Chapter 35: Not The Man He Once Was

Naruto ran across the complex, the agonizing screams of his comrade Sasori like a beacon to him. Hinata and Hidan went to help heal and rescue injured and trapped monks from beneath rubble or scattered across the ruined dormitories. Naruto needed to work, he needed to be preoccupied from the thoughts and screams that plagued his minds. Konan's tears, Nagato's pale eyes and the pool of blood beneath them all too vivid in his mind. The simple act of lifting bricks and clasping frightened hands was the only therapy Naruto had to keep him sane. He pulled a injured monk from the rubble, her face cut and bruised from the past battle. She coughed and bowed to him, giving her thanks before running off to her brethren. It was then that Naruto heard Sasori's screams for help.

He ran, his mind filling with worry 'Why can I only sense Sasori's chakra ? Where is Deidara !?"

Jumping through a crooked archway, Naruto bounded onto the main courtyard, It's hay and stone singed black from the explosions and fire that had consumed it only minutes before. Amiss the smoke and flames, Naruto could see the faint shape of his friend, curled over something. As Naruto got closer the smell of blood and burned flesh became pungent. Naruto swiped away the smoke and took a knee next to Sasori, just when he had preoccupied his mind from the death and despair.

Sasori was holding a blood stained doll. It was made of clay and featured a variety of strings and pulley systems which allowed it to move freely when Chakra was applied. Deidara had made it whilst making his final animals, knowing all to well his death was near. The puppet stood a meter high and had a long pony tail with a clay fringe covering one eye. The tiny mimic of Deidara was splashed with its creators blood, as if the death of Deidara passed life into his creation. Sasori did not look up, Naruto knew what had become of Deidara, instead all he did was stand and pull Naruto in close. Burying his head in his shoulder and coldly speaking

"He's gone Naruto ... He's gone and I can't even cry ...I hate being like this"

Naruto brushed his hair, his mind filling again "We cry because it's a bodily reaction ...despair and sadness is something everyone can feel"

Sasori's voice grew rough like gravel "It's all because of that fucking Itachi ... He survived the blast and was carried away by Kakuzu"

Naruto nodded, he knew the same pain Sasori felt "I know ... Sasuke got away too ... without his eyes thankfully"

Sasori cocked an eyebrow "You blinded him ?"

Naruto lightly smiled, it felt fake "I've got some Sharingan on my boot if you wanna see ?"

Sasori smiled, turning away and speaking lowly "I'm sorry ... About Nagato. I felt his chakra fade and disappear, he was a true leader til the end"

He tensed, holding back any despair that burrowed inside his heart "Yeah ...H..He's gone now ... Sasori, I need you help"

Sasori patted his shoulder and nodded "Anything for you ... What do you need help with ?"

Naruto pointed to his eyes "Orochimaru is not expected to arrive for a few hours ... I need you to transplant the Rinnegan into me"

"The Rinnegan ... You wish to inherit Nagato's power ?"

Naruto nodded "It was Nagato's last wish before he passed on ... you are the only one who can do it. The eyes aren't meant to last long without a user"

"I cannot guarantee that your vision will be ready like normal Sharingan transplants ... The Rinnegan is a complex eye forged by god, your brain may take longer to adjust to the new frequency of Chakra being emitted into each eye, If you had a Sharingan your brain would be semi used to the Chakra flow from each eye ... but because your eyes are normal as people would say, we may be looking at a few hours of blindness while the connection is made"

Naruto rubbed the back of his head in confusion "Soooo ... it will work right ?"

"Yeah ... but it will take time"

"Hidan is waiting for us in the secondary chapel ...Nagato's body has been laid out ready for burial back in the Hidden rain, Hinata is with Konan right now"

They left the courtyard and headed towards the secondary chapel where the procedure would be carried out. Sasori clutched the clay Deidara to his chest, he wondered if he was supposed to keep it or bury it in substitute for Deidara's body, which was not exactly easy to find. Sasori knew the bombardier was probably laughing his ass off at the mess he had made, but he really hoped Deidara would see how much Sasori actually missed him. The dynamic duo was over, war and death would soon rush to meet them all, there was no one to joke with anymore.

Kakashi could hear the beeps and thumps of life support and anesthetic machines. His eyes felt like concrete slabs, it was probably the anesthetics effect on his body and overall strength. He heard the door open and two sets of boots enter, his hearing was still as keen as ever, one of the men stepped heavily without delicacy, It was Kakuzu. The other man was precise and delicate with his footing, the light rustle of a chain near his arms, not handcuffs but the long chain that connected to Obito's war fan that he received from Madara before he died. The door closed and silence fell.

Kakuzu's cold voice broke the silence "The wound in your chest cut through both bone and nerves ...deep cuts in your stomach made the operation a little difficult, it was hard trying to keep the wound from going septic, but with cultivated cells from Zetsu we were able to fill the gap and restore blood flow equally throughout the body, your blood level is low so I suggest you rest while the cells multiply and help you recover"

Kakashi did not reply, he like a child unable to babble out intelligible communication.

Obito's grunted "Could you leave us alone for a while Kakuzu, I need to speak with Kakashi alone"

Kakuzu left the room and shut the door behind him, giving no reply or refusal. Kakashi could not see, but he knew Obito's scarred face and brutal leadership held true control over his subordinates. Obito leaned in and whispered

"Kakashi ...I'm afraid I must have you return my Sharingan ...If only for the coming battle where we take Naruto"

His eyes bolted open as cold fear and adrenaline flowed through his body. If Obito takes his Sharingan he wont be strong enough to take part in the battle or have a sufficient amount of power to take down Naruto or Tsunade. Kakashi respected his friend, but he needed to be powerful enough to take on Konoha, he recoiled from Obito.

He shrugged "I know ... you want to keep it for the upcoming battle. But our eyes are only good in the same head ...I always believed if we were next to each other that we would be stronger ...but it was all just some fantasy. Power can only belong to one person"

Kakashi wheezed "Please...I...I need this to defeat them. Please Obito ...What will I have left ?"

Obito cut him off "You will have a replacement eye ... It's ability will not be the same as mine, and it may be weaker in the long run"

Kakashi yelled "I WON'T LET YOU RUIN MY REVENGE, OBITO. I'LL CUT DOWN EVERY HIDDEN LEAF NINJA I SEE ... I NEED POWER !"

Obito leveled his face to Kakashi's and coldly glared "Your power was mine since the beginning ... Kakuzu is going to remove your eye tonight after he is done with Itachi's operation and Sasuke's transplant ... It's only a matter of time. Please do not be hostile ... I will let you gut Naruto all day if it satisfies you"

"I wont let you touch my eyes ... I WON'T LET YOU TAKE MY POWER !"

"I'll see you in a few hours ...hmm...how about some more drugs eh ? Be thankful we have no hospital bill"

He squeezed the plastic bag of serum, sending large amounts of Anesthetic into Kakashi's veins, calming and cooling him down as he was pulled into darkness, his nightmares screaming up to grab him. HE tried to fight the deep sleep that lay over him like sheets of iron, but he was too weak to resist.

Hours Later

For the next few hours he drifted in and out of sleep, his eyes opening for a minute than closing for half an hour. As if diving in and out of the black sea of dreams and consciousness. He could not fully grasp the strength to sit up in the moments where he was awake, he tried calling out to Sasuke but no one answered. The wound in his chest throb in intense agony, he began to pray for unconsciousness. He sensed familiar chakra nearby, his eyes unable to open anymore. The door tore open as something blew it off it's hinges, Kakashi was alert but still unable to move, who ever was in the room was certainly not a friend of the Akatsuki. He could feel them approach, but could hardly hear what they were saying.

The first man sounded about Kakashi's age, maybe younger "We found him, god these bastards must have captured him after the battle"

The second man was younger, his voice softer and emotionless "He's been injured pretty badly ... Look's like they healed him however"

"Why would the Akatsuki heal him after hurting him ?"

"It proves as a significant torture method ...the longer they are kept alive the longer they can be tortured for information"

"Do you think they brainwashed him ? He has no restraints and is in a pretty nice room for a prisoner"

Kakashi heard the rustle of a bag, it was his IV "He is on some real heavy stuff here ... take a look"

"We used to use the same stuff on the prisoners we kept at the foundation ... heavy indeed"

"You grab his torso and I'll grab his feet ... we don't have much time, they may be on their way now"

The older man chuckled "There are enough paper bombs between us to level this hideout, it should slow them down enough to escape"

Kakashi felt hands grab his ankles and shoulders as he was lifted off the bed. He felt both Fearful and Thankful to these new captors, fearful because he expected he was to be executed by the same hands, thankful because he may live to see another week with his Sharingan intact. If he had to split from the Akatsuki and from Obito just to keep his power, he felt it was a necessary sacrifice. After Naruto lay dead at his feet he would willingly give Obito his Sharingan and end his life, what else would there be to live for if Genjutsu will make him a better man ?

The men carried him through the door and increased their speed as the sounds of explosions are loud footfalls echoed down the hallway towards them. Kakashi heard Obito call out

"KILL THEM ALL, I WANT HIS EYE !"

Not knowing Kakashi was awake, Obito made his biggest mistake. Kakashi now knew he was no longer able to return and mend the friendship he once had with Obito, he would die with his eye and it seemed. Kakashi felt alone, now the only side that had taken him in discarded him like trash, where would he go next ? the question weighed heavily in his mind like steel.

The carriages rattled and shook as the convoy hit the first resistance of the cold elements. Ice and Snow becoming a more and more frequent obstacle as they approached and crossed over the borders of the Land of Iron. The cold frost stung at the Ninja's bare skin, but not their leader, for he felt neither cold nor warm. Years of improving his body with forbidden Jutsu left Orochimaru more reptilian than man, his humanity shed away like the skin of a snake. Orochimaru walked at the front of the convoy, twenty-six wagons of armed Hidden Sound Ninja and supplies forming the bulk of the convoy, spaced between and around the carriages were lone figures, dressed in warm furs and wielding strange blades. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist refused to sit with the 'common' Ninja. Orochimaru raised an arm and stopped, one of his Sound Ninja Captains coming to his side.

"Yes Lord Orochimaru ?"

Orochimaru pointed to the sharp ice stones that pebbled the road ahead "I want three fire style users to clear the path ahead of us ...we are wasting time"

"But my lord ... The ice is thick and we have miles to go before we reach the Monastery"

Orochimaru grinned "Tell them if they so much as take a step backward, I'll cut off their legs and leave them to crawl the tundra till their blood turns to ice"

The captain cringed "Yes my lord, it will be done"

The door to the nearest carriage opened and an agitated Suigetsu sneezed behind is double layered fur blanket. His skin pale and icy, in reality it actually wash Ice. In cold weather Suigetsu cold hardly hold his Water Transformation Jutsu and would become prone to a full bodily freeze unless he keep warm and preoccupied. He glared at Orochimaru and questioned

"Why the hell have we stopped ? I'm turning into a damned slushy here !"

Orochimaru's eyes sharpened as he glared back "Is there an issue ? You would complain less if you were a piece of babbling Ice"

Suigetsu Chuckled "you would be a better host if you weren't a reptilian egotistic maniac !"

"Don't you have primitive things to do ?"

A naked Karin poked her head through the gap and grinned "He was doing just fine"

She slammed the door and Orochimaru groaned "How humans love their sexual game ... Pitiful"

One of the fire Style users turned back to Orochimaru and called "We have made haste lord Orochimaru, we should get there in an hour at the least"

Orochimaru nodded, giving a cold grin "Splendid ...however you won't make it there for another 3 hours, that is if you survive however"

The captain began to stutter "B...B...But W..Why !? I F...Followed your O..Order perfectly !"

Orochimaru shook his head and gestured to his legs "I said whoever takes a step back loses his legs ... you failed to follow my orders, punishable by death"

Two large Hidden Sound Ninja exited one of the large carriages, one of them carrying a large timber axe, it's blade stained red but not by bark or berry. The Fire Style user recoiled and ran across the road, the second Ninja phasing in front of him and locking his arms behind him in a submission hold. Orochimaru sat back and watched as the captain was held down and dismembered, within minutes the convoy was trailing its way to the ruined Monastery, a trail of blood following behind as the captain grabbed onto the back bumper of a carriage and held on for what dear life he had left. Later the Hidden Sound Ninja began to bet Ryo to see how long he could hold on for before falling off the back and bleeding to death becoming the first Hidden Sound Popsicle. The Hidden Sound Ninja were a ruthless bunch, if you had not already guessed.

Naruto lay back on the bed gurney in the Monastery's recovery room, which housed the vast samples and medical oddities collected by the followers of Jashin for over a century. Had Sasori the time and care he would of loved to dive into these new fascinations, Orochimaru would have loved it too. But he had a job to do, Nagato's body had been removed only moments ago and was currently being tended to buy Konan, Hinata and some of the other Monk women helping prepare his body for preservation and transportation back to the Hidden Rain for burial. Naruto removed his T-shirt and placed the white sheets up to his neck, a metal brace holding his neck flat against the table and dual antenna pressing to his temples to stop him moving an inch during the procedure.

Sasori put on gloves and carried a large jar to the bedside table, two Rinnegan eyes floated in Chakra preservation fluids. All Sasori needed to do was put Naruto to sleep and begin the transplant

Sasori tapped his shoulder "I'm about to begin soon, Naruto. Would you like your eyes kept in this preserved jar in case the Rinnegan fails you ?"

Naruto nodded "I feel weird trading such a vital sense in my body for someone else s ...Do it, I'm ready"

Sasori pressed the mask to Naruto's mouth and counted back from ten, after five seconds Naruto was out cold. Sasori tightened his gloves and began the procedure, lifting Naruto's eyelids and popping out his eyes with the utmost delicacy in case of future need. He then pulled the two Rinnegan eyes from the preservation liquid and began aligning Chakra connections and blood access to grant full use of the godly past and Sasori stepped back, wiping his forehead and sighing as the bandages were wrapped around his eyes. Now all that was left was to wait for Naruto's brain and chakra to accept the foreign objects. Sasori wheeled Naruto to the recovery bay and sat him against tall pillows, praying to Jashin that the Rinnegan and its new owner would accept each other. Naruto slept quietly, light sweat on his forehead from the intense pain of the operation.

Someone yelled from across the room, pacing faster towards the gurney "Naruto-Kun !"

Sasori lightly smiled "He's okay now ... the operation was a success !"

She patted her beating heart and sighed "I'm so glad ... Although it's going to be hard to make out with purple eyes like that"

Sasori chuckled "I'm sure Orochimaru can make some blue-eyed contacts for him, he can take them out before battle"

Hinata cocked an eyebrow "I might take him up on that proposition ..."

Sasori looked at his feet and kicked a pebble "So ...How is she ?"

Hinata bit her lip and looked to the ground also "She's not good ... I had to take her out of the preparation room and put her to bed after she started drinking"

Sasori shrugged as if knowing this already "I figured ...Can't blame her though...I might hit the booze soon actually, you wanna drink too ?"

She shook her head "No ...you go ahead without me. I'll be waiting for him to wake up"

Sasori left the room, Hinata could see the days tragedies and loses weigh him down as he walked, it was times like these that she wished more of her old friends had left the leaf. Hinata felt more lonely each day unless she was with Naruto, she loved to be surrounded by friends like the old days back in Konoha. She felt bad for having thoughts like these, but it was true, she missed the days where her friends were numerous and not fighting each other. As Tensei got smaller so did her friend group, it was only getting more and more lonely until no one will be left but her and Naruto. She looked down at her fiancée, realizing they were yet to be married officially, she figured that may be one of the only high points to the day, but she knew it would still be grim.

He mumbled in his unconscious state "M...Mother..." Hinata hoped it was nothing but a dream, she prayed it were only a dream. Naruto had experienced the same thing parental visions during the battle of the Hidden Eddys Village. It had left him distraught and with only more regret and hatred.

Naruto was lay awake in a strange room, he was beginning to grow used to waking up in rooms locked away in his mind. Whenever he switched with Kurama, he would awake in the chamber of the Kyuubi, when he had met his father the room in his mind had grown dark and cold, reflecting his inner emotions. Perhaps it was something only a Jinchuuriki could do, Naruto was not certain just anyone could achieve this form of ethereal escape. But this room threw him off guard, the chakra in the room was different but still felt related if not similar to his own. His eyes were still heavy so he lay quietly, this strange room was silent compared to the Kyuubi's chambers, which echoed with the drips of water and flicker of torches.

He opened his eyes for a second and let them fall closed again, his head rested against a pillow that was both soft and hard, as if it's insides were wood. Then as his body began to awake from the anesthetic, his surroundings became more and more sensitive to his body. He could now smell the sweet scent of fruits and hear a low ring that was pleasantly pulling him to full consciousness. His hair curled back then flop back forward in a repetitive moments. Small stems pulled through his hair, undoing knots and straightening his roots. Naruto remembered the sensation from when Hinata combed his hair after they showered together, it was relaxing and almost therapeutic.

He smiled and mumbled "It's been a while since you combed my hair, Hinata ..."

A completely different voice cooed in a cutey voice "OOooh what a little romantic you've grown up to be"

Naruto struggled as he was crushed in a death hug that left him breathless "W..W..WHO ARE YA !?"

The voice calmed, his head lowered back into place "You really need to take better care of your hair ... Hair is what got me my husband ya know !"

Something ticked at the back of Naruto's conscious 'Ya know ?'

The voice continued, the comb moving through Naruto's hair again "But you do look a lot like him, Naruto"

Naruto bolted up and crawled across the room, his eyes slowly opening more and more as he turned around and rose to his shaking feet. The woman that stood before him had long red hair, similar to Nagato's, but her eyes were a piercing bright blue that pulled at his heart strings. She wore a long green dress with a white blouse T-shirt below. But the thing that she wore most proudly was the smile of a mother, something Naruto had never seen for himself. He took steps back, standing in a fighting stance ready to strike at the obvious Genjutsu being.

Naruto pointed "W..What are you doing here ? And how do you know my name ?"

The red haired lady slapped her forehead as if realizing something "Oh yes ... That's right"

She grinned wide, Naruto felt familiarity in the back of his thoughts 'Where do I know this woman ?'

She wrapped a lock of her hair around her finger "Well then, Naruto, can you guess who I am ?"

There was a long silence between them, Naruto's eyes scanned over her. She giggled as his eyes widened "No way ..."

She cocked an eyebrow and teased "Have you figured it out ?"

He pointed and screamed "YOU'RE KURAMA DISGUISED AS A BEAUTIFUL WOMEN SENT TO HUMILIATE ME !"

She cocked an eyebrow and threw back her head, cackling like a drunken which

He sneered "That's such a crude laugh, you trying to fool me by disguising yourself as a woman, Kurama?"

A clenched fist struck the top of his head sending him curling, the lady roared "YOU GOT IT WRONG, YA KNOW !"

Naruto staggered back hollering "Ouch...huh ...Ya Know ?"

The lady embarrassingly, scratching the back of her head "I couldn't stop myself from hitting you. I was born impatient and I talk fast, so I use some weird phrases. I try to control it but it slips out when I get excited, what about you ? I hope you didn't get any of my bad speech patterns"

Naruto lowered his fists in awe "Then ..."

"Minato didn't say anything to you ? ... shame on him"

Naruto cut her off mid sentence, his arms locking behind her and clinging tightly to the back of her flowing red hair. His face pressed to the hollow of her shoulder as he wept silently. She smiled and warmed to his embrace, locking her home arms around him and taking in the scent of her child's hair for the second and perhaps last time. Separated by death long ago, now reunited by the last of her Chakra, Kushina ran her hands through his hair. She marveled at the almost identical similarity to his father, Minato. Naruto whispered between sniffles

"I've wanted to see you ... for so long Ma...Ya know ?"

She grinned "Ya know huh ... you really are my child"

Their embrace lasted for what seemed like minutes, Naruto pulling away from her and turning his eyes from hers. He moved away from her and pulled a cloak from thin air, it was his world and he could mend and build whatever he desired in the confines of his mind. The cloak adorned the blood red cloud, which he threw over himself and felt the comfort of darkness cover him. He turned back to his mother and pointed to the cloud.

"Mother ... This is what I am now, I am no longer a Ninja of Konoha, you no doubt have seen what I have done and who I have killed ... I do not deserve to be in your presence. Not because I regret my decisions and feel sorry for those I brought pain to, no... It's because you and father are not truly on my side, you two were loyal to the leaf until your death ... whereas I plan to bring it down"

Kushina nodded, biting her lip "I know ... I saw everything you saw, felt everything you felt ... cried every tear you cried"

Naruto was taken aback "B..But how ? Father said he only saw ..."

She cut him off, caressing the stomach that once held the child that stood before her "A mother will always understand more than anyone else"

"You understand ?"

"I lived a second life as you, Naruto. I felt the same betrayal you felt, I know how bad everyone hurt you, and for that I am to blame"

"Y...You aren't mother ... you were never to blame"

"Minato and I decided to die together, we figured you would grow up safe in the village without issue ... we were so wrong, Naruto"

Naruto looked away, unable to meet her eyes as pain from the past swam up to grip him "It was so hard living as a fox monster"

"If one of us had been there for you, this all would have been avoided and you would be safe"

Naruto shook his head "I am safe ... I am more powerful than ever before, and I will use that power to protect the one I love"

Kushina smiled "Hinata is such an angel ... I'm happy she has been with you through this hard time, but please Naruto ... listen to me"

"Hmm ?"

Kushina clutched his shoulders "Run, hide, or surrender ... just please, please do not continue your wars"

"I don't understand ? I am bringing peace with each battle"

"Take Hinata and live the rest of your life somewhere quiet and safe, leave all this revenge and hatred behind you and settle down"

Naruto swiped her hand from his shoulder "I am making this world a better place, mother. One where we do not have to hide from power hungry villages"

She shook her head, a lone tear coursing down her cheek "Are you not speaking of yourself ? You grow mad with revenge and power every growing day. How long until Hinata realizes what you have become ? Do you really think she has stooped as low as yourself ? Good still remains in her ... she is the only thing that is keeping your humanity"

He laughed aloud "Hahaha Humanity ?"

Naruto felt searing pain in his eyeballs, the eyes even in his dream world were changing. Kushina recoiled as his eyes melted away and filled with dark purple light, a wolfish grin crossing his face. He turned to his mother and kissed her cheek, turning away from her and began marching towards the light across the room. Kushina tried to grab for him, but she could not move, her Chakra was fading. Naruto looked over his shoulder and called aloud, his voice as cold as ice.

"Humanity is for the weak ... I am becoming so much more than human filth"

Kushina cried "PLEASE NARUTO ... STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING ... YOU BLINDLY WALK TOWARDS HELL ITSELF !"

Naruto's voice changed, the Kyuubi now awake and furious at it's former host "NOTHING WILL STOP ME NOW ..."

she recoiled "The Kyuubi ..."

"I AM NOT WALKING TOWARDS HELL ...I...AM...HELL !"

Her hand clasped her chest, as if her heart was burning. The Chakra in the air burned everything it touched, Kushina felt the rage and hatred as if it were actual flames burning at her skin. She wiped tears from her eyes and screamed

"YOU ARE NOT THE CHILD I HAD ... YOU ARE NOT MY NARUTO...YOU ARE NO MAN !"

Naruto stopped before the light, his Rinnegan pulsated with each word "You're right mother ... I AM NO MAN ... For I have become so much more"

Kushina called to the heavens with her last breath "GOD HELP US ... OUR SON WILL BRING THE END TO US ALL !"

Naruto pulled a black staff from the void, his cloak tearing and reforming as blood-red Commas formed along the collar, horns growing from Naruto's skull and twisting upward like two vines. The Staff clattered as it's chains shook with the immense force of his chakra. He pointed the staff to his mother and called aloud, his eyes pulsating with piercing intensity. His mother was fading like sand in the ocean, her form loosing transparency with each passing moment as the flaming chakra burned away at her form. Naruto waved goodbye and spoke, the last thing Kushina would see and hear before they were separated yet again.

"I HAVE BECOME A GOD ... AND THIS WORLD WILL BURN !"

He stepped into the light and awoke from his nightmare.

Naruto bolted up screaming, clutching his chest and eyes as sweat drenched his entire body. He felt hot burning chakra flow through his body, as if boiling iron had replaced his blood. He could feel the Kyuubi tear at his cages as if he too had a nightmare. Hinata leaped from her chair and held him down as he flailed about, the after image of his fading mother burned into his iris' like an illusion, only to realize he could not see at all, the bandages covering his eyes were tight and locked away all vision and light from him. He tried to claw at his burning eyes but Hinata held them to his side, he was scared and disoriented, not knowing where he was and why he hurt so bad.

Naruto was whimpering almost inaudible words "F...Fire ...Mother...burning..burning ...demon.."

Hinata leaned in and began to softly hum, like a lullaby to a small child, her voice gently reached him and calmed his ecstatic movements and breathing. She lightly caressed his cheek as his breathing slowed. He stopped whimpering and gripped her hand tight, unable to see her, all he could do was caress her face and make out her features by touch. When he had mapped out her face with only the tips of his fingers, he relaxed a little more. His hand still hard against his heart. Which appeared on the monitor as beating over 143 beats perm minute, but it was slowing rapidly with each moment she held him.

He whispered "Hinata ...I'm scared, I don't know where I am or what just happened to me ... so much pain"

It broke Hinata's heart, she seldom heard him say such fearful words "You're fine, just lay back and rest ... I'm not going anywhere"

He relaxed his grip on his chest and sighed "I saw her ... Hinata. I saw my mother and I started to change right in front of her, I had no control"

She cocked an eyebrow "What happened ?"

"We were talking then the topic got a little emotional ...next thing I know, this great power and darkness is swallowing me whole"

"The Kyuubi ?"

He shook his head "No ... worse. This violent malicious demon ... this ...monster that ...was me"

It was her turn to shake her head, she pecked his cheek "That's not the person you are Naruto ... look at you now, you are so kind and caring"

"I don't feel like that kind of guy ..."

"Today has been ...well ... A really fucked up day, Naruto-Kun"

He smiled "You know I like it when you use the honorific"

She giggled "I know, I do it to spoil you"

His expression darkened "You need to tell me, Hinata ..."

"Tell you what ?"

"If I over step myself, If I run mad with power I need you to be there to keep me in line ... before I hurt you"

"You won't ever hurt me ... I'm worried I'm worried you will hurt yourself, Baka"

"So when do I get to take this off ? It's really itchy and it feels like my eyeballs have been dipped in boiling Ramen"

Hinata giggled aloud "Even when you are in pain you still think about Ramen ...Sasori says in a few hours, the pain will lessen as time goes by. Orochimaru is bringing his forces to the Monastery. As the new leader of Tensei ... you are going to have to address the soldiers before our march to Konoha"

Naruto bit his lip "Before it all ends ... it's getting so close now"

Kakashi came to, now able to open his eyes after what seemed like days being carried across across the country. They were inside some cave, the two men were out of sight but he knew they were nearby. The cave was warm and illuminated by a small fire set in the corner of the room, it was fresh, meaning they had not been here long. His hands were surprisingly not bond, and a blanket lightly rested over him, this was all certainly not how prisoners were supposed to be treated. Kakashi sat up and turned around, he could see the faint shadows of men in the corner of the cave, they were whispering in private. One of them noticed Kakashi and stopped their conversation

"Hey buddy, how are you feeling ? We finally got you away from the Akatsuki before they had time to pull your eye out"

Kakashi shook his head, his anger boiling over "WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU ?!"

The younger man nudged the other "We are standing in the shadows, Yamato"

the two men stepped out of the shadows into the light of the fire, Yamato and Sai now illuminated. Kakashi recoiled backward, as if they were about to slice his throat. The two exchanged concerned looks

Sai stepped forward and knelt to eye level with Kakashi "They might have brainwashed him, Yamato"

Kakashi spat at them "GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME KONOHA TRASH ... AFTER ALL YOU HAVE DONE YOU TELL ME I WAS BRAINWASHED ?"

Yamato shook his head "We found an Akatsuki cloak in your belongings, you hardly knew it was us ... we have great reason to suspect you are under their control Kakashi, please work with us here"

Kakashi was in hysterics "THE HIDDEN LEAF KILLED MY WIFE AND CHILD ... I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU ALL GOD DAMMIT"

He lunged at Sai, snatching a sharp rock from the cave floor and swiping it across Sai's throat. The Ninja's body melted away into a puddle of ink, Sai stepped out from behind a boulder and signaled to Yamato, who was rapidly forming hand signs.

He called aloud "Mokuton: Wooden Stockade formation"

Two wooden spires arose from the cave floor from thin cracks of earth. The two spires closed on either side of Kakashi's neck, two branches split from the main spires and wrapped around his arms, locking him in place. Kakashi struggled, snarling and pulling at the restraints.

Sai looked concerned "They must have used Genjutsu on him ... he was forced into the Akatsuki, and now he thinks we are the enemy"

Kakashi stopped struggling, he began to giggle like a maniac "YOU ...HAHAHAH ..YOU REALLY THINK HAHA ...THINK I WAS FORCED TO JOIN ? HAHAHA FOOLS"

Yamato tightened his grip on the Kunai, he felt uneasy about what was happening "What do you mean ?"

Kakashi only continued to laugh "I joined the Akatsuki ... Voluntarily hahaha"

Sai shook his head in outrage and denial "NO ... The Kakashi we knew would never do such a thing. Why would you abandon us ? Why would you abandon Anko like that ?"

Kakashi's laughter ceased abruptly, venomous hate filling his expression "AS IF YOU DID NOT FUCKING KNOW !"

"What are you talking about ... calm down and tell us"

"MY WIFE IS DEAD ... KILLED BY YOU LEAF SHINOBI ... I SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES, GO DAMMIT HER BLOOD WAS ON MY HANDS !"

Sai and Yamato looked at each other in confusion. Yamato frowned "Kakashi ... It was Anko that sent us on the mission to find you, she is not dead"

He spat violent curses "BULLSHIT !... I buried her, Obito and I ...buried her"

"Obito is dead, Kakashi. He died when you were still a child"

Kakashi shook his head "He was the masked man ... my comrade is still alive, that's why I joined the Akatsuki...BECAUSE OF THE LEAF !"

Yamato gripped his shoulders and shook him, losing his temper "YOUR WIFE IS STILL ALIVE ... OBITO TRICKED YOU AND HAS TWISTED YOU MIND"

"I'LL TWIST YOUR GOD DAMNED NECK !"

Sai stepped in between the two and pushed them apart, mediating the argument "Kakashi ... we are taking you back to the village, you can see her for yourself and judge who is the real liar ... you can come willingly or we can keep you barely alive and blame it on the Akatsuki"

Kakashi snarled "GOD DAMMIT ... I BURIED HER, I FELT HER BLOOD BETWEEN MY FINGERS AS SHE GREW COLD AND PASSED ON ... SHE'S DEAD"

Sai nodded "In Genjutsu, the victims five senses can be tampered with up until the Genjutsu is released. What you thought happened, never actually happened ... I don't know how such a heavy Genjutsu was used on you and whom actually cast it on you. But I can confirm that the Akatsuki have been seen delving into ruins of the Uchiha temples and leaving with scrolls and formulas for new kinds of Jutsu ... Genjutsu may have been in one of them"

Kakashi closed his eyes and rocked his head, the seeds of doubt now in his mind "You must be tricking me ... you are trying to fool me"

Yamato, who had calmed down now, warmly disagreed "We are your friends Kakashi ... If your wife died by Leaf ninja like you said, I would be more than happy to kill the ones who did it ... were we at the scene when she died in your arms ?"

He shook his head "N...No...but you could have been apart of it all"

"We could have ... we could be apparitions of a strange Genjutsu, sent to finish you off and harvest your Sharingan"

Sai pitched in "But if that was our intent, why are you still alive ? Why was the Akatsuki after your eye and not us ?"

Yamato move in for the finishing blow "The Uchiha are the one clan known for its Genjutsu users, we are amateurs compared to them. How would we pull off such a powerful Genjutsu without the bloodline or Sharingan of the Uchiha"

"The ...U..Uchiha ..."

"Genjutsu is used by many clans ... but the Uchiha are the most powerful users of the art. Capable of making men believe their own wives are dead"

"No ... Obito let me in ... took me under his wing and became my ..."

"Friend ? Was he not trying to steal your eye for his own selfish purposes ... Did we not rescue you from harm"

Kakashi bit his lip "He would have gave me other Sharingans ... but I needed the power to kill Naruto"

Sai nodded, he understood clearly now "Come with us to the village and see for yourself ... we all want Naruto dead, but we want you back most of all"

Kakashi nodded but still sneered "I don't believe what you have told me ... not until I see for myself. But as long as we have a common interest ..."

Yamato cocked an eyebrow "That being ?"

"The ruination of the Uzumaki Clan ... And the Death of Naruto"

Sasuke felt as if his eyes were burning, the operation had been a success, however Kakuzu and Obito had run to the other side of the hideout after Kakashi and some intruders had caused trouble, but Sasuke could care less about their quarrels. He lay blind in the room, the only thing keeping him sane was the light conversation with Itachi, whom lay in the bed next to him. Itachi had also received replacement eyes, Obito had kept Sharingans from various dead Uchiha during the Uchiha massacre, storing them away in freezing temperatures to keep them preserved. Itachi now lost his ability to use Susanoo and powerful Genjutsu, but he was able to see and fight, which was all he needed.

"Itachi ... Are you okay ?"

He heard Itachi rustled over underneath the overs of his bed "Yeah ... I'm fine. I feel a lot weaker now, fighting will be a lot more fun this way"

"Really ?"

"I might even die at this level"

"That's not funny ... When this is all over you can have yours back"

"I doubt I'll live past that ... I'll be down to my abilities in both Taijutsu and the few amateur Jutsu these eyes allow me"

"I'll be there by your side, we can fight together and for once I can protect you"

"When you awaken my eyes, I have no doubt you will surpass even me"

Sasuke laughed "Really ? I thought I had surpassed you with my old eyes !"

"Yeah ... but now your eyes are crushed grapes"

Sasuke went silent

Itachi winced "I'm sorry, Sasuke. It was rude of me to bring that up"

"No ... It's fine. It was my fault for playing with him a bit. I had him, he was so close to death. As soon as your eyes awaken I swear ..."

"When will both of our eyes be ready for action ? Did Kakuzu mention anything ?"

"Funny enough you will be ready before I am ... The Eternal Mangeyeko Sharingan takes longer to connect and establish in the users mind"

"I can't tell if that is a simple fact ... or an insult to these shitty rookie eyes"

"Someone died with those ... a little respect would suffice"

Itachi clenched his fist "If these eyes fail to do what is needed ... Another person will dies with them"

Naruto limped to the balcony, the bruises and scars from that days battle still fresh. But Hinata was at his side, helping him to the balcony that overlooked the ruined courtyard. Naruto felt his heart beat hundreds of beats per minute, he was nervous and still a little beaten up. He was hardly in shape to make a speech. He could feel their Chakra, so many signatures stood waiting on the courtyard. He sensed a more familiar Chakra and snickered. turning his blindfolded head towards the shadows of the corridor and grinning wider as the figure drew closer.

"I thought I sensed your Chakra ... you snuck in like a real serpent, didn't you Orochimaru ?"

The scientist sighed "And here I thought I would catch you by surprise and pull those precious eyes from your head while you slept"

Naruto heard Hinata growl lightly, he shook his head "Your jokes are as twisted as your appearance"

Orochimaru cocked an eyebrow "Are you in any position to even see my appearance ? You look like you will never see the light again ..."

"I can see the light just fine, Sasori says i'm in my last moments of adjustments before the Rinnegan is at my disposal"

Naruto could hear Orochimaru hiss with anticipation "I really cannot wait to see it put to use ... Lord Naruto"

He was surprised by the sudden title, but not opposed to it, he thought it had a nice ring to it "How many of them have gathered ?"

Orochimaru grinned "26 wagons of armed Hidden Sound Ninja"

"Well how many of them per wagon ?"

"About 20 per wagon, sometimes more. over 500 Hidden Sound Ninja, OH .. minus one"

"Minus one ?"

"We had a little issue with a fire style user ... I had to make an example of him. He did not make it and many Sound Ninja lost their bets"

Naruto grinned "Tell them they wont need to bet anymore ... after Konoha falls, they will serve the wealth of the Uzumaki Clan"

"Tell them yourself ...You're expected to address the troops"

"Who else is among them ? I sense more than just Hidden Sound Ninja"

A loud voice called across the hallway, It was Hidan. Clad in his old Akatsuki cloak and carrying the three-headed scythe he so adored, the head priest of this monastery made his entrance well known. Naruto felt good to hear his voice again, loud and obnoxious as always. He patted Naruto on the shoulder and pecked Hinata's hand in good gesture. She blushed and turned away, embarrassed that Naruto had not seen. Hidan pointed to the balcony

"I told you I am coming with you ... and where ever I go my monks go. They are great warriors and are a little thirsty for vengeance after today's battle"

"How many survived ?"

"More than I thought ... Little fuckers are tough as Jashin's toe nails for fuck sakes"

Orochimaru hissed "He needs numbers you zealot"

Hidan cursed "Shut it snake eyes ... Over 100 I would say"

Naruto then felt Chakra familiar to his own, he used to feel this way when he was around Nagato, their blood and chakra related and connected back to the formation of their clan. This new Chakra felt a little more distant, not that of an uncle or cousin, perhaps a distant cousin or perhaps no one at all. Naruto turned to the sound of clacking heels on the smooth concrete, another person close by. Hinata saw the tall women enter the hallway and realized she was the girl Orochimaru had talked about long ago, Karin, another survivor of the Uzumaki clan. She had long red hair and thick rimmed glasses, her heels came to a stop as she looked Naruto up and down, curious if this was the relative she had heard so little about.

"Weird hair for a Uzumaki ..."

Naruto's lips pulled back in a grin "I never got my moms dazzling hair ... But I take it you're a red head ?"

She nodded "Red hair is more common on the female side of the clan ... although it can go both ways. My name is Karin ... no need to say my last name"

"No reason to ... who's your boyfriend ?"

She laughed "Actually he is my boyfriend ... This is Suigetsu Hozuki. one of the newest members to the Seven Ninja Swordsman of the Mist"

The man snickered "You will wanna talk to my bro ... He's the leader of the bunch. From what I hear, we are allies ?"

Naruto cocked an eyebrow "I was not certain you would accept my plea ... but I sense the swordsman among the crowd, their chakra is immense"

Orochimaru leaned in and whispered "You should address the troops before they freeze to death ... unless that's what you enjoy"

Naruto nodded and approached the balcony "Hinata ... Go and check on Konan. I will be with you soon"

Konan entered the hallway "It's fine Naruto ...I'm fine"

He approached her, pulling her into an embrace "I wont leave your side, Auntie"

She smiled, hugging him tight "The Shinobi of the Hidden Rain are among the crowd also"

"Really ? ... I had no idea"

"Nagato was a great leader to them ... they wish to repay their debt"

Naruto stepped to the railing of the Balcony, it overlooked the entire courtyard and beyond. The space below was filled completely with waiting warriors, monks and swordsman, all ready to put their life on the line for money and the Uzumaki blood line. Everyone stood shoulder to shoulder apart from the Swordsman, whom were given wide birth out of both fear and respect. Naruto could not see them, but he knew they could see him, they all silenced their small conversations and stood, glaring at their supposed leader. He cleared his throat and began

"My clan only had two members left ... two members of Uzumaki blood. We were hunted down and killed because they feared our power and sealing techniques. They killed us off because we grew too powerful, even to our allies. The time has come for us to be feared again ... I suck shit at speeches, but I do not suck at killing Shinobi"

A few murmurs and chuckles from the crowd, he knew how to speak on their level at least.

"I used to be a Leaf Shinobi ... under the thumb of the Hokage, under the thumb of the Daimyo ... UNDER THE THUMB OF THE UCHIHA !"

That caught the crowds attention, they were listening intently now

"All my life I have tried to gain the villages favor, but in the end it all turned to dust. They gave as much shit about me as the great nations cared about the damage caused to the Hidden Rain Village. I am the Jinchuuriki of the Nine Tailed Fox, Kurama .. it was a burden that I was born with. All the villages want is to use me as a weapon to destroy anything that argues with them ... well like all blades, even the owner can be hurt, I will not be used for politics and diplomacy ... I WILL NOT BE A TOOL OF THE VILLAGE YA KNOW !"

The Hidden Rain Shinobi applauded, the monks hooted and the Hidden Sound Ninja cackled.

"Worshipers of Jashin, Ninja of the Hidden Sound and Swordsman of the Mist ... We mean nothing to them. They see us as flies on shit, crawling around grabbing what we can to survive, we are scum to them ... they could care less about our troubles, our poverty and our pain and suffering. The great nations are a plague that feed off the people, creating wars and leaving ruins like the Hidden Eddys Village or the Hidden Rain Village ... all left in tatters"

Naruto raised both his fist and voice. Tearing away the blindfold that kept his vision blocked. Piercing light entered his eyes and blinded him only momentarily, the Rinnegan now fully awakened and charged. Naruto's eyes glared over his army, many of them recoiling or gasping at the sight of the god like eyes, a few men even bowed to Naruto, as if he were the second coming of the Sage.

'maybe I truly am ...' he thought

"I NOW POSSESS THE RINNEGAN ... THE SAME EYES OF THE GREAT SAGE OF SIX PATHS. With these eyes I will burn this world to the ground and rebuild it in my image, I will build a world of peace and prosperity. The great clan that shall rule this world shall be the Uzumaki clan, and I invite you all to be apart of it ... for I now am more than a man, I have become so much more ... I SHALL BECOME THIS WORLDS GOD AND RAISE A GOLDEN AGE !"

Naruto could sense the fear that weighed heavy over the crowd. But that was good, he would control them with fear and kindness

"But I cannot do it alone ... If I am the heart of this revolution, then you all are the blade. I cannot achieve this great peace without the help of you all. For we all have shared the same pain, the pain of being forgotten or talked down too, the pain of losing a loved one or comrade to the vicious greed of this Shinobi world. We will make them feel our pain and they will have no choice but to repent and bow before us ... FOR WE ARE THE CURE !"

They army roared their approval, screams and shouts of vengeance filled the air, Naruto let the Kyuubi control his voice, helping amplify it and carry it's message and fear throughout the crowd.

Naruto called "WILL YOU FIGHT, SHINOBI OF THE HIDDEN RAIN ?"

They roared "TO THE DEATH !"

Naruto called "WILL YOU FIGHT, SHINONI OF THE HIDDEN SOUND ?"

They roared "KILL THEM ALL !"

Naruto Called "WILL YOU FIGHT, MONKS OF JASHIN ?"

They roared "BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD !"

Naruto nodded to the swordsman "Will you fight ?"

They nodded back, drawing their swords and planting them in the earth with a bow

Naruto drew his blade and roared once more "WE MARCH FOR KONOHA AT DAWN. PREPARE FOR WAR !"

Authors Note:

So here it comes, the battle is on it's way and this Fic is coming to a bloody end. What do you think ? I really am shitty at making speeches like that so maybe it helped Naruto's character a bit. But oh boy is this getting interesting. I hope it was worth the wait :D

PLEASE REVIEW, ITS COMING TO A CLOSE AND YOUR SAY IS NEEDED

REVIEW !

Thank you so much guys, you make it so easy to keep writing :)

Love ya

~Phillip