This might be the last chapter if I can fit all I have to in it. Or if that twist I talked about needs another chapter. I hope you read and review.

Chapter 14- Farewell

Naruto heard Okibi call out Orochimaru. "I got to hurry!" He flipped into the air to avoid being blown up by the explosion tagged kunai. "I have no time for this! Wind Blades!" He drew his small knife and slashed at the two sound nins. He didn't stay to see the results of his jutsu. The thuds told him he didn't have to worry about them any more. "Hold on Okibi!"

XXX

Okibi stopped in front of Manda. "Stand down Manda!" He demanded.

Manda looked down on him and hissed. "Who are you to be ordering me around?"

"I am the son of the Kyuubi, the next demon in line if anything should happen to him! Move, or I can kill you if you would prefer that?" Okibi growled.

Manda mused it over. He could sense great power from this fox. "Fine, for now I will withdraw. Don't think I will forget this, you are merely a kit." Manda disappeared in a giant cloud of smoke.

"Now you have no one to hide behind Orochimaru!" Okibi smirked. This is it. Father, my friend forgive me if I die here.

Orochimaru stepped out from the smoke, clapping. "Well, well, your bluff worked." He grinned. "We both know you are not that powerful. Even the son of the greatest and deathliest demon couldn't stop me, a mere human, from destroying everything that you loved."

Okibi let out a low growl. "My mate and my friend's village, his family, will be avenged!"

"About that, what ever happened to old man Roushi?" Orochimaru asked, curious about the only opponent that survived against him, badly injuring him too. He almost killed me that day... The burning remains of the village flashed through his mind.

"He died protecting his grandson from the Akatuski! His only regret was that he wasn't able to finish you himself." His burning hate began to grew as he stared at his enemy. "So he asked me to do it!" Okibi leaped at him, aiming for his throat.

Orochimaru slithered under him and kicked him straight up. "You know you are no match for me in that form." He said as Okibi landed roughly.

Okibi struggled to his paws. "I know..." I'm sorry Naruto, it seems I must go too... "Then I'll get serious!" A blinding white light covered him.

Orochimaru watched as the light began to take form, vaguely taking to the shape of a man. "Now we can have a battle worthy of shinobi!" A snake rose from his mouth and he pulled out his sword, kusanagi. "Come at me, Okibi!"

A man clothed in white robes drew his katana. His cool grey eyes glared at him through his long white hair. "Let's begin!" He rushed forward, both their swords met with a metal ring.

XXX

Naruto felt Okibi again. "No, he can't use that form!" He started to pick it up. The twigs and branches scratched him, but he paid it no mind. "I'm close!"

"Grand Fireball Technique!"

Naruto immediately halted and leaped back. "Sasuke, I have no time for you!"

Sasuke stood upon a tree branch. "Too bad. Orochimaru is taking care of your friend now and he asked me to keep you busy, besides you and me have some unfinished business." He hopped off the branch and landed in front of him. "My mangekyou sharingan is still incomplete. The only thing that will complete it is me seeing your dead, lifeless body."

Naruto dugged his nails into his palms, enough to draw blood. "So we're back to this... Have it your way, this time I won't hold back!" Naruto pulled out a scroll. "Come forth! Hiryuu!" A short sword with the hilt in the shape of a dragon appeared in his hand. "Hope you're ready Sasuke!"

Sasuke smirked. "Always." Luckily, Orochimaru gave him his own version of the kusanagi, though is was still unfinished. The long katana shined with its brilliance.

"SASUKE!"

"NARUTO!"

Both clashed for the finally time, each swing was true and precise.

XXX

Orochimaru ducked under Okibi's swing and lashed out with a kick. Okibi crossed his arms of block, but was too slow as it pounded him in the stomach. He skidded back from the force of it. He was breathing hard while Orochimaru didn't look winded at all. The gap between our power is still wide.

"What's wrong? You already done, I thought you were going to avenge your family and your Roushi's family?"

"You dare mocked them? They were more powerful than you will ever become!" Okibi gripped the hilt of his katana so hard his knuckles turned white. "They were not scared to die!"

"And that is why they are dead." Orochimaru was getting annoyed, who was this kit to call him a coward.

"You are a coward, not even worthy to walk in the same world of true shinobi!" Okibi voiced his thoughts.

"I am growing tired of you now, I think I will end it now." Orochimaru charged forward. "Die!" He thrust his sword, fully intended on end his life.

Okibi parried the thrust, but he wasn't fast enough. The blade pierced his shoulder. He back step to pull it out and attempted to stab him.

Orochimaru lazily knocked away his sword. "It that all of your effort? I tell you, I am sorely disappointed." He shook his head. "You must be ashamed. How can you face them in the next life? To tell them you failed to avenge them." He asked.

"No, it will be you that will face them!" Okibi poured all his strength into his legs and arms, with a mighty battle cry, he rushed forward. Orochimaru stood there, waiting. Goobye my friend, Naruto. I have to join them now.

Orochimaru parried his blow and thrust his sword deep into his chest. "Go meet them, tell them...I said hello." He hissed into his ear.

Okibi made a hand sign and smiled. "Tell them yourself...Sacrifice Technique!"

XXX

Naruto and Sasuke stumbled as a great explosion shook the ground. Naruto looked in the direction of the explosion, fear of what he hoped it wasn't filled his chest. "Okibi...no..." He whispered.

Sasuke shrugged. "So your pet is dead, why are you so down?"

Naruto glanced at him, eyes turning crimson. "Pet?!" He sheath his sword and dropped it on the ground. "He was my friend, not that means anything to you!"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Friendship is useless, I don't bother with things like that."

Naruto laughed bitterly. "Yeah, that's for sure. You can't be grateful for the things you have! The whole village, including Sakura-chan, worshiped you like you were a god! You got everything you wanted just because you were the last Uchiha."

Sasuke snorted. "I have no need for these things. Sakura, the ville, the are just holding me back."

"That's were you're wrong!" Naruto's eyes turned to a cold blue. "Friendship, love, comfort, you had every one of those. And that is what saved you...and me."

"Me?"

Naruto nodded. "Yes, you. Sakura asked me to bring you back, that was my promise of a life time to her. And I did, I saved you from being used by Orochimaru-teme! He was going to use your body and then, after a few years, toss you away like a broken toy."

Sasuke was shocked, he never knew what Orochimaru wanted with him. Just that he could give him power.

They both heard Orochimaru chuckled as he made his way toward them. "Impressive speech. You acted exactly like Jiraya when he tried to stop me from leaving."

Naruto could feel his teeth and nails grow as he looked at him. "Which is what he shouldn't have done...death is the only thing you deserve. No second chances!"

Orochimaru wagged his finger. "tsk, tsk, temper. That is how many thick-headed shinobi die." He smirked. "That is how your friend went. It was pathetic, thinking he could kill me by sacrificing himself." He closed his eyes and seemed to be remember something. "He was just like Roushi, in every way. That useless emotion, love. The feeling that you have that makes you want to protect something. And with it, revenge. That is the strongest of the two, it makes you want to attain power no matter the cost. To be able to make those suffer that took away the ones you love. Right Sasuke?"

Naruto spat at his feet. "Wrong, true strength reveals itself when you are protecting those you love and care for! That is what grandfather and Okibi did."

"And yet Okibi choose revenge." Orochimaru said playfully, like he had won.

"No, he did what he did as a last request to a friend." Naruto said, proud of him. The conversation they had in Ichiraku's came back.

XXX

In Ichiraku's before the battle

Naruto slurpped up the last of the broth. "Ah! That was good!" He looked beside him, Okibi didn't touch his food. "Something wrong?"

Okibi looked at his paws. I am afraid I have to leave you, as Roushi did.

Why? Naruto asked, the newly prepared bowl of ramen forgotten.

I can sense Orochimaru...he's near. There will probably be a battle today. And I will leave this world behind. He looked into his eyes. I must try to avenge my family, and Roushi's too. He made me promise to at least try. He chuckled. Father will be mad if he finds out.

What did Orochimaru do to you?

Anger filled Okibi's eyes. Long ago, after he left this village. He joined the Akatuski. They assigned him to capture the yonbi, your grandfather. You see, I am considered an adult by your terms, in demon terms, I'm still a newborn. We lived in the whirlpool country, the home your mother came from.

What was she like? What did she look like? Naruto's eagerness to learn about his parents forced him to interrupt.

She was beautiful, her red hair and green eyes were the most noticeable features about her. You have some of her personality. I am only thankful she left before he came, with your father. He sighed and the pain of talking about it made him hesitant before continuing. Roushi had the yonbi sealed into him at a young age. He was like you, lonely and shunded. Everyone hated him for what he had no say in. Though it took him many years, he succeed in winning their respect and the love of your grandmother, Lycoris.

Naruto listen attentively. Being told of his mother's home silenced all the questions he wanted to ask.

I was just a kit when I met him. I was bitter and spiteful at the world of humans, but he manged to convince me to think different. Okibi nodded his head. Yes, those were happy times... I found a mate, (I am only a demon in this form).We had a litter and Roushi and Lycoris had Kushina. But like all good things, they had to come to an end. After Kushina left, Orochimaru came. With his partner, a puppet, they massacred the entire village. Fortunate or unfortunately, Roushi was coming back from a mission. Upon seeing he village in ruin, his wife dead, he went crazy. I did too, my family was also murdered. We fought will all our might, but we were no match. Okibi smirked. We fatally wounded Orochimaru and his partner, the heavens were not kind and they still survived. That Uchiha made your grandfather relive that day, his worst nightmare. To be so helpless that you couldn't save those you loved. That is why I ask you to deal with Itachi.

Naruto nodded. Of course! I have a vendetta to settle with him.

Good, just remember that revenge works both ways. Don't get comsumed by it, that will only lead to your own downfall. Only do it to honor those that fell. To redem them for their mistakes.

I promise.

XXX

"And my true strength will finally show! Because I won't let you destroy this village!" Blue chakra erupted from him, kicking up leaves and dust. His chakra was there, clearly visable like water. "I ,Uzumaki Naruto, will battle you to protect my home! I won't let you make this another whirlpool!"

Sasuke shield his eyes from the dust. He was holding back?!

Orochimaru chuckled. "Another replay. I only hope you do better than your friend."

That little twist will have to wait. I think there will be two more chapters. Hope you enjoyed this one, review and tell me your thoughts.

Next Chapter: Why?