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*Path of the Fallen Savior*

"Naruto, why?!" Sasuke shouted as Naruto coldly looked at him. "Silence Sasuke, I will fulfill my duties as Cypher and rid of this cursed existence in every person using chakra. I shall return this world to ash and save it; destroying this so called 'bond' we have. I will sever these links once and for all, for I am…" Naruto replied as his left hand began crackling with electricity as the sound of a thousand birds. Sasuke raised his right arm as a spiralling sphere made of chakra manifested at his command. "A destroyer of worlds." he finished as he charged at his opponent. "Naruto!" Sasuke called out in a desperate plea as he too charged at his former friend. "Sasuke!" Naruto called out as his Chidori became darkened and corrupted by his Cie'th form consuming him.

"Chidori!" "Rasengan!"

The world before them shook as their powers clash engulfed both in a bright light.

Lightning shook her head from that memory fragment, wondering how her pupil had fallen so far. He was a good kid, with a good heart. But she realized as she delved deeper into his memories at the time, he suffered so much, that he hated everything. Hated so much, he was willing to destroy worlds and end countless lives to be alone. But that moment when he died, a final connection reflected a revelation and an epiphany he had discovered. Within it, she felt it within his dying emotions. A single tear had escaped from her eye that day. What she felt from the depths of Naruto was…

Lightning tossed the small pouch in her hand containing numerous AMP Chips within them as Kushina couldn't help but look at awe at how many of those bio-weapons the Master L'Cie had single-handedly slain alone. "You really are an Army of One, aren't ya?" Kushina asked with a knowing smile as Lightning merely looked towards the dying source of smoke. "Let's go get him." Lightning told her and proceeded to heads towards the direction Naruto was definitely at.

/Naruto and Aqua/

"Ready?" Naruto asked Aqua as the little girl slowly nodded her head. Naruto held his hand out and closed his eyes. He never thought of summoning that accursed weapon again, but in order to protect this girl, he must do this.

Keyblade…

It appeared before him, old and rusty; the old battered Keyblade still had the noble beauty it once held. Aubade was its name. He began the ritual, going over what words he could faintly remember as Aqua touched its hilt gently, feeling the warmth of the blade as it returned to where it rested in. "Now keep this a secret okay? If you don't, then the magic will disappear." He told her with a knowing wink as Aqua brightened up and did a 'my lips are sealed' expression. With that, they turned towards the direction where the sounds of thunder had echoed earlier, Naruto knowing Lightning using her trademark spells anywhere as he knew she found him from the smoke.

It didn't take them long to find her and Kushina as the two women looked at Aqua whom shied away and hid underneath Naruto's haori. "Don't worry," he reassured the girl, "That's Lightning, my sensei-"he gestured towards the rose haired colored woman whom felt to a degree, happy at being called a teacher in a respectful way. "-and my mother, Kushina Uzumaki." he gestured towards the redhead. Aqua peeked out from behind his shadow and smiled gently and a bit nervously as Kushina glomped the poor girl and started rubbing her cheek against Aqua's. "Aww…She's so cute!" Kushina exclaimed as Naruto looked away, embarrassed by his mother's antics as Lightning looked on with a slight smile on her face.

"I see the four of you are having fun," spoke the voice of Kabuto as the four turned to see him, Kimimaro and Jūgo walking towards them. "I take it the natives here were friendly to you?" Naruto asked in a dry tone as he noticed the state of clothing the three were. While Kabuto and Kimimaro's weren't that bad, Jūgo's was the worst. Torn and bloody, he looked as if he was thrown into a blender set on high as Naruto merely chuckled at his appearance. That was when he instinctively reached out to grab something tossed his way by Lightning. "I'd think you'd like those." She told him as Naruto was confused as Kushina walked up to him and attached an armlet with seals engraved on it. "Happy birthday son," she told him with the gentlest smile only a mother could pull off.

Naruto just froze, dumbstruck by this development. Because he never remembered anything about anyone celebrating his birthday with the exception of when he and Shana were still together as Cyphers; his birthdays were all conflicts and deaths, but for once, someone cared enough to even get him a gift and wish him a happy birthday. With the heart of the Naruto he inhabited, Cypher Naruto was overwhelmed with joy as a single tear escaped his eye as he smiled. "Thank you…" he said as his wavering tone of sobs also moved him. Kushina hugged her son, not Cypher Naruto or Naruto Uzumaki, but the person known as her son, her precious child she wanted to hold so much.

Kabuto blinked as a vision of sorts, a phantom memory surfacing up as he recalled an important person he thought of as his mother. Seeing his new lord and his mother like that woke something within Kabuto, but he couldn't figure out what it was. Who was he exactly? That was Kabuto's only question that Cypher Naruto sympathized with. They both want to find out who they really are and where they truly belong. He was a spy throughout most of his lifetime, and yet some memories, old ones before his days as a spy broke out at the sight. He quickly shook his head; he could do that after they get out of this death place.

By the time Kabuto regained his senses, Naruto was already back to the way he was. "Aqua, can you lead us to the surface?" he asked as the girl was hesitant at the question. "Don't worry, I'll protect you. Just stay by my side." Naruto reassured the child whose cheeks turned slightly red at his statement as she gently grabbed his hand and began leading the team through the forests of the Gapra Whitewood.

*Surface-Civil War-/Nero Ballad & Yeul/*

Sasuke and Kakashi finally reached the two waiting for them, Nero calmly stepping in front of Yeul protectively as he looked at Sasuke right in the eye. "You seek answers for what is yet to come? You must earn it through battle." Nero told him as he brought forth his greatsword and pointed the massive blade at the two Konoha shinobi. "Seriously, this is tiring right now…" Sasuke commented as Kakashi breathed heavily in exhaustion and agreement. Then the two of them were engulfed in a bright light as their injuries and exhaustion disappeared like it was never there.

"Yeul was considerate of healing you since you've proven to be quite determined to find the answers you seek. Plus fighting all of those Cie'th and making it here, still alive, which shows some promise in you." Nero spoke as the two got into combat position with kunai drawn at the ready. Then, the Chaotic Guardian charged.

Even with the Sharingan active, Sasuke barely dodged that slash as Nero unleashed the Eye of Bahamut upon Kakashi who tried to counter it with his Raikiri, only for the spell Nero casted overpower his jutsu as he was hit with the barrage of chaotic energy. Sasuke quickly responded by throwing kunai at the enemy as Nero merely held his blade up like a shield as the weapons bounced off it harmlessly, failing to notice Sasuke's smirk as Nero immediately realized they were explosive kunai as they detonated.

Yeul calmly observed the battle, seeing things within Sasuke that only the seeress can see as Nero emerged from the smoke unharmed as he smirked. Sasuke could only click his tongue in annoyance as he leapt back and began weaving hand signs, "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" he exclaimed as he breathed fire. Nero smirked and with one swipe of his sword, bisected the fireball only to hear the sound of crackling electricity and the chirping of a thousand birds.

"Raikiri!" "Chidori!"

Nero looked down to see to arms piercing his body, one from Sasuke's Chidori, and one from Kakashi's Raikiri. The guardian's body came still as they pulled out their arms as Nero fell, Yeul calmly walked up to them, her expression ever stoic and calm as Sasuke looked at her. Then he saw a strange glowing symbol in her eyes, a dōjutsu of some sort? "It will take more than pure power to overcome trials ahead. The bonds forged with the Fallen Cypher will change him, redeem him, and save this world. The twin soul shall heal him, and the girl born from manipulation by gods shall cleanse him of the corruption and hatred in his heart. A faint glimmer of hope that will become a shining star in the sea of chaos…" she spoke as she closed her eyes as she fell back, only to be caught by an uninjured Nero, much to the absolute shock of Sasuke and Kakashi.

"How…?" the copy-nin asked, disbelief in his voice as Nero looked at the unconscious Yeul sadly. "I bear the Heart of Chaos, a manifestation of the Goddess Etro. This heart is to keep me immortal to fulfill my duty in protecting Yeul throughout the eternal history ahead." He told Kakashi as he looked at Sasuke. "Take heed of her message Uchiha, your time will come very soon." He warned as the duo teleported away from the two ninja.

Then a shockwave erupted as the student and teacher turned to the source to see the giant sea serpent clashing with the Mizukage in Tailed Beast Mode. "Let's find Jiraiya-sama and the others. We need to regroup and find Naruto." Kakashi ordered, which the Uchiha could agree with.

*Gapra Whitewood-Upper Levels-*

Naruto froze in step, all tense as it gained everyone's attention as they noticed him looking around, as if searching for something. "Do you guys sense it? That…chakra?" he asked them as everyone minus Aqua knew someone else was here, but who? Even Kabuto noticed it himself, was intrigued. "I felt it; it was your chakra with someone else's. But that person's is faint, as if close to death…" he trailed off as he saw Naruto dashing into a certain direction as everyone was quick to follow him as they found themselves at the base of a massive tree as a collection of crystals were growing out of the bark as a silhouette was within it.

"Another L'Cie?" Kushina guessed as Naruto shook his head and reached out to touch the crystal. "No, for some unknown reason, it seems I created this. But that should be impossible because…" Naruto began only to trail off as if realizing something. This display of his Crystal Genesis is more advanced and powerful than his current self's condition right now, which could only mean…

"Time-Travel," Lightning finishing off his line of thought. "Somehow, you manipulated time to seal this person in crystal stasis, but why here in the past?" she asked as Naruto frowned. "I'm not sure, but I'm going to find out." He replied as he channeled his power into the crystals as they melted away in a water-like fashion as inside was a girl sleeping, with a hole in her chest area of clothing as Kushina's eyes widened in shock at who it was. "R-Rin?!" she exclaimed as she ran up and pulled the girl out and examined her thoroughly.

"Ah, now I know who that is." Kabuto said with a snap of his fingers. "She's Kakashi's teammate, killed over 13 years ago by a plan from Kiri. Reports said her body disappeared and wasn't in enemy hands. Now we know why." He told them as Jūgo examined the girl. "She's breathing," he noted as Naruto sighed. "Jūgo, you carry her and make sure she stays safe. Kimimaro, keep Aqua safe; I'm getting a feeling we're going to be encountering something quite dangerous once we near the exit." He ordered them in a calm tone as the two complied with their orders.

With that, Naruto brought out the Omni-Kit from the wristband machine from the Mirage Arena and quickly did a few modifications to his Blazefire Saber, using the Cie'th components he had with him and a few claws and fangs of the creatures of the forest into it. "That should do it…" he said as its rank in power went up by two levels as he slashed in midair, noticing a faint difference in weight. "A lot lighter too," he smiled as he sheathed the weapon.

With that, they walked towards the next platform as it began to rise. Then, a roar echoed out as a Feral Behemoth landed in front of them, snarling savagely as Naruto and Lightning drew their gunblades out. "Let's do this Light!" Naruto calmly stated as the Feral Behemoth charged. Lightning was the first to react as her blade clashed with the beast's crest as Naruto charged from the side, infusing his weapon with the magic of water as he delivered an Aquastrike to its hip and leapt away when it attempted to swipe at him. The Master L'Cie was quick to respond as she blasted a Ruinga at point blank range as the explosion knocked the Feral Behemoth back as Naruto fired a Water spell to the side. This was the Slash and Burn Paradigm Shift, the combination of natural physical combat and magical offense to weaken an opponent and increase their Stagger energy.

But this Feral Behemoth was a veteran in combat, and quickly launched Naruto in the air and slammed him hard into the ground as Lightning slashed at its side, causing blood to seep out from the deep cut as she pulled Naruto away from the beast as he began healing himself with the Medic role. "Damn, hits as hard as Gaara when trying to manifest Shukaku…" he grumbled as Lightning sighed in relief. "Sorry if I worried you sensei," he apologized as Lightning felt a bit better being called a respected title like that.

Inside though, she wondered if he's suffering from some sort of mental issue due to his change of mannerisms at various times, which her Cypher counterpart merely chuckled dryly at from within her mind.

In a split second she grabbed Naruto's own blade and swung it, clashing with the Feral Behemoth's crest without looking behind her as Naruto could only let low a small whistle of awe. "Man, I have got to learn how to do that." He commented. "Trust me; it'll come to you naturally." She replied nonchalantly as she spun and delivered a kick to the beast's face as it was pushed back as she handed Naruto his gunblade and picking up hers. They noticed the being was faintly glowing, Stagger Form was near completion. Naruto fired a Water spell and then charged from the side with an Aquastrike as Lightning supported him with a Ruin spell and a Blitz to the Feral Behemoth's face. That's when the Feral Behemoth glowed brightly as it was sent into Staggered Form. "I control my own fate!" Lightning announced as she activated Scene Drive as her barrage of slashes, bullets and kicks were blurs to the human eye as it looked like the Feral Behemoth looked like it was spasm in internal pain. Once she was finished, the creature fell down and faded into Chaos as spoils of battle were given. Naruto took them without looking at them as everyone proceeded to leave as the elevator reached its destination as the doorway to an open field was revealed.

They were back on the surface, and they were seeing the Three-Tails fighting off a massive sea serpent as Lightning looked at the creature with disbelief. "It can't be, the Fal'Cie Leviathan…?" she asked as Naruto looked at her. "You know that Fal'Cie?" he questioned. "He's responsible for cleaning the waters of Cocoon; I thought he slept with the other Sanctum Fal'Cie when Orphan was killed." She replied as Naruto eyed the creature. "Well clearly someone found a way to bring him back. Probably to help maintain the waters in this planet; especially with what's going on in this era." He mused as he rested his weapon in front of him as he eyed his surroundings. "Let's continue with the plan, but first…Sakon, Ukon, get your asses out here!" he shouted as from the bushes, the fused siblings came out looking sheepish behind their masks. "Ahahahaha…You knew I was there?" Sakon asked as Naruto from behind his own mask glared at him. "You ran away as we fell and you have the nerve to ask me that?" he growled as the man fell to his knees and bowing his head hard onto the ground.

"Please forgive me Naruto-sama! I was a failure of elite by not helping you down there, but I did get some nice information!" he pleaded as Naruto looked down at him. "Enlighten me," he ordered as Sakon refused to look up and began to speak. "It seems that the Godaime Hokage has sent a team to aid you. One is Kakashi Hatake and the Uchiha, a Hyūga, a kid with pineapple shaped hair, and Jiraiya of the Sannin." Sakon spoke as Naruto stiffened at that. "Well now, this complicates things…" Naruto trailed off as he looked up at the darkening sky and the retreating battles. "Get the others Sakon and Ukon; we're in need of camping and planning since we've changed the tides for now. Regrouping is a priority, stat!" he barked as the man split into two with his sibling as they immediately saluted with a "Hai!" and dashed off to find the others.

"Now that was an order from a general alright." Lightning thought as they went into the trees and began setting up a basic camp for the night. Through that time, Naruto was pondering why a teammate of Kakashi's, whom been dead for years was preserved by his Crystal Genesis from a future self. Judging from the way she was breathing, she was in a comatose state as he felt his energies resonate within her. Recalling the gunblade Lightning gave him, maybe he could-

Musing himself, he held his hand out as the gunblade manifested itself in a flurry of white feathers as he eyed it. His power traced its origins of Cypher creation, using demonic energies that were purified to create a 'miracle' of 'life'. Funny, for when he was a Cypher, the god that had bonded with him when he was born was a 'God of %^&$',

Error in Memory; corrupted files due to fragmentation.

Naruto inwardly grimaced at the information. He was a former Cypher now, and his memories were still damaged from the trap Nione set up with Anima. He eyed the blade as Leo and Elo looked at it curiously. "From this moment forth, I dub thee…Requiem." He whispered to the blade as he tried to channel the power of Cypher into it. It was barely working since his will was not strong enough. How could he save someone who is pretty much dying right now? An image of Hinata dying at that time from the cave in flashed into his mind, and something stirred within the emptiness of his soul. Something he could not describe as he slashed the air above Rin as he felt like he had cut something as a lone tear escaped his eye.

"Why am I crying?" he asked himself emotionlessly as he wiped away the tear, confused as he knew he was reverting to his empty emotionless self slowly. "It's simple Naruto," Tenryū spoke, "Even though me and Naraku are no longer one with you at the moment, when you recalled Hinata's death and her confession, it stirred an emotion within you. An ACTUAL emotion." The Yang half of his heart replied. "I was…feeling?" he asked himself as he heard his Yin half, Naraku chuckling. "You were feeling guilt, guilt of not being able to save Hinata, that and a bit of grief. I don't know why though, but it seems Hinata's feelings for [you] were truly genuine that when you absorbed her soul to reincarnate her, those feelings of love were reaching for [you] and not this Naruto whose body your 'borrowing' for the mission…" Naraku replied as he heard sniffing in his mind; from both of them.

"Are you two…crying?" Naruto thought with disbelief as he got confirmation from both dragons. "Naturally, since the time we saw Canon Naruto's memories of his last story, we all turned into saps for love stories." Tenryū sobbed as Naruto calmly face palmed at the answer. "I'm serious with this; it was heartwarming and symbolic for Canon Hinata as well. Maybe that's why this version of her affected you." Naraku reasoned as Naruto mentally raised a brow. "You know, you guys have been chatty as of late. I know we can telepathically communicate across time and space and all that, so where are you guys and why talking to me in my current adventure?" he mentally asked.

"I'm still trapped in Excalibur, sleeping my ass off due to complete boredom." Tenryū told him as Naraku was next to speak up. "Currently taking over the world after bringing forth the Cataclysm; the so called Avatar hasn't showed his face in over 50 years already; coward probably freezing his ass off in some cold place. Thought I'd see how the Progenitor himself is doing without us." Naraku replied nonchalantly. "Go figure…" Naruto mentally depanned as he dismissed Requiem and began examining Rin as he notice the injuries were vanishing as she was breathing gently in a normal pace.

"So back to Hinata, I think she's the key to what you seek." Tenryū spoke up as Naruto carried Rin back to her resting place and pulled a blanket on her. "I mean, Canon Hinata did heal Canon Naruto of his despair, maybe one Hinata that truly loved you for being you can help heal what has been lost." He reasoned as Naraku scoffed in bitterness. "Please Tenryū, as long as other Cyphers keep hunting him, Namikaze won't rest till [that plan] is complete for Naruto's sake. Trying to get him healed will be impossible. Not to mention Naruto's still having problems due to that other Fake Cypher Hinata and what she did to us."

Naruto nodded his head in agreement at the mention of Namikaze. He was the only one at his side whenever he was truly alone in any world. His only companion that is currently sleeping and he prayed that no fool would try to wake him.

*Konoha Team*

They stood near the campfire warming their hands as Neji was chattering with his teeth as Shikamaru was shivering. It was cold due to the area and the fact that its winter now it was unpleasant by a large margin. Sasuke, Kakashi, and Jiraiya were fine, channeling fire chakra through their bodies as they all sighed tiredly. "Talk about troublesome, Naruto's character is even different from what it was beforehand. I mean, did you see his strategy right there with that archer?" the Nara asked as Neji nodded his head in agreement. "I agree, he had that archer fire strange arrows containing Naruto's own chakra in it and damaged the fortress to the point the rebels could overtake their opponent."

"Not to mention he had another one take down their main income of supplies. They're guarding ever bit of ration they can find like they depend on it. He's crippling them so that the rebels win, and from the looks of it, he's got it planned out nicely; although falling into that underground forest wasn't." Jiraiya mused dryly as Kakashi and Sasuke stayed quite. The two were pondering of the warning of the Seeress Yeul and the encounter with Nero Ballad. The two know that something big was going on, and they need to warn Tsunade of it when they get back. But Sasuke was pondering of some strange connection to the riddles the girl had said, for some reason it disturbed him on a deep level, almost right into his soul.

While Sasuke was pondering about Yeul's warnings, Neji was in his own thoughts. During his time checking the battlefield, he was baffled at what exactly he saw. He saw himself, older as well, and with the very same chakra he had right now, but in larger reserves. The confusion from that was baffling as he noticed the older him having two children with chakra that resembled this 'new Naruto' he's been known for a while. He wasn't any fool; he noticed the color of Naruto's chakra changing from yellow to white. His presence was different, his personality a 180 change, and even his power and intellect were not those of the academy's dead last.

He always wondered what the deal was; he noticed it during his younger years. When Hinata had followed the boy on her free time, he saw a faint white in the boy's chakra, likened to a faint dying ember of a fire and pondered if it was some sort of unknown bloodline. Back then, he thought not much of it, but over time, when he encountered the boy in the Chūnin Exams during the preliminary matches and noticed how bigger it had become. Then at the finals, that white chakra-no, it definitely wasn't chakra at all had enveloped most of the chakra coils in the boy's body. It was like a parasite slowly devouring the host and taking over the body. Then the chakra of Naruto became white like the strange energy as Neji refused to look at it closer. That 'white chakra' brought forth a dread in him he could not describe at all. But the 'white chakra' in the two children the older lookalike was escorting had this gentle warmth that put him at ease.

Neji knew they were connected to Naruto on some way, and he needed answers for them.

*Naruto and his team*

Sakon and Ukon had returned with Tayuya and Kidōmaru in tow as Naruto calmly looked in the air. "I take it Jirōbō was busy?" he asked as Sakon and Ukon knelt down to him. "Yes my lord, he's still capturing academy students and escorting them to safe places. He's collected a massive reserve of chakra from his tactics now." They reported as Naruto pondered for something as he knew what he could do with that much chakra. As he began to plan on what to do with that much chakra, he sensed it. The presence of another Cypher within range; he dismissed the four and told everyone that he needed some alone time and quietly walked away from the campsite with Leo and Elo behind him.

As he stopped near a small pond, he looked around. "I know you're there Cypher, come out." He warned as he heard a twig snap and with trained reflexes, turned with Leo and Elo in gunblade form ready to spill blood. "Always the cautious one Naruto, you never changed." Spoke an all too familiar voice of Neji Hyūga as he walked in. Naruto narrowed his eyes as he noticed the white pupil and limbal ring in his eyes, that and he was older proved this was the Cypher Neji that was speaking to him. Even with his damaged memories he knew Cypher Neji was a loyal ally that had constantly helped him out when he needed it.

Slowly, he lowered his blades and eyed Cypher Neji cautiously while looking relaxed. "So, what brings you here? I really doubt that this is a social greeting." He asked as Cypher Neji chuckled. "Well…These two wanted to see you after all this time trying to find you." The Cypher Hyūga replied with a small smile as Naruto raised a brow as he heard two pairs of feet running towards him and before he could blink-

"Dad!" shouted two young children as he was tackled and was thrown backwards by the impact as he dropped his weapons from the force as he landed on his back, looking down to see two children hugging him very tightly, to the point he was feeling his bones starting to get crushed as his oxygen was going down real fast.

"Is this even possible!?" Tenryū screeched out in utter shock. "I know what you're saying, they should be dead! Even more they also have [that blood] in their veins!" Naraku exclaimed in utter shock. As Naruto looked down at the kids who looked straight into his eyes, he felt something in his mind break.

Memory error corrected. Restoring damaged areas due to Cyphers' presence.

In a flash, Naruto's empty eyes widened with realization as he slowly sat up and with trembling arms, hugged the two kids. "Boruto, Himawari…is it really you kids?" he asked. He remembered them. They were [that guy's] kids that also looked to him as a father when they were thrown into his timeline due to the event known as 'The Erasure'. Since then, he kind of adopted them and raised them for a time as his own, but due to 'that bastard', they were murdered in front of him. He desperately tried to save them, imbuing his own flesh and power but failed as they couldn't contain the power. But with what Naraku just said, it seems that the blood of the Primordial Dragons that flowed in his own veins now flow through theirs.

But, "How did you two survive…?" he asked as Boruto smirked. "Easy old man, we didn't give up on living!" he replied as Himawari nodded her head. "We wanted to see Papa and Mamma again and we tried really hard to get up again. We heard you crying and we wanted to help, I didn't want to see Papa cry." Himawari told him as Naruto was completely silent on the whole thing. "Naraku and Tenryū aren't with you?" Boruto guessed as Naruto nodded his head. If he had them right now, he'd be crying in relief, and he felt deep within his fractured soul, a powerful force stirring from within, and he knew who that was.

Far away, hidden in the trees, Kushina and Lightning leaned against the trunks as Lightning had a small smile on her face as Kushina was brimming with tears as she silently sniffed and wiped them away. "To see my son actually having a family of his own in the future and grandkids…" Kushina sniffed, "I'm so happy!" she told Lightning as she blew her nose in a handkerchief. "So, those are the other Cyphers huh? Besides their age difference and minor difference in appearance, they are quite powerful." She noted as she felt her Cypher counterpart agreeing with that.

The two watched as Naruto conversed with Boruto and Himawari for a bit. Seeing Boruto having a knowing smile and Himawari a worried look as Naruto was giving them a reassuring look and a hug as the three Cyphers departed, leaving Naruto alone as he began walking away.

As Naruto walked back towards camp, he felt the presence in his soul grow, and he knew who it was. "So you're awake at last huh…Namikaze?" Naruto thought as the other one spoke to him. He smiled a little, knowing a companion that had been with him through hell and back had returned, and was ready for the next battle. With key parts done, the battle against the Mizukage Yagura will be the last stage of the plan. Now all he had to do was deal with Leviathan.