Naruto Chronicle 18

He was floating… inside some kind of liquid… Strange... How could he breath then?... Why was everything so dark?... He couldn't figure out which way was up and which was down. Naruto tried to lift his arm, but it's as heavy as lead. He wanted to move his body, but it didn't bulge an inch. Naruto opened his mouth to scream, but his voice was muted. What the hell was happening to him? Where was he? Where's Kyuubi? And Syaoran…

Easy kid! You and I both suffered the battle. I need time to heal your body with my chakra.

Kyuubi? Where's the voice coming from? It sounded like it was in his head, yet everywhere at the same time.

Geez, even your mind was damaged, you know that? The first time you succeeded using that jutsu, your arm busted, and it was just your normal wind chakra. Imagine my chakra and that boy's magic added to it.

Now Naruto understood. The blast must have packed one hell of a punch, but then, what about Syaoran? And Sasuke?

Just relax, boy! When I'm done with you and you can wake up, you'll get your answer…

Something darker than the darkness around Naruto devoured him, plunging him back to unconsciousness…

:::

- … Three days already.

- It could've been worse.

- He was lucky Syaoran was there.

- Hey! I think he's coming to.

People were talking around him. He could hear their voices, but couldn't make out which one belonged to whom. Naruto's eyes opened to a blur. Blinking it some time, they focused to what seemed to be the hospital's ceiling. The bright light above him was suddenly covered by a figure looming over his head:

- How are you feeling, Naruto? – Sakura asked.

- … Mmph… thirsty… - His voice's cracked.

- Here, have some.

A wet piece of cotton was dipped over his lips. Water slowly leaked in, soothing his burning throat. It freshened his foggy mind and gave him some more energy to speak:

- Wh-what happened...?

- You've been in here for 3 days straight, Naruto-kun - Fye answered from the other side of his bed - the attack you used hurt your opponents greatly, but it took a toll on you as well.

- You're lucky Syaoran-kun was here - Sakura continued - I never knew he could use healing technique too. He's been healing you ever since he recovered.

- I... I don't remember anything - the orange ninja grimaced - Can you start from the beginning?

Lightly shook her head, Sakura sighed with a smile. What could this boy do without her or Hinata?

- Alright, it goes like this...

...

The explosion engulfed them all in a giant semi-sphere of light. Earth shaken under the sheer power of air pressure. Friends of Naruto and Syaoran all fell to the ground. They realized without a doubt that their friends needed them, and went directly to the light's direction. Hinata was the first one to detect them, and what she saw made her collapse on the spot:

- No… Naruto-kun! – Her hand was over her mouth to hold back the scream.

Before them lied the aftermath of the combined jutsu. Trees evaporated like water, ground sizzled with the black color of charcoal. Bodies of friends and foes scattered across the ground, all in twisted shape. The feather trapped in dark sphere was severed from Itachi's hand, now floating gently in what seemed to be the middle of the explosion. Fye quickly ran to retrieve it before returning to Syaoran and Naruto. A grunt from a distance alerted them about Sasuke coming back to conscious. A part of his body already transformed into the awakening state, with one wing partly emerged, but it had been reduced to cinder. Itachi was not very far from him, with armor-like chakra covered his body, from afar it was similar to a giant skeleton. The ones with much worse injuries were Naruto and the two Syaoran. Sakura rushed to their sides as soon as they were in her sight, beginning to cure them.

Sasuke sat up with a huff, eyeing his brother. They were both in no condition to continue their fight, and with all the ninjas and unknown enemies, it would be foolish of him to challenge them at his current state. Where were Hebi when he needed them?

- Sasuke… come back to… Konoha… - Naruto pushed Sakura's hand away, leaning on her shoulder to stand up straight. The Kyuubi's cloak had long since gone.

- You think he'll listen to you? Don't make me laugh.

Suigetsu surged up from the ground, his body couldn't solidify properly. Whatever the outcome of his fight against Kisame, he was in bad shape. Juugo and Karin weren't fare any better. The girl had to use all that she had left to half carry, half drag her companion to where Sasuke was. None of the Konoha ninja stopped her. None of them had any strength left. They had had what they came for, the fight to take Sasuke back could wait for their next encounter.

- Sasuke-kun. We have to retreat now – Karin begged – We're outnumbered. Please!

Without any strength left to protest, the Uchiha boy let Suigetsu engulf them, then sunk to the ground in a puddle of water. Naruto's attention drew to Itachi, now stood up with a hand to his side, gripping at a severe bleeding.

- Another time, Naruto… Another time…

And he vanished in a smoke.

- Damn it! We were so close! – Naruto spitted out some blood.

- We still have my clone to worry about! – Syaoran reminded him.

Everyone turned their gaze to the last unconscious body on the battlefield. 'Syaoran' haven't moved since the whole team arrived, yet nobody dared to approach him. Kurogane slowly advanced, but before he could reach the boy, a slick figure shot past him, grabbing 'Syaoran' by the neck of his shirt.

- What the…? – The black warrior widened his eyes.

- Kyle? I thought we knocked him out! – Fye gritted his teeth.

- You should make sure that I stay down, Fye-san. Now if you excuse us, we'll be taking our leave as well. This mission is obviously a failure.

Unsheathed his sword with lightning speed, Kurogane lunged for them, but before his sword could touch its target, a dark red slice appeared, devoured Kyle and 'Syaoran' from view. The former ninja slashed his sword to thin air in frustration. One more time he let them slipping through his fingers.

- Well, at least now we got the feather. – He stomped back to his companions.

Naruto saw all that, but his body was numb to do anything. The only thing that lifted his spirit was that his friends were all safe and alive, and his new friends also found what they've been searching for. Exhaustion shut down his mind as he fell to unconsciousness and into the open arms of his friends with a smile…

...

- Tsunade-sama had to personally heal you through critical state - Sakura stood up, scribbled something down the paperclip on the side desk - Otherwise you'd lose both your arms now. After that, Syaoran-kun takes full responsibility to boost your recovery with his magic. He should be here by now.

As if on cue, Syaoran walked in with princess Sakura, Hinata and Kakashi right behind them.

- It's good to see you awake, Naruto-kun! - Syaoran warmly greeted him - I can't thank you enough for what you've done to us.

- Hey! It's what friends are for, pal.

- And now I will return the favor.

Sitting down a chair next to the bed, the young magician held his hands over Naruto's bandaged arms, chanting:

- Suiryuu Shourai!

Water flowed from his hands into thin air, wrapped itself around the arms, and an extremely relax feeling washed over the young ninja.

- I haven't mastered this spell yet, so the effect is very slow – Syaoran smiled – but it's better than nothing.

- You bet. Even with the Kyuubi's chakra, it still took me 3 days to wake up.

-…Uhm… N-Naruto-kun… - Hinata set the fruit basket on the desk with her trembling hands - …G-get well s-soon, o-okay?

Fye and Sakura smiled at her. She was so strong defending for her crush, yet still so hopeless confessing. They doubted Naruto would know about her feeling anytime soon. The subject ninja glanced around the room, surrounded by warming faces and affection. He let himself drifted back inside the sewer, where Kyuubi rested.

Your friends really care for you – The fox stated the obvious fact.

I know that, because they accept me and love me for who I am, no matter what… who is inside me.

Hmph! Somehow I doubt they'd do the same for me.

Hey! If some idiot like me can befriend with you, no way the other can't. – Naruto grinned - I've been knowing you for a long time, Kyuubi. You're not a threat, you're just… misunderstood, like I was. You just have to work your way to make them know you better.

And why would I bother with puny humans like you and your friends? – Kyuubi smirked.

No one can survive alone. And I mean no one. Even you have your comrade Bijuus. Who knows, you can join them later, but right now, we're all you have, and we're willing to welcome you.

The demon fox didn't say anything. He turned his back to Naruto and lied down.

I'll… think about this. Now leave! Healing you is making me sleepy.

:::

The sun still burnt above them, but a nice breeze soothed the air on the roof of the Hokage's office. Naruto still had both of his arms in caskets, but they were way better than when he was retrieved from the battle. In front of him, Syaoran and his team were ready for the trip to the next world.

- Thank you for all your help - Syaoran bowed - We will miss you all.

- Too bad you can't stay any longer - Sakura lifted her hair to the back - We have much to show you.

- Maybe next time when we're around - Fye nodded with a playful smile - Our trip across dimensions is unpredictable. We might land back on your village tomorrow.

- Just know that whenever you come, you're our honored guests here - Tsunade proudly said.

Suddenly, red chakra erupted from Naruto's body, covered him in the Kyuubi cloak. Everyone switched into defense position instantly, all excepted for Syaoran. The demon fox strained Naruto's lips into a smile:

- Take care of yourself and your precious princess, boy - His voice rumbled through Naruto's throat.

- I will. You behave yourself too, now that Naruto-kun had put so much faith in you.

- Faith? What faith? - Sakura nervously asked.

- The boy trusted me not to wreck havoc to this village. He and I are... friends, as you are to him - Kyuubi turned the blond head around - I don't intend to fail him anytime soon.

He slowly held out one bandaged hand toward Tsunade. The Hokage was hesitate staring at the glowing chakra. But then she took it. The chakra wasn't burning hot, just a little warmer than normal human heat. Tsunade smirked:

- Who would've thought this idiot can tame someone as you.

- Heh, I didn't believe it at first myself.

- Well, he's still famous for being the number one unpredictable ninja - Kakashi smiled under his mask.

The chakra evaporated from the boy, condensed into a tiny head of a fox resting on his shoulder. Naruto snapped:

- Hey! Warn me next time when you do that, ok? This body is still mine, you know?

- Quit yapping - The Kyuubi head stuck his tongue out - You have your way to make friend, I have mine. Your unpredictability must have rubbed off on me.

Everyone excepted Naruto laughed at that. Kurogane slapped on his other shoulder:

- You got me impressed kid! Looking forward to the next time we spar, I want to test my strength against that little demon - Turned back to his companions, he said - Alright! We don't have all day. Let's get going!

Mokona gently floated, opening her wings. Magic circle shone under their feet, swallowed up Syaoran and his friends in a sphere of light. When the light was gone, the dimensions travelers vanished. The magic left all the Konoha ninja with their mouths wide opened. Then, Tsunade clapped her hands together:

- Okay, that's a wrap! Now who's up for some ramen?

- ME! - Naruto's eyes lit up.

- I'm not paying though, I still have some debt left.

- Awww!

A/N: The long forgotten fic I once was head over heels for when I was younger had finally reached its end. I have to admit it's a strange notion translating this fic to English, since not many fo my friends enjoyed this, they think these two should stay in their own universes. Anyway, my mission to my younger self is complete. Thank you so much for all your support from the beginning ^^