SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY
bows to readers I have finally managed to get this done! I am SO happy that I got THIS done! I haven't forgotten about this! I just dodged a BIG block is all.
I got an email from Kodoku na Kunoichi that requested I write a friendship thingie for Gai and Kakashi. So I gave it a shot here, to see if I can pull it off etc. So, umm, here I guess! Hope it's ok though. Maybe in the future I can do a little drabble on them or something.
Thank you for being TOO patient. Damn, I feel unworthy of such attention whimper
Enjoy!
BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNEW 16
Naruto was terrified, afraid and yet somewhat assured. But the feeling of assurance he had was but a tiny flutter at the back of his gut while fear squashed everything else. He cast a glance around the walking army of black and red, doing a brief estimate of how many shinobis Akatsuki had. Naruto knew that the organization had more – probably waiting in their base – and that the ones around him were what he'd like to call the appetizer. If the thousands around him were the appetizer, Naruto shuddered at what the main course would be.
"Move faster." Someone called from the back. Naruto guessed it must some second-in-command shinobi. He looked around for Itachi and didn't spot him.
They picked up the pace, light feet sweeping across grass blades and forest soil, not a sound being heard. Some moved through the trees' branches, some chose to move by ground. Naruto wasn't one to complain because he doubted that even with the skills he possessed, he wouldn't last five minutes if he decided to fight. A silent prayer ran through Naruto's mind, as the speed of his heartbeat increased. The army stopped briefly, orders of dispatching groups of five to scout for traps and tailing ninjas were given out. While several moved away from the group, Naruto was still dismayed by the fact that there were still a few thousands left behind.
"On your knees, brat!" The Akatsuki-nin gripping his one shoulder ordered. Naruto rolled his eyes and was about to grumble a curse when the other nin kicked the back of his knees.
"Shit." Naruto hissed, throwing a glare back at the nin who kicked him. He mentally marked the face – low ponytail, large scar running across his lower jaw and gray eyes. "Once I'm out of here, I'm going to break your legs."
"I'd like to see you try." The nin said, grabbing his hair.
"Naruto-kun." Naruto's face was jerked towards the speaker by the nin holding his hair. "You fell."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "The only person who fell around here is you, you asshole." Itachi quirked an amused eyebrow at that, while the nin gripping Naruto's hair pulled harder, making Naruto wince.
"Did I?" Itachi asked, sounding faintly amused. Kisame appeared a few seconds to look down at Naruto.
"Still tiny." Kisame said, grinning.
"Could you sink any lower?" Naruto asked, glaring as much as he can at Itachi. The task was difficult when you have a pissed-off and egoistic Akatsuki-nin gripping one's hair. "No, you had to go get the kids." Naruto winced as his head was jerked back and forth violently. "You just can't resist it can't you? You sick, twisted fucktard!"
"You talk too much For someone in your current standing." Kisame growled and that was the last thing Naruto heard before everything went black.
XXX
As soon as the Akatsuki army disappeared from view, Jiraiya signaled for the guards to close the gates. The resounding bang of the metal gates seemed to have jerked the Konoha nins from their stupor. Tsunade gave out orders immediately to all ANBU and Hunter units to be on guard. All Chuunins were ordered to be on red alert while a group of Jounins were dispatched to the Sand Village to give the Kazekage the warnings. From that point, the Kazekage will take care of warning other villages.
"Take double shifts. All women and children are to immediately retreat to the safety units in the mountains if a fight is to break out." Tsunade said, opting to use the word fight instead of war. She didn't want the villagers to be already nervous than they already are. "Shikamaru, Neji, you two will come with me and Jiraiya to strategize. The rest of you, move!"
There was a whoosh of movements and the entire lot in front of the gates was empty. The only ones who remained behind were Gaara, Haku, Kakashi and Sasuke. The rest, while doubtful and wanting to question the Hokage's orders (particularly the remaining rookie nine, their instructors and Iruka), left to stand their posts.
"You're not going to go after him?" Sasuke asked, sounding the question everybody wanted an answer to.
"No." Tsunade said.
"Why?" Sasuke demanded, fist shaking. "You of all people –"
"Don't tell me what to do, you brat." Tsunade hissed warningly.
"Put a little faith in Naruto. He's not as helpless as you think." Jiraiya said.
"Put a little faith him?" Sasuke asked, sounding astounded and sarcastic at the same time. "How the fuck can I put a little faith in him when he's with him? Them! And you dare talk about putting a little faith?"
"Sasuke." Jiraiya warned.
"The fuck is the matter with you people?" Sasuke shouted.
"I agree." Neji said, boldly stepping forward. "The chances of Naruto surviving with that kind of enemy holding him in prison are next to nothing."
"Naruto." Haku said, flicking a glance at everyone, his brown gaze lingering the longest at Kakashi who was too quiet. "Wouldn't want anything happening to anyone. Like Jiraiya-san said, put a little faith in him."
Sasuke's Sharingan flared from the boiling anger inside him. "If you, the both of you, really did give shit for Naruto's safety, you wouldn't even be standing here!" Neji seemed to agree with what Sasuke said, and Kakashi actually turned his head to throw the two Hunters a dark look.
"If you knew Naruto half as much as must as the both of us knew him, you wouldn't be even speaking that way." Haku replied back, a killing intent burning within the polite looking young man. "The thing is, you don't. Because Naruto left you behind a long time ago." Sasuke gritted his teeth. "And it must be killing you. Isn't it?"
Sasuke immediately lunged for Haku's throat, tempter getting the best of him, but Kakashi held him back. "Stop it Sasuke. This is not the best time."
Tsunade rubbed her temple, while Jiraiya sighed. The other spectators were astonished to Haku's bold words but decided not to comment anymore. "All of you will comply with the orders I've given you or so help me I will personally put you to sleep and you wouldn't know what hit you." Tsunade gritted out, having enough of the childish verbal fights. "Last thing I want is a shinobi running off on his or her own. Am I understood?" There was a whispered chorus of affirmation. "Now get moving!" Tsunade snapped and immediately everyone left.
Before Kakashi could even vanish, Gaara gripped his wrist. "I need to talk to you." Kakashi stared at the redhead briefly before nodding and following him, Haku behind them. They settled on the roof of Naruto's apartment building, looking out in to the night. Kakashi made himself comfortable on one of the concrete brick edges, waiting for Gaara or Haku to speak. "Here." Gaara said, handing Kakashi Naruto's necklace and ring.
Kakashi stared at it silently for a long time before lifting his head up in question. "Why?"
Gaara looked at him emotionlessly. "He told me to give it to you." Gaara leaned against the edge, crossing his arms. "Before he left with them."
"I see." Kakashi stared at it for a while, watching the sharp edges of the green stone glint under the light. He then turned to study the ring carefully. It was definitely the Yondaime's ring. "Why did he leave it?"
Gaara flicked a brief glance at Haku who was also leaning against the concrete edges. "Because we're about to go into one big war and that the chances of him surviving is, like Neji said earlier, next to nothing."
At those words, Kakashi stiffened. Haku gave him a sad look. "Many are going to die. That's reality. And Naruto would do anything to keep the village safe."
Kakashi wrapped his fingers around the pendant and ring. "I see."
Gaara half-heartedly smirked. "He just gave you one of the biggest parts of himself. You do realize that, don't you?" Kakashi blinked but shrugged a bit in reply.
"It's a silent way of saying that he loves you." Haku said, smiling at Kakashi, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Understand now?" Kakashi tightened his grip around the pendant and nodded silently. "Like I said earlier, Naruto might die. You might die. We all might. It's a probability. But if we survive, if you and Naruto survives, it would be nice, right?"
Kakashi's eyes glazed a bit. "Yes. It would."
"Believe in him." Gaara said. "That's what we do." Gaara gestured to himself and Haku. "It's what Naruto would've wanted."
Silence fell upon the three, until Kakashi cleared his throat. "How do we know what we're looking for?"
Gaara and Haku exchanged look. "You remember how Naruto was always flashy with his moves?" Haku asked.
"Yes." Kakashi nodded, for a moment dreading the next few words that the two might give him.
Haku's eyes crinkled in to a smile. "Well, let's just say that he hasn't lost that part of him yet."
Kakashi blinked. "Huh?"
Gaara tilted his head back and stared at the sky. "Something big, flashy and loud. Once you see that, then we'll all move." Kakashi got somewhat reassuring feeling, but still somehow worried. "Maybe something like fire."
XXX
Naruto groaned a bit. He could feel his head swim even with his eyes still closed. He was lying on his back on a cold stone floor that did not even feel smooth. Naruto could feel the tiny sharp stony edges digging in to his back. Only then did he realize that his captors must have taken his shirt away. Naruto groaned some more and cracked his eyes open, turning his head to one side. Light was illuminating from the ceiling in harsh white color, like hospital lights. Naruto made out faint red outlines on the walls he was blearily staring at. He focused his vision and noticed it to be a large splatter of blood.
"Oh shit!" Naruto gasped, immediately sitting up only to be brought back down by the sudden stand due to the chains around his ankles and wrists. "Fuck!" Naruto hissed, staring at the blood stain. It looked fresh and judging by the way it was fanned out on the wall, someone must've slammed the person's head against the wall powerful enough to crack the skull. Naruto figured it was blood from the head because only a skull is easier to smash and release that much blood compared to the spinal chord or any other body areas without the use of a sharp object. Naruto moved away from the wall as much as he could. Other than the fact that he was shirtless, Naruto noticed the tiredness and heaviness of his limbs, like all his energy was taken away while he was knocked out.
"So you're awake." Kisame emerged from the dark corners of the room, his samehada strapped to his back.
Naruto couldn't stop the sarcasm from lacing his words and attitude. He was so pissed. "Congratulations. You're not stupid."
Kisame shrugged. "I'm surprised you can still be immature even when you're already half dead." Naruto rolled his eyes in reply. That was the wrong action because Kisame had backhanded him across the face so hard that the skin broke and his lips cracked and bled.
"Hold back, Kisame." Itachi spoke, stepping forward. "Behave, Naruto-kun."
Naruto spat blood on the ground angrily. "Like fuck I should listen to you. They were right about you. You are full of shit." This time, Naruto didn't receive a backhand across the face. He was kicked in the gut, sending him on his side curled and coughing. "You know, I always wondered." Naruto sad in between coughs. "If Sasuke carried all the jerk-genes but I guess I was wrong. Does it run in your family? You know, being a bastard?" Naruto pushed himself up a bit to straighten up and look dignified, even if he was chained and already bleeding. "Because I would have loved to know, if you didn't wipe out your entire clan."
If Itachi was disturbed or angered by the question, he didn't show. "Tell me what you know about your seal, Naruto-kun."
"Let's see." Naruto feigned thought then glared. "How about, no?" Kisame moved forward and kicked both of Naruto's side then landed a heal-jab on Naruto's cheek. There was a sickening crack and grunt from Naruto who landed on side blinking bright lights away. Naruto groaned and cried when Kisame landed several other brutal kicks on his leg area and back. It was quite surprising that Naruto's bones didn't snap yet. "Oh god." Naruto gasped, wincing.
"The seal Naruto-kun." Itachi repeated.
"Hey." Naruto hissed, slowly trying to get to a kneeling position. "Even if I knew, what the hell makes you think I'd tell you? Don't you do your math good? I was a newborn when I got it, dumbass. No one's told me anything about it ever since too."
Kisame was about to land another painful blow but Itachi's held the aiming fist back. "Nothing at all?"
"Which part of newborn and nobody do you not get?" Naruto grumbled, rubbing his side.
Itachi smirked, crouched in front of Naruto and spoke calmly. "You're seal is made to both protect you and absorb the Kyuubi's powers." Naruto knew that but kept his mouth shut. "The seal is divided in to two parts. I've learned how to unseal it and still control Kyuubi" Itachi smirked while Naruto swallowed. Itachi noticed the reaction and leaned closer to Naruto's ear. "And when I have the Kyuubi, I'll let you watch your love ones die. Starting with Kakashi-san." Naruto's pupils dilated with fear just as his lips parted in a silent gasp.
Itachi waved his hand and Kisame banged a fist against the door. It burst open and several other Akatsukis walked in. Naruto was injected with a large syringe filled with an opaque yellow liquid on his side, right under the bruise that was forming from Kisame's earlier kicks. Naruto winced as the long needle sank in to his flesh, seeing yet not seeing the liquid pump in to him. Naruto's vision was going hazy as whatever drug he was injected with started coursing through his veins.
I know you're there, listen up.
The nins around him began to strap nodes all over Naruto's body, hooking it to various monitors that showed breathing, heart and charka levels and changes. Intravenous tubes were attached to Naruto's arm while one went to somewhere around his waist region, Naruto wasn't sure.
If ever, I need your powers the most now. Please.
"You won't feel anything." Itachi said, coming to stand next to Naruto's left side by his head. Itachi raised a hand and Naruto could make out the faint glows of blue charka that would unseal the seal on his stomach.
Naruto stared at Itachi for a long time, eyes glazing from the drugs, lids slowly dropping close, the only thing preventing it from closing was sheer willpower. Naruto noted that Sasuke and Itachi looked a lot like each other, especially the eyes and nose. Naruto mused that even their foreheads looks similar. As Itachi slowly lowered his hand towards Naruto's stomach, Naruto briefly wondered that if things were different, would Itachi made a good friend? Or some sort of elder brother, like the way he thought of Sasuke as his brother.
"Sasuke," Naruto said, making Itachi's hand stop inches away from his stomach to look at him. "Doesn't hate you. Not like he thinks he says." Itachi blinked at those words, the charka in his hand, for a brief mili-second, faltering in its flow. "How would things be if they were different?"
Itachi's eyes burned red, just as he lowered his hand. "Too bad you never will know."
Naruto drew his brows and shut his eyes as Itachi pressed the seal-release jutsu on to his stomach. Naruto felt a tug growing inside him and then like a rush of a river, something just flowed wildly.
KYUUBI!
Chakra sizzled in the air as Itachi continued to apply a steady flowing amount towards the seal. Several of the gathered nins around the stretcher stepped back as the sizzling intensified. Itachi narrowed his eyes, briefly glancing at Naruto who had his eyes shut in a drug-induced sleep. Just as Itachi poured the last dose of charka to open the seal, the blue glow around his hands suddenly turned red.
"What the –" Kisame grumbled as everyone watched closely.
Kisame didn't even had the time to complete his question for a large charka explosion pushed the gathered Akatsukis against the walls of the cell. A chorus of cries were heard followed by resounding thuds of backs hitting the walls. Kisame had pulled out his samehada, ready to fight whatever force that was cracking in the air, loud snapping whips resounding within the cell walls, chipping off concrete from the ground. Itachi who had caught himself just in time before he slammed against the wall like the others, stared as the red glow illuminating and swirling from Naruto's stomach filled the small cell. The charka pulsed violently, hotly and intensely for a few seconds before it burst loudly like a bomb explosion. The force overwhelmed everyone for they barely had time to react as the walls were destroyed and everyone was flung in random directions. Itachi managed to flip midair and land on a crouch on a fallen piece of debris as dust and soot particles drifted down the air from the impact of the explosion.
Itachi glanced up to find a gigantic fiery figure of what he could almost make out to be a body of Naruto himself. It roared just like a burning flame, the head titling up towards the sky like a wolf calling its pack. Itachi could have sworn, as he stared dumbfounded and completely caught off guard, that the figure could even pass as the Fourth himself.
Almost.
In the midst of all the chaos, Naruto stood, blue eyes a smoldering red with demonic slits, a smile on his face. All around Naruto, Akatsuki nins poured from every corner of the head quarters' area, poised and ready to do battle. There was a simultaneous clash of weapons and several choruses of jutsus as Itachi finally managed to break his gaze from Naruto's standing figure. From the forest areas, shinobi groups, ANBU and hunters poured on to the thousands of alert Akatsuki nins. Itachi turned his head back to Naruto's direction, once again overwhelmed just as Naruto's smile grew wider and was joined by two Hunters.
"You fell." Naruto mouthed and vanished in a swirl of smoke with his two companions, leaving behind the glowing entity that continued to become a signal for all shinobis across the country.
XXX
Gaara and Haku felt more than saw the growing and pulsing chakra miles away along with the other nins in Konoha. Once they were dispatched by Tsunade a few minutes later, Haku bade Kakashi to take care of himself as they all parted ways. "Are you all right?" Haku asked, holding on to a tired looking Naruto.
"I'm fine." Naruto panted. "Just drained." Naruto said, holding on to Gaara and Haku as the two carried him away from the chaotic battlefield. They stopped by a tree, a good distance away, while Haku did a routine check on Naruto.
"Your healing isn't as fast." Haku said.
"The seal is unstable." Naruto replied.
"Here." Gaara said, handing him a soldier pill. "It should help for now."
Naruto winced and placed a hand on his stomach. The seal looked different now. The kanji letters around the swirl was gone. Naruto could feel a slight tug inside him, like something warm and cold clashing at the same time. From a distance, he saw Gamabunta towering over the trees. Naruto could hear the multiple chorus of fire and earth element jutsus. For a brief second, he thought he saw Chouji and his dad in their multi-size jutsu forms. There were loud angry barks of dogs and there seemed to be a heavy shifting of shadows around the area. Naruto couldn't help but smile in fondness for his village as to how they were working together.
"Are you all right?" Haku asked. "Reinforcements are coming from Sand and other villages. They too want their traitors caught."
"That's good." Naruto grinned, despite the great pain his body was going through. "That's really –" He stopped as he heard the cries of a thousand birds. "Sasuke is here?" Haku and Gaara exchanged looks and nodded.
"Kakashi too." Gaara added.
Naruto's face seemed to change. "He's going to get himself killed." Naruto mumbled and quickly changed in to his hunter outfit that Gaara brought. Mask on his face, Naruto got to his feet and pulled out his twin swords. "Let's go.
XXX
The smell of blood was thick in the air. Naruto dodged the kunai lunged at him by Akatsuki nins, did a flip in the air and quickly channeled whatever that was left of his charka to release a Katon based jutsu. A loud crash and tumble of trees several meters behind made Naruto turn briefly to find Gaara standing on top of a sand-badger in its ultimate shield form. The sound of shattering glass made Naruto turn south from his position to find towers of ice giving off cold mist crumbling to tiny shards, silhouettes of figures trapped within the ice shattering. Naruto felt a shiver run down his spine. He witnessed that jutsu in one of the missions where Haku had to hold back a fleet of s-ranked criminals. It was not a merciful death.
Naruto did several hand seals, fixed his hand on the seal of the dog and gave out his command. "Phoenix wings no Jutsu!"
The fiery figure that was released from the seal spread its arms, as wings like shapes began to protrude from its back. It faced a battalion of Akatsukis, ascended in the air and flapped its wings once.
What was left of the battalion and the field around them were nothing more than charred ashes.
XXX
Kakashi sank on one knee, a hand coming up to his Sharingan eye just as the loud explosion of the fiery burning entity released a very hot and powerful jutsu. Kakashi felt a smile reach his lips as he remembered Gaara and Haku's words. "Naruto." Kakashi winced yet again and coughed. The battle could not have been longer than one hour and he was exhausted beyond his wits. He barely managed to block the barrage of shurikens coming towards him. Four managed to imaple him on his shoulders. The Sharingan was wearing him down by the minute. Kakashi caught sight of two cloaked Akatasukis, faces he recognized from his earlier years in ANBU, with short swords in hand. Kakashi braced himself, prepared to summon for his largest nin-dog and take the stab, when –
"Dynamic entry!"
"Gai!" Kakashi said gratefully, just as the two charging nins tumbled back, necks broken by Gai's powerful double legged kick. Gai turned, the suit material on his forearm, shoulder and knee area torn. The green beast of Konoha had blood stains all over his flak jacket and a bruising cheek. Even then, nothing can make the good guy pose and toothy smile loose its shining touch. Kakashi could not have been more grateful for Gai's arrival.
Gai merely laughed and helped Kakashi to his feet. "Pull yourself together. We got our help!"
"Sand came?" Kakashi blinked, and winced. His hand came up to the left side of his face.
"And Cloud." Gai dug out something from his soiled nin-back-pouch and handed Kakashi a soldier pill. "I will take you towards the border of the battlefield. You're exhausted. Shizune can help." Gai gave Kakashi support by holding him from his waist and hoisting one of the copy-nin's arms around his green clad neck.
"Aa." Kakashi nodded, for Gai understood how much the Sharingan wears him down. It was his strongest and weakest asset – a double edged blade one would say. Kakashi gave a sharp whistle as all of his nin-dogs appeared before him and his comrade-rival. "Cover us."
The dogs gave a sharp bark and turned on their paws to face the on coming enemy while Gai and Kakashi made their way towards the border of the battlefield.
XXX
Gaara jumped down his summoned sand badger and made his way across the field to where Naruto was standing. Haku met him half way while pulling a kunai off his forearm. No words were exchanged as they arrived to Naruto's standing spot, where the blonde was on his knees, holding his stomach to where the seal was located.
"Naruto!" Haku knelt beside him and pulled the mask off. Naruto didn't look injured, save for a few minor scratches and bruises that were unavoidable in their current position, but he looked too pale. The broken seal was taking its toll on him and his hold on the fiery entity was quickly wearing him down. Shaking breaths were escaping the now pale lips. Haku steadied Naruto and performed a basic healing jutsu that will restore a few percent of Naruto's energy. Although it was backlash on the jutsu caster, Haku didn't care. "Hold on, I'll –"
A crash and tumble made the three hunters turn. Sasuke came rolling back several meters, the ANBU mask shattered and his face bruised and bloodied that it was difficult to recognize him. Lee followed a good few seconds later, just as Sasuke came to stop from his back roll. Naruto gaped, for a moment forgetting about his exposed identity, as Itachi emerged from the opposite direction.
Lee managed to get on his feet and stand in front of Sasuke to block Itachi, determination in the young man's eyes. But he was already worn out, so a few seconds of taijutsu exchange sent Lee to one corner, knocked out. Itachi didn't look too good himself. His Sharingan was on, but flickering from black to red due to exhaustion. Itachi could have retreated if the entire battle field wasn't being kept closed by nins from other villages. Itachi did not look very happy. Somehow, it seemed that Sasuke managed to slice a sleeve off his cloak and give the older Uchiha a few small scratches. It accounted as nothing considering how powerful Itachi is.
Sasuke got around after hitting his head hard on the back of a tree bark and blinked dazed dark eyes up at Itachi's figure. Said eyes widened as Itachi grabbed him from strap of his ANBU flak jacket and kneed him hard on the stomach before pinning him against the tree.
"Still weak, foolish little brother." Itachi hissed.
"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled, making Sasuke snap his eyes open and kick the elder Uchiha on the thighs, before landing a punch across Itachi's face. Sasuke sank down the bark as sand quickly snaked under the ANBU's feet and held him up right, steadying him. Haku wasted no time and quickly performed hand seals that sent sharp spikes of ice from the ground chasing Itachi. Itachi leapt back, dodging them before one of his feet managed to get caught in the ice. On normal occasions, Itachi could have easily gotten rid of the simple jutsu, but the previous battles and fending off had worn him down.
"Gotcha!" Haku slapped his palms in to a different seal and sent the ice crawling up Itachi's calf to hold him place.
Itachi's Sharingan flared brightly as he did a flame seal and spat black fire at the ice. Gaara quickly raised his sand to shield Sasuke. Gaara left Haku and Naruto and quickly charged from behind Itachi, ready to crush him with his sand. But even sand couldn't escape the blazing heat of Amaterasu. Gaara was knocked back, sand burnt to nothing but floating wisps of black. Gaara landed next to Lee, the back of his head bleeding as it hit the tree bark.
"Go!" Naruto ordered Haku, who left him and quickly fended off Itachi with all the skills he had. Sasuke panted as he struggled to get on his feet, maskless and barely able to breathe properly. Haku attempted to pierce Itachi with his senbon needles, only to find them mirrored back to him as Itachi trapped Haku within the power of his illusion Haku sank to the ground like a rag doll, unmoving. Sasuke groped for his sword, wanting to stab his older brother dead. In his blind search for his sword, he failed to notice Itachi come up to him with a short blade in his bleeding hand that he aimed for Sasuke's shoulder to pin him on the tree bark.
Naruto cast his jutsu quickly, using the Time Warp that his father left him to disappear in a yellow flash and appear just mere seconds in front of Sasuke. Itachi's blade continued its course, as Naruto shielded Sasuke. The blade made a sickening squishing noise as it went right through Naruto in the middle of his chest. Blood gushed down, as Naruto narrowed dark blue eyes at Itachi's surprised blazing red ones. The Kyuubi vessel grasped the short sword by its blade and the wielder's hand, holding them in place, to prevent it from going further in and touching Sasuke.
"How can you?" Naruto asked, as blood trickled down his lips and landed on his bloody chest.
Sasuke grabbed one of the swords strapped around Naruto's waist and pulled it. The sword gleamed silver and red as Sasuke gave out a loud and angry cry of hatred, sadness and years of suffering and pushed the blade through Itachi's throat. Three bodies remained standing before Itachi managed a proud and bitter smile cross his blood drenched lips. It was like the older Uchiha was saying, 'You did it. I'm proud of you' to his younger sibling. Sasuke pulled the blade out while Itachi made a gurgling noise. The smile on the older Uchiha's face widened a millimeter, as Sasuke's Sharingan blazed a darker red, jagged lines appearing within the three copy wheels, the sign of acquiring Mangekyou Sharingan. Naruto let go of Itachi's hand as the S-ranked Uchiha fell back with a thud against the grassy and bloody ground, eyes hazing a dark shade and began to stare at the sky – dead.
The illusion cast on Haku winked out, as the Hunter coughed and sat up slowly.
Naruto sank on his knees, short blade still jutting out of his chest. Naruto pulled the blade out and threw it angrily to one side. The fiery entity disappeared like a candle blowing as Naruto collapsed on his side, blood pooling around him. Sasuke managed to retain some of his senses as his Sharingan flickered out.
"Naruto!" The Uchiha cried, sinking on his knees and cradling the fallen blonde's figure. "Oi! Naruto!"
Naruto stared up at him, blue eyes shimmering. "You've accomplished you – you're –"
"Shut up, dobe!" Sasuke hissed, eyes shimmering with fearful tears that he pulling back. "You didn't have to! I never asked for your help!"
Naruto felt himself smile up at Sasuke, eyes crinkling on the sides. "I don't know what happened." Naruto gasped out. He remembered that time in the hidden Mist village. "My body just moved on its own." The seal on Naruto's stomach glowed a fiery red, as Naruto closed his eyes. "You still have one more thing to do." Naruto whispered. "Right?"
"Naruto!" Sasuke shouted, shaking Naruto a bit to keep the blonde awake. Just as the seal ceased its glowing, Naruto fell unconscious, the rise and fall of his chest slowing down. Sasuke's senses heightened as footsteps approached them. He looked up to find more Akatsuki nins ready to slaughter them, just as Gaara came around and lifted the sand on the ground to shield all of them. Footsteps rang out behind Sasuke and he turned to find Kankuro leading a group of Sand nins.
"Get your butt off the ground and get the hell out of here!" Kankuro snapped at Gaara.
Gaara smirked and lowered his sand, allowing his elder sibling and his little army of twenty charge forward and keep the Akatsukis at bay. Gaara performed a basic healing hand seal and revived Lee. Haku got to his feet and came beside Sasuke and Naruto. "This is bad." Haku whispered, analyzing Naruto's wound. "We must go back to Konoha."
Sasuke nodded, but he himself couldn't stand. Sasuke's femur bone was broken from Itachi's earlier taijutsu beating. Gaara approached Naruto and lifted him up in his arms. Lee, who was partially fit to move on his own, helped Haku hoist Sasuke up.
"Let's go. Kankuro will cover our backs." Gaara said.
As fast their injured legs could carry them, the three carried their charges towards Konoha's safety.
XXX
When the fiery entity winked out, Tsunade had stiffened while in the middle of healing. Chuunins reporting in from the battlefield came with news every fifteen minutes to say that the Akatsuki numbers have been dropping and victory was assured for their side. She attended to her patients that kept pouring in to the hospital like bees to honey. Blood stained the floors along with muddy footprints. The waiting lounge was filled with groaning and pained Leaf, Cloud and Sand nins, while medics attended to their injuries.
"Get me more morphine!" Tsunade barked, as a nurse hurried off to fetch more medicines from the stock.
"Hokage-sama!"
Tsunade turned to find Gai supporting an already half-awake Kakashi with the help of Iruka who was helping out in attending to the injured. "He's not –" Iruka was cut off.
"Bring him here!" Tsunade brushed past a nurse holding a jar of medicinal cream and climbed a flight of stairs to the first floor. She pushed open a door and pulled back the curtains to one of the beds. "Put him here!" She said, as Iruka and Gai laid Kakashi on sterile white bed. Tsunade quickly performed her hand seals and held her green-glowing hand above Kakashi's forehead. Kakashi's eyes began to haze as the healing jutsu took its course in healing the pain induced by the Sharingan.
Iruka made Gai sit on the chair as he began to attend to the Jounin's cuts and injuries, bandaging them like all shinobis were taught. "Thank you, Iruka-sensei." Gai said gratefully.
Iruka was about to reply when the door burst open. Lee was standing by the door panting, green suit ripped in many places and bleeding. "H-Hokage-sama!"
"Lee!" Gai gaped, a pained expression coming to his face at the sight of his student.
"It's Naruto!" Lee side stepped just as Gaara came in carrying a very bloodied blonde figure.
Tsunade finished her jutsu on Kakashi and pulled back the curtains on the bed next to the copy-nin. She ordered Gaara to set Naruto on the bed, the sheets quickly drenching a crimson shade as the pale figure sank in to its sterile confines. Iruka stared, utterly shocked, eyes full of fear. Kakashi managed to turn his head and catch sight of Naruto's pale and bloodied face as the curtain around Naruto's bed were pulled shut by Tsunade.
"Gaara, take all of them outside. Transfer Kakashi to the next room! Lee, find me Sakura and Shizune and any free medic available! Haku, I need you to help me channel chakra through Naruto's body. Lee, what the hell are you waiting for? Move!" Tsunade barked.
Gaara moved around the curtain and lifted Kakashi with the help of his sand, carrying him out of the room. Iruka helped Gai up before leaving him in the next room with Kakashi to find medics. If Tsunade was that nervous, then Naruto's condition must be bad.
Kakashi could hear equipments and things being moved in the next room, his heart hammering against his chest. Hours ticked and still there were frantic shouts from the next room. It was only when Haku was wheeled in a wheelchair to the same room as Kakashi did the copy nin voice his fear out.
"Naruto?" He asked.
Haku looked tired, pale and too worn out. No amount of soldier pills could help the hunter stay more awake. "Ho-Hokage-sama is trying – to – to save him."
Kakashi felt his insides just stop functioning, the screaming orders from the other room engulfing him.
XXX
Cloud and Sand medics came to Konoha to assist all injured nins. They took their own nins and transported them when the patients were fit for it to their own village to recuperate. Medical supplies were brought in by several villages and help for the injured were provided.
Akatsuki was finally wiped out. Reports stated that some got away, but in very small numbers. Even then, those who did manage to flee battle were not fit enough to survive the environment of the battlefield. Hunter units from the Rock village were sent to scavenge for any live Akatsuki and eliminate any of the remaining members of the organization.
Chuunins that were left behind in Konoha for security purposes were now helping at the hospital. Shinobis that belonged to clans were sent back to their own homes with medical experts and attention due to the lack of space in the hospital. Those who didn't belong to clans and fell in to the category of male and female bachelors were distributed to the clinics all over Konoha for medical attention. Genins who were available were sent to clean up the battle field along with other Chuunins led by Sand's Jounin instructors.
Twenty four hours later, majority of the dead were sorted and were being prepared by volunteered citizens for burial. Sakura, Ino and Hinata were sent home after long hours at the hospital, pale and tired. The shinobi village managed to stabilize the amount of injured people when day light crept up the horizon a day after the large short-noticed war.
Tsunade came out of the room she was in, wiping her hands on a towel as she headed for the next room to check up on Sasuke. Nurses were sent to prepare a recovery room in the penthouse floor of Konoha's hospital building to set up a more sterile environment along with the medical equipments so that Naruto's body can be transferred. Haku had recovered a bit after a few hours of sleep and attended to Gaara's injuries.
Tsunade inspected Sasuke's body, used whatever that was left of her charka to heal the Sharingan induced stress and injury before ordering the boy to be transferred to the recovery room. Sakura and Shizune had taken care of healing the boy's broken bones and putting them in a cast. All the Uchiha needed now was a long rest.
Jiraiya hobbled in to the hospital and found Tsunade staring out the window towards the direction of the battlefield which was slowly being regrown and cleaned up by many shinobis. Jiraiya did not look very clean from the fight and sported injuries. The silver haired sannin was shirtless, his torso wrapped in bandages and hair pulled back tight. There were bruises on Jiraiya's limbs, but nothing that wouldn't heal. "It's over." Jiraiya said, and Tsunade could only give him a relieved sigh. "N-Naruto?"
Tsunade turned to face Jiraiya, a worried and sad look on her worn and beautiful face. "I tried."
Jiraiya's eyes widened. "W-What?"
Tsunade smiled sadly. "It's up to him now."
Jiraiya moved forward as fast as he could, catching Tsunade before the lady hit the floor. Hours of healing has finally taken its toll on the older woman.
XXX
Naruto lay on the sterile bed prepared for him; his was body cleaned in the best manner one could with a heavily injured person. A lot of IV needles and gadgets were strapped to the pale body, his chest rising and falling very slowly. The healing abilities Naruto possessed were surfacing very slowly as days passed. The minor cuts and little bruises on his body took almost two weeks to heal with the help of Kyuubi's energy. Everyday, Gaara would come in after his duties to the village and its citizens in helping them get back to their feet to channel charka through Naruto's body to speed up his recovery. Even then, it was taking too long. Tsuande was starting to have her doubts.
Haku spent most of his time helping the village and Tsunade's patients. The Hunter barely had time to drop by Naruto's room and help him heal for even if he wanted to, he couldn't due to the lack of functioning shinobi to help Konoha get back to its feet.
Temari announced her resignation as Kazekage once the Sand village and their shinobis were stabilized and in the process of healing from the battle injuries a good month later. Bit by bit, villages involved in the war were getting to their feet, and yet Naruto slept, oblivious.
Kakashi remained bed ridden for three more days with continuous drug injection to the point that his arm was red and swelling from the needles. On the fourth day, Kakashi was discharged and given one day's rest before being sent on missions to uphold the village's standing – despite the fact that he didn't want to leave the village yet, especially Naruto's side. Sasuke went through rehab a three weeks later after battle with Haku as his instructor. To say that the Uchiha was stubborn was an understatement.
Still, Naruto slept on.
"I'm loosing hope." Tsunade said, one evening while in her office, a month after the battle. "He's not showing signs of waking up."
"Naruto is stubborn." Jiraiya said. "Remember what he said? He's not going to die without becoming the Hokage first."
But even Jiraiya was having difficulties in believing his own words.
XXX
Gaara was surprised one evening to find Temari knocking on Naruto's apartment door, weary from travel. "Gaara." Temari greeted. The older woman was not wearing her Kazekage robes but a simple nin-kimono, fan strapped on her back.
"Come in." Gaara offered, letting the woman take a seat on the couch. He went to fetch her some snacks and a cool drink. Haku had not returned yet from his rehab instructing sessions with Sasuke.
"I've resigned my post as Kazekage." Temari said.
"I've been told." Gaara nodded.
"Kankuro is keeping an eye on things." Temari set her cup of tea down.
"You didn't come here just to tell me that." Gaara said, blinking.
Temari nodded. "I've decided to let you be the Kazekage of Sand." Gaara blinked, staring. "Will you accept the position, Gaara?"
XXX
Sasuke tripped, hissing as a hand came to grasp his left thigh. A dark curse escaped his lips. It was the second time that evening that he tripped in the middle of his rehab. Haku, as usual, was by his side and quickly applying a numbing jutsu to halt the pain till Sasuke was in a better position to heal it.
Their sessions were always quiet. Only Haku's soft voice when he gave instructions as to how move his leg occasionally sounded in the Uchiha manor. Sasuke, on his part, felt empty, bland and void of anything. He had accomplished what he had aimed for since that massacre and now it was like sinking in an abyss of darkness. No aim, no feeling of victory. The anger had died that moment in the battlefield when his thirst for revenge was quenched. Now, Sasuke felt like a mannequin undergoing rehab and ready to take orders for his village's safety.
"Please straighten your leg slowly, Uchiha-san." Haku instructed, kneeling beside him. Sasuke did as he was told as Haku proceeded to attend to the minor injury. "I think we've done enough tonight. Please rest, Uchiha-san. We will continue our exercise tomorrow." Sasuke only nodded. "Do you need my assistance in helping you up?"
Sasuke scoffed and stood on his feet, swayed and got caught by Haku by his waist. "I didn't ask for your help!" Sasuke snapped.
Haku smiled good naturedly and steadied Sasuke. "But that is my duty at the moment, Uchiha-san. Catch you when you fall." Sasuke stared at Haku quietly, and for some reason, he blushed a light pink at the words. "I know your background from Naruto. You still have many things in front of you worth living for."
Sasuke remembered the time when Kakashi told him years ago that his motivation shouldn't be revenge. How he desperately wished that he listened to Kakashi then. "I've lost my family. Naruto isn't even awake from his sleep and even then, he belongs to Kakashi." He mumbled.
Haku blinked and smile. "He cares for you as a friend." Haku tilted Sasuke chin up from the sitting position he was in. "He loves you like a brother. Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken that wound for you." Sasuke felt guilt and overwhelming sadness wash over him. "You should be happy to be alive." Sasuke's eyes hazed as he dipped his head down. "Naruto would have expected you to be on your own feet. He has that much respect for you." Sasuke tightened his hands on his knee caps, shutting his eyes as tears leaked out of the corners. "Don't let him down. Don't let yourself down. You're a good shinobi."
Haku knelt before Sasuke and offered him his own shoulder, as Sasuke cried really hard.
XXX
Kakashi came home from his missions tired and beaten. He let Genma carry the report back as he hobbled his way through town towards his apartment. Changed and cleaned off mission grime, he dropped on his bed, Naruto's necklace falling out of the neckline of his shirt. He stared at it quietly for a moment, as loneliness washed over him.
"Naruto." He whispered, staring at the ring.
The boy did many great things and he was so proud of him. But the growing ache and need to hold the blonde in his arms was getting bigger and bigger. It's been almost three months and counting and still no progress from Naruto's side. Naruto's bruises were mostly gone and for all deities out there, Kakashi was thankful that Naruto was even alive. He even thanked Kyuubi for keeping Naruto alive and if it wasn't for the demon, Naruto wouldn't have survived that chest wound.
The seal still looked stable, as far as Tsunade and Jiraiya were concerned. Out of security, Jiraiya placed two more seals to keep the existing one stable, earning Naruto's stomach a set of new markings. So far, nothing has happened.
Kakashi shifted on his bed, holding a pillow as he stared at the necklace. He will leave in a few hours for another mission the next morning. He prayed, like every night, that the new day coming would bring about a few positive changes in Naruto's condition.
TBC
Debating on Haku/Sasuke relationship.
Debating if I should right another lemony scene for Kakashi/Naruto (and writing one isn't winning).
One more chapter to go. Hard part done. All I have to do now is come up with LOADS of angst and fluff.
Toodles! dodge tomatoes
PS - Pardon for typos/grammar errors. Self-checked, me not good. Pardon! bows