Chapter 21:Something That Can Fill The Void
Naruto was sound asleep as he slowly awoke in a bed "Where am I?" He questioned as he looked around at his surroundings. Naruto noticed he was lying in a bed inside the hotel he and Jiraiya where staying at. He looked around and saw Shizune asleep on the floor "Hey Shizune-san." Naruto said getting out of the bed to wake her. He started to shake her shoulders and her eyes started to slowly open "Are you ok?" He asked.
Shizune awoke felt a bit dizzy but picked herself up to answer Naruto's question "Naruto?" She recollected her thoughts until she remembered what happened "Wait! What's today!?" She asked in a panic.
Naruto was taken back by her outburst but answered her "Tuesday, the last day of the bet." He started questionably at her "Why were you asleep in my room on the floor?"
Shizune shook her head "Never mind that, we have to find Tsunade-sama!" She said in a voice of worry.
Naruto nodded "Yea I need to win this bet so we can get back to Konoha already."
Shizune blinked at him "Wait does that mean you've mastered the Rasengan!?" She asked in a surprised voice.
"Huh well..." Naruto chuckled nervously "I wouldn't use the word 'mastered' but...I'll just figure something out! I can't afford to fail, not after I've come so far." He said in a determined voice.
Shizune giggled at his determination "I see." She stood up "Well come on we should find Jiraiya-sama first." She told him as Naruto nodded.
Naruto quickly got out of bed and grabbed and put on his jacked, black gloves and his sandals "I'm ready."
Shizune nodded as she went to of out of the window when suddenly she was stopped by a kunai. She let out a small epp as the knife flew past her face, she looked to the direction the kunai came from and gasped "Jiraiya-sama!?"
Jiraiya looked like a mess, he was panting heavily and his eyes looked tired "That old hag drugged me." He said weakly.
"Oji-san!?" Naruto said joining the two "What happened to you?" He asked.
Jiraiya then told the two the events of last night while Shizune healed him trying to suppress the drug's effect "And when I came out I could barely stand." The sage sighed "She played me and I let her, damn I must really being old to fail for such a trick." He said in a ashamed voice.
"You were probably too busy staring at her breast." Naruto thought but he was confused at this situation "I still don't get it. Why would she do this?" He asked them.
Jiraiya stared at Shizune "Shizune what's really going on here?" He asked "And you'd better tell the truth, that's an order." He said in a dangerous tone.
Seeing no way around the question Shizune sighed revealing the truth "Today is the day Tsunade-sama is suppose to meet with Orochimaru and make a deal with him." As she told them Naruto gasped and Jiraiya stare hardened "The deal is Tsunade is to heal someone under Orochimaru and to never return to Konoha for the exchange my uncle Dan and her younger brother Nawaki being brought back to life." She explained.
Naruto took in the information as he remembered the two names "Dan and Nawaki, brought back to life?" He questioned "A jutsu that can bring the dead back to life? Orochimaru can do that?" He asked Shizune.
She nodded "So he claims, but I have heard tells of forbidden jutsus with that ability. It's possible Orochimaru has learned a technique like that." She told the blonde.
Naruto entered a moment of deep thought, he thought about all the possibilities with a jutsu like that. "Okaa-san, Shiro, Furi...everyone. I can bring all them back." Naruto then slowly opened his mouth "Is it possible to learn such a jutsu..?"
"Naruto!" Jiraiya he called to his god son "Those types of jutsus are forbidden for a good reason! No jutsu can bring your mother back Naruto." He sighed "I'm sorry." He said.
Naruto frowned and dropped his head "I know I just..."
"I understand." Jiraiya said "But right now we have to focus on stopping Tsunade, I'm still a little weak but I'm starting to feel a better so let's get a move on." He turned to Naruto "Naruto I need you to track Tsunade's location down by using your sensatory abilities." He told him as he nodded and they started to head out.
Meanwhile unknown to the group they were being watched from the shadows "Well it seems things are about to get interesting." He smirked under his mask.
"So this is where you are." Came another voice.
The masked figure turned around "Zetsu." He said the creature's name.
"Why are you here? To watch the Kyubi brat?" The black half asked "Why don't you just capture him now and be done with it? Why wait Tobi?" The white other half asked.
Tobi shook his head "Now isn't the time, but there is something you can do. Go record the battle I want to see how far he's come." He ordered the plant creature as it nodded.
A Few Minutes Later
Tsunade was panting heavily as she quickly healed herself, she had to admit this Kabuto was good. He was surprising a truly gifted medical ninja, a fast and smart one too making him a dangerous opponent. But she knew she had end this quickly, because after him she'd have two more opponents to fight.
Orochimaru himself as well as another one of his underlings Kimimaro. He was the one Orochimaru wanted her to heal, she was unaware of his abilities but if he was anything like Kabuto he could be trouble.
Orochimaru smirked "Come now Tsunade just stop you can't think you can really win this fight can you? You're out of shape and practice. While you've been drowning yourself in alcohol over your despair I've been only getting stronger and stronger. And seeing how you're struggling just to handle Kabuto here I doubt you'll last every long."
Tsunade frowned "Oh shut the hell up! I'll fix Jiraiya and Sarutobi-sensei's mistake and kill you here and now! Even if I have to die to do so!" She yelled as she went to rush Kabuto when suddenly a cloud of smoke appeared in front of her.
"Sorry we're late." Came Jiraiya's voice as the smoke cleared.
Tsunade blinked as she saw Jiraiya, Shizune and Naruto standing before her.
Orochimaru smiled "Well it seems back up has arrived."
Kabuto frowned "This is becoming a lot more troublesome." He commented.
"What are you all doing here!?" Tsunade asked in a demanding voice.
"How about a 'thank you' for coming to save you." Jiraiya said "Especially after you drugged me." He rolled his eyes at her.
"You told them didn't you." Tsunade said glaring at Shizune.
Shizune lowered her head "Yes but I had to Tsunade-sama, I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize Shizune. She knows you did the right thing." Jiraiya told her "Now then to deal with the task at hand." He narrowed his eyes at Orochimaru "To put an end to him."
Naruto looked to see two familiar faces "Orochimaru!" He growled his name "And...Kabuto!?" He said a bit shocked "Though I honestly shouldn't be too surprised." He stared at the white-haired man "So have long have you worked for Orochimaru?"
Kabuto smiled "For a long time, Naruto."
Orochimaru chuckled "Well, well we meet again on the battlefield Naruto-kun. Though I'm afraid you won't be my opponent this time." He turned his attention to Jiraiya "It's good to see you again old friend." He said in a mocking voice.
"You too Orochimaru, though..." Jiraiya sent him a hard glare "Let's have this be the last time." But one thing did worry him, the drug's effect was still active and he wasn't at his full power yet. "If push comes to shove I'll use Sage Mode for this, if I'm able to manage in this state."
Tsunade though had enough of waiting "Fine Jiraiya you want Orochimaru than he's yours but that little bastard with the glasses is mine!" She said as he began to charge at Kabuto.
"No! Wait Tsunade!" Jiraiya yelled but his warning fell to deaf ears.
Tsunade ignored Jiraiya as she closed in on Kabuto, who only smiled to her "So you fear the sight of blood do you?" He pulled out a kunai "Let's put that to the test!" He said as he stabbed his own hand.
Tsunade instantly stopped in a cold sweat as she looked down to her hands "Blood...?" She said a low voice, full of fear.
Jiraiya bit his lip "Damn it." He cursed.
Naruto stared at the scene with confusion "I don't get it. Why did she stop?" He asked but got no answer.
Tsunade's eyes widen in horror as her shook, just staring at the blood dipping from her hands. Mental images of Dan's bloody body and Nawaki's corpse flashed through her mind as she stood there helpless.
Kabuto put on a vile smile "Dealing with two Sannin would be difficult, but now at least one is down!" He then punched Tsunade in the face sending her flying into Tsunade's arms.
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune shouted as she caught her. Shizune quickly wrapped Tsunade in her green jacket as she stared at Tsunade with worried eyes.
Naruto growled and glared at Kabuto "You bastard!" He shouted as he pulled out his Kaze Kattā and sprinted at Kabuto.
Kabuto was prepared to take Naruto on when suddenly something came between them. It was Jiraiya "Naruto calm yourself and don't let your emotions cloud your judgment." He told his student. Naruto stopped and realized what he was doing, he bit his lips to not protest and nodded. "In the past he would had never let himself lose control like that. Guess his time in Konoha really did change him." He thought.
Orochimaru chuckled at the scene "Well now if you're butting in I guess I'll have no choice but to enter this fight too." He bit his thumb "So let's go old friend, Kimimaro you bring me Tsunade." He said to the boy standing next to him.
"Yes Orochimaru-sama." The whited haired boy nodded.
After a flash of hand signs Orochimaru slammed his hand to the ground and from a cloud of smoke a giant two-headed snake came out. "Well come on Jiraiya! Let's finish what he started!"
"He really has a thing for giant snake monsters huh?" Naruto asked.
Jiraiya nodded "You have no idea." He then formed his own hand signs "Doton:Dark Swamp!" Suddenly a giant swamp of mud appeared under the snake entrapping it in the jutsu "I'm not strong enough yet to produce a swamp large enough to drown the snake, but it's not moving any time soon." He then turned to others "Shizune you take care of Kabuto, Naruto stay back and protect Tsunade from that other guy. I'm not sure what he can do so be careful." He told the two.
"But Ojisan you're in a weaken state. Are you sure you can take on Orochimaru by yourself?" Naruto asked.
Jiraiya shrugged "I can handle him don't worry about me." He then jumped onto the snake to battle his once teammate turned enemy.
As Jiraiya leaped away Naruto formed a hand sign "Shadow Clone Jutsu" He summoned a clone "Don't worry Shizune-san, my clone will watch over Tsunade." He told her.
Shizune nodded as Naruto's clone stood defensively over Tsunade who was too zoned out to notice anything happening. The two Konoha nin stood ready facing their opponents, Naruto to Kimimaro and Shizune to Kabuto.
The two then charged their targets head on and clashed "If Tsunade of the Sannin couldn't beat me what makes you think you have a chance?" Kabuto said in a mocking voice.
Shizune frowned "That maybe true but I'm no push over." She infused her hands with chakra "Don't underestimate me!" She shouted with an attack "Chakra Dissection Blade!" She took her swing at Kabuto.
Kabuto managed to dodge the jutsu and smirked "Well now, this just got interesting!" He then infused his right hand with chakra doing the same jutsu "Let's see who's medical jutsu is stronger."
Meanwhile Naruto's first attack with his sword was stopped with ease by Kimimaro "What the hell?" Naruto said in shock as he saw Kimimaro block his sword with his own bones from his right arm. Naruto then saw Kimimaro getting ready to counterattack and he leaped away trying to figure out what kind of jutsu he just used. "What was that? A Kekkei Genkai?" He asked.
Kimimaro nodded "Yes I am the last of my clan the Kaguya clan, Kimimaro. Orochimaru-sama's fateful servant." He then reached over to his left shoulder and pulled out a bone with a sharp end and held it like a sword. "Don't hold anything personal against me, but I must obey my master's orders, and I can not fail." He said in an emotionless tone.
"What way of talking, and those eyes." Naruto thought looking at Kimimaro's eyes, they were completely dull and void of emotion. It remembered him of himself not too long ago, and even a bit now. "This guy..." That's when Hinata's unmoving body flashed through his mind, and his promise to her. "Well" He began "I can't afford to lose either, ya know." He then gripped his blade tightly with both hands and took in a deep breath "Issen Barrage!" He then swung his sword three times sending three chakra waves at his enemy.
Kimimaro reacted quickly as he dodged the incoming barrage of attacks with ease. Naruto then appeared behind him using Flash-Step and took a swung from behind only for his attack to be blocked. Kimimaro pushed Naruto back and turned around to thrust his bone blade into Naruto's right shoulder. As he connected Naruto suddenly poofed away into a cloud of smoke revealing it was a clone and the real Naruto was above him ready to strike.
Kimimaro didn't move but felt Naruto behind him and only responded by turned his head to Naruto to glare at the blonde Jinchuriki. As their met Naruto felt his Kattā be stopped again but this time from bonds coming from Kimimaro's back "What!?" Naruto yelled in surprise "His back too!? Can he do it from any part of his body?"
Kimimaro then saw his moment to strike as he quickly turned around to take a slash at Naruto's head. Naruto moved his head far enough to avoid a fatal hit, but was grazed by Kimimaro's bone on the left cheek. Naruto back away and hissed at his wound, he then sent Kimimaro a hard glare "Damn." He said then chuckled a bit "This might be harder than I thought." He commented "Ok then." He then put up a familiar hand sign "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" He summoned a barrage of clones, but after he did so he felt his body begin to feel heavier.
Kimimaro looked and saw he was surrounded. "I guess I too should try harder." He then arched his body into position "I'll show you the power of the Kaguya. And the gift from Orochimaru-sama." He then pulled down his shirt and revealed a mark on his chest, the mark then began to spread over his body.
Naruto's eyes widen "That's a Curse Mark!" He said in shock.
"Larch Dance." Was all Kimimaro said as bones began to pop out of his body all over. The clones readied themselves as he started to destroy them one by one.
Meanwhile Jiraiya was struggling keeping up with Orochimaru, he knew if Orochimaru wanted to he could defeat him in this weaken state. But it was clear he was holding back.
He and Orochimaru stopped for a moment "You're not looing too well old friend. Do you need a break?" He asked with an evil smile.
Jiraiya panted "Funny I was about to ask you the same thing." He let out a dry chuckle. "But what is it you really want?" He said with a serious face. "Was not being chosen as the next Hokage really put on this path? Is this all about revenge?" He asked.
Orochimaru laughed "You really think that's what this is all about? Oh foolish Jiraiya, I never any interest in becoming Hokage. No, my real goals..." His smile widen "Is to become a god among mortals. To learn all the jutsus known to Shinobi, all with the ultimate body." He explained.
Jiraiya then put it together "That's why you gave the Uchiha kid your Curse Mark, you want his body. And with the Sharingan you could copy any jutsu you want."
"You catch on quickly." Orochimaru commented.
Jiraiya only shook his head "Still after nothing but power after these years, and here I thought it might be some greater meaning behind your actions." He smirked "Look for all the short cuts you want Orochimaru and get as powerful as you want, but hard work always wins in the end. That's how a Shinobi truly becomes strong. And that's something you'll never understand."
Orochimaru only shrugged "Different opinions it seems."
The two then resumed their battle, and back with Naruto he and Kimimaro were clashing and exchanging blows with their weapons. Though Naruto was panting heavily and struggling to keep up with Kimimaro.
And Shizune was struggling to keep up with Kabuto. Not only was she out of practice but he was completely faster than her and unpredictable. "Damn it, I can't land a hit." She cursed panting.
Kabuto smiled "I warned you, you had no chance of defeating me!" He then pushed Shizune back with a chakra enhanced palm.
Shizune closed her eyes because of the pain "Ninpo:Poison Fog!" Shizune then let out a purple gas from her mouth aiming at Kabuto.
The glasses wearing ninja only smirked as he vanished in the cloud "One breath of this and I'm as good as dead. Impressive, but not enough."
Shizune stood there waiting to see the results of her attack when she felt someone grab her ankles from underneath her. It was Kabuto using a Doton jutsu to escape "You're done." He said as he rose from the ground and smacked her away.
Shizune laid on the ground breathing heavily but barely moving "Shizune-san!" Naruto's clone yelled. The clone then looked back at Tsunade still in shock from the blood, the clone bit his lip the original had to hurry with his battle. The clone then looked up as Kabuto slowly approached him with a smile on his face as he entered his battle stance to defend Tsunade.
Naruto blinked as he felt his clone be destroyed by Kabuto with ease. "No." He said. Now Tsunade was completely defenseless, he needed to hurry to her but he had to finish this battle first.
He glared at Kimimaro "Sorry but I don't have time to keep messing around with you." He said to his opponent "So let's end this quickly." Honestly Naruto needed to finish this not just because of Tsunade, but because he was running out of stamina. His body had yet to fully recover from all of his training to master the Rasengan over the last week. And using more clones could be dangerous.
"Quickly?" Kimimaro said "If that is what you want. Uzumaki Naruto." Kimimaro narrowed his eyes at the blonde "Dance Of The Willow." His body then popped more bones out, from his arms to his chest and even legs all with sharpen points. Then rushed Naruto at an amazing speed.
Naruto could barely react as Kimimaro speed blitzed him and attacked from all sides. Naruto couldn't keep up with his frenzy of attacks "Too many places he can attack from. He's too fast I can't keep up!" Naruto panicked in his mind as he continued to block and dodge what he could.
Kimimaro then used the bones from his arms to block Naruto's sword as he added force to push him back "Now, Digital Shrapnel!" He thrusted his hands forward and shot out the bones from his fingers like bullets.
Naruto managed to block only four of them but the other six shot right him, Naruto hissed in pain as he left the small bullet pierce through his arms, legs and shoulders. Naruto noticed his reaction time was now starting to deplete as well.
Kimimaro then rushed in "This is the end." He said as he about to deliver the final blow when suddenly stopped by Naruto tightly gripping his wrist. "What?" he questioned as he stared at the blonde.
He looked up to Naruto and saw his eyes flash red for a moment. Kimimaro was frozen with shock as he felt Naruto's grip get stronger than before, until his felt him break his wrist. Naruto had lost himself to Kyubi's control, until he realized what he was doing. His eyes flashing back to their normal blue color.
Kimimaro struggled eventually broke free and leaped away to clear the distance between the two. "Just what was that?" He asked himself wondering just who Naruto really was.
Naruto breathed in and out as he felt himself start regain control over himself. He could free it, Kyubi slowly influencing him. His other half trying to get control of him, it looked like even with his seal repaired he still had the danger of losing control "Again." He said "It happened again." Just like with his fight with Senshi.
Kimimaro stood there staring Naruto down "I don't know what that was but, it seems like you too have some hidden power." He started "But now I'll truly end this." Suddenly his Curse Mark began to glow and spread again, soon his skin started to turn brown and his eyes yellow.
Naruto's eyes went wide in horror as Kimimaro completed his transformation "Is that another stage of the Curse Mark..?" He wondered.
But before Kimimaro could do anything his eyes widen as he felt his body begin to give out on him. "Now?" He questioned as he coughed out blood and fell to his knees. Soon his brown skin and yellow eyes vanished and he fell onto his front side, unconscious.
Naruto only stared at Kimimaro as he laid there passed out, he wonder what happened. Was it a price for using the Curse Mark for too long? Was this something that could happen to Sasuke? He remembered Anko-nee explaining to him how the mark worked, one could receive great power but along with it came unbelievable pain. But this Curse Mark was on his chest and not on his neck like Anko-nee and Sasuke had. So what was the difference?
He then reminded himself he had no time to wonder about it as he remembered Tsunade was in trouble.
With Tsunade
Tsunade found herself defenseless against Kabuto after he defeated Naruto's clone. The real Naruto was busy with his own fight while Shizune was on the ground still barely moving. She could only back away in fear as Kabuto slowly approached her.
Kabuto came up to her with a disgusted look on his face "Look at you. Once one of the legendary Sannin, and medical ninja. Honestly before today I had nothing but the utmost respect for you. But now look at you!" He said a voice full of angry "Shaking like a coward, watching as your comrades risk their lives for you and you sitting here watching not doing a thing!" He shook his head "Pathetic." He cocked his fist back "That's all you are."
Tsunade only held herself tightly as she waited for Kabuto's fist but it never came. She opened her eyes in shock to see Naruto blocking Kabuto's punch "That's enough out of you! You traitor!" Naruto yelled in furry as he pushed Kabuto back.
Kabuto smirked "My in all the excitement I forgot you were even here." He stared down Naruto "But it looks like you used all of your strength fighting Kimimaro." He noticed how weaken Naruto looked.
Naruto bit his lip, he was right Naruto had little chakra left and his body was at its limit. But still he had to protect Tsunade, no matter what. "Flash-Step!" He then lunged forward with his sword.
Though Kabuto was able to dodge the attack, he was still lightly cut on his right side by Naruto. He then stroked Naruto down on his right thigh, tearing the muscles in his leg.
Naruto groaned in pain as he fell to the ground and lost the grip of his sword. Naruto desperately tried to stand up and get his blade back but was stopped by a kick to his ribs by Kabuto.
The blonde looked up and glared at him and Kabuto only smirked in response "I'd be careful on that leg of yours, I've severed your muscles in the right thigh to your leg." But Naruto wasn't listening as he tried to stand again only to be kicked down again by Kabuto "Aren't you listening!?" Kabuto yelled as he went to kick him again.
Naruto stopped his kick to Kabuto's shock and said "No, not really..." He then pushed his foot away and continued to pick himself up.
Kabuto watched in disbelief as the blonde Uzumaki struggled but eventually stood again. He chuckled at this "Look at you." He started "You've got no change of winning but yet you refuse to stay down. You look like you're ready to pass out at any moment." He mocked Naruto.
Naruto was unable to stand up right and his body felt heavier than before. He hasn't felt this exhausted since that time on the mission in Wave, but still "I'm not staying down." He said in a low voice "You'll have to kill me first!" He yelled staring straight into Kabuto's eyes.
Kabuto only sneered as he sent Naruto flying toward Tsunade with a quick chop to the neck "Little kids like you really don't get it, do you?" He looked at Naruto with eyes of anger "You children always think you're so indestructible and can't be killed, always think things will work out. But in reality things don't always go that way. And here you are fighting a battle you've ready lost, be realistic Naruto and admit defeat." Naruto shifted himself on the ground and glared at Kabuto "Just run away, you've got your whole life ahead of you. No one will blame you." He shrugged his shoulder with a smile, shaking his head saying "After all, you don't want to die yet. Right?"
Naruto though about what Kabuto said for only a moment before he decided to stand up again, ignoring the pain while doing so. Tsunade blinked as she couldn't believe what Naruto was doing. "No." She said to herself "No more please!" She raised her voice "No more Naruto, you don't have to protect me!" She tried pleading with him.
Naruto only turned his head to her and said "No I don't have to protect you." He put on a wide smile "I want to, because you and I are one of the same."
Tsunade eyes went wide at his words while Kabuto was not pleased "You damned fool." He pulled out a kunai "You've just thrown it all away, and for nothing!" He charged at Naruto with the intent to kill him.
Naruto only responded with summoning a shadow clone "I've only got enough strength let for one more attack. So it's all or nothing."
"A shadow clone won't help him now!" Tsunade thought in panic.
Just as Kabuto was about to strike Naruto caught his fist with his left hand, tightly gripping it "You say I need to face reality? Be realistic huh?" Naruto chuckled "Funny coming from you. Did you really think you could scare me?" He asked in a dark voice. Kabuto tried to break free but went wide eye at Naruto's grip only getting stronger "I know I'm not indestructible, I know I can be killed. But no matter what I won't die! Not while I have so much left to fight for!" He put out his right hand to his clone "I won't ever run away or give up! I never go back on my word! I'll follow my path to the very end! That's my nindo, my ninja way!" Naruto's clone than started to sent chakra into Naruto's hand.
Now Kabuto was staring to become worried as a small sphere of chakra formed in Naruto's hand. Tsunade couldn't believe it "That's impossible..."
"Alright Tsunade time to pay up on that bet of ours!" Naruto said as he finished the jutsu and smirked to Kabuto "This is gonna hurt." He pulled his hand back and thrusted forward with all of his strength left "Rasengan!" He smashed the Rasengan into Kabuto's stomach giving it his all.
Kabuto screamed from the impact as he went flying into a giant rock. Naruto was panting heavily but had a smile on his face, at his victory and his mastering of the Rasengan.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya stopped their battle to moment to witness this.
"So he finally did it." Jiraiya smiled "Minato, Kushina you'd two be proud."
Orochimaru seem to be displeased by this "A mere child mastering a jutsu like that? It's unheard of."
Tsunade sat there looking in disbelief at what just happened "He really did." She said "Used a shadow clone to control the flow of chakra, ingenious." She stared at Naruto's back side. "Like his father."
Naruto just stood there felling his body about give out when he coughed loudly, but blood came. Naruto's eyes widen as he felt his chest become tight and found it hard to breath. His vision blurred as he fell to his back side, unconscious.
Tsunade hurried over to him, checking his body for damage. She lowered her head to Naruto's chest, but her skin turned cold when she heard a weak heart beat. "His heart is failing!" She then went to rip off his shirt but found herself shaking too much and had to calm herself down first. She applied a small amount of chakra to her finger and cut Naruto's shirt down the middle and felt around his chest. "His heart has been attacked and his chest muscles have been torn apart." She said "But how When?" She questioned.
Tsunade turned her head once she heard Kabuto chuckling "It was when Naruto hit me with that jutsu." He explained "Before we separated I attacked his heart and cut off his connection to Kyubi, so he won't be getting any help from the demon." He smirked "It's over for him."
Tsunade sent him a deadly glare "But how are you still able to move after an attack like that?"
Kabuto grinned "I had already started healing myself before the impact. My regeneration abilities with my medical Ninjutsu is the reason Orochimaru-sama keeps me so close." He took a few steps forward but fell as he found himself unable to move "What!? Even with my healing ability the damage was too great. I couldn't fully heal in time and I'm out of chakra." He stared at Naruto "But at least he's not getting up."
Tsunade realized how serious the situation was and immediately started to heal Naruto. "Come on, come on." She prayed.
"It's hopeless, he's as good as dead." Kabuto yelled to her "Just give up."
"Oh shut the hell up! I'll see to it you're dead soon enough." She shouted back to him but never took her eyes off of Naruto. She keep pumping more and more chakra into but got no results. Repressed memories of Dan started to flash through her mind "No." Tears started to run down her face to Naruto's chest, think she had failed again. "No...Not again..."
Then suddenly she grasped as she felt Naruto reached out and grabbed her necklace. Tsunade looked down to him with a fixed face of shock and happiness "Hey." Was all Naruto said in a weak voice with a small smile on his face.
Kabuto couldn't believe this "Impossible..."
Naruto shifted his view to Kabuto "Uzumakis have a strong life force. We don't die that easily!" He shouted to him but coughed after.
"Naruto!" Tsunade said in a worried "Don't move, you're still badly injured." She then asked him "Why?" She started "Why did you keep fighting? Why for me? I insulted your father. Your parents dreams yet you..."
Naruto smiled to her "Because like I said, you and I are one of the same. I know about your brother Nawaki and Dan, what they meant to you." Naruto told her as Tsunade's head lowered "I under how you fell, that empty feeling, the pain of the memories of them, and the void that forms in your chest. I know because I too lost everything important to me." Naruto then grabbed his mother's necklace "Because my Okaa-san, my family, friends were all killed right before I eyes. For years I blamed myself, I hated myself. But above all the hated the masked man who caused it all, I hated him for not killing me...for making me live with the void left by those I lost. I thought I couldn't have bonds to others or feel love ever again. So I drained myself of my emotions, did nothing but train so I could get the power for my revenge." He said with a frown and a trace of anger in his voice.
Tsunade went wide eye at his words. She knew Kushina had died some time ago, but Naruto was left mentally scarred by her death. Just like with Dan and Nawaki. Naruto then smiled again and continued "But then I met them, my new friends and family. My precious people, they showed me meaning to life again besides just revenge. They saved me from myself, they pulled me from that dark place. They filled the void left by others." He then placed his hand over her chest "The pain from losing someone will never go away, but it will only hurt more if you focus on how a person died rather than how they lived." Naruto's eyes started to feel heavy "It's ok to remember them and what they meant to you, but you can't let their deaths rule over your life, like you're doing now..." That was the last thing he said before passing out.
Tsunade sat there towering over Naruto, with more tears coming down her face now. But not from sadness but happiness "Thank you Naruto." She lowered her head to touch their forehead together "Thank you." She whispered.
Though Orochimaru right now was plotting to end Naruto himself. "To be able to bring Kabuto down to his knees, this is troublesome. That boy might before a true problem in the future. I let him live on a whim in the Forest of Death. But now.."
Orochimaru then lunged at Jiraiya but missed him on purpose "What?" He questioned as he realized his real target "Oh no, Naruto!" He yelled.
Orochimaru rapidly homed in on his target ready to deliver the killing blow but was stopped by a punch in the face by Tsunade. As he rolled away he was surprised Tsunade was even able to counterattack, she was cover in blood but yet still able to fight?
Tsunade gently placed her necklace over Naruto's neck "You've earned this." She then turned to Orochimaru with a face full of rage "You will not touch this child!"
Orochimaru picked himself up and laughed "So it seems you've gotten over that little problem of yours. But since when did you get so defensive about some brat?" He sneered.
Tsunade put on a light smile "Because this boy, this boy doomed by cruel fate still has the courage to stand a fight. Even after all he's been though, all he's lost. He still fights on! He didn't give into his misery and despair, unlike me." She then closed her eyes "And if he can then so can I!" She pointed to herself with her thumb "It's time I start to lead an example, it's time to put my life on the line and gamble it all! As the Godaime Hokage!" She said announcing her acceptation of the title.
Orochimaru only laughed at her "Hokage? Who wants that job? It's a fool's game!" He hissed.
"A fool's game huh?" She smiled "Well then I guess I'm fool who's putting all of her chips in."
Orochimaru frowned as Jiraiya joined them "Godaime Hokage huh?" He chuckled "Well ok Miss. Hokage-sama, let's get you back to Konoha in one piece after we finish him off." They brought their attention to Orochimaru.
The snake Sannin only widen his smile "What a shame I was hoping for you two to be around to see all my plans but it I can't miss a chance like this to eliminate you both here and now."
Tsunade turned to Jiraiya "Jiraiya are you feeling any better?" She asked.
He nodded "Just enough for this!" He then bit his thumb.
Both other Sannin did the same thing, performed the hand signs and slammed their palms to the ground "Summoning Jutsu!"
The Next Day
Naruto opened his eyes slowly as he awoke in now a bed but a camping tent. He quickly jumped up from his bed and opened the tent "What happened!?" He asked.
Everyone turned to Naruto "Oh Naruto! You're up?" Jiraiya said with a smile.
Naruto blinked as he looked to Tsunade, Shizune with Tonton in her arms and Jiraiya sitting around a camp site "Ojisan, what happened when I passed out?" He asked them "Where's Orochimaru? Kabuto? Kimimaro?"
Tsunade frowned and crossed her arms "That damned bastard snake bastard escaped at the last second. Along with his two lackeys." She then smiled "But I'm glad you're ok." She said in motherly voice.
Naruto then noticed she didn't have her necklace anymore. He looked down and saw he had another necklace along with his mothers on his neck "Oh right the bet. Thanks but..." He took it off "I don't really think I should have this, just because of a silly bet. It's something precious to you after all." He tried to return it to her.
Tsunade stood up and her head at Naruto "It's yours now, Naruto. Not just because of the bet but what you said to me." She put her hand over his "Keep it you've earned it." She then lowered her head "But promise me, promise me you'll break the curse of this necklace." She said as she stared Naruto in the eyes.
Naruto looked to the necklace then back to Tsunade while lightly smiling "I promise!" He gripped the necklace "I promise you, that I won't die! Tsunade-obasan!(Aunt.)" He flashed a wide smile to her.
Tsunade for a moment saw both Nawaki and Dan smiling images for a moment where Naruto stood. Tsunade felt her eyes begin to water when she then smiled back to him. She then tilted Naruto's forehead up with her to kiss it. Naruto stood there motionless as she did so blushing, once she released him she lowered herself to his level "You'll grow into a fine man one day." She rubbed his spiky hair.
Naruto smiled back her and everyone else was smiling too.
"Tsunade-sama." Shizune said as tears formed in her eyes "You're finally back." As she wiped them away Tonton oinked in agreement.
Jiraiya smiled at the scene "That's the Naruto I know, those were the same smiles he used to give Kushina." He sighed happily and looked up into the shy, feeling like things might start looking up now.
But how Jiraiya was wrong, because from a distance the masked Uchiha mastermind was watching the group "Interesting." He said in a dark voice "It won't be long now Naruto..."
It's been nearly two months and it feel like this chapter just took forever but I've been getting feeling a lot lately, but hoped you all enjoyed. Anyway fav, follow and review! Vicks out! :P