Chapter 19: Troubled Soul

Chapter 19: Troubled Soul

Naruto fell to his hands and knees as the sweat glistened off his body. He panted, exhausted from his training. It had been 2 weeks since he had been an examiner for the survival test in the chuunin exams. Since then, his time had been spent training in order to improve his skills. His kenjutsu lessons with Genma were still proceeding and he was now applying the principals of kenjutsu to his Souansha Heijin technique. However Sasuke had stopped coming to training ever since he found about the death of Naruto and was also a lot more distant.

Naruto let a smile appear across his face before he began to laugh. His laughter increased as he rolled onto his back and looked at the base of the tree he was laying at. Following its bark up, his eyes set upon the special seal required in order to perform the Hiraishin No Jutsu. He let out a relaxed sigh having finally performed the technique successfully after nearly two months of training. He was happy that he had completed the critical first step. Now he could easily figure out how to perform it while the seal was moving. He realised one problem which he hadn't foreseen at the beginning of his training. The seals were only capable of being used once hence he would only be allowed to use a few kunai for practice. All together he had 51 of the special kunais required for the technique consequently he had to make sure that he had enough remaining at the end of training since he could only use the seals with these special kunai.

He closed his eyes letting the sunlight hit his body, heating him up even more than he already was. His mind drifted to the Akatsuki and the fact that they would be here in a week. He could feel his insides boiling at the seriousness of the situation. Everything he had trained and worked so hard for would come to a head in a week's time.

He got up from his position and walked over to his discarded shirt and jacket before putting them on. He decided to head home to freshen up before finding Sakura.

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Sakura rubbed her temples before turning another page in the book she was currently reading. She had spent the majority of her time occupied in the personal library of the Godaime trying to discover some type of method to cure Naruto's condition. Her efforts had made little progress as there had been no recorded procedure or clue as to how to mature the coils of a person to their fully matured state.

She closed the book putting it aside before putting her head in her hands. She couldn't explain it but she felt a lot more fatigued lately and her chest was giving her a tingling sensation. She began to massage the side of her head in an effort to try and awaken herself a little more. Although she was still as determined, she was beginning to lose hope.

"No progress huh?" The voice caused the pink haired kunoichi to look at the doorway to the library. The Hokage made her way to the disorganized table and took a seat.

Sakura sighed, "No," she leaned back in her chair, "If there is something in which an operation could help, it isn't in this library."

Tsunade nodded, "That means, we would have to start looking through kinjutsu and find a way possibly to maybe even combine some ideas together." The legendary sucker put her chin on her palm before resuming, "The Kazekage will be arriving in a week. I'm sure we could ask Sunagakure for a few books to do with medicine and maybe even kinjutsu."

Sakura looked at her teacher, "Would they give us important things like that?"

Tsunade shrugged, "I'll just tell him it's to do with Naruto. The council of his might put up resistance but I'm sure he'll be able to succeed."

Sakura felt some hope enter her as she smiled. She sighed putting her head in her hands once again and closing her eyes. Tsunade looked at her apprentice awkwardly realising the odd behaviour she was displaying. She spoke calmly, "Is everything alright?"

Sakura nodded her head before answering, "It's nothing. I've just been feeling a lot more tired than usual lately."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow since she knew that the medic-nin would always be refreshed. Sakura had been spending large amounts of time studying lately but there was still no reason to believe she would be this fatigued. "How have you been feeling in the mornings?"

Sakura looked up at the busty blonde, "Eh?"

Tsunade shook her head, "Just answer the question."

Sakura tucked her hair behind her ear, "A little nauseous, I don't think it's anything to worry about."

Tsunade's eyes widened as she felt her suspicions rise. She coughed clearing her throat before she asked her next question knowing it would cause the younger kunoichi to become embarrassed. "What exactly did you and Naruto do that night?"

Sakura instantly looked at her mentor as she felt her cheeks become warm tinting with the deepest of red. She began to stutter, "Uh…n…nothing."

Tsunade gave out a small chuckle, "Sounds like you did something." Her expression turned serious anxious of what kind of effect this could have on Naruto if her deduction turned out to be correct. "I can't believe you couldn't figure this out on your own."

Sakura recoiled at what she was assuming was an insult.

Tsunade sighed, "Though I doubt you would've expected something like this to happen." She rose from her seat walking towards the door, "Come with me, we have a few…tests to go through."

Tsunade walked out into the hallway, her mind drifting to the most hyperactive ninja in Konoha, 'I should send a message to him.'

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Sasuke sat cross legged in the Uchiha shrine, his demeanour calm and his eyes contemplative. He stared at the scroll in front of him, thinking of his lost family; his father from whom he always wanted acceptance and attention, and his mother who would always smile at him and uplift his heart, his elder brother whom he admired more than anyone else and wanted to surpass.

Even though his childhood innocence had been short lived, he still had the memories deeply implanted in his mind. He cherished those times and he knew that he shouldn't let himself be brought down by the past anymore. However his future now seemed bleak. His return from Orochimaru was hard enough due to the fact that many mistrusted him. The price that was paid by the one shinobi who was the closest bond he had, lingered on his conscious relentlessly.

He sighed looking at the scroll which held the darkest secrets of his clan and was the ultimate reason for the Uchiha massacre. The visage of Itachi flashed through his mind but it wasn't the one he was accustomed to seeing recently. It was the one from his days as a child when he would always ask him to train him.

"Forgive me Sasuke. Next time."

The black haired teen raised his hand slowly touching his forehead as his fingertips brushed the spot where he would always get flicked by his older brother. He began to think of their final encounter as the Itachi that day starkly contrasted from the one he remembered from his childhood. His eyes were emotionless and cold. Sasuke had anticipated that moment from the day he strengthened his resolve to become an avenger. Nonetheless as much as he hated his brother, when his lifeless body fell into his arms after their epic battle he found that there was no sense of accomplishment within him. Instead he felt his heart breaking when he saw the smile on his inert face.

"Power causes you to become isolated and arrogant."

That day he wept for him as he did for the rest of his family. He was left as the last Uchiha and the only legacy of his legendary clan. He found contentment in knowing that as much as he had lost, he had still gained people who were important to him. The impending death of Naruto tore the remaining hope he had. He rose from his position staring at the scroll in his hands with deep hatred. He flung it at the wall as it impacted before it fell on the floor resounding in an echo throughout the silent atmosphere.

His eye's dropped to the ground as he sighed, "Was it really worth it…onii-san?"

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Naruto walked through the familiar hallways as he approached the door to the Hokage's office. He had received notification through a bird messenger. It had taken him by surprise as he was just exiting the shower before it came screeching in and nearly crashed into his face. He had barely avoided it and let it go once it had become aware enough to fly.

The message had told him to come to the Hokage due to an urgent matter. He whistled happily because of his success with his training. He opened the door but stopped when he saw that there were two occupants present.

He smiled before calling out, "Sakura-chan! I was going to look for you when I was done here." He rubbed his nose, "Well, this does save me time."

Sakura walked to the hyperactive ninja giving him a small kiss which caused him to turn red. Tsunade coughed interrupting them, "I should leave you two alone."

She rose from her seat and walked to the exit. Naruto scratched the back of his head, "Nani? You called me here and now you're just going to leave without even telling me why?"

Tsunade sighed slapping her head, "You'll know why soon enough, but not from me." She left the office closing the door behind her.

Naruto tilted his head confused but quickly formed a grin as he jumped over the Hokage's desk and sat down on her chair. He put his feet on the desk and leaned back in the chair with his hands behind his head, "I always wondered what it would feel like to do this." He began to laugh.

Sakura stared at the genin thinking of how to break the news to him. When she had first learned of it a few hours earlier she was scared but soon calmed down and accepted it. The only thing remaining was Naruto and she didn't know what his reaction might be.

She coughed clearing her throat as Naruto fiddled with the various objects on the Godaime's desk, "Naruto."

Naruto looked up, "Eh?"

Sakura swallowed the lump in her throat, "I need to talk to you about something important."

Naruto looked at her expectantly as silence loomed between the two. "Yeah?"

The medic-nin gave a nervous chuckle thinking of how to bring up the topic. "Do you remember when we…you know?"

Naruto raised an eyebrow before he understood what she was saying. His face flushed, "You mean a couple of days ago…"

Sakura shook her head, "Baka, I meant the first time."

Naruto held his nose trying to stop any blood that might try to break out as images flashed through his mind. "Oh…yeah."

Sakura knew that the blonde shinobi had no idea where she was heading with this. She walked towards him before taking a seat on the desk next to him. She sighed and let the distress show in her eyes. Naruto looked at the pink haired beauty, "What is it, Sakura-chan?"

Sakura stared into his oceanic eyes, "I'm going to be a mother."

Naruto's mouth fell open, "NANI?" He began to laugh at the kunoichi before jumping out of his seat and around the room.

Sakura stared after the jinchuuriki as he flipped across the room truly surprised by his reaction.

Naruto landed on his feet but stopped as he fully understood what she just said. His eyes widened as he felt his heart bombarded with conflicting emotions. He stood there unmoving for a few minutes before speaking calmly, "And I'm going to be a father?"

Sakura nodded, "Hai."

He turned to face her, a smile across his face, hiding what he was really feeling inside. "Are you okay with this?"

Sakura got up from the desk walking towards him enveloping him in hug, "Hai…a part of you will always be with me…we can be a family."

Naruto wrapped his arms around her as his face was hidden from her view. The words family struck an emotion deep within his heart. "I'm not going to be…"

He was cut off from finishing as Sakura shook her head in his embrace, "You will be…I'll make sure of it."

Naruto smiled as he stopped any tears from falling. He was happy to know that the medic was trying her hardest to try and save him but he didn't expect anything. He was satisfied knowing that she cared. His mind currently lingered on his yet to be born child.

His heart panged with hurt as he tried to understand what he should do. He separated from Sakura before speaking, "I have to do something…I'll see you later."

He walked away from her to the window and gave a wave in her direction before jumping out. Sakura concentrated on his figure disappearing into the distance before she began to think of their unborn child. From what she could tell of the jinchuuriki's reaction, he was slightly disturbed with the news. She figured it was because of the fact that he wasn't planning on being here for long. Her hand moved to her stomach as she stroked it, 'I will find a way.'

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The Akatsuki members each stood on the fingers of the statue of the King of the Underworld which corresponded with the rings they were wearing. In the place of where the other members, that were now dead, used to stand were their rings. The leader of the Akatsuki continued performing the Fuin Jutsu Genryu Kyu Fujin technique. The technique forcibly removed the spirit and the chakra of the tailed beast he performed it on transferring it into the intimidating and towering statue.

The ten dragon like energy figures surrounding the host of the Hachibi, swirled around his body one last time before removing the tailed beast within. The energy flew into the statue before the mouthpiece fell back into place in its mouth. There were a total of 9 eyes on its frightening face. The eighth eye opened slowly signaling the success of the jutsu. Only the eye in the center remained closed.

The body of the jinchuuriki fell onto the floor hardly. Deidara sighed, "That took long yeah."

Tobi laughed, "I didn't realise it that much. It must mean I'm getting stronger than you Sempai."

The blonde criminal's gaze pierced his partner, "Don't get ahead of yourself yeah."

The leader of the Akatsuki spoke in an authoritative tone, "Stop your bickering." The two quieted down as they stared at their leader in silence. "There is only one remaining."

Deidara nodded, "We'll be in Konoha for the finals yeah."

The leader of the notorious organization looked at Deidara and Tobi, "Make sure the plan proceeds flawlessly."

Tobi gave a victory sign with his hand as his and Deidara's forms faded leaving only the three physically present figures in the cave.

Zetsu jumped from his spot on the statue's finger onto the ground. He spoke emotionlessly, "So you will be leaving for their positions soon?" He took the silence as a confirmation.

The female member of the Akatsuki ran her hand through her hair, "Well, I've done my part. I'll be here for the final ceremony." She vanished from her position leaving only Zetsu and the leader.

The shadowed figure prepared to leave before turning back to face Zetsu, "Get rid of her."

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Naruto looked across the village of Konoha from his spot on top of the Yondaime's head. His heart was in turmoil and his mind was focused on his unborn child. The sun was lowering into the horizon, the light slowly fading.

He had always been alone when he was a child and had never known who his parents were. The thought of where they were and why he was alone continuously ate him up on the inside. He would always look on in envy when the other children's parents would come to collect them from the academy. He would feel his heart breaking whenever he saw a father and his child sharing a bowl of food while they laughed. The feeling of loneliness would engulf him whenever he saw a mother pushing her daughter on a swing.

It was hard to see them so comfortable and happy while he suffered because he never understood why he was in such a situation. He knew how hard it was to not know about your parents. He thought about his unborn child wondering whether it would also share the same experience. He knew that Sakura would always be there but would his absence cause pain.

"I told you not to talk to him…go away…monster."

The words of the villagers stung his heart as he remembered them. Would his child be treated the same way because of their connection? The people of Konoha had slowly started accepting him but there were still a lot who detested him because of the Kyuubi. A tear escaped his eye as he knew that he wouldn't ever see his own child's face.

He had wanted a family ever since he was young. He had finally gotten together with the girl of his dreams and they were now going to have a child. But he wouldn't be there for its first steps, its first words or its first smile. He wiped the tears that were falling from his eyes reaching into his pouch.

He pulled out a thick book along with a pen. He knew that he wouldn't be there for him but he would leave something behind so that his child would know who his father was. He didn't want it to experience the same ache that he had. Slowly opening the book to its first page, he bought his pen to its blank surface and began to write.

Fuin Jutsu Genryu Kyu Fujin - Sealing Technique Illusionary Dragon Nine Consuming Seals

Hiraishin No Justu - Flying Thunder God Technique

Souansha Heijin - Twin Blades (Original)