Past's Lovers

Chapter 9

Naruto bolted upright in the middle of the night with sweat lingering around her body. Breathing heavily as she looked around her surroundings. "Where am I?" she felt something attached to her waist and looked down to see a small bundle with white hair. Her eyes widening as she realised where she was now. "Right. In the past. Shodai and all that." she muttered and untangled herself from Jiraiya as Kurama was locked up inside of the seal. Checking the calendar and saw that it was October 8th. Her 17th birthday was in 3 days and Jiraiya's 2nd birthday in 4 days. Naruto sighed. Leaving the room and pulled on a warm cardigan and sandals before leaving the cottage. Creating a clone to watch over Jiraiya as she wondered the isolate streets of Konoha.

Tucking her hands into her pockets and looked around Konoha. It was her home, but it wasn't. As much as she loved this place, she had her own home to return to. As tempting as it was to stay here, she had family to stand beside. A village to protect in her own time. She could risk ruining her friend's birth by being in the timeline for so long. Naruto guess that she had already changed a few things already, but once she left it might return to normal once they lost their memories of her. Naruto sighed as she stopped walking. Gazing up to the stars that surrounded the nearly full moon. Her eyes widen as she saw a streak of red leap over her from roof to roof. She knew this chakra and frowned. "What's going on?" Without a second thought, Naruto followed after the chakra signature discreetly.

Following them to the edge of the village and deep within the forest of Konoha. Naruto knew this path fairly well. She knew where this person was going. Naruto was corrected only an hour later as they reached a clearing within the forest. Not now, but in the future, this clearing would become the battle ground between Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju. The battle ground of Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki. The Valley of the End. The figure stopped in the middle of the clearing with Naruto landing right behind them.

"Why have you followed me all this way?" The voice was deep and dark...almost hollow. Yet they didn't face Naruto.

Naruto stood up tall as she said. "I just wanted to know why you are doing this to Madara. He doesn't want this. He doesn't want to hurt anybody." The foul chakra in the Uchiha before her was more dominant than it was before and took a step forward. "What do you plan on doing to Madara? You're scaring him, you know."

The figure chuckled deeply and finally faced Naruto. He had Madara's face and body, but not Madara's eyes. These obsidian eyes were cold and ruthless. "And you know what Madara wants? You know what he craves?! You don't know him! Only I know Madara! Only I know him! More than anybody ever will! I know what Madara wants and I'm giving him exactly that!" He yelled at Naruto and lashed out. Gripping her by the neck and laughed hollowly. Yet he got no reaction out of the blonde and squeezed on her neck tightly.

Naruto's eyes harden as she looked into the eyes of the Uchiha. "You're right. I don't know Madara as well as you do, but I won't sit back and watch a friend loses themselves to darkness. I won't let you have him."

The Uchiha yelled at the blonde in confusion and anger. "Why?! Why do you care for Madara?! I'm all he needs!"

"Because he's my friend." Naruto said simply. "No matter what you do, no matter what time it is, I will be there to stop you. Whether it's now or a century from now, I will be there to stop you. I won't let you hurt Madara. I will stop you." she reached out with a shaking hand as she was slowly losing consciousness and smiled. "Madara, I know you're in there. Can you hear me? It's Naruto. Come back to me, Madara." She whispered softly as her vision started to fade.

The Uchiha released Naruto from his hold. "What have you done?! You damn Uzumaki!" he hollered at her before he collapsed before Naruto with tears and softness in his eyes. "Naruto...what happened? Where am I?" His voice was baritone and filled with fear.