Chapter 43: Kage's summit
Naruko heads to a makeshift tent as she has 200 clones using wood release to generate new buildings for the citizens alongside Yamato. She arrives at the tent that has several anbu guarding it. They let her pass into see the hokage that is lying unconscious on a mat that serves as a bed as Shizune tends to her.
"Is she going to be alright?" Naruko asks shizune in concern
"I don't know, she spent most of her chakra up on Katsuyu that protected the people of konoha." Shizune says worried
"Do you know if she will wake up?" Naruko asks sadly
"I'm not sure she is in a coma right now. I don't know when she will come out of it." Shizune says sadly
"I see." Naruko says looking at the hokage sadly
"You should be going Naruko. I know that the village needs you to help repair the damage." Shizune says
"What about you, do you need any help?" Naruko asks
"No I've got everything under control you just go out and help the villagers." Shizune responds
"Alright let me know if she wakes up." Naruko says as she leaves the tent. She heads into the village to begin aiding in reconstruction efforts and hopefully give Yamato a break from building so many houses with his wood release.
Meanwhile, in the underground root facility Danzo is assessing the damage to his organization.
"What is the situation in the village?" Danzo asks
"They're still going through the wreckage to salvage what they can and rescuing people trapped under rubble." Fu says
"How are our forces?" Danzo asks
"We are less than a third of previous numbers due to Menma assaulting our facility and the root agents available to return from their missions have already arrived; we won't be getting any further aid." Torune says
"It's to be expected from the losses we've suffered." Danzo says calmly
"What do you command us to do?" Fu asks
"Simple aid in the recovery of the village for now. The fire daimyo will be visiting in a couple of days. I must prepare for his arrival in the meantime. Are we ready with sharingan replacements for my arm?" Danzo asks
"Yes Danzo-sama we have made preparations to transplant new sharingan's into your arm." Torune says
"Excellent with my arm restored to its full effectiveness I can prepare to supplant Tsunade and take her place." Danzo says as he makes his way down to the medical wing to prepare for the operation.
A couple of days later the fire daimyo arrives and heads to a building planted on top of the hokage monument that escaped the blast. The Hokage's elder advisors Homura and Koharu arrive with Shikaku and several representatives of the shinobi council. Danzo is the last to arrive as the meeting starts.
"So, gentlemen I see that your village is in dire straits." the fire daimyo says
"Yes Menma's earlier attack devastated the population of civilians and shinobi alike while Pain has wiped out the village's infrastructure." Shikaku says
"How is Tsunade? Is she still recovering?" the fire daimyo asks
"Yes she is in a coma right now and we aren't sure if she'll come out of it." Shikaku says with a hint of worry.
"That's troubling the village needs strong leadership right now and can't afford to wait." the fire daimyo says
"I think it's best we select a new hokage we can't wait and hope she'll wake up." Danzo says
"I suppose you're right but who? With Jiraiya dead there aren't many people who can handle the position." the fire daimyo says
"I nominate Kakashi Hatake for the position." Shikaku says
"The son of the white fang isn't he a little young?" the fire daimyo asks
"Minato was even younger when he took the position and besides Kakashi was trained by Minato who was trained by Jiraiya." Shikaku says
"Hmmm." the fire daimyo says
"It's their kind of thinking that has brought the village to ruin don't forget Pain was also a student of Jiraiya." Danzo says heatedly
"Then, who do you suggest." the fire daimyo asks
"I nominate myself for the hokage position." Danzo says
"An interesting choice." the fire daimyo says
"With all do respect you can't nominate Danzo rumors are circulating from Katsuyu's report of Naruko's conversation with Pain that he may have had a hand in creating Pain on top of that he is being accused of being involved in a project called red tide that involved the torture and death of minato's son as well as the torture, rape, and experimentation on Naruko Namikaze the hero of the leaf village then there was mention of his involvement with Itachi in the Uchiha Massacre." Shikaku says
"Those are quite the charges to have against you Danzo." The fire daimyo says as he is surprised by the accusations.
"They aren't charges but, baseless accusations based on hearsay. We don't have time to deal with such accusations and the idealistic views of Jiraiya. We need a strong hand that acts quickly and severely in these desperate times in order to pull us through them." Danzo says passionately
"I see your point. Danzo I declare you the rokudaime candidate." the fire daimyo says
"But daimyo-sama!" Shikaku says hastily
"I understand your concerns with Danzo based on the charges but we don't have time to investigate them because the village is in need of leadership. You can hold an investigation into Danzo's actions while Danzo takes the hat and if the charges stick then the shinobi of the village can decline his nomination is that understood?" the fire daimyo looks firmly toward Shikaku and Danzo
"That will have to do." Shikaku says
"Very well." Danzo says
"Good then, this meeting is adjourned I will have the village begin receiving aid right away." the fire daimyo says as he stands to leave along with the rest of the representatives and advisors.
"It's time to begin preparing the village for what's to come." Danzo says mentality as he walks out of the building planning on how to turn the village into his own vision.
Several days later a team of Kumo nin arrives at the gates.
"Halt!" one of the guards says
"We're here to see the hokage we have a message from the Raikage." Samui says calmly
"Very well head toward the back towards the monument a temporary HQ has been established there." the guard says
"Thank you" Samui says as she passes through the gates and notices the huge pile of debris at the center of where the village used to be. As she passes she hears her teammates bickering.
"Wow what hit this place?" Karui asks in wonderment
"It probably has something to do with the rock you hit." Omoi says
"Shut it Omoi!" Karui snaps as they reach the temporary building they were directed to. After passing the guards at the entrance of the building. They enter a room to see Danzo sitting at a desk going over something.
"What can I do for you?" Danzo asks
"We have a message from the raikage for you." Samui says handing him a parchment on it. Danzo looks at it and places it down before looking at them.
"Tell him I'll attend the five kage summit and as for Sasuke Uchiha he will be labelled a missing nin my assistant will direct you to the shinobi archives for our records on Sasuke Uchiha." Danzo says as he directs his assistant to guide the team to the archives. One of the people in the building starts spreading the word of Sasuke's newest status and the news spreads like wildfire.
"Naruko!" Sakura shouts as she spots Naruko as she raises another building with wood release.
"What is it?" Naruko asks
"Sasuke has been labelled a missing nin!" Sakura says shocking Naruko
"How!? Baa-chan is still unconscious!" Naruko says stunned
"That's just it Lady Tsunade has been stripped of her title and now Danzo is the new hokage!" Sakura says concerned as Naruko goes deathly quiet and begins heading in the direction of the new HQ.
"Where are you going?" Sakura asks following her
"I'm going to have a word with Danzo." Naruko says coldly
"I'm coming with you then." Sakura says trying to catch up to Naruko
"No! Sakura stay out of this. I'll handle it, this is between me and Danzo." Naruko says
"But-" Sakura tries to say
"No buts Sakura please don't get involved. I have a history with Danzo. You don't, it's best if you don't draw his attention." Naruko says as she turns to Sakura
"Ok Naruko have it your way then." Sakura says as she leaves Naruko alone and goes to resume her duties. As Naruko reaches the HQ building and makes her way to Danzo's office.
"What do you want?" Danzo asks Naruko as she makes her way into his office.
"I want to know why you labelled Sasuke a missing nin. I thought we had an agreement that you would leave the Uchiha alone!" Naruko says heatedly
"Sasuke attacked the hachibi jinchuriki as a member of akatsuki and captured him. The Raikage demanded that we make our position clear to him, so I did. As for our agreement it only extended to the uchiha that joined your clan." Danzo says with a narrowed eye
"By doing this you're going to turn Sasuke into an enemy of the village!" Naruko says angrily
"By choosing to follow Orochimaru he already became that." Danzo says calmly
"But, he never targeted the village. By doing this you're endangering the village by making it a target for his revenge." Naruko says frustrated
"Being an enemy of the village is bound to make it a target for reprisal." Danzo says indifferently
"There's still a chance that Sasuke can come back to the village peacefully with his mother alive. He has something to return to." Naruko says reasonably
"That chance ended when you failed to bring him back when he defected from the village." Danzo says coldly
"Damn it Danzo! You're putting your interests in front of the village again just as when you ripped Sesshomaru from my womb!" Naruko says slamming her fist on the table.
"I didn't take your child solely for needing a successor." Danzo says calmly
"What do you mean?" Naruko says with narrowed eyes
"He would have made a fine Jinchuriki but, it seems the 4th was smart enough to put a failsafe in his seal." Danzo says indifferent to the glare that Naruko was giving.
"You knew the kyuubi would break free?! But, the only one who could have stopped him was jiji and the only sealing jutsu he knew that could hold the kyuubi was the death demon consuming seal!" Naruko says shocked
"He would have used it and I had a newborn with the potential to control it." Danzo says naturally
"And he would have died either taking the kyuubi with him or being forced to place it in Sesshomaru and you would have no one to oppose you as you became Hokage!?" Naruko says enraged
"I would have been made Hokage with Jiraiya gone and Tsunade in self exile there wouldn't have been anyone else." Danzo says with a smile.
"You?! How many people in the village have to die to satisfy your lust for power!" Naruko shouts outraged
"Sacrifices all for the greater good of the village, you should be able to understand from being born from Naruto's sacrifice you exist standing here before me with the Uzumaki clan restored." Danzo says smugly
"What's stopping me from telling people about you and your sick idea of village rule!" Naruko says
"The uzumaki clan can be a great asset or a great threat that might need to be dealt with for the greater good of the village." Danzo says calculatingly
"You're threatening my clan!? They're more than capable of handling themselves." Naruko says
"True against me and my forces we would be overwhelmed but, against the village they threaten with a coup to get revenge for Naruto the village can be persuaded to deal with a fledgling clan that is out to get them when the village is so, vulnerable and can't afford an internal threat especially the clan of Menma Uzumaki." Danzo says icily with a smirk
"You would cause upheaval among clans if you did that!? You would risk other clans becoming paranoid about the village to cover your actions!" Naruko says shocked
"The other clans will have to see reason and bow to the will of the village or look like accomplices to the uzumaki. They would yield to the fear and make an exception in dealing with one unruly clan." Danzo says with confidence
"The village can't protect you from all threats Danzo eventually you will find yourself cornered with no one to turn to and will die alone." Naruko says defeated but confident in what she says.
"I'm never alone. I have my root agents with me and they'll never let me come to harm." Danzo says with certainty
"Puppets can only be as good as their puppeteer Danzo and a puppeteer without puppets is nothing." Naruko says as she leaves Danzo's office heading back outside to resume building the village. Naruko meets up with Sakura who is nearby.
"So what happened?" Sakura asks
"I couldn't get Danzo to change his mind." Naruko says
"Still you tried that's all you can do." Sakura says sadly
"No it isn't if I find the Raikage and convince him not to have Sasuke marked as a missing nin then, I might be able to convince Danzo to revoke that status." Naruko says with conviction
"Naruko you've already done more than enough for Sasuke you should focus on yourself akatsuki is still after you and Fu." Sakura says
"I can't just abandon Sasuke to the life of a missing nin he's our teammate and friend I would do the same for you." Naruko says passionately
"You sound like you know Sasuke pretty well how about you tell us about him." Karui says appearing at Naruko's side with her blade pointed at Naruko's face.
"I'm sorry but, Sasuke is my teammate. I refuse to rat him out." Naruko says apologetically and pushes the tip of the blade away from her.
"What?! Listen here bitch that bastard kidnapped our sensei do you know what it feels like!?" Karui says grabbing Naruko by the collar and getting into her face.
"Let go of her!" Sakura says as she grabs Karui's arm and flips her back toward her teammate.
"You want a piece of me bitch!" Karui says pointing her sword at Sakura.
"I'm saying there's no need for violence I'll happily tell you about Sasuke." Sakura says sweetly
"Sakura you can't!" Naruko says
"Yes I can, you've protected Sasuke, so let me protect you." Sakura says
"Good glad we understand each other." Karui says with a smirk
"But, if you lay another hand on Naruko I'll crush you!" Sakura says smashing a nearby stone wall. Sakura walks away with Karui and Omoi as Naruko puts her head down in thought. Naruko eventually turns to headout and seeks Kakashi to ask if he can help.
A day later Danzo prepares to headout with his two escorts to the kage summit. He summons Sai to have words with him.
"Sai I want you to keep an eye on Naruko. She's become a potential thorn in my side and if she leaves the village inform me." Danzo orders
"Yes it shall be done Danzo-sama." Sai says obediently as Danzo heads out as Sai goes to meet up with Kakashi and Naruko to inform them of his orders.
"So Kakashi do you think you can help me get to the Raikage." Naruko says
"Yes I will help and so will Yamato." Kakashi says with an eye smile as he looks at Yamato who is tired from building houses.
"Me!?" Yamato says
"Yes your Jutsu is convenient for this mission." Kakashi says
"Heh alright I'll help." Yamato says with a sigh
"Alright let's head out" Naruko says as the two follow her and spot the kumo team and Yamato uses Transmission wood jutsu as they walk by the team causing the kumo nin to pick up some seeds as they pass on the way out of Konoha. A while later Naruko, Kakashi, and Yamato pursue them and run into the Raikage and his team on the way to the land of Iron.
"So you followed Samui." the Raikage says as his two guards get in defensive stances.
"This young shinobi here has come to make a request of you Raikage-sama." Kakashi says pointing out Naruko.
"Fine but, make it quick I won't be late for the summit meeting." the raikage says gruffly
"Please retract your request for Sasuke to be labelled a missing nin." Naruko begs on her hands and knees.
"It doesn't matter if I retract my request Sasuke has joined Akatsuki, a terrorist group of the five great shinobi nations." the raikage says with seriousness
"But, if Sasuke becomes a missing nin and is killed my friends will retaliate in response and then you will reciprocate, followed by my friends parents and things will spiral out of control." Naruko says pleadingly
"If we kill Sasuke then, it will be your responsibility to bear the pain and ensure the violence ends there." The raikage says
"We've already done so, once when you attempted to steal the byakugan by sacrificing Hizashi hyuga we prevented war and bared our tears and took the pain and didn't retaliate." Yamato says
"Tell me Raikage what do you think of her request." Kakashi says
"I find it pathetic and weak she grovels for the sake of someone who has cut all ties to pursue a life of violence as a terrorist while, asking others in his place for forgiveness for his actions in the world of shinobi that isn't friendship." The raikage says and he turns and jumps away to head for the meeting. Leaving the 3 konoha nin behind in the snow. The group heads into town to find an inn to rest for the night. When in the middle of the night Naruko has an unexpected guest.
"Hello Kyuubi jinchuriki we need to talk." Tobi says as Naruko lunges with rasengan passing through him blowing a hole in the ceiling. Tobi is then restrained by wood release by Yamato as Kakashi has a lightning cutter ready to cut Tobi down.
"Now what is it you're here for?" Kakashi says
"Like I said I'm merely here to talk about the Uchiha and Sasuke." Tobi says
"You bastard what did you do to Sasuke?!" Naruko shouts
"I didn't do anything but tell him the truth about Itachi and his role in the uchiha massacre." Tobi says
"The truth about Itachi?" Kakashi asks
"Yes I told him how the village elders orchestrated it with Itachi to slaughter the clan when it was planning a coup." Tobi says
"It can't be!" Yamato says
"But, it is the truth that Itachi was forced to choose between the village and his clan and slaughtered all his kin save for Sasuke out of love for his brother." Tobi says
"You're lying." Kakashi says
"You know it's true don't you Naruko." Tobi says seeing the look on her face.
"Naruko?" Yamato asks
"It's true Mikoto and Danzo confirmed it for me along with Itachi." Naruko says
"So, Mikoto is alive, it makes Sasuke's choice more interesting." Tobi says
"What're you talking about?" Naruko asks heatedly
"I told him about the massacre but, I told him also, about Itachi's wishes for him to revive the clan as part of the village as a hero. I took a gamble telling him and he chose revenge against the village that had his clan slaughtered and made Itachi do it. He is an avenger that's Sasuke's dogma." Tobi says calmly as Naruko looks down her mind lost in thought.
"Who're you really, you're a uchiha I can tell? What is your goal?" Kakashi says
"Those answers I intend to give at a different venue for now I'll be on my way." Tobi says as the air distorts and he disappears. Leaving Naruko to explain what she knows to Yamato and Kakashi. Later on they have unexpected company of Sakura, Mikoto, Sai, and Kiba.
"What're you guys doing here?" Naruko asks
"We've come to tell you something our group has decided." Sakura says
"What you've decided?" Naruko asks
"Yes the others of the Konoha 11 have decided that you stop chasing Sasuke and let us handle him." Sakura says
"You mean by handle as in kill him don't you!" Naruko says hurt
"Yes Naruko, Sasuke's crimes keep on growing and the chances of him stopping are close to none." Sakura says
"By giving up on him you're forsaking him to the darkness he has surrounded himself in!" Naruko says heatedly
"If we don't stop him his actions will jeopardize the leaf village and everyone we love. We can't allow him to fall any lower." Sakura says with conviction
"I refuse to abandon him Sakura. He is our friend and teammate. I won't let him suffer in the darkness by himself!" Naruko says with firmness
"Fine! We'll handle this without you, Naruko!" Sakura says heatedly as she turns and leaves with Kiba and Sai.
"Are you really ok with this Mikoto? He's your son." Naruko says her head down
"We've tried everything to save Sasuke and he refuses us. Sasuke soon will sink so low that I won't be able to tell my son from a monster." Mikoto says sadly
"So, kill him before you no longer recognize him is that it." Naruko says bitterly
"I don't even know if I'll recognize my son when I see him. It might already be too late." Mikoto says grimly
"Sasuke only becomes beyond help when we give up." Naruko says sadly
"'I wish that was true Naruko." Mikoto says as she heads out to catch up to Kiba, Sai, and Sakura. Not long after they leave Gaara appears with his two guards Kankuro and Baki.
"Gaara how did the summit go?" Naruko asks still lost in thought
"Danzo tried to control the outcome of the meeting with genjutsu then, Sasuke attacked with his team. They eventually were captured save for Sasuke and his kunoichi who were whisked away by Madara. He told of his plan to use the tailed beasts to power a jutsu called Infinite Tsukuyomi to put the world in a he demanded us to hand over the remaining jinchuriki and when we refused he declared the 4th shinobi war on us. Now the kage are heading back to their villages to prepare for the confrontation." Gaara says
"So, the masked man was Madara huh." Kakashi says
"Yes and the kage decided to trust you as the next hokage because, of Danzo's actions he is unfit to call himself one." Gaara says
"I see I guess I don't have much of a choice do I?" Kakashi says with a sigh
"Naruko I faced Sasuke. He is too lost in darkness to be saved." Gaara says at Naruko who looks at Gaara with a look of defeat.
"As his friend Naruko you have to decide what to do with Sasuke either let him continue to sink lower or stop him." Gaara says placing his hand on Naruko's shoulder.
"I know but, I won't be able to decide till I see him for myself." Naruko says as she brushes Gaara's hand away.
"I've said all I came to say to you we'll see each other again soon." Gaara says as he heads out with Kankuro and Baki. As Naruko slowly turns to head out herself.
"Where are you going Naruko?" Kakashi asks
"I'm going after Danzo as he's Sasuke's target if I find him I find Sasuke." Naruko says with certainty
"I'll go with you." Kakashi says
"No find Sakura and the others if Sasuke's around she'll look for him and I want you to be there to stop her if she finds him." Naruko says
"Fine Naruko Good luck." Kakashi says as he heads out after Sakura's team.
"I'll stay here." Yamato says as he begins to repair the inn's roof. Naruko soon takes off as well creating 200 clones to begin looking for Danzo.
With Sakura she and her team are scouring the land of iron after hearing about Sasuke's attack at the kage summit. They are about to give up when Kiba nose picks up something.
"I've got Sasuke's scent!" Kiba says
"Where is he!" Sakura asks
"About 1km north of here." Kiba says
"Sorry about this guys." Sakura says as she tosses a ball full of knockout gas at Kiba,Akamaru, and Sai knocking them out. Mikoto having finally caught up follows Sakura to a destroyed bridge.
"Sasuke!" Sakura shouts as she closes in on him standing over a downed girl.
"Sakura what do you want?" Sasuke asks with bleeding eyes
"I'm here to join you!" Sakura says
"If you really want to join me kill this girl here and take her place." Sasuke says pointing to the downed girl.
"Who is she?" Sakura asks while walking toward the girl.
"It doesn't matter she's outlived her usefulness." Sasuke says dismissively
"Please don't do it Sasuke." The girl Tamaki says weakly as Sasuke is about to stab Sakura through the back. Fortunately Mikoto grabs Sakura and moves her out of the way as the chidori misses them.
"You really planned to kill your teammate Sasuke." Mikoto says sadly as she turns toward Sasuke and faces him.
"Hello mother I see you're among the living I see." Sasuke says neutrally
"I came to stop you Sasuke please, stop this you're brother would be disappointed in how you're acting." Mikoto says pleadingly
"What would you know of it mother? You died along with the clan that was betrayed by the village." Sasuke says icily
"We were planning a coup Sasuke and forced upon your brother a horrible choice." Mikoto says shamefully
"A coup against a village that ostracized us and wanted us to simply disappear." Sasuke says angrily
"Sasuke they were angry and did what they did out of fear and we should have realized that and tried to console them rather than plot against them like we did." Mikoto says ashamed
"You have some nerve sticking up for a village that had you stabbed in the back. I heard you've got a new life, did finding a new family help you forget about your clan!" Sasuke says coldly
"I have a new life now just as you can have in the village. It isn't what it once was. You can come home and rebuild the clan." Mikoto says beggingly
"I will revive the clan by eliminating the village that scorned us and I've already started by killing Danzo a little while ago. I hadn't felt so great in my life as when I killed him." Sasuke says with glee
"You killed Danzo!" Mikoto says shocked
"Yes just as I will kill everyone in the village starting with your new family and you the bitch who turned her back on her clan!" Sasuke says as he stabs Mikoto with a chidori spear impaling her through the chest.
"Mikoto!" Sakura shouts from Tamaki's side as she heals her. Sakura runs toward Mikoto and catches her as she falls from the spear and begins to heal the wound. As Sasuke begins making his way toward them slowly.
"Sasuke...please stop...you have me... and a sister waiting at home...for you." Mikoto says as she gasps
"Don't worry once I'm done with you two and make my way to the village I'll find my little sister and kill her, your bastard spawn." Sasuke says coldly as he is about to run the two women through with a chidori when he is grabbed by the back of his shirt and flung away by Kakashi.
"It seems I made it in time." Kakashi says relieved
"So, Kakashi have you come to die by my hand?" Sasuke says with a smirk
"You've truly fallen to turn your jutsu against your teammate and your mother." Kakashi says in disappointment
"They're nothing but, village bitches that will face death at my hand." Sasuke says angrily
"No they won't because, I will stop you here." Kakashi says revealing his sharingan.
"As if you can stop me." Sasuke says as he charges toward Kakashi. Kakashi meets his charge and they engage in a battle of taijutsu before Sasuke unleashes a fire release: fireball jutsu at Kakashi who forms an earth release; earth style wall blocking the fireball. Sasuke uses Chidori spear to slice through the earth wall toward Kakashi that ducks underneath the Jutsu and kicks Sasuke over the ledge of the bridge as Sasuke retreats down the side of the bridge toward the river below he unleashes fire release: phoenix sage fire Kakashi who following him down. Kakashi jumps down avoiding the fireballs to land on the water and performs water release: water dragon bullet against Sasuke who forms Susanoo to block the water dragon.
"I see you still have a few tricks up your sleeve." Sasuke says annoyed
"Sasuke I've told you once before and I'll say it again don't get caught up in revenge. You only hurt yourself further. In the end look at what happened between you and Itachi. It will only get worse for you if you don't stop." Kakashi says frustratingly
"Don't you speak of Itachi! Your village owes the Uchiha clan a debt of blood and I intend to see it fulfilled." Sasuke says in rage his Susanoo become armored and forms an arrow of black flames that he fires from his bow at Kakashi but he uses Kamui to warp it away.
"That eye saved you, Kakashi you owe the Uchiha a debt for it and I intend to see you pay it." Sasuke says as his Susanoo tries to stabilize further, the Susanoo fades and Sasuke grabs his eyes.
"Fuck!" Sasuke curses as he holds his face but, as he does so, Sakura appears underneath the bridge dropping down intent on stabbing Sasuke but Sasuke dodges her and grabs her by the neck and is about to stab her with her own Kunai. When Naruko intervenes grabbing Sakura in a bridal carry and dodging the stab.
"Good job Naruko your timing is better than mine." Kakashi says as he stands next to Naruko who puts Sakura down.
"You're a pest Naruko." Sasuke says irritated
"Sasuke we don't have to do this." Naruko says calmly
"Yes we do Naruko you're a member of the leaf and as one I will destroy you." Sasuke says forming a chidori.
"It's come to this then, so be it Sasuke." Naruko says as she forms a rasengan and matches Sasuke as he charges toward causing the two jutsus to collide forming a dome of chakra around them. Inside the dome of chakra the two face each other.
"You know Sasuke if things had been different I would be where you're standing. In spite of everything we are facing, I'm glad I met you." Naruko says with a smile
"Naruko, nothing you can say will change anything you have to choose to be either the hero that kills me or you become one of my victims." Sasuke says calmly
"I won't be the one that kills you nor am I going to be one of your victims." Naruko says with conviction. As the dome of chakra collapses and both are sent flying back. Naruko is caught by Kakashi while Sasuke is caught by a zetsu spore that appears from his body.
"What're you doing here?" Sasuke asks
"Keeping an eye on you as it seems you're in quite the pickle." the zetsu says calling for Madara who appears by Sasuke's side.
"You saw it didn't you Sasuke." Naruko says as Sasuke gets up
"Hmm" Sasuke says
"What will happen if we fight again we both will die." Naruko says with certainty
"I won't die." Sasuke says
"I will bear your hatred and die with you that's the least I can do for you." Naruko says with determination
"Why goes so far for me?!" Sasuke shouts
"Because, I'm your friend." Naruko says with smile leaving Sasuke stunned
"Hmph fine. You will be the first I kill before I move onto the village." Sasuke says
"That's fine bring it on." Naruko says with a grin
"Naruko I leave Sasuke to you, but I'm taking Madara down here." Kakashi says as he activates his mangekyo sharingan.
"Don't bother Kakashi, that jutsu won't work on me." Madara says indifferently so, Kakashi backs down.
"Let's head to the base and get you fixed up." Madara says as he warps the nearly blind Sasuke away along with Zetsu and himself. Leaving team Kakashi behind to collect the injured.
"Naruko thank you!" Sakura says tearfully
"For what?" Naruko says
"For giving me hope that team Kakashi will be reunited again someday." Sakura says
"It's not a problem Sakura let's head home." Naruko says as she creates two shadow clones to carry Mikoto and Tamaki as they head back to collect Kiba, Akamaru, and Sai. When they do they wake them up and begin the return trip home.