Naruto's Revenge

Chapter 8: Descent Into Darkness?

As they traversed the large forest, Satsuki couldn't stop thinking. She had never seen Naruto so callous and cold. He definitely wasn't the goofball she once knew anymore. But then again, he never was.

"Naruto," Satsuki said.

"Yes?"

"Back there..." she paused. "What was that? You were so... cold. I've never seen you like that before."

"You would know, wouldn't you?" Naruto asked. "After all, what you saw from me was no different from what I saw from you back at the valley of the end," Naruto said. "And besides, we both want revenge. That's not exactly an honorable goal."

Satsuki kept silent. She wasn't sure how to feel about this. He was right, but... seeing him like that, it frightened her. Satsuki knew what revenge entailed and she was willing to accept it, to plunge her heart into the darkness if it meant retribution for her family. But Naruto... he was the sun, the light of her life; she had nothing after him. To see him like that... That wasn't Naruto; he revelled in the idea of seeing others suffer. That could never be Naruto, not in her mind.

Gaara stirred and Satsuki was suddenly pulled from her thoughts. "He's waking up," Naruto said. They came to a stop and Naruto placed Gaara down on the floor, holding onto his shoulders to keep him from falling as he wakes up.

"Naruto?" Gaara asked. "What are you doing here?"

"Why do you think, to save you."

He then seemed to notice Satsuki. "Satsuki." He turned back to Naruto. "Thank you."

"Thank us once we get you back home and into a hospital."

"I'll be fine for now," he said. "But let's walk as we talk."

"I imagine you have questions?" Naruto asked as they started walking.

Gaara smiled. "Yes: Firstly, what happened to you? You seem... different than before."

"More mature, you mean?"

"And your vocabulary seems to have expanded," Gaara joked.

Naruto laughed a little. "Well, I've changed but my heart remains the same. As for my mind, however... After my capture, Orochimaru discovered a seal on my neck."

"A seal... What for?"

"To control me. It altered my memories and personality, making me amenable," he said. "Worst yet, the man whom I saw as a father was the one to place it on me."

"And I take it that's why you became a fugitive?" Gaara asked.

"...Well, it certainly didn't give me much hope," he said. "But if you want the reason why I turned my back on my village..." Naruto stopped and turned to Gaara, reaching his arms under his shirt before slowly pulling it up over his head, revealing the scars that littered his body "This is why."

Satsuki almost gasped, the gorey sight on display before her was enough to make even the Hokage's stomach turn. Gaara's eyes widened; he knew Naruto had suffered, but to this extent?

"With the seal gone I could finally see things for what they were through my own eyes," Naruto said. "All that time screaming "I'm gonna earn everyone's approval and become Hokage!"...How ridiculous."

"No it was not," Gaara said. "It was that belief, that hope that changed me. That inspired me to be better."

"And yet, they were the words of someone whom I don't even know; someone who doesn't even exist," Naruto said. "A lie."

"I don't believe that," Gaara said. "That seal might have altered you somewhat, but I believe there is still some of that spirit in there."

"Maybe... But any chance of that was wiped out when the people I trusted most betrayed me," Naruto said.

"What about your friends?" Gaara asked. "They didn't betray you. They loved you."

"Oh yes, how they loved me, the annoying idiot. So much so that they beat and made fun of me. A tremendous amount of love indeed," Naruto remarked sarcastically.

"You've certainly changed. I've never known you to be so apethetic," Gaara said. "But regardless, Naruto, they care about you, as do I. They may have made mistakes but that doesn't mean you weren't valued."

(A/N: YESS!!! FINALLY SOME PROGRESS. Seriously, I can't tell you how long I spent on the "Regardless" line)

"So, what? I should go back home and endure the abuse, 'cause what? My "friends" miss me?" Naruto snapped.

"No," Gaara said. "You should gain the acceptance of your village, like you told me. Remember? That's what you always wanted."

Naruto laughed. "Yeah, and I was a fool. I merely said those things because thats what I was manipulated into believing."

Gaara's standing faltered. "Gaara," Naruto said, worried.

"I'm fine," he said.

"We should get you ho-" Naruto paused. "...They're close. They must have recovered."

"Who?" Gaara asked.

"Our "friends"."

"It's okay," Gaara said. "Leave me with them. We can't risk you getting caught."

"No, we'll take you home."

"Naruto, it's fine. Just go and let them find me. They'll be too busy to look for you," Gaara said.

"...Alright," Naruto relented. "I'll see you later, Gaara."

"See you."

Naruto and Satsuki left, quickly changing their course to avoid being spotted.
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Okay, I think that's good.

First Chapter 7 now Chapter 8. Bro these chapters be testing my brain😅😅😅. Sorry it took me so long, I was struggling with this chapter, and there were so many parts that had me stumped, like I said. I also have a terrible sleeping "schedule" which is to say I don't really have one at all. So I'm almost always tired, making it diffuclt to focus on things like writing.

Anway, hope you enjoyed. I'll try getting Chapter 9 out as quickly as possible, I even already know how I'm gonna start it.

Oh, and a preview for Chapter 9: "WHAT!!!" Tsunade yelled. "I'm going to castrate him!"