AN: Hey, guys! Sorry for the long wait! College got ahold of me and things got a bit rocky. But here I am again with Part 1 of the Finale! That being said, I'm splitting the Finale up into two parts, so I hope you all don't mind. Thanks to all who have waited this long, those who have stuck with this story from the beginning and to those who gave this story a try. Really, it means a lot! So, onward, I say! Onward to the Finale!

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Naruto; all rights go to Masashi Kishimoto.

Chapter 12: The Finale Part 1

"ITACHI! STOP!" Sasuke screamed as he unleashed another Shinra Tensei that blindsided the elder Uchiha once again, sending him crashing back into the same hole he had just crawled out of.

"WHY, SASUKE?! Don't you see that he NEEDS to be stopped?!" Itachi outright yelled from the small cave as he stepped out for the second time, the crow landing on his shoulder.

"Pathetic." Naruto chuckled. "Itachi, Sasuke is no longer your little brother. He is my second-in-command and my most trusted ally… you can't talk him down."

"Naruto…" Sasuke suddenly growled out while levelling a stare at his "brother". "What do you intend to do? When you defeat the Resistance here, what do you plan on doing?"

Eyeing Sasuke suspiciously, Naruto decided to indulge him. "What do you think? Create true peace, lasting peace. It's been my goal from the start; you should know this by now."

"Then… why do I not believe you?"

"A mother's words are poison, Sasuke. Whatever Mikoto told you was complete bullshit and you know it. She was trying to turn you against me."

"And how would you know if 'a mother's words are poison'? You never knew yours…"

"Tread carefully, Sasuke…" Naruto glowered dangerously. "My total victory is close at hand… I will not have more dissention and traitors ruin this for me…"

"Then tell me the goddamn truth!" At this point, Sasuke turned fully towards Naruto and pointed his chokuto at the Juubi Jinchuuriki.

"I AM telling you the truth! You have the Rinnegan now, so you can tell if I'm lying! Is my Chakra showing signs of deceit?! Have I developed a nervous tic?! Can I not maintain eye contact with you?! Tell me I'm lying! Please!"

"Just… shut up for a minute! Let me think!"

"Sasuke, listen to yourself! You're questioning your beliefs and faith in me! You're letting the words of a dead woman poison your mind! You're turning away from the path you chose to take!"

"Don't listen to him, Sasuke!" Itachi screamed. "He wants everything to end, like Kaa-san said! If you continue down this path, if you choose to still follow him, then you will be dooming the entire world to the Hellfire he will bring down upon it!"

"Enough of this! Itachi, I'll take the pleasure of killing you for the final time! You and your ilk have stalled me for the final time!"

And with that, Naruto launched two of his Chakra Spheres at Itachi, who managed to dodge through them both while closing the distance between him and the Demon King, who couldn't help but smirk. Itachi found out the reason for that smirk when a tree branch shot up from the ground and impaled him through the chest.

"Mokuton…" He queried.

"Hai…" Naruto responded, not losing his smirk. "And you lose…"

Before Itachi could even do anything else, he felt something burning inside his fake body, realizing all too late that inside the branch was a mini-Chakra Sphere that was now destroying him from the inside out.

"No…"

"It's over, Itachi… I've won. You're about to die, the Resistance's army is about to fall… you tried, but you lost."

"N-Naru…to… what happened… to you…?"

"Why does everyone ask me this…?" Naruto sighed. "Very well… I became what I had to become in order to bring about peace. Any means to an end, any cost… will be worth it in the end."

"Even if it… costs you the entire… world…?"

"I am the Second Sage. I can just recreate the world as I see fit. Ideally, I'd like as few deaths as possible, but… if it comes down to it… I'll kill and destroy everything, then start over from scratch."

"Including… your own army? The Akatsuki? You're wife… and unborn child…?"

"S-Shut up, Itachi! You can't… persuade me to stop!"

"The Demon King stuttering…? Heh… I see it now… Naruto. Deep down, you are the same person… you've just been corrupted…"

"No! I said shut up!"

"Well… my part is done, in any case. There's still one more person that can still put an end to this… and if you refuse her as well, then… you are lost."

"DISAPPEAR!"

With this declaration, Naruto grabbed one of the Chakra Spheres and shoved it into Itachi's smiling face, thus destroying him and scattering his ashes to the winds. Letting the Sphere go, he took a few steps backwards from where he killed Itachi, his eyes widened, as if he were going through an internal struggle. Finally, he spoke up.

"S-Sasuke… find Kisame, take a few ANBU squads with you, and join the fight at the front."

"Fine… but I'll still be watching you, Naruto… only when the war is over and you make good on your promise of peace will I trust you again…"

"I'm f-fine with this… just… go. Do as I have instructed and put an end to this war."

"Why do you not join the fight yourself, Naruto?" Shinju asked from within its seal.

'Because I need time… I need to think. I need to steel myself once again. I've come this far, victory is within my grasp… I can't let myself falter now.'

"Needless distractions, eh…? Very well… I shall wait as well. Meditate, and I shall keep guard for you while you are in your mindscape."

'Thank you, Shinju.'

"Bah! Don't mistake me for soft, boy! I'm only doing this because I actually respect you, unlike Hagoromo and that Hyuuga girl."

With this, Naruto faded into his subconscious in order to ready himself for what could be the end of the war and his total victory, only to be face-to-face with a woman. Not being surprised in the least by this, Naruto sighed as he imagined a chair and sat in it.

"So, have you come to try and talk me down? Encourage me? Why are you here?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about…" The woman said in a singsong voice as she also imagined a chair and sat in it, in front of Naruto.

"Playing coy is unbecoming of you, milady."

"Ooh, you're actually being civil with me this time, Naru-kun? Someone must have poisoned your tea!"

Naruto snorted. "Riiiight. I bet you'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"Having you by my side for all eternity? Hmm… I think I would like that." The woman, at this, stood from her chair and straddled Naruto in his, placing her arms around his neck and locking them there.

Again, Naruto snorted. "Always the shameless tease… again, this is unbecoming of you, Hime (Princess)."

"Mmm," She purred. "I love it when you use titles, Naru-kun…"

"Did you come here for sex, or did you actually want to talk, Kaguya?"

At the emphasis put on her name, Kaguya dismounted Naruto and sat back down in her chair. "I came here to talk, believe it or not."

"Then I'm all ears."

"While you're doing a fine job at conquering the world, Naruto, I… have had a vision. A premonition."

"There's nothing that Shinju and I can't take on. You know this, of course, since you so graciously took Yami's advice and sealed him into Hinata, knowing I would just take him for my own purposes."

"As true as this is, Naruto… I can't help but be worried."

"You? Worried? What has this premonition showed you? What have you foreseen?"

(Battlefield: Same time)

"What the hell is he?!"

"He's a goddamned monster!"

"RUN! RETREAT! FUCKING RETREAT!"

These were examples of what was going on at the frontlines currently. The Ame Shinobi were currently in retreat from a newcomer to the battlefield, and this stranger seemed to not care who he killed. As he had arrived, he started with the Resistance Coalition and had made quick work of the Samurai, including Mifune, alone. He then turned his attention to the Ame Army, which he was now cutting a swath through like battle and death was second nature to him. Everyone caught in his path was killed, no if, ands or buts about it, and even worse, he had yet to even draw his sword, let alone use anything other than his hands and feet.

His pure, blood red eyes found their next target in a hapless Ame Chuunin who dared stand up to him. She was soon cut down like all the rest when he impaled her on his own arm. Tossing her body haphazardly to the ground, he began skulking towards Konoha at a brisk pace when a figure stopped him. That figure was none other than Yakushi Kabuto, who was already in Sage Mode.

"Sage, huh…?" The stranger asked in a bored tone.

"Eh? Does this not impress you, stranger?" Kabuto asked, licking his lips.

"I've seen what a real Sage is… you don't impress me much, whelp."

"Oh, I assure you… I am a real Sage… shall I show you the power of the Six Paths?"

"It must be terrible indeed if you're standing here talking about it and not trying to kill me with 'the power of the Six Paths'… fortunately for you, you're not my target."

"And who, pre tell, are you after…?"

"The one foolish enough to call himself the Second Rikudou Sennin. The one you all know as Uzumaki Naruto. I have been watching him for some time now, and while I agree with what he's doing… the fact that he's calling himself the Second Sage, worse, a God, is unacceptable to me."

"And so… what? You intend to kill him and take over his plight in his stead?"

"Exactly so. Now, will you let me pass, or shall I bloody my hands yet again…?"

I can see that if I fight you, I will most definitely lose… very well. Seeing as this battle is lost, I shall withdraw to fight another day. Hopefully, with time and effort, I shall be able to gather even more allies, should you fail. I bid you good day…" And with a bow, Kabuto sunk into the ground, leaving this newcomer alone for the moment.

Shrugging, the man took out a cigarette, lit it, and continued his march on Konoha uninterrupted, save for a few more skirmishes with Ame and Coalition Shinobi alike.

'Soon, Uzumaki… soon, you shall know better than to slander my brother's name… Hagoromo, I will avenge you… on my name as Otsutsuki Yakon, you will be avenged…' Was the only thing Yakon though along the way, casually taking drags from his cancer stick.

(Konoha Gates: Same time)

"What…? Naruto-kun, you can't be serious!" Sakura exclaimed, making most of the Akatsuki nod in approval.

"Sakura, please… not now. Just follow my orders and leave with the army. All of you should. A danger greater than any I have ever faced is on his way here, right now, to kill me."

"And just what the fuck's gotten into you, Naruto?! Surely no limp dick bastard in this entire goddamned world could meet you on the battlefield and live! Who is the motherfucker that's on his way?!" Hidan asked very crudely.

"His name is Otsutsuki Yakon… younger brother to the First Sage, Otsutsuki Hagoromo. He is a very, very dangerous opponent in that he… has the other half of Shinju."

"He WHAT?!" Suigetsu pitched in.

"Oh, shit…" Kisame muttered.

"Where's Karin…?" Juugo asked, seemingly not affected by this shocking news.

"My sister can take care of herself… now, what I want you all to do is run. Just run away from this place as fast as you can. Join the army at the fallback point and dig in, just in case the Coalition gives chase. Mandou…" At his name being called, Mandou stood at attention. "If something should happen to me… take command of the Akatsuki and take care of my wife and child…"

"Hai, Naruto-sama… though I already know that you will win."

"Keh… still as loyal as ever… And you, Sasuke…"

"What…?"

"You might not fully trust me right now, but… you always were a brother to me. If I do end up falling, my final orders are the same as with Mandou: Look after Konan and Yusuke for me, please."

At the mention of their child's name, Konan began to fidget. "N-Naru-kun…" She said softly.

Taking his wife into his arms, Naruto kissed her softly. "It'll all be fine, Ko-chan… trust me, please."

"You better come back to me, dammit… you better!"

"I will… it's a promise of a lifetime."

"Naruto-sama… he's here." Mandou warned, and, after a nod from his Leader, he took command of the Akatsuki and led them all away from the area, along with any stragglers from their army, though one person stayed behind…

"Sasuke, you heard my orders." Naruto said, turning to face down their enemy.

"Fuck your orders. We'll fight him together, and if we beat him, I'll know that you're genuine."

"And if we both die?"

"Then the world is fucked anyway, so what do we have to lose?" At this, he flashed a familiar smirk to Naruto, who chuckled in response while drawing his Chakra Sword… and then chuckled again when he felt a familiar presence behind him.

"Hinata… have you come to try and kill me again?"

"Kaguya-sama came to me again, Naruto… while I believe that you have to answer for everything you've done… Yakon is the bigger threat. I might not be as good with the Rinnegan as you or Sasuke, but… I will see what I can do. Besides, we might need my Byakugan."

"I see no harm in letting her fight with us, Naruto… you've proven that you can beat her, and she knows what will happen if Yakon wins."

"Then we three make the final stand, with the entire world at stake."

At this, Hinata took her spot to Naruto's left and took in a breath, making Sasuke look to his left, at her.

"Nervous?" He asked.

"Let's not pretend that all three of us aren't." Hinata responded as she switched out her Rinnegan for her Byakugan, prompting Sasuke to do the same for his Eternal Mangekyou.

"Heh… well, this is rare." At his comrade's questioning gaze, Naruto continued. "The Three Great Doujutsu, fighting together on the battlefield… it's been quite a while since this has happened."

"Let's hope our combined power can beat him…" Sasuke sighed.

"Have confidence, Sasuke… we can do this." Hinata said, steeling herself for the coming fight.

"Hinata's right, Sasuke… with us three working together… there's nothing we can't do."

"I know, it's just…"

"I know. Worried about Sakura and your twins… I'm worried about Konan and Yusuke, but I'm using my desire to come back to them as a driving force. To me, there is no other option but winning. If we win, then we can establish true peace and end this war, create a paradise for our children and grandchildren to live in. Isn't that worth fighting for? Isn't that worth dying for?"

"Tch… as always, you make sense."

Before Naruto could say anything else, he was grabbed by Hinata and a warm sensation filled his lips. Realizing the she was kissing him, he mentally sighed and chucked the figurative rule book out the window, then kissed back, knowing full well of her still strong crush on him and her need to have at least kissed him before the final battle.

"I didn't want to die without at least kissing you, Naruto-kun…" She said, breaking the kiss, blushing a bit. "Konan is… very lucky."

"While I appreciate the thought and gesture, Hinata… we best not let Ko-chan know about this…"

"Agreed. Though… only time will tell if anything becomes of this…"

"Really? Starting a second relationship in the face of your possible death, Naruto?" Sasuke queried, half-jokingly.

"What can I say?" Naruto shrugged. "Girls go crazy for me."

"You conceited little prick…" Sasuke said, though the seriousness of the line was lost because of his barely held laughter, which then spread to the other two.

After a few minutes of laughing, the three calmed down enough to focus, though they never lost their smiles.

"Even in this dark hour… we can still laugh like we weren't enemies just hours ago." Hinata said. "For what it's worth… even if we were enemies just hours ago… there's no one else I would rather fight beside. Naruto-kun, Sasuke-kun… let's do our best and give him one hell of a beat down."

"Here, here!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Hell yeah…" Sasuke said while nodding and drawing his chokuto.

And just as they readied up, Yakon had finished his leisurely stroll towards the threesome, stopping about ten yards away from them.

"You all had your camaraderie time, I assume?" He asked.

"While you were taking your sweet time walking here, yes. We did." Naruto confirmed, challenging the man's Rinnegan with his own.

"You dare use those eyes against me? Those eyes aren't even yours…"

"And yet I obtained the Kamishini Rinnegan under my own power. Come now, Yakon… you can't possibly be mad at me, right? All I did was change the world…"

"Save the condescending tone, Uzumaki… I'm here to kill you, nothing more. Your best friend and your whore can be spared if…"

He never even got to finish the sentence as Naruto did what none others could do: He blindsided Yakon with a haymaker that sent him flying back quite a ways.

"Hinata is NOT my whore…"

"That actually hurt…" Yakon muttered as he stood from the punch, a figurative fire being lit in his eyes. "This might actually be fun…"

"Sasuke, Hinata! Let's do it!" Naruto yelled, getting two confirmations from his cohorts as they all fell into a fighting stance just as Yakon charged at them full speed.

AN: Yet another set up chapter, but it had to be done. The final fight is next chapter, so do not fret! I should have Part 2 out faster, since everything in my life has been sorted out already, so I now say adieu! This is ZeroDivisionRaijin, signing off!