Chapter 3: The Past Has Gone

Konohagakure

2 and a half years after Naruto's death

A tall man with spiky silver hair leaning to the right could be seen walking through the hidden leafs cemetery.

The man wore the standard Konoha flak jacket with dark blue pants and a long-sleeve shirt. He also wore fingerless gloves with metal plates on the backhand and his face was almost completely covered with a face mask over the lower half and his headband over his left eye.

This man was Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja of Konoha. He was an icon for many young and upcoming shinobi being the son of the legendary white fang, the student of the Fourth Hokage, a hero of the Third Great Shinobi World War and potentially the next in line to be Hokage.

Yet to many more seasoned shinobi including Kakashi himself, the silver haired Jounin was the epitome of the tragedies a shinobi must face.

Yes Kakashi was the son of a legendary shinobi, the same shinobi that endangered the alliance between Konoha and Suna for the sake of his comrades and committed suicide out of shame.

Yes Kakashi was the student of the Fourth Hokage, the last student in fact as his two teammates died at war. One crushed by a boulder to save Kakashi and the other whom flung herself onto Kakashi's Raikiri to save the village.

Despite this Kakashi tried to find light out of such pain. He persevered, he learnt, he found students of his own to pass his legacy and philosophy onto.

Out of those students, one betrayed the village in his mission for vengeance, another died trying to bring him back and his last student sought out the tutelage of another, leaving the failed teacher in his own self pity.

That was why he was here in the cemetery, or more specifically on his way to the memorial stone. It was where every shinobi who died in service to the village had their names carved into it so future generations could honour their sacrifice, and for others to remember their friends and grieve.

Kakashi instinctively knew where the names of his own friends where carved.

Obito Uchiha, his best friend and the one who gave him his sharingan.

Rin Nohara, the young woman he had sworn to Obito in his last moments to protect and failed to do so.

Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage who gave his life to seal the Kyuubi and stop its destructive rampage. He was a man Kakashi looked to as a father figure after his own father had died. He had sworn to honour his teachers sacrifice and his legacy. Another promise he failed to keep.

Then there were others he saw, countless names many he did not recognise. Some he knew as one time comrades that fell in their duty. Some he knew from their brief fame before their deaths.

Then he came across one name in particular. One of the newer additions to the monument.

Naruto Uzumaki

The boy was Kakashi's greatest student, one whom took the Jounin's teachings to heart and followed many of the same principles.

Kakashi had once pitied the boy and looked down on him as a poor victim of the shinobi system, for unknown to most Naruto was the vessel of the Kyuubi, a living prison that held back the incarnation of destruction. When his teacher had died sealing the beast Kakashi for a moment thought to kill the child in order to kill the beast that took his surrogate father. That feeling hadn't lasted long because he soon learnt that Naruto was the Son of the Fourth, so Kakashi sword to protect and preserve his master's legacy and have faith in his decision to place such a burden on his own son.

When Kakashi became the boys teacher he had found it difficult at first to connect to the untalented, loud mouthed, poorly mannered and overly excitable Genin. But as their time progressed Kakashi came to admire his mentality and ninja way.

When Naruto was pitted against his teammate in the chunin exams Kakashi chose to teach Sasuke over Naruto not out of spite or negligence but out of the belief that Naruto didn't really need his help. When Naruto took on Gaara and defeated Shukaku, summoning Gamabunta as well, Kakashi saw that his faith hadn't been misplaced.

All this just made the boys death the more tragic. When Sasuke Uchiha, last of the Uchiha Clan, and Kakashi's other student abandoned the village Naruto was among those sent to bring him back. All that could be seen from the destruction brought by their battle was that when the two boys found each other they fought to the death. When Kakashi came upon the scene all he could see was the blonde haired Jinchuuriki, the son of his teacher, his own student floating on the water with a fist sized hole in his chest. Kakashi will never forget the look in his lifeless eyes, the look of sorrow and betrayal with tears of blood fall from his pale blue eyes.

The day he died was the day the village changed. When Kakashi had brought the body back a thunderstorm unlike any in living memory appeared out of nowhere. A few buildings were destroyed by lightning and many of the surrounding trees were brought down.

From that day on Kakashi could see the light of the village grow dim. Many of Naruto's friends and comrades took his death hard. Sakura had taken up medical ninjutsu under the tutelage of Tsunade in hopes of preventing such needless death.

The other boys who went on the retrieval mission, some barely surviving afterwards, vowed to bring Sasuke back as a way to honour their fallen friend.

Everyone had their ways of grief, yet for some like Hinata time would never heal such loss. The Hyuuga heir had fallen into a deep depression when the news was released. She refused to eat or sleep, her spirit was broken. Even now she rarely smiled and while she continued to be a kunoichi she had no time for her friends.

Kakashi could honestly understand, how could someone who endured the loneliness and scorn of being a Jinchuuriki, one whom practically raised himself and supported himself from childhood die at the hands of his own teammate.

The world was truly an unfair place. Kakashi could find no good reason to explain Naruto's death and he had no one else to blame himself.

He believed that Sasuke could forgo his hatred and grow to trust the village and his team. He believed that Naruto could take on Sasuke. He believed that everything would turn out fine.

But it didn't.

He knew that Sasuke's obsession had become madness. He knew that Naruto didn't have the heart to go all out against his friend.

He knew

And he did nothing.

Mt Akuma

6 months ago his people had been exhausted, afraid, hungry and hopeless beyond desperation.

He had seen them in their plight, he had seen their struggle for survival and he saw that they needed a little help to finish their journey.

The night that Genshu was given the gem was the night that Naruto saw himself as the guardian of the people, his people.

He had given them the idea to go North as a way to see if they were worthy to become his people, he observed closely how while desperate and low on food they still accepted others like themselves.

Genshu in particular had caught his attention. A man whom had lost a wife and a son, had all the more reason to be hateful at the world, still lead his people with a gentle nature and kind heart. Naruto almost wished he could be so forgiving.

When Naruto saw the people give up hope and accept their fate he took action. He possessed the wolves and found Genshu wondering at night. He tested his resolve and saw that the man would still fight in the face of death.

He took him to the white tree and gave him a precious give. A red gem of great power, the jewel of Hope he called it.

The Magic's he had used allowed him to input a piece of himself into the jewel. With the power and knowledge of Sauron Naruto had imbued the stone he found in the dirt with his own fiery spirit, his will to persevere and his undying hope.

Genshu had used the jewel to inspire his people to carry on to the place he had shown to him.

Today at the foot of the mountain the once refugees had built a place to call home, the village of Akuma.

Naruto had shown visions to Genshu of where they could find food and water, of where to hunt and forage. The man trusted the vision absolutely and as such the people settled in quickly.

He was proud of his deed, of helping the people in their hour of need. But there was business to be done and he had a goal to achieve.

No one would stand in his way, not even a child.

Genshu's home, Akuma village.

Her breathing was soft and weak

Her skin pale and lifeless

Her eyes closed as he body tried to carry on.

Genshu gazed at his daughter with tears falling freely from his eyes. For so long she had been ill and despite whatever help he could get she never got better.

The sores that once dotted her skin had healed yet the fevers never left. A week ago she lost the strength to speak and any moment now she would lose the strength to live.

He eyes opened slightly and they went straight to her father. Genshu held her hand in his own to try and comfort her.

"Its ok sweetie, you're gonna be ok" he said softly "just keep breathing sweetie"

He looked to his left to the only doctor in the village, the man had done as much as he could. The doctor looked Genshu in the eye and shook his head. He then proceeded to walk out the room to leave the crying father time to say goodbye to his daughter.

Genshu closed his eyes in anguish, the certainty of his daughters death negated his desperation and hope.

He looked his daughter in the eyes one last time.

"Your going to see Mommy soon and your big brother…" he said with a small smile on his face "... be sure to tell them of what happened ok? Remember to tell them of our new home." The dying girl only gave a slight nod before closing her eyes.

Genshu placed his head next to his daughters "I love you sweetie" he said.

The girls breathing stopped, he chest remained still and her hand fell limp by her side. Genshu let his grief be shown and he cried his heart out.

The man who lost his wife and son now had lost his last remaining family.

He sobbed for an eternity it seemed, holding his dead daughter's hand in his own.

The red jewel that lay in his pocket grew dim from his grief. It's power useless in against such sorrow.

The next day

On the slopes of Mt Akuma, on the western side of the mountain Genshu was kneeling before a flat stone covered in strange symbols.

Today he had buried his daughter, in the place he thought most fitting to give her a sight she would have enjoyed immensely.

The childless father still shed tears but he found comfort in knowing she was finally free of pain.

No parent should ever have to bury their child.

He looked in his hands to the dull red jewel, since she died it had forgone its radiant light and Genshu could no longer feel the effects of the stone.

It was quite disheartening to no longer feel its warmth for since the night he found it the jewel was the only thing that had kept him going in the face of his daughters failing health.

Images flashed through his mind once more, the same picture that appeared ever so often since his daughters death. He looked to the jewel once more and clenched his fist before standing up and making his way up to the mountain.

In the light of the setting sun Mt Akuma appeared far larger than it really was, yet with the wall of the world standing behind it one could see that the mountain wasn't all that large really.

Genshu took his time on his way to the summit, following the natural path to the peak. He could see the village at the base and he saw its people settling in for the night.

As he came closer to the peak Genshu found his grief began to lessen, the pain of his loss become a faint memory as his only goal was to get to the top of the mountain.

He walk over the grass covered slopes and jagged rocks that protruded out from the ground. The sun was almost set, shining its orange light across the sky. Hours past and Genshu had made his way to the round peak.

Since that night he would receive visions that had guided him in establishing the village and ensuring his people's survival. He didn't know where they came from but he had no reason to distrust them even now.

'Hello' a voice said in Genshu's mind, startling the man as he searched for its source.

'I'm afraid you won't see me unless I want you too' the voice said again

"Where are you? Who are you?!" Genshu demanded as he held the Jewel in his hand tightly hiding it behind his back.

'I see, don't worry I'm not here for that gem' the voice said

"Who are you?!" Genshu said loudly

A strange mass of shadows appeared around Genshu and felt an entire immense pressure over his body as he was lifted up into the air.

He tried to struggle but found he couldn't move, he tried to speak but found his voice had gone. He felt his right hand opened and the red jewel now as bright as ever float in front of his face.

"I'm something that you speak carefully to" the voice said, now deeper and darker than before.

Genshu only widened his eyes before he felt himself be lowered back to the ground. He coughed as his breath returned and his body could move again.

'Now shall we talk' the voice said normally

The shadow changed and morphed into something different, Genshu saw a shape of a man and yet he could see through it. Genshu then saw a spectral face, one with three whisker marks on each cheek.

"You..." Genshu said with his rough voice that was still recovering. "I saw you in the forest, in the cave beneath the white tree"

'I see you remember me' the spectral figure said as along with a face the ghostly figure formed long gray robes and spiky blond hair. It stood as high as Genshu and held bright blue eyes that shone in the light of the setting sun.

'Yes I am the one who gave you this shiny gem here' the figure said holding the red jewel in its spectral hand. 'I am the one who sent the wolves to find you, I am the one who guided all of you here to my land.'

"What do you want with us?" Questioned Genshu. His heart was racing in the presence of this spirit, he found it hard to look upon it in the eyes almost as if he was forced to bow his head.

' hmph, you are wise to be cautious but have no fear of me' the bright blue eyes of the figure glowed red for a brief second and Genshu's eyes glowed the same in response.

Genshu's entire stature changed, his face depicting as if he had an epiphany and his stance became relaxed and calm. His heart now slowed and he bowed his head respectfully.

"The I we owe you a great debt then, for your guidance and your gift." Genshu kneeled with his head low, his eyes glowed red once more. "What is you wish of us?"

The spirit smiled widely as it floated closer to the kneeling man.

The red jewel floated to in front of Genshu's face and it shine brighter than ever before. Images raced through Genshu's mind while his eyes became blank.

'I have many things planned for you, now it a matter of where do we begin'