Naruto sped through the trees before landing neatly before the feet of the Godaime and kneeling. Head bent in an unnatural show of respect he whispered,

"You called me, Hokage-Sama."

Messages in the Stars

Chapter 10: Roil

Roil - Verb

To move forward or proceed turbulently.

Tsunade nodded slightly in recognition, "You knew the moment you became aware of being a Jinchuuriki that there would be called upon in such a manner. You obviously understand the gravity of the situation and the circumstances that have led to this decision. This is very possibly the last thing you will ever do. Will you sacrifice yourself to save this nation? This village?"

Naruto inclined his head once more, "Yes, Hokage-Sama."

The Godaime bit her lip and shook her head sadly, "Take Uzumaki Naruto to the room he will be held in until the release of the Kyuubi No Kitsune. Naruto, is there anything you would like to make known before the Kyuubi is released?"

Naruto nodded, "Tell everyone that I value… valued their friendship above all else. And… and tell Sakura… tell her… tell her I love her."

Tsunade fought at the tears that were welling in her eyes, "Very well. Take him away."

Naruto was escorted into a small building to her right. Moving into another building, she leaned heavily on Shizune's arm. She practically collapsed into a low chair, letting herself mourn, and finally cry. This was the worst decision she had ever made in her life, and now a child that was as close to her as a son or little brother was about to be sent to a slow, painful death. And it was all her fault.

Pain. It hurt so badly. She hadn't been wounded. She hadn't been hurt. Well that wasn't quite right either. She had been hurt, but it was her heart that was aching, not her body. Sakura had finally heard the words she had longed for.

'Tell her I love her.'

But it was all wrong. Sure it was from the right person, but the place, the time, the circumstance, the mood, the way she found out, it was wrong beyond belief. She shouldn't be sitting here in the bushes crying her eyes out, she shouldn't have just heard the death sentence of her beloved, and she shouldn't be in a war zone in dirty clothes with messed hair and blotchy face. She should be standing in a field of flowers in a nice dress with her hair done up and her make-up just right, with Naruto standing before her in his best jumpsuit with a bouquet of roses and some overly romantic song playing in the background. But not everything was a fairytale romance, and she was learning that the hard way.

She slid back through the trees, still sobbing. She had pretended since she was little that she had a crush on Sasuke, because as her mother had said before, it was best to go with the crowd. It was best to ignore the village disgrace, the number one prankster, the most interesting person around. Sakura had led a very sheltered life, her wish to push the boundaries had been what had originally made her pursue a career as a Kunoichi. It was probably the same desire to break free that first put Naruto on her radar. His ability to wear his emotions on sleeve and still kill without mercy had fascinated her to no end. It was no surprise when she developed a small crush on him. A crush she hid by obsessing over Sasuke and fighting with Ino. It was hard to deal with when she was placed on the same team as him, but she managed well enough. Turning him down after every offer of a date was even harder. How she wanted to just say yes and let things go from there. But she couldn't disgrace her family.

Now she wanted to kick herself for being so stupid and naïve. At this moment she didn't care whether she hooked the best fish in the sea for her parents. All she wanted was Naruto; all she had ever wanted was Naruto. And now that she had finally looked past her petty reasoning it was too late.

Tsunade stood before the young blonde once more, looking slightly more composed then she had just a few hours ago.

Turning she addressed Naruto, "You understand that in order for the Kyuubi no Kitsune to be released there has to be a suitable trigger, correct?"

Naruto nodded in agreement.

"One such trigger is on the battle field right now. Uzumaki Naruto, you are assigned to attack Uchiha Sasuke."

"...Understood."

It was just like then. Just like back at the valley of the end. Naruto hanging limply in Sasuke's grip as his raven haired rival extended one Chidori empowered arm to the side, preparing to thrust it through the blonde's chest at any minute. They had been fighting for many fierce hours since Naruto had been assigned his target and gained his location. He had fought without releasing any of the fox's chakra, serving only to severely piss it off. Now he was trapped in an extremely nostalgic position, staring death straight in the eye. To say he wasn't afraid would be a blatant lie. He was scared beyond all reason. But he knew he was going to die for the right reason. He tried to preserve this thought in his mind as Sasuke's Chidori was pushed very slowly and painfully through his heart.

Sasuke chuckled, a laugh laced with malice, "Looks like I was stronger after all."

Naruto grinned and spat blood in his face, "So you say, bitch."

Sasuke's look was one of shock and horror as extremely corrosive red chakra came flooding out of the blonde's body in waves.

Uchiha Sasuke's was the first corpse found after the release of the feared and legendary Kyuubi no Kitsune.

The first line was destroyed, the reserves devastated. It seemed Tsunade's plan to release the Kyuubi to end the war was going exactly as planned. No one really mourned the loss of Naruto. Most didn't know he was dead. Most were knocked out or killed with the first wave of the fearsome beast's chakra. Sakura was sick to her stomach from the pure foulness of the Kyuubi's chakra, but was on her feet and continued to move forward steadily, killing any enemies that crossed her path without a second thought. Her gaze was not unlike that of the dead as only one thought permeated her mind.

'Make it in time.'

When she finally arrived at the forefront of the battle her sight fixated on one point. A small orange blur in her peripheral vision. She knew immediately who it was. She stepped over hidden wires, fallen trees, and corpses, but didn't stray from her path through the carnage. No one really noticed her, and if she was stopped by anyone she would only whisper "Move" before they let go or she decapitated them. About the same time she reached Naruto, the Kyuubi no Kitsune finished off the rest of the enemy ninja and turned one blood-red eye on the feeble line of Konoha ninja behind it, whipping it's nine tails in anticipation of another blood bath.

Baring it's fangs the Kyuubi stepped forward as the ninja stepped back. Many abandoned the battlefield as others eviscerated themselves on the spot. Slowly the field cleared, leaving only two people. One Haruno Sakura and one Uzumaki Naruto. The latter of which was in very bad condition. Sakura leaned over Naruto's body and gently brought his head up to rest on her lap.

"I was too late."

Tears streamed down her face and dripped onto Naruto's, mingling with the blood that was clinging to it stubbornly. She brushed a few blonde locks out of his eyes tenderly and wept silently. She really didn't care if she would die there as long as she was with him. She wanted to go to the same place he was headed if at all possible, though with all the lying she had done she found it unlikely. With difficulty she tore her eyes away from Naruto's peaceful face and focused them on the Kyuubi's great form.

"Kill me," She pleaded.

It turned towards her and moved forward slowly.

"Let me follow him."

It's gaze swiveled down to focus on her.

"KILL ME!!", She screamed, leaping to her feet. She struck out at the beast until she was exhausted. Colapsing to the ground, she gathered the blonde into her lap once more.

The Kyuubi no Kitsune with all them time that it had dwelt inside Naruto's body had never found a person who rather die then spend their life without the blonde. And now, sitting before him, with Naruto's head cradled carefully in her lap, was someone who was pleading for him to end her life so she could join the blonde in the afterlife. Human emotion was very petty in his experience. But despite how worthless it seemed to him it seemed to matter the world to these pathetic creatures. Now the brat was finally getting the care he deserved… but it was too late. Since when had the demon that was feared by all nations become a softie? This was his ultimate chance to get his revenge but… he was going to pass it up. Bringing the point of one of his large claws to Sakura's forearm he made a deep scratch. She didn't even flinch. Soaking his claw in her blood he placed it on Naruto's bare chest and left a swirled design around his navel. With that done there was a roar of chakra and the Kyuubi disappeared.

Stunned by this development no one noticed as Naruto began to stir and his eye lids fluttered. Sakura began to weep once again as his unfocused gaze met hers.

"Sakura-Chan? Why... why are you crying…? Hey! You... you're bleeding…!"

Sakura bent down and kissed his forehead gently, smiling at his puzzled expression she whispered, "I love you, you idiot."

Naruto returned the smile hundred fold, "I love… you… too… Sakura-Cha…"

And he passed out.