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Blue eyes scanned rapidly his surroundings. Not that there was much to see, actually. He seemed to be trapped in some kind of dimension where the only thing you could see was… gray.
Realization hit him.
He had given his life in order to save Konoha. He was dead.
This was not the place he imagined when he thought about the afterlife. He was often told that heaven was a place where you felt at peace and you were happy in the company of your dead loved ones. Not this. He gave a resigned sigh.
“You should not be disappointed,” said a voice a few meters away. “You brought this upon yourself.” The owner of the voice chuckled.
Naruto’s head snapped toward the source of the voice. Relief and grief flooded through his body. “I’m sorry for dragging you with me, Kurama.” He closed the distance and stopped right in front of his companion’s face.
The fox scoffed fondly rolling his eyes at the same time. “It was bound to happen, Naruto.” Red eyes locked into blue ones. “Although I feel sorry for you. I will reappear in a few years yet you will not.” The demon fox really felt sorry and saddened at the idea of Naruto not being there with him. The kid was the only human he had gotten along with and, well, the only person he had learned to care for besides Jiji. Those words were never going to leave his snout though.
The blonde gave his friend a small smile. “It was bound to happen.” He repeated.
Naruto sat comfortably leaning his back on Kurama’s ribs. The fox didn’t protest as he would have done in life. “Take care of them for me, Kurama.” He closed his eyes.
At this, the bijuu snorted but said nothing.
“Naruto.” A deep raspy voice called out his name. Naruto opened his eyes startled feeling how his furry friend moved under his weight in anticipation. He knew that voice.
“Rikudo-jiji.” He greeted back with wide eyes. “What are you doing here?” He stood up walking toward the man.
The sennin stared at the blonde for a few seconds before speaking. “I am here to take you back.” He said flatly.
Naruto frowned confused. “To take me back?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“You are not quite dead.” He explained. “But you are not alive, either.” He turned to his left, eyes looking straight ahead. Naruto did the same while Kurama just watched them from the corner of his eye. “Kaguya was not the only Otsutsuki threat the Earth has faced up to now,” Naruto’s chest constricted in worry. “There are at least two more of them. Otsutsukis, I mean.”
The war hero didn’t like where this was going. He opened his mouth to ask something but closed it. He waited for the old man to continue.
“The next reincarnation of Indra and Ashura, or the Moon and the Sun, will be within fifty years.”
Naruto’s frown deepened. Weren’t he and Sasuke the last reincarnation of Rikudo-sennin’s sons?
“Therefore, you and Sasuke are the only ones that can stop the remaining Otsutsukis.” He finished. Naruto waited for him to keep talking but it seemed the old man was done with his explanation.
Shit.
He was doomed. He understood perfectly that only he and Sasuke had the power to stop someone as powerful as an Otsutsuki but he was dead, for god’s sake. Well, something close to being dead. Was he going to be revived every time he died and there was some threat that didn’t belong to Earth? He was never going to rest in peace. Don’t get him wrong, he would do everything to help Konoha even being dead but he didn’t want to be getting back over and over again for the next fifty years. Not that he was planning to die every single time he fought with someone. But he was told that he died for a few minutes in the war that Kaguya was involved in.
He sighed heavily.
“I don’t have a choice, do I?” He asked the obvious. “Am I going to return right now?” He had a lot of questions he didn’t even know where to start or what to say.
“No.” The sennin answered simply. “You will get back in the next blood eclipse.”
The what?
“Uh?” The blonde scratched the back of his head out of habit.
“I have not the power to bring you back. It must be done when the Sun and the Moon cross paths.” He glanced at Naruto out of the corner of his eyes. “Although I must warn you,” He faced Naruto completely. “When you get back, eleven years will have passed.”
The shock showed in Naruto’s face. “What!? What do you mean by that?” His eyes scanned the man’s face waiting for an answer.
“Right now, as we speak, a few months have passed.” He moved his right hand from right to left showing what looked like a real-time vision of Konoha. “Time works differently here.” The scene in front of them showed his grave with two silhouettes giving them their backs. Naruto didn’t need to see their faces to know who they were.
Iruka-sensei and Kakashi-sensei.
The scene flicked off as soon as it appeared.
“Your death has been pretty tough on everyone. Especially to the both of them.”
“This is not the recognition I wanted when I was younger.” Konoha’s hero murmured to no one in particular. He felt bad for his two father figures. For his friends. For Sasuke. He was not sure if the latter missed and mourned him but he had a feeling that perhaps that was the case; the teme even admitted he considered him his best friend and his strongest bond even though he was not in Konoha anymore.
“You have earned your place in people’s hearts.” Acknowledged the sennin.
What seemed like minutes passed by. “Anything else I should be aware of?”
The old man hummed. “This has to be done by only you and Sasuke,” he remarked. “Even though people helped you two at the war, there were more casualties that could have been avoided.” Naruto knew the old man was not blaming him but still felt like it. “You have to get stronger and train harder. I cannot give you more powers.”
The blonde pursed his lips in a thin line and nodded. He could do that.
“It is almost time for you to go.” Informed the sennin.
“Kurama comes with me, right?” Both looked at the bijuu who looked back at them impassively.
“You two will need to work together again in order to defeat the Otsutsukis just as you did last time,” the fox scoffed at that. “So, yes, he will come with you.”
“You never cease to surprise me, Jiji.” Kurama would be lying if he said he knew about this stunt Jiji was playing. The man always had tricks under his sleeve.
The old man chuckled. He turned serious and closed his eyes. “It is time.” He lifted his shakujo and made a small ‘o’ movement opening a portal. “You will appear right where you died. You will have to find Sasuke and explain everything to him. I do not have enough power to go back to Earth.” He motioned for Naruto to cross the portal.
“How do I-, How do we contact you?” He asked frantically due to the lack of time.
“In the next eclipse, it does not have to be a blood eclipse.” Kurama stood and followed his companion. “Just say my name.”
Naruto nodded and stepped through.
“See you later, Jiji.”
“Goodbye, Kurama.”
The bijuu stepped through as well.
Hagoromo only hoped for the best.
Naruto opened his eyes. He was lying on the floor. Leaning on his elbow, he took in his surroundings. It looked the same. It was like it happened yesterday. To him, in some way it did. He still didn’t figure out how time worked when you were ‘dead’. Not like he was interested in understanding it.
“Eleven years, uh, Kurama?”
“And you still look like a kid.”
Naruto pouted. “Well, it wasn’t my fault! My plan was to save Konoha and rest in peace.”
“It even sounded like a good plan to me.”
The blonde didn’t know if that was a sarcastic comment or not. He rose to his feet and scratched his head thoughtfully. “Now, where to find Sasuke?”
“This is going to be a pain in the ass,” The fox sounded genuinely annoyed. “But try summoning the toads and send a message.”
Naruto’s face brightened at that then deflated the next second. “Does the summon contract still works even if I died and came back to life?”
“Yes.”
He bit his thumb and slammed his palm on the ground while shouting “Kuchiyose no jutsu!”
The giant toad looked somehow old. The toad stared at Naruto as if he was seeing a ghost. “Naruto?” He inched closer to have a better look. “How? You were dead.”
The veteran smiled sheepishly. “It’s a long story, believe me.”
Gamakichi got over his stupor and laughed happily making some birds chirp scared and fly away due to the loud sound. “Well, I’m happy that you’re here again! Wait, were you revived with Edo Tensei?”
Naruto waved his hands frantically in front of him and shook his head. “No, Rikudo-jiji brought me here.” He gave a short version of what happened. “It is very important to not involve anyone else in this aside from Sasuke, Gamakichi.” Gamakichi nodded.
“I need you to find Sasuke and tell him I need to reunite with him,” he gently ordered. “Don’t tell him the details, just that I was revived and that we need to talk as soon as possible, please.”
The problem was, Gamakichi was big.
“Maybe stealth won’t do.” Pointed Naruto out scratching his nose.
“Don’t worry about that,” reassured the toad. “I can contact his summon and make it deliver the message.”
The blonde clasped his hands. “Yes! Thank you, Gamakichi.” He grinned fondly.
“Anytime.” Gamakichi saluted and disappeared.
“Guess we’ll have to camp here.” He said to himself. He made his signature hand seal making two clones appear seconds later. “Make sure no one comes near here, we can’t be discovered.” The clones nodded with a ‘Yes, boss.’ And parted ways.
He sat down on a log that was on the ground and waited. He still couldn’t believe he was brought back to life. He knew he was not entirely dead but was close enough. On top of that, eleven years passed. Eleven. He desperately wanted to see his friends. His family. He couldn’t wait to see Sasuke. The last time he saw him was after the war ended, five years before his death.
It frustrated him that he couldn’t go back to Konoha anytime soon. He first had to defeat the Otsutsukis that were who knows where. Years could pass before he would be able to visit them.
His stomach growled. He fished a few fish and cooked them in an improvised bonfire while he waited for his friend to arrive.
He was pretty much awake even though it was so late into the night, and despite that, he didn’t realize that the Uchiha survivor was already there looking at him with surprised narrowed eyes. Sasuke stood there in the shadows for several minutes until he couldn’t wait anymore. “Naruto.”
Naruto’s head snapped so fast he almost got whiplash. He was on his feet a second later. “Sasuke.” It was as if he was seeing a completely different person. This was not the Sasuke he left behind. This was a man in the complete meaning of the word. His friend no longer had the spikes that looked like a duck’s butt in the back of his head; he had straight hair instead, and a hardened face but was handsome nonetheless.
None of them moved and just stared at each other for several seconds. Naruto was getting nervous at the lack of response or movement and took a step closer. Sasuke tensed and saw how his involuntary action didn’t go unnoticed by the blonde.
The now youngest of two found himself being harshly pressed against a tree grabbed by the collar. “Sasuke?”
The Uchiha only pressed him harder. “Do you know how much I suffered?” Naruto was not even surprised that Sasuke didn’t question if he was real or someone else trying to impersonate him. “It took me years to stop mourning you.”
Naruto’s eyes softened at that. “I’m sorry, Sasuke.” He grabbed the older man’s hands and left them there. “I really am. It was not planned but I had to do it. I had no other choice.”
The older veteran was glaring at him. Not that Naruto could blame him, if he would have been in Sasuke’s place and would have found out that his friend died trying to save his village, he would have resented him too for leaving him behind. It was a childish thought, he knew, but they were like that.
The hero would lie if he said the closeness was not doing something to his heart and spreading warmth all over his body.
Did I feel this way back then?
No.
…
Yes.
He was brave and he knew it, how modest. But what annoyed him the most was that he never got the courage to tell Sasuke that he loved him. That his chase after him to bring him back to Konoha was not only for their friendship. That his heart started to beat wildly for Sasuke after the mission on the Land of Waves. He always bottled up his emotions, anyway.
“What it infuriates me the most,” spoke Sasuke breaking the silence. “is that it had to be your death that made me realize my feelings for you.”
Naruto didn’t even have the time to widen his eyes before his mouth was attacked with a fierce clumsy kiss. As inexperienced as he was, he returned the kiss as eager as Sasuke. They broke apart unaware of the saliva string that was joining their lips.
“You better explain yourself before I kill you.” Naruto laughed wholeheartedly at that. It was Sasuke’s way of saying I missed you, usuratonkachi.
So he told Sasuke the whole story. From how he died and how he met Rikudo-jiji again. Sasuke listened to him closely, not interrupting once and only humming at the right times.
“When the time to fight another Otsutsuki comes,” the Uchiha survivor crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re aware that people will notice, right?”
Naruto knew what Sasuke was implying. He grunted. “Yes.” He stretched his legs near the fire. “Even though we fight from the shadows, they will know. It’s only a matter of time but hopefully by the time they notice only an Otsutsuki is left.”
“Hn.”
And so they trained and worked hard to be prepared. Naruto loved this grown-up protective Sasuke.
Actually, it didn’t take long for them to find Otsutsuki Toneri. The battle reminded Naruto of the war. Same-looking battlefield. Same strategy.
Sasuke’s Susanoo armor was protecting Kurama. Naruto launched several bijuu-damas and summoned the rest of the bijuu’s chakra. Even that was not working.
Sasuke used the Rinnegan in all its power and opened a breach of seconds in order for Naruto to finish him off. And they did finish Toneri off. They almost got chakra depleted at the end.
They rested at an inn. “We don’t know when the other Otsutsuki will attack,” said Sasuke. “It could be any moment now or in a few months, maybe years. It depends on when he finds out one of his people died at our hands.”
“Yeah,” agreed Naruto. “Let’s rest for now.” But Sasuke had other plans.
“I’ll take a shower first.” Informed Naruto. He stepped in the hot water pouring down his body. He sighed contently. Even though they had a rough battle, they were fine and that made Naruto hopeful.
The sound of the water running didn’t allow the blonde to hear the door of the bathroom open. He scrubbed his chest slowly when he felt two arms wrap around his waist and torso. He yelped in surprise. “Sasuke!”
The older pressed closer to the blonde’s body leaving no room for the water drops to run down Naruto’s spine.
Naruto gasped at Sasuke’s hardening member touching his bare ass. He was scared; he had never had sex before.
“Tell me to stop and I will.” Whispered the Uchiha seductively. It was the first and last warning Naruto was going to have and he knew it. He was not going to back off this time. They could be ‘dead’ tomorrow.
The blonde ground his ass against the now hard cock as a response.
Sasuke growled and stopped Naruto by a grip on the blonde’s hips. He bit gently Naruto’s ear and rubbed two digits on his lover’s tensed hole. The Uchiha’s cock twitched in anticipation. “Relax.”
Naruto grunted in frustration and pleasure. Sasuke introduced the first finger and thrust slowly. Minutes later, the older veteran pushed Naruto a little to bend him over just a little bit and get better access; he introduced the second finger and wrapped his free arm around Naruto’s waist. He scissor-ed earning a few grunts of discomfort at the beginning.
The blonde started to moan minutes later. “Put it in, Sasuke.” Pleaded the hero.
Sasuke would have mocked Naruto for how desperate and erotic he sounded but he had already waited over eleven years to do something like this. There would be another time where he will definitely make his lover a mess.
Letting the water run down Naruto’s hole, Sasuke took the opportunity to rub the tip of his cock first then putting the whole length slowly in. He clenched his jaw at how amazing this felt plus the sounds Naruto was making. He waited for approval and thrust slowly when the younger stroked the arm that was wrapped around his waist as a ‘You can move.’ Signal.
He soon thrust faster making slapping sounds that fought over Naruto’s moans. They were being so loud. He didn’t care at all.
After several minutes in that position, Sasuke stopped and pulled out. A small whimper left the jinchuuriki’s mouth before he was turned around and pressed against the cold tiles of the shower. Sasuke’s bulked arms snaked down Naruto’s legs and lifted him up. The blonde wrapped his legs around Sasuke’s waist instinctively along with his arms on the older’s neck.
The Rinnegan wielder lifted him a bit more and took hold of his cock to put it back into the delicious tight heat.
Naruto bit his lip. A loud moan escaped his lips when Sasuke began to thrust. The Uchiha kissed him passionately while thrusting. The fact that Sasuke was slightly taller and bigger than him turned Naruto more on. The ex missin-nin had his hair all over his face and Naruto combed his lover’s hair back; the mere sight of Sasuke with his face uncovered and wet made Naruto moan.
Naruto’s cum splashed on their abdomens followed by the most erotic moan Sasuke has ever heard since they started their love-making session. The sound and the clenching made the older man come as well; he bit Naruto’s neck.
After showering for real this time and cleaning everything up, they went straight to bed.
There was no need to say “I love you.” Between them. Actions were what ruled in their relationship from the moment they were put together in the same team.
They kept traveling and investigating the last Otsutsuki. They were having no success until eight months later.
“Do you think that if we try sealing him as we did with Kaguya, it will work?” Inquired Naruto.
The Uchiha was ready to attack. “I don’t know.” He admitted. “We don’t have the seals on our palms anymore.”
Naruto growled frustratedly.
The fight started and they were running out of options.
“Sasuke.” Naruto coughed. “Think you can create the biggest Chidori you’ve ever made?”
It was a big risk but it was better than nothing.
“I’ll try with Rasengan then we mix them.”
The older nodded.
If this didn’t work they were fucked. Big time fucked.
“Rasengan!”
“Chidori!”
The last Otsutsuki couldn’t resist the amount of chakra that was thrown at him.
Everything exploded within a radius of fifteen miles.
They were lying on the ground unconscious. Naruto was the first one to come back to his senses and was surprised to see it was already night. They had been out for several hours or even days.
“Sasuke?”
The survivor was a few feet away from him. Naruto scooted closer and gently shook him. “Sasuke.” The older stirred a bit. “Come on, wake up, teme.”
“Hm, dobe.” His voice was hoarse. “Did we defeat him?”
“Yes.” Naruto helped him up. “Though we’re in not better condition.”
“Hn.”
“We’re near Kumogakure, we can rest there.” Naruto limped. “I’m sure Killer Bee will be happy to see us.” Or shocked.
Shocked it was. Then very happy. Extremely happy.
The older jinchuuriki treated them like kings. Ay was more reserved but treated them equally as well as his little brother.
After Naruto told them everything that happened, Killer Bee told them what they knew up to now. “We heard rumors months back,” He started with his rap. “Villagers said they saw the Kyuubi attack.”
“They were going to found out sooner than later.” Acknowledged Sasuke.
“Konoha was frantic after those rumors were spread out.” Continued the Raikage. “Your Hokage has been sending teams of high-ranked jounins to search for the Kyuubi since then.”
They talked a bit more before Naruto was yawning openly.
“You can stay as long as you need.” Offered the Raikage. “Bee can show you your rooms.”
“Thank you.” Naruto bowed earning a wave of the hand from the leader.
Killer Bee didn’t say anything when Naruto asked for one room for the both of them and squeezed him in a hug instead. The tanned man was happy because Naruto was alive and happy.
After making out and having their legs tangled they fell asleep.
“I promise I will visit again before you know it, Killer Bee.” Assured the younger jinchuuriki. “You know I never go back on my words.”
“Do you really have to go now?” Bee’s rap sounded sad.
“We still need to solve this entire crazy search Kakashi-sensei has all over the nations.” Explained Naruto. “I need to let them know I’m alive before they find me first and kill me thinking that I’m an impostor.” He chuckled nervously.
Because this time, there would not be coming back to life. The Otsutsukis were gone so his job was finished. The next reincarnation of Ashura was due fifty years and his death wouldn’t matter this time. He didn’t want to die just yet now that he was with Sasuke.
They said goodbye again and parted ways.
After weeks of traveling, they were finally near Konoha’s borders.
Sasuke saw Naruto fidget out of the corner of his eye. “What is it?”
“Uh? Uh, nothing.” His smile said otherwise. The older raised an eyebrow. “It’s that it’s been so many years, Sasuke. Even though to me has been just a couple of months, I still don’t know what to expect.”
Sasuke nodded in understanding. “It was pretty tough for everyone but they will welcome you with open arms.” He reassured. “I think Kakashi has not been the same since then.”
Honestly, he didn’t blame the man for not moving on. He still perfectly remembered the fight with Pain and when he found out Kakashi-sensei was dead. He was so fury-driven that he didn’t even have the chance to mourn. He planned to mourn after defeating Pain but thank Kami-sama Nagato brought everyone back. Not to mention Ero-sennin.
“I think you should cover your face before entering Konoha.” Suggested the older veteran. Surprise was not the reason why he suggested it; the real reason was that if the villagers found out, there would be a multitude in a heartbeat and Naruto would not have the opportunity to see his friends.
“Thank you, Sasuke.” Said Naruto sincerely and not only for the suggestion.
Sasuke smirked. “I’ll kill you myself if you dare die again.”
Naruto laughed hard and bumped his shoulder onto his lover’s.
He put his traveler hoodie on and walked toward the village’s entrance. He showed the guards his passport of short stay and walked side by side with Sasuke heading to the Hokage tower.
Naruto knocked twice and waited for someone to reply. “Come in.” Was heard inside. He opened the door only to find a barely older Kakashi-sensei writing down on a scroll without lifting his gaze.
For god’s sake, technically he saw his sensei months ago!
The Hokage finished signing a report before apologizing. Naruto had already taken the hoodie off. He didn’t know where to start; what to say. So he just apologized back. “I’m sorry, Kakashi-sensei.”
The silver-haired Hokage had never lifted his gaze so fast in his life. His eyes widened comically before narrowing not quite believing what or who was in front of him beside Sasuke.
“Ha.” Kakashi leaned back on the chair before standing up slowly walking to them as if approaching a wounded animal. “It’s not the time for genjutsu, Sasuke.” Said the leader as a warning.
“It is not.” Was the only reply he got from the Uchiha.
“I’m sorry.” Repeated the jinchuuriki. “Sorry for putting you through pain.”
Kakashi was silent just staring at his ex-student. Naruto looked so young.
“Sensei?”
It was that word that made Kakashi got over his surprise. He closed the distance and hugged Naruto tight. “Ho-How?”
He explained in detail. From A to Z.
“Why did you two not come for help!?”
“Because that only meant death, sensei.” Explained Naruto. “We couldn’t allow ourselves to lose more people.”
Even though it was reasonable the sensei couldn’t help but feel betrayed. He was kept in the dark for months and his dead student was alive!
“I just really hate your selflessness sometimes.”
Someone knocked twice and walked in without waiting for permission. “Here are your troublesome weekly reports from the jounins.” He sounded bored.
All three of them turned to look at the man that had just entered and stared blankly at Shikamaru before Naruto and the latter locked gazes. “Shikamaru!” Greeted the hero happily.
The Nara heir looked taken aback. “Naruto?” He looked at Kakashi for confirmation. When the Hokage gave a cut nod he looked even more confused. “What? How?” Naruto got closer and clasped his friend on the shoulder while grinning widely.
“You’ve grown so much!”
He told the story again. He mentally prepared himself; he was going to repeat that story for god knows how long.
After finishing, Shikamaru told Naruto about his life while he was gone. He was now married and had a son.
Naruto congratulated Shikamaru and hugged him while Sasuke glared at the Nara.
It was not really a surprise that almost everyone had already married and had kids as well.
“I’ll go visit Iruka-sensei, sensei.” Naruto slightly bowed out of pure happiness and turned to leave. “See you later, guys.”
The Hokage looked like he wanted to argue but held back. Iruka was the one who suffered and mourned the most. It was only fair for him to share Naruto’s return.
Sasuke never left Naruto’s side.
“They are finally together.” Noted Shikamaru.
“It was about time.”
Naruto and Sasuke waited outside of Iruka’s apartment. The teacher was now principal and was probably heading home after his shift.
Bingo.
With his hoodie on, Naruto called out. “Iruka-sensei.” He didn’t want to startle his sensei but it was inevitable.
Just as expected, Iruka dropped his bag and faltered in his step. He knew that voice. He often dreamed about the owner of that voice. He often visited the grave of the owner of that voice.
Naruto uncovered half of his face. “Would you mind if we come in? There are a lot of things I have to tell you.”
Tears started to run down the sensei’s cheeks. “Is it really you?”
“Yes.”
He was being suffocated in a hug. “You son of a bitch!” It was the first time Naruto heard Iruka-sensei swear and being directed at him. He chuckled. “I’m going to kill you.”
“I missed you too, sensei.”
Iruka’s hand was trembling so much that he couldn’t open the damn door. He tried so hard to calm down but to no avail.
Naruto grabbed Sasuke’s hand and squeezed, and feeling warm when his lover squeezed back in reassurance before letting go. He walked closer to his sensei to help him with his struggle when Iruka finally unlocked the door and opened it. He let the man and young man enter first.
Naruto turned in time. “I’m home, sensei.” He smiled.
A broken sob met his ears as a reply.
He would give his life over and over again if it meant having his father figure alive, and all of his friends and Sasuke safe.
But he was not alone now and that was what mattered. Whatever was to come, he would face it with Sasuke by his side.
Because, even though the storm lasted years, the sight of the rainbow was worth it.