Konnichi wa!

YATTA! SHANNARO! HUZZAH! THE LONG AWAITED SEQUEL IS HERE!

I was going to make it a three-part series, but I decided against it.

I was CRAVING to start the Chunin exams :D

So, in this story, there's going to be a flashback every other chapter, to explain what happens after Sasuke accepts the headband!

Those who don't know what I'm talking about, read the six chapter prologue – Taken: Hell to Fire – to know what's going on!

Recap – I'm not going to do one. If you've forgotten what happened, just reread the prologue. About three of those chapters are ridiculously short.

Crap – I'm KILLING myself with all these multi-chapter fics!

CRAP CRAP CRAP! XD

Oh well! Shows how much I love you :D

I hope you like it!

Here's the first chapter!

Promises Not Made Are Promises Never Kept

Chapter One – Paths Cross Once More

He was floating.

He couldn't see anything – just mist. Dense mist that showed nothing to him.

"Where… am I?" He asked the mist.

"Hello again."

His eyes snapped open, but it still didn't help his vision.

"Who… is that?" He asked, his voice echoing. "Your voice… is so familiar. Who are you? WHERE are you?"

"That's not really important, now is it?"

Hands cupped his face, the owner of the hands hidden in shadow. He could only see pale, delicate fingers – could only feel the gently callused skin as the soft tips caressed his cheeks.

"It's been such a long time. But don't worry. We'll see each other again. Our paths will cross once more – very soon."

"But when? When will I see you again? Who are you?" His voice was slowly getting more frantic.

"Don't worry. You'll see me again. And when you do, you'll know. But for now…"

"Now what?" He asked loudly. "Now WHAT?"

There was no answer.

It felt like his heart had been ripped from his chest.

"Get up, Naruto."

His eyes opened wearily to see his pink-headed comrade looking down at him.

"Sakura?" He breathed. "How'd you… get into my apartment?"

"Kakashi-sensei let me in. Anyway, Naruto – get up. Today is the day the Chunnin exams start, remember?"

Naruto nodded and get up, yawning.

"Okay Sakura – okay. I'm going, I'm going."

Weird. He thought. That same dream again. It's been happening for a couple of weeks now. I wonder what it means.

That's strange. Sakura thought. Usually he's a pain as soon as he gets up, but right now he's really quiet. I wonder what's wrong.

A few minutes later found Naruto and Sakura heading onto the bridge, where the latest edition of the group was sitting on the wooden rail, waiting for both them and Kakashi to appear.

The short black hair and bangs looked like someone else for a split moment, and Naruto's eyes widened.

It's him!

"Sas–!"

"SAI!" Sakura called, waving to him and cutting Naruto off. "We're here!"

The world had fallen out from underneath Naruto's feet. He shook his head vigorously.

No – can't think about that! Happy face Naruto – happy face!

"Hey Sakura, Naruto," Sai greeted, sliding off the rail. Naruto, who had expected – once more – a smirk and a scathing comment – blinked and shook himself violently.

It's not him – DAMMIT it's not him!

"Okay there, Naruto?" Sai asked, looking at him with hands in his pockets, so similar to the stature of another's.

Don't think about him! You think about him you'll never be able to concentrate on the exams today –

"Yeah – I'm okay!" The blonde replied cheerfully. "Just thinking."

Sai smiled and nodded.

"Okay! C'mon guys – let's go to the academy! Three o'clock is just around the corner!"

The other two nodded and followed, Sai in the middle.

Sai slowed so Sakura and Naruto were on either side of him, and both Naruto and Sakura felt a hand slid into theirs.

Naruto's first instinct was to break every bone in that hand, but he exchanged glances with Sakura's happy eyes, and he rethought the urge.

Sighing, he let Sai pull both him and Sakura along, feigning a smile. He looked back to the bridge, and he almost thought he saw another raven head, smirking at him from the middle of the bridge.

The blonde's heart leaped in his throat, but another blink, and the image was gone.

Distressed and disappointed, Naruto turned to look at the ground, face distraught.

Four years and I STILL can't get him out of my head.

Four years and he couldn't accept the fact that his former teammate was dead.

He swallowed.

It just… can't be real.

They arrived at the academy, and walked inside, making their way to the third level.

An entire group of Genin was already there, being fought off by two Chunin in front of the door.

"It's a genjutsu," Naruto heard Sakura breathe. Sai nodded.

"Yeah. Let's go up a floor, okay?"

"Hold it!"

The three turned to see another Genin – with a bowl-cut hair do, looking at them.

"Sakura Haruno, yes?" he asked. Blinking, Sakura nodded. The other brightened. "My name is Rock Lee," he stated. Then he smiled and winked, clenching his fist. "Please be my girlfriend! I promise to protect you with my life!"

"Uh… sorry." Sai smiled at Lee, slipping an arm around Sakura's waist. "But she's already taken."

Lee went off to shrivel up and die in a corner as Sakura blushed.

Naruto saw this with a disgusted look on his face. Unlike himself, Sakura had covered up the hurt of losing the original by forcing herself into a relationship with the fake.

We can't even speak your name without everyone becoming sad. Naruto closed his eyes, fighting against breaking down again. Bastard.

Laughter echoed from the stairwell that led to the first floor (the genjutsu had been placed on the second), and Naruto turned his head to see three people coming up from the stairwell.

The first was obviously a boy – he had no bust line that Naruto could see – but his hair was long and flowing, stretching down to the small of his back and making him seem like a female at first glance. He wore all black, the tank top stretched tightly over toned flesh, revealing a powerful stomach as his baggy black cargo pants hung at his hips, swinging slightly with his walk and matching perfectly with his black boots. He was laughing over his shoulder down at the stairwell, his eyes turned up in upside-down 'u's as he grinned. His headband glinted at his hips.

The next one who appeared was an obvious girl – her bust line was wrapped tightly in bandages to keep them in place – her hair – as dark as the male's and equally long – was pulled up in a high ponytail, swaying with her brisk, playful walk as she grasped the first boy's hand. Her taut stomach was showing, and black Capri's showed off slender calves and delicate ankles that were made even more elegant in the black high-heeled shoes she wore. Her headband – especially made for her – was wrapped tightly around her bust line.

The last one was a very feminine male, his eyes soft and bright and brown with his brunette hair – not nearly as long as the other two's, only to his shoulder blades – pulled up into a bun, with two long bangs outlining his face. He wasn't dressed in all black, but in dark, soft blue, his long-sleeved sweater hugging his upper torso and stretching down to his hips. Loose blue shorts revealed slender legs, and wooden sandals clunked against the wood softly as his headband shone on his forehead.

The three newcomers also had three animals with them. The first male had a tiger trailing after him, the girl had a ferocious wolf at her side, and the second male had a bird perched on his shoulder.

Looking up as they reached the top of the stairs, the first male's dark black eyes connected with Naruto's blue, and the blonde could have sworn he saw a spark of recognition in the pitch black orbs.

It was gone in a mere moment, however, as the first boy looked on at the door where the two Chunin were, still grasping the girl's hand and now silent. He glanced at the sign, and then to his two teammates. They merely looked at him for a moment before he turned and continued on, cutting through the group of Genin as the tiger and wolf eyed each one they passed in suspicion. Without another word, the three climbed up the stairs leading to the true third floor.

Naruto watched them leave – watched the boy in the middle with the tiger, his dark hair flowing down his back.

What is this… feeling in my chest…?

"Who…" he murmured. "IS that guy?"

End Chapter One – Paths Cross Once More

Well, that's that!

I hope you liked it!

Please review!

Ja ne!

DDB