Chapter 57 Dreamers

Naruto and company stepped in a nearby Pub. It was modestly filled with men and cats. They took a seat at a table. Sasuke was not sure what Naruto wanted to tell him, but he was anxious. The waiter came over.

"Ok, what can I get you four", asked the waiter.

Tora leapt down to the table and looked to the waiter.

"I'll take a white russian, extra milk", said the cat.

The waiter nodded.

"I'll have one as well", said Naruto.

"Are you old enough", asked the waiter.

Naruto nodded.

Sasuke and Sakura refused a drink. The waiter left. They waited for a few minutes for the waiter to bring back their drinks. Toras was in a small saucer Naruto in a simple glass.

"Why ask you if you were old enough, obviously you aren't, and yet he gets a drink, whats with that", asked Sakura.

"This is the Dreamlands Sakura, you can't really judge someones age by a look. Some in this very pub are hundreds of years old and look as young as you", said Tora.

"So, what is it you want to tell me about my brother", asked Sasuke.

Naruto took a sip of his drink before sighing. He explained the circumstances of the massacre, the reasons behind it, and why Sasuke was left alive. He told him of the coup attempt his family had planed, he told him of why his brother did what he had to do, and who told him to do it.

"...So he left you alive for four reasons. One was for the Uchiha to come back, another is because he loved you, the third is you are to be the his form of suicide, finally he wants you to become strong enough to stop a member if the Akatsuki, a very dangerous one. apparently he believes this person in the Orange mask to be Madara Uchiha", finished Naruto.

By this time Sasuke had ordered the strongest drink the pub had that was safe for human consumption. He drank it in a series of gulps. He listened intently to the story and did not know what to do. He settled for becoming drunk. This was where both Naruto and Sakura learned Sasuke was not a happy drunk. He was depressed and angry about the truth of the massacre. At first he denied it. Until he began to remember how his brother was before the massacre. He was rather pleasant before snapping for no apparent reason. His face contorted In anger.

"...And then he had to go and kill his family, our family. Why because everyone is stupid, everyone. My family, Itachi, the council, the Hokage, and that Danzo. Fuck Danzo, and fuck them all. And why, Why I ask you did Itachi have to kill them all. Why did he leave me alone, and then he makes me relive it over and over for like. I don't know how long anymore. Fuck Itachi, I ain't killing him. He doesn't deserve it. He didn't deserve any of it, but he sure as fuck don't deserve death. I hope he sees their faces every damn night. Fuck my family, with our stupid history of murderers and psychopaths, we decide to try and take over the village like they know what the fuck to do with a goddamn village. Then the council and the Fucking Hokage try to get rid of the violence with more fucking violence. Is everyone over the age of twenty a fucking moron. Fuck my life sucks. Itachi should have fucking killed me and saved me the trouble because the whole fucking world is stupid and I can't fucking take it anymore...Fuck me, lets go fight something", said Sasuke drunk.

He took a few deep breaths and hit his head on the table.

"Feeling better", asked Tora.

"And Fuck you to. A fucking cat knows more about fucking wierd ass fucking gods and shit than I fucking do. Who the fuck made the world this fucking stupid and shit, because they need their fucking ass kicked", screamed Sasuke.

"How about now", asked Tora.

He took a deep breath and nodded.

"Yeah, yeah I feel better. But I was serious about fighting something", said Sasuke.

Noruto turned to Tora.

"Any ideas on something a ninja can take", asked Naruto.

Tora took a thoughtful expression before nodding.

"Out the town the Graveyard has a few mindless Ghouls that come by every now and then", said Tora.

Sasuke shot up. Determination painted on his face.

"Lets go", said Sasuke.

As soon as he took a single step he fell face first.

"Well, can't believe I'm saying this but I'm glad he's out", said Sakura.

"I agree, but we should get him up. We made quite the scene so I think we over stayed our welcome", said Naruto.

Sakura and Naruto each held the unconscious Sasuke up. An arm over each of their shoulders. Tora followed them.

"Hey Naruto, can I ask you something", asked Sakura.

Naruto nodded.

"If this is a Dream, and Sasuke is unconscious in this Dream, what does that mean", asked Sakura.

"That is a question I don't want to think about Sakura, I don't need the headache", said Naruto.

They walked into an alley with the fewest amount of cats and sat down. Sasuke threw up in his sleep and woke up. He quickly made his way to a wall and leaned against it while emptied his stomach of seemingly everything he ever ate in his life. In the Dreamlands it was quite possible that was what was happening. Naruto patted his back as he hurled.

"Thats it, let it out", said Naruto.

"Please someone get me a...", said Sasuke before he puked again.

Sakura stood back making sure no one came near to see Sasuke in his inebriated state. She leaned in to see him hunched over.

"You ok back there", asked Sakura.

"No", said Sasuke before he continued his vomiting.

"What did I drink", asked Sasuke.

"I don't know Sasuke, but never ask for the strongest drink in the land of dreams, chances are it's not normal", said Naruto.

Sasuke wiped his lip and stood up.

"I think I'm good", said Sasuke.

Naruto nodded before taking in a deep breath.

"So, what are you going to do", asked Naruto.

Sasuke sighed. He thought about if for a second before looking to Naruto.

"I'm going to find my brother, have a nice long chat. Then I'm going to punch him in his face. I need to think about everything else", said Sasuke.

"I understand, just remember if you need to talk, I am always here", said Naruto.

Sasuke nodded. He looked behind him to the back of the alley.

"Well, I'd say we go fight those ghoul things, but right now I don't think I can in this state", said Sasuke.

"Yeah, we should get going anyway, I can't be sure how long we can stay in the Dreamlands and there is much to see", said Naruto.

Sasuke shrugged before he coughed and spit out the foul taste from his mouth.

"Are you quite alright", asked a mysterious voice.

They turned to the mysterious voice and found a man was standing near them, eyeing them with a look of mild confusion and concern. He walked up to them and leaned forward as if to observe them. Naruto waved off his question, dismissing it.

"We're fine. My friend just is having a little trouble holding his liquor", said Naruto.

The man gave a sharp nod as he straightened his back.

"I see, well best of luck with that. May I ask, are you from the waking world, your style of dress is rather unusual for this town", said the man.

"We are, I'm Naruto Uzumaki, this is Sasuke Uchiha, over there behind us is Sakura Haruno and Tora. She is our guide here", said Naruto.

The man nodded.

"It is nice to meet you three, I am Randolph Carter", said the man.

Naruto's eyes widened.

"Randolph Carter. The Randolph Carter. The Randolph Carter who fooled Nyarlathotep, one of the most famous dreamers to ever live, are you that Randolph Carter", asked Naruto.

"I see my reputation precedes me, yes that is me", said the man smiling.

Naruto walked up to the man and shook his hand.

"It's an honor to meet you sir", said Naruto as he enthusiastically shook Randolphs hand.

"Likewise", said Randolph.

"Who is this", asked Sakura who had just walked up behind them.

Naruto smiled. He motioned to Randolph and cleared his throat.

"This is Randolph Carter, the only person to ever beat an Outer God and live to tell the tale. I'm surprized you are here", said Naruto.

"I came here to speak with my old friend Atal. After that I decided to just walk through Ulthar, see how the town has changed and all that", said Randolph.

Naruto nodded.

"Well I am glad to have met you but we really should be going. It's our first time in in Ulthar and I am showing my friends around the Dreamlands, but it was very nice to meet you", said Naruto.

Randolph nodded.

"Same here, I should be going as well, an old friend is expecting me at the graveyard and I would not want to be late", said Randolph.

"The only think at the Graveyards are Ghouls, don't tell me you made friends with one", asked Tora.

"They aren't quite so bad once you get to know them. Anyway I am off, good luck with your friend", said Randolph.

Naruto smiled as he left. Sasuke tapped Naruto on the shoulder.

"How did he beat a God anyway", asked Sasuke.

"Nyarlathotep tricked him to go to Azathoths court, where he would have been destroyed. He flew on the back of a massive Shantak to the court. He then remembered he was dreaming and thought of his home lands, He survived by jumping off his Shantak and woke up, though I am confused as to why he is here, He is from another universe, and not ours. Every universe should have it's own Dreamlands. Either we are in his, or he is in ours. Maybe bypassing the steps to come here has thrown us in the wrong universe", said Naruto.

"What steps", asked Sakura.

"The Seventy Steps of Light Slumber and the Seven Hundred Steps of Deeper Slumber. I used the advantage of Hastur bringing me here before to bypass the steps. There are other ways here but most are dangerous. It's something unexpected, but it does beg the question how Tora is here to. Something strange is going on", said Naruto.

"Who runs this place, maybe he would know", said Sakura.

"That would be Nyarlathotep, and that is someone I do not want to meet", said Naruto.

"He really that bad", asked Sasuke.

Naruto nodded. Tora stood and looked at Sakura.

"The best way to describe him is he's the Devil with the powers of God", said Tora.

"Yeah, lets not meet him", said Sakura.

Naruto snickered.

"Anyway, we should get going. We will go to relatively safe cities, I wanted to visit Dylath-Leen, but it was never inviting. And I hear Moon-beasts stay there now, so instead maybe we can go to Celephais, the king and god there is Kuranes. He is the only dreamer to ever go to the court of Azathoth and come back alive and sane", said Naruto.

He looked up to the stars.

"It's amazing the people and things we could find here", said Naruto to himself.

He looked to Tora.

"We really should get going, I take it you want to stay", asked Naruto.

"This place is a cats heaven, but you have fun. And be careful", said Tora.

Naruto nodded.

He turned to Sasuke.

"You going to be ok", asked Naruto.

"Yeah, a walk would do me good, I have a lot to think about, mind if we walk the long way", asked Sasuke.

Naruto smiled.

"I got a better idea", he said.

He bit his thumb abd summoned a Byakhee. Sasuke smirked and Sakura smiled.

Sakura bit her thumb and summoned a Horse who's mane and tail was fire that did not harm her, and Sasuke summoned a pitch black panther who was surrounded in a mist of black shadows.

"Lets ride", said Sakura.

They took off to Celephais. Sakura's horse walked on a trail of fire that allowed it to walk in the sky while Sasuke's Panther ran appearing as a running cloud. Naruto was surprised they could keep up with the Byakhee, though only barely. He smiled as they rode the sky.

Back in the waking world Danzo smiled as his hidden Sharingan eye fooled the council around him into falling under his thrall.

"...As such I vote for the next Hokage to be Danzo", spoke Homura.

"Seconded", said Koharu.

Danzo almost smiled but he kept his indifferent features. It was now official, he would be the fifth Hokage.