Thank you for the support. Please keep it up.

Music Recommendation for this Chapter: Faded by Alan Walker

Chapter 53

Family, Duty, Honor


He knelt down and brushed his hand against the cool blue liquid.

Unlike the past where it had been tainted by mankind's sins, this beauty of nature now reflected nothing but purity as it showed him his own reflection clearly.

It was so fascinating and all his life he had loved water as it brought him peace.

But now it only brought him unbearable pain and regret for this element had taken something very dear to him.

Where were you?

He fought back his tears as he heard that accusing tone pierce through his heart.

He should be feeling victorious as he had thoroughly decimated the world's largest army to the last soldier, yet he felt completely defeated. It made him stare at his own hand...

I, who conquered the world through my revolution had nothing left in my hands in the end.

A lone tear fell from the King's eyes and mixed in with the silent river Saru. This was the exact spot where Nagato had made his last stand, giving his life for his soldiers and their cause, he was young and inexperienced yet he fought valiantly overshadowing any victory or defeats of Naruto Uzumaki.

The King regretfully wondered the price he had paid for winning this war.

His Father, His Half Brother, His Clansmen, Thousands of Soldiers, Thousands of Innocents...

And now a boy who was his Brother in all but blood.

It was too much for him to bear. When he heard of Nagato's martyrdom, he had been consumed by revenge and hatred. He had marched with his army for each day in the past two weeks and on finally arriving on the battlefield he had butchered each and every one of the bastards who took his best friend from him.

The once 30,000 strong Konoha army was entirely killed with not even the youngest of their soldiers being spared.

It was a massacre which dwarfed the one they had inflicted on Nagato's forces.

Seeing Akeno alive had brought him some relief, if she had died he would not have survived. The loss of one childhood friend without whom he couldn't even imagine living the rest of his life was heart breaking, losing the other one would have killed him.

And now Nagato was dead.

Did he hate him for not coming to his aide in time? Did he feel betrayed?

His fists clenched as more and more tears fell from his eyes. What he wouldn't give to have his friend back, what he wouldn't sacrifice including his own life if only Nagato could be here in his place. His friend had been the better man, people loved him, and he had the mind as well as the heart to create the future they all had dreamed of. He had proved that by forming the Union in the first place.

While all Naruto knew was to wage war and expertly kill armies.

He had promised to protect Nagato and Akeno so that they could live happily for the rest of their lives alongwith their clan children who survived Uzu's massacre. Now Nagato and most of those children were gone, and Akeno was a shell of her former self.

He had failed everyone.

When he returned back to the shore towards his friends and soldiers they all gasped for they saw the light vanish from their king's eyes.


Kisame stood guard outside his friend's chamber giving a stern look to the two women in front of him.

In any other scenario he would have found two beautiful women trying to clamor the affection of his friend to be amusing. But he had seen the look in Naruto's eyes when he returned from the spot where Nagato died.

The rage that had been driving the King vanished when he butchered each and every Konoha shinobi ruthlessly.

It had already earned him the nickname "The Butcher of Trident", but Kisame doubted Naruto cared what others thought about him. The boy had rarely cared about such trivial things, but he had deeply cared about his friends and the loss of the one dearest to him right after the news of the death of his half brother had broken him.

The King had marched straight towards the River after his victory and just stood there in the middle for several hours.

When he returned back to them, his eyes were dead and he had locked himself in his room in the fort for almost an entire day. He had refused any visitors threatening to behead them if they disturbed him. It had made Kisame take up guard outside his friend's chambers for Naruto's safety and those of others foolish enough to disturb him.

"We have to see him" insisted Akeno furiously, earning a nod from Konan.

"No"

Konan had to place her hand on Akeno's shoulders to stop the hot-headed Uzumaki from attacking the former Kiri swordsman who was now Naruto's personal bodyguard and battle partner. Kisame was dangerous, a monster even, and she didn't want Akeno to provoke him in any manner for Kisame had made it bluntly clear to everyone that he cared about nothing except for Naruto Uzumaki. And those who threatened the King would face his wrath, no matter who they were.

"He can't just stay locked in there forever" said Konan calmly, making the shark like man look at her.

"That is not for me to decide. I have my orders to keep everyone out, so you will stay out" replied Kisame flatly,

Konan's eyebrows twitched at the defiance shown by this man. Didn't he know who she was to Naruto and what Akeno was to the King? Yet one look in Kisame's eyes showed he didn't give a single shit about either of them.

"We have a war to win and he is the King" tried Konan, earning a raised eyebrow from the older man.

"And you think he doesn't know that? He has been fighting battle after battle before you even became a ninja, he has killed more people than even I have and didn't let it affect him much knowing the people he cared for would be safe through his actions. But what if those same people die? Would you still fight?" asked Kisame seriously,

"But we're still here for him..." whispered Akeno miserably, remembering the kiss he had given her showing all his relief, pain and love for her. But not once had he spoken to her or for that matter anyone else after that save for Kisame.

She had never seen him behave like this and it scared her. She had already lost Nagato to death, she couldn't lose Naruto to his suffering.

Kisame stared at the two girls disappointedly.

"For someone so close to him, you both don't understand something important about him. In a span of weeks, he lost two brothers. One of blood and other of bond. I admit I don't know Nagato but I was there when Naruto screamed on hearing about his friend's death and I would never forget it for the rest of my life. Not only did he care for Nagato with all his heart, but he saw his friend as the successor to his legacy. Someone who could truly shape the Union to reality while Naruto acted as the Guardian of this new world order. But now..." said Kisame hesitantly,

"Then how can we help him?" asked Konan worriedly, earning a nod from Akeno as well.

"You cannot. The bond he shared with Nagato was perhaps as strong as the one he shares with you two. Nobody can help him but he himself. The King has to make the choice to get back up and create the world his friend died for" revealed Kisame,

"What if he doesn't get up?" asked Akeno hesitantly, making Kisame stare at her darkly.

"Then this war was for nothing"


He blankly stared at his own disshelved reflection in the mirror. It made him wonder how long he had remained cooped up in this room. It was a behavior unbecoming of a King, but he didn't care. He had never wanted power or glory, all he had wanted was to live with his friends.

Still for all those who had died, he had butchered Konoha's entire army. He had also ordered half of his army to march towards Amegakure to finish Iwa once and for all. With those many soldiers and the ones which Akeno sent ahead alongwith Suna and Ame forces, the Tsuchikage was finished.

He knew he had to make the bastard old man pay personally through his own hands for the atrocity Ohnoki committed on Uzu. But he had no will left to fight now.

He felt empty.

There were dark circles beneath his eyes, his hair were long and out of shape, his beard was full grown and made him appear quite gruff. Even his clothes were old.

The others may admire him for his victories, but he would always hate himself for letting two brothers of his die alone.

If only he had known securing an Alliance with Kiri and winning this war would cost him two brothers, he would never have went there consequences be damned.

He knew what his duty as King was, he knew he had to settle the matter with Akeno, he knew he had to finish Iwa and Konoha once and for all.

But he had the lost the will to fight.

Kisame had done him a great service by keeping everyone away from him lest he inflict his unjustified wrath on them. He only had himself to blame for this pain he suffered. Last he had heard, the girls had attempted to meet him only to be rejected by Kisame.

He didn't deserve such loyalty from that swordsman or the love from those two girls. He was not worthy...

The one who was deserving was dead because of him.

He nearly shouted in fury when he heard his door being opened but shut his mouth on seeing it was Kisame himself. And the man looked quite serious.

"They have found Jiraiya"

Blunt and to the point, as always. But in this case it only served to please the King whose dead blue eyes lighted up.

Kisame watched in silence as the previously dead boy suddenly came to life and started preparing himself with a scary pace. He quickly took a bath, shaved his beard, combed his hair, doned new clothes and finally took his longsword in his hand with a murderous expression evident in his eyes.

"What are you going to do?" asked Kisame calmly, atleast something had brought the King out of his misery even if it was vengeance alone.

"Justice for all the people who died when Jiraiya consented to that atrocity" said Naruto harshly,

"He did oppose the plan and left Konoha's army on realizing their crime. He has never personally killed any of your clansmen, your soldiers yes, but not your clansmen. He was your Father's teacher and Hiruzen's student, not to mention a well loved man in the Land of Fire" pointed Kisame, earning a sharp glare from Naruto.

"Why are you defending him, Kisame?" asked Naruto disappointedly,

"I am simply stating the facts. Killing Jiraiya won't bring Nagato back"

The boy flinched on hearing that remark making some of his anger diminish. It was just like Kisame, blunt and honest.

"What would you have me do? I cannot let him go..." said Naruto tiredly,

"You are King now. Decide for yourself"

A ghost of a smile appeared on Naruto's lips as he stared at his Akatsuki comrade. Many would call Kisame brash and insolent, but he never pretended to be something he was not which made him very likeable to Naruto. In the ninja world where shinobi always pretended to be someone they were not, men like Kisame were a rarity.

Still, even Kisame couldn't give him a solution as to what to do with Jiraiya. But at the very least, he was not going to behead the older man on first sight.

He would give Jiraiya a chance to explain his actions, if only for Minato's sake.

Then he would suggest the man to decide his own punishment for Naruto had a feeling Jiraiya had ghosts haunting him too.

As he walked towards the door, he gave a small smile to his loyal friend and comrade.

"Thank you, Kisame"


When he arrived outside the fort it drew many surprised but approving looks from his soldiers as they finally saw their King. To not dishearten these men and women who had fought so bravely for him, Naruto had made himself presentable atleast.

But his heart was as cold as Ice as he waited for Jiraiya to be brought before him.

He ignored Konan and Akeno's concerned looks, he would face them and address all their questions but not today.

Kisame remained standing by his side, his wise words probably the only reason behind Jiraiya even having a chance for a trial instead of instant death.

"Who captured him?" asked Naruto seriously,

"A group of men lead by Yahiko who had went downstream to bury all our soldiers who had died in the massacre. We couldn't let the birds and animals to feed on their bodies" answered Kisame,

"It was the right thing to do. Thank you again, my friend" said Naruto gratefully, but the swordsman shook his head.

"It was not me. But those two" said Kisame pointing towards Konan and Akeno.

Naruto looked at the two beautiful girls briefly before looking away unable to hold their worried gazes. All they wanted to do was help him but he had chosen to remain alone. Maybe it was the right decision or the wrong one, but it didn't lessen his guilt and he had enough of that to last a lifetime.

He was brought out of his thoughts when loud cheering started across the camp.

Frowning he looked at Kisame for an answer, but the man shrugged.

"Let the soldiers be happy..." suggested Kisame,

"Maybe..." admitted Naruto, still frowning.

He couldn't help but smile when Yahiko and his men appeared. The young boy was grinning widely as the allied soldiers praised him, Naruto even chuckled briefly on seeing Yahiko blush when two kunoichi gave him flying kisses which earned the young boy a hard bonk on the head from an irritated Mei Terumi.

The King glanced at his army and saw they were all truly happy. Perhaps for the first time in this war that had almost lasted two years.

Maybe once Iwa was defeated he could throw them all a grand victory celebration.

Whatever other thoughts that were about to appear in his wondering mind were instantly halted when his gaze landed on Jiraiya.

His icy gaze regarded the man who was surrounded by the allied soldiers with his hands cuffed. However, the King squinted his eyes on seeing something strange.

Something that had surprised many of his soldiers before they cheered even more enthusiastically than before.

Was there something heavy on Jiraiya's back?

It was Akeno's gasp that hit him first before the silver haired Uzumaki rushed forward with tears falling from her eyes.

His own eyes widened when Akeno rushed past Yahiko's group and instantly bonked the familiar mop of red hair.

Red Hair?

Naruto remained frozen as he finally saw the thing Akeno had hit first before engulfing in a fierce embrace. He couldn't believe it even if his heart so desperately wanted it to. But he was right there before his eyes...

He couldn't move, couldn't breath, couldn't blink until Akeno brought the injured person towards him by holding him in her strong arms.

"You're still in Black"

His throat felt dry on hearing those familiar words, seeing that familiar face, those kind and gentle eyes. Before he could think further, he had move forward and embraced his childhood friend in the most fiercest embrace afraid of losing him forever if he let go.

Nagato slowly brought his hand forward and placed it on his friend's back and smiled.

"How?" whispered Naruto in a choked voice full of surprise alongwith relief, and could almost feel his friend grinning ready with a cheeky retort.

"We Uzumaki are hard to kill"

And Naruto laughed harder than ever feeling as if someone had saved him with those amusing words. That an unbearable pain had been lifted from his heart.

He gently broke the hug and shamefully stared at his friend.

"I'm sorry" he whispered, knowing it would never be enough.

He had expected a slap or a punch but Nagato merely sighed.

"We were children playing at war. We made many mistakes, but atleast we are still alive" whispered Nagato sadly, remembering all the soldiers he had lost. The faces of Chiyo, Rasa and the Uzumaki children hitting him painfully in the heart.

Akeno sadly stared at the two most important men in her life. She had grown up with them but now she could see in their eyes, they were boys no more. Both of them had aged quite a lot in these past two years.

She herself was not a girl anymore and would never be the same. Just like Nagato and Naruto.

But when Naruto and Nagato extended her a hand each she happily joined them in a warm group hug.

"We're all going home soon. I promise" said Naruto fiercely,

His friends nodded gladly for they wanted the same thing after two full years of violence and pain.

Nagato then found his true friends staring at him intently with the same question visible in their eyes which made him glance at Jiraiya who was staring at the three of them with a reminiscing look in his eyes.


(Flashback: Two Weeks Ago)

War.

He had always wondered why it continued to happen over and over. Why people couldn't try to accept each other and live peacefully? No matter how long he searched, he hadn't got an answer.

Until one boy came along and made it so simple.

Peace is possible between people but only if they fight for it.

He had never forgotten those words said by that young kid till this day. Tears fell from his eyes as he remembered that boy who was his son in all but name. He had been so angry at his actions of sacrificing his life for someone who was an enemy of their home.

Yet now he understood why Minato sacrificed himself.

A Hokage protects his people from all enemies.

More tears fell from his eyes as he remembered Obito and his sacrifice for the people. The boy followed his father and went against the village but had the well being of their people in his heart.

The Will of Fire burns brightly in all of us and that is our true strength.

He collapsed to his knees as his tears turned into full blown sobs as he remembered the man who had raised him like a son. The man who had been his hero his entire life and the one whose wish of peace he couldn't fulfill. He missed Hiruzen so much.

We must make peace for the future of our people.

He remembered Tsunade's words clearly now and understood the woman he had loved all his life had been truly right all this time.

Where had it all gone wrong?

Jiraiya stared at the mass of bodies. Thousands upon thousands lying cold beside each other, their Union flags and armor still adorned to their lifeless corpses. He had briefly seen the Second Ninja War, known the horrors and pain, the suffering he had felt, Tsunade's inconsolable tears as she cried for Nawaki.

Yet it all felt so small in comparison to the horror he felt now on seeing an entire army lying dead before him. The corpses of young Uzumaki children staring at him blankly. They were so young, had so much to live for, a future.

And on his orders it was all destroyed.

He should have never allowed Shikaku's brutal strategy to be implemented. The suffering that had been unleashed was too great for his heart to bear.

Half of the Union army dead.

30,000 civilians drowned in their sleeps. A quarter of those from his own nation. What had been their fault? They had no blame in the war of shinobi yet their lives were taken from them regardless.

His commanders and entire army were rejoicing this great victory at the moment, making plans to finish what was left of the Union army that had retreated to the Mountain. They had blamed this disaster on the Union's head and Jiraiya could not stand amongst those men a moment longer so he was here in this graveyard. The rest of Nagato's forces would soon be finished, it was just a matter of time...

He had been there when that wave had arrived to drown the Union army, watching it helplessly from far away.

Had seen thousands die horribly, watched young children lose their lives, old enemies die side by side for a common cause forgetting all past misgivings and bitterness for something greater.

Had seen Nagato Uzumaki face death for his people gladly, had heard his last proud words.

Family. Duty. Honor.

The boy had lived by each of that principle his entire life and never wavered from them even in the face of death.

Nagato was a better leader than Jiraiya could ever hope to be and his sacrifice had broken the older man's heart.

"Jiraiya...The...Gallant..."

His eyes widened in shock on hearing his own name being called and saw Nagato Uzumaki staring at him with half dead eyes. He rushed towards the extremely pale looking boy whose eyes were half open.

"Make...it...quick" he whispered, sending another painful guilt through the older man's heart.

"Why do you fight, Uzumaki Nagato?" asked Jiraiya sadly, as the half dead boy stared at him firmly. Even in this state he had a strength that awed Jiraiya.

"Because...I...believe...there...can...exist...a...future...free...of...hate...we...only...have...to...keep...trying...my...death...would...not...stop...that...others...will...carry...on...my...dreams" whispered Nagato with a faint smile, remembering his two good friends and their smiles.

"I killed your people" admitted Jiraiya guiltily,

"And...I...killed...yours...was...this...bloodbath...worth...it?" asked the young Uzumaki,

Jiraiya could not look this young boy in the eye for he couldn't answer that question even if he knew the answer.

Nagato smiled.

"You...fought...for...your...nation...but...you...killed...your...own...people...to...preserve...your...dominance. What...value...does...such...power...have?" asked Nagato sadly,

"I love my village and my nation" said Jiraiya hesitantly,

"Loving one's nation is a good thing but it shouldn't make one blind to its mistakes. My own village made some grave mistakes as well, their ambition for too much power earned them the wrath of other villages, our sole ally betrayed our village's location to our enemies and butchered our people when they came for shelter" said Nagato tiredly,

Jiraiya clenched his eyes shut realizing only one man could do such a horrible thing and if he wasn't dead already Jiraiya would have killed him with his two hands. So much suffering, and for what?

"What makes your war so justified apart from revenge?" asked Jiraiya curiously, as Nagato looked at the clearing sky.

"It started as revenge, yes. But overtime we realized there is so much to this world more than just revenge. That instead of using our powers to bring pain and suffering we could use it to bring peace and make the world a better place" confessed Nagato,

Jiraiya's eyes widened on hearing this young boy say that.

"What makes you think you can get peace? It is not possible" said Jiraiya harshly, remembering all the death and destruction that had happened.

"Then...I...guess...we'll...just...have...to...try...harder" said Nagato with a faint smile,

Tears slipped from Jiraiya's eyes as the young boy's breathing started to turn more fainter. His eyes closing even further.

"The...Union...will...work...Jiraiya...my...friends...will...see...to...that...I...promise"

"How?"

Nagato smirked weakly.

"We...Uzumaki...can...be...quite...stubborn"

Jiraiya smiled at the boy's words. This was not some cold hearted teenager who just wanted to kill, he was different just like the people Jiraiya had admired his entire life.

But Nagato was going to die despite his strong Uzumaki genes.

"What will happen to my people now?" he asked,

"I don't know. Naruto will be mad when he learns about my defeat but my friend is not a monster like your people say he is. You have seen that, have you not?" asked Nagato calmly, looking right into the white haired man's eyes.

"Yes" admitted Jiraiya, remembering Naruto's attempt to make peace despite all the wrong done to his people. That boy was a little different but still a son of Minato and had inherited his father's values. And only Jiraiya's blind loyalty to his nation had stopped him from seeing that.

If he had then all this bloodshed wouldn't have happened.

"Naruto is an honorable man. He will not harm the innocent, I promise" said Nagato with conviction,

"I know. He is Minato's son"

Nagato was losing what little strength he had left when Jiraiya's hands slipped under his back and the man picked him in his arms.

"What are you doing?" he asked in surprise, weren't they enemies?

Jiraiya had a regretful look in his eyes as he stared at the sky.

"I was once told that one day I shall be the one who could guide the one who shall bring peace to this war torn world"

"Jiraiya..."

"You're a good leader and remind me of the people I have loved and admired"

"Jiraiya, I..."

"I wasn't able to fulfill Hiruzen-sensei's wish nor support Tsunade, Obito or Minato. Nor could I find it in my heart to accept Naruto. I lost faith in people, in my dreams of peace, and in myself" confessed Jiraiya sadly,

Their eyes met and Nagato was stunned to see the look of determination in Jiraiya's eyes.

"However, I believe you can walk a different path than me and create a different future. I shall believe in you, Uzumaki Nagato"