Chapter 38: Time

Naruto was quiet as he watched Inoichi move nervously around him, the blond Yamanaka holding a variety of documents as the sweat accumulating on his forehead was apparent. Minato stood silently as he watched Inoichi strap the blond man who claimed to be his son to a steel chair that was routinely used for interrogations. 

He would find out very quickly if what this man said was true or not. Kushina had believed him, which was enough for Minato to give him the benefit of the doubt. However, he was still Hokage and had a duty to protect the village from any and all threats. 

And seeing the man hold the Rinnegan, something only Jiraiya's student, Nagato, possessed. He had seen the doujutsu in action before, and knew that it granted the user almost god-like abilities. Why would his son possess the Rinnegan? 

"Hokage-sama," Inoichi addressed Minato, snapping the Kage out of his thoughts. "It's ready." Minato nodded and walked over to Naruto, who had tilted his head up to meet his eyes.

"Father," Naruto began, almost reluctantly. "What will you do if you don't like what you see?" Minato was taken aback as he saw the mismatched eyes looking at him with curiosity. 

"Well," He started. "Depending on what we see, you'll be banished from Fire Country. If you refuse to leave, then you'll be leaving me no choice." He stated firmly. 

"I see." Was all the blond replied. Minato frowned before looking at Inoichi and nodded. Inoichi put a hand on Minato's shoulder and formed a hand sign. 

"Let's begin," Inoichi announced as chakra began swirling around him. He pressed his finger against Naruto's forehead as his chakra pulsed in sync with Inoichi's and Minato's. His eyes widened as the memories of his entire life flashed across his eyes. 

Graduating from the academy and being placed on Team Seven, the mission-gone-wrong in Wave, the Chunin Exams, Sasuke leaving the village, the training trip, saving Gaara, Jiraiya dying, mastering Sage Mode, fighting and defeating Pain, fighting Sasuke after the Kage Summit, befriending Kurama, fighting Obito, fighting Madara. . .

Watching his friends die. Watching as Madara killed him. The memory kept replaying and Naruto's eyes only got wider, his teeth gritting. 

Waking up, meeting the Third again, becoming a Genin and finding out Sasuke was gone and replaced by Sayuri, failing to save Haku and Zabuza in Wave, fighting Orochimaru in the Chunin Exams, facing Gaara, bringing Tsunade back, attempting to kill himself, slowly losing his mind. 

Naruto's fingernails clawed at the steel chair, his eyes becoming bloodshot as he was forced to relive his life. 

Leaving Jiraiya in the middle of the training trip, killing the Akatsuki members off one by one, destroying the entirety of the Hidden Rain, killing Konan and all of the citizens of the Hidden Rain, killing Nagato and stealing his Rinnegan, disregarding the Konoha Council, attacking the Five Kage, fighting Sayuri, finding out Sasuke was alive and was the masked man, and death. 

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Naruto screamed in agony as Inoichi pulled away from the young man, both of them panting heavily. Minato was alarmed and grabbed Inoichi, shaking the clan head. 

"What happened? What did you do?" Inoichi's face turned into one of terror as he was reminded of what he had just seen. 

"N-Nothing! There were more memories than I originally thought there'd be! The trauma of all of those memories hitting at once most likely caused immeasurable pain." Naruto looked at Inoichi with a bitter, pained expression.

"You don't say," Naruto bit out, still out of breath. He met the Yamanaka's fear-filled eyes. "So? Tell us what ya think!" 

"What did you see?" Minato asked Inoichi. The Jounin looked at his Hokage with a worried gaze. 

"Enough to want to speak in private." Minato's mouthed opened to reply, but he shut it and walked out of the room. Inoichi glanced at Naruto, wanting to say something, but the amused look in his eyes sent chills down Inoichi's spine, so he quickly followed Minato out of the room, leaving Naruto alone. 

As the door closed, Naruto let loose a lifeless laugh. "Well I'm fucked," He said to himself as he leaned his head back. "I just hope mom doesn't look at me any differently." He frowned. "Not that it matters. It's not even my world." He said bitterly. 

What could he do? Was he doomed to be transported to different times and dimensions every time he died? Would he even get back to the second timeline? How did it even happen? So many questions, yet Naruto hated the lack of answers. 

He toyed with the idea that he truly was entrapped in Madara's Infinite Tsukuyomi, but once again, pushed the thought away. He felt a bead of sweat trail down his chin and land on his tattered dark pants. He watched as the torn fabric absorbed the droplet of sweat, creating a tiny wet spot.

His eyes trained on the small spot as he thought of what the future of his life held for him. 

The door opened slowly, emitting a loud creak, taking Naruto away from his thoughts as he looked up. His impassive expression darkened as he saw the man standing in the doorway.

 "What's with that look?" The elderly man said in a straight voice. "You seem as if you want to tear me limb from limb."

"Danzo," Naruto growled out. "What do you think you're doing here? I know my father would never allow someone the likes of you to meet an enemy, let alone me." Danzo's expression didn't change, but he did tap his cane twice on the wooden floor beneath them. 

"Ah, does that mean you're an enemy?" Danzo took a few steps closer to strapped down Jinchuuriki, his single visible beady black eye staring into Naruto's Rinnegan with interest. 

"I have nothing to say to you!" Danzo hummed in response, repeatedly tapping his cane against the floor as he stepped even closer to the blond, now standing just a single foot from the man. He bent down, getting eye level with Naruto before speaking.

"Naruto Namikaze, pardon me, Uzumaki. Inoichi Yamanaka just finished giving his report on what he saw in that head of yours. Of course I didn't believe the man, so I came to see it for myself. And you look almost identical to your father, given that if you were in clean clothes.

"But I'm not here for a history lesson, though I'm sure you already know that," Danzo continued as he began walking circles around the blond. "I've come with an offer." Naruto's eyes narrowed even further, but he remained silent. Danzo took this as a sign to keep talking. "The Council has vetoed your father's decision to rehabilitate you and integrate you into Konoha as a shinobi."

"You think I'm too dangerous to stay in the village?" Naruto accused Danzo. "Gonna hand me over and try and get me executed again?" He shouted. 

Danzo actually snorted, causing the blond to reel back as he saw Danzo shake his head as if dealing with an ignorant child. "Of course not, maybe not for the same sentimental reasons Minato has, but I voted to keep you in the village."

"Why?" Was all Naruto could ask. This wasn't the Danzo he knew or heard about. 

"Because when your chakra signature hit the best sensors in the village, they all threw up their lunch." Danzo answered confidently. "You're a powerful shinobi, boy, it would be foolish for us to force you to leave." He lifted his cane and pointed it at Naruto's Rinnegan. "That alone should have convinced those ignorant fools that you are much better as an asset, not an enemy." 

"I hate to burst your bubble," Naruto muttered. "But I need to figure out a way to get back, I don't have time to become the village's weapon." He was quiet for a second before speaking again. "What did the Council decide?"

"Exile." Danzo replied swiftly. "The power to destroy an entire shinobi village as well as decimate the Five Kage in combat, caused the idea of execution to be dropped." Naruto fought the urge to smirk, but Danzo noticed the muscle twitch and pounced on it. "I could hide you away, you could live the rest of your life with your family and protect Konoha from the shadows. All you need to say is yes."

Naruto finally understood how Danzo had gotten so old doing what he does. The man was a master manipulator and knew just what buttons to press. The offer was tempting. He could finally live peacefully, have a family, and maybe even bring peace to this world instead. . .

"I can't," Naruto whispered regretfully. "I made a promise to a bunch of people that I swore I'd never break." 

"I see," Danzo spoke impassively, turning his back to the blond. "Well, seeing how you've turned out and the potential you hold, perhaps it would be wise to shift my attention on your younger counterpart and start his education early." 

He let the statement hang in the tense air, a small satisfied smirk on his aged lips. He turned his head to glance at the blond, his eye widening as he saw that the chair was empty. His head snapped forward and he was eye to eye with the Uzumaki, whose eyes were filled with an immeasurable amount of disgust and rage. 

Danzo took a few startled steps back. "Ho-" He tried getting out, but Naruto didn't waste any time to let the old warhawk to speak, wrapping his fingers around Danzo's wrinkly throat and pushing him back into the chair he had been strapped to just moments ago. 

"I appreciated Nagato despite his sins, and yet I still killed him." Naruto whispered darkly as killing intent flooded the entire room. "I've killed thousands, those who are guilty and those who were innocent. You were once called, 'The Darkness of the Shinobi', and yet. . ." 

Danzo watched as Naruto's face became a silhouette, the only thing he saw was the glowing Rinnegan and an angry vermillion red eye staring at him. "Compared to me? You're a goddamn night-light." The grip on Danzo's throat increased tenfold as the man began to grow red in the face. 

"And now," Naruto growled. "I'm going to show you exactly why  the Council vote to exile me!"

And done. How was it? Good? Bad? Tell me! 

Next chapter is gonna be fun! 

Til next time my lil demons!