Summary: In which our favourite blonde (for some of us) muses about Kurama and discuss Madara with his rival.

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He reaches out, touches the ground, touches the black tendrils weaved in complications and tricks, designed to fool even the toughest of shinobi. Breathes in the iron scent of dried blood, and he can't help but wonder, is his friend doing okay?

Is he getting along with the people of Konohagakure?

A low chuckle, and then a sob of desperation escapes, because he can't imagine what it's like for Kurama to just appear back. Confused? Scared? Hating him? He can't help but wonder, if he really does.

They've been together for years, and to suddenly tear him apart from him is...

Someone grasps his shoulder, and he looks up to see obsidian eyes looking back at him with a aloof expression. "Oi, dobe," his companion grunts, but his eyes flickers with something that he can't tell what it is. "Is the seal gone?"

Pain flickers inside of him when he realizes the exhaustion that he's been holding back since yesterday. He grunts, before looking back up and regrets it. His companion looked exhausted, too. Haunted black eyes, body too skinny, and hell, his breath is coming out ragged, too.

"Uh, teme," he says, blinking tiredly. Even since Kurama left, he's been so, so tired, and it shows. "Who are we sending back now exactly?" he jokes.

The companion sucks in a breath, before words float out, and it's sheer disbelief that leaves him gapping at the other man. "I'd pick you."

"M-Me? Why me?"

"Because that Bijuu needs you, and you're moping around even more than usual, dobe. It's no wonder that you're distracted lately, especially when we're fighting against Zetsu, probably because you're worried for him.... Am I right?"

"You know me too well," he chuckles, reaching out to touch the black-haired man's arm. Other arm missing, but it doesn't matter anymore. Shouldn't matter anymore. "But, the seal only works once, remember? It can't work ever again, not until we make another one, which will probably take a year and we'll probably be dead by then."

A dry chuckle from him escapes, and the man doesn't even bat an eyelash. Would probably retort something else in return, a playful banter between the two, but silence remains instead. And makes him wonder how badly they want to change the past so it doesn't change into this war-torn future that has no hope.

"No hope for us, then, dobe?"

"Nope!" The letter p is said with a popping sound, and the other man looks unimpressed. He sobers up immediately, grimace and fear dancing inside in a deadly contest as his eyes meet obsidian. They're filled with fear. He frowns immediately. "Oi, what's wrong?"

"Madara and Obito.... They're gone."

That.... That is bad, it means that lost all their purpose to keep them away from going back to the past. Kurama has to deal with them, and they're all stuck here–

"We have to rely on the Kyuubi, huh?"

Naruto leans forward when his best friend says that, and says with most utter certainty–

"Kurama can finish them off. I believe in him."

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Really, I honestly couldn't help but feel like, "Hey, why not put some kind of chapter where Naruto's wondering about how Kurama's doing in the past? Because angst, people, angst."

So that's what came out of it, and I'm actually quite happy with how it turned out. To clear things up, Tobi, in this version, is now an Obito under the possession of a genjutsu and does whatever Madara commands him to do, and you can guess what happened to the two once you finish the chapter.

Terms:
Konohagakure - Konoha, Leaf Village, Village of the Leaf
Dobe - Idiot or deadlast
Teme - Bastard
Bijuu - Tailed Beasts

As always, read, review and enjoy!