The Tale of a Gutsy Ninja: Naruto no saishū odessei

Chapter One

Promise of the Autumn Leaf

This Fanfic is a collaboration of two different authors writing different POV.

Disclaimer: We do not own Naruto if we did SasuNaru WOULD be happening!

Rated M for: Eventual Yaoi (BoyxBoy)! Deaths and resurrections! Language! Akatsuki!3 Eventual lemons!

Pairings: SASUNARU, KIBAHINA, LEESAKU, SAINO, SASODEI, KISAITA, one sided NARUGAA, JIRANADE, ZABUHAKU, YAHONAN, KAKUHIDA, SUIKARIN, SHIKATEMA, CHOAYAME and more if it happens…

Review or Sasuke WILL have his revenge on you!

Sasuke POV

"Chidori!" / "Rasengan!"

As our fists collided so did our minds; we stood in each others consciousness. The outside world disappeared giving way to a crystal room stars whizzing past our heads.

Naruto started slowly. "Sasuke, you know too, don't you? Earlier, I was hated by everyone in the village. The reason for that is the Kyubbi within me. Back then, I hated everyone in the village. I've also thought about seeking revenge against them." Images started flying through my mind, his memories I realised.

I watched as the village people shunned, rejected and insulted a five year old Naruto. How they turned their backs when he walked by, the whispers following him through the streets and the lonely nights where all he hoped for was one person to turn around and tell him everything was going to be okay.

As they ended he spoke again, "If I had taken one wrong step, then I might've started thinking the same dreadful things as you. I didn't think that I shared any bonds with anyone. Not until I met you and Iruka-sensei." 'How were we bonded from his perspective?'

As if answering my question more images shot through my mind. Naruto watched as the children he'd been playing with went home with their parents telling them not to play with 'that boy'.

He walked further down the path until he spotted someone familiar. It was me. He looked down curiously as I sat their swinging my legs at the edge of the pier. I glared up at him, he glared back and pouted. This wasn't right, I remembered this day, and I remembered feeling...

Time skipped again to the day of the Genin exams. Of Mizuki, an old teacher I vaguely remembered, telling Naruto he was the nine tailed demon fox that had killed Iruka's parents. His face mirrored mine the day the clan... like his world was falling apart.

The memory was interrupted again as he said "However…"

More memories, Iruka saving Naruto at the cost of injuring himself tears streaming down his face.

"I had almost given in to despair, but you and Iruka-sensei saved me. I knew that you were always alone. When I saw you, I was relieved that there was someone else like me. We were just kids, and now that you think of it… I had the Kyubbi, you, the fate of the Uchiha. It's kind of ironic that we were to share such similar burdens."

The memory of the pier continued Naruto looked back down at me and I saw myself smiling looking to the water.

I remembered that day strangely it had been something that had stuck with me. It had comforted him too that someone judged him for him rather than judging him without even knowing him, I could relate. It was refreshing not to be treated as the 'poor sole survivor' while being stared at with power-hungry or fangirl eyes.

"Whenever I saw you, I actually wanted to go down and talk to you. I was happy, that maybe you'd be able to understand me. But I gave up on that."

"If you ask why, then it'd be that I was envious of you, who could do anything. So I decided to make you my rival."

He paused. It would never show but I was curious, Iwantedhim to continue.

"Since then you became my goal. I, who had nothing, was able to form a bond. It's all because I was part of team 7, together with you and Sakura-chan." He smiled shaking his head slightly.

Memories flashed through my mind even faster than before: saving Naruto from Haku, me as I saved Naruto from Zabuza's men, the first time we had used teamwork against Zabuza, we were flawless working together, almost as if we we're reading each others thoughts.

I shook off the nostalgia. 'I WOULDN'T go back.'

But the memories were still flowing: all our arguing and fighting, Naruto saving me during the Chunin exams from Orochimaru and Gaara and how he had charged into Itachi to try and save me. Team 7 trying to steal Kakashi's mask (I remembered how he had roped me into that, I wondered briefly if they had seen his face eventually?)

The last memory seemed to stretch out forever. Final Valley. I felt all his pain, his regret, that he couldn't bring me back, that he couldn't save me from myself. That he had failed me in his mind. I watched as we collided in midair with Raesengan and Chidori.

"I wanted to become strong and cool like you, so I was always following you." He told me looking into my eyes almost embarrassed. He... looked up to me?

He paused again my gaze was fixed on his.

"I'm really glad that I met you!" He beamed.

I had to break him now.

He had to realise we were on different paths. He had to feel hatred for me. I spoke with dark confidence, "Naruto. No matter what you say, I won't change. I'm going to kill you and everyone in the village."

Naruto smiled sadly at me.

I had to remind myself why I was doing this. I began to flashback to Itachi leaving after he massacred the clan; how I cried as he left me on the floor. I'm sure Naruto saw it too. "All so I can avenge the Uchiha!"

Naruto smiled even more sadly now. He said in a broken voice, "Is there really no other way?"

I said firmly, "There isn't." I then paused. "You now have two choices. One is become the hero of the village who killed me. The other is to be killed by me and forever remain a loser."

"Sasuke… I don't believe that." With a slight pause he shook his head. "I'm not going to be a loser, and I'm not going to be the hero that kills you! Neither of them! Instead I'm going to make you a promise."

"What promise?"

After a short time we left the mind dimension. Naruto said, "I will..."

All of a sudden, the Chidori and Rasengan exploded throwing us back through the air.

Naruto was caught by Kakashi and Zetsu came hurtling through the air to grab me.

"You're here? Since when?" I demanded. Madara clearly didn't trust me.

Zetsu snickered, "I've been with you for quite some time. Tobi told me to make sure you didn't notice me, but… It looked like you were in somewhat of a pinch."

I tried to catch my breath, unsuccessfully, my eyes never leaving Naruto's.

"Naruto, I told you to go home!" Kakashi angrily told him.

Naruto's eyes hadn't left mine either. "Now…," he paused, his gaze intensifying, "everything is clear."

"Clear? What are you talking about, Naruto?!" Startled Kakashi asked. I suppose to them nothing had happened when really everything had changed.

Naruto ignored Madara's arrival in favour of staring at me.

"What is the meaning of this Sasuke? I told you to retreat and get some rest." Madara demanded confused. I suppose it was unusual for me to take the illogical route and fight when I had next to no chakra left. He followed my gaze to Naruto.

Kakashi glared at Madara. I could see he was preparing to fight him alone. All that crap about team work but he was always treating Naruto and Sakura like genin. I inwardly scoffed, 'He would have died without Naruto who had far surpassed him'.

Madara looked at Naruto with predatory intent. "The Kyuubi… Seems like you two can't help but start a fight with each other whenever you're together. I'll give you a more suitable place to hunt the Kyuubi." I was still trying to catch my breath. "For now, we're retreating!"

"I'll take him instead. We have to hunt the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki anyway, right?" Zetsu grinned manically while summoning multiple Zetsu out of the water.

Sakura gasped somewhere in the background but I ignored her.

I growled lightly, 'Naruto is my prey alone!' Madara interrupted Zetsu, "Zetsu, you won't be able to capture Naruto. You're not a combat-type. The Kyuubi will be too much for you to handle. Sasuke will take care of the Kyuubi. It'll also be for my entertainment."

Zetsu looked intrigued "Oh? Really now?"

Madara continued as if he hadn't spoken, "More importantly, I'm worried about Kisame. Go to where he is. But first, meet up with Black Zetsu."

"Yeah, sure. I understand." Zetsu slunk off.

Naruto began to walk towards me, I stiffened.

Kakashi shouted, "Naruto!"

Naruto hushed him, "It's okay," he paused, "there's something I want to tell Sasuke in person."

Madara tried to walk off as if expecting me to follow, "Let's go, Sasuke."

'For fuck's sake we aren't kids we don't need babysitters.' "Wait" I snapped at him.
I stood up facing Naruto wondering what he could possibly have to left to say to me.

"Sasuke!" He shouted there was a slight pause. "Do you remember? What you told me back at the Valley of the End… The thing about two first-class shinobi!"

I knew instantly what he was talking about I remembered telling Naruto about how two shinobi could read each others thoughts in a fight at the Final Valley.

"By sharing blows, we've learned much about each other. It means that we've become first-class shinobi. Both you and I." He paused again. "Sasuke. Were you able to read what is truly within my heart?" (A/N: We really don't have to do much Sasunaru writes itself!)

Naruto put his hand over his heart. "You saw it, didn't you? If you and I fight… We'll both die." But there is another way.

"Sasuke… If you attack Konoha, then I will be forced to fight you. Keep your hatred until then. And when the time comes, strike it all out on me! The only one who can handle all of your hatred is me! Only I can play that role. Then, I will carry the burden of all your hatred. And die with you."

In that moment I hated him. How could he be so calm? Why would he choose to die with me? Why did he want to take the hatred that had coiled and grown in my heart? Why couldn't he just forget the past and hate me?

I lost it. "Why, Naruto? What the hell do you want?! Why are you so obsessed with me?!"

Wind blew at that precise moment whipping his hair across his face.

"Because I'm your friend." He beamed a genuine smile.

I could feel the shock on my face.

There was another pause. He had given me a choice. We could die together, he would throw away his whole life so I could be at peace or... he could restore some of what I had lost. I knew he would do what ever I chose.

He was speaking again, "Sasuke… I knew I couldn't understand you by normal means since the first time we met." Naruto fist bumped the air. "The only way we could ever understand each other is through our fists. I told you earlier. We've both become first-class shinobi."

Naruto looked to be deep in thought a determined look on his face.

Naruto spoke loudly like his old knucklehead self, "I haven't given up yet! I'm going to bring you back to Konoha! I will never give up!"

Sakura got tearful in the background.

"Well, I think I will stop blabbering now. Seriously, I suck at preaching to others. This isn't like me at all." Naruto chuckled. He began to rub his eye, saying softly, "If the time really does come when we both die, then you'll no longer be a Uchiha, and I'll no longer be the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki. We'd have no more burdens that way, and then we could finally understand each other, in the afterlife!"

Naruto smiled at me as a tear rolled down Sakura's face.

'Why can't you just hate me? Why do you make it so hard?' "I won't change. Nor do I feel like understanding you. Nor do I feel like dying. You're the one whose going to die."

Only Naruto could decipher my true message: 'Hate me. Turn around walk away and become Hokage. Leave me in the past.' He understood but chose to ignore me, typical.

"If I die, you'll die with me, Sasuke." Naruto's message back was 'No. If I allow you to sever our bond with my death then you will destroy you last piece of humanity. Now decide.' I understood.

"Fine. Then I'll kill you first!" My answer was clear to Naruto 'Okay, but if you break your promise, I will destroy not only you but everything you have ever cared about.'

"You still haven't fully acknowledged me." Naruto was upset by my doubt. His words said, 'Sasuke teme! I do have the power to do this. I will die to give you peace! You know I never go back on my word!'

Kakashi tried to step in front of him, "Enough, Naruto. I'll handle Sasuke. You still have your precious dream of becoming Hokage. I don't want you to be dragged down with him."

'FOR FUCKS SAKE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT!' I thought using all my willpower not to throttle him and Madara both. 'What is he even saying? I had done everything in my power to send the dobe away.'

Naruto interrupted Kakashi. "Could someone who can't even save one of his friends really become Hokage? I will… fight Sasuke!" He was trying to tell Kakashi, the idiot, it wouldn't work if anyone knew.

"Understood, Naruto. I'll leave Sasuke to you." I worried for a second, then I realised, he had no clue what Naruto had just said.

The poser wearing my family's eye turned to Sakura. "Sakura take care of my body. I'm going to take care of Madara right here and now. Kamui!"

Madara put his hand up to Kakashi, "Hold it right there, Kakashi. That technique won't work on me." Madara turned to me. "Let's go, Sasuke."

"Madara… I'll talk to you later." I told him still looking at Naruto as Madara used his Mangekyo Sharingan to transport us to his world.

"What did you want to talk about?" He asked walking slightly ahead with his hands behind his back.

I needed to be as convincing as possible. If he found out then... "I want Itachi's eyes" I stated bluntly.

He chuckled darkly, "So, you've finally decided. You've been overusing Susano'o. I know that you can barely see anything." My eyes chose that second to start burning, I winced. "Nice timing."

"Transplant them right away!" I demanded.

"You're in quite the hurry. Why is that?" Madara tilted his head looking at me with that one glaring red eye his tone however sounded amused.

"I will crush Naruto with all my strength, and then I will exterminate everything there is about him. That's all!" My tone signalling that was the end of the conversation. 'Itachi would you be proud? Is giving up revenge and destroying your most feared enemy what you needed me to do?'

Naruto POV

Sasuke was close now.

"You sure about this kit." The Kyubbi warned me for the millionth time.

"I'm sure."

I couldn't keep the goofy grin off my face when I sensed his chakra. I wasn't the only one to sense Sasuke's presence, Kyubbi did too. And it only unsettled him that his arrival was imminent. Kyubbi snarled through gritted teeth, "He can't be trusted. He's a Uchiha."

I sighed wanting to shake my head at him. 'For all the wisdom that Kyubbi is supposed to have. Why doesn't he understand anything?' "He's Sasuke."

Kyubbi scoffed, "Exactly. He has betrayed the village, he has betrayed his friends, and he has betrayed you all for power. The boy simply can't be trusted -"

I sighed.

I really wanted Kyubbi on my side about this. I poured all my faith into my next words, "I know you don't trust him Kyubbi but at least have faith in me."

Kyubbi at last conceded. "Alright kit I just hope you're not wrong about this."

A black blur stealthily dropped down beside me.

"You're late Sasuke."

"Hn."

Sakura's green eyes went wide in shock. "Sasuke" she gasped. Her reaction just about mirrored the reaction of ever other ninja stood beside us on the battlefield. There was this sea of mummers behind me: "Isn't that Uchiha Sasuke?", "The last Uchiha", "He's an S-rank criminal", "He attacked the Kage Summit" and there was much more gossip spreading amongst the crowd. I understood there confusion, Sakura's most of all considering Team Seven's last meeting, it had been so long since we had called on Sasuke as a fellow leaf nin.

Sasuke, as always, did nothing to soothe their apprehensions. He answered our friend with cool indifference. "Sakura."

Sasuke looked up at the opponent we were facing unfazed by the soulless look in the large red eye of the cyclops-like humanoid, the menacing chakra radiating from the beast or the significance of the ten tails that told your that this beast held within it nine other creatures that the ninja world feared.

Sasuke began to walk towards the Ten-tails and I quickly followed in step with him.

Sakura screamed, "Wait!"

I froze in place.

Sakura roughly grabbed hold of me by my ear and reprimanded us. "Where do you think you're going without me? I'm a part of Team Seven too."

I had to fight out of the girl's monster strength. "Ouch Sakura-chan that fucking hurts." I rubbed my ear over and over trying to get the burning pain to stop. "Stupid… Sakura… and her… monster strength" I grumbled.

Sakura was behind me then. "What was that Naruto?" She sounded freakishly like baa-chan before she goes all psycho bitch on me and beats my arse.

I put my hands up defensively. "Nothing Sakura-chan nothing."

Sakura voice became uncharacteristically timid as she asked "So I can come with you guys, right?"

Sasuke didn't say anything; he simply turned away from Sakura. I could tell that he wanted me to do the same. But how could I? This was Sakura-chan. Our teammate, our friend, and she deserved better.

"Sasuke, Naruto,…" Sakura stepped forward trying to appeal to us.

Sasuke walked ahead leaving me to explain to our comrade that she couldn't follow us to where we were about to go. "Sakura-chan…" I began before she interrupted me.

"No," she clenched her fists obviously upset, "I am a member of Team Seven too. I know I haven't been much use to you in the past, always being a burden, counting on you always to protect me. But I have changed, I have grown stronger, and all for moments like these where I can help protect those who are precious to me."

Her words tugged on my heart. "Sakura…"

"Naruto." Sasuke's tone was stern and impatient.

I uncomfortably kicked the dust at my feet. It was a gesture that told Sasuke 'I know,' but that I need a second, this is hard for me'. I knew that even if my heart wanted Sakura to join us and for us to be Team Seven again, this was not the time. "Sakura-chan I want you to come with us, I really do, but the path that Sasuke and I must take you cannot follow us on."

"That's cruel Naruto. To always expect me to watch from the sidelines." Sakura's eyes brimmed with tears. "It's all our friends who are in danger and all of us want to protect them. Not just you and -"

I couldn't look at the heartbreak in Sakura's eyes. "I'm so sorry" I whispered.

Kakashi-sensei appeared behind her then. "That's enough Sakura" he told her firmly whilst comfortingly placing a hand on her back. Kakashi led her over to Lee who was forlornly standing next to a weeping TenTen who was rocking Neji in her arms.

Hinata looked at me and smiled at me for good luck before taking a protective stance in front of TenTen. Lee gave TenTen one last squeeze on the shoulder before embracing Sakura who seemed to relax into him.

Releasing Sakura from the hug Lee gave her his trade-mark smile and a thumbs up even though his eyes watered as he did so. "Don't worry Sakura-chan just because we are on the sidelines does not mean that we cannot support our comrades out on the battlefield." Lee took Sakura's hand and turned her to the crowd of ninja behind her. "There are plenty of young youths who are in great need your expert medical skills."

"You're right Lee," Sakura gave him a sad smile, "these people need me more than Naruto and Sasuke do."

As if on autopilot Sakura began her work, her hands started to glow with lime coloured chakra and she began healing a sand ninja whose leg was heavily bleeding.

Reminded of all the sacrifices that had been made to get me here, my resolve strengthened, and I followed Sasuke out onto no-mans-land to begin our final battle.

Sasuke and I stood across from Obito Uchiha and the Ten-tails.

Obito glared at Sasuke with venomous hate. "Look who has joined us, the traitor, Uchiha Sasuke."

My blood boiled with rage at his words. "Don't you –"

"Naruto," Sasuke snapped, "don't let him rattle you. We need to focus. This isn't just any rouge ninja."

"Do you think I don't know that?" I said my voice growing weaker.

There was a short pause of silence before I finally spoke what was on my mind. "This is it Sasuke" I said emphasizing the finality of what was about to happen.

The Kyubbi picking up on the seed doubt did whatever he could to see it flourish.

"You can still turn back kit."

Sasuke began to walk forward unsheathing his katana. "Naruto…," he said his voice becoming lighter suddenly, "you're not scared are you, scaredy cat?"

I grimaced. 'Only Sasuke would know what to say' I thought to myself. Seeing the unwavering look in Sasuke's eyes gave me a new confidence. I remembered all the reasons I was doing this, all the people I was doing this for, and that included Sasuke. I answered Kyubbi now with profound certainty: "You should know me better than that. Naruto Uzumaki never goes back on his word that's my nindo, my ninja way."

"Me, scared, yeah right," I scoffed at the incineration, "I'm only scared you're not going to be able to keep up with me."

"Hn."

Sasuke gave me a faint smile and I smiled back.

"Here we go!"

Covered in the nine-tails cloak I did the appropriate hand signs. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."

"Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan."

Using the three shadow clones that I had summoned I began to pool chakra into my hands changing the chakra form with one shadow clone and changing the chakra nature with the other. "Rasenshuriken." I repeated the process two more times.

I charged at Obito using a similar battle tactic to the one I used on Kakazu; hiding the clones holding my jutsu in amongst other shadow clones in order to make it harder for Obito to follow my attack. Of course, he managed to keep up using his Sharingan; he saw what I was planning too quickly and phased out the part of his body where the attack would have hit. "Too slow" he mocked using that annoying 'Tobi' voice of his. He grabbed my arm, hurled me through the air, and landed me head first into the dirt.

I was still the one smiling though.

"Why are you so happy your attack missed?" Obito's face darkened and he returned to using his 'Madara Uchiha' voice.

Obito hadn't realised that I never intended for my attack to work it was a mere distraction to pry his attention away from controlling the Ten-tails long enough to allow Sasuke to get control of the beast.

I didn't hide the grin on my face. "Haven't you forgotten about something?"

Obito's eyes widened when he saw Sasuke now stood before the Ten-tails with it now under his control.

"Giant Rasengan." I managed to catch him whilst he was off-guard. "Too slow" I mocked him this time.

There was a sudden puff of smoke. "Substitution jutsu" I said in shock.

"Think again Naruto."

He face was inches away from mine. "Mangekyou Sharingan."

I couldn't help but look directly into his eyes. I was trapped –

"Dobe!" Sasuke yelled at me highly stressed out. An intense wave of chakra coursed through me dispelling the genjutsu that Obito had caught me in. "Stop fooling around and finish him. Do I have to do everything by myself?" he groaned.

"Watch it kit. If the Uchiha keeps having to save your arse he will loose control of the Ten-tails."

I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. "Ha, ha, I was just kidding before. I'll show you what I can do - Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."

A concentrated rasengan swirling in my hands I aimed straight for Obito's heart. As predicted he phased that part of his body out meaning that he had had no idea what I was about to do. With a cheeky grin on my face, I used the speed my father was famous for as the yellow flash to land a rasengan directly into his arm. "Rasengan!" I yelled.

"Urgh" he whimpered in pain.

At this point the battle turned in my favour and I didn't relent in attacking him for one second using a combination of ninjutsu and taijutsu.

"Naruto…," Sasuke gave out a low groan, "I can't…"

Hearing the exhaustion in his voice I halted in my attack on Obito. "Sasuke…" I whispered.

I turned to check on him only to see that he was falling apart. His skin was pale, he had bags under his eyes and he was barely able to stand. "Naruto…" He stumbled from foot to foot.

He staggered forward coughing up blood.

"Sa…suke" I shouted.

My body never moved so fast. I caught him before he hit the ground. "It's alright. I got you."

Sasuke was barely clinging to consciousness. He needs a doctor –

I called out without even thinking. "Sakura-chan!"

"Kit look out!" Kyubbi shouted so loudly my head hurt. Concern completely made me forget about the tailed beast that was no longer under our control and standing right behind us. "Move!"

Obito roared, "Fire style: fireball jutsu."

There was no time to move but I had to do something. 'Come on Naruto,' I shouted at myself, 'think!' Holding Sasuke in my arms I did the only thing that I could think of in that second, I focused all my chakra into my arms and threw him as far away from me as possible. 'I won't let my friend die.'

I faced Obito's attack head on preparing for the Kyuubi's cloak to absorb the flames. That's when a terrifying scream rang through me ears: "Nooooo!" Sakura ran in front of the jutsu.

I went wide-eyed. "Sakura-chan…," No—

I fell to my knees in total despair.

Obito growled enraged. "Stupid girl, getting in the way, well it won't happen again."

I clenched my fist into the dirt. "Sakura!" I roared. It was my hate now that was fuelling the nine-tails cloak that was forming around my body turning to that toxic red colour it had before I gained control over the Nine-tails chakra. "How could you?!"

"Kit stop he will get my chakra!"

The Ten-tails latched onto the chakra coating my body pulling the red mass out from inside of me.

Unable to move, I watched as Obito appeared before Sasuke. He looked down at him placing his foot on Sasuke's back mirroring the situation which Kakashi used during the bell test so long ago. Obito pressed down his foot on Sasuke's back crushing his spine. "You are a pathetic excuse for a Uchiha."

Kakashi words rang in my mind…

"The day could come when one of you may be taken hostage and you're forced to make such a choice."

'A choice.' "That's it" I said aloud.

Obito gave me a sly grin. "It's too late Naruto. Fire style: -"

"No kit don't do it you'll kill us both."

My eyes widened. "Sa…suke." He was starting to stir. My eyes brimmed with tears. 'He's alive. He's not dead. He's alive.'

"Alive huh, well not for long."

'A choice.' "No! Stop! Kill me instead!"

Kyuubi begged slowly leaving my body. "Stop! It'll all be for nothing."

"What was that Naruto?" Obito asked with a grin.

My eyes downcast, I couldn't stop myself from saying it. "I said: 'Kill me instead'."

Sasuke pushed his battered body up. "You shut up." He snapped his cold onyx eyes glaring at me. "You're not Naruto. You're a coward. You don't understand a single thing-" His bruised limbs were ripping under the strain.

"Sa…suke."

Even in this weakened state Sasuke was a formidable shinobi managing to lift Obito's foot off him. "Naruto would never give up." Sasuke launched a shocked Obito through the air sending him flying into the side of a stone cliff face.

Sasuke had used the last of his strength. He fell to his knees looking me the eye. Sasuke had a tranquil smile on his face. "Naruto. You know what you promised, keep it. And don't let him win -" Sasuke passed out right before my eyes.

That said Obito blasted out of the rocks heading straight for Sasuke. He shook the canyon with his clamour: "Fire style: phoenix flower justu."

The bright light blinded me.

The moment the Ten-tails pulled the last of Kyubbi out from inside. I never moved so fast. "Sa…suke" I cried. I fell to my knees in front him cradling his body in my arms.

Obito appeared beside me putting his hand on my shoulder in fake comfort. "It's over Naruto. You were never going to be able to defeat me and save your friends. Now you see that your way of doing things is futile. Since you could not stop me you cannot ensure peace in this world. Peace can only exist in the world of my creation; the world I will establish when I cast the Tsuki no Me Keikaku. And now unfortunately you will not be able to see that in this life. It is time for you to die," he began to do hand signs, "goodbye Naruto."

"Naruto." A deep multi-layered voice spoke deep in my mind.

I looked round for the source of the voice. "Kyubbi is that you?" I asked hopeful that my friend was still inside of me.

"No. I am the one known to the ninja world by the name of Juubi or the Ten-tailed beast. I have chosen to speak to you in this way because it is time-"

The prophecy, everything was falling into place… except it wasn't. The very people I was becoming this for were dead. "Time for what?" I asked confused.

"Time for The Sage to walk on this earth again."

The Ten-tails then placed inside of my mind knowledge lost since the origins of the ninja world.

"No," I told Obito in all confidence. "It's your way of creating peace that is useless. And it is you who is going to die!"

My eyes glowed with chakra. "Rinnegan-"

Looking into my eyes Obito saw the same swirling purple pattern he had stolen for his own. "But that… that's not possible." Startled, Obito backed away from me.

He tried to distance himself to establish what had happened. After a moments thought, he snapped, "So what? So you got Rinnegan, so have I and I know how to use it."

My body bubbled with this new chakra that was unmistakably my own but unbelievably more potent than it had ever been in the past. A dark smile appeared on my face. "Then you have nothing to fear" There was nothing but malice in my voice.

I had felt the need for revenge before; more overpowering than when I thought Haku had killed Sasuke, when I found out Nagato had killed Jirayia and more recently when Obito killed Neji. However, that did not prepare me, nothing could prepare me to witness two of my closest bonds severed by this mans hands right before my very eyes.

The malevolent rage I felt in this moment might have even trumped Kyubbi's at its height.

I understood intimately the need to quench this desire, no compulsion, to obliterate the one who had destroyed my most precious bonds; a desire that Sasuke must have felt since childhood. It was the hardest test for me now not to annihilate Obito out of spite for what he had done. But then it's not easy to break the cycle of revenge, I know that most of all in times like this, but - revenge and hatred will not bring about the peace that my sensei and all the other shinobi had fought to ensure.

'I will get justice not revenge.' I wanted to spare the bloodshed. "Uchiha Obito," I spoke rather diplomatically, "I am giving you a chance to surrender." For the most part I wanted him to accept but I couldn't stop that small part of me that wanted him to refuse and push me into a corner where I had no choice but to fight him.

Obito's eyes narrowed. He was enraged. "You. Die. Now. – Fire Style: fireball jutsu."

I did nothing to counter the move. I knew that I didn't need to. My own chakra had grown so strong that it coated my body in a solid chakra-shield like the purple chakra of the star village.

The attack failed.

I lifted up my arms. "Well I guess it's my turn." I started to perform familiar hand signs. Obito flinched fearing the worst. That's when he heard me say, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." Four shadow clones appeared before me.

Obito looked at me a small smile growing on his face. "Is that it?" he chuckled his 'tobi' voice returning. "Well I shouldn't have expected anything more from Konoha's number one knuckleheaded ninja?"

I smiled. "What did you expect?" I repeated his question.

The smoke cleared away leaving behind the four shadow clones and standing next to them my fallen teammates, Sasuke and Sakura. "What?..." Obito shouted in disbelief.

I pointed at him then showing him I meant business. "You're about to be brought to justice by the Six Paths of Naruto!" All of them looked up then their eyes glowing with the purple and black swirls of the Rinnegan.

Obito gave me that emotionless stare that the Uchiha were infamous for.

"Go!"

The four shadow clones began an attack pairing off to make two giant Rasengans which would be the beginning of an unrelenting attack on Obito.

The chakra levels that I could feel inside me made me feel invincible and that it might be impossible for me to run out of chakra; something that was hard considering that I was the Nine-tails Jinchuriki and was accustomed to unnatural amounts of chakra.

I wouldn't underestimate my opponent either. Obito had many powerful jutsu of his own. The most 'troublesome' as Shikamaru would say is the Kamui, Obito's specialised space-time ninjutsu, located in Obito's right eye that makes it impossible to touch him.

In order to win I had to play to my own strengths such as my own vast chakra reserves and use Obito's weaknesses against him which according to Ten-tails is that he can only maintain intangibility for five minutes meaning that he had to remain solid for duration after that time.

My plan was simply to make Obito waste his chakra defending against my first attacks by using his Kamui and then to attack him full force when his chakra is depleted forcing him to remain solid.

The first pair of shadow clones missed falling through Obito's body, they shouted, "Rasengan!"

"Rasengan!" The second pair one went through his arm.

'He's playing right into my plan.'

Summoning a second wave of shadow clones I sent them to do the same as the first trying to cause Obito to keep up his Kamui for even longer.

My assault only irritated Obito who was not just going to suffer me attacking him. "Fire style: great fireball technique." He destroyed all four of the shadow clones that I sent his way.

He came straight at me as the caster of the jutsu.

Sakura grabbed hold of Obito's arm before he could touch me swinging him around in the air like a boomerang she hurled him into the side of the canyon causing an avalanche and the rocks below our feet to crack to pieces.

I had no idea whether that was the Almighty Push or simply just Sakura's strength but whatever it was it was AWESOME! I raised my hand to high five her. "Nice one Sakura-chan." She just looked right through me with her hollow gaze. That's when I had to realise that it wasn't really Sakura standing beside me. "Oh sorry…," I chuckled rubbing the back of my head sheepishly trying to hide the hurt inside.

Since Obito had not managed to avoid the last attack it appears that his Kumui was at its limit. It was now time to get serious and destroy him while I could touch him. For this jutsu to work I needed - But I could not bear to look at this fake Sasuke after the pain I just felt looking at Sakura. I attempted to look back at fake Sasuke but as if it could sense my pain he moved towards Obito without me even having to gesture at him.

Running across the battlefield I summoned two new shadow clones. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."

Like the real Sasuke would have fake Sasuke understood exactly what I had planned and exactly what I needed him to do. He closed his eyes for second, saying in a deep voice, "Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan." He opened his eyes. Now at the centre there was the familiar red glow of his Sharingan but with a new twist in that the rest of his eyes retained the Rinnegan pattern.

The shadow clones helped me create Rasenshiruken which I lifted into the air. The jutsu was more high-powered than ever boosted by the insane increase in chakra still growing inside of me. I lifted the Rasenshiruken up high so that fake Sasuke could add the black flames of Amaterasu to the jutsu completing the attack that would be a part of ending Obito Uchiha.

"Amaterasenshirken!" Our combined jutsu hit him at full force.

The jutsu was so powerful that I heard the shouting of my fellow ninja on the battlefield who had been blown back by the shockwave created by the jutsu.

As the dust settled there would have been no way for any other ninja to be able to tell if Obito had been destroyed. 'No way for any ninja other than the great Naruto Uzumaki' I thought with pride. I closed my eyes concentrating on collecting nature energy into my body. "Sage Mode" I activated it looking through the dust with my yellow frog-like eyes.

I told the fake Sasuke and Sakura who had just joined us. "We need to move."

Utilising the time that I had I summoned four fresh shadow clones. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." I raced now with the Six Paths of Naruto over to where the Ten-tails was frozen in place. "Okay," I bit my finger drawing symbols the Ten-tails had shown to me in blood. "That should do it." Standing back the six of us surrounded the Ten-tails sending chakra into the huge stone statue to release the seal that Obito had put on the tailed beasts.

Obito crawled out from under the rubble like a cockroach that just won't die.

"Naruto…" Obito groaned. If he hadn't phased out the majority of the impact then he would have surely died. For him to be strong enough to withstand that attack, for him to be able to move, that is just - "I will cast Tsuki no Me Keikaku..." he swore. Obito was moving along the ground by his chin which was the only part of his body not damaged by the landslide.

'He is not giving up!' I felt afraid. 'What if he managed to do it?' We had to be quick or he might be able to stop us. Even if he could move it was clear that Obito was gravely injured from the attack. I hoped that would provide us with enough time to finish breaking the seal on the Ten-tails.

Obito was coming for me. "You will not stop me!"

The Six Paths of Naruto and I sent one last blast of chakra into the Ten-tails breaking the seal keeping the tailed beasts locked inside. The statue began to tremble - Crack. Crack. Crack.

The stone monster shattered as if it were fragile as an egg under the immense strain of my chakra. Out of its stone ashes there spun nine individual balls of pure chakra that shot up into the sky ripping through the heavens they burned brighter than any star in space.

Everyone's attention was turned to the world above, except Obito, who barely conscious, was stumbling towards me motivated still by his distorted idea of peace.

Spotting Obito the balls of light raced down towards the earth falling like meteors from the sky. They threatened to set the atmosphere on fire as they took on the form of the chakra spirits they were.

Nine beasts came for Obito. There was Shukaku, Matatabi, Isobu, Son Goku, Kokou, Saiken, Chomei, Gyuki and Kurama. Solely giving into their animalistic natures they devoured the ninja who had imprisoned them.

My eyes brimmed with joyous tears seeing my dear friend again. "Kyuubi" I whispered.

Selfishly I wanted to ask him to come back because I didn't want to loose another friend. But the tailed beasts had waited so long to be free from the bindings put on them by ninja. 'They may never get another chance.' I told myself. "Be free!"

'Goodbye old friend.'

I didn't want to watch my friend leave me. It had been a recurring nightmare of mine since the time Sasuke left the village. My eyes watered as the balls of light flew past me. It devastated me even more that Kyuubi led the charge. 'But I would never see him again. I had to say goodbye. He is my oldest companion.' Reluctantly, I turned to see my friend off - That's when I saw that they had returned to the ashes of the Juubi and assembled the rock into the Ten-tails once more.

There was a dead silence over the battlefield.

Ino daringly asked Shikamaru and Choji in a broken sob, "Is it… is it over?"

Choji wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace. "I think so."

Ino's tearful face was covered in dirt mixed with cuts and bruises. She hadn't bothered to heal herself but her tears showed she was obviously in pain. But that's when I realised that her physical condition was not the cause. She cried looking into the ringed eyes of her best friend, the one I got killed, Sakura-chan.

There was another short pause. Before -

"Hooray!" A loud cheer came from the ninja gathered on the battlefield. The people rejoiced coming over to me, shouting: "Naruto you did it", "That was amazing", "Incredible", "Unbelievable", "You truly are the most powerful shinobi alive."

The shadow clones had dissipated at the breaking of the seal leaving me standing there at the centre of the remaining group, the only survivor of Team Seven, with only a fake Sasuke and Sakura on either side of me.

'Why are they cheering?' I had to ask myself.

Shikamaru caught my gaze staring at me with those genius eyes that saw everything. He turned back to his teammates with an insightful yet solemn look as if my face had told him everything he needed to know. "I wouldn't be so sure" he sighed.

It wasn't over yet I had a promise to keep.

'This jutsu will be the death of me.' I began the hand signs. "Rinne Tensei no Jutsu."

Suddenly the air in front of be began to ripple and a semi-translucent curtain appeared down the middle of the canyon.

Standing directly in front of their physical bodies was Sasuke and Sakura.

Sakura's eyes widened in confusion at seeing me there. She gasped, "Oh no, Naruto not you too."

I rubbed under my nose with the biggest grin on my face trying my best to hide the lies I was going to have to tell. "Don't worry Sakura-chan I'm not dead -" 'I'm dying' I omitted this truth.

I didn't want Sakura to try to stop me. It wasn't a sad thing that was happening. It is a true shinobi, who has the 'Will of Fire', to die protecting the people of the leaf village and every other village from harm. Yes, that is a shinobi who is worthy of becoming Hokage, that is the ninja I want to be. It's just like what Jirayia once told me…

"The true measure of a shinobi is not how he lives but how he dies… It's not what they do in life, but what they did right before dying that proves their worth."

Many would be saved at the price of my life. 'How could I wear this headband claiming to be a shinobi if I would not give my life for others?' So I would die.

I had faith in the promise that Sasuke and I had made to each other. I trusted that he would keep his word to me after I had died…

I looked at Sasuke his eyes cast back behind his shoulders his head hung low causing his dark bangs to fall in front of his face.

"Sasuke…," I whispered, "Did you find Itachi?"

Sasuke said nothing as if he couldn't even hear me.

Even though I could reach out and touch both of them, Sasuke seemed so far away always looking back into the world of the dead rather than forward to the land of the living.

I was afraid Sasuke might want to stay there. I needed to get him back here; get them both back here now. I reached inside the glowing curtain my body feeling as if it were burning as I pulled my friends back into their physical bodies, back to life. My death was beginning as they came through the barrier with flakes of my own soul taking their place on the other side of the veil.

Sasuke POV

Naruto yanked me through the veil as I was hurriedly looked around the purple hazy space for Itachi.

'NO!' I tried to tell him I hadn't found him yet.

Pain exploded through my brain dots covering my eyes as they fluttered opened.

I vomited as I pushed myself up.

Naruto's concerned face was the last thing I saw before I raced through the mist frantically searching. Suddenly, long black hair swishing in a ponytail caught my eye. I ran towards it shouting, "ITACHI!"

He stopped and turned around, "Foolish little brother, return to Earth, what are you doing here?" He reprimanded sharply.

"Not without you, you're coming back and we can get justice for what the Elders did to you and the name of Uchiha can be restored to greatness!" I tugged on his arm towards the darkness of the canyon but he wouldn't budge.

"I don't want people to know! YOU weren't meant to know. I did what I did to protect you and the leaf. It was my choice. Give up revenge and go back to Konoha that is what I wanted for you not for you to spend your life trying to resurrect me. I died so you could live, that's what I always wanted. My place is now among the dead." He told me firmly ripping his arm from my grasp.

"I won't go back without you, not this time. If you want me to go back to the Leaf then you're coming with me. If your place was amongst the dead I wouldn't have been able to do this. It's a legitimate jutsu Naruto is performing" I rationalised but Itachi was shaking his head sadly. 'Why was he being so fucking difficult?'

"What price are you paying for this jutsu Sasuke?" He asked sadly walking with me nonetheless.

"I had to help defeat the true leader of your old organisation, the Akatsuki." I told him as we walked towards the barrier.

His body that had been restored sucked him in. I saw his eyes blink open and was about to leave.

"SASUKE!" A familiar woman's voice screamed. I turned slowly recognising my mother and without thinking I ran back into the depths of the murky fog.

Hinata POV

After Naruto-kun had bravely defeated Obito members of my clan came forward to claim Neji-nii-san's body in order to prepare him for the sacred burial rituals of the Hyuuga clan.

The white-eyed men tried to prize Neji-nii-san's body out of TenTen's tight embrace.

"WHAT THE FUCK TO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING? STOP. LEAVE HIM ALONE!" She shouted at them.

Gai-sensei did his best to calm poor TenTen. "It's alright. These men are from the Hyuuga clan. They are going to look after Neji-"

TenTen hugged his body closer shielding him from the men. "No. They can't take him away… There is nothing wrong with him… Tell them to leave him alone, tell them he is fine. FINE!" She insisted her voice breaking as she spoke.

The men then turned to me as a senior member of the clan. They expected me to demand Neji-nii-san's body from this outsider. "Lady Hinata…"

I looked away. I didn't want to take Neji-nii-san away from TenTen but his body did need to be cared for or it would start to – "Um…" I stuttered.

The men rolled their eyes at me, the same way my father did, eyes saying 'Hinata Hyuuga always the disappointment.'

My whole body deflated. 'Their right, I am a disappointment.' My heart ached at the truth. 'Ever since the days of the Academy I have wanted to walk by Naruto's side protecting people. I have worked so hard to accomplish that dream…," memories of endless sparring with my father and Neji-nii-san came to mind, "He devoted so much time into making me that kind of person.'

'I naively thought I had achieved that dream when I went to Naruto's aid during Pain's attack on the Leaf Village or when I jumped in front of Naruto-kun to stop Obito's attack. But I always fail my friends when they need me. Everyone ends up having to come to my rescue. I'm not strong enough… Neji-nii-san would be ashamed.'

Knowing that I was feeling lost the comforting hand of my team-mate rubbed my back. "Don't listen to them Hinata." He demanded. "You're the next leader of the clan, right? You tell them what to do not the other way around. You can do this, I know you can. I haven't met a kinder or stronger kunoichi than you. So you tell us what to do and we will do it."

I blushed a little a Kiba's words. "Ki…ba-kun," I stuttered in embarrassment.

Kiba studied my face for a second. "Oh I get ya," he smiled at me wildly, "you need a little helping hand."

Kiba completely oblivious to my awkwardness boldly linked his arm with mine. I dug the heel of my sandals into the ground trying to stop Kiba from moving me but he was having none of it. "No, wait, Kiba-kun…" Kiba stopped right beside TenTen.

She was sobbing over Neji-nii-san's body. Feeling my presence she wiped away the tears from her eyes, "Oh Hinata," she sputtered.

'What should I do?' I feared not saying or doing the right thing. I knelt down beside her. "It's… alright TenTen." I rubbed her back in the comforting way Lee had done. "I won't let anything bad happen to Neji-nii-san, I promise."

TenTen was reluctant but she did eventually pass Neji-nii-san's body to me. "Okay Hinata. I'll give Neji to you." She added, "But only to you," glaring at the men from my clan.

Gai-sensei then led TenTen in the direction that Lee had run off when he had seen Sakura's spirit return to her body.

We had to get moving too or we would be trampled by the ninja all going to congratulate Naruto-kun on his victory. I tried to lift Neji-nii-san's body up into my arms but he was too heavy for me. "Kiba-kun, could you… um…. hold Neji-nii-san?" I stuttered.

"Lady Hinata…" the men from my clan began to object.

Kiba cut them off. "Sure thing Hinata." He said, all but pushing the men out of the way.

Kiba easily lifted Neji-nii-san into his arms careful to hold his head upright as if it were a new born baby he was carrying in his arms. It made me feel like I should tell him he didn't have to because Neji-nii-san wasn't with us anymore. But I knew it was his way of showing he cared, he was trying so hard to be gentle and it was difficult feat for Kiba who was naturally so boisterous.

"Thank you." I twiddled my thumbs.

Kiba gave me a massive grin making a faint smile appear on my face.

The closer we got to where Naruto-kun was in the middle of the battlefield, the more we started to notice this shimmering blanket of chakra up ahead that split the canyon in half, and as we approached it I noticed a long dark haired male looking down on the other side.

'. . .'

"Neji-nii-san" I gasped. 'How is this possible?'

There was a crowd of Ninja all stood in front of my cousin. The members of my clan the most persistent with their questions: "Neji-sama is that really you?", "Are you okay?", "What is going on?" Neji didn't answer any of them though as if he could not hear them.

Looking along the barrier I saw that Neji was not the only fallen Ninja to be seen on the other side of the veil; many who approached the barrier saw their loved ones on the other side.

Even though this amazing thing was happening before our very eyes the crowd began to stir for an entirely different reason. "Oh my—isn't that Uchiha Itachi", "He massacred the Uchiha clan" the gossip spread through the ranks like wild fire.

Sasuke pulled people through the glowing curtain including his late brother and several other people I did not recognise. And once they had been pulled through the veil by Sasuke they stood with us in the land of the living alive and perfectly well.

Seeing this people started pulling others through the barrier: Lady Tsunade grabbed a reluctant Jirayia, Sai pulled his brother through who in turn pulled Danzo, Shikamaru reached in for Asuma-sensei, and many other ninja from other villages did the same for their loved ones.

My heart lifted. 'Neji-nii-san could be brought back.' "Neji-nii-san…" I ran towards the curtain; towards the familiar shape of my cousin. "I will save you this time." I gave him my word.

My hands passed through the glowing curtain with ease but began to sting when I tried to pull Neji through it.

I struggled trying to pull him through but it was too much for me alone. Kiba volunteered when none of the members of my clan would out of fear. "I'll help."

Hearing his voice my head cocked in his direction. In shock I yelled right in his face, "But Kiba-kun, what about Neji-nii-san's body?"

Kiba bent back as I spat right in his face. "Woah, don't worry Hinata," he put his hands up defensively, "Shino is holding him."

Scanning the crowd I spotted Shino standing there with his hands in his pockets instead of carrying the body of my cousin. Irrationally, I panicked, 'Where's Neji-nii-san?' The moment I saw him I realised how foolish I had been, I should have known all along, Shino had his bugs lift Neji-nii-san's body high into the air out of harms way.

Shino moved closer to the barrier hearing the concern in my voice. "I am holding Neji," Shino stated matter-of-factly, "that's okay, isn't it?" His aura darkened at the thought of me saying it wasn't alright for him when I had allowed Kiba.

Fearfully I nodded. "Of course Shino-kun."

Kiba placed his large tanned hands on top of my small pale ones. "Pull… Just a little more… Just a little more" Kiba repeated, helping me pull Neji-nii-san through the barrier and back to life.

We fell through the curtain of chakra and skidded across the dry dusty floor.

Neji began to vomit. "Neji-nii-san" I scrambled along the ground "Are you okay? Neji-nii-san please speak to me."

"You fools" he scolded us.

Neji looked at me directly in the eyes. "Look Hinata, really look at Naruto, and see what this jutsu is doing to him."

'What this jutsu is doing to Naruto?' I shuddered at his words. 'Naruto-kun…'

I kept my eyes on the ground as I turned my head in Naruto-kun's direction.

"Byukagen" I whispered in a low voice.

I then dared to glance towards Naruto-kun - 'It can't be.' I nearly choked on my own breath. 'He will die!"

"What do you see Hinata?" Kiba asked concerned by the look on my face.

'What did I see?' I asked myself the same question, 'I had never seen anything like it before.'

Performing this jutsu was demanding inhuman amounts of chakra from Naruto-kun, so much so, that his chakra was growing too strong for his body to handle. Similar to the way the Nine-tails cloak had harmed him before he gained control of the Kyubbi's chakra. But this was entirely different, this was not tailed-beast chakra, this was Naruto's own chakra growing so strong that it was destroying him.

Stumbling over my feet I ran towards where Naruto and the others were standing. "No Naruto stop! You must stop this jutsu is killing you. You're chakra is out of control. Please, Naruto, stop this now!" I screamed at him.

Luckily, most of the crowd, including Sakura and Lee turned at my words. Sakura's eyes widened dramatically. She tried to run to Naruto but Lee didn't want to let het go back to that place. "STOP," Sakura yelled her green eyes streaming with tears. When he didn't listen she shouted at Sasuke, "YOUR KILLING HIM, STOP!"

Sasuke POV

I had just pulled another member of my clan through the veil; her body forming around her soul. "STOP," Sakura yelled her green eyes streaming with tears Lee holding her back from the veil, "YOUR KILLING HIM, STOP!"

I turned to Naruto who was deathly pale, Itachi bending over him trying to use his Sharingan to stop Naruto using the Rinnegan. I looked back and saw the rest of the Uchiha's waiting where the veil had been teaming with people dragging their lost ones back to the living. l was the only one remaining inside.

"It's okay Sasuke," Naruto tried to smile at me, "get your peace." I raced back through holding onto my father. Itachi raced past me glaring his Sharingan ablaze. He grabbed a redhead who was attached to a ginger man and a woman with amber eyes. (A/N: Nagato, Yahiko and Konan)

A red headed woman walked up to me weeping, a blonde man I recognised as the Fourth Hokage had his arm wrapped around her. "Please stop help save our son." She wailed. Naruto's… mother? I offered her my hand trying to pull her out. "NO!" She screeched, "Save Naruto!"

Suddenly my father came up behind me, "Sasuke save your family." He turned me around I glanced back at the Naruto's mother who was cradled by a distraught fourth Hokage who glared at me.

I pulled my father through. Hearing yelling, I paused at the edge of the rift. The redhead Itachi had pulled out was shouting at Naruto to close it. A flash of yellow, red and black pushed by me all carrying chakra which Itachi collected shoving into Naruto's chest. (A/N: Deidara, Sasori and Kakuzu)

They then started running after a cloaked figure in a mask. "TOBI!" 'Shit! Obito was still alive.'

"WHY WON'T HE CLOSE IT?" Sakura screamed at my brother who looked at the redhead. Still pulling people through, I saw Naruto had passed out and was now shaking violently.

At Itachi's request, the man who had been Itachi's Akatsuki partner was sucking Naruto's overwhelming chakra with his sword.

I ran back inside managing to pull back one more person before the jutsu stopped abruptly and I was pushed out of the veil. I briefly saw the redhead had passed out probably after stopping Naruto using the jutsu.

I had barely collapsed on the ground before Itachi tugged me up and threw me across to Naruto. "SAVE HIM NOW!" My brother shouted at me unlike he ever had before.

I saw Naruto shuddering chakra bursting out through every gap in his skin. Save him how? I had no chakra. I had never thought he wanted me to use my tailed beast training on him which is effectively what he had become with the increase in chakra.

My chest was tight I couldn't breathe.

'We will lend you the chakra this one time boy' a powerful multi-toned voice boomed through my head.

The surge of power was incredible. Power flooded to my eyes, "Stop now Naruto." I commanded using the Sharingan.

The effect was immediate, the chakra stopped flowing within him and his body which had been forced into a kneeling position collapsed to the floor. Had it worked? Was he alive?

I found myself pushing back all the others and leaning my ear to his chest. His heart thumped steadily, he let out a loud breath. Leaning to his ear, I whispered, "Thank you... Naruto."

Itachi caught me as I fell back, everyone rushed around him and the borrowed energy left my body.

Losing consciousness, I whispered once again, "Thank you."

A/N: As this is the first chapter it is extra long. The next chapter will be much shorter and the others will vary in length.

Thanks for reading and please review!

Next Chapter: The repercussions of the final battle and end of the Fourth Shinobi War, back in the Leaf Village, Naruto tries to reunite Team Seven and more!