Age Fifteen (continued)
That night, I had a nightmare.
I was standing on the cliffs of Uzushio, watching the sea. The whirlpools were gone. The barriers were shattered. The village behind me was burning.
And standing in the flames was the three-tails jinchuriki, her purple chakra blazing brighter than the sun.
"You failed," she said. "You couldn't save them."
"I did save them."
"No. You delayed the inevitable." She pointed at the village. "Look."
I looked. The bodies were everywhere—shinobi, civilians, children. I saw Elder Hana's gray hair matted with blood. I saw Elder Shiro's blind eyes staring at nothing. I saw Kushina's red hair, spread across the ground like a fan.
"No," I whispered.
"Yes. And it's your fault. You could have stopped it. You have the power. But you were too afraid to use it."
"I'm not afraid."
"You're afraid of going blind. You're afraid of losing yourself. You're afraid of becoming like your father."
I couldn't answer.
"The Mangekyo is a tool," she said. "Use it. Or lose everything."
I woke up screaming.
Tsunade was beside me in an instant, her hands glowing green, her face pale.
"Ren! Ren, wake up!"
"I'm awake. I'm awake." I was gasping, sweating, my heart pounding.
"What happened?"
"A nightmare. Just a nightmare."
"You were screaming."
"I know."
She pulled me into her arms. "You're okay. You're safe. I've got you."
I held onto her like she was the only solid thing in a world that was falling apart.
"I saw Uzushio burning," I said. "I saw Kushina dead."
"It was just a dream."
"Was it?" I pulled back and looked at her. "My Mangekyo shows me consequences. Sometimes it shows me the future."
"Ren—"
"What if it wasn't a dream? What if it was a warning?"
She was silent.
"I have to go back," I said. "I have to warn them."
"You just got here."
"I know. But I can't stay. Not if Uzushio is in danger."
She looked at me for a long moment. Then she nodded.
"I'm coming with you."
"You can't. Konoha needs you."
"Konoha can survive without me for a few weeks. You can't." She stood up. "I'll talk to the Hokage. He'll understand."
"Tsunade—"
"Don't argue with me. I've made up my mind."
I stared at her. She was fierce and stubborn and beautiful.
"Thank you," I said.
"Don't thank me. Just don't die."
"I'll try."
"That's all I ask."