There's a certain literary device I use, and it's obvious fairly quickly…And yes, really. :P Cheap…but effective. The Greeks didn't come up with this stuff for nothing.

And I really want to stress that in the original story plans the whole Taka arcs were NEVER there so the timeframe was shorter and more connected. All in all, old key points from the beginning chapters are extremely crucial to this final part.

Anyway, with the exception of the Epilogue, THIS IS THE LAST CHAPTER!

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!

I wanna thank BriEva for helping on a particular scene, more on that later.

Now then...ready for some surprises? Be sure to tell me which ones you saw coming or didn't! :3

(PS, be sure to keep reading to the bottom.)

PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BACKGROUND/THEME MUSIC:

VOCAL: Hozeir's 'Take Me To Church'

*Lana Del Rey's 'Young and Beautiful'!*

INSTRUMENTAL: Hans Zimmer – Time – (Instrumental Core Remix)

A GAME OF SHOGI-THE FINAL

There would be no killing Nagato without going through the rod that was held protectively in front of him. It just wasn't humanly possible.

Realizing this truth just as Naruto did, the fox started shouting, 'NARUTO, JUST GIVE ME A MOMENT!'

It didn't take a genius to guess what the blond would do.

Eyes down, Naruto pulled out his weapon, the fox's screams ringing inside him. 'DON'T YOU EVEN THINK OF IT! WAIT!'

Naruto wished Kurama would shut up. Just shut up and let him do this. This was the only way….

Closing his eyes, he spoke, finishing the rest of what needed said to Nagato. There would be no more chances after this. "The King is the future! Deep down, you've always known that but you were too focused on your grief to focus on saving it and you gave up on your King! You gave up your future, the children, and theirs and how many generations left of a war-plagued war like this is left—but I won't give up!"

The village, Brother and Taka, Sakura-chan, Kakashi, Sai, Captain Yamato. Iruka and Konohamaru, Kurama...Jiraiya. Everyone!

This was for them.

"Give on trying to make me give up!"

'STOP NARUTO! NO!'

He ran, the rod coming towards his vitals and the knife straight towards Nagato's heart with each footfall.

This was it.

"IT'S OVER!"

Suddenly there was a rush of air, and flying white substance. A shriek filled the room. "STOP!"

Just before the fatal weapons could pierce their targets , the light blur came between them. Latching on to him, wrapping around his feet and hand, freezing him up. He glanced up frantically.

White wings hovered before him.

Were they angel wings?

Then he saw her face. Tired silver eyes, and a parted mouth panting from her rushed intervention. Under her bottom lip was a piercing.

Wings dispersing, paper flew everywhere like feathers and snow. Free.

_-xXx-_

FINALE-A Game of Shogi III

REMEMBER THE SNOW

I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife

Offer me my deathless death

Good God, let me give you my life

No Masters or Kings/ When the Ritual begins

There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin

In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene

Only then I am human

Hozier

Willyou still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul?

LDR

_-xXx-_

"Don't," the woman said, her paper still wrapped around Naruto, holding him back. Sweat trickled down her pale face. "No more. It's not necessary."

"K-Konan!?" Nagato's shocked whisper was indescribable.

Hearing the man speak, Naruto was reminded of what he had originally been doing and squirmed against his strange bindings, and Nagato, noticing it, also focused on trying to finish what had been started.

"Enough!" she shouted, harshly tightening the paper around Naruto's limbs then turning so fast on Nagato, the boy was reminded of a mother scorning a child. "Good god, Nagato! No more death!"

Her tone fierce, both Uzumaki immediately halted. She glanced back and forth between them before her gaze settled intently on Naruto. Looking at him with a serious and sad expression, yet a sparkle of hope was evident. Seeing her stare at him like so made him feel a bit self-conscious.

"Can't you see, Nagato?" she whispered. "He is the one. It's in his eyes! Just look!"

"Konan, the Jinchuurik—"

"He carries Yahiko's spirit inside him!" With that, the paper jutsu holding Naruto dispersed, causing his arms to fall to his sides. Relaxed. He could only stand there dumbly, shocked by her words and desire to save him. Why?

Thunder rumbled outside. Not as loud as it had been before, but still present in the fading storm.

"He's too important to die. And if you still kill him then kill me too!" Now she turned her body, facing Nagato with her back towards Naruto. Shielding him.

Naruto was too baffled to speak, his previous intention all but forgotten. Nagato just stared. Speechless. Mind racing. Heart racing.

He couldn't believe Konan was home. And safe! But what she wanted…She never spoke out to him like this. Why had Naruto's life become so important to her? Didn't she understand? He shook his head, unable to tell her how important his execution was to him. And after it they had much to talk about, but not now. Not until the host was dead, and his part as a human sacrifice played.

This was just how it was supposed to be and she knew it, so why was she rebelling? Where was this coming from?

"Nagato," she whispered, voice tired beyond belief. "This has to stop. Please. You're so much better than what all this has made you. Killing him will do nothing but make you go further from what we started out as. Please."

The man grimaced. "Konan…."

Naruto stared at the ground, still speechless. Part of him suddenly felt out of place and wanted to give the reunited friends space. He could only imagine how the woman, an ex-prisoner of Konoha, felt coming home to this. Not only with Nagato, but seeing her home destroyed. He could relate.

"Nagato. I have seen the aftermath of Konoha, and now my village. It's all so senseless! And yet, even after everything we did, his village…Their spirits still lived. I saw it in their eyes, the hope. Nagato, when did we lose ours? When did we become so pitiful and hopeless? Don't you see it? Don't you want it back?!"

"Konan…I…"

Naruto made up his mind. "She's right Nagato, if you do this you're only continuing the cycle of violence that you're trying to stop because after hearing of my death Konoha will attack you again, then you them, and it will just continue—"

'Don't interfere Naruto. It's her turn to try now. If anyone can persuade him, it'll be her. Don't ruin this for them…or you.'

"Please, stop this," the woman continued. "He is the child of prophecy. If peace is possible he will be the one to bring it. He has Yahiko's will inside him! How can you so blindly try to destroy it!? And to think he almost threw his life away to try to save you from this misery you've created for yourself. No, we both did. But no more. I won't destroy Yahiko's dream anymore. I won't stay in the sidelines and watch you stray from the true Akatsuki again, Nagato, like you did with Jiraiya-sensei. I'm so tired of it all!"

Her fingers latched around Naruto's arm, pulling him forward beside her, and as she held him, paper wrapped around Nagato's rod until it broke. The dark weapon clattered against the ground. "I'm going to protect this child who carries Yahiko's will. I refuse to watch that will die again! Now what is your choice? Will you fight me, Nagato? Pick Tobi's side? Yahiko didn't trust that man and it's time you didn't either."

"…."

"If you truly care about Yahiko you will honor his will, Nagato! Mine too! I've always cared about you Nagato, and I want us to be like we used to, before Yahiko sacrificed himself. Spare this boy who carries his spirit and pick it back up yourself!"

And then the strangest thing happened.

The rain stopped.

They all glanced outside, listening to the sudden silence. The only sounds their breathing and rainwater dripping.

Nagato turned his gaze to Naruto and studied him for the longest time. Naruto was too tired to even attempt to identify his expression and what it meant.

"I always did think he looked like him," he said after a long time like this. "It's ironic. As if a sign…" There was no malice in his voice. Nothing.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish look. He wasn't sure if it was safe to speak out yet, and if doing so would damn this chance or if it would be the last step to saving him and Nagato.

Footsteps came from behind him. Naruto jerked his head around to see the last Pain joining them. Crap! He didn't get to pull the chakra receiving rods out of that one! It must have dug itself out. He was about to step out of the way when suddenly, the Pain's hands were yanking the weapon from his hands, throwing it to the side and grabbing his wrists, fingers latching around the locks still encircling them. He instinctively tried to pull back. He wasn't going to be bound again!

"No way!" he shouted.

Konan said softly, "It's alright, Naruto." Her tone comforting. And then he saw it.

The silver flash of a key.

It twisted around the locks until the straps and what was left of the chains fell to the ground.

Naruto rubbed his raw wrists, eyes wide, and boring the fallen shackles. He nearly stuttered in disbelief as the Pain did nothing else but backed away from him. "Th-that's it?"

"Konan speaks much truth. I now see…I was wrong." Nagato kept his strange eyes down, thoroughly chastised.

"I-I'm free?" Naruto stuttered, a grin beginning to break out on his face.

Nagato nodded. "As free as a Jinchuuriki can be."

How long had he spent bound and in the darkness? In that solitude? Stuttering again, he said, "R—r-really…j-just like that?"

"Yes."

"I can go?" He let out a laugh. "I'm really free?"

He ignored the heated comment from his demon about his "just like that".

Nagato glared. "Ask again and you won't be."

Naruto nodded, laughing. "Thanks so much, man. And seriously, I won't give up until I find a way to bring stability to this world. Just like Jiraiya-sensei wanted and wrote about in his book. I am Naruto after all." He looked to the man and woman and bowed. If his eyes were opened he would have noticed the drops of blood dripping on the ground from the motion. "Thank you."

Although, though he didn't catch on to the blood, Naruto did notice how the motion seemed to have triggered some dizziness in his head. He wobbled a bit, trying to straighten himself. "I really…wanna help rebuilt—I mean rebuild this…turf-place…too. Um, yeah…." Why was his speech so slurry? Why did his shoulder feel so hot? Ugh, he was so happy but he didn't feel good. At all.

Konan gave a concerned smile. "Naruto, I know you will do great things." She studied him carefully, and her expression grew concerned. His pallor was ghastly pale. Not to mention he was covered in blood. "You need—"

"I'm…" The dizziness increased and was overwhelmed by waves of pain and spinning and nausea. "Oh," he groaned, pressing his hand to his face. "I-I—"

Konan caught him just as he collapsed. "Nagato!" she exclaimed. "He's losing a lot of blood!"

Their voices washed over him as he fought to stay conscious. Nagato seemed to be describing the extent of his injuries and Konan was shouting back, possibly to a third party who was a resident of the Rain, "Find someone to bring me first aid equipment! NOW!"

Then she directed her voice to Naruto. "I'm going to try to stop the bleeding from your injuries, just stay calm. Okay? Stay with us." As she said it, paper wrapped itself around parts of his bloody limbs. It didn't make for the best bandages or pressure-appliers, especially considering both his skin and the paper was soaked, but it was better than nothing. At least until help arrived from one of the Rain's citizens.

"Naruto, your shirt has a lot of blood; I'm going to remove it. Okay?"

He somehow mustered the strength to nod. "Not mine…get rid of it…My…it hurts…"

"Konan, his shoulder was in serious condition when I got back to the hideout," Nagato murmured.

Without a moment's hesitation she ripped the shirt, and hastily, but carefully, proceeded to peel it off the front of his torso. When she saw the stab wound, the oldest one, she gasped, a hand cupping her mouth.

"How are you not dead?" she whispered in horror before giving Nagato a death glare. "Just how long has this boy's wound been infected? It's also pretty deep for that matter! Why was he left in this condition? It's a pure miracle he's even still alive."

Nagato sighed. "You were right. That man's unstable. And the kid's…frustrating."

Naruto could not hold back an inward laugh to Konan's following reaction.

"I'm going to try to keep him alive," Konan said, recovering, "but…Tobi must have been betting on you to find a way to seal the Kyuubi soon, because he purposely didn't give this child guaranteed time to live. Why such a risky gamble?"

What else was said or done Naruto zoned out on. Sinking below his outer self, sinking down far below until he was floating on water. The metallic smell was overwhelming. Like blood.

'Kurama,' he croaked. 'Am I dying? I…I'm free though. I can't…Kami, I hate that bastard…I seriously hate him. To think I'd get so close to the end…I want to see the results…I want to see my family again…'

'Quiet fool, and let me focus on directing chakra to your life-threatening wounds. You'll survive.'

With a weary sigh, the host closed his eyes and slept. His life in old enemy's hands.

At the very least, if he died, he would do so knowing Konan and Nagato were ready to fight Obito back, and that Nagato had the power to do great things with his blessed sight. (As long as Konan kept him on track.) Who knew, he probably was Jiraiya's child of prophecy.

_-xXx-_

He didn't how know long he'd been asleep when he woke up. He just knew that when he did, he was in a new setting. It smelled and looked like a hospital room, although the lights flickered so much he was grateful he wasn't an epileptic and prone to seizures. The place could certainly use a fixer-upper.

He also noticed a few more things. He was warm and dry, his soaked clothes had been replaced with a pair of clean pants. No shirt, just many bandages to cover his entire torso and cut hand. And his feet. It took him a moment to ponder as to why that was. He'd ran around a city rendered a battleground. Broken glass and weapons everywhere…. Ouch.

Sitting up from the bed, the holy comfortable bed! that he loved even if it was a hospital one, he saw the clear tubing attached to his wrist. His first thought was Kabuto! and before he could rip the IV off a hand grabbed his.

"It's okay," a female voice said. "It'll help."

Help?

"The pain's gone, yes?" Konan, for that was who it was, asked.

"Oh." That's right. He couldn't feel anything right now. It was just…gone, the pain. He was safe. The IV was safe. He took a deep breath. Another thing he owed this woman.

Not waiting for a verbal answer, Konan pulled up a plastic chair and sat behind him. Her worn and wet prison clothes had been replaced by some dry ones like his, although her shirt was surprisingly revealing. In it, her bust was more prominent. Her arms were exposed, as it was sleeveless, and the opening hemline revealed her stomach. Apparently not only did she sport a lip piercing but one around her navel as well. Four of them actually.

Naruto quickly averted his eyes. "Um. Thank you, Konan. It's just the last few needles that have gone through me have…"

"Yes, but that's all over now," she murmured. A piece of paper peeled from her hand and she began folding it. Origami? "All of it is behind us. As for now, it's only been a few hours. You should still be asleep."

Naruto gave his trademark grin, which seemed to cause the woman to react. Her eyes widened, as her lips parted slightly.

"I heal quickly." He glanced down, finding himself staring at his seared wrist, and mentally cursing that it was exposed. He grabbed some spare bandages and began covering it. Recovering, Konan noticed the action but said nothing, understanding why he felt the need to cover the sear.

"I saw," she only said before calling for a worker to bring a food tray. Naruto obviously wasn't going to lay back down, and he was due for a meal. The man set the food on Naruto's lap before disappearing "But you're not completely ready to be up yet," she commented.

Naruto didn't hear her as he stared at the tray like it was a big pile of gold. His stomach growled and mouth watered just gazing at it. He could not help start inhaling it, commenting, "I've had worse."

Her following expression showed she was not amused as she gazed at the scar centered on his chest. "I know. And I apologize for everything that man and Nagato have done to you."

The paper crinkled as she continued folding it, over and over, her fingers flowing in her well-practiced art.

"It only got real bad after Nagato left. He was way too lenient with me until that point. And you? Konoha?" he asked, not caring his mouth was full. He was starving. Kami, this was heaven. He couldn't think of the last time he had even eaten. As he munched away, he watched the woman fold her flower.

Paper.

Paper flying into Pain's hands…. The white of it contaminated by a blood-writ message.

The thought: Great, a friggen spy system!

She really was the one captured by Konoha. Again, he wondered about her escape and toils to come back to the Rain, her beloved home.

"They were surprisingly merciful compared to my other capture... No one ever took advantage of me like…before."

Naruto froze.

"That's terrible..." he could only get out after a moment of taking her words in.

"What's done is done. You can only move on. Become stronger." The flower complete, she arranged it in her hair. Routinely placing it by the light blue bun on top her head, as if what she had just said was nothing.

Mercy…no wonder Nagato butchered Hanzo and his entire household. Not to mention that that man led to their other terrible ordeal.

Swallowing, he picked his spoon back up and ate, this time more slowly and with as much manners as he knew to be proper. After finishing the plate, he mumbled, "And about earlier, I mean seriously, I would be dead right now if you hadn't intervened…Thank you."

She looked down sadly. "You were willing to give up your life to stop the madness…That's not something that's easy to do, Naruto."

"Naruto"…That reminds me. He swallowed the rice down before leaning forward. "Hey…Konan. Earlier you talked like you knew me. But…we never saw each other until now. I know the Akatsuki has files on me but…It was like you knew me personally."

She glanced from to the window as she answered, her face blank. "Yes. Over the course of my time in Konoha I heard much about you, and your character. I soon got a general sense of who this Kyuubi container was."

Konoha talked about him? His curiosity was piqued. "You heard people talking about me? W-What else did they say?"

She smiled softly, turning her gaze back to him. "That you're a reckless idiot."

"Oh come on!"

She laughed, her laugh soft and quiet. He liked it. His was always loud and boisterous but there was something about a good quiet one.

The laugh quickly faded and her facial expression became stoic once again, as it usually tended to be. Years and years had molded her a mask of nonchalance. In some way it reminded him of different people he knew, like Sasuke and Sai. Why was it deep-rooted trials shaped such masks on people?

"Not only that but I quickly remembered how we shared the same sensei whom I lived with for a time. There's no training under that man without knowing his good will…I remember reading through his book some years later, not the silly rubbish that's popular, but the good one…about Naruto. I truly believe you are the embodiment of that Naruto. Your parents were wise to name you after such a character. And seeing you talk to Nagato, I know you're very much the person your villagers described. Not to mention you're so much like our dear friend…."

Seeing her expression Naruto got the feeling Yahiko had been much more than just a friend to her. And now a physical relationship was impossible for her. In some odd way, it had only made her and Nagato's bond and relationship stronger, albeit damaged. Because damaged as they were, they formed a whole.

He glanced towards the door. She followed his gaze and sighed. "I have a lot of questions, as I'm sure you do, Naruto. But they can wait. He's on the top floor, the room with the overlooking balcony. Go, speak to him."

"I think I will, but first I got a few personal things to take care of."

Like taking the longest pee in my life.

'TMI, kid. TMI.'

_-xXx-_

"Hey," Naruto said, finding his place beside the man. The man only gave him a short glance before resuming his watchful gaze over the dark city. The only sounds were that of his clinking machinery and the quiet hum of the dead air.

Finally: "You look much better."

"Um, thanks…I am." He should. After an hour long bath. And five more meals. "Thanks for…everything."

Silence.

"Can I talk to you about something?" Naruto asked, looking down and watching the scene. The dead were still in the process of being collected and identified. The survivors were scurrying around and regrouping. Much work was ahead of all of them. But at least they were alive. Their survival brought with it a strange sense of unity. And they would need a leader.

Naruto had a feeling Nagato had already stepped out from the shadows during the battle, and he knew he would continue to do so. As Kage of the Rain. And not as a dictating "god".

"Ask."

"Um…This is probably totally the wrong time to even say this but I feel like I need to…You can't play God anymore, Nagato."

"Is that so…" The man looked at him thoughtfully. "I suppose I should listen to your words more. It's not every day such a plain human being, so seemingly insignificant, can control not just the power of a single tailed beast but more…There's something about you. Why such ability, why now? I keep asking myself this. I'm the one with the Sage of Six Path's eyes yet you did what I couldn't. Unite powerful forces. And at such a young age. I can only wonder what more you'll do…With this nation. The Bijuu…"

"Yeah, 'cept one of them still hates me," he grumbled before getting back on track. He would have words with the ape later. (Son Goku had been the only one who hadn't leant chakra.) Right now he needed to finish his words with Nagato.

"And I meant the whole dictating and cruelty as a deity thing, and the raising the dead. That's got to go. I know…after all the deaths, it would seem cruel but…You're not god. You can't change the fabric of this world without later consequences."

"Being around you keeps bringing back memories of Yahiko…And Sensei. You're so much like them…."

"I think they would agree with me on this," Naruto said solemnly, recalling how close he was to Jiraiya's "grave". Later he would build a memorial to him and everyone else who lost their lives here in the Rain.

Nagato stared at him for a while, before adding, "They would, and from here out, I wish to honor them. But what of your request? You brought up there's only one true solution to bringing Tobi down. The world will never be at peace as long as he's around."

Naruto nodded. "This is the one exception. I saw his real face, and I know who he used to be and why he's the way he is now. And I can't save him from what he's become because it's not in my place to. It can only be him. And if needs be, I would give my life in exchange for it. I mean, death is something no mortal has the right to play with but...doing this would save millions, Nagato. So if you have to take mine to keep the balance of lives and the natural order of things, then do so, if that is what it takes to restore…."

The sincerity radiating from Naruto was palpable. Nagato shook his head. "That will not be necessary. Such jutsu wasn't meant to be used except in certain cases. It sucks the life force from me so I never depended on it, not even now with the Rain. Reviving the lives lost in the battle would kill me. But…I am low on chakra, but I should still be able to do just this last one this last time. It will be more difficult because the time that's passed and my low chakra, but if this is what your gut's telling you I'm sure your person is the right one. It's the least I can do to make up for what I have done."

In his mind, Nagato had a lot of atoning to do for Konan and Yahiko's sake. He had strayed far, but he was back. And it was all thanks to this boy, this frustrating, ridiculously idiotic and suicidal boy who was so much like his younger self, Yahiko, and sensei.

Naruto again bowed. "Thank you…Nagato."

"Furthermore," the elder Uzumaki said, "since there is no longer need for our fighting and Konan has seen fit to take you in, you will be under my protection. My resources are now yours. My city, my supplies, even my alliance. Everything. I will see to it the masked man does not interfere with Yahiko's true dreams anymore."

Naruto could not have been further surprised. Was this really happening? He went from having practically nothing to everything he would need for the battles ahead.

Not to mention the Rinnegan's powers.

"Wow."

"But," Nagato said. "Stray from the path or fail to reach it in a decent length of time and I retain the right to take everything away and kill you."

Of course. "I…uh, I understand. Nagato. You've been on this path for all these years…Completely putting all your faith in a liability like me is risky. I'll try not to disappoint. And I'll make up for everything you're giving me."

Both became silent, and looked out towards the rising sun. The red becoming swallowed by an endless world of a bright blue sky. And just on the very edge, in the rising peak of light, both could swear they could see the faintest trace of a rainbow, emerging from the ocean like a bridge.

A bridge to peace….

"Daybreaks come," Nagato said. "…What will you do from here?"

That was a good question. Naruto crossed his arms, pondering on it a bit. There were so many roads open to him now. "I think I want to stay here until I finish recovering, and I want to start rebuilding and fixing what I can."

Nagato gaped at him. "Rebuild? You are too good to be true. Why would you do something like that for me?"

"We're not enemies anymore, Nagato. Remember. We both want peace…Besides it's only natural for me to want to help...And I'm pretty sure I demolished your tower in my chakra mode...And a few other buildings when I was fighting with the Bijuu's aid..."

"Then what?"

"Well, my stay here will only be temporary. I don't want Tobi hunting me down here. I've caused your village to suffer enough. So I'll leave and take care of business at home."

"And Sasuke?"

Naruto didn't answer at first, only shrugged. "I dunno, I'm still not really happy with him right now and I have something I need to do by myself. Something…big. He'll only interfere with that. And I have a feeling to even do it in the first place I'm going to have to hunt my new friend down. He's a bit…near sighted if you know what I mean. "

Nagato smiled. Perhaps, the first real smile he had since before Yahiko's death. "Very well. You may leave now. I must focus…He'll be waiting for you by the time you get home."

Naruto blinked. Somehow even though he knew he could get Nagato to do it…He was still shocked and filled with instant zeal. Smiling, he wiped his wet eyes as he turned to leave. Hell had been so worth it, knowing at the very least the promise he made to that man would be kept.

_-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-_

What struck her the most about the old man was the eerie atmosphere he conjured.

Shimura Danzo had this dark, penetrating gaze that Sakura felt was on par with that of the Sharingan. And feeling it pointed at her in the ominous "office" she fought the shiver that threatened to crawl down her spine.

The office was the most barest of places, filled only with the minimal amount of necessities. The lighting was dim, and there was a peculiar aroma about it that she couldn't name. Needing to give her attention back to Danzo, Sakura averted her gaze from the bookcase that's scrolls were carefully arranged. And locked with seals.

Her gaze then settled on the desk he sat at. Unlike its previous Hokage, papers weren't scattered about on it. Instead, they were hidden from view. Such secrecy instantly made her suspicious. Just what all did this man do behind the shadows with his new power as Hokage?

Before, when his organization was underground and supposedly disbanded, he had attempted to do terrible things through it. Things that would affect the entire village. Just what could he do now that he was above ground and had full authority over everyone and not just his merciless Roots members?

The possibilities terrified her.

"Haruno, have you received any word on the Jinchuuriki's status?" he calmly questioned once more, leaning forward, his aged face staring into her young pale one. Again Sakura was reminded of the Sharingan.

She'd been glared at with it enough to recognize the intense feelings its gaze brought up. Why did she get the same feeling when this man looked at her? No one else but the Uchiha could unsettle her with just a gaze...A one-eyed one at that. Something here was off.

She shifted uncomfortably in the seat the Anbu had directed her to. She had been working late at the hospital when they forcibly uprooted her, commanding her to immediately convene with the Hokage. She mentally cursed herself for being found. She had always tried to duck and dodge them, wanting to avoid this inevitable confrontation.

"No…Hokage…sama. I wish I did, but I all I know is that Hinata met up with him...But I don't know why he's not here, or left her to return by herself."

The old man studied her hard, watching her facial expression. Trying to read it. She was telling the truth.

"Odd, rumor is the Sand is trying to get involved…You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

She fought the urge to swallow and show her nervousness. Carefully, masking her face into one of innocence she asked, "Am I being interrogated? I don't know anything else and I've done nothing wrong."

Danzo wasn't fooled. "You see, when it comes to matters of the Bijuu, diplomacy gets tricky. The nations have always fought to take the Bijuu and gain more of the infernal weapons. It's important we get our hands on the Kyuubi first, as it rightfully belongs to Konoha."

Sakura didn't like the way he was talking. Naruto's a human being, not your tool to take.

"And recently," he rasped "The Jinchuuriki's absence has become an even greater matter of concern for me and this village, as he has gained official rogue status."

In that one moment Sakura felt her heart stop and the blood in her veins freeze. The words refused to stick in her head with the sheer insanity of it. Naruto? A rouge? It...it didn't make sense! "What!?" she breathed.

Danzo continued, ignoring her distressed reaction."After discovering the previous Akatsuki hideout was destroyed, I sent a team of special operatives to bring him back."

Finally after what felt like forever, Sakura's heart lurched and the ice melted in a sea of fear and worry for her teammate. She leapt from her seat. "WHERE IS HE!?" she demanded, slamming her hands onto his desk.

Unconcerned with her inappropriate outburst he flicked his eye toward her sternly. "Sit."

Swallowing, she sat back down, composing herself.

"I apologize," she murmured. "But did your team find him and find out why he didn't return with Hinata?"

"That is why you were brought here." He pulled out an envelope and began pulling out a folded piece of paper from it. "Sai was on that team, and it seems even he was unable to convince the host of his need to come back. Instead, Sai was taken prisoner by his team of rogues, which includes your former teammate, Uchiha Sasuke."

Sai was taken prisoner by them? She couldn't believe it. Why would Naruto ever do such a thing? There had to be more to this than Danzo was letting on, she just knew it.

"Unlike the other two operatives, he was spared his life. Still, obviously neither rogue returned with him to Konoha after killing the others."

"Wait, Naruto would never kill Konoha Anbu operatives! And how can you justify the claim he's a rogue with so little evidence?"

The man chuckled darkly, his laugh artificial. "Sasuke. With the host's obsession with his rotten ex-teammate it would only be natural for him to rot as well, having teamed up with him. Or so the old saying goes. All it takes is one bad apple. And the thing is, when it comes to naive people such as him and those with his personality, they always prove to be influenced too easily by their emotions."

Naruto was really with Sasuke!? Where the heck are they then? Why wouldn't Naruto have drug him back by now?

She opened her mouth to speak but no words would come out. None of this made sense. But at the same time...Naruto wasn't the type of guy who would leave Sasuke behind. He would do everything to bring him back...Just like Danzo said...He was...naive...emotional...

What the heck am I even saying!?

"So that brings us to now, and you. According to Sai, Naruto, after refusing to return home, bade him to give this "message" to you, claiming that you would be able to understand it."

He unfolded the paper, and seeing the contents, the medic's heart dropped. The contents were so upsetting, she didn't even stop to question why Danzo had felt the need to confiscate a message meant for her and keep it. It was in advertisement to a Fantaji, a fancy food joint.

"Oh!" she cried. "That idiot! That stupid idiot!"

"What does it mean?" he asked.

There was no point in lying. Sakura rubbed her eyes as she answered. "Fantaji is supposed to be some major deal in the food industry and it was said they had their own original ramen recipe. After their grand opening in Konoha Naruto wanted to try it but the place was too expensive for him. It's, like, super fancy, and meant for couples. You just don't go there by yourself and without a date.

"He'd always ask me to go with him and I'd…" Here her voice broke. "I always made such blatant excuses. No matter how many times he asked I just didn't want to get caught in the dating joint with him. Eventually he stopped asking but didn't stop making jokes about it. When one of us had to cancel on something and just couldn't be there he'd say we're pulling a Fantaji."

"So this is his way of letting you know personally he's refusing to come back to you? Mhm. He is a rogue now after all. Joining ranks with a criminal…"

"No!" She slammed her fist on the table, oblivious to the crackling noises from the wood that threatened to break. "It's not like that! He's coming back! And how dare you call him a rogue! He's the most loyal shinobi I know! More loyal to this village than—"

She forced herself to stop right there before she said something that would end her up in prison. Still, it didn't stop her from thinking it. More loyal to our ways than you!

The Anbu in the room shifted. Danzo held out his hand, stilling them. "Miss Haruno, you'd be wise to learn to control that temper of yours. It never did Tsunade any good."

Sakura narrowed her eyes. You would know. You probably killed her. It's ironic her files would disappear so conveniently…Ignoring those thoughts before they became obvious, she readied to leave. She was done with these accusations. Naruto's message just meant something came up and he couldn't make it to her right now, but he was still thinking of her and that was all that mattered. He wasn't a rogue!

Sensing her intention, Danzo was quick to say, "If you hear anything from the host you're to report it. From now on he's considered an S-Rank criminal, and it's important he's brought back. Not just for his crimes against the Leaf, but for his own protection as the host to the Kyuubi. He's important to us, do not doubt that Miss. Haruno. The Sand, whose Kazekage is known to be friends with him, is not to touch what is not his. The Kyuubi belongs to Konoha, and it's only fit it's returned."

Her hand was already turning the doorknob when he spoke again, his words ice cold. "You wouldn't want anything else to happen to your broken team, now would you?"

She winced, her feet frozen.

"It's such a shame, how such a battle was started over your friend...Costing you not only him but your sensei as well...We don't want such events to accumulate again."

The threat was clear. And it made her sick.

Without a word she stormed out, feeling horribly trapped.

She needed air. She needed light! Surely the fresh air outside would help. Seeing the sun still there and knowing ...Nothing. There was nothing short of miracle that could assure her now.

And that's why even when exiting the underground section she found herself fighting back tears she thought had long dried up.

This wasn't fair. None of it was. Gritting her teeth, she held her grief in until she was in the secluded graveyard. Once there, she naturally found her sensei's grave that for some time she had started to believe to represent Naruto's too. It was only after meeting with Hinata that she knew it to only be Kakashi's.

Thinking of the blond she found her knees collapsing to the ground and her sight blurring.

Why is all the team leaving me?! Never before had she felt so alone. Just about everyone she cared for most, who had become her second family, was gone, dead, or missing.

"I'm so sorry," she cried, recalling Hinata's descriptions of Naruto. How the body she once knew as perfect was now scarred. "I should never have called you back here. I should have done something. Why can't I find you? I thought Gaara would help but even his sister hasn't responded back." Her sobs continued as she hugged her stomach. "And Kakashi-sensei, I should have gone after you! I'm so sorry I couldn't save you—ugh, why am I always useless when you guys need me the most? I tried! I tried so hard but I couldn't bring you back!"

Remembering how she found her sensei…

Smoke was still rising in the air. The smell of death was strong and at that point after the attack Sakura had spent her chakra healing the survivors. Walking, and looking for more regardless her state she found the scene of his death rather quickly. His silver hair blew softly in the wind, light against his death pale face. His eyes closed...

"Kakashi-sensei!" she exclaimed, running towards him. "I've been looking for you every…."

No pulse. Fear beginning to rise, she pushed his shoulder. "Hey, wake up."

No response. No. Her sensei couldn't be…He was alive!

"Wake up!" she screamed, her fingers already flickering with green chakra. "No more of your jokes. We have to go get Naruto—you, me, and Sai! Get up!" Her attempts to force her practically-gone chakra to flicker back to life became desperate. All it did was splutter weakly before dying out regardless her fight.

Still, she didn't give up. This was her sensei darn it! She had to heal him!

Voices rushed towards her as her task to heal him possessed her.

"Sakura!"

"Sakura! It's too late!"

"Back away, okay!"

Yamato grabbed her shoulders, pulling her back, or trying to. Her monstrous strength on top of her grief just about made it impossible. Sai's face flashed with concern as he too, tried prying her from the dead man. "Sakura! Back off!"

It was like she didn't even know what was going on outside her and her task. Yamato fought back a wave of emotions seeing her like this, but braced himself to tell her the cold hard truth of the matter. Denying it wasn't going to help anyone and at this rate she'd kill herself trying to revive him with her exhausted chakra supply. "Sakura, he's dead!" he yelled. "You can't bring him back!"

With the last pull, he wrenched her free, and she collapsed into him, the confirmation stripping her of her strength. She wailed into his chest.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, unable to do anything other than fight his own emotions from seeing his old friend dead like this.

"Why? Why today? Why is everyone gone?" Her body shook hard against him and the substitute captain grit his teeth, unable to comfort her, a kunoichi born in a generation free from war. She now knew its cruelty. "Why?! Gwah! It's not fair! My team never deserved this!"

She sobbed again for her doomed and missing team members. She was now the last of the original four, and that hurt her the worst.

"It never is, Sakura."

Sasuke, Naruto, and now Kakashi.

He held her until she stopped crying.

When she was done, Sai led her to Ino's, letting her hold onto his hand for support.

Regardless her tears, Sakura laughed as she remembered that day, and how she'd forced an awkward situation on to Yamato and Sai, especially the emotionless latter. Team 7 was still there, just not in the way she wanted. She didn't care what Danzo said.

And here I am crying again. I'm sorry Sensei. She sniffed and rubbed her face. After clearing it, she placed a hand on the cold stone. A stone she had visited every day since the destruction of Konoha, along with Tsunade's. With a sigh she pulled out some flowers and a copy of one of his novels, and laid it before the grave. "Sorry it took me so long to remember to bring this," she whispered, standing back up.

"Well…I guess this is goodbye. I'm sorry for leaving but...I can't stay here. I don't care about the consequences, I'm going to find Naruto myself. And Sasuke. You betcha I'm going to beat the crap out of them for not coming back and visiting you and me and everyone else. Stubborn jackasses," she said, growling the last part.

Regardless the angry name-calling, she meant the best. If any of them were there they'd know it.

Just as she started to leave, there was a sudden strange feeling in the air. It seemed to glow a slight greenish hue but with her red eyes she couldn't tell for sure. Then came a stirring from below her feet. A enigma in nature even her eyes couldn't fool her with.

"Huh?" The stirring hadn't felt like an earthquake nor were there any visible signs as to the cause, like a person, or a jutsu.

Bam, bam! The sound of wood breaking made her jump. "Who's there!?" she yelled to the empty graveyard. Seeing no one she concluded that someone must be attacking from below.

She raised her fists, chakra racing inside her. Just as she suspected, the ground broke up, a pale hand punching through it. And next thing she knew the smell of death filled the air like a stink bomb as the body belonging to the hand continued emerging from the ground.

She fell back. Z-zombie!? What is this!? Impossible!

Her logical mind couldn't figure it out. It had to be some sick prank! A very very sick prank!

She was just about to punch the intruder's face in when the sight of it coming up stopped her dead in her tracks. Dirtied silver hair. Dark eyes. Long, thin scar, in-between which was a blood red iris.

"Kakashi-sensei!?"

"Ugh," he moaned, crawling out. He faltered in his movements, wobbling like a baby taking its first steps. "Ugh…Oh, Sakura?"

She ran to him, screaming. They tumbled to the ground, the poor man groaning from the sudden feeling, and she just laughing and crying. "Kakashi-sensei!"

"Ohhhhh," he groaned. "Careful."

Her hands began glowing green. "What is this?" she cried, voice shaking with disbelief. There was no way this was possible yet there was no denying his identity. She laughed again, feeling the water run down her face. Goodness, she was crying yet again. But these were anything but sad tears. "How can this be?" she laughed, continuing healing the man and ignoring the stench. This time, her chakra was restored and she was gonna finish the job even if it killed her.

"I think he can answer that better than I can…"

Sakura's heart stopped beating. "Who?"

Kakashi was still too stiff to point, but his eyes did the work. Sakura followed his gaze until her eyes landed on the third party.

The blond was leaning against a tree, watching them with the biggest smirk on his face.

Sakura froze. Her eyes widened. "No…" Is this real?

"Hey," Naruto said. "You just gonna sit there or are ya gonna take this stubborn jackass out for some ramen. It's only been forever. Heck, I'll even pay. There's no reason to pull a Fantaji on me this time."

The girl ran, screaming with happiness and they toppled over in her bear embrace. She continued babbling away in a mix of crying and laughing. Standing them back up, he hugged her, whispering apologies into her ear and she cried more.

When her crying became angry punches he backed away, laughing and wishing he had a camera to capture the look of her, and especially of the previously buried man who wasn't sporting his mask. The man groaned realizing it was missing. Looks like his fun lip-guessing game was over.

Curses to the funeral arrangements. He would have words with the people who dressed and buried him later.

_-xXx-_

The members of Team 7 were talking excitably on the outskirts of the grave site by the time word reached Yamato. He arrived on the scene in a state of overwhelming shock.

"H-how?!"

A young man was the first to answer. "I got friends in high places."

It took Yamato a moment to realize that the scarred, bangless, face was Naruto's. The once childish looking blond with unkempt hair now stood erect with a strong air of seriousness about him. He looked older with his shorter hair and clothes that were reminiscent of military uniform—the jacket, the red band around his arm bearing his crest, the buckles. Completely the opposite from the bright appearance of before. Not to mention his persons was very much equipped. Overly so.

Two blades were strung on his back in an X. Both legs had holsters strapped to them, but curiously enough, what struck Yamato the most was the empty quiver on his hip, meant for a bow and arrows that weren't there.

Naruto's eyes did not leave Yamato's as the Captain took him in.

Yamato swallowed nervously. Did the blond know?

"I can't believe you're back," he could only get out. The weight on him suddenly heavier. And somehow he knew Naruto's "friends in high places" was Pain. This could only be the Rinnegan's doing.

"Yeah," Naruto said humorously. "I guess that means the Hokage needs to know." He then nodded his head toward the direction of a shack. Yamato nodded, understanding. Kakashi's miraculous revival would have to wait.

Once in private, safe from Sakura and Kakashi's excited ears, Naruto dived right on in to what Yamato was dreading.

"I know the rap I got and I already know that two-faced murderer of a hag—" Yamato winced "—has got an order out for anyone to apprehend me on sight. Especially any Anbu member, Root or not. They're to take me directly to the Hokage himself because the information I might have picked up that can be considered…dangerous or too delicate for the average ear, then to Intel for interrogation on everything I know. And believe me, I know stuff."

He glanced to Yamato. "That includes you, Yamato. I'm an S-Rank, after all now. You wouldn't want to throw your commands to the wind, now would you?"

"Naruto," he said, unable to lift his gaze from the grass.

Naruto laughed lightly. "I won't resist, Yamato. That's why I came back. And trust me, after everything I've went through, this little trip will be nothing. Ibiki's a nanny compared the people who've…who've done stuff to me."

Yamato sighed. "I'm sorry about this, and I'm sorry for everything you've went through as the Akatsuki's captive and I'm sure if you just explain everything I don't have to—"

"Yamato," he interrupted, lowering his arm back down and planting his hand on his hip. "I'm not going to hide the truth. I proudly hold alliance with a rogue criminal and his team. Sai has confirmed that Captain Yamato. And Sai can't lie. And not only that but after witnessing the aftermath of the battle in the Rain, I've joined ranks with its Kage as well. Yesterday I was appointed their ambassador."

Yamato winced. No, don't do this Naruto.

"Although…" Naruto said. "Before you arrest me I do have some personal matters to deal with first."

Before Yamato could say anything, the host was gone.

He stared at the empty space in front of him, completely confused. "What the heck?!"

Kakashi laughed, approaching his old teammate. "His dad was always doing that too when it came to his beloved."

"Huh?"

Kakashi patted his back. "Don't look so stupid like that, it's unbecoming, friend."

"Says an ex-dead man! That stench is anything but becoming, Mr. Wobble!"

"Hey, the rigor mortis is still wearing off," the man laughed. Then, still smiling, his secrete mole exposed for all to see, he announced proudly, "As for the kid, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. He's the son of the Yellow Flash after all."

_-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-_

Of course Naruto's personal business was none other than the girl he loved. It took only seconds with his jutsu to grab her and transfer them back to the temple. Later that night, that is.

Acquiring her had required careful watching and planning to get the window to grab her in the first place. The Byakugan eyes and seriousness of the Hyuuga was not something to underestimate. And he wasn't quite ready to put up with Neji's no-doubt oncoming rant and beating.

First off, he succeeded in kidnapping her by knowing that she trained hard every day in a set spot in the Hyuuga residence around noon and again before bedtime, so he waited until the time when the third guardian/guard took the guard dog duty shift from the second promptly around her night training time and replaced him. (When bribing the man with money (disguised as a Hyuuga to avoid extra attention) didn't work he had simply knocked him out.)

By that late most of the hotshots were busy with readying for bed, or preparing for the next day, or dining and wouldn't notice the change in the guard's chakra. Replacing him, he then preceded to pretend to be the man by readying equipment and water for her. After he was sure the coast was clear he did his thing, his DNA already imprinted on the bow he leant her.

(Kurama made fun of him for the entire process and anxiously waiting so long.)

The girl being suddenly swept away was seized by fright at first but was reassured when she saw Naruto's face. "Naruto?!"

He grinned. "Hey, Hinata. Sorry about this, I just figured we could use some privacy and I couldn't think of a better place than here."

"You're back!" she yelled, saying the same line that he had heard from a screaming girl practically five times already.

"And…" She looked around the temple and blushed, remembering how they spent intimate time here. Cuddling. Why did he just bring her here?

"I…I needed to see you before things got chaotic again," he answered, reading her expression and offhandedly fingering a set of stone zodiac animals to the side.

Things were going to get chaotic again?

"Naruto," she said, fighting back a sigh. "I want to be with you. Chaos or not." She placed her hands on his. In it was one of the animals. A cat, she noticed. Odd.

"You are right now. I'll just be gone a few days."

"No," she said, rushing, not wanting to lose another chance or moment with him. She set the thirteenth animal down from his hands.

"I mean, really, really be with you. I want to…I want us together….as a couple."

She gazed at his face, waiting to see his response. He had such beautiful blue eyes. They reminded her of the sky. So free and living. She felt self-conscious about her own, and wondered how he felt about being close to the strange and plain eyes of the Byakugan.

He bit his lip for a moment and whispered, "Honestly I was wanting you to say that. So bad. But, I need to make absolute sure of this first. I can't give you things your clan can…I can't give you monetary security, or promise you a stress free life. Hell, I don't even have an official home. My current guardian is a man who's tried killing me and if I can't find peace he'll finish me off for sure. I can't keep you sheltered from the darkness that follows me if there's no wall separating us…"

She delicately grabbed his hand, fingers weaving with his. "Then break the wall. I already have mine. I'm not afraid of the darkness if you're there for me."

He stared at her, not realizing he was reaching for her face. He cupped it and used his thumb to brush a stray strand of hair from the front of her lips. So…perfect. His own quivered as he drew close to hers until he was consuming them, so much so she was pushed back into the wall by his weight.

And she let him.

The carnal desire within him only increased, unabated. His kissing became forceful and desperate, fingers laced around her hair. His body responsive. Unsure of what he was beginning to let himself dive into, he stopped, whispering to her "I do want this so bad."

"Then take it." She leaned into him. "Why should something as petty as the Hokage or that masked man stop us? If this path is dangerous, it still doesn't change the fact we love each other."

He was about to kiss her again but withheld. He first wanted a 100% guarantee they were serious. He didn't want to just take advantage of her love and his lust, on top of the fact he loved her too. Not only was she beautiful in a way that made him want to touch and explore and claim, but she was the most innocent, kindest, strongest girl he knew.

Not to mention this girl had always acknowledged him, even when no one else had all those years ago. He'd just been too blind to see it. How long he had chased after Sakura instead! And Hinata had always watched, believing in him, even when he himself hadn't given her the proper time of day, finding her shyness weird. For so long…

But that ended tonight. He wasn't going to lose this opportunity. Live like there's no tomorrow.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small object.

He held it in a tight fist so Hinata was unable see what it was. Curious, she fought the urge to activate her Byakugan.

"Naruto?"

"Shh, just hang on." With this he began kneeling down on one knee, holding her hand with his other. Their eyes locked, and his smile went ear to ear. "Hyuuga Hinata…," he began, his voice shaky. She had never heard it so shaky before, and hearing him falter nervously like this her heart raced.

What was he doing? It couldn't be! Was he…?!

"Will you marry me?"

His fist came undone to reveal a string of pearls. In the center was a round cut stone, orange in hue as his seeming theme color.

"It's created from my DNA*," he explained. "So even if we're separated you'll always be able to summon me and I'll always be able to come to you…If you'll have me that is."

"Oh my gosh," she cried. "Yes!"

"Really?" He gasped in return, filled with excitement and anticipation. Even disbelief, and certainly glad he chanced bringing the thing.

"Yes."

"Right now, cause we're not always promised a chance tomor—"

"YES!"

She jumped up, kissing him. His arms wrapped around her tightly, and for a moment neither thought he would let her go as he took over, but finally he pulled back from the kiss and turned her around, fingers already locking the clasp of the necklace as it hung around her neck. Once done he turned her back around, announcing in triumph, "As the son of the Fourth Hokage, and future sixth or seventh one—I don't know if Danzo technically counts or not—and the Jinchuuriki to the great ancient, and sleeping I might add, Kurama who would totally consent and vouch for this if he was awake right now, I officially pronounce us man and wife!"

She giggled, not caring about the rush and technically not official wedding they just had as she reached for the string of pearls he'd placed around her, fingers touching the stone made from his very own being.

The stone was absolutely beautiful and the pearls genuine. She had no clue how he had managed to acquire such an expensive and exquisite piece but she didn't care. They were from him and that was all that mattered. After a moment of blushing like this she piped, "We're finally together…"

Blushing himself, he leaned down to kiss his bride. Slowly and gently this time. After pulling from it, she asked shyly, "What now?"

He chuckled. "Honestly…I wanna know you a lil' better baby."

Her cheeks blushed.

Giggling, he scooped her up, carrying her to the private room of the temple, where it was quiet, candle-lit, and completely enclosed by walls. After her feet were planted back to the floor, she made no protests as his hands swept under her clothes and over her warm skin as he kissed her. She merely gasped a little, but smiled, face automatically beet red-going-purple in response.

He once again halted their kiss, grinning softly, and began to pull off his blades. The metallic weapons clattered against the ground as he stripped his shirt. His torso exposed, she began to marvel his skin, no longer perfect but yet all the more precious to her. So precious she couldn't help touching him as he had her.

It was long time she let herself fully explore the skin of the one she loved. This is my chosen husband. It didn't take long for her to notice the newer injuries and part of her wondered if he had taken his shirt off partially so she could see them. It was his silent way of admitting he was a bit more damaged than she thought. For some reason, it only made the need to touch him greater.

Her thumbs first traced down his skin, trailing down his neck, feeling his fast-beating pulse. Over his chest, again noting how his heart was racing; down his abs and back up, towards his biceps, squeezing them and feeling the muscles, and finally reaching for his hands.

When she grasped his wrists, holding them in sad apprehension, he closed his eyes, and just breathed into her chest. "Hinata," he whispered. "I know we're together but…there are still some things I'm not ready to talk about, okay?"

"I trust you," she whispered in return. "But I wanna know…is what's under the bandages one of the things?"

"Yes."

"Can I see what's under them?"

"No."

She cupped his face. "I trust you Naruto but someday...One day when all this is over you have to give in to this life we want. Of being a family. No secrets. Your pain needs to be mine. I'll carry your burdens"

Someday you're going to have to open up to me…All of it.

He nodded. "Someday…I'll come back and it'll all be over. We can finally be together. For good."

They both knew he had to leave. Danzo had declared him a criminal. He couldn't stay in Konoha until he restored his village standing and officiated himself as the son of the Fourth Hokage, and she couldn't leave for her clan and father and sister's sake, or Neji's.

She bit her bottom lip and ran her hands further down his skin, to his abs, his sternum, before settling one on his hip bone. "I need you though. Right now, Naruto. I know you're scared of the future but I want our night together. As a couple. I want the moon. Don't hold back on me because I'm shy..."

He could only stare, words racing through him so fast he was unable to catch any and speak them. Feelings racing. Adrenaline.

"I mean it. I want this, and I want you happy." With the other hand she undid the holster on his thigh.

(A/N To my T readers, although, I do not exactly go into explicit details here, all it takes is reading between the lines. If you're not sure about where this is going or you detest the idea of them going further on-screen you can skip the following by pressing CTRL and F at the same time. A search bar will appear. Type in "The seed planted" and venture downward from there. If you're on a mobile format, just scroll down until you see the second bar.)

He perked his head up. "I—ah!" Her hand had strayed only a small distance from the direction it'd been on his hip but that was a huge distance for the shy girl.

And it was all it took.

He wanted her, he wanted her, he wanted her!

That possessive urge drove him to move again, but this time it was much stronger, and deeper. Perhaps it was a result of being so close to her, so free, so…For a moment, he allowed these erotic instincts to drive him.

His hands clutched to her jacket's zipper, nearly ripping it down as he pushed her to the edge of the mattress, lips impatiently pressing onto her thin ones. Opening it with his tongue. He unhooked her bra and as her mesh undershirt fell to the floor with other articles of clothing her breasts were soon exposed. Whether it was her or him, the last holster came undone and his pants came off. Their kissing quickened and her pants followed, sliding down her legs like a cocoon from its emerging butterfly.

And this butterfly was ready for flight.

He pulled his mouth away from hers, his breath warming her ear and chest. "I love you," he whispered, fingers wrapping around the waistline of her panties like they were possessed. "But I'm not sure you're thinking of what this might do. What I want is selfish and I'm trying to think of you…but I grew up always wanting a family, so I won't use a…you know."

"I want you and I'm okay with that choice." Her face was on fire. Her body. "I want your seed. I want to give and be a part of your family. No. Ours."

"There's no going back. I mean, I can't promise I'll always be there with the chaos going on, but I'll come when you need me the most. Are you really ready to go all the way?"

"We already crossed that line. I'm with you to the death. I'm a Namikaze now."

He smiled. "Mrs. Namikaze-Uzumaki Hyuuga Hinata. I like that."

"It's a mouthful…" she admitted.

"It is." He kissed her, pulling the fabric of her undergarment down, first hers, then his, and they fell together, the conversation over. They were both completely bare, exposed for the other, save for her new necklace and the wrappings on Naruto's wrist...

Naked, there was no ogling, just him over her, his eyes closed briefly as he kissed her, so hungrily, tangling his fingers in her hair, and the heat of them being together. The purest combination and orgy a Hyuuga could submit themselves to. Forbidden, and blessed. Darn it, she kissed back, wrapping her arms and legs around him because so far he seemed only interested in her mouth…And her breast. Which honestly didn't surprise her considering his personality. "More, Naruto. I want all of it, only you…"

The kissing stopped as he gripped her hips, eyeing them briefly. He was a virgin, like her, but he wasn't new to what was between a girl's legs. Holding her, their eyes met. Could they really do this? Again all the reasons for why this was a bad thing they were doing started jamming his instinctual drive. Making out was one thing, a thing he enjoyed very much...but crossing the threshold of the other's gender, that barrier, was something else entirely, especially with no protection. It was scary, but possessively desirable.

She may be his wife but what she was offering was sacred to her and her clan of Hyuuga. He would literally screw years and years, generations upon generations, of match making and the perfect Byakugan line up. It was a line he didn't exactly care or approve of, but she was raised to treat it as everything. That cursed seal wasn't created for nothing. And he would fight every last elder Hyuuga to the death if they ever tried planting it on her for this. Her little sister too. He'd stop the damned seal and hierarchy all together.

She smiled, her innocent face blushing as she looked down and saw his whole persons for the first time, and soon his face was the same tint. Such a line...What would his dad say? Kami, Jiraiya! He could only imagine what Jiraiya would have to say about hers and her gorgeous body. He supposed it was a fitting opposite to her shy and modest personality.

Kami, her looks.

Her eyes, how they matched the string of pearls around her pale, gracious neck. Such eyes, so similar to the pearl in having formed in a suppressed clam and how they were now shining for him in the open. The way her raven hair was so long and soft, and spewed about her perfectly shaped face and bare shoulders and back. The dip of her collarbone. The way her lips parted needily when he kissed her neck. Kami. He kissed it, nuzzling it, breathing it in. She smelled of lavender soap.

Lips still nuzzling her, his hands slid over her luscious breast, down her smooth porcelain sides and abdomen and tempted to go further, just feeling her, her waist and hips… A nervous but pleased moan escaped her lips and he paused briefly, taking in her eyes, and they smiled. His hands continued to slide further in, trying to massage the interior, knowing that the first time was always hard for a girl, especially a very shy, modest one. He wanted her as comfortable as humanly possible.

As he kept his fingers moving, part of him was relieved she wasn't saying 'no,' or telling him to stop. Yes, her face was twisted into the most extreme embarrassed look, but her eyes were closed, and lips parted, as she kept opening herself up to his touch. Like a flower.

Kami. Touching wasn't enough. He couldn't take this. It hurt. He would do anything for her. He wanted her, and wanted to take her so bad.

But. His possessive desires aside, his yearning, what about her?

So beautiful, yet so pure. What if she got hurt because of him? She was too precious to hurt; he would never forgive himself if she got hurt because of him again!

"If we do this, I can't give this child your eyes," he whispered sadly. "This won't be easy in the long run. It'll be a fight with everyone. I promise to fight them back but I don't like the idea of my selfish wish causing you any more stress than it's already going to just with this marriage."

"Naruto, enough already. I've made my choice. Stop fighting it." She then began tying her hair into a tail. "And how can your wish be selfish when I want it too?"

She was putting her faith in him. He had to trust himself too. Besides, they had already gone this far.

Resting his hands on her hips, he opened his mouth to speak but there was no need to. The same thoughts were buzzing in their heads: Together. Family. Love. She placed a hand on his cheek, nodding, her thighs parting. I'm okay with this. Reassured, he closed his eyes, all hesitation leaving him.

Like an ocean, he took a deep breath, dived in, and awkwardly, at first, found the current. They grinned to the same beating torrent. So much more than being with each other, they were now a part of each other, outside, and in. When she let out a pained hiss, he froze. "Oh my gosh, you okay?" he cried and she nodded, barely able to form the words. "K-keep going." So they did.

Kissing and blushing. Skin becoming hot with sweat. Then more, letting into the pure ecstasy and moaning, she, surprisingly loud, as he did the thrusting. Panting.

His fingers curling at the height of their carnal frenzy, he squeezed the covers tightly in clenched fists. His ragged breathing hitched along with hers and just when neither could bear it anymore, her mouth opened, letting out a deep sigh. Release, breathed into the air like warm vapor in the winter air.

He fell down into their field. The seed planted.

He was laying on top or her, merely tired, while she in exhaustion. "That," he panted, his head resting on her bosom, "was amazing. True, a bit…messier than what I gathered reading Pervy Sage's books but…you said you were alright, right?"

Humming, she nodded. Her face burning.

After a few minutes like this he loosened the grip he had on her pearls—he didn't even remember latching on to them—and rolled off her and they both turned to their sides, facing each other, breathing loud, and skin speckled with sweat.

She giggled, unable to form words. Naruto smiled, just staring at her. A little trickle of sweat ran down her cheek and landed on the satin sheet. He prayed Shisui wouldn't be coming back. "You know," he whispered, "when I was younger and tried to imagine the most beautiful woman for my Harem Jutsu...I wasn't even close."

She laughed. "Oh, stop it. I'm nothing." For effect she pulled the sheet up to cover her exposed body. "And I-I'm a mess. And I need to use the bathroom."

He chuckled. "I'll take you after you get a bit of rest. As for the way you look, you're beautiful, kind, loving, and everything I need." He crawled under the sheet with her. Their eyes locked onto the others, and he kissed her again, hot in passion. He wanted to make out with her! So amazing so…Heck, he wanted to go Icha Icha on her—to go again! But as he kissed her he quickly noticed how her breath was too short and her limbs near limp. She moaned, but not in a good way as before.

"Naruto…" she croaked in a whisper. "No."

Too much. He pulled back, with a panting smile. Nodding.

"You know," he said after a while, as they just lay there, trying to catch their breaths. "Part of me is glad to ruin the Hyuuga gene pool. There's too much tragedy in it...I still can't fathom the curse system, with the Main House and Branch..."

She frowned and said in a whisper, "I know..."

He wrapped an arm around her. "Hey, those days are gonna be over. I intend to keep my promise to Neji...after he cools down and doesn't beat the living shi-poop out of me for…you know."

Her smile was back. He was overly conscious of their upbringings, even when it came to the differences in their speech.

"So…" he continued. "Do I have a little Naru Jr. in the oven? Can I feel his feet yet?"

She laughed hard, perhaps the loudest laugh she'd ever had. "I don't know right now! It doesn't work like that!"

"Wha? So we get to do it again? Just let me catch my breath first."

"No, not tonight," she whispered, gasping. "I don't have your stamina, Naruto-kun. I'm exhausted."

"Oh. And um, will you know in the morning?"

It figured he would be ignorant about such things. But that was okay, they would learn together.

She smiled and closed her eyes as he kissed her stomach. She heard him whisper, ever so silently to it, "You'll never have the same childhood I had. I'll always protect you. I promise." She smiled, a tear sliding down her cheek as she mentally made a similar promise to their unborn child.

We're going to be a family.

In his arms, peaceful sleep soon took her to a world of where mere dreams became infinite possibilities. And somehow, she didn't know how, but his seed would soon grow, and their child would be their new beginning.

No matter what hardships came their way, no matter the struggles, they would overcome it. They had endured once, they could do it again. But this time, together.

Remember the snow for spring is coming.

FIN

_-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-_

THE GAME OF SHOGI IS OVER!

(Cue Utada Hikaru's Sanctuary: After the Battle for credit song. And/or Florence's Shake it OUT (not Off T.T) XD)

see? :3

LOL, I just love music!

(PS, be sure to keep reading to the bottom.)

*Diamonds made from DNA is a real thing. Check out the site for dna2diamonds for example.

(And geez, part of me couldn't pick between the diamond being orange, blue, or even white. I eventually just stuck with orange because it's his theme color. Anyone who knows him and sees her from now on will know he's got his mark stamped on her. Back off, lol.)

FINAL WARNING:

The Epilogue that will (hopefully) follow this will lead into a sequel. If you wish for peace of mind, and you like this happy ending, DO NOT READ IT!

If you'd like me to be a butt and suspend you, then by all means go ahead. :3 Have fun, I know I will with all Naruto's new abilities and alliances.

There will also be character deaths. Multiple ones. And a few births too. Less angst, but still some drama.

You've been warned.

(PS, be sure to keep reading to the bottom.)

Final Word From Author: Thanks so much!

Hee, as for the unexpected (to me) ending er,…romance scene that wrote itself a long, long time ago—as in I could only keep editing it and not the opening scenes XD—That, dear readers who are probably mad at the pairing ending, was my very first real sex scene. I tried to render it realistically, yet not descriptively (euphemisms, you know I love that junk), because this isn't a sex story but I feel it was natural for them to climax together for the first time. I just never planned for it to be the center point of the end—I consider Pain VS Naruto to be this story's ultimate climax. (Even though Naruto's death with Obito seems to have gotten me more attention XD)

I wanna thank everyone! The reviewers especially and BriEva for helping me with the Danzo scene. I had her help me because the Danzo aspect of this story was extremely neglected and I needed to make sure he was done justice before the Epilogue.

And sadly, I'm very happy I got to finally cover the scene where Sakura found Kakashi. I glossed over it in the beginning because how depressing the story already was at that point and have literally been regretting it this entire time XD There's so many happy moments in this last part, I couldn't resist dredging the past up XD

Overall, this story was bumpy, drawn out a lot, and of course, very much an experiment for me. I feel like I've improved since I started, yet derailed when it came to certain things. Skimming, or rambling. I really wanna thank y'all for your patience. It's amazing I even kept this up, especially considering all the fics I've started and haven't even touched in over a year!

I promise the sequel will be even better! (PS, be sure to keep reading to the bottom.) As for the rating, the sequel will most likely go back to T, with the exception of violence. Imma have a bad villain, a very very bad guy, and I don't wanna censor him ^.^ Expect a lot less angst but still some on-edge rendering conflicts.

Anyway…um, what else can I say besides thanks for getting this far? (There will be no author notes in the Epilogue for the same reason I left none after dropping the Kakashi bomb in Born to Die, remember?)

Oh, Konan. Yes, Deus Ex Konan X)

I see her and Nagato as possible parental figures, or close friends with Naruto at least. Especially Konan. I added that bit with Hanzo because she's so solemn and it would fit with the fact her love life is officially screwed with Yahiko dead and Nagato crippled. She can never have that type of relationship and she's accepted that.

Also, I thought (I can't believe Imma even bring this up after this long!) I thought I made it clear in an early Konoha scene that Danzo was wanting to use rape to threaten her into answering. People kept whining in reviews about Inoichi wanting to not resort to lowering his standards. Yeah, that's what I meant. I don't know if the implied threat was clear or if I was being too dark and no one caught on to it.

Evil Danzo. Speaking of which…

UNRESOLVED THINGS I WILL USE/ ADDRESS IN SEQUEL or Epilogue that will follow this. (if I miss any LET ME KNOW!)

* Naruto and Hinata's first kid and Hyuuga drama.

* Naruto's bow. His usage of it's gonna kick butt! Same with the Bijuu. And the teleportating. All of it will be advanced in sequel. Naruto will earn the name "Uncatchable".

* Naruto's temporary time in Konoha's custody and the matters he deals with behind the scenes involving certain files. Also there's a reason he wants to put up with Intel, you'll soon learn in the Epilogue, when his Trojan Fox dealings are done.

* Kabuto's ability to raise people from the dead. This will be a major factor in second story. Naruto won't be the only Namikaze or Uzumaki roaming around…Furthermore the major big villain will come from this jutsu. (PS, be sure to keep reading to the bottom.)

* Juugo and Kisame and the events that led to the chasm.

* Shisui

* Taka's relationships, including with Killer Bee….And Sasuke.

* Naruto's alliance with Nagato, and Obito's sear. There's more to it than just a scar. It has a point, and purpose. I'll just explain the purpose of it in the Prologue of the sequel. Or the Epilogue. Obito might give Naruto a visit in it. I haven't decided on that point yet. (PS, be sure to keep reading to the bottom.)

ONE LAST WARNING:

The much better story and sequel will be based off The Game Called Shogi's shorter timeline and fixed events. Even if I don't get as far with updating the chapters before I start the sequel.

For example: As an ex-summon Mamoru will be able to talk, though he will scarcely speak. (or she? I don't know. I just know it'll be more important to the story if it's intelligent and certainly be more connected to Itachi WHO WILL BE IN SEQUEL. (SPOILER ALERT XD))

Already in my mind I'm thinking of ways to tighten things, make the story more plot driven, and fixed in general, so please check out the remastered The Game Called Shogi if you can and feel free to leave your input and ideas.

(PS, be sure to keep reading to the bottom.)

Oh, speaking of fixing….

Helpful Review/Thoughts/Criticism Request!

Before I post the Epilogue that will lead into the sequel I would really love some thorough feedback on A Game of Shogi to help me prepare and improve on my writing. If you can, please answer with multiple sentences and clear examples. It would mean a lot to me!
You don't have to when reviewing, of course, but I'd like it X)
And say it gently lol...A year's a long time and I changed a lot in this.

1.) Do you prefer short (around 4K) or long (10K) chapters?

2.) What's your favorite chapter/scene and why? (I need to know what y'all like.)

3.) What's your least favorite chapter/scene and why? (I need to know what not to try ever again.)

4.) Which foil and normal relationship did you find the best? (EXAMPLES: Kisame and Naruto, Suigetsu and Sasuke, etc.) Who do you want to see a lot more of? (this includes pairings as well)

5.) Thoughts in general.

Thanks!

(PS, be sure to keep reading to the bottom. You're almost there! This thing does end! (Kind of…))

The full Shogi Poem in case you're interested (of which I do not own or take credit for):

Pieces of Black

Koma of White,

Minions of darkness

Servants of light.

The field is set

Shogi-ban arrayed

Warriors in place

Soldiers displayed.

The Shape of Black

Contours of White

They look the same

They look alike

Which side is which?

We can tell

By where they point

To Heaven or Hell.

Black points one way

White the other.

Opposite sides

Facing each other

First move by Black

Sente of night

Now it's White's turn

Gote of light.

BONUS ENDING/TEASER SCENE FOR AWESOME PEOPLE WHO MADE IT TO THE BOTTOM! (as if I didn't copy and paste it enough!):

_-xXx-_

"Nagato has betrayed you," the dark being and embodiment of Madara's Will spoke.

Obito, hearing the words growled in annoyance. It had been more than two days since the grief-stricken man spirited Naruto away. And yet he hadn't come back with him. It was these truths that were no doubt the evidence of his betrayal and cause for the black Zetsu's accusation.

"So what will you do?"the white half inquired, as if reading Obito's mind.

Giving it barely another thought, the man chuckled. "The Kage Summit is less than two weeks away. The brat will be there. As Taka planned. It will be no matter to attend and deal with both him and Sasuke."

"How do you know that, that they're planning to attend I mean?"

Obito's Sharingan flashed.

White Zetsu laughed, rubbing its head in a sheepish manner. "Oh, I forgot."

"Idiot. Anyway, what will you do with Nagato?"

"First, I'm going to find out why he betrayed me, and then I'm going to take his new pet away. He will suffer for it, I'll see to that. I'll remind him why he needed my help in the first place. Naruto too. I took away his ability to hide, so finding him will be anything but difficult. I'll use his weakness against him. But first…" He sneered. "Two can play this game. Summon Kabuto."

The dark being grinned, secrete and evil intentions rippling through its mind. Kabuto was just a pawn in a much bigger endeavor, one beyond the feeble Uchiha and petty humans. Much bigger.

The second coming of Madara is at hand, Mother.

_-XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-_

TO BE CONTINUED IN EPILOUGE

The Kage Summit is in full swing. After leaving Konoha's custody, Naruto decides it's time to place all his cards on the table for all the Kage to see. Things get chaotic from there and then the real fun begins.

Shisui, Taka, Killer Bee. And Danzo.

What chaos will Naruto manage to stir up this time?

TEASER SEQUEL SNYOPSIS #1! (in progress and spoiler free)

After escaping the Akatsuki, resulting in its split, Naruto, Taka, and Nagato Pain join forces to bring Obito, Kabuto, and Danzo down. Too bad the undead became part of the equation and now Naruto, Sasuke, and crew must deal with their pasts to save the future…. Even with the powerful Bijuu, Sharingan and Rinnegan on his side winning the war after losing so many battles will not prove easy. When Naruto *************** he never considered the consequences...until his new family came into the picture.