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Hinata's Sensual Adventure	By : The Feelz Category: Naruto > General Views: 16948 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Naruto is a Japanese Manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto with an Anime adaptation. I do not claim ownership for this series nor the illustrations used as my profile photo.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Confrontation: Hearts' Endeavor
"Do you really think Naruto will just accept our decision," Kiba asked Sakura, once she had joined their ranks.
"But this is what we all agreed on," Lee added from his seat on a mountain of timber. "We have to make him understand."
"I'll tell Naruto everything," Sakura offered, her tone resolute.
"You will, Sakura-san?" Lee was rather surprised.
"Do you have an idea or something?" Kiba was awfully calm leaning up against Akamaru, in contrast to Ino who was still sulking.
"Just leave it to me," the girl insisted. "Please don't say anything to Naruto. Just promise me that, everyone."
No one had any complaints.
Hinata watched her avidly. The girl's emerald eyes were alight with conviction. There was no trace of hesitation whatsoever, but the truth of it made the princess's heart break even farther. While it was ideal that she had found such determination in the state of this crisis, it was sad she had to seal away and neglect her grief.
Sakura brushed her fingers through the evenly cut fringes of her hair.
Hair, Hinata thought mentally, the visual evoking a memory. Along with Ino and majority of the girls back in their academy days, Sakura had grown out her hair upon learning a rumor that Sasuke had supposedly preferred girls with long hair. Conversely, Hinata had kept her hair short, to silently prompt Naruto that she was not one amongst Sasuke's mindless fan girls.
But, the gesture was born from the same violent gust of love and admiration Sakura felt for Sasuke, and Hinata couldn't help but wonder what she would have strive to accomplish, if Naruto was the one in Sasuke's place. The princess thought long and hard on her decision and, no matter the route, her resolve had always been a reckless one.
Though, would Sakura really attempt such recklessness?
"Sh-Shino-kun," Hinata whispered, winning his attention.
"Hinata... what is it?"
"Umm... could Shino-kun do me a favor?"
"A favor...?"
Meanwhile Naruto, Kakashi, and Yamato were still busy processing and digesting all that's transpired over the course of just a few weeks, Madara was preoccupied effortlessly infiltrating the Three Wolves and saving Sasuke from incineration.
After illustrating that he could not be harmed — by allowing the Raikage to slip through him in his speedy assault — the man sent Sasuke and Karin into an alternate dimension of his creation, and then began to prompt the anxious audience about his elaborate plan.
His grand endeavor was called the Eye of the Moon. And, in a nutshell, he was planning on gathering the nine Bijuus with which to resurrect the Juubi, and then become the beast's Jinchuuriki as the Rikudou Sennin supposedly was. Then, by using that power, he would strengthen his ocular powers and use the moon to project his eyes upon invoking a certain technique — Enternal Tsukuyomi.
In essence, a genjutsu would be cast on humanity, after which, the man would assume control and unite the world. There would be no reserve or dispute; everything would become one with him.
Of course, the Kages didn't agree, neither did their subordinates and the samurais. But Madara insisted that they cooperate with his plan by handing over the Hachibi and Kyuubi, else there would be war. Still they refused, and thus, the man declared the dawning of the Fourth Great Ninja War before taking this leave.
In retaliation, everyone agreed upon forging an Allied Shinobi Force, if they were to have any chance of winning against the force of the Bijuus Madara had already amassed. And, it was also imperative that the Hachibi and Kyuubi be hidden and protected, to prevent the possibility of the man's heinous plan coming to fruition.
Destruction was on the arisen.
The blizzard had calmed to a light sprinkle of snow — cold regardless — and Naruto sat atop the roof, meditating.
Kakashi had told him and Yamato that it was best to keep Itachi's history a secret for now — since they could not yet justify whether the story was real or not. And it was best not to stir more chaos within the village, especially over what could merely be just a tall tale.
If I keep doing the same thing over again, I'll never find Sasuke,Naruto thought to himself, attuning his senses and matching his chakra to the wavelength of the environment's natural energy. I have to use Sage Mode. I should first work on extending how long I can use it.
"Naruto, come inside," Yamato commanded, knelt beside Kakashi.
Suddenly, the young warrior's eyes snapped open, a familiar, feminine energy entering his range of detection. Kakashi noted the same thing he did.
"There you are," Kiba exclaimed, running up to the inn along with Sakura, Lee, and Sai.
Naruto pivoted his head to the left, the mark of the Sage highlighting his features. "Sakura-chan?" he walked over to the edge of the roof. "Sai, Kiba, even Fuzzy Brows?"
"What are you all doing here?" Kakashi didn't like to be uninformed.
"Naruto," Sakura looked up, seeking his eyes with the gleam of resolve that quivered in hers. "We need to talk."
...
"Huh?" Naruto was flabbergasted, Yamato and Lee sharing his shock, but even more so. Kakashi was perfectly calm; he'd read far too much drama to flinch by something of this magnitude. "W-What did you just say, Sakura-chan? I think I had something in my ears. What did you say again?"
The girl averted her eyes, cheeks flushed under the weight of his penetrating blue stare. "I said... I said I love..." she looked up at him beneath her lashes, her lips curving as she pronounced the embarrassing words. "I said I love you, Naruto."
Silence and shock continued to fill the air.
"I said I didn't care about Sasuke-kun anymore," she continued. "I was wrong to love someone like him all this time. You should listen more carefully when someone's confessing to you!"
Gradually, Naruto's once dumbfounded expression changed — his brows slowly pulled down over his appraising eyes, and the muscles in his jaw tightened as suspicion pierced him through, like an iron bolt.
He had always dreamt of Sakura confessing her love to him... but not like this. There was no real fire in her words, like there was in Hinata's — and why chose now, when there was an audience? Her confession more seemed like a circumstance rather than true affection.
Naruto gazed through her, like a book, hoping to wring the truth from her restless soul. "But why? Why now? If this is a joke, it's not very funny, Sakura-chan. What happened to you?"
The girl shook her head, her composure slipping. "Nothing. I just opened my eyes. How could I be in love with a Missing-Nin? A criminal? I can't stay a child forever. It's time I woke up to reality." she lifted an index finger to her lips and attempted a wholehearted smile. "That's why, Naruto, you can forget about that promise you made to me."
Naruto tilted his head slightly in surprise. Enlightenment beginning to seep through him, like acid trickling through his veins.
"Now you'll be able to stop chasing after Sasuke, right?"
"What are you saying," Yamato began, but Kakashi stopped him in his tracks; this was not something in which they were to interfere.
Sakura held her smile.
Kiba frowned behind her. Don't tell me this was her idea?
Naruto wasn't enthused, either. "Sakura-chan, did something happen to you? Why are you saying stuff like this all of a sudden?"
"I already said nothing happened," she gesticulated frustratingly. "It's obvious why I could fall for someone like you."
That's what she said, but Naruto couldn't help but recall how intensely she's gravitated around Sasuke over the years. He was her moon and the stars that lit her dreams and guaranteed her happiness. She crumbled when he left the village, and then strived to become stronger when Naruto failed to bring him back as promised.
Sakura was an empty shell without him, and the love Naruto had to give could not fill that gap. Besides, she knew very well that Hinata had now filled the space that was initially reserved for her. She was a few weeks too late, and nothing she said would ever change this shift in reality.
Brazenly, the young cherry blossom closed the distance between them and coiled her arms around him, pulling the anxious hero against her broken figure. "Sasuke-kun keeps getting farther away from me," her voice was soft at his ear. "But you, Naruto, have always been by my side. You always tried to cheer me up." her eyes hooded, her cheeks brightening from his closeness, and his warmth.
"I finally realized who you really are, Naruto. Even with Pain, you came back when we really needed you. You become the hero who protected our village. Everyone in the village loves you. And, now, I'm one of them.
I watched as you went from a mischievous prankster to a really wonderful person. But Sasuke continues with his sins," her tone was grim. "He continues to break my heart. He's gradually becoming a stranger to me. But, Naruto, you're someone I can reach. You put me at ease. Right now, from the bottom of my heart, I—"
Naruto pulled her back abruptly, cutting her off. "That's enough, Sakura-chan! I said I don't think this joke is funny!"
The girl felt her confidence slipping at his crude remark, unfastening the bolt that secured her sorrow within its cage. Her eyes quivered, reflecting the motion of her lips, but just before her confidence all but escaped, she tethered it behind an influx of provocation. "Why are you so angry? All I said was I like you now, instead of Sasuke-kun. A woman's heart can change like the wind, you know?"
His grip tightened over her shoulders, heightening the potency of what he was about to say: "I hate people who lie to themselves!"
Crash! Sakura felt her eyes shot open, and her heart slammed into her chest in a sudden assault, like a wrecking ball.
Everyone looked on in embarrassment, feeling the bitter sting of Naruto's words. But no one intervened — there was only silence.
"I'm lying to myself?" Sakura was surprisingly calm.
Naruto nodded.
She slapped his hand from her shoulder. "I decide my own true feelings! If you hate me, then just say it straight to my face, instead of making stupid excuses!"
"But it's weird, isn't it," Naruto began. "For you to come all the way out here, just to tell me that?" Especially when you know about Hinata...
"Just to tell you that...? Just to tell you that?" Sakura was livid. "Do you really think it's that easy for a girl to confess her feelings? Coming all the way out here, just to tell you that? Of course, I'd come out here!
You're always thinking about 'Sasuke-kun', 'Sasuke-kun' — always chasing after him and getting yourself into dangerous situations! You're the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki and Akatsuki's after you! Try to worry more about yourself for a change!"
Her eyes narrowed to pale emerald slits, a jewel with its facets of many different emotions. "I'm telling you that you don't have to chase after Sasuke-kun and get yourself into dangerous situations anymore! I came after you because I want you to return to the village! That's all!"
Naruto's eyes softened as his mind processed. "All I'm hearing is just a lame excuse. I know you better than that."
"Then why don't you understand," she gesticulated. "I don't care for Sasuke-kun anymore, now that he's become a criminal. That's why the promise you gave me doesn't matter anymore."
"...It's not about the promise," Naruto clarified, his eyes closed. "Why Sasuke became obsessed with vengeance and started acting like this — I think I've started to understand it a little bit." his eyes opened.
With Jiraiya's late death, Konoha's destruction, and Nagato and Sasuke's brainwashing, Yamato and Kakashi could understand why Naruto felt that he understood Sasuke a bit more. But, was this development actually a good thing?
"Sasuke loved his family and his clan. Since his love for them was so deep, I don't think he can forgive what happened to them easily."
"Then why did he join Akatsuki after defeating the unforgivable Itachi," Kiba accused questioningly.
"...It wasn't like that," Naruto countercharged softly. "Actually—"
"Naruto," Kakashi interjected suddenly, breaking his chain of thought.
The party stared in a bit of shock, their curiosity unsatisfied.
Naruto bowed his head sadly. He was specifically instructed not to reveal one word Madara had said, to avoid unnecessary panic and turmoil amidst the already broken Konoha. But, despite Kakashi's verbal jar, resolve dawned and he sought Sakura's eyes once more. "It doesn't matter if the promise I made with you is gone."
The girl gasped, noting the certitude buried behind the dreary ocean of his eyes. "I personally want to save Sasuke."
Her eyes widened, and Sai veered his dark eyes to look at her, well aware that her scheme had failed; Naruto's resolves were always resolute; he would never change his mind, even if the girl he once loved confessed to him.
A worried Kiba approached Sakura from behind, whispering words of his anxiety to her ear. "Hey, what do we do now, Sakura? Wouldn't it be better just to tell him the—"
She stomped on his foot and turned on her heels, abandoning Kiba in a fit of pain. Worried, Akamaru rushed to his side. "That's enough!" Sakura was still fuming inwardly. "I'm going back. Let's go, Kiba, Lee-san, Sai."
"Sakura-san." Lee could feel the sorrow beneath her fury.
"Let's go." Kiba had just barely recovered.
Naruto, Yamato, and Kakashi watched in silence as they left. Akamaru pivoted his head around with a look of concern as he strode behind his partner. The canine seemed as though it wanted to say something, to reveal truths that wasn't suppressed and mangled by the sophisticated mechanics of human emotions.
Sakura bit her lip and tightly closed her eyes. I'm sorry, Naruto...
Meanwhile, Sai was busy inconspicuously averting his eyes to the side, as if mentally invoking a chant to awaken the clone made of ink he had left in a dark alley.
"Are you fine with this, Sakura," Kiba asked, his words stopping the girl in her tracks.
"Kiba, I have a favor to ask of you." her reply was stern, almost intimidating. She would not take no for an answer.
"What is it?"
"I'm going to look for Sasuke-kun right away! Cooperate with me!"
As soon as they were gone — leaving a track of footprints in their wake — Sai's clone revealed himself and calmly enlightened a curious Naruto, Kakashi, and Yamato as to what Sakura actually came there to say.
They were dumbfounded, but even more so, Naruto. He felt his heart wailing silently, tightening, as though the unmerciful hand of Grief was squeezing it.
"Sasuke will be dealt with by Konoha's hand," Sai reiterated. "All your comrades will take action based on this."
"Sakura-chan did," Naruto exclaimed, clasping the shinobi's shoulder as though he was a mindless barbarian, shaking him violently. "Did Sakura-chan really agree to this? She really loves Sasuke! Still... she would..."
A clump of snow fell from the roof of the inn, as if illustrating the shift in Naruto's mood from grief-stricken to despairing.
"After the recent attack on Konoha by Akatsuki, the shinobi of Konoha can no longer ignore Sasuke who is collaborating with Akatsuki."
Naruto withdrew his hands.
"Sakura is not an idiot, nor is she a child who wouldn't understand the situation and circumstances. That's why she came here in person to tell you this."
Kakashi sighed and shook his head.
Naruto balled his fingers into trembling fists, his teeth gritted. "Then why didn't she tell me the truth?"
"It's not something that can be said easily," Kakashi informed. "She knows it would be painful for you."
"Even so..."
"By confessing her love to you and giving up on Sasuke, she relieved you of the heavy burden of your promise."
Naruto gasped, recalling Sakura's plea, mostly to him, and partly to the rescue team, as they were about to initiate the mission to liberate Sasuke from the Orochimaru's cronies and return him to the village.
"Even so," Sai continued. "You said that you wanted to save Sasuke yourself. I think that's why she couldn't tell you the truth — she was thinking of your feelings. And she probably knew that you would respond like that.
Actually, Sakura forbade us from telling you the truth. She said she'd find a way to tell you. She said it was her duty."
Yamato frowned. "But if she knew how Naruto would react, then it would mean she wasn't planning on telling him the truth in the first place. What is Sakura planning to do?"
"I'm just guessing," Sai attempted. "But Sakura is probably..."
"She's planning to kill Sasuke by herself," Kakashi added bluntly.
Grief squeezed tighter, and Naruto felt the unyielding lines of dismay beneath his eyes.
"Is that it, Sai?" Yamato was in disbelief.
"Probably." he remembered on their way to the Iron Country, he told Sakura not to shoulder all the burden herself, that he along with all her friends were there for her. The girl conceded with a smile. "Sakura smiled and said that she wanted to cooperate with everyone. But, this time, I saw through her fake smile."
"No way," Naruto breathed, his emotions in violent disarray as he gazed down at the ground. "There's no way Sakura-chan could do... she really, really loves Sasuke—"
"It's because she loves him," Sai interrupted curtly. "She doesn't want him to continue his evil ways. It's because she loves him that she wants to save him from the path of evil. Even if it means that she has to kill the one she loves with her own hands. I think that's how committed she is in her love for Sasuke.
And, by doing that, Naruto... she is prepared to be hated by you."
He couldn't find his tongue.
"I think that's her compensation for leaving you with a lifelong burden. Sakura has relied on you too much. That is why, this time, she wants to do it herself."
"Sai." Naruto's voice was barely above a whisper, his eyes dark and sorrowful. "Why did you tell me this?"
He thought about it for a while, and then recalled telling Sakura that Naruto was suffering because of Sasuke, and accusingly, as well. "Although it wasn't my intention, I might have pushed Sakura into doing this. That's why I came to you — because I couldn't just ignore her and because I'm a member of Team 7."
"I see..." he bowed his head, chaos spreading its poisonous roots throughout his heart and mind.
After hearing this, Naruto's feelings must be pretty mixed up, Kakashi thought sympathetically, curiously. So, what will he do now?
Naruto peered into himself, trying to sort through the sorrow and the grief, through the confusion and the frustration that coated black the walls of his consciousness.
Finally, beneath the dark tides, he found that oh so familiar picture frame of Team 7 — a sentimental and symbolic mental image. But, suddenly, it cracked and shattered into pieces, falling into the void like everything else.
Naruto pressed his hand against his forehead with a grunt, the chaotic roots spreading to his chest, devouring him. The pain was excruciating, but just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, Gaara, accompanied by Temari and Kankuro suddenly joined their ranks.
The Kazekage told them about Sasuke's attack on the Summit and the sudden declaration of war that Madara had evoked, which the Kages retaliated on by agreeing to forge an Allied Shinobi Force.
Of course, since Sasuke was a part of Akatsuki — the criminal organization that was led by Madara, he, too, would face the full force of the alliance and would be mowed down without hesitation.
While Gaara was busy prompting Naruto about Sasuke's change of heart, the dark knight was busy engaged in a death match against Danzo — one amongst the sinners responsible for the Uchiha's downfall, and the fight was already looking a bit grim for the newly appointed Hokage.
At mid afternoon, the sun was already beginning its slow descent toward the tops of the thick oak trees that covered the hilly, forested region of the country.
Hinata squinted, shielding her eyes from the blinding orange rays and wondered what Naruto could be doing right now. Her engagement ring was buried deep inside her ninja pouch, so she couldn't look to see what his mood was. But something — some unexplainable feeling in her heart — told her he was not well.
"Hinata-sama," Neji called, impatient, displeased. "You may be able to use the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms now, but you still need to work on your form!"
"Ha-Hai!"
By the time she pivoted her head to look at him, she glimpsed a blur of movement careering toward her. The image sharpened when the assailant paused below her, and the princess felt her heart skipped a beat — but she sprung into an aerial somersault as Neji ascended with a palm thrust supplemented by an Air Palm. His hand just barely missed her chin, but a few strands of her hair weren't so lucky.
Time slowed, and Hinata watched as the errant wind made off with her precious locks. Naruto would not be pleased.
In retaliation, she quickly forged a Rasengan and plummeted down for the assault, like a meteorite breaking into a planet's upper atmosphere.
"Tch!" Neji frowned, his eyes focusing. "That's too predictable!" In one fluid motion, his foot shifted and he went into a defensive whirl: Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven.
Hinata grunted, her attack parried. She dropped to the ground unsteadily, and then sank to her knees, looking up at her cousin apprehensively, as if with defeat. But then, Neji heard the sound of crumbling rock. When he turned around, he saw a beast made of chakra lunging toward him with a fierce growl. It was too late to dodge or rotate. But, suddenly, the creature halted and fell to the ground, tethered by the chakra string that was connected to its collar.
Anxious, Neji looked ahead carefully, and then noted the small hole into which the chakra string disappeared. It was Hinata... she must have dug a hole with her chakra the moment she fell to the ground — simple, but ingenious!
"Wh-what was that just now," he asked when she pushed to her feet.
Hinata averted her eyes sheepishly. "It's a new technique that I am working on... but it's difficult to extend the range."
Neji smiled admiringly. "Keep working at it; it's an impressive jutsu. A technique like that will constantly open windows of opportunity for a close range or mid range attack."
Before Hinata could thank him, a swarm of Shino's bugs came to her with silent news. They were uncoordinated and, with that, the princess knew something was wrong.
Subsequent to the meeting with Sakura and everyone, she had request that Shino place a bug on the girl so that they could track her movements. Hinata didn't know what she had planned to tell Naruto, but she knew no forms of persuasion would drive him to hunt down and annihilate Sasuke — his intention was to save him.
"Calm down," Hinata urged.
The insects heeded her command and flew upward, forming characters with the sky proving to be the ideal background for her to see.
Lightening.
The princess caught her breath and then name the "Sasuke" dawned in her mind, like overcast shuffling over a verdant meadow. The insects were programmed to react if Sakura encountered anyone who was using Fire or Lightning elemental attacks. But, could it really be Sasuke?
The critters bundled together to form a directional arrow.
When Gaara left, Kakashi decisively decided to go after Sakura, while Yamato was instructed to take Naruto back to the village.
Our hero stood in the unsympathetic snow, reflecting, sulking, the frigid wind biting at his hands and at his face. He tried to collect his thoughts — despite the cold that tackled him externally and internally — to formulate a resolve to save Sasuke. But the pieces would not fall into place. The Uchiha did not want to be saved, and everyone was out to get him, even Sakura. It was hopeless. Even if he conceived all the Shadow Clones he was capable of, nothing would change; Konoha's hero was only capable of so much.
The chaotic roots were still spreading...
Naruto wanted closure from the incessant prick of despair. He wanted a sedative that would mend his heart and calm his mind, aiding him in his effort to think straight — but his savor was so far away. His goddess, his counterpart, his soul mate: Hinata...
For a moment, he felt as if he were trapped in the dark and endless vacuum of space. There was silence and a sharp sense of loneliness. He felt a painful spasm of panic — all his problems crashed down upon him all at once, like a wrecking ball. Naruto gasped and clasped his shirt, the impact striking his heart, like a bolt of lightning.
Sasuke kidnapped a special shinobi of Kumogakure, inducing the same grief he felt when Jiraiya was killed. Did such a person deserve forgiveness? He was an avenger — that was his Way of the Ninja, and Sakura knew the truth of it, which is why she resolved to end his suffering with her own two hands. As his friend, wasn't Naruto's suppose to do the same?
No!he fell to his knees, panting, his hand squeezing his chest.
Kakashi frowned. "Naruto, what's wrong?" his voice was high, concerned.
The warrior fell to the ground, his breaths deep and erratic. Everyone rushed over to him, their eyes wide with apprehension.
"Calm down, Naruto," Kakashi yelled.
"He's hyperventilating," Yamato added.
"Breathe slowly!"
"Naruto!" Sai called as his lids fluttered close.
"Naruto? Can you hear me? Naruto!"
Electricity crackled and chirped, flickering unpredictably, echoing throughout the valley, as if to celebrate the death of the late Hokage. But as Karin looked up lifelessly at the man beside her, she knew the Chidori was by no means celebratory — it was her figurative guillotine; her means of resignation from Team Taka; a one-way ticket to oblivion.
The girl closed her eyes, welcoming her fate, but just before the Grim reaper purged yet another unfortunate soul...
"Sasuke-kun," Sakura called breathlessly as she came to a stop on the other side of the broken bridge. She was an emotional wreck.
"Sakura?" her name was cold upon his lips, by no means the warm pronunciation she was expecting from her lover.
She felt the color drain from her face at his aloof introduction, the wound in her heart officially reawakening. He's completely different from before... Is this really Sasuke-kun?
The dark knight lowered his hand and the Chidori dispersed, but his malicious demeanor did not fade. "For what purpose did you come before me?"
Who is she? Karin was gradually losing the light in her eyes.
Sasuke's words sent a bitter jar through Sakura's chest. Her heart quivered, but before her lips could mirror the motion, she bit down sharply, her emerald eyes bright with enigma. "Sasuke-kun!"
He watched her curiously, his eyes dark despite the images that fell behind them — a photo album of warm memories.
"I want to follow you," she said solemnly. "I'm leaving Konoha!"
The evil prince remained silent, appraising her, his expression spelling the depth to which he was not enthused. Sakura tensed beneath his steady scrutiny, her lips pursed as she awaited his reply.
"What do I gain, if you join me," he demanded as she leaped across the gap in the bridge that separated them. But she did well to keep her distance. "What are you plotting?"
"I'm not plotting anything at all," she defended hotly, shocked that he'd readily suspect her after the magical moment they shared just a few short days ago. "I've always regretted not coming along with you when you left Konoha! And, if you didn't leave while I was unconscious when we... I would have joined you..."
She's... an old friend?Karin was still conscious, her inquisitiveness helping her to cling to reality. She also loves Sasuke, but...
"I'll do anything you want," Sakura persuaded. "I don't want to have anymore regrets!"
Sasuke frowned, the dark stain of blood beneath his eye adding to his devastating expression. Emotions thumped behind the door of his heart, but the key was nowhere to be found — lost beneath the quicksand of the Uchiha's dark curse of hatred. "Do you know what I want?"
"I don't care. I'll do exactly as you—"
"I'll destroy Konoha," he enlightened abruptly, breaking her off curtly.
Sakura felt her eyes pop open in disbelief.
"That's what I want." he was still appraising her. "Would you really betray Konoha for my sake?"
Despite her shock, she reined in her composure and answered his question without missing a beat. "Yes, if that's what you want from me."
"Then prove it." he gestured his head to his fallen comrade, who's resignation had been long overdue. "Finish her off. If you do, I'll believe you."
Sakura broke into a sweat, but she pushed out a kunai from the opening of her trench coat. "Who's she?"
"A member of my organization, Taka." Sasuke was bizarrely calm. "As you can see, she's rather useless now. You're a Medical-nin, right? You can take her place — you'll be a good fit."
Sakura's eyes narrowed, the black threads keeping her heart together breaking by the second. If he can go this far, he really isn't the same Sasuke-kun that I once knew. He's changed so much, and in such little time. Slowly, she closed the distance between them, halting beside the half-dead girl whose eyes glazed behind her glasses.
"What's wrong, Sakura?" Sasuke's eyes were sharp. "Can't you do it?"
She doesn't have anything to do with this, Sakura thought, browsing through memory archives and waves of emotions. She was so busy struggling with her resolve that she didn't notice Sasuke sneaking behind her. If I just run through Sasuke-kun with this right now... everything will be over.
"Stop it... Sasuke," Karin murmured wearily as the dark knight poised to strike.
Sakura gasped, but it was too late. The sound of a thousand chirping birds echoed throughout the dreary valley once more. Now the Grim reaper would dispatch two unfortunate souls to the deepest reaches of hell.
But, just before he impaled her — right through the heart — Kakashi appeared with the blinding speed he was notorious for and grabbed a hold of Sasuke's hand, veering it downward, even as he pointed a kunai to his face. He really tried to kill her! "How far you've fallen, Sasuke!"
Without a word, the annoyed Uchiha swept his foot forward in a crippling low kick, but Kakashi quickly reacted by leaping upward and kicking his hip, driving Sasuke forward while himself was propelled back. Now there was space between them, just in case there was sudden need for defensive action.
The moment the dark prince pushed to his feet, Kakashi threw a kunai tethered with a line, which coiled around him. But the one caught in the bind turned out to be a replacement — a piece of wood.
Sasuke landed on his feet a few yards away with a scornful smirk. "It's just one after another."
"Sakura... you planned to kill Sasuke on your own, didn't you?" Kakashi knelt calmly before her and a motionless Karin.
The girl bowed her head sullenly.
"There's no need for you to carry such a heavy burden on your own. I was Team 7's leader, so I hold resentment toward myself for the team's falling out." the man stood, his expression guarded. "Sakura, I said something irresponsible when trying to comfort you."
They both recalled the fight Naruto and Sasuke had on the roof of the hospital, when Sakura was almost caught in between a fierce Rasengan and Chidori. He'd told her then that everything would go back to the way they were.
Kakashi frowned, which was partly directed at himself. "I must have been trying to convince myself of that, as well. I'm sorry for having been such a lousy teacher."
"That's not..."
"Sasuke!" The man's eyes fixed on the avenger now. "I don't like repeating myself. However, I'll say this one last time: I've seen people like you too many times before. People that follow their desire for vengeance have an empty future. Don't be consumed by your revenge!"
Suddenly, unexpectedly, Sasuke eased into a fit of bizarre laugher, and then there was silence. "Itachi, my father, my mother... even my clan — bring them back to me!" his voice was loud and filled with exasperation. "If you can do that, I'll stop!"
"I don't want to kill you," Kakashi replied wearily.
"You speak as if you could!" his eyes widened maliciously, and Kakashi poised for battle. "Don't act as if you're still my teacher! I'm itching to kill you, Kakashi!"
Madara's driven him this far... "Sakura," he called softly. "Heal that girl to the point where she can talk — there's still time for her. She knows a lot about the enemy."
Enemy? Sakura felt her chest constrict. Is that who she made love with? "What will you do?"
He didn't spare her a gaze. "Take that girl and get away from here."
Kakashi-sensei...
Suddenly, he turned, his expression warm. "I'll bear the weight of your resolve. This is my duty, after all. Now..."
Sakura nodded, guilt and a plethora of other emotions arresting her.
"Get going, Sakura..."
She did what she was told, and then Kakashi cast aside his trench coat, his once warm expression converted to 'battle-mode'. "As the leader of Team 7, I'll settle everything right here, right now!"
"I don't like repeating myself, either." Sasuke mirrored his weary tone. "Don't act as if you're still my teacher."
No matter how low Orochimaru fell, the Third always adored him. Kakashi cupped his forehead protector. Even with the many students you had raised... that pain you felt when your favorite pupil fled the village... and when you were forced to fight him — no one could imagine the resolve it took.
Sasuke's face hardened when the man took a step forward, and then raised his forehead protector from his right eye, closing the other in the same beat.
"I now understand how the Third Hokage-sama felt."
Sasuke cracked his knuckles, poker-faced. "And you're going to end up just like he did."
Sakura knelt behind the colossal pillar at the threshold of the bridge, healing Karin to the point of speaking as Kakashi specifically commanded.
"You..." the girl struggled.
"Please don't talk yet," Sakura said pass the hot lump in her throat. "I'm almost finished."
You're my enemy. I don't want to know how you feel. So please... stop making such a sad face, and stop crying in front of me.
Our cherry blossom wept in silence, her grief resonating with Karin's, summoning tears to her eyes, as well. They wept together, mourning the loss of a love and a soul that fell to the darkness — destined to be consumed by pain and sorrow with the more he erased in search of his "complete vengeance".
Good, Kakashi said mentally, glimpsing that the girls were at a secure enough location.
"The Sharingan is proof that one is an Uchiha." Sasuke shot the man a sneer, and then began charging toward him. "You're just an outsider, so don't you dare flaunt that eye before me, you piece of shit!" he touched the seal on the inside of his forearm, summoning and throwing a barrage of shurikens toward a stationary Kakashi.
The man looked to the side. Sakura's in the line of fire... Sasuke's becoming too familiar with fighting! In that case, he drove his hands down to the ground — Doton: Earth Barrier!
In submission, a wall towered up from the ground behind him, with a row of bulldog heads jutting out in tandem. The shurikens were taken care of; Sakura was safe — but Sasuke followed up on his attack with a lethal Chidori. Quickly, decisively, Kakashi rolled and dodged the fierce assault, leaping down from the bridge onto the water hundreds of feet below. Without pause, he stepped backward a few yards, giving Sasuke the room to land after him.
"You're good at using your Sharingan, despite only borrowing it." Sasuke allowed a smirk. "But can your Sharingan do this? I'll show you the difference between yours and mine!"
His eyes slowly closed, reopening to reveal the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. Kakashi gasped as an enormous skeleton enveloped and towered over the frantic avenger — gradually spawning muscles, veins, flesh, and then its garment followed by a unique crossbow and arrow wrought purely of energy. The creature roared — massive chakra pushing the water back as it awaited instructions.
Kakashi was dumbfounded. Is that...?
Capitalizing on the man's evident shock — by Sasuke's silent demand — the beast launched an arrow at blinding speed and with deadly accuracy. The water exploded, seemingly upon the arrow's thunderous impact, but Kakashi was still standing, water undulating over his motionless body in bright contrast to the Mangekyou etched in his left eye.
It's fast, his expression was tediously serious. If I hadn't erased it with the Mangekyou, I'd be done for. "So that's Susanoo?"
Sasuke ignored the rhetorical question. "Who would have thought someone who's not of the Uchiha could awaken the Mangekyou? It seems you were saved by the power of that eye. You should be grateful to the Uchiha for giving you such power."
"Sasuke, I know there's more to you than just your clan. There's more than hatred. Look deep down within your heart, one more time!"
"You're still going on about that?"
Kakashi's eye narrowed. "You should understand."
Sasuke felt a brief flicker — a flashback of all the friends he abandoned in the village. "They're all laughing. They laugh because of Itachi's sacrifice! They're all laughing together in ignorance!" through chakra-based commands — and in his rage — Sasuke prepped Susanoo for another attack. "Your laughter sounds like scorn and disdain to me now! I'll change those laughs into screams of dread!"
Without a shred of hesitation, another arrow fired with deadly precision. But, just in the nick of time — having discarded her trench coat — Sakura leaped in front of Kakashi and poised for a counter.
"Sakura," the man exclaimed, wide-eyed. "This isn't a fight you can win — get out of here!"
"Your Mangekyou's activated, which means you used that attack and can't move, right?" Sakura was calm. "I'll buy us some time." she frowned, her gloves protesting as her fingers tightened into fists. The arrow's moving too fast; I won't be able to make a clean hit!
"Eight Trigrams: Air Palm!"
A sudden, high-velocity column of compressed, chakra-fused air blasted the arrow, significantly cutting its speed and power. "Sakura-san, try bashing it now!"
Without looking back, the girl did just that, administering her chakra for an even more devastating attack. Sasuke looked on in displeasure, Sakura's presence further stirring the stowed away emotions that lingered behind the door of his heart.
"Hinata," she said when the girl proceeded onto the front lines and stopped at her side. "I don't know how you found us, but I'm glad to see you. Kakashi-sensei's in no condition to fight."
The princess looked from an anxious Kakashi to a seemingly frustrated and annoyed Sasuke. "They have both exhausted their chakra supply, but Kakashi-sensei is mostly in no condition to continue."
"Let's withdraw," the man commanded. "Even in his condition, Sasuke's still in a league of his own; the three of us can't take him."
The dark knight wasn't just about to let his quarry escape. And he knew, even though Kakashi was incapable of fighting, his intellect still posed a potential threat. Crushing him now before moving on to Konoha would make things a hell of a lot easier. "You won't escape."
Giving them no further to time to communicate, Sasuke fired another arrow, target: Kakashi. Sakura's body responded before her mind did. With fear-induced adrenaline, she clenched her fist, dashed forward, and then punched downward at the surface of the water, erecting a defensive wall of water, which sliced the projectile's power a tad.
Then — standing behind her — Hinata performed her Protection of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. Large, strong, flexible, arc-shaped chakra blades spanned out across the water, forming a barricade around her and Kakashi, slightly altering the trajectory of Sasuke's projectile — sending it plunging into the water.
"Tch!" Sasuke's forehead quirked, his brows setting above his eyes to form a nasty sneer.
Sakura glowered at him, just as upset. "Are you really going to destroy Konoha and further dishonor your clan's final resting place? And what about its resurrection? Are you really intent on killing me, Sasuke-kun?" her voice was loud, livid. "You're not an avenger, you're just a hypocrite!"
Though muscles in his jaw tightened, Sasuke didn't utter a word. But his eyes gradually widened, as if illustrating the explosive exertion of his fury. Sakura couldn't help but stare at the magnificent circle of his Mangekyou; her eyes locked, caught like a fly in a spider's web. For a moment, all the barriers in her mind collapsed, and she felt the burn her insult left on his pride — a burn that was returned a hundred fold in sheer, mental shock.
Suddenly, hopelessly, the girl fainted; the force of her beloved's genjutsu far too much for her to endure. Kakashi caught her, just before she sank beneath the water, and then shot the Uchiha a hot gaze.
Sasuke pressed his hands to his eyes with a pained grunt, the overuse of his eyes finally beginning to take its toll. And the fact that he was digging deep into the last of his chakra reservoir wasn't making the strain less durable. Susanoo faded.
Hinata's Byakugan intensified. "Sasuke, you monster," she yelled frantically, firing off a high-speed palm thrust.
Sasuke sensed the lethal vacuum of energy hurtling toward him. Reflexively, Susanoo's hand spawned in a fraction of a heartbeat, shielding the knight's face from the blast — but a measure of the energy slipped between the creature's fingers, slicing the side of the prince's face, at the corner of his eye. She was... aiming for my eyes...
Fueled by anger, Hinata pelted toward the defenseless warrior, wary regarding what Kurenai told her about looking into the eyes of an Uchiha. Meanwhile, Sasuke braced for maneuvering action and a fatal counterattack — but the princess suddenly accelerated and feinted behind him, quickly leaning forward into the Gentle Fist stance.
Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms! She lunged at him with a fusillade of consecutive blows, but the dark knight decisively spawned Susanoo's rib cage to protect himself from the devastating assault.
"Hinata, get back," Kakashi warned, an urgent edge to his voice. "That's Susanoo — the Uchiha's ultimate form of defense; conventional attacks won't work against it!"
The princess took heed, leaping back a few yards, airborne. Sasuke heaved a nasty smirk. Sakura was a special exception, but he was more than willing to kill Hinata — the Hyuga's failure. He would be doing them a favor.
Taking advantage of her brief moment of vulnerability, the evil prince fired off a gigantic Fire Ball. But the princess was by no means vulnerable — while her feet were off the ground, she rotated again into her Protection of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, creating sharper, most close-knit chakra blades. Water traveled along the many paths of her barricade, significantly maximizing its defensive power against Sasuke's fiery assault.
The steam slowly lifted, revealing a knelt and exhausted Hinata, but a fire of determination still burned in her eyes — a light that kindled Sasuke's hatred and the most grotesque of inhumane desires.
Suddenly — sneaking up on the vengeful warrior from beneath the water's surface — a ferocious lion wrought of energy sank its chakra-forged teeth into his leg, which induced momentary paralyzes, dispelling Susanoo in the same beat.
Gentle Step: Mobile Lion Charge!
Hinata bolted after the transparent beast of intricate blue markings and piercing white eyes as it hurtled toward the base of the bridge for a crash collision with Sasuke in tow, but the tenacious Uchiha threw a barrage of chakra needles, severing the chakra string.
But the princess was already within proximity with her contingency plan — careering toward the flustered dark knight with her feminine battle cry.
Isn't that... Rasengan?his eyes focused on the sphere of destructive force, readily noting that it wasn't as potent as Naruto's. And with that deduction, he quickly charged ahead and countered with his Chidori.
His attack effortlessly overpowered hers, and the blast knocked her backward. Time slowed to this moment, and Sasuke ruthlessly followed up with Amaterasu. But just before the defenseless princess was consumed by the dark, merciless flames, she was rescued by her white knight.
Spiky golden Hair. Fierce oceanic eyes. Orange suit. A heroic flair — Naruto was here, chivalrously scooping up his girl, skating across the water's surface with the sheer speed at which he entered the battlefield.
Time seemed to still as he held Sasuke's nonchalant gaze. Then he veered his attention to a surprised Hinata.
"Na-Naruto-kun..."
"Hinata, are you alright?" his voice was suspiciously calm as he placed her down.
"H-Hn," she nodded, and then her eyes widened as he took a lock of her hair into his fingers.
"Your hair got singed again — you know what this means, right?"
The princess squeaked and averted her eyes, her cheeks crimson.
"What's wrong with Sakura?"
"Sa-Sasuke's genjutsu..."
A muscle worked in his jaw. "Join Kakashi-sensei and tell him not to interfere; this is my fight now," he said, striding off.
Hinata swallowed instinctively, pressing a hand to her chest. "Naruto-kun, please be careful..."
"Don't worry, I will."
Sasuke stood with a sleek curve in his stance, his eyes weary and unamused, even as Naruto gradually closed the distance between them.
Our relatively annoyed hero halted a few feet away, his head bowed, eyes veiled in the dark emotions that lingered in his mind — emotions that intertwined with that of the Kyuubi's. "Sasuke." he kept his head down, his voice, his anger barely controlled. "...Were you really intent on killing Hinata just now?"
"Hha... and Kakashi was next."
Abruptly — in a whirlwind of pure, natural energy — Naruto exploded with the Nine-Tail's powerful energy. "You fool!"
In a split second, he covered the few feet that separated them, punching the dark knight square in the jaw, propelling him down into water, like a stray torpedo.
Is that the extent to which you care for the girl, the Kyuubi mocked questioningly.You should have finished the Uchiha with a single attack; that kid is a disaster in the making. Finish him now!
Naruto ignored the heinous beast and slowly stepped back as bubbles began to rise and pop eerily atop the water's surface.
Sasuke didn't look too enthused when he resurfaced, and the Chidori Nagashi he evoked illustrated the truth of it — a fierce electrical discharge flowed from his entire body, skimming atop the surface of the water, which conducted its power. Naruto leaped into the air to avoid the attack, but Sasuke gave a smirk, as if the orange warrior had played right into his trap.
Chidori Senbon!
A variation of the Chidori, Sasuke launched a barrage of needles toward a defenseless Naruto, but our hero had no intention of falling victim to such a low-level technique. Reflexively, he spawned a sacrificial clone that throw him outside of the attack's range, then another that spun and propelled him downward — like a missile — at Sasuke.
The evil prince shot up into the air to meet Naruto with an unsheathed sword. And in light of the fact that a kunai couldn't parry his lightening reinforced blade — to guard against his swing — Naruto cleverly created a line of sacrificial clones that slowed down the momentum of the incoming blade, then maneuvered in such a way that it hit his forehead protector.
Sasuke's eye widened, in both shock and an endeavor to read through the next move, but Naruto's retaliation was way too fast to intercept or avoid. "Wake up already!" he yelled incisively, and the dark knight felt another crackling punch connect to his face, propelled him down into the calm, misty blue.
"Sasuke's being driven back," Kakashi said, enlightening Sakura who had clambered her way back to consciousness, hard lines of distraught sitting below her worrisome eyes.
Hinata's eyes narrowed, heightening her Byakugan's proficiency with spiritual energy. "He's just about out of chakra..."
"Na-Naruto..." Sakura was dumbfounded. When did he get here?
"He saved us all," Kakashi informed softly. "A split second later and Hinata wouldn't be here right now, and I would probably be standing on my last leg against Sasuke."
She veered her attention to the struggling Uchiha, memories flickering in her mind, like a galaxy of glimmering stars. Sasuke-kun...
In collaboration with a clone that had survived overhead, Naruto created a new Rasengan mixed with his and the Kyuubi's natural energy — a sphere that was twice, thrice as powerful as his Odama Rasengan.
"Rasen-symbiosis!"
As a means of defense, Sasuke instinctively summoned Susanoo's rib cage, to protect himself, but the gigantic sphere of spiraling destructiveness was gradually breaking apart the flimsy infrastructure of the creature's bones.
Noting that Naruto himself was the ideal target — if he had hoped to withstand the fearsome attack — Sasuke exerted enough chakra to manifest Susanoo's left arm, swinging it at the relentless shinobi he once deemed his friend. Unable to dodge, the orange warrior allowed the Rasengan to explode, the shock wave propelling him upward enough to evade being brutally swatted.
"You should get lost while you can," Sasuke warned, his demeanor the equivalent of a train wreckage. "The next time Susanoo strikes, you won't be so lucky. I'll crush every last bone in your body."
Naruto smiled with a nonchalance he seemed to have pilfered from the dark avenger. "If I were serious, you would have been dead a long time ago."
Sasuke frowned at the possible and infuriating truth of that, as Naruto hadn't broken into a single sweat or lost his breath, despite the pace at which they were fighting. And he still had that accursed Nine-Tail's power up his sleeve to boot.
His easygoing smile was an incessant flame beneath Sasuke's skin, heating his blood to a fierce boil, which, in turn, scorched his flesh — a constant sea of torment that stirred his anger and his hate, fueling the darkness that bestowed him with increasing power.
Susanoo sprung forth from the darkness, towering over the enraged dark knight. But, no sooner had it began taking a bigger, stronger, more developed form than there was a spasm, a sudden breakdown.
Dammit! Sasuke pressed his hands to his eyes with a pained grunt as power abandoned the channel of his ocular abilities. Upon lowering his hands and looking to Naruto, there was only a hazy image. M-My vision...
"Sasuke." Naruto knew the fight was over. "Some guy named Tobi told me the truth about Itachi."
Through the pain and provocative prick of despair, Sasuke looked up through his shame of defeat with surprise.
The truth about Itachi?Sakura and Hinata were also surprised.
"I don't know whether he was lying or not, but no matter how you put it — what you've been doing... I understand it!"
Shock. Shocked faces everywhere...
Sasuke balled his fingers into fists. "Naruto, I've said this once before: what do you, who have no parents or siblings, understand about me?" he shot the nuisance a malicious sneer. "Outsiders should shut the fack up!"
Hinata felt an influx of anger at the Uchiha's insult, but it was Sakura who lashed out first. "You don't know what Naruto has gone through for you! No matter what bad rumors he heard about you, Naruto always considered you a friend! Even when everyone is after you, only Naruto wants to save you. Even now..."
"Save me?" Sasuke didn't sound grateful. "From what?"
Sakura lowered her head, contemplating it. "That's..."
"From revenge," Naruto clarified, and Sasuke felt surprise ripple through him. "I'm definitely going to save you from the dark abyss of revenge!"
The evil prince heaved a smirk. "There's no need for that. The curtains of my revenge have already been raised."
Everyone blanches, and Sasuke couldn't suppress the wide, jubilant grin that stretched his lips. "Just earlier... just earlier, I finally defeated one of Itachi's enemies." his fingers couldn't stop flexing in his exhilaration. "I killed one of Konoha's superiors, right where we're standing — someone named Danzo."
Everyone quirked in shock, their pallid countenance grave.
Sasuke was able to defeat Danzo, all by himself? Kakashi couldn't believe it.
"It's a sensation I've never felt before," the dark knight gloated openly. "The sensation of the stained Uchiha being purified. The sensation of departing the Uchiha from this rotten world of shinobi! There's no way you'd understand it.
What I've been doing is what you, of Konoha, have desired all along. Just like you, who continue to oppose the Uchiha since the old days, have wanted. I'm going to erase the Uchiha from your memories! You! And all of Konoha! I'm going to kill you all!"
Sasuke's smile widened as he savored his audiences' incredulous facial expressions. "By cutting all bonds with Konoha, it will be purified! That is the true Uchiha revival!"
Sakura felt her belly heat and contort, tears of sorrow burning the back of her lids. She was able to sustain her composure until Hinata took her hand in hers, seeking and offering solace.
Kakashi frowned in a mixture of emotions. Hatred... and how its been accumulated over the course of history... that is what made Sasuke into this. Maybe they don't understand it perfectly, but Sakura, Hinata, and Naruto are now seeing with their own eyes that Sasuke is the victim of the times we live in. That is why...
He recalled the development they've made over the years as a team and his responsibility as their leader, which he hadn't particularly excelled at. Suddenly, Naruto took a step forward, summoning a clone beside him, to aid in delivering the finishing blow to subdue his best friend.
"This is my duty," Kakashi exclaimed, pulling the warrior's attention to him. "Naruto, Sakura, Hinata, you guys get out of here!"
"But, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura complained.
"If you stay here, you'll see something you do not want to see. Now, get out of here!"
"I'm—"
"Sakura, you won't be able to kill Sasuke with the poisoned kunai you learned from Shizune. He's been made resistant to poison by Orochimaru. Also," his eyes were grave, "you've come to terms with your feelings, right?"
The girl tightened her fingers around Hinata's, sharing the grief that snaked around her heart.
Without a word, Sasuke channeled the last of his chakra into a Chidori. Karin sensed the little energy he had left and couldn't help but utter his name worrisomely, trying futilely to push to her feet. "I healed you, but your body won't be able to take another fight!"
She fell back down on her behind against the pillar, the painful impact conjuring bitter memories to the forefront of her mind. Sasuke had betrayed her without a tinge of hesitation. He cared not about his comrades, and she should have accepted the dark truth when he insisted on leaving Jūgo and Suigetsu behind to locate Danzo.
No... I don't care about Sasuke anymore...
As the Uchiha strode forward with his Chidori, Kakashi forged that of his own, casting the evil prince a sympathetic stare.
"Kakashi-sensei," Naruto was calm. "The thing we don't want to see — you're going to kill Sasuke, right?"
Sakura and Hinata gasped.
"Go, all of you!" Kakashi didn't answer.
With a defiant quirk of his lips, Naruto quickly shaped his Rasengan and lunged toward an impatient Sasuke who mirrored his motion. Time slowed as they charged for one another.
"Wait, Naruto," Kakashi demanded.
"Naruto," Sakura called.
"Naruto-kun," Hinata echoed.
But the warriors had already tuned out reality; nothing else mattered but overpowering the other's jutsu and deciding the victory of this battle once and for all. As the distance shortened between them, they felt a flicker of shared reminiscence — that moment when they clashed at the Valley of the End.
What if, Sasuke... you and I... our roles were reversed? Naruto thought about that for a while... thought about that lonesome swing beneath the tree that had burned its bitter memory into his soul. He thought about the broad, cold backs of the people who regarded him with scorn and disdain. What had he done to deserve such alienation and loathing? Why — even when he cried tears from his soul — no one spared him any pity or sympathy?
There was so much hatred, and Naruto was certain Sasuke felt a similar level of pain. If their roles were reversed, would Naruto have chosen the same path Sasuke did?
"Rasengan!"
"Chidori!"
They clashed, and time righted itself again, until their consciousness merged and they stood in a dimension induced by their warrior's spirit. Time and space didn't exist here, only a channel of converging energy wrought of mutual understanding — enlightenment.
"Sasuke, you know, too, don't you," Naruto said, standing a few feet before him within their unique universe. "Earlier, I was hated by everyone in the village. The reason for that was the Kyuubi within me. Back then, I hated everyone in the village. I've also thought about seeking revenge against them.
If I'd taken one wrong step, then I might've started thinking the same dreadful things as you." he bowed his head, remembering that familiar gleam of hate the villagers sported whenever they looked at him. "I didn't think that I shared any bonds with anyone. Not until I met you and Iruka-sensei."
A smile touched his lips. "I had almost given into despair, but you and Iruka-sensei saved me. I knew that you were always alone. When I saw you, I felt relieved that there was someone else like me."
Sasuke didn't admit it, but he had felt the same kind of relief.
Naruto rest at hand behind his head. "We were just kids, and now that you think of it, I had the Kyuubi, you, the fate of the Uchiha. It's kinda ironic that we were to share such similar burdens.
Whenever I saw you, I actually wanted to go down and talk to you. I was happy, that maybe you'd be able to understand me. But, I gave up on that. If you ask why, then it'd be that I was envious of you, who could do anything. So I decided to make you my rival."
He let his hand drop to his side, and then gave a warm, bright smile. "Since then, you become my goal. I, who had nothing, was able to form a bond. It's all because I was a part of Team 7, together with you and Sakura-chan. I wanted to become strong and cool like you, so I was always following you. I'm really glad that I met you!"
"Naruto." As usual, Sasuke wasn't enthused. "No matter what you say, I won't change. I'm going to kill you and everyone else in the village!" he remembered the tears his brother shed, just before abandoning him amidst the corpse of their kin. "All so I can avenge the Uchiha!"
Naruto smiled ruefully. "Is there really no other way?"
"There isn't." Sasuke returned curtly. "You now have two choices: one is to become the hero of the village who killed me, the other is to be killed by me and forever remain a loser."
"Sasuke... I don't believe that," Naruto blinked with renewed enthusiasm. "I'm not going to be a loser, and I'm not going to be the hero who kills you! Neither of them! I will..."
Suddenly, the dimension withered and they were back to reality, the sheer magnitude of power emanating from their clashing energies wreaking havoc upon the immediate environment. Violent waves threatened to swallow the shinobi standing atop its surface, and lightening skimmed along the rock face, leaving destruction in its wake.
The Rasengan and Chidori detonated, like a nuclear warhead, throwing Naruto and Sasuke backward, like ragdolls. Kakashi helped our hero to break his fall, while Zetsu emerged from Sasuke's clothes and acted like a pillow to cushion his collision into the foot of the mountain.
"You're here? Since when," Sasuke asked breathlessly as the… creature helped him to his feet.
"I've been with you for quite some time." the man had a typically strange tone to his voice, as if he were some constantly enthused pedophile. "Tobi told me to make sure you didn't notice me, but... it looked like you were in somewhat of a pinch."
Sasuke was busy catching his breath and shooting Naruto an icy gaze to reply.
I guess I should call on him soon, Zetsu thought mentally, studying Sasuke's annoyed expression — one that promised retaliation to the ones who evoked it. Doesn't seem like he'll step back willingly.
"Naruto, I told you to go home!" Kakashi chided softly, backing away as he poised to stand.
"Now... everything is clear."
"Clear?" the man was curious. "What are you talking about, Naruto?"
Hinata and Sakura awaited his reply, their hands still joined, the state of their nervous illustrated on their faces.
Naruto held Sasuke's gaze, his breathing still perfectly controlled. Then, out of nowhere, Madara suddenly appeared. "What's the meaning of this, Sasuke? I told you to retreat and get some rest."
Kakashi's eye narrowed. Madara!
Sasuke didn't respond or even spared the man a momentary or sidelong glance. He simply stared at Naruto, as if hoping his eyes were fine so that he could allow him to taste the bitterness of hell, if only for a minute.
Curious, Madara traced his eyes to the center of attention. "The Kyuubi... seems like you two can't help but start a fight with each other whenever you're together. I'll give you a more suitable place to hunt the Kyuubi. For now, we're retreating."
"I'll take him, instead," Zetsu entertained, a small army of clones rising up from the water, like plants, at his command. "We have to hunt the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki anyway, right?"
Sakura gasped, and Hinata released her hand, activating her Byakugan and assuming her customary stance. They would have to kill her before they took him away.
Naruto and Kakashi didn't flinch. Both Madara and Zetsu, huh? They sure stick close to Sasuke. But this is going to be a bit too much for me to handle alone. His eye narrowed. What should I do?
Madara looked to his faithful servant. "Zetsu, you won't be able to capture Naruto; you're not a combat-type. The Kyuubi will be too much for you to handle." his Sharingan glowed from the hole in his mask. "Sasuke will take care of the Kyuubi. It'll also be for my entertainment."
"Oh? Really now?" Zetsu's clones slowly descended, no longer needed on the scene. "More importantly, I'm worried about Kisame."
"Go to where he is," the mastermind commanded. "But first, meet up with Black Zetsu."
"Yeah, sure — I understand."
Kakashi felt a cool zephyr of relief. But then, Naruto began sauntering forward, putting everyone's nerves under strain again. "Naruto!"
"It's okay," he reassured. "There's something I want to tell Sasuke in person."
"Let's go, Sasuke," Madara said, resting a hand upon his shoulder.
"Wait." he was curious as to what Naruto had to say. And he stood, anxious to hear it — though his face illustrated no justification.
"Sasuke!" Naruto's voice echoed throughout the valley. "Do you remember? What you told me back at the Valley of the End... the thing about two first-class shinobi! By sharing blows, we've learned much about each other. It means that we've become first-class shinobi. Both you and I.
Sasuke. Were you able to read what is truly within my heart?" he placed his hand to his chest. "You saw it, didn't you? If you and I fight..."
Everyone's curiosity peaked.
"We'll both die."
Shock. Shocked faces everyone — but Hinata was more than just shocked. She was traumatized, tears rippling down her face, her eyes wide with horror.
"Sasuke... if you attack Konoha, then I will be forced to fight you. Keep your hatred until then — and when the time comes, strike it all on me! The only one who can handle all of your hatred is me! Only I can play that role. Then, I will carry the burden of all your hatred. And die with you."
Naruto-kun, Hinata couldn't suppress her tears, and she covered her mouth to prevent a whimper, but she could feel the sobs building in her belly, swelling in a pool of grief. Sakura could sense her sorrow.
"Why, Naruto?" Sasuke was extremely annoyed. "What the hell do you want? Why are you so obsessed with me?"
Naruto simply smiled. "Because I'm your friend."
The wind gusted, leaving the dark knight speechless. Kakashi, Sakura, and Hinata gazed at him, their sentiments the same as Naruto's.
"Sasuke... I knew I couldn't understand you by normal means since the first time we met." our golden knight outstretched his right arm with a fist. "The only way we can ever understand each other is through our fists. I told you earlier: we've both become first-class shinobi.
If we come to understand each other, your hatred will change, too, just like when I met Iruka-sensei.
I haven't given up yet — I'm going to bring you back to Konoha! I will never give up!"
Naruto... You…Sakura's lips quivered and tears burned in her eyes. She found Hinata's hand again, their sorrow resonating, and yet, she found a tinge of comfort.
"Well, I think I'm gonna stop blabbering now," Naruto said sheepishly, gesticulating before the might of Sasuke's dark sneer. "Seriously, I suck at preaching to others. This isn't like me at all."
His hand was in his hair now. "If the time really does come when we both die, then you'll no longer be a Uchiha, and I'll no longer be the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki. We'd have no more burdens that way, and then we could finally understand each other, in the afterlife."
Everyone was grief-stricken by Naruto's words, but Sasuke and his accomplices only seemed to have felt disgust. "I won't change," he said calmly, derisively. "Nor do I feel like understanding you. Nor do I feel like dying. You're the one who's going to die."
Naruto's smile hadn't faded. "If I die, you'll die with me, Sasuke."
The evil prince allowed a sly smile. "Fine. Then, I'll kill you first."
"You still haven't fully acknowledged me." Naruto dispelled a clone stationed half a mile away, and, when he blinked, the mark of the sage was in his eyes, adding potency to his nonchalance.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits, curiosity and hatred filling them. He had gotten stronger. Again. That Naruto...
Madara filched inwardly. So that's the infamous Sage Mode which he used to defeat Pain. I'd be troublesome if he decided to start a fight right now. Even at full strength, Sasuke may not be able to defeat him as he is right now...
"I'll handle, Sasuke," Kakashi stated. "You still have your precious dream of becoming Hokage. I don't want you to be dragged down with him—"
"Could someone who can't even save one of his friends really become Hokage? I will... fight Sasuke!"
Sakura bowed her head sadly. Naruto came here with his resolve: "I will carry all your burdens and die with you!" tears tipped her eyes. My resolve is weak compared to his... even though I'm a shinobi, I just keep crying and depending on Naruto. I came here because I was supposed to be done with all that. But I wasn't even prepared for anything; I can't do anything; I can't say anything. All I can do is, she looked to Naruto and Sasuke, believe in both of them!
"Understood, Naruto," Kakashi acknowledged, walking to the forefront of the battlefield beside him. "I'll leave Sasuke to you. Sakura, take care of my body." I'm going to take care of Madara right here and now — Kamui! he uttered ardently, activating his Mangekyou Sharingan.
"Hold it right there, Kakashi," Madara instructed calmly, a hand held forward. "That technique won't work on me."
Kakashi hesitated, weighting the truth of it on the man's tone of voice.
"Let's go, Sasuke," the mastermind placed a hand upon his shoulders, teleporting them all using his space-time technique.
Sasuke kept his eyes on Naruto, watching even as the teleportation distorted his friend's image. "Madara... I'll talk to you later."
Hinata and Sakura remained silent. Kakashi had his head down in disappointment, even as he formulated plans for the future, no doubt. Naruto on the other hand — having dispelled Sage Mode — still had a smile stretching his lips. There was nothing to worry about, but he knew Hinata wouldn't readily swallow what claim without a better explanation.
"Come whenever you feel like it, Sasuke."
While Sasuke was busy having his brother's eyes transplanted, to counter this new power Naruto had attained and drive him along with his village to the deepest reaches of hell, our heroes were busy making their way back to Konoha. Karin was within their ranks, who, was to be interrogated to gather additional Intel, which could somehow help to tip the tides of the impending war.
Meanwhile, in the other villages, the Kages were busy consulting with the council — to receive approval from the Daimyos in regards to the Allied Shinobi Force. Once the "OK" was given, all shinobi were instructed to make an inventory of all items and create a list of all that was needed. And all those on missions were to return and placed into battle squads. Preparing for the Four Ninja War was priority at this point, and they had little time to prepare.
In Konoha, the village was still under heavy construction, but the hierarchy was also in ruins. And Kakashi was expected to restore order by taking the throne in Tsunade's stead, as there was no change in her comatose state. While becoming the sixth Hokage held no personal interest for him — in light of Madara's declaration of war — he knew the village needed a trustworthy and dependable leader, to collaborate with the other countries and help to guide logistics.
"How could Sasuke have done that," Shikamaru said, his sentiments mutual between all his friends that stood around Naruto.
"It's hard to image," Shino added.
"That's why I'm asking all of you to leave Sasuke to me," Naruto reiterated calmly.
Ten-Ten slammed the side of her fist to the timber on which Lee sat, a gleam of rebellion quivering in her eyes. "Deal with Sasuke by yourself? There's no way we're going to sit by and let that happen!"
"Ten-Ten's right, Naruto," Shino agreed. "We can't indulge your stubborn attitude. Why? Because this is a major problem for the entire village."
"I'm not being stubborn," Naruto defended.
"You said you'd explain everything once we got back, and this is all you've got to say?" Kiba wasn't enthused. "We've already resigned ourselves to killing Sasuke!"
Shikamaru frowned. "Oi, Naruto, I hope you're not telling us that you'll take care of Sasuke on your own, just to mask your true intention of protecting him."
"No, I have no intention of protecting him."
Sakura's eyes quivered and she recalled the devastating clash Naruto and Sasuke had on the water. She knew he wasn't entirely trying to protect Sasuke, but it pained her to hear him declare the truth of it from his mouth.
"Why didn't you deal with him when he was weakened by fighting at the Five Kage Summit and against Danzo," Neji demanded hotly.
Sakura frowned, feeling a tad offended. "Because Madara was there, too! It wouldn't have been so easy. Besides..." she averted her eyes.
"That's no excuse for letting him escape," Kiba scolded. "Come on, Naruto, you're strong — aren't you the hero who took down Pain?"
"Hero?"
"Yeah. You should've dealt with Sasuke like that!"
"No, I couldn't have."
"Huh?"
Naruto pivoted his head back around, his eyes somber. "The way Sasuke is now, I couldn't beat him with just that. I know that much." He also has, inside of him...
"What exactly did you figure out," Chouji inquired.
"For now, none of you should take on Sasuke." he sounded like a commander with his stern instruction.
"What do you mean?" Neji was still dissatisfied.
"I'm saying I'm the only one who can fight him."
"That doesn't make any sense!" Ten-Ten snapped.
"Tell us, what exactly happened," Neji continued to pry.
"When the time comes, I'll tell you."
Kiba clicked his tongue. "Hey! You're beating around the bush again! Geez."
Naruto?Sakura's eyes narrowed to emerald slits, quivering with reminiscence. He'd told Sasuke that if they fought, they would have both died in the aftermath. What are you hiding?
"Well, that's all," Naruto said dismissively, abruptly taking Hinata's hand and making his way off the scene. "Just leave it to me."
"Na-Naruto-kun," Hinata squeaked sheepishly, melting in the spotlight.
"Hey, Naruto," Kiba called.
"Naruto." Shikamaru was calm yet inquisitive.
"Wait, Naruto!" Neji demanded.
"I-I'm sorry everyone! Please for given him," Hinata apologized on behave of his rude dismissal.
Fate – Naruto's Enigmatic Prediction
Well aware that, unlike the others, Hinata desperately needed an explanation and closure — she deserved it — he decided they would have a discussion at Ichiraku over a bowl of his favorite ramen.
"Alright, here you go," Teuchi said, resting two hefty bowls of ramen atop the counter. "Two Special Miso Soup Pork Cutlet Ramen to celebrate Naruto's happy match and his heroism in protecting the village."
Naruto grinned, patting the back of his head sheepishly.
"T-Thank you," Hinata muttered shyly, her cheeks pink as she gazed down into her steaming bowl.
"You're welcome, young lady," the man smiled warmly. "It's on the house so eat up, and don't be shy to ask for seconds."
"What, you sure," Naruto exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement.
"Of course! This is a special occasion for my favorite customer. I'll be around back — you lovebirds just give me a call, if you need anything."
"Thanks, pops — you're the greatest."
He disappeared behind the counter with a blush.
"Itadakimasu," Naruto chanted, after reaching for his chopsticks. But just before he dug in, devouring the small slices of heaven that made up his bowl, he looked to Hinata whose depression had her appetite in a bind. "Eat — you'll need your energy. Your hair got singed again, so I have no choice but to punish you again."
The princess blushed crimson, but she didn't look away from her bowl, and, as she pursed her lips, Naruto could note a gleam of sorrow illuminating her hooded eyes.
With a sigh, he placed his chopsticks across his bowl and placed an attentive hand upon hers. Hinata's breath hitched and, finally, she cast him her eyes. "Listen, Hinata... I won't lie about dying, if I faced off against Sasuke right now. It's like I told everyone: the way he is right now, I wouldn't be able to beat him."
The princess's lips began to tremble.
Naruto cupped the side of her face, brushing her scarlet cheek with his thumb. "Are you going to cry because you don't believe that I'll keep my promise?"
She blinked up at him beneath her lashes, recollection flickering in her lovely eyes.
"Regardless of what I said, I won't allow Sasuke and myself to die and, I don't intend to accept this level of strength, either; I'll get stronger, Hinata. And I'll keep my promise to you — nothing will destroy our bond."
"Oh, Naruto-kun," the princess couldn't suppress her smile or the tears.
He smiled back at her, brushing his fingers along the lock of hair that was damaged by both Neji and Sasuke. She felt her heart skip at beat at his suggestive gesture. "Eat".
She nervously did as she was told — tentatively taking her chopsticks and saying grace. A chain reaction of flavors exploded in her mouth upon sampling Naruto's most cherished dish. The noodles were perfectly done, eggs thoroughly boiled, pork deliciously seasoned, everything bathing in a pool of hot, rich soup. She may just have another serving, after this one.
Moments passed, and Hinata peeked up at Naruto. Having finished his first serving, it seemed as if he were enjoying a private joke, a trace of a smile flirting with his beautiful mouth. "Naruto-kun?"
He pivoted his head to look at her. "Do you remember when we were playing games on the Playstation 4?"
"Of course," she said, her proud chin hiking up with her reply.
Naruto frowned frivolously. "Enjoy victory while you can; I do plan on getting my revenge, y'know!"
The princess giggled adorably, caught in his infectious, playful mood. "Naruto-kun won't defeat me so easily."
He grinned."We'll just have to see about that!"
"And in Call of Duty: Ghost..."
Hinata's answering smile was quicksilver and playful as they both scurried along the corridor toward his apartment door. He was chasing her, but the princess didn't plan to lose in this contest, either.
"I can't believe you threw that grenade and took me out, your partner, along with those three other challengers."
Hinata chuckled, quickly using her key to open the door, but he caught her within the vestibule as she was taking her slippers off. Her startled shriek dissolved into laughter... then, before long, the breathless moans and sighs of a female well pleasured and fully sated.
With a smile, Naruto brushed sleek locks of hair behind Hinata's ear, her cheeks silky, lips smooth and glossy. She was sleeping soundly and quite snug, her head resting atop his chest.
She always looked so innocent and adorable while she slept; he couldn't help but stay up and watch her, battling with his raging hormones in an endeavor to refrain from disturbing her. But despite his control, he couldn't stop his lever from rising, hardening, remembering the delicious taste of her heavenly cambers.
Enchanted by the tempting curves of her beautiful lips, Naruto lowered his head to capture them with his own but, just before they touched, he found himself standing naked in a far off land. Literally.
"Oh, so that's what it looks like," Shima said calmly, her eyes fixated on Naruto's rigid steel.
"Ehh?" Naruto let out a high-pitched shriek, covering his erection with both hands and ducking behind the stone pedestal situated in front of the Great Toad Sage's massive chair. "Wh-Why am I here again?"
"Why are ya naked," Shima asked in return.
"I...uhh, just came out of the shower — you should really warn me next time before you chose to bring me here!"
"Sorry, Sorry," Fukasaku apologized effusively. "I reversed summoned ya because the Great Elder is gonna give ya your prediction."
"Prediction?" Naruto repeated, once he was given a length of fabric, which he used as a loincloth.
"Yeah," the minute old toad replied, and then looked to his massive superior. "I've brought him forth."
"Sup," Naruto saluted ecstatically. "It's been a while Giant Grampa Sage!"
"Ho-Ho, it was I who called you forth," the sage returned. "Um... uhh... who are you again?"
Naruto's burst of enthusiasm withered. "Uzumaki Naruto," he drawled wearily. "Can you give me a break and at least remember my name, Giant Grampa Sage?"
"Oh, yes, that's right. That's right. Naruto, was it?"
Fukasaku signed inwardly. Bah, do we have to go through this routine every time?
"Naruto, I have seen your future."
"A prediction, is it? That's fine, I'm ready for it."
The giant sage slightly opened one eye. "In that case, calm your heart and listen: you will soon meet an octopus."
"Huh?" Naruto imagined a typical octopus. "Tch! Of all things, why an octopus?"
"Well, you can say: I could not see it clearly, but I am certain there were octopus tentacles." the toad's eyes widened a tad. "And then, you will... battle a young man, wielding power in his eyes."
Naruto felt a sudden prick of recognition.
"And then—"
"Yeah, I understand," he said bluntly.
"Whaddya mean ya understand," Fukasaku asked.
The young sage bowed his head, recalling the confrontation he had with Sasuke, and then he clenched his fist.
"You have seen it," the Great Toad Sage asked calmly.
"Yes."
"And you know who he is, the young man wielding power in his eyes?"
Naruto nodded. "Yes. I'm prepared for everything."
The elder narrowed his already half-lidded eyes. "Gerotora," he called to the toad sitting adjacent to his throne chair. "I have foreseen your transfer into Naruto, as well."
"Wh-What'd you say," the orange and black amphibian exclaimed.
"Hand over the Fourth's seal to him."
Gerotora folded his arms across his chest, not in the least bit enthused. "If you say so Great Elder; I don't care anymore." suddenly, his body stretched vertically about eight times its regular size, revealing the contents of the scroll to the young sage.
For a moment, Naruto was flabbergasted. "This is..."
"The key to the Fourth Hokage's seal that he left on your stomach," Gerotora informed flatly. "With this — if you think it's right — ya could release the Kyuubi completely."
Naruto didn't like the way he phrased it.
"Press your hand on the square area."
He nodded, and then looked to his fingers, his thoughts racing.
"This is your chance to perfect the technique that Jiraiya spoke of."
"…The key to releasing the Kyuubi." Naruto said the words slowly, thoroughly absorbing what that meant.
"Ya feeling hesitant, Naruto," Gerotora said, breaking the sudden chasm of silence.
"What's tha' matter," Fukasaku asked. "Hurry up and push tha' Storage Seal!"
"I see you're anxious, Naruto," Gerotora kept hitting the nail on the head. "Well, that's to be expected.
"Whaddya mean?"
"Fukasaku-sama, the two elements that compose the Kyuubi's power are its chakra and its will. To control the Kyuubi's power means to only pull out its chakra and fuse it into that of your own, thus turning it into your power. However, it's not that simple.
If you pull out the Kyuubi's chakra, its will comes out along with it. The Kyuubi's will is a mass of hatred, and it's bound to the chakra with great strength. No matter how strong your self-control is, it fuses with the hatred you have in your heart and overwhelms you.
In other words, in order to control the Kyuubi's power, you need a strong will devoid of hatred. This will completely separate the Kyuubi's will from its chakra.
The Fourth Hokage made the seal in such a way that a small amount of clean chakra could leak out of the Kyuubi's cage and naturally become Naruto's chakra. This is called the Eight Trigram Seal. It's actually the Four Symbol Seal applied twice.
However, if we use this key, the Four Symbol Seal will be opened and all of the Kyuubi's chakra can be pulled out."
Fukasaku had broken into a sweat. "If that's true, then along with tha' Kyuubi's chakra, all of its will would come out, as well."
"And when Naruto's will loses to the Kyuubi's will — the Kyuubi would be completely resurrected." the words left a bitter aftertaste Gerotora's mouth.
Oh my, Fukasaku couldn't help but second guess the Great Toad Elder's decision to hand over the scroll to Naruto. "So, have tha' Four Symbol Seals ever been opened before?"
"Until now, each time the seal has weakened — like during his training when Naruto started to turn into the Kyuubi — we've used the key to restrain him and close the seal.
Jiraiya was troubled by this. Once he found out that the seal the Fourth Hokage made had grown weaker, he realized that there was no telling when Naruto would turn into the Kyuubi again. This lead to Jiraiya deliberately wanting to open the seal a bit — he wanted Naruto to gain the power to resist the Kyuubi's will.
Well, that didn't succeed."
"It's not like I wanted to hurt Ero-Sennin," Naruto said softly, a hint of guilt backing his deep voice. "The more I try to gain power, the stronger the Kyuubi's will binds me. It ignores my will and goes on to hurt anyone it can."
"That's what happened when we opened Naruto's seal just a bit," Gerotora clarified gravely.
Fukasaku looked up at a glum Naruto. "So, that's how Jiraiya-chan got those wounds on his chest. What happened after that?"
"I can't explain it well," Gerotora admitted.
Naruto frowned in cold reminiscence. "When I faced Orochimaru, I chose to rely on the Kyuubi's power and I surrendered my will to it. When he talked about Sasuke I was overcome with anger — and, at some point, I lost sight of myself.
Captain Yamato told me to fight with my own strength, rather than rely on the Kyuubi's chakra. Training while Captain Yamato suppressed the Jinchuuriki is one thing, but in battle, there is always hatred. That's why I thought I didn't need the Kyuubi's power anymore.
If I can't suppress the Kyuubi's will with mine, I don't need this power that will hurt people close to me, like Ero-Sennin and Sakura-chan. That was my decision. But... when Pain defeated Hinata... the hatred, the regret, the feeling of uselessness — my heart connected with the Kyuubi's will on its own.
For now, I'm still safe because the Fourth mended my seal, but... I don't know when I'll lose it again. However, in order to fight Sasuke, I need the Kyuubi's chakra. After all, I'm the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki; I can't keep running from that."
Suddenly, he heard a rehash of the Fourth's words in his mind: "I made the seal so you get half of the Kyuubi's chakra — because I believed you'd master this power."
That's right, Father, Naruto thought mentally. Even if I hurt my friends, even if I lose to the hatred, he accumulated chakra to his fingertips and walked up the flight of stairs to the scroll, where he pressed them to the Storage Seal. Nothing good will come of further hesitation.
Fukasaku looked to Naruto, proud, and at the same time concerned. Now I understand how dangerous releasing tha' Kyuubi's chakra really is. Yes — he who bears the Fourth's hopes and inherits Jiraiya-chan's spirit — he can do it.
"The contract is made," Gerotora announced, admiring Naruto's determined smile. "We'll do the storage!"
Naruto withdrew is fingers. "So, how do you do the storage?"
Gerotora retracted the scroll and regained his original size. "You don't have to do anything big. Just open your mouth."
Naruto pointed wearily. "My mouth?"
Gerotora mirrored his gesture. "Yes. Say 'ahh'".
The young sage did what he was told.
"Open wider!"
Naruto's face quirked with irritation but, again, he did was he was told.
"Here we go — storage!"
He leaped into Naruto's mouth, and the young shinobi let out a stifled shriek. He felt like his jaw was going to break, just before he suffocated. And he didn't like the taste of frog.
"Hey, open up wider," Gerotora scolded in his frustration, kicking his legs in his effort to get the rest of his body inside. "Are you going to let me complete the storage?"
Naruto couldn't help but run around in his suffering, tears flowing from his wide eyes. Why through the mouth? He's all slimy — it's disgusting!
Abruptly, Fukasaku came to the rescue with a Falcon Kick to Gerotora's backside, which sent him flying down Naruto's throat in a fluent and rather unpleasant descent.
Our traumatized hero fell to the ground in a fit of coughing, far from enthused when Fukasaku told him the storage was successful. Maybe he should propose a Frog Fu sparring session so that he could extract his vengeance. Gerotora would pay, eventually.
"Now we'll proceed to return ya to Konoha," Fukasaku continued. "Then ya have to search for tha' octopus."
"That's right," Naruto raised his head, teary-eyed, drool still running from his mouth. "The premonition was that I'll meet an octopus."
Fukasaku nodded.
"Where is that octopus? Aren't there any hints?"
"It's not clear," the Great Toad Elder added. "But it's on a secluded island — a place where humans don't go near; a paradise for all living creatures. I think it'd make a nice resort for me."
Naruto smiled, imagining the most natural and surreal environment deprived of shinobi and their meaningless squabbles. It was a paradise for him and Hinata — the Great Toad Elder was just fine here.
"The octopus should help you there. There you have your guidance."
"Yes, sir," Naruto saluted firmly. Then, after saying his goodbyes, he was sent back to Konoha, in the comfort of his bed from which he was stolen.
"Na-Naruto-kun," a frantic Hinata called from next to him. She had the sheets pulled up to the threshold of her cleavage, her body still flushed from the afterglow of their intimate copulation. "What happened? Where did you go?" her eyes were wide with anxiety. "I-I woke up and realized that Naruto-kun was gone without a trace, and I knew you weren't a clone."
With a reassuring smile, he gently cupped the side of her face, and she instinctively leaned the weight of her head into his loving possession, a warm glow spreading slowly through her veins. But a hint of curiosity still danced in her eyes. "I'm sorry I made you worry. I was reversed-summoned to Mount Myouboku. Apparently, the Giant Grampa Sage had something important to tell me."
Hinata felt a wave of relief move through her as her eyes closed, escaping her lips on a hot sigh.
Naruto's eyes smoldered, arousal stirring in his nervous, kindled by the sweet, aphrodisiac-like breath that passed his nose. Hinata's eyes blinked open in abject shock as her charming knight stole a kiss in a sudden assault. Before her mind could register what was happening, her body was already responding, lust streaking through her system, like an intoxicating drug.
She let out an adorable mewl against his sweet lips when he found the creamy softness of her breast behind the sheet. Hinata leaned forward and reached for him in a frenzy, pulling at the crude material that separated his bare body from her greedy hands.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the front door. They could hear it from the bedroom. The signal spoke of a visitor, and their arousal quickly dwindled, like salt in water.
"Na-Naruto-kun," Hinata looked to him, anxiety creasing her forehead once more, as though they were wanted criminals being hunted by law officials and vigilantes.
He kissed her lips again, smiling when her eyes popped open and her cheeks heated. "Don't worry, I'll go and check who it is. Meanwhile, you go and freshen up."
The princess nodded obediently, her eyes innocent and shy. Embarrassingly, she scrambled off the bed, clumsily wrapped in the sheets to conceal her privates. After retrieving a fresh pair of panties from Naruto's drawer, which were mixed with his boxers, Hinata stole into the bathroom and locked herself in.
Naruto couldn't help but grin — there was no limit to the extent to which she was adorable. Every gesture that she made aroused him. This visitor better have a good reason for intruding, he thought as he took off the loincloth and donned his usual attire.
By the fifth knock, an irritated Sakura pushed the door open and stepped inside the vestibule. But her anger cooled and froze into icy grief and jealously upon spying Hinata's slippers on the inside mat.
For a moment, she couldn't believe her eyes but, upon further observation of the apartment, she realized that it was clean and tidy. This was definitely a girl's touch; she could barely recognize the place. But the smell of Hinata and Naruto danced on the air. Now this was also a place she called home — a place where Sakura could've called home, too, if she had leaped at the opportunity. But, instead, she chose the darkness over the golden light — the dark, lone knight of the fallen Uchiha clan.
Sakura stood in the vestibule. She couldn't take another step; this was no longer a vacant territory; one of her kind had claimed it and left her mark. She attempted an wholehearted smile when Naruto entered the living room, but she couldn't hide the unyielding lines of distraught sitting below her eyes.
"Sakura-chan! Hey, is something a matter?"
He's been suffering the longest and, even now he had to endure. It was only appropriate that he was the first from the team to taste true happiness. "Naruto! It's Tsunade-sama..."
His eyes popped open, and then his brows dropped into an anxious frown. "Did something happen to Granny Tsunade?"
Sakura smiled openly, reliving that moment when she caught wind of the wonderful news. "She's finally awake, Naruto! Tsunade-sama has come out of her coma!"
"Really?" our hero couldn't control his excited grin. "She's finally recovered?"
"Ha-Have Tsunade-sama really regained consciousness," Hinata said sheepishly, slowly approaching from the bedroom, fresh and lovely from her quick shower.
"Yeah," Naruto spun around gleefully to look at her. "Now Kakashi-sensei won't have to keep frowning about taking on the title of Hokage."
The princess smiled shyly. "He truly must be relieved."
"He is," Sakura clarified, winning their attention. "By the way, Naruto, Tsunade-sama wants to see you right away."
"Oh, okay." he turned his attention to Hinata, a questioning gleam alight in his eyes.
"Naruto-kun should go ahead — I'll go and tell Neji-niisan and my father the good news."
Sakura couldn't help but stare at the way they looked at each other — with true unconditional love and affection. There was deep, dark desire quivering in their eyes. There was admiration and respect. There was selflessness and understanding.
Would she ever have this level of commitment with Sasuke? Had everything he told her been a lie? If so, why didn't he kill her sooner on the bridge, or when she was fighting him along with Hinata?
"You were with the Great Elder Toad Sage?" Tsunade reiterated, stirring the curiosity of Sakura, Yamato, Kakashi, and Shikamaru.
"Yeah, I was reversed-summoned," Naruto replied casually.
"Geez," Shikamaru sighed and pivoted his head to the right. "Just causing people trouble over nothing!"
"Eh?" Naruto turned to him quizzically. "What do you mean?"
"Inoichi-san has been keeping tabs on you since you came back from the hot spring country, so everyone panicked when your chakra trail suddenly vanished without a trace."
Naruto hadn't decided if he appreciated being monitored just yet.
"It would have been nice if Fukasaku-sama had notified us," Tsunade complained.
"Still," Kakashi added calmly. "I'm relieved that you're safe, Naruto."
"Alive and kicking, as you can see."
"Why did the Great Elder Toad Sage call you," Tsunade asked right off the bat. Everyone's curiosity peaked.
"Giant Grampa Sage gave me a prediction, too."
"Like the one he gave to Jiraiya? So, what did he tell you?"
Naruto tiled his head as he skimmed through his mental archives. "Well... you see..."
"What is it?"
"It looks like I'll be going to a resort and meeting an octopus." Naruto seemed far too excited with the nonsense he just spouted.
Shikamaru broke into a sweat. "What? An octopus?"
Everyone shared a gaze, Kakashi looking to Tsunade. "What does that mean?"
"Um, well... that octopus is kinda supposed to help me. It seems Giant Grampa Sage doesn't know the details, either. Also," he bowed his head and his tone hardened. "I was told I'll be fighting Sasuke."
"Sasuke-kun," Sakura echoed the Uchiha's name, as if she hadn't known the truth of it.
There was a moment of silence, and then Naruto raised his head with a wide smile, his eyes still slightly troubled. "But, I've already prepared myself for that."
Sakura uttered his name worryingly, and he cast her a reassuring grin, his eyes the physical depiction of his confidence. "Sakura-chan, it'll be alright; you can trust me to deal with Sasuke."
Upon the request of the Raikage, a meeting was held at Kumogakure between all the Kages, where they shared information they had gathered on the enemy. For the Alliance to be prosperous in this upcoming war, it was imperative that they openly shared and compile all acquired Intel.
Tsunade wasn't enthused when she was informed that the Hachibi and Kyuubi would be hidden throughout the war, but she had no choice but to concede being the only opposing voter. She was somewhat appeased, however, when the Raikage told her that his brother, the Hachibi, would be teaching Naruto the method to gaining complete control over the Kyuubi at the secluded island on which he would have them both secured.
But, of course, Tsunade couldn't allow Naruto to catch wind of the war. He wouldn't stand back, like a coward, while his friends risked their lives in protecting him. He would sacrifice learning to tame the Kyuubi, just to stand by his comrades on the battlefield.
Therefore, as a cover, the Hokage told Naruto that he had an S-class mission that only he could handle. And that the mission was located on a far away island in accordance to the Great Toad Sage's prediction. He had no clue, however, as to whether or not this mission was in turn connected to Sasuke. Tsunade, on the other hand, knew it was not — and also knew what the "octopus" represented in the prediction.
Naruto was ecstatic and, without any complains, he accepted his duties.
Fated Departure
Hinata was training in a remote, wide-open field when Naruto's messenger frog leaped atop her head. She had spotted the amphibian with her Byakugan when it was a few meters away, but she was still a tad startled as to where it chose to come to a stop.
"Messenger-kun," she looked up adorably with a blush, still remembering how perverted the little critter was. "How did you find me?"
"Have you ever considered wearing a V-neck top," the toad murmured disappointedly, peering down at the zip that was pulled up far too much on her hooded jacket, concealing her cleavage.
The amphibian hopped from her head as she hugged her chest and pursed her lips, her silky cheeks pink with embarrassment. Looking up at her, the messenger couldn't help but ogle at the girl's lovely demeanor. "This is quite interesting, too." he cleared his throat upon noting her steady frown. "Oh, you asked how I found you? Well, I can sense chakra — and I've had a fixed on your chakra signature since the very first time we met."
Although enlightened, the princess kept her chest concealed, her eyes fixed on the scroll.
The toad sighed. "I don't think Naruto expects a reply, so I'll just leave the scroll here."
After gently resting the length of papyrus onto the grass, the lecherous critter saluted and dispersed into a puff of smoke. Relieved, Hinata dropped her defenses and quickly retrieved the scroll, excitement stemming from the deepest depths of her tummy as she unfurled the sheet.
Hey, what's up?
I thought you would've come and seen Granny Tsunade by now.
She's doing great — doesn't look any different from before.
It's like she was never in a coma.
Oh, two guys asked for my autograph at the campsite. It felt really weird.
It's almost sundown and I know how busy you get in the evenings at home.
So, later tonight, I want you to meet me beneath that tree we had our picnic
the other day. I'll be there from eight.
I have something important to tell you.
Again, I'm sorry about us getting interrupted.
I'll make it up to you, I promise.
Miss you.
— Uzumaki Naruto.
Hinata went through the motions with the contents of Naruto's message at the tip of her mind. What important news could he have to share? Why couldn't he have written the gist of it on the scroll or sent a clone? Of course, both her and her inner goddess preferred to see him in person — to feel that delicious electric charge and the attraction. To be reassured of his love and passion.
"Hinata, dear," Kuwashima said, winning the girl's attention. "Why don't you go and make yourself comfortable at the table. I'll bring the rest of the food out."
There wasn't much of a conversation during dinner. Hanabi was reflecting on today's activities with Konohamaru, and Hiashi was also preoccupied with his thoughts. It must have been grave to prevent him from flooding them with questions as he usually did.
After assisting with the dishes, the princess made her way to the shower, and then escaped before Hanabi could intrude in her room and struck up embarrassing conversations regarding their relationship.
Once she was off the Hyuga's estate and away from the many protective eyes that watched it, Hinata allowed her shoulders to sag accompanied by a sigh of relief.
It was well after eight o'clock by the time she arrived at the appointed area. Naruto stood beneath the shadow of the tree, a hand against the trunk as he gazed out into the motionless water. Even as a silhouette, he effortlessly took her breath away, an incredible creature that perfectly blended in with the marvels of nature.
Suddenly, he sensed her — not her chakra, not the sound of her heartbeat, but a resonating energy that only true soul mates shared. "I'm sorry for making you come all this way so late," he said as a means of introduction, his smile warm and repentant.
"Mm-Mm," Hinata shook her head slowly, smiling from ear to ear. She would've walked a thousand more miles, just to stand by him like this.
"Hinata..." he was suddenly beside her, his tone somber and his smile gone as he brushed locks of hair behind her ear. Then cupped the side of her face. "I'll be leaving the village on an S-Class mission tomorrow."
The princess could feel the shock spreading across her face, and she bit back the flood of questions that rose in her throat, a deep, dark spell of sorrow and loneliness uncoiling in her tummy.
"I haven't been properly briefed on the details, but I do know that the method in learning how to control the Kyuubi is linked to this mission."
"W-Won't it be dangerous?" she couldn't hid the glitter of worry from her eyes.
"In any case, this may be my only chance to make good on my promise to you. Plus, I need more power if I hope to be a match for Sasuke, and to protect the village."
Hinata lowered her head sadly. "I-I don't want to lose you..."
With a curved index finger, he tilted her chin, his dark eyes burning into hers. "You won't..."
Some desperate, selfish, and irrational part of her had wanted to cling to him and beg him to reconsider. She would offer him anything. Say anything. Be anything. But she knew he couldn't, or wouldn't change his mind. After all, this wasn't only for the best between them — but for the good of the village and his very humanity.
And she loved him too much to try to make him bend his integrity just to satisfy her breaking heart. She couldn't betray her home, either. But it hurt to think of letting him go, of possibly losing him forever.
The princess's eyes glazed over as grief and despair swamped her. She felt so confused and afraid... so alone already, even with his thumb now brushing her cheek.
Naruto's mouth was drawn tight, his face rigid with regret. "Hinata..."
"I understand," she replied, utterly devoid of emotion.
"Hinata—"
"This is something that Naruto-kun has to do. It's like my father said: you can't change the world without power."
"Come watch the stars with me."
The princess blinked rapidly as he took her hand with a smile, ushering her closer to the bank of the lake. Without a word, he released her, and then sprawled out on a small patch of meadow with an ecstatic sigh.
Hinata looked down at him shyly, at a complete loss for words as she meddled with her fingers.
"I love your dress," he grinned, looking up admiringly at her. "You look amazing, Hinata."
The girl blushed crimson, veering away her eyes. Nestled atop her head was a white beret. Beneath an ivory white cardigan, she wore a peach, spaghetti-strapped dress with a ruby sash. And on her feet — showing short neat toes — were cute little slippers.
"I love that pink underwear, too," Naruto added with a flair that made her heart skipped a beat.
With a sharp gasp, she patted the hem of her dress to her legs and dropped down in the grass next to him, sitting adorably on her heels. She averted her face and blushed hotly as he giggled softly beneath the rustle of the surrounding trees.
Seconds ticked by — slow and glorious seconds — and the couple remained silent, reveling in one another's company and the beauty of nature that surrounded them.
Hinata looked out across the surreal, moonlit water. It was still the mating season for fireflies, and the males were hard at work — trying restlessly to woo a female with its lovely courtship dance, illuminating the water's surface with a lime green glow as they did.
The princess couldn't help but think back to the first time she and Naruto made love, and as her body recalled each sizzling scene; each delicious position, her eyes automatically began drifting over his motionless body. His legs were long in his customary orange pants, his shoulders and chest pronounced in his black t-shirt.
His chest...
Hinata's eyes paused there. She was tempted to inch closer and rest her head atop that oh so familiar surface, curled up next to him as she always does. Butterflies were flapping up a storm in her belly by the time her scrutiny froze squarely upon his lips. Hers parted in turn, and then she felt her eyes widen and her face heat when his eyes met hers.
"Have you ever wondered what's out there?"
The princess found a trace of composure and followed his gaze upwards, to the galaxy of shimmering starts that sat in the endless dark blue sky. "I-I have..."
"Are we the only ones in the universe?" Naruto's eyes narrowed, almost frustratingly. "If there are other life forms, do they steal and kill each other like we do to survive? Do they have different races that live separately and follow a single ruler?"
"...Naruto-kun." Hinata's eyes softened.
"I've always wondered about the unknown, especially since I started reading Ero-Sennin's documents. But there's one thing I'm sure of: as long's the world continues to turn, I'll always love you, Hinata..."
Knowing far too well how excessively shy she was — expecting no reply — Naruto pushed to his feet and stood before her, offering an attentive hand. "Let's go — I'll walk you home."
Hinata shook her head, too lost for words or reason. All she knew was the demanding desire she had for this golden knight, this incredible, gallant, honorable hero who should have been hers a long time ago. Who might never be hers again, once this precious night was through.
"...One last time," she whispered recklessly as desire swept like adrenaline through her system, waking every nerve ending and receptor in its path. Her eyes were suggestive, innocent, and hopeful, as she took his hand and pulled him down.
"This isn't the last time," Naruto corrected warmly, knelt just inches away from her.
He stared into her pair of wide, luminescent eyes the color of polished silver. They were smooth as glass... hypnotic, but sadly not powerful enough to phase his resolve. But they did stir his hunger, and he leaned forward, taking off her cardigan as his lips crushed hers.
When he withdrew, the princess was out of breath, her eyes hooded lasciviously, gleaming brightly in her plea for more — but Naruto just smiled.
The most intimate part of one's body, Hinata lightly traced her fingertips down the line of his sideburn, over the curve of his jaw, and across the softness of his tempting lips. Hers parted as his eyes burned brighter with his admiration and desire.
Suddenly, with tears tipping her eyes, she lunged forward into the comforting wall of his chest, sending them both toppling over into the tall grass. "Naruto-kun..."
With a low moan of distress and a grin of intent, he learned upright and placed his hand atop Hinata's head, removing the crumpled beret and resting it aside. "How about taking control of the first round?"
The princess looked up questioningly from his chest, her hands tightly bounded around him.
"Take my clothes off." seduction coated his words.
Hinata felt her breathing stop, and her insides practically contorted with potent, needy, liquid, desire. Naruto gazed at her, waiting, his oceanic eyes blazing with utter anticipation.
"I'll take your clothes off in return," he added to fill the sudden deafening chasm of silence, inflating her shyness even more.
W-Where should I start? she reclined onto her heels and looked him over meekly. Finally, she clumsily reached for his t-shirt, and the amorous prince lifted his arms to make things easier for her, his eyes alive with wild excitement.
Hinata's nervous drummed in her ears when he stood before her, and she couldn't help but register the reason behind his gesture when she looked up and sought his eyes. Her center clenched when she saw the bulge behind his zipper, and her inner goddess's hand shot down on her bubble, massaging herself in her state of wild arousal.
"I wonder what could be behind that door," Naruto said with a playful, perverted smile, his pride throbbing with impatience.
Hinata swallowed and freed him in one fell swoop, her eyes popping open at the sheer size and power of him, as though she had never been introduced to his muscle in her life.
Just before she coiled her fingers around him, Naruto caught her hand pulled her up against him. The princess was dumbfounded, but she stood obediently as he loosened her sash and eased the weight of her spaghetti straps over her shoulders and down her arms. Her lips parted on a shiver when his fingers brushed the side of her breasts.
"Why are you so beautiful?" Naruto's question took her by surprise, but she was even more shocked, when he knelt before her, and pulled down her underwear to reveal plump cheeks.
His hands smoothed and shaped each of her buttocks as his nose pressed and skimmed over her erected button. And she moaned and whimpered when his magnificent tongue brushed her — slow, lazy, continuous strokes that left her vibrating and breathless against him.
"Don't stop," she begged sweetly, quickly approaching that oh so familiar meltdown.
But her sensual knight wasn't about to let her experience a standardized level of orgasm — no. He slipped his hands in between her legs and cupped her buttocks, standing tall with her sitting on his shoulders.
Hinata took fistfuls of his hair reflexively. She felt a wave of panic, but above that wave was a cyclone of foreign, erotic pleasure — the likes of which she'd never felt before.
She closed her eyes in a heartbeat, feeling the buildup — that delicious, slow, step climbing build. Pushing her higher, higher to that familiar summit wrought of pure ecstasy. And as her senses coiled around this new perception of rapture, turbulent rivers converge to form a pool in her belly, and she exploded in a glorious and beautiful release.
Her senses dimmed and her body quaked atop her humanoid throne chair, so violently that Naruto toppled in the grass on his back with Hinata sitting quite comfortably on his face. She held her position innocently, her head reclined as her body continued to shake as pleasure flooded every curve and crevice of nervous system.
Her Highness took her time to find her breath, but when Naruto gave a mumble, she realized that he hadn't such an opportunity. "Na-Naruto-kun... I'm sorry," she bowed her head sincerely, adorably sitting on her knees before him.
The golden sensualist licked and moistened his lips, tasting her again and again to the princess's embarrassment. "...Show me how much you're sorry." he gestured down at his rigid pole, and her inner goddess practically swooned before the mighty, godlike steel.
Naruto sat at a 90-degree angle, propped up on his hands. And Hinata shyly crawled closer to him, her eyes fixed, her lips pursed. She kissed her way around his thick lolly, admiring the length and width of his power before dipping her head and catching the blunt tip of him in her mouth. She teased and savored, loving the silky, salty taste of him.
Naruto's mouth formed an O as he took a breath. Hinata sighed breathlessly and flexed her fingers around his impressive girth. His skin was so smooth, soft… and hard — a delicious combination.
Hinata felt powerful. It was a heady feeling, teasing and testing him with her mouth and tongue. He tensed underneath her as she ran her mouth up and down him, pushing him to the back of her throat, her lips tight… again and again. But with each tap of her throat, she felt an answering contraction between her legs — and then she coughed in defeat. Again.
Naruto couldn't help but chuckle.
Hinata's inner goddess whimpered heartily, and from somewhere born of sadness, frustration, need, and sheer Hinata-bravery, she pushed him down onto the grass. He grinned as he fell, and she gazed down at him feeling victorious in her vengeance.
The princess quickly eased from her seat on her heels and crawled between his legs, mounting herself over him — desperate, impatient, hungry. She held his lever for precision, guiding him to where she needed him most.
Hinata let out a prolonged whimper as he stretched her open, filling her, her mouth hanging open in surprise at the sweet, sublime, agonizing, over-full feeling. He was deep inside, sheathed to the hilt, and she sat in place, for seconds… minutes… she had no idea. The princess closed her eyes and reveled in the harmony of their pulsations, his delicious blade cutting all the knots that had form in her tummy.
Naruto flexed and swiveled his hips in a slow motion, the sensation radiating throughout her core and belly… everywhere. Moaning, she threw her head back, her hair tumbling down her back. And very slowly, he sank back down onto the bed of grass, allowing her to resume her control and find her pace.
Fireflies surrounded the couple caught up in Lust's sizzling flame. Their beacons flickered in a unique and sublime pattern, a silent hymn composed of lights that was dedicated to the young and newly betrothals.
As if to enhance Naruto's desire, the majestic insects flew across erotic regions of his princess's body, illuminating it for his eyes to see: the luscious curve of her gaping lips, the smooth, slender column of her neck, and a bead of sweat rippled down her cleavage. Damn...
In a rush of raw excitement, Naruto abruptly leaned forward and Hinata whipped her head back at the searing, wondrous rush of pleasure that spiked through her as he sampled the taste of her hard nipples, crushing her breasts in his large hands.
His breathing was ragged, matching her own as the needy princess continued to ride him into oblivion, and he lifted his pelvis as she came down, bouncing her back up.
She was making love to him. She was in charge. He was hers and her, his. The thought pushed her — accompanied by heat and fiction — over the edge, and she climaxed around him… shouting incoherently.
Hinata collapsed onto his chest, overwhelmed, somewhere between fantasy and reality — a place in which she had become addicted.
Her inner goddess was prostrate… well at least she's quiet.
A few minutes later, Hinata was bent over, her back a perfect arch, her chest heaving, her breasts swaying back and forth.
Naruto couldn't help but stare down at her heart-shaped buttocks as his hips went back and fro, his eyes transfixed on the deep and erotic interaction between their sexes.
Cupping both her curves, he eased his thumb along an uncharted crevice, teasing and caressing her forbidden chambers. The princess's eyes shot open with surprise, a growth in pleasure spiking through her at the unfamiliar sensation. And then she exploded again, clenching around his deliciously animated rod.
Naruto grabbed her hips in that instant — and closing his eyes — tipped his head back and spewed his rich essence within her core with a snarl. Hinata screamed, falling to her elbows, her body flushed as their loins vibrated in unison and adrenaline shot through their veins.
...
The lake was a beautiful reflection of a vigilant full moon and clusters of stars that swam in the vast sea of the endless night sky. Vibrant colors of blue, ivory, and lime green surrounded them in the pond, but the enraptured couple cared only for the magic that emanated from each other.
A perfect fit, Naruto's muscle nestled deep and hard inside Hinata's hotpocket, her legs bounded around his waist, face buried in his neck. They remained motionless, hovering at the bridge between a warm calm and the fierce seas of pleasure.
"Why are you so tight," Naruto murmured rhetorically, an edge of delight coating his warm tone as his lady kept contracting around him.
"...Because that's how Naruto-kun wants it to be." her whisper was hot against his ear, and he throbbed vigorously in response.
A gasp escaped her lips, but she pursed them and reclined in his arms to look at him. Naruto gazed in return at his mesmerized goddess, the soft glow from the water lighting her angelic figure. She was on fire, burning brighter than a shooting star.
Hinata's eyes fused with his as the fire grew, fanning the flames between them so hot that it melted their hearts. The water that surrounded them was cold, but still their temperature continued to soar.
"I'll come back," Naruto said, after dissecting the worry that quivered behind the desire in her eyes.
"I know Naruto-kun will. You have to; I can't go on without you..."
"I love you, Hinata."
"And I love Naruto-kun more."
He smiled at the admiration and challenge that she beamed at him. And he slowly, gracefully, romantically, eased out and then into her. Their colors burned and brightly burst into a million sparks that all intensified to reveal a familiar world — the sanctuary, the peak of ecstasy.
"Nhh — so good!" Hinata panted, and Naruto found her lips in a fiery kiss, leaving her breathless and intoxicated.
Tears and screams of pain and pleasure echoed throughout the open pond, gifts they would share forever. Amidst the wondrous elements, Naruto held Hinata at the border between pain and rapture. Water kissed swollen skin and flesh as hard steel scrapped and burned, engraving pleasure into every fiber and cell of her being.
The princess knew nothing but sweet gratification as her chivalrous knight stretched and filled her deliciously, his hypnotic voice keeping her mind afloat. His scorching kisses bringing her blood to a boil beneath her burnish skin.
And then, for the final time, she surrendered to the converging energies that arrested her in a sudden and overwhelming downpour. She sank her neat nails into his back as the cataclysmic explosion pilfered her energy, the frigid water kissing the fresh wound — a sensation that blended with the rush of pleasure that dominated his receptors.
And in the same beat, he leaped off the razor's edge to join her, filling her core with his hot nectar.
Breathless, enraptured, they clung together desperately as the quake of their orgasm rippled through them in the sweetest most divine of repercussions.
"I love you more," Naruto grinned once he caught his breath.
The princess still couldn't pull a lungful of air into her chest, and so she kept her eyes close and let his words seep into her heart and soul, where they would be engraved until his glorious return.
When our golden knight kissed her this time, it wasn't with searing hunger but with infinite love and reverence. He held her as if she were made of glass, worshiped her mouth as though it were the rarest delicacy. He loved her, with every fiber and cell of his being. She smiled, and then as their eyes met anew and they shared a cosmic moment, she buried her face in his neck once more and calmly ceased resistance against the beckoning hands of unconsciousness.
Minute Incarnation
Having brought Hinata home, Naruto lay motionless on his back in bed, his body exhausted and his spirit ripe with the post-coital glow of his sexual scene with her.
The room was quiet, except for the ticking of a clock and the howl of the wind outside his window. But, somewhere, beyond the reach of the night's elements, amidst the isolating dimension of a certain seal, there was a rush of activity and restlessness.
The Kyuubi sat on its hind legs, its hands tightly bounded to the steel bars of its dreary cage. "The Fourth Hokage restored the seal to its original form and, with that, years of having Naruto dependent upon my power — weakening the seal as a result — has gone to ruin. Curses!" its razor sharp teeth glinted maliciously in the gloomy darkness.
"With his newly acquired strength, he will require less of my power, if any at all. Will I be trapped in this silent hell until I'm sealed within another blasted infant? It's already been sixteen years since I last roamed the earth. I long for the night's breeze and the taste of sake. Damn you, Fourth Hokage!"
Suddenly — through the creature's blinding rage — there was a flicker of soothing memory, which rendered its boiling fury to a light sizzle. "That woman..." the beast's eyes softened. "At this rate, I won't be seeing her again for a while. Ah! But why do I care; she's just another human!"
In a heartbeat, he remembered her compassionate words to Naruto about him suffering, too. That's what she said, but words are cheap — he'd come to know that far too well. Still, the girl's existence relented in the creature's thoughts. Why?
I... do I want to find out if her concern is genuine? No! I'm the incarnation of hate and malice — why should I care what that human thinks? We Bijuu have always been regarded as tools. I'm sure her intentions are the same as the rest. I know this, and yet... I want to meet her.
Before his judgment could be dipped farther into an acidic pit of arrogance, malice, disdain, and selfishness, the Kyuubi clasped its hands together and began concentrating.
Grandpa Rikudou knew we were bound to be sealed within people for their own selfish gains, so he left us all with a certain technique so that we may seek some measure of freedom and happiness.
It reads the heart of the caster, and if the Bijuu has a burning desire to protect and/or to roam without conflict, then the technique is usable. To think that this technique would ever be tried by me. Again.
Bijuu Fission: Heaven's Judgement! The Kyuubi quieted its thoughts and allowed the natural, assessing energy to flow throughout its body. The creature frowned slightly. It still remembered the icy, intruding power that coursed through its veins as it did now, trying incessantly to cool the fires of its rage. But this time — with its desire at the forefront of its mind — the beast didn't resist the bitter scrutiny.
Suddenly, in a place where the creature hadn't accepted was real, beyond the egotism, hate, and pride, came a burst of warm emotions from both the past and the present — emotions that were sealed away, supposedly posing a threat to the searing hot flames of hate that fueled its destructive power. The scrutinizing energy reacted, swelling into a massive ball of white light, which gushed from the Bijuu's body.
The translucent white aura, having taken on a secondary color of orange, shot through the bars of the dreary prison toward the distant exit. In an instant, the seal on Naruto's belly began to glow, and then it caved in to reveal a dark void — an alternative dimension.
With the warrior still fast asleep, a miniature version of the Kyuubi poked up its head, struggling to climb out of the tiny portal, snarling as it did, as though it were trying to escape a thick, muddy quicksand within which it had been imprisoned for an eternity.
In the concealing cover of darkness — having gained its freedom — the small fox carefully crawled out from beneath Naruto's t-shirt. For a moment, the tiny tyke looked astonished, and then it cast Naruto a fleeting glance before escaping through an open window in search of what it sought.
Exhausted — having freed the incarnation of his positive consciousness — the Kyuubi reclined in its cage and curled into a ball, quickly easing into slumber to regain its stamina.
On the rooftops, beneath the luminous light of the sacred full moon, the creature followed that divine trail of chakra to its source.
Its senses expanded in an excited rush, relishing the elements that had eluded him for far too long. The night's humid wind caressed its fluffy coat, filling its nose, and there was a myriad of different scents wafting around him — a mixture of nature and delicious food.
The night was still and silent, except for the rustle of trees enclosing the village and the screech of crickets hidden amongst the rubble.
It was far better seeing the world from its own eyes, and what better spectacle was there than the one that lay motionless before him. Hinata was fast asleep, moonlight streaming through her windows, tinting her interesting features. She was beautifully garbed in your pajamas and curled up peacefully in bed, under the covers. The Kyuubi's eyes lingered on her long, sleek hair, her closed lids, and the pink curves of her lovely lips — she was the embodiment of a goddess, even while in slumber.
And the creature watched her quietly in the still of the night as the seconds, minutes, hours flitted by him. Finally, you're right here... before my eyes. It's nice to meet you... I'm Kurama.
- 9
- 10
- 11
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Hinata's Sensual Adventure