-Author’s Note-

Here is a longer version of the teaser, since I could not fit all I wanted:

"Uchiha Obito is… alive!? When Obito is mysteriously brought back to life, how will the people of Konoha react? More importantly, how will Kakashi take it? Regardless, Obito doesn’t even remember of thing of his past, nor of who he is! Also, the soul of Sasori seeks out revenge on Hatake Kakashi and Haruno Sakura. But by training his subordinate the art of his Kugutsu no Jutsu (Puppet Technique) and his Nentou Ayatsuru no Jutsu (Mind Manipulate Technique), will it be enough? In addition, Hyuuga Neji is attacked and badly injured by… his own flesh and blood!? Who is the unknown assassin from the Hyuuga clan?? Meanwhile, Sakura is offered the chance to go back in time and stop the massacre of the Uchiha clan, only in exchange for…"

-This fanfic contains the following pairs: Sakura x Naruto, Kiba x Hinata.

-This fanfiction takes place in between Naruto Shippuuden Volume 38, Chapter 346, Page 15 and Page 16. It is before Sasuke meets Suigetsu, Karin, and Juugo.

PLEASE REVIEW!! I run off of reviews and it inspires and drives me to make more chapters!!

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Chapter I: Horse With No Name

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It was after the defeat of Kakuzu, and Naruto, Sakura, Sai, Ino, Chouji, Shikamaru, Yamato, and Kakashi made their way back to Konoha. After Kakashi’s talk with Godaime and Yamato about Kakuzu’s corpse and Naruto’s Futon – Rasenshuriken, it was already almost midnight. Everyone had made their way home and were all getting some well-deserved rest, even Godaime herself had called it a night. All of Konoha was silent, not a sound echoed through the air. In the stillness of the witching hour, Kakashi found himself in deep thought as he walked home. “It’s a good thing I didn’t have to use the Mangekyou Sharingan,” he told himself. “I don’t know how many more times I can use it. I’m almost at my limit.” He touched the rip on his mask. “That was a close one. Looks like I have to get a new mask as well.”

Kakashi looked up at the moon. It was high and bright, almost full. The light cast down all over Konoha and gave it an eerie look. Not even the wind dared to blow. It was almost a sort of calm before the storm. Clouds clustered together around the sky, dark and malicious as they looked, there weren’t enough of them to start a storm, let alone a sprinkle of rain.

When Kakashi came out of his trail of thoughts, he suddenly realized he was standing in front of Obito’s memorial. “Huh. I thought I was going home. I guess I can get here without even knowing it,” He said. “I’m glad I came here anyway, it’s good to talk to you again, Obito.” He reached out and touched the cold stone, his fingers gliding across his name, “うちは　オビト.”

“Your Sharingan really helped me out today; I don’t know how I would manage without it.” He touched his left eye, and felt the scar that ran down it. “It’s something that really aides me when I need to protect someone.” He said as he sat down. His right eye closed, as Kakashi was in slight pain. “That is something I will always be grateful for. It was your ultimate sacrifice.” He closed his eye again, this time as a way of thanks.

“Obi…to?” said a soft, and curious voice. Unknowingly to Kakashi, an invisible force was standing over him, having been watching him since he first arrived, listening to him talk to this “Obito.” She stared at him closely, observing his appearance and his meaning of speech. “This scar… then, he has his friend’s eye?” The girl listened to him talk more.

“I am sorry, Obito. It’s my fault you died. I hope that someday, you can forgive me.” He opened both his eyes, staring at the stone, almost in a trance, as if it would respond. “Ah, I see.” Said the young deity. Kakashi touched his face. Tears were falling from… the Sharingan…

“Can you not hear his words? He has already forgiven you, long ago.” Said the girl, as she looked Kakashi straight in the eye. After a moment, she gasped. “I see a misfortune in his future. What shall I do?” She stood up and thought for a moment.

“Ah, I know.” Crouching down again in front of Kakashi, she reached her hand out and wiped away one of his tears. “Huh?” Said Kakashi as he turned his head, looking around, placing his hand where the girl had touched.

“All I need now is to get the last ingredient,” She said as she froze the tear, wrapping a cloth onto it, securing it to her hand. “It must be in Yomi.” She turned and looked at Kakashi, who was still in confusion.

“Don’t worry, everything’s going to be fine.” And with that, she vanished into the cold night air. Kakashi stood up, wiping the dirt off himself, and said, “Obito, it’s best I start going home. It’s been a long day. See ya.” He motioned a slight wave and started his way home.

“—to.” He heard a voice. Who were they calling to?

“Obito!” It called again. His eyes shot open. Where was it coming from?

“Uchiha Obito, can you hear me?” He got up, calling out, “Who are you?”

The voice giggled. “That’s not important. What’s really important is that there’s somebody here who needs you.” Obito stood up, circling his head around in the darkness, looking and listening closely.

“‘Here’? Where is ‘here’”?

Smiling, she said, “You’ll soon find out for yourself.” Obito stood there, confused. Soon, the ground began to shake, causing him to fall back onto the ground. He lay there on his back, looking up into the shadowy abyss. A bright light shone from what would be the sky. Obito winced, trying to look up at it.

“Come, Obito,” Said the voice. “There is a purpose you must fulfill.” A huge, great hand made of water suddenly shot down at him from the beam of light. Obito gasped, eyes widened. He couldn’t even try to dodge it, he hadn’t moved in years and even then it took all of his strength to stand! The hand grabbed him, pulling him up towards the location of what lied on the other end of it.

“Aaaaaaaaah!” Shouted Obito as he shielded his eyes with his arms, blocking the immense blinding glare.

“Wh-who are you?” I asked curiously. She just smiled and said, “That doesn’t matter. You need to go help your friend.” I thought for a moment. Who was she talking about? I had a friend? What was… their name? I searched through my mind as deep as I could. Finally, I told her, “I don’t remember anybody. I don’t even know… my own name.”

“Exactly,” She said, grinning. I became confused. “But you need to go to Konoha, now. You only have three days.” She pointed eastward. “Keep going that way until you reach the road and head north. It’s only a few minutes of walking before you get there.” She turned and started to walk away.

“Wait! Can you tell me the name of my friend?” I said, still trying to remember their name and what they looked like. She stopped.

“That, you have to find out on your own,” I frowned. This was going to be hard. But whoever they were, they were my friend, and I had to help them!

“However,” She continued. “He has something of yours that you gave him long ago.” She then laughed at my puzzled face. “What the heck kind of clue is that?” I told myself.

“Farewell, I shall be keeping an eye out for you, so don’t worry.” She bid goodbye and then departed into the air. I stopped for a moment to take it all in. Looking around, the sun had made it’s way high into the morning sky. It was slightly chilly and the leaves on the trees had already started falling off. “It must be, sometime in late September,” I thought. “Huh. I can remember the months, and everything else, but it seems I have lost the important things.” I looked towards the east.

“Kono… ha?”

To be continued…!!

Naruto (C) Kishimoto Masashi
Akari (C) fragmentofamemory