Chapter 21 and now

the battle will all reach conclusions.

I think I killed off too many characters

this chapter. So just take that warning

into account. Don't forget to read the

author note at the bottom.

Thanks very much for reading,

and now let chapter 21 begin!

Chapter 21: Conclusions

Sasuke stumbled up and faced Naruto who was also getting up. Both were exhausted from the battle and were badly injured. Sasuke though was confident tough that this was it and Naruto was going to die. He still had enough chakra to use his ultimate jutsu. Unlike the Itachi battle he didn't need to create the lightning for it was already there. The Chidori formed in his hand and Naruto watched trying to get ready for what was coming.

"Naruto Uzumaki this will mark your end!" Sasuke yelled confidently

Sakura was starting to get extremely worried about what was going to happen next. Naruto just stood there getting in a defensive position. He sensed the fox was low on energy as well which wasn't good. A loud roar was heard from the clouds and Sasuke smiled.

"These clouds and this storm means it was only destiny for me to kill you here!"

"Sasuke don't do this you don't have to!"

"You coward!"

The large lightning dragon began to appear. Naruto immediately threw a rasenshuriken at Sasuke. Sasuke moved his hand around for a little and the dragon went flying at Naruto.

"Now die Naruto!"

Sasuke jumped but felt his leg get cut with the rasenshuriken. Naruto couldn't dodge and with one final roar from the Kirin it crashed into the blonde and caused a blinding explosion. Sakura covered her face with her hands and felt herself being thrown back. She landed on a tree and just stayed there until the explosion was over. When it finished she opened her eyes and looked around. The entire ground was wiped from existence and trees were on fire. Sasuke stood at the edge of the large crater breathing heavily. Naruto was on his back in the center of the crater. Sakura turned away fearing for the worst. It seemed as if it was about to get much worse.

Naruto

Madara smiled as he watched the Kage flee from the area. They traveled in a large group which would probably be more efficient for his jutsu. The five scrolls began to glow green, red, white, blue and yellow. Black lettering jumped out of the scrolls and began wrapping around Madara.

"Feel the power of the Uchiha!"

A large dark shadow erupted from where Madara was sitting. It began to spread in a circular wave around him absorbing everything that was touched by it. Animals were instantly absorbed slowly and painfully. Kankuro looked behind him to see the dark wave approaching them. Gaara and the Mizukage were both behind him and about to be absorbed. Gaara realized this and closed his eyes thinking of what to do.

"Hold on Mizukage", he said still running and grabbing her

He launched her forward and in front of the other Kage. Onoki grabbed her and turned to see Gaara barely about to make it. Kankuro did the thing he felt he could do the most in this situation. He turned and grabbed Gaara and threw him in front of him. Gaara looked back to see the dark wave grab Kankuro. It began hissing and the Kazekage got up and grabbed onto his brother.

"Gaara go!" Kankuro yelled

"I can't Kankuro you are my brother and one of my precious people I couldn't", Gaara said sadly still pulling

"Gaara the village needs you go do this for me and your sister", Kankuro said taking a deep breath, "You are my best friend and brother and thank you"

"Kankuro", Gaara said actually showing emotions

Gaara felt himself being pulled away from his brother. He looked to see Tsunade who looked at him sadly and picked him up. They began running trying to catch up with the other Kage. Gaara could actually feel something wet falling from his eyes. Tsunade put him down and they both began running away from the black clouds. The Raikage turned and faced the dark clouds and kicked the earth causing rocks to create a sort of wall. He hoped this would somehow create a wall of defense.

"What are you doing!" Onoki yelled

"I'll try to protect us", the Raikage said calmly, "If I don't make it then appoint Darui as Raikage"

"Raikage don't", Onoki said sadly, "It won't help us if you die!"

"I'm without arms and weak. I couldn't even stop my own brother's capture", he said calmly, "Maybe I'll see him again"

Onoki just turned and ran with the others. There was a scream of pain as the Raikage was absorbed by the powerful jutsu. The others continued running as long as they could. The black clouds weren't stopping for some odd reason. Then after a little while longer there was a screeching sound and an angry cry. The black clouds disappeared revealing Madara.

"You think you can escape don't you!" Madara yelled, "Even if I die my legacy will haunt over you forever!"

The blackness slowly consumed Madara. He yelled as his body was slowly torn inside out and he exploded into millions of pieces. Tsunade put Gaara down who was actually crying. Gaara had never felt so sad in his life except form the events of his childhood. He couldn't believe Kankuro was dead. Tsunade put a hand on him to try and comfort the teen.

"There was nothing you could do about it"

"If only I was stronger"

"Kankuro saved you because he loved you Gaara"

"I know and I guess I'll always love him too"

Tsunade nodded while the other Kage silently wept for the loss of the Raikage. It was a sad ending for everyone who was present. Gaara just couldn't believe that he would have to tell his sister. He was also happy that the enemy they had was dead and maybe now the war could end.

Naruto

Sasuke smiled now that his enemy was dead. All he had to do now was destroy the leaf village with his ultimate Amaterasu. He turned to see Sakura who was still trying to hold back tears. She would be the first to go. He got ready to attack when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye.

How the hell are you still alive?" Sasuke yelled noticing Naruto still getting up

Naruto looked up at Sasuke who for a second was extremely confused. Naruto's eye was bleeding heavily and Itachi's mangekyo sharingan pattern was on his one eye. Sasuke didn't know how our why this was happening. Naruto gripped his eye in complete pain and collapsed but didn't fall unconscious. He looked out to see a white void space of his mind. Across from him stood the figure of Itachi.

"What the hell is going on!" Naruto asked confused

"Remember the time I met you in that forest", Itachi said calmly as Naruto nodded, "I told you I gave you some of my power. I hoped you wouldn't have to use it because it meant Sasuke was about to kill you"

"So wait how am I still alive though?" the blond asked

"I gave Sasuke the ability to use my Mangekyo sharingan on Madara using the Amaterasu. I gave you the ability to use my Susanoo. I knew that at one point you would be attacked by my foolish brother"

"But why?"

"You're honestly the only one who can stop him", Itachi said calmly, "That is why I gave you my gift"

"So you're telling me that I can use it now whenever!" Naruto said somewhat excited

"No that was a one time deal, but unfortunately there is a catch to the user and to you", Itachi continued, "I was extremely weak during my fight against Sasuke. You though since not being part of the Uchiha clan will experience some very bad things"

"What do you mean?"

"You will be blind for the rest of your life in that eye and unable to heal it", Itachi said solemnly and Naruto gulped, "You will also experience yourself coughing up blood from time to time. You will need a lot of medication as well to control a weak heart. I'm sorry but these are the consequences of my jutsu"

"I understand Itachi", Naruto said seriously, "And thank you I guess. Though you weren't really the nicest guy on earth, I sort of feel bad for you"

"Don't waste your pity Naruto", Itachi said slightly smiling, "You have a battle to finish"

Itachi began to get more and more distant from Naruto until there was only a blank whiteness. Then Naruto looked up from his only usable eye to see Sasuke angrily staring down at him. He clutched his eye and pulled his hand away to see blood all on his hand. He had a massive headache and his eye was burning. He also couldn't see anything from that eye.

"I'll finish him right now", Sasuke said calmly, "Amaterasu!"

None of the black flames came. Instead Sasuke felt pain and a lot of it. He fell to the ground as well clutching his eyes. He pulled away to see blood which fell to the ground. The blood began to spell something out in front of Sasuke. They said 'This is the price of too much power'. Sasuke growled angrily at the words and jumped down into the crater with Naruto. They both had enough chakra for one last attack. Naruto began forming the rasengan and Sasuke formed a Chidori.

"You don't deserve to live anymore", Sasuke said angrily

"This isn't what Itachi wants!" Naruto replied

"How would you ever know what Itachi wanted!"

"And how would you!" Naruto replied angrily

"This is the end 'brother'!"

"I'm sorry Sasuke"

The two leapt at each other a fast speeds. Sakura ran to the edge of the cliff and looked down to see the two. She put her hands together to pray and closed her eyes. The next thing she knew there was a loud explosion. Cries of pain echoed and she looked down…

Sakura

An older Sakura looked down at Yuuka who looked at her sadly. Sakura realized she was crying and wiped her hand across her face to hide the tears. The next part was the part she hated a lot.

"Sakura-san if you can't continue then don't", Yuuka said

"No", Sakura replied, "I'm a ninja and I'm not to show too much emotion. I need to tell you because you need to learn from my mistakes"

Yuuka walked over and put an arm around Sakura and looked her deep in the eye. Sakura smiled at the young girl who nodded urging her to continue.

"The next part of my story will be the end of it", Sakura said, "Then I will give you an afterwards on the people and who they are today"

"Thanks Sakura-san"

"Anytime child"

Sakura

Sakura ran down the side of the crater and turned immediately turned to where Naruto was lying. He was down on the ground bleeding from his chest where there was a large hole. She felt tears burning at her eyes and ran over towards him. Sasuke watched and closed his eyes. He also had a large hole through his chest and was bleeding. He himself began to go into his mind and he looked around to see nothing but darkness.

"Sasuke"

"Itachi? What are you doing here?" Sasuke said happily recognizing his brother

"Don't call me Itachi", Itachi said sternly, "You aren't my brother"

"What?"

"Whatever you are you aren't him. My brother was nice and adorable. He wasn't an angry, evil person. My wishes were to keep the Leaf village safe, and now look at what happened. You have disgraced the Uchiha clan completely. I'm not happy with you"

"You aren't Itachi"

"You can't deny it Sasuke", Itachi said, "Those eyes have been hurting you due to the fact I did something to them before I died. Your jutsu failed because I rigged my old eyes. I was also the one who allowed Naruto to live after your attack"

"Why? I'm your brother! Why did you help Naruto?"

"Because he was more of a brother to you then I was. You should have gone back to the leaf. Think of everything you missed due to your revenge"

"I was getting my revenge on you!"

"But you became power hungry and greedy for it", Itachi said, "You betrayed your friends and everyone who cared for you to get it. You should have listened to Kakashi"

"Why?"

"You answer that", Itachi said fading away

Sasuke opened his eyes to feel nothing but pain. He knew there was no hope for him. Maybe Itachi would accept him again if he gave up his lust for power. Maybe death wasn't so bad. He would see his family again and his brother. His eyes slowly closed. The last of the Uchiha was finished.

Sakura ran over and kneeled next to Naruto and began to cry. Just this morning they were sitting together in her kitchen. Each tear hit his face and mixed with the rain. She snapped out of her sadness and began to heal him as fast as she could. The wound wasn't closing, and the fox wasn't helping.

"Sakura-chan", he mumbled lifting his arm and wiping away some of her tears, "Don't cry please"

"Naruto", she cried, "I-I'm sorry"

"Why are you sorry?" he asked slightly smiling

She looked at him with great sadness. His eyes weren't that deep blue anymore. One was a light bluish color while the other was a grey and sad with blood falling from it. A pool of blood had formed underneath him. His golden hair was much lighter and his skin had turned to a deep pale.

"Naruto-kun you're going to be fine", she said crying and trying to smile, "You're going to be just fine. I'm going to heal you and then we can have some ramen together. Then we can see a movie or something and take another walk in the park. How does that sound?"

"Sakura-chan remember that day", Naruto mumbled still smiling, "I hate people who lie to themselves. We both know I'm not going to make it"

"Naruto no you are", she confidently, "I won't let you die I can't let you!"

"Sakura-chan", he said slowly rubbing her cheek, "You're wasting your chakra"

"How can you still be concerned about me when you are in such bad shape?" she asked holding his hand, "How Naruto after everything?"

"I thought you knew I love you and always will", Naruto mumbled

"Naruto-kun", she said tearing up a bit more, "I-I love you too and always will. Please I couldn't live without you"

"Thanks Sakura-chan", he mumbled trying to keep his eyes open, "That means so much to me. I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promises I really wish I could. I'm sorry I couldn't bring Sasuke back. I wish we could have spent more time together, Sakura-chan"

"Please don't go", she begged, "Who will I call a baka or listen to on advice when I'm feeling down? I couldn't care less about those promises because I love you! Don't go please Naruto-kun"

"I'll always be right here with you Sakura-chan", he said smiling, "That's a promise"

Sakura went down close to his lips and the two kissed passionately. When they separated Naruto just smiled, and bought his hand up and put it on Sakura and moved her until she was lying next to him. She nuzzled close into him and hugged him as hard as she could. He had put his arm around her and the two stayed like this unable to break apart.

"Naruto?" she asked after a little, "Naruto-kun? Naruto-kun please answer me please"

She felt tears fall from her eyes and she started to sob uncontrollably into his jacket. She wouldn't let go of him and couldn't believe it happened. She felt the warmth of his body disappear and his hair blew in the wind. She continued to cry until she felt like she couldn't anymore.

Kakashi who had recovered had jumped towards the area hoping he wasn't too late. He knew he was, as he looked down at his students. He felt the same way when he lost Obito. He didn't speak he only jumped down, and walked towards Sakura, who was now sitting up, and cradling the blonde's head.

"Sakura you should get out of the rain", he said calmly

"Kakashi-sensei he's gone and he's not coming back", she mumbled, "How could you tell me to get out of the rain? Don't you care that he's dead!"

"I'm sorry Sakura I really am", Kakashi said looking down, "I wish I could've been a better sensei, but the only way I can help is to tell you to get out of the rain"

"I'm not leaving him"

"Sakura", Kakashi said sadly, "Naruto would want you to be happy right? He wouldn't want all of this sadness at his death. He loved you a lot so please Sakura for him, get out of the rain before you get sick"

Sakura picked up the body, and began to walk with the body slowly. Kakashi went and picked up Sasuke's corpse and the two walked together until they reached the village. The sound had retreated with the few amounts of troops that survived. It was still raining hard out, and the rain village had left except for Konan who was going to talk with the Hokage. Iruka was the first to approach the two and see what Sakura was carrying. He immediately broke down into tears when he saw him. Sakura cried with him as Kakashi watched the two. They decided it was best to wait to tell everyone until the Hokage got back.

Naruto

The remaining Kage all said their goodbyes and set up for a meeting in the future. They each began to go back to their villages to see the shape it was in. Tsunade had given them some food pills to help them get back. Gaara continued to jump through the trees until he reached the desert. It had been about five hours of jumping through the forest. A bunch of sand ninja who were waiting for him immediately greeted him.

"What happened Kazekage-sama?" one asked interested

"We won", Gaara replied, "But we lost the Raikage and my brother"

The others remained silent and just walked with him until he reached the gates. The large walls of rock that were there were almost gone. The tailed beasts had destroyed them almost completely. Temari and Shikamaru were holding hands and waiting for Gaara and Kankuro to return. A sand ninja approached them and told them Gaara had arrived. The two instantly went forward to see the young Kazekage.

"Gaara are you ok?" Temari asked hugging him noticing his arm was missing, "My god Gaara we need to get you to the hospital now. You could drop any second, and where is Kankuro?"

"I'm sorry Temari, but Kankuro didn't make it", Gaara said sadly lowering his head, "I couldn't save him"

Temari just looked at him and felt tears falling from her eyes. She knelt on the desert ground and began to cry harder. Shikamaru and Gaara both knelt down with her and tried to comfort her. Gaara himself felt tears running down the side of his face.

The other Kage returned and noticed the destruction and loss of people in their villages. The Cloud ninja held a huge ceremony for their Kage and picked Darui as their next leader. Tsunade sent Katsuyu with a message to the Village Hidden in the Clouds telling them the news.

Tsunade walked into her village and was greeted and praised immediately by many. The only thing she wanted to know was if Naruto and Sakura were ok. Kakashi had found her and began leading her back to his apartment.

"I'm sorry Hokage-sama but Naruto", Kakashi paused, "he didn't make it"

"What are you talking about!" she yelled angrily, "How could he not have made it?"

They entered Kakashi's apartment and they saw Sakura next to the ground with a person under a white blanket. Some stains of red were on certain areas of it.

"Sasuke and Naruto battled and Naruto ended up loosing but also taking Sasuke down", Kakashi said as Tsunade ran over next to her apprentice and hugged her.

"I can't believe it", she mumbled feeling a tear fall from her eye, "He was like my son and he's dead"

"Tsunade-sama I couldn't save him", Sakura said sadly, "I tried but I couldn't"

Tsunade just nodded and held her closer. Shizune and Sakura were all she had left. The two both cried as Kakashi watched trying to hide some tears of his own.

Well I'm pretty sure the next chapter is the last. Now before I go on I want to apologize to all those who wanted Naruto to live. I would like to also say sorry to SwitchMagic. I would have changed it, but based on how the story was from the beginning, it was in my plans. I'll try to make the last chapter happier, and try to make up for killing off Naruto. Thanks so much for sticking with the story. Reviews are always appreciated.