Black Sunset

Chapter 14

-Konoha Cemetery-

"Well Sasuke-kun's now mine demon lover" ino says, coming to dance on sakura's grave. Shikamaru rubs his face as the blonde stood with her arm is sling, "Will you have some respect for the dead.. Two of our fellow rookies are dead" he says.

"It was Fate that took their lives for Siding with a Demon" neji comments, walking up as hanabi was kneeling in front of hinata's grave with soft sobs.

"Fate does not dictate one's life.. I thought Naruto showed you that" shikamaru states. Neji scoffs rubbing his now mark-less forehead, "The Demon was not human but a test of my fate.. His and Her deaths have finally freed me of my fate as member of the Branch family" he states.

"Yeah Naru-baka is dead and no one will mourn him anymore now that all those Demon lover are dead" ino says.

"How's Sasuke" choji asks. Ino clenches her free hand with a scowl on her face, "He still need surgery to his jaw.. That Ghost guy should be dead for what he did to Sasuke-kun" she says.

"Sasuke was in over his head.. Ghost is an S-rank Shinobi but he will have deal with all of Konoha after him now" asuma interjects, walking up with kurenai.

"Asuma-Sensei.. You saw the fight with him too.. Something has been nagging me" shikamaru says, leaving the cemetery.

"I did.. Ghost is not someone to face head-on.. Seeing it first-hand I could say.. Many would struggle to fight him.. Gai perhaps with his speed but even Kakashi was shocked" asuma states.

"He is like a ghost of Yondaime-sama" kurenai comments.

"I would agree.. Since coming on the scene to us only recently.. Saves the Kazekage and kills an S-rank Missing-nin" shikamaru states but asuma raises two fingers.

"Add Sasori the Red sand to the list.. According to Hokage-sama he leads a group called Kuroi Yuhi comprised of Kunoichi.. Mercy.. Sen and Black Mamba are known though the latter coming with him and Ino reporting the former" asuma says.

"I remember she said both Mercy and Sen had Medical skills akin to Tsunade-sama and both had convinced the Godaime to train them" shikamaru states.

"Speak your mind.. I can tell you're thinking of something" asuma says. Shikamaru sighs with a look to the sky, "Sensei could Naruto still be alive" he says, asuma and kurenai's eyes widen.

"I know it sounds crazy but the events as of late.. Have caused a disturbing theory to manifest in my mind" shikamaru adds.

"It is disturbing.. Jiraiya-sama reported Naruto was captured and killed.. It is a possibility that he survived the extraction of his Biju but that would be slim" asuma says but thought, "Reports said Kushina survived her extraction" he thought.

"Shikamaru you should go to Hokage-sama about this" kurenai suggests.

"It's just a theory at the moment.. I should gather more evidence before going to him.. I don't want to start a wild goose chase over a thought" shikamaru states, as choji catches up to them. However shikamaru had no idea yet, that he was spot on with his theory.

-One month Later-

A geyser of dirt erupts through a mountainous graveyard of bones and the source was naruto in a large crater. His right arm was covered in iron sand and nine strange orbs were floating behind him. He was wearing dark-blue cargo pants with black combat boots, a white button up vest and black gloves. Naruto stood to his full height and runs his left hand through his two-tone hair of black and now blond, "Things are coming along swimmingly and these Gudōdama are very interesting" he thought, his sand receding into a seal on his arm.