Forgotten Love | SasuNaru

~Chapter 30

Naruto POV

I panted heavily, jeez I'm out of breath, no...not yet, I can rest once I make it there. I'll start my search as soon as possible, I stumbled a bit but I have to keep going. I'm almost there, come on, what's a little bit of running gonna do to you. You might be tired now but I can make it, I know it, I can....I ended up passing out on the dirt path. My legs giving in, that's what happens when you start running before you learn to walk. I guess being in that bed really wore my legs out, I feel so out of shape.

I looked to the sky, it's getting dark soon, I must've been running for hours but it feels like I made no progress. How haven't I made it already, I should be there by now, have I really slowed down that much. I guess my age is getting to me, I don't know how long I've been running now. All I know is that the sun isn't in the sky anymore, I made it passed the trees and onto the big stone bridge. Marked with my fame, I continued across the long bridge, I can't anymore. My legs truly feel like jello, I collapse to my knees, the bridge was so dark.

The only light source I could see was a small light that slowly seemed to get closer. No, not yet, I can't close my eyes now. I need to keep going, I'm almost there, I just feel so tired. Maybe, only a second, just a second I'll slip my eyes close as the small light was getting closer. Soon enough my stubbornness left me and my body slowly forcefully shut down. I don't know how long I was out but by the time that I woke up.

Sun rays blinded me, I groaned in discomfort, the curtains were then closed. "My bad, I'm glad to see your wake now" I heard a voice, I opened my eyes once more to see a shadow standing next to the curtain. I couldn't make out the person but there voice was gentle and kinda familiar. "You're lucky that I found you on my patrol, it's good to see you again, Naruto" the man spoke. The mention of my name got my attention and I quickly decided to sit up. "Whoa, easy there, not so fast your gonna make yourself sick" The man panicked.

I chuckled, "don't worry, I'm fine, I was just tired is all...I ran all the way here without break" I admitted. "Anyways, thank you so much-" I paused as my eyes were adjusting to the dark room. The man faced becoming clearer, startling me when I finally realized him. "Inari, is that you" I exclaimed, he just chuckled, "it's good to hear that you haven't forgotten me after all these years" Inari joked. Lighting a match and turning on a nearby lantern with it, I smiled. "You still have lanterns here" I asked, "not all of us, I just prefer lanterns since animals get scared off easily with flashlights, their too bright in the dark" Inari explained.

"I was actually going to check on my traps last night until I saw you collapsed on our bridge" Inari stated, poking fun at me which made me a little anxious. "Sorry for the trouble" I muttered, beginning to pout, "hey, no worries, I'm just glad you're alright....but hey, if you're really worried, you can come check the traps with me...I'd be a big help" Inari suggested. "Okay sure, no problem, I can help with that" I said, readying myself to give out a helping hand. We took a nice walk out, Inari carried a pack to help us carry everything back. We got a few rabbit traps and then we had to check all the fish traps which were a lot. We managed to bring plenty of fish back and couple of rabbits to skin.

Although, I didn't enjoy the skinning part, it just made me nauseous. Tsunami made a good rabbit stew, that I did quite enjoy and made lots of rice balls. I honestly couldn't believe Tazuna was still rocking it at his age, I guess the man is too stubborn to die yet. But Tazuna had plenty of white hairs to prove his age. "Inari, I thank you and your folks for their hospitality but I think I must go now" I told Inari. "What, why so soon, you just arrived...I guess being Hokage keeps you on a tight schedule, I'm sorry for holding you up for so long" Inari apologized.

"No no...it's not......it's not that, Inari, I hate to put this on you but I have to tell you something" I muttered. "I'd hate to ask for your help after everything you've already have done for me but I'm a little desperate at the moment" I stated. Inari stopped whatever he was doing to listen to me, I sighed as I took a deep needed breath. "I left the Hidden Leaf, I know as their Hokage, it's wrong but there's something I must do" I began. "I.....have a condition right now, it will only get worse if I try and wait it out, the Otsutsuki have been becoming an increasing problem and I can't wait any longer, I need to find Urashiki and take him down before anyone else gets hurt....I need to find him before my body becomes too weak to fight" I explained. "I hope you can understand the urgency of this matter, I must go now, thank you for everything" I thanked him.

Readying myself to leave for my next stop, "we understand" that deep voice made me stop. I turned around to see Tazuna, Inari, and Tsunami standing at the entrance of their house. "You take care of yourself, okay kid" Tazuna said, "I will" I nodded, "and you will come back victorious, I know it" Inari cheered me on. "Before you leave, I made these for you...for your trip back but I can only hope that it's enough for your journey ahead" Tsunami stated as she handed me three wrapped bento boxes. I smiled warmly at the gesture, "thank you all so much for everything" I bowed my head slightly. I turned around and began running on the bridge, "bye Naruto, come back and visit us one day" Inari called out.

"I WILL" I called back and so I started my journey to find Urashiki.