Play New Opening Theme: "KANA BOON - Spiral"
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN: DARKNESS
Play: "Naruto Shippuuden Movie 5 OST – Doubt"
It was night yet the burning trees gave the illusion that it was day. The forest was alight with fire as screams and sounds of kunai clashing filled the air. Numerous explosions rocked the earth as multiple body parts were sent flying about.
Sounds of ninja roaring where heard in the distance as a group of three sprinted through the forest. They moved swiftly, evading the multiple projectiles that exploded when they came in contact with solid matter.
"We can't keep going like this…" Ino's voice rang out as her pupils were fully dilated moving around frantically as if a foe would jump out of the earth any second.
And jump it did.
A masked shinobi burst out of the ground as the individual sent multiple spiked chains to the squad.
'Disperse!' Sakura's voice rang out as the chains tore through the earth. It retracted back to the shinobi as Sakura gritted her teeth landing on a tree stem with the use of chakra
'Tch…'
The three membered squad were seen to be wearing a Konoha vest with an armband of Suna showing their alliegance. Sakura looked ahead while been attached to the tree.
Hinata thought out as Ino transmitted her thoughts to the rest of the squad. Her byakugan rippled with power as she examined the foe.
'The chains are imbued with earth chakra. You should be able to see what I am seeing. This wouldn't be easy, his chakra is huge…'
'An Iwa shinobi huh…' Ino thought out as she frowned, 'Not good. And just as Kumo has begun to attack our borders.'
'It should be expected' Sakura thought as she looked ahead, her eyes narrowed 'This is war…'
Ino's eyes widened,
'Shit!'
'What is it?' Hinata asked out as she could feel the anxiety through their mental link
'We have three squads coming from all sides! If we are going to do something, this is the time!' Ino spoke out as she mused, looking at their current masked opponent 'Whoever that is must not be attacking because they are buying time for something, it seems the reports were right; Iwa and Kumo are creating something for this war.'
Sakura looked ahead as Ino turned towards her, with Hinata watching the opponent who didn't move a muscle
'So… what do you suggest, taicho?'
Sakura's eyes widened as she woke up from her slumber looking at the ceiling of her room. Her eyes looked stunned as she placed a palm to her head. The sound of chirping crickets in the surroundings filled the night as it felt as if the entire village was asleep.
'Another dream huh…' She sighed as she sat up from the bed with bags visible under her eyes. She looked through the window to the moon which glowed white, showering its luminescence on the village.
She sighed as she mused,
The Fourth Shinobi World War… It was not a story to write home about. They had lost a lot of lives; both theirs and the enemy's. She got up as she walked out of her quarters which was in the Hokage tower.
She walked down the stairs before she came upon her office. Moving in she went and plopped down on her desk as she relaxed fully in her seat.
She sighed…
Being one of the most proficient medic-nins in the village meant that she saw a lot of deaths… Lots of pointless deaths that could have been avoided. She had to make choices, choices that killed people and saved people…
She was burdened with that every night; as dreams from each mission haunted her…
Tormented her…
Now she was the Hokage; and she was placed in the same position as she was in the war. The only difference was that this time, she no longer led an infantry; she led the village and was its General Commander.
She didn't plan on sending shinobi to their deaths anymore; now she wanted peace. Peace to come to the Elemental Nations, not to add more corpses to the numerous ones that were pooled beneath her bed as she lay every night.
But, a meeting was convened between the four great villages to discuss about the world and the current position they were in. And now she hoped that she could change the prospect of another war happening.
The Fourth Shinobi war;
The attack of Naruto and the Akatsuki;
The world was now at a precipice. A wrong move could change everything; and the world could be destroyed completely. The world allied against Naruto and lost; but not anymore. This time… she planned to change everything.
No matter the cost; she would achieve understanding. Now she was beginning to understand Naruto's view on the world.
A discussion she had when Naruto was still in the village rippled through her thoughts.
"Do you hate me?"
A young Sakura looked defiantly at Naruto who arched an eyebrow at the question. Here there was no subtlety, no whimpering; she came to him and asked him out front. The duo were seen in the forests as Naruto looked at her with a criticizing glance.
"Hatred? No… I do not hate you Sakura. I have never hated anyone. All I had ever felt towards you, this village was utter disgust."
"Is it because I'm weak?! Is it…?"
"It's because this village is weak." Naruto spoke simply interrupting her rant as he folded his arms. "Its views have become weak to try and do something. Everyone looks up to Konoha as the most powerful village in the Elemental Nations. And they have done nothing with it."
"…says the dead last…" Sakura spoke out as Naruto smirked. She frowned as she looked disappointed "Sure… that's what you want people to think… But I don't think so… You don't just put enough effort to pass. That's it…"
Naruto chuckled out as Sakura widened her eyes and looked at Naruto who looked amused,
"It's worthless… trying to protect a village that I have no intention of serving."
"So do you plan on failing all your life?! Why don't you just quit the academy?"
"Because it is expected…" Naruto spoke out to Sakura's confusion; he then looked to the skies as the sun bathed his face with its rays "This world is doomed already…"
"What are you talking about?"
"You will never understand at your current mind set… You never will…"
Now she understood, Naruto was the Jinchuuriki of the village. It wouldn't do for him to be a civilian. He was a military weapon they wanted deployed at every moment. She was now Hokage; she understood that… and why…
Sakura sighed as she looked to the sleeping village through the window. Tomorrow was going to be a hectic day. She glanced at the calendar as a smirk came on her face.
"Who would have thought…?"
xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx
The rain poured en mass as Amegakure was seen. Its industrialised structure was visible again as the people walked around the city in rain coats; already used to the abnormal weather. The people already knew… That Lord Pain was watching over them.
Two individuals were eating in a restaurant as they discussed…
"Did you hear? Tamashii Shou; the person that attacked Konoha was actually Uzumaki Naruto… their Jinchuuriki!"
"It was unbelievable when I heard about it… To think that was what happened… I wonder what happened between them."
"Who knows… all we know is that things aren't going well for the three nations. Iwa, kumo and Konoha have all been struck hard by Uzumaki Naruto. Do you think he will come here?"
"Who knows… who knows…" the men wondered
Deep down underneath the Village Hidden in the rain, a huge cave was seen as the remaining members of the Akatsuki stood on their outcropping rocks as they continued the sealing. Kuragari kept his eyes closed as Toshiro dropped to the earth motionless. He didn't move as Kuragari opened his eyes.
Deidara groaned,
"To think it took that long to seal the three tails. This is messed up! We have like the seven tails left."
Kuragari blinked impassively,
"It means we have more work to do. We have all but the one tailed beast captured. All we have to do is seal the seven tails then capture the one tail. So let's get to work."
Fu groaned as she began to come back to consciousness. All of a sudden she felt lighter…
'Where am I?' Fu thought as she strained an eye open as it all widened as she found herself in front of the Gedo Mazo.
'W… What the hell…?'
'It's that statue!'
Flashes of the battle with Kuragari crept in as she found out that she could no longer move.
"Hmmm… It seems you finally joined us, Nanabi. Although, it's too late."
Kuragari spoke impassively as Fu began to roar out in pain
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH"
She began to writhe as Kuragari narrowed his eyes… 'This would be annoying if it keeps up.'
"Shut the fuck up you bitch!" Deidara roared out as Sasori groaned
Suddenly she fell silent as she could not move to the confusion of the Akatsuki.
"What happened?" Sasori's gruff voice made itself known as Deidara replied,
"Who cares? At least she shut up…"
Pain and Kuragari frowned as they mused,
Something was up… and they didn't know what it was.
Xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx
Play: "Naruto Shippuuden OST – Shippuu Kumikyoku"
Fu widened her eyes as she found herself in another plane of existence. She looked up to the yellow skies as a thought rippled through her mind,
'Where am I?'
"In the plane of the Tailed beasts' mindscape."
Fu widened her eyes to the surroundings as she found herself in the middle of the ocean. Nine fountains poured down as each one signified each tailed beast. One was left unoccupied as Kurama saw her gaze.
"It seems Shukaku is not here with us. Anyways… we have been waiting for you Fu, Chomei."
Fu looked shocked,
"Kurama…? and these all are…"
A look of recognition came across her face as she saw the tailed beasts and their Jinchuuriki.
"Toshiro?! He got you too?! Why?!" Fu demanded as Toshiro spoke simply
"Good to see you Fu…"
Fu gritted her teeth
"I would be lying if I said that was reciprocated. What of Naruto?! We aren't there to help him anymore… If we are here… Isn't there a way for us to get back?!"
Fu asked pleadingly as Toshiro sighed, he looked solemnly
"There isn't a way for us to get back… If you don't know… We are dead, Fu. And you will be as soon as Chomei is extracted from you completely. We failed…"
"W…What?!" Fu gritted her teeth in rage "We… We can't leave him alone, Toshiro! We can't!"
"Things never go as planned… that's always a fact. People plan their lives from birth thinking of the moment when they will fall in love, have children and they never get to live out any of that fantasy, no matter how much they want it to happen. That is and always will be a fact."
Toshiro smiled sadly as his memories from his childhood flowed in,
"I always wanted to protect my family…" Kushina and his parents, Sayomi and Tatsuo went through his memories.
"Fall in love…" Mikoto's image was the next.
"And know my family for as long as I can…" Naruto's full grin face passed through his memories
"Nothing of my childhood dream ever involved everything turning out to be like this. But here it is. The truth and the fact. Not one wish ever gets granted in this world."
Fu and the other Jinchuuriki paid close attention as the bijju mused on his words. Toshiro continued
"One may have power… surpassing the minds of mortal men…" Kuragari's image was next
"But the price he gets to pay for it all is in equal measure…"
Kuragari was seen holding tightly to Shina as they were sealed away.
"…and born from all that is self-loathing… which transforms to hate on the world."
Kuragari looked in anger at the Elemental Nations in rage.
Toshiro chuckled,
"I never knew him… but I felt a connection with him… that man in the mask. From your memories, I know him Fu. He is my grandfather… Uzumaki Kuragari…"
Fu looked shocked as she processed the information that went through her head.
"W…What?!"
Toshiro smiled as he sighed,
"I knew about him from my stay in Konoha. Because of his defeat, Konoha were able to forge an alliance with the Uzumaki clan."
Fu looked stunned as she looked down to the earth.
"Not one wish ever gets granted in this world eh…" Utakata mused as he thought on Hotaru. He commented
"You may be right about that…"
"And again you may be wrong…" Fu spoke as she walked to the centre of the bijju who all looked down to her position.
"From when I was coherent, I always wanted friends. I never knew my parents. And the only person who could understand me a little was Shibuki. Deep down I always wished for anyone who knew what I went through. Then he came… and said those words to me… words that resonate with me every time…
Fu kept throwing stones at the wall as it kept ricocheting back to her. She was kept in isolation in a caged room. She laid her back on the stone hard floor as she kept throwing stones to the wall and it came back. Obviously she was bored as fuck.
Suddenly she heard footsteps making her way towards her cell. 'Weird, usually no one comes to get me until after a few days I'm to get out of here.' Still on her prone position she shifted her pupils from the wall to the door as the footsteps kept coming closer. The footsteps sounded light so she assumed that she it was a ninja. Still on her position she looked on as the footsteps stopped in front of her door.
Widening her eyes she saw a boy slightly shorter than her with spiky red hair and blue eyes looking at her stoically. He seemed to stare at her as if looking for something; she began to feel nervous as his eyes roamed her body. 'Why is he looking at me like that? I feel exposed'
"Oi! Stop looking at me like that! What do you want already? On another thought how did you get past the guards?"
The boy's eyes immediately shifted to her eyes before he spoke…
"You have it in you, a bijju. Am I wrong?" Her eyes immediately widened as she immediately stood up tensed an on her guard
"What do you want?" She said her eyes taking a dangerous tint
"Simple curiosity. So tell me… do you want to get out of here?"
Her eyes narrowed "Are you crazy or something, the guards would just beat me up and put me back here"
"Ahhh…" A look of realization overcame Tamashii before he continued "You weren't even trained properly on how to use your power. That's why they can push you around."
"!? What are you talking about?"
Tamashii just ignored the question before he spoke "Like I said, Do you want out of here" before she could retort he spoke "And I don't mean out of this cell, I'm talking about out of the village"
The girl looked at him stunned at the question "What do you want with me?!"
"I am forming a group comprised of Jinchuuriki like you" She looked with her eyes widened "You mean there are people like me outside here?"
"Yes, in fact; I am one of them." Tamashii said as Fu widened her eyes in confusion
"Who are you?" The girl asked
"Sorry I can't say right now but call me Tamashii, the walls have ears of course"
"You said you are just like me, what do you mean?" The girl asked with a hopeful look
"Being shunned, abused, treated like scum and spat on… there are 7 other people apart from me and you who have gone through the same things we went through our childhood. The only ones that can accept us is us; that's why I'm forming this group. And there is another goal to be achieved but I can't speak now. So give me your reply"
Fu looked down to the ocean solemnly;
Naruto saved me from loneliness. And I got to know about each of you… and I'm not just talking about the Jinchuuriki. I'm talking about you guys too…
Fu smiled as she looked up at the bijju who looked stunned at her…
"What are you talking about?" Kokuo looked stunned as Fu spoke with a mirthless smile
"You may be beasts of destruction… But I can see that you have been treated similarly to us all this while. In a twisted way… You are all like Jinchuuriki…"
The bijju looked shocked at the truthful words that came out of Fu's lips. Yugito and Bee who were silent the entire time looked at her as they shared a look.
Isobu spoke, more curious at Fu…
"You really think that, ningen?"
"When I heard about you guys I was happy, in a weird way. Because I had finally found some friends."
Fu spoke as she gave a full toothed grin as Roshi looked curiously at her. He then spoke with a light hearted chuckle
"I'm shocked someone of your age has spoken like a wizened old fellow. You are a strange person, Fu…"
"Although he usually pisses me off, I'd say the same…"
Son Goku spoke as Toshiro was left speechless.
'Fu… you…'
"So… ningen… Do you think you can be friends with the tailed beasts…?" Son Goku asked as he looked down on Fu.
Fu smiled as she spoke
"Kurama might have known about this but Naruto told me about you guys."
"Naruto?" Goku looked confused, he moved his gaze to Kurama "Isn't that your Jinchuuriki, Kurama?"
Kurama nodded with a fanged grin,
"Just listen to her…"
Naruto was meditating in the hideout's training grounds together with Fu…
"Pain… Pain is one thing that everyone in this world has in common. It might seem twisted but that is the only bond that connects us as shinobi… as people who endure through that. The key to understanding your bijju is…"
Fu looked confused,
"I thought that I had to control its power. If all I have learnt is true… aren't they just constructs of chakra?"
"That is what the ignorant say… people with no understanding of their importance. It might seem strange to you… but as everyone looks at them with hate because of the destruction they caused…"
Fu looked attentive…
"It was all humans who did it… they try to control what could not be controlled. They made the hate in the bijju grow and it was unfortunate that it was directed towards the same people who brought it about."
"It's a cycle" Fu spoke as Naruto smirked. Fu then looked confused, "But you said hate… the bijju feel hatred?"
"The bijju aren't any different from you and I…" Fu widened her eyes at the revelation. "They have had to leave in hatred for a long time. Been cursed and looked at with hatred at the world for as long as time itself… I can't imagine it… That's why I despise this world."
Naruto looked forward,
"A world that does not understand the true purpose of everything. That's why I don't care even if they look at me with hatred and fear. I will punish them for what they have done… to you, the Bijju, the Jinchuuriki; the Bloodline wielders. My actions will be a beacon for all the oppressed to break their chains and be free…"
Naruto continued
"All the desolation they cause that they keep going to war constantly and constantly and never learning any single thing from it."
"I will change it... They say that one never knew what was precious until it has been lost. That I intend to show. This world has so been enshrouded in darkness it's almost impossible to find the cure."
"But there are people who have tried to bring peace…" Fu spoke as she looked confused, "I may not be all that knowledgeable but even I know about the Shodaime Hokage and the Yondaime Hokage. They were seen as they light in this world."
Naruto scoffed out,
"The arrogance of light is that it always thinks it is the fastest thing in the world. But it forgets one thing; wherever it goes it always finds darkness there… waiting for it. I will not strive to be the light of this world, Fu. I will blend with the darkness, take it all within myself and purge it all…"
"And what is this darkness… you keep on talking about?" Fu asked as she was fully engrossed in Naruto's words
"Chakra…" Naruto answered simply as Fu's eyes widened
The bijju's and the Jinchuuriki's eyes widened back in the shared mindscape,
"He plans to take away chakra from this world? That is insanity?!" Son Goku spoke loudly as Kurama asked,
"And what may be wrong with that?"
"What is that?! Do I need to remind you that the last person who attempted to do that ended up plunging the world into darkness?!"
Son Goku retorted as Kurama remained impassive
"That was Kaguya… Not Naruto…"
"Kaguya… You mean Kaguya Otsutsuki?" Fu asked as her eyes widened
"Who is that?" Utakata asked as Saiken replied,
"The mother of the sage of the six paths… and the first individual to ever use chakra."
Matatabi added
"She was angry at the way the world abused chakra so she attempted to take it into her very being. She ended up been corrupted, and drove the world into an endless dream. The infinite Tsukuyomi"
Utakata looked shocked,
"And Naruto wants to do that…?"
"Yes…" Kurama responded simply as Gyuki decided to add his cents,
"I would have to back the opposition here Kurama."
Son Goku looked at Kurama as he asked,
"What makes you think that Naruto has what it takes to resist the corruption that has tainted chakra?"
"Simple… I don't…" Kurama spoke as he mused, "He is just my Jinchuuriki. I could see the contrast between him and Kaguya. And I believe he can do it…"
"Not only that…" Fu added with conviction, "From what I heard of Kaguya; she was someone who was alone, even the companionship of her sons were not enough to rein her back. Naruto has us and he will always have us in his heart… Naruto will do it… I believe he can…"
A simple silence swept through the mindscape as the occupants mused on the words.
"If that is what you think… ningen. I will support you." Matatabi spoke to the shock of every bijju present except Kurama who looked impassive,
"Huh…" Fu looked confused and stunned. Matatabi chuckled,
"I've gotten interested in your mind. You may seem different but you have seen the realities some might not get the chance to see or even comprehend. I will support you Fu…"
Fu smirked before she sighed sadly, "Arigatou… But… We are trapped here… whatever decision we make doesn't matter."
"Well we are… but you are not…" Matatabi spoke as Fu looked shocked,
"W…What?"
"You can still be saved… And we can bet on that chance…"
"What are you talking about?" Fu asked confused as Toshiro explained
"What Matatabi is saying is that you are not dead yet. You are currently been siphoned of Chomei and you will die when that is completed. She will give you her chakra to be able to manifest her in the real plane."
Fu looked shocked,
"Is that even possible?!"
"We are the tailed beasts, the oldest beings alive…" Matatabi spoke, with a proud smirk "Nothing is impossible for us…"
Isobu looked sternly forward,
"I will help too… this is the only chance we have. Besides… if Kuragari wins… We are doomed. And Matatabi is right… You are one curious human, Fu."
"You too Isobu?!" Son Goku spoke shocked as the tailed beast closed its eyes.
"Kokuo?!" Son Goku asked shifting its gaze to the Gobi
Kokuo just smirked,
"I had the chance of meeting him Goku… I believe he could do it. Han died believing that."
"I trust your judgement, Kurama" Saiken spoke as the six tailed beast elaborated "Tou-san placed you to watch over us… and if this is what you think is best for us… I will assist the Uzumaki anyway I can."
Fu just smiled as she turned her gaze to the final duo, Gyuki and Son Goku.
Gyuki looked at all the tailed beasts as the octopus smiled.
"I have never seen us come together for a cause before. After Tou-san's death we have been on our separate paths. But it seems he was right."
Kurama smiled as it spoke
"No matter how far we drift away… We would come back together and face the future, one final time… I will help him. And you too Goku… It's no use… Just agree you stubborn monkey."
Son Goku just looked stunned at the decision his siblings took;
"So are you going to waste their time…?" Roshi spoke above Son Goku who looked puzzled,
'Roshi?'
"Help them Goku… Save this world… You are keeping her waiting you know" Roshi spoke with a grin as Son Goku looked stunned, before it chuckled
"You said my name huh…"
Roshi kept his grin as he began to vanish away together with the rest of the Jinchuuriki,
"Fu…" Toshiro spoke, "Tell Naruto that I… no… that we believe in him… He can do this no matter what…"
Fu looked teary eyed as she nodded,
"Tell him to hold our family's name to the skies for the world to know… For them to know the Uzumaki were the conquerors of the world. And tell him…"
Toshiro gave a full grin that was reminiscent with his younger days
"That he was one heck of a nephew…"
"We Jinchuuriki have one simple message to him…" Bee spoke out as he folded his arms
Yugito added
"I have heard all you have said about him… And I wished that I would have exchanged fists with him. All we want for him is to end it all… The concept of Jinchuuriki, war… pain… We have felt what the worst the world could do… and we were scarred because of that… So Uzumaki Naruto… This is the message from the Jinchuuriki…"
The entire Jinchuuriki chorused,
"Win!"
They all vanished in a spectre of light as Fu nodded her head, her eyes filled with conviction.
"I will…"
"An external chakra network is attempting to connect with yours." Chomei spoke as Fu looked puzzled,
"W… What are you talking about?"
Chomei ignored her as Gyuki commented
"Before we go we will give you a gift to help you fight. We cannot do anything except to give our full support when we are freed. You might face us in battle, Fu… So we expect you to fight us in kind." Gyuki nodded towards Kurama who reciprocated the action.
Kurama closed its eyes as the bijju all reciprocated the motion. Fu then glowed in a bright flash of light as she gave a toothy grin,
"See ya…"
She immediately vanished from the mindscape as the bijju looked amused,
"Did we bet for the good side…?" Isobu asked, as its gaze moved towards Kurama who smirked foxily
"We bet.. for the winning side."
Fu was currently being sealed before she disappeared in a puff of smoke to the Akatsuki's astonishment. Suddenly, Toshiro also vanished later as Kuragari's eyes widened in shock.
"They were summoned… Huh…" Pain commented as Deidara burst out in laughter
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED?!"
Kuragari smirked in an amused fashion,
"It seems you can still play huh…"
Xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx
Fu looked stunned as she was reverse summoned back to Mount Myoboku. Her eyes widened as the smoke receded to show Naruto looking at her seriously, his palm placed to the earth. He glanced towards Toshiro's unmoving body as his expression didn't falter… He got up as he commented,
"I got to save one of you…"
"N…Naruto…?!"
Fu spoke in shock as she ran towards him and enveloped him in a hug. Naruto looked slightly stunned as the members of the group.
"I thought I would never see you again…" Naruto's expression softened as he spoke,
"You had me worried, baka…"
Fu chuckled as she began to laugh out… as Naruto looked at her with a smile.
"You wouldn't believe how my day went."
Naruto smirked, as he began to walk towards Toshiro's body
"Want to bet whose was stranger?"
Fu looked puzzled as she placed her palm to Naruto's shoulder as he stopped. Tensing a bit, his expression was hidden from view as memories of Fu's meeting with the Jinchuuriki and bijju flowed in,
Naruto spared a glance to Toshiro's corpse as a smile worked its way across his face.
"Yeah… you got that right, Uncle…"
xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx
"What do we do, about what just happened now…?" Pain spoke as Kuragari looked indifferent. He then chuckled,
"I'd be lying if I said everything was going according to plan but beggars can't be choosers. Without a doubt they are coming here. We will capture them again."
"You haven't mentioned anything about what you intend to use the bijju for apart from using cryptic words such as world domination." Deidara spoke as he folded his arms,
"We deserve some answers… at least that's what I think…"
Kuragari smirked,
"The time is almost ripe. What I will tell you now is that the reason I am capturing the bijju is simple…"
Kuragari gave a frightening look as he spoke,
"To imprison them…"
The members looked shocked,
"What are you talking about?!" Sasori asked slightly stunned as Kuragari outstretched his arms
"It is as I said; I intend to capture them completely so no one ever uses the tailed beasts ever again."
xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx
The snow flew about in the new nation… Cold winds blew from the north as multiple buildings were seen covered in snow. Still it didn't hamper the individuals who trudged forward with their carriages that clinked with metal at every movement from the horse.
Tetsu no kuni, the land of Iron; also known as the land of the samurai was a neutral place and one of the most peaceful in the elemental Nations. They were the most important country because they specialised in making the kunai, swords, ninja wire and most weapons used in the elemental nations. They were hardly touched in any of the wars.
Each village had decided to protect them as they collected insurances from each of them in order to agree to distribute weapons to the villages.
This land was also the meeting point for all diplomatic meetings between the villages because any violence by any village would lead to huge losses gained.
It was this land that was the venue for the meeting of the four Kage…
Kitsuchi was seen behind Kurotsuchi as she sat on the emblem signifying the Country of Earth. The country of Lightning, Water and Fire were represented by C, Mei and Sakura respectively.
Mifune, the head and Grand Commander of the Land of Iron looked silent as he overlooked the meeting before he spoke,
"I am Mifune and will serve as the moderator for this meeting. Any objections?"
At the absence of any response he sat down as he spoke,
"I will now ask for the Hokage who called for this meeting to speak first."
Sakura, who looked forward seriously was silent for a minute as she drew the attention of every individual as they looked towards her waiting for her to start.
Then she spoke,
"I called this meeting in good faith that we may come to an understanding and resolve any conflict lingering between us."
The Kage looked towards her as she continued,
"They began years ago, Uzumaki Naruto and the Akatsuki…"
The Kage all tensed at the names; knowing that each of them had suffered defeat or humiliation at their hands. Sakura ignored it and added
"They grew into power so rapidly we didn't even notice. Or if anyone noticed, they never gave it a second thought. Before we knew, the tailed beasts the Shodaime distributed to each village to act as a peace broker were captured by each of them. I know you know of the situation, but it is only right if I speak of it now to buttress my point. We need to come together, now more than ever…"
"We see the need for that…" C spoke as he looked sternly forward "… We don't even know the situation that is brewing around them. Reports have come in that Uzumaki Naruto and Akatsuki collided. We do not know even if the Akatsuki or Uzumaki Naruto is alive. How do we proceed without knowing such facts?"
Sakura smirked as masked samurai dropped files in front of each of them making them look at it with varying expressions.
"Those are reports from our sleeper spies that have detected Akatsuki activity in Amegakure. They are led by a Lord Pain, and he is the leader of the Akatsuki."
This garnered reactions around the table as Sakura became passive,
"Sleepers… so you do have one in each of our villages huh…?" C asked with his eyes narrowed as Mei chuckled with an eye roll,
"We all have sleepers in all the villages so don't act all holy. We are Kage… we do what is necessary…"
Kurotsuchi added, looking through the files
"Back to the discussion, this Lord Pain… apparently controls the weather. How is that possible…?"
"Shinobi gave their lives for this information…" Sakura spoke as she interlocked her fingers "It's concrete… he controls the rain around and in the village. It acts as a sensor…"
"I… see…" Mei mused, "Then an infiltration is impossible…"
"Yes…" Sakura added, "Why we were able to do it was that the agents were planted during the Amegakure revolution… We had problems contacting them… So they used their life force to send the message across miles into a seal in Konoha. That village is a fortress…"
C hummed silently,
"So we are actually doing this… We are going to raid Amegakure…"
Sakura nodded her head as the kage thought on the situation. On the top floor of the meeting hall was a porch where all the defenders of guards of the Kage stayed and overlooked the meeting.
"It seems things will still heat up after what has happened during these recent months… just when you think you can catch a break." Anko commented as she looked at the meeting proceedings.
Kitsuchi looked seriously down,
"To think this was what was needed to forge an alliance, I must commend the Hokage… No one would have admitted to this no matter how long…"
Anko smirked, "I never saw it like that… She was always a surprise. I never expected her to reach this height of power…"
Kitsuchi just smirked "She is what we need, what this world needs… a healer…"
Anko nodded as she looked at Sakura with a forlorn smile,
"A… healer huh…"
xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx
"So what do we do, Naruto?" Jiraiya's voice spoke out as Naruto simply spoke,
"We destroy the Akatsuki…"
"And how do you plan to do that? Last time didn't work out so well for us… It ended with a hole in your gut…" Jiraiya added
"We were ambushed, unprepared… and so it cost us a lot…" Naruto spoke as his group sitting around the mat looked at him.
Naruto took a tea from the mat and drank as Haku spoke,
"Are we going to infiltrate?"
"No… none of that…" Naruto spoke with his eyes closed, seemingly meditating. He smirked setting the cup down,
"We rain hell down them and they know what happens when you anger a sleeping Dragon."
Fu mused thoughtfully as Haku arched an eyebrow to her direction,
"What's bothering you Fu…?"
Fu looked puzzled before she smirked nervously to Naruto's confused gaze
"uh… I know this might be a bad time but, we kind of need a name for our group, I mean the Akatsuki is awesome and all so that kinda puts a lot of pressure on us…"
"A name?" Iruka asked as he chuckled, "…so what do you think Naruto…?"
Naruto looked puzzled at the turn of the discussion. Just like that it shifted from a serious conversation to a confusing aspect
'Classic Fu…'
He thought dryly before he then spoke,
"I have no idea… You should come up with one… I have to build my strength…"
He got up and walked out of the room as Fu pouted at him,
"Well… The party pooper's gone so what do you guys think?"
"Hmm… this might take a while…" Iruka spoke as Jiraiya spoke as he smirked smugly,
"I have the best one!"
"And that is?" Fu asked dryly not wanting to be disappointed,
"Team Jiraiy… CRASH!"
Fu thought dryly as her palm was outstretched, Jiraiya was seen groaning as he was embedded in the wall.
"I thought so…"
As the group were deciding what the name to be, Naruto was seen on a heightened spike that travelled to the skies. He was seen meditating on a flat board as the Nature was stabilized around him…
"Sage mode isn't an easy art to master, it requires not only a powerful life force, but a huge amount of chakra and strong will… It's unbelievable how natural this comes to you…"
Fukasaku's voice spoke out on a spike beside him as Naruto remained silent.
Fukasaku's grimaced; this was him, Uzumaki Naruto… one of the people destined to save or destroy the world. He looked to the skies as he mused,
"What are you planning to do to this world, Naruto-chan?" Fukasaku asked as Naruto opened his orange rimmed eyes as he looked at Fukasaku.
"Start afresh…" Naruto spoke as it began to drizzle lightly, as Fukasaku sighed,
"It seems rain is coming, why don't you come inside with me when you are done…?"
Fukasaku asked as he jumped down to the earth… missing Naruto looking at him with a smirk.
xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx
Play: "Two Steps from Hell – Color the Sky"
Kuragari looked to the skies from the outer porch in the main tower… He looked to the dripping skies as Naruto's image passed through his memories…
"My descendant huh… seems fate has a little more in store for me…" He spoke out as he thought
"Shina…"
A past memory came rushing in,
"Do you want to die…?" Shina's voice asked as Kuragari's head was on her lap. He didn't move as his hair covered his face completely. She moved her fingers gently across his hair as he relaxed deeper in to her embrace
"Why do you think that?"
"I can feel your pain, you can never hide from me Kuragari…" Shina smiled as Kuragari sighed
"I can feel my sanity leaving me… I can't control my actions. I know what I am doing to the people but yet I can't stop it. It's like an infection deep in me that it can never stop. I fear it may consume me and then you… You are the only one I find precious in the world, Shina. No one else…"
"So… What are you saying?"
"I want you to go far away from me… I feel that you may die… if this continues…"
Shina chuckled
"It's too late for that, Kuragari… You say I'm the only thing you find precious… I hope you can say that to your child…"
"Child?" Kuragari looked at her with shock plastered over his face as Shina giggled, tapping his forehead with her index finger.
"Yes… your child… the person who will carry your legacy; the person who will redeem this world… your child…"
Kuragari looked stunned as Shina continued
"People fear what they do not understand… This was to be expected…"
He them smiled
"No… not my legacy… our Legacy… We will live till the next generation prospers, Shina… I'd make sure of that…"
Shina just smiled forlornly as a tear slipped down her left eye…
"Sure… if you say so…"
"Shina…" Kuragari spoke as he looked to her, his pale black orbs showing an ounce of warmth in them…
"Thank you…"
Kuragari looked to the black skies as he was snapped out of his memory
"It's too late to reminisce about the past… too late…" A deep voice spoke as Kuragari mused,
"Shinju…"
"I initially saw good in the world when it was experimenting with chakra... Like them I could see the possibilities that chakra could have on the world… I was angry sure at the world for taking it without my permission but I let them have it… because wanted to see what would happen. I could see the possibility of Ninshu…"
"You weren't pleased were you?"
"Far from it… I wanted it back but they resisted. Otsutsuki's sons made sure it never worked. Hamura and Hagoromo sealed my reincarnation into the moon. An act that denied them the chance to be forgiven. I intend to punish them for eternity for their actions. I will oppress them for generations and generations and generations to come… The time for penitence is gone…"
Kuragari just looked ahead without a single comment, as Shinju continued,
"Even though your clan took her away from you. You couldn't help wanting to protect them because your daughter was there too… but you were sealed, and you couldn't do anything as Konoha took that chance to forge an alliance and conspire with Kumo and Iwa to destroy your clan since they were beginning to notice the flaws in their village."
"What is your point…?"
"You may say that I am in control of your actions but I am not… that is just an excuse you tell yourself to help you sleep at night… You are angry at yourself and from then it shifted towards the world; blinded by rage at yourself… I just added a catalyst that helped control it and shift it more towards my benefits… I believe human beings should be punished… Don't you think so…?"
Kuragari closed his eyes as he didn't comment on it. Pain came in as he spoke
"Zetsu has information he wishes to announce…"
"I'll be out… give me a moment…" Pain looked at Kuragari before he turned, walking away...
Kuragari looked across Zetsu in their underground meeting place
"So… what do you have for me, Zetsu…?"
Konoha was seen in a distance as weapons were been moved in a rapid place, inaudible discussion between Sakura, Shikaku and Inoichi were held as most new clan heads looked at the map of Amegakure.
The same was visible in each of the great villages as each of them began to prepare for war ready to bring it to the gates of Amegakure…
"The villages are preparing to attack…"
"What are you talking about, another war amongst themselves. Did Naruto do something again…?"
"No… He didn't… this is actually going to be surprising but they are going to attack us…"
Kuragari smirked,
"I see… Well… let them come then… It seems the defeat they suffered in Naruto's raid didn't demoralise them…"
"What do we do…?" Pain asked as Kuragari looked at the Rinnegan wielder,
"First of all… I'd suggest that you show yourself… You should be well rejuvenated by now, Nagato."
Kuragari muttered as in a darkened room two glowing Rinnegan eyes were seen.
xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx
Play: "Susumu Ueda – Rakujitsu"
"If it was one on one, I would have killed you all without a sweat. But I have to say… impressive teamwork. But now…" Naruto spoke as he made a serpent hand sign "My turn"
'BANBATSU SOZO: KURO HASHIRA'
Immediately to his command, numerous black pillars rose from the earth as they surrounded the battlefield to the awe of his opponents. Shikamaru looked stuuned as a chain violently wrapped around him to his protest.
Shikamaru's eyes widened as he awoke from the memories of his last battle… He quickly rose to a sitting position as he didn't even register the commotion outside. He inhaled and exhaled slowly as he looked at his trembling hand. One thought kept echoing through his mind set…
They failed… completely… They were utterly defeated and nothing could be said about that…
He widened his eyes as he looked through the window… seeing people move erratically about the place.
'This atmosphere...' Shikamaru mused
'It's just like when we were preparing for war…'
Shikamaru sighed as he sank to his bed looking to the ceiling,
'Just what the hell is wrong here…?'
Shikamaru mused as he craned his head to the window, before his eyes glanced by the Hokage face statues, his pupils slowly dilated as Sakura's image was seen,
'W…What?!'
xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx
The Konoha war council were seen seated in a round table in a huge hall. Sakura wearing the Hokage robes was seen at the head of the high table as numerous clan heads from both Konoha and neighbouring small villages were seen.
Sakura looked at the military commander as the ANBU were stationed at every corner of the hall.
"You may be shocked that we are going to another war…" Sakura muttered "We just came out of one and I know I said we shouldn't focus on conflict with any opposing forces… But this time we have no choice. We have been pushed to the cliff and the only way out is to fight back or fall."
"The Great villages have agreed to assist me with their full might to attack Amegakure…"
Mumurs began to be voiced as one of the clan heads spoke,
"Why Amegakure?"
"It is the presumed hiding place of this Akatsuki." Sakura simply replied "They have a number of tailed beasts in their possession and we don't know what chaos they intend to cause with it."
"What of Uzumaki Naruto? What do we do about him?"
Many people began to grimace at the thought of Naruto… Sakura closed her eyes as it seemed to calm her down, then she spoke.
"If he interferes with the actions of the Four great villages, we are to put him down. We are expecting to meet him in the battle field since he too will be after the tailed beasts. The fact that he was a Jinchuuriki showed he wanted to either capture or rescue each of them over their travails."
"What are you talking about?"
"You know the fate of Jinchuuriki…" Sakura spoke, "Naruto went through similar response from the village, so if anything we brought this down on ourselves."
The village looked on silently as the edges of Sakura's mouth twitched up a little bit at the confliction that spread across their faces,
"But nevertheless… the time to chastise oneself is gone. We don't have time for remorse or penance. What we have to do is try and save this world and save whatever semblance of sanity we have left…"
"We march out to Ame… BBAAAAMMM!"
Sakura arched an eyebrow at the intrusion into their meeting as Shikamaru barged through the door, panting and looking around in slight confusion. His eyes travelled through most of the occupants who looked at him strangely before they landed on Sakura's surprised orbs.
"Shikamaru…" Sakura muttered in surprise as Shikaku smirked before groaning in embarrassment.
"What the hell happened?!"
xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx
"So… what are you planning on doing now?" Sakura asked at the village gates as a hooded Temari was seen looking to the clouds.
"I intend to go away from all this. This world has taken everything from me… I can't assist you in this raid Sakura."
Sakura smiled mirthlessly,
"We live in a harsh world don't we?"
"I'm going to travel around, probably start a new life elsewhere, away from all this…"
"And Gaara…?" Sakura asked concerned. A tear dropped down from her left eye as Temari didn't respond to Sakura. She looked to the skies at the fleeting flock of birds; she then spoke,
"Good bye Sakura… If fate deems it, we will see each other again…"
Sakura nodded her head as she commented,
"You too Temari…"
Temari extended a handshake to Sakura who smiled and engulfed Temari in a hug.
"Be safe…"
Temari smiled back as Sakura released her from the embrace…
"You too…"
Sakura watched as Temari walked away. She sighed as she looked to the skies watching the leaves glide through the wind.
'Things are not slowing down one bit…"
She simply walked back through the village gates as numerous shinobi and civilians alike bowed down their heads in reverence.
xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx
Play: "Two Steps from Hell – Countries burning"
Kuragari looked at the Akatsuki members in the underground cave as Zetsu spoke,
"The villages have begun mobilizing and would be here in less than a day, we are going to be attacked from three sides by Konoha, Iwa and Kumo and we do not know which battalion the mist will join with though it's possibly with Konoha…"
Kuragari mused, "They are coming for the bijju without a fact. And we will have to capture the one and seven tails properly. And there is a high possibility that Uzumaki Naruto will grace us with his presence. *chuckles* Things are definitely not going according to plan."
"I don't see how someone could say that and still laugh…" White Zetsu groaned
"They must not have gotten a fact straight… We are in the village hidden in the rain. They are coming to our land and we will crush them utterly." Kuragari muttered as a chuckle filled the air.
"I wonder about that…" Naruto's voice rang through the meeting hall as the Akatsuki looked back at him shocked. Kuragari's eyes narrowed as he muttered
'Uzumaki Naruto…'
"What the…" Deidara could make out as a holographic Naruto was seen looking at them impassively
"How did you do this…?"
Naruto smirked,
"Kakuzu had a much more use than I thought… His ring is very versatile it seems…"
"So I really doubt you came here to tell me of how you used the ring."
Pain commented with Naruto looking at him before turning to the rest of the members; he silently examined them one by one…
His reaction towards them remained unknown as Deidara spoke out,
"Say something you little shit…!"
"I wanted to see you all… The Akatsuki… I wanted to look you all in the eye and I wanted you to look back into mine…"
"For what purpose exactly…" Pain asked as Kuragari looked amused by the play by play,
"As a courtesy…" Naruto spoke, "You get to see me in a playful mood before I come to wreck up this place… You did something that was very hard to do…"
Naruto's gaze met Kuragari's directly as the latter's eyebrow was arched in expectation,
"You pissed me off…"
Naruto spoke in a deadly tone as the Akatsuki looked at him not reacting. Sasori chuckled,
"And…? We have made a living pissing off generations, Great villages… We have conquered Nations…! What makes you think we will cave because a brat suggests so?"
"Because I'm not them…" Naruto spoke as Kuragari mused,
"Is that it… your words are futile… you come to bring psychological warfare on the specific group of people that it will be the most ineffective on. You will never win Uzumaki Naruto… All you will do is carve a path to your death…"
Naruto smirked,
"To think my great-grandfather speaks such words…"
Kuragari's eyebrow arched in amusement as a smirk came on his face.
"If only you were…"
Kuragari's grin increased,
"The fact is…" Naruto spoke as he walked around the cave "You are afraid of me… you always have been… That is why you had to resort to the Gedo statue to affect me. You couldn't fight me head on… You'd lose…"
"Is that what you think…? I just wanted to avoid the arduous process of sealing the Kyuubi and Gobi and decided to quickly dispatch you. I would have beaten you as well… I just used a catalyst…"
"No…" Naruto chuckled as he looked directly to Kuragari's gaze "You are a coward."
"Really?" Kuragari asked
"Yes… It had been probable from day one… I know of your story… of how you fought hard for your sanity. I began to admire your spirit and will; the intensity of it… But then you fell just like any other man in this world."
"I am speaking to you in there, Kuragari. Not the coward who cannot do things on his own… You know what I am talking about you pathetic tree…"
Kuragari's eyes widened in slight surprise as Naruto continued,
"I can see it clearly… I can feel you… It seems our existences are physically opposing each other… Aiming to eliminate each other out."
Kuragari's eyes narrowed,
'How did he know about that?'
Naruto chuckled out,
"When I come… I wouldn't come to save you, talk to you… I'm coming to straight out kill you… That was my message…"
"And what makes you think you can do that…?"
Kuragari asked seriously, as the mood in the air changed. Pain looked at Kuragari and then Naruto, with his Rinnegan eyes glowing with power.
'What is this bond that connects them… not blood no… this is beyond that… My Rinnegan can see it perfectly… It's even beyond Chakra!'
"Are you challenging me to battle, Uzumaki? That must be the most foolish move you must have made…"
"We will see about that…?"
Naruto vanished to the air as Kuragari looked forward in a stoic manner… A thought rippled through his mind
'I see… Kaguya had a hand in this huh…'
"Things seem to be moving against us… But don't you think it makes things a bit more interesting eh?"
Kuragari chuckles as Deidara smirked,
"Yea… It definitely does…"
"Pain… you will crush the army… I will crush Uzumaki's group…"
"Understood…"
Kuragari smirked as he vanished from the meeting place. He appeared on the tallest building as rain poured down from the skies. The thunder and lightning sounded together in rhythm as they engaged in a beautiful dance in the skies…
"Well… let's see what this world can cook up… Well Uzumaki Naruto… You have my undivided attention…"
The thunder boomed again as he smirked, as his initial black pupils glowed white.
"You have war…"
CUT TO BLACK
Play Ending theme: "Sawano Hiroyuki - ALLIEZ (ALDNOAH ZERO ENDING)"
CHAPTER END
