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A Darker World	By : bob665 Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 2232 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer I do not own Naruto, and I do not make any money from these writings.

Chapter List
- 22
- 23
- 24
Author's note: sorry for the long delay in my health isn't the best. Anyway big news I have an original story up so you might want to check that out. I also have a link to my profile to some more fan art.
Carousel thank you for reading and reviewing. I hope you continue to enjoy it. Anon too

Naruto bit his lip and stared at the three pieces of scrap wood dangling over the water. He glanced at the watch and slowly started counting the last few seconds off in his head. Seven, six, five, his fingertips started to dig into his palms in anticipation. Four, three, two, one, and as he reached zero, the three pieces of wood nearly burst into flames simultaneously. There was less than a second delay between the three ignitions and he jumped in the air before rounding on Jiraiya. "Did you see?"
His teacher smiled down at him. "Yeah, I think you got it."
Naruto spun back around just in time to see one of the fires burn through the rope and drop the piece of wood into the water. "These arson tags were a lot harder to get right than the exploding ones."
Jiraiya placed a hand on his shoulder, it still took an effort from Naruto to not flinch away. "This requires fine chakra control. I don't think you'll ever be too good at it, though, with the reserves you have that usually won't be a problem. Still, you put enough chakra in those things for them to go off fifteen minutes after you set them and at the same time, too. You've come a long way. You should be proud."
Naruto smiled, he was proud, or at least excited. In one month he had not only learned how to use various types of tags, but the Shadow Clone Technique as well. That was the one thing he had been expressly forbidden from telling Konohamaru how to do. He had only agreed to that after understanding how dangerous the technique was. It was still strange to think that he had all this chakra.
"We will be going tomorrow."
"What?" Naruto said, twisting his head around.
"We will have to head out tomorrow if we're going to make the rendezvous. I didn't want to tell you because I was afraid it would put pressure on yourself to get this right today. Of course, you don't have to come. It's still your call."
The thrill of success quickly transformed itself into fear, fear which he quickly stomped down. "I'm going."
"All right then." Jiraiya's tone was absent of either approval or disapproval. "Dinner will be ready soon. I'll make sure the fires go out, you had back."
Naruto nodded and turned to leave the clearing. When he was about ten steps into the woods, he paused and then jumped onto a lower branch before aiming for the next. This was a newly found ability. Channeling chakra into your muscles was a lot easier than into a tag. It meant he could run faster and jump higher than he ever could before. It was a combination of chakra and muscle which meant Konohamaru was behind him. Not that his friend was slacking off, it was just Jiraiya didn't spend much time teaching Konohamaru anything new, although he still gave him a clone in the morning. Naruto tried to teach him some things, but, for the first time, their physical differences were actually coming into effect.
It wasn't that Jiraiya didn't want Konohamaru to learn, he actually encouraged Naruto to teach him, but they were just things his smaller body couldn't do. Personally, Naruto couldn't wait until Konohamaru could race beside him in the trees. It was thrilling. He had taken Konohamaru for a few rides along with the others, but Naruto didn't think riding along was the same as doing it yourself.
He arrived at Inari's house quicker than if he had just ran through the woods. And without knocking, he opened the kitchen door. The scene that greeted him was a far cry from when he first arrived. Konohamaru sat the table along with Inari and Ranmaru. The quiet boy was more talkative now. He now sat in a chair with wheels that Inari's grandfather had made for him. Inari's grandfather sat at the far end of the table, reading the newspaper while his daughter stood over the stove. Then there was the strangest person. Raiga stood against the wall quietly talking to Tsunami.
Naruto didn't know what to make of the man. He was strange but kind to Ranmaru. For a while, he wondered if the man had been like those he had known in the past. Konohamaru had wondered that too, but Ranmaru said no. He guessed that made him a bit like Jiraiya. Still, his crush on Tsunami was weird. Apparently, at first, he had just dropped off Ranmaru when he went looking for a job for his cover, but his visits had increased in length. No one talked about it though.
"Naruto!" Konohamaru looked up form the game before hopping out of his chair to give Naruto a hug.
"Naruto," Tsunami said, turning and greeting him with a warm smile. "You're just in time for dinner. Raiga, will you be joining us?"
The man hesitated and then smiled, "I would like that."
By the time Jiraiya arrived there were no chairs left and he had to pull up a stool. It was a loud get-together with several conversations going at once, Naruto found he sort of enjoyed it. He liked hearing about Konohamaru and the others day while he gave abridged version of his own. He kept the detail of leaving tomorrow to himself, wanting to tell Konohamaru when they were alone.
"Mom," Inari spoke up towards the end of the meal. "Ranmaru says he doesn't have hot water at his place. Could he take a bath here tonight? I would help."
Naruto watched Tsunami quickly glance at Raiga and they somehow communicated without talking. "I guess that would be okay."
"Great, can we be excused?" Inari was grinning and Naruto thought something was up. When he glanced up at Konohamaru, he noticed the younger boy's sly smile and Naruto knew something was up.
"If you're both done," Tsunami said, obviously not suspecting anything.
"Great," Inari said, taking his plate off the table and grabbing Ranmaru's as he walked past before he put both in the sink. "I can carry him upstairs," he added as Raiga began to rise from the table. The man seemed to hesitate but Ranmaru seemed happy enough as he swung his arms around Inari's neck as the other grabbed behind his knees for support.
The two boys left without saying another word, leaving Naruto to wonder what was happening. "Are you done yet, Naruto?" Konohamaru asked.
He wasn't, but agreed because his curiosity was getting the better of him. Naruto and Konohamaru retreated to the guest room. It was the unofficial private time. They had never asked for it, but people seem to know not to interrupt them until they came back out. Naruto sat in a corner while Konohamaru slipped against his side and kissed him on the cheek before giggling. "I know a secret."
"Oh, what is it?" Naruto said, putting off his own secret.
"If I told you it wouldn't be a secret."
"You're really asking for it," Naruto said, pushing Konohamaru over and slipping his hands under the boy's shirt.
Konohamaru laughed as he first tried to escape to the right and then left only to be trapped by one hand or the other. "I give. I'll talk."
Naruto sat back up, grinning in satisfaction. "Talk."
Konohamaru sat up and gestured for Naruto to come close. Leaning forward, Konohamaru whispered into his ear. "Inari is going to try to suck on Ranmaru."
Naruto's stomach clenched. He had slowly begun to regret having messed around with Inari. Since coming back, the boy had not said anything and he had sort of began to hope that he had forgotten about it.
"What's wrong?"
Naruto's eyes had gone unfocused and it took him a second look at Konohamaru's face. He opened his mouth but didn't know how to say what he was feeling. "Why?"
"Why, what?" Konohamaru asked, not following.
"Why does Inari want to do it?"
Konohamaru cocked his head. "Because he likes him."
"Yeah, but... " Naruto trailed off unable to put his feelings into words.
Konohamaru leaned over and gave him a hug, and after a second Naruto hugged back. It was strange, but sometimes Konohamaru seemed different. Since remembering his mother and his other relatives Konohamaru seemed a bit more mature at times. Not that he talked about those memories too much. For the first time, Naruto really wondered about his own parents. Part of him wished he had his own memory blocked so he could remember, but when he remembered how rough it had been for Konohamaru, especially the first few days, maybe it was better he didn't.
Then he did have one horrifying thought. What if he didn't come back? He was going to leave with Jiraiya and the man had told him the dangers. Still, being told you might, though, it was one thing to be told he might die but thinking how it might affect someone else was different. His mind conjured an image of Konohamaru crying and having no one there to comfort him.
That thought alone almost made him reverse his decision. Protecting Konohamaru was a big part of him. Back at the House it had a sort of sense. The things he had to do didn't seem so bad as long as he was protecting Konohamaru. Still, the thought of the others still there, part of him wanted to run out and help them now. He wanted to protect them.
"Konohamaru, I have something I have to tell you."
"You're leaving tomorrow." Konohamaru lowered his head onto Naruto's chest, avoiding his eyes.
Naruto wrapped his arms around the small frame. "How did you know?"
"Ranmaru told us he was going. So that meant you were going."
He had not thought of that. Ranmaru was accompanying them along with Raiga, or the other way around. "Are you okay with it?"
"No," Konohamaru said before adding, "but I think you should go."
"Why do you say that?"
Konohamaru seemed to snuggle into him further. "Because, if I was there, I would want you to come for me."
"You're not afraid I won't come back?" Naruto asked, beginning to stroke his back.
"I am, but you're not my mom."
Naruto hugged him. "I'll come back for you. I will tell you all about it."

For Konohamaru, recovering his missing memories had been both good and bad. He liked that he could remember his parents and grandparents. The memories still felt fresh even though they had been years ago. He liked that the dark no longer terrified him, though, he still didn't like it. However, the memories had come with pain. Even though they happened years ago they felt recent. He could still remember his mother's arms around him and the smell of tobacco, which had always triggered a good feeling, could bring tears to his eyes.
On one level he really didn't understand how it had opened him up. Before, Naruto had been the only thing in his life, the thing he had to hold onto because no one else had ever been kind to him, at least not the way Naruto was. Now, he knew that wasn't true. His parents had loved him as had his grandparents. People could be nice like Jiraiya and Inari just because.
Unfortunately, he wasn't sure if he was nice. Adults were easy to figure out, but Inari, Ranmaru and especially Naruto were almost impossible. The more he would think about something, the more his mind would twist it around. Still, he knew Naruto wanted to go back to the House to help the people still there, and if he was still there he would want Naruto to rescue him. So he tried to stay strong for Naruto when he said he was leaving.
Konohamaru didn't sleep well that night and woke early the next day, to eat a dry breakfast with Naruto before they left. He tried to sound happy, or at least carefree, but his stomach was twisting into knots. Then he had to watch them go. Tsunami was standing next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He knew he just had to hold on until they were out of sight.
Then Naruto stopped and started jogging back. It was almost too much for Konohamaru when Naruto also forwarded to a hug and leaned down and gave him a kiss that was usually for the bedroom. When Naruto broke the kiss he stayed so close to Konohamaru that their foreheads were touching.
"I love you Konohamaru, always."
Then Naruto was running back to Jiraiya. Konohamaru was crying, but he was happy and that was confusing. Before Naruto was out of sight, he shouted. "Naruto, kick butt!"

Naruto began to envy Ranmaru on the second day of their journey. Jiraiya and he had met up with Raiga and Ranmaru on the other side of the completed bridge. Instead of sticking to the roads they had immediately gone into the woods and had been traveling among the trees since. Naruto had thought he had become adept at traveling along the trees, but he had started to envy the younger boy who was being carried. Not that he was going to complain. He was determined not to show any weakness. It wasn't the actual running or jumping that was tiring the blonde, but picking out the next spot to land on was. Jiraiya had told him with time it would just be natural like walking, but he wasn't there yet.
Then with no warning, Jiraiya stopped, bringing everyone else up short. Naruto glanced around, but as far as he could tell they were in the middle of nowhere.
"We're here. Set up the tent. It looks like we're early."
"How can you tell? I didn't see anything." Naruto asked looking around again for some sort of sign.
Jiraiya dropped down from the trees and glanced back at him. "That's because I didn't tell you what to look for. Are you a bit nervous, Naruto?"
He smiled and scratched behind his head nervously. "Maybe."
Dropping down, Naruto threw himself into his work trying to look busy. Over the next several hours people seemed to drift in either small groups or alone. He didn't recognize any of them, but Jiraiya greeted them all by name. After about 10 people, Naruto was becoming uncomfortable with all the strangers around. It was one thing being in a crowd, but this was a group.
Retreating into the tent, he passed the rest of the day playing card games with Ranmaru. He could hear other people arriving and wondered if Hinata and Hanabi would show up. Jiraiya had really only given details about what he was expected to do. Something about compartmentalized for the security of the operation. Naruto understood it was basically a fancy way of saying, if he didn't know he couldn't tell anyone. Still, he wanted to see those two again just to make sure they were okay.
Almost as soon as he had that thought, a voice called through the tent. "Naruto?"
The voice sounded a little different, but it was familiar enough that Naruto dropped his cards and lunged towards the tent flap. "Hinata!" Pushing the tent flap back he added, "Hanabi."
The two girls had changed since he had last seen them. Hanabi could now almost pass as a boy with her short hair and baggy clothing. There was no way of hiding Hinata's feminine features, but her hair was dyed blonde. Both of their milky white skins had been tanned by the sun.
"You've changed."
Hanabi reached into a pocket and produced a pair of sunglasses and put them on. "Yeah, they are disguises. They don't want anyone to recognize us."
Naruto wondered why he had not been asked to do anything like that before remembering their eyes. He was so used to seeing them he had really forgotten how distinctive they were. "Well, come on in."
"Who are you?" Ranmaru asked from behind Naruto.
"You're not Konohamaru." Hanabi said accusingly.
Naruto winced at her tone. "This is Ranmaru. He's a friend and apparently he has something to do with the plan, but I'm not sure what exactly."
"Is Konohamaru okay?" Hinata said, sounding genuinely concerned.
"Yeah, he's great. I just, well, we weren't supposed to escape like you. I didn't want him coming because... " he trailed off, feeling everyone staring at him.
Hinata smiled slowly. "Always looking out for him."
Naruto's face fell like it was on fire as he examined the dirt, wishing he was alone. Then Jiraiya's voice boomed unnaturally loud. "Gather around."
"The meeting's starting," Naruto repeated, glad for the distraction.
The four of them moved to join the rest of the group with Naruto carrying Ranmaru. They hung out on the outer edges of the group with none of them really wanting any attention. Naruto counted 30 people. Well, 34 counting the four of them. He didn't know if that was a lot or not.
"All right, I just want to make it official," Jiraiya began. "Is there anyone who wishes to speak against the distraction?"
No one spoke up, but Naruto leaned towards the two girls. "Are either of you going on the raid of the House?"
"No," Hinata replied without looking at him. "Something about not moving too many people around. Tell everyone I said Hi."
"All right," Jiraiya continued. "Then is there any questions about the general attack? Is everyone confident they understand their assignments?"
"Why is there no withdraw signal?" The question had come from Tsunade.
Jiraiya met her gaze and even Naruto felt like there was something more than just a questionnaire.
"Because, this is all or nothing, if you retreat, you retreat on your own prerogative."
There was a moment of silence following that statement and then an eerie laugh came from the woods surrounding them.
"Jiraiya, you're so dramatic. You have not changed since you were a kid."
Every adult went for their weapons as they spun to face the woods, but the voice seemed to be coming from everywhere as if the wind was carrying it around them. "Orochimaru," Jiraiya's voice was harsh; it did not sound like the man Naruto knew. "Where are you?"
"Kakashi, he's in the tree behind you." Hinata called out in a strong firm voice.
Naruto turned, shocked to hear such a tone from the ordinarily quiet girl and then stunned as he saw veins bulging around her eyes. Before he could say anything, though, there was a scream of pure fury. Turning towards the sound, he saw a woman in a trench coat leap into the trees at a sickly pale man and plunge a kunai into his stomach. Instead of a scream, though, the body seemed to disappear in a pile of dirt and Naruto recognized him as a clone.
"Is that any way to treat your old teacher, especially when he comes offering an alliance?"
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A Darker World