Daylight Ch. 11: Value of Life
(Italics: Thoughts / Flashbacks / Dream sequence / Inner World. Bold: Title and Kyubi's / Demon's / Inner Character's Speech. Underline: Time Skips)
"Life is cheap, especially mine." Naruto stated in a serious yet distant tone, his back turned to Sarutobi as he spoke. The Hokage's eyes widened as the young Jinchuuriki's spoke, confused at the implications in the young shinobi's words. As strong as Naruto was he had already depleted a large portion of his chakra reserves in the fight with Pain and his body was paying the price… Regardless of circumstance Naruto began walking toward his opponent with a strangely calm expression on his face. "You see by placing no value on my own life during my training it allowed me to surpass all those before me and push my limitations beyond anything I though possible." Naruto stated, his facial expression remaining changeless as he spoke. Needless to say Kakuzu was very displeased with Naruto's interference in the collection of the Third Hokage's Bounty, annoyance and frustration reflected in his eyes. "Your head will pay a decent price on the black market Naruto Uzumaki, vessel of the Legendary Kyubi!" Kakuzu roared as what appeared to be an enormous, crystalline sword made up of pure adamant surged upward from the ground right into the attacking Akatsuki member's right hand.
Immediately Kakuzu charged toward his enemy at a high velocity, his charge attacks and powerfully swift stabbing attacks keeping Naruto on his toes as he narrowly and swiftly avoided each and every one of Kakuzu's attacks. "Resisting is useless! I can keep this pace up all day if necessary!" Kakuzu stated, a twisted sense of pleasure reflected in his eyes and tone of voice as he spoke. While avoiding Kakuzu's multiple attacks Naruto tripped backwards on an extensive root of a large, nearby tree. "Got you!" Kakuzu yelled in excitement as he stabbed downward, piercing straight through Naruto's chest and pinning his damaged body to the ground. Naruto's eyes widened in shock for a moment before his entire form vanished in a cloud of white smoke and covered Kakuzu's body with a thick adhesive, restricting his movement and successfully immobilizing him. "Damn it... I got careless..." Kakuzu said during a desperate struggle to regain his freedom of movement. "You made a grave mistake when you attacked this village... But you made your greatest mistake when you chose me as your opponent!" Naruto roared as he stabbed his Kunai downward toward Kakuzu's skull with excessive force.
Where Kakuzu's split head should have been was a thick log cleanly split into two evenly, a cloaked figure standing about fifteen feet to Naruto'sright, the adhesive gone without a trace while the mysterious figure effortlessly carried Kakuzu's enormous body, casually slinging his subordinate over his right shoulder as if he were a light piece of luggage. "You've grown much since I last saw you Naruto, but I never imagined you would be capable of power at that level during this young of an age, clearly you are a true incarnation of the Senju Clan's Legacy." The mysterious figure said in an unnaturally calm yet intrigued tone. Naruto merely smiled to himself gently as he began to recognize one of his true enemies his Kamigan revealed to him. "I see, you made your appearance much sooner that I would have expected, were you that surprised at my rate of development Madara Uchiha?" Naruto said as he felt a strange warmth fill his entire being as he spoke with the Legendary Shinobi. "Aware of my identity already are you? That accursed Kamigan sure is a thorn in my side when I don't have control over its power, those eyes are quite a gift though I must admit, even with the power of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan I wouldn't mind experimenting with a set of new eyes for a change..." Madara Uchiha said, turning to face Naruto.
The only parts of Madara that were visible were his black, spiky locks and set of the most sinister crimson eyes that exist in this world. The three black pin wheels of the Uchiha Clan's signature Doujutsu were merged together into a trinity. Sarutobi was aware of the information that suggested that Madara Uchiha, the most powerful member of the Uchiha Clan and one of the original founders of the Hidden Leaf survived his nearly fatal encounter with the First Hokage at Valley's End and was gathering powerful allies among the underworld of the crime organizations but this "Akatsuki" organization filled with S-Class former Shinobi were just too much! "You have made quite an impression in this world of shinobi but heed my warning Madara: Act foolishly and all the power you have been gathering over the years, among the darkness of this world will all have been in vain if you don't wisely use that power." Naruto stated, feeling his strength return to him with every word he spoke just by being in Madara's presence. This boy... Madara thought to himself as he gazed at the Senju Clan's heir with interest reflected in his demonic crimson eyes.
In reaction to hearing Itachi's name Sasuke grew angrier than anything, the only source of satisfaction originating from the fact that his enemy could have the location of his elder brother who Sasuke dedicated his very life and shinobi career to tracking down and destroying with his own hands in order to avenge the death of his clan. Before Deidara ever saw Sasuke move let alone have the time to react Sasuke appeared in front of him, lifting him in the air by the neck and squeezing firmly, making sure to allow just enough air so he could speak. "You're going to tell me everything you know about Itachi, understand?" Sasuke said in a cold and merciless tone of voice. "Like Hell! I'd never obey a command from one of you damn Uchiha bastards!" Deidara yelled in a tone of disgust, frustration and deep-seeded hatred. The moment those words escaped Deidara's lips his entire form glew a bright, white light before a large chakra-based explosion erupted right next to Sasuke. When the dust settled a gravely injured Sasuke emerged from the rubble, coughing up a small amount of blood onto the ground as he held onto his side, a determination and superiority reflected in his Sharingan eyes.
"That defiant look in your eyes pisses me off beyond words, like you're somehow better than the rest of us!" An unharmed Deidara said with a psychotic look written across his facial expression. "Now die!" Deidara roared as he threw three miniature spider-shaped explosives, the explosives erupting together in a trinity creating a powerful shock wave. This in effect sending a now heavily bleeding Sasuke backwards several feet into a solid brick wall at an extremely high velocity. Sasuke's eyes widened upon impact and coughed up an enormous quantity of blood onto the ruined ground. "Look at you now! The Elite of the Uchiha Clan on the verge of death and at the mercy of his enemy. Lord Madara would be ashamed at how low his clan has fallen..." Deidara stated in an empowering tone. "Madara? Never heard of him." Sasuke said in an arrogant tone despite his disadvantage and injuries. "Your brother hid many things from you didn't he? No matter you were going to find out sooner or later... Lord Madara is the strongest man to ever be produced by the Uchiha Clan and very well may be the single strongest shinobi on the entire planet!" Deidara stated in excitement.
"Thanks for the information, I never would have expected trash like you to give me information even more valuable than my older brother's whereabouts." A completely unharmed Sasuke said in an intrigued tone from behind Deidara. a chidori formed around his right hand as he charged toward Deidara at a very high velocity, seemingly disappearing in a chakra-enhanced burst of speed. Deidara's eyes whited out as he fell forward, the side of his face impacting the earth. "H-How? W-When did you?" Deidara attempted to ask in a weak voice. "Since the very first moment you gazed into my Sharingan you fell victim to it's power..." And with that said the Akatsuki member lost consciousness.
"Everybody hurry now! Through the tunnels!" A Jounin level leaf shinobi said as the led the young Genin, civilians and Academy students through the escaped tunnels beneath the Hokage Monument. Among the people evacuating the village were Ino and the two remaining Jinchuuriki: The Seven and the Eight Tails. After a good bit of traveling nearly every individual person gathered in a large dome-shaped shelter where all the escape tunnels converge. This was the strategy of Konoha in the case of an enemy attack, get all low ranking shinobi, students and civilians into a shelter than provide a counter-offensive without any restraint or hesitation. In order to receive an update on the current situation all anbu members gathered into three-man squads and immediately dispersed among the village. After about twenty minutes of scouting one of the many anbu squads came across Sarutobi in black battle armor carrying a passed-out Naruto over his right shoulder. "Lord Hokage are you alright!?" All three anbu said nearly at the same time, rushing over to their village leader.
"I'm fine, the enemies have fled the village and are no longer a threat to us, it's this brave shinobi you should take care of." Sarutobi said, placing Naruto's body gently on the ground, the medical specialist attenending to Naruto's wounds and checking his vitals, the remaining the anbu members confused at this statement. "Lord Hokage great job saving our village from those monsters." One of the anbu members said to Sarutobi. "I didn't do anything, this young boy here deserves the title of Hokage far more than me at this age I'm afraid to admit." Sarutobi said, his eyes closed as he spoke. With these words the anbu members eyes widened at he gazed downward at Naruto's face. This young boy surpasses Lord Hokage!? The anbu member thought to himself, unable to understand how someone that young could possess such power.
Even though Kakashi was sure he'd be passed out for three weeks at least he began to feel the unbearable pain surging through the entirety of his being begin to lessen more and more, a strange feeling of warmth flowing through him. "W-Who are you?" Kakashi said to whoever was healing him, visual data unavailable to him at the present moment due to the fact he lacked the necessary energy to even open his regular eye. "If you don't want to die stop talking and relax." A strangely familiar female voice said. Kakashi didn't need more convincing than that and immediately fell silent.
Three weeks had passed since Akatsuki's attack on the village and everyone was still uneasy, security around the village increased drastically and the missions being allowed were limited so too much military power wouldn't be drawn away from the village at any given time. Naruto was recognized by the village elders for his strength and valor and the villagers praised him as a Hero and for his efforts he was rewarded a promotion to Jounin rank, a feat that had never been achieved once at his age since Itachi Uchiha. Naruto accepted the promotion but to him it felt undeserved, just because of this damn monster inside of him, because his enemy wants his hands on that forbidden, terrible power the entire village was nearly destroyed, how could he consider himself future Hokage or even a valuable shinobi to the village if he's solely responislbe for everything that happened? Naruto sometimes wondered if this world had been better off if he had never existed at all...
A/N: Well what did you guys think? One Akatsuki member died and another captured things are sure heating up! It took me a long time to write this chapter so I hope you've all enjoyed it. I already have a plan of the next Arc in my story, a twist that will make this story even more interesting than it already is! Old school RPGs kick ass! They're one hell of a source of inspiration! Review if you care! Oh and Happy Fucking Easter! Peace! - DL555