Chapter 6

Kakashi sat silently in the dim light of the room, his eyes scanning Naruto as he slept. It wasn't the first time he had watched over Naruto during his sleep, but tonight was different. The boy tossed and turned, his face contorting with distress, his body reacting violently to the nightmare that consumed him. It was a far worse sight than the nights following Jiraiya's death, and it had only been less than a month since that loss. Kakashi had seen how Naruto struggled after Jiraiya's death, but this was deeper, more intense.

Naruto's pain wasn't just from the loss of his mentor or his friends; it was a constant, gnawing thing—his inability to find peace within himself. He carried the weight of the world, his overwhelming love for those around him dragging him into a spiral of guilt and fear. He couldn't stop caring, and in doing so, he wore himself thin, until his heart and mind began to fracture under the strain.

Kakashi's eyes softened with sympathy as he watched Naruto, his mind struggling to understand why the boy had become this way. He had been through immense trauma, but so had Kakashi and countless others who had lived through the wars. What had led Naruto down this path?

"Why are you like this?" Kakashi mused to himself. "Even Jiraiya didn't carry on like this after his own losses. And he was no stranger to pain." Kakashi had always known that Naruto's heart was boundless, but he couldn't help but wonder if that very kindness was his curse.

Kakashi thought back to the late Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who saw the village as his children, his family. Maybe, Kakashi speculated, Naruto had inherited that mindset—except on a much grander scale. Naruto didn't just see the people of Konoha as family; he saw the entire world that way, hoping to create a utopia where everyone could live in peace. But, Kakashi knew that such an ideal world seemed impossible. Humanity had always found reasons to fight, to argue over the smallest things. Was it even possible for Naruto to bring the world together?

In theory, the only way would be for Naruto to dominate the world with overwhelming power—enough to force people to submit. He wouldn't need to kill them, but he would need to break their will, crush any resistance with an iron fist. Yet, Kakashi knew that even that solution would be temporary. People would eventually realize that Naruto didn't kill, didn't torture, and would continue testing his limits until they found a way to bring him down.

The nature of humanity, Kakashi thought, was that kindness could often be misinterpreted as weakness. Naruto's desire to protect everyone was admirable, but it would leave him vulnerable. It was a dangerous path that could lead to his destruction if he didn't learn the hard truths of leadership, of power, and responsibility.

"'We will have to support him from the darkness,'" Kakashi thought, grimly accepting the reality. "'Let him rule the world of light, and we shall take care of the shadows.'"

He understood Naruto's stubbornness and selflessness, and he would stand by his side, quietly supporting him, even if Naruto didn't understand the full scope of what he was asking. He was still so young, and so much of the world was beyond his grasp. Kakashi knew that Naruto wasn't ready yet to take on the responsibility of leading the village—or the world. He lacked the knowledge, the maturity, and the understanding of how things truly worked. It was clear to Kakashi that Naruto needed to grow, to be guided, before he could even dream of achieving the utopia he sought.

As Kakashi sat there, deep in thought, a loud explosion suddenly shattered the silence. The house trembled, and debris flew through the air as Naruto jerked awake, his chakra flaring uncontrollably. Kakashi's heart raced as he quickly leapt into action, using his own chakra to prevent the destruction from spreading further. But the damage had already been done—part of the house had collapsed on the right side, wreckage scattered across the floor.

Naruto, dazed and shaken from the nightmare, scrambled to his feet. "Thank you for stopping me, teacher," he muttered, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

Kakashi didn't respond right away. His focus was on Naruto as he shakily grabbed a water bottle to drink, his eyes hollow from lack of sleep. He had only managed to rest for an hour, but the result had been catastrophic. Despite the brief respite, his mind was still trapped in a constant state of turmoil.

The pills, the genjutsu—none of it was enough to give him true peace. Kakashi could see the toll it was taking on Naruto. His body had almost fully recovered, but his mind was a battlefield.

Kakashi's expression hardened as he realized the full extent of the situation. Naruto was not just struggling with the aftermath of recent events; he was teetering on the edge of a breakdown. The nightmares, the restless sleep, the constant fear of being vulnerable—he had become a ticking time bomb. His unchecked chakra during sleep could be a threat not just to himself, but to the people around him. He had to be kept in a safe place where he couldn't harm anyone, even while he tried to find some semblance of rest.

"Naruto," Kakashi said quietly, his voice soft yet firm. "You need to sleep in a safe place. A place where your power can't hurt anyone. I'll make sure you get the rest you need, but you can't keep doing this."

Naruto nodded, his head heavy with understanding, though his eyes still betrayed the chaos within him. Kakashi knew it would take time. Time to heal, time to rest, and time to confront the darkness that lay not just in the world, but within Naruto himself.

For now, Kakashi would be there, guiding him through the shadows, so that one day, Naruto could stand in the light without fear.

Naruto's body was trembling with exhaustion, but his mind was still racing, caught in the grip of unrelenting nightmares. Kakashi could see it clearly—his student, his little brother, was on the brink of breaking. But Kakashi had a solution, one he hoped would allow Naruto to rest without fear of accidentally harming anyone in his sleep.

"Naruto, I know a place where you can sleep without a worry," Kakashi said softly, his voice carrying an air of certainty.

Naruto, his face a mixture of skepticism and curiosity, turned to his teacher. "Where?"

"I've seen it before, used by the ANBU when they had to stay away from the city. It's a place underwater—safe, quiet, far from the prying eyes of the world." Kakashi's gaze was steady, his words calm and reassuring. "It will be easier to manage any problems, and you'll be far away from any potential danger."

Naruto furrowed his brow. The idea of sleeping underwater had never occurred to him, and it certainly seemed outlandish. But in his current state, where even a simple night's sleep brought about destruction, he was willing to try anything. "How does that work?"

"With chakra," Kakashi explained, his tone slightly more serious. "Shinobi train to breathe underwater by using chakra to manipulate the oxygen around them. Your chakra reserves are large enough that you won't have to worry about running out of air. It'll be natural, and with some practice, you'll be able to sustain yourself without even thinking about it."

Naruto's eyes lit up at the idea. A place where he could rest without worrying about causing harm? It sounded perfect. "Let's try it."

Without another word, Naruto focused, drawing on the power within him. With a flash of speed, he lifted himself into the air, the mastery of chakra from the Six Paths powers flowing through him effortlessly. The wind responded to his will, surrounding Kakashi and lifting him off the ground as well. With a swift motion, the two were soaring through the sky, heading for the Dark Ocean that lay beyond the Land of Waves.

The journey was brief, but the moment they reached their destination, Naruto slowed his pace. Below them stretched the vast expanse of the Dark Ocean, its black waters seemingly endless. This part of the ocean was known for its impenetrable depths, a place where no sunlight could reach and where few dared to venture due to the terrifying creatures that called it home. It was a place that remained untouched, even by the most seasoned Shinobi.

Naruto and Kakashi dove into the ocean, the crushing pressure of the water's depths greeting them as they sank deeper into the abyss. The weight of the ocean around them felt like a tangible thing, and even the chakra within their bodies seemed less potent under such immense pressure. But Naruto had a plan. He wanted to rest, to escape the chaos within his mind, and the depths of the ocean seemed like the safest place to do so. No one could reach him here, and the world above would never know he was there.

Kakashi, however, had a different thought. As they descended, he couldn't help but comment, his voice barely audible through the water. "You know, I was thinking of something safer—like the Chrysalis Ocean."

Naruto chuckled softly at the suggestion. "Chrysalis Ocean?" he asked, curious.

Kakashi shook his head, amused. "It's deeper, safer, and far less... inhabited. We're not exactly alone here."

Indeed, as they descended further, the monstrous shadows of sea creatures loomed in the distance. The deep waters were home to enormous beasts, and many of them could easily swallow a person whole. But Kakashi knew that Naruto's power far surpassed that of these monsters.

As soon as they reached the ocean floor, Naruto created a sphere of light using his Senjutsu, illuminating the dark waters with a brilliant, almost blinding glow. The moment the light burst into existence, the ocean itself seemed to tremble, as if disturbed by the sudden intrusion of light in its otherwise eternal darkness. The creatures lurking below, giant beasts of the deep, scattered in all directions, avoiding the light and the two figures who dared to disturb their domain.

Naruto's power, while overwhelming, was also a kindness. With a single look, he had sent the monsters scurrying away. Unlike humans, these beasts had sharp instincts, and they knew enough to recognize that they were in the presence of something far more dangerous than themselves. However, Naruto quickly dimmed the light, recognizing the disturbance it caused in the natural balance of the ocean. He didn't want to disrespect the creatures of the sea, especially when they had made no move to harm them.

Kakashi, ever the pragmatic one, sealed his eyes with chakra to block the blinding light. He created a small light source of his own, just enough to guide their way as they explored the ocean bed. They found a relatively calm spot, the pressure easing up slightly as they reached a flat surface of rock, free from the chaos of the ocean's depths.

Naruto, still exhausted from the constant battle with his mind, began to settle down. He created a small, makeshift house out of chakra, a dome-like structure that would protect him from the crushing pressure outside. He lay down within it, his body finally relaxed, though his mind remained in turmoil.

For the next few hours, Naruto drifted in and out of uneasy sleep. The nightmares came, but there was no destruction. No shattered buildings, no chaos. Only the quiet of the ocean, the calm pulse of the water around him, and the soft, steady presence of Kakashi nearby.

The pressure of the ocean, the lack of light, and the isolation gave Naruto the rest he desperately needed. Though his dreams were still filled with horrors, there were no consequences. He was, for the first time in weeks, able to rest without fear.

And as Kakashi watched over him from within the darkness, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Naruto had found the peace he so desperately needed, even if only for a short while. He had always been the one to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. But here, in the depths of the ocean, Naruto could finally rest—and that, for now, was enough.