Ch. 15: Pain

Sasuke dug through the rubble frantically. Sakura was under there somewhere. Where was she, damn it. He refused to believe the worst. Not when he hadn't used the words she deserved to hear. He hadn't told her the most important thing yet. Until he did, she couldn't die. His mangekyo sharingan was active as if that would do him any good at this point. He should have used it sooner damn it. But it still exhausted him to use it too much and he hadn't wanted to over do it. Not with the curse mark threatening his every move. But if he had then maybe Sakura wouldn't be buried under rubble right now.

Miyuki couldn't even get her rage to burn over her pain. Her world had been stripped from her for a third time. She wanted that fire to get her moving but couldn't think beyond the fact that Kakashi was gone. Once again she'd failed to protect those she loved. First her clan, then Sasuke when Orochimaru came after him, and now Kakashi.

Pain looked towards the sounds of Sasuke throwing rubble around with sympathy. He turned his gaze to where Miyuki held Kakashi. "Losing a loved one is the worst kind of pain in this world."

"Shut up!" Naruto shouted. "You have no right. Sasuke and Miyuki already suffered enough, now you take more from them and have the nerve to rub salt in it like you understand? I will kill you for this."

"I do understand. I also know pain." Pain turned his strange eyes on Naruto. "That is what created me in the first place."

As Pain explained the facts about the Land of Rain and how it suffered as a battle ground for the larger nations it bordered, Naruto felt his resolve begin to crumble. Pain was right. Such actions only spawned more hate. It would just lead to more like Pain. More like himself. More like Sasuke. Even Miyuki and Kakashi were on that list. When did it end? How did it end?

"So tell me, you want to end the hatred. That is what you said. What is your answer? Did you find what Jiraiya-sensei has still failed to find? Is his trust in you valid?" Pain mocked.

Still, Naruto couldn't meet his eyes. "I don't know."

"Then you should submit to my answer. Be relieved. This means your pain will soon end. You will no longer be a monster."

"Shut up." Naruto's blue eyes still held strength. "What makes you think being a jinchuriki makes me a monster? The fox isn't just some beast. Don't try to use that as an excuse."

"Then don't be relieved if that is what you wish. Either way, my answer is still the only one anyone has for ending this cycle of war." Pain held a hand over Naruto. "It is time to go."

Before Pain could leave with Naruto, someone jumped into the fray. Hinata forced Pain away from the jinchuriki. Her pale eyes hard and determined. "Stay away from him." She took a fighting stance. "I won't let you hurt him anymore."

"Hinata, no," Naruto shouted. He wouldn't be able to stand it if she ended up like Kakashi or Sakura. "You can't fight him."

"I have to." She snapped back. The meek girl who hid at the sight of him was no where to be seen. In her place was a shinobi who would do whatever she must to defend those she loved. "I can't just stand there and do nothing while he takes you away to die."

"Hinata," Naruto wasn't sure what to say. "Why? Look, don't worry about me. I don't want anyone else to get hurt."

"Unfortunately, you've asked for the one thing I can't give you, Naruto. I can't help but worry." Hinata's expression softened. "You probably don't remember, but you saved me once. Before we were even in the academy. Ever since I've watched you. You make me want to be better. It was because of you that I was able to stand against Neji and walk with pride again." She took a fighting stance. "So this time, I'll protect you. As long as I can do that, I don't care if I die here."

With her byakugan active, Hinata waited for only a moment before striking. She wasn't as dumb as the others thought. Her attack wasn't for Pain. Instead, she struck the rod imprisoning Naruto's hands, knocking it free. Naruto was able to move them again. Pain used the almighty push to knock her back. She pushed to her feet to fight again.

Inside Naruto, only the fox knew the turmoil rolling through his jinchuriki. He also knew what Naruto didn't. Hinata had seen Naruto long before anyone else ever had, even Iruka. The fox lifted his head. "I'll come after all that hate inside you someday, Fox." Naruto's words on the way here rang through him. Then what he'd said to Pain just moments ago. "I know the fox isn't just some beast."

Shifting, he sat up and spoke to Naruto, "My name is Kurama."

Naruto's eyes widened.

"If you like, I will share all of my power with you." Kurama held a fist through his bars.

"Why?"

"Don't get sentimental. It's enough that I am willing now, isn't it?"

In his mind, Naruto walked up to the cage and bumped his fist to Kurama's. With a grin, he opened the seal. "Please. Just help me save them."

Kurama filled Naruto with his power. Chakra that danced like flames covered the Jinchuriki's body and black marking appeared on his body and clothes. Using his hands and the tailed beast cloak, Naruto pulled the rest of the rods out. Shoving to his feet, he charged at Pain before he could get to Hinata.

"Don't you dare touch her," he shouted as his fist connected to Pain's face.

Hinata let go of the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Good. He was back. Turning, she ran over to the still searching Sasuke. "I'll look for her, Sasuke. My byakugan is better for this anyway. You go help Naruto."

Sasuke looked at her then the rubble then Naruto. Finally he forced himself to trust her and nodded. "I'll count on you then."

Pain was pulling out all the power he had now. Sasuke tamed the rage inside as he jumped into the fight with Naruto. Don't let it swallow you, he reminded himself. Use it. Don't be controlled by it. He wasn't sure how, but he found himself able to use a power he hadn't been able to before. A bluish flame like skeleton formed around him as he hurried towards Naruto and Pain. With each step, it became a more solid form. When he finally reached the battle and struck, it was with a fully formed Susanoo fist. Sasuke felt a moment of pride at finally being able to complete his Susanoo. Pain gave an enormous push that nearly knocked Naruto down as the giant chakra warrior stumbled under the force of Pain's almighty push. Sasuke braced himself, bringing up his susanoo's hands to shield Naruto.

Kurama informed Naruto that they didn't have much time because it was their first time working together. Their chakra's weren't quite aligned properly yet. Naruto relayed this to Sasuke.

"Then we better make this next attack count," Sasuke replied, drawing back his susanoo's arrow. "I don't think I can hold this up long either. But we have this window. That last push was bigger so he has to wait longer."

"Then let's get him."

Naruto leapt into the air as high as he could. He formed a rasenshuriken as large as he could. Sasuke let loose a black flame arrow. Naruto threw the rasenshuriken to meet up with Sasuke's arrow. Pain tried to dodge, but sand wrapped around his legs and held him in place just long enough. The attack connected. Both Naruto and Sasuke began to fall through the air. Clouds of sand came up and caught them both. Gently, Gaara lowered them to the ground.

The moment he was able, Naruto walked over to the now fallen Pain. He slowly pulled each and every rod out. With the last one, he stabbed himself and tracked the chakra back to the source. He looked over at Sasuke. The Uchiha was back at the building where Hinata had just pulled out Sakura. From here, Naruto couldn't' tell if she was unconscious or worse. He wasn't sure he was ready for the answer just yet. By the way Sasuke hesitated, neither was he.

Sasuke knelt next to Sakura, shaking fingers going for her pulse.

Naruto looked away quickly. It didn't help. The silence behind him spoke volumes. He took in a deep breath and let it out. That didn't help either. Rage still consumed his mind. He had to get it handled and quickly. There wasn't much time. He saw Miyuki still kneeling next to Kakashi. Tears on her face as she cried silently. Naruto pulled his eyes away and found himself looking at Gaara.

"What next?" Gaara asked as he approached them. "All but the final Pain has been defeated."

"I go see the last one," Naruto answered, looking in the direction of the final Pain. His resolve solidified. He would make sure to save everyone, including Pain. Fists clenched, he forced the anger that burned in him at all the devastation Pain had caused aside. There was no place for it in this particular battle now. "Do me a favor and keep an eye on Sasuke and Miyuki. Don't let them do something stupid while I'm gone."

Gaara's eyes narrowed. "Won't you need back up?"

Hinata shook her head in denial. "No. You can't go alone. Not after a fight like that."

"I can do this one without anyone. I think I have some idea of what to say now." He gave Hinata one of his goofy grins. "I'll replenish my sage chakra on the way there. When I get back, you and me need to have to talk."

Hinata's eyes widened but she nodded. "Just make sure you come back."

Naruto looked at Gaara to see if the Kazekage would argue further.

Gaara hesitated before agreeing to let Naruto go alone. He walked over to Sasuke. No words were said. He simply stood silent guard over the mourning Uchiha as Naruto hurried off to confront the final Pain.

In the distance, red sharingan eyes closed in silent prayer for his brother's pain. He'd been too late to prevent it. Clenching his fist, he swore to himself he wouldn't let anyone hurt Sasuke again. It was time to deal with the biggest threat before it could finish it's plans. Turning, he hurried away to meet back up with Kisame.

Katsuyu kept them all updated on Naruto's progress with the final Pain. Even with that, they still stared in amazement as green lights began to shoot through the sky. One hit Sakura. Sasuke jerked, his eyes going red in silent threat. Then her eyes opened, meeting his surprised red ones.

"I thought…" She pushed herself up, examining her body. "What happened?"

Miyuki had looked over at Sakura when the green ball of chakra hit her. Despite her relief that Sakura was okay, she couldn't bring herself to smile or feel joy. Her hands on Kakashi gripped his vest tightly. She nearly jumped out of her skin when someone covered her hands with their own. Turning, she saw Kakashi was looking at her with concern.

"Stop crying," he ordered her hoarsely.

She couldn't obey that order as much as she wanted too. Instead, tears fell more freely as she wrapped her arms around him. "Thank goodness. I thought I'd lost you for good."

He wrapped an arm around her. "So did I. So how come I am alive?"

"It was Naruto?" Lady Katsuyu told them. She explained as best she could what had transpired between Naruto and Pain, who's real name was Nagato. How Nagato decided to trust in Naruto after all, just as Jiraiya did even now. When Kakashi said he would go help Naruto back to the village, Katsuyu told them that Jiraiya and Tsunade were already on their way to assist the jinchuriki.

Sakura looked at Sasuke again. Gently, she brushed fingers over his tear streaked face. "Sasuke?"

"I thought I lost you." He didn't bother stopping the new tears that came. "I never got to tell you that I love you."

Her green eyes went wide then softened. "You don't have to say it, Sasuke. I know."

He pulled her into a tight hug. She held him, letting him take comfort in the fact that she was alive and well. He was making a note that he would owe Naruto for life. Not that he didn't already.

Miyuki let out a relieved breath. She didn't think Sasuke would have ever recovered from losing Sakura. As it was the medic would be dealing with his nightmares of those moments he had lost her. Miyuki gave Kakashi a narrow eyes glare. Sasuke wouldn't be the only one having nightmares either. Kakashi smiled at her reassuringly and touched her face. Sighing, she pushed to her feet. Kakashi did the same.

"As sweet as all this is," Miyuki began with an apologetic smile for Sasuke and Sakura, "we should go make sure Naruto is okay."

Sasuke stood, helping Sakura to her feet. Once she was standing, he kept her hand in his. They joined the entire village in greeting their knucklehead back. Sasuke and Sakura found themselves being pushed over to join him as they were all three hailed as heroes. Tsunade leaned on Jiraiya relieved the fight was finally over. She'd expended a lot of medical chakra today and she was wore out.

"No one from the foundation is here," Jiraiya pointed out to her, slipping an arm around her shoulders to help hold her up. She'd done so much healing today.

"No. They aren't," she agreed. Neither of them said anything more about it for the time being. There would be enough time to deal with it. This was a time for celebration. They had survived and won. Not only won but lost no one in the winning thanks to Naruto. "But that was the head of the Akatsuki. Let's enjoy the moment while it lasts. Tomorrow is soon enough to jump into the fray again."

Jiraiya nodded in agreement as he gave his student a proud smile. "They've all come so far."

She nodded. "I wonder what the Itachi and Kisame will do now. They and Konan are the last of the Akatsuki. Sasori has returned to Suna. Deidara died at Kakashi's hands during the attempt to kidnap Gaara. Hidan and Kakuzu were killed by Killer B in an attempt to take the eight tails from him."

"What happened to waiting until tomorrow to jump into the fray again?"

"It's just that, Itachi is still out there and I have questions."

"Those things Orochimaru said."

She nodded, eyes on Sasuke.

"We'll figure it out," Jiraiya assured her. "Tomorrow."

Sighing, Tsunade let it go. "Yes. Tomorrow."