Naruto Shippuden: The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi
Prologue
Days had passed and the Fourth Great Ninja War still raged on. The Allied Shinobi Forces fought bravely against the seemingly insurmountable tide of foes-a White Zetsu army, reanimated friends, teachers, and legends, and even Akatsuki. Many brave warriors had fallen, but the ninja and samurai, despite their losses, began to see that working together and rallying in the defense against a common enemy was not all that impossible; and may, in fact, have finally been the pathway to peace that they all eagerly sought. Still, despite their growing optimism, the flames of war still burned bright as the battle reached a fevered pitch….
The fight against Madara and Obito Uchiha and the Juubi had certaintly done its toll. Not only did many heroes lie dead, but the land itself had been scarred from this epic confrontation-an eternal testament to an historic war. Despite all odds, it seemed that the Allied Forces were finally gaining the upper-hand.
"We win Madara!" remarked a tired but relieved Tsunade. The five Kage mirrored her relief. All their combined power, despite being greater than many ninja could ever dream of, was still barely even a match for Madara. However, after joining forces with the First Hokage, the group of village leaders managed to overpower the overwhelming strength of their dark foe.
"Hai, without the aid of you Kage, I don't believe that I could have beaten Madara again," admitted the First Hokage smiling.
"Sealing Corps, quickly seal Madara and make sure that he never returns to plague our world again!" barked the Raikage.
All the while, Madara sat in silence. Though his reanimated body was in tatters, his plans foiled, and his dreams of power now slipping from his grasps, he still had a smirk on his face. As the ninja began the sealing jutsu, the hate filled shinobi of legend finally spoke: "It seems that even with the power of both the Rinnengan and Sharingan and your wood style, I still could not defeat you Hashirama. Though, this is not the end. You are all fools if you think that this war will end all conflicts!"
Hashirama, who had remained silent for some time, finally responded, "The world of chaos and bloodshed that we once knew is over. The world is finally beginning to see that love is the pathway to peace. They are not blind like we were-"
"Hah! You are all as blind to the reality of this pathetic world as ever! Do you think that centuries of prejudice and animosity between the nations will just disappear? As long as this cursed ninja world remains, hatred will always brood in the heart of every human; and where there is hate, there will be strife; and where there is strife, there will be war," ended Madara as he was finally sealed away.
"We did it. The Allied Shinobi Forces are truly a testimony to the power of what our countries can do if we ban together," commented an enthusiastic Mizukage. The Tsuchikage interjected, "Indeed, Mizukage-sama. I believe that our defeat of Madara will only further cement the notion that peace can be achieved if we all ban together."
"I fear you may be right Madara . . . but, something tells me that a new era, a new generation, may be able to change all that and achieve success where we failed," thought the First Hokage as he looked off into the distance at Naruto's and Sasuke's fight.
The ninja and samurai began to cheer as hope and pride in their accomplishments began to sink in for the first time. Despite their growing confidence, however, they could not help but feel pangs of fear and doubt as they recalled Madara's last, daunting words. "Alright everyone, tend to the wounded, form ranks, and prepare to charge at my signal. We will use our combined strength to crush Obito when Naruto Uzamaki creates an opening. This war will soon be over!" shouted the Raikage.
"Hai!" resounded the Shinobi forces. A new energy and sense of hope began to spread through the ranks. The battle was nearly over!
Meanwhile…
"He's strong," said an exhausted Naruto, "even up against me in my tailed-beast mode, the past Hokages, and you with your Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, Sasuke-teme."
"Hmph, no joke Dobe," retorted Sasuke in solemn agreement.
"Sasuke, you take the left flank, I'll take the right, and the Hokages will-"
Just as Naruto began to formulate a plan, he was cut short as a searing pain shot through his core. A chakra blade was now plunging though his back and coming out his stomach. The hero coughed up blood as he clinched his wound in pain. Tears began to pour from his eyes, but he managed to choke out a question that everyone-now shocked, fearful, and heart-broken-was also wondering. "What? H-how . . . did . . . you do-this?"
"Have you learned nothing? I am the Juubi's Jinchuuriki now. I am stronger, faster, and more powerful than any of you could ever imagine. I am like the Sage of Six Paths. I have the power of . . . god!" exclaimed Obito. (He had teleported, using a similar jutsu to that of the Fourth Hokage, because his new found power had allowed him to improve his teleportation to be as fast as the speed of light.).
"Naruto!" yelled Sakura as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I don't think I can reach him in time to heal him!"
"It can't be . . . I thought Naruto would be the one to become Hokage one day? I-I thought that he could finally bring peace to this world," said a devastated Gaara.
"Son! I won't let you die! You are the Child of Prophecy that Master Jiraiya, and your mother and I, put our faith in. You are my greatest and most loved success and I will not let you die!" screamed a panicked Mianto as he ran towards his one and only precious child.
The Allied Shinobi Forces began to panic at the site of their unwavering hero-their source of optimism and pillar of strength-bleeding out the last of his life. The ranks began falling apart as more and more ninja fled in confusion and despair. All seemed lost. The Kage tried to bring order but had lost control to the ensuing chaos. They too were beginning to believe that the end may well be near.
Pain soon turned into numbness. He began feeling cold. "So, is this the end? I guess . . . this is it. I was never able to become Hokage. I . . . could never fulfill my promises to everyone. Sorry, Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, Sakura, Sasuke, mom . . . dad, everyone. You were right Pervy Sage. My ninja way was never anything more than a fool's errand anyway," thought Naruto as his eyes began to close.
He began to think about his friends, family, all that he could have done, could have been. Finally, his thoughts grew dim and darkness began to envelope him. The remorse and fear that he felt as a result began to fade. A strange peace began flowing through him. All went silent. Then…nothing.
Suddenly, a light-a single beam of brilliant, all-encompassing light-began to shine through the thick shroud of darkness. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a single figure appeared. He was carrying a staff. His hair was spiky and he seemed to be wearing a long cloak. As he came closer, he opened his eyes to reveal the Rinnegan.
Naruto, now bewildered and curious, widened his crystal blue eyes until they were the size of saucers. "Where-where am I? Who are you? And . . . hey, why do you have the same eyes as Nagato?"
"Hello, Naruto Uzamaki. I suppose you could say that this a 'portal' or 'gateway' of sorts. A doorway to a world beyond where all shinobi go when they die," explained the mysterious man.
"Ah, excuse me?! You never told me who you are creepy shadow guy with the Rinnengan. I mean, when someone just comes up out of nowhere and calls your name when you're supposed to be dead, you kind of wonder who it is, and if you are just dreaming or crazy or sick from too much ramen!" interrupted a baffled and somewhat perturbed Naruto.
"Sorry. I forget that mortals need introductions. Some in your world call me a hero, others a god that created the world and saved them from a terrible monster, and some even call me the Father of All Ninja. However, you probably know me as the Sage of Six Paths."
"Whoa . . . WOW! I wish I had my autograph book that I get all famous ninja to sign! Shoot, I must have left it at home!" fumbled Naruto as he frantically searched his pockets.
The Sage of Six Paths chuckled, "You are . . . amusing to say the least my young friend. Anyway, are you ready to come with me and begin your life in the next world?"
Naruto smiled. "Thank you sir. I mean, meeting you has been awesome. And going with you to be in a world of ninja where I could eat an eternal supply of ramen and battle other famous shinobi would probably be great-though, I would rather be a ghost so I could pull off some more great pranks in the Leaf and not have to worry about being pulverized by granny Hokage-but, I have too much to do. I can't die yet."
"Listen Naruto. I have been watching you. You have become a valiant warrior with the heart that is bigger than any other ninja I have ever seen. Your desire to create peace by shouldering the hatred of others and replacing it with love is noble, but it's over. You died. It seems that neither of us could bring peace . . . ."
"No! You're wrong Sage," said an angry Naruto as he clinched his fists, "I can't give up. I won't give up or fail to achieve my promises-that's my ninja way! Without me, Obito will kill the ones I love and enslave the world in a genjutsu!"
"You fool! Can't you see that it's over! You cannot change fate. Perhaps a genjutsu, a false reality controlled by one person, is the only way to actually bring about peace. Afterall, mankind does not seem to have the ability to stop their own anger and lust for blood."
Naruto's face grew stern. He could not believe the words that he was hearing. Had the all-powerful founder of the ninja order truly given up? "Tell me Sage-when did you give up your hope?"
"What?" asked the Sage of Six Paths. His eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out the question.
"You've given up! How could anyone think that an illusion could bring peace? A false peace is no peace at all if people do not strive to achieve it themselves. You cannot force others to love because you have to show them how by setting the example. Sage, I will not go with you. I never give up on my promises and I will become Hokage! I will fight you if I have too!" exclaimed Naruto as he got into attack position.
The Father of All Ninja was amazed and bewildered. Was it true? Did he truly lose hope for peace? He reflected back on his life and remembered the sorrow and shame he felt when his two sons-those who were to continue his rule of peace and love-fought one another for the right to become his heir. It seemed as if the hate of the older brother who inherited his visual capacities-whose descendants became the Uchiha-and the love of the younger brother (his chosen successor) who inherited his life energies-whose descendants became the Senju-always clashed and boiled over into war. This same struggle between love and hate, light and darkness, peace and chaos, good and evil, was still at work in a never-ending conflict to win over the hearts of all shinobi.
"This boy has the tenacity to challenge me. He called me out and challenged my weakness. Does he have the will and strength to change all of that-to succeed where I and so many others have failed," pondered the Sage.
"Naruto. You are right. I had lost hope in the pursuit of peace. I thought that all ninja were doomed to suffer from the curse of hate . . . but I think that, perhaps, you and your Uchiha friend can finally break the cycle that began with me. Therefore, I am going to share some of my power with you and give you a second chance to live and achieve your goal of peace."
"Thank you Sage-sama! I promise to bring peace to this world no matter what!" proclaimed an overjoyed Naruto as he gave one of the biggest and cheesiest smiles that he had ever given, accompanied by a thumbs-up. The Sage began weaving signs with his hands and grinned. "Now go before I change my mind boy. It is not often that someone has the spunk or heart to stand up to me . . . let alone convince me that I am wrong."
As Naruto beamed away in a bolt of blazing light the Sage mused to himself, "He never gives up and always keeps his promises huh. Naruto, do not forsake your ninja way!"