001 [Video!]

[used_friendship]

[The video feed switches on to provide a blurred close up on someone's face. The user moves back slowly, allowing the image to come into focus as it shows a blond teenager sat on the ground, eying the device suspiciously.]

Hey- This thing even on? [A tap on the screen, the teen sighs, exasperated, before looking over to the Poliwag sat beside him.]

You know how to make this work?

[Silence.]

....Didn't think so. Maybe we just...

[Grumbling again as he shuffles in his spot, Naruto holds out the Pokegear a little further as he puts on one of his biggest, brightest smiles.]

Uzumaki Naruto, reporting for duty! Hehe. So, I really need to get home, everyone is counting on me, but the weird lady who thinks she's my Mom said I can't, so since I'm here I'm going to get all the badges and have everyone acknowledge me as the greatest Pokemon trainer there is, you'd better believe it!

[He hops up to his feet, facing the Poliwag once again.] C'mon Gama-chan! Training starts now!

[His speech is interrupted by the loud growling of an empty stomach.] Er... after we eat, that is. Does this place have ramen?

Comments

[Private Video]

[believeit]

[Unfortunately Naruto has no idea what he meant by that question.]

How what?

[Private Video]

[beforethedarkness]

How did it end up inside of you? And why?

[Private Video]

[believeit]

If I tell you thins, you're not gonna cry like your cousin are you.

[Private Video]

[beforethedarkness]

Why would I cry.

[Wut.]

[Private Video]

[believeit]

I told him about the Fourth dying and he started crying.

[Private Video]

[beforethedarkness]

...

If what I know about him is true, he would have been alive to see the Fourth Hokage, or possibly know him personally.

[Private Video]

[believeit]

The Fourth was his sensei! He was on Kaka-sensei's team.

[Private Video]

[beforethedarkness]

[Sigh. Looks like he's not figuring out how the hell Naruto got a monster inside him today.]

... Do you know why I left.

[Private Video]

[believeit]

[A pause for a moment.]

You said you wanted to become stronger. That the only bond that mattered to you was the one you had with your brother.

[Private Video]

[beforethedarkness]

[He shakes his head, frowning down at the ground in front of him and not at the camera as he thinks it over.]

... I was getting stronger in Konoha.

[Private Video]

[believeit]

I know that. You're the one that didn't!

[Private Video]

[beforethedarkness]

Something else had to have happened.

[Shaking his head because this is frustrating to try and figure out.]

[Private Video]

[believeit]

[Thinking. It was just after Tsunade came back, Naruto had gone with Jiraiya because-

oh.]

Itachi was in the village. You and Kakashi-sensei were in a coma.

[Private Video]

[beforethedarkness]

Itachi.

[He feels cold just repeating the name, staring at him as the implications get to him.]

Why?

[Private Video]

[believeit]

[That ongoing look of shock is starting to make him feel uncomfortable, actually. But it's not his fault, all these things are going to come up so they might as well get it over with right?]

Akatsuki were after me, he showed up with the shark guy.

[Private Video]

[beforethedarkness]

... I wasn't anywhere close to even touching him, was I.

[Suddenly it makes more sense. They were after Naruto because of the monster - the Kyuubi, because there'd be no other reason to go after Naruto. But if he hadn't known that... It would have been like Itachi had been completely brushing him aside. And if he couldn't touch Itachi despite his hard work and training on top of that... It would've crushed him.]

...

[He hated Itachi so much, and it's painful to realize that he might not be close to him at all, but...]

Did he say anything, Naruto. Do you remember.

[Private Video]

[believeit]

[Naruto shakes his head. He can't remember what was said between the two of them.]

He used his eye thingy on you. The Mange..something.

Hey, Sasuke. Why do you think he did it?

[Private Video]

[beforethedarkness]

[He's shaking a bit as he shakes his head.]

To test his new power... That's what he said.

[A beat and he checks his gear for something, his frown worsening when he's done.]

Change of plans. Go to Celadon City when you get to Goldenrod. Stay with Riku and Sora to train and for your own safety.

[Private Video]

[believeit]

You're not in Celadon.

[i.e. he's not going.]

[Private Video]

[beforethedarkness]

That's the point.

I'm being targeted by Team Rocket. And Bowser - the guy I warned you about - is going to try and use you to get to me, and he'll try to kill you if he thinks it'll draw me out.

[Dead serious.]

I can't let him do that to either of you. Either Goldenrod or take the ferry to Pallet Town and go from there, but either way you can't come to where I am right now.

[Private Video]

[believeit]

I don't care what that Bowser guy says, I wanna see you. I have too, after the last time..

[Naruto frowns, it's obvious they are going to disagree on this but he won't back down.]

[Private Video]

[beforethedarkness]

And put us both at risk while you're at it.

Naruto, he's a serious threat. I wouldn't tell you about him otherwise.

[And, GD everything, you're not listening... BRB he's going to hand you off to Lightning.]

[Private Video]

[believeit]

Tenten already told me nobody has powers or jutsus here, only Pokemon, so how can he be that much of as threat?

I'm not taking no for an answer.

Re: [Private Video]

[beforethedarkness]

I'm in hiding because of him, and his pokémon won't hesitate to attack people.

[Holding up his injured-arm-in-a-cast a little, since Naruto has failed to notice it so far (or at least to address it).]

I was lucky.

[Private Video]

[believeit]

[Seeing the injury only makes him MORE determined to see Sasuke.]

Where are you exactly, I'm coming there. I can help.