Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine… most unfortunately.
Chapter one: …in which I couldn't find an ending so I kept typing and typing and typing… and I typed in a very small font so I didn't notice much of any spelling errors... Forgiveth me if you come across them.
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Naruto / Can't hold my soul in.
--
Birds chirped in the distance as clouds that resembled white cotton candy loitered the bright blue sky, although scarcely. A warm breeze brushed through Konoha as a gentle peace settled on the village. It was one of those days where all a person wanted to do was relax on the grass and watch the clouds filter by; one of those days where a person wanted to take their time and not rush through such a subtle day. It was one of those lazy days where not much was going on, where all worries were put aside and replaced with the contentedness the day brought on…
Team Seven was most definitely taking advantage of this lovely day as pink, blonde and dark hair splayed across the rich green grass, and emerald and cerulean blue eyes watched the clouds shift as onyx eyes remained hidden behind closed lids. Emerald eyes twinkled and smiled as the owner giggled, a gentle, feminine laugh that rang like bells in their clear surroundings. Cerulean blue eyes glanced at her and the owner smiled widely, a cheeky grin as he lifted a hand up to point at another shape that reminded them of their former sensei… with beaver teeth. At this, the emerald eyed girl burst into fits of laughter, and the owner of onyx eyes could not help but crack an eye open to spare a curious glance at this cloud that so resembled Kakashi-sensei (but with beaver teeth).
Naruto practically beamed as he listened to his female teammate laughing. He propped his hands behind his head as her laughter settled down, and the two opted to just staring up at the sky. He was laying between his two teammates; the two people he was always around since they were Genin and graduated from the Academy. Sakura was laying on her back with her hands folded on her stomach, and Sasuke was laying on Naruto's other side, his back turned to them with one arm tucked beneath his head as a pillow. His eyes were closed. They weren't the same 12 year old Genin that once lay beneath the stars with their sensei, Kakashi, but they were older now; no longer under the teachings of Kakashi… but they were still a team; they were still Team Seven… just… older.
Naruto held true to his promise as he beat Sasuke to a bloody pulp (although beat to a bloody pulp himself) before he dragged Sasuke back to Konoha. Orochimaru was left undefeated, but Naruto didn't care. He brought Sasuke back, and that was a victory all in itself. For the longest time Sasuke tried escaping, but he was constantly watched by ANBU, and when he slipped away from them, someone else would stop him; be it Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, Iruka, or some one else. He was always stopped, always brought back (much to his irritation and frustration). The thought of Itachi still being out there and alive made him want to leave. It made him restless and anxious and aggravated. It made him hate Naruto more for bringing him back; hate him and Sakura for keeping him there. But then… after a while… Sasuke could not deny it any longer. He did not want to leave his teammates. He wanted his revenge, but he wanted his teammates as well (although it took much soul searching, realizing, and thinking to come to such a conclusion, as unbelievable as it sounds). He accepted the fact that neither Naruto nor Sakura would let him leave now that they had him back.
He accepted that maybe… maybe he did need them.
Maybe… they made him content.
--- Not happy, but content.
Sasuke didn't know happiness, but he at least understood content, and being with Naruto and Sakura made him feel content. He was content getting into fights with the dobe. He was content having intellectual conversations with Sakura. He was content watching Naruto and Sakura argue before Sakura would punch him and send him flying a few yards off. He was content, but he still believed his sole purpose was to avenge his Clan, even if it took all his life.
But even as an avenger, that did not mean he could not be content, could not protect Naruto and Sakura.
After all, Naruto was clumsy. He always got himself into trouble. He needed Sasuke to pull him out of such situations.
Sakura was tough, yes, but that did not mean she could defend herself all the time… She would need Sasuke's help sometimes.
And so Sasuke believed all of this; believed they needed him so that was why he stayed, because they would be lost without him.
He was content knowing that.
And Naruto and Sakura were happy to have their teammate back, and that was all that mattered to them.
That was all years ago though, and they were older. They weren't children anymore, or young teens… Naruto and Sasuke were old enough to be considered men, and Sakura old enough to be considered a woman. Sasuke had grown into a tall, slim and lean man. He wasn't bulgingly muscular. His frame was broad and lithe, with senew muscles that only became obvious when he flexed. His face had its own beauty, and even older, Naruto still thought Sasuke pretty. Sasuke kept the same hairstyle, but his hair had grown out over time as well. Naruto… Naruto, Sakura believed, had never looked more handsome and gorgeous. His bangs touched above his eyes, and his side bangs brushed his shoulders as his hair remained its normal, sunny blonde spikes. He wasn't muscular either; a bit more slim than Sasuke. His skin took on a golden tanned hue while Sasuke's remained an ivory white. Sakura believed her two male teammates were, pretty much, the hottest guys to grace Konoha… and for that, most female villagers were jealous of Sakura for being the closest person (girl) to them.
Sakura… She had blossomed as well. She wasn't tall, on the contrary, she barely reached up to Sasuke's and Naruto's shoulders, but she had her own beauty as well. She grew her hair out again though she opted to keeping it up in a bun. She became curvier, but not too curvy and remained slim and slender even as she grew and got older. The years shaped her into a gentler and kinder person, someone completely different from who she was when she was twelve and saw Naruto as a nuisance and Sasuke as the only guy she could ever love. She was one of the most beloved medic-nins in Konoha, and flourished into one of the best as well. Though she may have the healing touch, that didn't mean she could lose her temper easily and destroy something with a single squeeze of her hands…
The wrath of Sakura was something to fear (as Naruto knew, but never quite learned from).
The years made Sakura into an open person, which was why, in the end, she gave Rock Lee a chance and accepted his latest proposal to go out with him. She thought he was sweet anyway. So far, they had been going out for close to a year. Naruto never quite voiced his jealousy, because he was jealous, but when he was around Sakura and Lee, he would smile and false happiness. Sasuke, Naruto concluded, was jealous too, even if Sasuke never gave any hints that he was. The thought that someone else (besides them) could get so close to their Sakura-chan never… came to mind or question… not until Lee asked her out and she accepted.
But they were still Team Seven… just older and now Jounin.
Naruto hummed to himself as he brushed his nose with a blade of grass. He wanted to say something, but he knew if he did, it would only end with Sasuke giving a smart retort, Naruto getting mad and punching Sasuke, and Sasuke punching back and the two getting into a fight. He didn't want to spoil the peace. It was rare all three laid beneath the pretty blue sky and watched the clouds filter by. Being like this… with them… made Naruto feel like they were his. It was a silly notion, but it made him smile all the same. For the moment he persuaded himself that Sakura wasn't Lee's girlfriend, but his, and that Sasuke was bi and was his boyfriend, too. Such a silly thought because such a thought probably would have made him cringe when he was younger. He always thought he was only into girls since he had quite a fancy for breasts, but… even he knew when a guy was good looking, and Naruto always thought Sasuke was pretty… and he liked male butts quite a lot.
But, Naruto concluded, thinking such perverted thoughts would spoil the mood as well, so he shifted his train of thought and continued to persuade himself that Sakura and Sasuke were his; his and his only…
And no one was going to take them from him.
Naruto wasn't sure when he figured he was not straight, but bi, but he thought it might have something to do with how he started realizing how pretty Sasuke was, and how he started realizing he was checking out guys more and more (particularly their tushies). It was either that or going through puberty made him realize he would do anything with two legs and that was willing.
He chuckled at the thought and Sakura gave him a quizzical look, wondering what was so funny, but he simply grinned and told her it was nothing.
They sat in silence for a little while longer, Sasuke 'napping' and Sakura sitting up and weaving together a flower necklace. Naruto watched her and the clouds, switching his attention every now and then before he suggested they all go out to ramen, but Sakura politely declined the offer, and Sasuke just shot the idea down completely. Naruto regretted bringing up the topic of ramen because Sakura started to go into a tirade about how he needed to eat healthier.
"Honestly, Naruto… Last time I went there, your fridge was completely empty besides a carton of milk – that had expired, might I add? – and your cupboards full of ramen. I don't understand how you get by off of only that…"
"Aww c'mon, Sakura-chaaan… I went to the grocery store and got some new milk… and ramen's not bad!"
"It's unhealthy." She gave him a reprimanding look as her hands continued to weave her flower necklace. "…You know what? From now on I'm going to supervise what you eat."
Naruto's face completely fell as he gaped at her. "But… but…"
"I am going to buy your groceries and cook you healthy food that you are going to eat whether you want to or not." She sounded calm, but Naruto dug beneath the meaning and heard nothing but death threats if he dared to protest against her.
So…
Naruto chose to sulk.
Sakura smiled happily, quite pleased he didn't protest, and quite pleased that she was done with her necklace. She dropped it over Naruto's head and around his neck, and the blonde blinked as he looked down at it.
"This makes me look girly," he mumbled, making a face.
Sakura giggled, so Naruto couldn't help but smile as he left the flower necklace on, regardless of how girly it was.
"It makes you look like a pretty flower princess," Sasuke commented dryly as he sat up.
Naruto scowled at him and shook his fist. "Take that back!"
"Oh! I made one for you too, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura quickly dumped another flower necklace around his neck.
"…" He blinked slowly, blankly, as he stared down at said flower necklace and scowled… quite heavily.
Naruto sniggered and laughed. "Ha! Now you look even more like a girl!"
Sasuke narrowed his onyx eyes into a murderous glare. "Take that back, dobe."
"Aww, did I hurt the pretty flower princess' feelings?" Naruto taunted in a singsong voice.
Sakura rubbed her temples, already knowing a fight was coming. "Guys…"
"Do you want to get pummeled, dead last?"
"I don't see how you can pummel me when you got a stick up your ass, teme."
"Guys… "
"That's it."
"Bring it on!"
"Guys…!"
In a flash of orange and dark blur, the two were on the ground wrestling and punching each other repeatedly in the face. Sakura sighed as she glanced up at the sky, as if silently asking Kami: why was she stuck with such immature boys? Sakura stood up, crouched down, grabbed either of their collars before knocking their heads together. They stumbled back in a daze of flashing stars and a headache as they held their heads, Naruto whining loudly and Sasuke… silently brooding over the newly formed bruise smack dab in the center of his forehead. Sakura gave them both a disapproving glare before she healed the bruises she gave them, and any other injuries they had inflicted on each other during their tussle.
"Honestly… if you two didn't fight so much, I wouldn't constantly have to heal you both. Next time you two fight I'm not healing either of you…"
Naruto pouted. "He started it…"
Sakura shook her head, sighing.
---
With the speed and stealth that only a trained shinobi would have, a figure darted through the trees of the forests of the Fire Country as the shadowed person entered the gates of Konoha. He darted among rooftops before he finally made it to the Hokage's tower, and even then he did not slow down. Everything about his movements and speed showed he had a purpose… and that he was in a rush. He needed to relay his sightings to the Godaime.
He didn't bother to knock or announce himself as he burst into the Hokage's office. Tsunade was looking over some reports as Shizune helped her sort through them, and both women looked up quizzically when the ANBU member suddenly barged in.
"I should hope this is important," Tsunade said, leaning back in her seat and eyeing the ANBU member with mild irritation.
The ANBU member bowed apologetically before waiting not another moment to tell her what he came to tell her. "Sound-nins are heading this way, Hokage-sama."
All irritation was swiped from her face and she instantly looked alert. "Sound-nins?"
A nod.
"How far?"
"At the pace they are moving, they will be here by nightfall."
There was a pause, and the ANBU added:
"They are armed… and Orochimaru is with them."
Tsunade's brows knit together as she looked lost in thought. Shizune looked at her worriedly. The Godaime frowned deeply as she narrowed her eyes. "If they are headed this way, then that only means one thing…" Tsunade shook her head before looking up at the ANBU member, springing into action, "Alert the Council and the other ANBU members. Shizune, please alert the Chuunin and Jounin to prepare for an evacuation. We need to get the villagers to safety."
"Hai, Hokage-sama."
The ANBU member disappeared just as Shizune darted out of the office, both going to do as the Hokage ordered.
Tsunade turned around in order to look out her office window, her face etched in a grim expression. The last time Konoha was invaded during a previous Chuunin exam, lives were lost, and the Third Hokage himself was killed in an attempt to destroy Orochimaru. They were lucky to have only lost lives. Would they be so lucky this time? At least this time they would be prepared, although on such short notice.
Orochimaru… Why now?
---
"Ne, Sakura-chan… doesn't that one look like Sasuke?"
Sakura tilted her head a bit as her and Naruto observed a cloud that had taken on the shape of someone sitting down with their elbows on their knees… looking like they were brooding… Sakura giggled. Sasuke scowled.
"Mm, and that one looks like a bowl of ramen!"
Sakura could only shake her head as her blonde teammate started to drool.
"Oohhh, and those look like boobs –"
Just as the word escaped his mouth, Sakura racked her knuckles none-too-gently against his scull. He whined and held his head. "Sakura-chan!"
"Oh Naruto… I don't know what to do with you sometimes."
He stuck his tongue out at her before pulling it back into his mouth just as quickly, being wary of the look she was sending him. If he had kept his tongue out a moment longer, he was suspicious that she might have grabbed it and ripped it out of his mouth. Naruto shuddered at the unpleasant thought before completely pushing it out of his mind. He opted to pouting. "Aren't medic-nins supposed to be gentle and caring and kind…?"
Sakura's voice was laced with honey as her emerald eyes glinted dangerously, "Are you saying that I am none of those things, Naruto-kun?"
"Er… Eheheh… No, no, of course not, Sakura-chan!" He waved his hands defensively; clearly nervous from the way she was looking at him. "You're very, very, very gentle and caring and, and, nice… and all that stuff…!"
Sakura smirked.
Sasuke rolled his eyes, muttering, "Idiot."
"It's just… y'know… you can be kind of rough sometimes…"
Sasuke shook his head. The dobe should have shut up while he had the chance. All he was doing now was digging himself a bigger hole.
"…but… I like rough girls! It just means they're rough in bed, y'know?" Naruto seemed oblivious to the vein pulsing in Sakura's forehead as he asked excitedly, "Hey, hey, are you rough in bed, Sakura-chan?"
He never got to find out whether she was or not, because her fist suddenly connected to his face and sent him flying a few feet away.
She stomped over to him just as he was attempting to push himself up. Sakura placed her hands on her hips and glared down at him. "For your information, I am a virgin. And it's none of your business whether I am… rough in bed or not!"
"So you haven't done it with Lee?" Naruto asked, and if he didn't look so happy, Sakura would have punched him. She blinked in confusion, wondering why he looked so happy to know that she was a virgin, but she shrugged it off and glared at him, flushing from embarrassment.
"So what?"
"Oh… nothing, nothing." Naruto grinned, not caring that his face held an imprint of a fist. A bruise lingered for a moment before it was healed by the Kyuubi's chakra.
Hohohoho…
Naruto had a chance.
He rubbed his hands together, a wicked grin on his face.
He would win Sakura over before Lee had the chance to deflower her!
Hohoho!
Sakura was looking at him weirdly.
Sasuke knew Naruto well enough to know what he was thinking, and he snorted.
…But both Sasuke and Naruto shared the same thoughts: Lee "deflowering" Sakura was a disturbing thought.
But they were saved from such disturbing thoughts when Shikamaru suddenly appeared, looking like he had been disturbed from being lazy and would rather not have been there at all.
Naruto blinked.
It wasn't often he received a visit from Shikamaru.
"Oi, Shika! What's up?"
Shikamaru sighed, his lazy attitude suddenly turning serious, much to Team Seven's confusion. Shikamaru wasted no time in jumping to the point though as he made sure all three were paying attention before he said loud and clear: "We're under attack."
---
Tsunade had wasted no time in putting together battle tactics; tactics she had gone over and talked through with experts such as Shikamaru and the Council Members. Though Shikamaru was lazy, the Hokage was more than aware of Shikamaru's leadership skills and battle tactic expertise. A special team was being gathered to ambush the advancing Sound-nin before they reached the Hidden Leaf Village while at home, Chuunins and Genins were instructed to evacuate all women and children. The Genin teams would be staying with the villagers in hiding, but the Chuunin were instructed to stay stationed around the evacuation areas in case the enemies discovered where they hid the citizens. Most of the Jounin were to stay in Konoha as well where they would be staying to defend the home front. ANBU and a few other Jounin were apart of the special team that were going to head the Sound-nins off.
Shikamaru was going to lead the attack on the Sound-nins and requested Sasuke to be apart of the special team. He agreed. Naruto was going to defend the home front and Sakura was going to stay in Konoha as part of the medic group for the first front (where Naruto was defending). Konoha was buzzing to get all of this accomplished before nightfall. Citizens were being evacuated. Teams were being put together, although messily. It was war for Konoha, and everyone knew it. Sakura, Naruto, Sasuke and Shikamaru were standing on a roof where they had a clear view of the entrance of Konoha, and the woods the trail disappeared into. They were watching the ANBU and a few other selected Jounin gathering down below; Shikamaru's special team.
"Don't get your ass kicked or anything, teme," Naruto said snidely, grinning at Sasuke wolfishly. "I know you won't fair as well without me there and all, but try not to die, alright?"
Sasuke snorted. "I should be saying that to you, dobe."
"Guys…" Sakura sounded reprimanding, but her voice was soft so the two couldn't help but silence as they looked at her. She wasn't looking at them, but they could tell by the look on her face that she was worried. "That's not something to joke about."
"Aw don't worry, Sakura-chan… Sasuke-teme will be fine, and so will I." Naruto smiled reassuringly as he squeezed her shoulder.
Sakura lifted her eyes up to him hopefully. "…Promise?"
Naruto looked more than confident. "Promise."
If there was one thing that Naruto was true to, it was keeping his promise. That was something Sakura learned over the years. When he promised her something now, it reassured her more than anything else could. She sighed and smiled. "Okay."
She had Naruto's reassurance, but…
She looked at Sasuke.
Naruto nudged him.
Sasuke eyed him before turning his eyes back to Sakura. "I will be fine."
And Sakura knew that was the closest thing to a reassurance and promise she will ever get from him, but it made a difference. She smiled at him and nodded. "Be careful." She knew she didn't need to say it, but she wanted to say it anyway.
"I will," he answered quietly, looking at her for a moment as she looked back, before he exchanged looks with Naruto, and then turned to Shikamaru and nodded. "Let's not wait any longer."
"Che… " Shikamaru simply let out a sigh as he and Sasuke joined his special team, and they dispersed.
It was like they hadn't been there at all.
"Sasuke-kun left with them?"
Naruto nearly jumped and tumbled off the roof from Shino's sudden appearance – almost, but he composed himself in time. He eyed the bug guy before acting like he wasn't surprised at all. "Yeah."
"Hn." Shino was silent for a moment. His expression was always unreadable with his eyes hidden behind those shades, and his mouth always quirked in the same frown. "…Does he know Orochimaru is there?"
Silence.
Sakura and Naruto exchanged worried glances.
---
Shikamaru's team of ANBU and Jounin split up into several groups. A leader was appointed to each group and Shikamaru gave specific orders to each group leader. Team one and two would move in on the Sound-nin while teams three, four and five were to move in on the left, and teams six, seven and eight were to move in on the right. While teams one and two attacked and distracted the Sound-nins, the other teams would move in and surround the enemy. The first two teams would distract the Sound-nin using a genjutsu, but they knew it wouldn't last long, so the other teams had to be quick.
An ANBU member scouted ahead before returning, reporting an estimate at how many Sound-nin there were. They were basically outnumbered considering the Sound-nin were preparing for an all out war, and Shikamaru's team was only gathered as a temporary distraction/ambush. They wouldn't hold out for long, but Tsunade had hoped they would be able to handle a good number of the enemies before they breached Konoha's walls.
The first two teams moved on head while the other teams split up in their appropriate directions. Sasuke led team three, the other two teams following his lead as he and his own team slipped in from the left side. There were far too many Sound-nin to be effected by the genjutsu, but the ones in the front would be distracted, and therefore hold up the others for a while. As they moved, the teams slipped exploding tags and other traps, moving silently among the trees and shadows that they used to keep themselves hidden. The Sound-nins distracted by the genjutsu were silently and stealthily brought down by humming kunai or slits to the throat. By the time the genjutsu was countered, all teams had surrounded the Sound-nin, and though they had killed a few of the enemy, it was a small dent in the larger picture. There was obvious panic by the time the genjutsu had died down and the enemy was more than ready and wary of another attack. Some cautiously advanced – but was quickly stopped by exploding tags and other traps.
The smarter of the Sound-nin ordered they split up: most would head to Konoha while the rest stayed back to fend whoever was attacking them. Team one and two of the Hidden Leave took on the advancing Sound-nin head on while the rest attacked the enemies from a far off distance. The Sound-nins threw kunai and other weapons into the thick woods, gradually drawing out the ANBU and Jounin of the Leaf before an all out battle took place.
Sasuke unsheathed his sword, knowing fighting was inevitable, and therefore unavoidable. He nodded to his team and signaled them to spread out and do whatever they could to hold off the Sound-nin. Without another moment's hesitation, they split and joined the fight, as did Sasuke. He did not bother to activate his Sharingan as he got into a fight with several Sound-nins. He had trained well enough over the years to not have to rely on the Sharingan so much, that and his movements and skills with his sword had advanced very well over the years he practiced. The blade of his weapon buzzed as it smoothly sliced through the torso of an unsuspecting Sound and thick droplets of blood splattered before Sasuke suddenly whipped around and slashed his word diagonally through an enemy that had tried attacking him from behind.
He hardly bat an eye as all six Sound-nin that had tried ganging up on him were sliced and slaughtered in such a bloody way that a blood bath was left where they all once were standing. He could see most of the enemy slipping through their force and heading to Konoha as Shikamaru used his infamous shadow technique to hold as much as he could in place while ANBU moved in swiftly and killed whatever Sound member that was held back or in their path. Sasuke was also more than aware that they were losing their own as well, and their numbers were decreasing.
He sheathed his sword as he ran ahead to cut off the enemies that were slipping ahead. He formed hand seals before using a fire jutsu – fire shooting from his mouth and shooting across the front ranks of the enemy. A wall of fire lined the grass and blocked their path. Sasuke whipped out a scroll as he let it fall before he formed several other seals, bit his thumb until he drew blood, and then wrote something on the seal in swift movements and slammed his palm down on the scroll. Several (large) snakes slithered out from the scrolls as they slithered towards the Sound-nin. Screams filled the air when the enemy found themselves being attacked and brutally crushed by the large snakes, or bit and therefore dying in the most painful way possible as venom burned like acid through their veins.
But Sasuke's action wasn't enough to hold back most of the Sound as they slipped through and continued their course to Konoha.
Sasuke made a move to run after them when a voice made him freeze and his eyes turn red and his Sharingan activate reflexively.
"So we meet again, Sasuke-kun."
He could never forget that voice.
His pupils spun wildly as he turned around to face one of the legendary Sennin.
"Orochimaru."
---
Night had already settled, and the shinobi stationed in Konoha waited with anticipation for the Sound-nin to finally invade their humble village. Naruto looked up at the sky from his perch on the roof. He could feel the Kyuubi stirring restlessly in him, the fox demon knowing full well a battle was going to happen. The Kyuubi's anticipation for blood only added to Naruto's own anticipation as he fidgeted anxiously. He tried to stay calm though. He didn't want to get the fox all riled up for the fight. He couldn't risk losing control of himself… especially during a war. If the Kyuubi managed to take over, Naruto knew Konoha would only have one more thing to worry about on top of the Sound-nin invading.
Kakashi was with him reading one of the latest volumes of Icha Icha Paradise. Naruto recognized it all too well… after all, he helped Jiraiya write them whenever the perverted Sennin would drag him off for some 'information gathering.' Kakashi flipped a page as his lazy eye scanned it before he closed the orange book and tucked it in his green vest.
"Ne, Kakashi-sensei, I'm hungry…" Naruto sighed as his stomach growled. He placed a hand over it. "I didn't get to eat…"
Kakashi glanced at him. "Now is not the time, Naruto. You need to be alert."
"I know, I know." He let out an exasperated sigh. "I could say the same to you… I don't know how you can be alert with your nose buried in that bo—"
Kakashi tackled him aside just as a kunai embedded itself into where Naruto once stood. The older Jounin narrowed his eye as his gaze darted to the trees. "They are here."
Naruto cursed before grinning wolfishly. "Don't worry, Kakashi-sensei. I can take on all of them." He formed a seal before he shouted, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
There was a large burst of cloud before what appeared to be a thousand Narutos went leaping into the forest where an obvious battle was taking place (as could be determined by the poof noises being made whenever a Naruto-clone was destroyed). The Leaf shinobi waited anxiously, kunai and other weapons at the ready. Several Naruto-clones were thrown out from the forest before enemy kunai came flying out from the trees and pierced through each of them, dissolving them into a puff of smoke. Naruto narrowed his eyes as his eyes darted among the trees. He wasn't necessarily seeing with his own eyes, but the eyes of his clones as they battled the Sound-nin and most were destroyed in the process. Naruto's gaze shifted momentarily to his side when Iruka suddenly appeared. They exchanged nods before all three focused on the forest, all of the shinobi waiting anxiously for the Sound-nin to break through Naruto's Kage Bunshin no Jutsu and attack to the village.
There was a moment's silence after a final burst of smoke banged clearly through the forest.
And then the real battle began.
Several smokeballs came rolling from the forest, bouncing on rooftops and through the entrance. The shinobi tensed before the smokeballs were set off and most of the area was covered in a thick cloud of smoke, making it hard for anyone to see. Kakashi pulled his mask down, the Sharingan in his eye spinning as he looked around. His eyes then narrowed.
"Up!"
Instantly, a rain of kunai and other sharp objects pounded down through the smoke and at the unprepared shinobi. There were strangled cries as some were unable to dodge the onslaught, but most jumped out of the way. The Sound-nin took this momentary distraction to invade the village and attack the shinobi. Naruto twirled his weapon around as he landed on another rooftop, several Sound-nin coming after him. Naruto's weapon consisted of a long chain with a curved blade at the end. His chakra was pouring through the chain and gathering at the blade where, because of his wind-based chakra, Naruto could feel his chakra sharpening and creating an even sharper edge for his blade (much sharper than it originally is. He barely had time to reminisce and recall the time Asuma taught him that before he had to defend himself from the charging enemy). Naruto twirled his weapon around before lashing it out and slicing easily through two Sound and then twirling around and bringing down another that tried charging at him from behind.
He could feel the Kyuubi growing very restless in him.
He knew the Kyuubi could smell the blood; could taste the battle going on, and wished to be apart of the fight – just for its own bloodlust.
Naruto made an effort to push the Kyuubi down before he ran head on into a group of Sound-nin, shouting another round of Kage Bunshin no Jutsu as several clones popped up and aided Naruto in his charge.
---
The battle raged on from there, both sides suffering serious injury and losses. The medic-nins of Konoha ran around to tend to any of their wounded. Sakura was one of them. She was hovering over a Jounin that had several kunai embedded into his flesh. Other nurses came to tediously remove the kunai before Sakura held her hands over his injured leg and gathered her chakra, healing the man. The moment she was done, he was up and running into battle again. If they weren't in the middle of a battle, Sakura would have told him to rest, but there was no time for rest for the weary. This was a war; a battle for Konoha. Already signs were showing just how gruesome the battle had gotten as body parts were strewn in seemingly every direction, blood stained and splattered buildings and earth, some buildings being destroyed when getting in the way between a shinobi fight.
Sakura clasped her hands over her heart and silently preyed. But she only had a few seconds of that before she was ushered to another patient that needed help. Her hands were stained with blood. Her cheeks were caked with dirt and blood. Her clothes were tattered with blood. Not her blood, but the blood of others whom she tried to help; some she was able to heal, others…
Sakura bit her bottom lip as she concentrated to heal this man. He was currently screaming bloody murder as blood squirted from the wound in his abdomen. She tried applying pressure to the wound as she tried to heal him, but the blood kept coming too fast… too fast…
She dropped her hands and shook her head sadly at the other nurses when the man went limp.
She looked up when she felt someone's hand rest on her shoulder, and Sakura stared up at the person sadly, the person who trained her to be the best medic-nin she could be.
"There are others you can still help," Tsunade reassured.
Sakura smiled gratefully.
They went back to helping whoever they could. It made Sakura feel better whenever Naruto would come by, fighting a Sound-nin in the process. He would wave to her and grin and Sakura would start freaking out whenever it seemed like the Sound-nin was going to strike him… but he would dodge at the last minute. She was glad to see Naruto was okay, but she was worried about Sasuke… especially since Orochimaru was among the Sound-nin… and no one had spotted him in Konoha yet, so maybe he was in the group that the special team had ambushed?
Maybe Sasuke ran into him?
Sakura gnawed on her bottom lip but had to push such thoughts out of her head. She had more pressing issues: such as healing Akamaru. Kiba hovered around her impatiently, anxiously and worriedly, and Shizune had to swat him away so Sakura could heal the dog properly.
"Is he okay?" Kiba asked, peering over Shizune.
Sakura didn't respond at first, but then she turned around smiling, holding Akamaru who yipped at him and wagged his tail.
Kiba sighed in relief, thanked Sakura, before running back into battle with his dog.
Sakura was about to run and find anyone else who needed help when something caught her attention from the corner of her eye: Several Sound-nin had darted discreetly by, unnoticed by the other medic-nins and shinobi who were all too caught up in what was going on and what they were doing. Sakura frowned before slipping away, silently following him, a kunai in her hand. For a while she followed them through deserted parts of Konoha where the battle had yet to reach, and her worry only started to grow when she realized they were heading in the direction that the villagers were evacuated and hidden at. Sakura slipped between two buildings when they stopped at the hideout and looked around to make sure no one was around. She grit her teeth and watched as they knocked down the doors, and screams could be heard when the Sound-nin ran in and harassed the villagers. Sakura was about to run in when the enemy suddenly came bowling down the stairs, several Genin running out, armed and looking ready to fight.
The Sound-nins picked themselves up and glared at the young Genin.
"You little brats…"
"You're all going to die."
The Genin tensed as they braced themselves for an attack.
Sakura ran out from her cover, four kunai in each hand, each kunai held between two fingers. She tossed them in the direction of the enemy. They sensed her attack and quickly jumped out of the way. Sakura took this time to stand defensively in front of the Genin who looked surprised (and relieved) to see her.
"Go back inside." She commanded without looking at them.
…But they were hesitant as well.
"But… Sakura-neechan… You can't fight them all on your own!" one of the young male Genin insisted.
Sakura glanced at them from over her shoulder and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry! I will be fine! And if something happens to me, we'll need strong shinobi like you guys to protect the villagers, ne?"
They hesitated before nodding. "Hai!"
"Now go inside and let me deal with them."
They looked at the back of Sakura for a moment before scuttling back into the hideout where the other villagers were. Sakura knit her brows and stared grim-faced and ready at the Sound-nin. She was outnumbered 10 to 1, but she would manage.
She had to.
---
Naruto had long since abandoned his chained weapon in exchange for kunai and anything else he could get his hands on. Several Sound-nin were advancing on him, and Naruto eyed them warily, thinking of what to do before he smirked. Some of them exchanged looks, wondering, but cautious of the blonde's sudden change to a rather cocky look.
"Hehe." Naruto gave them the peace sign before he made several hand seals. "Bakuretsu Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
A similar shadow clone of himself popped up next to them. They both had the same stance.
The Sound-nin exchanged looks again… before running…
…in the opposite direction.
Naruto snickered as his shadow clone chased after them.
They ran faster and faster and faster…
And then boom.
Naruto's shadow clone exploded, destroying some of the Sound-nin in the process.
Naruto leaped on to the roof as he darted through Konoha, helping allies here and there and getting into more fights. He found where the medic-nins were all at and frowned somewhat when he couldn't find either Sasuke nor Sakura. He figured Sasuke should at least be back now… if not okay, but at least injured so the medics can heal him. And Sakura should be there as well healing people. So where was she? He found Shizune.
"Shizune-neechan, have you seen Sakura-chan?"
Shizune stopped and looked at him, shaking her head. "We were looking for her, but we can't find her. We were hoping you might know…"
Naruto shook his head as well before smiling and giving what Lee would call his 'cool guy pose.' "I'll find her!"
"Please hurry, Naruto-kun."
He nodded and dashed off, scanning the village for any sign of pink hair. But no matter where he looked, he couldn't find his teammate. Naruto frowned as he scaled the length of a roof and perched himself at the top of the Hokage tower. He shielded a hand over his eyes, squinting as he saw some shinobi fighting here and there. He looked left, right, forward, and then turned around. He had to squint and lean forward when he saw a faint head of pink hair, and his eyes widened when he realized Sakura was currently fending off Sound-nin on her own while trying to protect the villagers. He hopped off the tower and leaped from rooftop to rooftop, eyes narrowed and teeth gritted.
I'm coming, Sakura-chan.
…But Sakura would have to wait a bit longer.
Naruto was forced to stop as his grip on the hilt of his kunai tightened.
The man in front of him adjusted his glasses, a smirk on his lips.
"Hello, Naruto-kun."
Naruto's face was grim.
"Kabuto."
---
"Hokage-sama!"
Shizune ran to Tsunade worriedly.
"Hokage-sama… we're suffering serious injury!"
"I know, Shizune," Tsunade said through gritted teeth, frustration written all over her face. "At this rate… we'll fall."
Shizune's eyes widened before she shook her head vigorously. "No. We will keep fighting. I will keep fighting."
Tsunade blinked at her in surprise, watching as Shizune ran into battle. She blinked slowly, and then sighed and shook her head. "I guess it can't be helped." She rolled up her sleeves and cracked her knuckles. "As Hokage, I will fight as well."
She needed to protect her village after all; her people.
She'd be damned if she let Orochimaru take over.
Tsunade hesitated not a moment longer as her fist suddenly connected into a Sound's face, sending the surprised enemy flying through several cemented walls. Shizune paused when hearing a loud crashing noise, and she smiled when seeing that the Godaime was indeed joining the fight. There weren't enough medic-nins to heal everyone, but Tsunade couldn't just sit back, not when she had enough strength to fight for over a dozen men. And she couldn't just stand back and watch as the Sound-nin moved in on her people and killed her shinobi.
"Aa, Tsunade… joining the fight?"
Her brow twitched as her hold on an enemy Sound neck's tightened. He was writhing and gagging, struggling to get free of her iron grasp.
"You will perish then… just like Sarutobi did when defending Konoha. He was an old fool…"
The enemy in her grasp no longer struggled or writhed as his neck suddenly snapped from the pressure she was applying. Tsunade released her hold and let the body drop to the ground. She turned around to face Orochimaru.
"I was wondering when you would show up, Orochimaru."
He smirked. "I was held up for a bit… "
"Hm." Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"Sasuke-kun proved to be rather troublesome… but I dealt with him."
Something flickered in her eyes, but whether she was upset or angry, or showed to believe Sasuke was dead, she didn't show it.
"Heh… so we're all here?"
Tsunade and Orochimaru lifted their heads up to see Jiraiya perched on top of Gamabunta. Tsunade looked displeased to see him, but Orochimaru smiled that usual, disturbing smile of his.
"This time we'll defeat you, Orochimaru," Jiraiya said. Though he sounded loud and obnoxious to Tsunade's ears, his face was drawn into a serious expression and his lips quirked in a dark frown.
---
"Rasengan!"
Naruto attacked Kabuto with his Rasengan, but instead of hitting his target, Kabuto dodged and the attack merely destroyed a good side of a building. Kabuto smirked as he adjusted his glasses, a glare catching the lens.
"Get out of my way, Kabuto!" Naruto glowered as he made an attempt to run forward, but Kabuto popped up in front of him and sent a punch at his face. Naruto snarled as he intercepted the punch and turned around in order to ram his elbow into the older man's face. "I said to get out of my fucking way!"
"Are you in that much of a rush, Naruto-kun?" Kabuto asked calmly, still smirking as he pulled away in time in order to avoid the elbow. He pulled out several kunai and flung it at Naruto, but the blonde rolled to the side just as the kunai embedded one by one into the earth. "Don't you want to play?"
"I don't have time for you!"
"You shouldn't worry so much about others, but more of yourself, Naruto-kun," Kabuto chided lightly as he easily dodged Naruto's careless punches and kicks. He could see the blonde was growing impatient and frustrated; impatient that Kabuto would just not go away, and frustrated that he couldn't get through and get to Sakura. But then again, Naruto needed to calm down. Something in him chided him, telling him that Sakura would be fine because… she was, first off, Sakura. Secondly, she was a shinobi. And third… she had freakish strength like the old hag.
She should be fine.
Naruto inhaled and exhaled as he glared at Kabuto when they jumped apart and stood at a good distance, regaining their breaths and footing. His grip on his kunai tightened, before loosening somewhat. He closed his eyes and heaved a deep sigh.
Hold on for a bit longer, Sakura-chan.
He opened his eyes again, his stormy blue eyes determined. Kabuto frowned at Naruto's sudden change in demeanor, but his glasses glinted as he smirked and lowered himself in a defensive stance. The Kyuubi container pounced and the two went at it again.
---
The Sound-nin were more than confident that they would be able to defeat the single Jounin.
But when they saw what she did to one of their members… saw how she punched him and sent him flying yards… they weren't so certain anymore and decided they needed to take this fight seriously, even if it was all of them against one of her. But they didn't want to be at the receiving end of any of her punches or kicks.
Sakura pulled on her gloves as she flexed her fingers and then clenched her hands into knuckles, her emerald eyes narrowed and her lips down in a determined fashion. No matter what, she wasn't going to let them harm any of the villagers. Just as they were ready to advance, Sakura reached into her pouch and tossed several smokeballs. The area was instantly covered by the smoke and Sakura held a hand over her mouth and nose as she stealthily maneuvered through the smog, having memorized where each Sound-nin was standing. She approached the nearest one from behind, her hand coming and resting on the back of his neck. She shot her chakra throughout his body in jolts of electricity that shocked every nerve in his body in all the wrong ways. Smoke emitted from his corpse before he dropped to the floor. She steadied him to make sure he fell on the ground silently before she silently stalked through the smoke. Some of the Sound-nin were wise and retreated, but others blindly tried to reach around and find something solid to maybe help them determine where they were, or where Sakura was.
As a medic-nin, she wasn't fond of killing, but as a shinobi… It was necessary, especially during war. She was nimble and silent as she glided swiftly through the smoke, slicing another Sound across the throat and quietly lowering his body to the ground. She was approaching another Sound from behind when one of them decided to finally do something about this smoke. Sakura clasped her hands over her ears when an irritatingly loud and ear-piercing sound echoed and vibrated throughout their surroundings. The vibrations and sound waves in the air caused ripples through the wind and smoke, making the smoke finally disperse.
They saw she was about to attack one of their members, and Sakura had to leap away when they flung kunai at her. They started running after her as she headed towards one of the buildings, not caring that if she ran in that direction, she would basically be cornered. But like every smart shinobi, she had a plan. She was already gathering chakra in her legs, feet and hands when she ran along the length of the building and kicked off, flipping smoothly through the air before landing on the other side. The Sound were the ones in between her and the wall now, and Sakura wasted no time in kicking the nearest one. He flew and crashed into the wall, the force leaving a crater. She twirled around as her leg slammed into another's torso, and then her fist reached another's face, a satisfying crack of bones breaking filling the air.
---
Naruto fought seriously for the remainder of the battle, but after a while it was obvious the two were starting to take a toll on each other. Naruto healed fast, but healing couldn't hide how he breathed heavily and how tired he was starting to look. Kabuto looked injured and tired, but his injuries soon disappeared as soon as he healed himself. Naruto was wondering how Sakura was fairing off, and his desperation only increased at the thought that she could need help. He lunged carelessly at Kabuto again, eyes red and the markings on his cheeks jagged.
---
He panted heavily as he hunched forward, crouched while using his sword for support. He lifted his head up, brows knit and onyx eyes narrowed. He had managed to make it to the entrance of Konoha where he could see the war still raging on. Sasuke pushed himself on and urged onward, limping as blood dripped down his right arm and dribbled down from his temple, temporarily blinding one of his eyes. He wiped the blood from his vision and focused on moving as fast as he could.
---
Sakura was doing fine punching and kicking and hitting whatever body parts she could reach, but it was obvious she had been careless; that she hadn't thought it all the way through. They had though. They knew if they let her keep punching and kicking with all she had, she would get tired and she would eventually give way. Sakura realized her mistake albeit too late. She was getting tired and they… they were fine, most having avoided her hits, others not so lucky. But the sacrifices were okay to them so long as they could bring her down. She was getting tired and careless and it showed when one of the Sound-nins was able to throw a kunai and pierce it through her shoulder. She winced as she pulled it out and healed herself, but she couldn't heal herself all the way when two suddenly lunged at her and she had to defend herself.
---
Naruto gnashed his teeth and bared his fangs at Kabuto as he snarled and swiped at his face. The medic-nin merely dodged and raised his knee, slamming it into the blonde's abdomen. He gasped and doubled forward, Kabuto wasting no time in grabbing his blonde hair and tugging it back before suddenly pushing him down, slamming him face-first into the ground. Kabuto raised a leg to kick down at him, but Naruto rolled to the side and into a crouching position before sweeping a leg out at Kabuto's feet. He jumped and kicked at Naruto's head, sending him sliding across the ground before he flipped on to his feet and glared at Kabuto, his eyes turning a bolder red.
---
"Get out of my way," Sasuke snarled, his Sharingan spinning wildly in his eyes. He brandished his katana as he cleanly sliced through a Sound-nin that had dared get in his way. He knew Orochimaru had come into Konoha. Sasuke wasn't done with him. He was going to show Orochimaru that he could defeat him… he just needed to find him… He needed to defeat Orochimaru… because if he can't defeat him, how will he defeat Itachi? Adrenaline pumping, Sasuke ignored his body's protest as he ran through Konoha in search of Orochimaru.
---
She was tired. Her punches were slower, less forceful – there was hardly any chakra put into her hits anymore. She was hit with a sound wave that sent her crashing into a wall. Sakura grunted as she slid to the ground and started to push herself up when she saw several kunai flying at her. She rolled to the side, one scraping her other shoulder before she rolled on to her feet again. She hadn't seen the shuriken coming until one embedded her already injured shoulder (the one a previous kunai had pierced). Sakura ignored the pain as she attempted to dodge the other shuriken. Some managed to graze her sides, leaving gashes through her clothes and small cuts that she wasn't going to be bothered with. Sakura heard panicked screams coming from the hideout the villagers were evacuated in and only just realized some of the Sound-nin slipped away. Sakura cursed and ran in that direction.
Some of the Genin had come out in order to defend their hideout, but only one was still standing. Sakura hoped they were just unconscious. She ran as fast as she could when she saw one of the Sound-nin preparing to attack the twelve-year old, and Sakura quickly scooped him into her arms as her back took the full blast. It was another sound wave, a forceful pressure that sent her crashing to the ground and her bones in her body to quake and tremble. She knew the pressure made some thing in her crack, but Sakura pointedly ignored the sharp pain in her ribs. She let out a shuddered sigh before she pushed herself up and looked down worriedly at the Genin.
"Daijoubu?"
"Hai…" he replied shakily.
Sakura got up and stood defensively in front of him, her eyes narrowed at the advancing Sound-nins who looked more confident than ever before. One of them, one that looked the biggest of them all, formed several hand seals before a sudden gust of wind blew at her. She dug her heals into the ground and held her arms over her face, but that didn't do much to stop the sharp gusts of wind that came at her and sliced at her arms and body. She closed her eyes when a sharp gust grazed her cheek, a trail of blood lingering with the current. It felt like… paper cuts, but, it was wind cutting her, and it hurt… a whole lot more. When the wind stopped, Sakura dropped her hands to her sides, barely standing now as she just hardly managed to lift up one of her hands, the hand that was holding a kunai.
Sakura would have healed herself – it would have been no problem – but she had used up all of her chakra healing people and concentrating it into her attacks.
"Sakura-neechan!" The Genin boy she had saved held on to her from behind, worried about her.
"Please… go inside," Sakura pleaded from over her shoulder. She cried out suddenly when another sound wave hit her, forcing her to slide back a bit as she dug her heals even more into the ground to stop herself from sliding any further.
"Sakura-neechan…"
"I said go inside!" Her tone was firm.
But whether he was too scared or too uncertain to move, Sakura didn't have time to think about it because a Sound-nin was suddenly standing in front of her, sword raised, a smug smirk on his face. Her eyes widened in horror as the blade came down, slicing through flesh.
Heavy amounts of blood spilled on the ground.
All that could be heard after was Sakura's short but pained cry that pierced the thick air.
---
Sasuke paused as he turned in the direction of the scream.
His grip on his katana tightened as he ran faster.
---
Naruto froze, his head lifting when he heard the scream as well. Kabuto watched him.
The blonde moved too fast for him to stop.
Kabuto could only watch as Naruto darted in the direction of the scream.
---
Blood splattered across her face and clothes as she stared in horror. The boy… The Genin…
He… saved her.
Hot wet tears blurred her vision as Sakura's bottom lip quivered violently. She held her arms out to the boy as he fell forward, his eyes falling closed. Sakura sobbed and hugged his bleeding body tightly, trying desperately to summon any chakra she could to heal him; to save him as he saved her, but she didn't have any chakra left… she was all burnt out. Sakura didn't care that she was starting to get drenched and soaked in his blood as she hugged him to her and cried openly.
"Nande…?" Her voice cracked as she looked down at his face, brushing aside his pale blonde hair. He smiled at her as he snuggled closer, his head tilting to the side.
"Ne, Sakura-neechan… you're so warm…"
"No, no…" Sakura shook him, desperate to keep him awake. "Stay awake. Please… stay awake…" She couldn't even see his face clearly as tears kept filling her eyes and falling from the corners like a never ending torrent of water.
"Please, Sakura-neechan, I'm tired…" the boy protested, and she stopped shaking him, watching him numbly as he snuggled against her again. "And you're so warm… I want to rest…"
A sob caught in her throat as she whispered, "…nande?"
"I didn't want Sakura-neechan to get hurt…" And with that, as if falling into a slumber, his eyes closed over completely and he slowly went limp in her arms. A peaceful look washed over his face like a gentle wave. Sakura blinked slowly as her tears splattered in droplets on his face before she hugged him close to her again and shut her eyes in a pained expression.
"Hn." The Sound-nin smirked as he raised his sword again, but Sakura didn't move as she only hugged the boy's body tightly to her.
"Katon: Ryuuka no Jutsu."
A long blaze of hot red flame suddenly came out of nowhere and engulfed the Sound-nin with the raised sword. He barely had time to scream before he was disintegrated to ashes. Sakura lifted her head up slowly just as someone ran in front of her. She could only see his back, but she's seen that back plenty of times to recognize him from behind.
"Sasuke-kun…"
He glanced at her from over his shoulder, his eyes lingering on the dead boy before looking up at her. She looked down and closed her eyes again, holding the boy to her as she cried silently. Naruto came, his gaze darting from Sasuke to Sakura to the dead boy then to Sasuke and to Sakura and the boy all over again.
"What –"
"The boy's blood."
Naruto looked at Sasuke before looking at Sakura again. He studied the limp body of the boy and then sniffed the air. Indeed, it was the boy's blood. He narrowed his eyes as he clenched his fists. "Which one of the bastards did it?"
Sasuke pointed to his ashes.
"…" Naruto kicked at them before rounding his glare on the remaining Sound-nin. His eyes were red and his pupils narrowed, and as he grinned maliciously, his fangs were bared. Sasuke glanced at him, noting his changes. He just hoped Naruto had enough control over the Kyuubi's chakra to not lose control, or else everyone would be in deep shit – not just Konoha, but the Sound as well.
"Sakura," Sasuke suddenly spoke up. She opened her eyes and looked at his back. "You have to get a hold of yourself. We're in the middle of a war."
Sakura lowered her gaze again.
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck before scowling. "Stop being such a cold-hearted bastard… "
"No." Sakura murmured, wiping her eyes. "Sasuke-kun is right."
"Sakura-chan…" Naruto looked at her worriedly, but she ignored the worried look as she gently lay the boy's body down and planted a kiss on his forehead. She pushed herself up on to her feet.
"This is war… I can cry later." She smiled lightly at Naruto, who sighed and nodded.
Before they could attack the Sound-nin though, three gigantic creatures – a frog, a snake and a slug – came tumbling by, knocking some buildings over and, in the process, squishing the Sound-nin that Team Seven was about to clobber. Sakura and Naruto blinked in surprise, and Sasuke looked mildly surprised as they watched the three gigantic creatures go at it.
"Tsunade-sama?" Sakura looked up at the gigantic slug where Tsunade stood perched on top.
"Eeehhh? Ero-Sennin? When did he get here?"
"…Orochimaru…" Sasuke growled as his grip on his katana tightened before he ran after the Three Legendary Sennin.
Sakura and Naruto exchanged (exasperated) looks before running after him.
"Oooii! Ero-Sennin! Gamabunta!" Naruto waved as he leaped on the rooftops, keeping up with the fighting Sennin.
"Eh? Gaki? Sakura-san?" Jiraiya blinked down at them, before he had to brace himself when a particularly hard blow sent Gamabunta stumbling into a building.
Sasuke wasted no time in scaling the length of the snake's body before leaping up and lashing at Orochimaru with his katana.
"Nani? What does that brat think he's doing?" Tsunade snapped, arms crossed.
Orochimaru caught the blade with one hand, as his other rose and slammed into Sasuke's side, sending him flying off. He flipped mid-air and landed gracefully on a rooftop, eyes narrowed.
"I will deal with you later, Sasuke-kun, I told you already," Orochimaru murmured, smiling. His snake-like eyes darted from Sasuke and to Naruto, and the blonde blinked as he took a reflexive step backwards. "It is the Kyuubi container I am most interested in at the moment."
Instantly, Tsunade and Jiraiya stood protectively in front of the building Naruto stood on.
"What are your intentions, Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked, glaring.
Orochimaru didn't seem to hear her as he gazed straight past them and right at Naruto, still smiling. "Those eyes…" Naruto's eyes were red. He recalled a time during their Chuunin Exams, when they were in the forest, that Naruto's eyes were red. He could also recall another time where he first handedly witnessed the power of the Kyuubi… but Orochimaru knew there was so much more to the Kyuubi's power…
Naruto felt very unnerved with the snake-bastard just staring at him… He grit his teeth as he shook his fist. "Oi! What're you lookin' at?"
Orochimaru smirked, looking clearly amused.
Naruto blinked and then looked down when a metal collar suddenly appeared and latched around his neck. He creased his brows in confusion as he started to tug on the collar, and his panic only started to increase when chains sprouted from the ground, wound around his legs and then body.
"Naruto?" Sakura looked worried as she took a step towards him, and Naruto looked at her, his eyes only widening when a kunai suddenly flew out of nowhere and pierced through her back and came out her front. She fell forward slowly… slowly… before dropping at his feet. Naruto could only look at her body in horror before suddenly Sasuke fell at his feet, too, bleeding everywhere… everywhere…
Naruto shook his head in disbelief.
This was a genjutsu… He needed to snap out of it… but he couldn't stop breathing heavily, he couldn't get a proper control of himself to think clearly. He couldn't control how his heart started to race painfully in his rib cage, and how the Kyuubi's voice invaded his mind.
Blood… I smell blood…
His senses were invaded with the heavy smell of blood; of rotting and dead corpses; of a battle that was still raging on. Somewhere among all the blood he could smell fire, but it was faint, merely a memory of an actual scent. The chains around him tightened, and the collar around his neck felt unbearably tight. Bars were around him. He was in a cage. Why was he in a cage? He didn't like the cage, or the chains and collar… why was he chained up?
No, I do not like this cage… I want out… I want out…
Naruto tried to block out the voice, the images of his teammates dead, the scent of blood and death and how wonderful it tasted in his mouth. He tried to ignore the desperation that started building up when he realized he was in a cage…
Locked up like some animal…
Naruto… Naruto's not an animal…
"Let me out…" He rammed his shoulder against the bars. "Let me out… Let me out! I'm not a monster!" He tried to break the bars down but he couldn't.
And Naruto suddenly froze stock still as he stared with wide eyes at a familiar image that took shape outside of his cage. He could see himself, little Naruto, standing alone and crying and wiping his eyes as the villagers stood behind him with disapproving eyes; loathing eyes; hateful eyes… He could see little Naruto sitting alone on a swing as the other children played amongst each other, not daring to go near Naruto because their parents told them to stay away from him… He could hear the whispers the older villagers murmured behind his back; the hurtful words that cut deep into his heart. And then sad little Naruto, the little Naruto that was so lonely and crying, looked up at older and caged Naruto, tears shimmering in his bright cerulean eyes. But they didn't look cerulean anymore. They were red, red and bright and watery. Little Naruto held a hand out to him.
And he found he could reach out a hand… and he reached further and further until their fingertips touched, until their hands slid together and Naruto's bigger hand clasped younger Naruto's little hand. And he embraced his younger self as red took over his vision.
---
Sakura watched in horror as Naruto suddenly dropped to his knees and started yelling, his hands grasping his hair and clutching his head as he seemed to be fighting off something. She took a step back when his claws started to get longer and his fangs sharper, and the lava red chakra around him started boiling and tails started to take shape. Jiraiya pulled her on to Gamabunta and the frog leaped to a safe distance, Tsunade and Kitsuii following. Sakura didn't understand much of anything that happened after that. Naruto was no longer Naruto, but the Kyuubi; five tails (not nine). Sasuke tried fighting Naruto. Naruto was destroying the village. Tsunade tried to stop Naruto. Naruto tried to destroy them. Jiraiya tried to stop Naruto… Naruto…
Sakura cried as she ran to him.
Naruto… Where are you?
She didn't understand what happened. Orochimaru said he would stop Naruto if Tsunade handed Konoha over to him.
Sakura continued to run to Naruto; Naruto who looked at her with the Kyuubi's eyes.
Tsunade… had to agree.
Naruto…? It's me, Sakura. Naruto… where are you? Where is your soul?
Orochimaru couldn't stop Naruto right away.
Sasuke continued to try to stop Naruto as Sakura felt like she was running forever. And then Sasuke was falling… Sasuke was dying somewhere between it all… and Sakura tried to catch him…
Something happened to Naruto, and she saw him falling, too.
She tried to catch them both.
She reached her hands higher.
Naruto, Sasuke…
And her vision went black.
/ TO BE CONTINUED /
Omg I actually found an ending. –happy sob-
…And no… future chapters won't be as long as this… on the contrary they'll be much shorter, haha, probably anyway… I just couldn't stop typing this. Originally I was going to make this a sequel to another Naruto fanfic I was working on… but I basically gave up all hope on that one and decided it wasn't necessary anymore for me to work on this… that and I wanted to work on this muy much. So yeah! And the only reason why this chapter was long was because of the battle… I didn't want to separate it. I wanted to get it over with right away or else if I did separate it into other chapters, it would take longer.
And if there's any spelling errors (which I'm sure there is) I apologize… I was typing with arial narrow size 7 font soo I don't notice them very much… and jutsus… I'm not that good with them so bare with me… and the ending may be confusing, but it'll all be explained in due time.
And I know, I know... the cliche Naruto-in-cage thing... yeah, yeah... it was necessary, haha.
But... reviews would be very much appreciated... just that sometimes reviews scare me... but... umm yeah -scratches head- Review please? And be nice? -hides-
--FT