Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or its Characters.
Chapter 36: Three Weeks.
In the hidden Root Complex, Danzou walked around, checking that his "new members" from the Leaf's Clans were doing their respective training sessions, and also their adaptation to the Three Seals. He lost a few ninjas in the raids to the different Hidden Villages that were stubbornly set against his plans, and this earning of the Clan's ninjas was an easy way for him to obtain more and more shinobi for his service.
On the other side, Kabuto and the Hidden Sound Ninjas were doing their best to adapt themselves to Danzou's attack and information gathering plans. Kabuto trained the medic ninjas and took some time to get his hands on particular medic ninja techniques that Tsunade Senju left before she died.
The Hidden Grass Village's leader was easily taken out, and Danzou's puppet leader was granting him with their ninjas and with free and protected passage through the Grass lands to attack the Hidden Rock.
Danzou, satisfied with how things were going this far, decided to go back to his office. He used to spend hours checking on the Uchiha and Hyuuga ancient scrolls, trying to learn as much as possible from their techniques and fighting styles. Now he'd check on the Uchiha Table, and find out as much about their special Doujutsu skills.
Of course, he learned a lot about the Mangekyou Sharingan, and he used to spend some time practicing with both his right eye and his right arm's grafted Sharingan eyes.
Else, after sending his agents, and with Kabuto's information, he found the main hideout of Akatsuki. He had collected lots of information about Akatsuki in the last ten years, mainly about their goals and their methods, but what intrigued him most was the infamous Prison Statue of Nine Eyes. Now that he had found it, and that his original "owner" was gone for good, thanks to the Uchiha brat, he decided to claim it as is.
Three weeks later, he was still in his office, studying the information gathered about the Prison Statue, so as the rest of the collected information. There had to be any way to recover the captive Tailed Beasts from it; and Danzou swore that he'd find it.
Also, the Sixth Hokage had found the Scrolls of Madara Uchiha, and he had taken his time to learn the elder's techniques. He focused in learning only one of his techniques: the Inter-Dimensional Dark Safe was quickly learned; and Danzou made himself with Madara Uchiha's accumulated chakra deposit in his own safe.
He would use this great power to win this war, by controlling the Tailed Beasts, and perhaps even absorbing their Chakra to make himself live longer, and, once he defeated every single one of his enemies, retain the Elemental Nations under his grasp for as long as he could.
In the Hidden Sand Village, meanwhile, Naruto and Hinata woke up together, hugged in their futon. Hinata pulled Naruto over her and said, hugging him:
- Naruto-kun… i-if I told you, that I don't want to go out today…
Naruto smirked:
- I'd tell you that I didn't think of letting you go out, Hinata-chan…
- Then, don't let go of me…
The two teenagers, blushing, started making out playfully, giggling and chuckling as they tickled and caressed each other, lonely as they were. After that, they started rising the rhythm of their make-out, passionately making love in that futon. As they finished, they rested for a while, then they got up to make breakfast. As they had breakfast, they heard how the front door was knocked desperately. Hinata, in such a Naruto-like gesture, yelled:
- We're having breakfast! What's up?
Naruto chuckled after hearing Hinata, and the Hyuuga girl blushed furiously, realizing what she had just done. At the other side of the door, the voice of Kiba sounded quite excited:
- You'll want to come with us, guys!
Sakura, also excited, said:
- Sasuke woke up, finally!
Hinata turned happy, seeing Naruto, and he said:
- Okay, okay! When we're done here, we'll go!
Hinata completed:
- You go now! We'll m-meet you there!
Kiba's and Sakura's steps could be heard running far from the door, and Hinata asked:
- Naruto-kun… you think that…?
Naruto noticed her concern, and took a hand softly to her cheek:
- If he's changed for good, then there's nothing to worry about; and if he's still the same bastard, then I shall protect you from him.
Hinata returned the gesture with a kiss, whispering to his lips:
- If he keeps being like before, then I'll protect you, Naruto-kun…
Naruto returned the kiss tenderly and, as they finished eating, they went to their restaurant. They made sure to make enough shadow clones, in order to open the restaurant, they prepared a meal for Sasuke, and then they left to the Hidden Sand Hospital. Once there, they saw that everyone was waiting in the door: the Twelve of the Leaf and their company, Gaara and his people, the ex-Leaf Jounin, Itachi and the ex-Akatsuki ninjas, and the members of the Team Hawk. Naruto was surprised to see even Iruka Umi-no and the young Konohamaru Sarutobi, right beside Hanabi Hyuuga. Naruto asked:
- Why isn't anyone in there watching him?
Shino answered:
- Apparently, he wants to see only you, Naruto.
Naruto started suspecting, but then Itachi said, as Konan nodded seriously:
- We're watching your backs, Naruto.
Naruto entered the room, and saw Sasuke sitting in the hospital bed. Naruto noticed the anger in his face and he immediately realized something was wrong. He stood on guard, and Sasuke asked:
- Naruto… how much time has passed, since I left the village?
Naruto was a bit surprised with the question, but he said:
- Four and a half years, Sasuke…
Sasuke asked, lifting his eyes heavily:
- And… what happened? Why are we in the Hidden Sand, instead of the Hidden Leaf?
- The Fifth Hokage was murdered, and Danzou took her place. The ones here are the last free members of the Leaf's Clans: Me, from the Namikaze Clan; Itachi and you, from the Uchiha Clan; Hinata, Neji and Hanabi from the Hyuuga Clan; Konohamaru, from the Sarutobi Clan; Kiba, from the Inuzuka Clan; Shino, from the Aburame Clan; Shikamaru, from the Nara Clan; Chouji, from the Akimichi Clan; Ino, from the Yamanaka Clan; Maki, from the Yamada Clan; and also some trustful Chuunin and Jounin.
Sasuke, accounting for the people that Naruto just mentioned, asked:
- And, why did you run?
Naruto stated firmly:
- So we could fight, search for allies, and recover the Leaf Village.
Sasuke looked down again after Naruto's last response:
- And, do you think that they will accept a traitor-to-everyone in their lines?
Naruto grinned:
- No, if you keep acting, thinking and feeling as such; but if you don't consider yourself as such anymore, and if you desire to return to our side in order to fix your mistakes and do the right thing, then you're more than welcome.
Sasuke sighed and just asked:
- What about Orochimaru?
Naruto frowned as he answered:
- That sick bastard of Kabuto grafted his snake skin to try and gain his power, and now he's allied to the Sixth Hokage bastard.
Sasuke growled in disgust and hatred, frowning:
- Sick disgrace… what about Akatsuki?
Naruto grinned:
- As you wasted Madara Uchiha, and as they decided to try and go back to their former lives, they're on our side.
Sasuke noticed Naruto's expression and dropped his sight again, asking:
- And my brother?
Naruto asked, teasing:
- Which of both?
Sasuke couldn't avoid a chuckle and said:
- The two of them: my blood brother and my soul brother.
Naruto smiled this time and said:
- Itachi's outside, waiting for you to recover so he can teach you about your new shared Doujutsu, and also willing to assist you, so you don't go back to your old darkness. On the other hand, your soul brother is still in pain since that day you tried to kill him, four and a half years ago.
Sasuke let a couple of tears fall from his eyes, frowning as he clenched his fists in the bed:
- Naruto… if you ever see him again, tell him that I can understand if he still can't forgive me for that, and tell him that I ask him for a second chance.
Naruto noticed that Sasuke wasn't acting or bluffing, as he saw him break his "tough guy" mask for the first time in a long time. He replied:
- He's already offering it to you, Sasuke. If not, he wouldn't even be here talking to you, brother.
Sasuke glanced to Naruto, who smiled seriously to him. They shook hands, and Sasuke asked:
- Thank you, brother… Is Karin out there, just casually?
Naruto heard the excitement moans of the red-headed girl on the other of the door and chuckled:
- Sure as hell. She's been hearing everything. Should I tell her to come in?
Sasuke, also chuckling, replied:
- Let them all come in. I need to speak to them.
The whole group came in. Suigetsu, Karin and Juugo stood at Sasuke's right side, while Naruto, Hinata and Itachi stood to his left. Sakura and Kakashi stood in front of him, and Kiba and Akamaru were right beside her, while Anko was hugging Kakashi's arm.
Gaara and Himawari stood at the door, while Konohamaru and Hanabi ran to the sides of their brothers (even when Naruto and Konohamaru aren't exactly blood brothers, they see each other as such).
Neji and Tenten sat in the window; Kurenai, with her baby in her arms, Guy, Shizune and Yamato stood behind Kakashi, and Shino, Maki, Shikamaru and Temari stood in the corners of the room, each couple in a corner.
Kankurou and the three Sand Jounin ninjas: Hagane, Dorou and Kirimaru, stood behind Naruto, while Chouji and Asumi waited in the door, behind Gaara, and both Ino and Sai stood behind the Team Hawk. Kisame was beside Suigetsu, while Zetsu and Hatsuhana watched from the ceiling, and Konan was beside Itachi. Sasuke saw them and said:
- I've called you here to tell you that I've completed my revenge. Madara Uchiha has passed away, and now I can restore my Clan, beside my brother, with a renewed light.
Sasuke turned to Itachi:
- Brother, I'm really sorry for not even understanding a word of what you said, and for not seeing "underneath the underneath". I guess I still need a lot of training in that subject.
Itachi nodded and replied gently:
- And I think we all can help you with that, little brother.
Sasuke turned to Kakashi:
- Master Kakashi… I talked to your friend, Obito…
Kakashi even got scared, but Sasuke continued:
- He was the only Uchiha who didn't have the time to get consumed by the darkness, and he even preferred to die in the light than to live in the darkness. He's right beside the Gods of Light, and he asked me to give light to your Sharingan, so you don't have to go through what we had to, and so he could rest in peace.
Sasuke turned to Itachi, and the older brother took off the headband from Kakashi's left eye, activating his Hikari Tsukiyomi. Kakashi felt how the silver, gold and bright blue lights penetrated deep in his eye, and after being touched in the forehead by Itachi's fingertips, he felt a strong headache, passing out after that.
Kakashi, recognizing himself inside his own mind, saw his old friend, Obito Uchiha, as grown up as him, and happy. Obito said:
- Kakashi… you're the alst survivor of our whole squad…
Kakashi, crying, jumped to hug his old friend:
- No matter how cold and careless I try to be, I can't stop missing you all… so as master Minato…
Obito said, also shedding a tear:
- Master Minato lives inside his own son, Kakashi; Rin rests in peace in heaven; and I still live in your left eye… but now I can rest in peace… Thanks, Kakashi…
Kakashi saw him vanish, and then he opened his eyes, crying, but with a smile under his mask. Then he saw a strange but beautiful scene: Anko was smiling gently to him, saying softly:
- Kakashi… come on, get up, please…
Anko behaving gently… where am I? Kakashi took Anko's hand and she helped him get up. Kakashi noticed how his left eye started recovering sight, neatness and shine, and Sasuke said:
- You showed me how to use my own bloodline trait, master Kakashi, and now I give you the most powerful technique of the Sharingan, so we can train together with this new Hikari Sharingan.
Kakashi, smiling, bowed towards Sasuke. The young Uchiha said then:
- I know very well that I've not been the best role model to follow, not even the best representative of my Clan, but, in the name of the Uchiha Clan, I want to apologize to you for all I've done.
Turning to Naruto and Sakura, he said:
- To those who gave me their friendship, and who received, in exchange, my coldest despise…
Turning to Itachi and Kakashi, said:
- To those who tried to lead me out of my darkness, which I despised in favor of my childish and irrational hatred…
Turning to the ex-Leaf Jounin, he said:
- To those who had hopes to see me grow and become someone respectable, and whom I turned my back on to earn power at all cost…
Glancing to the Hawk Team, Sasuke said:
- To those who followed me and supported me, while I just used them to fulfill my desires…
Taking Karin's hand, he said:
- To those who made me feel loved during my latest days, even when I didn't pay them any attention…
Lowering his sight, he said, shedding another tear:
- And to all those who I didn't name, but that I know they risked their lives to help me avoid the hell my life had become… I'm really ashamed to even see you in the eye, but I'm really grateful to still have you present in my life…
Karin noticed how he let more tears fall down, concerned, and heard him say:
- I want to join you back; no matter how much time you consider it's necessary to test my loyalty and my will.
Gaara talked then, making Sasuke sad:
- You almost killed your best friend, and betrayed the Hidden Leaf Village to join their enemy, Orochimaru. You killed him, to then murder your brother Itachi. Then, you joined Madara Uchiha, and with him to Akatsuki, and then you tried to slay the Five Kages.
Sasuke bent down in the bed, crying harder as he clenched his fists, but Gaara said, surprising him:
- I must say that, in the end, you ended up doing the right things on the wrong reasons. You made the Kages unite; well, four of them; you murdered Orochimaru, even when Kabuto rescued his power by the most disgusting way I've ever heard. Also, you slayed Madara Uchiha, and made your partners become really strong. I must say that, since you became an avenger, you've done lots of favors to us, and if you want to join us, then there's one last test for you.
Sasuke got up again, drying his tears, and Gaara continued:
- Sasuke, we found that Danzou has gained access to the Statue where Madara Uchiha gathered and imprisoned the Tailed Beasts so far, and we found out that he's planning to use them to attack the Hidden Villages. Naruto has provided us with an idea that could help us counter this threat, and we think you're the one to provide us with what we need to accomplish this idea.
Naruto spoke then:
- Almost all of the seals done on the Demon's hosts only contained the Tailed Beasts' Yang energies. As we give them their respective Yin energy back, the Tailed Beasts would become, in theory, killing machines, to become creatures capable of reasoning, acting, thinking, feeling and perceiving by intuition.
Sasuke, understanding, asked:
- How do you know that, Naruto?
Naruto replied:
- I merged Kyuubi's Yin energy inside my body, completing her Yang-only chakra, and the change in her has been surprising. We've even become friends, if it's possible to use that word, but yes. And she proposed that you and your team go to Madara Uchiha's hideout and search for the Yin scrolls, which were in his possession. So, whenever Danzou unleashes the demons, Hinata-chan and I could complete the creatures' chakras and try reasoning with them, while you attempt avoiding Danzou from controlling them with his Sharingan.
Konan said:
- We're coordinating a full invasion to the Hidden Leaf with the assistance of the Hidden Rock, Mist, Cloud and Rain Villages. We also know that all the Clans' members were transformed into mindless ANBU Root agents; and that their authority figures, the Elders' Counselors, were murdered. We have a month to prepare the attack. You should train harder and help us by giving us as much information on the Clans as you can.
Sasuke turned to Karin, and she nodded seriously. Suigetsu turned to Kisame and then glanced to Sasuke, nodding. Juugo had nothing to say: his eyes showed resolution. Sasuke said:
- When shall we get out? And, how much time do we have?
Gaara said:
- You have a week to fulfill the mission: return with the eight scrolls. If you see the statue, debrief us on how many demons it has inside, and how many ninjas watch it.
Sasuke said:
- We'll get out when I'm prepared. I need clothes, weapons and a katana. On the other side, I'm starving, and I have no money.
Naruto smiled and Hinata said, showing Sasuke a closed box:
- T-the Restaurant of the Dragon and the Toad brought you lunch.
After seeing the smile of the couple, Sasuke took the food and ate pleasantly. Naruto said:
- When you get back, visit our restaurant. There's a dish you'll surely like.
Sasuke saw them and smiled too. Naruto, Hinata Hyuuga has surely changed you, heh, heh.
End of Chapter 36.