A/N: How many of you remember the abandoned fic "Betrayal" by The Gallant Toad Sage? While it had numerous flaws, it was still one of the more popular time travel fanfictions on this site, and it's a damn shame that the author has left us. Perhaps I shouldn't have tried a rewrite for my first upload to this site, but I can't really control my muse, now can I?

In an attempt to curb the ridiculous fanon tropes which overran and ruined the original, and keep them down to a necessary minimum, I've also had to take inspiration from my favorite time travel fanfiction, "Twelve Shattered Mirrors" by Solvdrage, in this rewrite. My thanks go to him for granting permission to borrow a major plot point from his work as well as his assistance in putting the plot for this ficlet together. I'm also thanking Hektols and Leaf Ranger for their assistance in the latter.

Warning: since this is a heavy rewrite, I'm going to let you guys know right now that it's not going to conform to the Time Travel Challenge, meaning Naruto will NOT destroy Konoha. That is also one of the things which I felt ruined the original story, the biggest in fact, since what reason did Naruto have to punish the many for the crimes of the few? Eliminate what didn't happen in canon, a.k.a. everyone assuming Naruto's childhood was shittier than it actually was, and you eliminate the reason for Naruto to go completely dark instead of adopting shades of gray. That doesn't mean that those who are guilty will go unpunished; it only means there won't be mass killing of civilians. Something will be destroyed in Hi no Kuni, just not Konoha, not if Naruto can avoid it.

Anyway, enjoy if that's what you fancy. I apologize in advance for any glaring errors, since I felt pressured into posting at least one story before the manga ends this year.

Disclaimer: Naruto is an ongoing Japanese Manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto with an Animé adaptation. The Manga is published by Shueisha in Japan, and Viz Media in the United States, Canada, and UK, and it is serialized by Shonen Jump. The TV Animé is directed by Hayato Date, and licensed by Aniplex in Japan, Viz Media in the United States, and Manga Entertainment in the UK. I also do not own any of the profile pictures I used in my fan fictions.

Chapter 1

Prelude to Scorn

Konoha, Hokage Tower – January 21, 1011 A.C. (After Chakra) – 1847 hours

A very tired Uzumaki Naruto leaned back in his chair, gazing over the twelve armored bodies that littered the floor of the Hokage's office. It hadn't even been one full day since he was sworn in, and already someone had tried to remove him from power in the most violent way possible. Assassination attempts were expected by any S-rank ninja, but was it in the job description for a Hokage to have to deal with one on his first day on the job? He couldn't imagine any of his predecessors having to deal with a mess like this so soon.

His breathing was only slightly labored, despite the fact he'd just come out of the fight of his life. His groans were not induced by pain, at least not physical pain. The headache he had from his brain trying to process what he learned tonight wasn't enough to elicit a groan. He experienced far worse mental strain each day from his training, and had become accustomed to such stress. This was nothing in comparison.

His outfit had seen better days. He had opted to forgo the traditional Hokage robes, instead sticking to the black uniform-style jacket, teal and light blue striped scarf and orange pants he wore since returning from Kumo two years ago, only adding a black haori with orange trimming, red flame patterns encompassing the bottom and the kanji for Nanadaime on the back over it. Said haori had been turned into little more than overpriced rags by a high-level Fūton ninjutsu used by one of the dead assassins littering the floor. He'd also decided to cut his hair short, much to the disappointment of many of the fangirls he'd had to fend off, and right now his blond hair was soaked in the blood of his would-be assassins.

He was fatigued, but the fatigue in his eyes could not be attributed to physical exhaustion. His eyes were those of a man who had watched his own dream die, along with any chance he ever had to find true happiness in life.

Technically, they had belonged to three others who also suffered a deep spiritual trauma, but the haunted look unique to Naruto was unmistakable. Ten years of endless nightmares with no one to help ease the pain would make anyone weary of life, and even Naruto, a man many thought to be unbreakable, had been worn down. All who took the time to really see him were shocked and disturbed by the look in his eyes, when they knew it should have been expected, considering his troubled past. But it was because they knew him, that they were shocked to see the toll taken on his soul.

When Naruto had announced to the remaining members of the Konoha 12, a group which was reduced to six in the Fourth Shinobi World War, that he no longer sought the title of Hokage, the reactions of his friends ranged from disbelief to despair to outrage. But it was the answer he gave them for giving up his dream that was the most unsettling. It wasn't because he hadn't been able to save Sasuke, that he now felt himself unfit to pursue his childhood dream any longer. Rather, it was because of one specific person Sasuke had killed in the war.

After Naruto and Sasuke finally managed to seal Kaguya and save the world, they still had to free everyone from the Mugen Tsukuyomi cast by Madara. But before he was willing to end the endless dream, Sasuke's true agenda showed through in a flash of psychosis. Sasuke, the last Uchiha, had intended to rule the world by eliminating the bijū, the Gokage, and anyone and anything else who could stand against him—including Naruto. Asura's reincarnation had had no choice but to end the Indra line once and for all. But in death, Indra's reincarnation still managed to achieve part of his objective. In his last moments, Sasuke sent a poisonous chakra pulse through the roots of the Shinju to seek out and destroy his targets before they could wake up. If the Uchiha could not achieve his ambition, in one final act of hatred, he would ensure the dobe would never be able to fulfill his dreams.

Senju Tsunade, Sabaku no Gaara, Terumī Mei, Ryōtenbin no Ōnoki, and Ē all perished, helpless against the Chakura Kusari no Jutsu unleashed by the last Uchiha in his last moments. With the simultaneous death of the Gokage, coupled with the casualties sustained by the Allied Shinobi Forces, a massive power void had been created, and peace would elude the survivors for years until the struggle was resolved.

But Sasuke's hatred didn't stop there. It couldn't. It wouldn't be satisfied until Naruto felt the closest thing possible to the loss he suffered on the night of the Uchiha Massacre and was completely destroyed inside, and so he used his last technique to also target as many of Naruto's friends as possible. The result had been thoroughly devastating, both to Naruto and to Konoha. In Konoha, the corruptive chakra sought out and destroyed Ichiraku Teuchi and Ayame, Sarutobi Konohamaru, Moegi, Udon, and Hyūga Hanabi, among many others. On the battlefield, the technique was even more destructive, and each victim it claimed had been very important to Naruto. On that day, he also lost Umino Iruka, Inuzuka Kiba, Akimichi Chōji and Nara Shikamaru, along with someone he couldn't even speak of anymore, because of how badly her death traumatized him.

On that day, the only person who had ever unconditionally loved him, Hyūga Hinata, was murdered by the man Uzumaki Naruto once considered his best friend and brother. And with her death, both of Naruto's dreams and his infinite capacity for forgiveness died as well.

Naruto's eyes began to water, and he noticed a few teardrops starting to mix with the blood which soaked the bandages wrapped around his right arm. He couldn't help grimacing as he gazed upon his arm, which was badly scarred from catching Sasuke's Chidori and was still infected with the Chakura Kusari no Jutsu when his attempt to save Hinata backfired. Kurama's advanced healing powers and the Rikudō chakra he gained towards the end of the war had only been able to stop the infection from spreading to the rest of his body. Despite the threat that arm posed to his life, he chose not to have it amputated, as it served as a constant reminder of his greatest failure—the failure to protect the woman he loved.

The thought of Hinata, and the regret he was burdened with by never having the chance to return her love, was the only thing left in this life that could drive him to tears.

Everything was supposed to be smooth sailing after the world recovered and the survivors moved on from their loss. Naruto was supposed to be able to make all of Hinata's dreams come true by choosing her and eventually marrying her and giving her the family she—no, they—had always wanted. He was supposed to have her by his side always, and be by her side always, no matter what. But one act of malice had taken it all away from him. Watching her wither away, unable to do a damned thing to save her even with the Rikudō no Yō no Chikara, had been the same thing as watching every dream he'd ever had die.

But if Naruto no longer wanted the title of Hokage, why was he now sitting behind the desk in the Hokage Tower?

The answer to that question was revealed two years ago. One month after the conclusion of the Fourth Shinobi World War, the Daimyōs of the Elemental Nations had almost completely taken over. Sunagakure no longer had a Kazekage, as the Wind Daimyō conspired with the Suna Council to eliminate the position outright, since no Suna ninja was strong enough to assume the title. Suna had eventually been liquidated, and many of its formerly loyal ninja sought refuge in Konoha. In Iwagakure and Kirigakure, it became quickly obvious that the new Kages were mere puppets. Konohagakure and Kumogakure still had ninjas who were strong enough both physically and mentally not to succumb to the whims of their civilian overlords, but the losses sustained by the Alliance made revolt against their Daimyōs nearly impossible, even with Naruto and Kirābī on their side. Worse, the Daimyōs' personal guards had been equipped with highly advanced chakra-powered armor and weaponry rumored to have been developed in secret by Shimura Danzō's ROOT program using prototypes acquired from Yuki no Kuni; and rumor also had it those guards were trained by ROOT specifically to kill jinchūriki. Back then, the armor and weapons had only been prototypes, and even if they were more advanced, it would have taken dozens of sacrifices to ensure the target was eliminated, but involving the jinchūriki or the seven bijū who lacked a new host in a new war would have been a fatal mistake on the Alliance's end.

Hatake Kakashi, the Rokudaime Hokage, ordered a Naruto who was still greatly weakened from the ordeals of the Fourth Shinobi World War and wasn't healing correctly to join Kirābī in seclusion at the Waterfall of Truth on an indefinite training trip. Kakashi had been all business that day, threatening to banish Naruto to the Kamui dimension indefinitely if he refused—and since Kakashi had somehow managed to reawaken Uchiha Obito's parting gift of the Mangekyō Sharingan, he was the one person still living who could make good on that threat, at least at that point in time.

Perhaps if Kakashi had known then what he knew now, he would not have been so adamant about keeping Naruto out of battle.

Kakashi and Naruto looked over the office they trashed, Sharingan and Rinnegan eyes locked on the mangled and broken corpses of a dozen ROOT assassins sent after the newly inaugurated Nanadaime. This attempt on their lives achieved two things. First, it confirmed the rumors about the Daimyōs being backed by ROOT, since the assassins bore a more advanced version of the chakra armor supplied to the Daimyōs' personal guards. And second, it gave them irrefutable proof of the conspiracy hinted at by the current Fire Daimyō, who came into power two years ago after his predecessor met his end. The new Daimyō had urged Naruto to pursue the title of Hokage once more, but not to honor the memories of those who would have wanted him to pursue his old dream no matter what, although that was a major argument to convince the future Hokage. The new Daimyō had said that if Naruto were to become Hokage, he would be able to find a much-needed sense of closure. There were secrets he claimed Naruto needed to discover, secrets which would only reveal themselves if the Hero of Konoha rose above his anguish and answered his calling.

Not even five minutes after the sun set on his first day in office, those secrets were finally coming to light.

Using the Human Path abilities of the Rinnegan, Naruto had literally ripped the souls out of eight of the twelve assailants. One of them had just so happened to have a sealed memory of a conversation between himself and Danzō which referred to the conspiracy the new Fire Daimyō had hinted at. This one had obviously taken the reigns after Danzō's death, and had been trusted implicitly by the deceased traitorous elder if the memory was only sealed and not erased.

Naruto was already livid from unlocking said memory with Kurama's help, and yet he knew his anger would only continue to rise as the night progressed.

"Naruto-sama, before we discuss what just transpired here, how the hell do you have the Rinnegan?" Kakashi asked. Naruto rolled his eyes at his former teacher's use of the -sama honorific, but he was currently in Hokage Mode. Everyone in his inner circle of friends had to show the proper respect when he was serious.

"Remember when Sakura-nēchan went AWOL shortly after you sent me away, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto replied, and Kakashi nodded. "She performed the transplant on me in secret. She wanted me to find a way to bring her back. She thought that with both the Rinnegan that was taken from Madara and the Rikudō Sage Mode, nothing would be impossible for me to accomplish."

"I guess you finally learned that some things are impossible after all," Kakashi observed. The search for a resurrection technique that didn't require Naruto to sacrifice anyone's life in exchange had been almost totally fruitless. As soon as he learned that using Gedō: Rinne Tensei no Jutsu was guaranteed to kill him even if he only revived a single person, despite his Uzumaki lineage and Rikudō abilities, his morale plummeted farther than it ever had in his life, and his resolve almost completely broke. But Haruno Sakura had made him promise to find a way, not for her, but for himself. Sakura had eventually managed to move on after she accepted it had been necessary to kill Sasuke.

Not once did Sakura accept that there would ever be someone else who could love Naruto and heal his heart, if he could not bring Hinata back to his world.

Unlike the last promise of a lifetime she'd exacted from Naruto, this time Sakura knew full well what she had asked of him. She knew she was sending Naruto down another spiral of despair, but it was something she couldn't help. Truly, she knew she was a horrible friend, unworthy of being within a hundred meters of Naruto's presence.

But Naruto had responded to this request almost the same way he'd responded to the first. His naïveté was gone, he too knew what it would mean if this promise was also broken, but he didn't care. Somehow, Sakura had known that Hinata was his only true love. If he couldn't find a way to revive her, he would never be able to find true happiness.

Resurrection proved to be one of the few areas of kinjutsu that was truly taboo. No matter what technique was used, it required a living sacrifice to pull a dead soul back into the world. Naruto would not pay that price, ever.

But that didn't mean it was totally hopeless. His mind flashed back to that fateful night at the climax of the war, specifically to when Hagoromo had appeared inside his mindscape a few minutes after Kurama's extraction. The Rikudō Sennin had traveled through time to appear at the critical moment.

Wait...

Why was he remembering that now, of all times? It seemed totally random, and yet...

Naruto's eyes widened at the realization which flashed through his mind. He knew exactly what he was going to do now, his nindō be damned.

"Ya know, Kakashi-sensei, this has to be the worst joke of all time," Naruto remarked, his attitude momentarily shifting to resemble the mask of happiness he used to wear.

"Oh?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow in curiosity. What was his cute little Genin turned Hokage planning now?

"I was going about this kinjutsu business the wrong way. As we learned the hard way, the cost of bringing someone who died back to life is way too high. But no one ever said anything about the cost of going back and preventing someone from dying in the first place."

"Time travel, Naruto? Really?"

"It's our only option, Sensei. If we have to make it to where entire years never happened, well, I'd definitely say that's for the best, after what I just learned and am about to learn tonight."

"I see." He didn't, actually, but he knew he would soon enough. Naruto's eyes were darting around the room, trying to scan for something, unfortunately to no avail.

"Kakashi-sensei...was there any chance at all that any materials from the old Hokage Tower were used in the reconstruction?" With that question, Naruto was back in Hokage Mode.

"None at all, Naruto-sama. No recycling of building material was involved; everything used was one hundred percent new material."

"Fuck!" Naruto slammed his hands down hard enough to break his desk into three pieces. "That means we're not gonna find the proof we need here."

"And don't bother ordering a raid of the Foundation, either," a new voice chimed in. It belonged to a pale-skinned young man whose jet black uniform exposed his midriff. Naruto rolled his eyes at the arrival.

"You're late, Sai," the Nanadaime growled.

"And you're still dickless, Hokage-sama," Sai quipped. "As I was saying, it's pointless to order a raid of the old Foundation buildings to search for the truth you now seek. When Danzō died, his loyal ROOT ninja cleaned house and fled. We've been unable to find even a trace of them ever since, and truthfully, they were forgotten about in the wake of the Daimyō fiasco."

"Which idiot had the bright idea to just forget about over a hundred rogue ninja?" Naruto was livid. If he had inherited his mother's hair, Sai and Kakashi would have been able to see it raising the same way Kushina's did whenever she got royally pissed off. "Blah, forget it, it's not like we're going to be able to deal with that problem right now."

"What do you mean?"

"Gather the following people to my office within one hour," Naruto said, handing Sai a list of names. "Standard procedure for an S-rank secret meeting. Let no one know why they've been summoned."

"Calling a war council, Naruto-sama?" Kakashi pondered.

"It has been a long time coming, Sensei. Our enemies need to be reminded that hell hath no fury like an Uzumaki scorned."