They were desperate. They didn't think the war would end up tipping when they managed to reach Madara. It should have ended easily. No, not easily, but they thought they'd have the favor. They thought they could win it and it seemed that way when they surged further.
Many of the allied ninjas from the Five Great Nation fought well and even beyond their limit. They just had to or they would have fallen from the very beginning. It didn't matter, at least not at those moments, when comrades had fallen just before their eyes. They had to keep going and going.
And now, it feels like the hard work amounted to nothing.
Shikamaru sighed heavily as he stared at his friend's lifeless body.
"The Nine-tails is helping him recuperate his body."
He looks up to onyx pairs of orbs, unshakenly dissecting the information on the clipboard. The sunken outline in her face brought the reality of it things. The future suddenly looked so bleak with this friend lying unconscious on his bed. It only proved that Naruto is powerful, though not susceptible to death.
"Thank you, Shizune." He mutters against his folded hands.
The dark haired assistance nodded and began to walk away with the assessment tucked to her chest. "I'll let Kakashi know." She calls quietly before leaving.
He turns back to his friend, watching his chest heave high and low. And though he knows he's alive, he just doesn't feel it was good enough. It feels awfully like seeing Asuma meet his end.
His fists clenched tightly together, his nails scraping the small skin it touched.
During the war, they've put their resolve on Naruto and Sasuke, but the others kept faltering at the Juubi's capabilities. And then comrades he knew began to gasp their last breath. He wonders if that's where things went wrong.
It couldn't have been it, but it might have fueled their lost. Naruto and Sasuke managed to fight further until things led them back here.
He curses himself. If only his father was still alive at the height of it all, maybe things could have ended differently. No, things could finally end.
Instead, they're still pawing their way out for another way out of this deadlock situation.
"Shikamaru."
Despite instated as Rokudaime, he makes no move to greet the man. Rather than his usual lazed attitude, he was just too lost and worried to mind the little things.
"He'll be asked to cooperate with the emergency plan." And the indirect command was there: 'you ask him as the Allied Forces' strategist.'
Shikamaru was angry. He closed his eyes and immersed himself in his memories. The picture of his fallen comrades flashes through his mind painfully. Now, he was told he had to sacrifice another. This is the price of a shinobi.
He knows logically, it was the only plan they could muster that would have a shot at it. But it was too rocky of a decision. Besides, like he'd sacrifice Naruto.
He's like the younger brother their group ended up seeing as. He's the little brother who would glue them together and push them together to grow up together.
"It isn't your decision to make." The man continued and he can suspect his expression had barred it all.
Shikamaru pursed his lips before sighing audibly. He nods.
"Good."
He felt a light whirl of wind and a word wasn't uttered after. He remains on his seat, observing his friend.
He was a little more mature, a little more knowledgeable of the circumstances shinobis deal with. And he's long understood that sometimes, you get to go home to your family and to your friends. But sometimes, you might end up losing them one by one.
For some people, there wasn't even a gap between the losses. Just like the war.
He knew this. But he had long resolved to be a ninja.
And for that moment, he felt utterly lost if this was what he wanted.
The preparation were quickly organized what with their little time left. Madara would be back with the Juubi to undergo his plan. If they can't solve this before that, they surely were screwed.
He had his hands in his pocket as he entered the makeshift office. He crinkled his nose at the lack of light but spoke nothing of it. Instead, he called the man's attention with the question "Why didn't you say anything?"
Though vague, the other answered. The man's low, flat voice echoed the small room. The paper rustled as he looked up from his seat. "B introduced the theory regarding Minato-sensei's Hiraishin. It was Naruto who offered himself. None of the Kages approved so they swept it under the rug until the situation permits."
Shikamaru studied his expression. For once, he was glad to see that despite the literal and figurative mask the man puts up, there is still someone who could make him come undone.
"We could have save lives from the beginning." He pointed out.
The other's only exposed eye glared at him knowingly.
Shikamaru didn't back down and continued, leaning against the wall. "They didn't want to sacrifice him as much as you do."
Kakashi laughs humorlessly. "I've wondered how bad things really were to offer himself without a second thought." But he shouldn't be talking. He remembered himself in the same situation when he was younger, only for nobody's benefit. His fists clenched.
"Why didn't you say anything?" He repeated.
"I have." The jonin swallowed, flatly admitting. "I begged him."
"He said no." The younger continued for him.
Kakashi closed his eye. "It wasn't my decision to make, he said."
And that alone shut both of them up. Because no matter what they wanted to say, it truly was the boy's decision. And Naruto's resolve was stronger than any of them.
A knock interrupted the heavy atmosphere. "Kakashi?" A feminine voice struck through the door.
"Come in."
Shikamaru steps aside to let the door open wide. Asuma's blonde student walks in, carrying a gloomy face. "It's ready." She smiled, not that it lightened the room.
Kakashi nods at her then turns to the papers. He'd reviewed every single word several times. He shoved what personal feelings wanted to get in the way of the process and buried himself to the work. If they were going through this, if his idiot of a student wanted to play hero once again, then he'll do as much as he can to make sure it's done right.
He sighed heavily. He wished Kushina nor Minato never had passed their will of fire. It was burning so strongly in Naruto that the boy wouldn't hesitate at the face of death. He was so much like his parents that it hurt. He was going to follow their footstep until the very end: dying to save their village.
He honestly didn't think he could see through that. But he's a shinobi of the Leaf, an ANBU, and a sensei. He has to see it to the end no matter what he felt.
"Kakashi sensei." Ino calls once again.
The rokudaime stood up. With heavy feet, he dragged himself to follow the two younger shinobi.
It didn't have to be this way but it is.
Shikamaru watched Kakashi staring at the circled mark. It was empty at the moment but it won't be when the blonde is done with his check-up. He dreaded this.
Around them, the others had piled in. Only the chosen people should be here but Kakashi couldn't tell the blond's friends to keep away.
They wanted to say goodbye, they reasoned. But Kakashi knew it wasn't anything like that. It was far from that. He knew these kids well. They wouldn't be able to say goodbye if their lives depended on it.
He doubts Ino and Hinata could keep it at bay, but they know they had their responsibility in the technique. Though Genma, Iwashi, and Raidou could control things, it was far too dangerous to lose control.
Shino and Lee lost their teammates during the war. They never even saw them after deployed to their teams. They never found their body either. So there was no way they would sit this one out if just this once, they could send that sentiment. In whatever ways they could, anyway.
From his side, he can already hear Sakura bawling. The heaving just made it even more realistic. He was about to walk over when the two other teens of his team aided her side.
The pale boy with the mid-rift outfit stood beside her, hoping his presence was enough to console.
The other with the opened obi and hanging sword bu his hips did what he rarely did. He reached out to pat his head reassuringly, opting for a few words. It seem as though he had found his resolve too.
Then the door opens with a bang and there, the smiling idiot stood.
"Let's get this over with!" He enthusiastically called, ignore the absence of it from the room.
And when they usually reprimand him or scold him, or even give him a judging look, it was replaced with a avoiding, sullen glance.
Shizune sighed at his insensitive determination. She accompanies him to the small circle where words encryption surrounded it. All the while everyone fussed around to prepare the last few details, Naruto kept a smile on.
A few times, he cracked a couple of jokes about the busybodies around him.
"Shut up, you idiot!" Sakura finally relented to her feelings. She walked up to him, mindful of the work done around, and hit his head.
That didn't stop Naruto. Instead, he laughed softly and held on his head with a flinch, "Eh! That hurts, Sakura-chan!" He whined playfully.
"Stop! Stop." Sakura grabbed his blonde hair, wanting to smack some senses into his head. "Please..." She whispered, tears quickly formed and fell. "Please," she begged exasperatedly, "stop." She leaned her forehead against his chest as her hand drops to his shoulder, fisting the cloth. "You're always throwing your life around." She sobbed. "Like it never matter... why? Why are you so idiotically running to death in the face? Aren't you afraid? Don't you care if we lose you?" She sniffed. "You idiot... you're our friend."
The room quieted down. It made Sakura's difficulty to breathe even more obvious to the blond.
Naruto lets her cry on his shoulder. He doesn't bother to console her like he usually did because there's really nothing he can do to alleviate the situation. But he does reached up and pats her head, "Sakura-chan." He calls endearingly.
The girl sniffed again and turned her head up to look at him.
"You've grown, Sakura-chan." He smiled gently. "You've faced death on our first C-rank mission, didn't you?" His hand trails her pink locks then held on her shoulder. "I've faced death before I was even born.. I found out." He chuckled humorlessly. "I'm... afraid." He flinches. "I've always been afraid to lose my life. But... even more, I'm afraid to lose my comrades, my family. I never had one. Not one like yours anyway."
Sakura flinches.
"So if I have to put everything on the line to save them, I won't think twice." He paused, pursing his lips. "I never did think." He chuckles at his own joke. "If I have the will, the power to save the ones I learned to treasure, I don't want to think twice. I've already let so many die in exchange for my life, for my purpose in this battle and as Tsunade said, for the future. But I think, I think there's no purpose for me to continue on a future without you guys. My family, my friends.. my comrades. You're the reason I became who I am now."
Sasuke decides to intervene. "You know there's another way-"
"But there isn't any more time. No more energy. No more resources. Even if we win this war, there's so much of you we need to rebuild the nations." He looks around, smiling at each and everyone of them. "I don't think we should risk any further if I have a chance to change the outcome now."
"And to be a Hokage?" He tried again.
"I didn't want to be a Hokage to lead the village of the Leaf. I've always wanted to be Hokage to protect the village and to bring peace everywhere. I think... I think this is as close as it can get." He smiled widely. "Don't you think?"
When the two pursed their lips and turned away, Naruto took it as his win.
He turned to Ino with a nod who then shot one to Kakashi.
Kakashi turned to the blond who held his eyes for a few seconds before he reluctantly nodded to begin.
The Hokage Guard Platoon began a series of seals before slamming their hands on the ground. The words gave a blue glow and it began to crawl to up to his skin.
Shikamaru slips his hands in his pocket as he watches. "You never did say goodbye to Kakashi." He commented.
Naruto smirked and glanced at Kakashi. The man was frowning.
Naruto turned back to the tactician and simply shrugged his shoulder.
Then grunts became moans and then screams.
The words rose in speed and it was then when Naruto cried desperately. The words continued to glow when Shikamaru moved closer. Though it was enough a distance for him to get dragged along the boy.
They called out his name in unison but they were too late.
Ino stared wide eyed at the empty circle, wondering what just happened.
Hinata couldn't explain anything despite activating her Byakugan.
Kakashi gaped at the scene. He was at lost. There was a slight disturbance he noticed at the last second and Shikamaru had failed to keep away from getting involved.
So they stood there, wondering if they successfully proceeded the plan. If not, they surely were done for.
The Rokudaime turns to Sasuke who nodded eagerly for him. They needed a back-up plan immediately. That meant he needed to round up the geniuses left from the Allied Forces.
He'd rather not think he sacrificed his precious student for nothing.