9Disclaimer: I don't Naruto. If I did NaruSaku would be cannon.
Naruto walked down the road leading to his apartment, which was in one of the less privileged areas of Konoha. It was already quite late in the evening and the crowd on the road had already thinned out to a few people stumbling to home after work, though that didn't stop the few glares that were directed at him. Naruto ignored them as he stared up into the clear night sky filled with stars. He had learned to appreciate things like a peaceful night with stars shining above, things that were once trivial to him as much as it was to the next person.
Peace… He thought. The word seemed so foreign to him now, it felt alien to his tongue when he spoke of it. He banished those thoughts from his mind and closed his to breathe in the night air.
When he opened his eyes again he froze in his place. He felt a feeling he had not felt for some time, fear. There were houses that were on fire all around him. Columns of smoke were rising up into the night sky, and the smell of ash and burning flesh filled the air. He could hear the cries of pain and terror all around him. Bodies mangled up beyond recognition and missing limbs were lying on the blood soaked street. He saw a young girl kneeling beside the bloody body of a woman, possibly her mother, looking at him with a blank face as tears ran down her cheeks.
Naruto felt himself shaking, as his own tears kept falling down unchecked. He looked down at his hands to see them covered in blood. A scream died in his throat, he was too shaken and mortified to make a sound. He looked back up to see a few people limp their way towards him. They were covered with injuries and blood, and they had an aghast expression on their faces.
"Naruto-sama help us…!"
"You were supposed to bring peace!"
"Please save my son, Naruto-sama!"
"Help us!"
"Stay away, please stay away. This is not happening." Naruto kept chanting over and over again as he buried his face in his arms and sobbed.
"You demon! You killed us all…!"
Naruto's head snapped up hearing the yell. The scene had changed and before him stood a crowd of hundreds of ninjas and civillians alike. They all looked as pale as death and were bathed in blood. He felt a weight in his right hand and looked down to see a katana smeared with blood held in it. He dropped the weapon and cowered away from it, stumbling upon the bodies that still lay all around him.
"Please, stop. Please, I am sorry! I am sorry!" Naruto by then was crying uncontrollably. He had buried his face in his arms again and was finding it difficult to breathe.
"Naruto." Someone was calling him, as he felt his body being shaken. Naruto was still too mortified to open his eyes, as he continued to cry.
"Naruto…!" The yell managed to shake Naruto out of his trance.
He opened his eyes to find himself back in the streets of Konoha. He was kneeling on the ground and his face was wet with tears. He felt a hand on his shoulders. He followed the hand on his shoulder to see a worried Kakashi looking at him. Behind him stood Gai and Asuma with confused faces. A few passing people had also stopped to watch the scene.
"Kakashi-sensei…?" His voice came out weak and shaky.
"Did you have an attack again?" Kakashi asked.
Naruto nodded, unable to trust his voice anymore. He was still shaking and his breathing had yet to calm down. Gai and Asuma exchanged confused glances, unaware of what was going on. They got even more confused when Naruto referred to the Copy nin as Sensei.
"What's going on, Kakashi?" Gai finally asked. Asuma and Kakashi were actually headed towards the Hokage Tower to meet the Hokage and get their team assignments while Gai decided to accompany them, when they came across a sobbing and hyperventilating Naruto, kneeling on the street.
"Nothing. I am going to take Naruto home. Tell that to Hokage-sama, also tell him that I will come to take my team assignment later. He will understand." Saying that Kakashi picked up the still shaking Naruto and leapt away from the prying eyes, leaving behind two confused Jounins.
Kakashi entered Naruto's apartment through his window. He carefully placed Naruto, who had calmed down a bit by then, on his bed and pulled a chair to sit beside him. He knew it would take some time before he spoke again but he needed someone with him then because he was at his most vulnerable state. Kakashi looked down at the broken person lying on the bed with sympathy and wondered how he survived all that. 'Broken' really seemed liked the word that could be used to best describe him. His own life seemed like a walk in the park compared to the blonde's.
"I didn't know what to do. I… We had no choice." Naruto finally spoke up, his breathing had evened out.
"I know, you showed me." Kakashi spoke," Are they getting worse, Naruto…?" Kakashi asked.
Naruto made a sound which seemed like a snort," This was the best week, actually. I had only three attacks, apart from the nightmares."
Kakashi did not know how to answer that so he decided to move on from the topic," Naruto…?"
"Yes, Sensei…?"
"Are you sure about what you are going to do?"
"Time is like a river, Sensei. If I throw stones it will only cause ripples and the river will continue to flow in the same direction it was flowing. Unless I do big things nothing will change."
"What happens if it changes for the worse…?"
Naruto who was staring at his ceiling until then, turned to look Kakashi in the eye before speaking," You saw it, Sensei. Any future would be better than the one I came from."
Flashback:
One year and two weeks prior to the present night
The Hokage was the title given to the most powerful and respected Shinobi of the village. He was the leader of thousands and was looked up to by all under him. That was reason why so many tried to earn that title, but they forget that along with recognition came responsibilities and along with responsibilities came PAPERWORK. That was the thought running through the mind of the disgruntled Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, as he glared at the piles of reports on his desk he still had to go through and it was already evening. The aged leader had been forced out of retirement when the Yondaime had passed away and he felt too old to do all that work, something that he kept telling himself every time reports were dropped on his desk. Hiruzen forced down a sigh and moved to grab the next report when the door to his office burst open, revealing a panting and sweating Naruto. The secretary was right behind him trying to stop him, but the Hokage waved her off.
Naruto was still trying to catch his breath as the secretary left. The Hokage studied the child in front of him as he stared back gasping for breath. Hiruzen got up from his chair to walk up to him and kneeled before him on one knee, as he handed him a glass of water.
"How old am I, Jiji…?" Naruto's question caught the old man off guard.
"What do you mean, Naruto-kun?" Receiving only a few gasps for breath as answer, Hiruzen decided to answer the question asked to him," Eleven."
Tears welled up Naruto's eyes as he jumped to hug the person before him," We did it! We did it!" Naruto kept repeating over and over again as he sobbed into the Hokage's chest.
"What's wrong, Naruto-kun?" Hiruzen was thoroughly confused by Naruto's behaviour as the boy continued mumbling and sobbing in his chest. Seeing that he would get no answer he decided to comfort Naruto until he had calmed down.
When he had finally calmed down, Naruto spoke up," Jiji, is Kakashi-sensei in Konoha?"
If Hiruzen was surprised that Naruto knew the Copy nin he did not show it for he was already sure that this was no ordinary meeting, but he could not help but feel curious when Kakashi was referred to as 'Sensei'," Yes. Do you want me to send for him?"
Seeing Naruto nod, the Hokage summoned an ANBU to call Kakashi emphasising the urgency.
"Ask the ANBU to leave the room and set up the seals when Sensei arrives." This time Hiruzen's eyes widened in surprise. No one was supposed to know about the hidden ANBU in his office, specifically placed for his protection. Hiruzen quickly did some check up to make sure that the person standing before him was not an imposter or under some mind control jutsu.
Kakashi arrived at that moment to see an orange clad boy, also the village's Jhinchuriki and his teacher's son, covered in sweat and the Hokage standing before him with a surprised expression," You called, Hokage-sama?"
The Sandaime recovered from his thoughts hearing Kakashi's voice," Yes, Kakashi. Leave us."
Four distinct pops were heard signalling that the guards had left. Kakashi's brows furrowed thinking about the unusual circumstances. The Hokage's guard rarely left their leader's side, he himself had been one once. As he watched the Hokage walk up to his desk and do some hand seals, Naruto turned towards him and smiled. Kakashi saw this in the peripherals of his vision and turned towards him with a confused expression.
"It's nice to see you again, Kakashi-sensei?"
"What is going on, Hokage-sama? And why is Naruto calling me 'Sensei'?" Kakashi spoke up somewhat alarmed by the situation.
Finishing with setting up the sound proofing barrier seals, Hiruzen spoke up," I would like to know that too, Kakashi. Now, since all your requirements are met would like to explain Naruto-kun." The Hokage's voice had taken up his authoritative tone. He too was a little alarmed.
"Yes, Jiji. What I am about to tell you cannot leave this room and I will decide who else is to know."
"I will agree to the first condition but I cannot agree to the second one until I hear what you have to say, Naruto-kun." The Hokage replied receiving a nod of agreement from Kakashi who was studying the blonde intently.
"Fair enough." Naruto said," I will start with the basics. I managed to separate my consciousness from my physical body, using the Yamanaka's clan jutsu, and transferred it back in time along with a part of my chakra."
The Hokage and Kakashi listened to what Naruto had to say with neutral faces, although their eyes betrayed their disbelief. The Sandaime was the first to speak.
"Is this one of your pranks, Naruto-kun?" His voice came out harder than he had intended it to. Kakashi's thoughts mirrored that of his leader.
They did not expect the anger in Naruto's eyes on hearing those words," Why would I joke about something so serious, Hokage-sama? Do you think I spent the last twenty years of my life to come back and joke with you…! "
"You do understand that we cannot you word for it Naruto." Kakashi was the one to speak this time.
"You are Hatake Kakashi, son of Hatake Sakumo, student of Namikaze Minato. Your team mates were Nohara Rin and Uchiha Obito. Obito saved your life and gave you his Sharingan as he himself got crushed by rocks during a mission in the Third Shinobi World War. Rin died when she jumped before you as you were trying to plunge your Chidori into a Kiri hunter nin, that time you were trying to rescue her from Kiri. Your ANBU code name was Inu." Looking at the Hokage's shocked and Kakashi's pale faces he paused before continuing," Are you convinced now or do I need to tell you about the Uchiha massacre and the involvement of your advisors in it too."
Hiruzen's face hardened immediately on hearing that," That's enough Naruto…! Either you are who you say you are and quite important to the village in the future or our security have slackened pitifully."
Kakashi was shocked beyond words, but he chose to keep quiet seeing the Hokage's reaction on the mention of the Uchihas.
What does he mean by the advisors involvement in the Uchiha massacre…? Kakashi wondered.
"Nothing I say is a lie, Jiji."
"As Hiruzen Sarutobi I would like to trust you Naruto-kun, but as the Hokage I cannot take your word for it. I have to make sure that you are not an agent of an enemy village." The Hokage spoke, his voice softer than his earlier outburst.
"I understand Jiji. However, I cannot let you call Inoichi-san to read my mind." Naruto said.
"Why not?" Kakashi asked.
"Firstly, the Yamanaka's project their consciousness into the target's mind. Entering my mind would simply overwhelm him and throw him into a comatose state. Secondly, the less people know the better."
"Then what do you suggest, Naruto-kun. Clearly I cannot let you walk out of this office, after hearing what you know without some confirmation." Hiruzen replied.
"In my current state I am not strong enough to share my memories along with my chakra with you all but that's the reason I asked Kakashi-sensei to come, because firstly he is one of the people I trust." Kakashi wondered what kind of relation he had with the Naruto that stood before him to earn his trust," Secondly, he can use his sharingan to read my memories without his consciousness actually entering my mind."
Hiruzen nodded," That's acceptable. Kakashi."
Kakashi acknowledged the order and moved to uncover his covered eye. Naruto already well versed with the proceedings moved to stand before Kakashi and stared right into the spinning tomas.
Hiruzen stood by silently and on alert as he watched the two before him staring at each other completely still, as if frozen in time.
Kakashi on the other hand was going through a myriad of memories. Three children with contrasting hair colours and personality, their growth, their lives, their children, the wars they fought, people he had thought to be dead fighting his students, the deaths of friends, the anguish, the sorrow, the helplessness, the fires that raged and finally a man in his early fifties with long blonde hair tied behind going through some handseals that ended in a bright flash. The next thing he saw was himself and the Sandaime speaking with Naruto.
Kakashi ended the jutsu with a gasp, he could feel that he was low on chakra. He wasn't sure how long he was gone. He realized that he was crying when he felt his wet face. He couldn't remember the last time he had cried.
"Are you alright, Kakashi…?" Hiruzen asked from his place beside the panting Naruto, whom he was supporting.
""Hai, Hokage-sama." Kakashi replied, "How long was I in there?"
"One hour." Came the reply.
Naruto who had recovered from the effects spoke up," Now do you believe me, Sensei? Do you see why I had to come back?"
"Hai." Kakashi replied, before looking to the Hokage," Naruto is speaking the truth Hokage-sama, but as Naruto said the less people know the better."
"I agree, Kakashi. We cannot afford people to know about Naruto or the jutsu he has created." Hiruzen said," So why did you have to come back, Naruto-kun?"
"I cannot tell you, Jiji. I wouldn't have shown them to Sensei either but I needed to so that you would believe what I said." Naruto replied," I know I cannot change the future alone but I cannot tell you all the whole truth either, because it would only confuse and overwhelm you."
On receiving a confirmation from the still distressed Kakashi, Hiruzen sighed," Alright, what do you need?"
"I am terribly weak now, so I need Kakashi-sensei to train me. I also need you send for er… Jiraya-sensei so that I can sign the toad summon contract."
"So you are Jiraya's student, eh? Then do you know about your heritage?" The Hokage asked.
"Yes, I do. Also I want to be the one to decide who knows about me. Of course only if you also agree with it."
"Alright, I will send word to Jiraya. Maybe, he can check you seal too." Hiruzen said as he sat on his chair, after helping Naruto to sit on one too.
"Don't worry about the seal. Kurama and I are friends now, and part of wanting to sign the toad contract is that I want the key to open the seal." Naruto said.
Seeing that the Hokage was going to protest Kakashi interrupted," It is true, Hokage-sama. The Kyubi or Kurama is an ally."
Seeing his grandfather figure shocked Naruto chuckled," Where do you think I got the chakra to come back?"
He purposely left out the fact that he was not the only bijuu to help, Kakashi took the cue and shut up.
Hiruzen sighed," You are giving me a head ache, even when you have grown up Naruto-kun." Naruto chuckled again," Alright, I believe that you have more to say and plan but before that I want you to go and rest, you too Kakashi. You are both exhausted, furthermore if I don't have my guard back soon there will be an uproar I would rather avoid."
"Thank you, Jiji." Naruto said as he stood to leave.
"Hokage-sama." Kakashi gave a bow before following Naruto. The hokage removed the seals so that they could leave.
When the Copy nin and Naruto were out on the streets, Naruto spoke up.
"I believe you want to ask something, Kakashi-sensei…?"
"How did you keep going?" Kakashi asked looking at his student.
"She asked me to take care of Konoha and our daughter. That was her last wish."
Kakashi understood for nothing else was spoken as they made their way to their respective homes.
A/N: Done. Another chapter out.
So, yes this is a time travel fic.
No rants today and the keyword of the chapter is 'WARS'(plural).
Please review people, because I really won't know how good or bad the story is until you tell me. Only follows and favs will not help.