Strings Of Destiny

Need to Move Forward

"Perhaps...she moved" Naruto stated and Izumi glared at the scenery in front of her before rushing forward faster than Naruto had ever seen her move.

"Izumi wait..." Naruto called chasing after her he had a bad feeling about this. Eventually after hopping over several piles of rubble Naruto caught up to Izumi and widened his eyes.

In front of him was Naoru's home...or what was left of it anyway there was burnt wood everywhere and her home had been reduced to nothing more than ruins.

Izumi stared in disbelief in front of her...the place she had rested so many times when she had left Konoha was destroyed...she knew how much Naoru loved where she lived and it filled her with rage to know someone would destroy it.

Hearing the sound of light breathing Izumi narrowed her eyes before hopping over a large rock and reached what looked like part of the large stairway her eyes widened as she noticed a bloody wrinkly foot hanging out underneath.

Rushing over Izumi tried to lift the large piece of wood however it proved to heavy for her however she didn't stop trying even when the wood began to dig into her hands causing blood to flow out she still refused to give up.

'Lift...damn it, please...lift' Izumi thought her eyes closing in pain from her hands however to her surprise the large piece of wood began to lift and looking towards her side she noticed Naruto was helping her.

Finally after lifting the piece of wood Izumi gasped in horror as lying on the floor was Naoru her body was battered and bruised, there was blood covering the majority of her body and there where light burn marks on her body as if she had been tortured.

"Naoru-san can you hear me?" Izumi asked crouching down next to Naoru in a worried tone and it even surprised Naruto how she sounded.

Naoru struggled to open her eyes her vision was a little bloodied and her body was unable to respond.

"I-Izumi-chan" Naoru gasped out her breathing was labored as she noticed the soft black eyes of Izumi.

"Naoru-san hold on I'm going to help you" Izumi said and Naoru cracked a half smile.

"Don't worry about me..." Naoru stated trying to let out what Naruto assumed to be a cackle.

"But you're hurt" Izumi said back and Naruto moved into the sight on Naoru.

"N-Naruto-kun...I'm glad you're here as well..." Naoru laughed coughing up some blood and Naruto frowned kneeling down.

"I...I need you two to find Yotogi...he's in danger" Naoru gasped out before smiling at Izumi.

"You grew so beautiful Izumi-chan...and please don't cry...you should smile" Naoru stated and Izumi's eyes began to tear up...not again...she was losing another family.

"T-Thank you...for everything" Izumi sobbed out and Naoru frowned before looking towards Naruto.

"Look after her Naruto-kun...she needs you more than she knows" Naoru said smiling at the two of them before her eyes lost their focus and her breathing stopped entirely.

"Naoru-san..." Izumi sobbed and Naruto closed his eyes...rage building up inside of him...someone had to pay they killed Naoru and they even made Izumi cry.

Noticing Izumi's state Naruto wrapped his arms around Izumi and she immediately wrapped her arms around his mid-section before burying her face into his chest and cried. Naruto stayed with her as she cried promising whoever the cause of this was would perish by his hands.

Later

Both Naruto and Izumi stood over a make shift grave with a piece of wood sticking out of the ground with the name 'Naoru' engraved on it.