Almost Symmetry

Prologue

That Look in Your Eye

A blue eyed teenager sat comfortably on his windowsill, the pleasant breeze making his hair sway slightly and his black and orange cape blow out behind him as he looked out over Konoha.

Traders were setting up stalls and crowds were gathering in the streets below his small apartment. He smiled. It was on days like this that all his troubles and regrets seemed to fade away.

A sudden gust of wind blew a leaf off of a nearby tree and it swirled in the air for a few moments before settling in the young man’s lap. He blinked and stared down at the green against his orange trousers.

Frowning, the blonde haired teen gently picked up the leaf and held it out in front of him against the glare of the midday sun.

“I don’t need any of you! Do you hear me!? I DON’T NEED YOU!”

The Jinchuuriki narrowed his eyes and, using a small amount of his wind chakra, he cut the leaf in two.

The Hokage sighed and propped an elbow onto her desk, resting her chin in the palm of her hand as she watched the white, spiky haired man in front of her. “Jiraiya, why can’t you just be pleased that they haven’t headed over here yet?”

“Because it doesn’t make sense! All this waiting – I thought Akatsuki would have moved to try and capture Naruto when he was fifteen at the most, and now he’s nearing eighteen!” The Sannin scowled in annoyance and leant against one of the walls “Why have they waited for him to grow in age and strength? They’ve already captured Gaara and taken the one-tailed beast…it was a good thing Naruto and Elder Chiyo were there to bring him back. I hate not being able to figure things out.”

“Then try not to think about it.” Tsunade suggested, rolling her eyes “Go for a walk while the sun’s out. Enjoy the weather.”

“I may just do that, Tsunade.” Jiraiya replied and pushed off of the wall, adjusting his robes, much to the amusement of the other Sannin.

“Trying to make sure you look good for the ladies?”

“I always look good for the ladies. No woman can resist my charm.”

“I can, and do.” The Hokage commented, and the hint of annoyance in her voice didn’t go unnoticed.

“I-I wasn’t implying you weren’t a woman!” Jiraiya hastily added, and visibly relaxed when he saw the woman smile.

“I’ll see you later, Jiraiya.”

“Of course! I’ll come by again tomorrow and perhaps we can get a drin-”

“Don’t push your luck.”

“Okay, okay! It was worth a try!”

The Kyuubi host had decided to take a walk as the weather was so good.

With the fabric of his cape rippling out in the wind behind him, the orange and black clothed ninja weaved in and out of the crowds, watching the citizens go about their daily business without a care in the world.

The sound of laughter caught his attention, and the young man looked ahead to see Sakura and Sai walking towards him. They hadn’t noticed him yet – and for that Naruto was glad. He didn’t want to speak with them at the moment as they seemed so happy and he was less than content.

The teenager had a splitting headache.

Casting one last look at the cheerful couple, with their arms linked and Sai holding a stick of candy floss in one hand, Naruto snuck down an alleyway.

The noises of the traders market faded away and the Jinchuuriki heaved a sigh of relief at avoiding his two friends. He’d never thought he’d actively try to get away from them, especially Sakura, but here he was creeping through a narrow, dark, back alley on his own.

Or at least he’d thought he was alone.

“Ah, hello Naruto!”

The blonde haired boy frowned at the voice and peered in front of him to spot his old sensei sat on an old crate and reading his favorite ‘Icha Icha Paradise’ book.

“Oh, Kakashi. You’re back from your mission then?” The teenager asked unenthusiastically.

The copycat ninja hopped off of the crate and pocketed the book, nodding in answer. “Yes, it wasn’t particularly difficult. Just a quick scout around the woodland near Konoha.”

“I see.”

“Can I join you?”

Naruto shrugged, and the two began walking together in silence. Kakashi was the first to break it: “So, how have you been? Sakura and Sai say they haven’t seen much of you lately.”

The blue-eyed boy shifted uncomfortably, stuffing his hands in his pockets as they walked. “I saw it again.”

“It?”

“The snake-eyes.”

“Ah.” Kakashi rubbed his chin thoughtfully “I recall telling you it would be a good idea to see Tsunade about it. Have you?”

“No. I didn’t want to worry her. It’s nothing, really. I’m just being stupid.”

The older man came to a halt, and Naruto turned to look at him confusedly. “What?”
“This is not nothing, it’s serious and even you can’t be slow enough not to realize that. Orochimaru was a clever and incredibly dangerous man who you defeated in the nine-tails seal. Who knows what could be happening because of that.”

“He’s dead, it’s not like he can be the one causing this-”

“Don’t doubt it, Naruto. Not for a second.” Kakashi interrupted, narrowing his eyes “We are talking about the man who managed to invent a Jutsu that would give him immortality by switching bodies. I’m more than sure he’s still alive now, somehow. He wouldn’t be killed that easily.”

“Are you saying I wasn’t strong enough to get rid of him?!”

“I’m saying he was a man with almost incomprehensible power and we cannot take the fact that you keep seeing his eyes lightly!” The Jounin answered back, his voice raised slightly. “If you don’t get checked over by Tsunade to see what the cause of this problem is, then who knows what might happen.”

Naruto scowled, glaring at the white haired man. “Orochimaru is dead! I saw him get completely engulfed in the Kyuubi’s chakra! Nobody could have survived that!”

“Naruto, listen to me-”

“He’s dead! Just like Sasuke! He’s not coming back and he’s not the one causing my headaches and…hallucinations or whatever they are! So stop telling me what to do and just accept I’m probably going a little crazy because I cannot, and never will, get over what I did to my best friend!”

“I wasn’t telling you what to do, I was sugges-”

“Well don’t!” The Jinchuuriki shouted angrily and turned on his heel, briskly walking away from the other man. “I’ll figure things out on my own!”

However, as the teenager hurried away from Kakashi, he caught his reflection in a puddle.

His mirror image, with golden snake-eyes, glared back at him as he ran.

Author's Notes: As this is the prolouge it's kinda smaller than all the rest of the chapters will be - just to let you know.

So, the sequel to 'Fallen and Broken' is beginning! :) This prolouge is 'setting the scene' for the rest of the story. As you can see, Kakashi has recovered from his injuries and...GASP...it looks like Sakura and Sai are getting rather friendly. :P Meanwhile, Naruto has been plaugued by guilt and is being 'emo' for use of a better word. xD

Also, this sequel is going to be a tad darker than the story before it.

Oh, and just so you all know: Naruto is wearing the same clothes as he does in Shippuden except for the fact he has an orange and black cape: black being the main colour with small orange flames at the bottom. The cloak/cape also has an orange swirl on the left shoulder.

Sakura, Sai and everybody else are wearing the same clothes because...why not? They look fine, they might as well keep them for now. :P

Also if you're interested: Naruto and Sai are Chuunin now (as well as Sakura but she managed to do that in the timeskip up to Shippuden). It's not particularly important to know this for the storyline but...whatever. You may as well know. :)

So, after my long ass 'notes' I have one final thing to say:

REVIEW PLEASE! I WILL LOVE YOU IF YOU DO, AND IF YOU DON'T YOU'LL GET BAD KARMA!

P.S Much luffs to all my faithful reviewers from the story 'Fallen and Broken' - I'm sure you'll be uber-sexy and read this sequel too. :D