Chapter 21

“If I haven’t had fear, then I also wouldn’t have been able to know what it’s like to have bravery in my heart.Bravery that awakens when you’re being consumed by fear.” 

Chapter 21

No one's pov:

After Naruto disappeared, Sasuke went back to the cave to see Gaara alive. And Lady Chihyo laying down the ground, dead.

"They both got away." Obito said. "But Lady Chihyo used a jutsu to bring Gaara back to life, at the cost of her own life."

"Sasuke, Naruto-" Gaara started, but Sasuke cut him off.

"I know you probably hate Naruto, but he's lost in his own darkness. I managed to escape my darkness because he was there with me. That proved right when I had no intention to jump into fight with Shisui when he was right in front of me. It's all thanks to him that I was able to let go of the past and tried to understand what actually happened during the massacre. I will ask Itachi about it when I meet him again. That's why... that's why I won't give up on him. I will bring him back no matter what!"

Gaara gently smiled. "I don't hate him for what he did. I am sorry I couldn't stop him when I fought him. But we will succeed in bringing him back one day."

They all nodded and took Lady Chihyo and went back to Sand village.

With Shisui and Naruto:

Naruto appeared in the cave where Shisui is fighting the leaf ninja. In a glitch, he appeared in a glitch beside Shisui, wrapping a golden chain around Shisui's waist and pulling him back.

"Come on... we're leaving." Naruto said with a cold look that was directed at the four ninjas.

"Naruto wait... Come back with us!" Sakura said. But before she could finished, Naruto glitched away with Shisui, leaving the others in an awkward silence.

Outside, away from the cave:

Shisui fell on his knees puking his guts out. Once he's recovered enough to speak, he said.

"I still have to get used to your glitch transport jutsu. It's way faster than my body flicker jutsu."

Naruto looked at him.

"No, it's not faster or anything. Your body flicker technique allows you to move from one place to another with inhumane speed without leaving any traces. While my jutsu completely erases your existence from the world until appearing again at your desired destination."

"That's one powerful jutsu."

They began walking towards the base and Shisui decided to bring out a topic for discussion.

"So... How did your fight go?" Shisui asked.

"We didn't fight. I wasn't in the mood." Naruto replied.

"I see. So...um... Naruto..." Naruto looked at him seeing him hesitating.

"Are you quite sure about wanting to destroy the leaf village?" Shisui asked after a few moments of silence.

Naruto raised an eyebrow. What's with people messing around with him and his goals?

"Give me a reason why I shouldn't" Naruto replied back.

"I...uh..." Shisui wasn't sure what to say.

"Look Shisui, you're being plain obvious with your soft spot for the leaf village. If Kakashi finds out about it, he'll kill you." Naruto sighed. "It's understandable if it's only a few people in the village, but the whole village? It just doesn't make any sense. Why did you kill your clan and go rogue if you and Itachi love Konoha that much?"

Before Shisui could answer, a voice called from behind them.

"Shisui... Naruto.."

"Itachi!? What are you doing here?" Shisui asked.

"I was returning from a mission, but Kisame left saying he had be somewhere. So I'm walking back alone. Do you mind if I join you?" Itachi asked.

"Uh...no problem...I guess?" Shisui replied looking at Naruto.

Naruto shrugged and started walking. Itachi and Shisui following close behind.

"You've grown a lot, Naruto." Itachi said.

"Shisui, Itachi... we're going to stop by my hideout before we go to Amegakure to report to Kakashi." Naruto said.

"Why's that?" Itachi asked.

"There's something I want to give you" Naruto replied.

"The medicine?" Shisui asked. Naruto nodded while Itachi tilted his head in confusion.

"What medici-" Before Itachi could complete, Naruto grabbed both their hands and glitched away.

The three appeared in a dark room with thin layer of red and blue colors surrounding their bodies, still glitching. Once the glitching stopped, Shisui and Itachi fell on the floor, groaning.

Naruto ignored their whining and walked towards the the centre of the room. He immediately started working with the equipments on the table.

Naruto walked towards the two who are still recovering with a bottle in his hands.

"Here...this should heal your body and relieve pain."

Itachi grabbed the bottle as he stood up.

"Oh? I'm assuming Shisui told you about my condition?" Itachi asked.

"No. Naruto himself came to the conclusion that you're sick and wanted to help you." Shisui said.

"I see. Thank you Naruto. I really appreciate it." Itachi said, genuinely thanking him.

"It's fine. It's a terminal illness so there's no permanent cure. You'll have to take it throughout your life. I'll give you a list of ingredients and how to make it, next time we meet. Now, we should really head to Amegakure."

"Yeah you're right. We're probably late." Itachi said.

"Should I glitch us there?" Naruto asked, innocently tilting his head.

"No!" Itachi and Shisui deadpanned.

"Okay... okay... Let's get going then."

They left the hideout and started their way to Amegakure.

To be continued...