My dream doesn't exist in the future. My dream lies in the past. That's the only place it exists.

Naruto felt the wind rush by as Kakashi-sensei carried him back to Konoha. Off to the side, he heard his teacher speaking with someone. Naruto couldn't make out many details, but he knew that his friends had all been hurt.

"Guys…" Naruto whispered as he saw the image of Shikamaru, Neji, Kiba and Chōji moving through the trees. They faded away as Naruto lost consciousness once again.

One of the Medic-nin saw the look of utter helplessness on the boy's face. He had always been cautious around the Uzumaki child because of his fear of the Demon Fox sealed within him. Renji was not one of the few zealots who wanted to drive the boy away or harm him. Instead, Renji simply ignored the child. That wasn't an option anymore. He was a Genin of Konoha who, along with several others, had given their all to retrieve a comrade from the forces of the Traitor Sannin. Besides, no demon could look that broken over the news his comrades were seriously wounded.

The gates of Konoha loomed in the distance. The medics and the Elite Jonin were about to breathe a sigh of relief when a hacking cough shattered the stillness of the forest. Kakashi's eyes went wide when he felt blood on his shoulder.

"Naruto!"

The lead Medic, Yasuo, grunted. "Kakashi-san, he has internal bleeding! We have to hurry!"

Sharingan Kakashi ground his teeth. I have already failed Obito today! I will not fail Minato-sensei as well!

Sakura was practically running through the streets of Konoha. She had heard that Team Shikamaru had returned from their mission. The pink haired kunoichi giggled at the thought of the team, but had complete faith that they would succeed. Shikamaru was a genius in the pure sense of the word. Neji, even if Sakura thought he was a bit stuck up and cruel, was the Hyūga prodigy. Kiba was an accomplished tracker even by the standards of the Inuzuka clan. Chōji was a dependable and strong.

And then there was Naruto. Sakura had never seen Naruto fail at anything since joining Team Seven! There was no doubt in her mind that when Sakura got to the gates that she'd find Naruto and Sasuke-kun arguing over how strong Orochimaru's mind control over the Uchiha actually was!

Sakura smiled happily at the fantasy. It was then she noticed someone else heading for the gates.

"Hey! Hinata!" The shy Hyūga turned around and waved.

"Hello, Sakura-chan. Are you headed to the gates as well?"

Sakura nodded. "Of course! You didn't think I'd let those knuckleheads back into the village without letting them know how worried about them I was!"

Hinata smiled and nodded back. "I… I hope Naruto-kun is alright."

"Hinata…" Sakura paused, momentarily unsure how to approach the subject. "I know you are worried about Naruto, but shouldn't you visit your cousin and teammate?"

"I… The Hospital said they are all still in surgery. I can't visit them yet." I care for them deeply, but not like I do Naruto-kun. The Hyūga heiress thought, but did not add to her answer.

Sakura played with a bang. "That makes sense. Come on! I'd feel better with some feminine back up to let those idiots know they can't worry us like this!"

"Ano, Sakura-chan, you aren't planning on hitting them are you?"

"It depends on how injured they are!" Sakura added playfully. She then noticed the look of horror on Hinata's face. "I'm kidding, Hinata."

The other girl relaxed and took off after her fellow kunoichi. Hinata felt the excitement building within her. She was going to be there when Naruto came back from his successful mission! The entire village would finally see Naruto as she saw him! They would acknowledge him as the amazing human being that he truly was!

Sakura and Hinata reached the gates and exchanged expectant grins.

"Kakashi-san! You are nearly out of chakra! Please, let one of us take the patient! If you collapse from exhaustion, you won't be able to help him!"

A pang of worry gripped the two girls.

"No! I lost one student today and I will not lose another!" Kakashi's voice and his tone transformed Hinata and Sakura's worry into terror.

The medic nin were the first to pass through the gates. "Renji, go on ahead and inform the Hokage we have another critical case!"

The medic named Renji growled as he pushed his body to the limit. The sight Sakura and Hinata witnessed changed both of their lives. Kakashi was carrying a brutally injured Naruto on his back. The kunoichi saw the boy covered in blood, bruised and worse, there were at least two holes in Naruto's back. Hinata cried out in despair at the state of the boy she loved. Sakura merely collapsed to her knees in wordless agony. They had both noticed that the wounds on Naruto's back bulged outwards. Whatever had done the wounds had actually gone all the way through Naruto's body.

Sakura eventually stopped watching the rapidly disappearing forms of Kakashi, Naruto and the Medic-nins. She turned and watched as Hinata wept into her hands.

That promise! That damn promise! All it has caused is pain. It hasn't just affected Team Seven. Look at what that… curse has done to Hinata! I… I've nearly taken her cousin, teammate and… and Naruto from her.

Sakura looked away and finally the tears came. I have to save him, but Naruto never goes back on his word. He would never abandon a promise to his friends!

Suddenly, Haruno Sakura painfully knew what she had to do to save Naruto from his promise. Naruto would have to hate her. It would kill a bit of her soul to drive such a wonderful friend out of her life, but he would live. Sakura looked once more at the inconsolable Hyūga heiress.

Yes, Naruto will live and maybe, just maybe, find some happiness.

Konoha's Hospital was in a state of near disarray. The 'Uchiha Recovery Mission' had been a failure. None of the staff would dare blame the Genin and their Chunnin leader for the failure. The majority realized that the team of Genin had run into incredibly powerful Jonin-class opponents bolstered by the abominable 'research' of the Snake Sannin. Only a few blamed the members of the recovery team and those dared not voice their concerns. The Godaime Hokage was an adamant supporter of the Recovery Team.

More than that, they were her patients.

Tsuande, Granddaughter of the Shodai Hokage and current Godaime Hokage, exited Akimichi Chōji's Intensive Care Suite. Chōji had taken the Akimichi Chili pill and was suffering its life-threatening side effects. Fortunately, the Akimichi and Nara clans had exceptional research on the effects of the pills and it was a simple procedure to make the antidote.

That was not to say it wasn't an absolutely tense procedure. The good news is that Chōji would survive. Tsunade walked down the hall. She was about to provide assistance to Shizune in Hyūga Neji's operation when the doors at the other end of the hall basically exploded.

"Hokage-sama! We have a critical case inbound! It's the last member of the Uchiha Recovery Team!"

Naruto! Tsunade gasped, but quickly composed herself. "Get Operating Room Three prepped! I want every detail you have! If you leave anything out, I swear I'll kick you to Iwa!"

Renji followed his Hokage and gave her every detail she requested. Operating Room Three had barely been prepped when Hatake Kakashi erupted into the room.

"Please save my student, Hokage-sama." Naruto had barely been placed on the operating table when Kakashi collapsed from sheer exhaustion.

Tsunade ordered one of the Medic-nins to check Kakashi. She turned every ounce of focus she possessed on Naruto. He couldn't die! He couldn't! Naruto was going to be the one to break the curse of that necklace! The blond brat was going to live and become Hokage!

She poured Chakra into her Mystical Palm Technique. "Naruto, please…"

After a terrifying hour, Naruto's breathing stabilized. Tsunade wiped the fatigue and tears from her eyes. For once, she had saved her most precious person. The Godaime Hokage was so thankful that Naruto would survive that she promised herself that she'd let the first 'baa-chan' slide.

Hinata swayed as she rose from the ground. She had no idea how long she had been crying. The Hyūga heiress knew what had finally ended her tears. Sakura had numbly wandered off muttering about how Naruto had failed her.

"I won't see him. I can't see him." Hinata remembered the words of Naruto-kun's teammate.

How could she be so callous? Naruto-kun had risked everything to fulfill his promise to her! Did she only care that Sasuke hadn't come back? Hinata took a calming breath. She was going to the hospital! Naruto-kun and the other members of the Sasuke Retrieval Team needed to know that someone supported them! Civilians and other citizens of Konoha were like wake for the determined Hyūga.

"Hinata!" A voice cried out. Hinata turned her head and saw one of her fellow Rookies rushing towards her.

"Ino-chan are you heading for the hospital?"

The blond kunoichi nodded. "I am. Daddy and Uncle Shikaku mentioned that Chōji and all the others but Naruto are back. They… they said everyone was hurt."

"Everyone is hurt." Hinata felt the tears return. "Naruto-kun and Neji-niisan almost died."

Ino's eyes went wide. "No! I don't want to lose anyone!"

Hinata and Ino ran to the hospital. The receptionist saw them coming and shook her head.

"If you are here for news about the Uchiha…"

"I don't give a damn about the traitor! How are Naruto-kun and the others?" Hinata cried out. Ino gaped at the outburst from the normally reserved girl.

The receptionist gulped. The Hyūga had activated her Byakugan unintentionally. "I… They are in surgery right now. I can't permit entry."

"We have to know if they are ok! Please!" Ino whimpered. This was not a shallow attempt to manipulate the receptionist. She truly wanted to make sure everyone was going to survive.

The receptionist's response was cut off by a crashing sound. Jiraiya was standing at the flapping doors.

"You two, come with me."

Ino took a step back. "Aren't you a pervert?"

"Not right now I'm not. Do you want to see them or not?"

They followed the Sannin without another word. After an uncomfortable silence, Ino decided to speak.

"How bad is it?"

Jiraiya sighed. "You'll have to ask Tsunade for details, but it's not good."

The elevator doors slid open and Hinata rushed out. Jiraiya tried to call out to her, but quickly realized Ino had followed Hinata as well.

The Sannin shook his head. "I shouldn't be surprised."

The Hokage had just finished checking on Namiashi Raidō. It had been a trying day. Tsunade was looking forward to a little bit of sake and a whole lot of sleep.

"Hokage-sama!" A girl's voice cried out. Tsunade had said no visitors! The state of denial over the Uchiha was ridiculous! She decided to turn around and knock whoever it was into next week

"Hokage-sama, is Naruto-kun going to make it? Will the team survive?" Hinata begged.

Tsunade was taken aback. The staff had said most girls had arrived asking if 'Sasuke-kun' was back. The Hokage saw a second girl rush up.

"Are they going to make it? My dad and Uncle Shikaku said Chōji nearly died!"

Well, this is the first pleasant surprise since the team came back alive. "I am not going to lie to you. Everyone but Shikamaru and Kiba are currently in critical condition. Naruto-kun and Neji's surgeries were completed only a few minutes ago. They were by far the most severely injured. Chōji is under sedation and recovering from ingesting the Akimichi Chili Pill. Kiba is not in critical condition but has a very deep wound to his stomach and foreign chakra contamination. Shikamaru is under observation for the after effects of a powerful genjutsu and a broken finger."

Hinata and Ino would have gladly traded their Shinobi status for a better prognosis of their friends and family member's conditions.

"If… if we had been there…" Ino could not cry in front of the Hokage!

Hinata had no such reservations. She wept. "We could have helped them! I… I could have saved Naruto-kun from being so hurt. I could have helped Neji-niisan."

Tsunade watched the reaction of the two kunoichi in front of her. She reached into her memory and recalled the information on all of the 'Rookie Nine'. One of her first acts as Hokage had been to look into the allies of Naruto-kun.

Yamanaka Ino: member of the second generation of the Ino-Shika-Chō, average skills except for very good Chakra Control.

Hyūga Hinata: Heiress of the Hyūga Clan, above average skills but abilities doubted by Clan leadership, exceptional Chakra Control.

Despite the situation, a smile began to form on the Sannin's lips. "Do you two believe that?"

"What?" The word escaped each ninja's lips as barely a whisper.

"Do you believe that if you had been there you could have helped the Recovery Team?" Tsunade asked again.

"Absolutely!" Ino shouted.

"I… Yes, I would have helped them!" Hinata spoke with a certainty she rarely felt.

Tsunade made her decision. "Good! Both are you will report to me at ten a.m. tomorrow."

"Yes, Hokage-sama." Hinata and Ino replied as one.

Masakyo slipped through the streets of Minatomatsuri, the largest port in the Land of Honey. The man reached a shady alley and ducked into it. Passerbys were curious as to why a well-groomed young man wearing expensive clothing would slink into an alley. He walked quickly to a rusted dumpster and pushed it out of the way. There was a door behind the dumpster and Masakyo knocked out a rhythm.

"Why are you late?" A voice asked.

"I was trapped in a Whirlpool and have only just been reborn."

The door opened and Masakyo smiled at his old friend, Sadao. Sadao was a large man that wore a smile as easily as he wore his heavy brown overcoat. The two walked down the tunnel. Eventually, they came to a second door and entered a surprisingly opulent room.

Each man took his seat. At the head of the table, a woman with dull red hair sat with her fingers steepled.

"Welcome back, Maskyo-san."

Masakyo bowed to the leader. "Michi-san, thank you."

Michi nodded to the assembled conspirators. "I thank you for arriving so quickly. Soon, we shall restore our homeland! For too long have we suffered the indignities of Kumo. We have found a descendant of the Last Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools! Once she publically declares his intent to return, the survivors of our homeland will rally to us!"

The speech was rousing and bolstered the hearts of all who were present. Except for one.

"Michi-san, I… I have ill news." Masakyo groaned.

"What?"

The messenger sighed. "Takako-sama was assassinated by Iwa ninja of the Kamizuru Clan."

A great wail of despair filled the room. Sadao shook his head. "But, we promised our people that we had found a lost royal of the Land of Whirlpools!"

"We still have!" Masakyo quickly added. "There is a distant relative of the Daimyo living in Konohagakure! He is even an Uzumaki!"

"A Uzumaki!" Kenta shouted. Kenta was the last member of the House Samurai of the Daimyo. He was a heavily scarred man. Despite his semi-ronin status, he always carried his sword with pride.

Masakyo nodded vigorously. "He is just a boy but is a full Shinobi of Konoha. I have uncovered a great deal of information on this 'Naruto'."

"So, that is where you have been." Michi growled.

"Of course, Michi-san. Do you think I would arrive at this meeting only bearing news that would undo us? No, I have uncovered a great deal about our 'Prince'. Gold, wine and a bit of coercion can loosen any man's lips."

Noriko chewed her lip. "What information did you discover and how can you be sure it is accurate?"

"I discovered the parentage of this 'Naruto' and more…" The truth of Naruto made Masakyo very nervous. If the full truth was known to the world, it would likely mean a world war. "I can also assure you the information is accurate. My source was the personal secretary of the Land of Fire's Daimyo."

Michi leaned forward. "You sound uneasy."

"Of course I'm uneasy!" Maskyo snapped. "What I am about to say cannot be repeated! Once you learn of this information, you will understand why I can never go back to the Land of Fire. You will understand why I likely have a Sannin out for my blood."

That information silenced everyone. "According to the Daimyo's Secretary, this boy is the secret son of Uzumaki Kushina and… Namikaze Minato."

The air became charged with excitement. This Naruto had exceptional lineage! He would be an even greater rallying point than the Second Cousin Twice removed of the youngest son of the Old Daimyo.

The next bombshell would change everything. "Uzumaki Naruto a Jinchūriki. Of what tailed beast, I do not know."

"A Jinchūriki!" Kenta screamed. Noriko had never heard of a Jinchūriki and was asking the old Samurai why the concept caused such fear.

Michi, the leader of the Movement, sat quietly. "He is the one. Think of the power! Kumo wouldn't dare strike at us with our own Jinchūriki! Also, a child he may be, but he is a Ninja! Naruto could help restart Uzushiogakure!" Everyone noticed the fires of zealotry in Michi's eyes. "Jinchūriki are ostracized for their prisoners! This boy, we could mold him! A simple offer of acceptance would likely win him to our cause! But when we tell him that he is royalty! Oh! He will be putty in our hands!"

Author's Notes: Gah, plot ADHD kicked in again. A few things need to be brought up...

1. This is my first Challenge Fic. It is based of Rose Tiger's Prince Naruto challenge.

2. I've been pumping out a ton of work recently, Hyūga's Hound is currently around 2,110 words which is about 1/3 of the expected word count. Brotherhood of an Altered Destiny is also 1/3 complete, Chains of the Kindred is at 50% done, Forward the Windward is around 1/6 done. All in all, I've written nearly 10,000 words in three days! It's been a blast. Heck, New Jedi Order: Shadow of Leviathan and even Enclave (Foul black magic has ripped that story from the underworld) have gotten a bit of love!

3. Oh, and all this is on top of building and painting a new Warhammer 40,000 army: Tau. Plus Graduate School. Sleep is overrated!

Please Read and Review!