Rewind Rewind [Permanent Hiatus]

Ch07

Months had passed since the dark revelations of the underground regimen. The population had gone wary of the council, rumors of revolt swept the nightly silence as it placed a heavy tug in the morning atmosphere. At first , it had been a simple stray stone that had somehow 'missed' its target; simple broken windows that coincidentally apply to every property of the councils'. Of course, they blamed him for it, no surprise in that. Then, it started; people went missing, bodyguards of councilmembers found dead in alleyways, children of said officials sporting more than playful bruises. Again, they blamed it on him. The Hokage had no choice but to remove the council; for his own safety and their's, Naruto knew it was for his own. This decision, obviously, came with many complaints. Most of the council wordlessly agreed, fearing for their own loved ones and their own lives, while the more aggressive of the greedy men had enough nerve to blackmail his JiJi saying, "The Demon spawn won't make it with two legs by morning"

To say the old man was furious would be an understatement, he was livid! And he made that clear when he sent one foolish little blackmailing civilian through the wall and over. The spectacle itself was seen throughout the village and had settled the doubts of the people. Their Hokage wasn't a coward after all. It also became a lesson to most that he was to be untouched, less they wanted to incur the wrath of the 'professor' (an alias of his jiji in his prime) and be sent to the well known madman of the TorIwa (TORture and Interrogation WArd). No one has yet to plan his demise since, not even a glare or a stone. They simply ignored him now.

Naruto had been more than happy to accept this change as the favors were in his odds and most of all, no council! No more D-ranks, thank the gods! And that wasn't even the best part. His jiji was finally changing the curriculum in the academy!

All these changes though, he realized, had set him with a backlash he knew would be coming. The past he knew was shifting fast. He had changed what he shouldn't and that meant uncertainty. Uncertainty meant danger and danger meant death. He hated it.

Would Kakashi-sensei still be their sensei? Would Iruka still adopt him?

That question struck him. Would he?

He shook his head. No, not now.

Would Sakura and Sasuke still consider him a brother? Is the blood pact still there?

He paused on that thought. Damn, he didn't look. Chakra swirled in his palm and a golden triangle glowed. He let out a shaky breathe, it was still there. Good. That means the connection is there and he won't be having any problems with 'introducing' himself. If only they were there when he leapt through time..

No. They shouldn't. They had gotten the peace they rightfully deserved. Now that they were children once again, he wouldn't want to take them from the family they lost. He'd be damned.

Putting on his thick black winter hoodie over an orange t-shirt, he tucked his black sweats in his winter boots and left the warm embrace of home.

He silently walked past the forest, through the residential area of Konoha, and to the public park. There he sat by the bench, waiting in silence; eyes closed and senses focused.

'Why are they taking so long,' Naruto thought as he rubbed his gloved hands together for warmth, 'he shoul've delivered him to her by now'

"Who're you?"

Naruto cracked an eye open. He nearly chocked on his heart. He felt his body trembling with fear, with...sadness.

The young Uchiha stared at him, waiting for an answer. Naruto could feel himself tense, eyes starting to sting, heart beating faster and faster in his ears. He couldn't look the other in the eye. No no no. He'll see him; he, that mangled mess. That bloody mess. Oh God.