Kei-Kei Yuki: Ladies and Gentlemen, it has been so long! How is everyone doing? Hopefully well and enjoying some good BBQ! Good news, the part which you all been waiting for is finally here and let me tell you. Finishing that movie was not easy! But I got through it, and here you guys go!
When I was writing this chapter and in order to get a better feel. I listen to: Naruto OST Kimimaro Theme for Naruko and Toneri scenes. For Sasuke and Naruko big scene I played: BTS 'Your Eyes Tell'
Pairings: Naruko x Sasuke, Fem!Iruka x Kakashi
Beta: Ana-DaughterofHades
The Last (pt.7)
When Naruko finally regained awareness, the blonde immediately sat up and took in her surroundings. "Where the heck am I? Some kind of castle?" The elaborate interior of the place was what caused Naruko to jump to this conclusion.
"This room will only belong to you temporarily before the wedding begins," Naruko heard a smooth, silky voice say and she turned her head.
"You again? Where am I? And what do you mean by wedding? Just who is getting married?!" Naruko's barrage of questions made Toneri smile as he took a seat close to the blonde.
"You truly are cute, Naru-chan! I feel so lucky to have such a cute bride all to myself." Toneri stared fondly at the blonde, despite her apparent dislike of him.
"Bride? I heard you mention that once before. Why do you keep calling me that, and why can't I access my chakra?"
Reaching out, Toneri softly caressed Naruko's scarred cheek. The warmth of her skin sent his heart racing. "Well, I can't have you running away. We're destined to be together, young goddess of the sun."
Toneri's declaration shocked Naruko as she turned her head away from his cold touch. "How do you know about that?" Naruko stared suspiciously at Toneri. Only a few knew that Naruko's soul was the reincarnation of the goddess Amaterasu, and half of those few were dead.
"I've been watching you for a long time. Longing for the moment when we can finally be together. For so long, I've been alone, thinking my destiny was tied with another, but then I met you." Toneri's lips broke out into a smile of happiness.
"A girl so bright and innocent yet tainted by such a disgusting world. The world of the Earth does not deserve you. Your friends do not treasure you. Only I can bring you true happiness."
As soon as Toneri mentioned her friends, Naruko's emotions morphed into anger. "Shut up! You know nothing about my friends!"
Unfazed by Naruko's anger, Toneri leaned back in his chair. "Oh, then what about the likes of Uchiha Sasuke? Isn't he one of your treasured friends, but look at what he has done to you." A green ball appeared in Toneri's hand, showing all the battles and hardships Sasuke and Naruko had endured. Especially all the wrongful things Sasuke had done and how it affected Naruko.
Naruko may have appeared normal on the outside, but only she knew the many nights she cried, wishing for the Uchiha's presence in her life again. Blaming herself for not being a good enough friend and teammate. The mental scars her heart endured throughout those three years were not memories Naruko liked relieving. If anything, she wanted to leave such memories in the past and not think of them again.
"Shut up! You know nothing about our bond! You know nothing about Sasuke-"
"But I do know that he has hurt you tremendously, and even you, yourself, can not deny that. Naruko, Sasuke is far too broken to love as I do." Something about those words was like a sucker punch to the gut that left Naruko breathless, reaching a hand up to grasp at her chest.
"Despite how much I loath saying this, Naruko, you have feelings for Sasuke that are beyond mere friendship. You hold love for him, but Naruko.." The more Toneri spilled out his hurtful words of truth, the more Naruko's chest hurt. For so long, she denied herself for having any type of romantic feelings for Sasuke.
In the beginning, back when team seven first formed and even before then, Naruko held zero romantic interest in the popular Uchiha, who every girl in the academy was crushing on. But as time went on and Naruko got to know more about her rival and teammate, something within her feelings changed towards the Uchiha.
Naruko wasn't sure when it happened, most definitely after her training trip with the pervy sage. The way she saw Sasuke was different than before, and this change scared Naruko. It frightened her so much that she began denying the reality that everyone else saw clearly.
"No! No! Sasuke and I are nothing more than rivals! I do not love-" In the next moment, Naruko found herself lying flat on the bed. From above, Toneri stared down at her, clasping her hands.
"Oh, but you do, Naruko, and while you may have those feelings, a part of you also know that he will never reincorporate those feelings, and that is what you fear the most." Toneri's words were sharper than a kunai blade and hurt worse than when Sasuke struck Naruko with a Chidori. They stung so much that Naruko's eyesight blurred with tears.
"No... Y-You're-"
"No, I'm telling the truth! Sasuke is unable to love you the way you love him. So forget him!" Intertwining their fingers together, Toneri moved his face closer to Naruko as if he was about to kiss her. "Choose me instead! Let me be your moon instead of him. You know in your heart that a future with him is impossible, Naruko."
The pain in Naruko's chest squeezed so painfully that before Toneri could force a kiss on her Naruko fell unconscious. Sighing, Toneri removed himself from the bed, and before leaving the room, he stared sorrowfully at the blonde. "Looks like I pushed you too far. I'll let you rest for tonight. After all, tomorrow is the big day."
The next time Naruko awakened, it was thanks to the cheerful voice right next to her ears. "Ohiyo!"
The voice's surprise greeting caused the blonde to jump up out of bed and spin around! "What the?! Who are you?! Show yourself?!" demanded Naruko when she saw no one sight, but instead there was soft laughter that made her skin break out into goosebumps.
"Silly girl! I'm standing in front of you!" Naruko heard a woman say, and soon enough, a figure began to materialize in front of her.
Jaws dropping to the floor, Naruko pointed a shaking finger at the transparent woman and exclaimed, "Ghost! It's a ghost!" In seconds, the legendary hero and honorable second goddess of shinobi screamed like a frightened little girl.
"That is a rude way to greet your elder, young lady!" pouted the woman in the elegant white kimono that she wore with a pair of hakama pants. The woman had long brown hair strung up in a high ponytail; framing her face, which sported a grin, were two long locks of her bandaged wrapped hair.
"And I thought this day couldn't get any weirder," Naruko muttered to herself as her nerves began to calm down. "Alright, ghost lady, who are you?"
Upon hearing this question, the woman, whose entire exterior screamed easy-going and energetic, laughed. "Why, little chibi-chan, I am one of the reincarnations of Amaterasu." Naruko shot the woman a look of disbelief, even though she heard of how many before were Amaterasu's reincarnations- the only one she ever knew and met was the First Lady Hokage.
"Nice to meet you, Uzumaki Naruko~!" The woman waved at the blonde. So caught up in her shock, Naruko didn't know how to greet the woman. "You see, in this world, I was an orphan with Ōtsutsuki blood that Hagoromo picked up off the streets. My name is Ōtsutsuki Asura!"
After the woman addressed herself, Naruko recalled hearing this woman's name from the mouth of the First Hokage and even Kaguya. Both women once stated how Naruko's very nature was close to Ōtsutsuki Asura! 'If I remember it correctly, isn't she the progenitor of both the Senju and Uzumaki clans?' Naruko asked herself as the only information she had about this woman came from the two names she mentioned before.
"Just like all of Amaterasu's other reincarnation, I met and fell in love with Tsukiyomi's reincarnation, but sadly, our story did not end happily. Indra, just like your Sasuke, my Indra went down a dark path. I could not save him from the path he walked, but I see you are different from the many others who have failed as I did. Your story is only just beginning, my dear."
"What do you mean my story is only just beginning? Even though I brought the teme back, I-I-! Look, we're just not destined to be in that type of relationship. Sasuke is still healing, plus... I don't think he has his eyes on romance. Tch, the stupid teme probably thinks he's too cool for it," Naruko grumbled under her breath, folding her arms over her chest. Such actions made the woman burst out into laughter.
"Oh wow! You're really into him! How cute! Ah, young love is always the most beautiful in the beginning. Relationships, my dear, are tricky! Nothing about them is easy. There will be good times and bad times, but sticking it out and working through those problems is what matters most. Your story is one about love. Love is your main concept." A word that was once foreign to Naruko somehow became her main concept.
"Starting with your parents and next with those who care about you. Then finally, to the one you cherish in your heart. All of it centers around love. Naruko, this is your story! Don't think about the past, but about what matters most to you. Follow your heart, dear. It has never let you down before." Naruko noticed the ghostly figure of Ashura began to fade out of existence and wanted to say one more thing.
"Wait! Why did you appear before me?"
"Because I felt you were in need of some advice, and besides, I too want to see how the story between you and that boy plays out. Good luck, Naru-chan~! I'm rooting for you!" Sending the girl a wink and a thumbs-up, Naruko didn't know how to express her feelings towards Ashura's sudden appearance.
"Follow my heart, huh?" Naruko got back in bed, leaned against the bed's headboard, and sighed in defeat. "Teme, just what am I going to do with you?" Naruko found her situation pathetic, something straight out of those sappy romance dramas Hinata, Sakura, and Ino loved to watch.
"These seals placed on me are so strong that I can't even contact Kyu-chan." After their bonding during the war, Naruko took a liking to address the mighty nine-tails by this cute nickname that greatly annoyed the fox.
Sitting inside the large luxurious room, Naruko pulled her legs to her chest and buried her head in her knees. "I'm so lonely... " she muttered quietly inside the furnished empty room.
The next time Naruko saw Toneri, early that morning, she was forced out of bed, fighting against a mob of puppet women. No matter how many she took out, twice more would pop up in their place. Soon Naruko was overpowered, forced into a chair as they dressed her in pure white ceremonial clothing.
The top was sleeveless; gold embroidery of the sun and moon stitched onto the sash. A pair of gold sun and moon earrings dangled from Naruko's ears as the puppet ladies placed a white turban on her head that had a veil attached.
In all, Naruko's appearance was stunning, but deep inside, forced to walk down the aisle with Toneri, Asura's words kept repeating in her head, and suddenly her heart thought of Sasuke. 'So I really do have those feelings towards Sasuke,' Naruko confirmed with herself. The chakra-bound seals Toneri forced upon her manipulated her body. Facing his direction, all she could do was watch as Toneri's face got closer to her own.
Everything about this situation felt wrong. Naruko wanted to punch Toneri's pretty-looking face, but sadly could not break the hold he placed on her. 'The one I love is not Toneri, but-' The ceremony was interrupted when a pair of doors slammed against the wall.
Naruko turned her head towards the source of the sound. When her blue orbs landed on the person who had come to her rescue, her eyes widened as she took a shaky step back, away from Toneri.
"S-S-Sasuke...?"
Naruko was not expecting Sasuke to be the one to come to her rescue. If anything, her money was bet on Sakura or Hinata with Shikamaru in third place.
"T-Teme, what are you doing here? And why are you so late?!" Naruko did not know why she was overcome with emotions upon seeing the stoic Uchiha march his way confidently into the room.
"I came to get you," Sasuke stated calmly, staring directly at the blonde, watching her wipe her leaking eyes, trying to cover up the fact that she was crying. Such actions, Sasuke couldn't help but smile softly at the dobe, but too bad their short moment was interrupted by Toneri.
"Uchiha! What are you doing here, ruining my precious moment with Naruko-chan!? She's my bride! She belongs with me! I am her moon! Not you!" The appearance of Sasuke made Toneri lose his cool. Rage masked his features as an army of puppets descended into the room right when Sakura arrived.
Not even blinking at the army of puppets that surrounded him, Sasuke saw Toneri drag Naruko off somewhere and the room was immediately ablaze with black flames that Sakura was lucky did not touch her. "Sakura, I'm going after Naruko." Sasuke took off, hearing the voice of Sakura cheering him on.
"Go get her, Sasuke-kun!" Once Sasuke was out of sight, more puppets charged into the room. Slamming her fists together, Sakura got ready to do battle. "As if I'd allow you to get in the way of my teammates' happily ever after!"
Watching the wreckage and destruction both Sasuke and Toneri were causing on the moon, Naruko tried to race to Sasuke, but the debris and shattering impacts of rubble and wind sent her flying in various directions. Naruko saw the head of Sasuke Susanoo fighting against an awakened Tenseigan Toneri.
"Damn it! I still don't know how to break these stupid chakra blockers! How can I help Sasuke with these stupid things still on me!?" Naruko screamed in frustration, running across the moon's rocky surface, desperately trying to reach Sasuke.
Sasuke was concentrating on his battle with Toneri when he heard Naruko's voice call out to him, but just as they made contact, Sasuke's blood ran cold when he saw Naruko fall through a hole produced by Toneri.
"Naruko!" Forgetting about Toneri, Sasuke made his way to Naruko. The Uchiha threw himself into a hole, attempting to save her as he stretched out his hand towards her. Upon seeing the Uchiha threw himself in her direction, desperately trying to save her.
Naruko decided now was the best time to get it off her shoulders, because by the rate, she was falling, a next time may never come, so what's the harm of letting it all out now?
"Sasuke!" The force of wind swept past Naruko's short hair as Sasuke constantly tried to reach for her hand and saw Naruko shoot him a blinding smile and shout, "I love you, teme!" Sasuke's world began to slow down, despite how seconds ago both were falling to their doom in the middle of space. "You mean the world to me, teme! I'm glad the world brought you into my life."
"N-Naruko-"
"You don't have to respond to me now! Heck, you don't even have to accept my feelings, but... I love you, you stupid teme!" Something about Naruko's tearful and heartfelt words triggered something inside of Sasuke as the next thing Naruko knew, a pair of arms were embracing her, eyes locked with Sasuke's, who floated in mid-air. Naruko saw that Sasuke had somehow sprouted a pair of enormous purple glowing bird wings with the mark of a crescent moon glowing on his forehead.
"Teme, you're part bird!" exclaimed Naruko, to which Sasuke lightly flicked her on the forehead.
"Dobe! It seems I have awakened the full power of Tsukiyomi. Give me your wrist," Sasuke commanded as Naruko did as he ordered and watched in fascination as Sasuke broke the chakra seal Toneri placed on her.
"I'm free again!" Naruko cheered, wrapping her arms around Sasuke's neck, basking him in her sunny energy and smiles. "Now that I'm back to my kickass self, how about we teach him a lesson together, teme. For old time's sake." Seeing that mischievous glint in the shorter woman's eyes, Sasuke mentally smiled and replied with a simple,
"Hn."
Back on the moon, Toneri, upon seeing Naruko standing beside Sasuke, yelled in outrage. "Naruko-chan, how can you choose him over me!? I am more suited for you than him! He has done nothing but hurt you! For so long, I have observed you. Your kindness, your grace, and even your hardships!" Naruko got ready to say something to Toneri, but Sasuke stepped up first.
"You're right. I don't deserve Naruko!" Naruko shot her eyes over at Sasuke, scared that he was about to confirm her worst fears. "Naruko embodies everything good in the universe with a heart bigger than the sun itself. Yes, I've hurt her. So much that I don't even know how she can even look at me. But at the end of the day, who Naruko chooses to be with is her own choice. Not yours or mine."
Toneri and even Naruko were taken aback by Sasuke's statement. "He's right, you know! You don't get to choose who completes me! I have that choice, and my heart chooses Sasuke! I'm sorry, Toneri, but we are not destined to be together!" Naruko's statement only fueled Toneri's anger.
Since Toneri refused to give up, Naruko and Sasuke formed Susanoo Kurama, who launched a tailed beast bomb, but surrounding it was wind and lightning chakra. Once in flight, the tailed beast bomb took the form of a Rasen-lighting-shuriken, which Sasuke infused with the flames of Amaterasu.
"Susanoo-Kyuubi: Eclipsing Rasengan!" Sasuke and Naruko yelled as the bomb engulfed Toneri in darkness and created an eclipse in the sky, destroying everything in the vicinity.
Watching from a safe distance, Sakura quoted the lines of an old tale that she, Naruko, Ino, and Hinata found when they were genins. "When the night is at its blackest, the sun and moon becoming one, our souls will reunite... and our love can finally be free."
Floating high in the sky, basking in the light of the moon, Sasuke flapped his new wings, feeling Naruko staring down at him. "So, teme, mind telling what we're doing up here?"
"Well, this is a better place than ever to tell you," Sasuke calmly answered her question, but inside his heart was beating uncontrollably.
"Hmm, tell me what? Oh, that you think that I'm better than you?"
"No, idiot, it's that I... I love you, Uzumaki Naruko."
Naruko lost her breath, staring down at those onyx eyes, and saw that Sasuke was not lying to her. Of how his words held absolute sincerity. Cupping his face in her hands, Naruko, for a second, thought all this to be a dream. "Teme, you better not be lying to me. I told you before I can wait-"
"Naruko, I love you." Sasuke's straightforward reply sent Naruko crashing her lips over his and the two shared a sweet kiss. From the lower end of Naruko's body grew nine long fluffy tails, so overcome with happiness that her ears popped out.
The past reincarnations of Amaterasu and Tsukiyomi looked down upon them to the unawareness of the kissing couple. "Ah, it seems those two love birds have finally broken the curse. Leave it to your descendant to have more balls than you, Ma-chan!" joked the last matriarch of the Senju clan.
"The ancestors are rolling in their graves! He ended up with an Uzumaki!" said Uchiha Madara, mastermind and villain of the last shinobi war, scowling upon the couple, especially his descendant.
"Oh hush, and just wish the kids well! Besides, they have the whole future ahead of them!" Hashirama slapped the man's shoulder and bestowed the young couple a gift by showering them in romantic pink rose petals.
"Oh, I can't allow Hashirama to outshine me!" Ashura stood beside a man in white robes and snapped her fingers. Standing on the destroyed moon was the entire rescue team along with Hanabi, who Hinata rescued. Now that Toneri was defeated, Hinata returned to Hanabi her eyes that were stolen.
Other than her two kissing teammates, Sakura and the others, close or afar on Earth, were taken back by the beautiful illustrations of a rainbow halo around the moon.
Hearing the sound of sniffing, Sai looked in Sakura's direction and saw the pinkette crying. "Sakura, what's wrong with you?! Shouldn't you be happy?"
"I am okay, but it's finally over!" Sakura tried her best to hold in her emotions, but she was just so happy for them. Despite everything those two went through, even those stubborn fools deserved their own happily ever after.
Getting the medical kunoichi's hint, Hinata smiled, eyes on the smiling blonde. "Yeah... the story has finally reached its conclusion." Hinata silently wished the blonde who was her first love a fulfilling and happy life.
The reception party for Kakashi and Iruka's wedding was underway. Everyone came out to celebrate this happy occasion for the newly married couple as Iruka was taken back by her students' surprising gift. The chunin teacher felt tears come to her eyes as students presented her with the loveliest wedding cake she ever saw.
Sakura was standing by Ino, talking to Karin, when Ino nudged her arm. "So Shikamaru says that the two lovebirds finally confessed. So tell me all the juicy details! What's this I hear about an epic kiss on the moon?"
Ino's remark caused Karin to choke on her wine. "Wait! Did you say kiss? Those two kissed?" exclaimed Karin, drawing the attention of others.
"Awww, it was so romantic~!" Sakura, the helpless romantic, gushed and fawned over Sasuke and Naruko's passionate scene on the moon.
"Hmm, now that I think about it, where is the new couple? Wasn't Naruko just here a few minutes ago?" questioned Ino.
Away from the excitement of the party stood Sasuke and Naruko, both in formal attire as Sasuke wore a suit and Naruko had on a short orange dress with the sleeves off her shoulders.
"You saw it too, Sasuke," spoke Naruko, speaking of the scene that took place as they were leaving the moon. Walking farther behind the group, Naruko and Sasuke had suddenly found themselves surrounded by bubbles that shared images unfamiliar to them, yet the two strangely felt connected to each moving picture.
"No matter what world you two are born in, the bond you share is something that can never be broken. No matter if it's friendship or love," said the voice of Asura as the new couple saw variations of themselves, be it gender or personalities, a world similar to their own or completely different. Sasuke and Naruko somehow always wound up next to each other, be it friendship or falling in love, same genders or not.
Back in the present, Naruko knew now that Sasuke followed through with his promise. The ex-avenger would soon be hitting the road again and suddenly felt anxious. "So when are you taking off again?"
"Tonight."
"Tonight?! Why so soon!? Damn it, teme, we just got together!" Naruko didn't care if she was throwing a tantrum, asking herself why Sasuke couldn't wait a couple of days.
"Naruko, I've done a lot of sinning, mostly to you. I can't love or support you the way that I am now. I want to be better because" -Naruko found herself lost in the depth of Sasuke's eyes- "You deserve that. Don't worry, I won't be gone for too long, and I promise to write to you each day that I can."
"You promise?" Naruko held up her pinky, which earned a look from Sasuke, who instead reached over and did something unexpected. Feeling his lips on her forehead, Naruko blushed from the roots of her hair down to her toes.
"Will that work as a better promise?" Sasuke smugly took in Naruko's adorable blushing appearance. The raven's bold and uncharacteristic actions zapped the blonde of her energy, so she could only nod her head.
"G-Good enough! Now, let's head back before everyone knows we're missing!" Hating that warm giggly feeling in her gut, Naruko grabbed Sasuke's hand and the two headed back to the party.
The first question that greeted them was, "So Sasuke-kun, when's the wedding?"
Watching Naruko argue with Ino who made the joke, Sasuke couldn't answer now, but he was determined to answer that question one day in the future. Because in this life, Naruko was the only one he wanted to spend the rest of his life beside.
End of The Last (pt.7)
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