Author Note: For this one I suggest you listen to Naruto's second album,
songs: Orochimaru (both), Evil, Vengeful Person, Raikiri and Hinata vs.
Neji. I also listened to the song 'Until the day I die' I found a few days
earlier.
I really hope you like it. I worked hard and long on it and as usual it got longer than I first thought it would be, but that's just more for you to read. ^_^
Let me know what you think.. I'm dying to know. *Jumping up and down.*Plus I have a new beta reader now. Look under the title to see who it is.
Itsu Made Mo Dobe
Written by Monkan and Edited by asaroth
Chapter 11 – I remember you. The ultimate Battle.
Kuji stepped back which made Naruto raise his eyebrow in surprise.
\\Watch out, you don't know what he can do. He's not as dangerous as Kuji, but watch your back.\\ Kyuubi advised.
*I already know that. Just stand back until I need your help.*
\\Good luck...kid.\\
The unknown man made a few seals with his hands then disappeared. Before anyone knew it, he was already face to face with Naruto. Blood trickled down his arm as he had his hand deeply inside of Naruto's stomach.
"Naruto!" Sasuke yelled from where he was standing and Kakashi had to hold him back.
The shinobi giggled lightly as he raised his head to stare into Naruto's open eyes that were filled with shock. "Too slow." Naruto's opponent said. Naruto opened his mouth only to have a thin line of blood falling from the corner of his mouth. The grey man drew his hand further into Naruto's stomach and then out again.
The grey man backed away a few steps and held his hand in front of him. It was covered with blood. His nails were long and despite the red colour covering them Sasuke could see they had a silver tone to them.
"With my speed and my silver beast attack there is no way you can survive. You are just as harmless as a school girl." The man said in a confident tone.
Naruto coughed up more blood as he held his bleeding stomach. He raised his head and smirked at the enemy. "Stop being so damn confident."
Naruto disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Bunshin?" The grey man said. "Kuso where is he?" He looked around in every direction.
"Right here." The voice came from above him.
The man looked up and saw Naruto standing on a nearby house roof. "You shouldn't assume anything just by the appearance of your opponent. That's the first and worst mistake you can do."
Naruto crouched down and disappeared out of sight.
"Where did he go?" The shinobi looked around with his hands ready to fight if Naruto decided to attack.
"Up here." Everyone looked up to the sky to see Naruto going high up in the air. He was right in front of the sun and the light momentarily blinded the grey man. Naruto took the chance and moved his drawn sword to the side as he made hand seals with his free hand.
"Sword no Jutsu: Slicing sun." He grabbed the sword with both hands and swung it from one side to his other creating long blades of light that sliced through the air and as the man was still blinded by the sun he couldn't see them all. They hit the ground right in front of him, sending him with tremendous force right into Konoha's wall making another huge crack in it.
Naruto landed in a crouch as the defeated man fell to the ground unconscious.
Kuji looked over at the beaten man. He then looked back at his remaining three followers. "Anyone else?"
Two of them exchanged a nod before they walked past either side of Kuji. One of them had a strange glow on his hand as the other wore a pair of glasses that covered his eyes completely.
*What the hell is these guys?*
The one with the glow started to make a strange seal as he held his eyes on Naruto's body. The one with the glasses walked calmly closer. Naruto held his weapon firmly in his hands.
The one coming closer stopped and raised his hand only to lower his glasses. His eyes were still closed. "Ninpou genjutsu: Darkness harmony." His eyes shot open and pale purple eyes stared into Naruto's.
It felt like someone was looking right into his mind. Naruto didn't like it. He tried to break the contact but found that he couldn't. *What the...*
As if on cue darkness flashed around him. *Not good, not good. Got to move.*
"Hey kid what's your name?"
Naruto's eyes shot open as he recognized that voice. Before him the blackness had been replaced by a scene he thought he had forgotten.
A blond boy around 6 years old was walking through the streets of a village when he was stopped by someone. He looked curiously at the strange man.
"Naruto" The boy said.
"Well Naruto. What would you say about a meal for free?"
At the mention of food the boy nodded eagerly. "Come with me." The man said as he walked into a house nearby. Naruto followed as his stomach growled at the thought of food.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!" The little boy screamed as the hand came into contact with his shoulder. It felt like it was on fire. No, worse then that. It couldn't be described.
For four days he had been there in the dark room. No food, no water. Nothing like that kind man had promised. He was weak, useless. He couldn't defend himself from his tormentor that had beaten and kicked him for four days straight.
Then the hand had gone but the pain lingered.
"Get out, get out of my sight. You are on your own now. You can't trust anyone. You are alone. Do whatever you can to survive or die. Run, run from everything and never return to it. Never look back. Use your strength to survive."
That voice he had tried so hard to forget. It was taunting him, lecturing him now like it had then.
He felt weak, as if his energy was being drained from him. Naruto fell to his knees as he felt himself become weaker. *Just let my nightmare end here.* He felt Kyuubi in the distance but the voice was too far away. He just wanted it all to end.
"I'm happy that I have you in my life."
Huh?
"I will never leave you dobe."
What...
"Sasuke, do you think this will last?"
...is...
"I won't leave you here, baka."
... this...
"If this is the only way to save the person I love then so be it."
...that I'm...
"I've been happy these past 8 years."
...remembering?...
"You still have work to do for Hidden Leaf. The peace treaty. I'll wait for you."
"Don't talk like that, you are a hero now.... you can't leave me now."
...Sasuke...
"Look at the sky, Naruto."
...did we...
"I love you, Sasuke. Forever"
"I love you too, dobe."
...get a second...
Sasuke's face smiled at him. "Naruto."
...chance?
I can't leave him now when I've found him again.
Naruto felt like he was being dragged back to reality. He could see the two men in front of him. Kuji stood behind them with a big smile on his face. What he wouldn't give to wipe that smile off his face.
The one with the glasses was staring at him and the one behind him was... what was he doing? Whatever it was, it made him feel weak. The first one knew something was wrong as he couldn't feel the normal bond he had with his victims. He told his partner to hurry up.
*Kyuubi, what are they doing?*
\\You are back kid? I thought I had lost you for a second. I couldn't hear you.\\
*I'm fine now. Tell me.*
\\The first one caught you in a genjutsu, what kind I don't know. The other one is slowly stealing your chakra. He hasn't come to mine yet so he's still in for a surprise.\\
*Good, let's finish this together now. You know what to do.*
\\Hai. Just say when.\\
Behind Naruto everyone was wondering what was happening. Kakashi had to lay a hand on Sasuke's shoulder to keep him from going in. Some ANBU had tried to interfere but were knocked back by the last unknown enemy. He was using some kind of wind barrier. He was focused on maintaining some kind of wind barrier to hold them back.
Sasuke felt something strange with his eyes. It was as if he could see things clearer by the minute. But at the moment all of his attention was focused on Naruto who was still crouching on the ground.
Naruto looked up. "I'm not out yet. Eat this!" The man with the glow started to scream and bend over with pain for some unknown reason. The other one got a taste of his own jutsu as Naruto threw back a sample of a genjutsu he knew contained one of his worst memories. It made the other man hold his head in distress as he watched the scene over and over again.
Naruto was standing shakily on his feet. The anger on kuji's face was the one thing that made it worth it all.
"Did you actually think that amateurs like that could stop me?" Naruto looked over at the last shinobi that was holding back the others. *I got to get him to before I go after Kuji.* Naruto pulled out a different kunai and stabbed his own shadow with it. He then made ten different hand seals. "Shadow hand." Nothing happened. Naruto pulled back his hand and held it ready like he would grip someone's neck. "Kage no jutsu." He brought it forward in the direction the wind-man stood and from Naruto's hand a gigantic shadow hand burst through the air mimicking a real hand. It was fast and the man didn't have time to cancel his wind jutsu and move before the shadow hand clamped around him and slammed him into the wall behind. The shadow withdrew a little and the man took the moment to escape. Unfortunately for him his retreat wasn't an option. A black knife tore its way through his chest and killed him immediately. He fell to the ground, dead.
Sasuke along with a few others gasped at that. The knife returned back to its owner. Kuji just stood there like nothing had happened. He then threw three other knives. One killed the man with the silver claws, splashing the man's blood all over the wall. The other two men didn't stand a chance either.
"Now that they are out of the way, shall we being?" Kuji asked.
Naruto clenched his fists. "You didn't have to kill them." He said angrily.
"They proved to be useless and I don't need useless followers. Let me see your blood. Let me feel the breath of death down my neck like you let so many others feel." Kuji said as he went into an attack position.
Without warning he threw one of the black knives at Naruto. Naruto dodged it easily and it missed his shoulder. The few Jounins that were standing behind Naruto jumped out of the way. It started to glow green and went right into the building behind the ninjas. Upon impact it created a shockwave that sent a few shinobis flying along with a good portion of the house. Naruto didn't move after dodging the knife. His attention was on Kuji.
*It wont be easy, if I lose to Kuji then he can have his fun with everyone in Konoha just as he had in Hidden Sand.*
The material on Naruto's shoulder suddenly was ripped to shreds, leaving a good part of his shoulder bare. On his shoulder an ANBU tattoo was visible, the only different was that it had another spiral going right through it from the left side.
Naruto picked up his sword from the ground where he had dropped it and held it with one hand at his side. The wind blew through his hair.
"Lets put an end to this."
Kuji smirked. "I never wanted it any other way. I'll be the one to kill you, carrier of the cursed ANBU mark and the last member of the Uzumaki bloodline."
"So you know about that? Huh." Naruto said.
"I'm not so stupid to let someone like you fight me without knowing your weakness and strength. I must say I'm impressed by your heritage. I never quite found out what your special blood allows you to do, yet, but not many have such fine and rare blood running through their veins. Never the less, I'm not sure if it's enough to stand against my knives."
"We'll just have to see about that."
"Enough talking"
Kuji rushed toward Naruto. He pulled out two black knives out of thin air and threw them at Naruto. Naruto jumped out of the way, what he didn't expect was for the knives to turn around and chase after him. *Shimatta! Kyuubi, a little help here.*
When the knives were about to hit him, Naruto held his hand in front of them and send a large amount of chakra in their path, knocking the knives out and rendering them useless on the ground..
He landed a few feet away from them. "Not good enough." Kuji just said. Before Naruto could react more knives came at him from behind. Suddenly a new pain ripped through his shoulder distracting him long enough to let the knives hit him in his leg and arm. Blood coloured the ground red.
No one moved. Kuji smirked at the wounded blond. "This is a little disappointing. I thought you were stronger than that."
Naruto coughed up blood and fell to his hands and knees. His shoulder hurt like hell. *What's happening? Why does it hurt so much?*
The ANBU in the background had spread out. Some of them stood around the 46th, protecting him should anything come. Other Jounins were prepared to enter the fight.
Sasuke didn't know what to do, part of him wanted to run away from this, but a much bigger part of his heart wanted for him to run to Naruto. Kakashi still had a firm grip on Sasuke's shoulders, preventing him from doing anything.
Naruto pulled out the knives and they fell to the ground, disappearing. Sasuke stood still, watching the tattoo on Naruto's shoulder. It was shifting from black to red and back again. "What is that and what's happening to it?" Sasuke asked Kakashi.
Kakashi looked down at Sasuke with a sad expression. "It's a cursed ANBU tattoo. It's just like the normal ANBU tattoo, only this one isn't earned through hard work and training. You don't earn it at all, it's given to you against your will. Most of them are just children with some special bloodline that has almost gone from the world; these are the only ones marked with it. Then they are used for assassinations and suicide missions. They live in a different world from ours. Killing are a daily occurrence for most of them. They are on their own to survive. Most of them are killed before they even turn 15, it's the law they live by. No matter how hard you try, the cursed tattoo will lead to your death somehow. There's no way around it. I'm sorry to say that boy will probably face his fate soon. You can see how it shifts colour?"
Sasuke nodded.
"It's a sign for that something is wrong. The one that gave him that tattoo is watching over him. HE is the one that will decide what will happen. Once the watchers don't have any use of them, if they are too weak, they will send their death note through the tattoo. That's the fail-safe that no one can run away from."
Iruka came up to them. "How do you know all this?" Some of the other Chuunins had come too.
Kakashi closed his only visible eye. "I had a friend with that curse a long time ago. He was killed because he was too weak after a mission."
Iruka and Sasuke didn't say anything. Thoughts and memories swirled around in Sasuke's mind.
*Will that happen to Naruto too?* Sasuke shook his head. *No, it can't.*
"Are you crying Naruto?"
I can't...
Sitting on his knees in the mud. The rose lay on the grave.
... lose him...
"How I miss you, Naruto. Nothing is the same without you."
...when I...
"I love you so much it hurts too much to stay here without you."
...found him...
"Itsu made mo, dobe."
...again.
"Iie! (No)" Sasuke freed himself from Kakashi's grip and ran to Naruto. Even if Naruto didn't remember anything from their life together like Sasuke finally did, he wouldn't stand back and watch him die again.
Reaching Naruto he placed one hand on the wound on Naruto's arm, the other one was placed on his shoulder. Naruto looked up at Sasuke the moment he felt his hands on him.
Kuji had been about to send another attack at Naruto but the sudden intrusion stopped him. *Who the hell is that? Is that someone close to Naruto? Then I can use him.*
"Sasuke..." The pain had made him start to sweat. It mixed with the blood as it ran down his body.
Sasuke's eyes were glazed. Naruto felt like someone was putting tears in his eyes. He hadn't cried since he was little and even then it hadn't been tears he couldn't explain.
"If you die again Naruto, know that I'll die too." Sasuke's voice wasn't louder then a whisper. "I'll die too." Sasuke grasped one of Naruto's hands and entwined their fingers together. "I won't make the same mistake this time. Never turn your back on me again."
Naruto looked into Sasuke's face. Was he remembering the same things as he? All he could do was nod. He was cut off by a sudden strike of pain in his shoulder that made him bend over and hold his free hand over the tattoo. What was happening to it?
"Say goodbye to your friend." Kuji pulled out a dozen of pure red knives and threw them at the couple. Naruto looked up sharply as Sasuke did the same. Naruto was ready to jump out of their path when the pain in his shoulder increased. Sasuke looked at the closing knives. It was then that he saw something and he grabbed Naruto around his waist and pushed them to the left.
The knives flied past them and suddenly turned to the right. "Nani?" Kuji shouted, he had missed. Then he smiled, it wasn't over yet.
Sasuke stood up quickly. "Katon Goukakyuu no Jutsu." A gigantic fireball shot through the air and hit the red knives. At first nothing happened, but soon everyone could see the shape of something in the fire. It was twisting around and then it turned to look right at Sasuke with green eyes. A horrible sound filled the air making everyone stare in fear toward the fire.
Suddenly, some of the fire returned toward Sasuke and Naruto had to throw himself over Sasuke to knock them both out of the way again. The monster inside the fire turned to green smoke and went back to Kuji, who just stood there with a very angry look on his face. "How did you see that coming?" He yelled at Sasuke.
Sasuke turned to stare at Kuji with his Sharingan. His forehead was covered with sweat. "I'm an Uchiha. It's in my blood to read and copy attacks."
"Kuso, well I just have to kill you both now." The green smoke rose around Kuji as fire, slowly it entered his body from every direction. His eyes turned a shade of dark green as his hand, shoulders, face and legs started to transform.
Iruka and Kakashi rushed over to Sasuke and Naruto along with a few other shinobis. "What the hell is he? And what was that before?"
Naruto felt the pain lessen slightly and he looked over at Kuji as sharp knives or something along those lines grew out of his arms, legs and shoulders.
"It's his contract. That's his face of absolute terror. When I said earlier that he was cursed I wasn't telling the whole truth. His kind was a people that made a deal with demons. They had one special contract to a demon through out their lives until they were abounded by the demon. Those red knives carry with them a part of the demon and therefore it makes them like living demons. Every person they kill, the demon can eat their soul. Those that are killed will never find true peace until the contract is broken."
Kuji's hair flamed up in a red colour and grew longer.
"Kuji is the last living person with such contract and he is the most evil one too. When you make a deal with the demon you give up your soul and it will never return, it's the price you pay for a contract. Because he doesn't have a soul he doesn't feel anything except for the pleasure the demon feels from killing. That has poisoned his mind for a long time."
Kuji made a seal and numerous red knives came out of the air and held place around him, ready to strike on command.
"He calls the knives from the demon. A never ending supply of weapons straight from hell. That's how he almost destroyed Hidden Sand and almost killed the sand demon." Naruto reached for his sword where he had dropped it on the ground.
Some of the shinobis around him were shaking with fear now. "We'd better move now."
Just as he said that Kuji released a rain of red knives at them. The ground exploded with their power and for a moment the growl of a monster could be heard.
Naruto knew that inside a group he couldn't beat Kuji. With the tattoo hurting like that, it made it harder to concentrate. *What should I do? If I don't stop him he will kill everyone and everything.*
\\Did you forget me?\\
*Kyuubi.*
\\Use your bloodline. It's the only way I can see at this rate. None of the others are strong enough to take him on.\\
*How can you...*
\\Don't waste time, brat! Use only the first gate or else you know the consequences if you fail or use the second.\\
*Kyuubi, thank you.*
\\Forget it.\\
Naruto looked around and what met his eyes made his blood stop. The ANBU and Jounins had that tried to attack Kuji were no match for him, they had just spilled their own blood on the ground when they where hit by red knives. Some were already dead, others held their wounds as they tried to either continue attacking or get out of there.
Naruto looked over at Kuji, the bastard was enjoying it. It was written all over his face. The smile made Naruto sick more than anything. How could someone take so much pleasure in killing other people that didn't stand a chance?
He looked over at Kakashi and Iruka. "Make sure to get everyone out of here before more get killed."
At that Naruto smiled lightly before grabbing Sasuke's hand. "I won't leave you." With that he pushed Sasuke out of the way and jumped toward Kuji. Sasuke screamed after him. He dodged a wave of knives as he ran closer. He heard someone in the background scream in pain. He was getting close enough.
Unfortunately Kuji's arm grew longer and it grabbed Naruto around the neck. The hand was burning green and it was hot. "Kuso!" Naruto cursed. He had lost the sword when Kuji had grabbed him. It was lying behind him now.
"Is this all you've got?" The hollow and maniac voice of Kuji said. Kuji lifted his eyes and stared right at Sasuke who had been separated from the others when Naruto had pushed him away. He was now standing in clear sight without anyone close to help him.
Kuji looked back at Naruto the green colour in his eyes was shifting between darker and lighter shades. Kuji sneared at Naruto. "Is he an important person to you?" He then turned Naruto around so he could face Sasuke. "Say goodbye." Kuji whispered in his ear.
Naruto struggled to breathe as his eyes widen much more than they ever had before. "Sasuke watch out!" He yelled as loud as he could.
Sasuke felt something lick his neck and turned to see something similar from the form that had been inside the fire. He couldn't move for some reason and just stood there staring at the demon.
"Sasuke, don't!" Naruto yelled but it was too late. Sasuke fell lifelessly to the ground. The demon stood over him with what could be described as a disappointed expression.
Time stood still for Naruto. "It's your fault he died." Kuji whispered in his ear. Naruto shut his eyes as he felt rage burning through his blood. *My fault he died. Sasuke died because of me.* Sadness mixed with anger with feeling of losing someone you loved again, Naruto felt tears behind his eyes. Red chakra swirled around Naruto's feet, rising around him. It crawled around his waist and up his chest. As soon as it came into contact with Kuji's arm he had to let go as the red chakra burned him. Kuji didn't know what was happening, but he didn't like the change in Naruto, so he charged him. Naruto stared at him with hatred storming in his eyes.
"Taste my fear!" Naruto yelled as he changed the seal slightly. "Henge no Jutsu." Smoke surrounded Naruto before being roughly broken by something inside of it. Something red growled inside the cloud before jumping out in plain sight. It was a big fox with nine tails waving behind it. Most of the shinobis' eyes widen as they saw something similar to the terror that had almost crushed Konoha over 200 years ago.
The fox growled deep in its throat before attacking Kuji. Just as it was about to claw Kuji, that had his knives ready to strike, the fox turned into a huge mass of red chakra. It never stopped and with the slight shocked state Kuji was in, it nailed him right through his chest.
It hit Kuji full force. He was send back a few meters away. There was a red mark where the chakra had hit him. It contrasted with the green so much that even a blind man could see it.
Kuji was bending over with the pain the impact had created. Naruto knew this was his chance. He threw himself after his sword. He did a somersault when he grabbed it to avoid the few knives that came after him. Most of the others had taken cover and were out of the way.
*Sasuke when will we get our second chance to be together?*
Naruto cut his own palm with the blade of the sword so it was stained with his blood. He jumped up in the air and held it hard with both hands and when he landed again he drove it down into the earth. The ground was covered with seals after the impact or at the impact. The sky turned violet as the seals started to glow red. The dust between the seals was blown up into the air where it remained. The seals spread out and didn't stop until they had Kuji in their grip.
"What the... what is this?" Kuji swore out loud a few colourful words. He couldn't move.
Naruto raised his head from the crouching position he had fallen into when he had landed. "This is my special ability, my bloodline. I'm going to end your life here and now."
Naruto brought his hands together connecting his thumbs, his middle finger connected with his index. They pointed up and the rest of his fingers were entwined together.
Blood from his hand dripped to the ground. "Master Technique. Hidden shadow gate. Soul gate." As Naruto said that, a big gate appeared in front of him. It looked as if the gate doors were made of silver. They were outlined by the same seals and marks as those on the ground. A frame of stone rimmed it all in.
*Maybe I will come with you after all, Sasuke.*
"OPEN!" Naruto yelled as most of his chakra was sucked out of his body and the gates opened a second later. The gates were thrown open. The sound of voices could be heard through the darkness inside and two shadows came out to wrap around Kuji and started to pull him in.
"I won't die!" Kuji ordered more of his knives to aim for the shadow's, thinking that they could still do damage but they were reflected like insects. *Shimatta!*
He used all his power to stand where he was and not be dragged into wherever that gate was. The shadows tighten their grip and without much resistance Kuji was swallowed by the darkness. The gates shut close and shimmered out of sight at the same time as the seals on the ground did.
Naruto closed his eyes for a moment. It was over. It was finally over.
The Hokage looked out from where the ANBU had pushed him. What met his eyes was terrible. The place was basically destroyed. Nothing was the same. Big holes in the ground, pieces where missing off nearby houses, walls broken and wounded people all over the place. He had been pushed to safety but he had watched the fight. He had seen many things that shocked him. Kuji had been just like his rumour had said; a monster. Naruto had been on equal grounds with Kuji. The red chakra that he had suddenly released in his attack against Kuji and the bloodline he possess. It had been enough to hold back Kuji and eventually defeat him.
*Was that his ultimate attack?* He walked into the destroyed area.
*Is this what we have to pay?* He asked himself.
He saw Naruto standing alone with his back to him. He wasn't moving. The 46th looked around and saw the unmoving form of another boy just as young as the one that had fought this war.
He rushed over to Sasuke and moved him so that he was lying on his back. Sasuke's black bangs spilled around his face and almost reached the ground. His eyes were closed and he laid motionless. Another ANBU came over to them and sat down on the other side and checked over Sasuke.
"He's not dead." The ANBU said. The older man sighed in relief.
"Take care of him!" He said before he stood up and walked over to Naruto.
Naruto still hadn't moved. As the old man walked closer he saw that the young boy was shaking slightly, it wasn't much, but as he came closer he saw that the tremors got stronger. He stopped to look at Naruto's back. Then something caught his attention, the tattoo on Naruto's shoulder was flaming an angry red. It was almost glowing and each time it hit a clearer shade of burning red Naruto's body tensed with it.
*What's going on?*
Naruto tried to handle the pain his tattoo was giving him. It wouldn't stop and with each passing time it hurt even more. He bit his lip in order to choke the scream of pain he felt rising. He felt someone behind him and turned to see the old man that had send him on this mission that turned out to have cost too many lives than it should have.
The old man looked over Naruto's appearance. Sadness hit his heart full force. *Only 17 and he looks like he's been fighting a war for years. Is this the price I have to pay?*
Naruto looked away from the Hokage and over at where Sasuke laid. A medical team laid him on a stretcher. Slowly he walked over to them, the old man even if he tried to stop him but failed. The short distance was longer then it should have been for him. Time had almost stopped as he got closer. One of the medics saw him and made a move to take care of his injuries as well, but was pushed aside. Naruto was now right beside Sasuke.
He took in the closed eyes and how still he was. Naruto sat down and took Sasuke's hand in his. *What have I done?* His heart ached with sorrow and pain, something that couldn't heal in a long time. *It's all my fault. Sasuke, I'm so sorry!* He laid his head down on Sasuke's chest and tears escaped between his closed eyelids, soaking the shirt under his head. Then he felt something.
He lifted his head and waited, holding his breath. There it was again. Sasuke's chest was moving faintly up and down in a very slow rhythm. It wasn't much but enough to keep him alive.
Naruto felt a smile work its way onto his face. "Sasuke..." He whispered. Sasuke was alive. The smile was cut short as the most painful and intense shockwave of pain coursed it's way through his body. This time he couldn't hold back the scream of pain as he held his shoulder. The tattoo was practically burning red now. It didn't cease and not much longer after that Naruto passed out.
His head rested against Sasuke's chest. Medic and shinobis rushed around them as they did their best to help. No one saw the trace of green leaving the place through a hole in the wall.
As Naruto and Sasuke were carried away to the hospital no one was paying much attention, but those who saw the small, almost un-noticed, smile on their faces wondered what was going on with them.
tbc...
Author Note: Here it is, the whole new Chapter 11. It took me weeks to get it ready. Well I won't talk much longer because I'm off to a birthday party for one of my cousins now and I'm going to work on my hangover... not. I'm not going to drink too much so I'm going to work on the next chapter in Return of a Stranger. That's my next goal right now. I got the plot on this one worked out but it's the will to write, that too, that is against me. *It's so troublesome.* But don't worry I know more or less how my fics are going to go. I'm actually surprised that all of them are going as well as they are. *Looks around.* Well that's my dad and brother telling me to hurry so I'm off now. ^_^
I really hope you like it. I worked hard and long on it and as usual it got longer than I first thought it would be, but that's just more for you to read. ^_^
Let me know what you think.. I'm dying to know. *Jumping up and down.*Plus I have a new beta reader now. Look under the title to see who it is.
Itsu Made Mo Dobe
Written by Monkan and Edited by asaroth
Chapter 11 – I remember you. The ultimate Battle.
Kuji stepped back which made Naruto raise his eyebrow in surprise.
\\Watch out, you don't know what he can do. He's not as dangerous as Kuji, but watch your back.\\ Kyuubi advised.
*I already know that. Just stand back until I need your help.*
\\Good luck...kid.\\
The unknown man made a few seals with his hands then disappeared. Before anyone knew it, he was already face to face with Naruto. Blood trickled down his arm as he had his hand deeply inside of Naruto's stomach.
"Naruto!" Sasuke yelled from where he was standing and Kakashi had to hold him back.
The shinobi giggled lightly as he raised his head to stare into Naruto's open eyes that were filled with shock. "Too slow." Naruto's opponent said. Naruto opened his mouth only to have a thin line of blood falling from the corner of his mouth. The grey man drew his hand further into Naruto's stomach and then out again.
The grey man backed away a few steps and held his hand in front of him. It was covered with blood. His nails were long and despite the red colour covering them Sasuke could see they had a silver tone to them.
"With my speed and my silver beast attack there is no way you can survive. You are just as harmless as a school girl." The man said in a confident tone.
Naruto coughed up more blood as he held his bleeding stomach. He raised his head and smirked at the enemy. "Stop being so damn confident."
Naruto disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Bunshin?" The grey man said. "Kuso where is he?" He looked around in every direction.
"Right here." The voice came from above him.
The man looked up and saw Naruto standing on a nearby house roof. "You shouldn't assume anything just by the appearance of your opponent. That's the first and worst mistake you can do."
Naruto crouched down and disappeared out of sight.
"Where did he go?" The shinobi looked around with his hands ready to fight if Naruto decided to attack.
"Up here." Everyone looked up to the sky to see Naruto going high up in the air. He was right in front of the sun and the light momentarily blinded the grey man. Naruto took the chance and moved his drawn sword to the side as he made hand seals with his free hand.
"Sword no Jutsu: Slicing sun." He grabbed the sword with both hands and swung it from one side to his other creating long blades of light that sliced through the air and as the man was still blinded by the sun he couldn't see them all. They hit the ground right in front of him, sending him with tremendous force right into Konoha's wall making another huge crack in it.
Naruto landed in a crouch as the defeated man fell to the ground unconscious.
Kuji looked over at the beaten man. He then looked back at his remaining three followers. "Anyone else?"
Two of them exchanged a nod before they walked past either side of Kuji. One of them had a strange glow on his hand as the other wore a pair of glasses that covered his eyes completely.
*What the hell is these guys?*
The one with the glow started to make a strange seal as he held his eyes on Naruto's body. The one with the glasses walked calmly closer. Naruto held his weapon firmly in his hands.
The one coming closer stopped and raised his hand only to lower his glasses. His eyes were still closed. "Ninpou genjutsu: Darkness harmony." His eyes shot open and pale purple eyes stared into Naruto's.
It felt like someone was looking right into his mind. Naruto didn't like it. He tried to break the contact but found that he couldn't. *What the...*
As if on cue darkness flashed around him. *Not good, not good. Got to move.*
"Hey kid what's your name?"
Naruto's eyes shot open as he recognized that voice. Before him the blackness had been replaced by a scene he thought he had forgotten.
A blond boy around 6 years old was walking through the streets of a village when he was stopped by someone. He looked curiously at the strange man.
"Naruto" The boy said.
"Well Naruto. What would you say about a meal for free?"
At the mention of food the boy nodded eagerly. "Come with me." The man said as he walked into a house nearby. Naruto followed as his stomach growled at the thought of food.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!" The little boy screamed as the hand came into contact with his shoulder. It felt like it was on fire. No, worse then that. It couldn't be described.
For four days he had been there in the dark room. No food, no water. Nothing like that kind man had promised. He was weak, useless. He couldn't defend himself from his tormentor that had beaten and kicked him for four days straight.
Then the hand had gone but the pain lingered.
"Get out, get out of my sight. You are on your own now. You can't trust anyone. You are alone. Do whatever you can to survive or die. Run, run from everything and never return to it. Never look back. Use your strength to survive."
That voice he had tried so hard to forget. It was taunting him, lecturing him now like it had then.
He felt weak, as if his energy was being drained from him. Naruto fell to his knees as he felt himself become weaker. *Just let my nightmare end here.* He felt Kyuubi in the distance but the voice was too far away. He just wanted it all to end.
"I'm happy that I have you in my life."
Huh?
"I will never leave you dobe."
What...
"Sasuke, do you think this will last?"
...is...
"I won't leave you here, baka."
... this...
"If this is the only way to save the person I love then so be it."
...that I'm...
"I've been happy these past 8 years."
...remembering?...
"You still have work to do for Hidden Leaf. The peace treaty. I'll wait for you."
"Don't talk like that, you are a hero now.... you can't leave me now."
...Sasuke...
"Look at the sky, Naruto."
...did we...
"I love you, Sasuke. Forever"
"I love you too, dobe."
...get a second...
Sasuke's face smiled at him. "Naruto."
...chance?
I can't leave him now when I've found him again.
Naruto felt like he was being dragged back to reality. He could see the two men in front of him. Kuji stood behind them with a big smile on his face. What he wouldn't give to wipe that smile off his face.
The one with the glasses was staring at him and the one behind him was... what was he doing? Whatever it was, it made him feel weak. The first one knew something was wrong as he couldn't feel the normal bond he had with his victims. He told his partner to hurry up.
*Kyuubi, what are they doing?*
\\You are back kid? I thought I had lost you for a second. I couldn't hear you.\\
*I'm fine now. Tell me.*
\\The first one caught you in a genjutsu, what kind I don't know. The other one is slowly stealing your chakra. He hasn't come to mine yet so he's still in for a surprise.\\
*Good, let's finish this together now. You know what to do.*
\\Hai. Just say when.\\
Behind Naruto everyone was wondering what was happening. Kakashi had to lay a hand on Sasuke's shoulder to keep him from going in. Some ANBU had tried to interfere but were knocked back by the last unknown enemy. He was using some kind of wind barrier. He was focused on maintaining some kind of wind barrier to hold them back.
Sasuke felt something strange with his eyes. It was as if he could see things clearer by the minute. But at the moment all of his attention was focused on Naruto who was still crouching on the ground.
Naruto looked up. "I'm not out yet. Eat this!" The man with the glow started to scream and bend over with pain for some unknown reason. The other one got a taste of his own jutsu as Naruto threw back a sample of a genjutsu he knew contained one of his worst memories. It made the other man hold his head in distress as he watched the scene over and over again.
Naruto was standing shakily on his feet. The anger on kuji's face was the one thing that made it worth it all.
"Did you actually think that amateurs like that could stop me?" Naruto looked over at the last shinobi that was holding back the others. *I got to get him to before I go after Kuji.* Naruto pulled out a different kunai and stabbed his own shadow with it. He then made ten different hand seals. "Shadow hand." Nothing happened. Naruto pulled back his hand and held it ready like he would grip someone's neck. "Kage no jutsu." He brought it forward in the direction the wind-man stood and from Naruto's hand a gigantic shadow hand burst through the air mimicking a real hand. It was fast and the man didn't have time to cancel his wind jutsu and move before the shadow hand clamped around him and slammed him into the wall behind. The shadow withdrew a little and the man took the moment to escape. Unfortunately for him his retreat wasn't an option. A black knife tore its way through his chest and killed him immediately. He fell to the ground, dead.
Sasuke along with a few others gasped at that. The knife returned back to its owner. Kuji just stood there like nothing had happened. He then threw three other knives. One killed the man with the silver claws, splashing the man's blood all over the wall. The other two men didn't stand a chance either.
"Now that they are out of the way, shall we being?" Kuji asked.
Naruto clenched his fists. "You didn't have to kill them." He said angrily.
"They proved to be useless and I don't need useless followers. Let me see your blood. Let me feel the breath of death down my neck like you let so many others feel." Kuji said as he went into an attack position.
Without warning he threw one of the black knives at Naruto. Naruto dodged it easily and it missed his shoulder. The few Jounins that were standing behind Naruto jumped out of the way. It started to glow green and went right into the building behind the ninjas. Upon impact it created a shockwave that sent a few shinobis flying along with a good portion of the house. Naruto didn't move after dodging the knife. His attention was on Kuji.
*It wont be easy, if I lose to Kuji then he can have his fun with everyone in Konoha just as he had in Hidden Sand.*
The material on Naruto's shoulder suddenly was ripped to shreds, leaving a good part of his shoulder bare. On his shoulder an ANBU tattoo was visible, the only different was that it had another spiral going right through it from the left side.
Naruto picked up his sword from the ground where he had dropped it and held it with one hand at his side. The wind blew through his hair.
"Lets put an end to this."
Kuji smirked. "I never wanted it any other way. I'll be the one to kill you, carrier of the cursed ANBU mark and the last member of the Uzumaki bloodline."
"So you know about that? Huh." Naruto said.
"I'm not so stupid to let someone like you fight me without knowing your weakness and strength. I must say I'm impressed by your heritage. I never quite found out what your special blood allows you to do, yet, but not many have such fine and rare blood running through their veins. Never the less, I'm not sure if it's enough to stand against my knives."
"We'll just have to see about that."
"Enough talking"
Kuji rushed toward Naruto. He pulled out two black knives out of thin air and threw them at Naruto. Naruto jumped out of the way, what he didn't expect was for the knives to turn around and chase after him. *Shimatta! Kyuubi, a little help here.*
When the knives were about to hit him, Naruto held his hand in front of them and send a large amount of chakra in their path, knocking the knives out and rendering them useless on the ground..
He landed a few feet away from them. "Not good enough." Kuji just said. Before Naruto could react more knives came at him from behind. Suddenly a new pain ripped through his shoulder distracting him long enough to let the knives hit him in his leg and arm. Blood coloured the ground red.
No one moved. Kuji smirked at the wounded blond. "This is a little disappointing. I thought you were stronger than that."
Naruto coughed up blood and fell to his hands and knees. His shoulder hurt like hell. *What's happening? Why does it hurt so much?*
The ANBU in the background had spread out. Some of them stood around the 46th, protecting him should anything come. Other Jounins were prepared to enter the fight.
Sasuke didn't know what to do, part of him wanted to run away from this, but a much bigger part of his heart wanted for him to run to Naruto. Kakashi still had a firm grip on Sasuke's shoulders, preventing him from doing anything.
Naruto pulled out the knives and they fell to the ground, disappearing. Sasuke stood still, watching the tattoo on Naruto's shoulder. It was shifting from black to red and back again. "What is that and what's happening to it?" Sasuke asked Kakashi.
Kakashi looked down at Sasuke with a sad expression. "It's a cursed ANBU tattoo. It's just like the normal ANBU tattoo, only this one isn't earned through hard work and training. You don't earn it at all, it's given to you against your will. Most of them are just children with some special bloodline that has almost gone from the world; these are the only ones marked with it. Then they are used for assassinations and suicide missions. They live in a different world from ours. Killing are a daily occurrence for most of them. They are on their own to survive. Most of them are killed before they even turn 15, it's the law they live by. No matter how hard you try, the cursed tattoo will lead to your death somehow. There's no way around it. I'm sorry to say that boy will probably face his fate soon. You can see how it shifts colour?"
Sasuke nodded.
"It's a sign for that something is wrong. The one that gave him that tattoo is watching over him. HE is the one that will decide what will happen. Once the watchers don't have any use of them, if they are too weak, they will send their death note through the tattoo. That's the fail-safe that no one can run away from."
Iruka came up to them. "How do you know all this?" Some of the other Chuunins had come too.
Kakashi closed his only visible eye. "I had a friend with that curse a long time ago. He was killed because he was too weak after a mission."
Iruka and Sasuke didn't say anything. Thoughts and memories swirled around in Sasuke's mind.
*Will that happen to Naruto too?* Sasuke shook his head. *No, it can't.*
"Are you crying Naruto?"
I can't...
Sitting on his knees in the mud. The rose lay on the grave.
... lose him...
"How I miss you, Naruto. Nothing is the same without you."
...when I...
"I love you so much it hurts too much to stay here without you."
...found him...
"Itsu made mo, dobe."
...again.
"Iie! (No)" Sasuke freed himself from Kakashi's grip and ran to Naruto. Even if Naruto didn't remember anything from their life together like Sasuke finally did, he wouldn't stand back and watch him die again.
Reaching Naruto he placed one hand on the wound on Naruto's arm, the other one was placed on his shoulder. Naruto looked up at Sasuke the moment he felt his hands on him.
Kuji had been about to send another attack at Naruto but the sudden intrusion stopped him. *Who the hell is that? Is that someone close to Naruto? Then I can use him.*
"Sasuke..." The pain had made him start to sweat. It mixed with the blood as it ran down his body.
Sasuke's eyes were glazed. Naruto felt like someone was putting tears in his eyes. He hadn't cried since he was little and even then it hadn't been tears he couldn't explain.
"If you die again Naruto, know that I'll die too." Sasuke's voice wasn't louder then a whisper. "I'll die too." Sasuke grasped one of Naruto's hands and entwined their fingers together. "I won't make the same mistake this time. Never turn your back on me again."
Naruto looked into Sasuke's face. Was he remembering the same things as he? All he could do was nod. He was cut off by a sudden strike of pain in his shoulder that made him bend over and hold his free hand over the tattoo. What was happening to it?
"Say goodbye to your friend." Kuji pulled out a dozen of pure red knives and threw them at the couple. Naruto looked up sharply as Sasuke did the same. Naruto was ready to jump out of their path when the pain in his shoulder increased. Sasuke looked at the closing knives. It was then that he saw something and he grabbed Naruto around his waist and pushed them to the left.
The knives flied past them and suddenly turned to the right. "Nani?" Kuji shouted, he had missed. Then he smiled, it wasn't over yet.
Sasuke stood up quickly. "Katon Goukakyuu no Jutsu." A gigantic fireball shot through the air and hit the red knives. At first nothing happened, but soon everyone could see the shape of something in the fire. It was twisting around and then it turned to look right at Sasuke with green eyes. A horrible sound filled the air making everyone stare in fear toward the fire.
Suddenly, some of the fire returned toward Sasuke and Naruto had to throw himself over Sasuke to knock them both out of the way again. The monster inside the fire turned to green smoke and went back to Kuji, who just stood there with a very angry look on his face. "How did you see that coming?" He yelled at Sasuke.
Sasuke turned to stare at Kuji with his Sharingan. His forehead was covered with sweat. "I'm an Uchiha. It's in my blood to read and copy attacks."
"Kuso, well I just have to kill you both now." The green smoke rose around Kuji as fire, slowly it entered his body from every direction. His eyes turned a shade of dark green as his hand, shoulders, face and legs started to transform.
Iruka and Kakashi rushed over to Sasuke and Naruto along with a few other shinobis. "What the hell is he? And what was that before?"
Naruto felt the pain lessen slightly and he looked over at Kuji as sharp knives or something along those lines grew out of his arms, legs and shoulders.
"It's his contract. That's his face of absolute terror. When I said earlier that he was cursed I wasn't telling the whole truth. His kind was a people that made a deal with demons. They had one special contract to a demon through out their lives until they were abounded by the demon. Those red knives carry with them a part of the demon and therefore it makes them like living demons. Every person they kill, the demon can eat their soul. Those that are killed will never find true peace until the contract is broken."
Kuji's hair flamed up in a red colour and grew longer.
"Kuji is the last living person with such contract and he is the most evil one too. When you make a deal with the demon you give up your soul and it will never return, it's the price you pay for a contract. Because he doesn't have a soul he doesn't feel anything except for the pleasure the demon feels from killing. That has poisoned his mind for a long time."
Kuji made a seal and numerous red knives came out of the air and held place around him, ready to strike on command.
"He calls the knives from the demon. A never ending supply of weapons straight from hell. That's how he almost destroyed Hidden Sand and almost killed the sand demon." Naruto reached for his sword where he had dropped it on the ground.
Some of the shinobis around him were shaking with fear now. "We'd better move now."
Just as he said that Kuji released a rain of red knives at them. The ground exploded with their power and for a moment the growl of a monster could be heard.
Naruto knew that inside a group he couldn't beat Kuji. With the tattoo hurting like that, it made it harder to concentrate. *What should I do? If I don't stop him he will kill everyone and everything.*
\\Did you forget me?\\
*Kyuubi.*
\\Use your bloodline. It's the only way I can see at this rate. None of the others are strong enough to take him on.\\
*How can you...*
\\Don't waste time, brat! Use only the first gate or else you know the consequences if you fail or use the second.\\
*Kyuubi, thank you.*
\\Forget it.\\
Naruto looked around and what met his eyes made his blood stop. The ANBU and Jounins had that tried to attack Kuji were no match for him, they had just spilled their own blood on the ground when they where hit by red knives. Some were already dead, others held their wounds as they tried to either continue attacking or get out of there.
Naruto looked over at Kuji, the bastard was enjoying it. It was written all over his face. The smile made Naruto sick more than anything. How could someone take so much pleasure in killing other people that didn't stand a chance?
He looked over at Kakashi and Iruka. "Make sure to get everyone out of here before more get killed."
At that Naruto smiled lightly before grabbing Sasuke's hand. "I won't leave you." With that he pushed Sasuke out of the way and jumped toward Kuji. Sasuke screamed after him. He dodged a wave of knives as he ran closer. He heard someone in the background scream in pain. He was getting close enough.
Unfortunately Kuji's arm grew longer and it grabbed Naruto around the neck. The hand was burning green and it was hot. "Kuso!" Naruto cursed. He had lost the sword when Kuji had grabbed him. It was lying behind him now.
"Is this all you've got?" The hollow and maniac voice of Kuji said. Kuji lifted his eyes and stared right at Sasuke who had been separated from the others when Naruto had pushed him away. He was now standing in clear sight without anyone close to help him.
Kuji looked back at Naruto the green colour in his eyes was shifting between darker and lighter shades. Kuji sneared at Naruto. "Is he an important person to you?" He then turned Naruto around so he could face Sasuke. "Say goodbye." Kuji whispered in his ear.
Naruto struggled to breathe as his eyes widen much more than they ever had before. "Sasuke watch out!" He yelled as loud as he could.
Sasuke felt something lick his neck and turned to see something similar from the form that had been inside the fire. He couldn't move for some reason and just stood there staring at the demon.
"Sasuke, don't!" Naruto yelled but it was too late. Sasuke fell lifelessly to the ground. The demon stood over him with what could be described as a disappointed expression.
Time stood still for Naruto. "It's your fault he died." Kuji whispered in his ear. Naruto shut his eyes as he felt rage burning through his blood. *My fault he died. Sasuke died because of me.* Sadness mixed with anger with feeling of losing someone you loved again, Naruto felt tears behind his eyes. Red chakra swirled around Naruto's feet, rising around him. It crawled around his waist and up his chest. As soon as it came into contact with Kuji's arm he had to let go as the red chakra burned him. Kuji didn't know what was happening, but he didn't like the change in Naruto, so he charged him. Naruto stared at him with hatred storming in his eyes.
"Taste my fear!" Naruto yelled as he changed the seal slightly. "Henge no Jutsu." Smoke surrounded Naruto before being roughly broken by something inside of it. Something red growled inside the cloud before jumping out in plain sight. It was a big fox with nine tails waving behind it. Most of the shinobis' eyes widen as they saw something similar to the terror that had almost crushed Konoha over 200 years ago.
The fox growled deep in its throat before attacking Kuji. Just as it was about to claw Kuji, that had his knives ready to strike, the fox turned into a huge mass of red chakra. It never stopped and with the slight shocked state Kuji was in, it nailed him right through his chest.
It hit Kuji full force. He was send back a few meters away. There was a red mark where the chakra had hit him. It contrasted with the green so much that even a blind man could see it.
Kuji was bending over with the pain the impact had created. Naruto knew this was his chance. He threw himself after his sword. He did a somersault when he grabbed it to avoid the few knives that came after him. Most of the others had taken cover and were out of the way.
*Sasuke when will we get our second chance to be together?*
Naruto cut his own palm with the blade of the sword so it was stained with his blood. He jumped up in the air and held it hard with both hands and when he landed again he drove it down into the earth. The ground was covered with seals after the impact or at the impact. The sky turned violet as the seals started to glow red. The dust between the seals was blown up into the air where it remained. The seals spread out and didn't stop until they had Kuji in their grip.
"What the... what is this?" Kuji swore out loud a few colourful words. He couldn't move.
Naruto raised his head from the crouching position he had fallen into when he had landed. "This is my special ability, my bloodline. I'm going to end your life here and now."
Naruto brought his hands together connecting his thumbs, his middle finger connected with his index. They pointed up and the rest of his fingers were entwined together.
Blood from his hand dripped to the ground. "Master Technique. Hidden shadow gate. Soul gate." As Naruto said that, a big gate appeared in front of him. It looked as if the gate doors were made of silver. They were outlined by the same seals and marks as those on the ground. A frame of stone rimmed it all in.
*Maybe I will come with you after all, Sasuke.*
"OPEN!" Naruto yelled as most of his chakra was sucked out of his body and the gates opened a second later. The gates were thrown open. The sound of voices could be heard through the darkness inside and two shadows came out to wrap around Kuji and started to pull him in.
"I won't die!" Kuji ordered more of his knives to aim for the shadow's, thinking that they could still do damage but they were reflected like insects. *Shimatta!*
He used all his power to stand where he was and not be dragged into wherever that gate was. The shadows tighten their grip and without much resistance Kuji was swallowed by the darkness. The gates shut close and shimmered out of sight at the same time as the seals on the ground did.
Naruto closed his eyes for a moment. It was over. It was finally over.
The Hokage looked out from where the ANBU had pushed him. What met his eyes was terrible. The place was basically destroyed. Nothing was the same. Big holes in the ground, pieces where missing off nearby houses, walls broken and wounded people all over the place. He had been pushed to safety but he had watched the fight. He had seen many things that shocked him. Kuji had been just like his rumour had said; a monster. Naruto had been on equal grounds with Kuji. The red chakra that he had suddenly released in his attack against Kuji and the bloodline he possess. It had been enough to hold back Kuji and eventually defeat him.
*Was that his ultimate attack?* He walked into the destroyed area.
*Is this what we have to pay?* He asked himself.
He saw Naruto standing alone with his back to him. He wasn't moving. The 46th looked around and saw the unmoving form of another boy just as young as the one that had fought this war.
He rushed over to Sasuke and moved him so that he was lying on his back. Sasuke's black bangs spilled around his face and almost reached the ground. His eyes were closed and he laid motionless. Another ANBU came over to them and sat down on the other side and checked over Sasuke.
"He's not dead." The ANBU said. The older man sighed in relief.
"Take care of him!" He said before he stood up and walked over to Naruto.
Naruto still hadn't moved. As the old man walked closer he saw that the young boy was shaking slightly, it wasn't much, but as he came closer he saw that the tremors got stronger. He stopped to look at Naruto's back. Then something caught his attention, the tattoo on Naruto's shoulder was flaming an angry red. It was almost glowing and each time it hit a clearer shade of burning red Naruto's body tensed with it.
*What's going on?*
Naruto tried to handle the pain his tattoo was giving him. It wouldn't stop and with each passing time it hurt even more. He bit his lip in order to choke the scream of pain he felt rising. He felt someone behind him and turned to see the old man that had send him on this mission that turned out to have cost too many lives than it should have.
The old man looked over Naruto's appearance. Sadness hit his heart full force. *Only 17 and he looks like he's been fighting a war for years. Is this the price I have to pay?*
Naruto looked away from the Hokage and over at where Sasuke laid. A medical team laid him on a stretcher. Slowly he walked over to them, the old man even if he tried to stop him but failed. The short distance was longer then it should have been for him. Time had almost stopped as he got closer. One of the medics saw him and made a move to take care of his injuries as well, but was pushed aside. Naruto was now right beside Sasuke.
He took in the closed eyes and how still he was. Naruto sat down and took Sasuke's hand in his. *What have I done?* His heart ached with sorrow and pain, something that couldn't heal in a long time. *It's all my fault. Sasuke, I'm so sorry!* He laid his head down on Sasuke's chest and tears escaped between his closed eyelids, soaking the shirt under his head. Then he felt something.
He lifted his head and waited, holding his breath. There it was again. Sasuke's chest was moving faintly up and down in a very slow rhythm. It wasn't much but enough to keep him alive.
Naruto felt a smile work its way onto his face. "Sasuke..." He whispered. Sasuke was alive. The smile was cut short as the most painful and intense shockwave of pain coursed it's way through his body. This time he couldn't hold back the scream of pain as he held his shoulder. The tattoo was practically burning red now. It didn't cease and not much longer after that Naruto passed out.
His head rested against Sasuke's chest. Medic and shinobis rushed around them as they did their best to help. No one saw the trace of green leaving the place through a hole in the wall.
As Naruto and Sasuke were carried away to the hospital no one was paying much attention, but those who saw the small, almost un-noticed, smile on their faces wondered what was going on with them.
tbc...
Author Note: Here it is, the whole new Chapter 11. It took me weeks to get it ready. Well I won't talk much longer because I'm off to a birthday party for one of my cousins now and I'm going to work on my hangover... not. I'm not going to drink too much so I'm going to work on the next chapter in Return of a Stranger. That's my next goal right now. I got the plot on this one worked out but it's the will to write, that too, that is against me. *It's so troublesome.* But don't worry I know more or less how my fics are going to go. I'm actually surprised that all of them are going as well as they are. *Looks around.* Well that's my dad and brother telling me to hurry so I'm off now. ^_^