When Haku had first seen the Leaf Village, she had imagined Naruto taking her on a few tourist spots or meet some of his old friends like Kurenai. Not once had she imagined to be standing with him in a graveyard as he stared at the two graves that were buried beside each other.
"Minato Namikaze- A Hero, and true leader"
"Kushina Uzumaki-A proud kunoichi and good friend"
She did know that someone named Minato was the fourth Hokage of Konoha, and if this Kushina woman was buried beside such an important leader then she must have been someone important to the Fourth Hokage.
"They were my parents..."
His confession hit her worse than a meteor strike, her legs felt weak and the ground beneath her suddenly felt cracked. Her eyes glanced at the image of the Fourth on the mountain and then at Naruto's face, to find it exactly identical.
"You..." said Haku in shock, her trembling hands pointing a finger at him.
"I know how much you love me, Haku. And it is because I respect your love, I will show you my true story. Who I was to who I became, then perhaps you'll see what kind of evil man I am..." said Naruto frankly,
She stepped in front of him and looked at him, as his dead eyes still gazed at the graves of his parents.
"Why are we here, Naruto? Konoha is the last place you want to be, if they catch you now they'll kill you..." warned Haku,
"We are here to kill the people known as Naruto Hatake and Naruto Uzumaki. After tonight they shall vanish from this world, and only Naruto Uchiha shall remain..." said Naruto seriously, making her frown.
"You want to strengthen your resolve by visiting the past?" asked Haku curiously,
"It's never easy to turn your back on everything you once stood for. This place was my home, I grew up amongst these people, have friends and family here and there is nothing I can say or do which can change that. It's an inseparable part of my life, there was a time when I would have died willingly for this village" explained Naruto patiently, as she looked at him in disbelief.
"I can't believe you loved this village, after how they treated you for being a Jinchuuriki..." said Haku bitterly, Tsunade had told her about this truth and after that day she could easily understand why Naruto hated Konoha.
She had herself been a victim of a similar abuse, and could clearly understand his pain better than anyone in his life.
"The worst villains in history were once great heroes, my story is just the same. By turning against the village, I have become a hypocrite and a traitor for everything I once stood for...'' said Naruto honestly,
"Then why did you do everything you did till now?" asked Haku flatly, discomfort visible in her eyes.
"What do you see around you, Haku?" questioned Naruto calmly, as she looked around the numerous graves.
"They are ninja who died in the line of duty, heroes according to the people of Konoha. The Fourth was considered the greatest of all..." answered Haku, and flinched when a betrayed look appeared in his eyes.
Grabbing her by the waist, he made them shunshin rapidly to another area. When her vision cleared, she found herself standing on a barren field. There was nothing but dirt and stones, with a few trees surrounding the area. It seemed like an abandoned area of a forest.
"Where are we?" asked Haku silently,
"You're currently standing on top of the ashes of 419 heroes of Konoha. Ninja who fought, bled and died for the leaf village over the past decade. The best soldiers of this nation and my comrades..." said Naruto sadly, and Haku saw how devastated he was.
Whatever this place was, whoever these people were they were quite important to Naruto. But the only ninja's who ever received such bad burials were...
"Anbu..." said Haku in shock, as his fists clenched tightly.
"I am Naruto Uchiha, Captain from 11th division Root Anbu Special Forces..." confessed Naruto, and saw the betrayed look in her eyes.
"You..." said Haku angrily, her voice quivering as her eyes became moist. How could he hide such a thing from her? He was a secret operative of this village...
Then it hit her like a freight train, how Gato's rule over Wave ended weeks after Naruto arrived. It wasn't even a few days since his arrival when the Konoha forces came and captured Gato, his frequent escapes from the orphanage must have been for this mission. The entire matter with Orochimaru...
"You were sent to hunt Orochimaru or join him as a double agent, and report everything back to the village..." said Haku coldly, as a smile came on his face. She was not just smoking hot but had the brains to back it up, just like Kurenai.
"Just listen to my whole story, and then make your decision that whether you still want to love me and stay by my side or leave. If I wanted to betray you, then I would never tell you this." explained Naruto patiently, as she glared at him.
"Why are you telling me this now?" asked Haku bitterly, as he glanced at the shining moon in the sky.
"The power of kings makes me lonely, today I have everything I ever desired. Power, Money, Respect, and Love. But on the other side the people whom I wanted to share these happiness with are dead or not by my side today. I'm all alone..." said Naruto regretfully, as her anger reduced a little.
He sounded so weak and fragile, his words made her realize that from the outside he seemed fine but deep down he was completely broken.
A Dead Man
She slowly extended her hand as he took a step forward, her calm light blue colored eyes looked into his darker ones. Her long, dark beautiful hair flowed wildly in the air as a cold breeze of wind passed by their side.
"Show me..." Haku whispered, as time seemed to slow down.
The distance between them closed as he came even more closer, first there was the touch of soft skin hitting her lips and slowly it turned into the most pleasant sensation she had ever felt, as she returned the kiss.
The world around her changed and she felt herself floating in the endless time, image after image flickered inside her mind. Memories of his past...
She felt every emotion which he experienced, every joy, every sadness, every ounce of anger, every betrayal, every single tear.
It was something out of the world, she could not feel herself anymore. Her identity vanishing and merging with his, becoming one single soul. She watched years pass through his life, the most painful life a man could ever have.
She felt her soul connecting to his, her heart saw what he truly was beneath all the masks, what he truly desired...
Glancing around she found herself standing in a dark space, where everything was dark except for the ray of light that was on the far horizon. He stood all alone in a corner, torn between the two sides of nature. To anyone else, these colors would hold no meaning but she could see what they truly were...
There was the kind and gentle part of him on one side...
And a dark, sinister one on the other.
And watching him stand in between made her realize why they were here, the reason behind her existence, the reason for everything that had ever happened...
She blinked in surprise as the trance ended, and she found herself standing in the same barren field again. It hardly felt like a minute had passed, but she felt herself aging many years and live through an entire new life. One which was so dark and full of sadness...
He stood inches away from her lips, his dazzling Mangekyo eyes looked in her eyes and only then did she realize that everything she had seen and felt was an illusion. Her fingers touched her lips trying to regain that warm feeling, it was so real that she could hardly believe that it was just an illusion which he had created.
As she looked at him now, she didn't feel that uncertainty anymore. She knew everything about him, she knew Naruto...
Not Naruto Uzumaki, Not Naruto Hatake, Not Naruto Uchiha...
But Naruto...
She knew him.
"Get some rest, think about it. I'll be back in a while..." said Naruto softly, and laid a true kiss on her forehead affectionately.
Haku couldn't say a word, her throat felt parched, her tongue struggling to form a single word as he vanished from the area in a swirl of leaves.
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly stepped inside his office, he was a war veteran and one of the strongest ninja of the world. And yet even he could not escape from the effects of old age, and wondered just how many times at night would he have to answer the call of nature again?
"Damn balls..." muttered Hiruzen,
"Getting old, aren't you gramps?"
The Hokage's eyes snapped in shock, his muscles tensed as only now did he feel a new presence inside his office. He had never felt anyone inside when he entered, were his senses getting dull? Even if that was the case, he wouldn't be this careless.
It only meant the unknown person was a dangerous shinobi.
The Kage's hands slowly crept towards the kunai pouch hidden in his robes, as the person who was sitting in a far dark corner of the room, hidden in the shadows flashed him a gaze which sent chills down his spine.
It was a pair of sharingan eyes...
"Naruto?" said Hiruzen in shock,
A cold breeze swept across the room as the two people inside just lay frozen in their spots. Hiruzen had by now recognized the face of his adoptive grandson, but those eyes were not the ones which he had seen when the boy had fled from the village barely a year ago.
Those eyes had aged an entire lifetime, endured horrors which only a handful ninja had undergone during their entire lives. Gone was the little innocence in Naruto's eyes, only to be replaced by a cold, stoic gaze devoid of life.
Hiruzen had seen that look before, the look that always resided in the eyes of every Root Anbu.
The gaze of a dead man.
"What have I done?" thought Hiruzen in despair, was this really the same little boy whom he had saved from a mob all those years ago?
"It's been a while, Hokage-sama..." said Naruto stoically, his eyes never betraying the anger that was burning in his heart.
He had trusted this old man, revealed every dark secret to him, did all of his dirty work, and in the end even Hiruzen made him feel like a used tool. Just like Danzo...
Any normal person would have expected him to burst into a fit of rage, his heart should be screaming for Hiruzen's blood. And yet all Naruto could feel was sadness and a hole in his heart, a whole which Hiruzen and Konoha had created.
Hiruzen tried to walk towards the boy, but was stopped when a firm hand was raised by his adoptive grandson.
"Naruto?" asked Hiruzen curiously,
"I'm dying..." said Naruto seriously, as Hiruzen felt his heart break.
"But I sent Tsunade to find a cure for you, the virus..." said Hiruzen in a broken voice,
"Is far too spread inside me, she couldn't find me a cure. I'm here to complete my mission and fulfill one last promise..." answered Naruto frankly, as the old man shook his head.
"We'll get you some help. I can't let you die, not after everything you've done for this village..." said Hiruzen stubbornly, and Naruto's fists clenched tightly.
"If the best doctor in the world couldn't save me, then you must accept that this is the end for me. I'm the last of my kind, let me join my brothers..." requested Naruto gently,
Tears came in Hiruzen's eyes as he realized Naruto wanted to join his fallen Root comrades. The boy's eyes showed how tired he was, how broken his heart was.
"Orochimaru was ousted by the people of Otogakure and the Nidaime Otokage..." said Naruto cunningly,
"A Kage?" asked Hiruzen in surprise,
"Orochimaru tried to resist at first, but even a Sannin is not strong enough to face the wrath of an entire nation. The things that freak did, the atrocities he committed, you should have killed him when you had the chance..." said Naruto bitterly, as Hiruzen averted his eyes.
"I wish I could change this..." said Hiruzen silently, as Naruto's gaze hardened.
"Well, let's just hope you learned your lesson from the past. Every Hokage made mistakes, but the sad part is that you never had to suffer for that. Because that curse always falls on people like me, my Root brothers, the Uchiha clan, Itachi Uchiha, and the people of Otogakure..." stated Naruto bitterly,
"I..."
"Orochimaru has also started using people's bodies as vessels, when he fled from Oto he ran straight into Fire nation and is hiding somewhere. I can't follow him since I'm wanted in this nation, you'll have to use your Anbu's to sniff him out..." advised Naruto sagely,
"He's here, and he-" said Hiruzen in disbelief, his tongue struggling to form words.
"He plans to attack Konoha and has quite an army hidden all around our borders, his objective is to assassinate you by any means necessary. There is also a spy under him by the name of Yakushi Kabuto whom Orochimaru might send to gather information, since he's a registered ninja of this village. But in truth, Kabuto is a double agent..." said Naruto seriously, and saw the shock in Hiruzen's eyes.
"Kabuto? How could..." said Hiruzen depressingly, that boy was merely a genin and was so friendly. To think even he was tainted by Orochimaru...
"I still have a few weeks left, I'll continue to keep my eyes and ears open. Orochimaru trusts me, this might just help me gather more information to help you guys. Is the village ready for an attack?" asked Naruto seriously, and narrowed his eyes.
"No, we're not. Hosting the chunin exams has stretched our resources to the maximum, Jiraiya is still around so we're not completely vulnerable. Naruto, I want you to come back...your mission is over" said Hiruzen quickly, and saw the boy looking at him with those sad eyes.
"You and I both know that I can never return home, not unless you have to reveal every dirty little secret which might very well destroy this village and make the sacrifices of my comrades pointless..." said Naruto in a resigned voice,
"That's not-" said Hiruzen but was cut off,
"It's alright, gramps. I know I'm just an expendable asset, ever since my birth. When my own parents didn't hesitate to sacrifice my life for this village, you shouldn't have a problem at all. I've made my peace..." said Naruto sadly,
"Minato and Kushina loved you, and wanted you to be seen as a true hero. A hero which you truly are..." said Hiruzen sympathetically,
"And was I viewed as a hero?" asked Naruto flatly,
Silence
Naruto smiled wistfully, when Hiruzen didn't have an answer for his question. But the silence was all the answer he needed to hear...
"It's quite ironic my parents are remembered as the greatest heroes of this village, and yet I was never even acknowledged as their child. I've worked in the shadows my entire life for this village, without expecting anything in return. I shall continue to do so till my end. Give Konohamaru and Emiko my regards, goodbye..."
A lone tear slipped from Hiruzen's eyes as he watched Naruto disappear from in front of his eyes. The boy knew what awaited him in the end.
Kakashi was aimlessly walking through the street that led to his home, his famous Icha Icha book in his hand. It was just another normal night in Konoha, everything seemed in order and ordinary until he smelled something.
A scent.
An aroma he thought he'd never feel again.
Snapping his book shut he channeled chakra to his feet, and started hopping from rooftop to rooftop. His speed would have given even Anbu a run for their money, but the situation demanded it. If there was even a minute chance of his guess being right, then...
He felt another person arriving beside him, running towards his home at a little slower pace. It was Anko, so he was not wrong.
"Kakashi, do you feel it?" asked Anko in a trembling voice,
"Yes" replied Kakashi curtly,
In a matter of 2 minutes they reached their destination, and saw a scroll laid down on their home's doorstep. A young blond haired boy dressed in a strange uniform was walking over towards the edge of the roof...
"You shouldn't have come here..."
Anko faltered when she heard his voice, so it was really him. She looked towards Kakashi only to find a stoic look in the man's eyes, whatever the copy ninja was feeling right now was concealed in his heart.
She could only imagine how Kakashi would be feeling, he raised this boy as if he was his own son. Naruto had been like a little brother to her, annoying yet gentle at the same time.
"I could tell you the same thing, but I won't. Turn around..." said Kakashi calmly, as the boy obeyed the request.
One glance at his face made them gasp in shock, for Anko he seemed so different, so mature. And for Kakashi it was as if he was glancing at the clone of his deceased teacher, one which was more handsome and kind.
He didn't interfere when Anko rushed forward and grabbed Naruto in a fierce hug, and Naruto hugged her back with equal love and passion.
Neither of them cared what had happened in the past, or what they had done. All they cared and remembered was the fact that they were family...
"I missed you..." said Naruto solemnly, as tears spilled from Anko's eyes.
Kakashi bent down and picked up the scroll that was placed on his doorstep, there was nothing special or intriguing about it. But if Naruto had risked so much to give it to them, then there must be something vital in it.
"What's in it?" asked Kakashi curiously, as he gave a light hug to the boy.
Anko slammed him on the head making him wince, as a short chuckle escaped from Naruto's lips. The boy's eyes shifted towards the woman as he gave her a serene smile...
"I told you I would one day free you from your curse..." said Naruto kindly,
Anko froze in her spot, her hand unconsciously reaching out to the back area of her neck. Kakashi looked at the scroll in his hand, and then towards Naruto. Did he really do it?
"Inside you'll find a sealing jutsu that cancels the curse seal which Orochimaru placed on her. The reason we failed to remove that mark all these years because we didn't have the key that was needed to trigger the removal process..." explained Naruto patiently,
"And what is it?" asked Kakashi in surprise,
"Orochimaru's blood and a part of his DNA..." said Naruto darkly, as the two Konoha jounin flinched on hearing that name again.
Anko nervously glanced at the simple scroll in Kakashi's hands, her chest felt heavy, her eyes brimming with tears. 10 years she had suffered from this curse, after countless attempts to remove it from her body she now finally had a true cure.
She looked into Naruto's eyes, and remembered the innocent promise he had made to her all those years ago while eating dango in a restaurant. She had always thought he had made that promise as a gesture of compassion and sympathy, but today he actually proved that he truly meant it.
"I have to go..." said Naruto quietly, as Anko was just about to speak to him.
"No, you can't. I won't let you..." replied Anko emotionally, as she grabbed the boy's arm forcefully.
"Anko, he can't stay. If not for your sake he would have never stepped inside this village, am I right?" asked Kakashi cryptically, he was the only one except Kurenai who knew whom Naruto truly was and why he had done all of this.
But Anko couldn't know that, and Naruto knew it.
Unfortunately his fiance looked at him with a betrayed look in her eyes, as Naruto gently removed her hand from his arm and turned around.
"Wait, Naruto..." shouted Anko, as he glanced at her once more.
"Forget I ever existed. Goodbye..."
Kakashi painfully watched as Anko tried to grab Naruto who vanished in a swirl of leaves, there were so many things he wanted to say. And he was sure Naruto wanted to do the same, but both of them knew this was not the place, nor the time.
He made Anko stand back on her feet but was unable to stop her tears, as she looked at the scroll Naruto had left them.
With this last promise being fulfilled, Naruto Hatake had severed all his bonds and died.
Wild, cold winds freely flowed across the skies of Konoha as the bright midnight moon illuminated the landscapes with its grace. On one of the rooftops Naruto stood all alone, his sad eyes glancing at the image of his father that was carved on the mountain.
He remembered the streets where he used to play with his academy friends, he could clearly see Chouji eating in one of the nearby restaurants. Ino and Shikamaru were with him...
He felt Sakura's chakra signature inside the hospital, so the news that Shizuna Kato had taken her as an apprentice were apparently true.
He could not sense any of Team 8's members around, either they were away on a mission or something else.
Sasuke was still holed up inside his clan territory, doing Kami knew what. He still had to visit his old friend, preparations had to be made.
He imagined himself living an entire different life if he had never met Danzo or joined Root, perhaps he would have been a loudmouth who have screamed from the mountains that he would become Hokage someday, perhaps he could have been the child who got back up again and again despite the repeated rejections and abuses from the villagers.
Life would have been so simple, then...
But he didn't want that. Whatever had happened to him, he didn't want to change it.
He was glad that he joined Root as it made him meet his true friends- Shin and Sai.
Happy that he was adopted by Kakashi and found a sister in Anko.
Glad to meet Kurenai...
He had already surveyed the defenses of the village, Hiruzen was right. Konoha was not fully prepared for an invasion, and he had effectively put Orochimaru and Kabuto in more trouble by telling Hiruzen that the Sannin was in Fire Country.
Hiruzen's paranoia with his wayward student would force him to send Jiraiya to eliminate the traitorous Sannin. Despite his crimes, Orochimaru was a powerhouse and only someone of Jiraiya's caliber could eliminate him or someone like himself.
With two Sannin out of the way, all that would remain would be eliminating Hiruzen. And after the fall of their leader, the village would crumble soon enough.
Not only had he fulfilled his promise to Anko, but also further advanced his moves in his war against Konoha. He had created confusion by spreading incorrect information, and would strike from the shadows like a true Anbu.
But now came the hardest part...
His eyes shifted towards an apartment inside which Kurenai Yuhi was currently staying. As he started walking towards his final destination, his legs felt heavy.
Could he really go through with it?
Could he truly tell her the entire truth? What he was, what he had become, and what he wanted to do.
Guess, there was only one way to find out.
Stepping in front of the door, he raised his hand and steeled his heart.
KNOCK KNOCK