Restart

I've been thinking about Naruto fanfics more and more as of late. Of course, I've yet to actually finish one, but let's not go there. *Coughs*

Many of my ideas revolve around the same things, random revolutions or drastic changes that eventually leads to some sort of war or whatever, but I hope to (if I'll ever) combine all of my ideas into one huge story. Wether it'll be a Naruto story or my own that I write, who knows. But I stand here saying (or sit on my laptop typing *wink*) that I write here as a training ground. A simple place where I can get feed back about ideas I'll piggyback on or create myself. Eventually, it'll aline in my head, but I thank you all for reading them anyway.

That was long, but now you can't review saying "Another one? Oh well, I guess I'll read it… *grumbles* you need to finish your others." XD

Thanks for reading, I've always been intrigued by this idea… so I'm giving it a shot.

∆Prologue∆

There was always regret. Shinobi tend to live in it, wether it be there fault or not. Fighting wars and losing friends, it's simply nature for them. Yet they all fight to see another day, to fight another day, to die another day. There fates are not sealed, but there goal is. All strive for strength, for knowledge, some for endless power. They all strive. But just as the setting sun goes below the earth for others to bask in and the moon will rise, Shinobi too want the rest that the nighttime brings, yet not find it.

Through struggle, people grow stronger, smarter.

But through relief, people grieve, rest.

And both are very valuable in life. After all, what's the point in struggling if none let it end? Must people try harder and harder to get to the end of it all, only to fight another battle? To be able to relax, to be able to say "okay" without second thought, sometimes that's stronger than anything else learnt.

If only Shinobi could say that. Peace never truly came. But all dreamed of it.

It wasn't until the day hope was vanished, did one truly see the light. As if they hit rock bottom and realized the only place to go… was up. And that's where this story begins…

Madara was dead. The war was over. Finally. But nothing brought peace. Images of fallen comrades, dead loved ones, lost teachers, heroes now only in history, none could sleep with this on their mind. And yet the war was over.

Naruto would toss and turn in the night, dreaming of fighting with his friends. Wishing time would go back so he could try again. He fought for relief, and now that he's got it, he can't seem to stop chasing after ever trouble he sees. Many died, his team somehow survived, besides Sasuke.

Sasuke

He didn't think of him much anymore. He had buried him in his mind deeper than he buried him in the ground. He died a hero, but was known a traitor. A nobel bastard. He died protecting what he thought was worth fighting for, as did Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi… everyone. Kakashi was taking over the leaf, sorting things out. He wasn't Hokage, in fact, the name Hokage hasn't been spoken in 5 years. Since the war ended.

Sakura ran the hospital, with Shizune and Tsunade gone and passed. There weren't many bright things to look at anymore, and so Naruto found himself in the hospital helping Sakura out many times. For her sake and his own. Even Kakashi would stop by and volunteer.

Naruto wasn't depressed, not at all, but he missed his friends and youth, he longed to start again.

A knock was heard at his door and he stood up to answer it. "I'm coming," he said, walking to the door. When he opened it, his thoughtful face became bright. "Sakura-chan! What's up?"

She furrowed her brows at him, "I'm not a child anymore, you shouldn't keep calling me that," she chastised as she walked in.

"Hasn't enough changed already? I'd like to keep onto at least one thing special to me," he said honestly, closing the door as she came in.

She blinked slowly, understanding what he meant. "You know, if you stop calling me that, it doesn't mean I won't be the same," she stated.

He nodded, "I know. I know…" There was silence between them for a minute. "So what are you here for?" he asked, sitting at the bar. Yes, he had gotten himself a new house when the war was ended, a lot of houses came up on the market… the reason was pretty obvious. This was the one thing Naruto wanted to change, he never was fond of his old cave he called his home anyway.

"Oh yeah," Sakura said, as if she'd forgotten why she had come here. "Kakashi-sensei wanted to meet us at training ground seven," she said.

Naruto's spirt seemed to be lifted by that statement. "Oh? Why's that?" he asked, putting his elbow on the counter and looking at her sideways.

She shrugged, "Don't as me, he just told me to tell you. Kakashi-sensei's never been one to actually explain things…"

"True that. Well then, I guess I should get into some training gear. I'll meet you there?" he said, standing up.

"Kicking me out, eh?" she crossed her arms playfully.

"You want to watch me change?"

And then there was a loud slam of the door.

Naruto shrugged, Oh well. Her loss, he snickered to himself.

He grabbed his T-shirt, threw on his Jounin jacket, put some training pants on, grabbed his gear and strapped it on. He check himself in the mirror, swiping his hair to and fro before leaving out the door and to the training grounds.

When he arrived, he saw Sakura leaning against the tree and Kakashi casually standing in the open reading his (not so innocent) book.

"Kaka-sensei!" Naruto waved, causing the older Jounin to look up.

"I've told you two, 'sensei' no longer stands anymore. You're probably a lot stronger than I am now, both of you," he said simply.

"Yeah but Naruto's not smarter," Sakura said with a playful grin, pointing her thumb at Naruto.

Huffing, Naruto crossed his arms. "Who needs brains when they can just think while doing?" he stated blatantly.

"You're about the only person I know who can multi-task. And only when you're fighting- so that's doesn't count," Sakura said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Anyway, why did you want us to be here, Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi shrugged, "Well, I came across something when shuffling through some old files. I thought you guys would like to hear it," he said, tossing a scroll towards Sakura to which she promptly opened and began reading it.

"What?" she looked up with a crazed expression. "This stuff doesn't honestly work does it? There's no way you believe-"

"I do." Kakashi closed his book and walked over to her. "Hope can be found in some crazy places, Sakura. I suggest you open your eyes to some possibilities," he said.

Naruto walked over, reading over the scroll himself. "Um, I agree with Sakura here. This was sealed for a reason. It's just an idea, not an actual jutsu."

Kakashi face-faulted. "Do you guys have no respect for me at all anymore? Heesh, let me explain a little bit further."

Both stared at him with an expectant face.

"This jutsu is not complete, yes. However, I'm not fool. I put some of the missing pieces of the puzzle together and came up with a solution." He raised his hand and pointed to the top of the paper where the first instructions were. "Right there, it says that one person needs to perform that- but it's wrong. Just as protection jutsu's are held, this can be held together with multiple people working together to form the portal." His reasoning was true, and both Naruto and Sakura seemed lost in thought for a moment.

"So going back… it isn't impossible?" Naruto's voice held so much hope, it almost made his voice crack with anticipation and excitement.

Kakashi nodded.

"So we split these hand seals… and then we can get back through the portal we make?"

Again, Kakashi nodded. "With one exception of corse."

"What's that?" they both asked.

"We'll have to have people keeping the portal going in order for it to stay long enough to go through.

"Easy!" Naruto pushed his fist in the air. "I can just create shadow clones!" he announced, getting a nod of approval from his old teacher.

"That's what I was hoping," Kakashi said. "Listen, I've already got someone on top of what to do with this… and I know you're in charge of the hospital, Sakura. I understand if both of you would like to stay but… I can't live like this. I won't die an old man- but an empty one. I need a new start. I need to restart." Kakashi's words were understood by both of them.

Naruto shoved his hands into his pockets, "No one's getting hurt. People are moving out of the leaf and to new villages. There's not much left to fight for. I'm going with you, Kaka-sensei," he said.

Sakura nodded, "The nurses are getting everything done. I'm working on antidotes to poisons that are so rare there's only a 0.53% chance of actually getting them. There's no way I'm letting you guys go without me," she vowed.

Kakashi smiled through his mask, "Then it's a plan. Let me tell you though, we aren't going to a selected date. This says we will be brought back to the day we are born, but our memories will not be unlocked until out own mentality can withstand it. So most likely, we'll be 'awakened' when we're around 5-10. Crazy as that sounds, but 5 year olds are so open to possibilities, it won't drive them insane. Plus the fact that we'll have to figure out some things before major events that happen when we're older- we'll need the security of innocence."

"So we're actually doing this?" Sakura grinned and tossed the scroll on the ground, the hand signs for everyone to see.

"Yes."

Naruto created his clones as they stood in the middle of the triangle they formed. As the purple hue surrounded them, they began to let the peaceful sound of a light heartbeat fill their ears and lull them into a comforting sleep. It's time to restart.

And with that, they sank into the ground.

Yep. That's the plan. They go to the past and are able to fix certain things and all. I'll the next chapter devoted to Kakashi waking up, solving certain things, saving certain people *wink wink* and helping Minato with the Kyuubi happening.

So, please tune in for the next chapter!

-LovelySheree