- Cough, cough! - My entire body ached horribly... it was hard for me to even move a finger!
Barely opening my eyes, I noticed that I was in some kind of room. Despite the pain, I turned my head to the side to look around. Unexpectedly, I noticed Kakashi-sensei sitting nearby. Although most of his face was hidden, in his eye, I noticed a mixture of emotions. Mainly: pain, sorrow, fear, and self-reproach...
- I see you're awake, Naruto. - my mentor addressed, after meeting my gaze.
- How... What about the others? - I immediately asked him the question that concerned me the most.
- They are fine, don't worry. Sakura and Sasuke are alive. You all survived - that's the main thing... - Kakashi-sensei answered, easing my anxiety.
- I see... - I exhaled, then closed my eyes, and without realizing it, drifted off to sleep...
'What exactly happened to me? Everything is so blurry...' - My memories felt as though they had been shattered into pieces, and I was trying to put them back together.
I remember how that vile monster completely swept away me and a thousand of my clones. I remember how that bastard still managed to leave his cursed seal on Sasuke! I remember how that asshole bit me too! I remember feeling a pain so burning that I literally wanted to die! And then... Everything was like a dream, no, a nightmare!
My mind started tearing apart, and the fears buried deep inside me literally began to spill out! My fears took flesh, turning into a torture from which there was nowhere to hide.
First, the reality around me turned to ruins. Even possessing knowledge of the future, I couldn't fix anything - everything was rolling toward the worst-case scenario, and I was just an arrogant fool who fancied himself the savior of this world. Around me lay them: Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi-sensei... Their bodies were cold, and their glazed eyes were fixed right on me. Silent voices sliced through my consciousness from the inside, burning away the remnants of my sanity: "It's your fault, Naruto. You failed to save us. You are not the chosen one. You are a mistake of this world!"
The image before my eyes blurred and was immediately replaced by a new, even more horrifying vision. The Akatsuki's plan had succeeded. I stood in the middle of a colossal slaughterhouse where there was no ground beneath my feet - only a bloody mess of tens of thousands of shinobi bodies from all the hidden villages. Thick rivers of blood flowed between hills of corpses, and the air reeked of rot and ash. On the horizon hung a massive, ominous blood-red moon—and on its surface, the concentric patterns of the Rinnegan clearly stood out, soullessly watching my agony.
I desperately tried to find a way out and break free from this nightmare! Realizing that these nightmares were Orochimaru's doing, I wasn't going to give up and become his next victim!
'I... will not be broken!' - I screamed in my mind.
At my mental scream, the illusory world cracked, crumbling into pieces. The heavy veil of the nightmare receded, and my consciousness abruptly threw me into the familiar damp darkness of my subconscious... Water sloshed beneath my feet - the endless concrete corridors of the sewer system greeted me with a hollow echo. I had broken out of the nightmare, but it was too early to celebrate! A wet, disgusting rustle echoed behind me. Turning around, I shuddered: right on my tail, writhing in a deadly tide of thousands of intertwined white snakes and crowned with a terrifying human head with yellow snake-like eyes, Orochimaru was relentlessly pursuing me. His alien, venomous chakra filled the space, leaving no air to breathe.
I immediately started running in the opposite direction! The only place where this monster couldn't reach me - or where a much nastier surprise awaited him - was at the very end of the corridor. Knowing this, I bolted forward with all my might, toward the giant iron cage behind which primal darkness swirled. The snake Sannin was hot on my heels.
Before I could reach it, the impenetrable darkness behind the bars suddenly trembled. Slowly, with a blood-curdling creak, two giant, blood-red eyes opened. Slit pupils glared at the uninvited guest with such primal fury that the air around crackled from the pressure. A predatory snarl bared rows of massive fangs. The strongest of the Bijuu had finally awakened!
- Who dares... disturb my slumber? - the low, rumbling voice of the Nine-Tailed demon rolled like thunder beneath the sewer's vaults.
Orochimaru froze for a moment, but there was no fear in his gaze - only a wild, twisted delight and curiosity.
- Ku-ku-ku... - he broke into a nasty chuckle, looking at the giant beast. - So this is what the Uzumaki clan's seal looks like from the inside... What an entertaining sight!
'The situation was critical to the limit. If I hesitate for even a second, this bastard will devour me or completely crush my will.' - I thought at the time.
A crazy, desperate thought flashed through my head: use canon event against that bastard. The only chance to survive was to tear off the seal ahead of time and bring out the Fourth Hokage!
Without hesitating for another second, I sharply dashed straight toward the massive gates of the cage, aiming my hand right at the center, where the paper talisman was affixed. I had only one goal - to rip it off!
- I am here... There is no need to be afraid. - a calm yet commanding voice echoed by my ear. However, it was permeated with love and care...
Literally out of thin air, a figure in a white cloak appeared. The Fourth Hokage instantly caught my hand, stopping it a millimeter away from the seal.
- You!!! - the Kyuubi roared, bristling even more at the sight of the one who had sealed him inside my body.
- That's... - Orochimaru managed to exhale, and for the first time, genuine bewilderment flickered across his face.
But he didn't have time to finish. A flash of purest golden light blinded the space. Like a lightning strike, the Fourth appeared next to the serpentine mass, and in an instant, all of Orochimaru's alien chakra was wiped clean, dissolving without a trace.
I stood with my mouth open, staring at the legendary Shinobi. My heart was pounding somewhere in my throat; I wanted to shout out everything, but the words got stuck. How should I address him? How do I call out to the father I never knew?
Minato smiled at me softly - warmly, without a shadow of reproach, as if reading all my thoughts at once.
- I know everything, Naruto. Let's talk somewhere else. - he said calmly, after which we found ourselves in a completely different place. The world around us sharply faded, dissolving into a blinding and pure light.
- ... - I remember silently looking around at everything. My soul felt at peace. I no longer felt the threat and fear that someone would try to subjugate my mind. However... Standing opposite the Fourth Hokage - Minato Namikaze - I didn't know what to say. How could I explain myself? I was afraid to look him in the eyes...
- I have been watching you and I know about everything that has happened. You don't need to be afraid... You are our son, Naruto. - he addressed me in a warm and good-natured voice.
- ...?! - Upon hearing these words, I immediately looked at him. Involuntarily, a tear rolled down my cheek.
- I understand, and to be honest, it's hard for me to start this conversation too. There is so much we need to discuss, and we have very little time for it... - Minato - no, my father - stated with sadness in his voice. Stepping closer to me, at the very end, he hugged me.
- ...?! - I was caught off guard. However, my soul felt so warm... I didn't want this feeling to end.
- I am glad... So glad that you are alive. It doesn't matter how you obtained knowledge of future events, you are still our son. - my father declared, holding me tightly in his embrace.
- Me too... Father... - at that moment, I couldn't hold back anymore and started crying.
Well, and then, after some time, I remember how dad and I started talking. We discussed the upcoming events and the threats I would have to face. Unfortunately, we couldn't discuss everything, as our time was short. However, even so, I was glad we had our talk. I couldn't even imagine how much I needed it...
Opening my eyes once more, I felt that it wasn't as painful to move as before. Unfortunately, the pain hadn't completely disappeared, but at least I could sit up on my own. Inside the room, which looked like a hospital ward, there was no one but me. Looking toward the window, I noticed it was daytime outside.
'Surely, someone from the Anbu is hiding in a tree somewhere, keeping an eye on me.' - I assumed.
I pulled the IV drip out of my right arm and tried to get out of bed. Exactly at that moment, Kakashi-sensei and Sakura-chan walked into my room, along with a nurse. The hospital worker immediately tried to stop me, but I didn't listen to her and said that I was fine. It was actually true, because due to the peculiarities of my body, I recovered quickly. I also asked the nurse where they had put my clothes. Because it was somewhat uncomfortable being practically naked (I was only wearing a hospital gown) in front of the female sex...
- ... - Kakashi was pleased with my attitude and didn't try to convince me to listen to the nurse and get back into bed. My mentor knew me and my limits perfectly well.
- ... - As for Sakura, she avoided eye contact with me and said nothing.
'This isn't good... I know that empty look perfectly well. She blames herself for what happened. I can't let her continue to beat herself up!' - I decided to myself, before slowly walking over to her.
- Naruto? ...?! - Noticing me, she said my name with surprise, and after I suddenly hugged her, she fell into a stupor.
- I'm glad you're alright, Sakura-chan... Don't blame yourself for what happened. The main thing is that we're alive. You know what that means? - I addressed her, then broke the hug and asked her a question.
- ...What? - The empty look in my teammate's eyes was gone. She became genuinely interested in finding out the answer to my question.
- Heh, it means that we'll become much stronger than before! - I declared with a smirk, pointing my thumb up.
- ...! You're right, Naruto. Thank you... for everything. - Upon hearing my answer, Sakura was pleasantly surprised. A faint smile appeared on her face, and she agreed with my statement. After that, she sincerely thanked me.
- Mmm... I'm also glad that you two are alright. - our mentor chimed in, visibly pleased with our conversation.
- ... - Only the nurse watched this scene with a strange look. Though, if I were in her place, I too would have felt like a third wheel in the room and tried to slip out quietly. However, she had duties regarding the care and well-being of the patients, so her position was understandable too...
Next, I started asking Kakashi-sensei about Sasuke's condition and the situation as a whole. Our mentor asked the nurse to leave the room, and after she left, he told us everything we needed to know.
First, he told us that the one who attacked us in the Forest of Death was none other than Orochimaru - one of those titled the "Sannin". And also, that two days had passed since our "encounter" with him. According to Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke had already regained consciousness, but he still needed time for a full recovery.
'Speaking of Orochimaru's curse mark, he didn't say a word about it...' - I noted to myself.
Our mentor also made it perfectly clear to us that the news of our "lucky encounter" with Orochimaru was strictly classified. Very few knew about what had happened, and the Hokage had ordered that this information not be disclosed.
It was understandable - a leak of such information could provoke a colossal political fallout. Orochimaru was an S-rank missing-nin, and if other hidden villages found out that he had infiltrated the Exam grounds completely unhindered and orchestrated a massacre there, it would deal a crushing blow to Konoha's authority. We could be accused of negligence or even secret collusion, which, in the current precarious situation, was absolutely unneeded.
That was exactly why the village had to resort to a ruse. Kakashi, as well as Guy, Asuma, and Kurenai - the Jonins who rushed out to save us that day - officially received reprimands and formal punishments for "violating protocol and unauthorized interference with the rules of the Exam". Since revealing the truth about what happened was strictly forbidden, the leadership had to somehow officially document and justify the elite teams breaking away so urgently. For the mentors themselves, these "punishments" were nothing more than an empty bureaucratic formality and a convenient smokescreen, but from the outside, it looked as if they had simply breached discipline.
And finally, the most important thing: the second phase of the Exam was officially canceled. Due to the extreme incident and the deaths of a portion of the participants, the traditional format was deemed unfeasible. Instead, the village council approved a fundamentally different qualifying phase, which was scheduled to take place in just three days.
'Canon events have started to gradually crumble. I need to be careful and prepare for the worst-case scenario...' - I decided. - 'But first, I need to get some normal clothes and check on Sasuke!'