---
The screen flickered to life with the chapter title, and the viewing room, still basking in the relief of Kyo's survival, settled in to watch. The word "Dream" appeared, causing some curiosity.
"After everything that's happened, I hope it's a good dream," Hinata said softly.
"Knowing this story," Sasuke said grimly, "it won't be."
---
Naruko was sleeping at that time, and then everything felt hotter and hotter. She slowly opened her eyes as she saw fire. Her room is on fire; she quickly runs out of the room. When she passed the living room, she saw something that made her heart break into a thousand pieces.
"Fire?" Kushina said with immediate concern. "What's happening?"
"A nightmare," Kurenai identified quickly. "This isn't real."
The blond girl saw half of Asuka's body lying on the ground while the other half was away from her. Naruko, with teary eyes, rushes out of the house.
"NO!" Multiple voices screamed in horror.
"ASUKA!" Kushina shouted, jumping to her feet.
"That's not real," Yuri said quickly, trying to calm everyone. "It has to be a nightmare."
"Still traumatic to witness," Tsunade noted with medical concern.
When Naruko is outside, she gets down to her knees and starts to cry, and then she smells something strong, something like.
Blood.
"Massacre scenario," Madara noted grimly. "Classic nightmare imagery."
Naruko looked out her front as she saw countless dead people right in front of her. She also saw a kid and a baby also die. They are lying with their parents, she guesses. She heard people screaming and burning. In the short term, Konoha is in chaos right now; everything is burning.
"The village destroyed," Hiruzen said with deep concern, even knowing it's a dream.
"Her worst fears," Shikamaru observed. "Everything she loves is being destroyed."
Naruko can only watch in horror.
"Why?.... this happened?..." Naruko asks in a lifeless tone,
"You want to know why?"
"Someone's there," Kakashi noted tensely.
Naruko quickly turned toward the voice, and she saw Kyo Uchiha. She remembered the last time she saw him, standing right in front of her. He is in a Super Saiyan state, but his eyes are red blood and covered in blood.
The room went completely silent, the horror of the implication hitting everyone.
"No," Yuri whispered, her face going pale. "Not Kyo."
"Evil Kyo," Gaara said with understanding. "Her nightmare is that he becomes the monster."
"Red eyes instead of blue," Itachi noted. "Corrupted Sharingan."
The more shocked and broken Naruko is. Kyo is holding Satsuki and Hinata's heads in each hand. Naruko's tears are now streaming down her cheek. Kyo throws two of her best friends' heads toward her.
"WHAT THE HELL!" Multiple voices erupted in absolute horror.
"THAT'S NOT KYO!" Kushina screamed, her maternal instincts in overdrive.
"The heads of her friends," Mikoto said with disgust and terror. "This nightmare is beyond cruel."
"This is her fear," Ryo said grimly. "That Asura's influence will corrupt our son."
As she quickly grabs their heads. Naruko let out a broken-hearted scream, "HAAAAAAAA!!!!.... w-why..... they love you..... w-why you kill them..."
Several people in the viewing room were crying now, the emotional scene hitting too close to their fears.
"Even in a nightmare, she's thinking of how much they loved him," Hinata said through tears.
Naruko continues to cry, Kyo's body almost covered in blood, and evil grins at her.
Kyo smirked, "Asura... Show me the true nature of Saiyan, and I will start with this place..." He palms toward her as he charges his Ki attack. "Sayonara Naruko..."
"ASURA'S INFLUENCE!" Naruto shouted in fury.
"That's her worst fear," Minato realized. "That Asura will corrupt Kyo and turn him into a planet destroyer."
"The ultimatum," A noted grimly. "Join or destroy. In her nightmare, he chose to join."
The Saiyan boy fires the Ki blast at her.
"NO!" Everyone shouted.
---
•Reality•
Naruko shoots out of her bed, panting badly. She saw her surroundings as she realized. She is in her room.
"Thank Kami," Kushina said with relief. "It was just a nightmare."
"But what a nightmare," Kurenai said with professional concern. "That level of psychological trauma..."
Naruko is panting as she asks herself, "W-Was that a dream?"
"Poor girl," Mito said with sympathy. "The fear must feel so real."
Naruko needs to confirm something; she must check Asuka in her room to ensure that she is okay. She quickly got out of her bed, running toward Asuka's room. She aggressively opens the door as she sees Asuka sleeping well on her bed, but that aggressive noise from Naruko wakes her up.
"Reality check," Tsunade noted approvingly. "Smart response to nightmare trauma."
"She needs to see that Asuka is alive," Sakura understood.
Asuka rubbed her eye and yawned, "Naruko? Why are you here? Did something happen?"
Naruko didn't reply as she went straight to Asuka and hugged the poor single-eye girl tightly. Tears streamed down Naruko's face as Asuka hugged her back.
"Relief hug," Guy said with emotional approval. "Beautiful friendship!"
"Asuka's alive and safe," Ino said with relief.
Asuka's big sister instinct came as she petted Naruko back. "Mah... mah... You have a nightmare, Naruko-Chan?" She asks her best friend, Naruko, and Naruko nods, and she explains to her.
"Asuka really is like a big sister," Kushina noted warmly. "Taking care of everyone."
"She's been through so much, but she still comforts others," Yuri said with admiration.
---
After 5 mins of explanation, Asuka holds Naruko's hand and smiles at her.
Asuka smiles, "Naruko-Chan, you know that will never happen; Kyo-Kun is a person who will put their friends first, and yet Kyo will never hurt his friends or even kill them."
"Exactly right," Ryo said with paternal pride. "Our Kyo would never hurt his friends."
"Asuka knows him well," Neji observed.
Naruko nodded. She was worried about Kyo and the future that was about to come. "Yeah, Kyo-Kun is like that... and I'm worried; it's been two months since he didn't wake up."
"Two months of worry would definitely cause nightmares," Kurenai noted with understanding.
"The stress of waiting," Shikamaru observed. "Not knowing if he'd survive."
"We will visit him right after sunrise, okay?" Asuka watches the clock beside her bed. It shows the time is 5.45 am. "Naruko-chan, can you help me make breakfast?"
"5:45 AM," Kakashi noted. "She woke up from the nightmare early."
The blonde wipes her tears away, smiles, and nods.
"Moving forward together," Mito said approvingly. "Good friendship."
---
In the Hospital, Satsuki told Kyo what happened after he was unconscious for three months.
"Scene shift to the hospital," Hiruzen noted. "We're about to see the reunion."
"Three months," Fugaku corrected. "Wait, wasn't it two months earlier?"
"So Anbu's from Konoha arrive and bring me back to the village?" Kyo was actually surprised Anbu could arrive that fast.
"Anbu response time," Tobirama noted approvingly. "Efficient village management."
Satsuki nodded, "Yeah, Anbu told us to continue our mission while they take you home and treat your injury."
"They finished the mission," Minato said with pride. "Good dedication."
"Even with Kyo unconscious, they completed their duty," Hiruzen noted approvingly.
"Is that so..." Kyo saw the frustration on Satsuki's face.
"I don't like it... I didn't want to leave you alone..." Satsuki said while pouting.
"She wanted to stay with him," Mikoto said with understanding. "Poor girl."
"Loyalty over duty," Madara noted with grudging respect.
Kyo pets her head as she looks at Kyo's warm smile. "It's okay because you guys saved the villager from Gato's company, and I'm proud of you because of that. I'm also glad you are safe."
"He's proud of them," Guy said with approval. "Even after nearly dying!"
"Thinking of others first," Kushina noted with motherly pride.
Satsuki had a pink blush on her face as she went to hug Kyo. 'I love you, Kyo.'
"She loves him," Ino squealed quietly. "The feelings are so strong."
"Two months of fear made her realize," Anko observed with amusement.
Kyo broke the hug as the room door opened.
There were two people: Naruko and Asuka, with a box of meals in their hands. Both of the girls look at Kyo with wide eyes and happiness in their hearts.
"Perfect timing," Choji noted, eyeing the food. "They brought meals."
"The reunion we've been waiting for," Temari said with anticipation.
Naruko got tears welling in her eyes when she saw the person lying dying for months, "K-Kyo..."
"After that nightmare, seeing him alive must be overwhelming," Hinata said with understanding.
Kyo gave a warm smile and said in a gentle tone, "Ohayo... Naruko-Chan."
"Such a gentle greeting," Mito noted warmly. "After everything."
Naruko didn't say a word as Satsuki stepped aside from Kyo.
Then, in a second, Naruko dashed toward Kyo and gave him a tight hug as the young Uchiha braced the pain from his injured body.
"She's so relieved," Kushina said with tears in her eyes. "After that nightmare, seeing him awake..."
"He's bracing the pain for her comfort," Yuri noted with motherly understanding.
Naruko, tears of joy streaming down her face, and Kyo hugs her back.
Kyo saw Asuka also tear down her face as she quickly wiped it off.
"Asuka's trying to be strong," Sakura observed. "But she's emotional too."
Naruko was crying with joy, but kinda angry at the same time, as she said, "Baka! Baka! I'm gonna kill you once again if you die! Baka!"
"Classic Naruko reaction," Naruto laughed through his own emotional state. "Angry crying."
"Threatening him for nearly dying," Jiraiya chuckled. "That's love."
Kyo chuckled at Naruko as he petted her back head. Asuka comes close to them. "Sorry... Naruko, Asuka... I'm sorry to make you guys worried about me."
"Always apologizing for others' worry," Ryo said with pride. "That's our boy."
Naruko broke the hug. "You better be sorry!"
Asuka is the last one who hugs Kyo, but her hug doesn't hurt him because she gives a gentle hug, and Kyo returns it.
"Asuka's considerate," Kurenai noted. "Gentle because of his injuries."
Asuka smiles sweetly, "I'm glad you are awake..."
"Simple but heartfelt," Mito observed warmly.
Then they all heard a stomach growl from Kyo as he rubbed his back hair, "Uh... I'm a bit hungry..."
"Two months without food!" Choji said with alarm. "Of course he's hungry!"
"IV nutrition isn't the same as real food," Tsunade noted with medical understanding.
The girls giggled at him as Asuka said, "I'm sorry, Kyo-Kun, I only brought Satsuki breakfast. But don't worry, and I'll bring you food to mind, okay?"
"She's always taking care of everyone," Ino noted with admiration.
Asuka gives the meal to Satsuki as she walks out of the room. As soon as she walks out, another two people come in.
It was Kakane and Hokage, and they always visited him almost every day, with a certain Anbu with purple hair watching.
"Daily visits," Hiruzen noted with approval. "Good care."
"Purple-haired Anbu," Kakashi identified. "Probably Yugao."
"Kakane-Sensei! Hokage-Jiji!"
Kakane and Hokage saw, as usual, Naruko and Satsuki always there, and Kyo lying on the bed.
But this time, Kyo is awake and sitting in bed as he greets them politely, "Kakane-Sensei, Hokage-Sama."
"Proper greetings even after two months in a coma," Tobirama noted approvingly.
Kakane gives a warm smile under her mask. "I am so glad to see you are awake, Kyo-Chan." She was glad when she saw him standing again, which was weird and impressive for a boy who had been in a coma for months.
"Kyo-Chan," Anko noted with amusement. "The teacher's affection is showing."
"Standing after months in a coma," Tsunade observed with medical amazement. "Saiyan recovery is incredible."
Kyo blushed a bit when he heard what Kakane called him.
"He's blushing," Ino giggled. "Still has those reactions."
"How do you feel, Kyo-Kun?" Hiruzen asks.
"My body still hurts and is sore, especially in my abdominal area," Kyo said while holding his
"The wound from Asura's Ki blast," Gaara noted grimly.
"Can you lift your shirt?" Hiruzen said, wanting to see the damage.
Kyo lifted his shirt, and Naruko, Satsuki, and Kakane saw Kyo's scar.
"The scar," Yuri said with maternal concern. "Permanent reminder of that battle."
Hiruzen had his hand on his goatee. "Hmm... it looks like you need a pro-medical treatment, Kyo-Kun."
"Professional treatment," Tsunade noted. "That means me in their world."
Kyo releases his shirt as he asks.
"So... Kyo can't get any better, Jiji?" Naruko asks the old Hokage,
Hiruzen is humming for a second as he says, "He will get better, but not as soon as he might be. So you might take it easy, don't push your body, or it will harm your body even more."
"Sound medical advice," Tsunade approved. "Don't push recovery."
"But knowing Kyo..." Sasuke said with a knowing look.
Then at lightning speed, memories struck the Saiyan boy's brain as he yelped in pain and held his head, and he noticed everyone in the room.
"MEMORY FLASH!" Multiple voices shouted with concern.
"The Kenshi connection!" Itachi realized.
"Kyo! Are you okay?!" Satsuki and Naruko are already beside Kyo.
Kyo groaned in pain as he said, "My head... I saw images, and it felt like memories..."
"More of Kenshi's memories," Orochimaru noted with fascination.
"The connection is strengthening," Madara observed.
"Are you okay? What did you see?" Kakane asks with concern.
The young Saiyan looks at the old Hokage as he asks. "Hokage-Jiji, do you know anyone with the name Kenshi Uchiha?"
The viewing room went silent. Here it comes.
Hokage's eye is wide open as the other looks at the old Hokage.
"Here we go," Jiraiya said quietly. "The recognition."
"Kenshi Uchiha? Who is that?" Naruko asks.
Satsuki shrugged as she answered, "I don't know."
The single-eyed sensei explains to her student, as she knows a bit about that, "Kenshi Uchiha is the first Uchiha with blue Sharingan before Kyo-chan. He is also one of the Legendary Yonnin."
"She knows about the Yonin," Fugaku noted with interest.
"First Uchiha with blue Sharingan," Mikoto repeated. "So the connection is the eye."
Hiruzen adds, "He is also one of my four former students. But how do you know him, Kyo-Kun?"
"Four students," Tsunade noted. "The legendary Yonin team."
Kyo: "I didn't know... I saw the image when I was in a coma, I guess."
"The void memories," Shikamaru realized. "That's when the connection formed."
Hokage suddenly summons a weapon in front of Kyo, and their three old, custom-damaged Kunai and old, damaged Katana.
"Kenshi's weapons," Hiruzen said with recognition and deep emotion.
"Battle-worn," A noted with respect. "These saw real combat."
Naruko existed, "Woa... what is this blade and the Kunai? It looks old."
Satsuki touches the blade and looks at the Hokage to see if she can pick it up. Hokage nods as Satsuki picks it up. "This Katana is heavy and looks like it has been in war countless times."
"The weight of legend," Guy said with passionate respect.
Kakane looks at the Hokage as she asks, "Who's the owner of the weapon, Hokage-Sama? As I can see, it looks like a costume made like the 4th Hokage Kunai."
"Custom weapons," Tenten noted with professional interest. "Like Minato's Flying Thunder God kunai."
Hokage still didn't say a word when the old man saw Kyo ask Satsuki if he could hold the blade.
"Satsuki-Chan, can I hold it?"
Satsuki nodded. "Sure." She gives it to him.
"This won't end well," Kakashi predicted.
When Kyo holds the sword, memories strike him again; he lets go of the blade and holds his head.
"MEMORY SURGE!" Lee shouted with concern.
The young Saiyan saw Kenshi's memories again as he saw Kenshi kill countless ninjas in seconds with the blade in his right hand, two Kunai on his left, and the other in his mouth. Kyo is about to witness Kenshi's powerful Susanno before the memories are gone in a flash.
"SUSANOO!" Madara said with intense interest. "Kenshi had Susanoo!"
"Three-weapon fighting style," Sasuke noted with admiration. "Incredible skill."
"The memories are getting more detailed," Itachi observed.
Kyo is down to his knees, panting, with Naruko and Satsuki helping him back to his bed. "I saw it again..."
"The connection is getting stronger," Orochimaru noted with fascination.
Hokage seals back the weapon, and he talks.
"What did you see this time?"
Kyo looked at the Hokage, "I saw him, Kenshi. At war, he kills countless enemies in a second."
"Battlefield memories," Ay noted grimly. "The reality of war."
"Kenshi was a monster in battle," Jiraiya said with sad respect.
Hiruzen went into silence for a few minutes while looking at Kyo a couple of times, and he couldn't push away the resemblance between his past student and Kyo soon; he said, "... Take rest, Kyo-Kun. I'll be back tomorrow. Kakane, meet me at the office."
"He sees the resemblance," Tsunade noted. "Physical and spiritual."
"This is troubling him deeply," Kurenai observed.
Kakane nodded, "Hai, Hokage-Sama."
Hokage walks out of the room.
"Get well, Kyo-chan. I'm so glad you are awake; I'll come back tomorrow." Kakane said as she kissed Kyo's head, which made the Saiyan boy blush; she just about Shunshin away, but she stopped Kyo from talking to her.
"HEAD KISS!" Anko cackled. "The teacher's affection is showing!"
"He's blushing again," Ino noted with amusement.
"Kakane-sensei... Sasuki told me about the Chunin exam... so can I join Naruko, Satsuki, and Sakura in the Chunin exam?"
"HE WANTS TO JOIN THE CHUNIN EXAMS?!" Tsunade shouted in medical alarm.
"After nearly dying!" Sakura added in disbelief.
Kakane denied, "No, you can't. Your body didn't heal enough."
"SMART TEACHER!" Guy shouted approvingly. "Protect his health first!"
Kyo begged with a super cute cat face. "Please.... let me join them. I promise I won't die..."
"WEAPONIZED CUTENESS!" Naruto laughed. "That's unfair!"
"No teacher can resist that," Hinata said with understanding.
Kakane looks at the male Uchiha. "Alright-alright... you promise you won't die, but that didn't mean you wouldn't get hurt, right?" Kyo replies with a sheepish smile at her as she continues her words. "Sure, can join them."
"SHE GAVE IN!" Multiple voices shouted.
"The power of the cute face," Temari laughed.
"This is medically inadvisable," Tsunade said with concern.
"YATTA!! ow, ow..." Kyo clamps his stomach in pain, and he receives other pain from Naruko when she smacks his head.
"INSTANT KARMA!" Kiba laughed.
"Pain from celebration," Shino noted. "The irony."
Naruko said in anger, worried, "Baka! Don't be that happy because we will be there watching you, dattebayo!"
"Protective anger," Kushina noted with motherly understanding.
Kyo pouted, "Hey, don't be like that... I can watch myself, you know?"
Satsuki shook her head, "No, you can't! You are even weaker than Sakura right now."
"SAVAGE!" Ino shouted. "Satsuki, with the harsh truth!"
"Even weaker than Sakura," the real Sakura said with mixed offense and concern.
Naruko sweatdropped a bit as she said, "Um... It's a bit harsh to say, Satsuki?"
Satsuki scoffed, "Like I care..."
"Tough love," Mikoto noted with amusement.
Kyo finally sighed as he said, "Calm down, girls; that's why I want to join, because I know you girls will be in my back." He gives the girl a warm smile that makes them blush.
"SMOOTH RECOVERY!" Jiraiya noted approvingly.
"That smile is dangerous," Anko observed with amusement.
"The exam will start next week. So get prepared." Kakane disappears in a blink of an eye as more people come in.
"One week," Shikamaru noted. "Not much recovery time."
"KYO-KUN!!"
It was the Gennin ninjas' graduation this year, and Asuka had Kyo's meals in her hands. Kyo once again braces the pain hug from tearful Hinata, Sakura, and Ino.
"THE FANGIRL BRIGADE!" Naruto shouted with amusement.
"Poor Kyo getting crushed again," Kakashi noted with sympathy.
While Shikamaru, Choji, Shino, and Kiba look pity on Kyo is literally crushed by a girl's hug.
"Male solidarity," Shikamaru said with understanding. "We feel his pain."
"Death by affection," Kiba noted with amusement.
---
Hokage walked toward his office with a thought in his mind. 'Same blue Sharingan... memories of Kenshi Uchiha... I hope he didn't have the same soul, because my old heart can't take that kind of surprise. I'm too old for this.'
"He thinks Kyo might be Kenshi reincarnated," Itachi realized with shock.
"Same soul," Madara noted with dark interest. "Fascinating possibility."
"The resemblance is that strong," Jiraiya said with amazement.
"Hiruzen's old heart," Tsunade said with sympathy for her former teacher.
---
•To Be Continue•
---
The screen faded to black, leaving the room buzzing with discussion.
"Kenshi's reincarnation?" Orochimaru mused with scientific fascination.
"The memory connection makes sense now," Shikamaru analyzed. "If they share a soul..."
"But Kyo is also a Saiyan," Fugaku pointed out. "How does that work?"
"Multiversal soul," the Guardian's voice echoed mysteriously. "Some spirits transcend single lifetimes and species."
"The weapons triggered stronger memories," Tenten noted with professional interest.
"Next week is the Chunin Exams," Hiruzen said with concern. "In his condition..."
"He'll push himself too hard," Yuri worried. "That's our Kyo."
"At least his friends will watch over him," Kushina said with determination.
"The nightmare at the beginning," Kurenai noted thoughtfully. "Naruko's fear of him turning evil... it shows how much Asura's threat affects everyone."
"But she also knows he'd never really hurt his friends," Hinata pointed out hopefully.
"Guardian-sama," Minato requested, "might we continue? The Chunin Exams in Kyo's condition... this should be interesting."
The Guardian's light pulsed with anticipation. "Indeed. But first, you should know - the Chunin Exams will test more than just ninja skills. They will test the very bonds you've seen him forge."
Everyone settled back, a mixture of excitement and worry filling the room as they prepared for what promised to be an intense examination period.
---
(Done, chapter 21 is done! I hope you like it.)
(What is the connection between Kyo and Kenshi?)
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