Re-igniting the Will of Fire
Naruto Chapter 450
Katsuyu: Naruto, Lady Tsunade wishes to speak with you and Konan.
Naruto: *looks at Katsuyu* Why?
Katsuyu: To discuss the matter of Konoha's current state.
Konan: Tell the Hokage that I will meet with her.
Katsuyu: ...She also said to bring Nagato's body.
*Naruto and Konan are surprised*
Konan: But why does she want to see Nagato's body?
Katsuyu: ...She wouldn't say.
Naruto: Tsunade, why do you want to see Nagato's body?
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*cut to Inoichi, Shikaku and unkown Hyuga*
Inoichi: That kid actually did it, and all by himself!
Skikaku: I told you that we could trust him.
Inoichi: But to think that he could actually pull it off...
Hyuga: Wait, Naruto is coming this way...with an Akatsuki behind him!
Inoichi: What?!
*Naruto and Konan land on adjacent branch* Naruto: Don't worry, she's with me.
Inoichi: *phew* you scared us there.
Konan: Sorry, but the Hokage wants to see me and Naruto.
Shikaku: *sees wrapped up Nagato and Yahiko* What are those?
Konan: ...She also wanted to see Nagato's body.
Inoichi: But why would she want to see a body?
Shikaku: ...You, *to Hyuga* go with Naruto and the Akatsuki member Konan to Konoha. Inoichi and I have something to discuss.
Hyuga: Right. *Naruto, Konan and Hyuga head to Konoha*
Inoichi: What is it, Shikaku?
Shikaku: ...Do you recall the incident when the Akatsuki captured Gaara, the Kazekage?
Inoichi: Yes, he was also the former host of the One-tails, and...You can't be serious!
Shikaku: Yes...I think I know what Tsunade plans on doing...
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*In Konoha*
Hinata: So...Nagato revived everyone he killed?
Katsuyu: Yes, it would seem that he was quite similar to Naruto when he was a child, and it seemed he reminded him of that. Unfortunately, it did cost Nagato his life to do so.
Sakura: But...How? How could he have revived everyone, and why did he do it?
Tsunade: Katsuyu...are Naruto and Konan...on their way?
Katsuyu: Yes, Lady Tsunade, and they are bringing Nagato's body too.
Sakura: Then that means...the Akatsuki threat is over?
Tsunade: No, Sakura.
Sakura: But their leader is dead; without a leader, they can't...
Tsunade: There are still three known Akatsuki members out there...including the new one you encountered...Any one of them could become the new leader.
Sakura: *angry* the one with the space-time jutsu that prevented us from reaching Sasuke...damn him!
Neji: It seems that Naruto didn't need help after all.
Lee: *crying manly tears* To go face to face with the leader of Akatsuki and redeem him...that is indeed the POWER OF YOUTH! He is indeed a worthy rival for me!
Tenten: Stop being so enthusiastic, Lee.
Gai: That was quite a kid Kakashi trained; a real man worthy of becoming Hokage. He kind of reminds me of Kakashi's old sensei, the Fourth.
*Kakashi appears exhausted*
Gai: *Grabs Kakashi and hugs him* Kakashi!! You're all right, as is everyone else!
Neji: Both him and Lee...I'll never understand their inappropriate behaviour.
Kakashi: Please, Gai...my back...
Gai: *lets go* Sorry, Kakashi. I guess it isn't everyday you are brought back from the dead. *pats him on the back, Kakashi falls over* KAKASHI!!
Kakashi: Just...tired.
Gai: *phew* I was actually worried for a second.
Hinata: *activates Byakugan, sees Naruto and Konan* It's Naruto; he's back!
*Everyone looks in the general direction of Naruto and Konan*
Sakura: NARUTO! *runs over to Naruto* You did it; you beat Pain!
Naruto: *see's the sorrow on Konan's face, and turns back to Sakura* I didn't defeat Pain physically, Sakura; he redeemed himself.
Sakura: *confused* Naruto...
Naruto: *sees Hinata, and walks over with a smile* Hinata...
Hinata: *slight blush* Naruto-kun...*smiles and stands up* I'm glad you are all right.
Naruto: So am I. *hands Hinata the flowers*
Hinata: Naruto-kun...
Naruto: *slight blush* Konan told me...these are flowers of hope that will never die. You...no matter what happened, you always seemed to hold on to hope...the hope that you could change yourself.
Sakura: *surprised* Those flowers...the Akatsuki gave them to him...and now he's giving them to Hinata. What did she say to him? Has Naruto...really changed so much?
Naruto: That is why...I thought that these flowers would be best suited for you...Hinata.
Hinata: *smiles, and plucks two flowers out of the bouquet, and hands them to Naruto* I...I think you deserve one of these flowers too, and the other...for Jiraiya-sensei. Thank you, Naruto.
Naruto: *smiles* you too, Hinata.
*Neji and Team Gai smile at the scene*
Konan: *smiles* that girl...her innocence reminds me of my own, before Yahiko...
*Konan goes over to Tsunade, and sets down Nagato's corpse and un-wraps the top half*
Tsunade: Jiraiya had so much faith in Nagato, and for him to end his life by reviving everyone...
Konan: It was a final atonement for his sins, and a sign of his faith in Naruto.
Tsunade: Naruto always seemed to have a strange ability to bring out the best in everyone, and redeem them.
Konan: He was so much like Nagato when he was younger...Amegakure will swear it's allegiance to Konoha, and help you re-build, and I say it as the Hidden Rain's new leader.
Tsunade: *smiles mysteriously* Thank you, but all of my chakra was taxed when I protected the village. Right now, I am nothing more than an exhausted old lady.
Konan: Tsunade...?
Tsunade: *Gamakichi sets Tsunade down, and she places her hands over Nagato's body* I will no longer be able to be as strong as I once was, but at least...I'll be able to at least one last thing. *chakra resonates from her hands onto Nagato*
Sakura: Tsunade-sama...?
Neji: *activates Byakugan* That chakra flow...Tsunade-sama, you don't mean that...when did you...?
Sakura: What's going on?
Neji: That flow of Chakra...it is the same kind that Chiyo used when...
*Everyone is shocked, as they realize what Tsunade intended to do*
Sakura: NO, TSUNADE-SAMA!! *runs towards Tsunade, but Gai and Kakashi, having recovered, stop her* TSUNADE-SAMA, DON'T DO IT!!
Naruto: Tsunade...you mean that you...?
Konan: What's going on? What jutsu is she using?
Naruto: ...After you extracted the One-Tailed Shukaku from Gaara, old lady Chiyo used it to transfer her life to Gaara.
Konan: You mean...?
Naruto: *sheds tears, voice weakens* Tsunade-sama...is giving her own life to revive Nagato.
Sakura: TSUNADE-SAMA, YOU CAN'T DO THIS! THE VILLAGE NEEDS YOU TO LEAD IT!
Tsunade: QUIET, SAKURA! *Sakura is stunned into silence, as tears run down her face* I know the village needs a leader, and the price that is to be paid for doing this...but a village like the Hidden Rain needs a strong leader to lead them. Katsuyu...
Katsuyu: ...Yes, Tsunade-sama?
Tsunade: Inform the village of the sacrifice I'm making.
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*Over to Shizune and other*
Shikamaru: What...? Tsunade-sama is going to give her life to bring back Pain's?
Ino: But why is she doing it?! Doesn't she know the state of disrepair the village is in?
Shizune: *wipes away tears* Don't worry...Tsunade-sama knows what she's doing...I know she is.
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*Back to Tsunade*
Tsunade: *pants* Naruto...I need some help here.
Naruto: ...Okay, Tsunade... *lends some of his own chakra* Grandma Tsunade, why are you doing this?
Tsunade: *smiles* The Will of Fire in Konoha, Naruto, has always been safe-guarding the next-generation, so they can carry the torch after the previous generation is gone. Nagato is still a member of the generation that was supposed to carry the torch after Jiraiya's...and my generation, passed on.
Naruto: Tsunade-sama...
Tsunade: Don't worry, Naruto; the next generation is always meant to carry the torch, and at times, surpass the old, as you have surpassed Kakashi...and the Fourth Hokage.
Naruto: *smiles* I know about who he is, Tsunade. *Tsunade is surprised* He appeared as the eighth tail came out, as a final precaution. He re-tightened the seal, and he told me everything...there was someone controlling the fox, when it attacked.
Tsunade: Is that so? *ponders* Kakashi, come here.
Kakashi: All right. *he and Gai let go of Sakura, as she falls to the ground on her knees* What is it that you want to know?
Tsunade: Naruto seems to have seen the Fourth Hokage in his mind, when the Eighth tail formed.
Kakashi: ...Eight-tails. Did Hinata's injury really carry you that far?
Naruto: As well as everything else that has happened.
Kakashi: I see... well then, I guess you know everything then?
Naruto: Yeah, and that there was another controlling the fox when it attacked Konoha...the masked Akatsuki member that we fought.
Kakashi: I see, the one with the Sharingan.
Tsunade: Then it must have been Madara Uchiha. ...Kakashi Hatake, in my place, I am appointing you to be the next Hokage.
Kakashi: ME?!
Tsunade: You were...always a candidate for it. *pants heavily* The jutsu's nearly done...Naruto, Kakashi...make the Fourth...and me and Jiraiya proud.
Kakashi: ...We will...Tsunade-sama. *a solitary tears leaks from his two eyes*
*Tsunade leans back, and Kakashi swings around to grab her. She smiles as she says her last words*
Tsunade: Jiraiya... *Tsunade Senju passes away*
Sakura: *screams* TSUNADE-SAMA!
*Everyone around mourns for Tsunade's sacrifice, and Nagato, fully rejuvenated to his normal states, opens his eyes to show the Rin'negan.*
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*On a different spiritual plane, Tsunade sees a shape around a fire*
Shape: I didn't expect you to follow me so soon.
Tsunade: *smiles* Well, at least I preserved the fire for the next generation before my passing. *sits down at the fire, and looks at Jiraiya's face*
Jiraiya: You know Tsunade, no matter how old you look; you will always be one beautiful lady.
Tsunade: Heh, you old dummy.
Jiraiya: What, no angry response? I've been waiting for you all this just for the sake of seeing you again, (and I started to work on my new book), and that's the best you say to me.
Tsunade: Before I found out you died, I told myself: "If you make it back here, you won't have to put on a tough front for me anymore."
Jiraiya: *closes the notebook he had in his hand* Well then, I guess that means we'll be moving on together, eh?
*Tsunade smiles, and takes Jiraiya's hand as they walk away from the fire*
Tsunade: Jiraiya, what is the name for your new book?
Jiraiya: "The Tale of Uzumaki Naruto." How does it sound?
Tsunade: *smiles as they walk together* That's a perfect title for your new book.
End Chapter
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This is a prediction of Chapter 450, and it could be wrong. Please read and review. My first Naruto Fan-fic.