Final chapter for Part 2, let's go.
"Four years."
"No fucking way. You're not sending me away. Not now." Spittle flew from Naruto's mouth but he didn't care. Uchiha Itachi stood in front of him, resting his back on the rich wooden Hokage desk and not making eye contact, something that infuriated the blonde further.
The Great Journey
"Why not?" Itachi turned, fixing dark eyes on the huge weapon that had once belonged to Momochi Zabuza that was now held limply in Uzumaki Naruto's tired but firm hands.
"Why not? Why fucking not? You're going to cart me off to who-knows-where for four years, while Kakashi's got Sasuke and the Akatsuki running amok and annexing entire villages. I'm not fucking scuttling with my tail behind my ass, and that's final."
"You're not scuttling, Uzumaki." Itachi wasn't his friendly self to the boy, but Naruto didn't care. He straightened and walked over to them, and Sakura felt a hint of fear, as irrational as that was at the moment. This was Uchiha Itachi at his cold and calculating best and she knew, no matter how much Naruto would shout and spit, this wasn't something they were getting around.
"You're...how do I put it," he knelt next to the Executioner's Blade, running his hands across the smooth surface, "playing a little game of Hide and Seek. You've got a bounty on you now, Assassin."
Naruto stiffened immediately and looked down at Itachi. "And I would do it again if you put me in the same situation once more."
Sakura drew a breath. There it was. The irrevocable, inexorable change that had stolen over the boy she had known. Or had she? She saw Itachi nod back.
"I don't fault you, Uzumaki. I'm merely saying you're slowly going to be hunted, at least in regions around Kiri. Not that that's a big deal, but I want you to understand something from my perspective, Naruto. Please..." He stood, motioning at the window. Sakura sighed. They were going to talk it out. A sudden wave of misery hit her. Naruto was going to leave.
"Give me some time." She looked up, Naruto had loosened up again, and was staring down at his new weapon. "Let me get some things sorted out. It's what, seven now. Let's do two in the afternoon, at the Hokage monument?" Naruto glanced at her as he spoke.
Itachi smiled back. "Alright. Oh, and-" Naruto and Sakura had turned but stopped when he paused. They both cried out when two heavy pouches hit their heads.
"Watch it, Hokage-sama, you might damage my head-" Naruto bent, picking up the pouch, but stopped as if shot when he read the label on it. Six thousand Ryo.
"S-Six thou-"
"Good job on the mission, Naruto, Sakura. The piece of Eden is invaluable, but six thousand a pop is all I can do, it's an A-Rank after all."
Naruto swallowed, picking up the pouch that weighed more than all hitherto mission earnings put together.
Itachi laughed. "I'll call you when I want another village wiped."
Sakura stared at them incredulously. That was wildly inappropriate, yet it didn't faze Naruto in the slightest.
"Sure." Naruto grinned back.
There it was, irrevocable, inexorable.
They stepped out of the door, Sakura turned to talk to Naruto but was interrupted when she saw a figure clad in white walking up the corridor.
"Master Altair!"
"Young Naruto, you seem well." It was a sudden moment, but Naruto bounded up and latched on to him in a rare show of affection. "You are changing." Altair's soft voice spoke words Sakura disliked, yet comfort was inherent in his tone. "You will leave soon, I presume."
"Yeah."
"Then we shall have to talk before you leave. But for now, I have something important for the Hokage." Altair detached himself and walked away, smiling politely at her as he passed. Sakura looked at Naruto quizzically, who shot back a non-committal look. She caught up to him quickly, and the two walked out of the Hokage building.
They walked in silence, past the restaurants, the winding streets, the shops. People stole glances at the abnormal weapon he was carrying two-handed. (It really was heavy) The blonde was looking around, gazing at things with a newfound interest. Konoha, like Kiri, was a village with men, women, children, ninja, Kage; And there were many other villages, each with their enemies, allies, motivations. Suddenly, the enormity of dropping a village to its knees seemed to strike him. It was a web of connections, and he'd disrupted it-
"Naruto! Your house's that way. Why're you cutting a right, idiot?"
Naruto started, looking at the street he'd gone down. "But aren't we dropping you off first, Sakura-chan?"
She shook her head and continued walking. Naruto stopped, frowning, before catching up. "Don't you want to meet your parents? You haven't been home yet from the mission, Sakura."
She looked at him, a smile. "I'll have time with my parents, Naruto, but you'll be gone come tomorrow."
He knew, she knew. He didn't know how to feel about it, so he pushed it aside. They continued in silence. It was odd, Naruto thought. It was such a comfortabe silence as he opened his door and they peeked in. Connor's mattress was rolled neatly to the side as always. There was some dust collecting on the table, and Sakura immediately grabbed a towel from the kitchen to dust it. He placed the Blade carefully underneath his 'drawing board', before looking at it.
Sakura looked at it too, frowning. "Are you seriously going to start using it? You can't even carry the thing around without drawing attention."
Naruto nodded in acknowledgement, but he had a smile on his face. "I know just the man for the job, actually. The only contraint is time."
"Who do you mean?"
"Ssssss," he hissed suddenly, startling the girl. "Seals, little Sakura-chan."
"It can happen, right?" Naruto looked up at the pale man eagerly.
"Yeah, it can happen, right Orochimaru-sensei?" The second line was a snicker. The woman was seated comfortably on the bench under the trees next to Orochimaru, while Jiraiya was snoozing under said tree. Tsunade was amused by the boy's earnestness.
"Sssss, it's possible, but the sealing cannot be external, Naruto-kun. I'm afraid you'll have to learn to seal and un-seal on the fly, although since you're very aware of exactly what you want going in and out of the seal, it's possible."
"Fuck yes. So I have seals for every single weapon, see? I'm walking around, normal-like, nothing on me. Then poof, a clone will manifest and undo the seal on Sasayaki, the another for the trench knives, then another for the Executioner's Blade. And now I'm in combat with three-"
"Hold it, mop-top," The woman was starting to take an interest now. "Don't let the possibility of something rule out pragmatism, boy. It would be far more seamless if you had your toothpick of a sword and your Braider's Silver knives on you and manualy hand them to clones."
Naruto frowned at her, irritated at first but unable to resist the argument. "Fine, I'll give you that, Granny. So Executioner's Blade goes into a seal. But-" He smiled at her triumphantly. "Six thousand Ryos say I'm going to carry a whole bunch of trench knives, and a second Sasayaki. At least, three out of the six thousand does."
Tsunade snorted. "Mop-top's out here being a mobile armaments dealer. Careful you don't materialize one of those right on top of your head." She got up, but it didn't dampen the blonde's mood. He looked alternatingly at the two of them. "So it'll work. It'll fucking work, right?"
Tsunade looked at Orochimaru, grinning. "I'll give the kid four years, and he'll barely be able to seal and un-seal the Momochi bastard's weapon."
Orochimaru looked at her seriously, unblinking. "I'll give him one, seeing as I'm accompanying him on his little expedition; Under Itachi's orders, of course."
Tsunade snorted again, while Naruto was struck dumb. The whoop came a second later.
Dawn seemed to break cruelly early that day, to Uzumaki Naruto. He woke, and he felt a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach.
'I'm leaving.'
He walked out slowly. Connor was sitting up amidst the darkness. Naruto suspected he'd just woken and was meditating, as usual. He walked out into the balcony, brushing aside the bangs that seemed to fall over his face in the wind.
"So I'll be Konoha's envoy, corralling peace with Taki, Kumo, Suna and a bunch of other important villages?" He was seated next to Itachi atop the Sandaime's likeness in the Monument.
"Yeah. Orochimaru's instrumental here. That is your plan for the final year, you see. The first three years you'll be travelling to lands outside of our nation, but doing the same, as an envoy of our side. You're leaving from a port at Kuni."
"And if I meet the Akatsuki?"
"Where you're going, you shouldn't ideally. Having said that, if you do, kill them or escape." Itachi had his gaze trained on the village. Naruto considered what he'd heard. He remembered Kisame's rasp, calling Naruto one of their own. Could he kill even one of them? "You need to get stronger. Mentally, emotionally, physically...everything."
Naruto nodded back, the words galvanizing a steel-like determination within him.
"And then?"
"We have a war coming, Naruto. We need peace among the nations to precede it."
The words struck him like a punch to the gut.
Itachi fixed him with the gaze this time. "But every generation has seen war, has felt it. We're in the midst of one bigger than our inter-village squabbles, that's all. This one's stretching across timelines." Itachi was smiling. Naruto had a shrewd feeling that this man truly enjoyed this.
"And Sasuke?"
The smile turned to bitterness. A strangled whisper. "I- I don't know, Uzumaki. We'll have to get him back, but we can't without a full-scale concentrated effort. And that effort might as well be...war."
Naruto's brows furrowed. His eyes pricked, a tell-tale sign of-
No. He wouldn't. 'See the bigger picture.'
"And the Assassins?"
"Connor will be with you on your travels. I can't afford to lose anyone else, Naruto. Altair, Ezio, Haytham, Connor, Edward...they're the five most precious pieces in this game." Itachi was speaking as if he was teaching, as if he wanted Naruto to understand the board's layout the same we he himself did.
"What'll you do with them?"
Itachi shook his head. "I can't tell you that now. I have inklings, but I can't say more."
Naruto understood, yet no amount of understanding could've shielded him from the shock of the next words the Hokage spoke.
"Maria'll be here soon, with another piece. She's travelling from Masyaf. Altair tells me you know her well."
Naruto started, looking at him with shock first, then sorrow. "I'll miss her, won't I? It'll take her a month. Damn."
Itachi smiled sadly. "I'm sorry, Uzumaki."
Naruto shook head in response, dismissing the apology or the need for one. "So four pieces...am I touching Uzushio too?"
"No." Itachi's voice was firm. "Under no account will you be skirting around Uzushio. There's some incredibly dicey happenings around there, and we aren't getting our hands burnt walking in blind."
There was a small silence, with Naruto processing all the new information. He was charting out a small journey in his head. "You think Kakashi'll sit still for four years?"
"No. He'll be doing much the same things we are. Corralling allies, annexing villages. This is a waiting game, Naruto, and while we wait we stockpile and stockpile and stockpile. The first one to charge out..." he pointed a kunai from inside his robe, stretching his hand out and pointing at a dark bird flying a distance away from them.
"...Will get blown." He threw it, and it skewered the bird in one go. Instead of falling limply, the bird dispersed in a mass of darkness. "Don't worry, he's one of my projections."
Naruto looked at him in awe, silence took over them once again. They sat there for more time than Naruto would've thought Itachi would spare for him, but it was a pleasant surprise all the same.
"I...I don't think I can be Hokage, Sakura-chan."
It was testament to the solemness in his voice that Sakura didn't rebuke him immediately. A Naruto who didn't want to be Hokage, to her, just wasn't Naruto, Assassin or killer he may be.
"Why not?"
It was four, yet afternoon didn't want to let go. Naruto liked it. It was like the sun was doing its extra bit to make the day longer for him. They were in their training grounds, and no one but them.
"Because I realize it means I'll have to let...go. I saw Itachi looking at his face on the monument. It should've been such a proud moment for him, and yet the momentary bitterness on his face; I'll have to let go of wanting to protect people I love, and doing things for the greater good. I really need to love everyone, Sakura-chan. And that's- that's scary. If you, or Fuu or Ezio or anyone I know were in danger, I'd go mad, rescuing you would be all I'd think about. And yet you have to do the right thing. You have to wait, to adjust poise, and breathe slowly. It's...the ultimate act of selflesness."
Sakura listened in earnest. It was the most he'd ever spoken in one go. This was Naruto at one of his most vulnerable moments, a moment where the innocent purity of a dream was slowly being defined by the imperfect, sharp edges of reality. And it broke her heart.
"I dunno...I just doubt if I'm even capable."
He stood, and she stood by him. "You'll make it, idiot."
It was such a short line, just a few words, but the carefree, assured tone seemed apparent to Naruto. He turned, hugging her awkwardly before she wrapped her arms around him too.
"I'll miss you."
"That's okay. I'll be back sooner'n ya' think. You'll be killing it at Medical Research by then."
Sakura drew back, surprised. "How did you...?"
"I saw how quickly you picked up healing, and how interested you were in those strange liquids Orochimaru was producing. You have a flair, Sakura."
Sakura laughed. "And you'll be brandishing a hundred weapons, won't you?"
"Yeah well, hundred's a bit of a stretch, I'd put it at eighty myself."
"So you're not getting to teach me after all. You happy?"
They had sparred for a while, it was almost understood that any serious talk would only succeed it and not be held prior.
"Shush kid, don't make it sound as if I didn't want to teach you. Anyway, you got four years. Get familiar with your elemental release and we'll have more productive interactions when you get back."
"I'll hold you to that, Asuma-sensei. We're killing Kakashi when I'm back."
"I'll hold you to that, Naruto-boy."
Asuma sucked in the cigarette, exhaling the smoke. They were sitting next to each other at Team Ten's deserted training ground. He held the cigarette loosely in his fingers, until he felt it slip. Naruto held the cigarette in his fingers before placing it in his mouth and inhaling. He dragged for a second before breaking out into a cough.
"Fucked habit for a ninja, sensei."
"Agreed. Glad you realize it, kid." He took the cigarette back, staring at the specks of orange on it. He dropped and stamped it with his foot, before producing a casket of leaves.
"I've seen Edward chew on this!"
Asuma nodded. "Yeah, he suggested it, actually. An intervention of sorts. Don't want to be coughing my lungs out when I'm stamping the last bits of life outta' Kakashi, you see."
Naruto laughed.
"Come now, lad, take a sip. I would have in a trice, at your age."
Edward's eyes were twinkling and Ezio was smiling. Connor was the only one who wasn't amused with his Grandfather's coercing of the younger boy.
"It's good the boy has sense, drink seems to have muddled your brain, old man." Haytham's tone was clipped but the jab was a good one.
The four of them and Naruto were in Naruto's balcony. It was a cool evening, still bright at even seven. The sun was a receding pink sluicing between clouds.
"So you and Connor will set off tomorrow, with that man, Orochimaru?" Ezio was leaning over the balcony. His ankles were moving as he tapped his foot to a cadence.
"Yeah. Four years." Naruto didn't have to mask the apprehension in his voice. For some reason it felt like he'd just met this lot yesterday, and he was already leaving. He wanted to learn so much more from Edward, from Haytham, and now-
"It'll be a grand old adventure, lad!" Edward was light, happy and lived in the moment. Naruto wanted to learn that too.
"I have lots to learn from you." He spoke to no one in particular, and to all the adults around him. Ezio took the bottle from Edward and had a swig. "I have taught you the ropes, figlio. Now you tell your own story."
"He's right, lad. Besides, Connor can teach you things we and you don't know. You would do well to make sure your appetite to learn doesn't flutter off in those foreign winds."
"Nah, it won't."
Haytham motioned quietly for the bottle. "We're all stuck here, anyway. Except Connor."
At that, both Edward and Haytham shot uncannily similar jealous glances at Connor. Connor raised his hands. "You two have had your fair share of seafaring."
They looked off into the horizon almost synchronizedly, leaving only Naruto to look down. He paused, biting his lip before he took the bottle from Haytham's hands gently and downed a small amount. It tasted bitter and strange, and felt warm going down his throat.
"Disgusting."
Edward and Ezio rose against the remark, while Connor and Haytham let out one of those rare laughs. When silence finally settled again, it was a canvas to the quiet hum of Uzumaki Naruto's voice singing an old, yet familiar tune.
"Narrate and forget we're adults
In your mind we're young.
Tell us about Heaven and Hell,
About the bird that never flew in his life
Help us understand the meaning of the world..."
And four others listened.
Next morning came bright and brisk. Those at Konoha's gate were informed of a small squad's departure, but they still hadn't expected a small regiment to assemble to see Uzumaki Naruto, Orochimaru and an Assassin off.
"Thought you'd just fuck off without seeing us then, eh?"
Anko smacked Naruto's head.
"Ooooh, I'm sorry, mum." He was dressed in his old gray hoodie. Orochimaru had sealed the Executioner's Blade, the extra sword and the trench knives within himself, something that made Naruto even more eager to get competent at sealing. Sasayaki was strapped firmly to his back, with his Hidden Blade secured firmly under the sleeve.
Ino, Hinata, Kiba, Chouji, Shikamaru, Shino and Asuma were all there. Ino looked at him reprimandingly. "It'd have been nice if you'd told us yourself you know."
"I'm so sorry you guys, I just- I had tons to do, pack and-"
"Ah, shut it, kid. That's alright." Anko was grinning. "Come back with some muscle on you, or you'll still be curb-stomp-able as ever."
The Uzumaki grinned back. It was strange, the muted sorrow of yesterday was now replaced with a rising excitement to see and experience a journey of a scale he'd never been part of before. "I'll see you guys. Keep Konoha safe."
There was a rising chorus of "See ya!" from the group, with a few remaining silent and observing. He turned, and Orochimaru and Connor followed. Naruto inhaled Konoha's woody scent and walked, only to stop immediately, feeling a strong chakra pulse in close proximity. Orochimaru chuckled.
"Still can't detect Genjutsu, Naruto?" Itachi's voice preceded his appearance out of thin air. Altair was standing behind him, a serene smile. The Konoha group bubbled with 'Ooh's, immediately receding into silence.
Naruto grinned back. "Yeah no, if I could, you damn well shouldn't be Hokage."
"You won't be able to hide behind my prowess when you get back, Uzumaki. Anyway, here's something for you." He drew close, almost an embrace, and when he pulled back, Naruto had the dark green Konoha vest around him. "You've made Chuunin. Congratulations, I suppose. Represent us well, Uzumaki Naruto."
Naruto smiled, surprised albeit pleasantly so.
"Come," Altair spoke. "I shall escort you to the Land of Waves. You can produce your farewells on the way, young Assassin."
"Land of Waves, eh?" Naruto smiled up at his first teacher as they started walking. He turned, walking backwards and waving at the group who all waved back enthusiastically. (He was very careful not to trip, because it would look all sorts of un-cool if he did.) "That's where you first met Ezio, remember, Master?"
"I do."
"Things've changed since then."
"I know the feeling, young Naruto. And once it starts changing, it feels like things can never, ever come back to the way they once were, doesn't it?"
Naruto nodded, looking into his gray eyes. His words felt tailor-made.
"Yet what mitigates that feeling is all around you. Two of them are walking behind us, and there is a whole village, and Masyaf...Always hold them close, tefel."
Naruto nodded, swallowing. Those words had a strange effect on him. It was the truth, it was obvious, yet it felt like Altair had figured something out for him, a sudden, easy source of relief.
"Nothing Is True." Schnick. The Hidden Blade descended momentarily and receded again, a pleasing mechanic that never failed.
"Everything Is Permitted," Connor completed in his low, smooth voice, walking up to them. Orochimaru was smiling silently as they walked through the forest at Konoha's outskirts and into the great journey that awaited them.
A Tale Ends, An Odyssey Begins
Drip.
Drip.
The droplets of water dripped down incessantly. Obito snarled, yet it was Hatake Kakashi's mouth that twisted. They'd gotten Kiri, and killed one of his best members, Hoshigaki Kisame.
The ethereal blue light danced in the cave, painting walls now and then with mishappen shadows.
Yet it mattered not. He only had to wake his five. That was all was needed. All of Uchiha Itachi's efforts would surely, surely go to vain. He ran his hands across the smooth fabric of his clothing before standing suddenly.
Cesare Borgia lay still in the first seat, eyes closed. Edward Thatch inhabited the second. Desmond Miles, lean and pale lay in the third, and Uchiha Sasuke in the fourth trapped in a Genjutsu powerful enough to outlive its user.
Uchiha Madara had passed silently, and his body had been safely preserved, for Obito inside Kakashi's head he would walk again one day. The fifth seat was then occupied.
A strong, tall man lay in it, his hair strewn across his face, a dark garb across his torso.
Look to the stars,
Beyond the mountains and the wild sea.
In a land far, far away, across the sea, She sat still. Her eyes were closed. All was placid, all was calm. Morning wore with it a peaceful, happy garb. Yet there were hints of movement. Shifting winds, drifting sails.
She opened her eyes suddenly, finding the sense of purpose.
"He has arrived," She spoke, looking up at the scarred man. He was standing next to her, dark robes flapping slightly in the morning breeze. She had rescued him once, a long time ago, yet only a moment to her. He had changed, from boy to teen to man, yet she had been ever the same.
"Will you come? This journey might take you back to a place you wanted to forget." Her voice was undulating and had an odd weight on certain syllables; a strange accent.
The man looked away into the horizon. "I am not the same boy. I've made peace with everything. If you think you know how to save the world, then I shall follow you. Although I sense we might be the third party in a two-way struggle."
She snorted. She'd never cared for two-way struggles, especially when there were people to save. "Then we leave. It will be years yet by the time we reach." An eagle soared in the air high above, circling before it dived suddenly, gracefully coming to a regal rest on the woman's outstretched arm.
Beautiful island,
Bathed in the rising sun.
Faith's hand will guide you,
Kassandra started walking, and the man who had once been a boy called Uchiha Obito followed.
Travelling paths alone,
Back to the warmth of home.
End.
A long time ago, I'd wanted the fifth to be Jacob Frye, and Evie is somehow still around to rescue Obito. But then Odyssey came out, and Kassandra vs Alexios played out perfectly. What will this third party do!? Complications, complications.
Phew, it feels like I've successfully guided my story out of the icky teen phase. I'm so so excited for Part Three! Also I'm changing the story rating to M, I hope you guys're okay with that change. Doesn't feel like a 'T'-rated story anymore, and it certainly won't be in Part Three, what with everyone ageing four years.
Timeskip time! Every character that I wanted introduced in the story is now here, and that sits beautifully for part three. I'll take a small break, maybe two weeks or so, to sit down and plan it so that it doesn't feel like I'm pulling shit out of my ass.
Spyash2 : There are some tight twists I have in mind, I just hope I can pull it off as well!
Gamelover41592 : Things will be cranked up to eleven in the coming chapters :D
See ya' round! Leave reviews by please :)
