NARUTO: A JOURNEY'S END

For people who read my other fanfic, Journey's End. I decided to discontinued it. It felt that it was going all over the place and didn't have a real ground. So I decided to start over from srcatch. This story is a little more in canon with the manga. To fans of my original fanfic, this story will have some of the same elements, as well as some new ones that I wanted to put in the original, but couldn't due to the fact that it wouldn't make sense in terms of story. So here it is.

Prelude: Origins of the Fourth Great Ninja War.

History always repeats itself. It is one of the only constants of the universe. It began with Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze, son of Minato Namikaze of the Hidden Leaf and Kushina Uzumaki of the Village Hidden in the Whirlpool. On the night of his birth, the Kyuubi, the most powerful of the Tailed Beasts, or Biju was released from it's seal and rampaged the Leaf Village. This was all planed by Madara Uchiha, founder of the Uchiha clan and the Akatsuki organization. But Naruto's father intervened before Madara could complete his plans. So he and his wife had only one option to save the Village: sealing the Kyuubi in their newborn son. This cost them their lives.

Minato's final wish for his son was for him to be seen as a hero, not a monster. But the people of the Hidden Leaf didn't honor their fallen Leader's dying wish. Instead Naruto was cast out. Humiliated and beaten. Because of this hatred, the unretired leader, the Third Hokage, made a law that know one talk about the sealing of the Kyuubi or its host. Naruto then became a prankster. Doing anything to get the attention he desired. It was until his twelfth year of life that his life changed forever.

He had barely graduated the Ninja Academy and was assigned to a three-man team. That his where he met the people that would effect his life the most. First was Sakura Haruno, his long time crush. The second was Sasuke Uchiha, the top student at the Academy and last of the famous Uchiha Clan. Last was the team's leader: Kakashi Hatake, former ANBU leader and former student of Naruto's father. The three of them encountered new enemies to the Hidden Leaf. Among them was the Village Hidden in Sound, led by one of the legendary Sennin, Orochimaru. But Naruto and Sasuke became rivals. Though Sasuke was the top of their class, Naruto was soon becoming more powerful. Sasuke then decided to become an apprentice to Orochimaru in order to become more powerful. Naruto tried to stop him, but it was too late.

For almost three years, Naruto trained with Jiraiya, another Sennin, but also his godfather and former mentor of his father. Sakura trained with Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage and granddaughter of the founder of the Hidden Leaf. But as their training ended, a more deadly enemy emerged: the Akatsuki organization. After a long series of battles and deaths, Nartuo learned about his family history and learned who to control the demon inside of him. On the other hand, Sasuke pledged his total allegiance to the Akatsuki. Some would say he sold his soul to the devil for power. The Akatsuki led an assault on the Hidden Leaf. The battle ended in a stalemate. But this was the fight that started the Fourth Great Ninja War. After the battle, ninja were sent to the frontline to combat the enemy. Naruto was one of them.

Naruto had just about finished packing his stuff. He looked outside his bedroom window to see the destruction that Akatsuki left. The Hokage monument was completely destroyed, hundreds of homes were demolished, and many innocent people were killed in the crossfire. Naruto had seen death before. He had killed before. But he never saw destruction on this level. As he was thinking about what was going on, he heard a knock on the door.

He walked to the door and opened it to reveal Sakura standing outside," Sakura-chan? What are you doing here?"

" I heard that you were going tomorrow. So I just came to say some things before you shipoff." There was a great sadness in her voice. Naruto guessed that she was sad because she wasn't going to the front. Medical ninja weren't allowed on the battlefied.

Naruto moved to the side and said," Please, come in. Make yourself at home." Sakura entered the apartment and looked around. It was very small. She thought that with the money earned from missions, Naruto could have afforded something better.

Naruto walked towards the refrigerator and said," Would you like anything to drink?"

" No thank you Naruto," said Sakura being very polite," I just wanted to say some things." Naruto shrugged and sat on his bed. Sakura sat down right next to him. Both of their faces were red with embarrassment.

" So," Sakura said to end the silence," who's going with you?"

Naruto thought for a second," Neji, Tenten, Choji, Shikamaru, Kakashi-sensei, and I think Hinata may come. She really hasn't decided yet."

" I heard that she told you that she loved you. How do you feel about that?"

" I told her that I didn't feel the same," Naruto looked at Sakura," me and her got to talking. I told her that I thought she was a nice person. A good fighter and a beautiful woman, but I only thought of her only as a friend. She cried for a little while. Then eventually she told me that it was good that I knew. Even if I didn't return the feelings."

Sakura smiled and said," She'll find someone who will love her. I'm sure of that." Sakura reached into her pockets and pulled out an ivory hilt with inscriptions on it. " Lady Tsunade told me to give this to you. She said it belonged to the Fourth."

" My dad?"

" Yes. She said it was called the Tenreiken. It allows you to channel your chakra through the hilt to create a blade that can cut through anything." She handed the hilt to Naruto. Naruto grasped it with both hands and suddenly a five foot blade made of gold chakra suddenly shot out of it.

Naruto made the blade vanish and put it in his sack. " Thanks Sakura-chan. I'll put it in good use." He then gave the pink ninja a hug. Then Sakura did something that Naruto didn't expect. Just as he was going to break away, she kissed him on the lips. At first he didn't return it, but he finally gave in. For a full minute, they passionately kissed each other.

Sakura then broke the kiss," Naruto, remember when I told you I loved you when you were going after Sasuke. The truth was, I meant it. I love you."

Naruto didn't know what to say," Sakura-chan. You know that I love you. But why are you bringing this up now. The day before I leave."

Tears began to swell up in her eyes," I wanted you to know in case you don't come back. I started to realize that my love for Sasuke wasn't real love, it was a crush or maybe lust. But Naruto, when I think about you, I can't breathe. I have dreams that you come and take me away to some place far away. I want to be the one who bares your children. I learned how to get over my loss of Sasuke. But I don't know what I'd do if I lost you." Then she started to cry in his chest.

Naruto cupped her chin and said," I never knew you felt this way. But I will promise you that I will come back. Just wait for me."

Sakura wiped her tears and smiled," I'd wait for you forever. But just promise me that you'll write. I want to know what your doing."

Naruto smiled," Fine. I promise."

That was the prolouge. Sorry that it was a little short and fells a little rushed. Also I welcome input to what you guys want to see in this story. I write this stuff for you guys and I want to know what you like to see. Next chapter, four-year timeskip. Please review and leave your comments.