Chapter 9: Eighth Circle - Fraud
Synopsis: One more level before the final battle. But what will they encounter in a circle filled with deception and suffering. For this domain is reserved for souls whose tongues reek of filth with the empty promises they preached in life. But in this world on the final decent into the cold void, team Naruto will have to face the greatest judgment yet the greatest irony of this world . . . . the truth
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Naruto franchise or characters associated with it. I also do not own any part of the 14th century Italian divine comedy Dante's Inferno.
"talking"
thoughts
The atmosphere was tense with the group for three reasons. First was due to their poor body conditions after having to tread through seven levels of hardship and horrors. The second was the fact they were going to face the master of hell and the chances of success were not looking good. Then finally the third and immediate issue was the black haired guest who had just joined their team.
As Sasuke took point in the group he knew that the two remaining members of team Gai were being very careful of him. He knew if he tried anything funny the Hyuga or the weapons mistress could quite quickly stick a kunai into his back. Even if he managed to deal with them he would then have to deal with his former teammates. But more so he would have to deal with Naruto. Even though he would never openly admit it, Uzumaki Naruto has indeed grown stronger to which if they fought now he would not be certain who would come out as the victor. So for now he decided to play along and use them until he achieved his goal here in the world of Inferno.
"What's the next area?" asked Naruto
Sakura maintaining her composure talked as she walked. "The next circle is fraud"
"Fraud?" said the blond
Sakura nodded, "The next circle is reserved for those who have greatly deceived in life. Due to the filth of their tongues or promises they were cast here as punishment for their crime"
The blonds face then etched a sign of worry at that note. "But wouldn't that mean all ninjas would end up here since that's the basis of what we are?"
She shook her head, "not exactly, what separates us from them is our purpose. For us ninjas do not lie for our own personal gain but instead for another cause such as the loyalty and success of those we serve"
"Seems kind of a fine line we walk" said Naruto
"Like most of the things we do, they all are" said Sakura
They then proceeded down until they finally arrived in what appeared to be the eighth circle of hell. But unusually this seemed quite different from everything they had encountered thus far. As they stepped foot into the new domain it was like stepping into the desert at night (just imagine the scenery of Hueco Mundo from Bleach). The place was cold and dark which was expected of a world one level above the ultimate punishment. But there seemed to be absolutely nothing happening in this area. That was what got everyone on edge. After going through seven circles listening to the constant screams of agony while having to fight for their lives and surviving on the bare skins of their teeth this seemed too good to be true.
"Naruto?" said Tenten
"Right!" as he pulled out the compass to which it pointed for them to go straight. But as they looked nothing appeared to be there except for sand and dead trees in the area. However the Byakugan indicated there to be something in the far distance. On that note the group began to run at full speed attempting to get to the structure. As they ran it only confirmed this world was truly empty as no souls seemed to be in the area let alone any attackers. Curious it was to why they weren't being attacked. One level away from reaching the bottom enemies should have been plaguing them left and right. But that didn't seem to be the case as silence was the only thing that consumed the land. The group started to feel tense from how quiet in was. After a good deal of running they finally began to see what was on the other side. What was there appeared to be a gate. But as far they can see or tell the gate stood there standing alone with nothing to support it. It was peculiar that after all this time this was the only thing they would see.
"What is that?" asked Naruto, but no response came. "Sakura?" he asked as he turned his head to find no one there. The blond jinchuriki immediately stopped running flustered to what could have possibly happened to her.
"Hey! What happened to Sakura-chan?" asked Naruto. But as he turned his head once more no one was there now. He started to twist and turn trying to understand what had happened. "Sakura? Sasuke? Neji? Tenten? . . . . Where is everyone?" he screamed
~8th Circle – Fraud~
"Naruto? Sasuke? Where are you guys?" called Sakura worriedly
As she treaded through the cold sand she couldn't help but get a lonely feeling creep up inside of her. One moment she was certain everyone was running right beside her. But next they were gone. During the run it was unclear when or even where everyone disappeared too. However it was clear they were no longer together.
~8th Circle – Fraud~
"Neji? Naruto?" Tenten called, "Where did everyone go?"
But a part of her already knew that calling out to them was rather pointless seeing that with Neji's eyes he would've found her by now. Tenten sighed as she thought about what would Neji do in a situation such as this.
~8th Circle – Fraud~
Neji looked the area over curious to where everyone went. But as he scanned the desert for his team there appeared to be no one in sight. He then began to think for a while and concluded that this wasn't an illusion. However when and where everyone disappeared was still a mystery. But it was obvious to the same thought everyone should have had in this occurrence.
~8th Circle – Fraud~
The place they needed to meet was going to be at the gate or even possibly in the next circle. But Sasuke didn't really care so long as he got to his destination. As a matter of fact he preferred it this way that he traveled alone. With less emotional baggage to carry the better he was off in completing what he needed to do. But somewhere deep down underneath all his hate and despair he too had to admit that traveling with a party had its benefits.
~8th Circle –Fraud~
It soon became clear to Naruto why this world was so cold and empty. This place was like the desert of loneliness where one would be separated from others to constantly wonder as bit by bit of them wore away from the isolation. But something like that wasn't going to wear him down. In his many years of service as a ninja he had truly come to understand that as long as you keep the people closest to you alive in your soul then you're never alone wherever you go. This was a lesson he knew his friends understood.
Now finally arriving at the gate the blond shinobi looked around for anything strange as his eyes came about a carving on the frame. "Bolgia" he read aloud as he directed his eyes towards the gate once more. He then took a look behind the structure to see relatively no difference. However it did not appear to be operable from that side. So after a while going to the other side he started to push on the gate forcing it open. During this process he mentally prepared himself for whatever he must face. But the moment the gate opened he saw a vast hallway stretching towards the unknown.
However due to his curious nature, Naruto looked at the other side to clearly see the gate doors opened. But as he looked through the portal it was nothing but desert on the other side. The blond ninja shrugged at this and entered the hall on the other side. As he slowly ventured forth he continued to look back just to make certain the gate would not close behind him, and after an nth amount of glances it was safe to assume it would not close.
He then continued to walk down the hall to which it was quite visibly dark. But at the same time you can actually see the things around you and tell what they were. As Naruto continued down, what caught his attention were the vast amounts of mirrors in the area. Some of the mirrors where hung on walls while others seemed to have been placed randomly around the area. There were even mirrors which defied gravity and hung in the air with nothing holding them. But the disturbing things about these mirrors were what were in it. For the most part his reflections were as they should be on many of the mirrors. As he continued forward things started to become stranger and stranger until they crossed the border of creepy. In some images his body would appear in different forms such as sideways, upside down, or even walking backwards. As he got further along some mirrors began to display him as a mutilated mess with limbs missing, guts hanging, and any other grotesque way there was to perceive the body. But now further down the hall Naruto found himself wanting to look away, but at the same time he couldn't. In these mirrors he saw himself as the "monster" he was. For the images displayed him being the Kyubbi in different stages of his tailed transformation. But then things got scary with the next image.
"Hinata!" said Naruto as he looked into the mirror. He instantly turned around hoping to see her, but no one was there. Upon turning back, his heart stopped at seeing the Hyuga heiress's mutilated corpse on the ground with him holding the weapon. Naruto jumped back only to bump into another mirror, and as he turned around he saw her hang herself right in front of him. The blond shinobi screamed in terror and shock of what happened. He soon turned around to see another mirror reflecting Hinata, but in this reflection the pale girl was bleeding all over with a hole in her chest where her heart should be.
"Why do you keep hurting me Naruto-kun?" said all three Hinata's with tears beginning to form
"I don't understand" he responded anxiously
"Why do you always hurt me Naruto-kun?"
"I never meant to. Please stop this" Naruto begged
"Why haven't you saved me Naruto-kun? Why have you forsaken me?"
"I'm here, I trying" said Naruto "Please wait for me a little longer" as tears started to form in his eyes
"These is simply no time left" to which all three mirrors disappeared leaving Naruto alone as he hyperventilated trying to tell himself it wasn't true. But then a usual light shined behind him to which he immediately noticed. Naruto slowly got up and faced the mirror to see what would be reflected now, and to his surprise it was just him along with two others. But the reflection wasn't really him as the image was him before he entered Inferno. As he examined the mirror he immediately recognized who the man standing right behind him was.
"Dad?" said Naruto quizzically. The blond nodded his head as if to confirm this fact. The blond ninja then looked to other figure who was a woman. The woman was quite beautiful with her long flowing red hair and tender smile. As he touched the mirror the woman touched back as if to feel him. "Then you must be . . . . "
"It took you long enough to get here!"
Naruto turned around to see another mirror. However this image was exactly of him but with black eyes. He quickly turned back to see the previous mirror gone to which every other mirror which was in the hall to be gone as well. The blond jinchuriki then looked back to the last mirror just to see the image of him climbing out to which the entity was now real and in front of him. "Who are you?" said Naruto as he grabbed for a kunai.
Mirror Naruto darkly chuckled before exploding into a maniacal laugh. "I am the truth. But for someone as stupid as you, I am the real you"
"What are you talking about?" said Naruto as he got into defensive stance
M. Naruto grinned at this
"We are the more honest side of you" said m. Sakura. "That in turn makes us much more real then you'll ever be"
"That's ridiculous!" exclaimed Sakura, "I'm not that kind of person!"
She snickered at this
"Then how would you describe yourself?" said M. Tenten. "How do you really see yourself?"
Tenten tensed at this question. The answer was not as simple as that
"Then how do I rid myself of you?" asked Neji as he maintained his calm composure
M. Neji also displayed the same motion. "Defeating me would be the equivalent of killing yourself"
"But I cannot allow you to pass" replied m. Sasuke
Sasuke was now irked at having to deal with this fake. Not only was this copy talking too much, but it also had the nerve to tell him he wasn't being honest with himself. Using Amaterasu seemed like a most appealing idea at shutting this clone up. But doing so would severely strain his eyes, and he needed every moment of them in order to reach the end. At this point in time his eyes were not in very good due to overuse. So unsheathing his katana, the rouge ninja decided to settle things the old fashion way.
"That's just a load of crap!" yelled Naruto as he prepared Rasengan
"Why turn your eyes from it? It's the truth after all, and who knows you better then yourself?" smirked the inverse. "Do you honestly think anyone in Konoha respects you? You were trash to them then and you're still trash to them now. Sure they like us now, but how long do you honestly think that will last?"
"I said shut up!" Naruto exclaimed as he charged in with his technique. But his reflection was ready with the same technique as the two canceled out. Soon the duo was battling it out with taijutsu in an attempt to get the upper hand. However, it was clear that neither would win at the battle raged on.
"Haven't you realized how self-fish you are? You used all the people around you to your own extent until their usefulness ended. Wasn't that how it was with Naruto?" said the clone
"That's not true! I'd never do that to Naruto!" stated Sakura as she and her opponent exchanged punches
"Oh? Didn't you use him all those years ago to guilt him into finding Sasuke? But now that he's out of reach you decide to pull him away from it!" said the copy as she grabbed Sakura and rammed her into a wall nearby.
"It's not true . . . ." she replied as her eyes became shadowed under her bangs
"And on that note let's talk about how good of a friend you've been thus far" sneered the inverse
"I won't allow myself to be beaten by a fake! I've beaten you once and I can do it again!" said Tenten as she summoned twin blades
"That was then and this is now. What you defeated then was a fake, but how do you defeat the real thing?" the clone snickered as she summoned the same weapon. The weapon mistresses immediately went to battle as their blades clashed against each other. But it was clear that the situation would not allow either of them to win.
Sasuke had no choice but to run since his inverse seemed to be able to use Amaterasu without limit. In addition genjutsu didn't seem to work as the copy still continued his attack, and he was being lucky so far that his mirror image hadn't decide to use Sussano yet.
But since that technique was his, he was also quite aware of what its weaknesses were. Using Chidori, he struck the ground with enough force and chakra to turn the debris into dust. Drawing out his sword he sent the dust cloud at his double who instantly combusted it into a black fireball. But before it got too close the inverse using his originals ability lit out the fire. Taking advantage of this, Sasuke came bursting out of the cloud and threw some lightning charged dust into his opponent's eyes blinding him temporarily. The rouge ninja then came down with a cross slash planning on ending this battle. However it was too soon to think that as blocked with his katana.
"You honestly think it's going to be that easy?" smirked the inverse to which Sasuke grunted as he swang away at his opponent.
After a few tradeoffs, the two Neji's stopped fighting as they stood before each other in a staring contest. It became quite clear to the original that further pursuit of this confrontation would be pointless. Just as he stopped fighting so did his inverse.
"If our strength and speed are equal" said Neji
"As well as our intelligence and skill" said m. Neji
"Then clearly neither of us can win" said the two Hyuga's in unison
The Hyuga prodigy stood before his mirror image with contemplation. The last time he fought his doppelganger he barely managed to pull out a win. But that technique was a product of humans unlike now as his double was a product of something beyond reason. However it was clear that he could talk to this entity without a fight ensuing. But then did that mean the copy in front of him was "truly" him? He couldn't quite swallow that as some of the things it said were pretty awful. But then again it was better than both of them fighting for nothing.
"You will always be a slave to the main branch. That is how things will remain until the day you die" said Neji's inverse. "If you think your precious Hinata-sama or Naruto can change anything then you are quite the fool. Frankly you've always been a dense idiot. I'm surprised you even survived this long on that much. So tell me how does it feel to be the main branches dog?"
A moment passed as a solemn face came about the Hyuga. "If I said none of that was true I'd be lying. But that is only a part of the truth in comparison to the whole. I do have my fears of them being empty promises and my existence forever chained down by my fate. But still I have my hope, and that is enough for me until then"
The inverse sighed at the response. "Well so long as you accept it I can't exist here for long" to which his body began to disappear and merge back to his original. But before his body completely vanished, "By the way, be honest with yourself and tell Tenten how you feel"
Neji scoffed at this, "that's not going to happen anytime soon"
Sakura was now wrestling with her other in order to force it into submission. But doing so proved to be rather taxing as she wasn't going anywhere with it. Furthermore what she was hearing made it difficult to concentrate at the matter at hand.
"You're such a manipulative b**ch" said m. Sakura . "You tried to use his feelings for you to sway him to our benefit. Oh, it really must have did a number on our ego to be refused by someone whose been chasing us next to forever"
"That's not true!" exclaimed Sakura. "We decided! We all decided to take care of Sasuke on our own. But Naruto, he needed to stop his search for his own sake. He didn't need to be tied down by the past or his promise. If he had me he would have stopped his obsession!"
The inverse laughed at this, "you heard him yourself didn't you? He's doing this for his own personal sake and not for you." Sakura flinched at this, but her mirror wasn't done yet. "But then what about your brilliant plan of getting him off his trail?" she asked sarcastically. "You confessed your "never dying love for him" without even thinking how this would affect him or at least the people around you" said the inverse
"What?" replied Sakura in shock
The inverse smirked at this, "You knew how Hinata felt about Naruto yet you told to him anyways. And for what I ask you? Not only were you going to deny Naruto of what he sought after, but also of what Hinata had always been chasing. So you were just going to sweep right in and hurt the both of them with your half-a** feelings! Hmph, some friend you are"
Sakura's legs collapsed as she fell to the ground. As she got on all fours tears began to well up in her eyes. "I know! I know!" she cried out as tears began to flow. "What I did . . . . What I did can't be forgiven. But I'm so sorry for it all. At that time . . . . At that time I thought it was right thing to do . . . ."
Sakura's inverse stood in front of her looking down at her pathetic form with scrutinizing eyes. But soon her body began to dissipate. "Just make sure you give them both a proper apology" she said before she completely disappeared into the original leaving the pink kunoichi to gather herself off the floor.
As Sasuke watched his other vanish before him it still bugged him about what his reflection told him. In order to win against them one must have been able to overcome their doubt and truly accept themselves for whom they are. Although he understood the truth of his inner self he couldn't accept it. His hate for what had happened to his clan, his family, his brother was all because of Konoha. It was them that had to pay for their deaths. However with speaking to his inner self he couldn't deny the slight doubt that was seeded in him. But that didn't matter now as he still had something to do in Inferno. With that a new mirror formed in front of him showing the Uchiha his next destination.
"What can you hope to accomplish? I know you resent everyone in Konoha!" m. Naruto continued. "They'll only turn against you the moment you've become inconvenient. So why bother playing along with them?"
Naruto continued to stare at him. After a struggle involving many bushins, Rasengans, and multiple tricks it was quite clear that winning was not possible. Plus using his final sage mode was pointless seeing as his reflection would have done the same thing resulting in a draw. But it finally occurred to him what he needed to do in order to win.
"Those guys lied to us! They made up rules to exclude us remember? We suffered! It hurt! I'm the only one who can understand you! Don't believe those guys!" said his inverse
"I know all that" replied Naruto calmly. "However they're all important to me. But there is something else I have to believe in. That is to believe in me. The person they had begun to trust"
The inverse began to crumple to the ground at such an answer. "Why? After all we suffered . . . ."
"Because you have to look past it all and be proud of the person you are ya know" said Naruto
"Am I holding you back? Who the hell am I?" the inverse yelled
"I was strong because of you. I wouldn't have been able to get this far without you" he replied calmly
"Then what should I do?" as his inverse began to charge in
"That's simple" and as his inverse launched his attack Naruto captured him within a hug. "You have to become me because you are me". Naruto's inverse gave a look of surprise at his answer. "Thanks for everything, but that's enough now"
As he began to disappear, "I guess that is also a truth in itself that can't be denied." A peaceful face then started to form. "By the way can you do me one last thing before I go"
"Yeah, what?" asked Naruto
"Save her" it said
"Don't worry, I won't fail" and as one Naruto remained in the room a mirror then took shape behind him. As he looked into the object he saw his friends on the other side. Out of instinct he touched the reflective surface which instantly transported him to where they were, and upon arriving he was greeted by his group.
The blond jinchuriki was glad to see everyone was OK. But as he looked back and forth he noticed one person missing within the team. "Where's Tenten?"
A moment later a mirror materialized and from it the weapon mistress appeared. However her condition was far different than before. As she emerged she was heavily wounded from many injuries. Some of the injuries consisted of slashes, bruises, and multiple burns.
"What happened to you?" asked Naruto
"I had a bit of trouble with my opponent before I figured out how to beat it." Tenten then gave a slight chuckle, "I guess she kind of messed me up a bit huh"
"Are you OK?" then asked Neji
She nodded her head, "but in my current condition I guess I'm going to have to be the one to stay behind". At that statement the weapon mistress collapsed to the floor only to be caught by her teammate
"Go" said Neji to everyone else. "I'll stay behind and watch over her"
Naruto nodded his head. "OK, we'll be back soon. So watch over things here"
"This will most likely be the final battle. So make all the necessary preparations. You're going to need it because the final enemy is the master of inferno." Neji then closed his eyes before reopening them. "I have faith in your ability. So bring my cousin home safely"
"Believe it" replied the blond as he shot his fist out
Soon the former team seven was now on their way to the cold void of the last circle. It was a place where only the worst sinners are sent to be punished for their betrayal in life. It was also the place where a certain lone girl waited for her prince to come rescue her.
~9th Circle – Treachery~
"So they're finally here" said the master after learning of their success in passing the hall of truth. "But it does not matter. For soon they will die in a way most suited for their insolence towards me. Isn't that right my slave?"
Out from the masters shadow the former Hyuga heiress appeared completely corrupted as neither warmth or light existed in her anymore. "Yes my master" as she knelt before the fallen deity
"Who is the one you shall kill?" asked the master
"All those who oppose the will of the master of inferno" recited Hinata
"And who is it that has opposed my will?" then asked the master
"Uzumaki Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto is the one who has defiled your will. In honor to you my master I will become the wings of death who shall deliver you his life as he screams in agony and suffers for his crime against you"
"Good, very good" said the master
Author's notes: Yes I know that there are ten trails to Bolgia, but I couldn't figure out a way to test the team deceptions in ten different ways. So I hope my improvising was OK in regards to it in which I used a few of the manga chapters to help write this one. But anyways the next chapter will be the final battle before the epilogue. So I hope everyone has enjoyed the story thus far. Also I do apologize if it seemed like I was bashing Sakura, but I really do respect the character.
So I thank you for your time in reading this fic and further extend my gratitude if you can review it as well.
