The next day was not something that Haruto was looking forward to. With everything that would happen that day, Haruto wished that he could just turn back time and be with his friends again. But now he was going to leave them all for good. He was going to leave with the possibility that he would never come back.
Haruto awoke to the sun shining in his face through his window and the sound of birds chirping for the first time in ages. He tried his best to smile, but the knowledge of what was to come was simply too foreboding for him to be happy. He sat himself up and did his best to fight back the tears that were trying to force their way past his eyes. He barely held them back as a few slipped past his guard.
Steeling himself as best he could, Haruto stood and grabbed Shukketsu Souru, strapping her to his waist inside of his jacket as he had done the night before. Looking toward his full body mirror that he had put in before the outbreak, he looked over his darkened form, save for his blonde hair which was pull back flat on top of his head. He chuckled to himself in a slightly cold manner. As much as I do not want to leave… I honestly think that maybe this was my calling in life. Maybe I was simply born to kill.
Trying to keep the small piece of insanity that he had held onto over the last few years, Haruto pushed the thought aside and walked out of his room and continued out of his apartment. When he came outside, he saw that apparently, despite the fact that the village was in shambles, people were trying to return to normalcy. There were small and simple stands set up along the streets and Haruto also saw that there were also Shinobi running about trying to get their daily schedules back on track.
Haruto sighed as he walked down the dirt streets towards the Great Fire Gates that divided Konoha from the Forest of Fire. I wish that I didn't have to go… I honestly wish that I could stay… but maybe this won't be so bad. Maybe it will be a good thing. For some reason… when I felt their blood on my hands… I could feel the ecstasy… Naruko… is something wrong with me?
No, Haru-kun, there isn't anything wrong with you. It is only natural to feel what you are feeling after you went through so much. It was not only this outbreak and the one that you will now face, but everything that came before it as well. All of the neglect and lies that you were subjected to… it was all simply a time bomb that they had placed within you… ticking away to see how long it would take until you finally snapped. Your bloodlust is not your own fault… but as I said; a collaboration of their own wrongdoings.
Haruto accepted the long and drawn out answer with a nod and a small smile. At least I'm not insane. Haruto kept walking and walking as he left through the unguarded gates of the village. He walked for three hours until he heard Naruko speak. Haru-kun, it is nearing that time in the future. Fujimi High School will be underneath the outbreak within the hour. You must leave now. Haruto nodded and started to move faster towards a clearing that he knew very well. It was the same clearing where he remembered that Rock Lee and Sabaku no Gaara fought Kimimaro until said Oto ninja died of a disease. Haruto sat in the middle of the clearing and began to meditate so he could talk to Naruko a bit easier. Okay Naru-chan, what do I do?
Minutes passed until Haruto heard her reply. You will have to gather your chakra both massively equally into all parts of your body before you can perform this jutsu. Haruto did as he was told and started to redistribute chakra equally throughout his body until he was completely sure that his chakra was perfectly equal in both capacity and flow. Now what, Naru-chan?
It is actually quite simple. Now you must put an equal amount of my own chakra into your body. Then I will use our combined chakra to open up a hole in time and before it closes, you will jump in. It may hurt slightly but you will live at least. Haruto felt a pang of fear in his spine and tried to run it away. He just did as he was told and started to leak Naruko's own chakra into his coils. When he had the right amount in each part of his body, he spoke back. Okay… I'm ready…
Okay, Haru-kun. Just to let you know… while we're there, I will think of everything that I can to make sure that you get back home… I swear. Haruto smiled and started to feel his eyes burn with the coming of tears. Naru-chan… thank you… you are a great friend. Haruto knew from the silence that Naruko was mulling over the comment and she enjoyed it as he felt a wave of warmth flow over him. Naruko then began feeding the information on the jutsu to him. At first he was confused… it was more a chant than it was a jutsu. He disregarded it and simply began to flash through the hand seals that came to his head while he chanted out the jutsu. Haruto did not understand the language in which the jutsu came to him, but he began to say it as he heard it.
Haruto began to feel the air around him bend and twist as if it were made of water. He opened his eyes and saw the air shift in ways that he thought not possible. The images of the trees in the distance began to distort and Haruto simply continued to chant. In front of him, a small slit of blackness began to form in the air. As the chant continued, the slit got bigger and bigger until it was finally a size big enough for him to step into.
Haruto stood as he looked to the gash-like formation in the air. It was pitch black on the inside, much like one would think that nothingness would look like. He stepped forward and put his hand inside… it was so cold. He quickly pulled it out and started to warm his hand back to its normal temperature. Haruto looked to it and began to talk to Naruko. Naru-chan…why the Hell is it so cold?
Time is not a living being. There is no Father Time, there is only time itself. It is cold and indifferent. It would only be natural that a portal through time would be freezing. Haruto nodded once more and started to take a step in before he stopped with half of his body in and cold, while the other half was out and warm. He turned his head and took in what could be his last sight. I'm going to miss this place…
Haruto sighed and turned back to the portal before taking his final step in. As soon as he was through, the portal sealed up and there was no trace that anyone was ever there…
Inside the portal, Haruto was about to freeze to death. It was not so much that it was a windy chill… it was the fact that there was simply no warmth whatsoever. Everywhere, there were events that were taking place in different periods of time. Some disgusted Haruto and some intrigued him. Naru-chan, what is all of this? Haruto was answered a few minutes later.
These are the events that have happened in this particular place in time. In all honesty, it was an amazing place for you to pick because in the time that we are going to, this is an alleyway near Fujimi High. It is exactly two blocks from the school. And with what time you will be getting there, you get there at around the time that the person you must help will witness the first killing that happens in Japan.
Haruto kept walking as his body began to get used to the cold, but he could still see his breath. Japan? Are the Elemental Nations not around in this time? No. The Elemental Nations were sunk by an unknown force and pulled to the sea floor. Even the Bijuu were destroyed by this thing. At least now that we have traveled through time you will be spared that fate. Do not worry about your friends. They all die of old age long before whatever happened happens.
Haruto sighed and nodded as he continued to walk through the portal. As he felt like he had been walking for hours, Naruko spoke again. You're getting closer to what time we must be in. I must say one thing, though. You cannot speak to me once you get to where you are going. Haruto stopped walking and started to panic. Why can't I speak to you? Will our mental connection be messed up by the time period? Will something happen to me? Will…
No, Haruto! It is not that at all, Haru-kun. I told you before we left that I would be working on a way to get you back home. If I am to do that then I will need all the concentration and free time I can get to research this jutsu. You and I will both be fine. Besides, I think that you will find a person in this time period that piques your interest.Naruko's voice was laced with a certain mischievous undertone that made Haruto quiver.
What do you mean, Naru-chan? Haruto heard Naruko chuckle a very Jiraiya-like chuckle. He could practically feel the perverted undertones. I simply think that you will be very interested by a certain person that will join your group. Haruto sighed in defeat at the fact that he wasn't going to get a straight answer out of Naruko.
Finally, Haruto had come to the end of the line. At the end of the timeline of events, a moving picture of cars going by an alleyway with sakura blossoms blowing in the wind. This is it, Haru-kun. I will recede into the depths of your mind so I can get some slight privacy from all of the things that will happen. I wish you the best of luck. Don't forget that you can use your techniques, but also remember that you must watch over those people. There is one in particular that I would like you to look after though. One that happens to be a descendent of mine. Haruto's eyes widened. You have a descendent?
Yes. Though their clan name has changed due to the fact that all of my descendents are female and they married outside of their clans. My descendent in this time is an excellent Swordswoman…
This is the first time that I've ever felt you get truly emotional over something, Naru-chan. Though I do think it is a good change from the perverted jokes and lewd comments that you have given me before. What is her name? Naruko was silent for a time until she finally divulged the information to him. Her name is Saeko Busujima. Haruto nodded in understanding that she would want her descendent to be protected.
As he accepted his secondary objective, Haruto placed his hand on the picture and it expanded into the real thing.
Without another thought… Haruto entered into the next outbreak…