Amaterasu – The Infernal Chronicles of Naruto

Right legal stuff: Characters Naruto & co are © to Kishimoto
I rated this fan-fiction at Teen so … the juicy stuff will be left out
Use your imagination when it comes to those parts
and I still am a horrible writer so any reviews are appreciated, cause only with feedback will I get better
Major Revision: 03.03.2008
Thanks to betareader: homesweethomicide13

Chapter 2: A Will Of Fire

At the great Konoha East gate, eight shinobi assembled. Team 10, led by Kakashi, Shikamaru, Chouji and Ino meet up. Team 7 were Naruto, Sai and Sakura and led by Yamato.

It has been too long since Sakura saw Naruto in his orange jump suit and it takes her by surprise a little. It seems Naruto hasn't lost his horrible taste for fashion; as he put his ANBU cloak over his jump suit. The combination was just horrible; the camouflaging orange and black tiger stripped ANBU cloak covering the plain orange and black jump suit just didn't fit. But that was Naruto for you.

Chouji was in his Clan out fit and Ino was wearing her purple kunoichi outfit, while Kakashi, Yamato and Shikamaru were in Konoha's standard uniform. Sai of course was wearing his usual attire that made him look like a girl.

"Alright, listen up! It'll take a day worth of travelling to reach the Wave Country, and since it might be a war zone we will need to be fit accordingly," Kakashi says.

"Then let's hurry up!" Naruto shouts. The teams move out and Naruto travels at the front while Kakashi walks with Sakura.

"It seems like he's back to his usual self," Kakashi says.

"I don't know Kakashi-sensei. Earlier he was really down. It seems missions get his thoughts away from the past," Sakura replies.

"Don't worry too much," Kakashi smiles. Their travel to the Wave Country is uneventful and they reach it safely with the bridge still standing. Reaching the other side of the bridge they are greeted by Inari and his mother.

"Oh, Naruto-niichan, how are you?" Inari greets.

"Wow! You've grown quite tall, haven't you, Inari?" Naruto replies.

Inari had grown in the last three years and was nearly as tall as Naruto now. Still wearing that stripped hat of his, he now wore the working clothes of his village.

"Where is your grandpa?" Sakura asks.

"He's finishing preparation for the evacuation," replies his mother.

"These are our fellow shinobi and team-mates," Kakashi introduces them.

"Nice meeting you, Yamato's the name," Yamato greets.

"Ah, how troublesome" Shikamaru says.

"Shikamaru! I apologise, I am Ino, this is Chouji and that is Shikamaru," Ino bows.

"Oh?! Naruto's friend; I wonder if your penis is larger then his…" Sai begins, but a punch flies his way.

"You don't say those kinds of thing in front of other people. Haven't you been reading books on manners yet?" Sakura yells at him.

"Where's Sasuke-niichan?" Inari looks around them. "Wasn't he with you guys last time around?" A dreadful silence surrounds Naruto and Sakura.

"Now, now, there is time to catch up later on. We need to make preparations for the oncoming assault," Kakashi tries changing the subject, but Inari catches a glimpse of Naruto's facial expression. It looks dreadful, afraid and uncertain.

They move along and Kakashi and Shikamaru plan their defences, while Ino uses her Jutsu on a hawk to scout the sky and forest for the enemies. Chouji keeps watch over her body.

"Alright, if we place Naruto on the bridge, we can divert all other forces to protecting the sea border. That should give us a good chance in defending this place," Shikamaru concludes while Kakashi nods in agreement.

"Shikamaru!" Shikamaru recognizes Chouji's voice. "Ino's back from her patrol."

"How was it?" Shikamaru asks.

"I found them, but they won't be here for another week or two. They have many shinobi with them, but there are also two of them flying, so they might do a pre-emptive strike with them. Also the two flying were wearing the black cloak with red clouds while the others were just wearing some ragtag cloth on. I think they are leading the attack, the Akatsuki that is." Ino says, reporting her finding.

"Do you think they noticed you?" Shikamaru asks her.

"I don't think so, they were pretty busy talking to themselves, but due to the wind and all I couldn't make out what they were saying," Ino replies. "Oh they were flying on two birds, must be some kind of Jutsu."

"Birds you say? Could it be Deidara? But I am sure he self-detonated himself when he faced us during the Gaara rescue," Kakashi said.

"Maybe he used some kind of Bunshin?" Shikamaru said. "Anyways Kakashi, you've faced him before, let's hear some details."

"He's a long range tactician that uses bombing type attacks as his primary form of attack. Of course he loves having his air supremacy to add to the difficulty. Last time we faced him he was mostly running away, and he has bags with him where he gets his clay out of. It seems he needs a steady supply to make his bombs," Kakashi says.

"He'll be very troublesome, what about the other one Ino how did he look like?" Shikamaru asks.

"He was wearing a swirling orange mask and had black hair. That is all I could make out. Oh, also, it seems he was being scolded down by this Deidara for something he did or at least that is how it looked like," Ino says.

"A goof ball.." Shikamaru ponders "…still he made it as far as being allowed to wear their Akatsuki cloak, so be careful."

Shikamaru's sentence is interrupted by a loud explosion that came from the direction of the bridge.

As team 10 arrives at the scene they see a large body of water protecting the bridge from aerial bombing, and one Akatsuki flying round and round trying to strike and weaken the protective Jutsu.

"Right! Yamato, Naruto and the rest of team 7 can handle Deidara. Now, where is the other member?" Shikamaru asks.

Not long after he asks, multiple fireballs are shot from the sea. They evade but the fireballs land in the city and set it aflame.

"Damn! Leave it, we've got to prevent further damage, we need to take him out as quickly as possible!" Shikamaru shouts.

They rush towards the shore and see Tobi skating on the water like it was ice, while again shooting a few fireballs into their direction.

This time Kakashi uses a water barrier Jutsu to block the incoming fireballs. Tobi continues to elude the team and not commence close combat battles. Instead he's trying to do as much damage to the surrounding area as he can.

"Damn! Chouji, Kakashi-sensei! Let's get down to it. Ino you know what to do," Shikamaru commands.

With that Chouji and Kakashi begin their chase after Tobi. Quick on his feet, Tobi eludes them. From atop it looks like a zig-zag chase all over the harbour with balls of fire shot from Tobi's front, with Kakashi and Chouji dodging them or Kakashi retaliating with water missiles. Shikamaru sends out occasional shadow tentacles out of the water when Tobi comes close to the shore.

"Chouji use your meat ball Jutsu, you are faster that way. Leave Kakashi to chase him!" Shikamaru commands through his microphone.

Turning himself into a floating and high speed rolling meatball, Chouji catches up to Tobi on a couple occasions, but still Tobi manages avoid him. The fireballs do little to hurt Chouji in his meatball form; especially with the halo of water surrounding him - he now has become something of a super fast water bullet.

After some more directions from Shikamaru, Chouji soon gets the hang of water balling around and now Tobi's mobility and agility advantage is lost. Blocking him precisely under Shikamaru's direction, Tobi is soon encircled by the combined work of Kakashi's water missiles and Chouji's meatball chase, and moves closer towards the beach where Shikamaru is waiting. Tobi tries a last effort in breaking through the beach, but Ino uses a fire sealing scroll to prevent any further damage.

Now within range, the tentacle trap springs entangling and skewering Tobi completely. Adding to the final blow, Chouji's meatball hits Tobi from behind while Kakashi's Raikiri pierces him from the front.

Afterwards, team 10 witness Tobi's body sinking to the bottom of the harbour.

Meanwhile, Deidara continues to bomb the water shield. Sai and Sakura rise to the air with Sai's bird drawing and try chasing down Deidara.

It quickly turns into an aerial dog fight with Deidara flying up and down, doing barrel rolls while always shooting some of his bird creations , which are mostly fended off by Sai's drawings or Sakura's shuriken skills.

As Deidara witnesses Tobi's defeat he thinks, "Tch! Getting done in so easily Tobi, you truly are pathetic. I guess you did your job though." his eyes wonder towards the burning village. "Time to retreat and occupy the bridge for good next time. That is, if it still standing after I make it a part of my art, un!"

In his hands, Deidara was holding clay shaped like a water drop with two wings like arms and a facial expression similar to an O. It was his C3 bomb.

"Jinchurikii Boy! It seems you have become better yet. No longer are you just a demon. No, you are a Ninja demon now! Un! With that enormous chakra and such control over it, you are now a perfect killing machine, worthy of the praise of an artist like myself. But you will never be able to surpass my artistic skill. True beauty lies within the single fleeting instance that is my art. Behold the honour I bestow upon you and your friends, along with this city, by destroying you with a masterpiece, behold my C3!"

Deidara cracks up laughing and tosses his huge sized creation down towards the bridge. It falls down past Sai and Sakura, and Naruto catches a glimpse of this enormous bomb. In fear and terror he realizes how much damage it could do - not only to the bridge but to all of the people around and especially to Sakura.

Quick in his decision, he tosses Yamato off the bridge and then uses another Fuuton Rasengan, encasing the bomb within the eye of his tornado. A super bright flash of light can be seen within the tornado and the sound of the explosion is deafening.

"Naruto!!!!" Sakura screams.

But her voice is silenced within the loud explosion. Still laughing, Deidara makes his way away from the battle scene back to his main force.

The tornado is still holding until all the force that the explosion has to offer dissipated either upwards or downwards. The water that was absorbing all the heat boiled and steamed underneath the bridge.

As the wind barrier finally died down there laid a black charred Naruto on the floor of his great bridge. The bridge itself was glowing red hot and with much effort Yamato managed to retrieve Naruto with his wood Jutsu.

Sakura was up all night tending to Naruto's burned body. For whatever reason, Naruto was still alive, but only just. With only her left arm to tend to his wounds, Sakura had a really difficult time keeping Naruto alive and it took the combined effort of Sakura and Ino to further stabilize him.

"How could anyone survive that kind of blast?" Chouji asked in the other room with the rest of the Konoha shinobi.

"It seems Naruto made a second Wind sphere shield around himself to protect him from the main blast, but the heat still went through that shield," Kakashi replies. He had returned to the bridge after they brought Naruto safely into a non- burning house.

Yamato and Kakashi were fighting the fire in the city with their combined Water Jutsu. They then analyzed the battle between Deidara and Naruto. There were two ring-like markings where Naruto had fallen; the big one that must have been his Fuuton Rasengan shielding the members from the deadly explosion, and the smaller one that had protected him from most of the blast's force.

"Also, to survive that much heat… it is only possible for Naruto, since he has the Kyuubi healing chakra. Anyone else would instantly have his proteins destroyed and die." Yamato continues Kakashi's train of thought.

"If this goes well we might still be able to hold off the main onslaught, especially now with one of their strongest members gone. Did you see anything with your Sharingan, Kakashi?" Shikamaru asks.

"Sorry, he was too high for anything specific," Kakashi replies.

"Alright! We have to prevent him from doing anything that is even on that scale, and should he have something even more devastating … I don't know … one thing for sure, we need him down on earth. And from how you encountered him before, Kakashi, the quickest way to stop him is to destroy his arms," Shikamaru concludes.

"Sakura, I am going to get some fresh towels," Ino says after they finished healing all the major burns.

"Alright. Ino, thanks for everything," Sakura replies as she keeps watch over Naruto.

She looks down at what remains of his face and spots that he is having some sort of internal struggle.

"What could you be possibly thinking now, Naruto? I beg you, please come back to us," Sakura whispers softly to him. "Please don't just burden yourself with all the responsibility; I am here for you, so please, don't leave me."

"Do you remember when we came here first, Naruto? One night Tazuna-grandpa was telling a story of this village's hero, remember? It seems so long in the past, yet I still remember it clearly. You said, 'I'm going to prove, in this world heroes do exist.' It was so corny back then, but still so brave. Why did you change Naruto? What happened on the day Sasuke died, that broke your unwavering and strong will?

"Are you still regretting that you could not bring him back? Is it because you gave me a promise of a lifetime that you cannot let go of your failure and move on. I already forgave you for that. I just … if you leave me now, too … I don't know what else to do … you are the only one now left … Naruto …"

"Sa …. Ku … Ra… Chan?" It is ever so quiet but Sakura witnesses Naruto's lips move and try to say those words. His eyes open slightly, before they close again.

In his darkness, Naruto hears Sasuke's painful scream, sees the cold and judging Sharingan eyes of Itachi and the malicious laughter of the Kyuubi.

Running aimlessly trying to search for Sasuke he meets memories of past. Memories he longed to become reality once more like the rivalry between him and Sasuke, both of them striving to be better then the other at tree climbing. Back then climbing a tree seemed so impossible, but now it is like common shinobi work.

Or when they were eating dinner together, puking at the same time after eating so much. Those were the time and bonds he tried to restore, yet failed to do.

'Or was it really your fault' he hears a deep voice echo through his dream.

Was it his fault? Could he have done anything better besides finding Sasuke quicker?

Who was to blame?

Then he hears cries. And a memory of past. Inari was a sissy back then, always crying.

A sissy … it feels like their roles are reversed.

What did I say to him back then, Naruto ponders … Strange, I cannot remember.

'Monster …' echoed through his dream…

'A true monster called shinobi…'

This darkness feels cold, freezing cold, with cold eyes watching him everywhere. Eyes judging him and eyes preying on him; he couldn't move. This chill was freezing him in place, making him feel helpless … there were no warmth anywhere around him. So cold.

Sakura could feel the chill and see the shivering that Naruto was experiencing; kissing him on his lips she slipped into the blanket with him hopping to warm him up.

It was weird in the darkness. His lips suddenly felt soft and warm again. He could hear a soft familiar voice calling him. Slowly his whole frozen body felt warm again and the darkness slowly disappeared.

As he opened his eyes he sees Sakura's face in front of him.

He is about to jerk away from the sudden closeness, but another hand stops him.

"Sheesh, don't move or your injuries will open again. Also, let Sakura stay with you a little longer," Ino's voice whispers into Naruto's ear. "She's been up for three days straight tending to your wounds."

Sakura speaks softly in her sleep, "Naruto … don't leave me …" Her left arm grabs hold of him and pulls him closer to her.

Naruto closes his eyes once more, thinking very hard.

As Sakura opens her eyes she is alone in bed. She still has her wrinkled Shinobi outfit on when she storms into the next room "Where's Naruto?"

"Oh you are finally awake," Kakashi replies "Naruto is by Haku's grave." Sakura heads out the door, while Kakashi shouts "Should you eat something first?" but is ignored. The night is clear except for some clouds and it is full moon.

As she reaches the grave she finds Naruto sitting there in front of the graves, with a scroll out. The huge blade that Zabuza wielded was back in its place as a gravestone marker. There was another sword beside Naruto. It had a white grip with a single blue stripe along its blade and sheath. It was Sasuke's Kusanagi. Naruto always had it with him during his ANBU mission. He was staring at it right now.

Sakura moved further into the clearing, and only as she cracked a twig did Naruto notice her, so deep was he in his thoughts.

"Oh Sakura-Chan…" he didn't know how to finish his sentence; torn between the blade and Sakura.

"Naruto …" Sakura couldn't put her feelings to words anymore either, instead she went in between Naruto and the blade and hugged him. But he didn't return the hug; his stare was still on Sasuke's blade.

"Why Naruto; why are you so distanced? It feels like you are some kind of actor in a drama on a stage I cannot reach …" Sakura cried on his shoulder.

"Ah, now I remember," Naruto said, "it was 'Little sissy, Crying like an actor in a tragedy.' That's what I said to Inari. Somehow it really feels strange, I feel pathetic and helpless. Like my role has been reversed."

"Naruto what's wrong with you? If something is on your mind why won't you share it with us? With me?" Sakura pleads him.

"Because it is impossible to solve this," Naruto answers.

"So are you just going to keep all to yourself like Sasuke and go down the same road as him? Leave your friends behind, destroy all the bonds, and isolate yourself? Why are men like that? Why can't they share their burden? You have friends you know, and you have me. Sasuke's death is not a responsibility that you carry on your own shoulder. It is part of everyone's responsibility. What happened that day? What did Sasuke tell you that you won't share with me?" Sakura still cries on.

"If you really want to know… 'Become the perfect Shinobi I could not become, avenge my death. Slay Itachi!' But I cannot … I mean, I am already a killing machine, a demon shinobi that killed many, yet the gap is still that huge between us. And then there is you, my friend and my love, Sakura. How can I choose without breaking the promise to Sasuke?" Naruto is in tears now.

Both cry on silently, neither speaking.

"Do you remember Grandpa Tazuna's story of the hero of this village? If I remember correctly he said 'If you are a man choose a life of no regrets. For something that is precious to you, no matter how tough, no matter how sad, you must try and try and even if you lose your life, protect it with these two arms. If you do that, even in death the proof of a man's life will remain … forever.'" Sakura says softly.

Naruto hearing those words thinks back to those memorial days and to one particular morning, "Did you know, Haku was a very kind hearted person. I met him the day before we battled in the forest."

"I didn't know, what happened that morning?" Sakura asked curiously.

"He woke me up as I was still sleeping, saying I would catch a cold sleeping on the ground. He asked so many questions that day like 'Why are you training?' and I said I wanted to become strong. 'But you already look pretty strong.' – 'No, I want to become even stronger' 'Why is that…' – 'So I can become the best ninja in my village. I am going to make everyone acknowledge my strength and right now I need to prove something to someone.' 'Is that for someone else? Or for yourself?' – '…. I had no answer to this question. 'Do you have someone who's important to you? When a person has something important to protect, that's when they can truly become strong' is what he said last."

"And do you have an answer, yet?" Sakura asked "I ask you now Naruto, are you doing all this for someone else or for yourself? Answer me now!" Sakura said in a demanding voice, while looking straight into his eyes, a stare of hope and love.

Naruto couldn't return her stare. He looked at the grave. A beam of white moonlight came through the thick trees and highlighted the grave in pure white light.

He remembered his vow on that day 'A shinobi isn't supposed to pursue his own goals. Becoming the countries' tool is the most important part of being a true shinobi. It's the same for the Leaf Village.'

"Is that what it means to be a true shinobi?" Naruto says out loud.

Standing up with his back towards Sakura, and the moonlight shining white on his back, he says with much more enthusiasm and will power;

"You know what! I don't like it, at all! OK, it's decided! I am going to be a Ninja in my own way!" He recites. "And to you Sasuke," he turns and faces the blade still lying on the ground "I will not follow your road. I will protect them all, your plea for revenge and Sakura and all my friends and precious ones to me. That's what I have decided from this day forth. You shall not be forgotten Sasuke, but I will not live a life of regrets. I will live a man's life, one who will protect the things precious to him with his own two arms, no matter how tough, no matter how sad they are and I will gladly sacrifice my life to protect them. I am not going any further down your path towards power and vengeance. Should I meet Itachi, he will face justice, but I am not going to devote my entire life, and all of my friends' lives, to just bring one man down."

He finishes his speech, exhausted, but his smile had returned.

"Now that's the Naruto I fell in love with," Sakura says and falls on top of Naruto, kissing him.

"Erm … are you sure about this Sakura-Chan?" Naruto asks, a little insecure and surprised. But he couldn't let his eyes wander off Sakura's beautiful moonlit face any longer.

"As sure as a woman can be," Sakura answers and proceeds to open Naruto's jacket. Usually his black shirt was underneath it, but tonight he was still wearing his ANBU clothes.

She continues stripping him down. "Naruto why don't you aid me a little?" She ask, and so he does.

He proceeds in opening her pink-red shirt and it reveals a red bra she's been wearing underneath. He then continues to glide the bra off both sides of her arm, but as his left hand follows along her right shoulder to her right arm a chilling cold pinches his left hand.

The wound from the past was still there and the cold, artificial right arm reminds him even now.

Noticing it, Sakura asks "Does the arm bother you? Shall I take it off?"

"No," Naruto answers softly. "No, leave it on; it's a reminder of my past mistakes. A mistake I shall carry ever so proudly." He kisses her softly on the lips, which she returns. Lying on top of each other, they continue their romantic night.

The moonlight shines a while longer through the clearing before it leaves them alone in the dark, and wanders towards the harbour.

As the sea catches the moon's reflection, the reflection's white color turns orange and is surrounded with black swirls. These swirls seems to continue to move along with the moon until it reaches the safety of the opposite shore. A black haired figure rises out of the water, and proceeds to head in the direction of the Akatsuki army.