There Will Come Soft Rains

"It is dark, no moon, no light

Just darkness, a starless sky

The wind blows, the waves break
A single firefly passes by

Soon the firefly is gone
Leaving me in the darkest of nights
The tiny fly made me anticipate
A sunrise with the finest of lights"

-Aufie Zophy, 'In the Dark of the Night'

Chapter Two

In the Dark of the Night

"Time...traveling." Naruto said the words slowly, as if he couldn't believe what he was saying. Running a hand through his hair absentmindedly, he began to speak again. "How is that even possible?"

"Apparently, it is. This seal is a variation of my technique, the Hiraishin. I assume you're familiar with it?" Minato asked.

"Yes, yes. It allows you to instantly teleport to the location of the seal regardless of distance." Naruto sat down to inspect the seal on the ground, as if to make sense of it- it was still gibberish to him. Shaking his head, he stood up to face Minato, who watched on bemusedly. "But how can that technique be related to this...to time-travel?"

Minato chuckled. Naruto watched him with a confused expression on his face. "What?" he asked.

"Oh, nothing. Your look back then was just...funny. Anyway, you asked how Hiraishin can be related to his. You know it already. Hiraishin is based on a-" Minato could swear he saw a bulb above Naruto light up as he interrupted, "Time-space seal!" Naruto blurted, proud of himself for figuring it out on his own.

"Indeed. Now, it works using two primary seals. One, as you know, is in these-" a tri-pronged kunai materialized in Minato's hand. Minato pointed to it. "-kunai. It's a simple locator seal. Now the real piece of work is here," he pulled his shirt up a little and tapped his own stomach twice. Instantly, words- seals, were visible on Minato's stomach, growing brightly. "This seal's job is to contract the space ahead of me, and to expand the space behind me. Which allows me to travel at speeds faster than even the speed of light* aside from that, it connects with one of the locator seals I've chosen when activating the technique, and directs my path to that." he said, pulling his shirt back down. "And that, son, is how the Hiraishin works. Do you understand?"

"Sure. Umm, basically, what you're saying is that it..." Minato eyes glinted. Perhaps there is hope for my son! "...works on magic."

Minato palmed his head.

"For now, lets say it does. Now, I believe you can see where the problem with time-traveling lies."

"You said that you modified this seal from the Hiraishin. Then..." another bulb lit up. "...we can only travel back in time to when you made the first locator seal!"

Minato almost clapped. "Yes, that's where the problem lies. I created the locator seal during the beginning of the third war."

Naruto waved his hand in front of Minato's face. "That's no problem at all, dad. I'll go back, end the war, kill Madara, and that will be it."

"Son, it isn't that simple. Not at all. The third war was the bloodiest war in the history of Konoha-"

"I'm strong. I...I killed Madara, remember? Even though it didn't mean anything, in the end, but I still killed him."

"You don't have Kurama to help you now, Naruto. You're alone."

Alone. Naruto had almost forgotten that. Forgotten that, outside of this seal, the world was empty. Him killing Madara had ended the Infinite Tsukiyomi, but it had killed all the people that were trapped in its genjutsu as well.

I killed them. Everyone is dead.

"I'm strong." he repeated. "What are we even waiting for? Send me back, dad."

"As I said before...it isn't that simple. This seal won't work in this place. You need to remake this exact seal outside. And we've got to get on to work immediately- my time is running out, Naruto. I have a day- two, at most, left. Let's begin."

It is hard to say what troubled Minato so much. Naruto didn't seem noticeably changed in any way. Except, perhaps, that he moved a little slower, and whatever small spark the night's activity had lit behind his eyes was dimmer now. In fact, it could hardly be seen. In fact, it may not have been there at all.

"Are you fine, Naruto?" he spoke into Naruto's mind. Naruto had been determined to complete the seal in one day and so they had- but now he looked to be utterly exhausted. The enthusiasm he had before had vanished.

Naruto had closed his eyes, in preparation to sleep. When he opened them in response to Minato's inquiry, they were solid blue- the color of deep water or the darkening sky. "No," he said slowly, raising his right hand up to see it in the red light of the moon. "I am not fine, dad. Tomorrow, you will dissappear. And then...and then I'll be truly alone, in this world. Ever since that day, " he paused, closing his eyes again, as if to make the memories disappear. "the day when everything went wrong, an incredible loneliness has settled inside me. You'd think- " he hesitated before continuing. "one would think that from the way I was isolated by the village since my birth, I'd be used to it by now. But I've always had someone to fall back on- first it was the Old man, then it was Sasu- my team, then it was Kurama. The Old man died long ago, Sasuke abandoned me, Kurama is dead and so is my team and the rest of my precious people. Even you will dissappear tomorrow, dad." and then I'll be alone.

He closed his eyes again, taking a deep breath. "I've never felt or experienced anything like this before." He opened his eyes, and this time they were the pure blue of noontime-sky. "What if it fails, dad?"

What if the seal fails?

"It won't." Minato assured him. I hope.

"Even if it works, dad, I'm not strong. Not without Kurama. I've been denying it to myself but you know its true...What if I go back and I can't do anything?"

Minato shook his head. "True strength comes from the desire to protect. If you've forgotten even that, Naruto, then you are truly a fool."

Minato felt something in his stomach, a vague unease. Something pulled at him. He looked down, at his leg was...fading. In an instant he realized what was happening. No. The worst possible time...

Minato knew that this was his last chance to say goodbye.

"It seems that my time has come, Naruto. Know that whatever you do, I'll be watching-" Naruto's eyes opened once again, in a flash and he screamed out- "No! Not yet, not now-" Minato could only smile bitterly, helpless against the strings of fate that pulled at him even now. "I'll be there for you, Naruto, when you go back. I won't be the same as now, but I'll still be there." his hands were beginning to fade now, as Naruto rushed forward, clutching at his dad's chest, finally the tears coming through. Minato enveloped him in a hug, and whispered in his ears, "I'm proud of you, my son." His time was up. With his last breath, he whispered. "Goodbye." I love you.

Naruto clutched at air and screamed out a denial even as Minato disappeared. Crumpling down to the ground, he let out a string of curses to the gods above. Then suddenly, as if realizing something, the curses stopped. A lone tear fell, and silence reigned for what might have been hours.

When at last Naruto opened his eyes, they were the pale blue-white of lightning.

"I will change everything." For you, father. And for everyone.

The self-doubt was gone now, replaced by the will to succeed. The will he had inherited from his dad, from the old man, from Jiraiya and from Konoha. The will of fire.

A cold wind was blowing from the north, making the trees rustle like living things. Shafts of sunlight pressed down on the boy running through the wilderness, stumbling and falling. The boy had short, spiky, black hair and black eyes. He was wearing a long sleeved blue uniform with metal plating on the part that reached the back of his hands, as well as a blue jacket with an orange collar and trimmings. The jacket was fastened to the rest of the outfit by two buttons on the collar, and had the Uchiha clan crest at the back. He was also wearing a white belt, shinobi sandals, the standard Konoha forehead protector, and a pair of goggles with orange lens connected to ear protectors. "Shit!" he cursed, falling yet another time.

At this rate I'll be killed! He picked up the pace. Gasping, he could now see the end of the forest. Will I make it?

Falling one final time, he coughed.

A shadow loomed over him. Shit.

Overhead, birds flew through the bright noontime sky. "Did I make it in time?" he coughed out. Squinting due to the sunlight, he could make out that a boy with silver hair was standing in front of him.

"Nope. Because you're late, Obito!" the boy with the silver hair said. "Again." he added. Looking down at Obito with his eyes threatening to pop.

"You idiot! What time did you think we were meeting?! If you're a fully fledged ninja, you should naturally follow the rules and regulations strictly!" Kakashi said, turning away from Obito.

Obito, who had by now gotten up and dusted himself off, defended himself. "No! On the way I had to help an old woman along the way with her luggage." he said. "...plus, there was something in my eye..." he sheepishly added when Kakashi said nothing.

A man with bright blue eyes and spiky blonde hair watched his students while sitting on a large boulder not too far away from them. He smiled, remembering his own childhood.

"What? That's a lie!" Kakashi screamed.

"Hey, don't talk like that, Kakashi! It's true!" Obito shouted in reply.

Minato finally spoke up, looking at Obito. "You went with the old lady, didn't you..." to which Obito replied, while fiddling with his left eye, "Yeah! and I carried her luggage too!"

"...You're a real pushover, Obito." Minato said, still smiling.

Kakashi, who was getting more and more annoyed while watching this exchange, spoke up. "You should be getting angry at Obito!" he accused Minato. "Those ninjas who don't follow rules and regulations are called trash! That's just how it is!"

A stray drop of sweat dropped from Minato as he laughed hesitatingly.

"Blah blah blah, rules and regulations. Just shut up." Obito said, still rubbing his eye.

Kakashi's eyes threatened to pop when a girl with brown hair and brown eyes who was watching finally chose to intervene. "Hey! Calm down both of you, we're on the same team, aren't we?"

Kakashi sighed. "Rin, you're too easygoing on him. You know this is a very important day for me..."

Rin blinked and then smiled. "Yeah..., yeah, it is." Obito didn't have a clue as to what was going on.

"Umm, can someone remind me why is today such an important day for him?"

"Kakashi was promoted to Jounin today. Now he's just like me." Minato explained. "Now that he's jounin, I'll be splitting off from you all. As of today, you are now part of Team Kakashi." he said.

"We're...splitting..." Obito mouthed slowly.

"Yeah, that's right. Kakashi will be your team commander and I'll be on my own." Minato said.

"I told you about today, Obito!"

"...I didn't listen, I guess..."

Kakashi said nothing.

Minato winked at Rin and pulled out a tri-pronged kunai from his pocket. "I'll give you this," he said, spinning the kunai on his index finger. "It's my special kunai." he winked at Kakashi this time and smiled. "It's a little heavy than normal, but when you get used to it it'll be fine." He handed the kunai to Kakashi, who took it. "Take it with you on today's mission."

Rin gave him a special medical pack.

Kakashi wordlessly extended his hand to Obito, looking expectant.

"What's the hand for? I'm not giving YOU anything!"

"Fine. Make yourself useful and carry my stuff for me then."

Obito grudgingly accepted, feeling guilty due to not buying anything for Kakashi. After a few minutes of silence, Obito blurted out, "I am Obito Uchiha of the Uchiha clan! I will surpass you!" birds chirped for a moment as silence reigned. "...when I awaken my sharingan!" Obito added. Minato put a hand on Obito's shoulder, silencing him immediately.

"Heeey, can I explain the mission now?" Obito glared at Kakashi one more time before nodding. "Fine. As you can all see, we're nearly at the country border." Minato took out a map from his back pocket. "We're here," he pointed at their location on the map. "Currently, the Earth Country is invading the Grass Country through this route. We have information that there are close to a thousand rock ninja's among their front line. Now, if they continue advancing like this, Grass will fall in a matter of days. And Fire Country is next. So our objective is to go behind the enemy lines and sabotage their supply lines. The majority of their supply comes from-"

"The bridge. So our mission is to destroy it, I assume." Kakashi interjected.

"Yes. Team Kakashi, your mission is to sneak behind the front lines, destroy the bridge, and get away quickly."

"And you, sensei?" Obito asked.

"I'll engage the front line directly," Minato said, his back to the team, already moving away from the team. "To divert their attention from you."

Naruto shook his head from side-to-side as if to remove the dizziness he felt. Looking up, he saw the bright noontime sky covered by wilderness. Shafts of sunlight escaped and touched his face. Amazing...he mouthed. He moved his hand, feeling something prick it. Beneath, there was a tri-pronged kunai. Eyes widening, Naruto stood up suddenly, dusted himself off and jumped on a tree.

Minutes later, Kakashi came waddling out of the small stream running through the forest, with an exasperated Obito running ahead. Kakashi picked up the kunai and cleaned it off, before turning his head in Obito's direction.

Naruto's eyes bulged at seeing a younger version of Kakashi, but he managed to keep himself in check. It worked, then.

Time-travel.

"Obito!" Kakashi screamed. "Don't go after them!" Obito, who was running toward the direction where the two Rock ninja's had taken Rin, turned around after hearing those words with a look of surprise on his face.

"What the fu-"

"The two of us...we'll resume the mission."

"And Rin? What about Rin?!"

"Leave her for now. The enemy wants to know our objective..."

Naruto tuned both the boys out as he began to think of what to do next.

"...I'm going to rescue Rin!" he heard Obito say before the boy bolted off.

Kakashi stared after him.

Naruto looked at Obito go, before getting a good look at Kakashi. He almost let out a gasp as he realized that Kakashi didn't have a sharingan yet. Mentally reprimanding Kakashi in his mind- Kakashi-sensei, don't abandon him...you weren't like this...

Is this...is this how Kakashi-sensei gained his Sharingan? he wondered. Perhaps sensei and Obito failed in trying to rescue Rin, and...and that is how Obito ended up being the way he was in the future. This is why he hated Konoha and Kakashi. Sending children on a mission like this in the midst of a war. Perhaps this situation is the cause of it all.

Then...I will save her. He promised himself, and took off like a lightning bolt towards the direction the boys had taken.

Even if it means that Kakashi-sensei never gains the Sharingan.

* the explanation for the seal on Minato's stomach (which enables Hiraishin) is inspired by the Alcubierre drive. (Warp Drive)

A/N: Yep, no Kurama for Naruto. A downgrade in strength! Gasp! Also, he's a bit mistaken about what happens next, but it's pretty close to the truth so it'll do.

A lot of stuff repeated from canon, but it was necessary. If you read it all, reviews are appreciated. Constructive criticism and questions, if you have any, are also welcome. Chapters will probably get bigger as they go along.

Stay tuned!