44 Awakening

Unconsciousness gripped Haruko with the same vice that death had applied when that truck barreled him over. The very concept of time was lost on him as he couldn't tell if it had been mere moments since his impromptu evolution, months, years, or decades.

Any amount of time could have passed as his body undulated, and underwent change, after change. 

Scenes of this life, and his last flashed before his eyes. He saw his actions in this world, and marveled over his accomplishments in his short time. He really became a ninja, and on top of that gained untold power. However his actions, and personality were always a little bit off?

 Right now it feels like his mind was slowly stitching itself back together. While the core of himself had always remained the same, however this younger version of himself had undergone more than a few mental breaks, and severe adjustments during its time here. 

Himself from earth had undergone plenty of challenges in his youth, and what little time he had, but nothing nearly as traumatizing as almost dying on a regular basis. 

More to the point he could almost visualize the years of experience between the two bodies, and further is the distance hardly contained behind a thin sheet was screaming black masses, filled with horrendous grins, anger, disappointment, and a secular shadow of relief over its features.

 Many of the shadows were fragmented, disjointed, and assundered.

Innately Haruko understood what was happening between all of the mental imagery, and what he needed to accomplish before leaving here. John, and Haruko needed to be one person, as they existed currently Haruko was piloting, aided by John's memories, and they shared the core of their being. However Haruko's mind, and soul are too weak to hold itself together. 

This was evidenced by the mounting invasion of memories from those killed by them. While John, and Haruko are wholly the same person, they have different experiences, mentalities, and effective willpower.

It would be accurate to say that up until this point Haruko was living as an incarnation of John rather than John Reincarnating as Haruko. Having come to this conclusion the two separated soul strands slowly worked their way together. Wrapping themselves around the core of his very being. 

A finalized soul core was left over, and from the core both his soul, and body began to take its proper form. From this shape not quite a man began to form, strand after strand of crimson pulsing black tendril formed over itself finally completing his true form. 

Obsidian shaggy hair rested upon the pale flesh of a handsome teenager, his eyes a deep pool of crimson blood, two small horns poking slightly out from his forehead separated his mess of hair. A smile broke out on his face revealing his startling white teeth, a few sharped to an incredulous point. 

The mixing of his soul caused his age to even out leaving a roughly 14 year old young man in its wake. The features of both mixing as well as they could. Retaining Haruko's fairness, as well as adapting his eyes. Johns Hair, and build shining through. Having completed his soul body, his gaze swept over the undulating shadows in the distance begging, clawing, and doing their very best to break through to his soul core. 

The breaking of glass signaled a mad dash made by a mass of agonized souls seeking to come back from their death at the hands of John/Haruko. 

'You're approaching me?' 'I can't kick your ass without getting closer'

His mental recollection of a meme from home caused him to chuckle as he prepared for the tide of malevolent spirits. 

Haruko held one hand towards the incoming rush of shadows. The hand split apart at the seams as crimson obsidian tendrils formed and shot out at hypersonic speeds. The tips of blades formed on each tendril as they split, and split again. A matching tide of blades, and biomass crashed into the assaulting horde.

The ensuing crash saw shadow after shadow sheared apart, and consumed within the tendrils. Each living memory, and soul broken down into the most basic of building blocks, with the excess burning up into the air signifying the spirits leaving his mental world, and possibly returning to their natural reincarnation cycle. 

The effective woodchipping of shadows continued until only the most solid of them all was left. An eyeless boy of matching age stood across from Haruko, hand extended. Haruko took the hand, and with a firm shake the filth was absorbed into his body, and the clean soul flitted away peacefully.

Knowing his actions just now granted peace to all those he had killed previously left him with a strange mix of emotions. Obviously Shisui deserved peace more than the rest, but even with the "evil" actions of most of them surely they also deserved to rest in the afterlife right? Or here they would enter the cycle of reincarnation. 

Existential thoughts aside, Haruko now knew what he needed to do outside of here, not only that, he knew that even without his intervention this world would be just fine. Or at least his small family he had made would be fine. But he knew he didn't belong, and he knew how best he could help his family.

Naruto had been unsure of himself in the last two years since Haruko had been trapped in an egg. Kakashi had always told him everything would be fine, and Haruko would wake up one day like nothing had changed, but hope was beginning to be harder, and harder to hold onto. Naruto had always known something was off with his chosen brother, but he didn't imagine separating from him in such a strange fashion.

Worst of all, nobody was held responsible for the situation which caused Haruko to be trapped like this. Danzo had allowed a foreign power to claim our resources and by happenstance Kakashi, and Haruko had stumbled across, and dealt with them. 

I knew the world wasn't fair from a young age, but seriously? It took everything but Kakashi, and Jiraiya. My two teachers and that's all I had. Academy life is dull, Sasuke grew into an agitated butthead, Hinata lost her ability to speak to me consistently without fainting, and I've been kept on a tight leash to prevent a similar situation like what had occurred to Haruko. 

While I'm in a much better place now than I could have been, and I do have a few friends, and some good teachers, Haruko's absence has left a bad taste in my mouth, like a fragment of joy and excitement I held is trapped in there with him waiting to break out. I've written several letters for him to read once he's out. Haruko will know everything that happened over the last few years, and however many more years I'll need to wait until he wakes up.

'Another year has passed, and Graduation is right around the corner. I really thought he would be awake by now, but hope is easily killed, most things seem to be easily killed.'

Naruto had experienced a small series of unfortunate events, which left him shaken to his core. While he held no love for her, Sakura was one of his friends, and while her love for sasuke wasn't returned he had still rooted for her, and tried to help her out. After Haruko opened his eyes about her it was much easier to become friends, and she had even helped him on occasion with Hinata. 

A few weeks ago we were in the middle of yet another inane lesson over chakra control, Iruka sensei was taking his time explaining the various pathways in our bodies, and while this would be helpful for either the talentless, or the underprivileged youth of our village, I and most of the other clan kids were beyond this learning. I had two of the greatest Jonin in the history of the village as personal tutors, if I was still struggling with this at this point I may as well have given up. 

Class prattled on as usual until an explosion announced two figures into the classroom. A hunched over figure wearing a thick cloak adorned with clouds was joined by a man with slicked back gray hair. Their gaze moved over us, and I hadn't felt such a predatory gaze since my first meeting with the fox. Frozen in place as we all were. Nobody moved as the scythe swept across the necks of several students. The final being the short hair of Sakura. After having a whole personal discovery after a fight with Ino she cut her hair off, and started marching her own path rather than in her shadow. 

Red filled my vision, and the rest is just a blank. I woke up some time later held by Kakashi as he assured me everything was going to be okay. Around me was pure destruction, bodies of several kids were strewn about, the ground burned, and marred in several places. Limbs lay strewn apart on the destroyed classroom floor. Among the dead only Sakura stood out to me, the others who had died were mostly kids I was unfamiliar with, and a few brave teachers who did their best. 

The majority of the clan kids were fine if just injured, the worst of them would be myself. Apparently flying into a blind rage, and releasing several chakra tails would tear my body apart. I've spent the last few weeks in the hospital, and I hope this letter is the one you finally wake up to. I need you, Haruko.

Tears filled my eyes as I read two years worth of letters at the behest of Kakashi. After being assured everything was okay, Kakashi had barely contained me, and prevented me from rushing to the hospital. Kakashi was surprised when the egg had melted into the shape of me, and I got up like nothing happened. Kakashi gave me a decent overview of the events of the past few years. I missed quite a bit, and cannon seems to have been thrown out the window if the Akatsuki were already gunning for Naruto.

Kakashi explained two S ranked rouge nin attacked, Sasori, and Hidan. Several students lost their lives, and their attempt to kidnap Naruto was thwarted by a combination of underestimating Naruto, the appearance of Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, who had taken up office in my absence. I wasn't shocked about that last bit as Naruto could only succeed in getting her back to her senses. 

The Old man retired, and made a late appearance just in time to assist with putting Naruto under. As for how the attack happened? They dropped from the sky. Nobody was prepared even if the response was as quick as possible. 

Pissed as I was, everything was already over. Despite all the jokes about Sakura, she was important to the development of both Naruto, and Sasuke, not only that, but in the end she did help deal with Kaguya. While I'm not overly emotional over her death, I am upset. Through his letters I learned that they became quite close friends after he got over his crush, and she got over her ignorance. 

Naruto needed emotional support, and I've been gone for too long.

Opening the door Haruko's body flickered through the air only briefly appearing as he moved across the village. Opening the window he slipped right in the hospital room, looking at the surprised Naruto.

"Naruto…"