The Guardian of the Tailed Beasts
A/N: This is my first fanfic and is a response to the "Bijus' Hope challenge" by nightwind83. I made some slight changes here and there to the requirements he posted, nothing too drastic though. As this is my first fanfic, please be a little forgiving in case of grammatical errors and other inconveniences, if you find any. I will be grateful for your kind reviews, especially constructive criticisms and other suggestions. I promise to regularly edit my chapters, however I can't promise regular updates as I am having some pressure in my studies which will continue in the coming years but I will update as quickly as possible. Please read and review this first chapter! Thanks in advance. (The story is M-rated as I might add lemons later, right now I am not sure but just to be safe..)
CHAPTER-1:THERE IS NO HOPE ANYMORE
Valley of the End, 10th October year 1037
The two exhausted ninja looked at each other contemplating their next moves. The two lifelong rivals were fighting out for one last time to settle all scores and both knew their next move would be the deciding one.
The raven haired ninja eyed the blonde getting up on his feet to face him again. Even after getting beaten into a pulp the so called "No.1 Unpredictable Knucklehead Ninja" refused to give up and had pushed the last Uchiha to his very limits. His stubbornness annoyed the hell out of the so called avenger and revolutionary and it was not that the blonde was the only one beaten into a pulp, he had beaten Sasuke into a bloody pulp as well and even after the last Uchiha was able to steal his remaining chakra, somehow it seemed he still packed a punch.
"AGAIN! AGAIN! AGAIN! AGAIN!" Sasuke yelled
"Why don't you just give up and let me finish you off for good?" he questioned the blonde who had just punched him so strongly that he had been thrown high up into the statue of Madara Uchiha….or whatever remained of it.
Naruto smiled, it was one of his real smiles,
"Because you are my friend." Replied the jinchuuriki of Kurama.
Sasuke had had it, he poured all his remaining chakra into one last attack, hoping to finish the annoying blonde for good. Lightning engulfed his hand along with black flames and he prepared to jump down.
"Be careful he intends to finish you off with one last attack." Warned Kurama, the greatest Biiju from inside Naruto's mind, in front of him the stood his trusted jinchuuriki, calm and collected unlike his loud and boisterous self. He didn't reply a word.
"I will give you the last of the chakra I have and then I will go into a slumber for some time. Don't use your chakra till the last moment and…."
The great Nine-tailed fox was suddenly silenced by the raised fist from his favourite blonde. He had a swollen blue-eye, his jumpsuit had been torn into shreds leaving a rather messed up mesh-shirt covering his skin. The blonde flashed one of his real smiles at his trusted companion. Wordlessly Kurama bumped his paw with his partner and transferred the last of the chakra he had accumulated. The blonde started walking away from the mindscape to prepare his final attack. The Fox looked at him one last time before dozing off and smirked, already sure that this boy would soon change the world.
Sasuke jumped down, his hand engulfed with lightning along with the black flames of Amateratsu his target set at Naruto's heart. Naruto jumped up with all his might towards Sasuke with a look of determination.
The situation couldn't have been more ironic, the usually calm, collected and patient Sasuke was screaming impatiently for Naruto's blood whereas the usually loud and boisterous Naruto was calm, determined and collected. Naruto following Kurama's advice, held on patiently till the last moment and started accumulating and rotating all his remaining chakra on his right hand. He usually had to rely on a shadow clone to make a "Rasengan", however he had been able to do it singlehandedly since quite some time without even realizing, however at this moment he realized he was able to make the swirling sphere of chakra without assistance even in his base form without sage mode or Kurama's chakra. He also felt as if hands of all his precious people were waving over the sphere as if lending him their power.
Finally Naruto yelled as soon as the Rasengan was completed and brought his palm forward aimed straight for Sasuke's attack. The two lifelong rivals met head-on mid-air and their attacks collided with full force and started fighting for domination as both Ninja tried to push forward with all their might, chakra of both the attacks combined and exploded engulfing the whole area in a huge and very bright explosion and then for Naruto and Sasuke, everything went dark.
A day later,
Sasuke was able to see through Naruto's memories and his feelings and finally realized how much pain he has caused his rival-cum-brother figure in his quest for power, revenge and revolution. Naruto had admitted last night, when both of them had briefly regained consciousness that he felt the pain when he saw Sasuke suffering all alone. The blonde had claimed that he was nervous that the genius Uchiha would accept him as a friend so he proclaimed himself as his lifelong rival. Sasuke finally admitted that he also felt Naruto's pain when he saw the latter suffering alone. The blonde even after all his suffering forged his path ahead, inspiring others around him and that Naruto despite all his failings continued to walk ahead of him just like his late elder brother used to.
Finally morning came and Naruto and Sasuke were waken up from their slumber.
"Is it really heaven this time?" Naruto asked in a low and pained voice.
"We are still alive, we just slept off, looks like we failed to die again.", commented Sasuke obviously in a lot of pain. Neither could move their body an inch and both realized that they were rapidly losing strength.
"Damn, my body won't move an inch. I was really hoping to punch you hard and beat the sense into you." The blonde replied.
Sasuke started to chuckle, confusing the hell out of the blonde.
"What is it?", Naruto asked irritated.
"We are messed up like this and you still want to fight?", Sasuke asked chuckling, the pain was still evident in his voice.
"All right I admit it, I have…lost." Sasuke declared with a satisfied smile.
"What?" Naruto exclaimed
"It's not about winning or losing its about beating sense into a friend. The real fight comes after that….."Naruto ranted
The blonde might have continued his rant but Sasuke cut him off
"Naruto…"
"What?"
"I just acknowledged you."
"…."
"If I die right here, the cycle of hatred would end, that would be a revolution as well. Yeah! I should put an end to myself here, you can then implant my Rinnegan in Kakashi and dispel the Infinite Tsukoyomi."
"Sasuke if you really are prepared to die, you should help me bring peace in the world when I become Hokage.", Naruto commented. 'Although I don't really think I'll last that long' he thought to himself.
"Do you really want that Naruto?" the last Uchiha asked.
"Of course I will be glad to have you as my right hand man when I become Hokage."
Suddenly Sasuke started coughing and his pain became unbearable, his eyelids started becoming heavier and his vision began to blur.
"Naruto, I don't think I can last any longer, I am…sorry"
"What are you saying Teme, don't you dare die on me!", Naruto yelled with all his remaining strength.
"I…I have really…failed you as a friend and brother Naruto and I…I can't even live anymore to fix it up...Dobe", Sasuke said and coughed again.
"My vision is fading and I can sense that I have lost almost all my chakra…..I can't go on Naruto….I am sorry." The Uchiha apologized again.
"Teme don't you dare…."Naruto whispered too weak to yell now.
"I…..I don't even have the chakra….to dispel the Infinite Tsukoyomi….." Sasuke said as his breathing became more and more difficult and longer.
"The…only thing I can do with…. my remaining …chakra is to…..free the Biiju…."
Saying this Sasuke focused all his remaining chakra "Chibaku Tensei…..release" he whispered the words out. Naruto could hear a rumble at a distance.
"Naruto…there's one last thing I will tell you as a brother…"
"What is it Sasuke?", the blonde asked too weak to express any emotions.
"When you free them all…..give Hinata Hyuuga a chance…..the girl has really loved you for as long as I can remember…"
Naruto only sighed in response….
"I will, I promise Sasuke…. if I get out of this I will…..become hers….I promise.." the jinchuriki whispered. 'If not in this life then definitely in the next.' Naruto thought to himself.
"Naruto….please tell Sakura and Kakashi-sensei that I was sorry….."
Naruto closed his eyes and some tears fell
"In the end I failed you Nii-san" Sasuke whispered…now too weak to keep his eyes open.
"Sorry for everything…..brother", Sasuke whispered to Naruto for one last time and fell silent. Seconds later his breathing stopped.
"Sasuke? Sasuke?", Naruto whispered and didn't get a reply. 'Damn it Sasuke…..Damn it…it was too soon for you Teme….Damn it I really failed…'
Naruto sighed again and closed his eyes. He also found that breathing was becoming more and more difficult for him and his own vision was beginning to blur as well.
'No not like this not yet Damn it I can't die here. I am yet to become Hokage. I am yet to…accept Hinata-chan's confession…she's waiting for me…..damn it! Don't give up my body Damn it.' Naruto mentally cursed himself but soon realized he won't last much longer whatever he did….he could hear some footsteps, perhaps the Biiju were rushing towards him he was sure they won't make it in time.
"Kurama?" The blonde went into his mindscape and called his partner.
He found the fox trying to accumulate chakra instead of sleeping, probably to stop his blood loss.
"Damn it kit don't give up yet I am trying to gather Chakra to stop your bleeding hang on…."
"I am trying to hang on Kurama….but it seems I can't any more my strength is leaving me and I am feeling cold"
"Damn you Gaki! You are stronger than this."
"Sorry Kurama, I don't think I can last much longer...I just wish I could be with Hinata-chan now"
"Kurama, you don't need to die with me, Go and join with your other half and figure out a way to free those people."
"Naruto…"
"It's okay Kurama, just promise me that you will protect Hinata-chan for me."
"We will protect her together just hold on a little longer kit."
"Sorry Kurama but this is it for me, the Teme really did a number on me this time. I am really glad to have been your friend and partner Kurama, I just wish we could have had some more time together but this is really it…please protect Hinata-chan for me. Now go! It's my last request."
Suddenly red chakra started leaking from Naruto's body and after some moments it took the form of a giant nine-tailed fox. The Kyuubi looked at Naruto solemnly. The blonde lay down with his eyes closed.
'I now remember that day when Iruka-sensei asked us "Who was the person we want to spend our last day with?" I didn't know the answer back then. But now…..I know for sure….it's you Hinata-chan, only you. I am sorry that I have been such an idiot. I really should have given myself to you long ago but…It's really appropriate for me to die here without you by my side when I finally know that I want to be with you. I promise in my next life, I will be yours and yours only.' Naruto thought, some tears fell from his eyes. Gradually his breathing became slower and slower until it finally stopped.
Kurama could only look at the still body of his partner. He closed his eyes. A tear fell down. The nine-tailed fox had cried once when his father, the legendary Sage of the Six Paths had died. Now he was crying again when the only human he had come to trust and respect died before him.
Some minutes later, the nine tailed beasts, Shukaku, Matatabi, Isobu, Son Goku, Kokuo, Saiken, Chomei, Gyuuki and the yang half of Kurama came running to the spot, where the yin-Kurama was sitting, looking at the dead body of his host.
"Is it?", Son Goku asked in shock.
"It can't be!" , commented Kokuo.
"Damn it", said Gyuuki.
"Yes! All hope is now lost." Commented the Yin Kurama, placing his nail softly on Naruto's head and closing his eyes again.
All the biiju had come to respect the boy, they sat in silence.
"What happened to those 2 humans, the kit's teammates?", asked yin-Kurama
"The pink-haired girl was knocked out I would guess a Genjutsu of some sort. The silver haired one was waiting for her to recover. They might be on their way here.", Matatabi commented.
Yin Kurama looked at his Yang counterpart.
"Naruto let me out before passing and asked me to merge with you and figure out a way to stop the Infinite Tsukoyomi."
"Sorry, other half but with these two gone, I don't think we have any way of dispelling that wretched jutsu. Even if we combine our chakra, we still require a Rinnegan. There was some hope for us when that Kakashi had a sharingan but now even he no longer has one.", Yang-Kurama replied. However the Yin-half still folded his paws and guided his chakra into the Yang-half. A minute later, both halves of the Kyuubi were merged and the Fox was finally restored to its original size.
"Is there really no way to stop that wretched Jutsu?", asked Saiken.
"If there was I would have already done it. I fully intend to keep my kit's final wish and protect that Hyuuga girl with everything I got.", replied Kurama. All his efforts to hide his sadness and frustration were failing.
"Wait! There is a way!" The Ichibi, Shukaku exclaimed. He had been uncharacteristically silent till that moment.
"Which is?", asked Kokuo.
"Don't you guys remember the jutsu the old man taught us before he passed? The one which he said to use if all hope is lost?", replied Shukaku, Every Biiju raised an eyebrow as soon as they realized what the Ichibi was hinting at.
"I'm in for it If we do it we will get our guardian back ", commented Son Goku hopeful at the prospect of getting everything right again.
"It does seem there is no other way with the boy gone. I'm in.", said Matatabi.
"Let's do this my luck will never fail us.", said Chomei, the Lucky 7.
"I'm ready.", said Kokuo.
"Guess I gotta be ready for some more raps. Let's do this.", said Gyuuki.
"I'm in", said Saiken.
"Me too.", said Isobu.
Kurama looked at Naruto's still body again and placed his claw on the boy's head one last time.
"Told you we'll protect your vixen together kit. Hell yes we will. Get ready everyone." With that Kurama extended his paw towards his siblings.
"Just to let you know Kurama, your role will be the most important one in this, be careful.", cautioned Matatabi.
"Tsk! I know what to do now, trust me I do."
Every Biiju then placed their paw on top of Kurama's and started focusing their chakra. A large intricate seal appeared beneath them and started to glow. The concentration of the huge amount of chakra from all 9 Biiju sent shockwaves in every direction.
"NINSHUU! TIME REVERSAL!" Exclaimed all the tailed beasts in unison. Then they were all engulfed in a very bright light beam shooting towards the sky, moments later the beam vanished along with the Biiju as if they were never there.
A/N: The years mentioned here are counted from the day Hogoromo and Hamura Otsutsuki defeated the Ten-tails and Put an end to Kaguya for good, which means its been 1037 years since the defeat of Kaguya. Hope you enjoyed the chapter.
