A/N: Let the discourse begin!
Beta'ed by myself because I'm impatient and couldn't wait to post this chapter! Not sure how it will be received so let me know what you guys thinks. Big stuff goes down in this one!
But...y'all sure you ready for this chapter? Listen to the Light of the Seven Trial Scene and Long May She Reign from Game of Thrones. You can thank me later.
And you bet your ass I now have What is Love stuck in my head.
Chapter Thirty-Seven: What is Love?
They came from above.
With wings of gold and powered by chakra, they swarmed from the sky and brought with them destruction and death.
The worst part?
No one was able to capture the enemy or even retaliate. Konoha was laid a serious blow and not one of their men paid for it.
Nagisa stood on one of the taller buildings and grinded her sharp teeth together as she watched the golden wings disappear into the horizon. The enemy had landed their blow and before Konoha could get its barring, they flew off into the distance without a single injury. Below her chaos ensued as shinobi helped their own and citizens get to the hospitals and medical tents that were popping up like daisies.
Descending from her perch, Nagisa followed her bond and found Sakura and Naruto in one of the desecrated buildings busy at work with Hinata. Upon seeing Naruto, Nagisa scanned their bodies without making them away of her presence and then left the building.
She just couldn't look at him right now. Not without feeling a sick twisting in her stomach that made her gnash her teeth and tighten her fists.
Thoughts of killing Shion filled Nagisa's head, easing her strange frustration.
The bird fluttered to her shoulder before flying off. Nagisa chuffed and changed directions mid-flip between buildings before running towards the Hokage Building.
Tsunade was unhurt from the attack. And was now swarmed with her responsibilities as Hokage.
Nagisa barely heard her Hokage over her own thoughts. She simply accepted the transportation mission, took the scroll and headed out.
It took everything inside of her not to continue stewing when she found her target.
He was an older man with long white hair but he was not marred by wrinkles and his body still appeared as if it were strapped with youth. The man turned kind gold eyes on her and smiled.
"Hello. You must be our protector. I'm happy the Hokage responded so quickly. Time is of the essence here."
It was true. A village near Konoha had been attacked and was apparently in need of a doctor. The villager that had sounded the alarm had demanded this man.
"We must wait for my team," Nagisa told him. The man simply nodded while still smiling.
"I am Shinnō, a traveling doctor. And you are?" Wanting nothing more than to bare her teeth and tell the man to stop talking, Nagisa forced herself to take a deep breath and say,
"I am Momochi Nagisa of the Nara Clan."
"A pleasure, my dear."
"Hn."
Sakura and Hinata appeared soon enough along with the villager. A girl with auburn hair hidden by a bandana that was strikingly similar to Shinnō's. She was young, about Nagisa's age. All of them were burdened with their traveling packs. Nagisa had all she would need in a scroll.
"Hello Nagisa," Hinata greeted with a gentle smile. Nagisa glanced in her direction before striking out towards the front gate at a fast pace.
"Well hello to you to there, grumps," Sakura huffed while slapping her hands on her hips. "I'm Haruno Sakura. And this is Hyūga Hinata."
"Welcome! I hope Amaru wasn't a handful."
"Master!" the girl whined with a pout.
"She was fine. Couldn't stop talking about you though!" Sakura laughed.
Nagisa flashed her chakra in agitation before turning on the group.
"As you said Shinnō, time is of the essence. We need to move out." Shinnō nodded his head with a smile.
"Of course, of course. Let's be off!"
Nagisa dipped her paddle into the river. She pushed back, continuing the canoe's path forward. Amaru's paddle dipped into the river right after hers. Shinnō, in the small canoe next to Nagisa's, motioned up the river with his paddle's handle.
"Amaru's village is upstream, deep in this jungle. There are some ruins nearby."
Nagisa's eyes darted to the river side when something splashed. She caught the tail end of an alligator as it disappeared into the water. This far to the north and near Taki, the forest had turned to jungle which meant humidity and the animals that enjoyed them.
Nagisa went to paddle another time when Sakura perked up.
"Do you hear that?" she questioned. All eyes went up but the most important ones were Hinata's. With her byakugan the purple haired girl saw what they could not.
"There's chakra emanating from a flyer high in the sky," she told the group. "The same as the ones that attacked Konoha."
"Well that's not good! Quick, hide under the trees." A few thrusts of their paddles and the two canoes were safely hidden by the foliage. A flash of golden wings appeared in the sky. Nagisa and the others watched as the flier moved on, obviously a scout.
"We must be near their base," Nagisa noted aloud, eyes tracking the golden wings until they were no longer visible. "We need to move with caution."
"Yes," the two shinobi agreed with quick nodes of their heads. The canoes continued down the river for a few more miles before they pulled them up onto the bank and started the trek through the jungle. Shinnō lead the way.
Nagisa brought up the rear with Amaru.
"Don't worry," Shinnō told the other girls who all appeared nervous. Shinnō gave them a grandfatherly smile. "There aren't that many bugs or beasts around here. We're almost to Amaru's village."
It wasn't long before they saw the thick column of smoke.
The second Amaru saw it, she ran.
"Stay with Shinnō," Nagisa ordered before taking off after Amaru.
The village, surrounded by a thick brick wall, was on fire. Amaru, obviously devastated, walked through the burning village out in the open. Nagisa snarled at her to get back, her temper raising as the girl carelessly began to scream for the other villagers. No one answered. Amaru, desperate, ran through the burning ruins.
The others joined Nagisa, Shinnō rushing past her to try and stop Amaru.
It was why he was closes and therefore able to push Amaru out of the trap she set off. Kunai flew from all directions and pierced Shinnō's body. With dozens of kunai sticking out of him, Shinnō turned to where he had thrown Amaru.
"Are you…alright?" he questioned as blood began to soak his clothes. Shinnō smiled into Amaru's devastated face. His body finally gave out on him and he fell down the stairs, succeeding in driving the kunai in deeper.
"D-doctor!" Amaru screamed as she struggled under the doctor's weight. Breathing heavily as blood began to fill his lungs, the man turned to the crying Amaru. "Why did you—?" the girl cried out but was unable to finish her sentence as it broke with a sob.
"Because I acknowledge you as my apprentice."
Sakura flew to Shinnō's side but even Nagisa knew there was no way she could heal him in time. Not with that number of wounds.
With a shaking hand, Shinnō removed his bandana and gave it to Amaru.
"It's up to you now. With help from everyone go and find the villagers…save them."
"Doctor! Master! Please don't die!"
But in a few more heartbeats the man was gone.
Amaru's scream was ear splitting.
Nagisa put out the fires while the others buried Shinnō in the village's graveyard. She joined them after they were done.
"Doctor Shinnō saved my life. I was abandoned as a child. When I fell ill with an unknown disease there was no one in the village who would care for me. But Doctor Shinnō wasn't afraid of catching the disease and he treated me. When I woke up Doctor Shinnō smiled brightly and said to me 'you did well Amaru, you made it.'"
Nagisa watched as the girl fell to her knees and began to sob.
The shinobi pulled back, allowing the girl to mourn for her sensei.
"Since there aren't any bodies of the villagers I think they may have taken shelter somewhere," Hinata said softly.
"Let's search for them," Sakura ordered. Nagisa nodded her head when the two turned to her, the highest ranking among them.
"We split up. Do not engage the enemy if found. Report back here."
"Right!"
And the three separated. Nagisa took off in the direction of the rivers which eventually lead her to the ruins Shinnō spoke of. Nagisa sent out a spark of chakra, using it like echo location. There was no one near her. Taking to the rivers, Nagisa began to run across the water surface, making a bee line to the ruins.
A thick fog was settled over the forgotten world leaving Nagisa to use her chakra to see.
It was how she found Amaru.
And how she knew something wasn't right.
Amaru stalked towards her and it was the flash of red in her eyes that had Nagisa stopping. Nagisa's eyes went hooded as she stared Amaru down. The auburn haired girl stopped walking herself, about fifteen feet away from Nagisa.
"I am the Zero Tails," Amaru said but something was wrong with her voice. "As conflict rages in the world and people's hearts become overcome with darkness, I am born anew. I feed on the darkness inside of hearts. I am born, then grow without bound—" Nagisa's eyes narrowed to slits as she realized something else with talking in sync with Amaru, distorting her voice.
Her body flew into a crouched position, hand resting on her tantō as something began to worm its way up Amaru's body, transparent but growing more solid. When it casted the girl completely a white mask with red ribbons and a golden kanji for zero smeared across the forehead appeared.
"—in order for this world to be ruled by darkness." Teeth appeared on the mask despite not appearing to have any actual lips. The teeth kept appearing past the mask, revealing a mouth longer than Nagisa was tall.
Nagisa's eyes remained on the mask but watched Amaru out of her peripheral. The girl was firmly within the creature's worm-like body.
"Release Amaru. Now."
"Never."
Nagisa performed a shunshin and appeared above the monster. Her blade pierced down right behind the mask. From the now tangible purple body, tentacles burst forth and wrapped around her before Nagisa could move away.
Something dark and oh so very vile filled Nagisa's form.
"Darkness…such darkness!" the monster crowed, the tentacles wrapping tighter.
"Raiton Release: Heki no Jutsu!" Lightning burst from Nagisa's body forcing the tentacles back. She jumped off the thing's head and landed on all fours. Amaru's body turned with the creature to face her.
"Why?" the deep voice that slithered over Nagisa's eardrums like maggots hissed. "Why do you hide? Such darkness lives within your heart! Release it! Release it all to me!"
"Suiton Release: Sandan no Jutsu!" Water burst past Nagisa's lips at high speed but the beast moved like a snake and dodged her attacks. Nagisa weaved and flipped through a wave of its tentacles as it tried to grab her again.
"Is it the boy?" Nagisa's eyes flew to the creature's mask even while jumping over and in between two of its appendages. "The one you call sunshine? Is he the reason you refuse the darkness within you?" Nagisa landed and her hands flew through signs.
"Suiton: Mizu Shuriken!" From the water she had spewed shuriken formed and flew at the creature. They cut through a few of the tentacles but the body escaped any damage.
Tentacles flew up from the ground and encased Nagisa completely. Her teeth lashed out but one of the tentacles wrapped around her forehead and forced her head back, rendering her teeth useless. The monster wormed its way to her so that they were face to face.
"Why let the sunshine turn you into something you are not? Release the darkness inside of you. Become one with me. Together we shall turn this world to ruin and despair."
"Release me," Nagisa snarled.
"You struggle against me the same way you struggle against your own self. You know I speak truth. Even your sunshine has not gone untainted by your darkness." The monster smiled its massive, disturbing grin, while its masked eyes preened down at her. "You don't trust him. No…you don't trust anyone. Because you know. You know they will all betray you in the end. Just like everyone else. They will leave you. By choice or by death, all will leave you in the end. So why do you still cling to your humanity?"
Nagisa flung her body but was unable to release herself.
The creature slunk closer to her as its tentacles tightened.
"Embrace the darkness, child. Embrace who you really are. Release your hate. Let it feaster and feed. Become one with me. I will make you strong. Together we will conquer all, including death. None will ever leave you again. We will destroy all who dare threaten your world. Like Sasuke…"
Nagisa stopped her struggling, her breaths coming in heavy gasps through her wide nostrils, and stared at the monster.
"Ah yes, Sasuke. There is darkness there. I can feel it. I can taste it. Such darkness for one you once called friend. The hatred…the shame…you wish to kill him. But what will you do once you've completed the task? Your sunshine will hate you. And you know that. He is foolish. Still clinging to the light when both his friends have submerged themselves in darkness."
It was right. Nagisa knew this as surely as she knew herself. The day she killed Sasuke would be the day Naruto would no longer look at her. Not with friendship. Not with kindness. Only hate and loathing. He'd probably even try and hurt her.
But Sasuke was a lost cause. He had joined Orochimaru, the disgusting worm that would die at her hand for his crimes against her Master's memory. And he had hurt her Naruto. Had made him cry and sent him into a well of despair and ruin.
Nagisa would not let that pass without punishment.
"Yes," the monster hissed. "There it is. That beautiful darkness. Let it out. Let it free."
She would take Naruto's hate. She would take his fury. She would let him beat into her flesh and bones. Burn her. Mar her.
If only after she freed him from Sasuke's grasp.
Because she would kill Sasuke. She would see to it that his flesh was rendered and torn. That his heart stopped beating inside her fist. She would tear him apart with her teeth. Drown him in his own blood.
"Yes! Yes! Let it free! Let is corrode!"
None would hurt Naruto ever again. None would make her sunshine go away. Not even death. So long as blood flowed through her veins none would touch her sunshine.
"Be free! Join with me and together—"
'Naruto?'
He was there. Through the bond. The warmth of his chakra flooded through her body chasing away all the bad thoughts and harmful desperation. He was alive. He was well. He was with Shikamaru, the two of them having chased down their enemy. He was having fun destroying their ships even if Shikamaru was holding him back.
"Ranton: Sandāboruto."
From Nagisa's hands two storm clouds burst forth with cracks of thunder. Lightning exploded outward, rendering the tentacles holding her nothing more than tore scraps. The lightning danced around Nagisa's form while the clouds grew and began to encase her body.
"Your words are like mud in the ear," Nagisa told the now snarling monster. "Be gone from my slight. Ranton: Kaminari Uzu no Jutsu."
The storm clouds surged forth and twisted above Nagisa where they formed even larger clouds that whirled at speeds so fast there was a fierce howl. The ground around them began to crack and pull up into the winds and it was only Nagisa using chakra to keep herself to the ground that stopped her from being sucked in. A funnel appeared in the dark, dark sky that was only light up by the insane amount of lightning. Thunder shook the earth.
Nagisa raised her hand up, two fingers pointing towards the funnel.
"You'll kill the girl!" the monster roared.
Nagisa's eyes became hooded and her face unreadable. Her eyes stared coldly at the monster. "For the greater good all will die. Now…perish."
And Nagisa brought her hand down in a slicing motion.
A scream split the world as a whirling mass of lightning and cloud in a tornado like cyclone came careening down from the funnel. There was a strange moment of silence when the lightning touched the monster. Then all hell broke loose as the lightning demolished the surrounding area in a flash of white light.
All that was left was a massive crater.
Nagisa walked towards the crater and sent out her chakra. She found Amaru's charred body off to the side. Kneeling down beside her, Nagisa felt for a pulse. It was faint but there.
'Sakura.'
The kunoichi rushed to her side as fast as her feet could take her.
"What happened?" the pinkette demanded while her hands flew to Amaru's body. She began to heal the blackened flesh with glowing green hands.
"The enemy."
"Nagisa…this is raiton damage." Nagisa glanced down out of the corner of her eye to the medic-nin. Sakura wasn't looking at her but her lips were pulled into a firm line.
"Casualties." Sakura's face twisted before she let out a sigh. Through the bond Nagisa knew Sakura would rather have said words but kept her tongue in check. Nagisa continued to stare and watch Sakura heal Amaru. It was quick work, the dead skin turned back into living flesh.
"Did you find the other villagers?"
"No."
Nagisa huffed in aggravation before marching forward.
"Where are you going?"
"The most obvious place is the ruins. I'm going to go check them out."
"Be careful."
"Once you've healed Amaru go back to the village and get reinforcements. Something is not right here."
"What about Hinata?"
"She's a shinobi. She can handle herself."
"Nagisa—"
But Nagisa didn't stay around and wait. The aggravation and something darker bubbled between the two kunoichi through the bond but Nagisa ignored it. Just like how she ignored the massive amount of shaking from the ruins the second she entered.
Said ruins were filled with the same Sora shinobi that had attacked Konoha. Those that Nagisa met in the hallways never drew breath again. Her blade was dripping crimson as she walked into an open area that was filled with light unlike the hallways.
The area was decorated nicely unlike the cold stone hallways. With a blue floor that had gold ruins curling throughout the middle and clean walls that lead up to a massive ceiling that was connected to the floor by a pillar as big as a Konoha tree. At the base of the vine covered pillar was a blue throne.
Pink eyes, hooded with indifference, settled on Shinnō.
"Well done, well done," he applauded from the throne. Nagisa walked further into the room, leaving a trail of blood in her wake. "My, what a terrifying sight you make, Nagisa. Like a wraith in the night."
The man opened his arms wide and gestured to the room.
"Do you like it? The flying fortress, Ancor Vantian? Appearing as ruins, but it has been studied and rebuilt by shinobi from Sora no Kuni for a number of decades. It's the ultimate weapon of destruction. Do you know what Ancor Vantian means? It means the fortress capital of the king."
Shinnō stood up from his throne and opened his arms wide.
"A fortress fit for a king wouldn't you agree?"
"You are supposed to be dead," Nagisa stated, her voice echoing through the room despite her not raising her volume.
"Feigning death just enough to fool Sakura was a simple matter. Her chakra control is weak. After I revived the systems that were destroyed using my Nikutai Kassei no Jutsu—"
"You are shinobi."
"Ah, I am so much more than a mere shinobi, Nagisa." Nagisa looked around the room, a throne room, before settling her eyes back on Shinnō. Yes…she supposed he was more than a mere shinobi.
"Fourteen years ago I posed as a wandering doctor, infiltrating villages all over the country, in order to obtain the method of operating the Reibi."
A vile smirk crossed Shinnō's face, one that somehow looked strange on his features after how he had portrayed himself earlier.
"It took me thirteen years to find the scroll that would enable me to resurrect the Reibi. I finally found it in Konoha and I have obtained the power of the Reibi! The power of dark chakra!"
A small puddled of blood pooled at Nagisa's feet, drops coming from the tip of her tantō.
"When darkness is born in people's hearts they become possessed by the Reibi and it turns the darkness emitted from their hearts into actual chakra. Once I understood it was quite simple. Although it did take me fourteen years."
Nagisa tilted her head to the side, her one bangle falling down her collarbone, while she listened to the dripping from her sword.
And the tap-tap of someone running.
"People fall into despair. When they are ruled by sadness, that which creates the sadness like anger and hatred, all that can create dark chakra. But then you know all about it don't you Nagisa?" A round brow rose up Nagisa's forehead. Shinnō continued to smirk while walking forward. Nagisa's eyes went hooded as he began to circle her.
"The Reibi told me all about you. About the darkness in your heart. It said it was quite…substantial. Tell me, Nagisa, what causes your anger? What is it in your life that swelters inside you so? Hmm?" Shinnō stopped in front of her and the grandfatherly smile was back while his gold eyes showed understanding and compassion. "Is it perhaps hatred for Konoha? The village that stole you away from your home? From everything you knew? Or is it a person? Someone who hurt you? Like Hatake Kakashi? The one who killed your first master?"
Nagisa watched Shinnō's hand come out and let it cup her cheek. This thumb ran along her cheek bone as the man titled his head to the side.
"Is that what causes such hatred in your heart, child?"
Nagisa blinked slowly.
Shinnō leaned in close.
"It is isn't it? Then why do you continue to let them hold you under thumb? You are strong, Nagisa. Tales of your triumphs circulate all Five Great Nations. Tales of the Moray Eel of Konoha. One of the strongest kunoichi I have ever seen. Join me. Join us. Become part of Sora no Kuni. Become my right hand woman. Together we will destroy Konoha and Hi no Kuni. We will conquer the whole world. None will be able to stand against us. Not with Ancor Vantian! We can take your revenge against Konoha. Bring them to their knees. Join me."
Nagisa finally looked away from Shinnō's hand to look up into his face.
"Did you destroy Amaru's village?"
Gone was the elderly face, replaced once more by the vindictive smirk.
"It was all part of my plan. The attack on the village was to cause you to be possessed by the Reibi…Amaru."
"D-doctor?"
Amaru stepped into the field of chakra Nagisa had placed in the ground. Her steps were troubled and her voice weak but the girl managed to walk and then run into the room.
"Doctor!"
Nagisa's tantō flew up and placed itself against Amaru's neck. The girl gasped and froze but Nagisa kept her eyes on Shinnō. So close and yet so far away.
"Was she aware of your plan?"
"Of course not!" Shinnō cackled with a sneer.
"Doctor? H-how are you—you're alive!"
"She was nothing more than a pawn in my plan. A person who has saved someone's life will never be doubted." Shinnō threw his head back and laughed cruelly. The man dropped Nagisa's face and strutted back to his throne before sitting down.
"W-what?"
"Amazing isn't it? The loyalty of fools? I knew that if I pretended to sacrifice myself for Amaru her despair would summon the Reibi! And she did such a good job as I knew she would."
"What are you talking about Master?" Amaru screamed, struggling against Nagisa's tantō with her desire to go forward but not wanting her throat to get cut. Shinnō sneered, his golden eyes filled with disgust.
"Master? Apprentice? Who cares about such stupid bonds? You were nothing more than a pawn in my plan and now that your usefulness is up, I will dispose of you along with the rest of this world."
Amaru hit the ground screaming.
The scream resonated in Nagisa. It struck something deep within the girl's memories. Images of a bridge and two bodies bleeding out onto the cold surface surfaced before Nagisa was able to shove them back down.
"Ah yes!" Shinnō cried out as a dark aura began to surround him. Its presence was strong enough to begin to physically manifest and touch his form. "I can feel it! What awesome dark chakra!"
Nagisa glanced down at Amaru who was sobbing on the ground with her hands buried in her auburn hair underneath the red bandana.
The memory of another girl screaming out for the pain of her master flashed through Nagisa's mind eye.
Nagisa started to walk forward.
'Nagisa?'
'Nagisa?'
'Nagisa?'
She ignored the others as their chakras stroked the bonds between them. But the only bonds she would have listened to hadn't said a word in three years. Shikamaru's chakra surged through but Nagisa slammed the bond shut. Naruto's tried next but Nagisa shut that one as well. Sakura was tentative, aware of Nagisa's sour mood and unsurprised by the sudden rush of sheer rage she was feeling from the blue haired teenager.
"What is with that face, Nagisa?" Shinnō questioned.
"I've decided I am going to kill you."
Shinnō jeered at Nagisa before throwing a hand out. She felt the wave of chakra come at her and quickly attached herself to the floor with chakra. Her tantō swung out, laced with chakra as Kakashi had taught her, and cut through the field.
"Oh very nice," Shinnō laughed. "The power of dark chakra isn't just for resurrecting the Reibi. You can also do this!"
Nagisa continued to step forward as Shinnō settled into a stance and the dark chakra burst from his body in a massive wave. She watched as his aged limbs turned strong and his white hair bled black. He grew at least another three inches and lost any sign of age that had previously marred his body. So big did the man become he actually burst out of his shirt and revealed hard muscle.
"This is the Nikutai Kassei no Jutsu. With this ultimate body, I can open up all Eight Inner Gates, all the way up to the Gate of Death!"
Nagisa's form flickered as she used the Shunshin no Jutsu and appeared behind Shinnō with her blade swinging down. The man ducked with unnatural speed and Nagisa's blade just grazed his wild mane of hair. His fist came up to attack her open stomach but Nagisa twisted and wrapped her leg around his offending arm. She swung like a monkey using its tail. Her blade sliced through the meaty portion of Shinnō's inner thigh. Nagisa let go of his arm and whirled before cutting through his other leg. She danced around his body and slammed her blade into his kidney and twisted. Pulling the blade out, Nagisa sliced the axillary artery under his arm in an upward motion.
Shinnō hit the ground with blood gushing from his wounds. Falling to his knees, the man's body was large enough to actually shake the ground. Nagisa stepped away from his body. Amaru was staring at them with wide eyes, tears still streaming down her face.
"D-doctor?" she called out weakly.
Nagisa only just noticed Shinnō's fist as it cantered towards her face seconds before it hit her cheek. The force sent her flying across the room and smashed into the ground before continuing on due to the force. She was able to invert herself and land on her hands and knees where she continued to skid back for a few more feet.
Nagisa wiped the blood from her busted mouth on the back of her hand.
Shinnō stood smirking at her. As if to taunt her, Shinnō lifted up his arm and displayed the open wound. The wound was stitching itself back together.
It would have been a lot more surprising if Tsunade wasn't her Hokage. Or Naruto her friend.
"Do you understand now? Do you understand what this ultimate body that has been born from the Nikutai Kassei no Jutsu means? Did I hurt you? So sorry, I'm still having trouble getting use to this power! Muscle gains strength every time they are damaged and regenerated. All you need to do is grasp the regeneration mechanism from Medical Ninjutsu and with just damage alone you can obtain a strong body. It's always possible."
Nagisa wiped her lip a second time before spitting out a glob of spit and blood. Her face was throbbing and a headache was hammering away at her temple.
Shinnō turned around and walked to the throne. He sat down and gripped the arm pieces.
"I see," he mused with a smile. "This is meant for someone who holds the ultimate body. It is indeed a throne fit for someone that will be King."
"What about dead?" Nagisa questioned while standing back up. Shinnō cocked an eyebrow and smirked.
Nagisa's hands flashed through the necessary signs and upon slamming it into the ground, two massive polar bears, each reaching over twenty feet on their hind legs, emerged from a screen of smoke.
"Nariko. Kaminari."
"Hey Nagisa!" Nariko chirped while gnashing his teeth, his golden eyes burning into Shinnō.
"Do we get to play?" Kaminari barked, ducking his head and stretching his colossal shoulders.
"Not playing, working," Nagisa told the two. Shinnō had propped his chin on a fist and was now watching them with the same confident smirk. Nagisa knew it wouldn't be on there for much longer.
"Awesome! What you want us to do?"
"Do we get to kill?"
"Of course."
With two bone shaking roars Nariko and Kaminari charged forth. Nagisa skirted to the left. Kaminari's teeth smashed into the throne but Shinnō was able to dodge his attack. He was forced to bob and weave under Nariko's attacks and then the added assault of weapons that Nagisa began to throw. In a few short moves Nagisa ended up next to Shinnō and between Nariko and Kaminari and her tantō the man was definitely on the run. His smile was long replaced by a fierce scowl and when Nagisa's tantō sliced down his chest the man shouted,
"Enough!" and blasted them away with a display of dark chakra. The three of them rolled across the blue ground before getting back to their feet or paws. The wound across his chest twitched and wiggled as it healed itself.
"Freaky," Nariko chuffed.
"I grow tired of this. Let me show you real power."
Nagisa flinched as Shinnō appeared behind her.
"When the ultimate body releases chakra it creates the ultimate attack. Chō Kasseiken!"
Using every fiber of her being Nagisa contorted her body around Shinnō's attack, twisting backwards and away from the dark orb that was in the center of his fist. She slunk around Shinnō's arm that was practically as big around as she was and wrapped her hand back to the top of his. Her legs came up and gripped him around his stomach.
Shinnō's attack went wide and the orb shot off and demolished a good portion of the wall.
'That would have killed me,' Nagisa thought to herself even while she exploded chakra out of her body and into Shinnō with a,
"Heki no Jutsu!" Shinnō roared as the lighting slammed into his body. The two of them fell to the ground as Shinnō's body gave out on him with all his muscles contracting at once. Nagisa scrambled to her hands and knees and with a downward motion slammed her tantō into Shinnō's heart.
"Doctor!" Amaru screamed, reminding Nagisa the girl was there. Shinnō's body stopped convulsing. With a gentle look the man reached up and took her wrist in both his hands.
"You should have joined me when you had the chance. Now this is the end of you. I could have helped you reach heights you dare not even dream of. But you insist on the one power that will never get you anywhere. People are weak. They have no fangs or claws. All they can do is cry. And yet how was it that this world came into the possession of humans." Nagisa barred her fangs as Shinnō's grip on her wrist tightened to the point of breaking.
"That's because among all living things they are the cruelest!" Standing up in one smooth motion, Shinnō flung Nagisa from his body. She skidded across the floor and was caught by Kaminari's side. With a sigh, Shinnō pulled Nagisa's tantō out of his chest where the wound instantly began to heal.
"Am I wrong? Compared to other living things they yearn to improve their condition, they join together and now they've obtained prosperity. And the power to do that is most certainly not people's love!"
Nagisa leaned against Kaminari's warm side, her injured wrist pulled into her chest. She stared at the throbbing appendage trying to anchor herself with the pain.
'Love…'
"What is love…but an invitation for pain?" Nagisa questioned aloud. Nariko worked his way over to her and his twin. "Love is nothing but pain. It causes suffering and lose. It hurts and defiles. It can be used against you. It can be used to destroy you."
"Exactly. After all, what did Amaru's feelings change into? I can tell you. They turned into hatred. Hatred for me. Never forget that hatred Amaru. Never forgive me."
"How can I not forgive you…doctor?" All heads turned to Amaru. The girl had gotten up and was now walking towards Nagisa with tears cascading down her cheeks. She knelt down beside Nagisa and took the girl's wrist in her hand.
"How can I not forgive the man that taught me so much? The one who praised me for the first time?"
The kunai stuck out of the middle of the target.
Zabuza plopped his hand on top of Nagisa's head and ruffled the weed-wackier looking hair.
"Good job, half-pint."
"The first time I learned what I should do…"
Nagisa watched blood pour from the man's throat, leaking into the alley and surrounding trash.
"You're a natural born killer," Zabuza chuckled, his hand warm and heavy against the top of her head.
Amaru began to wrap a bandage around Nagisa's wrist. "…the first time I wondered if I was pretty…"
"Why did Haku get to go on the mission and not me?" she asked Zabuza, who was looking into the mirror in front of them and shaving away the black scruff shadowing his jaw.
"Because he's pretty."
Nagisa frowned and looked into the mirror.
'Pretty?'
"…the first time I wondered what he thought of me…in my mind…all I could think about was the doctor. The first time I wanted to be cared for, and wanted to be loved. Always…always…I've always loved you doctor!"
Shinnō howled with laughter.
What was love but an invitation for pain? What had love ever done for her? She had not been brought into this world out of love or been graced with a mother's love at birth. Not once had a person told her they loved her until she was within Konoha's walls. But she had loved Zabuza. And she had loved Haku. And they were gone. Gone to a place she could not reach. What had love done for her then? It had not kept them alive. It had done nothing but tear her heart asunder.
Yoshino, Shikaku, Shikamaru…they all said they loved her. To what end would that bring them by loving her? Love could be used. Used against them to hurt them and rip them apart. She had enemies. So many enemies. All of Kirigakure screamed for her blood. Root cursed her very name. Her bounty from all nations was high in the Bingo Book. What if her enemies found out her family loved her? What if they believed she loved them?
Look at what love had done to Sakura.
To Ino.
It wasn't love that had made them strong. No…it had made them weak. It was the pain and the suffering that turned them strong.
Kakashi's pain had made him strong.
Naruto's pain had made him strong.
Nagisa stared at Amaru as she sobbed tears of a broken heart.
She hadn't let go of Nagisa's hand.
And yet, despite the pain, Amaru continued to love. Despite the sorrow he was brought daily, Naruto continued to strive for love in any shape and form. Despite the betrayal, Naruto continued to love Sasuke. Despite her words of revenge, Sakura still loved Sasuke. Despite the loss of her first love Ino still believed in true love. Kakashi even continued to love in his own, tortured way. Despite all that she had done to them, Yoshino, Shikamaru and Shikaku still pronounced their love for her.
Why would they do that?
Why would anyone do that?
Nagisa's chakra reached out and touched Amaru's. Her chakra network was small and undefined, like a normal civilian. It always felt so strange to Nagisa. But Nagisa ignored this and pressed on. She dug deep into Amaru's chakra network even while the girl continued to grasp her hand and cry.
Amaru's love, still burning fiercely in her heart, felt so hot to Nagisa she couldn't touch it. It was so bright it blinded Nagisa's chakra with its magnificence. It was bent and broken now, twisted like a gnarled tree, but still there. Still strong.
The pain had only made her love that much stronger.
Just like Naruto.
Shinnō's laugh came to a grinding halt as Nagisa unleashed the full force of her chakra into the room. Even Amaru choked at the pressure raining down on them all.
"Learn," Nagisa told Amaru while standing up. Amaru could only gage as she stared up at Nagisa. Looking to her summons Nagisa said, "Get her out of here."
They nodded before Nariko slipped under Amaru and together they lumbered away at a fast lope.
"That's some impressive chakra you got there girl. But it's nothing compared to the dark chakra I have—"
"You speak too much."
Nagisa's hands flew through hand signs and as her chakra rose it turned into thick storm clouds above their heads. Thunder clapped and shook the room. Lighting struck the ruins surrounding them.
"Ranton: Raigeki!"
Lighting came screeching out of the clouds but instead of going down at Shinnō the lighting looped and went to the massive pillar in the middle of the room. Debris went flying as a crater formed in the pillar, the vine and rock scattering with impressive force.
Nagisa felt her heart thump painfully in her chest as adrenaline flooded her body. Every nerve in her light up like a beacon as her eyes zeroed in on the person that had redirected her attack.
Uchiha Sasuke.
The boy glanced at Nagisa before falling to the ground between her and Shinnō.
"After all this time it seems that Orochimaru now wants your help," Sasuke said. Shinnō sneered.
"My help? And if I refuse? Do you intend to take me by force?"
"If that's how you wish it to be."
Nagisa ignored Shinnō as the man started his bellowing laughter again. Her eyes were zeroed in on the back of Sasuke's head.
"Don't underestimate me! Did you think the dark chakra has disappeared? You fool! This world teeming with the darkness from people's hearts. Soon with my jutsu—"
"Try it." Nagisa's eyes flashed to Shinnō as Sasuke disappeared and reappeared behind the stunned looking man. "I don't mind. Go ahead." And Sasuke backhanded Shinnō away from him. The man spun before hitting the pillar and falling to his backside. "Go on. Show me."
Shinnō was more than happy to oblige. The dark aura surrounded the man for the third time.
But this time, before the man could become a beast, he let out a pained cry and fell to his knees. Nagisa saw out of the corner of her eye that Shinnō's muscles began to atrophy and his massive mane of hair all but poured off his head. It lost its dark color to be replaced by a sheer white.
"What's wrong? Can't heal yourself?"
Nagisa's eyes tracked Sasuke as he approached the now skeletal man.
"What have you done?"
"I've already seen through your entire chakra flow with my eyes. It doesn't seem like you noticed the Chidori Senbon."
"You interfered with my control of my chakra points? When did you—" Sasuke stepped forward and stood in front of the kneeling man.
"I won't kill you. I'm bringing you back with me to where Orochimaru is."
"What Orochimaru wants is probably not me," Shinnō cackled weakly while struggling to his feet by using the pillar. His hand disappeared into the rock as he pushed a switch. A small door appeared holding a scroll. "The scroll I stole from Konoha."
Shinnō tossed it.
Nagisa caught it midair, flipped and landed on her feet.
Shinnō disappeared into a secret passage he had opened.
"I'm not done yet! Nothing is finished!" his voice echoed up to them.
Nagisa met Sasuke's eyes head on while putting the scroll in the folds of her drape.
"Give that to me, Nagisa." Nagisa kept Sasuke's gaze as she walked over and picked up her tantō. Shinnō's blood flicked from the tip as she swung it at him, the point aimed at Sasuke's chest.
"Come and get it." Sasuke's already narrow eyes narrowed even more.
"I don't have time for you."
"And yet I have all the time in the world for you if it means your death." Sasuke 'tsked' before taking off. Nagisa was hot on his heels.
Sasuke ended up leaning them to Shinnō who was deep within the flying ship. The passage looked down into an open chasm that was lined with ruins. Nestled in the middle as if it were a worm in a cocoon was the Reibi. Below that was Shinnō. But Nagisa wasn't focused on him anymore and tried to drive her tantō into Sasuke's back since he stopped at the edge of the passage. It was only him pulling out his blade halfway and catching the tip of hers that stopped her from piercing his kidney.
"You nonchalantly followed me here, you idiots!" Sasuke's hand light up with chakra but it was instantly flying away and being absorbed by the Reibi's prison. "How's that? You can't use your jutsu, can you? This place absorbs the chakra collected by the Reibi and converts it to power! With you fools standing here, any chakra you release will be absorbed as power for Ancor Vantian! Leaving you powerless!"
"You still talk too much," Nagisa snarled as her and Sasuke continued to stand off. Nagisa whirled and lashed out with a leg, catching Sasuke and sending him cantering into the room. She jumped in after him. Their blades caught midair as Nagisa used the momentum of her jump to give her more force. With a swing of his arm, Sasuke shoved her away.
"You're both a bit naïve if you think you can just ignore me!" Shinnō roared. "Do you seriously think I led you all the way to the core of Ancor Vantian just to have your chakras sealed?" Nagisa glanced at Shinnō as she landed. The man was being coated in dark chakra and that caused the strange cocoon to wrap around him. It lifted the man up and pulled him within its folds as the cocoon light up like a beacon.
"Did you really think that Ancor Vantian was just a floating fortress? Do you really think I'd meddle with something as dangerous as a bijū just for that? This fortress can destroy the Five Great Nations in a flash! It's equipped with the ultimate weapon! Behold!" Completely absorbed by the cocoon
Nagisa's head shot up as the ruins around them light up with the same light as the cocoon. Something like a bomb went off somewhere in the fortress.
"Did you see that? After I've destroyed the Five Great Nations I'll reign over a great Sky Empire!"
"Shut up. You are annoying."
Nagisa and Sasuke both took off after the cocoon which burst out with arm like appendages that tried to grab them. The two of them weaved through the arms but were overcome. Lifted high into the air so they were face to face with the Reibi's mask Shinnō's voice echoed out,
"I'll kill you first Sasuke."
"The only one that is going to kill Sasuke is me," Nagisa snarled out while slamming her tantō into the white arm holding her. Shinnō laughed while the Reibi's head turned to face her.
"Struggle all you want! With the Reibi's—"
"Reibi this and Reibi that. You go on and on about the Reibi but you are wrong," Nagisa lifted her head so that her neck was bare for all to see, the tight necklace with nine little gems sparkling in the cocoon's light. "Your Reibi is nothing more than a worm. It is no bijū."
"What? And I suppose you're an expert on bijū are you, brat?"
Nagisa barred her teeth violently.
"I will show you the might of the bijū."
Nagisa reached deep within herself to seven of the bonds within. Naruto was the quickest to answer with a burst of chakra that was quickly accompanied by the Kyūbi's. It burned its way through Nagisa's system to the point she almost cried out. Slamming her hands into the arms holding her Nagisa dug her nails in deep. She pushed the Kyūbi's chakra out only to have it fill back up with ease.
"What are you—" Shinnō started but the blood pounding through her system drowned him out. Nagisa gritted her teeth as the others began to answer one by one and seven different chakras, all of them burning and simply too much for her system, burst from the bonds and through her hands.
The Reibi began to scream as the chakra entered its system. Nagisa watched through squinted eyes as the Reibi began to bubble and grow while its mouth opened up into another scream.
"What is this? You can't possibly have more chakra than the Reibi can absorb!" Nagisa called on the bonds once more and felt the others answer in a thunderous wave that threatened to knock her out from the sheer pain it caused her chakra network.
Her hands flashed against one another. With the Ancor Vantian draining only the demonic chakra from her body, it filling her up to fast for the fortress to absorb it, Nagisa's own chakra was free to play. Thick, murderous clouds appeared on the high ceiling. Thunder vibrated the air to the point of physical pain. Lightning struck at a constant tempo not to be outdone. Nagisa's hands finished on the sign for dragon.
"Ranton: Ranryūdan no Jutsu!"
The cloud dragon, light from within with lighting and with a roar of thunder, ripped itself from the clouds and came careening down towards the Reibi. With another thunderous roar the dragon slammed head first into the cocoon. A light so bright Nagisa was forced to closer her eyes or be blinded exploded along with a deafening boom. The force of the attack shattered the arms holding her and Sasuke, and the two of them were thrown back into the wall.
A flash of Sasuke's chakra and suddenly the world was coming back into focus. The Reibi was no longer contained but rather in a giant hole in the wall. Nagisa peeled herself off the wall and walked towards Sasuke who was no longer wearing his white drape.
The sound of the bijū whispering in the back of her mind was hard to ignore as Shinnō's voice echoed out,
"I can't believe it's come to this. But I won't die yet!"
Nagisa's eyes narrowed as Shinnō appeared from the Reibi's body looking even more skeletal than before.
"So you've destroyed the slate that controls the Reibi." Nagisa almost took a step back when Shinnō's body ended up being just as worm like as the Reibi's now. He continued to stretch out from the unconscious monster and stopped in front of Sasuke. "Indeed you are the lone survivor of the Uchiha. And you are on par with even the Shodaime with the control of bijū! But even I don't know what'll happen when the Reibi is released from its controls!"
Nagisa leapt backwards as the strange white armors burst from Shinnō's twisted face.
'He's right,' Nagisa realized with a growing agitation. They had beaten Shinnō and the Reibi but if it was released upon the world without someone controlling it…
Nagisa watched as Sasuke fled the room that was being destroyed by the white arms.
'Next time…'
The bluette faced the bloated purple body.
"You claim to be a bijū…therefore you can be sealed away like a bijū."
Nagisa's hands came up and removed the wrap around her shoulders, allowing it to hang around her waist. She lifted up the fishnet that covered her torso, revealing a pale stomach. With the fishnet bunched up under her breasts Nagisa lowered her hand on to her stomach. A seal spread out across the muscled plain like a spider web.
The Reibi lifted its head up and gave her a toothy smile.
"I am not done," it said before the sealed opened completely. Nagisa let it open itself further than she ever had to before. Normally it was just big enough for her to stick a scroll in. But Zabuza had paid good money for the seal to be versatile in what it sealed away. So the seal opened wide on her stomach revealing an empty blackness that sucked like a black hole. Debris and rubble flew towards Nagisa and were drawn into the vastness. "Let us become one then, girl!" the Reibi roared.
Its body was forced into her stomach.
Nagisa gritted her teeth against the sensation. The Reibi's size pushed at the seal's capabilities and left her feeling as if she'd tried to keep up with Chōji while eating. Nagisa feel to her knees when the seal closed and gripped her stomach. She hurled up breakfast as her body tried to force room that wasn't technically there. The bluette was covered in sweat now and still felt ill as she climbed back to her feet.
What little was left of her chakra seeped out through her feet lighting up her mind's eye. The chakra soared from her body and flew through Ancor Vantian.
There were still plenty of Sora shinobi. A group of civilians were at the edge of the crumbling fortress. Nariko and Kaminari were with them along with Hinata and Amaru. Nagisa watched them set up one of the flying contraptions and with Nariko pulling a lever, they were shot off into the sky. Sasuke, in his vile curse-mode, sprouted his wings and flew away.
Nagisa sighed, a hand still pressed against her straining stomach. The sensation was becoming familiar and easing ever so slightly as the seal contorted itself. Nagisa rolled down her fishnet and pulled her drape back over her shoulder.
Pink eyes rose to the destroyed ceiling.
If Shinnō was right she was in the middle of the fortress. A fortress with the power to destroy her home.
Nagisa, slowly, forced her hands through sign after sign. Her chakra sparked from her body and thunder clouds began to form above. Rain came gently at first before crashing down in harsh waves. Thunder rumbled before destroying the sound barrier. Lightning bolts struck sporadically before becoming a constant. Nothing was safe from the clouds except the now soaked Nagisa. Looking up into the nefarious clouds above Nagisa shoved as much chakra as she dared. The clouds surged, bubbling like a boiling cauldron while more thunder cracked and lighting struck. She could hear nothing but the thunder and destruction with the rain an endless drumming.
"Ranton: Inazuma bakudan no Jutsu."
A bolt of lightning almost the size of the room struck down with a horrendous screech.
Nagisa closed her eyes as the lightning demolished the floor. She flew down into the darkness along with the rest of the wreckage. She opened her eyes to watch the remains of the throne falling down in front of her. The lightning bolt light up the darkness as it continued to strike downward, devastating everything in its path.
The lightning opened up the bottom of Ancor Vantian and Nagisa saw the wide open ocean below. The lightning bolt continued its onslaught downward, hitting the ocean and sending up a massive tidal wave in all directions that were instantly electrified. Nagisa's ears were filled with howling wind as she plummeted. She looked up and watched as Ancor Vantian began to fall in on itself, no longer having the support of its middle. It crumbled from the inside out, pieces falling off and heading down with her while other pieces broke off and scattered. Her eyes spotted the occasional Sora shinobi trying to escape but most were trapped inside the rubble.
'Nagisa!' both Shikamaru and Naruto screamed through the bond. They were close. Closer than they should have been. Nagisa's hands began to fly through even more signs. Ancor Vantian wasn't falling apart quick enough. And it was headed towards where she knew Shikamaru and Naruto were.
"Suiton Release: Daibakufu no Jutsu."
With the sea below her it took little chakra to get the necessary amount to come roaring up to greet her in the form of a massive whirlpool. Nagisa thrusted both her hands forward and the wave surged forth, crashing into Ancor Vantian and destroying one of its wings. The whole fortress jerked at the hit and lurched off balance. Without one of its wings the whole thing started to descend quicker into the ocean.
'Let it be buried at sea,' Nagisa thought to herself.
"Nagisa!"
Said girl's entire body jumped at the sound of her name so close. Twisting, which was hard while one was free falling, Nagisa turned and watched Amaru, strapped into one of the golden wing contraptions, come soaring towards her. Nagisa had to blink a few times to realize what was happening.
"I got you!" Amaru shouted over the howling winds. "I'm not going to leave you alone!" Nagisa watched Amaru struggle to get close enough to catch her. When she couldn't the girl unstrapped herself and began to plummet just like Nagisa.
'Idiot,' Nagisa sighed as Amaru's body collided with hers. It jostled her stomach and brought on the uncomfortable feeling which settled none too quickly.
"I'm not going to let you go!" Amaru continued to shout over the wind. "I have to tell you! I have to tell you something!"
'All this just to tell me something? You couldn't have waited till we were on the ground?' Nagisa huffed silently while wrapping her arms around Amaru even though the girl had a strong hold on Nagisa herself. Nagisa looked down to the water gauging their fall.
"You—you said love was nothing more than pain! But that's not true!"
Nagisa's eyes snapped to Amaru. The girl was looking up at her with tears streaming down her cheeks only to be caught by the wind and dragged off.
"Love—love makes you strong! Love helps you conquer any obstacles! Yes, you might get hurt, but loving someone is worth it! It's worth the risk! To go through life without love—that's not way to live! You have to find someone to love, Nagisa! You can't die without knowing what love is! You have to go experience it for yourself! You have to go out and find it! I can't let you die without ever knowing what love it! I can't!"
Nagisa stared into Amaru's desperate gaze. Her words resounded in the bluette's mind.
But Nagisa wasn't sure what to think of them. So she simply looked down to the ocean instead.
"Foolish girl. I was never going to die," Nagisa sighed, all while calling out to the water. "Hold your breath." The water answered her call and formed a twisting thread that reached up and swallowed both her and Amaru. The water pulled down, them with it, and rejoined the ocean, breaking their free fall and cradling them gently. With her arms still around Amaru, Nagisa kicked up to the surface.
She pulled Amaru up out of the water and slung her over her back while standing on the water's surface. Already Naruto and Shikamaru were running across the water towards them.
Ancor Vantian smashed into the ocean sending up massive waves that the three shinobi rode out.
"Are you two okay?" Shikamaru called out once close enough.
"Nagisa! You're face!" Naruto shouted while rushing past Shikamaru and looking at her swollen cheek.
"I am fine."
"Are you another villager? The rest of them came down in one of the flying ships."
"Is everyone okay?" Amaru asked from her back.
"It looks like it. The others are seeing to them. Nagisa, what happened up there?" Said girl looked to the sinking fortress.
"Nothing of importance."
Nagisa stared out into the forest as Naruto came up from behind her. Even without seeing him she could hear him fidgeting nervously.
"Your face looks better…" And it did. The swelling from Shinnō's punch was gone with the help of a medic-nin. "Umm…c…can I sit down next to you?" Nagisa made no move to acknowledge the boy. Naruto continued to fidget behind her, shuffling his feet and what sounded like digging at his cuticles. Nagisa kept her eyes front while her thoughts continued to churn.
'Love turns to hate…'
He will hate you anyways once you kill Sasuke.
"I…I gave a lot of thought to what you said…last time…"
'Love is a weakness…'
Why give into weakness when you are already so weak?
"And…and I wanted to say…say that…I find you really pretty."
Nagisa blinked.
'Loving someone can destroy you…'
Why be destroyed when you can be the destroyer?
"And you're really smart. Like wicked smart. And I think you're one of the best shinobi in Konoha if not the whole world!"
Nagisa tilted her head so that she was looking at Naruto out of the corner of her eye. He was staring hard at the porch and his cheeks were flushed.
'What is love?'
A weakness.
"And I don't think you have large flaws! At least not any larger than mine…"
Nagisa watched Naruto scratch at the back of his head with a weak smile. He still wasn't looking at her. He clenched his fists at his sides.
'Love is dangerous.'
Love is deadly.
"You're always there for me. You're always protecting me even from my own stupidity."
'Love leads to pain.'
Love is pain.
"And you always push me to better myself. And you always believe that I will better myself. You've never given up on me. You've always just believed in me."
'Love is a weakness.'
Love is the weakness.
"You're amazing Nagisa. And I mean that. I think you're one of the most amazing people I've ever met. You've done so much and been through so much and you've only ever let it make you stronger. And despite how amazing you are you still look at me. You still acknowledge me. You've never laughed at me. Sometimes I think you believe I'll be Hokage more than I do. And I realize now…I realize that I want more. So…"
'Love will kill.'
To love is to die.
"—would you be my girlfriend?"
Nagisa would have jerked back at Naruto's sudden volume increase if she wasn't so use to the boy.
Nagisa looked to Naruto and the boy's nervous fidgeting. Blinking slowly, she watched him eye anything but her while his fists started to shake at his sides. He was starting to sweat, a bead of it dripping down from his hairline while his scent grew stronger. His heart pounded away, visible through his jugular.
'Why do people love?'
Because they are fools.
She stood up so they were eye level.
'Why do people believe that love makes them stronger?'
Because they are foolish.
Nagisa leaned in and pressed her lips against Naruto's.
The boy froze.
Nagisa pulled back and watched as his face turned a brilliant shade of red before going purple as he forgot to breath.
"I will be your girlfriend."
"R-really?" he choked out, voice rough and strained.
"Yes."
Nagisa tilted her head to the side while Naruto slowly but surely regained his composure. He regained some of his normal coloring when he remembered how to breathe. Nagisa watched the boy as he took a few deep breaths.
"A…awesome," he croaked out before coughing into a hand. His crystal blue eyes flashed to hers and gave her a weak smile. "I mean…that's great. I mean…holy shit! I have a girlfriend!" Naruto's entire face broke out to a smile. Throwing his hands into the air he let out a mighty cry. And the boy began to dance around, waving his hands in the air and caterwauling at the top of his lungs. "I have a girlfriend!"
Seeming to finally remember she was there, Naruto turned on Nagisa and wrapped his arms around her waist. Nagisa stiffened as the boy began to spin them around all while laughing. It took a minute but Nagisa settled into his grasp and let him spin and spin. So long as he was laughing…
Naruto set Nagisa down and with a smile brighter than the sun cupped her face and kissed her.
'So long as he loves me he cannot be hurt.'
One day you will hurt him.
Naruto pulled back and began to chatter a mile a minute. About date ideas, about presents, about how happy he was, the words just keep coming.
'I will never allow him to be hurt again. Nothing will touch him.'
Except you.
The feelings pouring over through the bond were so warm they were borderline hot. She was unable to distinguish one feeling from another for touching them felt like touching a live wire. But Nagisa knew they were all happy.
'No one will use his love to hurt him.'
Except you.
"What are you screaming about you d—?" Shikamaru barked before faulting as Nagisa pinned him with a stare. The genius stepped out on to the back porch. Naruto's smile was still bright as he turned on Shikamaru with a puffed out chest and sparkling eyes.
"Nagisa and I are dating!"
'Any who try to hurt him will die by my hand.'
Including you?
Naruto screamed as Shikamaru hurled the shoji door he pulled off the tracks at his head. Nagisa side stepped it and watched Shikamaru charge Naruto.
"Who said you get to do something like that you idiot?" the Nara bellowed. Naruto screamed like a girl, high pitched and ear shattering.
Nagisa gripped Naruto's hand and ran into the forest. Shikamaru was hot on their heels.
'I will protect him. I will be what he wants. I will become his sword and shield. There will never be a reason for him to love another.'
But what if what he wants isn't what he needs? Will the sword and shield turn on their wielder?
Naruto began to laugh as they charged through the forest. Soon he took the lead and together, hands still grasped tight, they fled from the raging Shikamaru.
Nagisa looked into Naruto's laughing face. His smile stretched from ear to ear and there was nothing but sunshine in his eyes. Leaping through the air, the boy flipped so they were face to face with his feet above his head.
He pressed his lips against hers.
Nagisa rested her hand against his cheek.
'I will protect him.'
Until you destroy him.
'I will extinguish all who oppose him.'
Until you challenge him.
'None will ever hurt him.'
Until you damage him.
'Never again.'
Until then.
Naruto pulled back. Their bodies continued to sail through the air towards the imminent danger of the next branch.
"I love you, Nagisa," he said with a smile so soft. Nagisa saw it in his eyes. The love. The joy. The sheer, unadulterated happiness. She felt it exploding out of every pore of his body. It screamed through the bond. As hot as fire in it ferocity, as sweet as sugar in its kindness and stronger than diamond in its loyalty.
Love.
So much love.
Nagisa would never let that be used against him. She would crush any and all who tried. Any who dared ponder what it would mean to use this love against Naruto would find her. And through her they would met death while writhing in pain and agony. None would be left to try a second time. She would make an example out of them all. Any who tried to hurt Naruto, any who dared take away his smile, would be made an example of. They would whisper her name in fear. They would warn their children against thoughts of harm to the sun. All would show him the respect and adoration he deserved or they would find her.
And she would see the sun put in its rightful place, high in the sky, untouchable in its magnificence. All would bow to it. All would bow to him.
Nagisa would see to it. Nothing was going to stop her.
Not even death.
Pressing her lips against Naruto's for what was starting to feel like the millionth time (and yet she was as fond of it as the first for it brought such joy through the bond) Nagisa twisted their bodies so that they landed safely on the next branch.
She took Naruto's hand in hers and gripped it tight enough to hurt.
"Come on. Before he catches us."
The sound of Shikamaru tearing through the foliage was greeted by Naruto's laughter.
"Alright!"
And the two fled, hand in hand, through the trees and into the forest.
Never again would clouds mar her sunshine.
Until you bring the rain.
A/N: Ta-da!