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Dragonheart	By : UmbreonMessiah Category: Naruto > General Views: 1644 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 25
- 26
- 27
A/N: I want to apologize and thank everyone who waited so patiently for
me to finally get up off my ass and finish this. At the moment of me writing
this, it�s been nearly a year since the last chapter of Dragonheart, and more
than a few people assumed I�d dropped off the face of the planet and died. The
reality is far less sinister: I�ve been horrifically lazy and uninspired.
Without going into why I�ve stopped liking Naruto, you can also blame
University and World of Warcraft for the delay. Other than that, I really want
to thank everyone who kept waiting, and even those of you that didn�t, but
still kept me on alert in case I rose from the grave. For everyone that wanted
to see Dragonheart finished, this finale is for you. I just hope it lives up to
the hype.

Dragonheart

Chapter 25

The Fire Country
shuddered under the weight of a towering darkness. Treetops, lakebeds and
mountainsides trembled in the presence of evil, shaken to their very cores by
the monstrous howl that swept the land. What little remained of a long
forgotten village, once a jail, completed its transformation into dust at the
behest of its prisoner. Two terrifying wings extended from the creature�s mass
and blotted out the moon. The earth below it descended into the deepest of
darkness. From its vantage point far above the great ranges that surrounded the
lost village, the Black Dragon King surveyed the world and let out a snort.
It was home.
Far below, in the
shattered remnants of Ryuugakure, Jiyumaru and Sakura looked on with horror. Emotions
drowned them, tugging the two shinobi into the blackest depths. Each breath the
grand dragon took was the scream of a thousand lost souls and each movement it
made was the scythe that harvested them. For years beyond mortal understanding,
the Black Dragon King and its malevolence had been locked away to keep life
safe from its horrible power.
Now it was free.
�THE WORLD IS NOT AS I REMEMBER IT,� the
ancient beast muttered. Its voice was such that even its faintest whisper was a
deep bellowing. �TOO LONG HAVE I BEEN
IMPRISONED. TOO LONG HAS HUMANITY BEEN ALLOWED TO ROAM THE LANDS THAT
RIGHTFULLY BELONG TO ME.�
Sakura gripped
Yakusho tightly as the Black Dragon King�s voice caused a vicious gust to rip
through the disintegrated village, scattering the ashes to the winds. Terrified
beyond words, Sakura could think of nothing other than to continue working on
saving Yakusho�s life. Her duty shut the world around her off, encapsulating
her in a protective dome that hedged out the existence of the Black Dragon
King. She could not contemplate that now. If it existed, all of this had been
for nothing.
�Sakura?�
Jiyumaru shook the medic roughly. �Sakura! Damn it! Damn it all!�
The swordsman
whirled around, more panicked than he could ever remember being. They were not
prepared for this. No one was. There could be no preparation for something like
this. Their mission had been to prevent this from happening. To make matters
worse, the only person who could help them was all but dead. Jiyumaru felt his
will weaken and his resolve shatter.
�We�re fucked,�
he said aloud. �We�re completely fucked.�
For some reason,
admitting defeat released Jiyumaru from a weight he had been unaware he was
carrying. His body and mind seemed to grow lighter as he let out a sigh, a misplaced
smile crawling onto his lips. Knowing there was absolutely nothing that he
could do � that anything he tried would be fruitless � brought relief to the
tortured warrior. It was the very first time he felt there was something he
could not do. It was as exhilarating as it was horrifying.
�Black Dragon
King! Hear the voice of your progeny! Listen to he who worships you!�
Jiyumaru broke
out of his self-pity at the sound of Kakeru�s voice. The jounin recovered his
sword and ran toward the sound to find the caretaker of what was once
Ryuugakure with his arms outstretched to the sky, calling out to the behemoth
that was the Black Dragon King. The fearlessness that Kakeru exuded was almost
as petrifying as the presence of the monolithic creature. Jiyumaru could feel
his knees and stomach grow weak the closer he got, forcing him to keep at a
distance from Kakeru and the abomination.
Surprisingly, the
Black Dragon King canted its head to the side, confused by the voice. Slowly
and deliberately, it craned its long neck downward, until its eyes could gaze
directly into those of Ryumoto Kakeru. As soon as it acknowledged the man�s
presence, the Black Dragon King erupted in deep, ground-shaking chuckles.
�SO THERE STILL EXIST THOSE WHO FOLLOW IN
OUR WAYS.� The Black Dragon King clicked its tongue and scraped the ground
with its claws, its monstrous visage contorting in a sickening smile. �YOU ARE THE LAST REMAINING MEMBER OF MY
TRIBE, ARE YOU NOT?�
�Yes!� Kakeru
cried with joy. �I�m the one who has brought you back to life. After years of turmoil,
you finally walk again! Now, together, we can wipe the world clean of the
rabble of humanity! We will reign supreme in your new world!�
Though Jiyumaru
was not certain of the look on Kakeru�s face, he was more than aware of the
expression that the Black Dragon King had adopted. The primeval entity cocked its
head slightly, giving off an angry snort as it reared its incredibly long neck.
�I CANNOT DECIDE WHICH IS MORE INSULTING,�
it rumbled. �THE FACT THAT YOU CONSIDER
YOURSELF IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO GARNER MY ASSISTANCE, OR THE FACT THAT YOU ASSUME
I WOULD EVER ALLOW MYSELF TO WORK WITH A HUMAN.�
Acid finished the
conversation between the tyrant and his deity. The creature breathed downward,
bathing Kakeru in a massive stream of burning liquid. His flesh melted into the
flow, dripping off his bones and becoming slop as it fell to the earth. The
bracelets that adorned his wrists let off a violent black flash, breaking into
trillions of tiny specks that also dissolved in the bubbling torrent. Finally,
only Kakeru�s skeleton remained, tumbling into a pile before the Black Dragon
King.
Jiyumaru watched
the scene unfold from a safe distance, sinking behind the last vestiges of a rundown
home as he watched the vile mastermind of Ryuugakure melt away. The entire
scene was surreal to him. To watch the Black Dragon King erase Kakeru with just
a breath after how hard he and the others had tried to kill him,
unsuccessfully, was mesmerizing. The power of creatures like the Dragon Kings
and the Bijuu had always been just fairy tales to Jiyumaru. With the
demonstration he had just witnessed, there could be no denying the truth.
�We don�t stand a
chance,� he breathed. �We can�t fight something like that.�
�I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT YOU ARE CORRECT,�
the Black Dragon King snarled, bending its neck towards Jiyumaru�s hiding spot.
�YOU CANNOT STOP ME. YOU CANNOT HIDE,
EITHER.�
Jiyumaru leapt
from his hiding spot as the gargantuan monster tore the ground asunder. He
barely escaped the titanic claws or the chunks of stone that flew through the
air as he retreated. The Black Dragon King�s claws carved lines in the ground,
tearing apart buildings. Signs of the destruction wrought by the single stroke cried
out near and far thanks to the plume of dust and shattered stone that rose high
into the air. Unlike the previous two dragons, the Black Dragon King did not
thrash or continue its assault. Instead, it simply straightened itself and let
out a deep huff, scanning the ground for its prey.
�CEASE YOUR RESISTANCE, WRETCHED MORTAL! I
WILL NOT SUFFER YOUR KIND IN MY WORLD!�
Said mortal had
left the scene however, pumping his legs to reach Sakura as fast as he could.
Jiyumaru was only certain of one thing as he ran. He needed to get Sakura and
Yakusho away. Their mission had failed, and if they remained, they would die.
As Jiyumaru approached, he found that leaving was not an option. Sakura was
still mending Yakusho�s vicious wound, her eyes pleading with the jounin to
give her more time. He had none to give her, turning his back on her as the
Black Dragon King let out another ground quaking roar.
�I SEE HOW YOU SCURRY AND RUN, LITTLE HUMAN!�
What could pass for amusement escaped the draconic regent�s colossal jaws,
coming out in deep chortles. �DO YOU
UNDERSTAND NOW WHY YOUR KIND MUST BE ERADICATED? YOU ARE MEANINGLESS. POWERLESS.
YOU CANNOT HOPE TO CHALLENGE ME. YOU AND ALL YOUR KIND ARE WEAK. THE WEAK MUST
PERISH!�
�Like hell!�
In all his days
as a Konoha shinobi, Jiyumaru had never been happier to hear Naruto�s voice.
The sound drew not only his attention, but that of the Black Dragon King as
well, which lazily turned its neck to face the mountainside where Naruto stood
amidst a storm of crimson chakra. Even from a distance, the evil that was the
Kyuubi was tangible, clogging the air with dark intentions. Naruto�s jacket was
gone, left only in memory by the tatters that clung to his black undershirt. At
his feet was Hinata, who remained motionless despite the terror that had been
unleashed. It was impossible to tell from where he stood, but Jiyumaru prayed
silently that she was still alive.
�YOU HAVE THE STENCH OF DEMONS ABOUT YOU,�
the Black Dragon King commented about the blond. �A PUNGENT AROMA. BUT NOTHING MORE THAN A MASK FOR HOW PITIFUL YOUR KIND
IS. WERE HUMANITY STRONGER, THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE RESORTED TO MAKING THINGS LIKE
YOU.�
�I don�t give two
shits what you think about humans or what I am!� Naruto yelled, the ground
about him displacing in a burst of rage. �You aren�t going to eradicate
anything! I�m gonna kick your ass!�
To this, the
Black Dragon King said nothing, choosing action over words. It turned its
hulking body in order to deliver a vicious swing of its tail, kicking up clouds
of dust and slamming the appendage into Naruto�s side, sending the genin flying
into the face of the nearby mountain. Hinata�s body disappeared from view, lost
within a storm of rock and sand.
Suddenly, shrapnel
flew across the village as the mountainside exploded. A four-tailed beast leapt
from the rocks, aiming its sharp claws at the great dragon�s neck. Though the
Dragon King�s size dwarfed Naruto�s, the blond ninja found little resistance as
his possessed body tore through the ancient evil�s throat. In his quasi-demon
body, Naruto had no problem ripping through the bone and sinew that stood in
his way. A moment later, the jinchuuriki landed elegantly amongst the discarded
homes of Ryuugakure, while the Black Dragon King�s severed head plummeted to
the earth.
Jiyumaru braced
Sakura against the shockwave that the detached head caused as it slammed into
the ground. Moments later the Black Dragon King�s enormous frame followed,
toppling over like a demolished tower. The entire valley shook under the weight
of the fallen body, creating a fine mist of dust and shattered housing. Rendered
speechless by the sight, Jiyumaru focused his energy on finding footing instead
of words. Naruto, though transformed, remained unscathed, while the prehistoric
evil lay defeated. It was reminiscent of the justice meted out by heroes in
fairy tales, whose swords were unstoppable agents of judgment. Fate had intervened
for the better for the first time in months.
�COME NOW. YOU DIDN�T THINK IT WOULD BE THAT
SIMPLE, DID YOU?�
Jiyumaru�s heart
leapt out of his body as the Black Dragon King�s head shifted in the dirt, its
eyes searching for and settling on Naruto�s crimson-sheathed form. With deep
laughter it swiveled unexpectedly, turning in the dirt as its body slowly stood
once more. Death failed to claim he godlike being, allowing it to continue
living long past its time. Its disjointed head laughed while its body quaked in
fits of humor as if the two pieces never separated.
�I AM GENUINELY AMUSED, DEMON CHILD,� it
bellowed. �YOU, OF ALL PEOPLE, BELIEVE
THAT YOU CAN BEST ME SO EASILY. ALLOW ME TO SHOW YOU THE ERROR OF YOUR WAYS.�
A horrible noise
echoed across the valley, ripping into any eardrum it could find. The sound
came in pops, crackling forth from the bloodied stump that was the Black Dragon
King�s neck. With a loud rip, the Black Dragon King sprouted a new head,
covered in sickly fluids that fell to the ground far below its jaw. The
original head began to melt, thick bubbles growing on its skin before breaking,
showering the nearby area with black liquid. Bit by bit it continued to liquefy,
losing features and dissolving into a viscous lake.
�WELCOME THE NEW AGE OF DRAGONS!�
From the murky
depths arose several black dragons. They were slow to be born, ripping
themselves free of the blackness that spawned them. They came in all sizes and
shapes, from young ones barely capable of flight to some that had no forelimbs.
What started as a few became dozens, crawling out of the ooze to serve their
master. Each one had eyes reminiscent of Sakai�s, pale and lifeless like
ghosts.
Jiyumaru�s blood
froze at the sight. If the Black Dragon King did not terrify him, its spawn
certainly did. The hardened shinobi felt his mouth run dry as he searched for
better footing, his legs threatening to give out. He felt frail and weak, as
though for the very first time in his life he understood that he was mortal. A
disquieting shudder passed through his body as he let out a gasp, gripping his
sword tightly. He turned to Sakura only to see that she had returned to tending
Yakusho`s wound, shutting out the world around her. In that moment, Jiyumaru
envied her. She was attempting to ignore the doom that faced them in order to
do her job, like a true kunoichi should. �
�What the hell
have I been thinking?� Jiyumaru said aloud. He said it to calm his nerves, to
find the resolve that would keep him fighting to the end. He was a Kenshin
swordsman, and a Konoha shinobi.
Giving up was not an option.
�DO YOU SEE NOW, HUMAN DEVIL?� the Black
Dragon King snarled, aiming its eyes at Naruto. �EVEN AMONGST THE HAZE THAT GRIPS YOUR MIND, YOU MUST KNOW THAT HUMANITY
COULD NOT AND STILL CANNOT HOPE TO STAND AGAINST THE MIGHT OF DRAGONS. YOUR
FRIENDS QUIVER IN FEAR AT THE MERE SIGHT OF MY CHILDREN. WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO
ACCOMPLISH?�
In his current
form, Naruto could not offer a spoken reply. Instead, he let out a howl from
deep within his throat as balls of pure chakra exploded from his body, floating
in the air around him in belts of black and white. Slowly each orb began to
gather at a point just above his head, his four tails curling towards the
central point to cradle the growing mass of chakra. The Black Dragon King
simply quirked what amounted to an eyebrow at the display, a deep snort
rippling its throat.
�AMUSING,� it chuckled. �YOU BELIEVE A PATHETIC BALL OF CHAKRA WILL
STOP ME. AN INTERESTING CHOICE. PLEASE, DO GO ON.�
Without any sign
of acknowledging the beast, Naruto continued to collect the orbs of chakra into
a single large ball at the tips of his tails. The grand collection of chakra
began to pulse erratically, brimming with tainted energy. Then without warning
it stopped, shrinking into a bite-sized portion that Naruto quickly ate. His
body expanded like a balloon as it tried to contain the massive amount of
energy it had ingested. Then with a howl, he belched out a concentrated blast
of chakra that seared air and ground alike. All attention was on Naruto as he
tried to eliminate the Black Dragon King.
The Black Dragon
King barely responded as the ferocious blast approached it. Then without warning,
it expelled a breath of pure dark energy, causing a crackling blackness to wash
over Naruto�s attack. Naruto�s world went black as the Black Dragon King�s beam
engulfed him, spreading out behind its target and laying waste to the remainder
of the ninja village. With a snap of its jaws, it ended the destructive
onslaught, the black waves dissipating in response. Naruto stood as himself
once again before toppling over, his body rigid and motionless.
�NARUTO!� Sakura
shrieked, her eyes ripped from Yakusho as she watched helplessly at the
sidelines. She leapt from her duties, but Jiyumaru held her back.
�You can�t do
anything for him right now,� he said. �Just stay back.�
�I HAVE GROWN TIRED OF LYING IDLE,� the
Black Dragon King announced. �THIS WORLD
MUST BE RAZED OF ALL MORTAL INFLUENCE. THE AGE OF DRAGONS � MY DRAGONS � SHALL
BEGIN ONCE AGAIN!�
A pair of
wavering black wings unfurled across the valley, kicking up minor hurricanes as
the Black Dragon King prepared to take to the skies. What tiny specks of
Ryuugakure still stood after its previous assault crumbled away to nothing,
finishing the destruction of the ancestral village of the Ryumoto clan. From
their spot below, a pebble amongst the mountains of spawning black dragons,
Jiyumaru and Sakura realized that the Black Dragon King was about to escape. It
would roam unchecked through the world, decimating all things that came to stop
it. It would be an unstoppable engine of terror and doom.
And there was
nothing they could do about it.
Two massive arms
made of sand exploded from the nearby mountain range and grabbed the Black
Dragon King by the wings. The beast howled into the night and struggled against
the hands� iron grip to no avail, writhing against the constructs until the
hands tore the wings from its back. The giant appendages dissolved in short
order, vanishing into the night as though they had never been there in the
first place. The Black Dragon King swerved, turning to face the direction the
arms had come from.
�I apologize,�
Gaara said mutely, his voice barely carrying over the wind. �I cannot let you
leave.�
�WRETCHED DEMON CHILD!� the Black Dragon
King bellowed, its roar causing the ground to shake and the mountains to
tremble. �DO NOT EVEN BE TEMPTED TO
THINK THAT YOUR PATHETIC DISPLAY WILL STOP ME. YOU HAVE MERELY DELAYED THE
INEVITABLE.�
Even as it spoke,
the Dragon King�s wings began to grow back, slowly developing from tiny lumps
of chakra into the enormous wingspan that would carry it across the globe.
Gaara raised a single eyebrow at the display before raising his hands into the
air, summoning swells of sand to his side.
�Be that as it
may,� he droned, �you can�t escape my grasp so easily. You will not leave as
long as I stand.�
�THEN PERHAPS YOU WILL NEED TO STOP STANDING.�
Wordlessly the
Black Dragon King commanded its spawn to rise up against the Kazekage. The
malicious drakes hissed and snarled as they took to the air and crawled across
the ground, lunging through the sky towards their designated target. Gaara did
not respond to the threat, keeping his eyes fixed on the Black Dragon King as
the black lizards closed in on him. Even as the first of them approached, Gaara
made no move to stop them. Just before the swarm of dragons converged on him, a
barrage of shuriken and other weapons shot them out of the sky. Each one hit
the ground with a gaseous hiss, dispersing into an inky darkness that slowly
drifted away into nothing in the stiff breeze. The Black Dragon King growled
and looked toward the mountainside that the attack originated from before
letting out a disgusted snort.
�SO THERE ARE MORE OF YOU.�
Appearing from
under their disguises and hiding places was the standing army of Sunagakure.
They emerged from any crevice that could contain a human being, standing at the
ready for their leader and their country. The Black Dragon King hissed in
response to their arrival, looking up at Gaara with contempt.
�YOU WOULD CORRUPT MY HALLOWED GROUND WITH
MORE HUMANS?� it snapped, baring its sharpened teeth. �EVEN STILL, YOUR ALLIES WILL NOT EVEN BEGIN TO HINDER MY ADVANCE.�
�Then how about
us?�
The Black Dragon
King turned its neck around to face the voice, peering over its wings and down
its tail at yet another army of shinobi appearing from the stone and soil. At
its helm was Tsunade, glaring at the monstrosity in the middle of the valley
intensely. She searched the Black Dragon King for any hint of fear or
apprehension, but found only contempt and malice in its eyes. The Hokage gritted
her teeth, steeling herself against the daunting foe and flashing a
contemptuous smirk.
�SO YOU HAVE GATHERED TO STOP ME?� the
Black Dragon King chuckled. �AN
INTERESTING STRATEGY. WHEN YOU FIGHT TOGETHER, YOUR STRENGTH IS GREAT. IT IS
UNFORTUNATE THAT MINE SHALL ALWAYS BE GREATER.�
With a roar, the
behemoth lowered its head, expelling the same tar its former head had melted
into. From the blackened lake arose more dragons, clawing and wriggling their
way into existence from the inky darkness. They appeared in all shapes and
sizes, each one bound to the will of their sire. Surrounded by the united
armies of Konohagakure and Sunagakure, the Black Dragon King and its spawn let
out hisses of glee.
�LET THE SLAUGHTER BEGIN!�

�Wake
up little one.�
Hinata awoke to a
menacing voice and the patter of cold water on her cheek. Her surroundings
seemed foreign yet familiar, as though she had pulled the setting from a
childhood memory. Slowly she pushed herself off the cold stone floor, lifting
her head up towards a single beam of light. Soon the rest of the room came into
focus, revealing the low hanging light bulb that illuminated the corridor.
�I know this
place,� Hinata whispered.
�Come
along now. We haven�t much time.�
Against her will,
Hinata�s limbs began to move, grasping at the cold pipes that lined the walls
to lift her to her feet. She moved cautiously, finding herself unable to
activate the Byakugan to scout around. Something in the back of her head
screamed that this was wrong, but she ignored it. She felt an inexplicable
force drive her body, as though it knew where to go when she did not. The
feeling was unnatural to her, yet she sensed she could trust it.
�Almost
there. Just a little further.�
The heiress
rounded what seemed like her thirteenth corner before finally reaching her
destination. The damp corridor opened up into a massive chamber, towering so
high into the air that most of it remained hidden behind darkness that the
flickering lights could not reach. At the end of the grand room, a single seal
of paper kept an equally large cell closed.
�Finally.
You walk incredibly slowly, you know that right?�
Instantly
Hinata�s mind flashed back to the first time she had seen this prison. She
remembered the coldness of her floor as the Kyuubi�s chakra flowed through her,
the images of Naruto as that horrifying voice cackled in her mind. A startled
gasp left her mouth as she came to the sudden realization of where she was,
taking several angry steps forward.
�I know who you
are now!� she growled out. �Show yourself, Demon Fox!�
�You�re
not in the position to be giving me orders, kit.�
The Kyuubi
slammed its head against the bars of its prison, rattling its cage with a
fierce growl. Lying broken and defeated in a puddle at the foot of the jail was
Naruto, wreathed in crimson energy that seemed to dance across his skin like
the flame on a candle. The Kyuubi flashed a menacing grin at Hinata, tugging at
its cell with one of its giant claws.
�As
you can probably already tell,� the demon sneered, �nothing you are witnessing is
real. It is nothing more than a representation.�
�Then what does
Naruto represent?�
The Kyuubi seemed
amused by Hinata�s stoicism. She was not taken in by the abstract existence she
was taking part in, nor did she allow her emotions to cloud her judgment. If
the Kyuubi had not known her as well as it did, it would have presumed her a
great warrior.
Unfortunately, it
did indeed know her.
�He
represents your mate, of course.� The Kyuubi grinned menacingly,
looking at her with a rather disturbing form of glee. �And if you do not hurry, he will
be dead.�
�Give me a reason
to trust you,� Hinata scowled. Her feelings for Naruto were strong, but not
strong enough to sway her common sense. She knew the Demon Fox to be a selfish
creature, only interested in its own desires despite being a part of another. She
knew nothing it said could be trusted, even though the thought of Naruto in
danger caused her heart to pound.
�I
truly do not believe now is the time to be justifying myself,� it
responded. �It should not surprise you that I value my continued existence. If the
boy dies, so do I.�
�And what�s that
got to do with me?� Hinata asked. �Why do you need me?�
To this, the
Kyuubi cackled monstrously, slamming the iron bars with its forepaw. �There
are many reasons. The only one you need to know right now, however, is that I
alone cannot save the boy from what the Black Dragon King has done to him. He
needs you�and thusly, so do I.�
Hinata rolled her
tongue about her mouth, as though she were balancing her options on it. She
looked down at the partially submerged representation of her lover, then back up
at the fowl beast that possessed him. No matter how obvious her decision was,
she could not shake the feeling that she was somehow going to be used. She
realized however, that now was not the time to deliberate on the schemes of the
Kyuubi.
Now was the time
for action.
�All right,� she
said. �What do I have to do?�

Darkness flooded
Hinata�s vision as she opened her pale eyes. Small fragments of dimmed light
flooded through tiny cracks all around her, slowly illuminating her
surroundings as her sight adjusted. Rocks and shattered glass encapsulated her,
sealing her off from the outside world. She felt safe in her earthen cocoon,
the sounds of distant fighting barely reaching her as she attempted to return
to her peaceful slumber.
A sharp, burning
pain knocked her out of her reverie. The blackness around her began to glow a
sickly red, shining from her shoulder as a tendril of the Kyuubi�s chakra
licked across her cheek. The energy swarmed around her body, engulfing her in a
sheath of demonic power. The memory of her short time spent in the Kyuubi�s
prison came back to her, reminding her of what she had to do. The walls around
her exploded with a single strike from her palm, setting her free once more.
Upon looking
outside, she regretted setting herself free.
The landscape
around her had completely changed. Where once stood memories of days gone by
remained only ash and rubble, used as a backdrop against a battle that came
straight out of the pages of a fantasy novel. Ebon-scaled dragons claimed the
night sky, swooping down at the humans that opposed them. Not far from them,
their master struggled against tides of sand, lashing out against its formless
opponent as it tried to escape. The smell of blood was heady in the air as the
bodies of dead shinobi lay amidst the evaporating likeness of their enemies.
For every hero that fell, two more came to take up the fight, driving off the
mythical beasts before the clash began anew.
Hinata turned
away from the carnage, returning to her self-imposed duty. She was on a mission
to find Naruto amongst the destruction, guided only by her instincts and the
burning feeling that consumed her. She was aware that she had allowed the
Kyuubi�s chakra to take control, but normal emotions and reservations no longer
applied to her. Her blood boiled as the fever of the Kyuubi�s energy washed
over her, tempting her and bathing her in its power. Like her previous
experiences with the Kyuubi she felt the urge to lose herself in the
overwhelming rage. She felt herself becoming the monster she and the rest of
the village hated so much, and she enjoyed it.
Come now, you
can�t be getting lost that easily.
�How are you
doing that?� Hinata rasped. Her voice was deeper, echoing the monstrosity that
had taken hold of her. �How can I hear you?�
The details
would only get in the way, little one. Now hurry�I do believe I hear the sound
of one heart stopping.
More questions
tried for the kunoichi�s attention, but they were ousted by the seething hatred
that raged against her personality. She was fighting for some semblance of
control, and oddly found it. The Kyuubi was not trying to take control, but
rather guide her on the path it saw fit. It still made her nervous, but she
accepted the prodding and continued despite what was going on around her. She
had to find Naruto, for though she did not trust the demon beast, she sensed
that its words were truthful. Somehow, though she could not say how, she too
could feel Naruto�s heartbeat slowing.
�Where?� she
growled, keeping her voice low. �Where is he?�
Must I do
everything for you? Do as he did. Follow your senses.
When the Kyuubi
finished speaking, the world around Hinata went dark. She shut the Earth off,
tuning out everything but Naruto. Slowly a single beam of light illuminated her
lover, highlighting him for her other senses. Then with a flash the rest of
existence returned to normal, yet her vision remained fixed to the northwest.
Without explanation or words she knew what to do and where to go, a feeling
that remained unsettling despite how helpful it was. With a gulp, she pressed
on, staying as far away from the all out war as she could. She could not allow
herself to become embroiled in the battle just yet.

�Sakura, we have
to move!�
Jiyumaru parried
another strike, his blade grinding harshly across the broken claws of a
fearsome drake. With two precise cuts, he eviscerated the human-sized lizard
and slit its throat, using his foot to knock its dying body into the throng of
other dragons that were right behind it. He stood firm against the never-ending
flow of the Black Dragon King�s children, doing his best to keep them away from
the distressed medic behind him. Despite his best efforts, he knew he could not
keep up with them forever. Yet he was honor-bound to stay by his teammate�s
side, regardless of how foolish her decision may have been.
For her part,
Sakura seemed completely oblivious to what was going on. All of her attention
was focused on Ryumoto Yakusho and the grievous wound that his uncle had
bestowed upon him. He had not moved since, his breath becoming shallower as
time crawled forward. She was fighting against an invisible clock, trying
against all odds to save his life even in the face of tremendous disaster. She
could not fail.
She would not fail.
�I won�t let you
die,� she whispered to the unconscious shinobi. �I promise I won�t let you die.
There�s�so much you have to see and do. I won�t let you die until you�ve lived
your life!�
�Sakura!�
Jiyumaru shouted. �Snap out of it!�
She did not
acknowledge him, pouring as much of her chakra into healing Yakusho�s wound as
she could. The jounin hated reality as much as the next person, but even he was
at a loss to explain Sakura�s devotion to saving someone who was � in his
opinion � already dead. He was alarmed that she seemed more concerned with
Yakusho�s life than her own, but chose not to question it. Instead, he
channeled all of his energy into fighting back the hordes that were closing in
on them.
�At least I�ll go
down fighting,� he muttered. �No finer way for a Kenshin warrior to die��
The drake that
Jiyumaru had just finished dealing with had stopped flailing, its body going
limp as it succumbed to the icy grip of death. It began to melt, its muscles
and scales liquefying and mixing into a single puddle. Jiyumaru felt his pulse
quicken as he thanked the heavens that the Black Dragon King�s spawn were freshly
born, with a lack of armor thanks to their unhardened scales. The joy he felt
was short-lived, as more and more of the giant creature�s terrifying children
moved in on his location. Summoning strength from his seemingly bottomless well
of courage, Jiyumaru prepared for the bloody end, hoping that he would at least
be able to bring his family the honor of taking out half of them before he was
finished.
The noble
sacrifice Jiyumaru had been preparing would go unneeded however. The wave of
draconic infants to his left suddenly exploded with a flash of light, globs of
tar-like fluid splattering against the floor and waist-high walls. Dripping in
the liquid corpses of her enemies was the Hokage, her toned muscles and grace
greatly belying her age. The other young dragons were caught off guard by the
surprise attack, leaving them wide open as Tsunade drove her heel into the
ground, splitting the earth open and swallowing them up into the crevice. A
single explosive kunai finished the job, sparing the group from the Black
Dragon King�s wrath.
�H-Hokage-sama!�
Jiyumaru stuttered.
�I see you failed
in your mission,� the elderly blonde said in an exasperated tone.
�Forgive us,� he
replied. �Things did not go quite as expected.�
�Forget about
that for now,� she sighed. �Why haven�t you and Sakura gotten out of here yet?
And where is Hinata�
�Sakura has
refused to move since Yakusho was injured,� Jiyumaru explained, motioning to
the obsessed pinkette. �I haven�t seen Hinata since Kakeru took her again�and
with what happened to Naruto I�m as worried as you are.�
The Hokage bit
her lip worriedly, turning her eyes to the desolate valley. There was so little
they could do in the face of such evil. Much since the beginning, her thoughts
were less on the monster they were up against and more on the people she had
been sworn to protect. Her emotions were also fighting against the memories of
her family and loved ones, having watched their dreams die along with Naruto. Tears
welled up in her eyes that she refused to release. She knew that giving in to
despair would serve no purpose but to hasten their defeat.
I can�t worry about that now.
�Sakura, on your
feet!� Tsunade commanded, her face quivering ever so slightly under the weight
of the situation. �You�re a Konoha shinobi, start acting like one!�
The young medic
failed to respond to her master�s orders, continuing to mend Yakusho�s wound as
best she could. Seeing that there was no other option, the Hokage moved over to
her student and slowly dropped to her knees, gently taking Sakura�s hands in
her own.
�It�s okay,� she
said. �I�m here now. I�ll take care of him.�
The sight and
feel of her sensei caused Sakura to snap out of her withdrawn state, opening
her eyes once more to the world around her. Sheepishly she released her healing
jutsu and let the older woman take over. Rising up, she stepped backwards to
take in all that she had missed.
�G-Gomen nasai,�
she gulped. �I-I...�
�Don�t worry
about that now,� Tsunade hushed. �All that matters is that you�re okay. You�ve
done an excellent job. Just leave the rest to me.�
Sakura slipped
away as her mentor tended to Yakusho, biting her lip and hiding her head in
shame. She knew she could have done more for her friend, much more than she had
actually accomplished. A part of her ached that had not ached in years, but she
was finally willing and able to admit what it was.
�It�s okay
Sakura,� Jiyumaru said softly. �You did everything you could. Leave it to the
Hokage now.�
�Y-You�re right,�
she sighed, her limbs quaking as all the pent up stress within her vanished.
�I�m all right, I promise.�
�You won�t be for
long at this rate.�
Reality sunk in
rather harshly for the medic-nin. Her memories of the night lay in scattered
bits before her, most of it having been shut out of her psyche. She vaguely
remembered the battle against Kakeru�s Honor Guard, and Naruto�s ill-fated
fight against the Black Dragon King. Other than those moments, her recollection
of events was shrouded in darkness. Crippling waves of emotion rolled over her,
pooling in her stomach as anxiety built up within her. How could she have been
so stupid? How could she have let them all down? Her stomach turned as it
dawned on her that her attempts to save Yakusho had only helped to compound her
other failures. If only she hadn�t been obsessed with Yakusho, she might have
been able to help. She might have been able to save�
�Where�s
Hinata!?�

A harsh pounding
was the only sound Hinata could hear, her heart beating so hard that its
drum-like pattern drowned out all other noise. Everything either slowed or
quickened to match the tempo, turning her world into a disturbing pastiche of
slow- and fast-motion. She couldn�t explain the sensory change, but it was the
least of her worries. From time to time, her vision would be reduced to
darkness, leaving Naruto the only thing left alight. Each time it happened it
only lasted for a few seconds, but Hinata had already come to dislike the sensation.
Her Byakugan did not interact with the Kyuubi�s manifested power well, causing
her to be disoriented every time the demon beast attempted to steer her in the
appropriate direction. The closer she got to Naruto, the more persistent the
fox became, leaving her dizzy and confused.
It was during one
of these lightheaded moments that Hinata accidentally stumbled, tumbling into a
small group of black dragons. She regained clarity just in time for one of the
lizards to lash out at her, its saliva-coated fangs glistening in the pale
night. Though she entered a defensive posture almost by instinct, there was no
need for it. Just as swiftly as the dragon attacked, a finely crafted sword cut
through the scales and muscles of its neck and severed its head. The remaining
dragons were just as easily dispatched as a whirling dome of chakra tossed them
against jagged rocks and demolished stone. They clung to life desperately
before succumbing, melting away like so many of their other brethren.
�Hinata-sama, are
you okay?� Neji asked, holding his cousin up by her arm.
�Hinata, speak to
us!� Tenten called out, shaking the dazed kunoichi gently.
Both voices were
barely audible over the chaos that raged within the dark-haired girl. Phrases
and names became roars and hideous squeals, drowned out by the constant howl of
the wind. Hinata pried herself from her friends� hands, casting their aid aside
as she continued on her perilous quest. She ignored their pleas, pushing on
through the rubble and dirt, drawn inexorably forward by her senses. She would
not be stopped by any agency, mortal or otherwise. She had to reach her goal.
After a few
moments, Hinata realized that her saviors were not following her. Or rather,
they could not follow her. The dragons had descended with vicious intent,
cutting them off from her as she pressed on without a care. She knew that
feeling nothing for the safety of her family and friends was wrong, but the
demonic hold on her was too great. She struggled against it internally, but
allowed it to guide her externally. The air around her ignited in reddish light
as she fell deeper and deeper into the Kyuubi�s clutches.
Almost there, the Kyuubi�s voiced purred in her head. Keep going. We haven�t much time.
The only sound that Hinata could offer in response was a guttural moan, nearly
consumed by the dread she felt at losing herself completely to the demon�s
influence.
The top of the
next ridge drowned her in grim scenery. The noxious stench of blood and death
assaulted her nostrils as she slid down the embankment, accompanied by the
slick sound of moving mud. She knew that people were dying and she was
indifferent, focused solely on what she and the Kyuubi desired. Her heart
flooded with guilt and shame at her own actions, but she knew there was no way
she could stop herself. Her legs burned as she pushed through the liquid earth,
muscles tensing as she fought against the obstacle. Her body refused to allow
her to stop, the pain slowly drifting away thanks to the crimson chakra that
possessed her. The closer she got to Naruto, the more brightly the Kyuubi�s
energy burned, illuminating the darkness around her in a terrifying glow.
It�s worse than
I feared.
Hinata found
herself in the middle of a giant crater made of mud and broken buildings, laced
with scattered pebbles and rocks. Lying seemingly lifeless in the middle of the
crater was Naruto. Hinata felt her own emotions soar to the front of her
consciousness for the first time in what seemed like years, her heart
threatening to snap as her voice tripped in her throat, causing her to let out
a strangled yelp at the sight of her fallen love.
�N-no!� she cried
out, falling to her knees. �It�it can�t be!�
Tears began to
stream down alabaster cheeks as Hinata cried. So deep was her mourning that she
almost did not notice the tiny black wisps that trailed off Naruto�s body into
the night�s sky. At first it looked like smoke, drifting off into the gentle
breeze as it rose from Naruto�s singed body. Upon closer inspection however,
she realized this was not the case. Crawling across her lover�s body were pure
black tendrils that seemed to suck in all the light around them. Each small
sliver of darkness crept up on his flesh and clothing, slowly devouring him and
drawing him into their world.
Hinata let out a
startled yelp. �What are those things?!�
They are
remnants of the Black Dragon King�s chakra, the
Kyuubi explained, his voice echoing through her mind. It is attempting to consume him.
No doubt to turn into more of its wretched spawn.
�Is he alive?�
There was a
moment of quiet before the Kyuubi spoke up again. Barely. He won�t last much longer
though, and I refuse to be devoured by this dragon-filth!
�So what do I
do?� Hinata gulped, her palms quivering.
All I need you
to do is touch him. I�ll do the rest.
Repulsion filled
Hinata as she approached the fallen body of her lover. She almost could not
bring herself to reach out to him as the blackness slowly continued to erase
him. Something about the vile chakra addled her mind and made her think and act
in ways she would never have dreamed of, much like the Kyuubi�s already
bitterly entrenched authority. The opposed drives clashed, compelling her to
move forward even as she was almost forced to wrench herself backwards. In the
end, they canceled each other out and she simply sat there, panting heavily as
she watched her breath form tiny clouds in the cold air.
What are you
waiting for?! The Kyuubi howled at her madly,
its voice irate with a hint of fear. Stop gawking! SAVE HIM!
�You mean save
you,� Hinata countered acrimoniously. �You don�t care about him at all.�
But you do.
That�s why you have to save him. You�re the only one who can. I�m sure you
won�t just let him die because it would get rid of me, would you? That�s very
selfish. Not very like you at all.
Hinata clutched
her chest tightly, as though she could snuff out the Kyuubi�s voice with her
hands. �What do you know about me at all?�
An angered snort
pre-empted the Kyuubi�s gruff response. In my existence, I have come to know
humanity as a never ending well of fear. Your kind is driven by it, thrive on
it, and cause it. You are born out of fear. Most predominantly, a fear of
death. Mortality terrifies you like nothing else.
However, it is
very rare that you feel fear for others� sakes. But you fear for him, and he
fears for you. Though it has taken me much time, I have decided that this is
what your fabled �love� must be. The ability to fear for someone else is an
amusing prospect. That is why I know you will do this. You are afraid of death,
but not your own. You are afraid for him. I know you will save him. The only
thing I do not understand is why.
�That�s not what
love is.�
Does it really
matter at this point?
Hinata bit her
lip. Against her better judgment and her own wishes she reached out, placing
her hands on Naruto�s chest. �You�ll never understand.�
I don�t care.
With just as much
abruptness as the demon�s retort, the entire crater lit up in a flash of red
light. Hinata felt it bathing her body in pleasant warmth before it utterly
consumed her, drowning out the rest of the world.

Jiyumaru�s
peripheral vision caught a sudden flare on the horizon. He turned his head just
in time to witness a pillar of crimson rise into the night, illuminating the
entire valley in its wretched glow.
What the hell is that?
His concern was
forced to wait when the next wave of dragons moved in. Silently, he prayed it
was good news.

The sensation
that enveloped Naruto was not entirely unfamiliar to him. In his short life,
pain had always been his neighbor, if not his best friend. From the burn of
overworked muscles to the blinding agony of having one of his lungs torn apart,
Naruto had felt it all. Never once did he complain about it. For the longest
time, nobody would have cared anyway.
But this pain was
different. It felt surreal, almost as if it were not there at all. He felt
tiny, searing prickles all along his arms and legs, and a deeper, more
disturbing flare in his stomach. This alarmed him, as the Kyuubi was usually
quick to disperse the pain. Even if it chose to let it linger, the wounds
healed at an incredible pace, allowing him to bare it, even if he did not
desire to. This was different though. There was no interruption and no
influence at all. All he felt was pain, and it was spreading. Worst of all, he
found he could not move or see anything. When he tried to scream for help, no
sound came out. It slowly dawned on him that for the very first time in his
life, he might actually be dying.
I don�t want to die, he
tried to shout. I don�t want to die!
There was
something liberating in that thought, he realized. In all his life, he�d never
actually admitted that he wanted to live. He never truly had a reason to live
until he had become a member of Team Seven. It was only then that he had found
real meaning in life. After that, the gap that had been left in his heart was
filled by his other friends and mentors, quickly turning almost all of Konoha
into his family. That was where he had drawn his strength. It was when he
thought of things like this that he often wondered if the third Hokage would
have been proud of him.
I don�t want to die.
A whisper touched
his ears, but all he heard was static. He could not turn his head or blink his
eyes, so he could not determine whom it was or where it had come from. A moment
later he heard the sound again, but this time it was much clearer. It was a
soft, pleading tone, like silk given a voice. Again the whisper came, and this
time every single word was audible. Whoever it was begged him to wake up. They
wanted him back.
A new pain shot
through Naruto�s body. It was a sharp, sizzling sensation that slowly built
into an incredible inferno. His body caught on fire, bubbling against the intolerable
heat as he finally found his voice. The sound that came out was not a wail of
pain, but instead a return whisper. The intense heat that consumed him slowly
turned into a cool, gentle caress, easing away his troubles and agony.
�It�s going to be
okay. You�re going to be all right, Naruto.�
The blond shinobi
opened his eyes to find Hinata straddling his chest, her arms pressed against
his shoulders. She had a look of heavy concentration in her eyes, her gaze
piercing through him instead of greeting his own. Intense, blood red light
surrounded them on all sides as far as he could see. Hinata herself was
wreathed in strands of the Kyuubi�s vile chakra that snaked down her arms and
plunged direction into Naruto�s stomach. It was from there that the Kyuubi�s
excess energy raced all over his body, driving what looked like leeches off his
body before they were incinerated in multicolored fire. It was entrancing, much
like a hallucination.
Only it was real.
As soon as the
last mote of evil was banished from him, the light faded. The two were wreathed
in the night as the sounds of battle reached their ears. Hinata blinked,
looking back and forth in confusion before turning her eyes downward, smiling
before launching herself around Naruto�s neck, holding him tight.
�I was so
afraid!� she whimpered, tears streaming down her cheeks. �Don�t ever do that
again, you hear me?�
�I hear you,� he
groaned in response. He found it difficult to speak, his throat spiking with
pain as he made words. �But what happened? The last thing I remember was
staring at the Black Dragon King.�
�I don�t know,�
Hinata said, grasping him tighter. �All that matters is that you�re alive.�
Naruto shoved
Hinata aside suddenly. She was about to complain when she saw a set of jaws
where her neck had just been. The black drake hissed malevolently at Naruto, as
if it blamed him for missing its mark. It reared back on its hind legs, letting
out a hollow snarl as it spread its wings, readying itself for another attack.
With a sharp gasp Naruto realized it was coming for him this time. With another
hiss, it lunged.
Vaulting upward
despite the protest of his aching muscles, Naruto somersaulted in the air as he
cleared the impressive height of the dragon. As he finishing his spin he
outstretched his leg, delivering a fierce heel drop to the back of the lizard�s
skull. The effect was instantaneous and desired, driving the hulking beast�s
face into the ground. The loud squish of mud filled the air as Naruto landed on
the dragon�s back, his palm lit by the blue glow of the Rasengan. Without
hesitation he drove the swirling mass of chakra into the dragon�s neck,
watching as its surreal scales and flesh twisted along with the ball.
With a snap its
neck came off, spewing black ooze in all directions as the creature�s body
flailed. Naruto leapt off just in time to watch every ounce of the dragon�s
body melt into a puddle of slick, black tar.
�What the hell is
going on?� he panted.
A terrifying roar
drew his attention north. It was there he saw the Black Dragon King locked in
its battle against Gaara. Dragons cluttered the landscape left and right,
painting the ground with streaks of red and black. Naruto felt his mouth go dry
and his heart beat faster as he realized the true extent of the horror that had
been unleashed on the world.
The ground shook
as more of the Black Dragon King�s children descended upon them. Naruto grabbed
Hinata by the wrist and ran as fast as he could.

Sweat trickled
down Tsunade�s forehead, gathering in tiny rivulets before dropping off the
edge of her nose. She remembered the last time she�d been this anxious, but
that had been long ago. She almost felt like it had happened to an entirely
different person.
She heard another
bellowing roar somewhere behind her, causing her skin to go cold for a moment.
She did not dare to look at what was going on behind her. She had to keep her
focus on the task at hand. She could not stop to help anyone else, no matter
how much she wanted to.
�When did you
start being a coward again?� she asked herself bitterly. �Damn it Tsunade, get
a hold of yourself!�
From what she
could tell, she was almost finished. Ryumoto Yakusho�s wound was serious, but
not devastating. Back in the pioneering days of medical ninjutsu, any wound
like it would have been a death sentence. But things had come a long way since
then. Now it was just a painstakingly slow process, rather than a fatal one.
Too slow, the
Hokage figured. She would have to find a way to make this go faster in the
future. As it was, she�d already wasted what felt like hours trying to finish
the job that Sakura had started, even though in reality it was closer to a few
minutes. The young medic had done a fantastic job, too. So much so that Tsunade
almost felt bad taking the work away from her. But in the end, it was a wise
choice.
Sakura did not
deserve to live Tsunade�s past, after all.
Another roar rang
in Tsunade�s ears. She was not certain, but it sounded as though it had been
muffled by the wind. Either way, since neither Jiyumaru nor Sakura were calling
her, she assumed she was safe. She pushed a lock of her dirtied hair from her
eyes, focusing intently on the last few inches of the cut. With just a little
more effort, she would be done.
It was the second
time she heard the muffled roar that Tsunade realized something was wrong. The
sound was not a roar, but rather a deep growl. She craned her neck a little,
tilting her ear outward in order to listen more clearly. The sound was
unmistakably coming from in front of her. She chanced a quick glance, revealing
that the only thing in front of her was a crumbling building, held together by
rotting supports. Without hesitation the Hokage returned to her work.
It was only when
the wall in front of her started to melt away that Tsunade realized her
mistake. She dodged to the side just as the dragon attacked, avoiding its
powerful jaws by just fractions of an inch. The same acid that had allowed it
to tunnel through the thick stone material dribbled from its lips ominously. It
hissed at her violently, thrashing its head back and forth as it tried to bite
her, gnashing its jaws in rage as she stayed just out of its reach.
Tsunade backed
away slowly as it snarled. A quick look told her that the hole it had created
was not large enough for its body, and it was currently wedged in quite tightly.
It continued to snap and lash out at her, letting out a horrific squealing
noise as it sought to devour her. After a while, it struck Tsunade that the
creature was no longer trying to attack her, but rather was trying to escape
the hole it had gotten stuck in. It sneered at her with rage, wriggling back
and forth as it tried to pry itself from the wall.
Tsunade realized
this was the perfect time to strike. The Hokage leapt to her feet, charging the
sinister beast with her arm cocked back for a devastating punch. Launching
forward with a furious yell, she focused much chakra as she could into her fist
to finish the monster off in a single blow.
At the very last
second the dragon managed to free itself, pulling its head back through the
hole in the wall. Tsunade�s fist missed its mark, hitting the ground and
causing a violent tremor. The ground split underneath the tremendous force,
forming a deep crack that took out the building�s foundation. With a stressed
groan the entire house gave way, tumbling sideways into the crevice. Tsunade
let out a relieved sigh as she rose to her feet.
Without warning
the rubble exploded, sending hunks of rock flying in all directions. The world
spun around Tsunade as she was struck by one of the errant blocks and sent
tumbling through the dirt and mud. Stars clouded her vision as she came to a
stop face down in the dirt. Pain caused the entire world to look fuzzy, as if
she were looking at it through a blurry filter. Along with the blur came
intermittent thuds that shook the earth, making it even more difficult for her
to see. After a moment she gave up entirely, closing her eyes and drifting off.
A certain aroma
stirred the Hokage�s senses moments later. It was a peculiar, acrid smell that
burned the inside of her nostrils and caused her entire body to shrivel. She
woke with a start, only to find herself staring into the dragon�s fierce jaws.
It hissed at her, expelling a sickly green gas from its nostrils. Somehow
Tsunade knew it was poisonous and moved to cover her face with her hands. She
tried to stand up, hoping to escape the deadly cloud, but instead tripped and
fell prone on her back. The fearsome beast was quick to react, rearing back and
giving off a bellowing roar as it prepared to finish the Hokage off.
At the last
moment the dragon snapped back, letting out a horrifying wail. It twisted its
head to face its tail, snarling with rage at the young ninja that had its tail
pinned to the ground with his sword.
�Don�t just sit
there!� Yakusho grunted. �Do something!�
Had she been any
other person, Tsunade would have been stunned. Instead she leapt to her feet
and charged the dragon before it had a chance to retaliate. Her fist, brimming
with chakra, plunged straight through the dragon�s chest and into its strangely
cold heart. Tsunade expected blood, but instead received a rush of sticky black
liquid across her forearm. The beast howled, flailing back and forth before
finally toppling over, its body rapidly decomposing into tar.
�Even after field
surgery I have impeccable timing,� Yakusho heaved, sagging on his left knee.
Tsunade glared
angrily at Yakusho even as she raced over to check his wound. She was amazed to
find that he�d cauterized the last inch by himself. It was haphazard and
nowhere near professional, but it had gotten the job done.
�I don�t know
what the hell you were thinking,� she barked. �You could�ve opened that wound
again.�
�What I was
thinking isn�t important,� Yakusho grunted. �It seems we failed.�
Tsunade took a
look around her at the battlefield that had once been Ryuugakure. Death reigned
supreme all around her, leaving its mark with bloodied bodies and bubbling
black pools. The centerpiece was the Black Dragon King itself, locked in battle
at the north end of the ruined city, fighting the constantly rising tide of
Gaara�s sand. Yet no matter how many times the Black Dragon King was pushed
back or its minions killed, the battle raged on. Eventually the shinobi would
tire out and be picked off. It was as hopeless Tsunade had feared it would be.
�They�re fighting
valiantly,� she told Yakusho in a whisper, �but it�s only a matter of time
before they�re overrun.�
�I wouldn�t give
up so fast,� Yakusho replied, his eyes fixated on the hulking form of the
master of all black dragons. �You�re luckier than you think.�
�What do you
mean?� Tsunade asked.
Yakusho simply
nodded his head northward, turning back with the makings of a smirk. �That�s
not the Black Dragon King.�

Another black
dragon fell at Jiyumaru�s feet, its viscous essence flowing over his geta as he
turned to strike down yet another. He was vaguely aware that Sakura was not
very far from him, her battle cries reaching his ears despite the bellowing of
the dragons around them. As he brought his blade down on yet another scaled neck,
Jiyumaru found himself desperately trying to remember other things as he tried
to remind himself that he had not been fighting all his life. The tide of black
drakes continued to swell, boxing the two Konoha shinobi in and cutting them
off from the person they were supposed to be protecting. The creatures seemed
infinite in number, with each new addition bringing humanity�s chance for
survival closer to zero. Against the masses of the Black Dragon King, Konoha
and its allies were nothing but gnats.
It was a battle
they could not hope to win.
Slowly but surely
the black dragons began to encircle Jiyumaru and Sakura, cutting them off from
both the Hokage and the rest of Konoha�s army. With no avenue for escape, the
medic prodigy and the swordsman fought for their lives. One by one they cut the
beasts down, drenching the rocks beneath their feet in a never-ending dark tide.
Sword carved flesh and fist shattered bone as the two fought against the
tireless minions of the Black Dragon King. Yet there was no stopping the
endless waves of legendary monsters. For every dragon that was felled by the
duo, another simply filled the gap. Each vanquished beast only served as a
waste of chakra for the two shinobi, leaving them weary and drained. It was a
battle that both humans had already lost, leaving them stranded in a sea of
death.
�It was good to
know you,� Sakura panted, falling to one knee.
�You�re just
going to give up like that, huh?� Jiyumaru chuckled wryly, readying his sword.
�I would have pegged you to go out with a bang.�
�I�m planning on
it,� she replied, reaching for the pouch at her hip. �How big do you want it?�
�Big enough.�
Jiyumaru braced
himself for the end as Sakura prepared a bloody surprise for the Black Dragon
King�s children. In the end it would be meaningless, a fact they both
understood. No matter what they did, it would not even begin to slow the
onslaught of ancient creatures. It was no longer a matter of survival, but a
matter of pride. They would not be devoured. They would not be torn apart. They
would not go out without a fight. They would keep fighting to the bitter end.
They were Konoha
shinobi.
�Katon! Goukakyuu no Jutsu!�
What little Jiyumaru could see through the
massive bodies that blocked his view suddenly erupted in flames. The fire
washed over the black dragons, melting them as it came into contact with their
already unstable forms. Each beast dissolved into the rocks and debris, leaving
viscous black rivers as their tombstones. When the very last dragon was swept
away, Jiyumaru looked up to see Yakusho and Tsunade racing toward him, a look
of relief on both their faces.
�You sure know how to get yourself in
trouble, Blades,� Yakusho said mockingly. �Whatever would you do without me?�
Jiyumaru�s response was cut short as Sakura
launched herself at Yakusho, grappling him tightly and pulling him into a
powerful hug. Her body trembled as she buried her face in his chest, her soft
sobs drowned out by the endless battle around them.
�You�re alive,� she whispered so only
Yakusho could hear. �I was so scared��
�Easy now,� he replied, holding her head.
�There are bigger things to worry about right now. Save your tears for later.�
Sakura straightened up quickly, dusting off
her clothes as she looked at the Hokage as professionally as she could. Tsunade
eyed her pupil with scrutiny before giving a smile and patting the pinkette on
her head.
�You did well,� Tsunade said honestly. �I�m
proud of you.�
�Thank you, shishou,� Sakura blushed.
�If you�re all done,� Jiyumaru blurted, �we
still have a rather grave matter to attend to.�
A thunderous crash punctuated Jiyumaru�s
sentence. A geyser of sand created a disturbing arrangement in the sky, raining
down on the earth below in sheets. Gaara floated perilously on what remained of
a platform of sand, which was slowly crumbling away in the night�s deadly
chill.
�He�s losing,� Jiyumaru said. �To be frank,
I�m amazed he�s lasted this long after what that thing did to Kakeru.�
�Stuff your fatalism, Blades,� Yakusho snapped.
�If you�re about to say we�re screwed, then you�re as clueless as everyone
else.�
Jiyumaru and Sakura shared a confused
glance. �What�re you talking about?�
�As I said before,� Yakusho explained with
a nod toward Tsunade, �that thing is not the Black Dragon King.�
�What?!� Sakura shrieked, clenching her
fists tightly. �What do you mean?�
Yakusho turned to face the behemoth the
loomed over them. �I don�t know precisely how or why, but whatever that thing
is, it�s not the Black Dragon King. If it were, we wouldn�t be having this
conversation.�
�If it�s not the Black Dragon King,�
Tsunade interjected, �then what is it? You still haven�t answered that question.�
Yakusho crossed his
arms, looking downward in thought. �The closest thing I could equate it to, I
guess, would be an avatar. It�s made of the Black Dragon King�s chakra, and it
probably acts a lot like the damned thing, too. But it�s definitely not as
powerful as the Black Dragon King.�
�How though?� Jiyumaru
asked. �Kakeru released the seal. The Black Dragon King should be free,
shouldn�t it?�
�He broke the seal,� Yakusho corrected. �My
guess is that he didn�t break it all the way open. The Black Dragon King�s
chakra is slowly leaking out. Right now, this thing is only at about a fifth of
the Black Dragon King�s true power�but that won�t last forever.�
�The longer we wait,
the more of the Black Dragon King�s chakra will escape, right?� Sakura gulped.
�Precisely,� Yakusho
said distantly.
�Meaning if we want to
beat it,� Jiyumaru said darkly, �we have to kill it now, before it becomes
unstoppable.�
�And exactly how do
you plan to do that?� Sakura exclaimed rashly. �Even when Naruto killed it, it
survived! That thing is immortal!�
�Not yet it�s not,� Yakusho countered. �As
long as we can find a way to destroy it utterly, body and all, before it
assumes its full power��
�And how do you plan on doing that!?�
Yakusho let out a drawn out sigh, his hands
falling to his sides as he shook his head. �I don�t know.�
�What the hell kind of attitude is that!?�
From the bloodstained
fields emerged a weary Hinata and invigorated Naruto. The blond raced toward
Yakusho and punched the dragon ninja fiercely, knocking him to the ground.
Sakura tried to help Yakusho to his feet, but he declined her help and slowly
stood up on his own.
�You�re alive,� he
muttered in shock.
�Yeah, and what of
it?� Naruto growled. �What the hell is the matter with you? Do you think you
can just come this far and give up? Bullshit! You�re the only one who knows
anything about the Dragon Kings, so you�re the only one who can figure out how
to stop them! So stop feeling sorry for yourself and think, you idiot!�
�Naruto, stop it!�
Hinata demanded, grabbing her lover by the arm. �Yakusho is only��
Yakusho silenced her
with a wave of his hand. �He�s right. Giving up isn�t my style. The only thing
I should be concerned with is how to stop that thing. Nothing else.�
Epiphany struck a mere
moment after he finished speaking. Wordlessly he ran back towards the ruined
temple at a reckless pace. Naruto started after him, with Hinata and Sakura
closely. Only Jiyumaru remained behind, watching his fellow shinobi slowly
disappear amongst the rubble and blood as war raged on around them.
�Do you really think
he can save us?� Jiyumaru asked.
�We have no other
choice but to put our faith in him,� Tsunade said almost bitterly. �Now come
on. They�re not the only ones fighting here.�
Jiyumaru gripped his
katana tightly before turning his back on his friends, leaving the fate of the
entire world in their hands.

�I am such a moron,�
Yakusho muttered to himself. �How did I forget about it?�
Naruto and the others
made their way back to Ryuugakure�s once-great temple. Yakusho muttered to himself
constantly, shuffling through broken rafters and shattered pillars. The air
felt thick and tight against each shinobi�s skin, as though it were attempting
to squeeze the life out of each of them. The closer they got to what had been
the center of the temple, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. Naruto
felt his skin burn as small licks of the Kyuubi�s chakra slipped away from him
into the night.
�Where are we going,
Yakusho?� Naruto asked.
�Back to the seal,�
Yakusho responded absently. �Should be right...�
A deep howling filled
their ears as a cloud of black chakra belched its way out of the deep chasm that
was now the temple�s basement. The ground had given way to an eerie hole where
nothing but darkness escaped. Putrescent bands of blackness crawled across the
stone and dirt, clawing at the soil on its way north, towards the Black Dragon
King.
�This is the Black
Dragon King�s seal,� Yakusho noted. �Broken to bits...not as bad as I thought
it would be, though.�
The others did not
share the dragon ninja`s opinion of the situation. The gaping chasm that lay
before them was massive in size, the ground still crumbling to make room for
it. Nothing was visible in the intense darkness, a giant void from which all of
the great dragon�s power emanated.
�So it�s down there?�
Naruto asked. �The real Black Dragon King?�
�Yes and no,� Yakusho
replied, kicking a rock into the abyss. �The body? No. It�s essence? You bet
your ass.�
�Then how do we stop
it?� Hinata gulped. She had tried to see the bottom of the pit with her
Byakugan, only to be greeted by nothingness.
�We have to kill
what�s out there,� Yakusho said, pointing towards the Black Dragon King�s
avatar. �If we kill it, then the Black Dragon King�s essence will be severed.
The rest will leak out with nowhere to go. It will die...albeit slowly.�
�So what was the point
of coming here?� Sakura complained.
�If you�d stop whining, I�d show you!�
Yakusho grunted, moving off to the left. �If memory serves me��
�A
dark tether lashed out at the sky as Yakusho skirted the boundaries of the
demolished seal, searching for something amongst the rubble. He remained silent
despite the pleas from his friends, his eyes engaged in a hunt through the
ruins. Not far from them he spotted a broken tablet, adorned down the side with
various etchings and patterns. He was there in an instant, jumping over granite
and marble in order to inspect the tablet from head to toe. A smirk slipped
onto his face as he read, his eyes closed while his finger traced the empty
space at the slab�s top left, as if he were trying to recall what had once been
written there.
�No doubt about it,�
Yakusho beamed. �This is the place. Not...quite as I remember it, but this is
the place.�
�And what place would
that be?� Naruto asked, looking at their surroundings awkwardly. �All I see are
rocks and broken temple bits.�
�Look down.�
As Naruto looked down,
a pale amber glow began to shine from beneath his soles. The light intensified
as it spread outward, spiralling out from its center into the rest of the
broken lands. The blond looked on in awe as it lit up patterns in the soil,
forming a design he had only recently encountered.
�What the hell is
this?� Naruto blurted. �It looks like...�
�It is,� Yakusho said.
The lights finally
stopped their erratic dance, finishing with a brilliant glow that reached for
the blackened sky. They created an intricate pattern that spanned a wide radius
as a dull hum spilled across stone and dust. A winged beast lay depicted in a
huge crest that had been chiselled into the ground, long-forgotten and
sheltered under the earth and what had been thick walls.
�Another Dragon King
Seal.�
�What!?� Sakura
shrieked, jumping away from the lights. �Are you serious? Another one?�
�Dead serious,�
Yakusho grinned. He seemed oddly happy as he ran his fingers across the edge of
the giant seal, standing up with a soft grunt. �The Black Dragon King and the
Bronze Dragon King were mortal enemies, even during times of peace. When they
were sealed, the Bronze Dragon King told its followers to make its seal near
the Black Dragon King�s. Keep your enemies close, you know.�
�So wait,� Hinata
said, adding everything up in her head. �Are you saying...we have one of those on our side?�
�Yes and no.� Yakusho
suddenly looked disturbed, looking away from the seal in contemplation before
turning back to his companions. �We don�t have the ability to bust the Bronze
Dragon King out like Kakeru did for the Black Dragon King. Moreover, I refuse
to even try.�
�Then just what do you
suggest we do?� Hinata asked.
�Channel it.�
Naruto canted his
head, looking at Yakusho quizzically. �Channel it?�
�With these,� Yakusho
said, showing off the bracelets that adorned his wrists. �I�ll channel the
Bronze Dragon King�s chakra and become it...sort of.�
�What the hell do you
mean �sort of�?� Naruto cried. �This isn�t a game, you know? Kind of the end of
the world as we know it going on here!�
�I�ll take on the
Bronze Dragon King�s form and some of its chakra,� Yakusho explained. �But only
some of it, and I don�t know exactly how much. More than likely I�ll only have
one shot at this.�
�You�re kidding,�
Sakura gulped. �You can�t be serious. If you don�t succeed...�
�If I don�t succeed,�
Yakusho said flatly, �then everyone dies, and you know it. I�ll just get to go
a little sooner than the rest of you. So do me a favour and trust me, would you?�
Sakura silenced
herself by biting her lower lip. It was clear she had reservations, as did
Hinata, whose tongue tripped over itself as she tried to find an appropriate
argument. Naruto simply nodded, looking back at the swath of destruction that
lay in the Black Dragon King�s wake. Wordlessly Yakusho moved to the center of
the Bronze Dragon King�s seal and plunged the Dragon Fang into a small groove,
using all his strength to twist the blade. Slowly the groove began to turn,
like a key turning a lock. As it did, bronze-colored light poured out from the
seal and washed over Yakusho�s feet.
�Give him hell!� Naruto
called out finally, giving Yakusho a thumbs up. Yakusho returned the gesture
quickly before gripping the Dragon Fang tighter, using every muscle he owned to
continue turning his blade.
�I plan to, Whiskers.�

Another barrier of
sand came to the Kazekage�s defense, blocking the Black Dragon King�s savage
blow. The wall buckled under the assault and scattered partially to the winds,
leaving but a fragment of its former self between Gaara and the ancient
monstrosity. Sunagakure�s leader was running out of breath and chakra, leaving
him in a dangerous position as he sought to battle the most powerful being on
the planet. But fight he would, as no one else could. He prayed that what
little power he had in reserve would be enough.
�PITIFUL CHILD,� the Black Dragon King bellowed. �SUCCUMB. I GROW WEARY OF BATTING ASIDE YOUR
SILLY, FALTERING DEFENSES. ATTEMPT TO DIE WITH SOME DIGNITY BEFORE I ERASE YOUR
KIND.�
Gaara responded by
raising his hands into the air, summoning a quick and massive swell of sand at
the Black Dragon King�s feet. At first it appeared as though the behemoth would
escape as its powerful muscles fought against the tide. Then Gaara�s grip
tightened, pulling down at the Black Dragon King and forcing it to the ground.
Sand rushed in from every corner of the valley, pouring down the mountainsides
and slithering out of cracks, swirling together until it formed a gigantic wave
that rose high into the air.
�Ryuusa Bakuryuu!�
The tsunami crashed
down on the Black Dragon King, submerging it in foot after foot of sand. In
moments the monolithic beast was nowhere to be seen, buried by the Kazekage�s
powerful jutsu. The sand that formed Gaara�s floating platform slowly crumbled
away, disappearing into the wind as he leapt to the ground and planted his
palms firmly in the earth he had created, focusing the last of his chakra into
one final attack.
�Sabaku Taiso!�
The sea of sand
trembled and buckled under the immense pressure of Gaara�s finishing move,
crushing anything that lay beneath its amber waves. Black pools seeped through the
endless landscape, the only proof that Gaara�s attack had succeeded. The
Kazekage let out a breath of relief, falling into a sitting position as
exhaustion began to take over him.
A tremor shook the
earth, sending Gaara to his feet once more. The black stains trembled, sifting
through grains of sand and coagulating into a single massive puddle. From the
darkness reached a titanic claw, digging into the earth and hauling the Black
Dragon King out of the abyss once more. The monster returned without a scratch,
flashing a sinister grin at the beaten Kazekage.
�IMPRESSIVE,� it hissed. �SUCH
POWER IN A MORTAL, EVEN ONE SUCH AS YOU, IS WORTHY OF PRAISE. ALLOW ME TO HONOR
YOU BY CRUSHING YOUR SOUL INTO DUST!�
Before the Black
Dragon King could strike, a pillar of light burst from the earth behind it.
Lightning cracked the sky and struck the ground, crawling across the soil in
impossible spirals. Thunder and electricity rolled across the valley,
eradicating any black dragon that touched the violent white coils. Horror mixed
with brilliance as a blinding flash covered all of Ryuugakure, bathing it in purifying
light. The Black Dragon King shielded its eyes with its wings as it fought back
against the brightness with a defiant roar. For a moment, each shinobi was
bathed in shining light that revitalized them, bringing them back from the edge
of defeat.
The light dispersed to
reveal another massive dragon. It stood equal to the Black Dragon King, static
crawling over its sparkling sand-colored scales. Each breath it took caused the
sky to shudder as it slowly stretched its wings, bathing the valley in its
majestic glow. It finally settled its serpentine gaze on its evil counterpart
and gave a snort of contempt, standing its ground against the monstrous entity.
The Black Dragon King
hissed in rage, whipping its tail against the nearby mountainside. �WHAT IS THIS MOCKERY? FOR ONE SO WEAK TO
ASSUME THE FORM OF MY MOST HATED ENEMY...TRULY YOU HUMANS KNOW NO SHAME.�
�I BELIEVES IT SUITS ME,� the titanic bronze dragon replied in
Yakusho�s snarky tone. �I CAN�T LET YOU
LIVE IN THIS WORLD, AND I�LL DO ANYTHING IT TAKES TO STOP YOU FROM EVER COMING
BACK!�
�THEN BY ALL MEANS,� the Black Dragon King sneered, �DO YOUR WORST.�

Ryumoto Yakusho did
not recognize the world as he saw it now. He was not even sure if what he was
doing could be considered seeing. He knew somewhere ahead of him was the Black
Dragon King, and that all around him were the armies of Sunagakure and
Konohagakure. Yet all that surrounded him was eerie darkness, crawling across a
dim source of light that illuminated next to nothing. He soon found that the
light came from his own body, outlining his frame amidst the darkness. He could
not tell if he was clothed or not, yet somehow realized it mattered very
little. Wherever he was, he did not truly exist, but was rather an extension of
what he had once been.
He was vaguely aware
of his new form as it appeared to the real world. Thousands of eyes seemed to
stare at him as he towered above them, staring down their greatest enemy. Eons
worth of knowledge and power coursed through every rippled muscle and vein,
emboldening him in ways no other mortal could ever know. At that moment he was
akin to a god, lightning crackling across his body as he surged with undeniable
authority. His voice echoed with a shimmering quality when he spoke, a calming
contrast to the Black Dragon King�s beastly speech. He was the antithesis of
what he sought to destroy, empowered by a force older than humans themselves.
He was still not sure
he could win.

Yakusho charged, the
ground trembling beneath his feet as he broadsided the Black Dragon King. Teeth
gnashed against scale, digging into inky flesh and producing tar-like blood
that seeped into the dead soil below. The Black Dragon King retaliated with its
tail, hurling Yakusho aside and scattering bronze scales across the valley. The
transformed ninja responded by gathering his draconic power, his throat
crackling and glowing before expelling a massive blast of lightning. The Black
Dragon King shuddered in the assault, its skin bubbling before being torn
asunder by the force of nature. Blotches of what were once scales and flesh
draped over the soil and mountainside as the Black Dragon King�s side exploded,
covering Ryuugakure in a layer of black blood.
�I-IMPOSSIBLE!� the Black Dragon King snarled, collapsing amidst the
remnants of its own body. �WRETCHED
MORTAL, YOU STEAL POWER YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY COMMAND! IT WILL AVAIL YOU NOTHING!�
�IS THAT WHY I�M WINNING?� Yakusho replied smarmily. �SHUT UP AND DIE. YOU�RE NOT WELCOME IN OUR
WORLD!�
The Black Dragon King
began to laugh, twitching on the ground as it tried to stand on only two legs.
�YOUR WORLD? HUMAN WHO WEARS THE SKIN OF
DRAGONS, YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIVERSE IS SO LIMITED. THIS WORLD AND
EVERYTHING IN IT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO ME, AND I WILL SHOW YOU THE FOOLISHNESS
OF THINKING YOU CAN STAND AGAINST ME!�
�GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT! YOU AREN�T SO THREATENING WHEN YOU DON�T HAVE A
RIGHT SIDE!�
�YOU SHALL NOT BE LAUGHING SHORTLY, HUMAN,� the serpentine monarch
sneered. �YOUR BORROWED POWER IS
FINITE...AS YOU WILL SEE!�
The ground shook as
the Black Dragon King let out a terrifying roar, scattering nearby shinobi as
it righted itself by sheer force of will. Its ruptured side pulsed, spewing
black sludge across the ground before a new stomach and set of legs erupted
from its mutilated body. Now restored, the Black Dragon King snarled as it
unleashed a powerful wave of malevolent chakra aimed straight at Yakusho. The
black waves rippled through Yakusho�s draconic body, tearing at his borrowed
flesh like razor blades. Agony replaced every other feeling Yakusho knew,
rending sense from his mind and causing him to cry for mercy. Fiery pain
clutched him in its grasp, surrounding him in a torture he could not escape.
When the waves of dark
energy abated, Yakusho fell to the ground, his body slowly melting away. The
darkness robbed him of his chakra, leaving him an empty husk. Both within and
without he felt his essence fading, drifting away into the cold winds as the
Black Dragon King loomed above him. The ancient evil sneered, acid dripping
from its jaws as it revelled in its own omnipotence.
�DO YOU SEE NOW THE FOOLISHNESS OF YOUR WAYS, DRAGON-MAN?� it
bellowed. �YOU ATTEMPTED TO FILL THE
SHOES OF A GOD, AND FAILED. NOW YOU AND ALL YOUR KIND WILL SHARE THE SAME FATE.�
�Like hell!�
Naruto appeared atop
Yakusho�s dissolving form, his breath coming in ragged pants as he stared down
the greatest evil in the world. Despite how insignificant he was compared to
the Black Dragon King, he was filled with hope and vigor. It was a feeling of elation,
a feeling that made him believe he could do anything no matter how impossible.
Chakra flowed from him freely and poured over Yakusho�s melting head like water
from a stream as Naruto tapped into the deepest reserves of his power.
�N-NARUTO?� Yakusho sputtered, his voice sounding garbled. �WH-WHAT ARE YOU...?�
�DEMON CHILD!� the Black Dragon King roared. �I THOUGHT YOUR IGNORANCE TO HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH.�
�I don�t give up
easily,� Naruto admitted. �I never got to finish with you. I seem to remember telling
you I was going to kick your ass. I won�t let you terrorize this world.�
�AND PRECISELY HOW DO YOU PLAN TO STOP ME?�
�Like this.�
The blond cried out as he leaned forward
and gripped Yakusho�s draconic head tightly. Demon chakra exploded from within
his body, spiraling across his arms and legs to envelope Yakusho�s massive
frame. Red tendrils coiled around broken muscles and sewed their way between
bones before gripping the bronze dragon tightly, replacing lost energy with the
Kyuubi�s dark essence. Yakusho�s borrowed form reconstituted itself, allowing
him to stand majestically once again as he stared down the Black Dragon King.
�This ends now!� Naruto yelled. �Get the
hell out of our world!�

Hinata gulped as she felt something within
herself twist.
Red light spread across the ruined valley,
bathing the battlefield in a macabre crimson mantle. For a moment, the war
ceased as all eyes focused on the two titans, waiting for some sort of sign.
The swathe of black dragons left after Yakusho�s transformation let out a
unanimous cry, trembling as their bodies began to disintegrate. Each one
dispersed into a cloud of dark particles before returning to their master as
the Black Dragon King bellowed. Pale eyes stared in disbelief as the Black
Dragon King consumed its own spawn, growing in size as it reclaimed what had
once been part of it. The world quaked under the dragon�s newfound might, and terror
gripped the battlefield anew as the Black Dragon King arose more powerful than
before.
Hinata fell to her knees as sensations of
terror and excitement erupted within her. She could feel the tug of the Kyuubi
at her heart as she relished the demon�s desires, armed with nothing but her
own fear to combat its corrupting touch. Her body began to glow a pale red as
she lost herself in the anger and vengeance that was the Demon Fox, her blood
starting to boil as rage took over. Amidst the burning emotions that enveloped
her however, Hinata could hear something. It called to her gently, stroking her
ears with its deep voice that was naught but a whisper amongst the chaos in the
valley. Hinata closed her eyes and focused, trying to pick the sound out from
all the other things around her.
Pay attention, damn it!
Hinata gasped as the Kyuubi attacked her
senses yet again. She cursed wildly, standing up yet again as the murmuring
voice was completely lost.
�What do you want now!?� she screamed.
The boy needs your help again, it snarled. Can you not hear him? He�s crying out in
agony�he needs you!
Hinata bit her lip. �I can�t hear a thing.�
Then he�s an even bigger idiot than I thought. He�d
willingly kill himself to save you and everyone else�even though that�ll be the
only thing he�d gain from it.
�What did you just say!?� Hinata leapt to
her feet, shouting at the invisible voice of her possessor. �What is Naruto
doing!?�
You can�t tell? the
Kyuubi chuckled. He�s giving all of his chakra to Yakusho so they can fight the Black
Dragon King together. He�s making me give up as much as I can as well.
�So what�s the problem?�
It isn�t�it won�t be enough.
Hinata turned her gaze towards the north
where Yakusho and the Black Dragon King were standing, watching as spiraling
flares of red energy coiled around the bronze dragon�s body. Even though Naruto
and Yakusho were beyond regular people, the amount of chakra they were using
was still too much.
�They�re going to die if they keep this
up,� Hinata gasped.
They don�t have to. You can save them both.
A million questions flew through Hinata�s
mind, each one meeting a gruesome end as she batted them aside.
�What do I have to do?�

�Every
fiber of Naruto�s being sizzled with uncompromising power. Yakusho answered the
burning gift with an earthshaking roar, digging his claws into the dead soil of
his homeland. Before them stood pure evil dressed in scales and adorned with
wings. Naruto�s body screamed for mercy as he focused every ounce of chakra he
could muster into Yakusho. This was not a simple showdown. If the fight did not
end here and now, they would lose.
�ARE
YOU READY FOR THIS?� Yakusho asked, canting his head upwards gently.
�I don�t really have a choice!� Naruto
snarled, his speech slurred by the Kyuubi�s intoxicating grip.
Yakusho pounced, hurling his gigantic frame
at the Black Dragon King. The ancient terror responded by digging its claws
deep into the soil, bracing itself against the impact. The behemoths collided
with an ear-splitting crash, sending giant scales soaring through the sky. Claws
and teeth ground against armored skin as the titans clashed, shattering the
world around them with their violent thrashing. Before them the armies of
Konohagakure and Sunagakure were like a swarm of gnats, buzzing around with no
hope of being anything but an annoyance.
The fearsome deadlock ended when Yakusho
unleashed a vicious blast of lightning, scattering bolts across the valley and
stunning the Black Dragon King. Realizing that his foe was defenseless, Yakusho
charged forward and delivered a body slam with his full weight behind it.
Scales and rocks showered the battlefield as the Black Dragon King�s body
crashed into the nearby mountainside, burying it in a blanket of debris. The
crushing blow was followed up by another blast of lightning, creating a
spectacle of light that pinned the great evil beneath it.
�Just a little longer, Yakusho!� Naruto
called. �Just hold on a little longer and we�ve got him!�
�ENOUGH!�
The ground shuddered as blobs of dark
matter shot forth from the Black Dragon King�s restrained body. They hung in the
air for only a moment before launching forward, striking Yakusho like a hail of
bullets. The barrage drove Yakusho back, cutting his stream of lightning short
and releasing the Black Dragon King. Finally free, the mythical tyrant
unleashed its full wingspan. A single flap of its massive wings kicked up a
towering wall of dust, clouding its figure as it took to the skies. Its shadow
engulfed the entire valley, rising as the spectre of death.
�I
HAVE GROWN TIRED OF YOUR PATHETIC GAMES.� The beast�s monologue was punctuated by the methodical beat of its
wings. �SINCE YOU REFUSE TO SIMPLY DIE
OFF AS YOUR SPECIES WAS INTENDED, I AM OFFERED NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO ANNIHILATE
YOU ALL MYSELF!� �
The Black Dragon King�s body began to
ripple, scales rising and falling in concentric patterns. Geysers of black
chakra erupted from its skin, leaping from one end of its frame to another like
a black sun. The swirling bursts of chakra began to find their way to the Black
Dragon King`s jaws, gathering between its teeth in terrifying amounts. Acid and
energy drooled from the massive creature as it gathered as much unholy power as
it could, opening its mouth to reveal a coalescing sea of darkness. The
concentrated orb of evil bulged and pulsed, threatening to explode from the
dragon�s mouth at any moment.
A sinister chuckle slithered across the
valley before transforming into a terrifying laughter.

Yakusho was struck by a feeling of absolute
dread. The darkness that enveloped his luminous consciousness shuddered against
the Black Dragon King�s display, clouding even his exterior vision for a
moment. On the outside, the scales that covered his draconic body quivered in
both fear and anticipation, as if they expected him to do something. He was
currently at a loss as to what exactly they wanted.
He was not the only one in his dark world
anymore. Since the merging of their chakra, Naruto had somehow appeared with
him as something of a kindred spirit. None of it was real, of course, but
somehow Naruto�s apparition filled Yakusho with hope. Not enough to shake off
the impending doom that seemed to close in around him from all angles, but
enough for him to continue fighting back.
�What the hell is it doing?� Naruto�s
ghostly apparition shouted. Yakusho was aware of both Naruto�s physical form on
his head, and the spiritual version that appeared just behind him in his little
void. Hearing the blond yell in two different places at once was rather
jarring.
�It�s amassing its own evil chakra,�
Yakusho responded. Though his draconic voice could probably be heard all the
way back in Konoha, the voice he had in his pocket world was his own, calm and
resolute in the face of danger. �I think it�s planning on�breathing it on us.�
�That�s�a whole lot of chakra!� Naruto
gulped. �If that hits anything��
�I know,� Yakusho
replied. �It�ll destroy everything and everyone here�maybe more.�
�Got any ideas?�
Yakusho narrowed his eyes. �Just one�think
you can handle it?�
For some reason, Yakusho did not have to
explain his plan to Naruto. The spectral genin just nodded his head, reaching
out to grab onto Yakusho�s shoulder. A moment later, the black expanse that
enshrouded them both was dispelled by a brilliant flash.

The real Naruto reared back, grabbing onto
Yakusho�s body as tightly as he could. With a violent war cry he exploded in a
flash of red, his chakra and the Kyuubi�s pouring out of him in a violent tidal
wave. More energy than ever before coursed through both him and Yakusho,
empowering the bronze dragon beyond its previous levels. Much like the Black
Dragon King�s before it, Yakusho�s body began to ripple and tremble as chakra
leaked from him in bursts. Mimicking his evil counterpart to the letter, chakra
rushed out in streams from his body, finding their home in his maw as he too focused
his power into a single spot. Brilliant gold contrasted dusky black, the two
warring powers preparing to let loose a final blow.
At that moment, a single beam of sunlight
crawled over the horizon
�WITNESS
THE END OF HUMANITY!�
A baleful howl pierced
the dawn as the Black Dragon King exhaled, firing a beam of concentrated chakra
directly at Yakusho. The response was swift as Yakusho retaliated with his own
golden blast, firing it directly into the Black Dragon King�s attack. The two
shots connected in midair with incredible force, creating a shockwave of
sparkling darkness that spread out across the tapestry of the early morning.
The dilapidated valley was no match for the force of the two dragons, bending
against their will and coughing up billowing clouds of dust in accordance with
their struggle. The shinobi that littered the remains of Ryuugakure quickly
fled to higher ground to watch the fight with mute horror and reverence, for
there was no more they could do. In the final hour, it was up to Uzumaki Naruto
and the treacherous Ryumoto Yakusho to save them.
For several moments it
looked as though neither side held an advantage. The two dragons remained in a
deadlock as the sun slipped out from under the blanket of the earth, trying
desperately to bring daylight back to the world. Black and gold clashed in the
middle of the sky, spraying color and darkness in all directions. The ground
began to shudder as Yakusho dug his claws into the ruined soil beneath him,
concentrating in order to summon even more chakra to fight with. His body
struggled under the strain as he pushed back against the Black Dragon King�s
attack, pushing the beam of darkness back towards its owner. The Black Dragon
King responded with a sharp growl, summoning more of its dark energy to empower
its own blast. Yakusho buckled under the pressure, falling back on his hind
legs as his beam was slowly overtaken.
�IT�S NO USE!� Yakusho snarled. His voice echoed through the air,
despite the fact that his mouth did not move. �I CAN�T�WE CAN�T BEAT HIM! HE�S GROWN TOO STRONG!�
�We can�t give up
now!� Naruto shouted. �Just a little bit more, Yakusho! Keep trying!�
A new swathe of the
Kyuubi�s chakra enveloped Yakusho, signalling that Naruto was willing to put
his all into this final assault as well. Summoning all the strength he could,
Yakusho combined his chakra along with the Kyuubi�s to create a dazzling amber-colored
ray that replaced his previous one. It was the Black Dragon King�s turn to be
shaken as the darkness of its attack recoiled sharply from Naruto and Yakusho�s
new combined blast. The opposing chakras made a horrific grinding noise as they
duelled, battling for the fate of the world, far out of the reach of normal men
and women.
At that moment, it
looked as though mankind would win.
�YOUR STUBBORNNESS MAKES ME WEARY,� the Black Dragon King hissed. �I WILL SHOW YOU THE FOLLY OF YOUR
RESISTANCE!�
�Twin spears of black chakra flew from the Black
Dragon King�s body, screaming through the air as they dove at Yakusho. With a
sickening thunk they each pierced his
body, striking through him into the ground and showering the valley in amber
fluid.
In an instant,
humanity had lost.

The bleak void echoed
Yakusho�s scream of pain, containing it within the never ending darkness.
Yakusho himself collapsed, clutching his sides as a shining white fluid seeped
out of two black holes in his torso. His sight blurred as his breath sagged,
the black cocoon closing in on him as he withered away into nothing.
How could he have been
so stupid?
�Yakusho!� Naruto�s
voice clamoured. �Yakusho, get up!�
The spectral blond
rushed to Yakusho�s side, brimming with chakra intent on regenerating his
wounds, but the dragon ninja pushed him aside, pulling himself to his own
glowing feet.
�Stop it!� he yelled
hoarsely. �You can�t waste time healing me, or we won�t be able to hold him
back!�
�If I don�t heal you,
you�re going to die!� Naruto warned. �We can�t stop him if you�re dead,
either!�
The argument was
irrelevant. Already Yakusho could feel himself fading away. He looked up as his
vision started to fade, seeing the Black Dragon King�s shadowy breath attack
closing in on them. In mere moments it would hit them, annihilating everyone
and everything in the valley. The Black Dragon King would be free to roam the
world once again, and no mortal would ever be able to challenge it.
How could he have been
so stupid?
�Who said you were
allowed to give up!?�

Naruto gasped as a
soft hand placed itself on top of his outstretched palm, holding him tightly to
Yakusho. Naruto looked up to see Hinata gripping him tightly, coiling her
digits around his hand. The wind whipped her face and hair, causing her to squint
determinedly against the ancient evil above them.
�Wh-what are you doing
here?� Naruto gulped. �You were supposed to...�
�Something told me
you�d need my help,� she called out, gripping him more tightly.
�But if you stay
here...�
Hinata put her other
hand on his shoulder, her face breaking into a smile. �I�m not afraid to die...because
you�re here. I love you. Now stop trying to do everything yourself and let me help you.�
Pride and joy swelled
in Naruto�s heart as he took Hinata�s hand from his shoulder, threading his
fingers between hers.
�Thank you, Hinata.�

Yakusho clawed
helplessly at the darkness, his life quickly fading away. He could hear voices,
but he couldn�t tell whose they were. He wondered if it was his family, waiting
for him on the other side of the great dividing line between living and dying.
He fought against the slight tug of death, but eventually gave in. No matter
how much he tried, there was simply no hope.
The void parted as a
hand reached out and touched his back. With a flash he was filled with life
anew, the wounds he had suffered from the Black Dragon King�s black lances
vanishing as though they had never existed. Restored, Yakusho slowly rose to
his feet within the darkened confines of his consciousness, and turned around
to see a ghostly Naruto and Hinata nod towards him.
�You aren�t alone this
time,� Hinata�s voice whispered. �We�re in this together.�
�Thank you,� Yakusho
smirked. �Let�s end this.�

Hinata�s body ignited
in crimson as a new spiral of red chakra coursed over Yakusho�s draconic body,
healing the mortal injuries it had received in a matter of seconds. With but a
moment to spare, Yakusho pushed back the Black Dragon King�s black chakra with
his own amber breath, returning their fight to a standstill once again.
�IMPOSSIBLE!� the Black Dragon King bellowed. In a fit of rage it
unleashed a barrage of impaling chakra from its body, intent on skewering
Yakusho and his friends. Yakusho responded by unfurling his wings and returning
fire with a volley of crimson chakra, the attacks cancelling each other out in
midair with small explosions. The Black Dragon King looked on in shock as
Naruto, Hinata and Yakusho fought against him in unison, the former two covered
in sheathes of red, their eyes the color of blood as they channelled the beast
within. The three roared together, calling out to the Black Dragon King one
after another in triumph.
�YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!�
�I told you I�d kick
your ass!�
�We never go back on
our word!�
�THAT�S OUR WAY OF THE NINJA!�
Two orbs of demon
chakra exploded into being around Yakusho�s head and began orbiting the
dragon�s jaw at amazing speed. Without warning, streams of energy shot out from
both at once, spiralling around Yakusho�s amber beam in a perfect double helix.
The Demon Fox�s chakra overtook the conflict between the Black Dragon King and
Yakusho and continued coiling its way up the Black Dragon King�s chakra breath.
The two strands pierced through the Black Dragon King�s neck and continued
knitting their way through its body. Thoroughly impaled by the Kyuubi�s
essence, the Black Dragon King could no longer fight back against Yakusho�s
attack. The amber beam struck it head on, ripping through its chakra body like
a blazing knife. An ear splitting shriek resounded across the country as the
Black Dragon King�s body convulsed and sparked, rays of light shining brightly
through the holes in its body as its core trembled.
�THIS IS...IMPOSSIBLE!� it bellowed hoarsely. �MANKIND...IS NOT...MORE POWERFUL...THAN...me...�
A blinding flash
filled the morning sky as the Black Dragon King�s body plummeted to the ground.
Right below it was Yakusho, ferrying Naruto and Hinata, unable to move. Just as
the dragon�s massive body was about to crush them all, it exploded in a flurry of
lights and energy that enveloped the entire valley. Shockwaves traveled from
the mountains all over the countryside, flattening trees and producing pillars
of dust that spanned miles. It ended in a flash, petering out to a single speck
that popped out of existence. Naruto, Hinata and Yakusho were nowhere to be
seen.
Where once stood the
great village of Ryuugakure, there was now only stillness.
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