Chapter 39: The Truth Behind the Portal

The person clutching the back of my shirt caused me to nearly stumbled when I stepped onto ground. I turned and grabbed Naruto's arms before he fell. He gave me a sheepish smile. "I wanted to make sure you were alright," he said.

"You should not have come," said Itachi.

"Who are you?" A chill ran down my spine at the voice, and then my eyes met my father's. He stood in between my great-grandparents, who I was surprised to find still alive and healthy. "How are you here? The portal cannot be opened by our clan alone except under the designated conditions."

"My name is Itachi Uchiha," said Itachi. "We opened the portal together. We are here to close it."

Anger flashed in my father's eyes. Before he could respond, however, Naruto doubled over and groaned loudly. "Naruto!" I exclaimed. "What's wrong?" I gripped his shoulders to keep him steady.

"That boy..." my father murmured.

"I - I don't know," Naruto said. His eyes were filled with pain, and he clenched his teeth. "It hurts."

"This world is different," said Itachi. "I feel it too. There is no chakra."

"The Nine Tails," I said in realization. "It's incompatible with this world and must be causing you turmoil. It's alright, my grandmother is a doctor." I turned to her. "You can help him, right?"

"I can make him comfortable," she said, "but he will need to return to his own world to heal." She gazed at Naruto. "I do not believe his life is in danger."

I nodded. "Thank you." I tried to nudge Naruto in her direction, but he resisted.

"I'm not going anywhere until I'm sure Itachi won't hurt you," he said.

"And why would he do that?" said my dad, his voice dark.

I shifted my gaze to my great-grandfather. "Because that's how it happened before. The death of an Uchiha powered the portal."

The only one who appeared surprised was my father. My grandparents both lowered their heads while he gave them a bewildered look. "That's not true, is it?" he said.

"I'm afraid it is," said my grandfather. He looked at me with a pained expression. "But it is not that simple. He attacked me. I had no choice." His face hardened as he looked at Itachi. "Katsumi, if you really want to close the portal, you will kill him before he kills you."

"No!" I snapped. "He's my friend. I won't do it. I won't hurt him, and he won't hurt me." I looked up at Itachi. I could not read his expression, and the bracelets did not work in this world. "Right?"

Itachi looked at me. "Would you do it if there were no other way? Would you sacrifice yourself to break the curse?"

"I-" I hesitated. It sounded brave and noble on the surface, but something about it did not sit right with me. "No. Even if I were willing, it would still be wrong."

Itachi dipped his head. "I see."

"You are going to take his word for it?" said my grandfather. "I can clearly see he's a rogue ninja. You can't trust him."

"Yes, I can," I said. "We have a bond."

His eyes narrowed. "I've heard that one before."

"I will not hurt her," Itachi said.

While he stared down my grandfather, I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. Without his Sharingan, Itachi could not sense my father closing in on him. "Watch out!" I shouted at the same time I moved my body in front of his. The kunai struck my chest a second later. My dad let go in horror as I collapsed in Itachi's arms, pain shooting throughout my body.

"Katsumi!"

I gave him a weak smile. "Now's your chance." Then I passed out.

Kiku

Kiku sat in the grass and stared at the portal. Katsumi would not return until sunset, but she still wanted to be there in case something happened. Kakashi clearly felt the same way. Everyone else had left, but he leaned against a tree and watched the portal with a steely gaze. Neither of them said a word. The cat sensed someone else approach.

"Nothing will happen if you stare at it," said Jiraiya.

"I have nowhere else to be," said Kakashi. "And the Akatsuki may still be around."

"Itachi's partner is long gone. We have the upper hand."

"Why would he allow that?"

"Because he actually wants to help Katsumi," said Kiku. She stretched before standing. "It's not always that complicated."

Kakashi glanced at her. "He may not have the best definition of helping."

"Don't worry. Katsumi knows him well." Kiku rubbed against Kakashi's leg as she walked past him. "There is nothing you can do for her right now anyway."

"She will be fine," Jiraiya said. "I could see it in her eyes."

Kakashi sighed. He did not appear convinced, but Kiku did not know how else to reassure him. Her ears twitched when a faint trace of a familiar smell hit her nose. "I'll be right back. I want to make sure no one else is really around."

"Thank you," said Kakashi. "I thought I sensed something too."

Kiku climbed the nearest tree and then began to leap between the branches. Her target was far enough away to not be spotted but still close enough to see the portal. Tobi did not even look at her as she settled on the branch beside him. "It's not nice to spy, you know."

"Tobi isn't spying," said the main. "Tobi is watching the portal."

"Ah, you're worried too." Kiku tucked her paws beneath her body. There was no threat here.

"Tobi is not worried."

"Sure." Kiku found him difficult to read because he hid his face, but she was getting better at sensing his intentions, especially after his latest run-in with Katsumi. "Itachi isn't going to hurt her, if that's what you're thinking."

"Why wouldn't he if that's what it takes to close the portal?"

Kiku wondered if he intended to slip into his normal voice - not that it mattered to her. "Because he cares about her and has learned to respect her choices." For the most part. He had forced her to leave the Akatsuki, but that was not the type of harm they were talking about here.

Tobi was silent for a long minute. Then he said, "What if Katsumi wants it? What if she chooses to die?"

Kiku had not really considered that option. Now that he brought it up, she wished she had discussed it with Katsumi. Knowing her friend, however, she could guess how she would act. "She would never do that. She does not believe that the ends justifies the means. Killing is wrong, even for a good cause. Dying in defense of another is one thing, but sacrificing yourself when lives aren't on the line is another. She wouldn't do it. Trust me."

"How does she expect to ever accomplish anything great with that attitude?"

Kiku chuckled. "Many problems in the world are caused by people without that attitude. Just wait and see. Maybe she'll surprise you." And that started with creating a successful resolution to the current problem. She knew she could do it.

I awoke in a bright room that instantly gave me a headache. I saw Itachi watching me. He sat on the edge of the bed where I lay tucked under the covers. "Itachi," I said. Good, he was safe. I tried to sit up, and he instantly moved forward.

"Careful," he said. I winced at the pain in my chest. "I will help you sit up." He moved the pillows around so they cushioned my back as I leaned against the wall.

"Thanks." Then I noticed my great-grandfather sitting in a chair nearby, watching us, and I stiffened. "You."

Itachi placed his hand on mine. "It's alright. He understands now." I nodded, relaxing.

"Mary Anne took care of you," said my grandfather. "You should see a medical ninja when you return to your world, but you will be fine for now. You are lucky no vital organs were hit."

"You could have died," Itachi said, emotion thick in his voice.

"It could have been you," I said softly. "Are you going to complain about me saving you again?"

"No. I just want to know why you did it."

"Why? Because you're family to me, Itachi, and I love you."

Itachi gave me a small smile. He took my hand in his and squeezed it. "I love you too, little sister."

"Remarkable," my grandpa murmured. "I thought our clans would always be at odds, but the two of you have repaired what Aioki and I broke."

"Aioki?" I said.

"Aioki Uchiha. He was my best friend." He paused and glanced from Itachi to me with a pained look. "Katsumi, I think it's time I told you what really happened at the portal all those years ago... if you are willing to listen."

I swallowed hard. "Of course. First, will you tell me if Naruto's alright?"

"Your friend is fine. Mary Anne is taking care of him in another room. Raiden is with them."

"Okay, good. I'm ready to listen."

My grandpa took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "The portal was not open when Aioki and I found it. We opened it. It was an accident. We were messing around and opened it with our shield and Sharingan. That is why the burden falls on us, Katsumi. I could not ask anyone else to bear it."

My eyes widened in surprise. "I didn't know that." I glanced at Itachi. "But then why...?"

"Originally, the Uchihas were included in the deal, but I'll get to that later." He cleared his throat. "Aioki and I entered this world together and met the most beautiful woman either of us had ever seen. We both fell in love with Mary Anne. She chose me. Aioki said he was fine with it, and I thought our friendship was strong enough to survive it. He promised to help me find a way to be with her. One of us had to stay here, anyway. We tried to close the portal from the ninja world, but it would not work. The Hokage figured out a way to limit the portal if one of us were on each side of it. We planned to switch off between the clans who would send their child over. That would have strengthened the bonds between our generations and made the separation more bearable, but..."

"Your friend betrayed you," Itachi said.

My grandpa nodded. "We knew our bond and our desires powered the portal - that may be why we could not close it from the ninja world. We figured Aioki letting Mary Anne be with me because of our friendship would be enough to get the job done. But instead of leaving, he attacked me." Sorrow filled his eyes. "I did not mean to kill him. He just kept coming at me, and I..." He broke off, anguish on his face.

"You defended yourself. You did nothing wrong."

My grandfather lowered his head. "Even so, I could never bear to tell anyone. Aioki's body was sent through the portal, and the process was complete. Our clan was tied to the portal, but his was not."

I took a minute of silence to reflect on everything I learned. I always assumed my grandfather acted selfishly when he chose to live in this world. I did not consider he had complicated reasons and endured struggles. I had judged him too quickly. "I'm sorry," I said. "I should never have blamed you for cursing our family."

My grandpa gave me a weak smile. "You may blame me for not wanting to close the portal if anything. Even if there had been a way..." He paused. "In the past, you accused me of choosing my emotions over what's right, but that's not true. I would have given up Mary Anne if I thought it was for the best." His expression saddened. "She was being abused, Katsumi, and she had no one else to turn to. I could not abandon someone who needed me. Someone I loved. The emotions just made everything stronger and gave me more courage to fight for her."

I swallowed hard, emotion sticking in my throat. "I understand that. I never thought I would, but I finally get it... and I don't blame you."

Recognition lit my grandfather's eyes. "You've found someone then? A nice boy from the village?"

I smiled at the thought. "Far from it." I glanced at Itachi but found his expression once more unreadable. "Itachi doesn't approve. He thinks I should find one of my own kind." I paused, but he did not comment. "But the thing is, Deidara is my kind. Among two worlds where I've never felt like I fit in either, he is more of my kind than anyone I've ever met." I looked back at my grandpa and found understanding in his eyes.

"You are like me after all." He lowered his head. "And now we will see if you will make the same choice as me."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

My grandpa's eyes flickered to Itachi. "When you protected him something happened to the portal. It came to life."

"It changed," Itachi said. "Even with no chakra in this world, I could feel the power."

"There was more power from your sacrifice than the betrayal and life of my best friend."

I stared at him, almost too afraid to ask. "Does that mean..."

"Yes, Katsumi. I believe you and Itachi have the ability to close the portal."

I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. "Wow." We had actually done it. We found a way to break the curse. Our mission was almost complete!

"There is one thing you should know." I opened my eyes and caught the worried look on his face. "The power is not as strong as when Aioki and first opened the portal. In addition, there may be a trick to closing it from the ninja world that we never discovered. You will not have much time to figure it out. But if one of you remains here, I can assure you we will get it done."

My blood suddenly ran cold. "Stay here? In this world?"

"It is our only chance," Itachi said. "We will not get this opportunity again."

I swallowed hard and looked at him anxiously. "Maybe you could stay! You could start over with a new life. And this world might have a cure for your illness."

Itachi gave me a sad look. "You know I cannot do that. It will have to be you."

"But I-" I had not expected this. I should have recognized it as a possibility, but the thought never crossed my mind. "How can I just leave everyone? But then, how could I not break the curse when given the chance?"

"You don't have to decide now," my grandpa said. "You have hours to think about it."

"True..." We could not do anything until sunset.

He gave me a kind smile. "If you are wondering about the right thing to do, know that you are not to blame if the curse continues. You are not obligated to do something about it - not if you have compelling reasons against it that deserve your consideration."

"I guess so..." Until recently, I would have disagreed, but somehow, everything had changed.

"Katsumi, I am sorry that I am the cause of many of your problems, but I do not regret it all. After all, you were given life because of my choice. If I had not chosen to remain here, I would never have married and had children. Mary Anne is the only one for me. I know my descendants have a hard life, but it is still life. I believe life is always precious, even when the circumstances they are born into are not the best. Everyone has struggles in life, and sometimes they make us stronger. Just ask your jinchuriki friend if he agrees."

I looked at him in surprise. "You know about that?"

My grandpa smiled. "Of course. I have been around for a long time."

"Can I go talk to Naruto?"

"I think that can be managed." He stood the same time as Itachi, and they both helped me up. My mind still spun in confusion, but I knew I could trust the advice of my best friend.

A/N: The next chapter is the last one. What do you think Katsumi will choose?