Senju's Heir

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Senju's Heir

~~Konoha~~

The sky was melancholic as the sun's rays suffered the effects of earth's rotation, bringing about a slight darkness that only helped enhance Gaara's equally gloomy state.

As he sat on a bench at the edge of Konoha's main gate, with the wrappings around his head finally gone, Gaara stared ahead clearly unhappy. 'Not today either, huh...?'

From his seat, he sighed and leaned against the wall behind him. His eyes followed after the average traveler entering through the gate, some of them halting at the call of the two Chūnins keeping track of the daily traffic.

"Not surprised to find you here, Gaara."

Stopping the sand limbs under his feet, Gaara lifted his eyes to see Jiraiya. "Jiraiya-sensei..." He felt a sudden surge of guilt at the man's critical eye. "Sorry, I just thought today, he would finally..."

Giving the boy the benefit of the doubt, Jiraiya sighed and slouched next to Gaara. "I just came from Sarutobi's office. Apparently, he ordered Kakashi to head for Wave on an A-class mission involving Team Eight, seeing as he was the closest to the country at the time. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura were expected to come back, but I think we all know that didn't happen. I doubt the old man didn't consider this outcome, though."

"I see..." Gaara straightened his back, and began to stand back up. Glimpsing under his scarlet locks, he sighed seeing the gates Naruto had left through time ago. "Do they know when they might come back?"

"Unlikely," Jiraiya also stood. "Missions can be extended from their expected rate for unexpected coincidences. As the rank goes up, so do the chances of extended leaves. Don't worry though, Naruto's with Kakashi. He's one of the strongest Jōnins Konoha has to offer."

"I know, but..." Gaara gazed at the horizon provided by the village gates. For a while now, he had been bothered by one very unpleasant feeling telling him, warning him that Naruto was in turmoil. Perhaps not physical, but dangerous nonetheless. "I can't shake the feeling he may be doing something unwise..."

Jiraiya stopped at this.

He too had been suffering from this fleeting morbidity. Part of him knew he could trust in Naruto's abilities, but the possibility of unaccounted factors coming into play were there, lurking around corners which couldn't always be controlled.

'If anything were to happen to him, I would never...'

Jiraiya knew he would be devastated beyond repair.

Looking over his shoulder, Jiraiya's eyes were clouded with unease. 'You would let me know if you needed me, right, Naruto...?'

~~The Land of Waves, Bridge~~

Sasuke could do nothing but keep his eyes rooted on the marvel taking place before him.

He lifted one arm to shield himself, and noted how the tainted chakra oozing out of Naruto was somehow hot, boiling even. He directed chakra into his eyes, and activated his Sharingan, so he could see the anomaly for what it was.

Sasuke's eyes broadened at the revelation, 'This chakra... It's shaped like a fox...! Where did he get this from?!'

Her arms shielding her, and her body trembling from the bloodlust streaming out of her teammate, Sakura kept grinding back despite her attempts to stop herself. After a while, she concluded that this chakra couldn't possibly be human. 'What on earth is this?! I can't believe something this powerful exists!'