A/N: I really wanted to try writing a story for the Naruto fandom and for my favorite character: Utakata. I hate that he had to die because of the plot and I wished he could have been saved like Gaara was. Either way, I will try to keep the characters in-character as best I can. Lastly, if you are wondering what Hotaru is doing in the war, she's helping in medic group. Naruto and Killer Bee was just escorting her back there until they ran into Utakata. Clearly, The Fourth Great Ninja War went on differently in this story.
A Tragic Reunion
Being brought back to life after death was something Utakata thought wouldn't have been possible. Yet, here he was; following the orders of a man in a white mask that held three holes in it. From what he had heard the reason all this was possible was because of a forbidden reanimation jutsu.
If the rogue ninja had any saying about being brought back to life he would have gladly went back to being dead. But was such a thing possible? At moment, it wasn't. If he was lucky some powerful ninja would be able to take him and the others down. So far no ninja could even defeat him and the rest of the reanimated jinchuriki.
As the kimono wearing ninja followed the man in the mask by jumping from tree branch to tree branch, he thought back to the conversation he had with his master once they were reunited.
"Utakata, please do not blame yourself for my death,"Harusame reassured his former student as he placed a reasuring hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Your tailed beast : Saiken was responsible for that act. I merely wanted to remove the beast from your body so it wouldn't cause you trouble. Sadly, I really let you down. Some master I was. I may have taught you many things about being a ninja but I left a burden on your shoulders for you to bear."
Being surprised by his master's words, Utakata turned towards the man, who now held a sorrowful expression on his face. He didn't blame him for his death?
"But it was me," The young man muttered. "I had transformed into the beast and I ended up killing you. Whether it was it was in the beast form or by human hand; your student was still responsible in the end."
"No matter what Master Harusame believes. I will always be linked to his death." Utakata thought to himself as he continued to follow with the other jinchuriki through the forest. Acting as a mindless slave to the leader in the front of their group.
Not long after thinking about his master did another face pop into his thoughts. Hotaru. The last memory he could recall with her was leaving her at the spot where they had met to go talk to the Hidden Mist's Anbu Black Ops about being let to roam the world and teach Hotaru.
So much for the idea of being a real master. He had left her and he couldn't blame her if she never wanted to see or speak to him again. She'd probably thought he had abandoned her again. If only she knew what had happened. But then again, perhaps it was for the best that she never learn what happened to her beloved master. She had been doing just fine until he came along.
"I want to be your student. There is no other person I could think of that could teach me what I need to learn. I need to learn this stuff if I am to to restore the Tsuchigumo's clan."
"It really is for the best that you shouldn't see me again, Hotaru. I'm sure you'll find a much more qualified ninja to teach you." Utakata thought to himself as he closed his new sharingan and Rinnegan eyes.
Suddenly, he saw the other jinchuriki stop in their tracks. Turning to the front of the group, Utakata could see three people were in their way and was talking to the masked man. Wait, did his new eyes deceive him? Was that Hotaru with Naruto!
"Hotaru..." Utakata trailed off in shock making the others cease in their discussion to turn the six-tails wielder.
"Utakata!" Naruto shouted in surprise. "You're one of the nine jinchuriki too?"
"Master!" Hotaru quickly ran up to the dead man; passing the other dead jinchuriki who all watched on with curiosity. "What happened to you? You leave me for a little while and never come back?"
"I wanted to come back to you, Hotaru. But I was ambushed."
"Yes," The man in the mask spoke up as he walked away from Naruto and Killer Bee to join the arguing couple. "Your beloved master was captured by the Akatsuki and once they extracted the six-tails from his body he died immediately. Just as the all the rest they captured did. After all, such things happen to those who are picked to be the vessels of the tailed beasts.
"You jerk!" Naruto shouted as he ran up to the masked man. "You mean to tell me you used others like Pain to form the Akatsuki just to kill all these people who have a tailed best in them?"
"My plan goes even further, Nine-tails. Once I take the eight and nine tailed beasts I will be able to continue onward with it. It is pity we couldn't catch you and the eight-tails over there earlier. I would have had a complete set by now."
Forgetting about the angry, blonde ninja who had been escorting her earlier, Hotaru turned back to Utakata. "Master-"
"I'm not your master anymore, Hotaru," Utakata interrupted her in sorrow. "Believe me. I had really wanted to travel and train you properly. The only regret I have now is not accepting my role as your master sooner."
"But still. Now that you are back you can start training me again." Hotaru said quickly but saw that her words was not having a positive response as the man shook his head.
"I can't say how long this reanimated body is going to last but I know deep down I won't be able to teach you anymore. Once this war is over you must find another teacher."
"Sir Utataka, no one will ever fill that role except for you. I can't imagine anyone else doing it. Not even Tonbee."
Seeing that she was still being difficult, Utakata didn't know what else to tell her. "Fine. If you won't continue to learn from another person, you might as well stop at trying to become a ninja. But there is one thing I ask of you..."
"What's that?" Hotaru asked as she constantly was wiping away the tears that were now now falling down her cheeks.
"You must live." Utakata answered as he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I want you to live a long, happy life and to do what you can to restoring your clan. I don't want you to come quickly after me once I disappear."
"Master, I..." Hotaru tried to answer but was too surprised by his request to answer right away. "I..."
"Promise me." Utakata stated as a familiar smile began to appear. Hadn't that been the same smile she saw when he came to take away the jutsu inside her body?
Returning the smile she answered "I promise, Master."
Knowing that she wouldn't stop using that title for him, Utakata closed his eyes in amusement as a great white light began to engulf around him and little square papers began to leave his body. He was finally leaving. Turning to Naruto, the sixth jinchuriki gave his own wishes to him. "Naruto, look after Hotaru for me in this war."
"I will Utakata. And I'll avenge all of the jinchuriki that have been killed." The teen promised.
Feeling his spirit being lifted off the body as the little square papers fell to the ground Utakata turned back to his student. "Good-bye, Hotaru..."
"I'll do my best to fulfill the wishes of my master." Hotaru promised him again.
Recalling that she had made that statement to him earlier he smiled again. "I'll hold you to that." And just like that he was gone.
A/N: I tried to write out the Naruto fandom as best as I could. I hope I did okay. If not, well, at least this idea won't bug me to write it anymore.