After dinner, Gaara invited them to stay the night. However, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura declined politely, responding that they had to find their wayward sensei and check in together at a nearby inn since they didn't want to be an inconvenience. This obviously disappointed Gaara, so Naruto promised him that they would meet up in the morning at the playground and visit the Academy where Temari and Kankuro were currently attending. They were, surprisingly, actually about to graduate.
Gaara was soon going to be attending the Academy as well. It turned out that Rasa was hesitating in sending his youngest son to learn techniques, especially with the fact that Gaara still didn't know how to control the Ichibi, but eventually relented when Naruto had to reassure him once more, even going so far as to say that the Ichibi — Shukaku — would be helping Gaara all the way.
Kurama told him that Shukaku was now uncharacteristically quiet and somewhat slightly penitent when it came to his vessel, so there was a great chance that Shukaku was going to try to give Gaara a well-deserved chance. Naruto even tried to talk to the Ichibi himself, but Shukaku didn't seem to want to socialize at the moment. It seemed to have something to do with the fact that Shukaku was still in shock about being back in the past, and Naruto understood that feeling completely.
They found Kakashi later near a cheap-looking inn, slowly eating a single dumpling. Naruto immediately felt sorry for not inviting his teacher to the dinner; he didn't really think that Kakashi wouldn't have any money to spend on good food.
Sakura approached him first, handing him a wrapped package. "Here, sensei," she said sweetly, an innocent expression on her face which Kakashi somehow couldn't figure out if it was genuine or mocking. "I brought you some leftovers from our dinner at the Kazekage's place."
Kakashi's eyes widened in surprise. "The Kazekage's place? How on earth did you three manage to get there?"
"Er… It's a long story," Naruto said sheepishly.
"..." Depression clouds hung over Kakashi's head. "...How cruel... for my students to forget about me..."
Naruto laughed at Kakashi's pitiful-looking expression. "Sorry 'bout that!" he said, though his tone didn't sound that much apologetic.
"Ungrateful kid… I'm supposed to be his beloved uncle…" Kakashi muttered under his breath, taking the package from Sakura's hands and thanking her after ruffling her hair. "All right. I'll ask questions later. Right now, let's check in."
When they got inside, Sasuke noted the plain walls and somewhat compressed space. He already had a suspicion that their rooms were going to be cramped.
"One room, please," Kakashi told the attendant, not noticing the off-guard look on Sasuke's face. "A two-night stay."
When they arrived at their assigned quarters, Sasuke was correct in his suspicion. The room was small, only big enough to fit about three people. There was a lone single bed at the side, as well as a chair near the door. That was it.
"Hm… Not exactly what I had in mind," Kakashi mused, setting down his sleeping bag on the floor. "So… I think we can agree that Sakura can take the bed."
Sakura blushed at the simple nods of agreement. "I—I don't mind sleeping on the floor," she said. "I brought my sleeping bag, too."
"Don't worry, Sakura," Kakashi assured her. "Us boys can handle sleeping on the floor."
Sakura looked like she wanted to say more, but clamped her mouth shut. At least they were gentlemanly enough to let her take the most comfortable sleeping place, but it still made her uneasy.
Soon, they all drifted to sleep, their sleeping bags huddled close to each other. At night, Suna was chilly, an ironic contrast to the heavy, hot weather during the day. Not to mention that the lone window in their room didn't have filters or even blinds; only like a medium-sized hole which didn't do anything against the cold wind seeping inside. Sakura watched as the males of her team slept, having just half an inch of a distance between the materials of their sleeping bags, something which did little to ward off the extreme cold. How could they not be shivering?
Sakura, as quietly as she could, tiptoed towards the bathroom. When she opened the door, she was greeted by the sight of a toilet, a small showerhead, a sink, and a suspiciously large cabinet by the side. Immediately, she opened it.
She saw a thick blanket inside along with two small pillows. There were also pairs of ordinary-looking slippers which completely covered the soles of the feet, like the warm kind worn in the middle of winter before the fireplace.
Sakura carried the blanket, trying to quieten her gasps at the heaviness. When she went back inside the room, she gingerly placed the blanket over her teammates, taking extra care not to wake them. It was actually a good thing that they were huddled close to each other; the width of the blanket fit over their forms.
Satisfied, Sakura went back into the bathroom and took the rest of the useful materials in the cabinet. She then placed the slippers by the door, and then crawled back on her own bed, slipping inside the blanket of the bed and drifting off into a deep sleep. The pillows were forgotten on the floor due to her tiredness.
A few minutes later, Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi quietly got up from their positions. Kakashi took out an extra blanket from his pack and draped it over Sakura's slightly shivering form. Naruto took the pillows and placed them next to her. Sasuke, on the other hand, took out a coat from his knapsack, quietly drilled three kunais above the window, and then tied a part of the coat to each of them, letting the material serve as a makeshift curtain. It wasn't much, but it at least lessened the cold, albeit slightly.
Then they went back to sleep under the comfortable, thick blanket Sakura gave them, drifting back to sleep in seconds.
• • •
They woke up the next day refreshed, just making it in time before the heat would come sweltering in once more. The room dissolved into light chatter as everyone organized their things, with Naruto and Sasuke putting their sleeping bags into their packs and Sakura returning the materials into the cabinet. She was confused as to why there was an unfamiliar, additional blanket when Kakashi suddenly swooped by her side, smiling innocently as he took the blanket, informing her that it was his. Sakura gaped at her teacher's retreating back, blushing furiously in embarrassment. What had happened last night? Did her teeth chatter too much? What? What?!
"Kakashi-sensei." Naruto came up to his teacher. "We promised to go meet Gaara at the playground today."
Kakashi cast him a glance. "Without eating any breakfast?"
"Er…" At that moment, Naruto's stomach grumbled, voicing out its protest. Naruto's face turned pink in embarrassment, chuckling nervously.
Kakashi sighed, though there was an underlying fondness to it. "Come on, let's eat at a nearby restaurant."
"But Kakashi-sensei," Naruto interjected, "do you still have money left?"
Kakashi stopped in his tracks, sweating slightly. "Uh, about that…"
"Let's go." Sasuke walked past them in his usual calm, refined stride. "My treat."
Naruto and Kakashi had stars in their eyes.
"You're the best, Sasuke!" Naruto cheered, clapping his friend on the back. "Man, you must be crazy rich 'cause your family's the head of your clan, huh?"
"Shut up" was Sasuke's indifferent reply.
Kakashi eye-smiled, taking out his book. His team was very close, indeed. He felt Sakura walk beside him, seemingly immersed in reading a scroll.
'Team 7…'
His mind then wandered towards a certain individual.
'Obito…'
• • •
After eating at a rather nice restaurant with Sasuke paying the bill, the three of them went towards the playground. Naruto asked Kakashi if he wanted to come with them, but the older man declined, saying that he would rather not be overseeing a bunch of kids playing with each other.
Gaara's face lit up when he saw them. "You came." He sounded awed.
He had apparently been waiting for them by the sandbox. Temari and Kankuro were nowhere to be seen.
"They're at the Academy right now," Gaara informed them when they asked. "They told me to fetch you and then go there so we can all have a proper tour."
"That sounds great!" Naruto said, excited to see Suna's Academy.
It turned out that the Academy looked more like any other building, albeit it wasn't too small and too large, either. The only distinct trait about it was the obvious logo right at the center.
"So this is where you go to school, eh, Gaara?" Naruto marveled, noting the distinct foreign structure of Suna's Academy compared to their own back in Konoha. Multiple shades of brown, beige, caramel, and yellow adorned the walls as well as the furniture, making Naruto downcast somewhat because of the lack of normal colours. It seemed almost monotone now that he became more familiar with the surroundings.
"Kankuro and I are getting ready to graduate in a few months," Temari informed them, startling Naruto and Sasuke by this revelation.
"Yeah," Kankuro supported. "Seems like the teachers deem the two of us ready to become genin within this year."
"Wow, you two must be very good," Sakura praised.
"Not really, though I admit I can wield Wind Release techniques very effectively than most people," Temari said in a matter-of-fact tone. "And Kankuro here can use a puppet and manipulate it to his liking."
"Hey!" Kankuro protested. "Why did you tell then about my ability?"
"What does it matter?" Temari said nonchalantly. "They're not our enemies. Our countries are allied with each other."
"Yeah, but…" Kankuro pouted. "I wanted it to be a surprise."
Naruto and Sasuke, in the midst of the conversation, were sneaking glances.
'What the hell is going on?'
When the tour ended and they bade goodbye for the day since Gaara still had to fill out his registration form, Naruto pulled Sasuke aside, puzzling Sakura. However, she only shrugged, deciding that it was one of those 'guy things'.
"I'm getting a hell of a lot confused," Naruto remarked, befuddled. "First it was the Rookie Nine entering the Academy along with us again, and even Bushy Brows' team were our classmates when they graduated earlier than us! And now it's the same case with Temari and Kankuro? And Gaara?!"
"There's even a possibility of Gaara still being on the same team with them even though he's still a student," Sasuke added. "It feels really weird. Like we stumbled upon an alternate universe."
Naruto fell silent. "You… really think this isn't the Infinite Tsukuyomi we're in?"
"Of course not, idiot." Sasuke frowned. "It isn't possible. With my Rinnegan, no genjutsu will affect me. Also, we almost succeeded in sealing Kaguya. There wasn't any opening for her to do so."
"But… then…" Naruto looked straight into his eyes. "What if… I'm the one who got pulled into the genjutsu?"
"What? Don't be ridiculous."
"But there's a possibility, right?" Naruto sneaked a few glances at Sakura, who was busying herself with staring at the streets of Sunagakure. "For all we know… almost sealing Kaguya… was actually a part of the illusion."
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief. "Naruto…" he uttered softly. "…this isn't like you."
Naruto hung his head slightly, his eyes downcast. "I know I'm being pessimistic right now, but it all still feels too good to be true. If we were the ones who time-travelled, then wouldn't it make sense that we'd remember how we did it?"
Sasuke did not respond. He hung his head as well, considering the idea.
Silence hovered amongst them until Sasuke spoke up.
"Then, if you're implying that I am a mere genjutsu…" Sasuke stared at his hands, boring holes into them. "…then why… why do I feel these things? I feel so real… If this is a genjutsu, then why do I have my memories? Also, why did I remember first than you?"
"…I don't know," Naruto said quietly, shoving his hands inside his pockets. "I—I don't know what to think anymore, Sasuke… Even Kurama doesn't have any answers…" He managed a smile as he faced his friend. "But I'm glad that you're here, you know? At least… I know I'm not alone."
Sasuke stared at him with wide eyes before looking away, feeling mildly embarrassed. "..."
Naruto grinned knowingly before gazing up at the sky, his eyes softening as he noted the way the clouds moved in a leisurely pace, taking turns in passing by the scorching sun.
"But you know… if this is a genjutsu I'm in, and since you have your memories… maybe you went inside my illusion to save me…?"
Sasuke blinked. "That… makes sense…" His expression turned into a serious, thoughtful one as he pondered it over carefully. "It's a possibility, at least. Though I'm not sure why I've seemingly forgotten that it's my goal, there's no harm in trying to find a way to get you out of here." He sent Naruto a sidelong glance. "However, if we start doing that and in the end, we actually did travel back in time, there would be repercussions for our actions."
"Gaaahhh!" Naruto scratched his head, his mind spinning. "All this thinking is driving me crazy!" He glanced over at Sakura once more, who had become bored and started reading one of the scrolls she always carried with her. "If only Sakura-chan remembers, too… then this would be a different issue altogether!"
Sasuke blinked. "Are you implying that if Sakura remembers… then it would mean that you're not in a genjutsu…?"
Naruto nodded vigorously. "Well, she and I can't be in the same genjutsu, right?!"
Sasuke frowned, unconsciously rubbing his temple. "It's a stretch, but it's also a possibility. However, we're only conjuring up theories here. What if we are merely overthinking this?"
"What do you think we should do, Sasuke?"
Sasuke looked at Naruto, who was staring at him with something akin to trust in his eyes. Sasuke's chest lifted a little at this, overwhelmed that their bond only seemed to grow stronger through time.
"I say we go with the flow for now," Sasuke suggested. "I still want to believe that this isn't a genjutsu, but we can't leave out the likelihood that the world is currently in danger because Kaguya has us sealed inside this world. I say we try to save this world and try to find a way to break the illusion, too."
Sasuke frowned as he became deep in thought. But what if these incidents are only due to time contradictions like the Kyūbi mentioned a while back? We can't even risk destroying this world only to find out in the end that it isn't an illusion, but reality itself.
Something suddenly came up in Sasuke's mind. 'Wait…' He recalled his teammate's words. 'Sakura said that the masked man deemed the three of us nuisances…'
It only adds up to the conjecture that we are indeed involved in a time travel phenomenon. Sasuke released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. If we're ever going to have to do something drastic, it would be a huge gamble. 'Maybe Itachi would know what to do… or even Kakashi. Sakura would also be a big help if she has her memories…'
Sasuke's mind drifted back to his long, significant conversation with Naruto at the training grounds.
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"S—So this is the past?!" Naruto said, excitement, wariness, hope, and hesitance mixing together in his voice. Sasuke thought it impossible for a single human tone to harbour emotions that simply coalesced, but Naruto seemed to pull it off, intentional or not.
"Yeah," Sasuke said quietly.
Naruto's eyes sparkled. "Th—This is great!" he stammered in his ardor. "We can fix things! We can make things right! And our parents are alive! And you…" His expression turned warm, blue eyes softening in thankfulness. "You're here with us now, Sasuke. With Team 7. And you have your clan…"
Sasuke looked away. "I'm not sure they can stay longer," he said quietly. "I don't know how to stop the coup from happening."
"But—!" Naruto protested. "The Uchihas aren't isolated, are they? That means they aren't suspected for the Kyūbi attack! Surely they're not gonna plan anything—"
"The moment your parents didn't die, Naruto," Sasuke said calmly, looking at his friend straight in the eyes, "the timeline of the past that we know is already gradually fading away, transitioning into something different. We can't expect things to happen the same way they did before." Then his gaze averted once more, replaced by a faraway look. "Besides, I didn't plan on coming back to Team 7 in our timeline."
"What?" Naruto frowned deeply. "Why not? You're not leaving us again!"
"To end the cycle of wars, to attain peace," Sasuke continued on in a low voice as if Naruto had never spoken, "I planned on becoming the Hokage of Konoha, effectively retaining the unification of the five villages by becoming the lone person the people would hate. I planned on becoming the cause of a worldwide revolution so that there wouldn't be any wars since everyone is united through a common enemy." He glanced at Naruto, who was looking more and more incredulous and indignant at his explanation. "And I also planned on removing the very few friendships I had left… including you."
"You bastard!" Naruto howled, his hands clenching into fists. "Do you really think that that would solve everything? What will happen then once you die? All of it is meaningless!" Tears of frustration clouded Naruto's vision. "You're trying to do things by yourself. You're trying to be alone again!"
Sasuke said nothing, his eyes trained on something far away. Naruto bristled at his ignorance.
"Then what aboutnow?!" Naruto demanded. "You said that that was what you planned back in our timeline. What are your plans now?"
"It's still the same, and the odds are favourable for me right now." A wry smile played on Sasuke's lips, looking somewhat out of place on his solemn, refined features. "The earlier I start, the better."
Naruto snapped. "No! I won't let you!" he declared. "I will bring you back to your senses even if I have to pound you to the ground!"
Sasuke craned his neck towards him, and Naruto shook at the sight of the Sharingan painted on his friend's eyes.
"Then try to convince me otherwise…" Sasuke murmured, chidori blazing in his hand. "…Naruto."
Naruto snarled, immediately rushing towards him with the rasengan swirling in his palm. Sasuke fluidly stepped to the side, transformed his chidori into a long spear, and attempted to pierce Naruto's side. The latter dodged the impending attack by jumping backwards, gritting his teeth as he unconsciously began to activate Sage Mode.
"Naruto! Stop!"
Naruto reflexively backtracked on his decision. "K—Kurama?!" he exclaimed.
Kurama's voice held a warning tone. "You mustn't forget that you're in the public training grounds! This world is not the one you and Uchiha Sasuke lived in! Revealing powerful techniques right now will only land the both of you into suspicion!"
Naruto's lips parted open in surprise, the revelation dawning on his expression. "I—I..."
"Tell me: do you really want to clue the adults here in the village as to who you really are?!"
Sasuke, who had noticed Naruto's strange expression, momentarily ceased his offense.
Naruto hung his head, his jaw clenched.
"Also, both of you are not at the necessary physical level yet for your outrageous techniques," Kurama continued on in his deep voice. "Both of you will quickly tire out in the end. You will have your duel if you so wish, but now is not the time. You have to understand your positions right now!"
Naruto clenched his fists. "I know that!" he said. "I know..."
Suddenly, all three of them were now in Naruto's inner world.
"Wh—Wha..." Naruto's head snapped towards the likely suspect. "Sasuke?!
"I suspected as much," said Sasuke in an unreadable tone of voice, the tomoes of his Sharingan swirling in his irises.
"Do you get it now?" Kurama insisted. "You can't risk yourselves for some stupid quarrel!"
"I know," Sasuke said, startling Naruto.
"What?!" Naruto exclaimed. "What are you on about now?!"
Sasuke sent him a sidelong glance. "...I was only testing something out."
Naruto spluttered. "Testing something out?!" he said angrily. "What was so important that you just had to 'test it out'?!"
Sasuke forwarded his gaze. "It's nothing for you to know."
"What the hell—"
"Naruto," Kurama said.
Naruto forced himself to calm down. However, he still felt hurt inside. "Why...?" he uttered softly in defeat. "Why can't you just stay with us? Why do you still keep yourself at a distance from us?"
Sasuke said nothing.
"But don't get me wrong." Naruto's tone turned completely serious. "I still won't ever give up on you! You bastard!"
At that, Sasuke smiled. "Hmph."
Naruto gaped at him. "What? What're you smirking like that for, huh?!"
"...Nothing." The small smile on Sasuke's face didn't fade. "I guess... in the end, I've lost."
Naruto blinked. "Lost...?"
"Anyway," Sasuke said, "I think I know now what we have to do."
"Really?!" Naruto exclaimed, momentarily forgetting his puzzlement. "What is it?"
"Since it's come to this, then we have to rise up in rank as soon as possible," Sasuke responded simply. "If we strive to become respective ninjas, preferably ANBU, we can investigate the Akatsuki and get to Obito. We also have to stop Madara's plans. This is the best thing we have to do right now."
Naruto grew silent.
"We're really in the past, huh..." he murmured. "Sometimes I still find it hard to believe... Sometimes I still think that I'll wake up one day and realize that this is all just a dream..."
Sasuke nodded, sharing his sentiments. "...A cruel dream..."
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"Sasuke! I have an idea!" Naruto suddenly exclaimed.
Sasuke whipped his head towards him. "What?" Then his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "This isn't one of your lame ass plans again, is it?"
"Hey!" Naruto barked out, offended. "My plans aren't lame! Your face may be lame, but mine isn't!" he huffed.
"You're getting out of track," Sasuke remarked flatly.
"Ugh… egotistic bastard," Naruto muttered under his breath. "Anyway, genjutsu or not, we gotta help Sakura-chan retrieve her memories!"
"That is a lame idea," Sasuke shot down immediately. "We don't even know if she's capable of remembering, and whether it may be part of the genjutsu or not. And if time travel is the real deal that happened, we aren't even certain that she travelled back in time along with us."
"But we're a team!" Naruto insisted, determination and faith filling his eyes. "We were all there before we could seal Kaguya! No matter what it is, we would've done it together!"
"Then you are also implying that Kakashi has travelled back as well," Sasuke pointed out, "which is a huge stretch in itself."
"There's always a possibility!" Naruto said. "We're Team 7! Ōtsutsuki Kaguya wouldn't stand a chance against us!"
Sasuke wanted to believe it. He really did. But the rational part of his brain was thoroughly rejecting Naruto's idealism.
"It would complicate things if we reveal significant information to Sakura," Sasuke said slowly. "If we're going to make her remember, we'll have to do it subtly."
Naruto beamed.
Sasuke couldn't help but allow a flicker of a smirk to cross his features.
In the end, idealism and rationalism could mix well, after all.
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end of volume 04