Light in the Dark

Shocking News

-Naruto POV-

"Akari is alive Naruto, and she is working for the Akatsuki," Gaara's words echoed throughout my head as I tried to process what he was saying.

That was why I couldn't help but feel weird about all of this. That was why I was still having vivid dreams about her. She wasn't truly gone, but she was still gone. There was no way she could have faked that injury, or that death. The image of one of those damn metal staffs going through her absolutely would never leave my brain. I watched her drop, I watched her bleed.. There was just no way.

"There has to be some kind of mistake, some kind of trick," I whispered, "I watched her die Gaara, I watched her go."

"The jutsu that Nagato used, it must have even put Akari's life back," Kakashi said outloud, and I turned to look at him.

"Then why did she not come home the instant it did?" I found myself yelling, not because I was angry towards him but because I was angry at everything. My sister was alive and somewhere in the world.

"Temari, relay to them what you saw," Gaara looked at the blonde who quickly nodded her head before looking back at me.

"After she gave me the notes, she stepped back into the shadows with a man wearing an orange mask and they-"

"Madara." Kakashi and I spoke at the same time.

"He has to be manipulating her," Captain Yamato sounded a bit panicked too, "There is no way she would willingly join the people that want to hurt Naruto,"

"I know this is shocking, but please let us explain to you the events of the summit," Temari interrupted, "We may be able to shine more light on the situation, and it is important you know the events that are about to affect all of us,"

"Sasuke attacked the summit, and that was when we ran into Akari,"

I drowned out the rest of what they were saying, trying to process what was happening. We were going to war, Madara declared war against us, all of the villages. They wanted Kakashi of all people to be Hokage.

"Naruto, I will have you that this is also a battle to protect the eight and nine tails, namely you, and for the sake of the shinobi world as Kazekage I will make sure to protect you at all costs," Gaara spoke to me breaking me out of my haze, "And if as a Akatsuki subordinate Sasuke or Akari were to stand against our Allied Shinobi Forces, I will not show mercy,"

"I am afraid that Sasuke does not see you anymore, the only thing he sees now is darkness and he is pulling Akari down that path with him," The three sand siblings almost seemed to be looking at me with pity as I tried to process the two people I was fighting for were no longer the same people, "Naruto, you once told me you would become Hokage one day, well I've become Kazekage,"

Gaara began taking steps towards me as I kept my eyes down, not wanting to see the pity across everyone's faces. Not wanting to lash out against them with the slight anger that filled my body. I couldn't tell who I was more angry at, Akari for being so stupid, or Sasuke for pulling her down this path.

"And if you've truly resolved to be a Kage, you're going to have to do what truly needs to be done as Sasuke's friend, and as Akari's brother," I pushed his arm off my shoulder and went back to staring at the ground.

"I consider you a friend, in the past friend was just a word to me, nothing more, nothing less," Gaara spoke gaining my attention again, "But after meeting you I realized something, what's important is the meaning of that word, what does it mean to you? You must decide for yourself what you can do for Sasuke, and as for Akari you and I both know it's not too late for her."

"Also, Naruto please pass this along to Shikamaru, it is for his eyes only, a jutsu made specifically for him." Temari spoke and handed me another folded up piece of paper.

Akari, whatever it is you've gotten yourself into, I promise I will get you out. You have been getting me out of trouble all our lives, it is my turn to return the favor. I know you are probably confused, and I am not sure what stories they told you but I will clear this all up for you. I owe this to our parents, I owe this to you. You are just trying to help Sasuke avenge his home, you are not a hateful person. Everyone who knows you, know that you would never hurt us.

"Yamato, I want you to take Naruto back to the village and I will send my ninja hounds with you to relay what happened at the summit since it is urgent,"

Akari was going down the same path as Sasuke, she was stepping into the darkness. What if I couldn't pull her out? What if I couldn't save her from herself? What if I couldn't save either of them? Our friends could easily make the decision to eliminate her too when they discover this.

My breathing picked up, and my tears began to fall out of my eyes as I imagined everyone hunting the two of them down. They would kill them both.

My eyesight began to go out as the images continued to galsh through my head, and soon enough everyone's voice was echoing through my head. All of them telling me to breathe. Everyone trying to get me to pay attention.

------Akari POV------

I stepped off to the side with Karin as we watched Sasuke come face to face with Danzo. I had to admit I was a little annoyed when Obito threatened to put me back in the safety of that other world he had. He just barely let me watch, explaining that he would only agree to it as long as I promised to not interfere with whatever it was I saw. He also reminded me that I wouldn't be able to stay long, and that I had a mission of my own that I needed to attend to. He knew I was slightly pouting over the fact I couldn't stay, but agreed to relay every detail of it to me when he got the chance.

I sat up at the top with Obito, looking down below. He was so casual about what was happening below. Showing no actual interest in it.

"Are you not even the slightest bit worried about what is happening?" I chuckled slightly looking at Obito who looked at me through his mask.

"Sasuke is quite adept with his new found powers, the fact he has already mastered the Susanoo."

"I feel as though you enjoy the chaos," I chuckled slightly and Obito looked back towards me.

"I just believe in his abilities is all," Obito explained, "After all the amaterasu and the susanoo are two impressive skills but he is going to tire himself out,"

"If you would let me help him I-"

"Now Akari, if I didn't know any better I would say your previous statement about no longer caring for him was false," Obito looked back down at the fight just as Sasuke was summoning a Hawk, "Oh a new summoning? Now when did you get that?"

"I already told you Obito, my heart stopped belonging to Sasuke the moment he turned his back on me the first time," I sighed, "I shut that part of me off a long time ago."

"I think it is time for you to start heading towards the Hidden Leaf, wouldn't you agree Akari?"

I looked back down at the fight, and then back at Obito before nodding my head.

"Just make sure he doesn't die Obito, we need him." I took one last look at Karin and Sasuke before departing from my spot next to Obito.

"Good luck Akari."