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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
- 18
- 19
The Hermit's Apprentices – Hearts Converge!
Kabuto was sporting an ear-splitting grin when Zetsu popped his grotesque head out of the ground.
"Ehh? Looks like things are going well on the battlefield," the parasite said by means of introduction, noting the man's barely contained excitement.
"I've finally got the Kyūbi cornered," Kabuto mused darkly, looking down at the pebbles strategically placed on a piece of parchment depicting a map. "But what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be focusing on completely assimilating Hashirama's cells?"
Zetsu was busy moving around the poorly lit cavern, half his body buried beneath the hard ground as if he was treading water. "Tobi sent me to find out if you had properly disposed of the wood element user. He doesn't want to risk intel being leaked at this phase in his plans."
"I see his trust in me hasn't improved at all," Kabuto returned, his gaze unswerving as he meticulously controlled the piece that held Naruto's life by a thread. "Anyway, while I have gotten rid of that woman, Anko… I haven't disposed of Yamato just yet."
Zetsu waited for the man's excuse.
"I want to first ensure that there are no problems with your procedure."
"Fair enough," the fiend replied, even as he discreetly scanned the crude hideout until he spied the Jōnin imprisoned in a cramped cell at the back of the cave. "Just ensure he doesn't escape, or Tobi will be mad."
"I administered a powerful neurotoxin before the procedure, so he won't be regaining consciousness anytime soon."
Zetsu's grin tightened. "You must have a lot of faith in that drug, if you didn't even bound his arms and legs."
"Orochimaru-sama was a pioneer in pharmaceutical research," Kabuto asserted quietly, eyes still transfixed on his puppeteering. "That man will be unconscious for another few hours, at least. And, besides, there is only one exit from this cave."
"Whatever floats your boat, buddy," was all Kabuto heard before his parchment was suddenly skewered by an earthen spear.
Before he could snap his head around to assess the assailant, another spike shot up from the ground toward his throat. The conniving snake leapt back into a high somersault, then eased into a quick series of backflips as more deadly spikes threatened to penetrate his heels.
"What's the meaning of this?" Kabuto demanded hotly, skidding to a halt outside the mouth of the cavern.
His eyes adjusted in time to spy as the assailant dispelled his disguise as Zetsu. The clone of Naruto waved mockingly as he slowly retreated into the ground with an unconscious Yamato in tow.
"Na-Naruto-kun?" the man exhaled in disbelief, looking down at his forearm where a technique formula was once engraved. But he had entirely cut out that portion of skin and flesh before finding another hideout. So how did Naruto manage to locate him again – and so soon?
"Oh well," he allowed his shoulders to sag, a wide smile touching his reptilian eyes. "I'm almost certain I was able to succeed making the Zetsus stronger using Yamato's cells. So I don't need him anymore. In addition, he was unconscious the entire time he was in captivity, so he wouldn't know anything about our plans. Right now, I should prioritize finding another hideout and finishing off the real Naruto, before he manages to escape."
The Raikage gave an absent stare, eyes wide in shock. Between switching to autopilot from being manually controlled, the burly giant had stilled like a marionette who had its strings cut. That slight window of vulnerability was all it took for his fleeting existence to come to an abrupt end.
"Sorry we're late, boss," an ANBU agent said repentantly as the dust cleared, mirroring three other clones who had their swords penetrating the Raikage's chest through an old battle scar. "We were only just able to start sensing your chakra again."
Temari was flabbergasted, her expression reflecting that of the Raikage whose body had started grumbling like crystallized paper. But she wasted no time instructing the sealing squad to restrain the monster before he had the opportunity to start regenerating again.
Her quick response secured their victory, and the squadron howled in triumph. But Naruto and Hinata heard nothing beyond their own dejected heartbeats. Our Orange Knight allowed one final look at the bloodied patch of earth where Kurama took his final breath, and then he fell into the dark abyss of unconscious.
"You needn't worry," Akiko reassured compassionately, her astral form towering over her grief-stricken host. "He's just unconscious. With the unbelievable amount of pain he must have been enduring, I'm surprised he was able to attack that brute like he did."
Hinata's lips quivered at the thought.
She noted the unyielding lines of distraught underneath Naruto's eyes and wondered what her own face looked like. She still couldn't come to terms with the fact that Kurama was gone. Weeks of memories with the feisty canine flickered in her mind like a candle's flame exposed to a threating gale. And her heart swelled at the precious images.
But the princess knew it wasn't the time to grieve. Steeling her nerves, she looked to one of Naruto's clones tellingly, and then to Gaara's elder sister. "Temari-san… I'll leave the rest to you."
The woman's lips parted to pronounce the word "wait", but it ended up getting stuck in her throat, instead. She had so many questions — the first being how could they possibly be there right now. But, between owing her life to their presence and a comrade being slaughtered before their eyes, how could she possibly burden them any further?
Lowering her hand, Temari watched helplessly as one of the ANBU warriors crouched beside the Hyūga princess, an attentive hand upon her shoulder. Then, almost instantly, they were completely out of sight and sound. And the clones quickly followed suit.
Elsewhere — in the name of justice, peace, equality, and a list of other righteous traits that were a blatant lie, so long as he was free — Bee happily made his way unto the battlefield while his brother was distracted trying to restrain Naruto. Eventually, the rebellious Jinchūriki crossed paths with one amongst the sage's many clones and they paved their way deeper into the war together.
Unbeknownst to them, however, was the fact that two very capable Edo Tensei shinobi were dispatched to intercept and capture them.
"Uchiha Itachi and... Nagato?" Naruto exclaimed in disbelief, both him and his fellow Jinchūriki coming to a sudden halt.
"You know these guys, Naruto?" Bee was calm and on guard.
"…Yeah, both of them."
"Of all the people I could possibly have to fight... right, Naruto?" Nagato said in a dejected tone, Itachi supporting the weight of his decrepit body. "I'm sure time must have passed since our last meeting, but it feels like I've only just died."
Both Jinchūriki did well not to lose themselves in the civilized conversation, especially Naruto who could feel the unrelenting pull of sentimentality at the familiar sound of the man's voice. The fact of the matter was that these prominent relics of the past were being controlled by a sadistic snake. And they could become hostile at the drop of a hat.
"You've changed a little, Naruto," Nagato remarked, looking his apprentice over.
"Oh this?" he said modestly, regarding the brightly lit aura cloaking his body. "It's called Chakra Mode — it's a new form I got for learning how to control the Kyūbi's chakra."
"What?" Itachi was evidently surprised.
"I see. So that's why you look different." Nagato smiled warmly. "It's in your eyes."
Naruto clenched his fist with a smug grin, illustrating his unchanged determination since the last time they met.
"You're saying you can control the power of the Kyūbi?" Itachi was still in a state of disbelief. He knew of the creature being the epitome of evil. "You've grown more than I could have imagined."
"He's my master's junior student," Nagato explained with a smug smile of his own. "I expected nothing less."
"That's all thanks to me," Bee rapped, not missing the chance to flaunt his own greatness. "He's been walking in the footsteps of a prodigy."
Nagato's eyes hardened. "Then you have managed to conquer hatred?"
Naruto's smile was smooth, liquid crystal eyes portraying the spurt in growth his clones had brought him over the course of just a few weeks. "Yeah. From the pain you taught me as my brother in spirit, to Bee's training at the Waterfall of Truth... and even my mom and dad — it's thanks to all of you that I made it this far."
Nagato's smile touched the Rinnegan etched in his eyes. And Itachi couldn't help but think of his younger brother as the two shared a cosmetic moment.
His brows furrowed. "Naruto... there is something I must ask you."
The sage's own brows descended low above saffron eyes as he surmised what the man's question would be. "Now that you mention it, I wanted to talk to you, too."
Despite their mutual interest, the puppet master didn't hesitate to intervene. Perfectly tucked away inside his new hideout, the serpent but mused over the fact that he had managed to track down both the Hachibi and Kyūbi — and nothing delighted him more than adding both Jinchūriki to his arsenal. With a more favorable deck of cards, he knew even his comrade would be dancing in the palm of his hand. If he had any regrets, it would be the inability to see his expression sour behind that obnoxious mask of his.
Joining his fingers to form a seal, Kabuto molded his sinister chakra. The forbidden Edo Tensei technique heeded the man's command, traversing time and space to rob both Nagato and Itachi of their fleeting moment of freedom.
Both shinobi could feel the dark, invading power taking root. But decades of meditation and training was fruitless; they couldn't abolish the puppeteer's tightly wounded strings. And Itachi was the first to strike.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!
Even as he continued supporting Nagato, Itachi summoned chakra in his gut and conjured a blazing ball of fire that cleaved the earth in an attempt to completely devour both Jinchūriki.
But simply brandishing his organic sword with a forward thrust was enough for Bee to effortlessly split the flames in two — though, Samehada was none too pleased about being lunged into the blistering inferno. And Itachi frowned, deducing that his former colleague, Kisame, must have already been mowed down during the course of the war.
Naruto mirrored the man's gaze. "We were still talking," he murmured high enough for his fellow Jinchūriki to hear.
"Looks like the puppet master's tired of gawking," Bee murmured back. "He doesn't care about timing. Get ready!"
The moment the words left his lips, Itachi was gone, his body dispersing into a cloud of smoke. Before Nagato's frantic warning could reach his ear, Naruto was looking up, nonchalance and battle-readiness radiating from his form.
Then, in the blink of an eye, he too was gone, meeting the notorious Uchiha midair in an echoing clash of brute strength.
Itachi followed up with a sweep of his hand, like a lethal blade. "What became of Sasuke?"
The Orange Knight watched as the man's lethal sword-like arm narrowly passed his face. "He wants to take revenge on Konoha!" he returned above the roar of their clashing energies. "He's even gone and joined Akatsuki."
Itachi's eyes shot open in abject shock. "Why won't he return to the village?"
Despite his body and mind being on entirely different wavelengths, the man launched into another quick series of attacks upon dropping to the ground. And Naruto guarded against the assaults, blow-for-blow, the confrontations leaving utter destruction in their wake.
"He got told about your secret mission," Naruto started to explain. "And decided to destroy the village!"
Itachi couldn't control his body, but he could still feel as his heart sunk to his toes, the Mangekyō Sharingan quivering in evident grief.
"Secret mission?" Nagato repeated to himself.
"It couldn't be... Madara?" Itachi pondered, even as he retreated when both Naruto and Bee attempted a pincer attack.
"Madara told me the truth about you, too," Naruto informed, his battle-ready stance never faltering.
"So that's it..."
"Then he was really telling the truth, after all," Naruto confirmed based on the man's reaction. "The Uchiha Clan was really planning to take over the village when—"
"That's enough, Naruto," Itachi interjected. He preferred not to dwell on the past when his choice hadn't gifted his brother even an ounce of happiness.
But Naruto ignored him. "You died pretending to be a villain in order to protect the village and Sasuke. I think he understands both your suffering and your resolve. But, never mind inheriting your will, he actually wants to destroy Konoha. It's a war of vengeance against the village that tormented his beloved brother."
The animated corpse of Edo Tensei frowned his frustration. Damn you, Madara! You knew me well, after all...
Itachi seemed somewhat relived; however, when he was reassured that, apart from Naruto, only Yamato and Kakashi knew the truth of the matter. And the Copycat Ninja preferred if word didn't get out about it. Itachi preferred it that way, as well, to preserve the honor of his fallen clan.
Before the Uchiha could follow up with a question, Nagato's eyes suddenly changed. In an instant, Naruto felt as the world slipped away from beneath his feet. Gravity had conceded to the beck and call of the godlike shinobi, pulling the Jinchūriki into a collision course with a giant boulder pulled from a nearby river.
But our golden knight wasn't your standard shinobi, either. Before he could meet with a tragic fate, a chakra-forged arm shot out from his cloak and latched onto the rock, allowing him to maneuver his body as he threw the boulder off course.
Nagato watched in relief as the capable shinobi skid to a halt atop the river's surface. Even more so when two frogs rose their heads up from the misty blue in a lightning fast summoning jutsu, launching a high-pressured jet of water that effortlessly sliced through the earth, like a hot knife through butter.
Naruto watched as both Edo Tensei warriors bailed for cover, his eyes narrowing to calculating slits. He wasn't just about to let his senior sully the sacrifice he just made to redeem himself. If it was the last thing he did, he would free the man from Kabuto's abusive grasp before he did any irreversible damage.
"I'll leave Sasuke to you," Itachi said, acknowledging Naruto's skills.
"He was always mine to deal with," Naruto returned coolly, a colossal water serpent's roar adding fuel to the solemn words.
"I knew I was right to entrust it to you," Itachi said on a low breath, the enigma behind his words putting Naruto even more on guard.
Bee watched as the Uchiha skillfully dispersed in a cloud of smoke as the water serpent's rampage met his motionless body. Nagato spawned a giant beast with one head short of a Cerberus-look-alike, as well as a matching size bird upon which he rode.
With a strike that rivaled the clap of thunder, the serpent sank its fangs into the mountainous canine, preventing its escape. And a coiling tail began enveloping the creature inside a watery prison, the epic struggle changing the geography around them.
PISSEWW!
A water projectile punched a gaping hole in the bird's wing. But it wasn't severe enough to down the alarmed creature, and Nagato mentally commanded it to retreat.
Naruto grinned devilishly, quickly giving chase.
It wasn't his intention to bring the bird down, but to distance Nagato from Cerberus. He knew the man could easily nullify his water-based technique, if he was within range. Though, Naruto was also aware he could just as easily revive the beast using the king of hell, should it perish. But it seemed Kabuto didn't know enough about the Sage of the Sixth Path's powers. Whatever the case, it was imperative he sealed the Edo Tensei warrior away before the puppet master could adapt and maximize the use of the godlike shinobi.
But Nagato wasn't about to make it easy.
"Fire Style: Red Giant!"
"Wind Release: Hurricane Breath!"
The sky tinted a dark red as a powerful cyclone supplemented a blazing orb that descend from the heavens, like a meteorite. Naruto watched in alarm as the vegetation around him wilted under the unmerciful heat of the falling sun. Summoning his power, the Orange Knight erected a transparent barrier into which the sphere collided with an ear-splitting hum.
And then it detonated.
All-consuming fire hurled in every direction, like a disaster of biblical proportions, rendering all that was green into ash. Even the river had been purged from existence.
In a heartbeat, both Jinchūriki were on the bird with the former Akatsuki leader, intent on downing the man in a pincer attack — Naruto with a Rasengan, Bee with a sword coated with the lightening element.
But the corpse was calm.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Effortlessly negating the laws of gravity, Nagato willed the natural forces to his whim. An invisible barrier threw both Jinchūriki back, like rag dolls, the ensuing blast wiping away the ashen forest and even the bedrock below.
Bee snapped his head around amidst his free fall, noting that the demigod had somehow closed the distance between them a microsecond after his destructive attack. "I ain't goin' down that easy, ya dumbass phony!"
In the next beat, the Jinchūriki was already in his Version-Two Form, an enlarged arm swinging at the man to no avail. But the succeeding Lariat attack connected, folding the bastard with satisfying effectiveness.
Regardless, Nagato didn't flinch, nor did he make a sound. His eyes were vacant and yet resolute as he mentally verbalized his counter technique.
"Gakido (Preta Path)!"
Capitalizing on another skill bestowed upon him by the Rinnegan, the godlike shinobi began absorbing the Bijuu's chakra through their physical contact courtesy the Lariat. The dark cloak fortifying Bee's body slowly began retracting — in return revitalizing the enemy's Edo Tensei body.
Nagato's hair gradually regained its dark red luster. His dry lips moistened. Color returned to his face and his emaciated body hardened into youthful steel.
"You sucking out my chakra?" Bee said with a calm that betrayed his face.
WHAMM!
Naruto suddenly appeared in Sage Mode — a Frog Fu backhand blasting the man away, like a stray bullet.
Stunned, Bee looked to the technique formula that momentarily made itself visible on his arm. Then to a nonchalant Naruto and, finally, Nagato who smashed into and bounced off ground, like a crash test dummy.
"We can't allow him to regain his power," Naruto warned urgently, even as he bummed fists with Bee to telepathically convey his senior's skill set and potential weaknesses.
Then, in the next moment, he was gone.
Time slowed.
As Naruto slipped from one teleportation portal into the next, he spied one of many tiny toads he had summoned to propagate his technique formula throughout the general area.
Nagato regained his footing in a greener part of the forest, extrasensory abilities acute as his junior closed the distance between them. But Naruto's senses in Sage Mode was far superior — and that confidence pushed him to confront his godlike adversary without hesitation.
"Water Style: Lions' Stampede!"
The forest trembled as an imposing pride of lions and lioness's barreled forward. The lofty tidal wave came crashing down with tremendous force, but the Sage of the Six Paths simply used the Gakido Gate to begin absorbing the threatening ninjutsu.
In the same beat, Naruto was behind him, gearing up for an attack while the man was evidently distracted.
"Shurado (Asura Path)!"
An extra mechanical arm, fashioned into a blade, sprouted from the man's shoulder as he snapped open another godly gate. It made an attempt at Naruto's neck, but the shinobi was able to evade the close shave through the danger-sensitive reflexes granted to him by Sage Mode.
In the next heartbeat, Naruto was in another blind spot, but Nagato wasn't having it. He used the natural forces in an attempt to blast away the nuisance, but the Orange Knight merely shifted to another teleportation gate to avoid any damage.
Trees and bedrock groaned in defiance as columns of absolute force tore through the land. But Naruto was persistent, eyes narrowing to saffron slits as his fist sunk into the puppet's gut, the man's body folding around the steely jab.
Kabuto was seconds away from bursting a blood vessel — and his invisible strings dug deeper into the helpless mannequin in his exasperation. Nagato's body was just a blur when he was forced to relocate. And Naruto's eyes followed, adjusting in time to see when the man summoned a pack of canines whose grotesque design didn't support the gift of sight. Instead, the feral creatures were adept at recognizing and locating heat signature — and Naruto assumed their motive as they dispersed and began scoring the vicinity.
"Are they after my jutsu?"
His question was clearly answered when razor sharp claws shredded through the spongy-like skin of a defenseless toad. The amphibian shrieked as it returned to Mt. Myōboku in a cloud of smoke, taking the technique formula with it that was written on cloth around its tiny body.
The ravenous hound followed up by going after the formula etched in a tree trunk. But Naruto was there — a clone dispatched at each canine, vanquishing them simultaneously with a lethal Rasengan. Then they turned the full force of their eyes onto the unremorseful Edo Tensei spawn, the sage-mode-garrison hurling toward the phantom like a pack of wolves.
"Bee!" Naruto called upon reappearing next to him. "Are you alright?"
"Naruto?" the Jinchūriki's face was as pale as a ghost for a second. "Wasn't that the Flying Thunder God technique the Fourth Hokage was notorious for?"
"More importantly," he began, his body hyperaware as his clones continued pressing the emotionless phantom. "Do you know any sealing techniques? There will be no end to this fight, if we don't find a way to seal Nagato and Itachi away!"
"Fire Style!"
Naruto and Bee's head snapped around.
"Pyronado Blades!"
Before the Jinchūriki could react, they were both enclosed inside a spiraling tornado made of shuriken and searing hot flames. The smoldering wind licked at their bodies like Ifrit's tongue, the blistering heat like Hade's breath. And the deadly twister was tightening in around them, threatening to tear and burn them to ashes.
"Bee!" Naruto called tellingly.
"Right!"
Without skipping a beat, the Jinchūriki transformed into Bijuu Mode with what little chakra Nagato hadn't squeezed out of him.
"Water Style: Rising Dragon — Water Pillar!"
The earth split open with a roar as a blue serpent made its glorious ascent, light refracting through its scaly design. Capturing both its master and Bee in its jaws, the beast bashed through the fiery prison before spitting its tenants into a nearby tree. Then it hurled its colossal form at the source of the fire-natured jutsu.
Itachi wore an expressionless mask, his body easing into an offense stance as he molded chakra in his gut.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Fire and water collided in a great explosion that sent steam and boiling droplets washing over the battlefield and wilting foliage.
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"
Both Naruto and Bee hopped around as droplets pelted them like acid rain.
SHINGG!
The blood red glow of Itachi's Sharingan pierced the thick mist. Naruto glimpsed in dread as the design etched in the man's pupils slowly transformed into a menacing windmill.
"Look out, Bee!" Naruto warned urgently. "If he gets you with Amaterasu or Tsukuyomi, it's over — it's the Mangekyō Sharingan!"
Heeding his own advice, Naruto was cautious to refrain from looking into the clutches of certain doom.
He didn't look.
He was sure he didn't.
But his body reacted.
He felt a spasm, and then something shifted uncomfortably in his lower abdomen. Before he could even vaguely comprehend what was happening, something began forcing itself up and out of his body. Naruto's mouth flew open much beyond his control, and out came the head of a crow sporting an ominous-looking Sharingan.
The creature's head flitted from left to right inquisitively. Then, finally, Naruto fully regurgitated the bird that immediately took flight and proceeded to fly around overhead.
"So it did appear, after all," Itachi said calmly.
Did he do something to Naruto with his ocular abilities? Bee pondered worryingly, watching intently behind his shades.
"Why did a crow just come out of my mouth?" Naruto was out of breath, his eyes quivering with apprehension. But, when he looked up at Itachi for even an ounce of insight, he noted as blood started spilling from one of his eyes. Amaterasu? He exclaimed mentally, gearing up to flee.
But, when the man's eyes blinked open, he was holding the steady gaze of the mysterious crow. The bird stared back, compelled by the inner workings of some otherworldly jutsu — and the Mangekyō Sharingan in its eyes reacted.
"What?" Kabuto looked around his dreary hideout in bleat alarm, breaking out into a sweat. "Wh-What is the meaning of this?"
Without a sound, the animal perched on Naruto's shoulder in a rather friendly manner. And the sage took his time to study the stark contrast between the bird's raven black plumage and the mysterious eye etched in its head.
As if holding the creature's gaze induced the memory, Naruto recalled his last encounter with Uchiha Itachi. The rogue ninja had trapped him inside a genjutsu and planted the bird inside of him. And the experience was no less uncomfortable than this one.
While the string of bizarre events continued unraveling around Itachi, Kabuto's rage had continued to rise, by extension. As if the malevolent energy seeped into its strings and dyed the puppet black, Nagato heaved a sinister and telling frown.
The man quietly rerouted the destructive forces into a tight force field. The translucent energy encased him like a bubble, an effective maneuver to ward of the clones' insufferable attacks.
Kabuto sneered, his tail mirroring his hostility. "If I can't find and get to the technique formula, I'll just destroy the entire forest. If I kill either the Hachibi or Kyūbi in the process, I can just revive them using the Hell Path. Then I can add both of them to my collection with Madara none the wiser."
"Chibaku Tensei (Cataclysmic Heavenly Body)!"
Clasping his hands together, Nagato forged a small black sphere akin to a dark void. Releasing the black dot to the wind allowed it to gather momentum as it soared up into the upper atmosphere. And then it grew — summoning a powerful and daunting vacuum when it found a stationary spot in the clouds.
Naruto's clones dispersed as the very ground beneath their feet betrayed them. The earth cracked and thumped violently. Deep fissures cut through stubborn bedrock and loosened centuries old roots. Mountains and trees abandoned the earth to merge with the black hole that had secured itself in the sky. And with them, Naruto's discreetly hidden technique formulas.
"Tha' hell's up with this crazy technique?" Bee yelled above the roar of the ensuing chaos.
"The last time he used it, he would've caught me if not for the Kyūbi going berserk." Naruto informed with a calm that betrayed the situation.
Bee blanched.
But just before both Jinchūriki and their patch of land could be swallowed up by the raging void—
CRUNCH!
Nagato's temple cracked, like his body was made of solid clay – and his eyes widened in alarm. The demigod looked down to find a chakra-forged sword piercing through his chest. As the strings of Edo Tensei loosened under the weight of the mortal wound, the man heaved a wanly smile when he regained his senses. Then he traced the mythical sword back to its source, where he spied Naruto and Itachi standing within a smoldering Susanoo.
The triumphant sage allowed a mocking grin — not at his senior, but the conniving snake behind the scenes. "I planted my technique formula when I punched you before. Did you forget about that?"
Kabuto punched the ground in his frustration, hot blood churning beneath his pale skin. "Damn you, Nagato!" He cursed. "You really did lack mobility. I thought I'd make up for it by sharing lines of sight with the hidden chameleons I summoned on the field, but so much for that plan.
Damn Itachi and his technique for launching kunai from blind spots. As much as they were perfectly camouflaged, he was able to blind all three chameleons and attack Nagato simultaneously. I underestimated him. He pretended to still be under my control so that he could strike at the opportune moment. Uchiha Itachi... he really is in a league of his own."
Nagato looked to Naruto and Itachi repentantly. "Itachi... how did you—"
"I prepared that crow to emerge in response to my Mangekyō Sharingan," he informed candidly. "I replaced one of its eyes with that of Uchiha Shisui's — the bearer of the ultimate genjutsu: Koto Amatsukami (Distinguished Heavenly Gods). This genjutsu allowed me to restore myself. It seems Shisui's Mangekyō has run out power, however."
"Uchiha Shisui...," Naruto repeated.
"The supreme Uchiha genjutsu user," Bee spoke with familiarity. "Shisui the flash..."
Itachi blinked his eyes open, memories of his best friend flickering in his mind. "Shisui's ocular powers gave birth to the ultimate genjutsu, which allows one to manipulate the target without them ever realizing that they are in its grip. I tailored a genjutsu commanding the target to protect Konoha in Shisui's eye, and then implanted that eye into a crow, which I then passed on to you, Naruto." He was holding the sage's appraising gaze. "Though I never expected that I'd have to use it on myself."
"I see," Nagato said, more fissures running along his body.
"This is the Blade of Totsuka," Itachi informed empathetically. "This sword itself is a sealing technique; you will be sealed soon. Do you have any final words?"
Nagato smiled, holding his junior apprentice's gaze anew. "Naruto... I will go back to our master and watch your story unfold from there..."
Naruto grinned, scratching at his cheek embarrassingly. "I can't really explain it, but I honestly don't believe that Ero-Sennin is gone."
Nagato's eyes gleamed with a hint of hope, his guilt fading.
"I think he's still somewhere out there, watching as my story unravels. And I have no intention of letting him or you down."
He gave a zealously thumbs up.
Nagato smiled warmly. "Naruto... thank you."
And, all too soon, he was gone.
Bee, Itachi and Naruto stood silent for a while — honoring the man's final moments and burning his warm countenance into their memories. Kabuto, on the other hand, held no respect for the dead. No sooner had his blood cooled to a simmer than another devilish grin stretched his face. And his reptilian tongue swept across his lips at the sheer deliciousness of his wicked agenda.
"I guess there's no use wining over spilled milk," he said. "I may as well go ahead and use the special treat I'd been saving."
Susanoo's impressive aura tinted the surrounding landscape a bright, unyielding red. Naruto watched in grief as the new home for his senior slowly dematerialize — first its impressive armor, muscles, and then steel-like bones.
"This Edo Tensei technique is pissing me off more than I thought possible," Naruto fumed, his eyes fixated. "I hate being forced to fight people who don't want to be fighting. And I'm sure everyone else feels the same way, too. This needs to stop... now."
Itachi turned to appraise the fire burning in his eyes. "I'll deal with Edo Tensei," he decided with unwavering finesse and resolution. "I'm leaving Madara to you two."
"We fought some Edo Tensei guys on our way here," Bee informed coolly. "Some Suna shinobi managed to seal them, but it seems like they couldn't kill them — okay? Seems like this technique is perfect; no weaknesses anywhere — okay?"
"Every technique has a flaw which can become a weakness," Itachi retorted.
"I wonder about that," Bee wasn't quite convinced.
"No, I'll stop it," Naruto's voice was hoarse and unforgiving, warranting both men's undivided attention. "Leave the rest to me!"
To reinforce the words and his hardened conviction, Naruto's eyes snapped open as he exerted his power, intent on transitioning from sage into his newly achieved Chakra Mode. But, instead, both his forms dissipated — all his encounters up to this point rendering his energy meter to nil.
Bee pitted his friend as the young shinobi studied his hands in disbelief. "You're overusing the Kyūbi Chakra Mode, Naruto. You're pushing yourself too hard."
"Don't exhaust yourself trying to do everything on your own," Itachi added. "I'm ideally suited for stopping Edo Tensei. I have a plan."
Naruto clenched his fingers into tight fists. "But you've already sacrificed so much for the village. It's unfair that, even after death, this world still expects something from you.
I received a prophecy that I would be the one to end this war. And I want it to be a war without sacrifice; I want to put an end to this madness before even more lives are lost."
Itachi regarded the teen for a while. He had broken out into a sweat, unyielding lines of fatigue craving his face. "You've changed... and have definitely grown stronger than before. However, as a consequence, you're starting to lose sight of something very important."
Bee paid attention, too.
"Listen closely — and remember well. The villagers who hated you began to admire you and came to see you as one of their own, only after you put everything you had into thinking about others and seeking their acknowledgment."
Naruto's eyes quivered at the truth of that.
"You said you've come this far thanks to everyone. Now that you've become strong, if you forget about others, grow conceited, and cling to your individuality above all else, you will eventually become like Madara."
Naruto's body tensed at that appalling proposition, and the crow flew from his shoulder, as if driven away by the sudden current.
"However strong you become, never seek to bear every burden alone. The shinobi of this war have lost friends, families, their home — they wish to fight for what they believe in, as well... just like you. If you share the weight of your responsibilities with everyone, you will prevail.
Your father, Minato, could be Hokage only because he had your mother, Kushina, and all his friends and allies. I believe you share your father's dream."
Naruto nodded solemnly.
"Then remember this," Itachi continued. "It's not that those who become the Hokage are then acknowledged by everyone. Rather, it's those that are acknowledged by everyone who become Hokage. Never forget your friends."
Naruto gasped.
It felt like a gear inside of him that was turning in the wrong way this entire time was suddenly set in proper motion. The resulting fix had flood gates bursting open, flooding his entire mind and body with renewed zeal and resolve.
"Naruto," Bee called, smoothing his neatly trimmed stash. "I promised Iruka something. I sorta said I'd protect you, so I can't let you go alone."
Naruto scratched at his cheek awkwardly. "Well, if that's the case... you may wanna go ahead and find the boss," he clarified repentantly. "I'm just a clone."
"What?" Itachi was in disbelief, as was Bee.
The two men couldn't help but remember all the high-level ninjutsu the shinobi had consistently churned out throughout the duration of the fight.
"Then where is the real Naruto?" Bee pressed, his shades askew in his flustered state.
"I couldn't tell you," the clone replied honestly. "Thousands of clones were created months prior to the start of the war and others, just recently. I've been around for a while now."
Itachi blinked away his astonishment with a cool smile. "If Naruto's become this strong, then I'm reassured Madara will be dealt with in due course."
"I'm starting to feel a bit sorry for the guy," Bee laughed.
Naruto watched as Itachi's eyes changed when the crow perched on his arm. It was the same kind of focus and precision he exhibited when he used Amaterasu before.
"Wait!" Naruto said, clutching that arm.
Itachi calmly turned his head to look at him, like a machine. "Shisui's eye won't be ready for use for another few decades, unless there is an astronomical amount of chakra to facilitate its power."
Naruto's hold tightened.
And Itachi peered into a set of philosophical eyes, trying to unravel the enigma that dwelled within those oceanic depths. But, alas, he couldn't quite decipher what Naruto's intentions were. "Do you wish to use the genjutsu on Sasuke, after all?"
"That's not it," Naruto responded truthfully. "Just call it a contingency plan."
Bee looked on in wonder.
Itachi's intuition told him Naruto's interest in his best friend's eye held far greater merit than dealing with his younger brother. His intentions weren't selfish or evil but, judging by his tepid facial expression, the resolve possibly stood on the border of immorality.
Itachi smiled ruefully.
Throughout the course of time — within the history of every prosperous age — there was always an individual or a committee that had to make unsavory decisions away from prying eyes, for the greater good. And Naruto was already at this sensitive crossroad, contemplating the necessity of this controversial play.
"I'll trust your judgment," Itachi conceded, dismissing the crow and summoning a contract scroll in the same beat.
RIBBIT
A toad — a survivor of Nagato's previous onslaught — hopped toward the Uchiha's feet in a telling gesture. Recognizing the amphibian as one of Naruto's summons, Itachi dropped the scroll toward the creature. And it proceeded to swallow the contract before swiftly taking its leave.
"You have the same spirit as Shisui," Itachi admitted affectionately. "So I don't mind passing his eye onto you. I'm sure his spirit will find peace, if you use his powers in the name of righteousness."
"And what about you?" Naruto inquired curiously. "You should go and see Sasuke yourself. I'm sure this time—"
"No," Itachi interjected. "I tried to fix this on my own and failed. This time," his eyes softened. "I'll entrust it to my comrades."
Bee cupped the back of his neck with a grin. "There's more to you than just being a strong shinobi after all, isn't there?"
The Uchiha turned his back as the compliment struck home. "Killer Bee," he said as a means of farewell, his voice earnest. "Look after Naruto for me."
"Assuming that I can find him," Bee returned playfully, watching as the man's back disappeared in the distance. Then he looked to Naruto who was now burning like a star. "I take it you're ready to rock?"
"Let's go!"
Shikamaru. Chōji. Neji. Kiba. Lee.
If there was one thing they deeply regretted in their lives — it was the sheer extent to which they had struggled fighting off Orochimaru's lackeys three years ago. While it's true the battle was won, they clearly lost the war as Sasuke still managed to leave the village in the end.
If only they had managed to overpower their adversary without as much difficulty. Then they could have possibly met up with Naruto, and worked together to drag Sasuke back home to receive the mental and emotional help he obviously needed.
Kabuto licked his lips darkly, an impressive information network providing him with plenty of insight on the enemy's past traumas. As if wanting to pry open old wounds, the conniving snake ensured the teenagers were reacquainted with the rogues who wielded Orochimaru's cursed seal.
Upon meetings their executioners, the villains didn't hesitate to vow their revenge and don their monstrous forms, a permanent scowl etched in their faces.
But the gang wasn't deterred.
While these fossils of years long passed had been in a state of suspended animation, the young shinobi had been growing and refining their craft. The power they wielded over three years ago paled in comparison to their current potential — and the Edo Tensei pawns were figuring that out the hard way.
"Kabuto's intentionally confronting people with old comrades, loved ones and even former foes," one ANBU warrior said to another with evident distaste. "It's an ingenious strategy to inflict emotional and psychological damage."
But, whatsoever devious moves the man dished out, Naruto's clones were present at every corner of the battlefield, avidly watching over his fellow shinobi. Consequently, as soon as Shikamaru and his friends were in a bind, a guardian angel made no delay swooping in from his high roast and swiftly lending aid.
Unfortunately, Edo Tensei wasn't the only poison plaguing the land. But Naruto was the messenger of justice. As much as the original was incapacitated at the moment, his counterparts were ensuring his will was thoroughly being executed.
Thanks in part to the communications team, the orange warriors were able to effectively navigate to all the divisions and incapacitate the Zetsu clones who had continued disguising themselves as soldiers of the alliance.
"Na-Naruto-kun!" Hinata chided, slowly reclining his back upon a bed of hay. "You shouldn't be exerting yourself whatsoever; I haven't even finished healing you..."
The princess was sitting on her heels beside him. The girl was like an attentive and overprotective mother tending to her sick child, her expression glum and worrisome. From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed as the dozens of clones he had spawned — glowing like an afternoon sun — leaped into a high arch and were quickly out of view.
Unable to suppress her anxiety, Hinata boldly argued that he had a responsibility to focus on his recovery. It was in times like these that he had to learn to trust and depend on his friends. Sakura, Shikamaru, Kakashi and the others, were more than capable of taking caring of themselves. And she was certain they would feel guilty, if they understood just how much his sacrifices were weighing on him.
The princess noted as his tired eyes gleamed pensively as they shifted to the crudely made ceiling. She could tell his dismissed clones were presumably returning with intel — but with that information also came a swath of worldly burdens that threatened to cast him off the razor's edge. As she progressed his healing, the kunoichi could sense the increased toll it was taking on him.
"The Zetsu clones… have been giving everyone a hard time with their perfect imitations," Naruto defended weakly, each word below a whisper. "The… Kyūbi Chakra Mode… is the only way we can effectively… deal with that."
The princess' frown didn't clear.
And Naruto's eyes softened. "Hinata... winning this war would be meaningless… if everyone ended up dying. Even in this shape… I have to do whatever I can… to protect you and everyone else. There are no second chances."
Hinata pursed her lips at the grim truth of that, tears swelling in her eyes. She wanted him to see as they fell, hoping her sorrow would coax him into being a bit more reasonable with her delicate heart.
"Naruto-kun... I was so scared. I don't know what I'd do without you..."
The shinobi could vividly remember the otherworldly pain that utterly floored him not too long ago. It felt like a dark shroud — something alien and evil — had descended upon him, driving heated needles into every pore of his skin. But he managed to push the memory aside and heaved a small smile, his eyes closed as he weaved in and out of consciousness.
"I don't plan on… going anywhere until I've made you the happiest girl alive."
Hinata mirrored his warm smile, the wondrous image of him even more surreal behind her swelling tears. "Hn!" she nodded. "I'll have you all healed up so that you can keep your promise."
Outside the crude dwelling, two masked guards of Naruto's design watched as another clone appeared before them in a cool and quiet descent.
"It's probably a good idea if you guys remain in Sage Mode," the newcomer suggested in a silky tone, gazing up at them from a crouched position. "We're surrounded."
The two warriors blinked their eyes open in a battle-ready stance, the mark of the sage already accentuating the corner of their eyes. But the newcomer had already taken the liberty of pinpointing the location of every rotten invader underground, the hilt of his wakizashi short sword glinting in the sunlight.
"Earth Element: Skewering Spears!"
Readily betraying its grotesque master, the earth yielded to a being far more powerful than the former. A pained shriek echoed outside the old hut as a few dozen Zetsu clones shot up from beneath the ground, fatally skewered by earthen spikes. The ghastly scene looked like something straight out of Game of Thrones or Spratacus — corpses risen on pikes as a silent message to the enemy. But this message served as neither provocation or warning; it was simply a one-sided slaughter.
The masked warriors allowed their shoulders to drop. The absence of negative energy reassured them the fight was over, at least for the time being. Without a word, they observed as the newcomer looked around with an air of contemplation.
Garbed in the brown and amber colors native to the Iwagakure shinobi, the clone cupped his chin as he concocted an idea. "We should create a moat," he said all of a sudden. "Hinata — how much longer until the boss is healed?"
"Etto...," her adorable voice came wafting outside like a gentle breeze. "Maybe thirty minutes? His clones keep coming back, so his vitality keeps fluctuating."
"Okay — so I would say around forty-five minutes to an hour," he roughly estimated, even as he laced his fingers together and started molding chakra to freely control the elements. "If we create a moat, Zetsu won't be able to get the drop on you guys before you see them coming."
"…Now that you mention it," another clone began. "He was always notorious for popping up out of the ground. But if there's water—"
An earth-splitting rumble swallowed the rest of the clone's words. Exerting enough chakra for his free reign of the rebellious element, Iwa-Naruto elevated the building and dug a trench around it. And then the other two warriors took the initiative to add the water.
"I personally haven't seen it in action, but I heard we can add density to water? I'm sure that could add another layer of defense to this place."
Both clones regarded him obediently.
It was weird but they felt like the bastard was being condescending. Was it even possible to be an asshole to yourself? Maybe this jutsu had been ongoing for far too long.
Sporting an ANBU mask that conveniently concealed their annoyance, both warriors watched as the Iwa-clone said his farewell to their princess.
Among all the clones operating on their own, this one in particular was especially adept. He's currently the only one capable of earth-nature transformation and is frequently popping up all over the front lines — thrashing enemies, saving hides, and then disappearing like a wayward spirit. And it looks like he was out playing the hero again.
"Later," he gestured with his fingers, his body seeping into the earth in an impressive Orochimaru-style body flicker technique.
"Show-off," one clone scoffed.
"Kakkoii~" the other gleamed.
Hinata's eyes twitched in her deep focus, a perfectly woven synergy shared between Akiko and herself. Based on her diagnosis of his condition, the princess vividly drew up a two-dimensional diagram of Naruto's energy reservoir in her mind — perfectly divided into spirit, stamina and chakra capacity.
While cool, revitalizing power was flowing into him from her healing, Naruto's energy would sporadically evaporate as his clone's fatigue returned to him. But Hinata was committed.
She continued pouring her heart and soul into him, tipping the scales in her favor. As she persevered keeping the worse at bay, the princess noted that Naruto's reservoir was stretching ever larger. The Kyūbi's chakra aside, she had never sensed such a vast and intense power before.
It was astronomical.
Even if she were to reincarnate twice and added both power levels, her prowess would still pale in comparison. But the sacrifice for this godlike stature still held a razor at his throat — and as that power steadily grew, the deadly blade pulled ever closer.
How many more clones had yet to return? And how much wider would that expand his overall power and intellect?
Hinata was curious to behold this amalgamation of this impressive transformation — and she increased her healing output toward that end, eager to be curled up and safe in his arms once more.
Worlds Apart — The Strongest Uchiha!
While Naruto continued to recover, his counterparts, on the other hand, continued saturating the battlefield with overwhelming strength and dexterity. At the behest of headquarters, they had set out to destroy the Zetsu clones and aid in the sealing of the former Kages.
Noting that their role had culminated with the arrival of a stronger class, all the clones who were dispatched before Naruto achieved Kyūbi Chakra Mode were instructed to dismiss themselves. And, of course, this added more strain to Hinata's already hectic task.
Although the soldiers didn't readily make their elation show, they were both thrilled and relieved that Naruto had joined their ranks. With his abilities on each battle front, they had completely suppressed the enemy and reversed the balance of power. Now all they needed to do was deal with Madara and all the Jinchūriki he had under his control. Needless to say, Kabuto's destruction would follow right, afterwards.
Or so they thought.
"Wh-What's that?"
All the troops from Gaara's division turned their attention to an evidently spooked sensory shinobi.
"Do you sense something?" Ōnoki asked on behalf of everyone.
"Over there!" he squeaked, pointing to a lofty rock formation overlooking them.
In the same beat, a familiar shinobi wrapped in bandages ambled to the ledge. He looked down at his foes with undisguised contempt, somehow not deterred that he was sorely outnumbered and outclassed.
"That's the Second Tsuchikage!" Gaara exclaimed.
Naruto heaved a calculating frown. "I'm pretty sure I saw you seal him, though."
"Don't tell me he managed to divide himself under those conditions!"
"Divide himself?"
Gaara, Naruto and Temari regarded the old man curiously as he attempted to shed some light on their confusion.
"Mu-sama is capable of dividing his body to create clones. No, it would be more accurate to say that he divides his body into two more originals. Though his power is, likewise, divided in half."
"It's not him!" the sensory shinobi cried out in denial, the monstrous chakra haunting him to no end. "There's someone else..."
"What?" Temari finally caught a glimpse of this illusive companion. "There's someone else with him!"
"Th-That's..." Ōnoki couldn't find his tongue.
Naruto remained silent. Whoever this person was, he was far more powerful than both Kabuto and Madara combined. It was only after he was recognized that his overwhelming chakra started revealing itself. Could he be the true mastermind behind this entire war?
Ōnoki broke out into a sweat, feeling exactly what Naruto did. "So you've come," he uttered with obvious familiarity. "Uchiha Madara!"
"That's him?'' Naruto squared his shoulders. "So this is what he looks like under the mask."
That's what he said, and yet he couldn't see the correlation between the two chakra types.
"He looks exactly as he did so long ago," Ōnoki affirmed.
"How can this be?" Gaara had never seen Madara's face before, nor was he distinguishing chakra types. "Look closely — his eyes... they're Edo Tensei eyes"
The crowd looked on in wonder.
"Edo Tensei is a technique that brings the dead back into this world. In other words, he was dead all along."
"Hold on," Temari interjected in disbelief. "As I recall, HQ told us that Madara was leading his Jinchūriki in another direction, right?"
"Yet that is, without a doubt, Madara," Ōnoki insisted knowingly. "In my youth, in ages passed, I fought him, myself. If this is the real Madara... then who on earth is the masked man?"
Dark clouds eclipsed the sun.
A creeping shadow swallowed the first division, like an eerie representation of the Uchiha's dark malevolence — or perhaps it was the gods who were teasing a subtle warning. Whatever the case, Madara regarded the shinobi as if they were mere cattle. But as his dark brows descended above a pair of blood red Sharingan, perhaps vermin was a more ideal description.
"Who could the masked man be?" Temari persisted, then she signaled to Ōnoki. "As Tsuchikage, you've used Akatsuki's services before. Do you have any ideas?"
"No one springs to mind. It doesn't matter who he is, anyway; we still have to stop him."
"Their forehead protectors read shinobi," Madara said shrewdly, his voice deep and cool. "Yet their garments are those of all five Great Shinobi Nations. Is this a new allied army?"
"This is war, after all," the former Tsuchikage simply said.
"This must be his doing," the Uchiha thought openly, arms folded comfortably across his chest despite the hostile force decked out below him. "I'm sure he has something in mind, but so far it seems like he's deviating from the plan." His frown deepened. "How dare he raise me in such a form! Who is wielding this Edo Tensei technique?"
"Beats me."
Dissatisfied with the Kage's flippant behavior towards his most honored chest piece, Kabuto commandeered the man's consciousness to establish a personal means of communication. "I'm Kabuto," he said as a means of introduction. "I'm that man's ally."
Madara remained unenthused. "It takes a very withdrawn man to speak to others via Edo Tensei."
"Your Edo Tensei is special," the snake attempted to appease. "I have improved it beyond even your glory days."
For the first time since he was summoned, Madara moved. His armor rattled as he swiveled his head to sneer at the disrespectful coward, his voice low and cold. "Are you saying you know the full truth of my glory days?"
"Not at all," Kabuto exercised humility. "That's why I would like you to display it here — display the legendary power of the Uchiha."
There was a moment of calm.
Then the rush of sand shattered the deafening silence — remotely controlled hands that threatened to crush and restrain both Edo Tensei warriors.
"So he won't be that easy to catch," Gaara muttered disappointedly as both men effortlessly eluded capture.
Madara's chain mail rattled again as he landed atop the sandy dunes to join the apprehensive shinobi, eyes malicious as he decided to fulfill the puppeteer's request. Or rather, the request would only be inadvertently met as the Uchiha sought to retaliate against the alliances' provocative attack.
Everyone watched him, like a herd of antelope that had spied a lion on the open savanna. And their open trepidation amused the predator.
When was the last time he breathed in this toxic atmosphere? There was blood, conviction, guilt, grief, fear, anxiety... all seeming to combine and hang on the arid desert air — an exhilarating cocktail he could have relished even more if blood still coursed through his veins.
The malevolence rolling off the tightly knit alliance coaxed his own. A warrior hardened by an unrelenting era of war and strife, Madara assessed his prey, eager to find out if the puppet master had really managed to refine his power.
A thicker veil of shadow slowly enveloped the Uchiha and then the alliance, like the dark robes of death. It was as if the world was signaling a warning to the Allied Forces, but even a single step backwards in retreated could've spelt the end for everything they had ever loved or believed in.
As Madara confidently ambled forward — a powerful monster whose legacy had inked the history books of every hidden village in existence — the icy claws of dread gripped the shinobi.
Those who weren't utterly petrified by fear brandished their weapons in an attempt to keep their confidence afloat, while others opted to whisper a prayer to their God.
But Madara didn't wait.
His slow strides gradually hastened.
A shinobi at the forefront reached into his pouch for a kunai with trembling hands, droplets of sweat pooling at his chin. To his left, another man swallowed passed a hard lump in his throat, his forehead glistening in his nervousness. But he tightly gripped his sword nonetheless, his body arching forward.
"Here he comes!" Naruto bellowed.
"Don't look him in the eye!" Ōnoki warned.
And then Madara was running.
With a hearty battle cry born of a primeval urge to survive, the warriors mirrored the Uchiha's speedy advance. And then, finally... they clashed.
A series of successive explosions rang out as the villain collided with the oncoming horde like a wrecking ball. Grown men and woman flew skyward — knocked in every which direction like rag dolls as they met the humanoid tank. And Madara's momentum never slowed. Instead, his speed kept increasing as he cleaved through the helpless crowd.
WHAM!
He hurled a Konoha shinobi into an approaching group, toppling them all like pinballs. A roundhouse kick and right hook had two others barreling for yards. A jump-kick broke someone's neck. A blinding series of jabs and kicks shattered bones and destroyed organs. Madara flitted around the battlefield like a natural disaster — a conscious and very vindictive hurricane.
Every assault against him was met with a precise and crippling counter — each one resounding and fatal. Numbers meant nothing. Dreadfully enchanting eyes darted about robotically. Each threat was being analyzed within mere nanoseconds with a powerful body keeping perfect pace.
Kabuto's senses was linked with the second Tsuchikage. And he watched from the sky as Madara's physical attacks detonated at different points on the battlefield, like land mines. Amidst the chaos and Ōnoki's watchful gaze, he tried to utilize the Kage's Dust Element for a devastating ranged attack, but the jutsu failed.
You won't be able to use Dust Element after diving, Ōnoki assessed, watching as the naive puppet master slipped the Kage out of sight and sound. "Sensory types," he called instructively. "Track Mu-sama!"
In the same beat, Gaara unfurled his arm with a telling frown, only to have Temari intervene. "Wait! You and Tsuchikage-dono must prioritize recovery." She looked to Konoha's Orange Knight. "Naruto, you should activate that special mode again."
"I've used up all that chakra," the clone replied repentantly, assessing oceanic eyes never leaving the dexterous enemy. "But I do have one more ace up my sleeve. I just need to get a grip on this guy's battle style so that I don't risk losing before another clone arrives."
Temari pivoted her head toward the source of everyone's turmoil, her teeth gritted. "So we'll have to keep sacrificing soldiers to figure out this guy's fighting style? He's already decimated our ranks and he hasn't even used any jutsus yet."
A white arch traced the trajectory of a sword as it sliced through a man's armored vest and torso in the same beat. Madara's raven black hair twirled as he cleaved through flesh and bone in what could only be described as a dance of death. Countless shinobi contested him with their own blades and skill, only to be effortlessly cut down like wild game.
Without looking, the Uchiha skillfully caught a kunai aimed at his back. Within the motion of a single spin, he dismantled the two-layered weapon. The explosive note was pasted to an enemy in front while the kunai was returned to its sender with double the force and lethality.
"Eek! Eek!" the shinobi in front squealed like a pig when Madara kicked him into a crowd. He struggled to notify his comrades and remove the explosive in the same beat.
But it was too late.
BOOOOM!
The stifling stench of charred flesh saturated the air and blanketed the battlefield. But Madara's movements didn't slow; astonishing red eyes guided his glorious conquest. His limbs seemed to take on a mind of their own as he trampled the enclosing horde. The sword he wielded seemed to blur into many has he whizzed through dozens of people like a living blade.
Using a hopeless wretch as a shield against a shuriken bombardment, the warrior cast the body aside in time to entrap another pitiful assailant within a powerful genjutsu. Jumping right after downing the fool prevented him being caught in a follow-up ambush from underground.
The earth user shrieked as a deadly kunai dug into the sand in retaliation. Then Madara was on the move again — a blinding cyclone of slashes, jabs and kicks that kept mowing down the opposition. His body came back into focus when he stopped to clasp a Kumo shinobi's neck, outraged by the man's sheer and utter incompetence.
WHAMM!
An attack finally connected.
"We're not done yet!" Temari brandished her massive fan, the wind-natured ninjutsu blasting Madara a couple of yards away, much to the astonishment of the onlookers.
His stoic visage never changing, the Uchiha eased into a controlled flip. He slid backwards along the torrid sand until his body came to a stop. Mockingly, he dusted his shoulder guard and mentally decided to retaliate in the like, his bangs rising as he molded chakra for an attack.
"Fire Style: Great Fires of Destruction!"
The open dunes made a quick transition into glass as an ocean of fire spewed from Madara's lips, like a volcanic eruption. The all-consuming flames rolled forth — intent on rendering all to ash. But all the water-capable shinobi stepped up and — despite their panic — collectively forged a sea of water that rivaled the hell-bound flames.
TCHHHH!
Again the battlefield was veiled in a thick blanket of mist. Despite the steam that scorched their skin and nostrils, the shinobi remained alert. And for good reason, too.
Within seconds, Madara was leaping through the dense fog with over a dozen fire-forged orbs at his back. The house-sized missiles descended upon the alliance like meteorites, donating upon impact. As the fires of hell unraveled its searing tongue all around him, the Uchiha trounced on the helpless soldiers without an inkling of hesitation or remorse.
A capable sword sung a dirge as its master performed a tragic dance the shinobi had grown to know too well. Try as they might: taijutsu, ninjutsu, weapons, cowardice, a plea — nothing managed to breach the impenetrable hurricane that was Madara's offensive-defense.
Until now.
A lethal blade carved a trajectory toward a man's lower abdomen went it was intercepted by a pillow of sand. Shrewd eyes took note of the intervention, but Madara insisted on ending the latest shinobi who incurred his wrath. He followed up with a roundhouse kick to break ribs and puncture the man's heart, but the sand intervened again.
Gaara pushed to his feet with renewed conviction as a medical ninja concluded his treatment. And Madara eased into a series of quick backflips as a thrashing wave of sand threatened to crush and suffocate him. Effortless agility and nimble reflexes had the seasoned veteran eluding capture yet again. Even while airborne with minimal maneuverability, the Uchiha still managed to best the appendage-like arms that shot out at him.
The moment his feet touched the ground, however, he noted a foreboding shadow that consumed him whole.
"Big Ball Rasengan!"
"Earth Release: Moving Earth Core!"
Supplementing Naruto's bold descent, the Tsuchikage elevated the spot of ground upon which Madara stood, propelling him toward the projectile for a devastating pincer attack.
CRASHH!
The collision detonated like a nuclear explosion. Gaara managed to mitigate the shockwave for a great many, but a few of the more distant shinobi were threw to the sky like debris in a cyclone.
As the shockwave continued to rock the battlefield, Naruto followed by Ōnoki were the first to realize that their synchronized attack didn't prevail. Madara stood calm inside the rib cage of a familiar entity with an even more familiar design etched in his eyes.
Faster than a bullet, the blue guardian spawned a torso and an arm to fend off Naruto's attack. Then a head materialized to heave an earth-shattering roar that sent another violent shockwave rippling across the front lines.
"Is that Susanoo?" Ōnoki asked knowingly, his frown deepening. "Then he has already activated the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Multicolored lights illustrating a variety of elemental attacks highlighted the blue devil in a fierce assault. The alliance looked like ants bombarding an anteater. The cold predator tittered mockingly as even the Kazekage's sand attempted to penetrate the impenetrable titan, but to no avail.
The fear-stricken shinobi gawked in absolute dread as the animated beast sprouted an additional pair of arms — each equipped with a menacing chakra-based blade. And in the next instant, hundreds of bodies were thrown into the air as light peeled across the earth from the weapons, like a whip of lightening.
But, just before despair could drill its icy claws any deeper, a familiar high-pitched hum from an evolutionary form of the Rasengan seized the atmosphere. And Naruto stepped forward, eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as he studied the hordes of bodies that lay motionless around him. Lifeless bodies he swore he wouldn't let exist.
"Let's see how he likes this one," Naruto spat angrily, acid etched in each syllable. "Everyone, get back!"
Intent on bolstering their next move, Ōnoki leapt forward and laid his hands upon Gaara's gourd. "Earth Release: Featherweight Rock Technique!"
"Go, Kazekage! I've lightened the sand around you, as well!"
My sand weighs nothing now, Gaara noted with a quiet glee, marveling at how freely the element rose from its home on his back. This might do it!
Despite the fusillade of attacks that erupted against the titan's ginormous chakra-forged form, Gaara still decided to opt for a distraction that would ultimately compromise the man's defenses.
Commanding gold-infused sand to his will, an unrelenting wave tackled Madara's humanoid barrier. But Susanoo didn't even budge. Pushing his frustration aside, the Kazekage remembered his fight with Sasuke at the Summit. Susanoo was almost indestructible from the outside but—
Madara's attention suddenly veered to the ground as the sand stirred and hummed beneath his feet like a living creature. Before he could switch from his lax disposition to defend, the sand latched onto his arm and hurled him out of the barrier, like a humanoid frisbee.
Acknowledging his hearty call, Naruto lunged forward with the projectile he hoped would be the catalyst to finally put an end to this tragic war.
"Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!"
With a screech that no mermaid or siren could ever emulate, the sphere of pure destructive power illuminated a path toward its target.
Time slowed — and Madara's eyes widened.
But it wasn't out of fear or rage — no, the man preserved his cool countenance as his ocular abilities transcended the established norms of evolution and pushed him even that closer to true godhood. With a simple flick of his wrist, both sand and wind-natured projectiles dematerialized in an instant, as if they never existed to begin with.
"That was excessive," Madara said coolly, smoke undulating from a gloved hand.
"H-He absorbed it," Temari stuttered, the spectators sharing her abject shock.
H-How can this guy have the Rinnegan? Naruto thought mentally, golden eyes narrowed to curious slits. Wait. Could this be the all-powerful shinobi that Old Man Fukasaku mentioned before? According to Giant Grandpa Sage, Kabuto needed to be kept alive until he summoned this guy so that we can seal him for good. But we'll definitely need the boss's help if we're going to stand a chance against this guy. Though, with that said, can I even stand against him until then?
Allowing his guardian to dematerialize, the unscathed Uchiha retreated to the monolithic stone structure from which he came.
"My theory has been validated," Kabuto said by means of greeting. "The Sharingan's next evolution really is the Rinnegan."
"I awakened my eyes to it shortly before my death," Madara informed, a natural hint of assertion to his low tone. "Kabuto, was it? What have you done to this body?"
"I already told you," the snake began to reiterate, though he evidently tried to exercise a certain degree of humility and respect. "I've improved it beyond even your glory days."
Madara wasn't enthused — and his dark browns descended above the rings that circled his cornea. "The likes of you dared to study my body's secrets? Are you saying a miserable creature like you managed to decipher the Uchiha stone tablet without even being able to read it?"
"Orochimaru-sama and I used our many years' worth of research data to develop a hypothesis. Now, you are unliving proof of that hypothesis. You can wield a fraction of the power of the Rikudō Sennin: the power of a god. And it is I who created your power."
Madara ignored the vermin, taking a moment to relish the destruction he artistically carved into the battlefield. The blue flames from Susanoo's blades still scorched the dry earth with a heat that rivaled Amaterasu. Lifeless bodies dotted the landscapes like droplets of paint from an artist's brush. Shinobi knelt by the still corpses of their neighbors, friends and family. Pain, panic and pressure bubbled up and over amidst the devastated alliance. But the grim reaper had no intention of giving the warriors a quarter — nor did he care to take prisoners.
"Make no mistake," the demigod replied bitterly to the devious puppet master. "You did not create this."
As the blue titan regained its imposing form from Madara's surging chakra, the Uchiha executed a few seals that Susanoo expertly mirrored. And humanity gazed upon the odd collaboration between man and deity as the medical team aided the injured and the communication team kept HQ afloat.
Within moments, the sky darkened.
TING!
A man dropped his sword to the ground and gave a hopeless laugh. "Well, shit..."
"Tha-That's impossible...," another grieved, looking skyward with pained eyes.
"How can this be?"
Naruto gritted his teeth, sweat rolling down his face.
"It's like... another world," uttered Temari, her knees buckling.
"Is this the power of a God?" Gaara couldn't believe his eyes.
And the Tsuchikage couldn't find his tongue.
Thousands of feet above them — effortlessly shattering the earth's upper atmosphere — a gargantuan meteorite spanning the length of roughly one-hundred football fields hurled toward them at a breakneck pace. The foreign mass hummed terrifyingly as it drew closer. And the earth seemed to grumble a low warning to the surface dwellers in a language they could easily decipher.
But there was no escape. And the anxiety kept permeating throughout the ranks of the shinobi like a toxic miasma.
"A meteorite? How can he..."
"Can you even call this ninjutsu?"
"We have no chance to escape."
The Tsuchikage looked around worryingly as negative remarks and whimpering assaulted him from every direction. He could almost hear as the shinobi's morale deteriorated like a burning fuse.
"Don't speak as if you've given up already!" he shouted before regarding the terrifying force of nature again. "Don't give up until you've tried! Even if it's not much, we'll do what we can!"
"Tsuchikage-sama!" one man yelled with evident concern as the old fossil flew off toward the source of their anguish.
"All of you, get as far away from here as you can!" Gaara instructed with a flick of his arm. And the shinobi took heed to the commander's hearty cry.
"You're taking us out, as well?" Kabuto asked quietly.
"Of course," Madara replied with a cool smile. "The Edo Tensei technique was originally designed for suicide attacks. We'll recover given a little time."
In the same beat, they saw a dot whizzing through the air and took a moment to focus their gazes on the curious figure.
A shinobi flying through the sky? Madara thought inwardly. "That must be the Iwa Fence-Sitter Boy," he mused aloud, a mocking smile stretching his lips.
BANG!
The Tsuchikage's head slammed into the rock's surface when he made contact, nails digging into the unyielding mass in his sheer determination to stop the looming catastrophe. "Earth Release: Flyweight Rock Jutsu!"
With a fervent roar, Ōnoki expelled enough chakra to encompass the entirety of the meteorite — and his endeavor succeeded in slowing its velocity. Following up, the Kazekage found the highest rock formation upon which to stand and gave life to a pair of colossal arms made of sand. Finally, Naruto pitched in by summoning Gamabunta — the chief toad of Mount Myōboku — and two others of equal size.
The chief wasn't enthused about the precarious situation in which he was hurled, but he shot his tongue upward — like a crotch — and his brothers mirrored the same maneuver in hopes of slowing the space rock's momentum.
Almost there..., Ōnoki psyched himself up, his forehead bruised, his fingernails bleeding. Just a little more and we can stop this thing!
Sharing the man's fiery passion for success, the warriors focused on this singular reason for being and their hearts connected in this desperate struggle for survival. With a united shout, they mustered every ounce of strength they had in one final synchronized push.
In the next few heart-wrenching moments, the deep rumbling that spread across the surface of the earth ceased, and howls of panic and madness faded into silence.
A few harmless chunks fell from the interstellar rock. It shattered the deafening silence, slowing the shinobi's once chaotic retreat. And the light of hope gradually returned to their eyes.
Madara, on the other hand, gazed upon the unforeseen miracle with an emotionless mask. "The Fence-Sitter Boy has grown up to be a man."
The meteorite had stopped, as if it had been spellbound — frozen in a state of suspended animation. And the shinobi rejoiced, Ōnoki and Gaara feeling their bliss resonate in their own hearts. But Naruto was quiet, his mind calculating.
Madara.
His abilities as a fighter was truly astounding. But it wasn't just his physical capabilities that were sharpened by a lifetime exposure of war and strive. He was also a master at psychological warfare. From the fixed scowl on his face, to his effortless domination of the allied forces, he was breaking the shinobi from the inside out. And Naruto had a feeling this was only just the beginning.
In that instant — as if the Gods wanted to prove his claim correct — the pensive sage sensed a gigantic clump of chakra. And it was on the move. But, before he could spin a cohesive warning in his mind to warn his comrades, a second meteorite burst through a cover of clouds with deadly accuracy.
"Now...," Madara whispered, his eyes cold and aloof. "What will you do about the second one, Ōnoki?"
But there was nothing that could be done.
By the time the more keen of the shinobi noted the foreboding presence above them, the colossal space debris was already slamming into the former, sending a lethal shockwave through the Tsuchikage's head. Fissures ran through the meteorites like erupting veins, hurling down rocks upon the unsuspecting forces.
The explosive impact rippled across the earth, its effects being felt as far as HQ.
"What just happened?!" Shikaku exclaimed, pivoting his head in Inoichi's direction in hopes of some measure of clarity.
Ino's father was synchronized with a machine via a helmet that enhanced his mental powers. At this pressing moment, he was pushing himself to assimilate as much information as possible.
"Message from the information relay center!" he began. "There are reports that a rock big enough to blot out the sky has been dropped on the Forth Division's battlefield."
"That's what's been causing these tremors?"
"Have there been any reports from the Fourth Division since then?" Now the Raikage's voice thundered across the room.
"This is insane," another man murmured in terror. "To wipe out so many in one stroke..."
"There's no other possibility," Shikaku concluded regrettably. "This must be some sort of technique from Madara." his head swiveled around to regard his female superior, eyes wide with the extremity of their current predicament. "Tsunade-sama... we can't allow this to continue!"
"I'm heading out!" she pushed to her feet with warranted haste, her eyes burning vehemently.
A lone shinobi navigated through a cloak of receding dust, eyes a somber shade of grey. A survivor of the interstellar invasion, the man slouched around on unsteady feet, careful not to step on the mangled corpses of his fallen brethren that littered the rocky battlefield.
Finally he spied an Iwa-shinobi on his knees. The man's hands were still against an earthen wall of his own construct, in an attempt to defend against the cataclysmic disaster. But a single touch had the corpse falling limply onto his back, his barrier crumbling to reflect the morale of the other survivors who braved the rough-hewn maze.
Clutching an injured arm, Temari knelt attentively beside her brother who had exhausted almost all of his chakra just to keep himself alive.
A large toad resurfaced from the earth to spit out Naruto and a few dozen other shinobi it was able to save in the nick of time. But a few dozen wasn't nearly enough, and the teen allowed the sheer regret and frustration to rip through his heart like a lose arrow from an expertly pulled bow. His grief only deepened when he found a broken Tsuchikage motionless beside an attention shinobi.
"Don't worry," the man reassured, ignoring his own injuries. "He's alive... though... his wounds are serious."
Naruto stared down at the truth of that — fresh blood running from the man's mouth and swollen left eye. His small body tattered and torn, totally motionless.
In contrast, there was a flurry of activity on the enemy's part. Like billions of multicolored papier-mâché, tiny particles accumulated to form a pair of humanoid bodies. Courtesy of Edo Tensei's evil design, Madara and the Second Tsuchikage rematerialized.
"So this is the power of the Rikudō Sennin," Kabuto mused. "How magnificent."
Madara's eyes blinked open, a smog smile stretching his lips at the man's surprise. "This scenery brings back memories," he reminisced for but a fleeting moment, then his countenance was once again sour. "Kabuto, was it? How much do you know about me?"
Kabuto held the Uchiha's scornful gaze with impressive composure. "I know that you fought the First Hokage, Hashirama, in the Valley of the End — and I suspect that you didn't die there. Not then, at least."
Madara frowned at the scoundrel's shrewdness.
"You may have lost to Hashirama, but you also obtained a little of his power. Am I wrong?"
The man's frown deepened, then he took a peek inside his shirt. "Now I see. You are a systematic thinker. Do you know about our plan, as well?"
"Not in detail, but I'm on your side — though, I'm not so sure if the fake Madara truly intends to follow the original plan."
Madara regarded the man for a while, as if weighing the true of his words and revisiting contingencies just in case of such an occasion.
"Whatever the case," Kabuto broke the intense silence with a change of subject. "I see there are scattered pockets of survivors. The Tsuchikage and Kazekage are as resilient as one might expect. What shall you do?"
Peering down at said group, Madara weaved a few hand signs and then slammed his palm down to the ground. "There is something I'd like to test — Summoning Technique!"
Like a monarch's royal decree, his command took flight — invisible hands that scoured every corner and crevice of the globe for his former servant spirit.
Meanwhile — inside his subconsciousness — Naruto fell to the ground as heat welled up inside his stomach like a typhoon. The Kyūbi looked from the suffering Jinchūriki to the dark ceiling of his cage in anger and disbelief, noting the insidious hands that beckoned to him.
This chakra summoning me... is it Madara?
"I see the Kyūbi has not yet been captured," the Uchiha pushed to his feet with little disappointment.
"That's the purpose of this war," Kabuto enlightened. "The Kyūbi is inside a Jinchūriki right now. See — that one right there. That boy is the Kyūbi's Jinchūriki, Uzumaki Naruto-kun."
"Uzumaki?" Madara looked down upon the squirming bug, even as an imagine of Hashirama's wife dared to appeared in his mind. "Then he is of Mito's clan, and he is the brat that attacked me earlier."
"He's quite the troublesome one," Kabuto warned. "You can take him out, if you like, but that's just one of many clones he's got scurrying around on the front lines. Shall we get on with capturing the original?"
"Not yet," Madara denied, his chain mail rattling as he sauntered forward. "There's a technique I'd like to test. It will be far more colorful in a place full of people."
The moment he formed the seals, a sensory ninja amongst the group detected the man's monstrous chakra in motion. Without delay, he alerted the group. But with everyone tuckered out and quite a few trapped beneath rubble, there was little that could be done.
"Wood Element: Birth of the Tree World!"
The ground trembled and hummed in defiance as enormous trees sprouted from beneath the surface, and equally large vines slithered across the earth like vipers.
"He even has wood element," Dodai exclaimed with a pained stare as he supported a limp Ōnoki.
"I guess this is it," said the sensory ninja, conceding to a grim fate.
Gaara and Temari looked on with similar sentiments. But Naruto — down on his last few inklings of chakra — still didn't exude any signs of resignation.
Naruto..., the Kyūbi's deep voice rose in his mind. For now, I'll lend you my strength.
The outraged teen glared at the lupine catastrophe within its spacious prison, his stomach still burning from Madara's summoning attempt. "Are you seriously trying to take control of my body right now?"
No. I'm just giving you chakra, he reassured with a scowl for the name about to be weaved upon its tongue. Even someone like you is better than having Madara control me again.
As opposed to Naruto's shocked expression at the Kyūbi's offer, Kabuto wore his typical ear-splitting grin. If I can keep making such good use of Madara, I'll be able to shape this war any way I like. He's an even more valuable piece than I first thought.
As the intertwining roots and vines closed the distance between them with utter destruction in their wake, the lines of fatigue and distraught evaporated from Naruto's face. Then, without an ounce of hesitation, he threw himself into the fray.
"Tajuu Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
Dozens of clones — like humanoid shotgun shells — sprang forth from receding billows of smoke, each wearing hardened expressions and wielding a large Rasengan. They launched themselves into the wooden tides like dynamite — a consistent string of explosions shaving away at the dense forestry.
"It's as you said… he's quite something," Madara complimented with a smile, looking down at the Jinchūriki like an object of amusement.
Naruto looked up at the villains who towered over the remnants of his comrades like a dark plague. The had used up the entirety of the Kyūbi's power in one fell swoop. His legs threatened to buckle beneath him — no, his very existence seemed to have been held together by a single thread.
But, so long as his friends were behind him, he would not fade. Nor would he allow his foes the pleasure of his defeat.
"Naruto...," Ōnoki had regained consciousness. "You've done enough; we'll take it from here."
"Tsuchikage-dono," Temari exclaimed. "You're in no state to—"
The man tittered, cutting her off. "The time and place to regain myself is finally here. If that's what I'm fighting for, I'm more than ready."
"That's insane!" the woman retorted. "You've been beaten to a pulp!"
Madara and Kabuto leapt closer, intent and mocking their game before delivering the final crushing move. "There are more techniques I'd like to try, but it doesn't look like you can dance anymore, Ōnoki."
The Tsuchikage sneered at the snide remark.
"Why do you look at me like that?" Madara offered his own well-sculptured sneer. "I thought I'd shown you the gap in power between us long ago."
"We shinobi know battle in our every waking breath. We have fought endlessly for the sake of our nations and villages, and felt no regret as we pillaged the nations and villages of others. We rob and are robbed, then we rob our robbers. As our hatred grew beyond measure, we fought wars not once but thrice."
"That is what it means to live," Madara simply said, his face devoid of any emotion but mockery and disdain. "Can you truly have grown so old and yet learned nothing from suffering in your past?"
"I've lived longer than you," Ōnoki declared as a matter of fact. "And there are a few things I've learned. It's because I have suffered in my past that I can consider what is best to pass on to the future."
"Now... we're in the midst of a fourth war," Kabuto patronized. "Is this the best you've come up with?"
"This war is different!" the man defended solemnly. "This is not a war to steal from each other like in days passed. We are fighting to win something different and new."
Madara looked on in displeasure and utter ridicule.
"Seeing these two — he looked to Gaara aiding an exhausted Naruto — I've come to understand that time is not simply going by. Slowly but surely, the world is growing as it gains more past to draw upon. It is growing towards peace."
Despite his panting breaths, Naruto regarded the man carefully, eager to witness how he would respond to Ōnoki's — no, the world's new consensus, its destination.
Madara folded his arms across his chest, his expression scathing. "The world has no need to grow any more."
Naruto frowned.
"The world is hopeless," Madara drawled. "Let it sleep within the genjutsu of Eternal Tsukuyomi!"
"Long ago, you made me give up on myself," Ōnoki admitted regrettably, even as he unsteadily pushed to his feet with the aid of Dodai. "That is why I'll defeat you, and redeem myself here! You're the one doomed to eternal sleep."
Madara tittered, his chin tilting challengingly. "Oh, so you can still dance?"
"For myself, and for the future, I will defeat you right here!"
Elsewhere, Tsunade was exuding the same level of fiery determination. At headquarters, upon learning of the real Madara and the devastation he had unleashed upon the Fifth Division, the woman was transfixed on joining the fray. The Raikage shared her impatience and zeal, intent on facing off against what they perceived as the ultimate threat.
Noting these latest developments may indeed by the climax of the Fourth Great Ninja War, Shikaku conceded to his superior's wishes to depart. And, thus — along with the Mizukage whose water element would have been effective against that of the Uchiha's fire — all three Kages were simultaneously transported to the battlefield.
And just in nick time, too, for Madara and Kabuto went on the offensive. Before their claws could pierce the throats of their prey, the Raikage and Hokage intervened — landing a solid attack that sent the bastards hurling.
Naruto looked to his side, sensing in advance as a power similar to his own destabilized the space. In the next second, four shinobi appeared — three men forming a ring around the Mizukage. They were former ninjas of the Fourth Hokage's squad and the only living people who knew how to use the Flying Thunder God Technique. But, unlike Naruto and the Fourth, they all needed to combine their powers to perform the taxing jutsu.
"You're all still alive," the Mizukage said quietly. "So it seems we made it in time."
"I can finally go wild!" the Raikage's customary frown deepened. "I thought we'd never get to this part."
"Well, I'm ready," Tsunade asserted.
Gaara said nothing, but Ōnoki grinned for them both. "Looks like it was worth living this long, after all. I never thought the day would come when all five Kage gathered to fight side by side."
"This is perfect," Madara said, having found another lofty summit from which to look down upon the insects. "Any less and the tests would not be worth performing."
Wasting no time, Tsunade disposed herself to healing both Gaara and Ōnoki simultaneously while the Raikage and Mizukage kept Madara preoccupied. A combination of the Lava Element Bloodline Limit and Lightening Enhanced Taijutsu seemed to back the Uchiha into a corner, but the man effortlessly rebounded with a mocking smile, Susanoo's torso providing an impenetrable defense.
Madara's smile vanished when he went on the offensive to test their defense. The blue guardian materialized a head and both arms to launch a fusillade of chakra-forged shuriken at the leaders' dependable healer. A fully recovered Kazekage and Tsuchikage responded with a double-layered golem shield made from a combination of sand and stone.
"This has become a war to protect everyone," Ōnoki said, his stone golem's density reflecting his resolve.
"In that case," Naruto began, his cool, informative tone of voice pulling everyone's attention. "I think we should consider evacuating the Hidden Villages and relocating the Daimyōs."
Everyone regarded the suggestion with sheer absurdity and disbelief. And Naruto attempted to clarify his reasoning. "More so through his actions than words, Madara has proven that he's a master at psychological warfare. I have a feeling he would try and hurt everyone we care about, just to see us suffer."
Before anyone could respond, Madara was on the offensive again. While Gaara kept the menace at bay, Ōnoki was busy communicating a plan to both the Raikage and Mizukage. And the strategy commenced when the woman summoned a thick veil of mist to blanket the entire battlefield.
Concealing Mist? Kabuto thought mentally, finally succeeding in eluding his tenacious pursuers. They must be trying to reduce the Rinnegan's field of vision.
"Let's do it, Raikage," said Ōnoki who was now perched on the man's back.
Kabuto landed like a fly on a horses' backside, sticking close to Madara. Damn you, Tsuchikage... so you've accelerated the Raikage even further by reducing his weight. But that only means that the attack will be light—
BAAMM!
The Raikage disappeared and reappeared in an instant, a perfectly heavy uppercut sending Kabuto hurling into the sky like a rag doll. Any farther and he would have blasted away like Team Rocket.
"Super Rock Weight Technique!"
Ōnoki regulated his powers with a speed and finesse that only he could muster — now the Raikage was throwing a punch at the blue titan. It was unclear whether Madara was just blind to the quick assault or just too confident in his own defense, but the attack hit its mark.
And it was more powerful than he anticipated.
The force, shockwave, and chakra weaved into both energies, propelled through Susanoo like a bullet at close range. It blasted through the chakra-forged torso — shattering ribs and the deity's spinal column, sending it crashing backwards.
"If you guys aren't willing to consider my suggestion —" Naruto continued — "at least heal me so that I can help fight."
Tsunade turned to meet his eyes, her countenance already illustrating her denial. "Naruto... we can't make such a large-scale move based on just a gut feeling. We don't have the time or resources. Besides, we plan to take down Madara before he has the chance to pull anything like that."
"Tsunade-sama is right, Naruto," Gaara concurred, returning with the rest of the Kage while Madara recovered.
"Listen, Naruto," said Ōnoki, hovering weightless through the air. "You know, in the beginning, I joined the Alliance because I had no choice. I desperately needed to defeat Akatsuki. However, after fighting alongside you all, I've come to feel something different. Now, I want to be here as the Tsuchikage of the Shinobi Alliance. I want to change just as the shinobi villages have changed — once many but now allying and coming together as one.
If I can do that, then perhaps even the system of our shinobi world, which has given birth to so much hatred, can change.
Naruto," his voice was now low and sincere. "Leave this Madara to us. We'll do whatever it takes to put an end to this battle. It will be the first step towards ending the curse of hatred for good. It is our responsibility as the people who, just like Madara, spent our lives bringing more hatred into this world.
Don't worry about this battle, and leave it to us." He hovered closer to rest a hand upon the sage's shoulder. "The other Madara we leave to you. It will be the first step towards a new hope for the future."
"Victory against the Madaras," Tsunade contributed. "Both the old and the new, will mean the end of this war. We will protect you on this battlefield. That's why you must fight on the other one and protect us, in return."
Naruto bowed his head and closed his eyes, processing their words.
"These are the words the Five Kage entrusts to you, Clone Naruto…"
"We will win!" they all said in unison.
Naruto tilted his head, oceanic eyes holding the leaders to their word. And then with a nod, he was gone.
Hearts Converge – Love. Hatred. Peace. Revenge!
Elsewhere, another clone accompanied by Bee, spotted a messenger toad fastened to a tree in the canopies. Without slowing his speedy career, Naruto skillfully caught a tiny scroll in passing and quickly skimmed through its contents.
Bee looked on in curiosity.
The two biggest highlights of the message regarded Madara and a request for Iwa-Naruto to find a way to save the citizens that were left sheltering in the hidden villages.
Before the Orange Knight could process the magnitude of this latest revelation, he sensed hostility afoot — one he'd been tracking for the last few kilometers. But the target wasn't moving away. Instead, they were both closing the distance that separated them, and Naruto knew exactly who the bastard was.
The Fake Madara was suddenly in sight. And the man had no intention of stopping, nor did our golden knight. Some deep, grudge-induced impulse had them head-butting each other like a pair of territorial buffalo, their eyes fixed in the epic collision.
But neither of them yielded.
Naruto bounced back onto a limb where Bee was perched, while the fake Madara landed on another.
"Damn, that mask is hard," Naruto grinned coolly, though his eyes harbored nothing but derision.
"I let you pass my guard, but in the end you couldn't even scratch my mask." the man's gaze held nothing but scorn, as well. "The power you gained from controlling the Kyūbi... surely, it can't be something so feeble?"
As if the condescending words were a trigger, six spawns of Edo Tensei descended before their master. But these were no ordinary warriors — no, these were the former Jinchūriki and they each had a Sharingan and Rinnegan etched in their eye.
Naruto and Bee's shock was short lived. Already Roshi — the Four-Tailed Jinchūriki — was spitting lava projectiles as a means of introduction. Following evasive maneuvers, Naruto and Bee rebounded. But their attack was effortlessly reflected by an emotionless Yagura — host of the Three-Tailed Bijuu.
And from there, the combination attacks continued. As our heroes drifted back from the enemy's counter, they found themselves in a field of bubbles that detonated like land mines at Utakata's — the Six-Tailed Jinchūriki's — command.
Bee managed to avoid contact, but Naruto took a blow to the shoulder in an attempt to communicate with the mindless puppet.
TWINKLE!
Something caught Naruto's eye, even as he gathered his bearings. Fu — the Seven-Tailed Jinchūriki — was busy releasing a sparkling dust from her mouth. Then she clapped her hands together to activate her jutsu, a blinding light quickly assaulting her foes.
Capitalizing on their disability, Yugito — the Two-Tailed Jinchūriki — and Han — the Five-Tailed Jinchūriki — quickly moved in together for the kill.
"These sweet shades are my finest aids," Bee wrapped coolly as he expertly wielded his blades to thwart razor sharp finger and toenails on Yugito's part.
"And I can see your hostile intent through any flare," Naruto added, stopping a monstrous fist courtesy of Han.
Having all attempted to incapacitate the Jinchūriki still dwelling in the land of the living, those of Edo Tensei regrouped alongside their master. And Naruto couldn't help but frown at the heartless fiend.
The Jinchūriki, from his experience, have all had to endure great adversaries in their life just because they hosted a source of great calamity. Utakata, in particular, had finally began turning over a new leaf when his journey was cut short.
It wasn't fair.
As his anger simmered from a boil, Naruto overheard Bee and the Hachibi discussing the fact they could have been apart of that vexing lineup — their eyes violated in an effort to weaponize them with the two strongest ocular abilities.
"Madara has done the same to his eyes," Naruto informed, irked that his fellow Jinchūriki had anything in common with the cretin. "His mask is different from before. It's got two eye holes."
"These eyes are specially-made, unlike my old ones," the man announced with a hint of cocksure. "They're a reinforced combat model."
"So the left eye you kept hidden was the Rinnegan, just like what Nagato and the other Madara has."
Naruto's voice was low and unfriendly, and the man's eyes narrowed on a curious note.
"We're going to stop both of you Madaras!"
Both... of us?
The mental utterance evoked a memory. It was the day when Kabuto first approached him with a deal to collaborate in the impending war. And, upon putting a few of his chips on the table — which included all the previous Hokage and Akatsuki members — the masked villain found himself feeling just slightly inclined to accept the snake's offer. But when the real Uchiha Madara turned out to be the ace in the hole, all the man's doubts evaporated like mist to a flame.
Damn you, Kabuto! he cursed inwardly, red and purple eyes burning with absolute outrage and disdain.
"What do you mean both of them, homey?" Bee looked to Naruto curiously. "Isn't this guy Madara, ya dumbass phony?"
The masked phantom chuckled evilly, reeling in both Jinchūriki who were still on the defensive. "Then let me go by Tobi, as I once did. What do names matter now that the war has begun? Madara. Tobi. Call me what you like."
Naruto wasn't enthused, and his eyes narrowed to saffron slits. "Just who are you, you bastard?"
Tobi returned the intensity of his glare. "I am no one. I have no desire to be anyone. All I want is to complete the Eye of the Moon Plan. It's not worth existing in this world that knows nothing but despair.
You Jinchūriki were forced to be host to the Bijuu and have led lives filled with nothing but despair. Is this not so? You, at least, should be able to understand the despair of which I speak."
Naruto slowly pushed to his feet, his scowl never faltering — and the Kyūbi paid particular attention to his hearty response. "It's not your place... to say whether sharing a body with a Bijuu is good or bad."
Bee pushed to his feet, too, a smile tugging his lips.
"You claim to be no one in a worthless world, while starting wars in the middle of it? How do you expect us to understand you with so many lies in the way?" Naruto's fingers curled into a tight fist. "I'm pissed off now. I'll tear that mask off, if it's the last thing I do!"
"Let me take the first shot!" Bee bellowed. "Oh, yeah!"
Tobi palmed his masked face darkly, his voice slow and malicious. "If you want to tear off this mask... be prepared" — all the enslaved Jinchūriki began sprouting a single tail of their Bijuu's power — "to work your hands to the bone."
Bee yelped, his once zealous flair withering. But Naruto kept his decorum about him, power seething beneath his skin in his sheer impatience to drive the fiend into the ground.
Tobi wasn't deterred.
Veins branched out like roots in widened eyes as the man regarded his foes as a mere means to an end. "Hachibi. Kyūbi. Once you're mine, the Eye of the Moon Plan will be as good as complete!"
"You're not getting your hands on either of them," Naruto refuted hotly, his arm flashing out like a whip.
What's going on? Bee asked the Hachibi. Those guys are supposed to be Bijuu-free...
Maybe they were turned into Jinchūriki again, after they were brought back. I "am" sensing something off about the Bijuu. Be careful, Bee.
The massive, organic sword on his back purred in what could only be described as a battle cry — and it reverberated through Bee's chest, in turn. "Samehada's raring to go! All right! Then let's give them a real show! Let's fight!"
Biting down on the hilt of one of his many pointed swords, the taffy-colored shinobi threw himself into the fray despite Naruto's cautious call.
With transparent wings mounted upon her back akin to that of a fairy's, Fu flew out from the canopy of the trees to greet him, multicolored eyes radiating nothing but blood lust.
WOOSH!
Bee brought down Samehada like it weighed no more than a piece of paper. She's got great moves, he complimented inwardly as the fairy flew upwards to evade impact. But, as if he anticipated her tactical retreat, Bee was already throwing the monstrous weapon at the now stilled foe in a follow-up attack.
Samehada's body suddenly inflated like a puffer fish, its shark-like maw splitting open to mince both flesh and bone. But, again, the fairy managed to flee, her trajectory well within Bee's calculations once more. Still in motion, her back turned, a lightening-imbued sword homed in at the back of her head.
OK — she missed it — KO! Bee rapped his assured victory.
But, suddenly, inexplicably, Fu ducked, the blade narrowly missing her cranium.
Having quickly changed locations mid attack, Bee almost appeared spouting from a tree chunk as he launched another decisive assault. But five well-trained eyes equipped with the Rinnegan had their sights on the projectile and, again, it missed its mark by mere inches.
Bee was flabbergasted. How'd ya dodge it without seeing it, ya dumbass phony?
"Octopops! We can't take them on like this," Naruto informed critically, landing on a limb above his rattled companion. "This is just like the Six Paths of Pain I once fought. Their eyes are all connected by the Rinnegan."
"What do you mean?" Bee was still confused.
"This is the same Outer Path Technique that Nagato used — meaning, their six separate fields of view are combined — damn, they're not even giving me a second to—"
Sporting a cloak wrapped in lava, Roshi launched himself at Naruto like a missile. Bolstering his own cloak, the Orange Knight braced for an explosive impact that gashed sparks. It was like two swords clashing. But this wasn't a one-on-one battle; another Jinchūriki was poising for an attack.
Oh man, Yugito's mouse fireballs! Bee exclaimed as the female Jinchūriki fired off a volley of flames in their direction.
Grabbing Naruto with a tentacle, Bee launched himself from the tree, escaping the blue projectiles by the hair of his chin. But they detonated like fireworks, raining down a fusillade of flames at the fleeing duo.
"They're chasing us!" Naruto stated the obvious as the blasts weaved in and out, destroying everything around them.
"They're being guided by her will!" Bee enlightened, though his energy was focused on evading the tenacious projectiles. "We'll get away with my epic skill!"
But Yugito wasn't just about to let that happen. Making use of the agility gifted to her by the single tail of her Bijuu, the woman elongated her nails and gave chase. She intersected her prey like an assassin — one-hit-kill, but Bee was able to deflect the attack and hid amidst the brush while the echo of their clash still rung out in the air.
Yugito's movements aren't how I remember them, Bee whispered mentally, remaining perfectly still alongside his glowing companion. What a surprise! My expensive scarf's cut in half. Does that mean it's half price? he lamented, cupping the jagged end of the white fabric.
Clinging to a tree chunk, Yugito looked around with an emotionless mask, her Edo Tensei allies doing the same.
The problem's their Sharingan, the Hachibi deduced. It lets them see even the tiniest detail of our movements. Their Jinchūriki abilities have been boosted by the scale of the ocular powers they've gained. Plus, the shared field of view lets them track each other's locations and time their attacks to support each other.
Bee, let me talk to Naruto!
"Yo!" he called, bringing the teenager's attention to a raised fist, which he pumped without question, understanding the silent gesture.
Naruto, the Hachibi began, establishing a direct mental link through the physical connection. The bastards are milking their combined Bijuu and ocular powers for all they're worth. And they're bound to find our hiding place. What do we do?
We've got no choice but to take the six Jinchūriki out one by one, Naruto informed coolly. If the system is the same as with Nagato, then they're all being controlled through chakra. Back then, they all had black transmitters piercing bits of their bodies in order to convey the technique.
I see, the Hachibi's frown deepened. So if we pull them out or break them, the Outer Path Technique should be dispelled. But that's going to be rough, he figured, remembering how effortlessly Bee missed his mark earlier. How do we even pinpoint where on their bodies these black transmitters are?
Is that one? Bee murmured, his eyes focusing through his dark shades.
Where? The Hachibi poked his head forward.
I was studying Yugito's breasts in great detail, he said in a melodious rap while sitting crossed-legged on the Bijuu's nose. Then I saw something black within her skin so pale. At first, I thought it was damage from overu—
The Hachibi smacked his obnoxious host with an index finger. Then they all turned their attention back to Yugito in time to note as the small gash from Bee's previous encounter heal — her repairing blouse slowly concealing creamy breasts and the metal rod hidden between them.
By this point, the pervert was rocking from side-to-side like an exuberant child, a sultry smile stretching his thick lips. I get bored when all's revealed, but there's no turn-on like the half-concealed.
The Hachibi regarded the man wearily. This is a battle to decide the fate of the world and that's what you obsess over?
There it is! Naruto exclaimed, ignoring the drama unfolding beside him. But his eyes fixated where Bee's lingered. "I'd better check the others, too."
Naruto, wait!
The Hachibi's voice didn't get through. Our hero was already one with the wind, but his re-emergence didn't go unnoticed. Sharing Yugito's point of view, Roshi launched himself forward, being the closer one to the incoming Jinchūriki. Then they clashed — the man's brilliant cloak rivaling that of Naruto's.
Shielding against the synthetic lava with a pair of chakra-forged arms, Naruto charged a Rasengan in his free hand and began shaving away at the man's cloak and garb, revealing the dark metal transmitter wedged in his chest.
So they may all be in the same place, after all, Naruto surmised, increasing the rotation of the projectile that promptly cracked the transmitter.
But Tobi was watching, multicolored eyes shrewd and decisive. In the same beat, Han was suddenly on the scene with a dropkick. Naruto had his guard up. But, despite having a supportive tentacle wrapped around him courtesy of Bee, the impact had them both barreling backward and smashing into a wall of tree and stone.
"Ouch," Naruto drawled, sprawled out on his back.
"Did he run from a mile away?" Bee didn't even attempt to rhyme this time.
You two all right? the Hachibi was concerned. Against these guys, fighting in the forest puts us at a disadvantage. All it does is restrict your line of sight. Do you get me, Bee?
With a cool comeback, the Jinchūriki's skin began doing a quick peel.
Blow this whole damn forest away!
Noting the surge in power, Tobi made a tactical retreat and perched himself at the highest peak of the largest tree. And not a moment too soon. From his bird's-eye view, he watched as the taffy-colored shinobi morphed into a mountainous beast sporting the torso of a bull and the lower half of an octopus.
The creature — a symbiotic fusion between man and Bijuu — gave a boisterous roar and the forest seemed to tremble in reverence. As multiple tentacles slithered and undulated, effortlessly changing the landscape, Tobi stood motionless, unimpressed.
Make sure you don't get thrown off, Naruto, Bee warned, dropping him onto the Bijuu's nose. I'm about to let loose with my full wrath!
Coiling its giant tails around its body, like an armored cocoon, the beast began spinning like a top. The fierce momentum evoked a twister that uprooted trees and leveled the earth while, at the same time, swallowing the defenseless corpses of Edo Tensei.
Moments passed, and the Hachibi finally slowed to an halt. Between the tentacles, a dense wall of dust was all Naruto could see, but now, an expansive crater spanning for miles filled his field of vision.
Switching from sight to sensory, Naruto's head snapped to the left like it was mounted atop a swivel. With a whip of his arm and a spell of wind-natured magic, the dust swept away from the barren terrain, revealing the motionless Jinchūriki.
But Tobi was nowhere to be seen.
Now's our chance to seal them, Bee! the Hachibi encouraged urgently.
"You have a sealing technique, Octopops?" Naruto was surprised.
Doesn't matter if they're controlled by special rods or whatever, the Bijuu continued. We can use ink clones for the Solidifying Swastika.
"Sealing Technique: Octopus Hold!"
Ink spewed from the beast's mouth quickly morphed into humanoid reflections of their master. With silent footsteps, they darted toward their targets. The corpses attempted to retaliate, but the dark phantoms immobilized them with a grappling technique.
Naruto's eyes narrowed.
This is one of Bee's sealing techniques, the Hachibi informed confidently. Now you just count to three. After three seconds, the ink will envelop the entire body and solidify, holding them in place. Once they're paralyzed, you're free to pull the rods out.
That's what the Bijuu said, but on the three-minute-mark, all the corpses unleashed their power at the behest of the puppet master.
A blood-red husk, swaying tails, razor sharp claws and a white void that illustrated their jaws and eyes — the Version Two soldiers brandished their toxic forms as their elusive leader slipped from beneath the ground.
"Go." He ordered coolly.
And the Tailed Beasts took off like missiles — launching themselves at the titanic cephalopod despite the flexible tentacles that threatened to crush them into oblivion.
"That masked bastard," Naruto scoffed. "So he was hiding underground."
SQUEEZE!
Bee finally caught one — the Sixth-Tail being crushed between large fingers and palm. But the creature quickly expelled a noxious chemical that allowed it to easily slip from the titan's destructive grip.
Aargh! This is a powerful alkali! the Hachibi couldn't help but unfurl its fingers in distress. It's melting my skin!
"Octopops!" Naruto exclaimed.
But he had no time to be worrying about someone else. The enemy had, by no means, excluded him from the frenzy — and Naruto immediately switched to combat mode the moment he sensed geared hostility closing in around him.
In the next instant, he was ambushed by a pincer attack, which he successfully parried. But Yagura managed to find that slim window of opportunity to sneak up behind him for a stealthy attack.
"Coral Fist!"
Dammit! Naruto cursed his carelessness.
The hit to his back was cushioned by his cloak, but he was a little bit disconcerted about the literal coral that sprouted in the spot, almost like his very own shell. The formation was in such an annoying spot that he found it very difficult to perceive the nature of the mass much less to be rid of it. And that moment of hesitation was all that the enemy needed to spring another surprise attack.
The previous assault launching him from the Bijuu's head, Roshi — situated at ground-level — sent a towering explosion of lava to meet and engulf the helpless shinobi.
Without even considering his own safety, Bee – still in Bijuu Form — reached in to scoop up his brother at the expense of having his hands exposed to the seething stew. Sweating bullets, he ignored the pang of pain that shot throughout his body and attentively closed his massive fingers over Naruto, ensuring the shinobi didn't get a lungful of the toxic fumes.
This is bad, the Hachibi grimaced. I had no idea they could take Bijuu Form after all that's happened to them. Naruto, we need to withdraw and rethink our strategy.
But the enemy wasn't about to let that happen. Assuming said form — a reflection of the Hachibi's gargantuan size — the Five-Tail burst through Roshi's lava in a speedy gallop and rammed its horns into the Bijuu's biceps. The force was strong enough to send the creature crashing into the outer slope of the crater.
Tobi's elation couldn't be witnessed behind his mask, but a delightful chuckle bubbled up in his throat as he covered the distance between him and a trapped Naruto.
Noting the approaching danger, the Orange Knight struggled to find his bearings. But the coral had wedged itself into the flesh of the Hachibi's palm during the skirmish, preventing him from regaining his footing.
Tobi descended like a hawk upon a defenseless rabbit, his fingers poised like lethal talons to rob the Jinchūriki of all he was worth.
WHOOSH!
Naruto shot out a chakra-forged arm at the bastard, but the man nimbly evaded.
"Six-to-two is poor odds even between Jinchūriki," he stated in a smog tone, a gloved-hand descending towards our hero's face like a black plague. "Once this hand touches you, I win."
The hand inched closer.
Naruto snarled, his back pinned.
Time slowed as Tobi's hand cast a bleak shadow over wide saffron eyes. And strong, firm fingers curled to cup the contorts of Naruto's face.
But then...
"Strike!" a familiar voice uttered heartily, even as a lightening fast kick slipped through Tobi's head. In the same beat, a masked shinobi swooped in and stole the Jinchūriki before making a hasty retreat.
Re-solidifying himself, Tobi gazed down onto his empty palm for a while, his expression hidden behind his mask. "So you used Naruto as bait to predict the exact moment I'd materialize. Must everyone get in my way?"
"Kakashi-sensei. Fuzzier Brow-sensei," Naruto greeted ecstatically, gazing up at his seniors from his rump.
"Hmph," Tobi scoffed, his back turned. "Two more insects will make no difference to me. Not before my ocular powers or the power of the Bijuu I command."
"We have our own Sharingan," Kakashi retorted calmly.
"Not to mention Konoha's Proud Green Beast," Gai added with a similar flair.
Tobi gazed down at the Konoha shinobi with multicolored eyes that gleamed with irrefutable derision. But their spirits didn't falter, and Naruto relished the heightened morale the Jōnin brought to the floor.
"I appreciate you guys coming to help," he said, a flexible chakra arm brandishing a Rasengan and destroying the coral fastened to his back.
"I can't just sit back and rest while one of my Team Seven students is throwing himself against impossible odds," Kakashi returned coolly.
"And it's not just us," Gai began with far too much glee. "Thanks to your clones, all the divisions should be wrapping up and splitting their forces between aiding you and the Kages."
Naruto allowed a smile as he pushed to his feet with renewed composure. With the aid of his clones, he figured the alliance would be cleaning up loose ends right about now. But, in all honesty, he wanted to finish off both Madaras before the shinobi could be exposed to anymore casualties.
The big question was: how does one defeat this impostor? Naruto knew he would have to eventually deal with the Uchiha, but he hadn't yet figured out how to get around his ability to manipulate his body's opacity.
Meanwhile Naruto stewed on this shortcoming, Sasuke, on the contrary, was basking in the fruits of a successful surgery.
Without hesitation or a tinge of remorse, he manipulated his Susanoo to stave a chakra-forged blade through a tenacious Zetsu who would dare impede his path. Engulfing the abomination in black flames, the vengeful Uchiha unraveled the bandages from his face and blinked opened a pair of new eyes sporting his magnificently designed Mangekyō Sharingan.
The last time he met Naruto, the sage's power had him quivering in fear — but now, at long last, he had surpassed every single shinobi to roam the earth. And with the overwhelming power that now coursed through his veins, he was eager to prove the truth of that throughout the glorious course of his revenge.
"Hinata...," Naruto said, his velvety voice below a whisper as he gently cupped her healing hand. "You've... done enough."
The princess pursed her lips in quiet defiance. But she held her tongue out of fear her voice may worsen his delicate state of being.
"The final phase of this war has began," he explained softly, oceanic eyes half-lidded. "I want you to go and protect everyone in my stead."
Her eyes quivered worrisomely.
"You've done enough," he reassured sweetly with a strained smile. "All I need now is some rest. Once my spirit gauge is back to a hundred percent, I'll come running back into your arms."
She couldn't help but chuckle at his geeky analogy, her merry laugh spreading to his own lips.
"Be sure to leave some of Madara for me, too; I want to plant my foot up his ass, all the way to the knee."
"Eww!" Hinata cringed with a laugh.
Moments later, Naruto's eyes suddenly hardened into gems. "Be careful. I know you're way stronger now, but try not to put yourself in any unnecessary danger."
The girl's eyes softened at his show of affection. And she leaned in to gently press her forehead against his own. "I promise to stay safe... both of us."
The bedridden sage allowed his eyes to flutter close, the cool, therapeutic-like energy from her skin permeating throughout his body like a reassuringly slave.
Pushing to her feet, the Hyūga princess allowed her shoulders to sag and she took a meditative breath, donning her warrior spirit.
Naruto looked on in a mixture of awe and veneration, intrigued by the various facets of energy that radiated from her body like a distant star in the cosmos.
It was of the divine.
Her power whispered of a selfless and righteous need to heal and empower. It was both beautiful and heartbreaking — and amidst its tender caress, Naruto found peace and clarity. There was absolutely no need to worry.
"Should I have a clone teleport—"
"That won't be necessary," she interjected curtly, effortlessly summoning a large wolf wrought of ice and water — its ankles, mane and tail accentuated with blue chakra that danced like flames. "You should save your strength."
Naruto heaved an impressed smile at her stern show of affection and independence.
The princess tilted her chin.
Becoming one with the wind — every fiber of her being screaming with conviction — Hinata's familiar whisked her off toward the masterminds who threatened to steal away everything that she held dear.
But, even upon her dying breath, she was determined to overcome all odds to ensure her beloved and their friends continued to draw breath in the world where all their memories were weaved together.
Gyūki's Trial & Kurama's Observation
Without missing a beat, Naruto quickly launched into a brief summary of how the link between the Rinnegan and Sharingan interconnected the Jinchūriki similar to Nagato's Six Paths. No sooner had he disclosed the location of the iron rods on the bodies of the corpses, than the earth began to quake.
It was the Five-Tails, galloping toward them with a fierce look in its eyes.
"Brace yourselves!" Naruto warned.
"Five tails," Kakashi counted. "It's the Five-Tailed Bijuu!"
Locking onto its target with a malicious gaze, the quadrupedal-based Bijuu increased its velocity and then leapt into a high arch while Kakashi studied its trajectory.
"It must be after the Hachibi."
"Sorry, Eighty," Bee apologized in their shared mindscape. "You all right?"
We feel the same pain, duh, the beast retorted. You're the one I'm worried about.
The Five-Tails, however, felt neither care or concern. Disdain coursed through its veins like acid. And the beast descended upon its master like a nuke, intent on trampling the bastard into a bloody mess.
Tobi simply raised his hand, manifesting a large, translucent chain that tightly wound around the creature's neck in a bruising grip. Like a heartless tamer, the Uchiha proceeded to whip the chain — throwing the helpless Bijuu into the ground.
Kakashi was bewildered. Did it just try to attack him?
Through the creature's pained shrill, Naruto heard a soft, ghostly voice play in his mind. It hurts, the voice lingered between grief and exasperation. It hurts that I should serve such an insect...
As if responding to the somber voice, the Hachibi suddenly summoned strength to clasp its fingers into a tight fist, crushing the puppet master who still stood in the center of its palm.
"Did he get him?" Gai looked on in wonder.
But Tobi nonchalantly ambled from the steely fist as if it was nothing but an apparition, exercising his powers to revert the rebellious Five-Tails back to its Version Two form.
"Why is he suppressing the Bijuu's power?" Gai pondered aloud, even as he reinstated his defensive stance.
"I don't know," Kakashi shook his head. "But it seems he doesn't have complete control over them. That might be why."
Rendered back to his humanoid size, Han stood on all fours before his master — a quiet subservience returning to the Jinchūriki's posture. And the other pawns descended in a proverbial salute, garbed in their blood red cloaks of chakra.
Hey, did you hear that, Naruto? Bee asked telepathically. There was a voice just now...
...I heard it, too, the sage returned in a daze, saffron eyes gleaming with sheer inquisitiveness.
The Hachibi managed to roll over onto its stomach, body riddled with burns and bruises. That was a Bijuu, the beast enlightened breathlessly. It was the Five-Tail's voice. We Bijuu have feelings, too. Watching one of us getting treated that way would throw anyone into a blind rage.
Keh! the Kyūbi clicked its tongue flippantly, a relaxed head resting on crossed arms. You only understand this now? This has always been the way of the shinobi who make us their pets. You and that Bee brat are the only exceptions, Hachibi.
Heh! I wonder about that, Kyūbi.
Naruto grinned amusingly. I didn't know you guys could communicate like this, too.
I understand, Kyūbi, the Hachibi began. You're—
Cease your blubbering! the Kyūbi snapped. With your eight tails, you're supposed to be the next strongest after me, you know. Hurry up and kill them. I want to sleep.
Don't assume the number of tails tells you how strong someone is! the Hachibi returned just as hotly. You've always been like this. That's why the tanuki, One-Tail, hates you so much. Are you listening, damn it?!
The Kyūbi was fast asleep.
Stop pretending to be asleep, you fool!
Naruto laughed softly, a gesture that was completely out of place considering. The Hachibi and Kyūbi are arguing. Man, this is a hell'va treat.
Bijuu can talk to each other through telepathy, Bee explained. It's pretty rare, but a sweet sight to see.
"Look alive, Naruto," Kakashi jostled, noting his spasms in focus. "The first thing we've got to do is establish which one of them has which Pain technique. Got it, Gai?"
"I'm bad with faces, so these guys all look the same to me."
Naruto's eyes narrowed in deliberation. It's kind of weird that none of the Jinchūriki used any of Nagato's techniques while Octopops and I were fighting them before. I'm sure there were more than enough instances when it would've been ideal...
The shrill of Kakashi's Chidori rooted the pensive sage back to reality in time to see as both men bolted toward a black and red wall painted by the incoming Jinchūriki. With a swift combination of hand-to-hand combat and ninjutsu, both prodigies were able to drive back three of the progressing calamities.
"Three of them are heading toward you, Naruto!" Gai exclaimed as he used the sixth gate to plant his sandals into Fu's jaw, sending her streaking across the sky like a meteor shower.
Naruto's feet spread wide apart, his back arching in his battle-readiness. I really don't want to do this, but I have to seriously hammer these guys into the ground before I can get to Tobi.
Fashioning his hand into the form of a pistol, the sage fired off two consecutive rounds of condensed droplets at blinding speed. The water-based projectiles hit two of the incoming beasts underneath the chin — dealing major damage and stunning them momentarily.
In the next instant, Naruto appeared in front of the third beast in a flash, a calculating right hook sending the Jinchūriki hurling into the disoriented pair. They all crashed into the ground like knocked over bowling pins.
But Naruto wasn't through.
"Mini-Rasenshuriken."
The tiny orb flew harmlessly from his fingertip, warranting no caution. But the beasts gave a high-pitched roar when they finally noted its actual threat, and their bottomless eyes dilated when a powerful explosion swallowed them whole.
Kakashi fearlessly charged the Seven-Tails, lightening augmenting his fists. Chakra absorption. Summoning. Attraction and repulsion. Chakra extraction. Mechanical weapons — what's going on? he frowned his confusion. They're not using a single one of them!
Employing the use of its own Sharingan, the creature dodged the man's attack — swift, flexible tails knocking both him and Gai out of bounds.
"What is this?" Gai shared his rival's confusion. "They're not using Pain's techniques!"
"Maybe they can't use them," Kakashi entertained the possibility.
"He knows we already have counters to Pain's techniques. Does this mean he was smart enough to make them incapable of expending chakra on those techniques?"
"Given that he can fully control six Bijuu with his eyes alone, he must be using vast amounts of chakra already."
"You and I are on the same wavelength, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto called.
"Hatake Kakashi," Tobi wasn't enthused. "You have excellent eyes that see through my tricks," his expression hardened darkly behind his mask. "Perhaps it's time I showed off a little."
The man's sentence ended on a shockwave — his exertion of power rippling outwards like an explosion. But this wasn't merely a show of power or to incite intimidation — no, the Four and Six-Tailed Jinchūriki resonated with the man's power. And a boisterous roar split from their jaws as the silent command took root despite their attempted mutiny.
BOOOM!
Roshi and Utakata seemed to burst like an over-inflated balloon, their respective Bijuu spilling forth with tailored furry, the landscape changing as gravity adjusted the weight of the titanic beasts.
"Wind Release: Cycle Shield!"
Quick on the uptake, Naruto erected an invisible wall forged of wind, mitigating the shockwave that sent earth and bedrock launching in all directions.
"Shit!" he swore beneath his breath, knelt atop the Hachibi's torso. "Too bad I can't use my clones has a diversion to take out that bastard!"
"Don't even think of using the Kyūbi's chakra for more clones," Bee warned sternly. "If the Kyūbi consumes your chakra, you'll really die — it'll be K.O. Your optimism's nice, but that plan's a no-go!"
Haven't you noticed yet, Bee, the Hachibi hinted. I know you bumped fists with him. With that many clones, he should have been at death's door ages ago. He's not, which means the Kyūbi stopped absorbing his chakra midway through.
Isn't that right, Kyūbi?
The Nine-Tailed fox ignored both him and the question.
Though I've no idea what happened between the two of you, the Hachibi relented.
The oversized canine remained indifferent, a large head comfortably resting upon crossed arms. As the Bijuu silently attempted to vanquish the subject from its mind, a treacherous flashback took root and rehashed a memory behind closed eyelids. It was the faithful day Naruto had took hold of its power and claimed it has his own:
— "Hey, Kyūbi... you know... one day," his smile was warm, stretching from ear-to-ear. "I reckon I'll manage to do something about the hatred inside you, too."
— Naruto hung his head, his smile suddenly glum. "It's ironic that, I've been living with the Kyūbi for sixteen years and yet, I don't really know anything about him. On the other hand, he knows almost everything about me."
— "It's not your place to say whether sharing a body with a Bijuu is good or bad," Naruto had snapped at Tobi's snide remark.
The Kyūbi couldn't suppress the memories that had keep rising up one after the next, like a very annoying domino effect. The Bijuu was stubborn, but it understood surprisingly well that this was the very last chapter in the grand scheme of things. The decision it made on this day could very well dictate the outcome of this relentless war between the forces of good and evil. But where did the Bijuu stand amidst all this madness? Were they mere steppingstones to be cast to the wayside once all was said and done?
Tilting an elongated head back — its body akin to that of a slug — the Six-Tails leaned forward with a deep breath, spewing a blanket of toxic fumes at the Jōnin who was increasingly becoming a thorn in the puppet master's side.
"What is this?" Gai exclaimed nervously.
"Whatever it is, don't let it touch you!" Kakashi warned gravely, inching backwards.
While Naruto was momentarily distracted by the adult's dilemma, the Four-Tailed Bijuu opted for a preemptive strike. Bearing the characteristics of a gorilla, the beast used its opposable thumbs to grab ahold of the Hachibi's tail. Summoning its strength, the ape swung the creature skyward, as if it weighed no more than a tree branch.
Loosing his grip, our hero found himself hurling from the partner and on a sure trajectory into the primate's mouth. Powerful teeth threatened to crush and imprison the Golden Warrior. But Naruto used his arms and legs to prop the creature's jaws open, deliberating a means of escape.
All the while, the Kyūbi had one eye half open, assessing the Jinchūriki's desperate struggle. But nothing had changed — Naruto was once again fighting a megalomaniac whose ideology outweighed humanity's interpretation of what is morally right and sound. Once again, it was a fight for humans, among humans.
The pink miasma continued to spread, laying waste to anything it touched. And Gai and Kakashi kept withdrawing with calculating steps.
"Naruto!" Gai called suddenly, noting the teenager's predicament. "We've got to help him!"
"Gai! Deal with this first!" Kakashi implored sternly, hinting at their six. "We've got our own problems right now!"
"We're surrounded!" he realized, looking behind them as instructed.
The Six-Tails had effectively caught them in a surprise pincer attack, perfectly sown chakra-arms emerging from the ground like a deadly bean stalk.
Kakashi turned to face the dangerous appendages, one crimson eye burning between his face mask and forehead protector. This will cost a worrying amount of chakra, but I've got no choice.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
He spawned a clone next to him.
"Gai! Let's thrust our backs to each other and focus on the enemy in front. Objections?"
"None!" he replied firmly, his body suddenly engulfed in a blue aura.
Then the warriors rushed off toward their respective foe. Kakashi skillfully coordinated with his clone to create an interconnected charge of lightning. The line between them acted as a lethal blade that effortlessly cut through the Jinchūriki's chakra-forged arms. Gai, at the same time, used the shockwave from a flurry of punches to disperse the looming fumes that threatened to devour them both.
Kakashi frowned, his sights now fixed on the source from which the arms sprouted. "Let's wrap this up quickly so that we can back Naruto up!"
"You got it!"
Attempting to play out its own rescue, the Hachibi coiled its tails around the tenacious primate, one wrapping around a fang in an effort to help pry its jaws open. Let Naruto go, you dumb monkey!
The Nine-Tailed Fox continued to watch with an aloof disposition.
Kyūbi, the Hachibi invaded his mind, calm despite the perilous situation they were all in. Seems like you lent your power to one of the clones fighting the other Madara. You know, if you feel like it, it wouldn't kill you to do the same over here.
I'm not like you, Hachibi, the Kyūbi's voice quaked with annoyance. I will not wag my tails like an obedient dog before the Jinchūriki time and again.
Don't you care about what happens to Naruto?
The fox considered that for a while, dark memories seeping through the cracks of its mental vault.
— "Kyūbi," Madara's voice was laced with derision. "Right now, you are but an ephemeral form, briefly bound together. A mere fraction of your scattered true strength."
"Silence!"
"You lack wisdom; you're simply a mass of unstable power."
"Silence!" the Kyūbi's fury seethed beneath skin and fur.
"You need one who will give you direction — one who is Uchiha! You Bijuu exist only to serve those of us with ocular powers."
"Be silent!"
"Obey," the man uttered, evoking a jutsu.
— "Kyūbi... your power is too vast," Hashirama said calmly. "Forgive me, but I cannot leave you to your own devices."
Everything humans say..., the Bijuu's eyes hardened with absolute disdain.
— "You and I both have terrible luck, that's for sure," Kushina said remorsefully. "You exist to restrain the world from war, and I exist to restrain you from violence."
The Kyūbi's eyes shook dangerously. It's always the same thing...
— So this time it's a mere baby? To hell with you, shinobi scum! Doesn't matter. He'll be just like the others.
— "Hey, Kyūbi... you know... one day," his smile was warm, stretching from ear-to-ear. "I reckon I'll manage to do something about the hatred inside you, too."
The Bijuu lay motionless inside its prison, Naruto's words replaying inside its mind like a broken record. His words weren't demoralizing or demeaning like those of the others, but it wasn't selfless, either. Surely he stood to gain something from suppressing the Kyūbi's malevolent will — and this reasoning was based upon a singular truth: Naruto was human.
The Four-Tails suddenly opening its jaws rendered the shinobi unbalanced, sending him spiraling down hopelessly into the creature's throat. And the primate wasted no time snapping its mouth shut, a double row of teeth akin to the tightly kit bars of a prison cell keeping its prey secured.
The Hachibi's worrisome howl rang in Naruto's ears as he slipped down the bottomless pit. But the Bijuu's voice was gradually consumed by the darkness, as was Naruto's consciousness.
Moments passed, and the sage found himself drifting to wakefulness by the soft lull of running water. Immediately recalling the last series of events up to this point, Naruto's eyes popped open despairingly. But years of discipline curbed the urge to scream and panic — instead, he took a moment to cautiously appraise his surroundings.
Before our Orange Knight was a replica of the giant gorilla that terrorized both him and the Hachibi. But this beast was quiet and well-behaved, which could have been largely attributed to the fact that it was bound to its knees by powerful chains and held fast to a stoned wall that was more than twice its impressive size.
Naruto took a deep breath.
Calming his nerves made it easier to note that this world emanated the same wavelength as the one in which the Kyūbi and Hachibi existed. He must have subconsciously established a connection when he got gobbled up by the beast.
So you're the one who's next in line to take my power, the Four-Tails said by means of introduction. To think you'd have the nerve to worm your way in here, you damn brat!
"This must be the Yonbi," Naruto said with a hint of surprise, slowly pushing to his feet.
Don't call me by that worthless title! the Bijuu snapped. I have a real name. I am the Handsome Monkey King of the Water Curtain Cave! I am the Monkey Sage King, given the title of Son by the Rikudō Sennin himself! I am the Great Sage that rivals the heavens, Son Goku!
It gave a loud, animalistic howl.
Naruto stood dumbfounded, his nonchalance seeping away like a deflating balloon. "U-Um," he stuttered. "So which part in all of that is your name?"
Son Goku! the beast shouted derisively. Keh! You humans really are all fools. You can't even remember a simple name. You're worse than monkeys. There's no way I'd give my power to the likes of—
"It's nuts just how similar this place is to the Kyūbi's," Naruto pondered, intrigued.
A vein popped in Goku's head. Listen to me when I speak, you silly child! First you barely paid attention to my glorious name, and now you dare ignore me? There are no words for your insolence!
"No! I just...," Naruto grinned awkwardly. "I'm sorry."
The Bijuu frowned wondrously at the unexpected apology, assessing the curious human who stood before it. And the words that now left its mouth were soft and free of contempt. You know, you're oddly humble for a human. I've never heard of anyone apologizing to a Bijuu before. Anyway, it seems you didn't come here to take my power, after all.
His gaze lowered to Naruto's belly, where Goku could sense the presence of one amongst its kin. You have one of us within you. Is that how you were able to come here? Looks like Kurama enjoys being a pet to a Jinchūriki.
"Kurama?"
You snot! Goku snapped again. You'd serve as the Kyūbi's Jinchūriki without even knowing his real name? This is why you humans are so pathetic!
Naruto chuckled, a hand pressed to his stomach. "So your name is Kurama, too, huh — kinda figured as much."
Kurama clicked his tongue flippantly.
You humans see us as nothing but power, Goku accused. That's why you don't know our names, and don't even try to find out. You lock us away and deny us the right to exist.
Naruto hung his head with a glum smile, unwelcome memories bubbling up in his mind that seemed to touch the Bijuu's heart, in turn.
"I sort of get how you feel," his eyes quivered sadly. "I used to play a lot of pranks; I wanted people to yell at me. Anything would do if it drew someone's attention to me. Better that than not existing at all.
I'm a Jinchūriki.
But I have my own name, and it's precious to me. It's the legacy of my parents and master," he grinned warmly, but it was short lived as the imagine of Tobi hardened in his mind. "That's why... a man who claims not to care about being anyone... is not a man I can ever let control you!"
Goku allowed the boy's words to wash over him, but he didn't drink of it. In that case, what would "you" do with us?
Naruto patted the back of his head embarrassingly and heaved an honest smile. "Octopops... I want you to be like Octopops and the Hachibi."
Huh? Goku tilted his head.
"They joke around, they fight, they cheer each other on. They'll never say it out loud, but you can tell when you look at them. They are very good friends." Naruto hung his head, his smile now bittersweet. "And... there's something they've always made me feel. I'm so jealous it hurts."
Goku laughed aloud. Don't tell me a human like you seriously wants to be friends with a Bijuu?
Naruto's brows descended above oceanic eyes that burned with solemn conviction. And the Bijuu ceased his guffaw to study the unwavering flame.
He's... serious about it, Goku uttered inwardly.
And Kurama listened intently, but said nothing.
"That's why I want to help you, Son Goku," Naruto continued with a friendly grin.
Well, you've been eaten. So now what?
Naruto allowed his shoulders to sag, and then he cupped his chin in deliberation. In the same beat, Goku decided to confide in Naruto if he had to choose between him and the masked puppet master.
There is a way to stop me, the Bijuu offered with a lopsided grin. I wouldn't mind telling you in exchange for you undoing these chains.
Naruto shared his amusement. "I'm on it! Just tell me what to do."
First — the Bijuu's tone was a bit more hardened and aloof — I take it as a rule not to trust Jinchūriki. That goes double for fools who would be friends with a Bijuu. In short, don't assume I'm on your side just because I've condescended to help you.
The Kyūbi lay motionless in its cage, paying keen attention to the interaction between the two. Indeed, he greed mentally, sharing the sentiments of its kin. That is the natural response. For all that they have no power to speak of, they force us to bow to their selfish reasoning, and bind us against our will.
The bitter memories of isolation and rejection invaded the Bijuu's mind again, like a leaking facet that couldn't be silenced or fixed. As every fiber of its being convulsed and ached at the indignation of its past experiences with humans, the beast couldn't help but reminisce about where its latest predicament began.
Sixteen years ago, a series of events transpired that let to the Kyūbi being sealed inside a baby Naruto. There was no interval — no sooner had it been freed from one Jinchūriki, than it was sealed within another. But the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox was not deterred.
Studying the complexity of the Eight Trigrams Seal, it quickly hatched a plan to have Naruto become aware of its presence and develop a dependency upon its chakra. That way, the seal would inevitably weaken and its dark will would have more of an influence over the youth.
Everything went according to plan, but only up to a certain point. As much as the Kyūbi had been watching the youngster throughout his life, the creature didn't predict he would be such an anomaly. And a powerful one at that.
Instead of crushing the brat and taking all that he was worth, the tables were swiftly turned and the Bijuu ended up being the one to lose everything.
In a quiet corner of its mind, the Kyūbi knew that Naruto was both righteous and tenacious. Lady luck and faith seemingly kept intervening in the course of his life. But centuries of suffering underneath the authoritarianism of humans outweighed the creature's reason, which spurred on an inherent desire for rebellion and vengeance .
— "The Kyūbi, too," Hinata added in a quiet whisper, her eyes soft and sympathetic. "The Kyūbi must be suffering, too..."
— "Despite how desperate a situation might be, Naruto-kun has never condoned sacrifices to make ends meet," Hinata clarified candidly. "He wouldn't have deprived you of your freedom, if he had any control over what was happening. Naruto-kun is a good person."
— "Hey, Kyūbi... you know... one day," his smile was warm, stretching from ear-to-ear. "I reckon I'll manage to do something about the hatred inside you, too."
Kurama's snout twisted into an enigmatic expression.
We don't trust your kind, Goku reiterated. If you want our trust—
"Leave it for now," Naruto gesticulated coolly with a smile. "I pretty much get what I need to do about that."
Naruto..., the Kyūbi thought inwardly. I've watched everything you've done, so I know you must have realized it. No matter what you try to tell me... to tell us Bijuu.. it means nothing. We can't see the truth in your heart.
"Okay, I get the gist of it," Naruto confirmed Goku's game plan, arms folded across his chest confidently. "I'll be back soon, then."
The Bijuu's eyes suddenly widened in alarm. Hurry! That Madara bastard's figured out where you are!
Open up, you furry sack! Bee and the Hachibi were still trying to free their comrade. Give us our Naruto back!
"For all the places for him to end up...," Tobi said in a monotone, extending a capable arm. "I'll just drag him inside me together with the Yonbi."
Materializing from the iron rod wedged in its nape, a familiar, ghostly chain extended its reach — coiling around the Bijuu's neck and then seeping into the puppet master's palm, like quicksand.
This is bad, Bee exclaimed, the Hachibi's tentacles exerting more pressure on the stubborn primate. Open your maw! Naruto, withdraw!
The Yonbi grunted.
Between being reeled in by the phantom chains and held in place by the Hachibi's tentacles, Naruto was stirred awake by the commotion and the weight of his now urgent task.
Flicking to his feet — ignoring the saliva and weird texture of the creature's tongue — Naruto, no longer in his Kyūbi Chakra Mode, looked to a row of large teeth with evident displeasure.
They were clamped shut.
And he immediately scrapped the idea of wasting precious time and energy to try and forcefully pry them open. Instead, he spawned a large number of clones that drove the Bijuu to regurgitate them all.
"You don't know when to give up," Tobi criticized openly, still controlling the rebellious beast through the tightly binding chakra chains.
But Naruto paid no heed to his words. With a simple flick of his hand, the dust surrounding him dispersed like cotton to a flame, revealing a confident sage sporting his customary coat, lips pressed to a thin line.
Tobi felt a sudden prick of apprehension. This was the same form he had showcased at the Valley of the End. This power had no limits but for those introduced by the user's body. His fear was well warranted, and that evoked anger, in return.
But — being able to sense everything around him — Naruto ignored the fiend... ignored the bloodlust and malice that was geared toward him. Looking down, he flexed his fingers, noting that the reservoir inside of him that embodied Senju Energy had grew immensely.
Looks like I've come a long way since my fight with Kurama. Naruto tightened his fingers into fists. My body's grown, so Sage Mode is much stronger now. This is great, because I was running out of the Kyūbi Chakra Mode.
Looking up with renewed zeal, Naruto allowed Goku's words to rehash in his mind:
Listen. Look closely at the base of my neck. There should be some rods piercing it. That's where the chakra chains that bind us come from. They're demonic statue chains using the Rinnegan's Outer Path.
"So they're not in your chest," Naruto had asked. "When you were in Jinchūriki form, they were in your chest."
Because of how much bigger we get in Bijuu form, the place where the Jinchūriki were pierced moves and ends up at the neck. Plus, since we get so big, they become that much harder to find.
Anyway, pull out the rods. If you do, it will stop the chakra chains from coming out. That should get rid of the chains binding me, as well, since they're all connected.
But it won't be easy; I'm under his control and won't be able to stop myself from attacking you.
Calmly tilting his head — always hyperaware of Tobi's assessing gaze — Naruto employed the enhanced vision gifted by Sage Mode to appraise the thrashing Bijuu. No sooner had the distracting glow of the chakra chains disappeared than the Golden Warrior was able to spot his target.
And not a moment too soon, for the feral primate attempted to crush the nauseating insect with a powerful palm thrust. But the attack needed to be at least a hundred times faster to even remotely be a threat to the agile shinobi.
Zipping up the furry stretch of the Bijuu's arm, Naruto noted as his surroundings gradually became darker, as if the sun was suddenly eclipsed by the moon. But the reality was much worse — the creature's free hand closed in like a flexible monolith, treating to crush the Jinchūriki in his tracks.
Naruto didn't flinch, nor did he slow down. His focus still fixated on the iron rod, the nonchalant sage deflected the massive limb with a fisted backhand, and then launched himself onto the Yonbi's thick neck. Without delay, he reached in and began pulling at the rod that was wedged incredibly deep into the skin.
It's coming out, Naruto rejoiced, his fingers clutching the smooth metal even tighter.
Naruto, you pest..., Tobi cursed inwardly, out-stretching his arm. In response, the chakra chains reemerged with a ghostly rattle, almost instantly slithering around the sage's body like a ravenous snake. "I won't make your life that easy."
That fake bastard! Naruto uttered his own curse, the chains coiling tighter. I can feel myself getting weaker...
"Those rods bind whatever touches them," Tobi informed darkly. "They are more powerful than Nagato's Outer Path. You're quite frankly out of your league. It's over, Uzumaki Naruto."
Naruto! Bee exclaimed worrisomely, still doing his best to keep the Yonbi mostly immobile.
And Kakashi and Gai — despite being engaged by the other Jinchūriki — noted the teen's dilemma and expressed concern for the Golden Warrior.
But the Kyūbi was calm.
Allowing crimson eyes to close, the Bijuu remembered all the hurdles that Naruto cleared on the path to realizing his dreams, with each new obstacle far out-weighing the last. But, despite the odds, he would persevere every single time — effectively winning over hearts and minds through the profundity of his actions.
His recent accomplishment was an especially grand milestone. He had single-handedly protected his village and finally gained the recognition and acknowledgment of all the village folk. But the Kyūbi knew this was just the beginning.
— "Hey, Kyūbi... you know... one day," his smile was warm, stretching from ear-to-ear. "I reckon I'll manage to do something about the hatred inside you, too."
— "That's why I want to help you," Naruto said to Goku with a warm, honest grin.
Naruto..., the Kyūbi thought inwardly, crimson eyes reflecting the shinobi's dire predicament. If your desire to help us Bijuu comes from the depths of your heart, then just as before...
Our hero's eyes narrowed tellingly, even as he fought against the parasitic effects of the chakra chains. In the same beat — as if responding to a telepathic instruction — the eyes of a clone still inside the Yonbi snapped open with the markings of a sage.
Having accumulated enough Senju Energy, the clone hurriedly made its way down the Bijuu's throat and did quick work to find the spot where the iron rod protruded outside.
And the Kyūbi watched in amusement. Just as before, let your actions speak for you! Naruto, that is who you are!
"Frog Fist!" the clone uttered fervently, slamming his palm into the meaty wall.
An explosive wave of invisible energy rippled through muscle, fat and skin — loosening the rod and ultimately aiding the other clone to entirely yank it from the Bijuu's body.
"And that's how it's done!" Naruto grinned in triumph amidst his free fall.
The Kyūbi raised its head, barely able to contain its own glee. Yes. This is who you are.
Curse you, Naruto! Tobi watched in a mixture of disbelief and exasperation. That you should manage to take out a rod... in that case, he flew through a series of complicated hand seals, quickly summoning the upper body of the Gedō Mazō.
After destroying the iron rod with a well-placed Rasengan, Naruto found himself back in Goku's mindscape in time to see as the chains shattered that imprisoned its titanic frame.
Nice going, boy, the Bijuu said appreciatively with a hint of surprise.
Naruto took a breath, and then gestured at the beast with a quizzical gaze. "How come you're still chained up?"
Goku tittered dryly, lowering his gargantuan body. Looks like the chains around my stomach are still here, after all.
"How come?" Naruto pointed accusingly. "I took out the rod and everything!"
About that rod — it temporarily pins my chakra to the Jinchūriki's body and that masked bastard can control my chakra through the Gedō Mazō.
"You knew that all along?" Naruto snapped. "Then how on earth am I supposed to help you?"
The Bijuu's eyes quivered, and it homed in closer, trying to ascertain some unforeseen truth. But it was evident that the youngster bore his heart upon his sleeves; there was no deception to be seen. You... really mean—
"Of course, I do!" Naruto interjected breathlessly, the effort of his honest labor evident from his exhaustion.
Goku was still flabbergasted. Is this... how he really feels? He thought inwardly, wide eyes always shrew and calculating. I just told you how to stop me. I wasn't trying to tell you how to help me.
"Would it have killed you to start with that part?" Naruto argued softly. "How come you Bijuu can never say what you're really thinking? Well? What should I do?"
The chain rattled.
Before we get to that, there's something I want to give you.
"What?"
Give me your hand. Goku folded his fingers and move that giant fist forward.
Naruto's eyebrows furrowed questioningly. "Huh? You've got a present for me?"
It's good stuff, Goku replied reassuringly, like a sketchy merchant selling something he probably shouldn't. It'll serve you well when the time is right. Come on.
Naruto conceded, bumping fists with the gentle titan. To his surprise, a quiet power poured into him from the connection, creating ripples in the shallow pool of the watery realm. This wasn't just raw power; however, but a delicate weave consisting of warm emotions. And Naruto beamed openly, humbly accepting the power, emotions and the ancient rite that was bestowed upon him.
But the connection between Jinchūriki and Bijuu didn't last long. On the other side, the Gedō Mazō aggressively reeled in the rebellious ape and converted the beast into chakra as it was sucked into the statue's gaping maw.
The bastard had the Yonbi swallowed up, just like that, the Hachibi fumed frustratingly. I guess he was still in control, after all.
"You look ready to meet your maker after stopping just one of them," Tobi mocked scathingly. "But I am not one to hold a grudge. I will simply take your precious Bijuu using my other tools."
The puppet master raised a basic finger sign to his masked face, and the ground immediately began to quake. But it wasn't an earthquake — no, it was the remaining Jinchūriki. They thrashed about while doing a quick swell; morphing into their respective Bijuu forms as instructed by their commander.
Gai and Kakashi watched in horror has their already formidable foes evolved into something even more powerful and sinister.
Naruto was nothing but fumes.
Tobi's chakra chains weakened him far more than he would like to admit, but the warrior looked on in determination, reluctant to give in, refusing to let evil have even a mere microsecond of victory.
The Kyūbi's eyes narrowed in a reflection of Naruto's commitment. This cannot possibility end well. You being on the verge of collapse from fatigue is not helping.
Naruto kept his gaze transfixed upon his foes, the light in his eyes never faltering. "This isn't over... you just watch..."
If you wish me to lend you my power, I am prepared to consider it... Naruto.
Thrust once again into a mindscape, Naruto turned around wearily to confront a nonchalant Nine-Tailed Fox. "You've taken the lead in talking to me a lot lately, haven't you? I'd be happy to borrow whatever power you've got for me, but first, there's something I have to make sure I tell you."
The creature tilted its head curiously.
And Naruto's lips stretched into an appreciative smile as he bowed his head. "Thanks for what you did when Madara was attacking back there."
The Bijuu's eyes widened in surprise.
"The strength you gave me... it really helped."
Don't thank me! It's sickening! the fox snapped hotly. I did it solely because you're the lesser of two evils next to Madara. Anyway, thanks to this cage, I could give you no more than the tiniest morsel of chakra. As for this time, I merely felt like watching your battle a little longer. Yes... I only seek entertainment!
Naruto pointed at the furry bastard accusingly, his face a ridiculous mess of comical anger. "Hey! Why are you getting angry with me for thanking you?! Forget that glare of yours! How about you start fixing your attitude, or you'll never—"
…
The shinobi was suddenly confronted with a giant fist that barely managed to squeeze in between the columns of the Bijuu's cage.
Align your chakra with mine, the Kyūbi invited softly with a wolfish grin.
Naruto's lips pressed to a thin line. And he held the creature's sharp, crimson gaze steadily, as if trying to perceive a sign of deception. "Don't tell me we're playing chakra tug-of-war again?"
Imbecile! This time, I'm not asking you to give me anything. Then again, I have nothing better to do; I can play tug-of-war, if you wish.
Naruto considered that for a while — no, not the suicidal game of tug-of-war. But the seemingly undeniable truth behind the Bijuu's words. It was subtle at first, but now Naruto was almost certain of it. The Kyūbi had changed. For the first time in their Jinchūriki-Bijuu coexistence, the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox... well, seemed civilized.
And when they bumped fists, that fact become even clearer. Like his connection with Goku before, energy poured into the shinobi like colors from an artist's brush. A picture was painted on the canvas of his soul — an illustration that conveyed more words than the Bijuu could spin over the course of a millennia upon its tongue.
Naruto felt a plethora of emotions. Unconsciously, his fist tightened as he accepted every heartbreaking promise and apology; every tale of hopelessness and loneliness. And a quite whisper of appreciation for the fragile friendship they had now began to kindle.
His heart heavy with what he was given, the Jinchūriki heaved a warm grin that was mirrored by a cheerful Kyūbi.
Back in reality, Naruto's eyes flashed open with renewed power and conviction. "Let's go, Octopops!"
The mountainous Bijuu craned its head to look at the feeble human. "In a two-man team, I am the lead,"Bee coordinated coolly. "Drop back to support me, and you'll be wise indeed."
Naruto, I know that you're strong, the Hachibi began. But no matter what you think, we're facing five Bijuu. Don't go in front if you can't take Bijuu form.
"No point divvying up roles when you and Eighty are both injured," Naruto retorted huskily. "Let's do it together."
"Hold on, Naruto..." Bee was persistent.
"We're each half of a two-man team, aren't we?"
The Hachibi perked up curiously. Don't tell me you and the Kyūbi...
Naruto gave a lopsided grin, his smog words confirming the Bijuu's suspicions. "We're not holding anything back!"
TICK-CLICK-FLICK!
The sophisticated locking mechanism that kept the Kyūbi sealed inside a dreary cage slowly began to unravel itself. And Naruto stood before the metal bars, his back turned to the colossal canine illustrating his complete trust and faith in his new companion.
"You're not the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox anymore," our Golden Knight declared solemnly, reminiscing the moment he was first acknowledged by Iruka. "You're a member of Konohagakure's tag team, together with me. You're Kurama!"
As per Naruto's will, the double-doors burst open and, for the first time since the great and honorable Rikudō Sennin, the Nine-Tailed Fox had someone he could truly call friend.
"Let's go!"
Keh!
The instant the duo aligned their mental and spiritual wavelength, Naruto was engulfed in an ocean of spiraling chakra. Similar to Kyūbi Chakra Mode, a dazzling golden cloak encircled his entire body like close-fitting pieces of fabric. And accentuating designs manifested that greatly differentiated this mode from the former. Now he had the bearings of an ancient sage whose might and power knew no bounds.
"Naruto!" Bee exclaimed incredulously, feeling the familiar nature of the transformation flow through him. "Don't tell me you—"
Unfortunately, the rapper's words were suddenly cut off by the Hachibi's acute sense of danger. Without warning — and at the behest of a villain whose patience had long since worn thin — all five behemoths began simultaneously charging a lethal Bijuu Bomb.
Target: the Jōnin.
"Th-This goes beyond overkill!" Gai blanched.
Kakashi raised his kunai in defense, his Sharingan morphing into the Mangekyō. "Don't make any sudden movements; I'm going to blow them away with the Kamui in my left eye."
"There are too many! You can't do this with your eye alone! If it's come to this, I'll have to use the Eighth Gate!"
"Don't be a fool!" Kakashi snapped. "If you do, you'll die, afterwards!"
"But—"
Naruto! the Hachibi called urgently, noting the Jōnin's dilemma. The others are in trouble! They've got five Bijuu Bombs coming in at point-blank range!
"I'm on it!" Naruto bellowed above the sound of the projectiles being launched.
In a flash, he zipped across the sky in a tight, fiery arch, effortlessly deflecting the dark orbs that each went on to utterly obliterate mountains and forests, miles in diameter.
Kakashi gasped, shielding his eyes from the unrelenting storm of flying debris. Through the haze of the cataclysmic blast, and a chaotic cocktail of his own emotions, he saw the broad, familiar back of a man famed as The Yellow Flash standing before him.
"S-Sensei?!" he uttered in shock, the Fourth Hokage's customary cape undulating in the wind.
But, as his eye focused, the outline of the Kage gradually evaporated to reveal his legacy — a shinobi who had long surpassed him in both strength and accomplishments.
"I-Is that Naruto?" Gai couldn't believe his eyes.
"The mountains!" Kakashi exclaimed, watching as the once lofty peaks faded into dust.
"Is this the power of a Bijuu?!"
Tobi clicked his tongue angrily. He deflected every last one? In that case...
At the puppeteer's steely command, his beastly army bore their fangs and claws and threw themselves at the tenacious shinobi.
Naruto narrowed his eyes to dangerous slits, his demeanor cool and collected. "Let's go, Kurama!"
At his behest, both Bijuu and Jinchūriki exerted a mountain of power — their combined energies gushing upward like an erupting volcano. But this chakra wasn't wild or destructive — no, like a living organism, it morphed into a life-sized replica of the Kyūbi with Naruto at the helm.
The titan charged forward — Kakashi and Gai safely tucked away inside its protective cloak. Then, with a single sweep of its paw, a successfully achieved Bijuu Form managed to drive back all the attacking beasts — sending them crashing into the ground.
"You finally managed it!" Bee praised noisily. "You're in Bijuu Form!"
That Kyūbi! the Hachibi was in disbelief.
His nonchalance doing well to calm his seniors behind him, Naruto created a willing clone and proceeded to the next phase of his plan. "First, let's locate the rods on each one."
Kurama tilted his head critically. I'm warning you now — we can't take our time; it is your first time in Bijuu Form and our link's not perfect, either. Don't assume this will last beyond five minutes!
"That's plenty!" Naruto grinned, the titan's talons digging into the earth for traction before launching itself skyward go cling to an airborne Seven-Tails. "What with the extra numbers, I'm going to have to go harder on you guys than I did on, Son. So please bear with it."
Almost instantaneously, the clone used his eyesight enhanced by Sage Mode to locate the iron rod wedged inside the winged creature. Down below, the Three-Tails quickly curled into a ball and spun away before it could get trampled by a plummeting Kyūbi. But not before the sage located its rod, as well.
Instead of giving chase, Naruto had the titan raise a fist in an attempt to knockout the captured Bijuu. But the Six-Tails intervened by closing its jaws around the fox's hand, holding the rebel in place.
The sage spied its iron rod.
Capitalizing on this window of opportunity, the Three-Tails curbed its direction and started barreling in the direction of the immobilized titan. But, no sooner had it found traction, than the beast was abruptly trapped in place — five familiar tentacles coiled around its hard exterior.
But the Rinnegan wasn't just for show. The Five-Tails was already in a full gallop, careering toward the preoccupied beast.
I'm not falling for the same trick twice! the Hachibi howled, a powerful left hook sending the horse-like Bijuu hurling into the slope of the crater.
Naruto pinpointed its rod, too.
Boasting superb speed and dexterity, the Two-Tails whisked into the action, only to be swatted like a fly with the Six-Tail's body — both Bijuu crashing together into the ground.
"All right!" Naruto cheered, watching as the giant feline stilled on the ground. "I've found all of them!"
"It feels like I'm watching a clash of the titans...," Gai described in awe, Kakashi entirely sharing his sentiments.
This is beyond my expectations, Tobi admitted darkly. I suppose this means the time has come for lethal force.
At his silent command, the Three-Tails added fuel to his torque and finally managed to slip from the Hachibi's appendages. It flew into an high arch, like a spring, and quickly corralled with its fellow Bijuu. Then, without missing a beat, they all began accumulating energy for a combination attack. Blue and red particles quickly converged to create a massive sphere of pure destructive energy.
BOOOM!
The size suddenly expanded more than tenfold, its sheer weight and power deepening their crater of a battlefield. Gusting winds vanquished low hanging clouds and the sheer heat evaporated all the moisture in the atmosphere.
Naruto frowned cautiously, his throat parched as he swallowed the scalding air.
"Oi," Gai blanched. "That thing's way bigger than it has to be..."
Kakashi zoomed in with his Sharingan. "Are they focusing all their power into one point?"
"Naruto, what do we do?"
Ignoring them, the Golden Warrior raised his arms, palms open, and the titan dilated its jaws in an echo of his gesture. In half the time, a rivaling sized Bijuu Bomb was created and fired.
Is he trying to cancel it out with an equally strong blast? the Hachibi wondered aloud. But Naruto's never actually—
"He managed it in training, at least sometimes," Bee informed in a sweet rap. "This time, I know he'll pull it off!"
The spheres collided.
The two conflicting energies hummed like two distant stars going supernova, one trying to outshine the other. Earth, bedrock and age old roots took to the sky as if to orbit the competing superpowers.
Tobi clung to the Gedō Mazō as the landscape changed all around him. And the Hachibi used its tentacles to barricade its own body — large, oval eyes peeking out as the orbs threatened to rob the world of all its worth.
Finally, they both shot into the upper atmosphere and detonated. A blinding ribbon of light whipped across the heavens followed by the apocalyptic explosion. Like ghostly hands of death and destruction, the heat and shockwave encroached upon the surface of the earth, devouring entire mountains and forests, and even evaporating entire lakes and rivers.
He aimed just below it and knocked it upward, the Hachibi deduced. Nice going, but on a scary scale. The Kyūbi really is crazy strong! And to think this isn't even his full power!
From the veil of dust and debris, nine tails shot out like homing missiles. They coiled around the neck of each Bijuu, effectively pinning them in place.
"Your rods are mine!" Sage Mode Naruto declared huskily. And, as if the statement was a command, the five clones hosted in each tail tightly gripped the metallic rods and summoned their strength.
"Let's go, Kurama!" the main star howled. "We're pulling them out all at once! We'll release them all! We'll help them all for sure!"
Kurama heaved his customary wolfish grin.
Then, in the next instant, the world around them slowed to a stall and both Bijuu and Jinchūriki were spirited away into a familiar mindscape. Earthen tones painted the infinite realm that surrounded them, the distinguishing colors being from the other five Bijuu and Jinchūriki who were present.
According to Kurama, now that Naruto and himself had established a perfect link, it was now possible for him to delve even deeper into the Bijuu psyche.
Alas, being absorbed into the Gedō Mazō, Goku and Roshi wasn't able to make an appearance. But, before the Bijuu's inevitable departure, he foretold of Naruto's intentions.
— Do you all remember.., Goku had uttered reminiscently. Old Man Rikudō's parting words to us? That child is probably the one he spoke of. That's what I felt. He's come this far in order to help you, as well. Look after him, when he gets here. I'll be going on ahead.
Once everyone had expressed their heartfelt gratitude for Naruto's selfless and honest sacrifice of liberating them from the clutches of evil, they all proceeded to hammer their names into his heart and mind. And Naruto did well to embed all they had to give into the very fabrics of his soul. After all, these were not just random people from different villages. They shared a transcending bond that only Jinchūriki could recognize — and it pained Naruto's heart that they had supposedly shared the same suffering and grief he had to endure.
Without a sound, the Bijuu huddled together and stacked various appendages on top of each another. Naruto observed the ceremonial gesture wondrously, and his legs carried him under the cover of the beastly umbrella where he merged his fist with theirs.
Kurama looked on with his own measure of wonder, the traces of some ancient emotion molding his face. And before he could curb the feeling, he was already caught in a memory of ages passed.
A plump baby fox — encompassing a ring of Bijuu that circled their master — listened intently on the man's final words.
"I do not have long left," the Rikudō Sennin admitted repentantly. "Shukaku. Matatabi. Isobu. Son Goku. Kokuo. Saiken. Chomei. Gyūki. Kurama. Even far apart, you will always be together.
One day, the time for you to become one will come... in a different form to how it was before, with each of you hearing your own name. Unlike when you were inside me, you will be shown the right path. You will learn what true strength is...
Until then...," the man allowed a warm smile.
And the Kyūbi's eyes began to quiver, falling tears dampening its fluffy crimson coat.
As Kurama slowly resurfaced from his reverie, he could see the image of his father overlaying Naruto. And an uncharacteristic smile tugged his lips. It's been too long, old man..., the words rose like a prayer in his mind, and then he turned to his siblings. I know you feel it, too! he bellowed heartily. Naruto is the old man's...
The Bijuu didn't need to hear the latter; they completely agreed. Naruto shared a charm and charisma that only their father emanated. They had no doubt he was the Rikudō Sennin reincarnated, and they didn't hesitate to entrust the young sage with all their memories so that he may bring them into the future.
With a fervent battle cry, all five of Naruto's clones yanked the metallic rods from the Bijuu, releasing them from the man's tyrannical control.
Well done, Naruto! the Hachibi praised with a grin, watching as the shinobi landed on the ground with his seniors in tow, his newly achieved form dissolving.
"So you've even gained complete control of the Kyūbi," Tobi spat, acid dripping from his words. "However, you shall not have long to enjoy it. It is time to restore the status quo."
The Gedō Mazō responded.
Snapping its jaws open, five ghostly chains shot out from its throat that seemed to lead to another dimension. They quickly sought after and located the Bijuu, pointed arrows spearing the motionless creatures and pulling them into an inescapable fate.
Naruto cupped his stomach and squeezed, silently vowing to avenge them. "Your status quo's not coming back," he returned with such nonchalance that Tobi couldn't help but flinch. "Because I've just learned a whole bunch of complicated names!"
"Complicated names? What are you talking about?"
Naruto stuck his tongue out mockingly, like a child teasing a well sought after secret. And the Hachibi's chuckle added fuel to the man's swelling annoyance.
Gai looked from the ox and octopus hybrid to a far too calm and collected teen. "Seeing Naruto grow before your very eyes really makes you feel like an old fossil, doesn't it?"
"What's wrong?" Kakashi teased. "You don't sound like your usual self. I know it's hardly my usual line, but... I'd rather say that the springtime of our own youth isn't over just yet. Now that we're here, there's still—"
"That's enough!" Gai cut him off playfully. "You're making me feel redundant."
"That's our Gai."
Tobi assessed Naruto's unyielding nonchalance. That expression..., he pondered mentally, a shaking hand reaching behind to clutch the hilt of his holstered weapon. He felt as liquid pooled and trickled from his gloved hand — a phenomenon that urgently had him pivoting his head around in appraisal. Mmm? Sweat? No... rain.
The puppet master tilted his head to welcome the sudden downpour and the clarity it presented. I could never break into a sweat from facing weaklings like them, he uttered inwardly, rebuking the possibility that he was merely trying to convince himself of that. This Naruto clone is undoubtedly strong — and I would imagine the original is stronger. But he's almost at his limit. Once I dispose of the clone, then no one will be left who can stop me from eliminating Kakashi and Gai and acquiring the Hachibi.
Naruto is merely a tool to test Sasuke's readiness. To me, he should be nothing but a diversion. Based on the clone's performance, I should roughly have a grasp on the original's full power. This sense of unease is not at how strong he is — so, where is it coming from? What is it?
Rain undulated down his mask and cape as he pondered the origin of the corrosive doubt and anxiety that had taken root in his mind. No... that doesn't matter, he finally decided. Naruto's true nature is completely irrelevant. Beyond this war, there is no past nor future. Even existence itself... all shall become meaningless.
Fated Reunions — Hearts' Symphony
"I-Incredible!" Ao exclaimed as he deciphered the unique linguistics of the Sensing Water Sphere. The large, detached bubble stood in the center of the room, manned by three other shinobi from the sensory division. "Did you guys feel that?"
"It's unbelievable!" another man described.
"There's no doubt about it," a third began. "That was definitely the Kyūbi's power."
Ao quietly agreed, the sphere amplifying his sensory abilities as he sought to confirm the truth of it again. Except... I felt something slightly different about it.
"What's the situation?" Shikaku asked, noting the men's commotion.
"Uzumaki Naruto is holding the masked Madara back through unbelievable force. I had no idea such chakra existed — no... actually, they're pushing him back. Just four of them — Naruto, Bee-dono, Kakashi-dono and Gai-dono!"
Shikaku took but a moment to process Ao's words and then turned his attention to Inoichi and company. "I need you to give everything you've got and put the current information from Naruto's side directly into the head of every member of the divisions moving to reinforce them! Cut it to fifteen seconds if you need to! I want to boost morale in one big sweep!
Those four are hanging in there with all their strength. So, we've got to throw all our strength into doing what we can! We have to convey their feelings!"
"Every member...," one man almost chocked on the words, his head fixed in a large machine that supplemented the use of his sensory and telepathic abilities. "If we do that, the strain on our chakra channels will be overwhelming. If things go wrong..."
Inoichi smiled at his colleague's agitation, his head fitted with the same bulky equipment. "You're asking for the impossible... so we'll do it in ten seconds!"
"Inoichi-san!" the man snapped, breaking out into a sweat.
"Sorry to ask, but this is important," Shikaku returned gratefully. "Condense it as briefly as you can."
"I'm not much of a speaker, but leave it to me!"
This is a transmission from HQ! a robust voice dawned in the mind off all those converging on the battlefield where the masked villain was located. Conditions at the area to be reinforced are favorable! In other words, Uzumaki Naruto is holding his ground! The people our alliance is to protect — Naruto and Bee-dono, are fighting for us at the front line with true passion! So are Gai and Kakashi!
Members of the alliance, add your passion to theirs! Inoichi urged vehemently, even as blood trickled down from his nose by the sheer strain of his large-scaled announcement. Our combined feelings... are the prophecy that will lead us to victory in this war!
Shikaku regarded his comrade with utmost esteem, even as the shinobi emerged from the requested task struggling to get a breath of air into his lungs.
"I really am... a lousy speaker," he admitted dryly, his chest heaving. "In the end, I took twenty... whole seconds..."
The man's apprentice looked on in awe, while Shikaku bore a more logical and calculating visage. Yes... that's how powerful your own feelings were.
Dark clouds converged in the endless skies. A broad leaf sagged under the weight of a water droplet. From the open plains to the forested mountain ranges, the grey slant of rain assaulted the parched earth — wind and fog dimming visibility. But nothing could slow the momentum a significant boost in morale had ignited.
Thousands of footsteps echoed above the thrashing rain as shinobi sprinted to the next battlefield. There were those who fought for dreams, some for passions, others for family, a friend — but, ultimately, everyone fought for a future. And they steeled their nerves as they pushed forward to make that resolve a reality.
Kiba heaved a wolfish grin, staring unblinkingly ahead even as the icy rain drove into his face like tiny needles. Naruto, I made sure I marked you a long time ago — marked you as my rival. He pushed aside the memory of his loss in the Chūnin Exams. Make sure you keep Madara busy until I get to you. And you better be looking after Hinata!
I will support Naruto flawlessly with my ninjutsu, Shino vowed. Why? Because... I don't need a "because"!
"Sounds like Naruto's really pulling it off," said Shikamaru to Chōji. "When you think about what he was like just a few months ago, it's unimaginable just how much he's grown. But even when he was dumb, despite appearances, he was as sharp as a kunai when it came to battle instincts."
Chōji — who didn't mind flaunting his now toned physique — allowed a wide smile. "It used to be beyond question that Naruto was dumb as I was fat, but a lot of expectations are getting turned upside down, huh?" Wait for me, Not-Quite-So-Dumb Naruto. Slender Chōji is on his way!
"He may have finally hit puberty," Shikamaru teased. "But there should still be a need for me to help develop strategies." Hold on, Naruto. I'm nearly there!
Thanks, Dad, the words took form in Ino's heart. Thanks for conveying the strength of Naruto's feelings to us all. We've got to make that prophecy come true no matter what!
Are you okay, Gai-sensei? Tenten took a turn. Are you making sure to keep Naruto safe? I'm sure you're okay since Kakashi-sensei's there, as well.
Elsewhere, the forest that flanked them on both sides formed a wall of green and brown as they dashed through its thick embrace.
"If it wasn't for the rain, I could have flown there with my Great Beast Painting," explained Sai frustratingly.
"Less complaining, more running, Sai-san," chided Lee uncharacteristically. "We've got to live up to Gai-sensei and Naruto-kun's gallant examples and show the world our will!"
The former Root agent regarded the teenager with a friendly smile. This is what it means to have friends. I can feel it now, Naruto.
Despite working around the clock with her fellow medical practitioners to keep the soldiers alive and in tip top shape, Sakura radiated exuberance and zeal as she matched the pace of the shinobi dashing alongside her.
Naruto... you saved Konoha, she reminisced, the image of the sage's undulating red cape etched in her mind. Now, you're trying to save the shinobi world. Every single time we end up leaving these terrible things to you to sort out. But this time, no matter what you say, let us... not just you and me... this time, let all of us fight together!
As the shinobi pressed on in the unmerciful rain toward a worthy cause, the sun peeked out through a gap in the clouds, illuminating the footprints left behind in the mud. A collection of dreams, ambitions and desires tinted in good intentions — craved in the soft bosom of time.
But nature was unbiased.
Elsewhere, a pair of lone footprints were also highlighted by the sun's fleeting grace. And, as opposed to the many men and women who risked their life's for peace and prosperity, the aspirations molded into these imprints were dark, selfish and corrosive in nature.
A sudden flash of lightening illustrated the ominous crimson glow of a Sharingan — and an even more ominous smirk from its bearer. And the clap of thunder that followed promised a disaster of epic proportions.
"The Five Kage are being pressed hard by Madara," Inoichi hated being the bearer of bad news. But feeding this type of information to the Chief Strategist was imperative, if they hoped to sustain a favorable advantage in the ensuing war.
"This chakra is insanely strong," Ao added.
"It figures," responded Shikaku. "Not only is he a shinobi of legend, but he has an Edo Tensei body. That gives him immortality and unlimited chakra." the man cupped his chin calculatingly. "Even for the Five Kage, it's a grave challenge."
"We really do have no choice but to deal with the Edo Tensei user," Mabui — the Raikage's capable female assistant — contributed softly.
"Do we have news from the Search Squad?" asked the chief, his question geared to Inoichi.
"Nothing good. They're going over potential hiding places with a fine-tooth, but there's no sign of Kabuto whatsoever."
"What about the Sensory Squad?"
"We're not getting any responses," Ao informed regrettably. "He may have raised a powerful barrier."
"Should we send reinforcements?" offered Mabui.
"We've sent all we can," said Shikaku in denial. "Any more and we'll be leaving holes in our front line formation." the man clicked his tongue in frustration. "I never thought Kabuto could be so much trouble to deal with..."
One couldn't deny that Orochimaru's successor was a royal thorn in the side, but nothing could even remotely compare to the real danger that Uchiha Madara posed. He was a true force to be reckoned with — and the five Kage were experiencing that first hand.
Despite their advantage in numbers, it was clear their efforts proved nothing more than amusement for the ancient gladiator. Each time it seemed their strategy won them the upper hand, the tyrant revealed another fraction of his power, which shaved away at their morale, in turn. But with their innate charisma and a burning desire to leave behind a legacy befitting the next generation, Ōnoki and Tsunade kept their fellow Kage afloat.
At the same time, Itachi — accompanied by a distraught Sasuke — managed to easily find and infiltrate Kabuto's lair despite the Search Squads valiant efforts. Working together like days long passed, the brothers were able to corner the serpent who had evidently surpassed his predecessor in power. Utilizing Izanami — Itachi's ultimate ocular ability — they managed to successfully seal Kabuto within a genjutsu illustrating an indefinite loop.
Then the Uchiha followed up with his Tsukuyomi, learning the method with which to stop Edo Tensei. But he didn't dispel the jutsu without first disclosing his history to an inquisitive Sasuke — everything from his ghastly childhood to the final mission to completely eradicate the Uchiha Clan before they could stage a coop.
"I've shown you the entire truth," Itachi said candidly, lumbering toward his dumbfounded brother as light eroded his immortal vessel. "And I won't have to ever again. I've always lied to you by asking for forgiveness, always pushed you away with this hand of mine. I didn't want to get you involved.
But this is what I believe now: you could have been the man to change father, mother, and the Uchiha. If I'd just faced you from the beginning, treated you as an equal, and shared my truth with you while listening to yours...
I failed, and whatever I try to tell you now, from above, its meaning won't cross the gap between us. So now, at last, let me share just a tiny bit of truth with you."
Instead of poking or flickering Sasuke's forehead as he'd done a thousand times before, Itachi pulled his brother into a warm embrace, their forehead together as one. "You don't ever have to forgive me. No matter what you do from here on out, I will always love you."
Sasuke's chest tightened as the words seeped into his skin. His eyes quivered uncontrollably, and he couldn't spin a single coherent thought into his mind. And, all too soon, his beloved elder was gone…
"Edo Tensei has been released," Madara murmured as the Kage regarded the blinding light that suddenly engulfed his body.
"What?" exclaimed the Raikage.
And Tsunade shared the commander's alarm. "I thought we were still looking for Kabuto. That was too fast! Finding him would be hard enough. To stop the technique on top of that... who was it?"
"Did one of Naruto's clones manage to find him again?" the Mizukage contributed.
"Doesn't matter," said Ōnoki. "Whoever it was, that person is a hero who has kept the shinobi world safe. Looks like providence hasn't given up on us just yet."
"Apparently, you, too, had capable shinobi on your side." Madara's words came out more as mockery than a compliment, especially as he glowered at them from his lofty perch. "So it goes."
The Mizukage frowned suspiciously at the man's carefree tone. "He was ready for this?"
"It's not over yet," Ōnoki warned, and a microsecond later Madara was lunging at them like a bat out of hell. "He wants to get one more good hit in before he disappears. Get ready!"
"Fire Style: Dragonflame Warsong Technique!"
Ahead of him, four fiery projectiles akin to fanged beasts hurled at the Kage. And they growled as if they were alive — a war song that promised nothing but ruin.
The Mizukage's cheeks inflated as she molded the chakra necessary for a water-based counter but—
"No, I won't make it!"
WHAM!
Tsunade deflected the attack with forearms coated in chakra. But, despite the reinforcement, the deadly flames still managed to severely hurt her. The Hokage winced at the import of excruciating pain, but she didn't dare turn her gaze away from the real threat.
It took but moments for her accumulated reservoir of chakra to transform and heal her wounds. But fighting Madara while diligently healing her allies was far more taxing than she anticipated. The woman had sustained more injuries than she bargained for, too, and that came with disastrous effects.
"Hokage-sama!" exclaimed Mei worrisomely.
"I'm fine!" she reassured heartily, but when those disastrous effects reared their ugly head, the woman soon found that was far from the truth.
No sooner had her wounds healed than the rejuvenation jutsu began unraveling itself. And Tsunade's eyes quivered in devastation as the intricate designs gradually disappeared from her body — and with them, her energy.
The Might of a Hundred Technique ran out? she thought in a poorly suppressed panic. But there was a sliver lining: Madara's body — a product of a dispelled Edo Tensei — began to glow. And then his spirit separated from the vessel.
My technique may have run out, Tsunade thought absently, the light in her eyes fading as her body surrendered to unconsciousness. But... we won.
Or so she thought.
Without even batting an eyelash, the Uchiha exerted his iron will. And the dregs of the abolished jutsu bent to his will, his spirit swiftly reaffirming itself into the empty vessel.
Tsunade fleetingly caught a glimpse of her imminent doom — a chakra-forged blade aimed at her chest — but she couldn't summon the strength to react. The Raikage whizzed off to her rescue, but it was someone entirely different who managed to whisk her away from death's door in the nick time.
Madara's eyes followed her like a machine.
"What was that?" said the Raikage huskily.
"I thought she'd lost consciousness!" Ōnoki added.
Completely frazzled, Tsunade gazed unseeingly at the ground, trying to piece together the miracle that just transpired. I was paralyzed. What happened?
It's been too long..., a sweet, velvety sound flowed into her mind. It's me, Tsunade.
The Hokage's eyes widened at the familiarity of the voice, and the next thing she knew, she was surrounded by a magical world painted in an ocean of glittering stars. But the most beautiful attraction was the man who now stood cheerfully before her. Butterflies fluttered in her tummy when she pronounced his name upon her lips.
"Dan! How can you be here?"
Tsunade took a step forward, a fist pressed to her chest sheepishly. She didn't care how he managed to escape the clutches of the afterlife. All that mattered was that he was by her side again and she would relish his presence while she could.
"Edo Tensei's been released," he informed sweetly. "So I flew here with the Spirit Form Technique. Man, that was close just now."
"Dan..."
"You never change, Tsunade," he beamed affectionately.
For the first time in many years, the kunoichi allowed the walls barricading her emotions to collapse. Before the man she loved with all her heart, she looked like a vulnerable and needy female. "Dan! I've always—"
"There's no time…," he interjected regrettably. "Now isn't the time for sentimentality. I have to go..."
Tsunade looked on dejectedly. And she couldn't help but reminisce about his solemn convictions to protect his loved ones and kin as the Hokage. And he valiantly died walking the road to that dream. Even now, in death, he was determined to protect all that he treasured.
"Dan, after you died, I spent so long running from my memories of you, but I changed. Now I have another chance to make sure you have no regrets and nothing left undone! I became Hokage. But—"
"Thank you, Tsunade. You've achieved everything I wanted to... and more. You've gone through so much suffering because of me. I'm sorry," he bowed his head sympathetically, regarding her grief-stricken face. "I'll be waiting for you, but I'd rather you took your time," he gently took her face in his hand. "After all, you are my dream."
Slowly, lovingly, he pressed a kiss to her forehead in an echo of her feat many years ago. And Tsunade's eyes quivered as a plethora of emotions flowed through her fragile heart.
Dan pulled back, a sweet smile stretching across his attractive mouth. "I was able to protect you at the very end. Call it a silver lining to my Edo Tensei?"
Tsunade swallowed the bittersweet import of emotions as her lover slowly disappeared from her life forever. And, as her vision of the world around her returned, so did her conviction to defeat the malevolent phantom who threatened to crush everything she had ever known and loved.
"You've recovered," Madara voiced coolly, a bit annoyed that the woman was perched above him. "Did you receive chakra?"
The Hokage smiled. "I happened to meet an old friend."
"You won't be apart for long."
"What? What's going on?" the Mizukage expressed her confusion to her comrades. "His chakra started going away, but now, it's clinging tightly to his body! Did he recover, too?"
"Why?" the Raikage blatantly sought the truth directly from the source. "Why won't you go away? Edo Tensei is supposed to have been released!"
Ōnoki and Gaara waited impatiently for man's response.
And Madara regarded them with undisguised scorn and disdain. "Edo Tensei is a technique for summoning the dead. It carries just one risk."
What risk? Gaara pondered.
"If the spirit summoned from the Impure World happens to know the seals, he can annul his side of the Edo Tensei summoning contract."
"What do you mean, annul it?" asked Tsunade.
"It is the ultimate disaster," the man said amusingly. "An undying body; unlimited chakra; freedom from any sort of control..."
"You don't mean...," Ōnoki blanched.
"Tell this to the user: forbidden techniques are not for the unprepared," he said before dispelling the jutsu using the appropriate seals.
And then the nightmare ensued.
Tiny specs of light doted the battlefield as the soldiers of Edo Tensei began a long overdue departure. And headquarters wasted no time broadcasting the news to all the divisions, effectively bolstering the troops' morale in the same beat.
The Hachibi studied the glow radiating from the motionless Jinchūriki secured in its tentacles. "Naruto! The Jinchūriki are fading away!" Bee informed with evident delight. "Man, Itachi just made my day! But we still got this fool keepin' us at bay!"
Naruto stood imposingly atop the Hachibi's head, holding the fool's accusing gaze. "Then quit complaining and let's follow through on our end."
It was only after he leapt to the ground, in the company of Kakashi and Gai, did our hero allow himself a moment to watch his companions depart. As they ascended to the heavens in a column of light, he offered tribute by rehashing their names one final time.
"Leave it to me!" he uttered aloud, the sound of his own resolve reaffirming the fiery blaze that had dwindled to a smolder in his belly.
They're all gone, huh? the Hachibi muttered with a hint of grief.
But Naruto knew it was better this way. The Jinchūriki being released from their bondage meant they were no longer suffering. Thanks, Itachi. I guess that means the other battlefields should be wrapping up just about now...
As he predicted, all the other Edo Tensei soldiers were on the verge of vanishing. But it was both a relief and a tragedy. Those who shared stronger bonds with the deceased had to experience the excruciating pain of losing them all over again. But being flanked by their comrades was a constant reminder that they had a solemn duty to protect those who were still alive.
Tobi swiveled his head around with a leer he hoped would decapitated the incompetent snake, wherever he was. That imbecile Kabuto must have failed.
"Quit daydreaming!" Naruto asserted, offended the bastard had the nerve to look away from them. "I'm right here in front of you!"
Tobi conceded — though, his eyes were sufficiently filled with contempt and malice when he met their gazes once more. As if responding to the sheer magnitude of the man's anger, the Gedō Mazō uprooted itself from the ground and hurled itself at the source of its master's annoyance.
With the help of his clone, Kakashi forged a lightening-based rope. With the astounding agility he was notorious for, he carefully maneuvered around the titan's punch and set the behemoth up to be tripped.
"Gai!" Kakashi signaled.
"Yeah!" the man bellowed, an inner-gate-powered dropkick sending the titan toppling over.
But the beast didn't get to fall.
The Hachibi followed up with a powerful uppercut.
Again, the beast didn't get to float.
A massive flaming hammer — courtesy of Naruto's transformed clone — came down with the force of a meteorite, sending the giant hopelessly plowing into the earth. A thunderous shockwave rippled outward, and a mushroom cloud took to the sky. Dust and debris flew in every direction — and Tobi retreated to safety before he could get caught up in the destruction.
Naruto watched his hopeless struggle in amusement. "You sure look upset," he mocked.
"What do you mean?" Tobi fumed.
"Since you're hiding your face, I get to imagine you having whatever expression I like. If that bothers you, why don't you take off that mask and show me what you really look like, you moron!"
"Nice one, Naruto!" Gai cheered.
Kakashi signed. "How many times do I have to tell him not to taunt the enemy?"
"Very well," Tobi responded, as if falling prone to the teen's ceaseless provoking. "It seems I have no choice."
Quickly forming a seal, the Uchiha summoned the Crimson Gourd and Amber Purifying Pot within which the Gold and Silvers brothers were sealed.
Kakashi and Naruto frowned knowingly.
"I did want to resurrect it in its completed form," Tobi began, noting that he had only managed to amass a single tentacle's worth of the Hachibi's chakra. And an inkling of the Kyūbi's chakra was the most he would receive from the pseudo-Jinchūriki brothers, as well. "But, even incomplete, its power remains the same."
Like a ravenous beast, the Gedō Mazō chucked the pots into its gaping maw and clenched its mouth shut.
...
THROB!
Something ancient and celestial suddenly fitted into place, like a pivot and a cog that had long been separated. Sampling the flavor of all the Bijuu's chakra nature, something evil and primal erupted inside the mysterious humanoid statue. And its nine eyes — which were always shut — suddenly snapped open in tandem with a ferocious and animalistic roar.
"It's long overdue, but the promised hour is finally here."
As opposed to the certainty of Tobi's convictions, Sasuke wasn't quite sure what to do. Meeting Itachi again had only inflated his already explosive hate and disdain for his home. But, despite everything he had been through, his older brother still strove to protect Konoha — why? He was commissioned to completely erase his family, friends... his entire clan. And, even in death, he still honored the will of the Leaf.
It was absurd.
It made no sense.
Hoping to find some level of clarity, Sasuke opted to resurrect Orochimaru. The serpent was extremely unorthodox and conniving — not to mention ridiculously obsessed with his ocular abilities. But it was also true that the man possessed a wealth of knowledge and wisdom regarding all the different facets of the world.
Sasuke would utilize that multitude of historical knowledge to learn about the root of Konohagakure, and the various clans that made the village their home.
What was the Will of Fire?
What legacy did the founder intend to leave behind? And how did the Uchiha Clan incur the wrath of the village's leaders? What could possibly warrant and justify such a tragic fate? It was only after learning these truths would he be able to make a decision. Would he pick up the mantle and carry on Itachi's will? Or would he use every ounce of his power to crush Konoha and purge his clan's existence from their minds?
The Gedō Mazō's howl rose a few octaves higher. The air heated and the earth trembled under the force of the creature's dominating aura. And Tobi stood amongst the ensuing chaos, keeping his figurative puppet strings attached as he guided the beast to its former glory.
"The Mazō has been going crazy ever since he put something in its mouth," Gai stated the obvious, hoping someone had a better understanding of what was happening.
And from Kakashi's troubled expression, it seems he may have connected a few promising dots. "It can't be...," he muttered in disbelief, even as Tobi's statement rehashed in his mind.
— "I did want to resurrect it in its completed form."
"Watch closely... and know it to be true," the man said present time, rocks of various sizes rising into the sky as if the force of gravity had been reversed. "The Jūbi 's reborn! The apocalypse has begun!"
Everyone braced themselves, as if his words were palpable projectiles.
"I see," Kakashi frowned. "That means the Mazō was intended as a shell for the Jūbi all along." But Something's not right. Based on what he said during his declaration of war at the Five Kage Summit, the whole purpose of this war was to collect the Kyūbi Chakra necessary to revive it.
Kakashi looked over his shoulder, as if verifying that the remaining Jinchūriki were actually still there. He isn't done collecting the Hachibi or the Kyūbi. Was he bluffing? We can't risk getting too close without a plan.
An eighty-five ton mass of muscles and tentacles, Bee stood gawping at the masked villain. And it didn't take long before guilt illustrated where his folly had given breath to their current predicament.
— "But even incomplete, its power remains the same."
The Hachibi frowned ruefully. Don't tell me he's pulled it off with chakra from just one of my tentacles?
"We have dedicated our lives to rhyme, but on this occasion, we've screwed up big time," Bee rapped in reply, breaking out into a nervous sweat. "Earlier, he collected some chakra of a tentacle clone," he announced repentantly to everyone. "I may look calm right now, but my mind is blown!"
He got chakra from a Hachibi tentacle, Kakashi processed as calmly as he could manage. I guess that counts as part of a Bijuu.
Naruto, the Kyūbi started. I know you sensed it, too. Some of my chakra was inside that gourd and pot.
"There's no mistaking it," the sage concurred with a frown. "Those are the same ninja tools that Kinkaku and Ginkaku were sealed in — and I recalled them using your powers."
Switch with me. I will explain, including about the Jūbi . You listen from here.
"You know about the Jūbi ?"
Yeah, of course, I do.
All of a sudden, Naruto's disposition changed. The oceanic depths of his blue eyes transformed into molten lava. Rounded pupils narrowed to slits, and pointed canines filled his mouth.
"Listen up!" Kurama's deep voice was filled with assertion and the crisp cadences of an earlier century. And, of course, this high soprano voice blaring out of Naruto's mouth had everyone flinging their heads around in abject shock.
"Naruto and the Kyūbi have swapped sides," Bee informed reassuringly.
They will explain everything, the Hachibi added. They have let down their mental divides.
"If one part of a Bijuu suffices, then the Mazō already contains chakra from both me and the Hachibi," Kurama admitted coolly.
Kakashi gasped. "The Kyūbi, as well?"
"The gourd and pot he summoned and fed to the Mazō just now are artifacts belonging to the Old Man Rikudō. They have the power to seal absolutely anything, and once something is inside, it can never come out.
Now... the one in the pot is Kinkaku, and the one sealed in the gourd is Ginkaku. I suspect they were raised with Edo Tensei, used to fight in this war, and then finally sealed inside the artifacts."
"The Rikudō Sennin, Kinkaku and Ginkaku," Gai repeated with a hint of awe. "It's like being in a fairy tale. But what's this got to do with Kyūbi chakra?"
Kurama blinked open calm eyes, which did little to erase the perpetual frown that creased his forehead. "A long time ago, those brothers challenged me to a battle. I ate them, of course. But then they gorged themselves on the flesh of my stomach, and absorbed my chakra."
"In other words, Kinkaku and Ginkaku possessed a certain amount of the Kyūbi chakra," Kakashi deduced. "And the masked man stole it as insurance for reviving the Jūbi , taking it from Darui's First Division." This matches what we were told by Headquarters.
"But I don't know what kind of form the Jūbi will be reborn in with just fragments of our chakra."
Kakashi pulled the hem of his glove, securing it upon his hand. "I guess we should do as much as we can before its revival."
"Kakashi," Tobi scoffed, glowering at the man through his mask. "You say these things so casually. Appropriate for the man who's lived a lifetime of regret."
Kakashi squared his shoulders with the bastard, his body language now screaming hostility.
And even Gai felt triggered by the man's extremely personalized verbal assault. "...Just who are you, really?"
"Is there any point in telling a man whose face means nothing to me?"
Kurama took a few steps forward. "Kakashi. As you say, if we're going to act, this is our only chance, before the Jūbi can be reborn. Old Man Rikudō told us that the Jūbi 's complete revival would mean the end of the world."
"Is the Jūbi really that incredible?" Naruto asked, Kurama's mountainous body towering over him in his metal scape. "I can imagine what having ten tails must mean, but what is it actually like?"
The Kyūbi looked him over, as if assessing whether he was ready for the answer. "It is the amalgamation of all our chakra, from the Ichibi to the Kyūbi — the source of chakra, the deity that created this land.
It has many names. It drinks seas, sunders the earth, moves mountains... it is the very progenitor believed to have created the world. Even in simple terms, it has the power of the nine Bijuu combined. In truth, on my own, I am nothing before it."
Everyone blanched.
But Kurama rebounded with a solvent. "Yet, if it has only a fraction of the strongest chakra, mine or the Hachibi's, then there may yet be meaning in trying to challenge it."
"You labor under a misapprehension," Tobi interjected derisively. "I don't need the revival of the Jūbi to be complete."
Everyone blanched again.
"My objective, in the end, is the great genjutsu: Eternal Tsukuyomi. I will place everyone on this planet under a single genjutsu — a united world without identity. A perfect world that knows no war or hostility. Truth exists only in a unity of consciousness that has abandoned the self. The world no longer needs hope, or a future, or famous heroes.
When the Jūbi is revived, even incomplete, I will be able to use the Eternal Tsukuyomi Technique. Then reality will end. All that will exist is a single endless dream, stretching forth into eternity."
"...Swap with me, Kurama."
The intense features of a proud feline gave way to a familiar face. "I had a dad," Naruto said as a means of reintroduction. "And a mom. And Ero-Sennin. Kids love heroes! That's why I can keep running forward without hesitation! I will become a Hokage that surpasses all who came before him! That's my dream, you moron!"
Tobi didn't even flinch.
Gai grinned openly — the kind of radiance an optimist would flash in opposition to fate. "Even if you don't want to let your youth end, you have to put an end to your dreams someday."
"Hah." Kakashi nodded in agreement. "Dreams are for fulfilling."
"Dreams, dreams, dreams!" Bee joined in on the fun. "Dreams are the thing! My dream's a mature woman's breasts — that's the way I swing! Fulfilling lots of dreams is the key to truth-seeing."
The Hachibi scowled at the man sprawled out on its nose in their mental scape. You've got real guts, coming out with your kink in this situation.
"The self obscures the truth," Tobi asserted his ideology once more. "I am no one, and so my words alone come from the truth of this world."
CRUNCH!
A stone crumbled under the weight of sandals. In an instant, a relatively annoyed Naruto took a powerful step that propelled him forward at lightning speed. He had already donned Kyūbi Chakra Mode and was weaving through a series of hand seals.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Heeding its master's silent command, the elemental dragon charged at the masked bastard like a great deluge. And our hero rode upon its lengthy frame, a lethal Rasengan filling his hand.
Tobi ignored the incoming beast, as if it wasn't there, his eyes, instead, transfixed on Naruto who lunged at the howling husk of the Jūbi . The moment the imposing dragon slipped through his body — a fruitless distraction — Tobi thwarted the sage's attack with a decisive maneuver of his shield. "I will not let you touch the Mazō!"
Naruto leaped back cautiously.
Through his peripheral vision, he noted that the humanoid statue had begun transforming like something out of a nightmare. All nine of its ashen eyes bled and its howling increased to a fever pitch — a dark and agonizing sound. Dammit. I guess I'll really need to break this bastard's mask first before we can get to the statue. And, from the looks of it, I need to hurry...
Also recognizing that time was of the essence, Kakashi decided it was time both him and Gai rejoined the battle. Rallying everyone to his side, the Jōnin decisively formulated a plan to tackle the man's annoying and seemingly unbeatable ability.
The plan was to keep pressing the Uchiha in close-combat, and try to exploit that brief window whenever he tried sucking someone in with his space-time technique — or attacking. During that moment, he had to materialize himself entirely, which would be the opportune time to strike.
Naruto's golden eyebrows narrowed shrewdly as he charged in with what he dubbed a Mini Bijuu Bomb. According to Itachi, every technique had a weakness and space-time ninjutsu was no exception. There had to be a cool down time; they just needed to continue pressuring him until they figured it out.
While the enemy was preoccupied, Kakashi attempted to sever the Mazō's head by warping its neck, but the Uchiha managed to somehow nullify the ocular assault with minimal effort... or was the Gedō Mazō just immune to that kind of attack?
Their confusion waned a tad, however, when a mere coincidence shed some light on the possible theory behind the man's ability. With little other strategies to work with, Kakashi decided to take a gamble and test the legitimacy of his deduction, which quickly bore fruit.
From a well-organized assault, the Jōnin was able to analyze and conclude that the Uchiha didn't really have two techniques — an evasion and store and recall ability. He was simply being flexible with the way he manipulated his space-time ninjutsu, but the most shocking discovery was that his jutsu's dimension was directly tied to that of Kakashi's. And that raised a ton of suspicion.
"Just who are you?" Gai asserted.
"And where did you get that eye?" Kakashi added.
The man's features hardened behind his cracked mask. And he pointed an accusing index finger at Kakashi, attacking the Jōnin with another wave of guilt stemming from what appeared to be a personal grudge. Every word was perfectly tailored to crush and consume the man's heart, gradually convincing him that the criminal that stood before him was no other than a former comrade he held quite dear.
Kakashi broke out into a sweat, his breathing creeping toward hyperventilation. But it wasn't just the Jōnin who was the target of the Uchiha's merciless outbursts. Naruto was frequently in the line of fire, his ambitions and convictions constantly being questioned and challenged by the mysterious villain.
"Naruto..." he continued, contrasting eyes glinting with the same derision. "If you fail the tasks they entrusted you with, what will you think of yourself? Even if you delay dealing with the problem, even if you try to cover it up with the word hope, all that awaits you is the emptiness of reality. The emptiness of both entrusting and be entrusted."
Kurama snarled darkly, his patience for the man's insufferable delusions reaching its breaking point. Naruto, swap with me! I have a thing or two to say to him.
Naruto's disposition changed again, his facial features taking on that of proud and exasperated feline deity. "I'm afraid your words are completely irrelevant to this one," Kurama announced coolly, gesturing at his capable Jinchūriki. "The Fourth entrusted me to Naruto, only for him to befriend me and, ultimately, master my power!"
Naruto's eyes widened, quivering with surprise and delight as he looked up at the complacent fox towering above him in his mental scape.
"The Fourth sealed me into Naruto to be the power to defeat you," he declared, even as the familiar glow of his chakra flickered about his body like an emerging flame.
And then his body ignited.
Naruto heaved a wide smile, and Kurama returned his customary wolfish grin. Go, Naruto! You will not fail!
"I'm on it!" he howled, throwing himself at the smog bastard.
It took a bit of cajoling, but Kakashi managed to gather his bearings enough to rejoin the battle. And, with wordless communication that only a student and teacher could share, Naruto and Kakashi devised a strategy to land yet another hit on the mastermind, utterly shattering his mask.
"You're... Obito?" Kakashi murmured breathlessly, his heart sinking to his toes. And, as his one eye widened in disbelief, he couldn't help remembering the mission that would have created a wedge in their team forever. "You were alive... all along?"
A heated conversation led to another clash of powers. But, before the confrontation could get serious, there was an explosion as something... or someone joined them on the rock-strewn battlefield. The dust gradually cleared to revealed black, undulating hair and the Uchiha crest. And Obito looked on knowingly as his fellow kinsman squared off against their enemies with a fist on one hinged hip.
"Things look like they're becoming interesting over here, Obito" Madara said with evident amusement, his gaze leaving the man to pass over the three insects that stood before him.
Gai and Kakashi tightened their defense.
Madara..., Naruto frowned assessingly, ironing out his own posture. Is he a clone or the real one? But, if that's the case... what happened to Granny Tsunade and the other Kage? They couldn't have been taken out, could they?
"How like you to find a way to defy even the Edo Tensei Technique," Obito said by means of introduction."
"Forget me," Madara retorted. "I want to know why you're dawdling."
Naruto's fists tightened, blood boiling beneath his skin. "Madara... how is it that you're here?" his voice quivered as he fought to maintain control.
"Madara?" Kakashi blanched, Gai sharing his dread. "The Madara?"
The Uchiha ignored the Jinchūriki's anger that seemed to solidity amongst them by the second, capable eyes noting that he was but a fabrication. "This is another shadow clone. Where is the original, Obito?"
Kakashi gasped, Madara pronouncing the man's name only adding more confirmation that this megalomaniac was truly his former comrade. But what happened to him — could Rin's death have really lured him down this crazy and diabolical path?
Oi, Naruto, the Hachibi called in a clear panic. If he's here... then what happened to all the guys over there?
"What happened to the others?" Naruto spat, unyielding lines of outrage creasing his face, and his eyes burned fiercely.
Bee held his breath, fearing the worse for his brother.
"Those five?" Madara drawled, disregarding the air of urgency that echoed from his foes.
"Tell me, goddamn you!" Naruto snapped, his chakra exploding threateningly.
But Madara's pace didn't improve. "Who knows," he replied, his voice devoid of emotion "I imagine they're all... in less than perfect health."
Naruto bit his lip in time to suppress the urge to lunge forward like a feral beast, his shaking fists slowly steadying. With a sigh, he allowed his eyes to close. If he had killed them, he would have admitted as much. If Granny Tsunade is still alive, I'm sure she'll find a way to keep everyone alive. You got that?
Loud and clear, Naruto, Bee responded with evident relief.
For now, we just need to keep our head in the game.
Using the Kyūbi's chakra, Naruto quickly dislodged the metal rods tethered by chains Obito had used to tie down the Hachibi. And, without a moments hesitation, hurled them at the two men who were far too composed considering their countless crimes.
He's undoing the cursed chains faster than they can wrap around him, Obito noted as he unfastened the weapon he's been using as a shield and chucked it to Madara. "Have it back. It was yours to begin with."
A simple flick of the fan like weapon erected a barrier that effortlessly stopped the heavy projectiles in their tracks. And Naruto watched in displeasure as the man regarded him with little significance, as though he was just a means to and end.
I'm finally free! the Hachibi rejoiced openly. Thanks, Naruto! Now, it's my turn!
A strident roar from the Gedō Mazō won Madara's attention, and he regarded the thrashing husk that was still enveloped by a blood red barrier. "Obito, don't tell me you launched the plan half-baked without securing the Hachibi and Kyūbi first."
Kakashi frowned. He knows the plan. What's the connection between these two?
"You lost your composure," Madara chided calmly. "Is that also why you had me raised in this pitiful form? No matter. Knowing you, you surely have your reasons. What have you been doing? What happened to Nagato?"
Naruto's eyes flickered at the mention of his senior student.
"You were to wait until the time was right, then resurrect me with the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique. I believe that was then plan."
Naruto glowered at the despicable duo. "You were... planning to use Nagato?"
"He betrayed us," Obito clarified. "He used that technique to save the villagers."
"Everyone fails me," Madara scoffed. "No matter. It is not yet too late; I shall seize the Hachibi and Kyūbi!"
Naruto was already descending on the arrogant bastard, a Mini Bijuu Bomb filling his palm. "I won't let a dead guy push us around!"
BOOOM!
The incredibly condensed warhead collided with the man's shield, an explosive shockwave blasting away the surrounding rubble. But something was wrong — the sphere wasn't detonating. Instead, it felt like the blast was whisked away by some inexplicable force.
Was it the Rinnegan?
"Uchiha Reversal," Madara uttered with a vile grin, tilting his shield that had began to churn and glow with a telling force.
Naruto's eyes widened as the weapon shot out what was supposed to be his own attack, at lease twice as powerful. But, before his body could succumb to the blistering heat and destructive force, he quickly retreated by means of the technique formula he had previously placed on Bee.
Oh-Oh?" Madara mused. "So he can use the Flying Thunder God Technique, too? I am looking forward to this dance. I will take the Hachibi and the Kyūbi," he announced sternly. "Obito, you deal with the others."
"Not so fast!" said Gai, quickly giving chase.
The two former comrades and holder of the same Sharingan held each other's gaze. "What happened to you, Obito? What are you doing with someone like him?"
The Uchiha regarded the man unblinkingly, the bitter question and aggravating sight of him unraveling memories he would rather keep buried. But they surfaced nonetheless, tormenting him ceaselessly, like thorn-riddled vines coiling around his heart.
Over a decade ago, after sacrificing himself for both Rin and Kakashi, Obito, in turn, was rescued by an age-worn Madara who was sustaining his feeble life using both the regenerative cells of Hashirama, as well as the essence of the Gedō Mazō. This esoteric medical practice was also the reason why the boy could still be in the world of the living, despite his severe injuries.
Like a grim reaper, the emaciated and grey-haired Uchiha hovered over the young Chūnin, demanding reparations for saving his life. But Obito was more concerned with returning to his village and by the side of his friends.
Admirable as his convictions were, his body was far too deteriorated to tackle the task. Though, when Zetsu — who was Madara's will given form — brought news of Kakashi and Rin's dilemma in the ongoing war, Obito quickly forged a path to a functional body and blasted his way out of his savior's hideout.
But his valiant efforts were just a fraction of a second too late. Surrounded by the blackness of night, electricity illuminated the horrified faces of Rin and Kakashi, his Raikiri set in her chest. Their horror paled in comparison to Obito's, however, his entire reason for being slipping between his fingers as he watched the girl he loved take her final breath, her heart stilling for all eternity.
It was within this heart-wrenching moment did both Kakashi and Obito unlocked the Mangekyō Sharingan. And the curse of the Uchiha bloodline — accentuated with unfathomable rage and hatred — ultimately twisted Obito's ideologies to overlap those of Madara's. And, thus, began the diabolical agenda of Plan Tsukuyomi.
While Kakashi and Obito had their fated battle, both the Hachibi and Gai tried to draw a line of defense between Madara and Naruto, but they were swiftly beaten back.
"This is Hashirama's wooden dragon, which he used to hold down my Nine-Tails long ago," said Madara as he infused the chakra to craft the colossal beast.
But our hero wasn't deterred.
Manifesting Kurama's entire body — an imposing predator engulfed in energy akin to flames — Naruto challenged the ancient dragon. But the serpent quickly coiled its rough-hewn body around the chakra-forged Bijuu, suppressing its movements and absorbing Naruto chakra.
"That damned wooden thing!" exclaimed Gai, watching as the creature rapidly sprouted branches and leaves as it drained and resonated with its trapped target. "It's leeching on the Kyūbi's chakra!"
The Hachibi flinched in alarm. That moment of hesitation was all it took for the serpent to launch a surprise attack in its direction, too — its vines swiftly constricting around the Bijuu's many limbs. And even, Gai, who was recovering atop the creature's head was held captive in his weakened state.
"These guys are a distraction for you too, right?" said Madara with a ruthless gaze. "This world is about to come to an end. So in order to enjoy the little time we've got left... let's clear out this battlefield first."
His words cut off to spawn Susanoo in their wake. In the same beat, an exhausted and dejected Kakashi was also in a bind. Both parties were just seconds away from being cut down, and time slowed to crawl.
A muscle worked in Naruto's jaw, his chakra-fashioned haori fluttering in the wind. "You bastards make me so pissed, I can't even think straight. So, instead —" he made his customary hand seal — "let me tell you something about myself."
From a blinding flash, two streaks of light split apart and fell upon the battlefield like fallen stars. Using chakra-forged arms, both warriors effortlessly halted the weapons set to cleave his comrades in twain.
"I'm not trash!" asserted Naruto confidently. "I'm not planning on become trash, either. If you think I'll just stand around and allow you to have your way, then you've got another thing coming. I'll never let my comrades die!"
Naruto's strong words made quite an impact, especially on Kakashi who was the one to share the ideology with him. Feeling a familiar flame rekindle in the pits of their stomach, everyone looked to the Orange Shinobi with renewed vigor, and then to the enemy.
I'm sorry, Naruto, Kakashi said mentally, resurfacing from the quicksand of grief that was set on dragging him down. I'm the one who taught you Obito's words and yet, I was about to waver again.
Unsteadily pushing himself to his feet, the Jōnin gazed at his best friend with evident resolve. But Madara and Obito had no intention of allowing them to regain their bearings. The villains launched their attack, and our heroes retaliated in kind.
"Obito," Kakashi held his unrelenting gaze. "Your once strong will is still alive today — right next to me. What the current me can do is protect the current Naruto."
"You'll protect the current Naruto?" he was both unimpressed and unenthused, even more so when Kakashi slumped back down to the ground.
Gai was just as winded. He almost looked emaciated after unleashing his forbidden power. But his sacrifice wasn't in vain.
Mmm, the Hachibi's rounded eyes widened a tad, the strong hold from his wooden prison loosening by just a fraction. And he wasted no time exerting his strength and breaking away from the uncomfortable bondage. Be careful, Naruto! he warned. The enemy's Wood Paralysis Technique is identical to the First Hokage's! It has the power to bind Tailed Beast power!
"Just like Yamato-taichou's technique," he compared with a side-long glance.
"A Raikiri that relies on the Sharingan... you've mastered your left eye," Obito praised with a hint of malice. "Even awakening the Mangekyō. But, can you make it back from the other plane in your current condition?"
Confidently revealing his hand, the man went on the offensive but was quickly pushed back by an overprotective Naruto. "Now I see it clearly...," the Orange Knight chuckled in a combination of arrogance and pity. "Your pained face that was hiding behind that mask."
"Save those lines for the one right next to you," Obito warned.
Naruto regarded the Jōnin from above his shoulder appraisingly. I definitely have to help Kakashi-sensei somehow. He's completely drained from overusing the Sharingan. If he gets sucked in...
Naruto, Kurama called tellingly, conducting his own appraisal of the situation. Switch with me for a second.
"Do you have a plan?" he asked, looking up at the mountainous titan towering over him inside their mental scape.
Don't question me, just do it.
Naruto's oceanic eyes turning red signaled Kurama presence — and cautious eyes watched as the enemy made a quick advance. "Oi, you brat, give me your hand."
The exhausted Jōnin tilted his head at the sound of the familiar voice, sweat rolling down his face. "You're..."
"Never mind that! Just stick out your hand!"
Kakashi did as he was told, his eyes flashing with revelation at the brief connection. And he didn't flinch when the Bijuu swung and tossed him in Obito's path to get spirited away by the Space-time technique. But Naruto was flabbergasted at what appeared to be Kurama chucking his sensei into the jaws of the beast.
Now you don't have any distractions, was all that the Bijuu said, as if those words alone were enough to justify the madness he just performed. I'm leaving the rest to you, Naruto.
Facing the enemy, the teenager quieted his heart and steeled his nerves. If he didn't trust Kurama, he wouldn't have even remotely considered freeing the fox spirit from his cage. Nor would this level of synchronization — and the power stemming therein — be possible.
Thinking little of what just transpired, Obito pressed his charge, an outstretched arm geared toward his target's throat. Naruto brandished a kunai and challenged the man's momentum, the weapon slipping through the Uchiha's head while the man's fingers passed through his neck.
Bearing just a single one of the pair, the effectiveness wasn't as powerful as Nagato's, but Obito used the power of the Rinnegan to pull Naruto in, solidifying himself for the imminent kill.
Time slowed.
The polished metal of a kunai gleamed in the moonlight as it spun above the villain's head. Before his eager fingers could clasp and crush Naruto's throat, the shinobi was gone — a technique formula allowing him to fast-travel to the weapon's location. And then a quickly spun Rasengan was crashing into the bastard's stomach, pinning him to the ground.
Time righted itself as Naruto heaved a frown, his lips pulled to a tight line. The moment the blue orb dispersed from his palm, he could easily note the only mass he had made contact with was the ground. Obito had cleverly hidden away his lower torso just before the moment of impact. But that was impossible; Naruto's window was spot on.
Obito laughed. "Like father like son, I suppose. To think you could use The Flying Thunder God Technique. The only reason I was able to counter is because the Fourth Hokage used this strategy against me be—"
COUGH!
Blood spewed from the man's mouth, contrasting eyes popping open at the unforeseen assault. Naruto leaped back cautiously, watching as the man's body lurched this way and that, as if he was locked in battle with an invisible phantom.
It was Kakashi who did that, Kurama explained to a baffled Naruto. The difference between you and I is that I can give or take chakra at will. I'll show you how it's done later.
"So that was your intention, when you grabbed his hand."
Hah.
"Way to let him have it, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto praised when the Jōnin made a cool reappearance.
"Thank the Kyūbi for me," he returned coolly.
"Sure thing!"
Elsewhere, Naruto, Bee and the Hachibi, in unison, were generating a gigantic Bijuu Bomb with which to annihilate the Gedō Mazō. The nuke engulfed both creature and barrier, altering the landscape in a colossal explosion that followed.
But—
"The Mazō's chakra is... gone," Naruto hesitated, more focused on his sensory abilities rather than weaving a coherent sentence.
"We did it!" Bee celebrated. "We did it, fool. Ya fool!"
Naruto grinned, an index finger rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Is it over?" asked Kakashi.
"Yes... for this world," Obito murmured.
Madara sat with evident nonchalance atop a rock, keen eyes piercing the dust and debris that concealed the catalyst of the world's destruction. "Well then... shall we get started?
…
Ten swaying tails eclipsed a luminous blood red moon. And a single heinous eye snapped open with a malevolence that was matched only by the monstrous shrill that tore from the Jūbi 's ghastly maw.
The warriors of justice looked on in abject shock at the titanic fiend that towered over them. It was at least five times the size of the Bijuu and did little to mask the murderous intent radiating from its very existence.
Kurama frowned pensively. That's... without a doubt the Jūbi .
As if to confirm the Kyūbi's analysis, the creature roared and exerted its bottomless power, dispersing the blanket of dust that blanketed its mountainous frame.
While Obito and Madara retreated atop its head, Naruto's clone and the Hachibi regrouped with Kakashi and the original.
"I could have sworn the Mazō's evil chakra had disappeared," Naruto said, even as he tried to size up the fiend.
"Damn, they got us!" murmured Kakashi.
That thing doesn't have any kind of emotion, explained Kurama. It can't be sensed. It's natural energy itself. It's the same as that which circulates around the world, that you can feel in the soil, water, and the air. It would be a different story if you tried it while engaged in Sage Mode, though. But, I wouldn't recommend it.
Regardless, Naruto was already dismissing his current form and gathering natural energy. But what he felt was an immeasurable force — like the weight of a planet with numbers moons caught in its orbit.
"I had planned to capture them before the Jūbi revived," said Madara as a pair of tube-like appendages sprouted from the creature and attached itself to his and Obito's nape. "But they're pretty good."
"I want to start the Infinite Tsukuyomi ritual immediately," replied Obito, ignoring the man's unwarranted praise of the enemy.
"That Great Genjutsu requires time to summon the moon. They will interfere with the jutsu. Things will go more smoothly if we use the Mazō's power to get rid of them first. Do you agree?"
"Madara... you just want to test the Jūbi 's power, don't you?" Obito said accusingly. "That's why you deliberately... you're just like a kid."
"Not really," the Uchiha defended, arms folded across his chest. "Kids are impatient, touchy little brats."
Ignoring the banter of its masters, the epitome of destruction succumbed to its unrelenting desire for blood. It hurled itself across the landscape, laying waste to the geography as it did.
Oi, here comes a big one, warned the Hachibi. You think we can really do this?
Don't think you can hide under your tentacles 'cause you're scared, teased Kurama. But first, hand me Gai over there. I'll heal him later. And that Naruto and Kakashi, too.
They all joined the Main-Clone-Naruto at the helm of the translucent Bijuu Mode, just before they were hit with the typhoon that accompanied the Jūbi 's arrival.
Listen up, Kurama said authoritatively. First, we keep our distance and see what move he makes! Then we'll counter the attack and hit him with a big blow as close as we can get.
"Kyūbi," Kakashi said playfully. "You're acting like a captain."
Huh? You have a problem with that?
"Nope. In fact, I feel kind of happy."
Gai threw a thumbs up and Naruto grinned.
That line... save it for after we've won! Let's go!
The very fabric of space and time seemed to quake as the monster drew closer. The Bijuus eased into a quick sprint, attempting to make a b-line around the incoming threat. But while the Jūbi was titanic in stature, by no means was it slow and clumsy.
A lethal claw suddenly burst through the cover of dust and debris, narrowly missing Kurama who made a hasty retreat.
It's surprisingly fast, Naruto frowned assessingly.
There wasn't any time to observe its moves! Kakashi thought, sharing Gai's frustration.
The Jūbi 's jaws snapped open with a domineering shriek — a mixture of a fog horn, a whale, and something nefarious and otherworldly. Dozens of razor-sharp fangs lined a gaping naw — and the single eye etched in a grotesque face glowed with an evil that was beyond insanity.
The creature squared off against Kurama, and then they lashed out at each other. The larger arm managed to land a blow, but it was all just a diversion. The Hachibi was already charging a Bijuu Bomb with a now airborne Kurama doing the same in tandem.
"There's no need to dodge," Madara said coolly.
"I want to preserve the Jūbi 's power as much as possible," replied Obito.
And yet the atmosphere destabilized when the beast began summoning its power. Like something out of a nightmare, the Jūbi 's head retracted into its body like that of a snapping turtle. Then it reemerged — its jaws ripping open to more than half its body size as it tailored its own lethal weapon.
The Hachibi blanched. This is...
...Not good, Kurama finished.
VUUUU-PIIIZZUU!
Quickly charging and condensing a massive Bijuu Bomb to roughly one-tenth its size, the progenitor of destruction fired off the cataclysmic attack, like a spaceship would a death ray. The dust and clouds cradling the battlefield instantly parted as the unrelenting beam of light cleaved the earth, effortlessly consuming the fusillade launched by the Hachibi. And, by simply whipping its head to the side, the fiend was able to intercept Kurama's attack, as well.
Knowing they would also fall prey to the beam, Kurama fenced his tails around his body to form an impenetrable cocoon of defense — and the Hachibi did the same, positioning itself in front to be the first point of impact.
A clash of epic proportions lit up the battlefield and culminated in a deafening explosion. The scorched earth trembled, and the debris cleared to reveal Kurama whose nine tails had been incinerated by the blast. But his damage was little in comparison to the Hachibi that had been rendered to but a single tentacle.
"Persistent lot," Madara murmured.
"Hey, Naruto," said Gai, his face pale. "Don't tell me..."
"Don't worry, Bushier Brow-sensei," Naruto reassured with a raised arm.
Nice control, Naruto, Kurama praised, watching as the clone and his sensei free fall over the Jūbi and its pair of far too complacent masters. You got them in nice and close!
We focused too much on the Ten-Tails, Obito thought mentally, already plotting a counter.
But he was already missing an important component to an effective counter-strategy. The Hachibi didn't get vaporized in the latest attack. Leaving a single tentacle behind to tell a story, the Bijuu hid away inside Kakashi's dimensional space and was now ejected over head.
I'm gonna smash this into his eyeball! roared Gyūki with a hint of revenge, a powerful projectile already whizzing toward its intended mark.
With a simple flick of the Jūbi 's forefinger, the nuke was deflected right back at the sender. The projectile slammed into the Hachibi's chest, hurling the Bijuu skyward before detonating into a devastating blast. In the same beat, the Jūbi turned its attention to the duo still freefalling, a single tail intent on swatting them like flies.
Thanks to the sensory prowess of Sage Mode, Clone-Naruto was able to perceive the looming threat in time to sacrifice himself for his sensei. On the ground, Bijuu-Mode-Naruto managed to snatch a weary Kakashi before he could hit the ground, and also stop Gyūki's body from hurling any further along the rough landscape.
Noting the teen's impressive act of selflessness, Obito couldn't help but remember the ultimate sacrifice he had made for his former best friend, as well. Naruto, you really are a lot like me, he thought openly, eyes grave and fixated. That's right... you're just younger than me. Eventually...
Kurama sighed.
As if that one breath was the fuel that powered Bijuu Mode, the mountainous giant deflated, sending Naruto, Kakashi and Gai falling to the ground. Gai's fall was especially brutal as unleashing the gates left him entirely numb and immobile.
"Kurama!" Naruto exclaimed, a hint of petulance in his tone. "How can you fall apart at a time like this? We're about to get our asses kicked!"
Sitting crossed legged, the Bijuu looked down at the flailing midget. That was about eight minutes, he clarified, reminding the shinobi that, since they hadn't gotten the chance to practice properly synchronizing their hearts, they could only sustain the new chakra mode for roughly said time. It's longer than before, but that's the limit. He poised his hands in a meditative fashion and blinked his eyes shut. I'm going to have to infuse and build up my chakra again.
"I guess I'll have to keep everyone alive, until you're done," Naruto said, closing his own eyes as he sought to gather natural energy.
"That hurts, fool. Yah fool!" Bee complained breathlessly, his body riddled with cuts and bruises. But it was nothing compared to the injuries his partner sustained.
Bee, I'm going to rest a bit, too, panted Gyūki as his massive frame slipped into the Jinchūriki. I'm also at my limit.
"I can't get healed yet?" Gai huffed, barely managing to tilt his head off the ground.
Pulling something as massive as the Hachibi in and out sure comes with a correspondingly large cost, thought Kakashi, barely able to keep himself upright. I'm already drained.
The situation looked bleak. But, when the gang saw the light of conviction in Naruto's eyes, complemented by the markings of Sage Mode, they couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope.
"Seems the Hachibi and Kyūbi have run out of chakra for now," Obito pointed out the obvious.
But, when Naruto turned around to face them, they could tell he hadn't given up just yet. If anything, he hadn't truly gotten started. Though, whatever aces he had up his sleeve, was it enough to turn the tables of this war?
"Your favorite Shadow Clone Jutsu, eh?" Madara mocked when the teenager silently crossed his fingers. "It may be a forbidden high-level ninjutsu, but just increasing the number of losers won't—"
"A corpse has no right to call me a loser!" Naruto interjected curtly.
"All your comrades are out of breath and on their knees," Obito pointed out derisively. "What exactly do you expect to accomplish on your own?"
"Naruto..." Kakashi called tellingly.
"Relax, Kakashi-sensei," our hero spared him a reassuring sidelong glance. "I'm not about to do anything stupid, nor will I allow you guys to get killed. Trust me."
"If you go down," the man continued. "We lose this war."
"I know."
"You and I are both powerless shinobi," said Obito. "You — no, I should say, everyone... will eventually end up like me."
"I'll never end up like you!" Naruto snapped. "How many times do I have to tell you? My dream is to become the Hokage!"
"Don't worry," reassured Obito. "Everything will go as planned. There is no shinobi jutsu mightier than the Infinite Tsukuyomi. I'll make you Hokage inside this jutsu. So... just disappear along with the rest of this world."
Heeding the man's silent command, the Jūbi flexed its head like a machine and then fired off another nuke to utterly annihilate the enemy. But the trajectory suddenly shifted last minute — the beam completely incinerating a few dozen mountains a few kilometers away.
"Tch!" Obito frowned, shaking off the jutsu that relinquished his free will for but a moment.
"What tha—" Gai stuttered.
"Did it miss... on purpose?" Kakashi asked aloud.
Revelation suddenly dawned when they heard the familiar whoosh of an agile shinobi.
"Took you guys look enough," Naruto grinned when backup dropped in beside them.
"Kakashi! Gai!" Hiashi called as a means of introduction. "Sorry to keep you waiting!"
"I can't believe he shook off my Byakugan-aided, spot-on Mind Transfer in just two seconds!" argued Ino breathlessly, landing with Neji in tow.
"But you still succeeded in shifting that large thing's aim off target," Hiashi pointed out. "Good work."
"You okay, Naruto?" Sai landed behind him.
"Yeah!"
"Don't you go acting all tough in front of Sai now, Naruto," Kiba teased with a wolfish grin.
Without missing a beat, members from the Aburame clan in conjunction with those from the Hidden Mist Village, created a blanket wrought of mist and bugs to hide their location from the prying eyes and sensory abilities of the enemy.
"We're here, Naruto!" Chōji declared his arrival.
"All right, we won't be so easily detectable now," said Shikamaru.
"Bee-sama!" the Jinchūriki's apprentice — Karui — dropped in with a rather mocking display of concern. "You're in better shape than I expected!"
"Bee-sama!" Omoi — the other apprentice — genuinely seemed concerned though. "You look seriously wounded! Are you OK?"
"Omoi, you worry too much!" Karui chided exuberantly.
"Gai-sensei!" another hot-blooded subordinate appeared on the scene. "Don't tell me you used Hirudora?"
Without having to look back, Naruto sensed the presence of a capable kunoichi he vowed to protect — and he called her name tellingly. But Sakura knew what her responsibilities entailed, and had already zipped over to Kakashi and began applying treatment.
The Jūbi 's monstrous presence aside, with thousands of shinobi congregating in one place, the Sensory Water Sphere used to facilitate monitoring location and activity, could no longer maintain its shape to give a proper reading. In other words, in but a few moments, the sensory team at headquarters would no longer be able to detect or track anyone outside of a one-mile radius of where the enemy was and the alliance were concentrated.
"Inoichi! Ao!" Shikaku called commandingly. "Confirm the situation!"
Conceding to the request, both men started reaching out to the division officers.
Darui: "First Division has arrived!"
Kitsuchi: "Second Division has also arrived!"
Deputy Officer: "Third Division has arrived!"
Shikamaru: Fourth Division has arrived!"
Mifune: "Fifth Division has also arrived!"
Shizune: "The Medical Unit's here, too!"
And they already started tending to the wounded.
Shee: "Sensory Unit has arrived!"
Madara gazed into the shuffling mist that even his eyes couldn't penetrate, but still his nonchalance didn't waver. "Nice try hiding, but..."
With a single whip of its tail, thousands of shinobi could now be seen backing a Naruto whose nonchalance rivaled that of the Uchiha's.
"Am I still alone? Are all my comrades breathless and still on their knees?" Naruto asked condescendingly with a grin. "Behold the Allied Shinobi Forces Jutsu — the world's greatest, most invincible, super-duper ninjutsu! A jutsu that trumps the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Remember that, you goddamn moron!"
Obito's facial expression morphed into something fierce.
But Madara found both that and the alliance almost comical. "The Allied Shinobi Forces Jutsu, eh? Don't you think that's a bit of a stretch?"
"We're going to beat you with that jutsu!" Naruto asserted.
"You're wrong," Obito interjected sharply. "Why won't you realize that it's meaningless for you to stop us here? After this war, even that jutsu will disintegrate. Then someone from your side will attempt to do exactly what we're doing now. There is no victory, no matter how much you struggle," he spat angrily. "Get it through your head: there's no such thing as hope anywhere in this world."
Naruto lowered his head, muscles flexing in his jaw. "I don't care," he simply said, his words — although frank — washing over his comrades like a salve. "I'll make sure there's hope."
Madara blinked his eyes closed, his patience wearing thin. "It's meaningless to argue whether something exists or not during a war. How about we settle this now?"
Naruto stood his ground against the man's intimidating aura, the straps of his forehead protector fluttering in the wind. "When there is a difference of opinion, isn't the usual way majority rule? So what do we do?"
"That's a good suggestion," Obito responded flatly. "Then... we'll call it after we've erased all of you."
"I knew you'd say that," frowned Naruto, his tone of voice igniting the fire of conviction that dwelled in the hearts of each and every individual that supported his cry for peace and justice.
The Allied Shinobi Force heaved a hearty battle cry before hurling themselves into the fray.
Thanks for buying us some time, Naruto, Shikaku said via Inoichi's telepathic jutsu.
Don't mention it; I need to buy myself some time, too. So, did you manage to come up with a strategy?
Thanks to you, I was able to relay it to everyone!
Kakashi told us the masked man is Uchiha Obito, Inoichi added. But there's no time to be shocked. For this fight, we need to take and maintain the upper hand and not give them any opportunity to counter.
According to the intel we received, Shikaku began. Our enemy has impressive eyes. First, we'll impede their movement by destroying their vision.
Hidden Cloud, Inoichi announced instructively, replaying the command to the elemental group. And the shinobi heeded the call, forming their seals in union and triggered a blinding flare that accomplished the intended purpose. Even the Jūbi squinted its eyes in the face of the overwhelming light.
Hidden amidst the light were hundreds of projectiles that assaulted the enemy, their radiance rivaling that of the flare. Using the power of the Rinnegan, Madara allowed one of the beams to make contact, which he then absorbed to analyze and determine its nature.
"I see," he concluded judiciously. "Their true aim is to blind the Jūbi ."
Hidden Sand, now! Inoichi relayed his second command. And the wind-natured shinobi stepped up to the plate, evoking a complex current of wind that completed encased the monster.
With the two jutsu from earlier — Hidden Mist and Beetle Jamming — along with the large volume of airborne dust stirred up by the Kumogakure shinobi, we'll not just destroy their vision completely, but thwart them from even sensing us at all. And, since their sheer bulk prevents them from hiding, we'll be able to take full advantage of the situation.
We only revealed our jutsu to him a short while ago and he's already incorporating them into the battle plan, Temari thought amusingly. Leave it to Shikamaru's dad — like father like son!
Channeling chakra to his eyes, Obito evoked the power of his Sharingan. But, try as he may, he couldn't see passed the wall of wind, dust and decoy chakra signatures presented by the beetles.
"This makes it impossible to sense them," Madara admitted openly, and yet his decorum didn't waver.
"We'll wipe them out with a single attack from the Jūbi ," Obito concluded.
Hidden Stone, Inoichi continued. Proceed immediately.
"We're on it!" Kitsuchi exclaimed, leading the charge.
"Earth Style: Vast Mobile Core!"
The ground rumbled in defiance, but conceded to the collective will of the shinobi. Before the Jūbi and its masters could react, they found themselves sinking into a perfect square precisely cut from the earth. Dark, rough walls enclosed them on all sides. The beast dug its claws into either sides of the towering walls, but still it would not stop sinking.
After shutting down their senses, Shikaku narrated. We'll immobilize them! And, as soon as we bring down the Jūbi , pour in quicklime!
The group did as instructed, showering the fiend with a mountain of the chemical compound. And the Hidden Mist village was close behind, a deluge doing quick work to stir up the quicklime.
Konoha — let's finish this! Inoichi called.
The Sarutobi Clan stepped forward.
"Fire Style: Majestic Flame Technique!"
We'll rapidly dry the mixture with the heat from the jutsu, Shikaku declared vehemently as the searing heat from the flames performed its duty magnificently.
"Unbelievable...," Madara murmured above the sporadic crackle of the hardening cement-like compound. "Who would've thought that the shinobi from the five villages could work so cooperatively."
Obito didn't care. Struggle as they may, all their efforts would, inevitably, be in vain. No level of hope, cooperation or divine intervention would be able to twist the true salvation that the Uchiha had so thoughtfully prepared.
Unless we stop the Jūbi , we don't have a chance to go after Obito or Madara, Shikaku clarified sternly. The Jūbi is merely a tool for them to aid in activating their jutsu. If we cut off the head from the body — namely those two — Infinite Tsukuyomi cannot be activated. But keep in mind that we won't be able to suppress the Jūbi 's power for too long.
Only physical attacks work on Madara — so shinobi who are skilled in taijutsu will go after Madara! Obito can slip through all moves and jutsu but, according to intel, that only lasts for five minutes. Coordinate with the Medical Unit and keep attacking him for more than five minutes. Do not let up!
Naruto, that's right... it's time for your...
"Allied Shinobi Force Jutsu!" he took the liberty of finishing the sentence in what sounded like a battle cry, leaping off the edge with a powerful Rasenshuriken in tow.
And the hardened warriors followed suit, the teenager's fiery roar bolstering their morale, the high-pitched whistle of his weapon reverberating throughout their bodies. Like a dark avalanche, the shinobi spilled into the large cavity, darkening the night's sky, intent on defeating their enemies.
"How pitiful," said Madara, his nonchalance unwavering.
Obito confirmed with a similar level of calm. "This hope that they're clinging to doesn't exist. Just like their very lives, at this point."
"Looks like the Jūbi is ready," Madara pointed out as the fiend's legs and tails began spreading open like a blooming flower, fracturing the cement-like prison.
But the shinobi were already activating their abilities, looming ever closer.
So, this time, they're coming after us, not the Jūbi , Madara discerned with a smile. Well, taking out the enemy's brains is a fundamental strategy...
Naruto didn't miss anything — they may not be in the same league as the Sharingan and Byakugan, but Sage Mode gifted him with a descent pair of eyes. He noted Madara's devious smile, and even the Jūbi 's subtle beginnings of a full-on transformation. But, despite the enemy's looming retaliation, it was far too late to cease their charge.
Madara's grin widened. If you want to get rid of the masterminds, you have to first stop the Jūbi .
As if his words were a trigger, the beast that the alliance assumed incapacitated uprooted its ten tails and shot them upwards, effortlessly neutralizing their united assault. Painfully mixed in with rubble and debris, the valiant soldiers were sent flying into an high arch like rag dolls.
"What tha?!" one man exclaimed. "I thought we had immobilized the Jūbi ?"
"Are you okay?" another man tended to another whose injuries were more severe than his own. "Damn it!"
Sustaining little damage courtesy of a body hardened by Sage Mode, Naruto watched with a snarl as the mountainous beast used its ten tails as an anchor to fluently lift itself out of the man-made tomb. Its transformation complete, the fiend no longer sported a large, bulky frame but a lanky design that allowed it to stand upright when needed.
Old man Shikaku, Naruto called, fortunate enough that the Inoichi still had the line open. After what we just pulled, I'm sure Madara will have the same tactic in mind. Again, I'm urging you guys to evacuate. Either join us here on the battlefield where we can protect each other or seek shelter elsewhere.
Both Inoichi and Shikaku allowed a wanly smile. We appreciate the consideration, Naruto... but it's our responsibility to effectively lead and guide the soldiers — and there's no place better than HQ to perform that role, clarified Shikaku truthfully. We can't abandon our post under the assumption that we may be targeted. The time we take to flee could be used to formulate a strategy to permanently change the tides of the war.
Naruto clicked his tongue flippantly. You stubborn old geezers.
They laughed softly. Naruto... thank you.
"Look at the Sensing Water Sphere," one of the five operators exclaimed as the bubble of water separated into two — one bigger than the other. "It's practically like a small planet."
"But that's... impossible," another man panicked.
"So we didn't immobilize the Jūbi , after all?" Shikaku said calmly. "It merely stopped moving on its own in order to amass power and undergo transformation?"
"How are we going to be able to stop it?" wondered Inoichi. "And now we can't target those two, either!"
But we have to stop that thing... or else it's over for us, Kakashi thought mentally, his reasoning coinciding with those of Inoichi and Shikaku.
"I'm about to pee myself," Kiba murmured.
Akamaru growled at its partner's cowardice.
And Kitsuchi added to the canine's reproach. "Instead of freaking out, infuse your chakra! Be ready to move as soon as we get the plan from HQ!"
Shikaku gazed at the smaller sphere that represented the Ten-Tail's otherworldly power, picking at his brain for a solution to their latest predicament. We must immobilize the Jūbi ... or else we can't go after the brains that are controlling it — but how? Even with the jutsu of my clan who specialize in immobilizing... the effect would be minuscule compared to the amount of chakra expended.
One chain of thought led to another until, finally, Shikaku's eyes snapped open with a solution. "Inoichi!" he called, loud and urgent. "Link me to Kakashi!"
"Roger!"
Kakashi — it's me! the strategist began. There's something I want to confirm regarding the Intel from the last battle sequence.
In the same beat, despite its masters, the Jūbi stood upright intently and began flailing its ten tails, a single eye looking from the insects at its feet to the lesser insects scattered across the globe.
"It's going to start getting more difficult to control the Jūbi soon. Reinforce your bond with it using Hashirama's cells," instructed Madara, an ivory appendage spilling from their body to merge with that of the rebellious beast. "Don't you want to check out the Jūbi 's power in its current state?"
Naruto couldn't hear what the villains were discussing, but he did note the peculiar gleam that lit Madara's eyes. And it was evil — the musings of a man who had seen more conflicts than a moral should. This had groomed him into a strategist even more impressive than Shikaku — and he was about to play his hand.
Obito's eyes snapped open, like a man gone mad. "Let's show them... despair!"
Reacting to the man's deep-seated hatred, the Jūbi 's jaw snapped open and a lethal Bijuu Bomb quickly took shape — target: the alliance.
The shinobi flinched.
Shikaku-san, Kakashi returned urgently. I'm going to hang up for the time being!
What's wrong? the question left his mind just moments before he could sense the impending chaos through his telepathic medium. But he wouldn't be able to weave a plan much less to convey it in time.
Kakashi clasped his hands together, attempting to infuse chakra. This is bad! My Kamui won't make it in time! "Displace it upwards using an Earth Style technique!" he managed to instruct a capable Kitsuchi who was luckily right next to him.
The man quickly did as told, flawlessly achieving the desired effect by raising a pillar beneath the monster's foot, throwing it off balance.
Standing atop a mound, Neji watched in abject shock as the nuke flew a few dozen miles away and completed destroyed a landscape that exceeded the diameter of the current battlefield.
"That far away?" Kakashi murmured, breaking out into a sweat. "It's so much greater than all the previous Tailed Beast Bombs! What power!"
"It's wobbly from just that little counter," said Madara. "It's control isn't perfect yet."
"Next!" Obito's voice was the trigger for another nuke that landed in the sea.
The Jūbi fired off another before completely regaining its balance, the repercussion sending it toppling onto its back. But, even grounded, its head snapped around like a marionette, firing off another bomb. It landed short of its destination, utterly wiping out a remote residential area.
"Unbelievable!" Hiashi muttered in shock. "Such a far-off city destroyed in an instant!"
"AAAGH!" someone screamed.
Inadvertently causing destruction by merely repositioning its large mass, the fiend pushed itself onto its knees and a single arm, instantly charging another Bijuu Bomb.
"It's been acting strange for a while," said Ao, facilitating his sensory abilities with the aid of the Sensing Water Sphere. "It seems to be aiming far away!"
"So all the cities and people are within its range of fire?" concluded Shikaku frustratingly.
Inoichi's lips pressed to a displeased line. "Then that means the evacuated Feudal Lords, everyone protecting the villages... plus all the citizens of each nation aren't safe?"
"Our shinobi on the battlefield are fighting to protect everyone else... those two are trying to eliminate our reason for this war." his eyes narrowed pensively. Should we have evacuated the villages, like Naruto suggested?
Finding equilibrium despite a missing arm, the Jūbi locked keen, compass-like eyes in the direction of its target. And, as it generated the pure destructive force that was a Bijuu Bomb, there was a distinguishing air of calm in comparison to its previous attempts.
Neji followed the line of the nuke's trajectory. "That's the direction of—"
Ao flinched, noting the same thing the Hyūga had. T-This is..."
"What's wrong, Ao-dono?" asked Inoichi nervously.
The man lowered his head, mustering the courage and strength to convey his findings. "Please listen to me calmly."
Shikaku turned his attention to the ceiling of the facility, weaving the strings of one last strategy he hoped would turn the tides of the ensuing battle. Based on Ao's tone of voice, he didn't need to wait to be briefed on their current predicament. He knew the weapon of their destruction was en route to their location — and there was little time left.
"Shikaku... what do we do?" Inoichi asked as calmly as he could manage.
"Just keep doing what must be done," the man didn't need to consider, eyes burning with undeniable conviction. "It will be our last act. Put me through to everyone on the battlefield; I have a plan to stop the Jūbi ."
Shikamaru's heart sunk as he listened to his old man, deep lines of distraught etched beneath quivering eyes. But, no sooner had the crippling emotions started to spill out, than he suppressed them. If he truly wished to honor his father's final gambit, he couldn't allow grief to cloud is judgment. If he failed here, he would undoubtedly lose the rest of his family, too.
Ino also understood the truth of this. She allowed but a single tear to trickle across her cheek before hardening her resolve.
Madara regarded the towering explosion with evident satisfaction. "Finally got them," he said with an open smile. "We've now eliminated the brains of the Allied Forces. Like I said before: it's fundamental strategy."
"Shikamaru...," murmured Chōji, incapable of finding the right words that could possibly pacify his dejected comrade and best friend.
"We're in the middle of war right now," he responded with impressive composure. "Don't waste any words on me... or on Ino. Like dad said: we just have to do what we have to do."
"What are you all doing?" said Madara above the shrill of another charging Bijuu Bomb, effortlessly winning everyone's attention. "That was just the appetizer; the main course is just about to begin!"
Before anyone could rebound from their shock to intervene, the mountainous fiend fired off four more nukes — all of them bigger and more powerful than the last. The alliance didn't need to be physicists or geographers to figure out what the man's intentions were; what his targets were. It was evident on the twisted and sociopathic expression smeared across his face.
And the shinobi watched him in disbelief.
"Suna. Iwa. Kumo. Kiri — I just wiped these villages off the face of the planet!" the man declared with no remorse or pity, just a face-splitting grin befitting a mad tyrant. "With absolutely no leadership nor family or kin to protect, then what's the use in continuing this meaningless struggle? Submit yourselves to the Infinite Tsukuyomi."
"Exactly," Obito agreed empathetically. "You will be reunited with your friends and loved ones in a great utopia where there is no strife or violence. Robbing and killing to make ends meet would be a thing of the pass. This is the only way to stop the cycle of hatred and revenge that has plagued humanity since the beginning of time."
"Iya...," a kunoichi muttered, her lips quivering.
The thought of losing her five-month-old child had her legs buckling beneath her, and she slumped to the ground with a heartbreaking cry. The sorrowful outburst reverberated throughout the alliance like a cold storm, shattering what little hope to which the shinobi clung.
The promise of paradise from a pair of monsters held no solace. In reality, people just lost everything they had ever known and loved. The fire that kindled their motivation, dosed, in but a matter of seconds.
Devoid of emotion — seemingly broken beyond repair — the warriors looked on unseeingly into the darkness of night. Some desperately looked to one another for emotional support, but they too were caught in the web of despair. Others dropped to their knees and prayed to their God for a miracle. But those who had a greater bond with Naruto looked to the Child of Prophecy for strength and guidance.
They watched him — studying the calm decorum that looked alien amongst the grief-stricken alliance. Even as Madara regarded him challengingly, Naruto's expression never wavered.
"I'll leave Konohagakure for last," said the Uchiha with a menacing smile. "I want both you and Hashirama to helplessly bear witness as I slowly crush his legacy and your dream."
Naruto's nonchalance remained uncompromised. Instead, he heaved a lopsided grin when a familiar voice dawned in his mind through telepathy. And a tad of light returned to the widened eyes of the dejected alliance.
Everyone! Sorry to make you worry! said Shikaku repentantly, his voice washing over the shinobi like a refreshing breeze.
Shikamaru's eyes snapped open. "Oyaji? But how?"
"Dad!" Ino cried.
And Inoichi chuckled awkwardly.
As confused whispers and ecstatic outbursts erupted across the battlefield like wildfire, Kakashi looked to Naruto who seemed none too surprised about this unforeseen miracle.
Listen carefully, as I'm sure you guys don't have a lot of time. Don't worry about us; everyone at HQ survived. One of Naruto's clones teleported everyone out before the explosion.
A spell of relief spread across the alliance.
It took everything he had to get everyone away safely, so the clone disappeared shortly afterwards. But he wanted me to let you guys know that you can go ahead and fight without any worries.
Anticipating this turn of events, Naruto had already gone ahead and evacuated everyone from all four villages into Konoha. Leave it to the Number One Unpredictable Ninja to pull of something of this magnitude.
For a brief moment, the men and women of the alliance completely forgot they were on the front lines. They couldn't suppress the swell of emotions that took hold of both body and soul.
Tears. Laughter. Prayers. Song — for a moment, humanity abandoned their moral coils and allowed rich emotions to completely envelope their entire being. Then they turned to Naruto and showered him with exuberant words of gratitude and praise.
Needing no explanation, a disgruntled Madara looked away from the rejoicing masses into the distant mountains. Focusing his eyes — like a machine, a powerful telescope — his vision covered thousands of miles in an instant where he saw the village of his birth.
He didn't need to check what was left of the other villages to know that they were deserted. He could sense that the population that currently inhabited Konoha far exceeded its capacity — and the chakra signature of the residents were as diverse as that of the shinobi alliance.
Going back on his word, Madara fed the coordinates to the Jūbi and launched a Bijuu Bomb at humanity's newly found haven. But a clone protecting the village managed to teleport the warhead away, and the alliance watched in shock as the nuke detonated in an entirely different location.
"Tch!" Madara clicked his tongue angrily, turning the full force of his malevolent gaze onto the tenacious brat. "You definitely dance better than the five Kage managed, I'll give you that."
"To capture the Kyūbi is to truly break the spirits of the alliance and win this war," informed Obito. "It's imperative that we incapacitate him right now before he can rally everyone."
Madara sighed, tousling his pitch-black hair. "I suppose it's better that I didn't eliminate the villagers; we may need extra chakra to sustain the jutsu."
Anyway, Shikaku continued, feeling the tremors from the blast where he was in the village. Kakashi, Shikamaru... you will both have to take the reins and lead everyone in my stead. We no longer have the equipment necessary to adequately assimilate information and churn out battle strategies as we did before.
I know this is sudden, but you both have more than proven that you have the proper skills necessary to pull this off. Naruto has the power to, not only change the course of this war, but to alter the very way we lived our lives before.
Everyone please, I implore you, steel your resolve and become the pillars that hoists this young man to victory! Let's end this war!
Collectively, the alliance gave a hearty battle cry. But the Uchiha paid them no heed. Instead, they turned their attention to the individual who held everyone together like a perfectly woven spider web. As Obito rightly mentioned: it was imperative that they got the Jinchūriki out of the picture first.
To that end, one of the Jūbi 's massive tails went in to sweep the sage away like a capable broom, but Hiashi and Neji were already on the scene — repelling the appendage with a perfectly synchronized rotation.
"When we last spoke, you boldly told me that you would change the Hyūga Clan, after becoming the Hokage," Hiashi said with a rare smile. "If there was even an ounce of doubt left in my heart, it's entirely gone now."
Holding a defensive posture beside his kin, Satoshi regarded Naruto like a pouting child and then his lips eased into a rueful smile. "To be honest, ever since your fight with Hiashi-sama, I've detested you, Naruto. You not only bested the man I glorified, but you whisked away the woman I admired, too. But, despite the way I feel, you've continued supporting and protecting people without prejudice. You've changed both me and the Hyūga Clan — and I have no doubt you can change the world as you proclaimed."
"The world has already begun to change," Hiashi informed huskily. "I never thought I'd lived to see the day when all five nations would join hands like this — and it's not solely because we face a common foe. It's because you have the power to change and connect hearts, Naruto."
Neji studied the sage's chakra circularly system, noting that he was infusing an astronomical amount of power — both him and the Kyūbi. "How much more time do you need?"
"Just a bit longer," he admitted with a nervous grin, his eyes never leaving the calculating villains mounted before him.
"Your power is crucial to the plan, Naruto. So, until we execute it—"
"We'll protect you!" Satoshi finished.
"Know this!" Hiashi asserted, his vision sharpening. "The Hyūga are the mightiest among Konoha!"
"I was hoping to attack them before they could finish talking but... I can't control the Jūbi well enough," Madara prompted softly, his face perfectly composed despite his dilemma. "It should be fine until the next transformation... but next is —"
Obito's eyes narrowed with enlightenment. "It seems that without becoming the Jinchūriki, we cannot gain mastery over the Jūbi ."
"In order for me to become the Jūbi 's Jinchūriki... I need a living body, not just a corpse of Edo Tensei."
"It's slightly irrelevant," Obito began. "But with your Edo Tensei body, you could just aim right down at the alliance and use yourself as a suicide bomb. The only reason why you don't is that I'd be sucked into it, too. And the reason why you can't have that is, in order for you to fully revive and become a Jinchūriki, you need me to give away my life and use Rinne Tensei." he suddenly cast the man a shrewd stare, and his voice hardened. "In other words, you're at my mercy. You'd be wise to remember that," he warned.
"Quite the attitude you have now," Madara returned, his face calm, as if representing the fortitude of his unyielding conviction. It was the countenance of a clever man sure to have his way.
"I've had it since I met you... I've never thought of you as an ally."
"Hmph... fine," Madara yielded to his kin's ambition, though his eyes foretold of no compromise. "Well then, why don't you decide our next course of action?"
"Next," Obito held his hand forward, his fingers unfurling. "We slowly cripple them with despair."
The gigantic beast upon which they stood roared, stretching its arm forward toward the apprehensive population, in an echo of the Uchiha's gesture.
"Wood Element: Piercing Wood!"
The sky went dark and ominous.
The heavens were blanketed with thousands of wooden projectiles. They came raining down upon the dumbfounded shinobi like a great and divine cataclysm. Pointed projectiles pierced people through like something out of a nightmare, but most were able to evade certain death with quick, nimble responses such as Sakura and Kakashi.
"There are too many of them," Neji exclaimed as Hiashi, Satoshi, and himself struggled to protect Naruto and a few others in their field of defense using their rotation.
"We'll just have to try and evade them!"
That's what his uncle said, and yet the count of projectiles started to increase with each passing second, making that alternative seem utterly and hopefully impossible. But still the Jōnin persisted.
CLANG!
One of the wooden projectiles struck Neji's headband, ripping the accessory from his face. There are so many! Kaiten... won't make it in time! he murmured mentally, lines of distraught distorting his face.
Suddenly, in the nick of time, Kitsuchi erected a colossal wall that served as a barrier against oncoming spears. But, in the face of the unrelenting onslaught, the earthen defense could only withstand so much before it crumbled away.
As if hoping to capitalize on this development, the creature threw its hand down upon the ground — annihilating unfortunate souls upon impact. But Hiashi managed to reduce the number of casualties with his Air Barrier Palm. These humans, however, weren't the only one's with spirit. The vile demon raised its forefinger despite the Hyūga's counter measure, rapidly firing a column of deadly spears toward the immobilized sage.
They're fast! uttered Satoshi as he rooted himself before the man he only recently ceased despising, eyes gleaming with earnest resolve. He may have hopelessly failed at winning Hinata's heart, but at least his sacrifice would preserve her happiness — and Naruto would surely preserve everyone else's, in turn.
Damn, a pinpointed attack, Hiashi flinched, fearing the worse for his subordinate. There's too many! Neither Satoshi nor Neji's Air Palm can—
Just mere moments before the projectiles could run the man through — readily claiming him as a sacrifice in place of the mediating sage — he felt the aura and glimpsed the shadow cast by the Hyūga's young prodigy as he heroically threw himself in front of them .
Widening his field of view, Neji eased into a defensive spin. Time seemed to slow to this perilous moment — or perhaps it was his adrenaline that sped up his consciousness.
Trained eyes foretold a tragic end; there were just too many spikes. But he didn't let up. He continued going around, his chakra deflecting what it could. Then one... two... three — many projectiles found the chink in his armor, intent on skewering him where he stood.
Suddenly—
CRACK!
A mighty barricade wrought of ice prevented the projectiles from reaching their mark, blatantly wrenching fate right off course.
As the thick slab shattered, the surrounding air grew frigid. Flurries of ice whisked passed undulating dark blue hair and kissed downy cheeks.
"I won't let this nightmare repeat itself," Hinata said by means of introduction, saving his cousin from the grim fate that haunted her dream just weeks passed. And shocking everyone in the process.
"You beat me to it," Naruto challenged with a sweet smile.
And Hinata regarded him tenderly, a hint of challenge lighting her own eyes.
I just finished assimilating everybody's chakra signature, said Akiko professionally, like a dedicated secretary. You can go ahead and start casting spells, whenever you're ready.
Cure! Hinata chanted mentally with a gentle sweep of her hand. And, as if she had called upon a aurora polaris, a colorful curtain painted the sky, raining down upon the Allied Forces like pixie dust.
"Wh-What's this?" Sakura couldn't contain her shock when a light blue aura — warm and ethereal — engulfed the man she was currently healing, quickly and effortlessly closing up his wounds as if the sorcery literally turned back the very hands of time.
And it wasn't just this one shinobi, either. Everyone injured — thousands of people — were immediately cloaked by the mysterious aura and underwent rapid regeneration.
Unbelievable! Is this all Hinata's doing? This ability is far more impressive than the Creation Rebirth and Katsuyu's healing combined. She's not even making contact with them. How is any of this even possible?
Hinata whipped her head around. The sudden frosty glint in her crystalline eyes foretold of an imminent attack — and a simple tap of her foot summoned a screeching ice serpent that rose beneath the Jūbi like a gigantic uppercut. Torn between its own rebellious nature and the reins of its masters, the clumsy beast toppled backwards upon its back. Then Kitsuchi followed up back clutching the fiend between two colossal slabs of rock.
Hiashi's eyes quivered in astonishment as he peered down upon the celestial magic layering his hand, filling his body with renewed vitality. Then he looked up at his daughter. Is this… really Hinata?
"Lady Hinata has another Kekkei Genkai?" said Satoshi in disbelief. "That's never been heard of in our long line of ancestry. How is this even possible?"
"Very impressive. I owe you one," Neji smiled gratefully, reaching for his headband.
"She got stronger again," sulked Kiba.
"First Naruto, and now Hinata's overpowered, too," Ino began. "This has to be some kind of cheat! And I want in!"
"We should definitely gang up on her at the bathhouse once this war is over," Tenten entertained with a mischievous smile. "Speaking of bathhouse, as anyone seen Kurama?"
Naruto approached the Hyūga Princess, his customary crooked smile etched in his beautifully sculptured face, eyes a molten sapphire. "Hinata," his mouth formed her name, lingering affectionately on each syllable. "Very impeccable timing. How's he doing?"
"H-He's passed the worst," she informed meekly, her warriors spirit melting before his steady gaze. "All he needs now is a bit more rest—"
"Naruto! Do you really believe that you can prevent your friends from dying?" Obito exclaimed sinisterly from atop the restrained Jūbi . "All you're doing is delaying the inevitable! You may have healed everyone, but all it will take is a single strike to render them beyond saving, just like what I did to Konan!"
The sage's eyes snapped open at the news of the woman's death.
"Those words — I'll never let my comrades die — let's see how long you can uphold them," he continued furiously, feeling a bitter sting of jealously at the couple that stood oppressively before him. "We will continue bombarding you with attacks until everything you hold dear is wiped clean off the face of the earth. And then your flippant words and ideology shall become nothing but lies — this is the end result of hope and ideals. This will become your reality; I'll personally make sure of this!
Naruto... what is there for you in this reality? Your mother and father are gone, as well as your master, Jiraiya. And, if you keep standing against us, you'll continue losing your friends one by one — including that insufferable woman standing by your side!"
Both Hiashi and Kurama frowned angrily.
"This shall soon become a world where no one who acknowledges you will exist," the man relented assertively. "The only thing that awaits you... is your worse nightmare, which you know quite well — solitude!"
The words rung out across the battlefield, like a toxic miasma. And everyone stilled, waiting to see how their savior would respond.
Naruto hung his head, remembering the neatly arranged bouquet of paper flowers he'd received from the Konan. He was a fool to believe she wouldn't be targeted for deserting Akatsuki, and for safeguarding Nagato's eye. But what could he have done differently to prevent her death?
SLAP!
Hinata gently cupped his cheek after reeling him in, and much to the surprise of Obito and Kakashi who watched intently. "Naruto-kun... you hold more than one life in your hands," the princess explained softly. "Do you understand what I mean? I'll never let my comrades die — neither those words nor the conviction behind them are lies! It's not just you, Naruto-kun... we all hold those words and feelings in our hearts; it's what binds us together and makes us comrades. If we all give up and discard those words and feelings, then all the sacrifices we have made during the course of this war will have been for nothing.
And that is when... your comrades truly die! For you are then no longer comrades! That's... how I feel. So, stand with me, Naruto-kun. Because never going back on one's word... is my Ninja Way, too!"
"That's enough!" Obito bellowed with undisguised rage, the woman's words evoking emotions he would rather keep stifled.
Thrusting his arm forward, he gave the Jūbi a silent command. And the creature gave a dark shriek, it's ten tails coiling around its body like a protective cocoon. The movement was enough to send violent tremors rippling across the battlefield.
"Don't be hasty," Madara warned. "You're going to harm yourself, as well as the Jūbi !"
"I don't care!" snapped Obito, the beast generating a Bijuu Bomb as if from the sheer magnitude of the man's anger. "The Jūbi 's hide is tough!"
"Brace yourselves! They're gonna to hit us!" shouted a panicking shinobi.
In the same beat — perched upon an airborne familiar — Sai released Bee into a free fall. And the Jinchūriki quickly transitioned into Tailed Beast Mode. "Recharging complete!" he declared obnoxiously, knocking the Jūbi 's nuke back into its mouth and then detonating it with that of his own.
KABOOM!
The fiend's body expanded many times its size, and then deflated like a punctured balloon. Bee was hopelessly knocked away like a stray bullet in the process, painfully crashing into the ground.
"Bee-sama!" Karui called worrisomely, running over the edge of the massive crater the Bijuu's fall opened up in the earth.
"Please don't overdo it!" Omoi chided.
"There's no need to worry... protecting the alliance is my territory!" he rhymed despite his grave injuries.
With a breathtaking smile, Naruto took Hinata's small hand from his face and kissed the soft pads of her fingertips. Then he hooked his arm around the small of her spine and brought her against the wall of his chest.
Hiashi coughed awkwardly and turned his back.
Satoshi turned pea green with envy.
And Neji smiled.
Despite their audience, a familiar hunger arrested Naruto in a searing pillar of flames — blood and desire inflamed together, twin needs that centered on the goddess who felt so right in his embrace.
"Hinata... thank you," he whispered into her mouth as he kissed her, long and deep. All around them, their friends, along with the Shinobi Alliance — having received his answer — shared a cheerful roar as they pushed forward to meet destiny, to induce change.
"You guys are pretty open about your relationship now, aren't you?" said Ino teasingly, truly grateful that Naruto had saved her father, keeping her family whole.
Tenten laughed.
"Tch!" Kiba clicked his tongue angrily. "That damn show off!"
Kakashi signed. "Leave it to the number one Unpredictable Ninja to make out in front of the enemy."
Sakura laughed awkwardly.
"Well, with the abilities both of them have demonstrated, they're the only ones who could get away with pulling such a stunt."
Naruto took a step back from Hinata, feeling the gap of space like a sudden gust of chilled air. But he kept her hand in his, turning to face the Jūbi that had already rebounded from the vicious attack.
Still feeling the lingering trace of his kiss, Hinata regarded the uplifted sage with a warm smile. Naruto-kun... I've always... always... always been chasing after you. Finally, I was able to pinch the hem of your jacket and desperately try to keep up behind you. Now, we walk hand-in-hand and I am able to keep up with your pace.
I promise that I'll keep us both safe until the real you gets here. And I'll try to keep anyone from dying. You can count on me!
"Let's do this, Hinata!" Naruto roared confidently, both of them suddenly flaring with Kurama's chakra.
"U-Hn!"
The princess took a moment to marvel at the intense power churning through her body, the red cloak clinging to her form. A-Amazing... Naruto-kun is able to use such chakra...
Everyone looked on in shock. Even Sasuke and his group, hundreds of miles away, could distinctly feel the surge of power emanating from the Jinchūriki. And Obito and Madara wasn't enthused.
Nice work transforming and transferring my chakra, Naruto, Kurama complimented, regarding the boy with a wolfish grin inside their mental scape.
"I've gotten the hang of it," he replied gleefully. "Work with me, Kurama!"
That damn Nara shinobi..., the Bijuu thought to himself amusingly. He analyzed my chakra exchange capabilities extensively.
"We'll stand a better chance to beat down the Jūbi , if everyone gets a big boost," Naruto contemplated openly, disposing himself to the task.
We've kept them waiting for a while, Kurama continued. A few shadow clones should be okay.
Obito and Madara watched from atop their lofty mount as those three clones went around imparting the Kyūbi's chakra onto every single shinobi. Within just mere moments, thousands of flaming red balls dotted the battlefield as per the initial phase of Shikaku's strategy.
"That brat, Naruto...," Madara said. "Is he giving them the Nine-Tail's chakra?"
Obito responded by channeling more of his commanding chakra into the Jūbi , forcing a single tail to seek and destroyed. But Hinata managed to stave it back with a single hit from her Air Palm.
"That girl...," Madara regarded her closely. "She's gotten even stronger after getting power from Naruto. I've never seen a Hyūga with a second Kekkei Genkai before. Most impressive."
Employing a Kyūbi-ed up version of the Ino-Shika-Cho maneuver — along with the assistance of their respective clansmen — Team 10 was able to bound both Obito and the Jūbi in place. Then the alliance followed up my cleaving through the fiend's defensive tails and severing the Uchiha's connection in one fell swoop.
As the beast toppled over from the unified strength of thousands of men and woman — and a single dog — Obito and Madara were forced into a tactical retreat, their backs against a lofty rock formation. And before them stood a serious Naruto, backed by his comrades who had had more than enough of this ceaseless bloodshed.
But the villains had no intention to concede. And they did what any other animal would do when cornered — they lashed out.
"Fire Style: Majestic Flower Flame!"
Madara retaliated — launching a blistering fireball at the presumptuous insects. And Obito performed his own fire-based jutsu in tandem, both attacks covering a large area — melting rocks and burning the very air . But the shinobi didn't back down, not when the Orange Knight was among their ranks.
Naruto held his ground as the incinerating flames drew closer. Clasping his hands together, fortifying his chakra control, the Jinchūriki was able to strengthen the Kyūbi's defensive cloak, protecting both him and his comrades from the fiery assault.
Chōji looked down at his hands in disbelief. If we didn't have Naruto's Chakra Cloak, we'd be crisper than a roast pig!
Kurama grinned, looking down at his Jinchūriki who had undoubtedly transcended all others before him. Looks like things have gone your way, Fourth Hokage. Until now, the only one who was able to link their chakra to mine was Naruto, because he possesses Kushina's blood — and because he has been my Jinchūriki for many years.
And Naruto has matured to the point where he's skilled enough to sense and transmute my chakra to be compatible with other shinobi, and then hand it over to them. Though I can also help or use Naruto as an intermediary to give my chakra to anyone. The same exact way you handed over and inserted your own chakra into Naruto, Minato.
He's already... surpassed you both a while ago. The amount of chakra he's linking and delivering is on a completely different scale. Kushina, Minato... you're both pathetic; you both pale in comparison to your brat Naruto. Though, this is probably the power you wanted to give him all along.
Fierce glowing eyes peeked out beneath the fringes of dark black hair. The cursed Uchiha weren't deterred by the alliances' seemingly impenetrable defense. Instead, they upped their game — bombarding the shinobi with even stronger and more consecutive attacks. Naruto followed suit — strengthening their cloak in turn. But the exchange was steadily becoming a defensive battle on their part. And, while Naruto and Kurama were powerful, they were merely reflections of the originals; their chakra had a limit — and it was fast approaching.
As the battle intensified, Kakashi succeeded in pulling Obito into their shared dimension where a clash of love, friendship, dreams and ideologies ensued.
Madara, on the other hand — despite being constantly assaulted by resentful shinobi — managed to zero in on the distant chakra signature of his archrival. The man had somehow made it back to the land of the living, and he could feel the truth of it pulsing through every fiber of his being. A fierce and desperate battle to the death between the world's strongest — nothing excited him more than the chance to unleash his full potential once again.
The Jūbi feasted on the man's dark desire, empowering itself to break free from the earthen prison erected by an amped up Kitsuchi. Doing a quick regeneration of its missing arm, the untethered beast gave a deafening roar as it summoned its dark and ancient power.
Bad news, Naruto! Kurama exclaimed urgently. The Jūbi is planning to do the Cataclysm! The land's about to be ripped apart!
Even tucked away inside his pocket of space and time, Obito could still vividly feel the creature's devastating power. It can't be controlled anymore, because they cut the link between the Jūbi and myself. Although, I guess it's about time I became its Jinchūriki.
"The real fun... is just beginning," Madara mused, encasing himself inside his absolute defense — Susanoo.
As if the beast was the conductor of natural disasters; the progenitor of oblivion, the atmosphere destabilized, heeding its dark decree. The skies darkened, hurling down lightening bolts upon the barren land. Fierce winds spiraled into destructive tornadoes, peeling away at the bedrock — and even the sea intervened, swallowing up parts of the crumbling landscape.
As the Jūbi 's dark bellow rose to a fevered pitch, the destruction intensified, as if it was intent on enveloping the entire world. But no sooner had the storm extended its reach than it dissipated, culminating with the Jūbi 's silence.
"That should have cleared most of them out," said Madara maliciously as the dust subsided.
But he couldn't be anymore wrong. While the cataclysm was enough to knock them off their feet, not one shinobi had perished in the chaos — not when they were sheathed by the Kyūbi's cloak.
Naruto, on the other hand, took serious damage from the entire ordeal. He had bestowed most of his own protection upon his comrades — now, he was running on mostly fumes, his Kurama-Mode deactivated.
"Nice try pretending to be tough," accused Madara condescendingly. "But it seems you've reached your limit. You've given me something to look forward to... but I think it's high time you made your exit."
"Everyone!" said Hinata courageously, making her way by her fiancés side with the alliance in tow. "Let's join together and fight as one!"
"Right!" they all give a hearty roar.
And Naruto couldn't help but beam with happiness.
"Time for you to heal," said Sakura, her hands already resting on his back. And, with a flick of her hand, Hinata was healing him, too.
Madara frowned, unimpressed. "Such a futile demonstration."
The Jūbi was upset, too — stirred by the presence of the other Bijuu it sensed within the tenacious Jinchūriki. Without hesitation, the fiend began undergoing another transformation toward its original form, intent on crushing the insects that stood before it with greater force. And the size of the Bijuu Bomb it started charging was definitely in another league.
With their beacon of hope out of commission, and his protection temporarily unavailable, the alliance couldn't help but question what worth could be salvaged from their efforts in that critical moment. Before their morale could crumble beyond repair, another familiar hero made his way onto the battlefield, effortlessly teleporting away the Jūbi 's attempt at utter and complete annihilation.
"Am I late?" the stranger asked upon his speedy return, his cape lightly descending behind him like the breath of liberty and justice.
"Nah. You're actually right on time, dad," Naruto responded coolly.
Hinata's eyes widened in surprise as she assessed the perfect sculpture from which his son was inspired. "So he's Naruto-kun's..."
"Who's he?" Sakura still seemed confused.
"My name is Minato Namikaze," he greeted neatly over his shoulder. "Brace for an impending explosion; I sent the Jūbi 's attack back toward the sea."
A fierce blast followed his words. And powerful winds rivaling those of the tornadoes assaulted the unsuspecting alliance, throwing them into a panic.
As his golden, Naruto-like hair fluttered in the wild gust, Sakura couldn't help but ponder the color of his eyes. She was alarmed to find the characteristics of Edo Tensei etched in them — and the man could evidently note her anxiety.
"Relax. I'm an ally," he reassured with a polite smile upon turning around. "Thanks for healing Naruto; we'll need his strength if we hope to end this war."
"...Sure."
The man's eyes softened as they assessed the other kunoichi beside his son, and the princess couldn't help but blush. "You must be Hinata; I heard about you from Kushina."
"F-Father...," she responded with an awkward but cute bow.
"FATHER?" Sakura exclaimed in a drawl.
"Yeah — my dad is the Fourth Hokage," Naruto informed, scratching the blush that crept into his cheek.
"EHHH?"
Minato smiled awkwardly, then turned his attention back to the Hyūga princess who was the polar opposite of his wife. "Kushina deeply regrets not being able to spend more time with you — but the little time you shared together made a deep impression on her."
Hinata's cheeks reddened even more as she reminisced about bizarre encounter.
"So, why did this happen so suddenly?" Sakura asked, looking down at Naruto who knelt before her. "It seems like you knew?"
"I'm not sure who summoned them..."
"Them?"
Both Sakura and Hinata shared the question.
"Yeah — I sensed their chakra while I was in Kurama Mode. The others should be arriving soon..."
"Minato, you're as fast as ever," Sarutobi complimented as he made his grand entrance, garbed in his customary light armor.
"T-Third Hokage-sama?" Sakura uttered in surprise. "And also that's..."
"Fourth... you're better at teleporting than I am," said the second Hokage challengingly upon making his own cool descent.
"All right, let's do this!" the First said by means of introduction.
"No way."
"I don't believe it..."
"The First... The Second... The Third... and even the Fourth... Minato-sama!"
"I see... so you're the ones who stopped the attack, Hokage-sama!"
The alliance felt a renewed air of confidence in the wake of their latest reinforcements. With the former Kages' aid, they were bound to take down the evil that sought to bend their world askew.
"But who reanimated you?" one shinobi had the gall to ask.
"Orochimaru summoned us," Sarutobi informed curtly. "We need to stop this war quickly."
"What?" Sakura poked her head up. "Didn't Orochimaru die?"
"This is amazing!" one guy interjected excitedly. "The previous Hokage are going to join us in battle!"
"Now that's reassuring!"
"I don't know what's going on anymore," groaned Sakura.
"There's still more help coming," Naruto informed with a nonchalance that rivaled his father's, his wounds just about healed.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Madara landed on a nearby cliff, like a crashing meteorite, eyes dilated in uncontrolled excitement. "I've been waiting for you, Hashirama!"
The founding Kage thrust an accusing finger at his archnemisis and best friend, his expression almost dreary. "I'll deal with you later! I have to stop the Jūbi first."
The man's face did a quick morph from comical disappointment to cool indifference. "He hasn't changed a bit; we're never on the same page."
Naruto's eyes shimmered like an eight-year-old when his father activated a form akin to Kurama Mode. Then, after making the proper arrangements, teleported the Second and Third Hokage at different locations necessary for their strategy.
Forming a square around the crazed beast, the former leaders quickly sealed the creature within an extremely powerful version of the Crimson Ray Shield. And then the First employed the use of his Sage Mode to restrain the fiend even further. And, boy oh boy, the Jūbi wasn't pleased one bit. But, squeal as it may, the creature couldn't readily free itself from its binds.
The sudden appearance of another shinobi tore Sakura's attention away from the horrid beast — and, for a moment, she couldn't even hear its ear-splitting screech. All that mattered was the lovely dark knight who allowed her the privilege of basking in his presence.
Hinata's eyes widened. S-Sasuke-kun!
Naruto grinned. "You sure took your time getting here, Sasuke."
Sakura's eyes quivered, her lips parting. "Sasuke...kun?"
The Rogue Ninja casted Naruto a sidelong glance before briefly regarding the woman who would bear his child; the woman who firmly held his heart captive. He tried to feign indifference but Naruto could see straight through the brittle mask.
"Sasuke-kun! Why?"
Sakura's exclamation won the attention of the other six rookies, and Ino quickly began closing the distance between them for a warm welcome. But Shikamaru and Chōji quickly intervened, cutting the reunion short.
"He's an enemy!" Shikamaru reminded curtly.
"Ino... you better keep your distance," Chōji warned.
"You're all still as noisy as ever," said Sasuke in a rather aloof tone.
"Why the hell are you here, bastard!" barked Kiba.
In the presence of her friends, Sakura betrayed her emotions and fostered an expression of discomfort, instead. "Why are you here, Sasuke-kun?" she asked, her eyebrows descending about emerald eyes.
"A lot of things happened," he simply said. "I've decided to protect Konoha. And then I'll... become Hokage."
...
His face and tone of voice was so serious that everyone took a moment to process his words. But they just couldn't register — and the whole sentiment just threw everyone for a loop, their faces twisted in utter shock.
Sakura even more so. "EHH?"
"You can't just come back all of a sudden and crack a lame joke like that, you Rogue Ninja!" shouted Kiba, more animalistic than his canine partner. "Do you even know what it means to be Hokage?"
"I don't know what happened to you, but that's not possible," Shikamaru contributed sternly. "Do you even realize what you're saying?"
Sasuke thought about that for a while.
Through Orochimaru's use of Edo Tensei, he managed to receive an audience with the former Kage who each explained what they tried to accomplish as leaders in the time of their rule. Essentially, it was to preserve the integrity of the First Hokage's legacy — the Will of Fire. But what exactly was it?
According to Senju Hashirama — the founder of the village — it simply meant loving, believing and cherishing everyone in the village as family. Despite being from rivaling clans, a young Hashirama and Madara were able to forge a bond through the shared understanding of what it meant to lose their siblings.
While their kin were enslaved by an insatiable thirst for revenge — and a egotistical urge to reign supreme among the ranks of men, the boys simply desired an end to a bloody and unrelenting war. Through their own experience, they knew if people tried to understand each other; if they shared their happiness and burdens, they would truly be capable of achieving peace and unity. But fate was a fickle and unpredictable thing.
As the warriors paved the path to realizing this dream, Madara ended up losing the one thing he held especially dear — his younger brother — and falling from grace, as a result. This gave birth to twisted ideologies that utterly veered the man off the rails of morality.
If Hashirama hadn't hesitated in eliminating him when the chance had presented itself, Sasuke was certain the world of today would be significantly different.
As opposed to the founder's acts of idealism, Sasuke would govern the world with an iron fist. And he won't hesitate to eradicate variables necessary to facilitate this goal. At this point, it was no longer possible to mend the world with methodologies that could be weighed on a morality scale. A more unorthodox approach was necessary.
"Do you think we can just forget all the things you've done?" Shino accused bluntly, following up on Kiba and Shikamaru's verbal attack.
"Yeah, I realize you probably can't," Sasuke replied coolly. "However, it doesn't matter what you guys think of me."
Naruto frowned.
"All of the previous Kage created these current circumstances. So I will become Hokage and change the village."
— You don't become Hokage in order to be acknowledged by the village. The one who is acknowledged by everyone, is the one who becomes Hokage. I leave Sasuke to you.
Leave it to me, Naruto responded to the distant memory, as if Itachi was still within his midst. Pushing to his feet following the end of Sakura's treatment, he made his way toward his eternal rival and best friend. "The Hokage is going to be me," he corrected confidently.
Hashirama regarded the hatchlings over his shoulder. "I'm glad there's so much interest in becoming Hokage... but you guys are taking too much time! Start infusing chakra right now! We'll take down the Jūbi with an all-out attack!"
Naruto donned his battle-ready face, golden eyebrows descending above oceanic eyes. "Hinata. Sakura-chan... thanks for looking after me," he said gratefully. "Please look after each other."
Both kunoichi watched — a tad disgruntled — as their man hurried off toward the entrapped beast. And, Sakura, in particular, wasn't having it.
"Sakura-chan?" Naruto began, surprised she had followed them.
"So do you see me as some sort of weak woman who can't keep up with you two?" she said in an undertone, her words saturated with indignation. "Do you think Tsunade-sama would be the only one out of the Legendary Sennin to inadequately train her student?"
Naruto and Sasuke watched her wordlessly.
"I'm almost there," she pleaded earnestly. "I'll be at full capacity in a little bit. Then I can output my true power. Just like you, I'm a member of Team Seven... and I'm a student of one of the Legendary Sennin!"
WHOOSH!
Another participant appeared, as quick as Sakura had, and her cheeks were pouted in her own indignation.
"I-I may not be a member of Team Seven... nor was I a student of one of the Legendary Sennin, but I'm a mother-to-be, just like Sakura-san."
They all blushed fiercely at that fact.
Kurama grinned.
Hinata gathered her bearings and frowned confidently, cute fists pressing against her chest. "I won't allow our baby's father to go off to war without the proper support!"
"Hinata..." Sakura was impressed by her straightforwardness.
And a slick smile soon stretched Naruto's lips. "Okay then!" he exclaimed, driving a hand into his fist. "The Inseparable Five is assembled and ready to go!"
"Right!" everyone gave a hearty response.
"That sight sure brings back memories, doesn't it, Shikamaru?" Ino regarded the couples with a smile. "And to think Hinata gets to stand up there with them. She's undergone a huge spurt in growth, herself."
"Well, if Sasuke's willing to help us defeat the enemy, I won't turn him away," he responded wearily. "Even though I don't want to accept him..."
"It's been a long time since our class has been back together," Chōji was more optimistic and cheerful than his best friend. "I haven't felt like this since the Chūnin Exams."
"I'm going to become Hokage!" Kiba shouted, desperately trying to win everyone's attention. But he failed miserably. "Hey, are you guys even listening?"
"Kiba...," Shino began condescendingly. "No one's paying attention right now... and it's pitiful. Stop it. It's because the impact of Sasuke's sudden appearance and his declaration to become Hokage are much too great."
The boisterous roar of an infuriated Jūbi dismissed the rookies' conflicted reunion. Displeased with its confinement, the creature molded another destructive projectile, and much to the horror of the bystanders. But, the Kage and the fortitude of their barrier wasn't to be underestimated. As powerful as the nuke was, it didn't prove strong enough to break the shield. And, thus, the blast was contained, with the beast suffering damage, instead.
The Allied Forces roared in triumph, their morale swiftly returning. Now that the Kage were rooted among their ranks, nothing was impossible. The tides of the war had shifted. They could feel it.
Capitalizing on their fiery spirit, Hashirama spawned five clones that led fractions of the shinobi into the barrier at its four angles. The fifth made his way before Madara, but the Uchiha wouldn't be patronized. He found a comfortable boulder against which to lean, opting to wait for the original to face him one-off, without any distracts.
But what of the Jūbi ? Wasn't the beast a crucial part of his plan? Or was the power of his eyes able to foresee a future that no one else could perceive?
The ground trembled as the alliance converged on the motionless beast. Beneath the weight of the First Hokage's sealing technique, the creature was helplessly bound and subjected to the shinobi's vengeance. But that didn't stop the fiend from striving to protect itself.
Shifting its enigmatic power, the Jūbi began propagating — chunks of elephant-sized flesh fell from its body like worker bee's spilling out from a hive. Before the lumps of mass could reach the ground, they morphed into quadruped and humanoid monsters sporting menacing blades and spikes. They barreled toward the oncoming forces, intent on decapitating and skewering them.
Naruto and Sasuke took the lead.
And Sakura and Hinata couldn't help but gaze at the backs of the duo who were constantly playing the vanguard in their countless battles. Compared to them, both kunoichi had always been damsels in distress — constantly burdening the boys with weaknesses that seemed far too many to count.
But this time was different.
The first step to achieving any goal was to first believe in it — and they believed. They craved change and labored for it, securing a power to prove their worth and preserve the bond they managed to build with the one they loved.
Locked in combat with an enemy brandishing sharp, scythe-like appendages as its arms, Sakura heaved a confident smile following the mark of Creation Rebirth appearing on her forehead.
"I just now reached full capacity. I can finally unleash it!"
Power surged throughout her body, the likes of which she had never felt before. And that smile stretched into a nasty smirk when she planted a right hook into the fiend's gut, sending it violently blasting passed a startled Naruto and Sasuke like a stray bullet.
The creature plowed into a few dozen of its advancing counterparts, like a bowling ball crashing into pins. Then Sakura leaped into a high arch, bringing down her fist like Thor's hammer of justice.
CRASH!
The earth and bedrock yielded to the mighty assault, mountainous-sized boulders crushing the grotesque bastards into oblivion.
"What monstrous strength!" Hashirama exclaimed excitedly. "It might as well be even greater than Tsuna's!"
Shizune agreed, watching her junior intently. Amassing chakra at a continuous rate over three years requiring extremely delicate chakra control. Rebirth Creation — the technique that I couldn't even achieve.
"And I have no need to keep up a youthful appearance," Sakura gloated openly, thoroughly savoring the flabbergasted expression smeared over the boy's faces.
Unbeknownst to them, however, was the larger beast that had silently encroached upon the girl from behind, cloaked by the cover of dust and debris. But nothing could breech the acute prowess of the almighty Byakugan.
SHINGG!
A serpent wrought of ice emerged from the underground with an enchanting hum, gripping the creeping fiend in its gaping maw, freezing it solid. The Allied Forces looked on in awe as they both shattered overhead, hailing down glittering shards of ice that skewered unsuspecting monsters. The malicious creatures shrieked in alarm as the fragments proceeded to imitate their quick morphing performance earlier — transforming into snow-white wolves with piercing blue eyes.
"Protect!" Hinata chanted crisply, evoking a large-scale spell that enveloped the entire alliance in a silver aura that augmented their defense. "I'll take care of the smaller ones," she announced confidently. "Everyone else can focus on the others. I've given you some of my power!"
Disposing themselves to the will of their alpha, the pack of ferocious wolves pounced into action, corning the beasts as they would prey in the wild. One fiend squealed and flailed as a bite on the leg had its entire body undergoing a quick freeze. Another wolf bit down on a Rasengan, the resulting explosion engulfing a score of the grotesque creatures. And the wolf's destruction sent a wave of ice shards flying in every direction, skewering surrounding enemies and ultimately freezing and shattering them.
"This must be the power that Kushina unlocked," Minato smiled amusingly.
"W-When did Hinata master such abilities?" Hiashi stuttered in shock. Then he looked down at his hands which radiated the power bestowed by his once incompetent daughter.
Neji's lips pulled into a smile of veneration. "Hinata-sama... you've undoubtedly surpassed me now. Naruto has had a great impact on you, as he did on me."
"If you ask me... my girlfriend is way more badass than yours," Naruto challenged with a lopsided grin.
"Tch!" Sasuke clicked his tongue flippantly.
Then all three shinobi joined the kunoichi in her glorious spotlight, their backs against each other.
"Awesome job out there, Hinata!" Sakura praised exuberantly.
"Umm... Sakura-chan, we're here too, y'know."
"At this rate, the boys will be watching our backs from now on," Hinata chimed in with a rare display of challenge.
"She's right," Sakura added. "Keep complaining and Hinata and I might just grab the title of Hokage away from you."
"Eh?" Naruto exclaimed. "Not you guys, too!"
Drunk on the impressive flair displayed by their classmates, the other rookies threw themselves into the fray — demonstrating skills and techniques they had developed and refined over the years, while others surpassed their limits. But, no sooner had they eliminated one wave of monsters, than another was summoned in their wake.
It was unrelenting.
And the fiends grew larger in size by the moment, gradually overwhelming the shinobi despite Hinata's divine protection.
Hoping to secure a preemptive strike by air, Sai quickly closed the distance between himself and the Jūbi 's main body. But he was quickly shot down with a projectile by a watchful fiend.
"Naruto, can you share chakra with everyone again?" he asked breathlessly upon being rescued, noting that the orange-haired shinobi had donned the Kyūbi's chakra again.
"I can't right now," he replied regrettably. "Kurama hasn't finished amassing chakra yet."
"In order to take down the main body, we need to mow down the big ones and slip passed them. The distance is too great to make a single leap for it. We also need time to weave signs and repel the enemy's attacks. Without your chakra — and if Hinata's protection wavers — it's very likely we'll suffer heavy casualties. And the Medical Corps can't come up to the front."
Instantaneously, Team Seven bit the corner of their thumb and dropped their hand to the ground.
"Mow down and slip past? Easy."
"This guy has the power to clear the distance in a single leap and repel enemy attacks."
"I can now stay nearby and heal anyone who suffers serious injuries at all times."
"And I'll do my best to slow down the enemy's movements."
Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura summoned their beastly comrade, while Hinata conjured over a dozen lions wrought of blue chakra.
Feeling as those the proportions wasn't quite right, Naruto glimpsed downward and also noted that the color of his amphibious comrade was quite different from what he knew. "Wait... you're Gamakichi?"
"Pops was tied up with some negotiations," he explained in a husky voice that was a far cry from his youthful cords. "So I came in his place. Disappointed?"
"Nah," Naruto allowed a cool grin. "I'm just surprised you got big so damned quickly. I'm even more shocked than I was about Akamaru."
"You humans grow too slow, that's all."
"You made be right about that..."
"Anyway — what's happening?" asked Gamakichi, noting the restless horde marching toward them.
"See that big guy in the back — think you could get me in close?"
"Consider it done."
"Sasuke-sama, your desire?"
The deep voice came from a snake almost rivaling the size of Manda. But the difference in their temperament was like night and day.
"I need you to just keep advancing forward," the Uchiha commanded prestigiously. "I'll get the real body in the back."
"Sakura-chan," Katsuyu greeted cheerfully. "You're finally able to invoke the Creation Rebirth Mark! Tsunade-sama would be so proud!"
"Katsuyu-sama, we don't have much time," Sakura explained politely. "Please divide and attend to each person in the Allied Shinobi Forces. Our role will be to heal everyone."
"I never expected to see the Three-Way Deadlock Summoning again," said Minato with his customary smile.
And Sarutobi chuckled, the man's words bringing back the memory of his former students and their impressive accomplishments throughout his lifetime. It's a new era!
Suddenly, one of the fiends gave a pained shriek, with many other desperate howls following suit. It was Hinata — through her ferocious legion of lions, she was paralyzing the monsters by attacking their tenketsu (pressure points) with her chakra. And Team Seven registered this as their signal to charge.
Sasuke and his partner, Aoda, quickly started weaving through the forest of aggressive monsters. Naruto and Gamakichi made a leap over their ranks, effortlessly deflecting the same type of projectiles that had downed Sai before. Sakura formed her seals and started synchronizing her power with Katsuyu, who, was already dispersing and making her way to every soldier on the battlefield.
In the same moment that she started healing the shinobi, Naruto and Sasuke got within range.
"Wind Release: Ultra-Big Ball Rasenshuriken!"
"Inferno Style: Susanoo Flame Control!"
The Second Hokage watched as both projectiles hit their mark, a rare grin splitting his face. I don't recall ever seeing a Kagutsuchi of that magnitude. And they combined jutsu with matching chakra ratios. "That's difficult even for a seasoned duo."
While Naruto and Sasuke watched as the Jūbi shrieked and squirmed under the unrelenting torment of the hellish black flames, Orochimaru, Karin and Suigetsu were en route to the Kages' deathbed.
Under different circumstances, this would have been a golden opportunity for the rogue Sennin to eliminate the national leaders in one fell swoop in order to spearhead his own agenda. But, if humanity had any hopes of winning this war, they would need all the help they could get.
Whatever the case, Orochimaru had pushed his ambitions onto the back burner at this point in time. Right now, he was curious to see what path Sasuke would take. With the wind of countless ideologies filling his sails, what answer would he come to at the end? Will he ultimately plunge the world into an inescapable darkness, or would he usher in an era of peace and prosperity? Only time would — and Orochimaru wanted to bear witness.
BOOOM!
In a quiet dimensional corner of their making, Kakashi and Obito collided. The horrific chorus of breaking bones, ripping flesh and spewing blood assaulted the atmosphere.
Obito coughed, blood gushing from the corners of his mouth. Kakashi had an electricity-coated hand through the man's torso. But, in return, the Jōnin's chest was also punctured by a large shuriken.
Both men stood their ground, locked in a silent battle of endurance. Blood pooled in their clothes, the scent of iron filling their nose — such was the realism of the genjutsu that gripped Kakashi. But it wasn't enough to pin the man down. On the contrary, he only grew weary of his former comrade's roundabout way of fighting.
A few heated exchanges culminated in a genuine will to fight. And their duel ended on the same note as the genjutsu with both warriors suffering a wound through the chest — Obito's more severe and life-threatening than Kakashi's. But the Uchiha wore a grin of a man who tasted victory. It was suspicious, even more so when he made no delay to teleport back to the battlefield, mounted atop the immobilized Jūbi .
Sensing his return, Madara sprang into action and quickly dispatched of Hashirama's clone who didn't even remotely held a candle to him. Looks like that's of no use to me anymore, he concluded stoically, noting Obito's fatal injury. I wanted to fight Hashirama before I became a Jinchūriki... I guess I have no choice.
A simple hand sign had Obito's body entirely under the man's control. It's time to make him bring me back with Rinne Tensei. "Obito," he said coldly. "You're just a backup that I had cultivated for my rebirth."
— You saved me, Gramps? Thank you.
— It's too early to thank me. I intend to have you... repay your debt.
"The time has come," Madara grinned maliciously, shrugging off the distant memory of the crippled boy he rescued years passed.
Well aware of the monumental threat a fully resurrected Madara would bring, Hashirama dispatched a few more clones, even as he alerted the strongest amongst his ranks of the looming disaster. Naruto, Sasuke, Tobirama — everyone quickly raced toward Obito, but it was a clone of Minato who closed the distance in time and managed to inflict a fatal wound.
"A Flying Thunder God marking never disappears. I didn't teach you that, did I, Obito?" the man's words were low and sorrowful as he looked down at his former comrade and student.
But the Uchiha sought neither reminisce nor pity. And the wounds inflicted upon his body weren't enough to douse the flame of his ambition. Following a dark grin, the Jūbi began seeping into his chest, like a black hole devouring a planet. And Minato and Sasuke would have been consumed, as well, if not for Naruto's intervention.
"What? What's happening?"
"Is the Jūbi changing form again?"
Minato and Sasuke looked from Naruto to the Jūbi whose gigantic form had now shrunken down to an orb less than a fraction of its original size.
"No, that's not what's happening," denied Naruto urgently, feeling a familiar resonance emanating from the tightly wrapped cocoon. "He shook off Madara's control and was weaving the signs to do this from the beginning!"
CRACK!
A single uneven line slithered across the pallid orb before it shattered like glass, light reflecting off the fragments as they plummet to earth. But the contents of the glass cocoon didn't fall, as well. He simply flexed his fingers, his chest rising as he took in a lungful of fresh air — and a pair of contrasting eyes blinked open with renew zeal and intent.
"That's the Jūbi 's Jinchūriki...," Naruto informed slowly, his words cautioning against any rash actions.
Hinata broke out into a sweat, recalling the few seconds leading up to the Uchiha's transformation. "The Jūbi was completely absorbed into that man," she replied to a curious Sakura.
Feeling a spell of anxiety, the Allied Forces gazed up at the shinobi who was inexplicable floating in midair. The upper and lower back of his scaly silver skin featured five parallel appendages tipped with a pink flame. The center of his back depicted a Rinnegan-like circle above nine magatama, and he wore a dark garb below his waste.
W-What is this? Tobirama stuttered, his eyes locking with the monster whose power seemed almost unfathomable.
This is bad, Hashirama thought gravely, keeping a tight lock on his section of the barrier. Jinchūriki, huh?
Willing the complexities of his Wood Element in coordination with Sage Mode, the Hokage dropped a series of tori gate-like barriers onto the newest born villain. But Obito promptly shattered the feeble attempt at binding him, and went on to effortlessly destroying the Four Crimson Ray barrier erected by the Kages.
"Is it just me," Bee began, breaking out into a sweat. "Or is he stronger than when he was gigantic?"
Before, it was just throwing its power around, replied Gyūki. But now it's learned to focus it.
Hiashi rallied the soldiers to brace for whatsoever the godly tyrant might throw at them. But Obito didn't even spare a momentary glance in their direction; he, instead, made his way in front of the boy who was the youthful reflection of his younger self.
Mounted atop his amphibian comrade and flanked by his father and best friend, Naruto looked down assessingly at the silver entity. Countless people may perish if his clone got vanquished, but it was imperative that he engaged and analyzed Obito's newly attained powers so that his original stood a chance.
The Hokage had the same idea in mind, and they quickly appeared between Naruto and the mastermind, locking eyes with the emotionless fiend. As opposed to a single clone that was susceptible to dismissal after taking heavy damage, or expending all of their chakra, Edo Tensei soldiers were immortal and wielded an unlimited supply of chakra. It was more ideal if they played the part.
"I'll be blunt," Hashirama said with a critical frown. "This guy is stronger than me."
"No offense, but it appears so," Sarutobi replied.
"Even if you reabsorb your remaining clones, you're no match, Elder Brother," Tobirama added regrettably.
"I know. However..."
Hashirama knew his power better than anyone — and it paled in comparison to the monster that stood before them. The objective, however, wasn't to overwhelm but to pressure the enemy into revealing his abilities. And a fierce three-on-one battle ensued to that end, while Naruto, Sasuke and Minato observed from a safe distance.
As expected, Obito was completely out of their league. Hashirama's clone being quickly dismissed was evident proof of that. Tobirama and Sarutobi bombarded the man with an impressive arsenal of jutsu, but the otherworldly monster came out unscathed, his stoic expression never changing.
Hoping to turn the tides before the situation became dire, Hashirama — the original — made an attempt to join the battle. But he was abruptly impeded by a scheming Madara. And once the Second and Third Hokage were incapacitated, Obito turned his attention to Naruto and Sasuke, quickly taking to the air to close the distance between them.
But something unexpected happened.
Obito's stomach suddenly grew ten times its size, sending him plummeting to the ground like a boulder.
"W-What's going on?" Naruto exclaimed.
Sasuke wasn't quite sure, either.
I get it... Minato deduced judiciously. The Jūbi hasn't completely synched with its Jinchūriki yet. This is our chance to take it down!
Summoning his original, the duo charged toward the immobilized villain with a Rasengan combo in mind. But Obito wasn't just about to lay down and accept the beating — his ascension to Sage of the Sixth Paths opened up a plethora of capabilities, and he intended to make use of them.
"Gamakichi, below you!" Naruto warned urgently.
Sasuke's head snapped around in tandem to the toad driving his massive knife into the ground. But his retaliation was futile, and the enemy's assault connected, sending him flying backward into a high arch and slamming onto his back.
Minato pivoted his head around, shocked to find Obito's upper body slithering around on the offensive, Orochimaru-style. He passed underground? It's just his upper body!
Using the Truth Seeking Balls equipped in both hands — malleable orbs of black chakra that encompasses the power of all five basic natures — Obito launched an attack at Naruto who was still airborne. Just before he teleported to safety, Sasuke thwarted the strike by spawning a single one of Susanoo's hands.
"You're not the one... who's going to sever the past," Sasuke said with a nasty scowl. "I am!"
Disregarding the ramblings of a delusional child, Obito lunged forward, faster than they could react, and clutched their faces in an iron grip. He was intent on ending them both. No longer did he care about pitting them against one another; all that mattered was commencing the ultimate jutsu. And that meant exterminating all those who opposed him.
Minato pushed to his knees after taking a crushing hit from Obito's bottom half. I must make it in time... he urged inwardly, forming his seals. What? My marking on Obito disappeared?
Just before the robotic Jinchūriki could blast their heads right off their shoulders, Naruto, almost instinctively, extended his chakra arms and grabbed ahold of both Sasuke and his father, instantly teleporting them all over to Gamakichi's location.
Sasuke gritted his teeth upon gathering his bearings. He was infuriated by the way Obito brushed him off, and even more so, by the fact that he was hopelessly saved by Naruto, who, was supposed to be beneath him.
"Y-You can use the Flying Thunder God Technique?" Minato exclaimed in both surprise and excitement. "How did you—"
"You can thank Ero-Sennin for that," Naruto returned with a smile.
Minato chuckled inwardly. Looks like my boy is as accomplished as Sasuke — and to think this is just his clone.
Obito uprooted his body from underground, his eyes never leaving his target. But, in his attempt to right his body proportions, the power inside of him went rampant. The Jūbi was relentless in its effort to rip the man asunder and reclaim its place on earth as a natural disaster. It preyed upon its host's consciousness like a ravenous beast, eating away at his memories, his very humanity.
Just before that precious fragment that held the memory of Rin — the woman of his dreams — was entirely consumed, however, Obito asserted his will. The Jūbi found itself gradually losing the little influence it once wielded. And even the nine Bijuu sunk even deeper into the abyss of the man's absolute control.
Having set up the field for a multi-faceted attack, Minato charged in for a decisive blow. But his target had changed. The once stoic expression that the tyrant wore softened into that of a condescending human. And now he wielded nine Truth Seeking Orbs, instead of two, with one fashioned into a staff. His physical appearance was mostly the same, except for a few subtle changes, which included a pair of horns jotting out from his forehead.
Minato didn't waver. He pushed forward, clashing with his kunai that broke into half against the power of the man's staff. In the next instant, Obito brought his hand down, like an edged blade, effortlessly taking the Kage's right arm before be managed to bolt.
"He got me, but I'm okay!" Minato said upon rejoining his comrades.
"You sure about that?" Obito pointed.
Everyone blanched at the sight of a Truth Seeking Orb attached in place of the man's missing arm. And the blinding light it began radiating spoke of an imminent explosion. But Tobirama was suddenly there, the clone bringing both the nuke and its master to another location where the man could solely experience the byproduct of his own creation.
KABOOM!
Susanoo brought his sword down in one fluid motion. It was caught between the palms of a wooden titan that rivaled the size and strength of the chakra-forged warrior. And a shockwave rippled outward around them.
Madara and Hashirama were entirely engrossed in their own personal war — an unfinished grudge dating back over a hundred years. The earth trembled as they exchanged blows, and the Allied Forces look on in dread.
"A-Amazing!"
"They're on a completely different level!"
"So this is the battle capacity of our predecessors..."
Shikamaru noted as the ongoing battle ate away at the shinobis' morale. Hashirama's words and leadership had instilled hope and courage before, but now the intensity of the man's personal battle was inadvertently robbing them of what little confidence they had left.
Even a small power... can be helpful, Shikamaru announced to the alliance through Ino's telepathy. We may not be of any help now, but there might come a time when we'll be needed. So don't take your eyes off the battlefield. For, if such a time arrives, our power could change the course of this world. We can't afford to relax and let our guard down, even for one second.
Temari looked around quietly, observing as the dejected expressions that hung on everyone's faces changed to determination. And her own lips curved into a smile. Shikamaru… you would make a great Hokage. The ability to sway people's hearts is practically a requisite of any Kage.
Obito rose from the explosion's aftermath like a God, the orbs that wrapped him into a protective cocoon unraveling themselves. Again, he was completely unscathed. And Naruto and Sasuke had practically had enough of simply staying on the defensive while everyone else did all the work.
Gauging Naruto's output using his Sharingan, Sasuke combined his black flames with the sage's Rasengan. It was no use stopping them — hence, Tobirama decided to bend the circumstances in their favor. And it was convenient he had managed to mark Obito beforehand.
Marking each other with their technique formula, both Kage sprung into action. Tobirama was suddenly behind Obito, a hand upon his shoulder. Minato, at the same time, allowed himself to get hit by Naruto and Sasuke's combination attack. A millisecond later, Obito found himself swapping places with the Yellow Flash, the whistle of the Rasenshuriken moving up an octave as it registered its true target. Together with the fiery breath that was Amaterasu, both jutsus wreaked havoc on the silver fiend.
But any hope that had sprouted in the warriors were short-lived. While the Truth Seeking Orbs couldn't keep up with the assault to protect their master, Obito had still sustained zero damage. If anything, they had only managed to stir just a modicum of his anger. And he slowly levitated above them, looking down condescendingly at the humans who struggled in vain against his divine will.
"No effect at all..." Tobirama said assessingly, stating the obvious.
"We can't touch those black, transforming spheres," Minato added, stifling the frustration behind his words. "Our attacks have no effect on him... he's quick on both offense and defense."
"What a pain!" Sasuke clicked his tongue.
"Man, he's even more prefect than how I envision myself in my dreams," Naruto said with a frown. "How do we compete with that?"
"It's like he's truly obtained dreamlike power..."
Tobirama was more focused on Minato's missing arm than his descriptive speech. "That's odd," he observed.
"What is?"
"Your arm was ripped off... there should be dust swirling around to restore it by now."
Everyone thought about that for a while.
"Our Edo Tensei bodies aren't regenerating..."
"I have come to possess the same power as the Founder of Shinobi," Obito enlightened calmly. "You can no longer measure me by the standards you are used to."
Tobirama considered the man's words, breaking out into a cold sweat. "Don't tell me your jutsu..."
"What does he mean by the same power as the Founder of Shinobi?" asked Minato curiously.
Naruto's frown deepened as he recalled information he's read from Jiraiya's notes. And the Bijuu had mentioned the name a few times, as well.
"Fourth...," Tobirama began, a critical edge to his voice. "Try not to get seriously injured again, even with our reanimated bodies. He's probably using a jutsu based on shadow and light techniques that nullify all ninjutsu."
Everyone stopped breathing.
"In other words, if he destroys our reanimated bodies... we'll be unable to regenerate and, ultimately, die. Also, assume that right arm of yours is permanently gone."
"If that's the case, we'll need to fight him even more carefully."
"But, since ninjutsu won't work on him, this will be tricky."
"How about physical attacks?"
"Let's try it out."
A muscle worked in Naruto's jaw. And Sasuke managed to note the brief flicker of frustration that gleamed in his eyes, before it was gone.
Flipping his senses inward, Naruto materialized himself inside the Kyūbi's mental scape. I've trained too hard to allow these guys to burden themselves with our problems; they've already played their part. I need to turn the tables somehow...
Kurama looked down, also noting his Jinchūriki's anxiety.
"How much longer, Kurama?"
I'm still infusing chakra, the Bijuu informed candidly, palms pressed together meditatively. If you want to enter into Perfect Tailed Beast State, you'll have to continue fighting in your normal mode for a bit.
Dammit! Naruto swore beneath his breath, his eyes deliberating as the gazed up at the almighty being hovering before them.
Recognizing that the time limit for his summoning was at hand, Gamakichi — in a last ditch effort to get some much sought after revenge — mounted a projectile attack at the cocky silver bastard. Instead of completely negating the ninjutsu as he usually would, Obito merely managed to stave it off using his Truth Seeking Orbs.
Perhaps the attack wasn't futile, after all, as Naruto's eyes widened in revelation with Tobirama following close behind. Wasting no time, our Golden Knight fastened his eyes shut and started building his power.
"Obito!" Minato called, attempting a diplomatic approach. "I thought you wanted to become Hokage? Why are you doing this?"
"You want to know why?" the man's voice rose a few octaves higher than it ever did in his new form. "Lecturing me now? Isn't it a bit late for that, Sensei?"
They held each other's gaze.
"You're always too late when it matters most," Obito scoffed, his mind recalling a tragic memory he had rehashed thousands of times — Kakashi's failure, Minato's absence, Rin's death, his heartbreak. "I'm glad my teacher was Hokage; it made it easy to give up on becoming Hokage."
His words stung.
And Minato couldn't help but grieve. The world would be completely different if he had realized the masked man who attacked the village sixteen years ago was Obito. Many sacrifices and tragedies could have easily been averted — Kushina may have not died and Naruto wouldn't have to be burdened with the Kyūbi.
"Even though you were my teacher, you didn't realize it was me," the man accused bitterly. "That's just who you are, fundamentally — pathetic. You died a heroic Hokage, but now you're being exposed as a disgrace in front of your son."
Naruto's lips pressed to a thin line.
"That's right...," Obito continued. "A Hokage is a pitiable existence compared to what I am now."
The high-pitched whistle of a Rasengan embodied Naruto's zero tolerance for the man's bad-mouthing of his father.
…This kid's really something, thought Tobirama in amazement. He realized even before I did.
"Your circumstances are a product of your own weaknesses," informed Naruto calmly, which betrayed the rage that bubbled beneath his skin. "I could have strayed from the right path, too, but I choose not to."
Sasuke and Minato pivoted their head around in surprise, while Tobirama decisively made his way at the shinobi's side, to facilitate his attack.
"And you have no right to make fun of a Hokage when you couldn't even become one yourself. Especially my dad... who actually became Hokage."
No sooner had Obito lost sight of them than he felt a blow land in his back. Then he heard a voice rang out above the shrill of the Rasengan tearing into his flesh.
"How dare you put him down!"
Sasuke's eyes widened in shock. That worked? But how?
For a moment, Minato didn't care about decorum, caution or even battle etiquette. He gazed up at his son, eyes quivering in awe and affection at the charismatic and reliable shinobi he had become. Naruto didn't just stood up for him, but paved a path they all thought nigh impossible.
It's effective! I knew it! Tobirama couldn't contain his grin. Even if ninjutsu is ineffective, Sage Art still works!
Naruto's eyes burned with the characteristics of said mode.
The toad from Mount Myōboku used Sage Jutsu and his attack wasn't nullified. Looks like this kid noticed when I did.
"You bastard!" Naruto roared, launching both Obito and his projectile into the ground, like a lose cannon. "I'm not done yet!"
"Water Style: Heavy Bullet — Gatling Gun!"
Fashioning his hands into rifles, Naruto fired a fusillade of water bullets from his forefingers that, not only inflicted massive damage, but significantly weighed the villain down for a follow-up attack.
But he needed to act fast.
Having marked the bastard when his Rasengan made impact, Naruto teleported, leaving Tobirama wide-eyed and stunned. He forged a bigger and stronger sphere, dropping the nuke on the delusional tyrant without remorse or hesitation. A shockwave of dust and debris whipped outward, jostling everyone from their trance.
He's a quick striker, just like his father, Tobirama praised. And he's mastered many high-tier jutsu at such a young age...
"Naruto-kun — that's amazing!" Hinata cheered, feeding Sakura information as she saw it unfold.
He's even mastered the same Sage Jutsu as Jiraiya-sensei, Minato thought surprisingly, his eyes transfixed.
He's grown into quite a son, eh, Minato? Kurama said — essentially the yin half of the Bijuu that was sealed inside the man. It's no wonder he managed to sweet-talk my other half.
Inside their mental scape, the Yellow Flash swiveled his head around to look up at the menacing giant. It placed one hand down and homed in close, like a loan shark about to whisper methods of torture to a uncooperative client. That's why you sealed my other half inside him, as if you were confident they would be able to work together.
"Kyūbi..."
Then don't regret it now, the darker counterpart said in a surprisingly emphatic tone. It's not your fault that Kushina died. And, making your brat into a Jinchūriki, wasn't a bad thing, either. Because your brat is trying to change what this world has become right now. He's not that newborn baby anymore.
In fact, tomorrow is...
Obito pushed to his knees for a start, the gaping hole in his back doing little to cool the anger seething through his veins. I can't believe the Jūbi 's Jinchūriki could have such a weakness, he fumed as one of his eight orbs attended to the shameful injury. And, with the Jūbi inside me, I can't pass through matter, either... how frustrating.
"Looks like Sage Mode works!" Naruto began triumphantly upon rejoining the others, careful not to lose sight of their enemy.
"Sage Power?" Sasuke murmured curiously.
"The toad attacks are Sage Jutsu, which uses Natural Energy. Come to think of it, when I tried to sense the Jūbi 's power before, it was Natural Energy, itself. So, I figured, maybe one could counter Natural Energy with Natural Energy.
Yoshi! We finally have a way to land hits on that bastard. I'll hit him next with some Frog Fu!"
To think he's capable of using the Flying Thunder God Technique. And has even mastered Sage Power, Tobirama smiled. I feel like I'm fighting alongside Elder Brother!
Sasuke, on the other hand, wasn't enthused. Naruto, as he imagined, continued getting stronger since their last encounter. He had somehow managed to achieve full control of the Kyūbi's power, and now was practically leveraging the war on his own.
Unfortunately, he, too, was a foolish idealist, just like the founding Hokage. Needless to say, Naruto was going to be a nuisance when Sasuke opted to assume control. But that nuisance would be taken care of at the opportune time. Then the Uchiha would change the very foundations of the shinobi world, and he wouldn't allow anything... or anyone, to stand in his way.
Growing weary of their futile attempts at foiling his plans, Obito proceeded to tailor his chakra nature into a specific element. A lofty stalk sprouted from the ground in response, like the tongue of death. Jotting out from the emaciated shaft were four ominous-looking flowers that quickly began charging their own Bijuu Bomb.
The alliance grew restless, and Shikamaru desperately began racking his brain for a plan. Tobirama proposed that Naruto, Minato and himself teleport away one bomb each and the remainder be taken care of by Hashirama. But Madara wouldn't give his rival enough space to breath. As Edo Tensei warriors, he knew they would be revived, should they succumb to the blast. And that reality kept the man entirely fixated on the battle.
To make matters worse, Obito erected the same Four Crimson barrier that the Kage used to trap the Jūbi before. But now the situation was reversed — this time the Allied Force were the ones trapped, like caged lamb to the slaughter.
"You intend to teleport the stalk itself outside?" Obito surmised as Minato deliberated said solution. "Think I'd let you do that? You can't save anyone!"
"Dad," Naruto called, loosening the tension. "I'm not entirely sure if it will work, but I've got an idea. Will you bump fists with me?" he asked, out-stretching his arm.
Even as the Truth Seeking Balls converged around him, wrapping its master in a protective cocoon for the impending destruction, Obito watched the exchange between father and son. Naruto was notorious for dishing out miracles in desperate situations, but what could he possibly achieve in this bleak and perilous ordeal?
Evidently feeling differently, Minato conceded. And, the moment their fists touched, their mental scapes synchronized.
Hey, other half, Yin-Kurama greeted. How ya been?
Do you mind sharing some of your chakra with me? Yang-Kurama — Naruto's partner — returned with a wolfish grin.
Kek! To be asked a favor from myself feels a bit weird...
"Naruto," Obito called. "Minato can't do a thing," he provoked. "He couldn't even protect your mother. Nor his own subordinates. You know what tomorrow is, don't you? It's the anniversary of Minato and Kushina's deaths. The day both of your parents died. In this world, it's over when you die. You see—"
"Oh, right," Naruto interjected, keeping the man's negative influence at bay, from both him and his father. "So tomorrow... it's also the day I was born."
Minato's eyes quivered. Like it was yesterday, he could hear the exuberant cry of his newly born babe sixteen years ago — his pride, his legacy, his treasure. It was the happiest day of his life, the day Kushina made him into a father.
"So you see...," Naruto continued, his voice low and resolute. "It's not over yet. 'Cause I exist in this world!"
Minato couldn't control the face-splitting smile that spread across his lips, but he managed to hold back the tears that burned the back of his eyes. Our Naruto has become really strong... Kushina.
"Let's go, dad!" Naruto roared as he reignited his Kurama Mode, flanked by his father and backed by both Nine-Tailed Foxes.
The shinobi were surprised when the Kyūbi's cloak reemerged even stronger than before. Bee could sense both Yin and Yang essences of Kurama and assumed it was their powers combined that fueled the cloak. But Gyūki corrected that it was, in fact, all the Bijuu combined.
"You're thinking about protecting us from that attack with this chakra, Naruto?" Shikamaru said openly.
But that wasn't quite the case.
By allowing everybody's chakra signature to resonate with Minato through him, our hero was able to allow his father to teleport the entire alliance outside of the barrier before the explosion.
Both Obito and the shinobi were flabbergasted.
"Fourth... this is the second time you've saved all of shinobi-kind," Tobirama praised, issuing more compliments in the last hour than he did throughout his entire life.
"I've still failed... more times than that," the man responded breathlessly. "So… I must continue making… up for it."
"What did you do?" Jūgo asked, having joined them in an attempt rescue Sasuke before the blast.
"Dad teleported everyone outside the barrier," Naruto explained with his customary lopsided grin, recalling his father's statement before.
— "I can't teleport anything that I myself, or my chakra isn't touching, even indirectly."
"Everyone? With that jutsu?" Sasuke was astounded.
"I'd shared Kurama's and my chakra with everyone earlier. So, by allowing dad to indirectly resonate with everyone's chakra through me, we made this strategy work."
"He used the principle of Shadow Clones," Tobirama launched into another explanation from a different perspective. "Even if you split up and disperse your chakra, as long as you keep even a little bit there without putting it out, when the original body infuses chakra again to regain control, all the individual chakra bits begin resonating and link together.
In short, by joining his chakra with the Fourth's, Naruto linked the Fourth to the rest of his chakra residing in everyone else. My question is: if you can use the Flying Thunder God technique, why didn't you just teleport everyone yourself?"
"I used up a lot of chakra protecting everyone before, so I wouldn't have been able to manage on my own."
"I see."
"By the way, Old man Second — you sure know a lot about my Shadow Clones..."
"I created that jutsu!" the man defended hotly. "It's my Shadow Clones!"
Minato watched amusingly as Naruto teased their founding father. And he couldn't help but reminisce about the brief but memorable moment he spent with his son as the young shinobi broke down the complexity of his plan.
"Naruto..."
"Hm?"
"I wish there was more time to talk to the grown-up you."
"Guys don't need to talk!" Naruto interrupted with a friendly grin. "I already know. I... already met with mom. What you want to say is the same as my nagging mom, right? I already know."
Minato beamed, his eyes quivering. But this time, he didn't hold back the tears that pooled in them.
…This feeling is so familiar, the man thought as the memory dissolved from his mind. Even though we're out of options, it feels like we can accomplish anything... that's right, he said, looking toward the Child of Prophecy. It's just like when I was with Kushina. Same feeling.
And, as Minato thought, Naruto began gearing up to spring into action again, his from warm and radiant as the sun.
"So we can't touch him without Sage Jutsu, right? In that case, there's something I wanna try."
Everyone looked to the scheming shinobi.
"Kurama," he called inquiringly, looking up at the attentive Bijuu. "Do you think it's possible to gather Senju Energy in this form?"
Now that you mention it, the fox began, cupping his chin as he skimmed through the archives of his memory. You've probably already forgotten but, during your final battle with Pain... something noteworthy happened. I got so mad by what he was saying that my chakra leaked out, even though you were in Sage Mode at that time. My power and your Sage power actually managed to synchronize. There was another time when it happened, as well.
Naruto flung an accusing finger at the Bijuu. He was too caught up in his emotions to remember that happening during his heated discussion with Nagato. But there was one instant he vividly recalled. "That's right — when I was undergoing Sage training, you interfered with Gramps Sage's Jutsu, remember?"
That's because I had no interest in sharing the same space with toads! Kurama fumed. Besides, it really pissed me off that you would rely on Sage Jutsu when you had my chakra!
Naruto grinned. "You stubborn bastard," he teased.
Kurama retaliated with a pointed accusing finger, as he did. You're the stubborn one! Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I'm willing to let you use both my power and Sage Power right now. What's stubborn about that, dammit?
Naruto's eyes half-lidded mischievously. "You just can't be upfront about your feelings, can you?"
You bastard! the Kyūbi bellowed menacingly. You've been making fun of me a lot lately!
Naruto turned on his heels with a cool grin. "Nah. It's just out of familiarity."
Keh! Kurama clicked his tongue flippantly.
Using Tailed Beast State with Sage Jutsu at the same time, huh? Yin-Kurama said to Minato. You've got the same me inside you as your son. You should be able to provide him with powerful support.
And, with that, Minato leapt into action.
While Naruto accumulated Senju Energy — his growing power reverberating throughout everyone like a peel of lightning — his father summoned Kurama's body as his son did and started generating a colossal Rasengan in the Bijuu's hand. Then Naruto proceeded to add Senju Power into the mix, altering the projectile's nature.
Obito's head snapped around expectantly when they teleported behind him. Chakra arms shot out from the appendages on his back, but Kurama thwarted them using his tails, effortlessly paving a path for the Rasengan to make impact.
But the Godly bastard had another line of defense — a Truth Seeking Ball. Like a mighty blade and shield, both forces clashed to a draw. The shockwave that followed hurled both parties across the battlefield. Naruto didn't stay down long. How could he, when he noted that the man's shield crack and shattered just now. All he had to do was bump up the firepower, and he should be able to land a definitive blow.
Chakra-Kurama's snout split open as our hero began charging up a Bijuu Bomb curried with Senju Energy.
"All right! Excellent idea!" Tobirama exclaimed as the nuke swelled and the earth trembled. You might just surpass my Elder Brother as Hokage...
"Hey, other Kurama!" Naruto called. "You help, too!"
"I like the sound of that!" Minato returned, sensing his beloved wife shining through his son. As I thought... this is a familiar feeling, after all.
Sasuke clenched his fingers into a trembles fist. Wrapped in Naruto's protective cloak did little to cool the fires of jealousy that flared in his chest. In just a few short minutes, the teen had demonstrated a level of power that clearly transcended even those of the founding fathers — and he had polished his intellect to complement this newly attained power.
Was this truly the same Naruto as before?
Obito was none too pleased, either.
It was appalling to even think about it, but Naruto's latest attack had succeeded in damaging the Truth Seeking Orb. If he mounted an even stronger assault...
There's no harm in taking measures early, the man decided calculatingly. And, no sooner did he pressed his palms together, than the Jūbi began spilling out of his chest, like a broken dam.
For the first time since the war began, a flicker of concern flashed across Madara's face. He's starting the Infinite Tsukuyomi already?
Naruto's Bijuu Bomb dematerialized in the wake of the Jūbi 's turbulent return. The ground trembled and shattered as the beast rooted its fourteen limbs deep within the earth. As it gradually morphed into an ancient tree, a single eye receded into its body like a black hole consuming a red planet. And a bud quickly sprouted on its back whose bloom would spell the end of the world as everyone knew it.
"I guess I'll suspend the barrier for now," the puppeteer uttered. And, with a slight flick of his hand, the Four Crimson Ray barrier dispersed.
The shinobi watched in alarm as the unfolding nightmare was suddenly unleashed upon the land. The growing bud shot high into the sky — mounted atop a sturdy stalk woven by the creature's body. Newly spawned roots resurfaced and began running rampant; turning predatory. It was complete pandemonium.
Men and women screamed as they fled, the flexible roots snapping at them like vicious vipers. The relentless appendages whipped upward from the ground, sending rocks and bodies hurling skyward, which proved easy prey. Once caught in the roots' deadly vice grip, people were instantly stripped of their chakra — drained until their emaciated bodies resembled that of a mummified corpse.
Hinata and Sakura wore ashen faces as they out-maneuvered the roots upon the back of an agile ice wolf. The princess's protection did nothing to protect the vulnerable shinobi — and her healing couldn't revitalize faster than the roots were depleting.
Hinata..., a rueful voice whispered in her mind. It truly grieves me to say this, but I've used up all my power. I'll need to sleep for a while. I'm sorry... but please stay safe.
The girl's eyes quivered, tears spilling from them. And Sakura shared her heartache — there was mass deaths happening all around them and there was absolutely nothing they could do to help.
Naruto blanched.
He could distinctly feel the light of his comrades being extinguished, one after the other. And his heart sunk. "Hinata! Sakura-chan!" the words tore desperately from his throat as he dared consider what could happen to them at any given moment.
It took but a moment's lapse in focus for the hungry roots to ambush and nab him. And they attacked in droves; as many as needed to secure the thrashing Jinchūriki. Both Tobirama and Minato tried desperately to free him, but failed. It was Sarutobi who came swinging with his cudgel that prevailed. The consecutive attacks managed to destroy the roots and vines faster than they could regenerate. And Naruto flashed the man a weak "thank you", his chakra all but consumed.
Sasuke and Jūgo looked out upon the dreary battlefield, almost indifferent to the grim scene of carnage that greeted them. For the time being, the roots' ravenous hunt had slowed to a standstill. The flickers of light that dotted the night — stemming from the Kyūbi's cloak — had diminished significantly. The Allied Forces that once boasted several thousand strong barely numbered in the hundreds.
Rendezvousing with Sasuke via teleportation, Naruto and the Kage took a moment to assess the living hell Obito had summoned upon earth. And the sage felt a manifold of emotions — anger and frustration being the most predominant. He was able to mend his composure a tad, however, when Hinata and Sakura joined them.
He was relieved that they were without harm, and the warm smile that touched his lips proved the truth of it.
"...Naruto-kun," Hinata cried softly, her cheeks flushed, tiny hands struggling to clear her tears. "I'm so sorry... even... even though I promised I would protect everyone."
Sakura hung her head and bit her lip. The kunoichi could understand the girl's frustration; it reverberated in her chest, as well. But she wasn't about to throw in the towel. Tsunade would never forgive her, if she didn't struggle to her final breath — this war warranted just that... and even more.
Naruto pushed away from the supportive shoulder of the Third Hokage and found his own equilibrium. He gazed up at the full, blood-red moon that casted a bizarre glow upon the flower bud sitting atop the lofty stalk. He didn't quite know the methodology behind activating Infinite Tsukuyomi, but he had a gut feeling it was imperative they prevented that flower from blooming.
"Take a look," Madara boasted with glee to his best friend and eternal rival. "When the Divine Tree's bud finally blooms... the moon will reflect the eye at the flower's center, up above, and the Infinite Tsukuyomi will be fully activated."
Hashirama watched as the man's eyes widened — drunk, crazed, like those of a madman.
"...And I will be the one to accomplish it."
Obito gazed down upon the agonizing destruction that plagued mankind, a vindictive forefinger pointed down at the root cause of it. "Now be still...," he whispered to the despairing soldiers. "You have all... endured enough already."
"Wha-What's that?" exclaimed the Mizukage.
Quickly making their way to the front lines, courtesy of Gaara's sand, the five Kage gazed at the ominous silhouette of a tree that stood beyond the mountainous horizon.
"Katsuyu?" Tsunade beckoned to the tiny slug perched on her shoulder. And the creature made no delay to launch into a detailed summary of what was currently taking place on the battlefield.
An eerie silence hung over what remained of the Allied Forces. Those who had not perished were paralyzed by fear. But, despite the trauma, a selfless soul cried out at the misfortune that had befallen her ally.
"Shikamaru!" Ino cried.
The young strategist was at death's door. He had fallen victim to the lecherous roots and now the light of his candle gradually waned. Fearing the worst, Ino urgently reached out to Sakura telepathically, adding her friends as recipients who all rushed over to give morale support.
"Katsuyu-sama!" Sakura called to the slug on her shoulder. "Let's begin Distance Healing immediately!"
"That's impossible," she replied regrettably.
"Why?"
"Even my small fragments attached to everyone have been drained," she explained. "They have lost their chakra and died. In other words, everyone is in the same state as my fragments. But we may just be able to save Shikamaru-kun..."
"Sakura-san," Hinata called, dismounting the beast that carried them both. "Taking the wolf will be faster. Tend to Shikamaru-kun. I will heal Naruto-kun."
"I'm sorry, Hinata — and thanks!"
Wasting no time, the princess turned on her heels and rushed over to her beloved knight. His chest was heaving from his sheer exhaustion. It looked like he was on the brink of vanishing. But, even if he was just a clone, she couldn't allow that to happen. His presence on the battlefield held significant merit — he was the fire of hope that would instill confidence in the shinobi once more.
He but needed to rise up again.
Hinata's thin brows furrowed as she dug deep for the power to heal. But Akiko was in hibernation and she was down to the dregs of her own power, after having a close encounter with the Divine Tree.
Noting her struggle, Naruto rested an attentive hand atop her head, but his gaze was transfixed upon the silver fiend before him. "That's enough, Hinata... I'll be OK."
The warrior's eyes burned.
Since the beginning of this war, Obito had done nothing but press and provoke him. It was as if the man was testing the limits of his convictions, and he was relentless in his attempts to find the kinks in his armor. This was one of them: robbing his kin of their lives. And the bastard promised the slaughter would persist, if the opposition didn't concede to his will.
The shinobi started swallowing their pride.
It was the first time they genuinely considered surrendering themselves and accepting the man's promise of paradise. But Hashirama, who had learnt the truth from Madara, used Ino's Mind Transfer Technique to expound on the tyrant's plan and the fact they would be nothing more than nourishment for the Divine Tree.
He implored them not to give up hope, but the shinobi was at their wit's end, and frustration quickly gave rise to anger. They accused Hashirama of being exponentially more powerful and would be revived, if he died. But the shinobi weren't immortal — it only took a single mistake, a single slow reaction, for them to get erased... permanently.
With Naruto presumably out of commission and most of their comrades dead, the remnants of soldiers swayed precariously over the precipice of surrender. They had the choice between certain death or a fake utopia, and the latter was looking more enticing by the moment.
Refusing to continue as a mere spectator, nor was he interested in Obito's embellished portrayal of paradise, Sasuke finally made a move. Susanoo's mighty sword hacked through a thick span of the Divine Tree's root, proving it was far from indestructible.
"Naruto, are you done?" he murmured condescendingly. "Because I'm not."
The current Kage arrived just in time to see Naruto don a form that shone as bright and dazzling as the evening sun. And the Allied Forces looked on in awe as the teenager rose up to take on a challenge that was tantamount to provoking God.
Through Ino's telepathic tether to the alliance, and Naruto's chakra that still dwelled within them, something unprecedented happened. Everyone could suddenly feel as his emotions and memories began flickering through them, like the pages of a time worn book. So deep, so real, that it felt like their own.
They could feel the inescapable loneliness that once plagued him as a child, as well as the unrelenting regret of not reaching out to his best friend sooner, which may have saved him from a path of darkness. There were precious bonds that got severed along the way, not to mention the sacrifices that were made for his future. There were many adversaries, but through them he was able to nurture a strength that could overcome the test of time.
The shinobi were surprised to find Hashirama's emotions and memories weaving in with Naruto's, the most prominent being the first Kage Summit ever held.
A small room housed the pensive leaders. While the founder of the village hidden in the leaves was overjoyed by the historical moment, the other Kage didn't share his sentiments. Instead, they were constantly at each other's throat.
BANG!
Hashirama slammed his forehead down onto the conference table pleadingly, winning everyone's attention. "It's true that we've never gotten along in the past... but we each did what we did to protect our brethren and clans. There were, perhaps, times when we had no other choice. And now, today, even if our Five Nation Treaty comes to be... I can't say how long it will last. Or if we can even hold to it. But I have this dream, that sometime in the future, there will come a day when shinobi will collaborate and help each other, with one heart, regardless of their affiliation.
That is my... dream of the future. I ask you to take the first step toward that dream today! So please, please, please, please...
The five current Kage stepped forward with evident determination as the man's words reverberated in their hearts. And the alliance — their confidence renewed — looked to the leaders who were brought together, as Hashirama wanted, hearts connected in their endeavor to bring down their common enemy.
"I beg you!" Hashirama tried reaching out to everyone again. "All of my beloved children! Now is the time to take all the pain, suffering, and frustration we shinobi have endured... and weave it into our true dream!"
While the current Kage spread out and took command of the shinobi, Naruto and Sasuke squared off against the self-proclaimed God and his twisted ideology. To prepare for this fateful battle, Jūgo imbued his Sage Power into Susanoo while Minato was simultaneously bestowing Naruto with the entirety of the chakra that Yin-Kurama had infused.
"Hinata..."
As if his words were a trigger, the princess gasped when her hair and clothes fluttered upon her body being engulfed by the Kyūbi's cloak. And she looked up to find a compassionate gaze fixed on her.
"I'm confident we'll be able to push him into a corner now," Naruto explained softly. "I'm not sure how he'll retaliate, so I want you to continue protecting everyone."
The princess beamed. "H-Hai! I'll do my best!"
"And Hinata—"
"I know," she responded firmly, a hand at her chest. "I'll keep us both safe... Sakura-san, too."
Naruto allowed a smile, and then he was gone.
Standing close to Shikamaru who was subconsciously being healed by the Kyūbi's cloak, Hashirama watched as the young sage threw himself into the fray on behalf of mankind. Your past is filtering into me through the others. Uzumaki Naruto... you are uniting everyone right now. Your tempestuous life made you into who you are. And your way of life has given everyone's heart hope!
As the shinobi charged forward to cut down the Divine Tree, Tsunade and Sakura combined their powers through Katsuyu to supply healing and chakra to their glorious campaign. In the same beat, Hinata channeled the Kyūbi's chakra to Akiko, who rebounded by casting a protective barrier around the Allied Forces. And, to tap off their chain of protection, Tobirama was working alongside Minato to whisk away anyone in immediate danger.
KABOOM!
Naruto and Sasuke, having adjusted to Obito's obnoxious speed, was finally able to catch the bastard in a pincer attack. But the Silver God managed to effortlessly fend off the powerful assault. Then he fashioned a pair of his Truth Seeking Orbs into massive hands, which he used to grip the insufferable duo and slam them into the ground at break neck speed.
Fatigued and covered in bruises, Kakashi tried to steady his breathing as he carefully slipped a needle through his skin in an attempt to stitch the wound he received from his duel. He sighed when he snipped the thread at the end, and then he pulled down his shirt and tilted his chin.
Obito... I bet you really did want to confirm whether a heart that never bends, and a Will of Fire that does not waver, are truly possible. You gave up on them once. But, after fighting Naruto and hearing his words, deep down, you're not able to deny that they might really exist. Isn't that right, Obito?
And yet, you still search and test everyone and everything, to prove yourself wrong. Which is why, even now, as you stand at the precipice... you seek an answer from Naruto.
From above the gaping crater formed by slamming the resistance into the ground at mock speed, Obito watched in both surprise and exasperation as Naruto slowly pushed to his feet. The once brilliant glow of his cloak was rendered to nothing but a small flicker, but still it would not extinguish.
"Why do you get up?" Obito demanded irritatingly. "And what are you fighting for? Is it for your comrades? Or is it for this world? Listen... friends will eventually betray you. And this world transforms love into hatred. You of all should know!
In the past, the people of the village and Sasuke betrayed you. And your love for Jiraiya made you hate. You and I are the same. The cumulative weight of all your suffering will change you, in time. And now, even more pain shall assault you. And you still insist that you will not change?
You don't know when your friends will betrayed you again," he gestured to Sasuke who was also peeling himself up off the ground. "Or if the Allied Forces might go back to fighting each other. And you don't even know if you can defeat me! There is no reason to keep on fighting for a world like this. In a few minutes, this world will be gone, anyway. So, why do you still fight?"
There was a moment of silence.
Sasuke and Jūgo glowered at the man, but they said nothing. As the Divine Tree inched closer to a perfect bloom, Naruto steeled his resolve and flashed the man a steady gaze.
"Because it's my Ninja Way," he simply said. "I never go back on my word — that's my Ninja Way!"
Obito's frown deepened, his eyes narrowing to dangerous slits. "I thought I told you to go to sleep!"
Refusing to back down, Naruto and Sasuke stood together. They evoked and combined their powers, which gave birth to a Nine-Tailed Fox decked out in a full plating of purple armor — from head to tails.
But Obito wasn't deterred.
The pointless resistance just made his rage stir even hotter. And he mirrored his adversaries, digging deep and bringing forth the ace up his sleeve — a mighty sword and shield forged from his Truth Seeking Orbs. But, as opposed to his selfish struggle, Naruto wasn't alone. He summoned nine of his closest friends who were each vested with a portion of his chakra.
Ino. Shikamaru. Chōji. Sai. Lee. Tenten. Hinata. Shino. Kiba — wielding a large Rasengan of Naruto's making, they all hurled themselves at the source of humanity's suffering, utterly obliterating the man's shield. Then Naruto and Sasuke followed up with Susanoo's sword, gradually chipping away at the weapon claimed to have been wielded by the Rikudō Sennin himself.
Obito's eyes widened in utter shock when the armored Bijuu zipped by him like a bolt of lightning, leaving a gaping fissure in the side of his torso. From the wound, the chakra from all nine Bijuu suddenly spilled out, desperate to detach from the villain they were tethered. And Naruto quickly capitalized on the opportunity. Using Kurama's tails, he managed to latch onto seven of the Bijuu with Gyūki and Shikaku, unfortunately, refusing the valiant rescue.
Damn! Kurama swore beneath his breath. I guess it won't work with One Tail and Eight Tails because we never got their chakra.
Just when Obito thought the devil's luck was on his side, Gaara and Bee made an appearance. Since both individuals resonated with Gyūki and Shikaku, they were able to physically interact with the Bijuus' chakra and a fierce challenge of tug-and-war ensued.
"Don't underestimate the power of the Jūbi 's Jinchūriki who's equivalent to the sage!" Obito bellowed, switching gears.
Remember when I said that, even a small power can be helpful, depending on how it's used? Shikamaru announced sincerely, his warm words reaching the entire alliance, courtesy of Ino. Now is the time! That power will change the course of this world.
It took but a moment for Obito's menacing expression to morph into that of abject shock. In the blink of an eye, the darkness of the crater was dotted with hundreds of flickering flames that shared Naruto's hope for unity and peace. Instead of making this hole a tomb for the Golden Knight and his foolish idealism, it would, instead, be the landmark where he would forever change the tides of the war.
As the Allied Forces all but pulled his ambitions from his breaking grasp, Obito felt as his warrior's spirit overlapped with Naruto's. Time slowed to a crawl. In an endless world painted with galaxies of stars, the man saw the boy standing before him. He was alone, too — but a moment later he was backed by a number of people that just kept growing by the second.
Obito couldn't help but glance behind himself. As much as he knew what to expect there, the harsh reality was far too much to bear. He was alone. It was a path he steeled himself for, but all the discipline in the world couldn't erase a human's great weakness — solitude.
As he looked to Naruto, he couldn't help but imagine himself in his shoes. If he had gone back home and mourned Rin's death with his best friend, would his life had turned out differently? Would he have become Hokage in due course and won the acknowledgment of the village? Would he have been surrounded by friends and comrades?
Obito frowned. "Are you saying... that I have regrets?"
Naruto stepped forward, cool and collected. "You once told me I'm nobody. I don't want to be anybody."
"Stop! Don't come into my thoughts!"
"But the truth is... you wanted to become the Hokage, just like me."
Obito snarled.
"It could have even ended up where I was chasing after your shadow... since I've always wanted to become the Hokage."
"I threw away the past and my naive self, so don't tell me I'm—"
"Then why am I able to see this?" Naruto interjected hotly. "You can't hide behind a mask. You were Kakashi-Sensei's friend... my dad's subordinate, a Uchiha like Sasuke... and a shinobi of Konoha who had the same dream as me."
"What... What exactly... do you want with me?" Obito asserted, pointed an accusing finger at the persistent teen.
"To remind you that you are Uchiha Obito," Naruto replied calmly, winning a vexing frown from the man. "I told you, didn't I? I swore I'd tear that mask right off your face!"
"Uchiha Obito," the man replied, hating the taste of the name on his tongue. "What meaning is there in that name... in that existence now? I have merged with the Jūbi . I have transcended and attained enlightenment. I am no longer human. I will guide mankind to the next stage. I possess the same will and body as the Sage of Six Paths — I am the Second Sage of the Sixth Paths!"
"Wrong! You are Uchiha Obito! When our chakra touched earlier, I saw your past. Our personal histories and our dream of becoming Hokage are the same. Almost exactly alike. Neither of us knew our parents. And we both lost people precious to us, which is why you tried to scare me by saying solitude is my worse nightmare."
Obito hung his head drearily.
"In the beginning, you, too, wanted to be acknowledged and praised by others. That's why you wanted to be Hokage. If you're the same as me, that is. But look at you now — you've turned all shinobi into enemies, and you go spouting some nonsense that you're doing it for the sake of the world, when you're only doing it for yourself!
No one, not even those precious to you, would ever acknowledge this current dream of yours! You used to have the same dream as me. But now, you've become the exact opposite of a Hokage! It's because you're just like—"
"No, it's because of that," Obito began curtly. "That I wanted to see you despair about this world. Or, I suppose, I wanted to feel again for myself that the path I have chosen for myself is not a mistake.
When we were fighting, you made me recall my youth. That's why I started wanting to test you, to see when you, someone who's just like me, would fall to despair and abandon your feelings, your past."
"It's because we were so alike that I'm pissed off!" Naruto snapped. "You're just... abandoning everything and running away!"
"No... what I'm doing is no different from a Hokage's actions. In fact, I'm doing even more. I can make peace a reality."
There was a moment of silence.
Then Naruto frowned, oceanic eyes inquiring. "Are you really serious?" his word came slow and stern. "Do you really believe that?"
Obito hung his head again, his eyes quivering as he quietly slipped into a reverie of a moment long passed. As Rin, the girl he was madly in love with, tended to his wounds, he recalled telling her that saving him was equivalent to saving the world as he aspired to become Hokage and finally end the war, once and for all.
It was one of the more precious memories he shared with Rin. He was sure the girl was looking down at him from heaven, heartbroken that he had betrayed her trust and faith in him. But the notion of heaven and hell was man-made, as was the laws of morality — and he wouldn't allow them to imprison his desire to meet her again.
"Yes... that's how I feel," Obito replied to the question, ignoring the scowl he received in return. "There's no need to voluntarily tread a steep and rugged path, not knowing what's ahead. You'll have to step over the corpses of your comrades. Anyone would choose a shortcut with a fixed outcome. Yes. The goal a Hokage should seek is world peace."
Naruto balled his fingers into tight fists, his eyes unwavering. "What the hell are you talking about?" he asserted, struggling to keep his voice even. "What I want to know about isn't a shortcut... but how to navigate the steep and rugged path!"
Obito did well to mask the pained grimace that creased his forehead. "Would you still say that if the final destination was the same?"
"Who can tell in the beginning which one is the dangerous one? You never know until someone starts walking," he explained as he walked over to the pensive villain. "The Hokage is someone who endures the pain, and takes the lead in front of everyone. So a Hokage never walks over his comrades' corpses. There is no shortcut to becoming the Hokage — and there are no ways out for the one who becomes Hokage! Isn't that right?"
Obito looked away, considering the rigorous training he put himself through as a kid in an effort to surpass his eternal rival, Kakashi. But forget surpassing him, it was enough of a challenge just to keep up. Though, there were no shortcuts to winning Rin's heart and becoming Hokage — hence, he had always diligently continued his training regimen.
But now he was a changed man, and Naruto frowned upon that change. If Rin was really watching over him, as she promised, what would she have thought about the man he'd become?
"You told Kakashi-Sensei you would throw away all your memories and feelings about your comrades. But, when you become the Jūbi 's Jinchūriki, and were about to be taken over by it... didn't you try to suppress the Ten Tails because you didn't want that?
The reason why you beat the Jūbi and could control it, was because you stood firm on not throwing away the past and stayed yourself, right? You just couldn't throw out the memories of dad, Kakashi-Sensei or this Rin person, could you? That's how you could stay Obito, even after you become the Jūbi 's Jinchūriki. Am I wrong?
But dragging everyone with you onto your path and continuing on it won't be allowed! I'm bringing you back as Uchiha Obito... as a shinobi of Konoha... and you're going to atone for your sins. You tried to run away from every single thing.
I bet this Rin person would say this if she were alive: don't act though and hide your wounds. I'm always watching."
Obito's eyes quivered, because he knew for a fact that's exactly what she would say. And, just before she healed him, she would give him a good scolding. But the warmth that followed would be breathtaking.
"You're no one else but you, dammit! Don't run away!" Naruto said, holding out his hand invitingly. "Come join us... Obito!"
His resolve wavering, Obito looked down at the boy's hand pensively. Before he could process his thoughts, he found his own hand reaching out, as if Rin was helping to guide it, from wherever she was. He didn't even have time to remotely consider retreat before Naruto clasped his hand.
And, no sooner did their hands meet, than their shared consciousness shattered in fragments of glass. Obito returned to reality to find the Allied Forces working in complete union. With one final pull, he found himself loosing all nine Bijuu and the eternity of his goal in one fell swoop. All that remained was the Jūbi 's husk and a sense of defeat.
Freed from their wretched prison, the Tailed Beasts — who had assumed their original form — watched as the puppet master silently fell from grace. Stripped of his once godlike powers, he lifelessly crashed to the ground. And Sasuke made haste to pull his sword and move in for the kill. Naruto chased after him, hoping to prevent the needless execution.
But it was Kakashi who first arrived on the scene via his Space-Time Ninjutsu, a poised kunai in hand. "Sasuke, we'll talk later. I apologize for appearing suddenly, but I was once his classmate and friend. So please let me take responsibility for him."
The Jōnin's fingers tightened around the weapon as he steeled his resolve. Then the blade made a glowing arch in its downward trajectory. Naruto attempted to still the man's hand with an explanation, but it was Minato who managed to get there in time, halting that purposeful hand with that of his own.
"Obito," he began, ignoring their surprise. "When we had that chakra tug-of-war just now, I got to see inside your heart. It seems like my son nagged and lectured you quite a bit. I think he might have gotten that from his mother."
Naruto scratched his cheek embarrassingly.
"But that duty actually falls on you," said Minato, gesturing to the conflicted Jōnin. "I think the one who truly understands Obito and should talk to him is you, his friend, Kakashi. Isn't that right, Naruto?"
The teen looked to the stoic mask that Sasuke wore, knowing that it would be solely his responsibility to pry it off, similar to how he liberated Obito from the darkness of his delusions.
"Naruto, you two and the Allied Forces should go and help Lord First and seal Madara away."
"Oh, right!" he exclaimed, caught up in the moment. "We still need to deal with him. Let's go, Sasuke!"
They left.
And Minato watched as they go, comparing the length of his son's shoulder to when he was just a baby. "I think you were younger than Naruto is now. Do you remember? All the missions that the four of us went on? As a Medical Ninja, Rin did her utmost to protect you two. She would never have wished for a situation like this."
As his sensei's words evoked bittersweet memories of the passed, the tension in Kakashi's arm loosened and Minato took it as a signal that he had calmed down.
"But what caused this is my responsibility," said Minato repentantly, surrendering himself to his own memories and the guilt that came along with them. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect Rin."
For the first time since their fateful reunion, Obito's face softened, much to the astonishment of Minato and Kakashi. "Rin... Rin was my only light and hope. After I lost Rin, the world as I saw it, changed — it became a pitch black hell. There's no hope in this world. I took Madara's identity and walked the world, but all it did was confirm my belief. Even with my Sharingan, I couldn't see anything... there was nothing to see."
"I don't know anything for sure, either...," Kakashi said.
And Obito's eyes widened. "Then, my new path is—"
"Without a doubt, your path is just one of many. And it may not actually be wrong, either," he replied, eyes softening empathetically. "I've thought this world was hell, too. I thought that you had died... and, right after that, I lost Rin. And I lost Minato-sensei, as well.
But... even though I don't know anything for sure, I tried my best to see the world with this eye. I felt that, as long as I had your Sharingan and words, I could see it."
"...And what you saw is Naruto? How can you be sure his path won't fail?"
Kakashi pushed to his feet, ignoring the sting from his recently patched up wound. "Actually... he may very well fail, too."
Obito gasped, curiosity consuming him whole. "How is Naruto different from me? Why do you go so far for him?"
"Because I can say, without hesitation, that he is less likely to fail than the current you."
"Why is that?"
"Because, if he trips and stumbles on his path, I'll help him."
"Why would you help him?" Obito still hadn't received a satisfying answer. Try as he may, he could just not understand.
"He would never give up on his dreams or on reality — that's the kind of guy he is. And the way he forges ahead draws others towards him. He makes you want to reach out when he's about to stumble. And, the greater the support behind you, the closer you can get to your goal. That's the difference."
Obito looked from Kakashi to the red moon that hung overhead, processing the words that had been said. "Do you really believe such a thing is possible in this pitch-black hell?"
"I'm sure you could've seen it, too, if you had tried. After all, you and I have the same eyes. If comrades that you trust, gather around you, hope can take a physical form and become visible. That's what I believe..."
And Obito saw it.
From his pitch-black hell, he saw the light of hope manifesting in the colossal sphere Naruto created atop the Divine Tree. It acted like a beacon — illuminating the darkness — and the entire Allied Forces rallied to its location, knowing that Naruto would light their way to salvation.
Good timing, son of the Fourth, Hashirama complimented as the wind-natured bomb hurled toward a restrained Madara. Let's get him with this and seal him away!
"Naruto aimed his attack over there!" someone shouted as the shockwave whipped by him like a sudden typhoon. "That's where Madara must be!"
"Don't waste any time! Now's our chance to seal him! We won't let Naruto's attack go to waste!"
Hashirama clasped his hands together, using sage-infused tori gates to add another layer of binding to the tenacious tyrant. Naruto's jutsu didn't bring him down, but with this, he won't be able to move. All that's left is to wait for the Sealing Shinobi.
Madara knelt under the weight of his bondage. But his visage wasn't of a man who was defeated — instead, the malicious smirk that split his face depicted a scheming snake. Though, Hashirama knew all the plotting in the world wouldn't have made a lick of difference, if he wasn't given the time of day. He could already see Naruto and Sai en route to their location.
Lines of fatigue and distraught creased Obito's face. His chest had started heaving as the effects of having all nine Bijuu simultaneously pulled out of him, took its toll. Normally, a host who had their Bijuu extracted would inevitably meet a grim fate, but Yin-Kurama reassured Minato that wouldn't be the case, as the man still had the Jūbi 's husk inside of him.
Kakashi was relieved — now the man would be able to spend the rest of his life atoning for his sins. But Obito knew that wasn't enough; carrying out good deeds for a hundred years couldn't compensate for taking a life, nor could it mend the hole left in the hearts of the victim's family and friends.
Uchiha Obito finally understood why Nagato betrayed him as he clasped his hands together, intent on sacrificing his one soul for the countless others he had purged in the name of his glorious crusade.
But the pitch-black darkness had other plans.
At the behest of the true puppet master, Black Zetsu emerged and began overtaking the man's weakened body. This was his destiny — the very reason his life was spared many years ago. Madara vowed the deed would require recompense and today, right now, the payment was due.
"Time to switch places," Madara allowed an evil smirk. "It's now my turn to attack!"
"Stop acting tough!" Hashirama retorted, looking to Naruto and Sai who made a speedy descent. "This war is over!"
"Sai!" the Orange Knight called authoritatively.
And the former Root agent unfurled his oversized scroll and sicced his tiger on the bastard as a means of sealing.
"Naruto...," Madara said calmly, completely disregarding the animated doodle. "I'm grateful to you. You even extracted the Tailed Beasts from Obito; saving me the trouble of weakening him."
Naruto frowned assessingly, holding his guard. There was no bravado in the man's voice, nor did his expression forecast even a slight semblance of defeat. He was definitely brewing some kind of sick scheme, and it was imperative that they ended him before he could succeed.
But Madara had already succeeded. Everything that transpired on the dark side of the spectrum was of his personal design — including being revived by the man he regarded as a mere pawn in the grand scheme of things.
Rinne Tensei!
Madara smiled triumphantly, showing little concern as the tiger bore its fangs down into his arm. He was more concerned, captivated, by the familiar sound of his heart beat and warm blood churning through his veins.
It was exhilarating!
As color returned to his cracked and pallid form, steam rose from his body, as though he was undergoing molding at a smithy's forge.
"Finally, I can fight for real!"
As if triggered by his words, a sudden explosion of energy dismissed both the tiger and tori gates that confined him. And Madara stood amidst the destruction, marveling at his renewed strength. "This is the form, the body, I needed! It's not a battle without raging blood... and a pounding heart!"
No sooner did the crazed words left his mouth than his eyes crumbled and fell from their sockets. Sasuke followed up on the fiend's misfortune by engulfing him in a wall of black flames. But Madara didn't seem bothered in the least. He didn't even flinch.
"A brat who doesn't even come close to my level," he said by means of introduction, allowing his burning armor to fall to the ground. Completely free of the corrosive flames, the man turned to face his eternal rival. "It is these polar opposites operating together that give rise to all things in this universe. Hashirama, do you remember me telling you this long ago in front of the Uchiha Stone Tablet? That the inscription on the stone says, when two opposite sides cooperate, you have true happiness. But I also told you it could be interpreted differently."
Hashirama's eyes narrowed gravely as he studied the bizarre face jotting out from the man's bare chest. He had a feeling Madara's second interpretation of the Stone Tablet's meaning would directly tie in with why the man had exposed himself to human modification experiments.
"The one who obtains both Uchiha and Senju powers can attain true happiness," he explained confidently. "Don't you think it could be read that way, as well... Hashirama?"
It was only after receiving those words did the First Hokage managed to confirm that the face on the man's chest indeed had something to do with manipulating his DNA. "It seems you've been doing a lot of plotting since you left the village."
"No... actually, this is something my subordinate's comrade came up with by coincidence. Seems there was a fellow who thought a lot like me," he said before biting his forearm. "However... me coming back to life was exactly as planned!"
The microsecond everyone took to process that horrific fact was enough time for Madara to evoke his jutsu. While the black rods Hashirama was previously impaled with restricted his movements, the Uchiha threw himself at Naruto and then Sai, a powerful kick sending both shinobi hurling backwards. Finally, he moved toward Hashirama — his prize — and clutched the man by the neck, doing quick work to drain him of every ounce of his Sage Power.
"Though things did happen out of order. Oh well," he said, delighted as the markings of the sage appeared on his chest. "So this is Sage Art Chakra — what? Is that all there is to it? Seems like this will be easy to control."
That's what he thought, but Sasuke wasn't about to let that happen. Leaping down from his aerial mount, the avenger lurched at the bastard with his sword in hand, every strike aimed at a vital organ. But, even without his eyes, Madara was effortlessly evading each attack, as if decades of fighting had ingrained an automated sensor into every fiber and cell of his body.
"This is the perfect chance now that you're flesh and blood," Sasuke scoffed, his tone as sharp as his blade as perceptive eyes studied his foe's nimble movements. "This time I'll kill you for good and send you back to the afterlife. Regret that you're still not a reanimation... as you go to your death!"
Madara paused, allowing his kin's sword to pierce through his bicep so that he could clutch the blade with gloved hands, holding it in place. He allowed the injury, not only to relish the riveting feeling of pain again for the first time in over a decade, but to allow chakra to spread through the weapon and its wilder, like echo location.
I can feel it... Madara thought, identifying the teen's lineage and impressive power. "Your Mangekyō are Choku Tomoe — a straight pattern. No wonder you have fine moves. It might be a good idea to take your eyes until I get my Rinnegan back. But killing you would be such a waste with an eye like that.
How about it? You're a savior of the Uchiha like me. Want to join forces?"
"Make no mistake," Sasuke retorted. "You're a dead man."
Madara laughed, amused. "Fine then. In any case, you don't have much time left."
Without using any finger seals, the man expelled a fiery cloud of ash, effectively blinding Sai and Naruto who were homing in for a pincer attack. In the same instant, Sasuke felt as his sword lightened, and then there was an explosion in the distance as the tyrant landed in another location. Pained screams erupted across the battlefield as shinobi were swiftly crushed by the monster dreaded throughout all of history. Just the mere thought of his name struck fear in the hearts of people — and now he was gifted with the warmth of life once more.
Madara stood atop a mount overlooking the Bijuu and Allied Forces, a felled shinobi beneath his heel. A new age was about to dawn, and he would personally ensure that it was ushered in to the fullest of its glory.
"I'll be taking you all next," he vowed as his bicep did a quick heal. "You filthy beasts!"
Knowing that they would be trampled in the crossfire between titans, the Allied Forces fled to higher ground, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. But Madara didn't concern himself with the plotting of insects. Instead, he focused his full attention upon the Bijuu — the catalysts that would bring his ultimate goal to fruition.
With an eager grin, he threw himself into battle, only to fall prone to a combination attack between Gaara and Shukaku that significantly dulled his mobility. The Bijuu wasted no time swatting the bastard around like a bean bag, which culminated with him being sealed inside a large pyramid made of condensed sand.
The spectators were flabbergasted, however, when Susanoo effortlessly staved through the lofty structure with a chakra-forged sword and made a tactical retreat.
"I'll be putting collars on all of you shortly," Madara scoffed, his expression menacing despite his missing eyes. "Not one of you will be able to get away."
"I won't let you!" Naruto exclaimed, ramming the Susanoo-clad bastard from behind in a surprise attack, driving him into the ground.
No one here's going to wag his tail for you! Kurama raged.
Sorry we're late, Gyūki apologized, joining his comrades as they converged on their common enemy. We were moving the injured.
Don't worry, Matatabi — the Two-Tails — reassured. There won't be any more wounded. We're ending this now!
Stack tails! Kurama instructed.
And the Bijuu happily heeded, simultaneously slamming their tail into the malevolent fiend who was partly responsible for the death of their Jinchūriki. But, despite the fierce onslaught, they only managed to rip a single arm from the bastard before he slipped away like a tenacious cockroach. He was tough as nails. But the Tailed Beasts didn't lament as he was heavily wounded. Surely with another push, they would be able to finish him off once and for all.
"Sorry I'm late, Madara-sama," said White Zetsu, spouting creepily from the ground as he usually did.
"You're finally here," the man replied calmly. "Do you have it?"
"Of course."
Madara didn't just accept the offering, he severed the entire arm of his parasitic subordinate to replace is own. Then skillfully reinstated his eyeball as if it was as easy as screwing in a light bulb. "This should make things a little more fun," he mused, that single eye snapping open with renewed power and deadly purpose.
A familiar ache brought the man's attention to the bleeding wounds on his forearm. Bringing that limb in close, he tasted the life-sustaining elixir that coursed through his veins, and his body trembled in utter gratification.
"This taste of blood... this pain! This is my body! Finally, I can fully savor battle again!
The Bijuu watched in disdain as the wretch fell into a fit of laughter. But that joyful guffaw ended on such a note of complete seriousness that it was almost bizarre. With an unblinkingly gaze, the man robotically drew a line of blood in his palm.
And Kurama flinched. His blood... it's bringing back some really bad memories. That repulsive blood that summoned me long ago.
Shukaku practically leapt at the opportunity to tease his cocky rival. Hey, dumb fox — don't get scared and stick your tails between your legs.
I wouldn't underestimate him if I were you...
This isn't like you. It's rubbing me the wrong way.
Slamming his hand to the ground, Madara effortlessly summoned the Gedō Mazō statue from inside Obito, who had only just performed a sacrificial jutsu. Now the former God was barely being kept alive by Black Zetsu, who had temporarily fused himself with the man to retrieve his master's eye. But Kakashi and Minato was determined to eliminate the leech the first chance they got, which had really put the fiend in a bind.
"Shit!" Naruto swore. "Not that thing again!"
"Seems the right arm's been wrenched off," Madara said indifferently, noticing Kakashi's handy work. "Seems there's someone left with good eyes on the other side. Well, it's not much of an impediment. And now—" he passed a condescending gaze over the Bijuu— "I've got a pen for them. All I need to do is shove them in there."
A fake Rinnegan from a reanimation can summon that thing? Son Goku exclaimed, a hint of trepidation hidden beneath his high soprano voice.
He's bleeding and wounded, Matatabi deduced calmly. In order words, he's not a reanimation anymore. He possesses a real Rinnegan.
How did he come back to life? Chomei — the Seven-Tails — asked.
That's when our hero's eyes snapped open.
— "Naruto, I'm grateful to you. You even extracted the Tailed Beasts from Obito, saving me the trouble of weakening him."
As the fiend's words rehashed in his mind, like the hiss of a toxic viper, Naruto quickly pieced the puzzle together. Similar to how Nagato was a pawn natured for his use of the rebirth technique at the opportune time, Obito was also manipulated in the same way. But that meant he had forfeited his life in the process.
Naruto's eyes quivered.
Both him and Obito were like either sides of the coin same. Their current circumstances differed, but at their root, they were both cut from the same cloth. Now that his life was stolen from him, how would he make amends for all the bad he had done? How would he be pulled from the dark binds that confined him?
"It's going to take a bit longer for the left eye," Madara said with little concern.
"Seems like it," replied Zetsu. "This also looks like it's going to take a bit longer, too."
"Don't compare me to that brat who took years to get back these pets," Madara retorted as his body did another quick heal.
"You're covered in blood."
"Knowing that I possess Hashirama's healing powers might cause me to fight crudely. I'll proceed more carefully. If I use the Rinnegan's true powers, we should see a more sophisticated battle. It will only be a few seconds, so watch closely," Madara vowed before leaping atop the Jūbi 's humanoid husk and evoking a power he dubbed Limbo: Border Jail.
He might try something, so be careful, Matatabi warned.
But, no sooner had she declared the warning, than she was knocked down by an inexplicable force. Son Goku quickly tried to make sense of the ordeal, but was heavily struck down, as well. The assault continued until all nine Bijuu were completed floored.
Gaara and the rest of the alliance looked on in bewilderment. Like Son Goku, they tried their best to make sense of the situation, but they were completely baffled. The enemy hadn't moved an inch from where they stood, so what happened?
"That ought to have tamed you a bit," Madara said, lacing his fingers together. "Now I can put on your collars!"
The statue's jaw fell open.
"Something's coming!" Gaara warned.
But it was far too late.
The Bijuu were still disoriented from the previous attack. They laid helpless against the familiar purple chains that shot out from the Gedō's gaping maw and wrapped around their neck.
Naruto, however, reacted in the nick of time with an instant teleport. He knew what the appearance of the Gedō Mazō meant — and he was already far too familiar with the power of the chakra-suppressing chains that the creature commanded.
Knowing he wouldn't be able to compete against Madara's ascension to godhood in his current state, the Orange Knight steeled his heart and abandoned his friends so that he may free them later.
And they understood.
Madara clicked his tongue, recognizing his folly. "So one of you managed to escape. And, of course, it would be Naruto. Oh well, I shaved off a bit of the Kyūbi's chakra before using Susanoo, just in case. Besides, I suppose I'll need someone to test out my abilities on later."
Unlike Naruto, Gaara didn't retreat. Although he was no longer a Jinchūriki, he couldn't sit idly by and allow Shukaku to get sucked into oblivion. The creature may have been nothing but a burdensome neighbor throughout his life, but the Bijuu was also the only one to acknowledge his unwanted existence. And his fate as a Jinchūriki led him to meet Naruto.
"You can't have Shukaku!" the Kazekage bellowed, a pair of hands wrought of sand restricting the pull of the chains.
The selfless deed had the Tanuki reminiscing about a former Jinchūriki — a humble monk who reminded him of the Rikudō Sennin. The elderly man promised the Bijuu would inevitably meet people who were of like mind and heart, and today, right now, the veracity of his words were shining through.
"You sand brat!" Zetsu argued. "Are you really that happy to have your old pet back? How dare you interfere, even when you're not going to die as a Jinchūriki."
Madara, however, wasn't one to provide lip service to vermin. Using Susanoo, he fired off a chakra-forged blade that snipped the chain at either ends of the meddling sand. And, it was during this moment of upheaval, that Gyūki inconspicuously lapped off one of his tentacles.
Gaara, don't overexert yourself! Shukaku called. Find that Naruto-brat and follow his lead; he'll find a way!
The Allied Forces watched in horror as all eight Bijuu were numerically absorbed into the ravenous fiend. Madara, in turn, completed the assortment of chakra by adding that of the Kyūbi's from his titanic blue guardian.
"Well, I guess that's about all I can expect from my current strength," Madara said with open contentment.
White Zetsu looked up passed the giant's bulging eyes to the evidently smog mastermind. "It took more than a few seconds... but you were still faster than Obito."
"You really do talk too much," the man chided, trying to ignore the parasite's inability to stay within the boundaries of their master-pawn relationship. "You're all dud inventions of mine, and yet always finding fault with me."
"Black Zetsu is nicknamed Wicked Tongue and they call us White Zetsu Wagging Tongues," he laughed.
Madara frowned, ignoring the dry humor. "I hope the other battle is going well."
"Don't worry. After all, the base is good."
Capitalizing on the man's lax attitude in his moment of triumph, Tobirama suddenly appeared behind him for a surprise attack. While a fated battle unfolded, Gaara took the opportunity to sneak away while Sasuke, of course, did the exact opposite.
WHAM!
Madara chucked a metallic sphere into the Kage's forehead, adding another projectile to the eleven others that pinned the man to the floor. "To be honest, I've wanted to do this to you for a long time. Since you're... the one who killed Izuna! But, you're just a moving corpse, so it's hardly fulfilling."
"Madara, what is it that you desire so badly that you'd come back to life for? Our era, our time ended ages ago."
"I just want to build the nation that Hashirama couldn't. But this world belongs to Hashirama, my predecessor who failed. Drastic measures are needed to save the dying patient."
"So this thing called the Infinite Tsukuyomi was your idea? This is your idea of a cure?"
"Indeed. Hashirama's nation-building bore a paradox. People desire peace... and yet, on the other hand, crave conflict, as well. That duality is mankind. To only want peace and to discard conflict would cause people to stop being people. And those two things stand together side by side. People will sacrifice something in order to protect something else. Except in a true dream world."
Without missing a beat, Tobirama scoffed at the man's ideology and spat a pair of hidden needles from his mouth at the bastard's face. With a mere sweep of his arm, Madara evoked Susanoo's chakra and deflected the attack. But it was just a distraction.
Sasuke leaped from his aerial mount and plummeted to earth like an armed missile. His sword at the ready, he braced for a killing blow. But something powerful and invisible — something his eyes couldn't perceive — stopped his descent, like a barrier. He couldn't move a muscle.
"You could say that this world is Hashirama's paradox world," Madara reasoned, turning to pick up the sword that had fallen from his kin's hands. "In order to protect something, one must sacrifice something else..."
Dammit! Sasuke swore mentally, unyielding lines of distraught beneath widened eyes. What is this?
"Stop, Madara!" Tobirama pleaded, his body squirming beneath the sealing prowess of the metal rods. "Don't go any further—"
"Be they friend, sibling, or even my own child..."
Sasuke gasped, his eyes quivering in devastation. He heard as the blade punctured his chest — tearing through skin, flesh, muscle and even a vital organ. And the excruciating pain and humiliation that followed was unbearable.
"I gave you plenty of time," Madara said in an icy tone, his stare just as frigid. "And I warned you... that there wasn't much time left. How unfortunate."
While the life slowly drained from Sasuke's body, White Zetsu had made his way onto the battlefield. Hiding his identity behind a mask, the parasite made use of the stage by testing out the superior cells he had received from Yamato through Kabuto's intervention.
And so far, it was spectacular!
Mounted atop a colossal humanoid construct made of wood, the fiend employed the use all six elements to corner and overwhelm the exhausted alliance. Their only line of defense was the Third Hokage who wielded an infinite source of chakra courtesy of Edo Tensei.
In the meantime, the tides of change had started to stir. Madara had completely absorbed the Gedō Mazō and all the Bijuu stored within, effectively transcending to a sage far more powerful than Obito ever was.
But he wasn't complete — he needed to acquire his other eye as well as to dispose of Uzumaki Naruto so that he could capture the Kyūbi. And he welcomed the challenge; he desired it. For what was the use of having godlike powers if he couldn't test his limits?
While the God set off for his destination, Karin was frantically rushing toward the last point where she sensed Sasuke's chakra. Orochimaru, Jūgo and Suigetsu followed suit, dreadfully aware that a suspicious and potentially malicious character was also en route to the Uchiha's location.
Hinata, Sakura, Gaara, and Gai's team were also on the move. Madara was no longer a force to be reckoned with. It was imperative that they regroup and set a plan in motion — and, whatever strategy was made, Naruto and Sasuke would be crucial to bringing this war to a close.
Black Zetsu steeled his nerves, evoking Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan when Naruto suddenly materialized out of thin air before him. Time slowed. And the Orange Knight watched in annoyance as his fingers slipped through the Rinnegan he intended to pluck from the man's eye socket.
Zetsu retaliated with a mighty kick. Naruto guarded, but the blow was still powerful enough to send him flying back into a high arch. Kakashi and Minato watched as he landed next to them, his fiery form dissipating, his chest heaving.
"Naruto?" Minato exclaimed in surprise. "What happened to Madara?"
Kakashi waited for the response.
Minato..., Yin-Kurama called. Switch to sensory mode.
The man did as he was told, and his eyes widened in alarm at what he found out. Kakashi didn't know what the situation was, but his sensei's grave expression had him breaking out into a sweat.
We were distracted by what was happening here. There's no mistake, the Tailed Beast said regrettably, to which Yang-Kurama confirmed. The other Bijuu have already been absorbed.
Naruto looked up from his knee with a rueful smile. Deep lines of distraught and fatigue darkened his eyes. "I only managed to escape because of the Flying Thunder God Technique."
"Naruto...," Minato held his gaze sympathetically.
But the teen wasn't looking for sympathy; there was absolutely no time for that. "Hinata and Sakura-chan should be here soon; I couldn't teleport them with the power I have left. Dad, according to Kurama, you should be able to transfer his other half to me, right?"
The man nodded. "Your body should be able to hold him in his complete form now."
"While you do that, Hinata will restore my stamina and Sakura will heal my wounds. The plan is to return to my original body with as little burden as possible. Madara should have become the Jūbi 's Jinchūriki by now. My guess is that he'll try to find me, afterwards."
"Kakashi — he's yours," Minato gestured to Obito.
"I understand!" the Jōnin replied without missing a beat, and Gaara arrived just in time to participate.
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata called, both her and Sakura quickly dismounting an icy wolf to tend to his needs.
While the girls urgently played their part, Minato used a single hand to weave his signs in preparations to transfer the Kyūbi. At the same time, Black Zetsu inconspicuously liquefied a portion of himself and allowed it to burrow underground. Just before the chakra was transferred over to Naruto, the parasitic fiend thrust that artificial body forward, allowing the Bijuu to be sealed inside him, instead.
To make matters worse, Madara made his grand entrance right then and there, making the possibility of reversing the situation nigh impossible. And a grin of relief spit the parasite's face.
"Zetsu, how long are you going to cling to Obito?" Madara's voice was low and impatient.
"Sorry. But that allowed me to steal the Kyūbi's other half from these guys."
"Good. Now bring it, and my left eye, to me."
Everyone held their ground. The situation was grave. Any impulsive moves could result in their complete annihilation. Madara was no longer in a league they could hope to challenge — the man now wielded power that was on par with the founding father of shinobi. But, if they did nothing, all would be lost.
With a smog grin, Black Zetsu began separating his goo-like form from his host, like oil exposed to water. "Since Madara-sama is here, you can't do anything to me, even if I separate myself from Obito."
But it wasn't the spectators who intervened, but the host, himself. Drifting from his stupor, Obito exerted control and forced the parasite to reintegrate with his weakened body. Kakashi and Gaara took the opportunity to relocate behind him for a preemptive strike, if necessary.
"I need to ask you something, Madara," Obito's voice was weak but resolute. "Just what am I to you?"
Madara's chuckle ended on a condescending laugh. "You're kidding, right? What kind of a stupid question is that, at this point in time? You are only one thing to me..."
As Obito looked into his eye, he could almost see the hint of a memory flickering there, the events of which rehashing in his own mind. Just before Madara had pulled the plug, essentially ending the life support he received from the Gedō Mazō, he had told Obito to assume his identify while putting their plan into motion.
"Madara is he who rejects the world," the man explained. "All who hold that in their heart, and strive toward achieving the Infinite Tsukuyomi, are Madara."
Obito frowned, considering the circumstances that led him to collude with the tyrant. "That was once my path, too."
"I left you in charge of everything. And let you walk in my shoes, while I slept, waiting to return. It's the path I guided you towards. You were supposed to live out your life as Madara in order to achieve our goal as the savior who rescued this world."
Madara looked to Naruto — a descendant who had obviously inherited the Senju's will. "This world laid out by the Rikudō Sennin has failed. The chakra dispersed by the forefather was originally meant to be a linking power. The mental energies of people would connect, and feelings would be understood without the need for words. That would lead to peace and stability.
The one who preached this as Ninshu, the Ninja Creed, and sought to guide the people, was the Sage of the Sixth Paths. However, before long, people used chakra not to connect with others, but only to link the mental and physical energies within themselves. Through a method of infusing one's own chakra and increasing it multifold, they changed chakra into ninjutsu that could be used as weapons in battle.
All the Rikudō Sennin did was to further the human paradox. And, even if bonds were established, all they learned was that true understanding was not possible. In any case, chakra only gives rise to conflict and false hope. We all know the reality all too well. Even as we seek peace, we seek war. And this reality compels infinite suffering through the power known as chakra.
Power leads to the desire for war. And the lack of power leads to losing everything. I will build a new world that overcomes that! Through the Infinite Tsukuyomi, I will create a dream world without any abominable chakra! I, who possess the most powerful chakra, shall lead it. And you are not Obito, but me... Madara himself.
Uchiha Obito with his Uchiha Chakra, challenged Hatake Kakashi, desired the title of Hokage, and yearned for Nohara Rin. But, because his power was false, he ended up losing everything! This is hell! Have you forgotten?"
Obito gasped, the scene leading up to Rin's death replaying in his mind like a never ending nightmare. His inability to live without the woman he loved was the very reason his desire overlapped with this man's agenda. Even if their reunion was in a fabricated world, he intention was to make due. After all, his soul wouldn't be complete with her.
"Yes, come, Madara! You are still the savior, even now."
Without a word, Obito conceded to the man's beck and call. With what little energy he had left, he placed one leg in front of the other, slowly sauntering toward the godly pioneer. But the spectators weren't having it. Gaara quickly erected a wall of sand to cut off the man's path, while Kakashi activated his power to transport him into another dimension. Minato, at the same time, slipped into Sage Mode and used his teleportation to instantly assault the tyrant with a lethal Rasengan.
Madara didn't even flinch.
His countermeasures were quick and decisive. With a swipe of his staff, he severed the Kage's arm and sent it along a calculating trajectory. The still active Rasengan shattered the wall forged of sand before colliding with Kakashi to interrupt his jutsu. And a roundhouse kick sent Minato hurling into Gaara.
Sakura looked on in horror as the high-tiered combination attack fell apart as if it was child's play. And Obito continued his amble stride, his arm reaching out in an echo of Madara's.
CRUNCH!
Everyone blanched.
Instead of accepting the tyrant's invitation, Obito pierced his chest with his hand, as though he was wielding a lance. Ignoring the curse that rose from his lips, Obito looked to Naruto who had practically drifted off into a stupor amidst his treatment.
As he studied the boy's profile, he couldn't help but recall the heart-to-heart conversation they had in the eve of his failure. And weighing his sentiments against Madara's revealed one thing: Naruto was the only one who acknowledged Rin's feelings.
"One who leads others, is one who never steps over his friends' corpses," Obito quoted vehemently. "Even if his own ends up being stepped on."
"Then, in order to confirm that, you'll have to become a corpse," Madara returned stoically.
"You won't be stepping on me anymore. I realize now that letting someone handle everything in your name isn't the same as truly entrusting them with the task. I am not you."
— Go for it, Obito! Become the Hokage and save the world! That's a promise, too!
Allowing Rin's word to wash over him, fueling his resolve, Obito closed his eyes and focused. Having only recently fallen from grace, he could still faintly sense and whisper to the godly powers stemming from Madara. Willing just a tinge of that rebellious power to flow within him through his arm, Obito managed to summon just a single Truth Seeking Orb, which he promptly morphed into a staff.
"The current me... is the one who wanted to be Hokage: Uchiha Obito!"
Everyone looked on in amazement. But it was Kakashi who was truly moved by his friend's timely reform. Obito, you've finally found yourself.
Gripping his staff, the man commanded his newly found power and began extracting precious chakra from the enemy. Madara retaliated, thrusting his arm forward at lightening speed. But it simply passed through Obito's body, courtesy of his unique ocular ability.
Leaping backwards didn't make a difference, either. Like a well-secured leash, chakra tethered from Madara's chest to Obito's hand. And, in the next instant — like a tenacious virus — Obito forced himself inside Madara's mental scape.
Despite his toxic personality, the man's realm was a beautiful expanse of ocean that stretched into infinity. Spheres of light dotted the quiet world, their brilliant glow illuminating the sleeping Bijuu bundled together below the gentle tides.
"Are you trying to weaken me by taking away the Bijuu?" Madara spat venomously. "Do you think you can challenge me and win?"
Ignoring his assertions, Obito focused on the task at hand. Transforming the leash into an extension of his arm, he quickly reached into the blue tides and summoned all of his power to fish out as many of the chakra-based Bijuu as he could manage.
Madara watched mockingly as the man struggled to reel in his prize that was swiftly absorbed into his body. "So weak," he scoffed. "Is that all? You only tore off a mere sliver of the Ichibi and Hachibi?"
"Kakashi!" Obito called upon returning to reality. "Take Naruto into the Time-Space!"
Immediately recognizing that his friend planned on handing the teen the Kyūbi there, the Jōnin wasted no time teleporting Naruto, Hinata and Sakura into the safe haven.
But Madara had a pretty good hand to play.
Knowing that the body had to materialize during the warp, he used his Truth Seeking Orbs to mount a powerful attack. Obito managed to defend in like. But with his escape thwarted, he was left to stare helplessly into the jaws of death.
Sakura looked around assessingly before taking a breath, her chest heaving. "Hi-Hinata... are you OK?"
The princess nodded meekly, her lips pursed in a prim fashion. Her gaze and focus were fixed on Naruto despite the beads of cold sweat that trickled down her face. She was evidently terrified, but she kept on doing the only think that was within her power.
Sakura bit her lip in frustration. Madara could have killed us at any time... I was so scared that I forgot to breathe. Of all the people we've faced... he's in a different class!
"All right, I transported Naruto," Kakashi said, moving to Obito's side. "All that's left is for you to teleport yourself there, right, Obito?"
"Dammit," he smiled harmlessly, groggily pushing to his feet. "You always talk down to me, and act so superior... just like old times."
Madara watched them like a hawk, a lifetime of battles allowing him to practically predict their next move. Warping was slow, so more than likely Kakashi would try to create a diversion while Obito warped himself or was warped by Kakashi. No matter the simulation, the best course of action was to attack them simultaneously and abruptly cut off any retaliation they would hope to achieve.
The villain did just that, launching a pair of Truth Seeking Orbs at the infuriating duo. But his impressive years of experience in the dark ages didn't account for the mutual trust and intuitive communication between friends.
Madara could but smile in defeat as both men activated their ocular ability in unison, speeding up Obito's warp before he was struck down. In the same beat, Gai arrived in the nick of time to shield Kakashi from an unfortunate fate.
"You actually had perfect time for once," Kakashi teased.
Thanks for saving Kakashi, Gai! Minato thought inwardly, a kunai secured in his mouth.
"Obito!" Sakura exclaimed when the man materialized, her disposition instantly changing to caution.
"It's all right," he reassured wearily. "I'm here to help Naruto."
"Can I trust you?"
Hinata studied his features, as if to wring the truth from his body. But, as he staggered close, she could feel the light brush of a cool aura that was almost synonymous with Naruto's.
"Ever since I was a kid, I've never been able to walk a straight path," he admitted sincerely, resting a hand upon Naruto's chest. "But I've finally gotten to where I needed to be."
And with those words, a warm light enveloped Naruto's body.
The Final Battle — The Sage Emerges!
"Only senjutsu works against him," Minato informed as he approached the others. "As well as physical attacks such as taijutsu."
"Which means our only hope is the Fourth Hokage's senjutsu and your taijutsu, Gai," Gaara added.
Kakashi glanced over at the Yellow Flash who seemed to have a lot on his mind. "If I recall, Sensei... senjutsu isn't your forte..."
"Yes. In all honesty, I'm weak in senjutsu. It takes me too long to infuse the chakra and I can't maintain it very long. I haven't used it very much in combat, either. Furthermore, in this state, I can't weave signs, so I don't think I can even fight effectively."
"Everyone!" Hinata said upon being warped back among their ranks. "The transfer was successful, and the clone returned to his original body. The real Naruto-kun should be here any minute now."
"What about Obito?" Kakashi asked.
"He said it's imperative that we keep the Rinnegan as far away from Madara as possible. Sakura-san stayed behind to heal him. He needs to regain his strength in order to keep suppressing Zetsu."
"In that case," Gaara began. "All we need to do is hold out until Naruto gets back."
Gai did nothing but listen to the entire conversation, and then he leapt before the daunting foe without hesitation, knowing exactly what must be done. "So, it's showtime for the wild blue beast, eh?"
While the Jōnin employed the fierce power of the inner gates to confront Madara, Orochimaru and company came across Kabuto hovering over Sasuke's motionless body.
The man was able to escape Itachi's eternal prison, only after coming to terms with his feelings and turning over a new leaf. But, despite his change of heart and proficiency in medical ninjutsu, Kabuto could but heal the cold corpse that laid beneath his hand.
Karin's eyes quivered. Devastated, she dropped to her knees limply as a scream tore from her lungs.
Naruto scratched his cheek with an awkward smile, looking to Shukaku who meekly held a paw forward like a borne tsundere. Hurry and make the pact before I change my mind!
"A pack?" Naruto's eyebrow quirked in question.
Kurama watched as he made contact with the Bijuu before next moving to Gyūki to do the same. Thanks to Obito, you're now in possession of all nine Bijuu.
Naruto stepped back into the transmutation-like circle etched in the ground. Then he turned on his heels to pass a gaze over the unique creatures that surrounded him. As opposed to the dreary mental scape that housed Kurama, they were all gathered in a world of white that stretched as far as the eyes could see.
"...Son," Naruto said repentantly, looking to the Bijuu that shared an uncanny resemblance to a gigantic ape. "Even though I promised I would free you, I stood by and watched you get taken again. Everyone... I'm so sorry."
You're not to blame, Matatabi returned with a gentle, maternal voice. You did as promised. It was up to us to protect ourselves, afterwards. But Madara proved too strong, even for our combined strength.
At least we're free to choose whether our consciousness hangs out here or with that lunatic, Chomei said in a happy-go-lucky tone, highlighting the positive side of their circumstances.
Naruto grinned. "In that case, how about I make it feel more like home until I beat the crap out of that nut job?"
Using the realm as his canvas and his will, a dependable brush, the Jinchūriki weaved beautiful colors together to pain nine separate worlds for his new house guests.
Shukaku was now able to wonder the high dunes of a desert. The torrid wilds was glorified with many ancient structures and lush oases. Chomei was now the master of a sky accentuated with floating islands and beautiful waterfalls that cascaded into the clouds. Son Goku would now roam an expensive forest teeming with life where he would relish the title of king.
Similarly, Naruto prepared a home that best complemented the temperament and characters of each Bijuu until there was Kurama.
"As for you, O Great One...," Naruto performed a cancerous courtesy that had Kurama's face contorting into a sneer. "Words can't begin to describe how grateful I am for everything that you've done for me. I'll give you the power to shape your space in however way you like — and you can change the design whenever you want. I'm sure the others wouldn't mind some tweaking every now and then, too."
Kek! Gyūki came back from his lakeside paradise in time to overhear Kurama's special benefits. The Kyūbi's always the one getting special treatment.
He's my Jinchūriki, so it's only right, Kurama responded with a smog grin.
"What other special treatment has he received?"
Kurama is the only one who received special jutsu from the Rikudō Sennin — two, in fact, Matatabi answered upon returning from her own realm.
Surrounded by all nine Bijuu again — who looked more exuberant than when they left — Naruto looked to Kurama inquiringly. "I know about one of them, but what's the other?"
The pact, Kokuo murmured, his response leaving much to be desired.
"Shukaku mentioned that before. What exactly is this pact?"
Kurama took a moment to gather his thoughts. For as long as I can remember, we have been nothing more than just tools. Powerful weapons for humans to use for their own selfish gains. Bijuu Fission was meant as a means of finding salvation.
If there ever came a time when we were all imprisoned and our powers threatened the very fabrics of this world, then we would set out to find a savior.
Everyone looked at Naruto intently, which made him extremely self-conscious.
Kurama gestured at the intricate circle beneath his feet that had started giving off a luminous blue glow. You are our savior, Naruto. I've been watching you since you were an infant and know this to be true. When you met the Bijuu and their Jinchūriki earlier, you were not just given a portion of their chakra, but entered into a pact. The pact can be interpreted as a verbal consent, while the chakra acts as a key.
Naruto turned on his heels, captivated by the unraveling ritual and the increasing glow that tinted his body. "But what exactly does all this mean?"
The Rikudō Sennin sealed a portion of his power inside all of us, Matatabi clarified calmly. By receiving our consent and chakra that acts as a key, one would be able to break the seal and obtain this great power. You are our savior, Naruto. You will receive this great power and liberate the world from the evil that is Uchiha Madara.
Naruto humbly gestured to the Bijuu who summarized everything with less than a fraction of the words that Kurama used. "Now was that so hard?"
Kek! the Kyūbi clicked his tongue flippantly. A little suspense never killed anyone.
The glow from the circle waned as Naruto absorbed its contents, divine power permeating through every fiber and cell of his being. His expression hardened as his beastly comrades regarded him with high expectations. And he responded with a nod, oceanic eyes smoldering with unspoken promises.
His expression softened, however, when a familiar aura pulled at his senses. As if he could look across the veil of time and space, he snapped his head to the side, his eyes focusing on a soul who didn't belong.
I have poured all that I am into your ring, Akiko said softly, her angelic voice humming from the wedding band perfectly cupping Naruto's finger. Please take good care of Hinata — and tell her thanks for giving me such a wonderful name. Our time was brief, but I enjoyed her company. Make sure that you win!
Naruto closed his eyes, his heart effusively and ceaselessly chanting his gratefulness to the selfless deity. Then he looked to the assessing Bijuu once more. "Before I face Madara, there's something I need to take care of first."
A single droplet falls into the pitch black of an endless stream. As waves rippled across the surface, Sasuke found himself gradually climbing back to consciousness. When his eyes blinked open, it took a moment for them to acclimatize to the dazzling glow that surrounded him.
"This is..."
He could instantly tell that he was no longer apart of the moral world. The unrelenting flames that fueled his desire for vengeance and global reform no longer plagued him. In its place, he felt a deep-seated regret and longing.
"I'm happy to see you and yet, it grieves me that you are here."
As if the man's words held the power to shift dimensions, the all-white scenery suddenly changed. Now Sasuke stood beneath a cherry tree in a grove, the balmy summer breeze stirring up a flurry of leaves that cluttered the ground.
As if a second later would render the man a mere illusion, Sasuke snapped his head around to capture him in his gaze. He didn't need to see the owner of the familiar voice to know who it belonged to. But still he studied the figure ambling toward him — a man bearing dark eyes and a warm smile.
"Itachi...," the words left Sasuke's mouth on a note of disbelief.
"Despite putting a stop to Kabuto, it looks like the war still managed to become unfavorable."
Sasuke bowed his head repentantly, his fists trembling. "I'm sorry. I failed at changing the village and restoring our clan."
Itachi homed in close, gently pulling in his brother so that their forehead could meet. "You're beginning to sound like father and the others," he teased harmlessly with a smile.
In the same beat, Sasuke noted his mother and father standing together. They watched eagerly from a distance, as if it was forbidden for them to tread any closer despite their desire to do so. And a rueful smile stretched their lips when they met his curious gaze.
"Without everyone's influence weighing on his mind, I was finally able to get through to him," Itachi admitted softly, a hint of joy dancing in his eyes. "Don't trouble yourself with matters concerning the clan. This burden is what led us astray in the first place. Focus on yourself, little brother. Don't you have a child on the way?"
Sasuke's eyes widened, a fierce blush burning his cheeks. Tearing himself away, he raised his hands defensively. "H-How did you know?"
Itachi laughed, relishing the nostalgia between them. "This woman and child are your clan now, Sasuke. If you wish to pay tribute to my sacrifice, then take care of them. All I ever wished for was your happiness."
Sasuke's eyes quivered. "But... it's too late for that now."
Itachi turned on his heels, holding his brother's gaze from across his shoulder. "Your friend made me a promise. I have the utmost confidence that he'll keep it."
Following his eyes, Sasuke turned to find Naruto standing behind him. And when he looked back around, Itachi and his parents were gone.
"I'm glad I was able to see Itachi again," Naruto said as a means of introduction, his voice changing the scenery to a cloudy sky being reflected upon an endless sea.
Sasuke frowned. His brother's indication aside, he knew that Naruto had somehow found a legitimate way of bringing him back to life. Though, accomplishing such a forbidden feat had to be far from easy. "Why are you doing this? Why would you go to such lengths for me? Why wouldn't you bring back your mother or father? The Fourth Hokage could have helped you fight off Madara!"
Sasuke but blinked, and Naruto was suddenly floating down at his side from a gnarled and moss-coated tree protruding from the water, demonstrating extraordinary speed and agility. "There's no way I could separate mom and dad, just for my sake. Besides, unlike you, they are happy and have fulfilled their role. But yours is just beginning."
"I gained the power to enter the darkness and sever all bonds. And, naturally, everyone's tried to cut their ties to me, as well, at some point. But you... you've never attempted to cut me off.
— "The only one who can handle all that hatred is me!"
"Why do you keep involving yourself with me?"
Naruto smiled, surprised he would have the gall to ask such an obvious question. "You already know, don't you? Now that you're a spirit, your mouth sure is moving a lot."
"Just answer me!" he asserted.
And Naruto paused, organizing his thoughts. "...Because you're my friend."
Sasuke's eyes widened. Now that he wasn't blinded by the sinister ambitions that erected an invisible wall around him, it was easy for him to comprehend those words and the emotions they summoned. Naruto had expressed the weight of their friendship time and time again, but only now was it recognizable.
"I've heard that before," he attempted to dig deeper. "But what exactly does that mean to you, anyway?"
"You ask me to explain it, but I really can't put it into words. It's just that... when I see you take on stuff... and get all messed up. It kinda... hurts me. It hurts so much inside, that I can't just leave it alone, y'know?"
...
"Come back to us, Sasuke...," Naruto said just above a whisper, wrapping an arm around his shoulder.
The Uchiha's eyes widened and then half-lidded as he surrendered to his thoughts. When he first met Naruto, he thought he was a weak, good-for-nothing who constantly played pranks on the villagers. But, in truth, it was his loneliness that incited such obscene behavior. Even if it was just to get scolded, his existence had to be acknowledged in the process.
As he desperately continued trying to bond with people, it reminded Sasuke of his own family, which, in turn, reminded him of what his brother had done. And so, every time he saw Naruto suffering, he felt pain, too. But, it was through this pain that they forged a bond like no other.
— "I'll let you deal with Sasuke."
The teen flinched as his brother's voice echoed in his mind. Like a broken dam, Naruto's memories gushed into him, playing on his emotions as if they were his very own.
— "That was my plan from the start!" Naruto returned with unsuppressed exuberance.
And it was enough to win a grateful smile from the typically aloof Itachi. "Entrusting it to you was the right thing to do, after all."
Naruto's dream was not just to become the Hokage, but to become a leader more powerful and successful than all others before him. It was a treacherous path with no shortcuts. There was indescribable pain and many sacrifices. But he kept pushing forward regardless, forging irreplaceable bonds and overcoming countless obstacles along the way.
Though, there was one sacrifice he was not willing to accept. One person he wouldn't allow to be crushed under the weight of the past.
— "No way can a guy who can't even save one friend become the Hokage. Isn't that right, Sasuke?"
And so, despite his own burdens and shortcomings. Despite his own aspirations, Naruto decided to chase after his friend — to set his dreams aside and salvage the most meaningful bond he had found during the time his world was at its bleakest.
—"No matter how powerful you become... don't try to shoulder everything alone," said Itachi, sharing his counsel with the man tasked with saving his brother. "You share your father's dream, don't you? Then don't forget: Becoming Hokage doesn't mean people will acknowledge you. But when the people acknowledge you, you can become Hokage. Never forgot your friends."
Sasuke's chest tightened, his facial features set in utter dejection. Forgetting his friends is exactly what he had done. Consumed by the darkness associated with his chosen path, he had carelessly trampled upon the Will of Fire that both Naruto and Itachi proudly wore upon their foreheads.
Why did it take so long for him to recognize the futility of his path? Was the curse of the Uchiha Clan true? Until he had died and was stripped of his burdens, he was entirely blind to everything but his goal.
As the world shifted around him, Sasuke tilted his head, reduced to but a child. The bitter blackness that encircled him only became visible after Itachi — his ray of light — disappeared. Now he had matured into a teen, and Naruto stood before him, braving a similar weight of solitude.
As time pressed on without pity or remorse, Naruto found Iruka. But Sasuke still stood alone. Soon Sakura and Kakashi flanked him. Next the rookies and their team captain joined his ranks while Sasuke's company was still the cold darkness. As Naruto kept weaving new friendships, including Itachi's, Sasuke still had nothing.
His heart broke at that sudden realization.
If he continued down this beaten path, would his mental fortitude outlast the culmination of his goals? No. His goal was impossible from the beginning. Like Itachi said, the people were the catalysts that determined a worthy Hokage. His dream of a global reform was dust in the wind before it had even begun.
"I see. I see now...," Sasuke murmured in a low, repentant breath, picturing himself standing amidst the warm community that Naruto had forged all on his own.
Naruto dropped his arm from Sasuke's shoulder and took a step back, yellow eyebrows pulling down above oceanic eyes. "Anyway, let's hurry back so that you can return to your physical body. If I punch you hard enough, maybe that will make you finally open your eyes!"
Sasuke laughed. It wasn't the crazed guffaw he had let out after eliminating Danzo, but a merry sound he hadn't allowed since they were kids. "Even in death I can't get a break from you!"
"Damn right!" Naruto snapped. "Sakura-chan and your kid are—"
"I admit it," Sasuke interjected. "...I was wrong."
"You cocky bastard! It took you this long to figure that out? After atoning for your crimes, you better bring your ass back and help me! What I want to do is to make all shinobi cooperate with each other — and that definitely includes you!"
"Just because you want that doesn't mean others will agree to it."
"Dammit! If you keep whining and sulking, I'll really have to slug you, once I bring you back!"
"There's no guarantee I won't stand against you again..."
"Then I'll stop you again!" Naruto warned, a confident hand cupping one hitched hip. "Besides, I know you're not going to do that kinda thing anymore."
Sasuke bowed his head, eyes cast in the shadow of his bangs. "...How can you be so sure?"
"Don't make me repeat myself! Haven't you figured it out yet? Now that I think about it... you were always pretty stupid, too—"
Naruto's words trailed off when he noted Sasuke's shoulders rise and his body began to quake. And he turned around before he could see the tears, his friend's grief weighing on his own heart. "...I'm sorry it took me this long."
Madara peeled himself up off a slab of bedrock and wiped the blood from his mouth with a grin. "I almost died, you bastard! You're the first since Hashirama to make me feel this excited! Can you still dance? Do you have any other techniques? Give me some more fun!"
Gai broke out into a sweat, alarmed and distraught by the man's eagerness to continue despite getting beaten to a pulp. The awkwardness he felt, however, couldn't be compared to the inconceivable pain that rippled through every fiber of his being. Such was the price he had to pay for unleashing the final chapter of the Eight Inner Gates.
But he wouldn't allow himself the time to consider the pain, nor would he give Madara any time to gather his bearings. It was evident that his attacks worked, he just need a greater force to finish the bastard once and for all. And, as he assumed a stance to dish out his ultimate move, he knew it would be enough to get the job done.
An ultimate move with the ultimate sacrifice.
"That's enough," said Naruto coolly, placing an attentive hand upon the man's shoulder. As if his words were enchanted, an enigmatic power from his touch quickly suppressed the inner gates. And the man's skin tone gradually went back to normal, hot, hearty breathes ripping from his lungs.
"Na-Naruto-kun!" Lee exclaimed.
Minato's eyes narrowed. That speed... it's much faster than me, and he's not even using the Kyūbi's cloak.
"Fuzzy-Brows! Hinata!"
The princess promptly answered to the call, doing quick work to heal the Jōnin once his apprentice had recovered his overburdened body. That's strange..., she thought inwardly, probing the man's skeleton using her Byakugan. I noticed multiple fractures and broken bones while Gai-sensei was fighting before. Did Naruto-kun somehow heal them?
Naruto? Madara thought, studying the teen's back curiously. You seem a little different from before. What did Obito do?
"Naruto..." Gaara muttered.
So this is it... Kakashi's eye narrowed pensively. The amalgamation of thousands of clones' worth of training and study. You may just be a teenager in body, but your mind must be as refined as a sage. Let's see what you're capable of now.
"Water Release: Corrosive Whip!"
He's fast! Kakashi thought surprisingly. It's almost like when I was fighting Itachi; I can't keep up with his finger seals.
Tapping into Saiken — the Six-Tails' — arsenal of abilities, Naruto spewed a high-pressured jet of noxious fluid from his mouth to cleave the bastard in two. Unable to dispel the jutsu with a single eye, Madara ducked, the corrosive attack slicing through half the trunk of the Divine Tree in a glorious demonstration of destructive power.
Naruto frowned calculatingly, already flying through another series of seals that culminated with a stomp of his foot to the ground.
"Earth Element: Skewering Spears!"
Just before the rugged spikes could sunder his body, the man leapt upwards. Then used his staff to defend against a monstrous punch from a sneering sage, who had almost instantly closed the distance between them. As much as he had blocked the attack, the force was still strong enough to drive him up against the tree in a loud explosion.
Madara frowned, his arm trembling under the force of Naruto's push. He touched the Truth Seeking Orb, so how can he...? Is it because I haven't finished healing yet? No. His power is suddenly growing?
"Sage Art: Lava Style Rasenshuriken!"
Now Naruto tapped into Gyūki's reservoir. And a whistling sphere radiating hellish flames effortlessly formed in his hand, fanned by his own wind-natured chakra.
"Th-This is bad!" Madara panicked as the orb swelled more than twice the size of its wielder.
Without missing a beat, he hightailed it, willing an invisible shadow of himself to intercept his pursuer. But while Naruto wasn't able to see the invisible phantom, it wasn't quite elusive enough to fool his sensory abilities.
What? Madara's eye popped disbelievingly. He dodged... my Limbo?
Before he could spin another thought, he, instead, heard as the air was suddenly torn from his lungs. Searing flames engulfed his torso when the projectile made impact. And, with a single verbal command from its master, the sphere detonated, slicing through the Divine Tree like a hot knife through butter.
The tree's been severed, Kakashi observed in shock, watching as the colossal structure eased into a slow fall. In less than a minute, he managed to topple the tree and deal a heavy blow to Madara. Unbelievable!
Crashing into one of the many giant roots looping through the earth, the fallen God watched as all his lofty ambitions came falling down in the form of the Divine Tree.
As he stared at the horrific sight, willing it to be untrue, he heard a ghostly voice whisper in his mind. For a moment, he wondered if his obsession had rendered him delusional or driven him mad. But, for such an unstable mind, the proposition it whispered was quite rational.
Take me within you, it commanded again. Take the Divine Tree, the Jūbi ... everything, into you.
"The tree disappeared!" Gaara said, watching from a distance.
But Lee was more concerned with his sensei's treatment, tears blurring the man who was the embodiment of his entire world. "Gai-sensei!"
"Bushier-Brow Sensei is going to be all right," Naruto reassured, suddenly teleporting there via the formula he had placed on the man before. "He's not going to die."
"Naruto-kun — you healed him? But I thought he had activated all Eight Gates..."
"It feels like I can do all sorts of crazy things... the way I am right now. You guys look after him. I'll take care of Madara."
"Naruto-kun!" Lee wept. "Thank you for... Gai-Sensei..."
With a nod, the sage turned on his heels.
"Naruto." It was Gaara who stopped him now. "When you become Hokage, let's have a drink together."
"I'll ensure that Shukaku and Kurama joins us, too," he promised with a grin before taking off.
...I understand now, Madara mused, gazing unseeingly at the moon as if he had reached some new plateau of enlightenment. The Divine Tree itself... he laughed delightfully. The time has come for all to become one.
Naruto tightened his headband, looking up at the villain who giggled like a child with a new toy.
"You cannot take me down," the megalomaniac assured, clenching gloved fingers into fists. "Essentially, I am completely immortal now! I have attained eternity!"
Unlike his previous adversaries, Naruto knew there was no reasoning with Madara. No eloquent tongue or empathetic speech would bend his will and shift him from his chosen path. For the man thought he was humanity's savior. He knew his philosophy was distasteful and undesirable by the people, but deemed it necessary to induce a better change.
Keeping his lips sealed, Naruto dropped his hands from the straps of his forehead protector. With a controlled breath, he donned his new form, which glowed like the first light of dawn. A conjunction between Six Paths Sage Mode and Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, he had achieved a new pinnacle of greatness.
A circular design sat prominently over his stomach, his attire giving the appearance of a full black body suit beneath an open yellow coat. The whisker-like patterns on his face become thicker to resemble a trigram, and six magatama markings were present on and around his collar.
Naruto outstretched an arm, the intersecting slits of his eyes characteristic of Sage Mode and Kyūbi Mode fixed on his foe. Mentally reaching out to the tiny traces of his chakra still present inside Sasuke, he effortlessly summoned the Uchiha beside him via the Flying Thunder God Technique.
"Your time has come, Madara," Sasuke said by means of introduction, the pattern representing his Sharingan overlapping that of the Rinnegan in his left eye.
Madara tilted his chin arrogantly, regarding the duo from his lofty spot in the sky. One has awakened the Six Paths' Senjutsu and the other awakened the Rinnegan, huh? However... I possess both of those powers!
"This is the final battle!" he said, forming the seal for a lethal attack. "My powers versus yours... let's settle who is superior, once and for all!"
Ignoring the challenge and the looming assault, Naruto turned his head to the side, gazing across the rugged battlefield. "Sasuke. Your role is to provide support and help me to analyze his moves."
"Hah," Sasuke agreed calmly. Despite his new eye, he knew for a fact that Naruto was the only one who stood a chance against the man right now, especially since he absorbed the Divine Tree.
Making use of his augmented sensory abilities, Naruto quickly calculated a few coordinates and locked onto a target beyond the horizon. Tapping into the assorted pool of Bijuu chakra dwelling inside him, he combined the power of Shukaku and Matatabi to create a massive arrow made of sand. The projectile had a pointed tip and a hallowed circle at its end housing a hidden Rasengan.
As if he could not only sense but see his target, Naruto frowned, a flick of his hand launching the arrow like a cannon firing a rocket.
"Sage Art: Magnet Rasenglaive!"
Madara snapped his head to the side, following the trajectory of the deadly weapon as it broke the sound barrier. Before he could deduce who or what its target was, the projectile was already within the airspace of the other battlefield and pierced White Zetsu's chest.
Sarutobi and the rest of the Allied Forces braced themselves under the rippling force of the shockwave. Zetsu shrieked, the sealing ability of Shukaku's magnetic element preventing his escape.
With a fold of his hand, the sand heeded Naruto's distant command. It began shifting its shape, enveloping the parasite inside a ball-like cocoon. And, the Rasengan harboring Matatabi's blue fire at its core, merged inside that constricting sphere.
Burst! Naruto chanted.
And, the resulting explosion was fierce and all-consuming, completely vaporizing every fiber and cell of the parasite along with the wooden titan upon which it was mounted.
Black Zetsu vividly felt as his counterpart abruptly ceased to exist. And the frightening power that dealt the swift blow struck fear in his heart, adding fuel to his endeavor to fight against and retake control of his host. But neither Obito or Sakura had any intention of allowing that to happen.
Madara grinded his teeth in fury.
"One down and two left to go," Naruto threatened with a nonchalance that had the man seething even more.
"Sage Art: Shadow Style Thunder Blast!"
Purple lightning shot out from the man's fingertips, extending downwards like branching veins. Without missing a beat, Naruto used one of his eight Truth Seeking Balls as a lightning rod to completely intercept the attack. Sasuke, on the other hand, completely disappeared, throwing Madara for a loop.
This left eye... so that's what it can do, he deduced inwardly, gazing up at his foe through his fingers.
After receiving Hashirama's power and experiencing death, the ordeal had somehow evoked an evolution of his ocular abilities. As opposed to Madara, however, he had only acquired the Rinnegan in a single eye. It was strange, but he was certain his single Rinnegan held more power than one of Madara's. But his stamina for prolonged use was another matter.
Teleportation? This distance? Madara thought, trying to figure out his kin's special ability. No, he didn't teleport!
Capitalizing on that momentary distraction, Naruto morphed one of his Truth Seeks Orbs into a staff and mounted an attack. Madara retaliated with his phantom warrior, and Naruto flinched, quite familiar with the sensation of the invisible threat.
What is that? Sasuke pondered, his eyes following the elusive creature.
"Sage Art: Gale Style — Fang of Light!"
Naruto ducked in time to avoid being beheaded by a laser beam-like whip that shot out from Madara's mouth. His staff wasn't so lucky, however. It got cut in half, which spoke volumes about the force behind the attack.
It's coming again! Naruto thought, his senses prickling.
Sasuke launched his sword in the phantom's projected path, but it flew right through it. And the seemingly intangible warrior proceeded to attack Naruto, only to be rewarded with a cloud of smoke.
Madara's eyes dilated when a large shadow appeared beneath him. Before he could look up, he was hit with a colossal, double-headed hammer that breached the atmosphere like a meteorite. The explosion that followed shook the earth.
"I can't see it but something's definitely there," Naruto said, suddenly appearing next to Sasuke.
"Oh yeah? I can see it clearly!"
WHOOSH!
The enormous hammer dispersed, and Madara slowly levitated from the crater, evidently damaged from the attack. These guys can see my Limbo...
"It's another Madara...," Sasuke informed in a low tone. "Looks like our physical attacks have no effect on him."
"Yeah. I figured as much," Naruto replied, looking to the sword that had failed at hitting its mark.
Madara raised his hand, morphing an orb into a staff. Normally, one shouldn't be able to sense or see it from this realm. That "me" exists in the invisible world of "Limbo." How did they both obtain such power so suddenly? Especially Naruto... I don't think I'll be able to deal with him without first retrieving my other eye.
So Naruto's Six Path's Sage Chakra can affect the shadow Madara, too, huh? Sasuke concluded, watching as the white phantom hovered close to its master. That wound on his right arm is from blocking Naruto's first attack earlier.
"It seems your shadow returns to your body after a certain amount of time," Sasuke declared, to both Naruto and Madara as he studied the phantom doing just that. "Naruto...," he whispered this time. "When his shadow emerges again, go after it. I'll take on the real one. However—"
"I don't want you putting yourself in any danger..."
"Relax, and just listen. This is our chance. Madara and his shadow will probably stay merged for a little while longer. I don't care what it is, but get a Sage Power Jutsu ready — one that seals movement."
Madara poised himself for what would come next, his attention more learning toward Naruto who was the greater threat. He's estimating the Limbo's duration, activation interval and how to counter it, he noted, sparing Sasuke a momentary glance. He's got sharp intuition, calm analyzing and judgment skills, and ocular abilities similar to my own. If he had only been born before Obito... he would be my— no. There's no point in reflecting now. No matter what's happened, I must keep in mind that these two aren't ordinary brats. I need to get my other eye back soon.
Naruto's eyes narrowed, as if he had caught the fleeting hint of desperation that flickered across the man's stoic visage. And he knew what intention that desperation would spark, which he needed to nip in the bud before circumstances spiraled even more out of control.
"Sage Art: Magnet Style Rasengan!"
"Chidori!"
My input won't be as effective as Naruto's, but I did receive quite a bit of Sage Power from Hashirama. "Naruto, aim that towards me! I'll take care of the rest!"
Without missing a beat, Naruto did as he was told with Sasuke mirroring his charge. The next thing Madara knew, the world around him shifted, and he was now caught in between both attacks. Sasuke's special ocular ability allowed him to switch a target's location with another. Madara understood that now, but it was far too late — the sealing jutsu was already accomplishing its intended purpose.
Or so Naruto and Sasuke thought.
In an instant, Madara decisively turned the tables by substituting himself with his phantom. Then he slingshot himself in Kakashi's general direction, leaving the duo in shock. But Naruto had a contingency plan.
Having applied a Technique Formula through his Rasengan making impact, he teleported Sasuke to the man's location. But, even when cut in half at the waist, Madara found his equilibrium and continued hurling towards his target.
Leaving a clone to hold the phantom down, Naruto teleported himself next. Willing a Truth Seeking Orb into an edged blade, he brought the makeshift sword down into an diagonal slash, hoping to sever the bastard's head from his shoulders.
But Madara was as slippery as Orochimaru. He managed to tilt what was left of his body in time, offering the Jinchūriki an entire arm, instead of his cranium. There was no hesitation or regret — and he dared not slow his speedy career or look back. Before Naruto could teleport and pounce on him again, he covered the distance that separated him from his target.
Like a scouting meerkat, Kakashi pivoted his head to the side. And a pained grunt tore from his mouth before he could comprehend what had happened. In the nanosecond it took Madara to zip by the Jōnin, the man ripped the Sharingan from its place and promptly secured it in his own eye socket.
"Dammit!" Naruto cursed, just merely missing the bastard with another magnet attributed Rasengan.
"Can't you teleport after him?" Sasuke asserted.
"It's too risky. If I don't have enough chakra to make the trip, I could get trapped in between dimensions."
"Tch!"
Just to be safe, Obito had entrusted Sakura with an important task. While he focused entirely on preventing Black Zetsu from intervening, the girl was to destroy the Rinnegan. Obito had a gut feeling a mere dimension's distance away wasn't enough to prevent Madara from turning the laws of reality askew to have his way.
And he was right.
Just before Sakura's kunai could puncture its mark, the mastermind appeared, intent on skewering the wench who would dare attempt to foil his plans.
Obito managed to teleport her away just in time, only to have Madara turn the full of his malevolence on him, instead. And what better way to torture him than with the absolute truth of events long passed.
Obito's eyes dilated in horror, his heart all but stilling in his chest. And Madara heaved a devilish grin, relishing the man's despair as he admitted to being the puppet master behind Rin's untimely death. It was all an elaborate plan to pitch Obito into the darkness and equip him with the necessary strings to become a proper marionette.
"This is bad!" Sakura exclaimed upon being brought up to speed by Kakashi, Naruto and Sasuke. "Obito had already reached his limit and couldn't move. According to him, if Madara manages to get his other eye back, he's going to become nearly unstoppable!"
"Which is why I was so annoyed when he got away," Naruto said, gesturing that the kunoichi step aside in the treatment of their sensei.
Having achieved a masterful grasp of chakra and the ability to comprehend all universal things, Naruto rested an attentive palm over the man's eye, effortlessly treating it as if he had reversed the very influence of time.
Kakashi blinked his eye open, astounded by the results. It was if he had never lost it in that desperate battle to rescue Rin.
"No way!" Sakura gasped. "How did you do that?"
"Mmm...," Naruto considered that for a while, a finger beneath his chin. "The best way I can describe it is that I took a part of Kakashi-sensei — on a molecular level — propagated and molded that into his new eye."
"Oi, Naruto!" Sasuke snapped. "Shouldn't we be staying alert right now? What are we going to do about Madara?"
"Na-Naruto-kun!" Hinata called breathlessly upon joining their ranks. "I saw what happened! Is everyone all right?"
"Hinata! We're fine. How is Bushier-Brow sensei?"
"He's stable, thanks to you. He just needs a lot of rest."
Kakashi sighed in relief.
And Naruto shrugged, recognizing the anxiety hidden behind Sasuke's growing annoyance. "Don't worry, I have the Bijuu keeping watch, too — and I have a plan. Ideally, it would have been better if Madara didn't regain his other eye. But I think I can still beat him.
Going forward, I'll face him alone. Sasuke, you look after Kakashi-sensei and the girls. Pull back as far as you can. Once Madara returns, I plan to go all out. I don't know what the significance of absorbing the Divine Tree is, but I don't plan on giving him enough space to find out."
"But how do you plan on defeating him?" Sasuke asked, reminding the sage that cutting him in half didn't even slow him down.
"I'm going to try crushing his heart. If that doesn't work, I'll move on to lapping his head off. If neither methods work, then I'll try a seal. It's very risky, so I hope one of the former methods work, instead."
Before anyone could argue, Madara returned with his lower half entirely regenerated. And his eyes radiated a fierce desire for revenge that had Sakura and Hinata quivering in their sandals.
Obito had returned, as well. But the man was suspiciously quiet and still, his close proximity to Madara arousing many questions.
"Unfortunately, Obito is gone," Black Zetsu informed. "I've taken over his body now. Seems he was hoping to right his wrongs. He was praying like a child, deep inside, so that he could leave the future to you all. How convenient that would have been for him, right? Just like a spoiled brat."
Naruto's eyes was a fierce storm. Every word that the parasite spouted had his blood heating to a boil, and he took a calm step forward, his amble stride the embodiment of conviction and rage.
"Naruto!" Sasuke called tellingly.
"Yeah, I know. There are more of them, right?"
Registering his approach as a clear indication that their battle had begun, Madara unleashed his four phantoms on the advancing warrior. At the same time, he took to the skies to unleash a cataclysmic-level attack.
"Catastrophic Planetary Devastation!"
Similar to the god-tiered jutsu Nagato had used in an attempt to subdue a rampaging Kyūbi, Madara released a dark sphere of energy imbued with gravitational properties. But, as opposed to the single sphere that the Almighty Pain had managed to produce, Madara effortlessly replicated dozens that quickly amassed chucks of earth miles wide in diameter. Without hesitation, he launched his fabricated meteors that sparked fire as they breached the atmosphere, intent on completely eradicating the opposition.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
Naruto tasked four clones to engage the phantoms in close combat, and then he spared Hinata a reassuring gaze before looking to Sasuke. "Go now! All hell is about to break loose!"
Quickly spawning his purple guardian, Sasuke secured Kakashi, Sakura and Hinata inside of a protective screen behind Susanoo's forehead before taking to the skies.
"Bijuu Bomb: Rasenshuriken!"
Even as Naruto's sudden eruption of power supplemented the earth's gravitational pull, slowing Susanoo's speedy ascent, the party watched as the projectile made impact with the first mountainous clump of earth. The resulting explosion destroyed its target like a fragile pane of glass against jagged rocks. And the prolonged vacuum created by the nature of the attack continued shredding the other meteors, like peanuts in a food processor.
Madara paid their efforts no need. It was merely a distraction to seize an opportunity. Breaking off the horn-like crown from his forehead, he turned his full attention to the full moon that seemed closed enough to be plunked. Bearing the characteristics of both Rinnegan and Sharingan, a blood-red eye suddenly snapped open in the center of his forehead, the intricate patterns now being reflected on the moon.
According to that stone tablet: when the one who possesses the power of the Rinne should drawn near to the moon, the eye that can reflect off the moon and grant the infinite dream, shall open. "Shine upon the world... Infinite Tsukuyomi."
The Allied Forces hadn't gotten a chance to breathe, even after the fall of the hooded warrior that terrorized them. Now the ground rumbled beneath their feet as island-sized masses of bedrock were obliterated above the earth. These were the repercussions of a battle leagues above what they had witnessed between Hashirama and Madara. Their duel was one among men who had ascended to the pinnacle of greatness, but this current battle was being waged by gods.
While the shinobi braced themselves in a panic, Akamaru was the only one who noticed the curious change in the moon. Sasuke was the second to take note. And, as if his newly evolved eye had whispered the dangers it posed, he made a breakneck dive to the ground.
Naruto frowned, studying the change in the lunar deity. Shit! If it's making Sasuke haul-ass like that, then it must be serious.
Susanoo made no attempts at a soft landing. The titan practically crash-landed next to Naruto and unloaded its human cargo before nestling around them like a hen protecting its young, giant wings coiling around them to form a velvety cocoon.
With a malicious grin, Madara evoked the jutsu. And a blinding surge of light illuminated the globe. It was as if the morning had dawned, completely dismissing the blackness of night. Earth, wood, concrete — nothing could filter out or escape the penetrating glow. Those who were fast asleep in their beds, or even the many who had taken refuge in underground bunkers, were still subjected to the jutsu's effects.
Animals were no exception.
The warriors of Edo Tensei watched in dismay as their families and comrades stood motionlessly in what seemed like a daze, their eyes locked in a perpetual gaze at the moon. What was most bizarre was the Rinnegan that overlaid their eyes. It was a blatant indicator that Madara was somehow involved in this great tragedy.
"Divine Deep Forest Emergence!"
On top of Infinite Tsukuyomi, the puppet master summoned a field of massive roots. From their groves and crevices, slender wisps of wood reached out to coil around the enchanted victims. Like a spider restraining prey, they spun them inside of a cocoon-like husk.
Try as they may, Sarutobi and Tobirama couldn't stave off the occurrence. As they ripped and sliced through the wooden wisps, more would simply spawn in their wake until the subject was secured.
Fear. Grief. Anxiety. Loss — Naruto could feel as a plethora of negative emotions across the globe converged to form an unspeakable darkness. It resonated in his own heart, like a volcanic eruption, urging his body into motion despite his better judgment.
"Naruto, don't do it right now!" Sasuke exclaimed urgently, a restraining hand upon the sage's shoulder. "Don't go outside right now; without this Susanoo that my eye made, you'd get bound inside his genjutsu, as well!"
"Naruto-kun, please don't go!" Hinata cried pleadingly, clinging to the hem of his jacket. Like Sasuke, she could see what was happening on the outside with her ocular ability. It was terrifying.
The sage allowed his shoulders to sag, his composure gradually returning. "…Sorry to make you worry," he reassured with a smile and a pat on her head. "I've calmed down now, thanks."
Sasuke relinquished his grip, dark eyes grave and unswerving. "Naruto... if you fall, it's all over! We need to bide our time. This is all I can do to help, so allow me to protect you."
Sakura's emerald eyes were automatically drawn to Dark Knight by his uncharacteristic words. Since she returned from Obito's space-time dimension, he somehow seemed different. Almost like the icy wall that surrounded him had thawed. Now, he seemed warm, approachable… human.
A muscle worked in Naruto's jaw. Now that the collective wave of emotions had passed, it was possible to think more clearly. It was evident that everyone was still alive on the outside; they were just trapped inside an illusion that would undoubtedly be dispelled once the caster was defeated.
Sasuke and Hinata were right — ideally, they just needed to bide their time until the opportune moment presented itself. This was all still reversible. He just needed to play his cards right to ensure that Madara got what was coming to him.
But, behind his conceding nod and reassuring smile, a vicious rage grew inside Naruto. What Madara had done was beyond outrageous. Despite the general consensus, he had forcibly entombed the entire world within his selfish ideology. Just thinking about it made his blood seethe beneath his flesh.
All the deaths, all the suffering... was it truly worth it?
As the luminous light from the moon subsided, Madara gazed down upon what was once a fierce battlefield. Now all was still, all was quiet, except for a few whose grim fate was already etched into history's stone tablet.
Disposing himself to the divine task — fate's own personal guillotine — Madara slowly floated down to the ground, watching as Sasuke's Susanoo gradually unfurled its wings. "Once I personally guide these pests to the River of Styx, no one will be left to stand in my way!"
That's what he thought. But even the almighty Madara couldn't have accounted for what would happen next. Drunk on his divine power and what he had accomplished thus far, the man had sorely forgotten what people were capable of when they were trapped between a rock and a very hard place. Especially a certain shinobi that had been tasked with, not only ending the war, but ascertaining the true path to peace.
Madara and Black Zetsu watched in surprise as Susanoo launched itself into the sky like a missile, as if desperately trying to escape the looming grip of a nuclear strike.
Had they decided to turn tail and flee?
Did they finally realize the futility of their resistance?
No.
The pull of gravity suddenly doubled.
Madara noted a silhouette emerging from the cover of dust and debris, and the individual's high soprano voice reached out before his body did. The roar of Naruto's battle cry was like the embodiment of wrath and malice itself. And, for an instant, Madara felt the fine hairs at the back of his neck stood on end.
As if a defense mechanism, all four phantoms materialized to protect their master. But Naruto wasn't deterred. He broke through their ranks like a clap of lightening and thunder, and time slowed as his palm spanned the size of Obito's face. Employing his universal comprehension of chakra control, the sage effortlessly separated the parasite from Obito's body, and then sent the man to Sasuke's care via the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Son! Naruto called inwardly, and the Bijuu heeded the call.
Simultaneously combining his wind-natured chakra with that of Son Goku's earth and fire, the sage was able to simulate the effects of Kekkei Tota (Bloodline Selection) and create a new element.
"Dust Release: Atomic Blast Technique!"
Time righted itself as Black Zetsu studied the translucent cube that was essentially his grave. He frantically screamed his discontent, but was promptly reduced to nonetheless in a blink of an eye.
Outraged, Madara flung his arm out, siccing his phantoms on the lone shinobi like a pack of hungry wolves. But still Naruto didn't concede, nor did he even frown. Far from alone, he called out the names of all nine Bijuu, requesting their aid as he raised a single hand to the stars.
"Tailed-Beast Planetary Rasenshuriken!"
Willing an astronomical amount of his power to his command, Naruto weaved and launched a giant Rasenshuriken with a lava-based core. Empowering the projectile even farther — like organic cannons — Shukaku, Matatabi, Isobu, Son Goku, Kokuo, Saiken, Chomei, Gyūki and Kurama fired off a highly compressed Bijuu bomb that synched in rotation around the sphere like planets orbiting around a sun.
The cosmetic phenomenon hummed like an celestial hymn as it traveled along its trajectory with unshakable purpose and resolve.
And Madara flinched.
He didn't need to be psychic to recognize danger. Every nerve ending in his body screamed in alarm. Committing the entirety of his power into a hasty retreat, he watched in a mixture of apprehension and fury as the expanding blast tossed his phantoms from Naruto's path like straws and feathers.
From their high altitude, Sasuke and the others cried out as the shockwave met them like a brick wall. Hashirama, Tobirama and Sarutobi watched in dumbfounderment as a blinding white light effortlessly vaporized thousands of miles of landscape in a matter of moments.
Madara was in disbelief. Slowing to a stop, he turned to assess the scope of the destruction. Miles of land looked as if it had been gorged out and spirited away by an unfathomable force. Despite being airborne, he could feel the earth still rumbling, charged with sparks of energy that prickled his skin like electricity.
Aside from the Kyūbi, Naruto only possessed an inkling of the other Bijuu. Madara, on the other hand, held the majority of their power — including the Divine Tree and the Gedō Mazō. So how? How could he possibly manage to output this magnitude of power?
Before he could even come up with an hypothesis, Madara caught a flash of movement — fiery bright against the black plums of smoke rising up from the land. No sooner had he spied a pair of piercing blue eyes through the thick veil, than Naruto's hand was piercing his chest.
Flabbergasted, the man looked down with wide eyes. What's this...? I can't move? Madara studied the aura emanating from Naruto's arm, noting the elemental traces of sealing-type chakra. "H-How is this possible?"
Like I thought, Naruto thought inwardly. I completely crushed his heart and he didn't even flinch. There's no guarantee that lapping off his head would work, either — and he probably won't allow me to get in this close again.
Despite the violent storm brewing in his oceanic eyes, a muscle worked in Naruto's jaw as he spun the words on his lips. "I wasn't just dwindling my thumbs while you fought my clone," he clarified, his voice quivering in his effort to subdue his anger. "I was devising a way to take you down."
Madara grinded his teeth, veins bulging at his temples as he mustered his strength. But try as he may, he couldn't break free.
"It's pointless. I accepted the fact that you're a seasoned veteran — you're knowledgeable and experienced in warfare. And, on top of that, being a Uchiha makes you exceptional at almost everything. But, your power is limited. My only way to defeat a genius like you before you could analyze and intercept, was in one fell swoop with overwhelming force."
Madara clicked his tongue. With his acute field of vision, he could see Hashirama and his kin observing from below, which made his humiliation soar even further. But, despite the emotions that fueled his power, he still couldn't break free from Naruto's accursed hold.
"While my body was recovering, my mind was still hard at work. I taught Kurama how to gather Senjutsu. With such a large container, he was able to amass an inconceivable amount of power. That coupled with his own chakra and my newly attained divine energy gave me a constant supply of explosive power.
Even as we speak, Kurama's taking in a constant supply of Senjutsu — the earth, the mountains, the seas... even everyone you trapped inside that genjutsu — they're all sharing their power with us. We even took energy from the Divine Tree, before you took it in.
The world is pitching in so that we can finally end your reign of terror, Madara. The difference between you and I is that you chose to walk your path alone, and selfishly kept everyone beneath your thumb as you carried out your acts of tyranny."
"...It's not too late," Madara began, seeking now to fight with words than brawn. "I just severed the Karmic Cycle of this world. I have freed humankind from their suffering, pain and futility."
"All this is just a lie!" Naruto sneered.
"Naruto, you're the one who's interfering with everyone's happiness. Just look at this world now," his eyes motioned to the cocoons suspended from the appendages of the Divine Tree. "All fighting between shinobi has ceased. I've transformed hell into heaven. I've finally corrected Hashirama's mistake."
"What do you mean by the First Hokage's mistake?" Sakura shouted from the protection of Susanoo's bosom.
"You Hidden Leaf may not want to acknowledge it, but Hashirama ultimately failed in reforming the shinobi world. In the beginning, both Hashirama and I had the same goals — and we worked together. We tried to change the culture that sent out barely grown children to war.
As a result, the two of us created the Shinobi Village. However, that does not result in true peace. People cannot show each other their true feelings. Fear, suspicion, and resentment... never subside. My opinions were pushed aside and the shinobi world moved forward in accordance with Hashirama's vision.
And what happened because of it?
The fighting between shinobi didn't stop. Rather than ceasing, establishing ninja villages led to an increase in their military build-up, which resulted in battles that turned into great wars... with countless lives lost. This is Hashirama's legacy to the shinobi world.
Right now, everyone is inside of the Divine Tree. Each one of them, dreaming their own idyllic dreams. They are in their own ideal worlds."
"This is your idea of a perfect world?" Sasuke retorted. "You're just deceiving people."
"I just want to be the savior that ends the long history of fighting amongst shinobi. This is the only path left to humanity..."
Naruto frowned, both unconvinced and unamused. "The First didn't fail," he corrected bashfully. "We no longer live in an age where children are sent out to war. And, thanks in part to Akatsuki, a strong bond was created between all five Kage. The world wasn't created in a day — likewise, you can't expect it to change in a single generation, either.
The First strived for change. Despite having the power to bend everyone to his will, he didn't become a tyrant. He knew that change genuinely needed to be desired and pursed by others. If it was forced or dictated, it could potentially yield the opposite effect. And that's exactly what you've done."
"If there is one thing that I'm sure of, it's that people will never change. Despite Hashirama's shameless pleas to the heads of the other villages, the world didn't change. People need to be herded like sheep—"
"You changed," Naruto interrupted curtly, catching the man off guard. "The only reason you fell from grace is because the other villages didn't share the same vision that brought you and the First together. So you decided to find another answer. But what if there was no segregation? What if those other villages with conflicting ideals didn't exist?"
Madara's forehead furrowed in his reluctance to swallow Naruto's reasoning, but the sage pushed even harder.
"Despite being from rivaling clans, you and the First became friends. Am I wrong? You could both relate to one another because of the burdens you shared. And a tenacious greed for a better future natured you both into powerful warriors that managed to usher in this change.
What if everyone faced the same circumstances?
You destroyed all the Hidden Villages except for Konoha. What if, instead of rebuilding the other villages, everyone moves to the Leaf, instead? If everyone works together toward the same goal, just like you both did, I'm sure our customs will change."
"Kek!" Madara clicked his tongue venomously. "Do you really believe that the other villages will abdicate in favor of your proposal? There are minimalists who seek peace and prosperity, but there are even more who seek conflict and to be drunk on all the pleasures that life has to give. Both you and Hashirama are idealists who are completely blind to the true nature of people.
What you strive to achieve will merely become another idiotic legacy that exposes humanity to another generation of chaos and suffering. Cease your foolishness and surrender to me, Naruto. The world cannot be changed using conventional means. You know this to be true. My plan is nearly complete. All you have to do is surrender the Kyūbi to me and join your friends. This is your only chance to find true happiness — you will be able to reunite with the family you never had and finally become Hokage."
...
There was a moment of silence. So prolonged and deafening it made the onlookers anxious.
"Na-Naruto!" Sakura called worrisomely. "Don't listen to him!"
"Naruto... I'm sure I don't have to remind you about all the sacrifices that have been made up until this point," Kakashi added. "All those killed in the war won't be able to live a life of paradise in a genjutsu. Once you die, there's no coming back."
"To induce a change of this magnitude, it would be weirder if there wasn't at least this level of sacrifice," Madara defended coolly, years of combat and solitude deteriorating his sense of empathy.
Hinata looked on silently with a knowing smile, a hand pressed to her chest. Naruto's delay didn't mean he was considering the Madara's proposal. He was just taking the proper precautions to controls his emotions as he gave the man an opportunity to redeem himself.
But that moment was now passed.
"Are you saying I can't become Hokage on my own?"
Madara may have become antisocial and boorish in the final years of his life, but he hadn't become so insensitive that he couldn't note the rage that was flaring beneath the weight of Naruto's words, stemming on the brink of nuclear meltdown.
Before the tyrant could spin a word of consolation on his tongue, he heard as a broken roar tore from his throat, instead. The power that Naruto wielded suddenly reached deep inside of him — breaching every barrier and barricade — until it got to his core. Like ghostly hands, something all-consuming with absolute power and authority wrapped around the gears, cogs and levers that powered and propelled his entire being. Intent on destroying him.
Severing the conversation induced by Shukaku's need for time, Naruto proceeded to put an end to the stubborn tyrant. At his disposal was the One-Tails' strongest jutsu — a sealing mechanism that would entirely extract a target's chakra.
But, there was a risk.
The target would also share the ability to seal the assailant's chakra. It was a kind of tug-of-war, where the strongest would prevail. But, until Madara who walked a lone path, Naruto had the help of all nine Bijuu. Kurama, in particular, was funneling a monumental amount of Sage Energy to him. It essence, it was as if mother nature and all the people of the world — despite being trapped in a genjutsu — was sharing their power with him. An explosive flash signaled the end of a long battle.
With an emotionless expression, Naruto yanked his hand from the man's chest, a bundle of chakra akin to an inverted Rasengan humming in his palm. Like a star that had lost its light, Madara grew pale and weak, his body emaciated. He plummeted from his once lofty place in the sky, motionlessly crashing to the ground.
Sasuke sighed in relief after appraising Madara for a moment, the tension leaving his body like a punctured balloon.
"Is it really over?" Sakura dared to ask, noting the moment Sasuke deactivated his ocular ability. "Did we finally win?"
"Madara barely has any chakra left," Hinata confirmed exuberantly.
Once Susanoo was grounded, Kakashi took his friend and found a quiet spot to rest the man down on his back. Naruto waited for the moment the Jōnin would urgently request his aid. But the moment never came.
"It's finally over," Obito celebrated in a strained whisper. "Tell Naruto I said thank you. After fighting him, I feel like I've woken up. It was as if I saw my past self when I looked at him. And I regret what I am now. But, for some reason, it also made me happy.
As a kid, I would imagine myself as Hokage so often. That indescribable feeling of exhilaration and anxiety... I think he brought that all back for me. Imagining the village, friends, and me as the Hokage... even after all that's happened, just the thought of it seems to fill up the hole in my heart." he allowed a weary smile. "Maybe it's because it's the end, I find myself rambling all of a sudden."
"You still have a chance, Obito!" Kakashi urged uncharacteristically. "Naruto should be able to heal you—"
The man shook his head in denial. "Even if it was just a droplet in an endless ocean, I've played my part in Naruto defeating Madara and saving the world. Me sticking around would only be a constant reminder of the pain I've inflicted on many people. Besides, I've kept Rin waiting long enough."
"Obito..." Kakashi murmured, regarding the man with a grief-stricken gaze.
"I really made a mess out of the Shinobi World. So much that I don't even know what to say to you before I go."
Kakashi attempted a wholehearted smile behind his mask. "We're able to say goodbye as friends, not enemies. To the old you — the one who was always late because you were helping others. That's plenty enough for me."
Obito smiled faintly, knowing it was more than he deserved. His eyes grew heavy, and he allowed them to drift close. "...Thanks, Kakashi."
Naruto watched from afar. He didn't need to use his abilities. The moment Kakashi's head tilted low, he knew Obito was gone. But the traces of a smile upon the man's lips proved his final moments was not entirely of regret and sorrow. There was evidently some bliss weaved in, and that was enough to put Naruto in better spirits.
Looking down upon the ball of chakra in his hand — the essence of Madara's power — the sage allowed his shoulders to sag. Finally it was over. Now, they just needed to clean up the aftermath of the war. And the first order of business was—
CRASH!
He shattered the sphere with a tight clench of his fingers. From its depths, nine different color chakra emerged, each transforming in a full-sized Bijuu that surrounded their savior.
We finally made it out! Son rejoiced. Kurama, your Jinchūriki's pretty good.
The fox heaved a wolfish grin.
"Kurama, you said the Bijuu's strength are determined by the number of tails they have?" Naruto said with a grin. "I find it pretty ironic then that the jutsu that just saved us all came from Shukaku."
The One-Tailed Bijuu allowed a smog grin, lapping up the compliment like a deprived animal. And he practically beamed at the sight of Kurama's annoyance. It had been far too long since he managed to one-up the dumb fox.
Wearing an ashen expression, Hashirama looked toward his rival and best friend who had suffered a gripping defeat.
"Well done, Naruto," Minato said warmly.
"Indeed. Your feats are definitely worthy of praise."
The voice came from a man who looked almost identical to Madara, but his words held more power and authority. And most noteworthy was that they were pure and sincere.
"Naruto, who's this?" Sakura asked in a low whisper, sharing everyone's curiosity.
"Mmm," he looked the man over, processing his thoughts. "If I had to guess, I'd say he's the Six Paths Super Gramps. I started sensing him after I awakened by my abilities."
The man nodded in confirmation. "Similar to how Minato incorporated both his and Kushina's consciousness inside of the Eight Trigrams Seal, I also preserved myself within the seal that imparted a portion of my powers onto you."
"Six Paths Super Gramps?" Hinata couldn't help but think Naruto was being obnoxious again.
Kakashi broke out into a nervous sweat. "Are you by any chance the legendary...?"
"I am Hagoromo Otsutsuki," the man clarified. "Also known as the Sage of the Six Paths."
"No wonder... you're levitating," Sakura muttered meekly. "At this point, nothing shocks me anymore."
"So you are the one, after all," Kakashi continued. "To be able to independently manifest yourself in a physical form despite dying hundreds of years ago, you're probably the only person who could perform such a godly act."
"Are you Hatake Kakashi?"
"Oh... yes."
"Good job guiding everyone and subduing Madara."
"I hardly played any part at all. It was these four and many comrades. And... a former friend also lent us strength."
"That's why I said you guided everyone well. Despite losing your way, you remained Naruto's teacher and Obito's friend. Or else, you likely wouldn't have succeeded in stopping Madara."
"Oi, Kurama!" Naruto called, running over to the pensive Bijuu. "Were you lonely being separated from me? I missed you!"
Don't talk so loud! Kurama snapped. I wasn't lonely. You have most of me inside you, remember?
Son Goku burst into a fit of laughter.
It must of been contagious, because Hagoromo chuckled, too. "Just look at Kurama, all embarrassed and flustered. But this is exactly what I had once envisioned — that there would one day be a shinobi who could move even the Tailed Beasts to cooperate."
Hinata regarded the Miracle Boy with a loving smile, honored to be the one responsible for safeguarding his heart.
"Oh, everyone!" Naruto called out to the Bijuu with a grin, whipping through a series of complex hand seals. "I have a present for you all."
They watched him intently.
"Bijuu Fission: Jinchūriki's Judgment!"
As opposed to the corresponding jutsu that judged a Bijuu by allowing just the embodiment of their goodwill — the Yang aspect of their character — to emerge from the seal, Naruto gave them the exclusive right to pass through of their own free will.
And nine miniature Tailed Beasts appeared from a cloud of fluffy smoke, looking around from their new adorable skins.
"Bee-kun?" Hinata called in disbelief when she spotted him.
The tiny tyke rushed off to meet her, leaping into the princess' arms despite the presence of his kin. "I've missed you!" she cried.
Except for Matatabi, none of the other Bijuu would admit it, but they longed for a day to be loved and appreciated just the way the Sage of the Sixth Paths treated them when they were young. Considering Kurama's temperament, it was truly ironic that he was the first one to find the haven they all secretly sought.
It's so strange seeing a baby version of myself, Son commented with a quirked muscle that represented eyebrows.
Oi, who are you calling a baby? his counterpart snapped.
Naruto watched in amusement as they all assessed their counterparts. "Until the world is mended, I think it would be for the best if you guys stayed with me."
The Bijuu considered that for a while.
Between having a boundless dimension to explore and being able to visit the real word whenever we please, I think it's a great deal, Kokuo said.
If we get captured, we can just undo the jutsu and respawn again, Chomei added in a laid back tone. It's the perfect method for us!
I think so, too, Matatabi concurred. And I think we will meet more people like Naruto, if we stay by his side.
Everyone else nodded in agreement.
Chibi-me can remain with Naruto, Gyūki began. But I'll go back to Bee. He should be safely tucked away inside of one of my tentacles right now. But the fact he isn't here means he's also under the genjutsu.
What about you, Dumb Tanuki? Kurama ridiculed. Aren't you going back to that Kazekage brat?
Keh! You seem to forget who just saved the world, including your sorry hide, Shukaku gloated shamelessly. Naruto said he plans on uniting the Shinobi World, so I'll see Gaara, either way.
It's settled then, Isobu concluded.
While Naruto was busy assimilating the Bijuu, Sasuke sought to deal the finishing blow to Madara who was still faintly breathing. But Hagoromo raised an arm, stopping the Uchiha in his tracks. "Madara was a Jinchūriki," he said. "Even if it was temporary... emptied of the Tailed Beasts, he won't last long. Sasuke, Naruto — behold, the end of your predecessors. You should watch this closely."
The First knelt before his fallen rival, his visage a mold of many emotions. The most prominent had to be a sense of regret and pity. It clawed at him incessantly, like a dripping facet in the back of his mind that he couldn't shut off or mend.
"Is that you, Hashirama?" Madara murmured beneath his breath, gazing off unseeingly into the dark night's sky.
"Hah..."
"I guess neither you, nor I could achieve what we wanted."
"It's never that easy. Our job is to do all that we can, while we're alive. And then, bequeath the rest for future generations to accomplish."
"So naive... as usual," Madara responded wearily with a wanly smile. "You... were always... the optimist. But perhaps... that is the correct path. My dream was squashed. But your dream... still lives on."
"We were both too hasty. We didn't need to fulfill our dreams ourselves. It was more important to cultivate those who would come after us, to whom we could entrust our dreams."
"Which means I would have failed, anyway. Since I always hated someone... standing behind me."
"When we were kids, you once said we're shinobi and we don't know when we'll die. And that for neither side to die, we'd both have to reveal what's inside of us and pour each other drinks to toast like brothers. But we're both about to die. Right now, we can drink together, as war buddies."
Madara considered that for a while, his lips pulling up into an uncharacteristic smile. "War buddies... huh? Well... I guess... that's okay... by me..."
Hashirama hung his head as his friend, for a second time, moved on to the afterlife ahead of him. Madara's desire for a better world was just, but his methods were unorthodox and unfavorable in the eyes of the people. Could his shortcomings be blamed entirely on the fabled curse of the Uchiha Clan, or the toxic environment in which he was grown?
As the founding Hokage mourned his former ally, everyone took a moment to allow the bittersweet scene to wash over them.
"This is the perfect moment," Hagoromo said, diluting the tension a tad. "I will release the jutsu and free the Kages."
Naruto flinched at those set of words. He looked up at Kurama dejectedly, as if silently hoping the Bijuu could cast some manner of spell to keep this moment suspended in time. But, instead, the deity simply told him to go and bid his final farewell. If this moment ceased to progress, the rest of his dreams would never come to fruition.
"Dad...," Naruto said upon leaping over to his father, his eyes glum and quivering.
Minato attempted a wholehearted smile. "Oh, that's right. I've been meaning to tell you..."
As he weaved the words together in his mind before spinning them upon his lips, the sun rose from beyond the horizon, basking the world in the promise of a new age. "Happy Birthday!"
Tears tipped Hinata's eyes.
"You've become a splendid young man, Naruto. I wish both you and Hinata all the best."
Naruto attempted his own wholehearted smile. "Yeah... thank you."
"We're an existence outside of the rules; we can't remain in this world forever. It's time to say goodbye."
Naruto hug his head somberly as his father was enveloped in a ray of soft light, his soul separating from the human vessel.
And Minato fastened his eyes shut, desperately trying to keep up his fatherly figure rather than falling apart under the weight of his sorrow. "I promise to tell Kushina everything."
"Tell her not to worry," Naruto responded exuberantly, trying to prove his independence and uplift his father's spirits. "Thanks to Hinata, I'm not as picky and eat lots of different foods, including fruits and veggies. I bathe every day, and go to the Leaf Hot Springs once in a while, too. Although everyone just says I only take quick dips."
He laughed awkwardly, lacing his fingers behind his head.
"Let's see what else. Oh. I've made lots of friends! And they're all good guys! And I was really awful at school, but I never got depressed and had more confidence than anyone else!
Naturally, I always obeyed Lord Third and Kakashi-Sensei. I respected them both. They're both right here, so you can ask them yourself. Oh! And those Three Prohibitions of Shinobi? I learned a lot about that when I was with the Ero-Sennin. He was hopeless when it came to them, though. But he was an awesome Sennin and I respected him the most.
I haven't been indulging myself on alcohol. Oh, and I know mom said to find someone like her. Hinata may not be as outgoing and headstrong, but she's just as determined and loving!"
Tears spilled down his face in an echo to hers.
"I'll keep pushing forward and giving life my best. I've got dreams, too! I'm gonna become an even greater Hokage than you, dad! I swear I will! So, when you see mom over there, please tell her... that she doesn't have to worry about me at all! Tell her I'm doing my best!"
Hinata came to a stop behind him and pinched the hem of his jacket affectionately.
"Got it," Minato replied just before he was spirited away by the sky. "I'll make sure to tell her everything. Hinata, thank you for loving our son..."
"H-Hn!" the princess nodded, burying her face in his back.
Sarutobi heaved a radiant smile as he, too, began his permanent departure. "We're leaving the rest to you... Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke... Hinata and Naruto."
Kakashi bowed his head respectfully.
"Elder Brother," Tobirama began. "You finally settled things with Madara. As Saru said, let's leave the rest to the next generation."
As his soul abandoned the vessel, Hashirama took one final look at his old friend before casting his gaze over the others. Uzumaki Naruto... Uchiha Sasuke... you two will probably find a different conclusion than we did — no, it looks like you both already have. he noted the gentle light of empathy that dwelled in Sasuke's eyes now, and it brought a smile to his face. I'm curious to see how both your stories unfold.
And, all too soon, the previous Kage were gone.
"A very interesting derivative of the Bijuu Fission jutsu," Hagoromo said, appraising the tiny titans. "Except for Gyūki's, all of your chakra is now within Naruto. In short, Naruto is like a home and gathering place for you all. If you want to discuss something, you can speak to each other through your chakra inside Naruto, assuming you're not together in real world.
Kurama..."
Hmm?
"You will be the overseer of the gathering place. It's no longer a hardship for you anymore, is it?"
Well, if you say so, Old Man, I guess I have no choice.
The Bijuu all laughed, incurring the fox's wrath.
Still not upfront with your feelings, Kokuo teased. You haven't changed at all, Kurama.
Naruto grinned, which brought a smile to Hinata's lips, as well.
"So the Great Ninja War is finally over now," Sakura said.
"Yeah," Kakashi replied. "All that's left is..."
"To ensure that a reenactment of Madara's deeds never reoccur, I will be taking the Gedō Mazō statue to the netherworld with me. I will also undo the Infinite Tsukuyomi. But, before that," the sage looked to the Child of Prophecy who came to a halt before him. "Naruto, do you wish to use the eye you received from Itachi?"
Sasuke's eyes widened at the mention of his brother's name. And he looked to Naruto curiously, awaiting his response.
Kakashi and Sakura looked on in surprise, too.
A muscle worked in Naruto's jaw as he considered his options, his disposition hardening. "Jiraiya, my former sensei, searched for the path to true peace all his life. In the end, he passed on that responsibility to me before he died. After sending out thousands of clones in an honest pursuit for knowledge, it feels like I've lived for hundreds of years. But it was enough time for me to come to a conclusion: there's no such thing as complete peace and prosperity."
Everyone gasped in shock.
And Naruto heaved a wanly smile. "Light cannot exist without darkness, after all. There will always be conflict. Of course, that's not to say people can't get along. The Will of Fire has kept Konoha peaceful for many years, because we're a very close-knit community.
Nagato believed that the path to any measure of peace was to understand the pain and values of others. I believe this, too. By living united and working together as one to survive, I'm sure we can achieve a greater level of unity and prosperity than we ever did before.
Despite the deep-seated hatred between the Senju and Uchiha Clan, the First and Madara was able to share their burdens and form a bond, which later resulted in the founding of Konoha. As other civilizations established their villages in turn, a desperate need arose for more resources to cater to their ever growing populace.
A barren region such as Sunagakure would face difficulties in agriculture, forcing them to plunder other villages to make ends meet. Other regions, I would imagine, had similar difficulties, which resulted in reoccurring wars and the cycle of hatred and revenge.
Zabuza. Itachi. Orochimaru. Akatsuki. War has given rise to so many different circumstances. Madara, too, felt that he needed to find the true path to peace and prosperity. But while his intentions were pure, his methods were undesirable.
While I was training in Mount Myōboku, I watched how two animals existed in close physical association, to the benefit of them both, and how, perhaps, that's exactly what the shinobi world needed. When we work together, understand one another's hardships and joy, I think this will make people able to easily relate to one another and coexist in peace.
Seeing as Madara has destroyed all the other villages, and the hearts of the current Kage have been connected, I think this is the opportune moment to unite the shinobi world.
When I learned about Uchiha Shisui's ocular ability from Itachi, I took the eye with the intention of using it in correlation with the Infinite Tsukuyomi. My plan was to forcefully reintroduce Ninshu, where chakra's only possible use is to connect the hearts of people, instead or being infused for ninjutsu. Or to erase hostility within the hearts and minds of people altogether. I hoped, after a generation, the lifestyle would be so integrated into society that the following generations would naturally adapt it.
But, before I play that villainous role, I would feel more comfortable waiting to see what outcome uniting the world will bring."
A prolonged moment of silence arrested the atmosphere. There was a lot to unpack from what Naruto said. But Sasuke could readily relate to his perspective. After listening to the Kages' story, he had moved on from his path of vengeance and desired, instead, to induce a revolution. It was becoming increasingly obvious that the world's current system was dreadfully flawed. And, after leaving the comfort of the nest, Naruto gone out into the world and figured it out, too.
Hagoromo pulled his long goatee pensively.
Despite being intelligent and self-aware creatures, humans, like any other species, were but savage animals at their core. The rules and norms of today's society was made to suppress people's natural inclination to satisfy their desires. But what happens when instincts triumph over one's better judgment?
Naruto's point-of-view was understandable. The world was pivoted on a broken system. Perhaps the best remedy wouldn't arise from the morally sound part of the spectrum, but something unorthodox and severely controversial.
"I created the religious discipline of Ninshu to spread peace and unity throughout the world. By imparting my chakra onto my followers, I was able to connect the heart of each and every soul, making it easy to for people to understand one another's feelings. But, as you mentioned, Naruto, that interconnecting chakra was eventually manipulated into weapons that sowed the seeds of conflict and discord. Today, Ninshu is known as chakra.
Child of Prophecy, I failed in my attempt at uniting the world. Now I have no choice but to leave this feat in your capable hands."
"How can you have so much faith in Naruto?" Kakashi asked.
"Because he was the only one capable of saving and befriending Kurama, who had become a concretion of hatred. Naruto," he won the shinobi's unwavering gaze. "Prophecies of your great deeds did not start in this generation. Gamamaru and I placed our bets on you thousands of years prior to your birth."
Everyone gasped in abject shock.
"Now go and make your will be known. As promised, I will undo the Infinite Tsukuyomi and take the Gedō statue with me. Farewell.
Epilogue: Happily Ever After
A gentle autumn's breeze tousled the cherry tree under which they stood, carrying off a flurry of leaves by their cheeks. But Naruto and Hinata didn't waver. They were lost in each others eyes, caught in a web of love and enchantment. They came back to reality in time to hear as the priest recited the line: You may kiss the bride.
Liquid sapphire, Naruto's eyes smoldered in veneration. Using the back of his fingers, he feathered a touch across Hinata's downy cheek before tenderly capturing her painted lips in a solemn seal.
Bee let out an excited howl, his high soprano voice echoing octaves above everyone else's cheer. Then he learned forward, deft hands moving over his audio mixer to bring forth a pleasant ceremonial melody.
Garbed in a fancy white tuxedo and frilly white dress, our NaruHina couple turned to face the exuberant crowd with a smile. Then Naruto rose a hand skyward, his grin seeming almost sinister as a silent command summoned dense thunderclouds overhead that completely blotted out the sun.
"Hit it!"
At his signal, fireworks exploded in the sky, the darkness induced by the clouds providing the perfect backdrop for the impressive spectacle. And everyone looked on in awe, but Naruto wasn't done.
Next, stage lights flicked on, highlighting the glamorous couple. And, all around the city, giant digital billboards started livestreaming the Hokage and his wife who had just renew their vows, illuminating the spectators who stopped to watch.
The melody streaming out of the speakers ended on a classical scratch sound effect. Now the familiar chime of a song spilled forth: Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes – I've Had the Time of my Life.
With a wild and saucy flair, Hinata cupped and ripped her off-shoulder wedding dress, the once long skirt now cut off at her thighs. In the same beat, Naruto doffed and twirled his jacket, revealing a perfectly chiseled chest beneath a close-fitting tank top.
And then they started to sing.
Now I've had the time of my life
No, I never felt like this before
Yes I swear, it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
'Cause I've had the time of my life
And I owe it all to you
Ino, Sakura, Tenten, and many other women screamed as Naruto and Hinata's harmonious voices came to life. Those who weren't able to make the couple's ceremony united in the bustling city streets and at home in front of the television, completely captivated by the performance.
Thrusting their hips from left to right, hand-in-hand, the dancing duet downed the flight of steps from the alter. Then they turned to one another, eyes smoldering beneath a sweep of thick eyelashes. They rolled their hips in time with the sexy beat, getting up close and personal, which won another wave of excited screams.
I've been waiting for so long
Now I've finally found someone to stand by me
We saw the writing on the wall
And we felt this magical fantasy
Now with passion in our eyes
There's no way we could disguise it secretly
So we take each other's hand
'Cause we seem to understand the urgency
Holding each other's hot gaze, they gyrated their bodies, moving in close and then back teasingly. The audience could almost see the passion rolling of their bodies, feel the truth of it swelling in their hearts. The possessive lyrics of the song and the sinuous movement of the singers had everyone pairing up and surrendering themselves to the contagious groove. But, all the while, Naruto and Hinata were caught in their own private maelstrom of emotions. Imprisoned by that familiar static, loathing the idea of slipping free.
With my body and soul
I want you more than you'll ever know
So we'll just let it go
Don't be afraid to lose control, no
Yes, I know what's on your mind
When you say, stay with me tonight
Everyone stopped breathing as Naruto and Hinata pulled in close, rocking their hips, pumping and grinding. Their breaths were heavy, eyes wild and hungry. She had a limp hand upon the hard wall of his chest. His slowly curved around her waist and back, supporting her weight as she dipped low and pivoted her back in a circular motion. It was a breathtaking dance move, and then they were singing again.
Just remember
You're the one thing
I can't get enough of
So I'll tell you something
This could be love, because
I've had the time of life
No, I never felt this way before
Yes, I swear, it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
The sexy hum of a saxophone took over from the couple, washing over the audience with alarm effectiveness, elevating them up, up, higher, into a state of frenzied euphoria attainable only through the most powerful music.
When the speakers went silent, screams, whistling and cheering erupted all throughout the city. Naruto and Hinata were still hopelessly lost in each other's eyes, their chest heaving, body hot and intermingled.
When the livestreaming was over and the dark clouds dispersed, mothers finally uncovered their children's eyes with a warm tingle in their tummies.
"Get a room you two!" Ino teased playfully as she ambled over with Sai in tow.
"Yeah, you both can let go now!" Tenten added with a blush.
"Amazing performance, Naruto-kun!" Lee gushed. "You're a shining example of the Springtime of Youth!"
"You were amazing, Hinata!" Sakura chimed in.
While friends and acquaintances compliment and teased the couple, the Chibi-Bijuu were busy running a makeshift daycare in a corner of the congregation. Toddlers were surprisingly taken by the adorable Chakra-Monsters. Kurama, however, was in his third form sipping on sake while surrounded by his harem that had only grown in size over the years.
While Bee kept the crowd immersed in his smooth transitions of various music genres, the rookies pulled together in a tight-knit group and began socializing.
"Even after twelve years, a western style wedding is still so romantic!" Ino gushed with starry eyes. "Honey, why didn't we make our wedding reception the same?"
Sai smiled coolly, years of experience refining his social etiquette and sensitivity to women. "We'll just follow Naruto and Hinata-san's example and renew our vows in the same way."
Chōji licked his lip. "Do I get an invite?"
Karui elbowed him in the gut. "Do you never stop thinking about food?"
Temari giggled, the merry sound spreading a smile across Shikamaru's lips, in turn. "Some things never change, eh, ol' pal?"
"There's never a dull moment when we're with your friends," Tamaki laughed, allowing her husband to twirl her around.
"Just remember to never called him the f-word," Kiba warned with a wolfish grin.
Tenten sneered at her husband who, as per usual, was trying to turn everything into a competition with his best friend. "I still can't believe that you ended up with Karin, Neji. I guess polar opposites do attract, after all."
Karin pounced on her husband lovingly, who sported a flare similar to the man she loved many years ago. "He may look innocent on the outside, but my Neji-kyun have a thing for naughty girls like me."
Neji cupped her mouth a second too late, and everyone burst into a fit of laughter, a bright red stain burning his cheeks.
A blush crept into Sasuke's cheek, too, even as he struggled under Sakura's patient tutelage as she taught him how to waltz.
"Sakura-chan," Hanabi called playfully. "Just have him use his Sharingan, he'll learn much faster."
Sasuke flashed her an icy gaze.
"Kowai!" she flinched.
"By the way, Naruto-niichan," Konohamaru began. "Where did Daisuke go? He's not with the other kids..."
"Now that you mention it, Ayame is gone, too!" Sakura added.
Naruto tousled his hair embarrassingly. "They were practically bouncing off the walls to get their mission started, so they left the city a few days ago."
"Hmph." Sasuke chuckled. "Sounds like a pair of numbskulls I used to know."
Naruto grinned mischievously, relishing the memories of his youth. And Hinata buried her face in the broad of his chest, inhaling his intoxicating scent.
September 26th
Weather: Sunny
Dear Dairy,
Twelve years have passed since the cataclysmic battle against Uchiha Madara. As per Naruto-kun's will, the shinobi world united. Today, we all live in a large metropolis called Nuwtopia. Despite renaming our home, the Will of Fire still lives on, and have not slowed in consuming the hearts of the new citizens.
It's truly divine.
With everyone working together to make ends meet, people have been able to successfully coexist, and the city thrived, as a result. With less conflicts, there is no longer a need for many shinobi. But those that remained loyal to the craft continued to sharpen their skills and be vigilant. While the Five Great Countries have merged, there were still smaller villages in existence and, for the most part, their intentions were unknown.
As Naruto-kun promised, I no longer need to don my forehead protector and ninja pouch. For the last decade, I've been playing my role as a diligent housewife. When I'm not busy tending to Daisuke or the house, I lose myself in books or knitting. I wonder what hobby I should adopt next!
Oh, that's right. To ensure people led more enriched and fulfilling lives, the council encouraged the citizens to chase their dreams, no matter how bizarre they may seem. That was many years ago. Since then, Orochimaru-sama have let loose — no, he's not dabbling in forbidden jutsus anymore. Instead, he has pioneered us into a new age of technological advancements. Fields of science that were once highly esoteric has now become commonplace.
As human ingenuity became more complex, it became a catalyst for other fields of science and recreational activities to bloom. From aviation, astronomy, and psychics, to cinema, museums and zoos, just to name a few.
Sure people were more content with an endless assortment of different things to partake in, but Naruto-kun believes that Madara was right. While some people desired nothing but peace and happiness, there were a few who preferred conflict and discord. To that end, a large coliseum was erected in the city. Participants were able to fight whenever they pleased and earn honor and prestige based on their performance.
Those who preferred to create havoc outside the arena was swiftly disciplined. As no one was capable of escaping the iron fist of justice, it acted as an effective deterrent against crime. I can't tell the last time I heard there was an incident in the city.
As Naruto-kun vowed to his father, he's become an incredible Hokage, and an even greater husband and father. He mostly stays home with us and allows his clones to work. Because of that, he's never missed a birthday or anniversary. I think he feels an inherent desire to shower us with the love and attention he didn't receive growing up. It's very sweet!
Sasuke-kun spent a few months away traveling the world and helping people. I think he was trying to find a way to atone for his sins and redeem himself. He returned just before Sakura-san gave birth to baby Ayame.
Naruto-kun told me that he died while fighting Madara. Of course, we didn't breathe a word about it to Sakura-san. It was Akiko and the Coatlicue Ring that brought him back to life. Apparently, Sasuke-kun was never the same since. He's practically reverted to the way he was when we were kids — cool, decisive, arrogant, but very approachable.
Shino-kun is the only one among us who is still single. But I think he prefers it that way. Like Iruka-sensei, he became a teacher and dedicated his life to imparting everything he knows to the next generation. Despite appearances, he's very good with kids.
We never met the Sage of the Sixth Paths again. But I'm sure he's looking down upon us with a smile, wherever he is. As for the Bijuu, they have finally found true peace. Instead of weapons of mass destruction, they are now regarded as deities. It's a rare occurrence, but sometimes you will see one of them playing with the children at the Academy. Just as abruptly as they appear, they are whisked away like fairies. It's so surreal and magical that some people actually worship them.
Most of our seniors have gone into retirement. With the world now peaceful, I guess it really isn't that surprising. They are occasionally invited to the Academy as guess instructors, to impart their knowledge onto the next generation. But, for the most part, they have picked up new lifestyles, or have left the city on long journeys.
All is well.
The world is experiencing prosperity like never before. As for me, I'm happy beyond measure!
Hinata and Kurama watched with a warm smile as Naruto traced his finger along the age-old lines that formed their name in the tree trunk.
= Hinata + Naruto =
IIII
"We're a few years late. But, with this, we've fulfilled our promise," Naruto said solemnly, turning to face them with a quivering light of compassion in his eyes. "Thank you both for coming back. My world wouldn't be complete without you."
"Naruto-kun..."
"Keh!" Kurama pouted embarrassingly. After twelve years of being subjected to such torture, he still hadn't gotten even relatively used to it. "The kids are nearing their destination, so it's about time I head back."
"Thanks, buddy. Be sure keep them in line."
Hinata giggled endearingly as the tiny Bijuu vanished in a puff of smoke. And a neat smile stretched her lips when Naruto chivalrously offered her his hand. Encircled by the embrace of Darlyn's Grove, he pulled the woman of his dreams against his chest with such flair it utterly took her breath away.
"I love you so much," she managed to whisper.
Naruto softly kissed the pair of lips from which the heartfelt words were uttered, his fingertips tenderly skimming across her soft, milky skin. "I think Natsumi is long overdue. What do you think?"
The princess flushed, tears swelling in her eyes. Pulling back, she looked up at her glorious knight who was already whisking away the salty tears spilling over her cheeks. Now that he had grown out his hair, he was the splitting image of his father. "H-Hn! Let's have a daughter, Naruto-kun…"
The moment the words left her lips, he vanished in a fluffy ball of smoke. And Hinata could feel her center heat in response; she had been with this man for over twelve years now. Whenever he vanished like that, it meant he had a very special treat in stored – a treat that would culminate with something hard and veiny, deep inside of her world.
Spurred on by the delicious promise, the princess cautiously entered the nostalgic cottage home. She expected some measure of battle against dust bunnies, but the familiar space was evidently cleaned and aired out in advance.
The sound of Ariana Grande and The Weeknd's Love Me Harder hummed from a stereo. Rose petals and candles led Hinata to the master bedroom. Inside, nonchalantly leaning against the bed's headboard, was a breathtaking Naruto.
Candlelight tinted his russet-colored skin. He was already naked, an impatient cock taut below his waist. It had been twelve years, but the static between them had not waned. An absolute and all-consuming force pulled them to each other, like magnets.
And Hinata didn't resist.
Her arousal made her lightheaded as she stepped out of her spaghetti-strap dress and ambled over to him. The next thing she knew, his hot member was filling her small mouth, even as he held her upside down against his hard body, his tongue parting her wet cleft.
The princess let out a cute mewl around the width of him as that capable tongue dipped inside her pocket. She felt so open and exposed to him, and her heart thrummed a frantic tattoo by the erotic way he found to devour her.
As her fever grew beyond control, time progressed in that disjointed fashion she had come to know, the gaps filled with raging orgasms that had her struggling to keep her head above the unmerciful tides.
The princess whipped her head back, the luster of her hair a cascading waterfall down her back. She panted as she rode him, mounted atop her favorite stallion. She rolled her hips, his thick muscle pressing against her sensitive walls.
Coaxed by the sinuous bounce of supple curves and perky peaks, Naruto learned forward, even as he found the right tempo to thrust his hips, moving in perfect harmony with her. His large hands cupped her breasts and squeezed, then his wet mouth closed around one aching peak, wringing a broken gasp from her.
"Please don't stop!" she pleaded breathlessly, a combination of flavors trigging a telling quickening in her tummy. Squeezing his cock deeper inside her, the entranced princess grinded against him, rocking back and forth, until another rippling orgasm pulled her under.
Now Hinata was bending over against the bed, liquid crystal eyes glazed with shock and delight by their sacred ceremony of give-and-take. She gripped the sheets with a lascivious sigh, her body pushing forward as a plug eased into her forbidden chambers. Then her inner goddess was crying out when Naruto slipped into her center right afterwards — hard, hot, lean, and veiny.
"Nhh!" the princess moaned, all three girls did. "I feel so full! Please don't stop!"
Naruto's response was a hard grunt, but he welcomed the carnal demand. His cock delved deliciously hard and delicious deep, each sweet assault pushing her closer to that familiar summit.
"Love me harder!" Hinata asserted, reciting the song. "Fuck me harder!" she dared to challenge.
In response — his heart drumming in his ears — Naruto clasped her hair and pressed her back down, her ass propped up. Hinata's body flushed deeper as he drove his pelvis forward, his steely rod thrusting deep. Again and again he rammed her. He watched that lewd interaction between her tight pussy and his cock, wet flesh over hard steel.
Hinata cried out endearingly when he drove his hand down on her defenseless behind, those round cheeks giggling as his body slammed into her over and over again. He was mindless and fierce — a sensual beast who cared about nothing else but driving her over the edge and leaping off behind her.
TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP!
The erotic sound filled the room. But still he ponded, lifting her higher. Then Hinata came apart around him, a violent orgasm that threatened to rob her of her consciousness. But she desperately clung to the realm that gifted her with such ecstasy, losing her voice, instead. The princess went pink in the face as Naruto continued his delicious onslaught. He was like an unchained animal, viciously taking what he desired, and she openly relished his intensity. She longed for it.
Finally he stilled, his body quaking as he shot his warm seed deep inside her womb. Then Hinata breathed, finally able to pull a lungful of air into her lungs.
The princess's legs trembled under the weight of what he had given her. Even as her orgasms collectively stole her strength, she kept her muscles together, eager to experience her newest obsession. And when Naruto replaced the plug with the real thing, an amorous moan spilled from her throat.
Love me, love me, love me
Harder, harder, harder
Ariana's voice spilled out from the stereo, ushering the couple even deeper into ecstasy's dark embrace. Naruto tilted his head back as he sought for control, his lean length and width slipping into Hinata's forbidden chambers. Just the thought of that had him standing precariously on the razor's edge, staring into the sweet abyss, ready to cum.
Hinata was drunk.
Her eyes gleamed and her mouth went agape. Her pussy clenched as her dreamboat of a husband filled her rear with his godly pole. And a whimper escaped sultry lips as he slowly began his conquest.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Fuck yes!" Hinata chanted mindlessly, dropping to her forearms as pleasure replaced energy.
She buried her face in the sheets and screamed as Naruto gradually increased his slow pace. With each tantalizing thrust, Hinata found the waves getting stronger, intent on knocking her off her crudely made raft. But the princess was too intoxicated to care.
Recklessly, she snaked a hand between her legs, tiny fingers playing over her clitoris, which stroked the waves even higher. And Naruto heaved a curse beneath his breath when she tightened around him, a fierce storm engulfing them both.
"I'm going to cum!" Hinata cried out adorably.
And, as if her lewd outburst was the trigger, Naruto gripped her close and stilled, his hot semen filling another hole. "Oh, fuck, Hinata! I'm cumming in your ass!"
The words tore raspingly from his throat, his body quaking violently against her. As their bodies hummed a tone that no musician could emulate, they both fell off the razor's edge together, tumbling high and low, out of bounds, beyond reason. To a place where all that held form was a web that weaved them together inside a cocoon of sensual love and unity.
From atop the newest addition to the stone faces, Sakura gazed down upon the bustling metropolis that was Nuwtopia, liquid emerald eyes worshipping the breathtaking view.
"Amazing, isn't it?"
The small voice came from Hinata who sat next to her, their legs tangling off the edge like a pair of lovesick school girls. Sakura smiled mischievously when she spied the telltale of a postcotial glow tinting the girl's voluptuous features. "Your cheeks are awfully rosy today, Hinata."
Our Snugglie Wugglie blushed even deeper, completely caught off guard. Then her brows furrowed with evident challenge when she noted similar traces upon her nosey friend. "You're not one to talk."
Sakura chuckled gleefully, impressed by the princess's gusty comeback. And she pulled the girl into a playful embrace, their cheeks squished together. "Have you guys been trying?"
Hinata nodded exuberantly. "Have you both been, as well?"
Standing behind them, Naruto and Sasuke bumped fists with a smog smile, winning an icy gaze from Sakura. And the girl couldn't help but heave an exasperated sigh. "Why do I get the feeling this is just another competition between them?"
Hinata giggled endearingly, then she learned in for a quiet whisper. "I think I like this kind of competition…"
Sakura pulled back in evident shock, then she looked away sheepishly, a finger beneath her lip. "I can't deny that I like it, too," she whispered back, stealing a peek at her White Knight.
Naruto elbowed him teasingly, and then threw an arm around his shoulder. "Man, who would've thought. You gave all the girls such a cold shoulder back in the day, I almost thought you were gay."
"What the hell?" Sasuke shrugged him off. "At least I wasn't a pervert like you!"
Our Golden Knight laced his fingers behind his head and laughed out loud, the merry sound bringing a smile to everyone's lips.
Thousands of miles away — basking in his glorious second form — Kurama stood firm atop a familiar cliff overlooking the broken city of Exzzodia. Upon his back were the children of the two most powerful shinobi to ever walk the face of the planet. And today, right here, right now, the kids intended to fulfill a promised that was made little over twelve years ago.
A single droplet in an endless ocean will create and endless ripple. It was time the cycle of hatred and revenge be replaced with effusive acts of kindness.
In a remote corner of Mount Myōboku, a prominent old sage and author deftly added the final stroke to an alphabet. With a contented smile, Jiraiya placed his pen aside and closed the cover of a brand new novel he just got done writing.
Like a mother adoring her newborn child, the man gently skimmed his fingers across the title of his final masterpiece — Hinata's Sensual Adventure: The Chronicle's End. "Well then, I guess it's about time I reconnected with the world."
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Writer Notes:
Dem feelz, man… dem feelz.
I know the type of tune your heart is playing right now; I've been working on this fanfiction for ten years. As I wrote the last few words, I felt a bittersweet sting in my heart – but just mostly happy I was able to finish.
Thank you so much for reading, especially to those awesome people who have been with me since the very first chapter. This journey has been a wonderful learning experience. Your interactions have been my fuel. Your comments motivated me to push forward and continue refining my skills as a writer.
I would also like to apologize, though. I'm so sorry that it took so long for me to finish. I mean, the series ended egos ago. But, as some of you know, between school and working multiple jobs for a few years, I've been ridiculously busy.
Anywayz, I just want to touch on a few points before getting out of your hair, lolz:
I seriously love writing fanfictions, and I would love to continue doing so. But, as most of you all know, fanfiction, unfortunately, cannot pay the bills as you can't monetize it. My plan was to write another fanfic based on the last Naruto movie, but that all depends on your support, going forward.
In my endeavor to become an author, I've written a novel. The working title is Ragnarok: The True Genesis. It's almost done, I just need to edit and consider my method of publishing. I put it on hold to finish the fanfiction.
Once it's done, I'll let you guys know. I'll make another post talking about the ten-year process of writing the fanfiction – from how I manifest ideas, to ridiculous instances where I bust out pieces of hand towel at work to jot down said ideas, haha!
During the start of covid, while I was looking for new business opportunities, I started a YouTube channel. I also started streaming video games on a few different platforms, but it was too time-consuming; I no longer had any time to write. And, of course, I still had my 8-5. Now that I'm done with the fanfiction, I plan to just start creating cinematic videos on YouTube using GTA5, Genshin Impact and Monster Hunter World as the canvas.
I'd really appreciate some support. Just search MHW Feelz on YouTube, and you'll find a video I did over a year ago. My channel is called The Feelz.
In addition to YouTube, I also plan to publish books – especially short stories – on Amazon Kindle. Like the fanfiction, these stories will feature enchanting adventures, action-packed fighting scenes, breathtaking sex, and more. I plan to really let loose with my creativity. Like my original novel, these books will challenge what you know and feel – hence, I'll be publishing my work under a pen name. I'd rather not get hunted down by psychopaths, haha!
Anywhos, would really appreciate some support - just search for Vaughn R.R Schneider. As of date (05/22), there is just one book published – one that I wrote around the time I started the fanfiction ten years ago. Figured I would edit and publish so the content wouldn't be wasted. I do plan to drop a few more stories in the coming weeks. Then I'll focus on the novel and get that out. It will be a three-part book.
With the intention of building a community around everything that I've done and want to do, I went ahead and created a Discord server. There, I hope to forge a haven for like-minded people to uplift and help each other mentally, emotionally, and even monetarily. It will also be a place where passions collide, and ideas are sparked to life. We'll able to speak about everything from anime to aliens, lolz.
While I was dabbling in different ventures, I made an NFT collection. A Non-fungible token is pretty much a unique, one-of-a kind digital item such as text, photos, videos, audio etc., that people can buy, re-sell and/or trade. They are known to sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Anyway, while I made the collection, I couldn't afford the marketing and had to put it on the back burner for the time being.
Why am I telling you this?
Well, in the future, when my writing career blossoms and I'm more financial secure, I may resume the collection and have it gravitate around my fans. The aim would be to make one of the NFT's functionality giving passive income to my fan base. Of course, like many other benefits, only those who are apart of my Discord server will be eligible. NFT collections depend heavily on community, so it's only natural that only those who actively contribute in the community would be able to reap the benefits.
Damn, sorry, lol. That sounded like an evil sales pitch.
Let me put it another way: If you don't keep tabs on what I'm doing, you'll miss out - simple. Anyway, other benefits to joining Discord will be routine giveaways, competitions, sneak peaks, possible collaborations and so forth. Discord link: https://dsc.gg/thefeelz
In conclusion, I would just like to once again extend another big "thank you" for all your support over the years. I'm looking forward to everyone's response to the final chapter, as always – and I hope that I will continue to be in your care as I press forward upon my journey to please and appease.
Love you all.
Take care.
- 18
- 19
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Hinata's Sensual Adventure