Chapter 21: Valley of the End
Flashback:
Day 354 of captivity
The female Jinchuuriki is once again in a state of agony as she lies on the operating table begin injecting with god knows what as she squirms in pain.
"We've seen that the demon is able to survive assimilations into its DNA so, we have decided to inject into it the BC (Byakugan cells) Vaccine to see if it will take hold with the sharingan gene already in place. The two conflicting doujutsu have never naturally occured in a single person so, it should be to great astonishment if this actually works but, the demon's survival is beyond most mortal comprehension in spite of its own willingness to die that it begged for my times. I can't help but pity the creature for its own indestructible nature has proven to be a curse brought about by its current circumstances." Mayuri says with interest
An attempt at something thought impossible is taking place.
Back in the present:
Naruko shook the memories away as she slowly closes the gap with Sasuke as they run through the forest. Naruko catches up to Sasuke at the valley of the end where madara and hashirama fought their last battle. Sasuke jumps on the head of the hashirama statue and stops.
"Sasuke!" Naruko shouts out as Sasuke turns to look at Naruko but, his eyes are infected with the curse mark causing them to look like Orochimaru's eyes. Naruko jumps up to the statues head and grabs Sasuke by the shirt and lifts him up.
"This is enough Sasuke it's time to return to the village!" Naruko says heatedly
"Hmph" Sasuke says as punches her in the gut making her drop him back down to his feet.
"Just who do you think you are trying to tell me what to do." Sasuke says smirking
"Your teammate and comrade you asshole." Naruko says to Sasuke calmly
"Comrades are things I no longer need in my quest for revenge." Sasuke says
"Then what the friends you have that have risked their lives to bring you home." Naruko says heatedly
"They did that of their own volition I didn't need them to rescue me." Sasuke says getting decked in the face by Naruko in response.
"Don't you get it! They did it because of the bonds we share as fellow shinobi and as friends." Naruko says frustratingly
"Bonds that I intend to sever starting with my bonds with you and the leaf village." Sasuke says spitting a glob of blood at Naruko's face.
"You won't be able to sever our bonds so, easily you bastard we are teammates of team 7 and that isn't going to change by you running your mouth." Naruko says
"Then I should let my actions speak for themselves by eliminating you." Sasuke says as he charges Naruko who blocked his punches. As Naruko gets closer to the edge of the statue she is kicked down toward a boulder by the river's edge and bound by Manipulated triple windmill blades that wrap around the boulder tying Naruko as Sasuke performs the dragon flame jutsu going down the wire only to be canceled out by a water bullet courtesy of Naruko who breaks free of the wires. She then activates her chakra chains and try to ensnare Sasuke in them but, with his sharingan active he reads the movements and dodges and weaves through them to get to Naruko and Kicks her toward the statue where he tosses a kunai at her that she counters with a shuriken. They fight their way down the face of the statue next to the waterfall and Sasuke manages to kick her down to the water below.
"I've been looking forward to the day when I defeated you and that day has come." Sasuke says forming a chidori and charges down the waterfall toward Naruko that runs toward Sasuke with a rasengan in hand and the two jutsu's collide. Their attacks cancel each other out so, Sasuke activates his curse seal and fires the phoenix sage fire jutsu that fires a volley of fireballs at Naruko who counters with water release: water fang bullet that Sasuke dodges and weaves through to reach Naruko as he performs the chidori again. Piercing the right side of Naruko's chest.
"With this you won't be able to move that arm of yours to form your jutsu." Sasuke says grabbing Naruko with his other hand by the neck and lifting her up. But, Naruko uses her good arm to twist Sasuke's bending it out place forcing him to drop her as she channels kyuubi's chakra causing to Sasuke's shock for the wound on Naruko right side to heal. The chakra gives off an enormass pressure that pushes Sasuke back as he holds his arm seeing the visage of kyuubi standing over Naruko.
"What are you!?" Sasuke shouts
"Your friend" Naruko shouts back as she charges toward Sasuke who has trouble keeping up with the blows until he is kicked away and lands on a floating log.
"Why do you care why go to such lengths for me?" Sasuke shouts causing Naruko to step on a floating log of her own.
"Because, I've never had a bond like this it feels almost like I have a brother." Naruko says sadly
"Do you really think of me as a brother." Sasuke asks
"Yes ever since, we became part of team 7 I felt like I had a family." Naruko says smiling
"A bond of family huh." Sasuke says
"It's because of our bond that I won't allow Orochimaru to have you even if I have to break every bone in your body I'm bringing you back to the leaf village." Naruko says heatedly
"I don't care as long as I can get my revenge." Sasuke says
"You don't have to have revenge to motivate your life like this." Naruko says sympathetically
"It's too late to turn back now Naruko." Sasuke says putting his headband on.
"If that's the way you feel Sasuke then you leave me no choice." Naruko says putting up a hand sign for the hidden mist jutsu and a mist forms over the lake. Sasuke readies himself for the coming attack that he can't see despite having his sharingan active. He receives several senbon to the side and the front of his chest that he quickly removes them as he heads for higher ground away from the mist. He runs up the surrounding walls and turns to face her with his sharingan that now has 3 tomoe in each and begins to read her high speed movements. They get into a taijutsu fight that quickly turns to Sasuke's favor putting Naruko on the defensive. She tries to counter with the gentle fist style but, it proves futile as Sasuke is able to move his body to avoid getting hit in the pressure points. He eventually kicks her back down into the lake and follows up with a fireball jutsu that Naruko counters with a water bullet. She creates a string of clones that she uses to swing her toward Sasuke that uses the dragon flame jutsu on them dispelling the clones and badly burning Naruko.
"Sasuke." Naruko says
"I told you before Naruko it's too late" Sasuke says as he picks her up and throws her down the ledge with a peregrine falcon drop a suplex move that slams her head first into the ground. Naruko's body goes limp and floats in the nearby water.
"What a pathetic creature you are. You would be long ago dead without my help and here you are again in need of my power. Well take it and show the Uchiha the true meaning of power!" The kyuubi says
As Sasuke falls to his knees he notices a shroud of chakra covering Naruko getting up close to Naruko he is suddenly punched away in face. As he holds his face Naruko begins to stand erect and forms a chakra shroud with 2 tails. Sasuke prepares for the onslaught to come a demonic rush of punches and kicks that he can't seem to follow as the shroud seems to have a mind of its own. With a swipe from Naruko he is sent flying a distance away toward the opposite shore. He unleashes a fireball jutsu at Naruko but, She jumps right through it and uses the shrouds form to lash out at Sasuke who runs away. But, one of the tails maneuvers itself underground to catch Sasuke and swing him toward the base of the statue of Hashirama. He pants trying to catch his breath as he stares at Naruko.
"I see that your special Naruko but, you are nowhere as special as me." Sasuke says
"I don't know what's going to happen to me when I unleash this curse mark, but I can't lose here." Sasuke says mentally as he releases the power of the curse mark to level 2. Just as he does So, Naruko takes a swipe at him sending him flying into the foot of the madara statue. When the dust settles a giant hand appears from sasuke's back along with another taking on the form of a pair of wings.
"Sasuke you-" Naruko begins to says surprised as Sasuke just smirks
"This is the end Naruko!" Sasuke says forming a black chidori as Naruko forms a rasengan and the two collide. A dome of light engulfs them inside Naruko takes a swipe at Sasuke's head slashing his headband while, Sasuke stabs Naruko through the stomach with his hand. As the light fades Sasuke is lying over Naruko, his hand staind in her blood. He falls to his knees in pain dropping his headband before getting up and walking away towards otogakure.
When Kakashi arrives he is too late Naruko is grievously wounded and Sasuke is long gone with his scent being lost in part to the rain. He gently cradles Naruko in his arms and picks up Sasuke's headband and heads back to the leaf village for immediate medical treatment for Naruko. When he arrives he finds the hospital a hectic mess as the medics are running from the emergency rooms rapidly. He informs the medics of Naruko's condition and places her in the emergency room. The cause of all this is the Sasuke retrieval team being back most of them with serious injuries while, others like Naruko were critical. Shikamaru was brought in with broken ribs, a pierced lung and a broken leg. While, Choji was going through the side effects of the three coloured pills. Neji came in with a hole through the chest, While, Lee was suffering the drawbacks of using 5 gates. Shino had internal damage from his hive attacking his insides to attack the parasitic twin of ukon. As for Kiba he had several stab wounds including one to the stomach. As for Naruko she had the worst of it: a severe skull fracture, severe burns, broken bones, and a serious stab wound to the chest and stomach. All in all it turned out to be a serious situation for all. The girls hearing the news of what happened to the retrieval team met up at the hospital where Sakura, Ino, Hinata, Tenten,and Karin wait for news on the boys and Naruko. They were relieved that Shikamaru, Lee, and Kiba were out of the woods by the next day and the following day Neji, Choji, and Shino were stable but, Naruko was still touch and go until the third day when she was considered in stable condition but, unconscious. The girls first went to check on their teammates before all of them came to Naruko's room. They are surprised to find Tsunade there checking the charts and going through Naruko's extremely limited medical history that left her more than curious. When she turned and looked to see the girls she smiled and waved them in so, they could get a better look at Naruko who was covered in bandages.
"Hello girls come to see Naruko. It's alright you can visit. I was just looking over some things." Tsunade says putting Naruko's medical file down.
"What happened to her Lady Tsunade." Sakura asks causing Tsunade to get up and place a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm afraid Sasuke happened to her Sakura the wounds she is sporting are consistent with the chidori." Tsunade says sadly causing Sakura to gasp.
"Are you sure lady Tsunade?" Ino asks
"I'm certain of it." Tsunade says sympathetically
"No tell me it isn't true please." Sakura begs heartbroken at the thought of her teammate hurting Naruko.
"But, it is." Tsunade says seriously as Sakura begins to cry into Ino's bosom as her friend pats her on the back.
"What are we going to do about Sasuke?" Ino asks
"He will be labeled a missing nin for his actions." Tsunade says firmly
"I see" Ino says downcast as Sakura's crying intensifies
"Now If you excuse me ladies I need to look up something." Tsunade says on her way out of the room.
Tsunade heads to her office and summons Ibiki that arrives in a timely matter.
"You summoned me Lady Tsunade." Ibiki says
"Yes I did while, going over Naruko's medical file I found it to be staggerly incomplete even the basic date of birth and location is missing from record the only thing in record was a referral to project Red tide." Tsunade says causing Ibiki to stiffen at the mention of the project which, Tsunade notices.
"With all due respect Lady Tsunade you don't want to know about that project even though I do my best not to think about what that project was beyond the pale of human decency by the end of it it made Orochimaru's experiments seem humane. I personally lead the investigation into it and by the end of it I lost my lunch and I've seen many disturbing things but what the Red tide project was something else." Ibiki said seriously as Tsunade raised her eyebrows at this since Orochimaru's went beyond the pale of inhumane himself so, can only wonder what Ibiki discovered.
"In any case would have the investigation report and assessment sent to me." Tsunade says
"With all due respect mam you don't want those either the third hokage wanted them buried along with the journal we uncovered both for the villages sake, Naruko's feelings, and the third's own sanity it's been said by the secretary that used to work for him that the day he got the journal and read it he trashed his office and she peaked in to see him sobbing into the ground begging for forgiveness not that I would blame him." Ibiki said with a distant look in his eyes as if he was there himself." Ibiki says
"Then let me be clear Ibiki I want the report, the assessment, and the Journal is that understood." Tsunade said clearly and firmly
"Yes my lady and if I would be so bold I recommend reading it on an empty stomach. As well as keeping the information from Jiraiya." Ibiki says
"Why would I want to keep it from him?" Tsunade says curiously
"Jiraiya believes that Naruto the former jinchuuriki died in a bombing of the hospital the truth is much darker and crueler than that. It's in the journal how Naruto spent the last few months of his life. It was so tragic that the third wanted it to be kept from Jiraiya for the sake of his sanity." Ibiki says his fists clenched
"I'll keep what I find about Naruto to myself for now but, I can make no promises." Tsunade says with a sigh
"Very well I'll bring what you requested tomorrow just remember not to eat anything maybe bring some strong sake." Ibiki reminds Tsunade
"Fine fine I won't eat anything but, why would I need a reason to drink?" Tsunade says with a grin
"Hmph I suppose you don't." Ibiki says as he turns to leave to head back to his office at the T and I department.
Back at the Hospital Naruko wakes up to see the room she's sleeping full of people the girls being the main focus followed by Shizune.
"Oh good I see you're awake." Shizune says as she gets a good look at Naruko and checks her over.
"Naruko it's good to see your ok." Hinata says
"Yeah cousin you scared us." Karin says
"What a relief you're ok." Ino says
"Well it's good to see you up." Tenten says
"Naruko I was so worried that I was going to lose you." Sakura says tearfully
"Don't worry I can take a beating and still keep on swinging." Naruko says cheerfully while Sakura gives Naruko a big hug.
"That's good" Hinata says
"Really you had us worried." Karin says
"Please don't get yourself so, injured again." Ino says
"Don't cause us to worry so much" Tenten says
"Thanks girls you don't know how much it means to me to know that you are all here." Naruko says
"Now that I'm up I've got errands to run." Naruko says as she gets up in her hospital gown and gets dressed.
"But, you're still injured." Shizune says
"These types of errands are time consuming but, nothing too strenuous." Naruko says as she stretches.
"Fine then, but don't overdo it." Shizune says with a sigh.
"Yeah alright." Naruko says