Disclaimer:Don't own naruto chars.Plot after the actual manga is mine however.
Anyway Lets get on with the story(hopefully which you all have been waiting for)
Note that the start of this chapter can be read with "A Small Measure of Peace-The Last Samurai OST" in the background.(If you are an emo-which I am not-you can read it with Goodbye My Lover-James Blunt too.) After the fight begins "Wheel of Fortune-Dead Man's Chest OST" is recommended.
Chapter 2:Shades of Past-Part 1
It was his best moment.He knew it.All along he should have known that she was for him.He should have seen that a long time ago.The moment Hina-Hime of his said "yes" to his proposal was his best moment ever.
It was going to be wonderful,he and Hinata would lived happily ever after.
But Naruto should have known better.Having been containing Nine-Tails he should have realized there was no happily ever after.
It came as a surprise.Like a bad joke.Like a nightmare to Naruto.Just a month later marriage,just 2 weeks after completely setting down,Hinata was killed.Killed by no other person than Haruna Sakura.Killed out of jealousy and rage, manifestation of both her sorrow of Sasuke's death and her disappointment of losing Naruto to another woman.
This was what she told right before he killed her anyway.
No,the right word should be murdered.
He murdered yet another one of his old comrades,having valid reasons(such as Sakura being a member of Akatsuki) but unmoral motivations(such as revenge).
The very unmoral motivations made him a hard,stern man.
The death of Hinata was the end for him.4th Hokage's son died all inside,only to be replaced by a killer tutored by Nine-Tails himself.
An avenger...
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"Naruto,stop it,everyone is looking at us."Hinata turned to red as her boyfriend tried to kiss her.
Naruto stopped and with the most puppy-like eyes he can make he asked "Why can't I Hina-chan?"
"Because if my father finds out that I kissed you in public,he will kill me.It was hard enough to get a permission from him.He went nuts when he learned that I want to date you."
Naruto took a sarcastic puzzled pose and asked with an equal sarcastic tone "Oh my,I can't even dream why he is acting like that.Anyway,how did you make him let you come?"
"I said if he refused you would went overboard and unleash Nine-Tails to Hyuuga Compound."
Naruto looked shocked.Then he started to laugh like hell.
"I-I didn't know you could threaten people like this."He was barely able to stop laughing.
"He took it seriously.And he wanted me to say this."
"He did,huh?That's unusual,coming from your father."
"He said "If you ever hurt her or show your dark side to her,I will set all of Konoha after you."
Naruto shivered and looked scared. "I remember the last time villagers came after me."
Hinata sighed heavily.She was able to overcome the extreme shyness of hers through vigorous exercise with Naruto.Although she still tended to fidget with her fingers when she was worried,she was able to speak and stand tall when situation needed it.
Hinata thought that "Although I am strong now,if Naruto-kun didn't asked me out out when he did,I would never be able to talk."
And she was damn right about that.When he really asked her out,she literally fainted 4 times before sinking the truth completely in.
Naruto cut her thinking half,and took her hand into his. "Lets go to the training area,village looks so lame to me now."
Hinata nodded and they started to jump on the roofs.
However,to the much displeasure of Naruto,the spot has already been taken.
No other couple than Neji and Tenten also!
Hinata freaked when she saw Naruto was preparing his sleeves in order to jump Neji.She quickly catched his arm then dragged him to the woods.Naruto calmed down a bit when Hinata touched his skin.
When they turned their eyes to the clearing however,Naruto's eyes went white.
Hinata couldn't believe what she was seeing too.
"What the-how in the goddamn-oh come on!!!!" Naruto rambled as they saw Neji pulled Tenten to him and gave her a reallylong and wet kiss.Hinata was turning to red rapidly while Naruto was hitting his head to a tree.
"I can't believe-that damn man-to think he kissed a girl before me with such a class!"
Hinata turned to an interesting shade of purple and asked Naruto "Do you think like that Naruto-kun?"
"Hell yeah.Even hebeat me to it.Dam-" His words were blocked-as well as his mouth- as Hinata jumped on him and started kissing him.
That kissing contiuned for a long time(for a minute actually),and when they finally stopped while lying on ground Naruto smiled sadly.
"Once again,I showed what a fool I am." Hinata answered with a small smile. Then they started kissing each other again.They made a lot of noise as they rolled on ground too.
Though Neji and Tenten were busy to hear that.
If someone came here right now, this scene would be a total shock.Naruto flashed a grin at that thought.
Unknown to them however, someone was already watching.
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"WHAT?!?" Tsunade instantly became enraged when she heard what Naruto said."REPEAT!"
"I said that I want to marry with Hinata.Why do you act so flaming?"
"WHY?WHY? Fool! Do you know what marriage means,huh? Ceremony,gifts,organization of all details,not to mention the bride-groom preparations, flowers,guest list,ah... And since you don't have a mother or father -mention me later to break his picture later- all the work will be on me!"
Tsunade calmed down with this long speech.She sighed and looked to Naruto.He was grown,yes,but his childish charm remained.
Tsunade couldn't say she wasn't expecting this.Ever since Naruto started dating her,it was all too obvious marriage was inevitable.The number of lectures she gave to Hyuuga Hiashi was well over twenty.
That and she lost count how many times Sakura cried on her shoulder too. It is just natural she thought.When Sasuke left after killing Itachi and fighting Sakura after that,there was no other man than Naruto for Sakura.
And he was going to marry now.
You never told me things like that,old man. Tsunade looked at the portrait of third.If I knew all these before,I would never came back to be Hokage.
"Fine then.Go ahead and make the same mistake your father did.Founding a family at the age of 20 like something,that is."
"So you will both let me marry and help me marry?" Tsunade nodded with a sad look on her face.
"YAY! You are actually acting nice,Granny." Tsunade raised her brow at that last word.
Naruto got the hint instantly. "Eh-well...I'm off then."
At that very moment,Shizune barged in and handed a report with a mood like her life depended on it.Tsunade just glanced her a bit and started reading the report.
Only to drop it seconds after she started reading it.She glanced blankly to the report for a few seconds.Then she boomed.
"SHIZUNE,GET NARUTO HERE QUICKLY!!!!!"
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The report stated that the S-class criminal,Uchiha Sasuke was on the move.His location was confirmed,and thus an elite pursue team was requested from Leaf Village.
Naruto had already given up on Sasuke,given the fact that after killing Itachi,he was completely lost from the sight of ninjas.Having stated his next target would be Uchiha Madara,this was highly uncharacteristic for him.
It had been 3 years since the statue of absorbing tailed beasts's power was destroyed,Akatsuki was reduced to only Pain and Madara himself,and Sasuke was lost from detection.
Maybe this means finally he will return.Maybe he gave up looking for Madara.But Naruto knew Sasuke good enough not to turn to those false hopes.
Tsunade formed a team including Naruto,Sakura,Shikamaru,Neji,Kiba and Kakashi.
Their goal was simple:Capture Sasuke if possible,kill him otherwise.
That was when the descent of Haruno Sakura began.
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"Are we getting close to the origin of the scent,Kiba?"
"We must be.The scent is getting stronger."
The platoon continued their jumps until they reached the origin of the scent Kiba had catched earlier. It was a clearing within forest,and a small shack on the middle of it.
They approached the shack carefully,given Sasuke's detection skills were high too.Naruto barged in when he finally arrived to the door.
Shocking,would the best term to explain it.Sasuke was indeed there.
Lying on a pool of blood. Yet he didn't seem to be injured,and the blood was already dry.
When he took notice of them,he raised his head and flashed a cold smile.
"Still pursuing me Naruto,are you? I thought last time you truly gave up."
"You are a S-class criminal in bingo book,and we have a duty to take you either by force or your will." The harshness of Naruto's voice and words startled everyone.
Sasuke smiled again. "Finally grown up,I see.But I have no intention of coming back.After 3 years,I finally may found a clue about Madara.Will you deny me this opportunity?"
"You have condemned yourself to a circle of hatred and vengeance,Sasuke.No more can I or anyone else grant you an opportunity.You yourself destroyed this possibility long ago."
Kakashi spoke at last. "Are you coming with us,quietly Sasuke?"
Sasuke remained expressionless this time. "Of course not."
"Then we must do what we must do.Squad,break up and attack."
Sasuke didn't even flinch. "Are you sure you want to do this Sakura? I can see you are already shaking,and having doubts about your mission.Maybe you remember the words you said so long ago,the words that required an apology."
It was true,to everyone's surprise to see Sakura crying,and a moment later collapsed on her knees.Sasuke indeed hit a critical spot of Sakura.Given her feelings,Naruto could understand them.
Butonly understand.No more he could remain sympathetic to her feelings.
"Get a grip Sakura.This is your duty as a Leaf Ninja,ad this man is not your friend but a foe."
Sakura could only looked up to Naruto.
"Then I am taking you myself!" With this last remark,Naruto attacked Sasuke in the blink of an eye.The technique he newly learned,Flying Thunder God Technique was still far from being fully utilized by him.But only a tenth of its speed was enough to catch Sasuke off-balanced.
Both of them cannoned out of shack.Sasuke jumped back and assumed a fighting stance.His right hand was staying on his sword,and his Sharingan was activated.
Rest of the platoon excluding Sakura came out from the shack.While Neji and Kakashi hurried to help Naruto,Shikamaru and Kiba remained behind. Shikamaru retreated to the shadows of the forest.
It was wise of them to reserve a back-up because moments after Kakashi reached Sasuke, Sasuke's team Snake got out from the shadows of the forest.
The true fight had begun.
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It became clear that the Snake couldn't be hold down only by Shikamaru and Kiba,so Kakashi ordered Neji to help them.Naruto spoke while still looking to Sasuke.
"Sensei,you go too.This is our fight,alone.Besides I can take Scaredy-Cat by myself."
Sasuke's face grew cold. "I will make you eat those words."
Naruto offered a very un-Naruto like smile. "Come then,traitor of a lifetime."
Kakashi saw he would be over-powered by the magnitude of thier fight,so he hurried to help others.
While these happened,Sakura was still crying on the floor of the shack.
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Shikamaru threw three shurikens to his target,a male ninja who used an enormous sword.He evaded shurikens easily.He tried to make a counter attack but Kiba attacked him from side.That attack caught him off-balance.But he was agile and he quickly evaded this attack too.Kiba and Akamaru used their combination move to bring him down.He stopped Kiba's turning by hitting him with his sword,and quickly evaded Akamaru who has been coming fast to him.He smiled when he saw Kiba lying senseless on the ground.
On the other side of the clearing,Neji was battling with a female ninja.
Neji tried to do a diving attack from below,but she jumped backwards.He continued his attack using his left hand to jump from ground to her.He executed a three punch one kick combo,all of which were evaded.She countered the attacks by catching his right foot and threw him to ground.He spinned in air and threw a kunai under his sleeve.She hardly evaded that,and thus lost her balance.
Neji saw his chance.He quickly initiated the 64 hit divine strike combo.
Kakashi confronted the giant male.He was looking docile.He spoke with a soft tone.
"You really don't want to make me angry."
"This is for me to decide,doesn't it?"
Kakashi attacked him with a fire jutsu,spraying fire from his mouth.He evaded that,and suddenly his left side became stained with dark marks.Kakashi startled upon hearing his now-changed voice.
"I-I need...to kill...anyone ..."
Kakashi barely had time to avoid getting hit by a fatal blow.But the punch grazed him,and that sent him flying to 20 meters away.
On the near middle of clearing,Naruto and Sasuke clashed for a few times.They came to a halt evaluate each other.For a moment nothing but the sounds of the other fights was heard.Then Naruto attacked Sasuke head on.He drew 2 kunais and countered his sword.Sasuke slashed his sword from below but Naruto jumped above it.He tried to slash Sasuke,but he evaded them.Sasuke attacked relentlessy for a few times,bu Naruto was quick too.They were battling so fast,a normal ninja couldn't catch their movements.
He has gotten faster.Even with Sharingan,I'm barely able to see his movements.Sasuke tried to find an opening,but Naruto wouldn't give any.
Damn Sharingan.If it wasn't present,it would be over now.Plus,he won't likely give me a chance to use Rasengan or Shadow Clones.Naruto tried to run a little far to execute some hand signs,but Sasuke kept blocking him.
Then,Naruto tried something else.He threw a kunai to Sasuke,then he vanished.Sasuke sensed him behind,but he was too fast.He plunged a kunai all the way to his belly.Sasuke had barely avoided a fatal blow,but he was deeply injured.
I have no other choice.He activated his cursed seal,quickly assuming his winged form.His injury closed up a bit,enough to stop bleeding and allowing him to fight.Then he started to fly.
Naruto was helpless at that moment.As a close range fighter,it was very hard for him to attack Sasuke from ground.Sasuke attacked him a few times,then activated a fire ninjutsu.Numerous fireballs flew to Naruto,he tried to evade them,and he succeeded.But when he evaded the last one,he saw his mistake.The purpose of those fireballs was to make him jump,thus allowing Sasuke to plunge his sword into him.
Naruto avoided a fatal blow at the last moment by turning in the air but he was injured.He lost his consciousness.
He found himself in a familiar,dark sewer.And quickly in front of the gate with the seal on it.
Kid,are you over-powered by him again?Do you need me?
Naruto looked to his hands.
Do you want to kill him now?
He wasn't sure.He wasn't sure anything about it.
Because if you don't kid,he willkill you.
Naruto raised his head,he had made a decision.
"I want to kill him."
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Sasuke realized that Naruto was gaining power from Nine-Tails.But before he could suppress its chakra with Sharingan,Naruto attacked him.With a hatred like nothing he had ever felt before.
Sasuke tried to get airborn,but Naruto blocked him.He formed a chakra cloak while attacking,and the first tail with it.
Sasuke realized that he was going to get over-powered this time.He activated a genjutsu.Several snakes attacked Naruto at the same time.
He got rid of all of them in one strike.He continued his assault on Sasuke.
At last,Sasuke gave an opening.Naruto jumped on him,and tore his wings apart.
At that very moment,Karin's attention was drawn to Sasuke,so she got hit by Neji's 64 hit divine strike.She lay down unconscious.Neji,seeing that Kakashi was in trouble hurried to him.
Kakashi was indeed in trouble.He was evading a 9th of 10 of Juugo's attacks,but the one that he received was devastating.He couldn't hold his guard up anymore,his hands fell to his sides.The punch that would end his life was coming...not.Neji blocked him with a whirl technique with his Byakugan combined.While Kakashi was trying to get up from the ground,Neji mounted a counter attack that forced Juugo to back up a little.
Suigetsu saw odds were not in their favor,even Juugo is force to back up,Karin unconcsious and Sasuke having a bad time,he decided it was time to retreat.
By himself,at least.
"Goodbye everyone,that's it from me."
And with those words,he escaped into the forest.
Kiba tried to chase him,but stopped by Shikamaru. "Let him go,we need to help Neji."
Kiba nodded and they hurried to Neji and Juugo.
Kakashi had pulled himself together at last,but Kiba and Shikamaru attacked Juugo before he could.Kiba and Akamaru attacked Juugo from two sides,while Neji covering the front.Juugo catched both Kiba and Akamaru in air,then threw them away.He attacked Neji but he was stopped by Neji's incredible whirl.However,this technique was taking a lot from him.At the very moment he would collapse tothe ground,Juugo stopped.
Shikamaru had binded his shadow to Juugo's at last.And with good timing too,because his right arm had been transformed into a massive blade.
It seemed to be the victory of Konoha this time.But Sakura appeared at that very moment.
She pulled Naruto off Sasuke and threw him away.She was crying at the same time.
"Enough of this,aren't you two never get satisfied without killing each other? Why can't you be more understanding Naruto,is it so hard to show kindness to an old friend?"
With a slightly unhuman tone in his voice,Naruto spoke.
"Get out of the way,Sakura.You are protecting a traitor right now."
Sakura cried even harder. "I can't let you two do this again.I can't lose Sasuke again."
"Look at him.Is he Sasuke?Or is he an Uchiha created for vengeance?"
"Then look at yourself Naruto!You let Nine-Tails influence yourself!"
Naruto growled at that comment.A second tail began to form.Kakashi became aware of the danger.But even he now couldn't stop it.
Naruto attacked Sasuke head on.But Sakura stood in the way trying to protect Sasuke.It was futile,however,against Nine-Tails and Naruto's own power combined she was simply thrown away.
Sasuke spoke for the last time. "Let's end it,monster."
They attacked each other with a fury unseen.Sasuke using the Chidori current,and Naruto using the ultimate rasengan.They clashed.A light of tremendous brightness erupted.
When everything settled,they all saw Naruto standing over Sasuke.His cloak dissolved,and he collapsed to his knees.Sasuke pointed him to get closer.Naruto did that.
"You have grown Scaredy-Cat.I-I...Tell Sakura...that I...thank her...and...apologise..from her... for not answering her love."
With these words,Sasuke passed away.
Sakura saw his death and screamed with all her sorrow...
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Next Chapter Shades of Past Part 2
Sakura's Fall,Hinata's death,birth of the avenger...
Review please,review...I need opinions fast.
Next installment soon.