before rushing towards Sasuke, refusing to listen to any more of his lies, with the Uzumaki being in denial that Sakura would ever say anything like that.
Sasuke was barely able to dodge Naruto's strike, surprised at his sudden increase in power, before jumping back as they resumed their fight. The Uchiha activating his Curse Mark, as black markings spread out over the left side of his body, allowing him to better keep up with Naruto's new power.
With Naruto becoming more animalistic in his fighting style, his mind being clouded by anger at Sasuke's words and the amount of the Kyūbi's Chakra he was using. While Sasuke stayed in control of himself, along with seeing a chance to end this fight.
"If you won't believe my words, then see for yourself!" Said Sasuke, managing to lock eyes with Naruto for a second, which was all he needed to place his former teammate under a Genjutsu to show him the truth.
Naruto roared as he gripped his head, while the Genjutsu took hold and began forcing him to see for himself that what Sasuke had said was in fact very true.
"You know why he's so annoying? Because he wasn't raised right. He doesn't have a mother or father, no one to teach him right from wrong. Think about it, he just does whatever comes into his head. If I did things like Naruto, forget it. I mean, my parents would get mad and I'd get in trouble, so of course I don't do it. But if you don't have parents to tell you, how will you know? He's selfish and bratty, he's all alone!"
"Don't do this Sasuke, you don't have to be alone! You told me that day how painful a thing like solitude can be. I understand that pain now, I have a family and friends. But, if you were gone Sasuke, it would be the same thing for me, as being all alone."
"Sasuke! I'm so in love with you, I can't even stand it! If you would only be with me, I promise I'd never let you regret it, every day will be a joy, I can give you happiness! I'll do anything for you Sasuke, so please, I'm begging, you don't walk away! I'll even help get your revenge; I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen I swear! So stay here, with me. And if you can't…then take me with you Sasuke!"
Sasuke looked at Naruto's unconscious form, seeing him occasionally twitch and his face twisted into a pain expression, as the Genjutsu played within his mind. Seeing he was taken care of, Sasuke turned and began making his way to the Land of Sound, hoping that seeing the truth will be enough to get Naruto off his back.
By the time help arrived in the form of Kakashi Hatake, Sasuke was long gone with Naruto having come out of the Genjutsu but was still unconscious.
"Naruto!" Kakashi said, jumping down next to his student, relieved when he saw he was still alive.
'He doesn't have many injuries, he and Sasuke must have fought, before Sasuke placed him under a Genjutsu.' Thought Kakashi, figuring that Naruto was taken out by a Genjutsu from the Sharingan.
Sighing, Kakashi lifted Naruto onto his back and began carrying him back to Konoha to get him looked over and healed.
Though on the way back, he encountered members of the Medic Corps sent by Tsunade to recover the other members of the retrieval team. With Kakashi going over to them to find out the statuses of the other members.
"How are the other members of the team?" Kakashi asked, while getting the Medic-Nins' attention.
"Not good for any of them. Choji Akimichi is suffering severe Chakra Exhaustion and emancipation from using his family's Three Colored Pills. Neji Hyūga suffered a stab wound that just barely missed his heart and numerous other injuries. Kiba Inuzuka and his Ninken Akamaru sustained heavy injuries and will need a long time to recover. And Shikamaru Nara only suffered a broken finger that he inflicted on himself, to break out of a Genjutsu." The Medic-Nin replied, with Kakashi's eyes widening at the condition the retrieval team was in, before mentally cursing at how this happened.
While unknown to them, Naruto had regained consciousness momentarily and heard what had happened to his teammates.
'D-damn it…' Naruto cursed, his mood dropping even further after what he saw and heard in Sasuke's Genjutsu, before falling unconscious again.
"Anything else?" Kakashi asked, hoping that was the last of the bad news.
"We were also ordered to recover the bodies of the Sound Five, in order to see what information, we can gain from them. And if possible, Tsunade-sama will try to revive them to get information from them, personally." Answered the Medic-Nin, with Kakashi nodding, glad that at least something good came from this disaster of a mission.
'Now I just hope that nothing else bad, happens.' Kakashi thought, resuming the journey back to Konoha, not knowing how just jinxed himself.
*Later*
After some time, Kakashi arrived back at the village, with Naruto being taken to the hospital to be looked over, with most of his injuries already healed or beginning to heal. The Jinchūriki having woken up, not long after being admitted, and was now simply staring up at the ceiling numbly.
Devastated over his failure to bring Sasuke back, and the condition that Chōji, Neji, Kiba and Akamaru were in. With him and Shikamaru coming out in the best state, out of the entire original team. With Naruto attributing his own recovery to his healing factor, while Lee got help from Gaara, before sustaining any serious injuries.
Though what was really haunting Naruto, was what Sasuke had said and what he saw in the Genjutsu. That if things had just been slightly different, he would have lost both his teammates, leaving him, Kakashi, and everyone else that cared about them, behind.
At least with Sasuke, he could at least somewhat understand, since he wanted to get strong enough to kill his brother and avenge his Clan, his family. But that doesn't mean he has to like it. But with Sakura, she would have been leaving her family and friends, without a second thought, just to follow Sasuke.
'And those things she said to him, about me and my parents, that I wasn't raised right. That I'm just bratty and selfish.' Naruto thought sadly, that having always been a sore spot for him, given how he never met them or knew them, only that they died in the Kyūbi Attack.
*Flashback*
"This is for this month's living expenses." Sarutobi said, placing an envelope on Naruto's table, while Naruto sat in the counter, before the Hokage went to leave.
"Hey…" Said Naruto, with the Sandaime stopping and looking at the boy, who looked at him with sad and desperate eyes.
"Why don't I have a Kaa-san and Tou-san?" Naruto asked, hoping to finally get to learn who his parents were, while the Hokage sighed.
"Didn't I tell you before? While it was quite some time ago…"
"That's not what I'm asking! You're talking about the Kyūbi no Yōko that attacked! Well that's not what I'm asking about! I just want to know…who are my parents?!" Naruto said jumping down and looking at Sarutobi pleadingly, just wanting to at least know his parents cared about him.
The Hokage looked at the young boy neutrally, before turning around and walking out the apartment.
"There's no use asking that. It won't bring back the dead." Hiruzen said coldly, to make sure Naruto wouldn't ask again.
*End Flashback*
'It won't bring back the dead.' Naruto thought, clenching his fists before grabbing his head.
'No! No, it can't be true! None that could have been true! Sakura would never do something like that, or ever abandon her family and friends! Sasuke was just trying to mess with my head!' Naruto thought, trying to delude himself into believing that Sasuke had simply tried demoralizing him, only to freeze when he heard a familiar dark chuckle.
"You really are a fool. While I may despise the Uchiha Clan, what the runt said and what he showed you, it was all true. Every. Single. Word." Kyūbi said, with Naruto scowling as he shook his head.
'And why the hell should I believe you?!' Naruto mentally retorted.
"What reason would I have to lie to you?" Retorted the Kyūbi, before cutting the connection.
Naruto still shook his head, refusing to take the fox's words at face value. But still couldn't ignore the part of him whispering in his mind, that it was true. The Uzumaki knowing there was only one way to find out for sure if it was true or not.
As if on que, Naruto looked to see his room's door open and Sakura walk in.
"Hey, I just heard that Kakashi-sensei brought you back. I came by to see if you were alright." Said Sakura, with Naruto looking at her blankly, masking the emotions he was currently feeling.
"Did you try leaving the village with Sasuke?" Naruto asked, wanting to get right to the point, while hoping it wasn't true.
Only to see Sakura flinch and look at him in shock at his question, along with some nervousness as well. That being all the confirmation that Naruto needed, that what Sasuke said and showed him in the Genjutsu was true.
"What about what you said to Sasuke before we met Kakashi? That I wasn't raised right, that I'm selfish and bratty, that I'm all alone?! Is that true?!" Naruto said, his voice growing louder with each accusation, with Sakura's actions once again confirming it was true.
'She was just using me.' Thought Naruto, feeling hurt and betrayed to see it was all true, and Sakura still made him promise to bring Sasuke back.
"So that's it? That's what you think of me, that I'm annoying and I wasn't raised right, because I didn't have any parents?! But you still have no problem using me to get what you want! Like I'm some dog, you can order around! When you were willing to defect, just to follow Sasuke and join someone like Orochimaru!" Naruto shouted, with Sakura flinching at the accusations, knowing they were true.
But her pride also refused to let herself be talked down to by Naruto of all people, as Sakura glared back at him.
"At least I tried getting Sasuke to stay! I bet you didn't even try! You were always jealous of Sasuke, I bet you're happy he's gone!" Retorted Sakura.
"Yeah, you tried something alright! You tried giving him more reasons to leave and you succeeded! You really think you could understand being alone like him, like me?! I never got to know my parents, Sasuke had to watch his entire family be killed by his own brother! You still have a family and friends that care about you! But you were willing to abandon your parents, Ino, me, and Kakashi! Did you even care what we would think?!" Naruto demanded.
"So what?! I would actually enjoy some time away from my parents, with how overbearing they are! Besides, I would have seen them again when I was able to bring Sasuke back! And yeah, Sasuke would have understood me going with him!" Said Sakura, Naruto looking at her in disgust, not only how she brushed off the fact she'd become a Missing-Nin and criminal, and likely wouldn't ever see her parents again, yet acted like it'd like be going on a vacation, but also that she actually believed Sasuke would understand.
"You really think that? Sasuke's an orphan, like me. But he actually got the chance to know his parents, to know that they cared about him, only be forced to see them be killed! And you think he'd understand you abandoning your own family?! He'd be more likely to side with me, than you! Even more, since he defended me, when you made fun of me for being an orphan!" Naruto retorted, with Sakura scowling, before raising her hand and slapping Naruto across the face.
"Shut up! You don't get to talk about Sasuke, like that! And as if he'd ever side with a loser like you! It's probably your fault, he left in the first place! I bet you even threw the fight with him, just so you didn't have to bring him back! You really are a selfish brat!" Sakura yelled, glaring at Naruto, with the boy lowering his head as pain and betrayal were written clear across his face.
Though soon that turned into anger.
With Sakura also going silent, realizing what she just said.
"N-Naruto I-"
"Get. Out." Naruto said lowly.
"Naruto, I didn't-" Said Sakura, trying to apologize, only recoil back when Naruto's head snapped up, showing the now dark purple eyes, with slit pupils and black sclera.
"I SAID GET OUT!" Roared Naruto glaring at her, as Sakura ran out the room in fear and sadness, knowing now she didn't just lose Sasuke, but now Naruto as well, due to her actions, inactions, and ego.
Once Sakura was out of the room, Naruto panted as his eyes turned back to their normal white and blue, before looking down at his lap, confused when he saw drops of water hitting his hands. Before feeling the wetness in his eyes and realizing it wasn't water, they were tears, he was crying.
It made Naruto chuckle bitterly, having thought he stopped crying a long time ago. Though he didn't try stopping them, letting out all his pent up emotions that have been building up since his fight with Sasuke, and everything that happened after. Yet at the same time, Naruto's chuckling didn't stop and had instead evolved into a broken and perturbed laughter, that mixed with his crying.
With Naruto soon laughing and crying himself to sleep, not noticing that was Jiraiya sitting outside his window, looking at his latest student and godson solemnly. Before the Sannin frowned in anger, and shunshined away to go tell Tsunade what he had just overheard.
*Mindscape*
Meanwhile, Naruto had appeared in his mindscape, right in front of the Kyūbi's cage.
"I'm not in the mood fox. Whatever you want to say, say it then leave me alone." Said Naruto, not wanting to deal with whatever threats, insults, or taunting the Bijū had, and simply wanted to be alone.
"As much as I relish the chance to kick you while you're down, boy. I didn't bring you here." Said Kyūbi, with Naruto looking at it in confusion.
"That would my doing."
Naruto turned around at the sudden distorted voice and was surprised to see a dark figure with red eyes and wisps of darkness coming off their body.
"What the hell are you?" Naruto muttered, confused and wary of what this thing was, and what it was doing in his mindscape.
"Aaah, that's quite the question now, isn't it. But you already know who I am, don't you, just like I know you, King. A shredded a picture held against a mirror. One viewed clearly, the other truthfully. The question is which is which." Said the figure, circling Naruto, with the boy only being more confused at what the figure meant.
"What are you talking about?" Said Naruto, with the figure sighing in annoyance, before grabbing Naruto by the back of his head and forcing him to look at the water they're standing in, at his reflection, with the figures head right next to Naruto's.
"Think! You have been isolated, hated, alone, lied to, and betrayed your entire life. You really think that kind of treatment doesn't have consequences? Even more, when you bury all those feelings, choosing to hide behind the mask of an idiot. All those dark thoughts, the hatred, the anger, the vengeance, where do you think it all went?" Said the figure, with Naruto looking at their reflections as realization slowly dawned on him.
"…You." Naruto said, while turning his head to the figure, as it let him go.
"Yes. Every dark thought, every negative emotion, every bad trait you suppressed, I'm all of them given form. Or at least, a developing form. For simplicities sake, call me Yami. All the negative emotions you were feeling just now, they were too powerful and intense to suppress, leading to me getting an early wake up call. Now being able to contact you and speak with you." Said Yami, which was also the reason Naruto's eyes changed color, the negative emotions were just that powerful, establishing a subconscious connection between them.
"Well, why are you here now, Yami? And why did you bring me here?" Naruto asked, looking at his dark half warily, as it circled around and stood in front of him.
"Simple King, despite our differences and how much I despise you for always risking your life, for this ungrateful cesspool. We are still the same being and now you've seen the truth, that these people, they don't care about you, they only care about what you can do for them, what they can take from you. Like that pink howler monkey, she doesn't care about you, she said so herself. You're just a dog, she likes to beat into submission and then give you a treat every now and then, to keep you obedient. Everyone else, they're all the same, none of them care about you. Tsunade just sees you as a placeholder for her brother and lover, Kakashi never taught you anything and passed you off to that fool Ebisu, and Jiraiya, he nearly got you killed by throwing you off that cliff and hardly helped us learn the Rasengan. To them, you're either an annoyance, a lost cause, or just something they can use to remember those they care about. They don't really see you for you, and they never cared." Yami said, wanting to take advantage of the opportunity provided and bring Naruto to their way of thinking, in regards to the village and its inhabitants.
Naruto lowered his head as he clenched his fists, not wanting to hear this, but was also unable to say anything in their defense. Given after what happened with Sakura, his faith in Konoha and the people he thought were his friends was shaken. Naruto then looked up, when Yami put their hands on his shoulders.
"But I care, I really care. I've been the one who was always there, even if you didn't know. I stayed by your side through the pain, loneliness, and hatred. And I'll always be with you, as long as you take off that foolish mask and be who you truly are and show those villagers you won't be their doormat nor take any crap from them, anymore." Said Yami, with Naruto looking at his dark-half for a few moments, before pulling it into a hug, stabilizing the connection between them.
This also affecting Yami's form, as it began stabilizing and fully forming, the darkness fading to reveal a human body. Though one also very different from Naruto's own.
When Naruto pulled back, he was surprised when he saw a girl his age, with pale skin, three whisker marks on her cheeks, long bright red hair that went down to her waist, as well as black and red eyes. The latter feature showing this was indeed Yami.
"Why…are you a girl?" Naruto asked, having expected his dark-half to look identical to him, and while they did have similar features, enough to be considered fraternal twins, he didn't think she'd be a girl, while Yami shrugged at his question.
"It was probably a fifty-fifty chance on how I developed. Since we formed a connection, before I was fully formed, I became female instead. Showing that I'm truly your dark half, the opposite of you in every way. It's likely, if we hadn't formed a connection, I would have developed as a male, being a complete copy of you, minus the eyes, as some form of default form." Yami explained, before grabbing a strand of her red hair.
"Though even I'm confused at where the red hair came from." Said Yami, having expected to be blonde.
"That'd be due the fact the brat took after his, or rather your, father. It'd stand to reason that if you're his opposite, you'd take after your mother." Said Kyūbi, reminding the two of its presence, with Naruto and Yami being surprised and confused at this information.
"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked, wondering how the fox could know the hair color of his parents.
"You knew, didn't you?! Why didn't you tell me?!" Demanded Yami, as like Naruto, she had wanted to desperately know who their parents are.
Kyūbi scoffing at her questions, and didn't respond, as even if it liked Yami more than Naruto, it still didn't like humans as a whole. And Yami still counted as at least half of a human.
This made the two growls in annoyance at not getting any answers, as Naruto looked back at Yami, with his eyes widening in shock and his face burning red, as he realized something else about her. She was completely naked, while sporting a surprisingly curvy body and C-cup breasts, showing she was an early bloomer.
Not to the same extent as a certain Hyūga that Naruto knew, not that he was aware of this fact.
Yami soon noticed this as well, and how Naruto was unconsciously looking her up and down. Making the redhead smirk seductively and saunter up to him.
"Do you like what you see Naruto-kun~." Yami purred, with one of her hands going down and rubbing Naruto's crotch through his pants, making the boy yelp in surprise at her action.
Even more so, when Yami pushed him into a sitting position on the ground and sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, and grinding her bare cunt against him.
"Mmm, from what I'm feeling, you really like what you see." Said Yami, grinning at the feel of something poking her, with Naruto's embarrassment growing at her words.
"Y-Ya-Yami! We-we're th-the s-sa-same p-per-person! We-we c-can't d-do th-this!" Naruto stuttered, find the situation strange and a little weird.
Only to be cutoff, while his mind temporarily short circuited, when Yami pulled him into a kiss and shoved her tongue into his mouth, with Naruto being too surprised to try and resist. When Yami pulled back, she looked at her light-half with lidded eyes and leaned in close to his ear.
"That's technically true, but from the way I see things, we're different enough. I have my own consciousness and body, just like you have yours. Besides, don't forget that I am your dark-half, I don't have the same moral compass, nor do I care about such taboos. In fact…I think it's really hot~." Yami whispered seductively, before licking his ear, with Naruto groaning as his mind and body were at war, in regards to what to feel at the moment.
Seeing this, Yami began moving down and begun undoing Naruto's pants, eager to put her new body to use. Though before they could commit incest, or selfcest, Naruto wasn't really sure at the moment, he gained a moment of clarity. Right as Yami slipped off his pants and was about to suck him off, Naruto quickly pushed her off of him and pulled her up to eye level, with his hands on her shoulders.
"Yami, please. Even if that's true, I just…I can't right now. Now after what just happened." Said Naruto, since even if they weren't completely the same person, his heart wasn't in it right now.
Yami sighed in annoyance but understood his reluctance to keep going.
"Alright, fine. Not now." Yami said as they stood up, before materializing a black mini kimono with red highlight and a red obi, while Naruto pulled his pants back on.
Though Yami did give Naruto a peck on the cheek and smiled at him.
"But I meant what I said, I'll always be there for you and will never leave you. And if it comes down to it, we'll leave Konoha and find somewhere that will accept us." Yami said, glad at being able to form a connection with Naruto this early, and her new maternal instincts of wanting to take care of him.
This made Naruto smile, as a despite the circumstances, he was still glad at having someone that he could trust unconditionally.
"Thank you." Naruto said, while hugging Yami again, surprising the girl as she blushed at his gesture, before hastily pushing him back and looked away with her arms crossed.
"Sh-shut up! I-I only mean that we shouldn't deal with the dumbasses in this stupid village when we can just leave! D-don't look too deep into it!" Yami shouted, refusing to let Naruto think she was going soft, while Naruto chuckled, seeing through her act, with even the Kyūbi laughing, finding some entertainment in this new development.
*Real World*
*With Tsunade*
Meanwhile, Tsunade was looking over the bodies of the Sound Five, within a special storage unit. That only she and those she absolutely trusted had access to.
Looking over the bodies for a few moments, Tsunade soon placed some seals on the redhead, Tayuya, if she remembered their names correctly. The seals working to send an electric pulse to her brain, to keep it alive for when she can revive the girl. Tayuya being the only she could revive since her body and organs were mostly intact.
While the others Tsunade couldn't revive, given Sakon and Ukon were stabbed inside Kankuro's puppets, Kimimaro died from his disease, and Kidomaru's and Jirōbō's hearts were destroyed. Leaving Tayuya the only she could revive.
'Though, while I can repair the damage to her body, it's unlikely she'll be able to walk again.' Tsunade thought, sighing, but will take what she can get at the moment.
She'll also have to make sure she's kept somewhere secure and guarded by those she trusted, from any spies that Orochimaru had, and any Ninja he'd send to silence Tayuya again. Not to mention Danzō, given Orochimaru used to be a member of ROOT, she wouldn't put past him to still have ties with the Warhawk.
Knowing she'll have her work cut out for her, Tsunade exited the room, heading back to her office, where she was greeted by Jiraiya. The Hokage instantly on edge, when she saw the rare serious expression on his face, along with hints of sadness and anger.
"Jiraiya, what's wrong?" Tsunade asked, while on alert, knowing if Jiraiya of all people was serious, something big was happening or already happened.
"It'd be easier to tell you what isn't wrong, at the moment." Said Jiraiya, before telling Tsunade about what he overheard between Naruto and Sakura, what she said about Naruto and his parents, along with how she was willing to go rogue with Sasuke.
With Tsunade punching a hole through the wall and cursing Sakura, not believing she actually considered taking the girl as an apprentice.
"Neko! Bring me Sakura Haruno, now!" Tsunade ordered, with Neko shunshining away to find the pinkette.
Tsunade then sat down behind her desk and sighing, before looking at Jiraiya. Knowing he had planned to take Naruto out on a training trip, to prepare him for the Akatsuki. But now, the Toad Sage wasn't sure if that'd be a good idea.
"I'm not sure if I'll take Naruto on a training trip, at least not yet. While it may do him some good to be a way from the village, for a while. It might also lead him to believing he's better off, never coming back. While on the other hand, it'd be good for him to re-establish his trust and friendship with the other rookies and his fellow Ninja. Given one of his teammates just defected and the other nearly defected, as well." Said Jiraiya, with Tsunade nodding in agreement, since there's no way to know about Naruto's current mental state and what he'd do, if he was allowed to leave the village.
"What's the soonest you two would leave?" Tsunade asked.
"Maybe, three months at the most." Jiraiya answered.
"We'll see how he feels after that time-span, before I approve a training trip." Replied Tsunade, with Jiraiya nodding in understanding and agreement.
The two Sannin then looked out the window at the Hokage Monument, seeing the stone faces of Tsunade's grandfather, granduncle, their sensei, and Naruto's own father.
"It seems like life just enjoys using Naruto as its punching bag." Tsunade muttered, seeing the Uzumaki just couldn't get a break.
"Yeah. Sensei actually blocked his godmother, Mikoto, from taking him in, much less interact with him. Given the suspicions that were on the Uchiha Clan, especially after the Kyūbi Attack." Said Jiraiya, knowing that while Minato named him Naruto's godfather, Kushina named Mikoto his godmother and would have wanted her to look after him, but the Sandaime put a stop to that.
This made Tsunade sigh and look at her grandfather's face, remembering something he once told her.
"You know, my grandfather once told me that Madara, before he defected, he said that Konoha was a failed experiment. Maybe he was right, maybe Konoha was just an experiment that ultimately failed. What do you think?" Tsunade asked, while looking at her teammate, who sighed and shook his head.
"Unfortunately, that's a question, that I don't have an answer for. And honestly, part of me is afraid of what that answer would ultimately be." Said Jiraiya, scared that the Ghost of the Uchiha was actually right.
So, what did you think, good. Yep, rather then let the fight go on, Sasuke instead told Naruto the truth of what Sakura tried to do, that she was willing to defect from Konoha if it meant being with him, along with what she said about him before they met Kakashi, going as far as to show Naruto this through a Genjutsu, knocking him out allowing Sasuke to leave. With Naruto also overhearing the conditions the other members of the retrieval team are in, bringing his mood down even more. And after being brought back to the village, Naruto learns the truth of what happened from Sakura herself, finding out it was all true leading to an argument between the two, with Naruto snapping at Sakura to finally get out. Leading to Naruto entering his mindscape where he encounters the newly awakened, but not yet fully formed, Yami who comforts Naruto and make him see things from their perspective, leading Naruto to embrace his dark-half, allowing Yami to fully form only as a female rather than another Naruto. Finally, we see Tsunade looking over the bodies of the Sound Five while planning to revive Tayuya to find out what she knows, before learning what happened between Naruto and Sakura from Jiraiya, with the two Sannin wondering, maybe Madara was right. So, review if you liked go away if you didn't.
Storm out
