Darkness Falls

Chapter 35

Authors Notes: Is it safe to come out yet? Because I am running out of food and water in my nuclear fallout bunker....

First and foremost, I hope everyone had a happy and safe Christmas, and New Years and the first half of 2022 as well! I know I said I would try to get this updated before the end of 2021, and believe me I did, though the last few weeks of December where chaotic as hell. And down here where I live, they also have a holiday on January 6th called King's Day which is like a second Christmas. And to top it all off, my wife went in for Lasik Surgery, so I was stressing out over that as well. And as of late, we have been looking into this property to potentially rent out to vacationers. But, between all of that, I've been attempted to stitch together small snippets of this chapter together, and here it is!

Lastly there was my most recent health scare that happened not too long ago, that had me so stressed out that I stopped eating for a few days and even started throwing up blood, fun times. Gotta say, 2022 is shaping up to be far worse (on a personal level) then 2020 ever hoped to be.

Alright, suppose I should address the massive amount of confusion from the previous two chapters, which I blame on my own writing for not being able to convey it clearly enough. So for that, I apologize.

Firstly, the part with Naruto and Karin are happening at the same exact time Sakura is fighting against the snake summon and eventually when she squares off against Orochimaru. Now, the reason why Naruto didn't rush back is because there was no urgency to get back. Mainly because as seen, Sakura was more then capable enough of taking on the giant snake, and when she fought Orochimaru, she sent her Dark Clone to do it, since it wouldn't dispel unless it was struck with a fatal blow while at the same time being equal in strength to the original. Therefore, she wasn't in any danger.

Which is why the two of them could joke about Naruto taking the time to ensure Karin got to the compound safely and hunt down a few extra scrolls. Also, this is Karin Uzumaki, not some random girl. One of the few surviving members of his nearly extinct clan.

Now, the Kyubi sized elephant in the room. The part with Anko.

Again, like with Sakura, the battle between Anko and Orochimaru is happening at the exact same time as when Naruto returns to Sakura, and it really doesn't click with Naruto why Anko is feeling upset and angry until Sakura informs him that Orochimaru is in the forest, and it is in that exact moment when Naruto feels anxious that Anko gets stabbed. So yes, Naruto was still able to get there instantly and catch Anko as she fell. He is omnipotent, not omnipresent, and despite growing with them, he is still learning how to fully utilize his hanyou senses and abilities.

I did this for two reasons.

One, as mentioned above, Naruto is over powered, even with his current powers and skills and they are only going to get stronger and more powerful as the story progresses. So, I needed something to show that he can be vulnerable and he can be hurt. And what better way for a hero to be made vulnerable is to have someone they hold dear get severely hurt and teetering at deaths door? Also drives it home since Naruto had just proposed to her officially not too long before this.

Secondly, shock value. It is well known that Anko is my favorite female cast member of the Naruto-verse, so I am willing to bet at least a few of you were not expecting me to do something like this to her. Especially if the playful (at least I am hoping they are playful) threats I have received were anything to go by.

So, I hope that clears up any confusion.

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 "Why? Why did he do it?" A young purple haired girl sobbed as she rocked back and forth on the balls of her bare feet, holding her knees to her chest within the cramped cage she had been left in by the man she had trusted. Tears falling freely from her eyes as sobs wracked her small eight year old frame. A curse mark, fresh on the base of her neck.