Disclaimer: Everything here belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. I only own my own characters and the plot of this fic. Nothing else is mine.

The World of Yesterday

This is an angst fic. I just felt that for the first time I could try to write something a bit darker than what I usually write. I have no idea if I did a good job, but I'll leave that for my readers to decide. It took me a while to come up with enough courage to post this, but now that I did, I can only hope that at least someone will be honest with me, and express his/her feelings. Once again, I apologize for the errors you'll find in every page; since English is my second language, it's rather hard for me to correct the mistakes that I leave on every page before posting the new chapter.

Quick information about this fic:

Rating: T (not sure if it will ever become M)

Genres: Angst, Romance, Drama, Friendship, Humour

Warnings: Characters Death, Language

Main Pairings: Naruto/Hinata, Gaara/OC, Shikamaru/OC

Romantic Pairings: Kakashi/OC, Sai/OC/Lee, Shikamaru/Temari

Romantic Hints: Jiraiya/Tsunade, Lee/Sakura, Neji/Tenten, Sakura/Sasuke

Summary: They had lost; the world was in the hands of those who did not care for it. They were being haunted, chased like beasts, and all they could do was run; run, and expect for the dawn to be like the world of yesterday. pairings inside

Timeline of this Fic: This fic is AU. I got this idea from Final Fantasy: Advent Children, and it has been bothering me for quite some time now. I rather not say much about the timeline, but there may be some spoilers along the story.

The World of Yesterday

Prologue

Future…the time yet to come; a verb tense or other formation referring to events or states that have yet not come.

Past…the time that has elapsed; a verb tense or other construction referring to events or states that existed at some previous time.

Accordingly to a proverb, people should "consider the past and you shall know the future". Perhaps that would be a statement valid in other generations….in previous generations already forgotten and buried, but to use it now would be foolish, and the person who dared to utter it would most likely be considerate ill of mind.

The present was definitely no reflection of the past, and the future looked so shadowy and gloomy that many simply confessed that it was impossible for the speck of ecstasy and youthfulness to return once again. And so, slowly, in a very quiet pace towards obliteration, everyone succumbed to the depression of the present days, and forgot all about hope. In fact, few were those who were still optimistic, and had hopes as they wished for something or for someone to come and shatter the chains that still connected them to that unpleasant time.

But too much time had past. Oh, too many excruciating days had passed, and too much pain had fallen on all countries as every warrior…every hero gave in to the power that now held every nation in its acid and lifeless hands.

So many lives had been taken away by those noxious hands…too many precious, and caring souls had been lost during all those attempts to try to chase away evilness… But apparently, goodness was not strong enough to keep battling. Shadows kept taunting those who struggled to survive; darkness blew malicious words into the ears of now tainted souls…

In fact, where was the innocence of the past?

Where was the laughter of those times of yore?

It was all like a memory now…

A broken and forgotten memory…

The villages were not the same as well. After Konohagakure had fallen at the hands of its enemies, one by one, all the other countries fought and lost to the dark side as well. The warm, content days of summer no longer seemed bright, and the cold, snowy days of winter appeared to be even chillier and deadlier than before.

And when Sunagakure, the last Hidden Village to succumb to the darkness, was finally conquered, all anticipation was lost. Without a country free of malevolent and vindictive eyes, there was no safe place for someone to even dare to come up with a plan to help his or her loved ones.

But truth was that after gaining control of everything they wanted, those same repulsive souls seemed to have forgotten that sometimes control and torment were not enough to stop people from meeting in the streets. Torture did not stop certain glances to be exchanged, and unbeknownst to most people, those glances were more than enough for a certain group to start working on what had been abandoned by everyone.

The world of yesterday...

Chapter 1

Anguished Present

How long had it been since they had been thrown to that place? He had always been unable to count time for there was nothing that could tell him even if it was day or not. It was also impossible to use his organism as a clock since for he felt tired all the time, and the next meal always seemed to take an eternity to come.

So, he had resigned to the fact it was impossible to keep track on time, and so he spent most of the time, when alone, staring at the wall across his position as he continued sitting on the floor. All he knew was that every day he would be dragged outside that place he pitifully called cell, but he was rarely authorized to even approach a window.

In fact, to stare through a window was the last thing on his mind every time he was taken to the exterior. That was not his purpose when outside those walls; his function was to entertain those who had too much time on their hands. And, of course, if he did not entertained them like they wanted him to, he would return to the cell with the wounds to prove his lack of obedience and common sense.

Quietly, he rested a hand against his left side, and winced when pain erupted from his ribs. But his pain was not what worried him; every time he found himself alone in the cell it would be because they had thought it was time for another person to entertain them.

And unfortunately, he was powerless to stop them from taking her away from his arms.

Much for his relief, every time she returned, she would whisper to him that they had done nothing to damage her…well, at least not through that way. Apparently they had been informed not to touch a woman if she was not marked as someone who deserved to be touched, and despite of everything, he was relieved. Of course that every time she returned with broken bones or evidences that someone had beaten her up, he would feel range pulsating through his whole body.

But all rage and wish to kill everyone would disappear with one single hug.

With a small groan, he lowered his hand, and stared at the wall again. How long had passed since they had taken her away? One hour? Two? Damn, he hated to be so powerless…he detested to be so damn weak and pathetic!

As he clenched his hand against his leg, he gritted his teeth. There had to be a way to leave that place. He would be damned if he was to die locked up inside a cell. He would be damned if he allowed her to die in that place!

A familiar squeak made him look at the door on his right, his eyes alert and his ears sharp, but all he saw was a hand pushing a young woman forward, and the girl promptly fell on her knees. Without thinking twice, he rushed to her side, and rested an arm around her shoulders as he silently pulled her to him.

After such a long time (or perhaps, it was not that long), they had learnt how to use touches when no word seemed to have enough strength to voice their pains and thoughts. And the girl, at the gentle contact, quickly rested her head on his chest, her right hand clenching his torn and dirty vest.

"Are you alright?" he asked as he run his fingers through the girl's dishevelled and wild hair, and he felt her nod against him. Then, in silence, he leaned against the wall he had been staring at moments before, smoothly taking the girl with him. "What did they do this time?"

"They noticed my shoulder." the girl replied in a hushed tone; and his grip around her increased slightly yet not enough to hurt her. "But we knew that was going to happen when I asked you to put the bone on its place."

"Did they beat you?" he asked, though he knew it was a stupid question. Thanks to the dim light that had conquered the cell during the short time the door had stayed opened, he had noticed her dirty skin, and her red cheeks. There were more wounds all-over her body, just like he was like a map of old and fresh wounds, but they had once sworn never to mention them unless the pain was unbearable.

"Not much." she whispered before moving her head up so that her nose was inches away from his chin, and he looked down, ignoring how close their faces were. After spending so much time in that place, romance was the last thing on their minds; all they wanted was someone to hold…someone they could trust in. "Shikamaru, I…I heard them speaking about someone."

"Did someone fall on their traps?" he asked worriedly, but she shook her head before resting against his chest again, her arms wrapped around his waist. "Did something happen?"

"They mentioned Naruto." she quickly intervened, and Shikamaru's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "They said it was time to get over everything, and that if the others didn't want to do anything, then they would…they would hunt Naruto down, and kill him."

"Are you sure they mentioned Naruto?" Shikamaru questioned, and the girl nodded. "Did they say anything about his whereabouts? Do they know where Naruto is?"

"They said something about the Land of the Sea." the girl said after a short period of silence, and then she looked up at Shikamaru again. "I don't think they know where he is. I think they were just…plotting."

"Even so, if someone finds Naruto, everything is lost." Shikamaru muttered, and the girl kept watching him, none of them moving to break the embrace. "We have to believe that idiot won't just attack head-on if he finds out someone's looking for him."

"Shikamaru…" the girl called out, and the boy snapped from his thoughts to look down at her, "Do you really think that Naruto will be able to win? I mean, I trust him, but they seem so…heartless. I don't want to see anyone else dying."

"Well, Naruto has always been dense, but he sure grew up." Shikamaru started, gently pulling the girl closer to him. "I'm sure that he'll know what to do if he finds out what's going on. We just have to believe in him."

"He's going to be the next Hokage, after all." the girl added, and Shikamaru saw a small smile gracing her features, and then he nodded.

They had to believe in Naruto, because if they did not, everything would be doomed.

Lost in the middle of a forest, were two forms, concealed by long black coats. Both were resting on two branches, but standing close enough for comfort and protection. Their faces were also hidden by hoods, but the wind forced their lips to be revealed to the dying day. Pale cheeks revealed the fair skin of one of the members, while six black lines, three on each cheek, revealed the uniqueness of the second element of the duo.

The silence of that place was the perfect bait for someone to drop his guard down, but the pair, although relaxing slightly on the branches, was still very aware of their surroundings. The two of them were very conscious of what was going on around them for life had taught them how foolish it was not to keep their guard up.

And they certainly did not want the past to repeat itself.

One of the hidden figures suddenly raised his head, revealing his sapphire-blue eyes to the sun. Eyes hardened by time, indomitable by traumas, empty by blood that was spilled every night like an untamed river.

Suddenly, memories started to flood his troubled mind, and the young man focused his attention on the clear sky above him, his right hand clenching at the memoirs. So many lives had been lost…so many precious and valuable lives, and he just could not forgive himself for losing so many people that were dear to him.

He would never forgive himself for losing her when he knew he could have stopped her death. If only he had not been so stubborn…if only he had not been such a bastard, who only thought about his own needs and desires…

He was the one who deserved to die.

Not her.

And yet there he was, trying so desperately to reach for her when she was no longer with him. When she was no longer beside him, ready to punch the lights out of him with only one finger… And all because he had been utterly stupid and cocky!

As he clenched both his hands into tight fists, he gritted his teeth, and looked down, the hood shadowing his eyes. He could remember so well the way she had passed away…she had been the one who had always refused to give up…she was the one who had always refused to let people fall into depression…

And she had been the only one who, in one last act of despair, had struggled to reach for the one she knew that could change the shape of the present. And in one last act of austerity and emptiness of heart, he had not thought twice about thrusting his weapon through her chest.

And as he had watched her fall soundlessly on the ground, he had understood that his own light had faded away. He had understood that there was no light to guide him, to tell him which path to take, and which decision to make…

Oh, and he had been so ready…so determined to end with everything until a pale hand emerged from the darkness, and taught him the way back to the light. He still refused her warmth, he still rejected her words of comfort, but at same time he continued to cling to her in one act of pure anguish. Yes, because unconsciously he knew that without her, he would end with everything without thinking twice.

"Naruto-kun." a soft voice broke the silence in the forest, and the boy looked at the person sitting on the branch next to his. "I don't think we should waste too much time here. They…they may find us if we stay around for long."

"Yes, I know…" the boy said in a strong voice, but he made no motion to leave the place he now occupied. "Did you receive any information about where we're supposed to go now?"

"I think they may have tried to contact us, but since we left without warning them…" the girl trailed off, and Naruto closed his eyes for a moment. Yes, they had left because rumours about the presence of shinobi from Otogakure had reached their ears. Not wanting to cause anyone more harm, even though people from the Country of Water were not aware of their presence, the two of them had decided to leave.

And now there they were, in that forest, not knowing which path to chose. Not knowing what decision to make…

"We know what the plan is, so if we stick to it, we'll eventually meet with the guys." Naruto started suddenly, "We need to be careful about the places we chose to rest, but if we don't make too many stops, and if we don't find too many idiots that stand in our way then…"

"We can meet them in less than three days." the girl finished, and Naruto glanced at her before nodding. Then, the girl raised her head, revealing her extremely pale lavender eyes, and then she nodded as well. "Shall we go?"

"Yeah, but let's check what may be waiting for us from time-to-time, alright?" Naruto asked, and the girl nodded before raising her hand in front of her face, and whisper Byakugan. However, when he saw that the girl was about to jump, he heard himself calling her name. "Hey, Hinata…"

"Yes?" she asked, looking at him still with her Byakugan activated, but then he released the breath he did not notice that he had been holding, and shook his head.

"Never mind. Let's be careful, alright?" he asked, and the girl nodded. Then, as the two of them jumped towards two different branches, and started their journey, Naruto found himself thinking about the past and the future.

Could he ever be good enough to ask for forgiveness? Could he ever have enough courage to try to forgive his sins? He was not sure, but that was not the place or time to be thinking about himself. It was time to try to bring everyone together again. It was time to prove the world that the strength from the past could surface again.

And Naruto knew it would.

Once the famous Rookie 9 were together again.

To Be Continued…

Alright people, prologue and first chapter are up, but I won't be updating this soon because this week is "exams week" (the excitement!). I hope you enjoyed it though, and see you later!