Life As A Fox
Chapter 95
NSW
I am so sorry you guys, I left you waiting like that. Here is a list of the things that have happened to me which made me take so long.
-Graduated College
-Moved back home-
-Adjusted to new Job
-Discovered my Muse once more.
So yes, that is why it took so long, but here it is, the next Chapter!
Enjoy!
Naruto closed his eyes, concentrating on his inner heartbeat, blocking out the sounds of the battle. He had to make a decision. Weighing out all the options, he made his choice, for the better of Konoha, he would sacrifice himself. He opened his eyes a calm settling in him from his new resolve. "Sasuke..." he spoke. "What!? I am a little fucking busy at the moment!" The irritated Sasuke yelled at him. Naruto spoke after a moment, the words weighing heavy on him. "Be there for Yume, like I was there for you, losing the soul bond of a mate is the hardest thing anyone can take." He said looking down, knowing all to well the pain, he wished he would have to put his precious Yume through it, but he knew that she would come to understand, she would have wanted him to sacrifice himself then have this creature destroy everything that they had built together.
Sasuke turned his eyes wide. "Naruto...no! You can't be serious!" He nodded. "I am, I must do this, to protect the village, I swore an oath." He spoke sternly, convincing the both of them. "I may not be Hokage anymore, but the oath still stands, my blood, my life, for the blood and life of Konoha, served until a glorious death may be met." He said quoting the ending of the oath he took for office. Sasuke grunted in pain from his wound. "NO Naruto, listen to yourself! Sasuke roared at him. "There has to be another way!" he said frantically.
Naruto shook his head slowly, "This is the end of the trail Sasuke, my final hunt, my last stand." "Dammit Naruto, don't you remember? What happens when you die? You can't go anywhere, you will be stuck here, cursed to wander, do you want that?" Naruto sighed. "I know Sasuke, but I can't live forever, I can't avoid it, you can only run so much, I am strong now Sasuke. I will handle the eternity of walking between worlds."
Sasuke cursed limping forward he spoke. "NO, it was by my doing that you were condemned, let me repay the blood of long ago, use my soul...please...while I still have claim of it." Naruto stared at him. "No...Sasuke, I will not let you sacrifice yourself! You are my best friend" "Shut-up! How do you think I feel?" Sasuke cried out, voice ragged.
A moment passed, Sasuke voice continued, speaking in a dark whisper. "You are my best friend as well, hell...we are like brothers, but the fact of the matter still stands, that a long time ago, I took your life in a reckless and unjust way, that debt has yet to be paid, no matter how many times you say it is forgiven, I still hold it heavily on my heart."
Sasuke continued. "I have revived my clan, seen my son to be Hokage and save the clans dreaded curse from the future, I have served and lived a long, happy life, protecting my best friend and standing by him through the dark and the light...it is my time Naruto, let me go instead, its my sword, so it should be by my soul as well."
Naruto let a tear fall, this was his oldest friend, his brother, how many years have they been together, how many memories have they shared, sure some where of the darkest ones, but he also shared his best ones as well. "Sa...Sasuke...I...how could I live knowing I used my best friends soul as tribute? Sacrificing him like a pawn?"
"We are Ninja Naruto, you a Hokage, you have sacrificed pawns before, for the better good! You know if you don't do this, what will happen, would you rather me live and have ten innocent slain!? Look at Imasen! He died for the both of us, knowing that we would stop this creature before it harmed others!"
Naruto glanced at the body. "Do not waste his sacrifice, now I am not asking Naruto! I am commanding you! As your friend, as your brother! Use me!" Naruto closed his eyes. All the memories of the past surfacing, the bond between them seeming to swell in magnitude. Something happened, so rare that it seemed almost like magic, when a soul bond grew so strong between people that they share each others thoughts, and can speak to each others souls.
'I'm Sorry' he said, looking into Sasuke's eyes. Feeling the beating of Sasuke's heart matching his own. The same cloth, the same person, only in two bodies and hearts, the same warrior, the same hero, divided between the two. 'We weren't made to live forever, besides let me die in battle, with a smile on my face, just like...Nii-San' Naruto was blinded by tears for a few seconds.
He nodded. "Get over here." Sasuke nodded and stepped forward. The creature during this was still wrestling and fighting of Sasuke's snakes, who were combating the creature with all their might. But not enough it seemed. With a roar the creature broke free of one and sprung out at Sasuke. Swiping at his legs knocking him to the ground.
He cried out, fresh blood welling from the cut on the back of his legs. Naruto's heart thudded in his chest, he started forward but stopped when he heard a feral growl and the scent of sand warming in the sun. A strangled cry broke from his lips as he watched Yume lunge and leap upon the freed paw of the creature, stopping it from harming Sasuke more.
"YUME!" He cried out. She ripped and tore at the paw with all her might. Putting up a fight like no other. This distraction was what the snakes needed to tighten their hold on the creature. Finally the creature swung Yume away. She flipped end over end in the air crashing into a pile of debris. Naruto turned to her, feeling her pain through their bond.
"Yume!" He cried searching frantically for her. He saw her familiar pelt rise up. She grunted as she turned her heads toward him. "Told...you...I am no...old wolf..." he stared at her for some time. "Na...Naruto" Naruto turned and looked at Sasuke. He had rolled over on his back, looking up at him, a hand out stretched. "Do it"
He nodded once more, he concentrated on the five elemental chakra's harnessing their powers and pushing them outwards, forming them into powerful spectres. He sent them to Sasuke. They grabbed him and dragged him over to one side of the circle. Naruto glanced to him. Sasuke gave him a small smile and nod, reassuring him.
Naruto felt another tear fall from him. He sent the elemental wolves after the beast, both the wolves and snakes dragged it spitting and fighting towards the seal. When all was settled he closed his eyes. Doing the hundreds of signs that it would take to summon the god of death. Slowly, a blackness began to fill the area, a swirling dark mist, oppressing and sinister.
Death was everywhere, in every breath, in every heartbeat, he felt as though he was being slowly killed himself. Then it appeared, above him. It's bony long arms, grotesquely held out, clawed hands clutching a scroll and between it's sharp rotted teeth was a rusty black shirt sword. Naruto could feel a heaviness, a darkness weigh down on him. Suffocating everything good and bright, making him feel as though everything would be better if he would just die.
It had been a long time, since he had wanted to die, to feel the same feelings he had then and to think the same things. But he closed his eyes, and remembered everything good that there was and could be. He turned to Sasuke, knowing that Sasuke would be feeling the same things, and would need help to survive this, but then again what was the point, he needed to survive this only to die later?
He would just make it quick then. A raspy, dark voice, emanating from everywhere filled the place. Naruto noted that even the creature silenced itself and stopped moving. "So once again, I am summoned, how interesting..." Naruto spoke. "I am your summoner, I order you to rid us of this creature, seal it, within this sword."
Naruto said sternly glaring at the death god. Coldly it chuckled, its head tilting back at too far an angle to be natural. It swiveled its head towards the creature. The Shingami rubbed its rotted fingers together, it's long dirty claws grating against one another. "How interesting, very few mortals speak to me as such...but I will gladly do so, when the price has been met."
Naruto's heart stopped for a moment too long for his taste. "What do you mean?" the shinigami glared at him, it's eyes turning red with anger. "You dare to take a god of death for granted!?" Naruto stepped back. He would admit fear coursed through him. "One, pitiful soul...in trade for that creature? That power, it takes one soul just to bring me here, another soul of a higher caliber to seal that creatures cursed soul..." The shinigami said, pointing to the creature.
"So...you want two souls? Very well...take mine." Naruto snapped. The shinigami laughed. "Oh, Uzumaki Naruto, you must have forgotten in all your years...your soul is more cursed than even that creatures there." The shinigami swiveled a yellow dead eye towards him. "And it is worthless to anyone except you...no I will take that one's soul as payment, then the fare will be paid." Naruto looked out into the darkness.
"Who's?" Yume limped forward. Naruto stared at her. "NO! you cannot take hers!" Sasuke coughed. Blood covering his lips. "Best take the deal now Uzumaki, while you still have two souls to barter with. Your human won't last long...tick-tock...tick-tock" Naruto growled as Yume limped forward. "Yume go, leave this place! We will find another way to destroy it! We must, I cannot lose you!"
"There is no other way...my love, I will wait for you." She looked into his eyes. "You will always be my other half, but my soul is my own, and I choose to save you, I choose to save Konoha and my pups, and their pups they may have, I have never been a warrior, but now I may have my warriors death...Shinigami take us now!"
Naruto roared for everything to stop. For everything to slow down, surely they could have found a different way? A way that would not need so much sacrifice. But death was greedy, it was always searching for more. Naruto felt, his two biggest and strongest soul bonds leave him. Sasuke first and then Yume, the love of his life, his other half, what could one do when your entire world was taken from you? The ground tore from beneath your feet? Only one thing was possible, you fall, a dying star collapses in on itself then disappears into nothing, taking everything with it.
He was that dying star. He was on the ground, everything white and bright. In the distance he saw to shadows walking away from him. One human one wolf. He heard a delicate whisper on his ear. "Good-bye my love, thank-you for the life you showed me." It was Yume's voice, her presence there with him for only a moment, then it was gone, as if it never existed.
He wanted to cry, to scream, to howl in pain and misery, but he couldn't, he couldn't make a sound, or a noise, he couldn't tell where he was on earth or somewhere else? Was this a dream? Purgatory? What was this place? "It is anything you want it to be" said a voice, familiar, where had he heard it before, then he remembered, Megumi, his goddess.
She rose out from the brightness. Standing on a floor made of light, in a world made of bright white light. She stood hands folded in front of her. Hair let down, cascading on either side of her neck. She wore a simple elegant white gown, flowing over her silhouette with a noble elegance. "What do you mean?" He asked, lifting his head, all his pain gone.
"Am I dead?" he asked. She smiled softly and tilted her head. "If you want to be" "Are you giving me a choice?" he asked. She walked forward her feet bare, she made no noise. "After the war of long ago, I was given back my place as a goddess, and in doing so, I was given the ability to un-do one thing from before, I have waited for this moment, of all the choices my father made, the curse he instated on you is the one I wish to un-do, I have waited many years for this to happen, for I need to ask your permission."
"You...you can get me into the afterlife?" Megumi nodded. "Yes I can, but this is what you need to know, if I do, your form would revert to what it once was, you would be human once more, and humans cannot enter the afterlife of demons, you would not be able to be with Yume." Naruto was at a loss for words. He could go to the afterlife, but he would not be able to see Yume, if he returned to living, he would only miss her until he withered away at her and Sasuke's loss, and even then, he would not be able to see her.
"What of ghosts who travel in-between worlds? Could they enter demon afterlife?" he asked. Megumi paused, "Little is known of them, they are...rare, but they do have abilities, ways of crossing into all the realms, they have no rules, no bounds, and there is no way to control or stop them." Naruto nodded very will, there was a slim chance, but there was a chance, being a ghost would mean he might one day see her.
"I will decline to your offer, If there is a chance that I can see Yume as a ghost I will take it." Megumi smiled. "I knew you would, you see father...I told you that this soul was strong." She said turning her head. Naruto felt a presence, he could not see anyone. But he felt them, powerful, ancient, omnipotent, it was as if the world had taken form for a second, it was everything there was and would be, this must have been the king of the gods, the creator of all.
"You are right my daughter, your words have been proven true, he has passed the test, you may do as you requested, you are a very peculiar creation...Uzumaki Naruto, one I shall always remember..." Then just like that, he was gone. A voice that had drifted in like a thunderstorm and had echoed and deafened everything else, vanished.
Megumi looked to him. "Let me do just a tad more, I will let you say good-bye to each other...properly..." Then Megumi vanished, and Naruto was on earth. He lay on his side, he looked about, only able to move his eyes, his body numb. The sword of Sasukes was stuck in the ground, it's metal glowing hot, and smoke drifting, kanji glared bright red along the blade, ancient kanji, Naruto could only read a few before the vanished. 'The bade of the forsaken'
Naruto coughed, he head a whimpering near him. He recognized it. "Y...yume...I thought...I thought you were gone..." he said, his voice barely a whisper, he felt so...thin, worn down...old...but he also felt completed, as though he achieved something great, and he could now finally rest and be at peace. "We must go...together...I am sorry...I left without you...I came back...for you..."
He managed to lift his head. Turning his body unto his belly, which required a great deal of effort, he dragged himself across the ground towards where Yume rest on her side. She turned her beautiful green eyes to him. The sparkled and shone brighter than all the stars in heaven and never had those greens been so lush and vivid.
"Naruto...my love...we did it..." He nodded
"Yes..we have...after so much..."
"..all our hopes...and dreams..."
"Accomplished..."
"We raised up...good pups...that will do so much good in this world..."
"We did...and we did good ourselves..."
"We changed the future for all demons...and it all started with you..."
"And you kept that fire going..."
"We have always been together...through thick and thin...even now..."
"And forever..."
He said his last words, his head fell slowly resting on the ground, as if he were only slumbering. Yume closed her eyes for the last time as well, her head falling delicately next to his, their noses barely touching. One tear, from each of them, fell synchronized both drifted over the fur and long muzzle of each then met each other, the two tears joined together finally, and there they rested, glowing in the setting sun.
"Minato!" a voice rang out, gathering the young wolf's attention. "Father? What are you doing here!?" "Protecting my village, I am engaging the creature and will hold it off for as long as I can." "Dammit father! That was not your duty, I was going to take a team and handle the situation, stop trying to prove that you are powerful still...we know that! You should not be fighting this thing solo!"
"I know son, but it is my duty, my nindo, no matter what...I am sure you can understand..." Minato growled, sometimes his father could be such a headache to him. He always looked up to his father, who wouldn't? He is so strong, and kind...he is brave and always looking out for you, he always made you feel better about yourself, and he always listened and believed in you...no matter what.
But that was nice when he was a pup, but he was grown now, he could take care of himself, it was Naruto's turn to sit-back and let him take care and protect Konoha, he had to show his father, how much he had learned from him, how big of a role model and how important his father was to him, how much a hero he was to him.
Minato shook his head. "Sir?" One of his captains asked him. "Send back-up to the west side, we have most of the enemies on the east taken care of. Then everyone needs to re-group and we must aid the Eighth Hokage in every way possible, "Somebody contact Mashi and tell him to send his brigade to help the Hokage now!"
"I already heard ya you big flea bag." Minato growled as he turned to his younger brother. "Where is he?" Mashi asked, scratching beneath his jaw with a paw. "I have contained the creature in the center of the-Rah!" The clone of Naruto's collapsed shaking. "In...the merchant...sector...should be easy to find..." "Father...whats wrong!" "injured, this creature, is fast and deadly...so powerful...I am...no match-" Then the clone disappeared.
"Father!" Minato howled. "I'm on it!"Mashi exclaimed his paws pounding into the ground, all the other members of the wolf brigade fanning behind him as quickly as possible they ran. Minato longed to follow, but he had to stay, it was his duty. "GoldenPelt" said Gerbil, his assistant. "Go, I can take care of everything here, your mind may be telling you to stay here, but you must follow your heart go to your father."
Minato nodded and without hesitation ran off, catching up with his brother. "It's about time you caught up!" Minato bared his fangs at his brother and pushed on running a stride faster than his brother, just to annoy him. But the foot-falls of somebody familiar caught up to them. It was their mother, who had always been the fastest wolf, her long legs and slim build made her fly over the ground.
Minato always wished he had inherited his mothers build, he would love to run that fast for so long. Although she claimed that once she could not even run for more then a mile without being exhausted. She had said Naruto had trained her and made her who she was today. She was also such a caring healer, she may have not been a master, but what she lacked in skill she made up with in heart.
"Mom! What are you doing!?" "I sense that your father needs me, I go to him!" "Mom now is not the time, it is dangerous turn back!" Yume turned her head and said in a stern voice. "The day I take a command from a pup that I brought into this world is the day hell freezes over." With that she sprinted ahead of them with ease, making both push themselves to their extreme to keep up.
When they caught up to her she had stopped. Her ears forward she was listening. They all drew up beside her. "Do you feel that?" One wolf said out loud. "Yes...the creature...it's so...dark...and evil...pure evil...it's torture to be this close..." "I can't imagine fighting it...or even looking at it, if it feels like this...from this far away..."
Minato turned. "Knock it off! All of you! We are Demons of Konoha! We stand strong and firm! We do not back down no matter how big nor how terrible the enemy!" Minato growled and stood defiant even though he too was being effected by the same chakra, it was so immense and suffocating, the way it pushed back at him, it was like an invisible chin wrapped around his neck pulling him back and choking him at the same time.
His mother turned to him. "I don't understand...what are you talking about?" Thats right, his mother had a very small chakra network, so it was not affected like theirs. "We have to press forward" He said bringing his head down and pushing against the force, every step seemed to tear him apart. He gritted his teeth and continued. He could hear the sounds of the creature looming closer, the way it roared and screeched.
His heart beat wildly in his chest, he wanted it to stop. He shook his head he had to continue. One of the wolves yelped and snapped. "I can't do it! We are going to our deaths! Death lies ahead!" Mashi turned back and pounced on the wolf. He growled and bared his teeth and the cowering form. "If you want to turn around go ahead! But don't think you can ever come to our flanks ever again! You had better just turn and keep on running for everyone and Konoha would know you as the coward!"
The wolf whimpered but stood back up. "I am sorry, for my cowardice, I...let my fear get the better of me." Mashi snorted. "My father once told me, that it is out of fear, that we do our bravest things, for the fear of losing the ones we love, or the fear of letting ourselves down, will pressure you to climb even the steepest and highest of mountains."
Mashi turned. "So stand up and face your enemy, never back down and never run away, that way you too will know what it is like to be a hero." Minato shivered at his brothers words, he really was like father, he may not look it, but he was every bit just like him. Brash, loud, but also kind, and strong, and never gave up on anything, he always saw the best in people.
"Well said brother." Minato turned he could hear the sound of distant hoof-beats. "The cavalry must have finally got together." "Brother you need your ears checked...that is one horse not twenty." Mashi said. Minato turned and squinted. It was one horse, and one rider. He could tell just by the build and the way the horse and rider moved together, it was Sasuke.
Minato smiled at his 'Uncle' Sasuke brought the great Imasen to a halt. Imasen snorted his eyes wild and ready for battle. Minato backed away slightly, these were two legends. Literally, there were stories and songs made of them and their charge they had made all those years ago, the first human and demon rider pair.
"What do you think Imasen?" Sasuke asked. "This creature is powerful, but not as powerful as us together!" He trumpeted rearing on his back legs, front legs pumping the air wildly. His mane flying in the wind. Sasuke held on easily, sitting languidly as he grinned and faced forward. His eyes bright and shining ready battle.
He turned to them. "I will go ahead first, best not throw all our kunai at once now shall we?" Minato nodded understanding. They waited for sometime, hearing the distant sounds of battle. Minato was unsure of what to do at the moment, something told him to go ahead quickly as possible but he was told to ignore such instincts, they could lead to someone getting hurt or worst.
But then the sickening scream of Imasen hit their ears and then Minato felt a terrible gashing pain rip through him. Bringing him to the ground he tried to catch his breath. Now knowing what was happening to him. He looked to his mother. She stood unaltered, but a sad look on her face a tear falling. She spoke softly. "The soul bond, is a great and terrible curse, the closer you are to a person, the worse the pain you feel when they leave this world."
He faltered unable to form words at the moment. "We must continue." She stated and walked forward. They followed, building up speed until he felt another brief pain spasm through him. His mother turned. "Sasuke is injured, we must hurry!" He nodded and ran to keep up, but his mother was many strides ahead by now.
He pushed ahead only to be thrown back by invisible force. It was strong and dark, evil and cold. It was depression, and disease, death and chaos all in one. "Mother!" He cried out for her. But she must not have heard. He couldn't see her. All that surrounded them was billowing darkness. "I can't tell where we are!" Mashi exclaimed.
It was true, you couldn't smell,hear or see anything. He frantically tried to think of what to do. Then he remembered what his mother had said. The soul bond. If what she said was true, that you were connected to someone, then you should be able to find them with it. He had always been good at meditation and concentration, he had a level head for those sorts of things.
He closed his eyes, and opened his heart, he knew this was a matter of heart and emotion, not brain. He heard his father's voice, but it wasn't as if he was speaking it was more as if he was thinking. "I must do this..,.for Konoha...to save it..forgive me Sasuke." Wait a second? What? What was he doing? Why should Sasuke forgive him? Did Naruto cause this darkness that felt like death what was going on? Where was his mother!?
"I am right here son, please forgive us, you won't understand until later, but let me tell you, we are both so very proud of you all, and that for the young oaks to grow, the old must fall." Then like that her voice, her presence, her everything was gone. He wanted to howl out for her, her cry to do so many things bu he couldn't he was frozen.
A voice, that was death, it was decay and rot, it was pestilence, and the coldest part of darkness that existed. It spoke. "One soul is not enough, two are required for me, hurry with your choice, you human won't last long." He screamed in fear and in confusion. Who's voice was that? What souls? Actual real souls? What in all of the gods name was going on!
Then he heard his mother's voice cry out. "Take us both now!" A flash of light reigned supreme across the land, blinding them all. Knocking them all down. In a daze with ears ringing and his thoughts traveling through mist he managed to open his eyes to see. A pillar of dark energy shooting up into the sky, accented by reds.
Power screamed and shrieked as it was herded and contained. With one last burst and a dying beam into the sky all fell quiet. The only thing that remained was smoke steaming from a sword that stuck in the ground. He and the others moved closer, wondering what was going on and then just when they though it was over.
He felt it, the tearing, violent pain of his parents leaving him. He and Mashi both were knocked to the ground. writhing in the dust. Every memory was brough to life between them, bitter, sweet, happy, sad, everything word or action rang out loudly. This wasn't how it was supposed to be! They were going to save them, and father would be injured but not to severely, but severe enough where he would need medical help, mother would come to him after the battle, scold him for being so brash.
But then he would just give her that look, which would make her give him her look, and they would stare into each others eyes for a few moments before they sighed and leaned into each other, whispering their undying love for each other. Then they would go home and curl up on their pillow next to the fireplace, without a care in the world, while he and the others cleaned up and took care of the village that was what was supposed to happen...not this.
He managed to get up, it was slow and painful but he did. He felt as if his heart was bleeding out and there was a gaping hole in his chest, that he was hollow and void, he didn't...he didn't want to even breathe, he wanted to crawl into a dark hole and stay there forever.
"Mo...mother...fa...father" he whispered. "They...their gone..." Minato and Mashi staggered forward both brother, working towards one goal. When they got closer, they noted the body of Imasen, gaping and lying open, blood everywhere. Stinging their nostrils, but they were not bothered, most of their bodies were relatively numb.
Next was Sasuke, he lay on his back, his head turned towards his sword, which was tinted dark and had a unsettling presence around it. Powerful, and uncontrolled. Then, there they lay. Peaceful, as if they laid their heads down for a noon nap, nestled close to each other, their noses barely touching, and their paws extended, reaching for each other. Even in death they needed to have the other by their side.
Another blow hit him hard in the gut. Seeing his parents like that. Made him bow over, he felt like he would get sick but he only sobbed, rib breaking hard sobs before finally he tossed his head back and howled, all his emotion, his pain, his frustration going into that howl, calling out to all others, telling him, that he was in pain and that he needed someone anyone, to come and save him.
Mashi was next to him and howled as well, the two brothers, who had always fought and bickered now closer than ever. Brought together in their darkest hour, their voices rose and carried far out, until at last the echo died off and six others joined in the song, their siblings, calling out to each other, the scattered pups coming together, to mourn in the passing of their parents.
The other wolves were silent, their heads bowed they to had felt the passing of their fellow demons all of Konoha's demons had. Closer demon friends of Naruto and Yume were struck harder and they sobbed where they were, it was a sad day indeed for Konoha. Especially for the Hokage, he stood motionless for quite some time next to Minato, who didn't even know it, not until Itachi spoke.
"We won." he stated. Minato looked to him both knew what he meant, why he said it so bleakly, the price was too much. Itachi walked forward stiffly. His shoulders drawn back and his face waxen. Slowly, ninja and demons gathered behind them waiting for him. He walked to the body of his father and then suddenly fell to his knees before him.
"Father...what happened? What have you done? Why did you do this? You didn't need to die, none of you did..did I fail you?Did I fail all of you? Have I failed this village?" Minato looked around, grief or no, this was not what a Hokage acted like after a battle, he need to be strong and proud, he needed to not cast doubt.
Minato looked to Mashi. Expecting his brother to take the lead and igniting the will of fire, he was like father in those kinds of things. But fathers loss must have dimmed even his bright flame, there was only one thing to do then. He must be like his mother, every raging fire needs faint wind to feed it, that was mothers gift, when father was down, mother was there to fan his flames back up, it was now Minato's duty to do so.
He stepped forward. "Itachi...sir..." he said. Itachi looked to him. His eyes grief-stricken. "They did this, not because you failed, but rather because they know you would succeed...in every great forest, there is a grove of old oaks, but after a long time, those oaks must fall so that new ones may grow in their place, your father and my father they knew that we all would take their places, and become the legends of tomorrow, it was their time to go, so that we small seeds of potential may blossom into mighty oaks."
Itachi glanced once more to his father before nodding. "I understand what you are saying Minato, I know...how hard it is for you...losing both parents, with your soul bond, for you to say that now...give me hope, you are right, that is what Naruto was trying to teach me all along, both he and my father, I would always lean on them, and keep asking for their guidance...they knew I couldn't grow to be my own leader with them in my path. So they guided me as best they could and now I and every other person in Konoha must now take their place."
Itachi stood, "I will make them proud, I will make them all proud, I will not let their memory be tarnished, nor let their teaching die..." Itachi turned to face them all. "Nor will I" Mashi said lifting his head. His eyes still tormented, but a fire burning in his eyes, his will of fire now engulfed him, filling him with energy and resolve.
"Nor I" said Gin, Vako, Kama and Doku followed shortly, soon every demon and Ninja was vowing to always protect the fallen legends of Konoha. Minato looked to the blade. "What of the blade?" Itachi looked to it. "From the looks of it, your father sealed the creature within it, the seal may break, but knowing your father it shouldn't..."
"What sealing did he use?" Minato said looking at the ground trying to mezmorize his fathers intricate and very skilful work. "Ancient and forbidden work, blood sealing, ones that require sacrifice..." Minato nodded. "Very well, we must destroy it, get rid of the evidence." Itachi looked at him quizzically. "You don't want to study it first?"
"My father, was the last of the Uzumaki, this is his creation, this work is from another time, a time of darkness and struggle, this is not us, we are from a new age, we will create our own jutsu's just as powerful and just as strong, but without sacrificing the ones we love." Itachi nodded. "I understand, you are right, this is our time now, the sun has set on the past, we will be the legends and stories of tomorrow, but we will always remember the legends of old, and someday we may placed side by side, as the hero's of Konoha."
Minato nodded "We shall." Minato looked to the rock face of Konoha, the setting sun made it illuminate like fire burning. Just briefly he though he saw the head of his father wink at him, but that had to have been a trick of his eye. Although he was still sad and it would be a long time before he could pass over the death of his parents he would always remember his father, and mother, and all the things they did for him, and although he would remember their deaths, he would think more to how they had lived.
He turned to his brother, Mashi. Mashi looked to him. With a small smirk he said. "Bet I can become a Legend faster than you" Minato shook his head. "I don't think so runt." Mashi glared at him but butted his head playfully into his brothers shoulder. "Guess dad was right." Mashi said suddenly, his voice sad. "What?" Minato asked.
"He always said the day we get along is the day he turns up dead..." Minato sighed. "Brother, sometimes you don't know when to shut-up." "Sorry" Mashi said, drawing his ears back. Minato butted him back. "Come, we must rebuild our home." And so the two wolves walked off together. The inhabitants of Konoha, had all their own paths, some lead to greatness, some did not, but each would live accordingly, knowing that as long the ancient will of fire stayed alive in their hearts, they would be forever engraved in the stars above.
Fuzzily, his eyes awoke, everything was bright for a few seconds, before dimming. Blinking rapidly he lifted his head. Before rolled sloping hills of grass and wildflowers. A calm breeze was ever constant. In the distance he could see the ocean, the faint scent of sea salt fresh on the air. Crisp and pure he breathed in the scented air.
Turning his head he looked about, the sky was a vibrant rich clear blue, almost seeming from a dream, never had he seen a sky like so. He heard a faint familiar chuckle. He turned his head to see Yume standing. He leaped up. Surprised at his reflexes, he felt so alive and vibrant, so full of energy. "Yume!" he exclaimed bounding over to her.
She joined him and together they embraced, for too long it seemed had they been apart. She stepped back, she looked as though she were glowing. She did, a faint light was emitted from her, creating a halo like effect on her entire being. Her eyes were so striking it was like seeing a new her. "This is heaven Naruto...we made it...you made it, we are together now...for eternity..."
He glanced at her. "An eternity of what though? she smiled softly. "Come" she said and turning gracefully strode away from him, heading towards the top of the hill, he followed her, confused. The land suddenly shifted, which made him jump. It seemed to wrinkle like a water did when a rock skipped across it's surface.
A small grove of cedar trees grew. Nestled in the middle of them, was a small pool. surrounded by cool flat stone. She stood at the edge. "We watch" Naruto walked over to the edge of the pool and looked down."Watch what?" He asked, the pool flickered and he gasped as he viewed Konoha, he saw his pups, helping rebuild and repair his village. He saw Itachi stand strong and tall as he gave a speech over the monument that was built for each of them, him,Yume and Sasuke and all others passed.
He saw what he had left behind, and he was happy, so unbelievably happy at what he helped create. "We watch the story go on." "I figured as much you new arrivals always hang over in this place, counting to see how many people show up at your funeral?" Naruto swiveled his head no way. He looked to see a tall blonde man with narrow blue eyes, he wore the long white overcoat with the red flames, he turned to see his father.
"Oh Minato give him a break, he just came here, I bet he doesn't even know what he has done for us all." He turned to see a shorter female, with long red air going down her back. She smiled warmly at him. "M...mom...d...dad?" They both grinned. "Don't worry after awhile you get used to seeing all the dead faces." "I..I thought we were in demon heaven...how are you here?"
Kushina grinned from ear to ear. "It's because of you silly, you see...well long story short, after that way you guys had, and the goddess Megumi was allowed back into the palace of souls, she was given one free...gift...basiclly...and she asked for a bridge." Naruto tilted his head. "Its more like a series of bridges, meaning we spirits can come here to the demon's world...it gives us something to do, heaven gets so boring after awhile, you demons are very entertaining."
Explained his father. "I...wow" he said at a loss for words. "Well what are you waiting for? Give me a hug ya goof!" Naruto put his ears back, "I...can't I am a wolf...I don't have the ability to stand...or...hug..." His mom laughed. "You don't know anything do you? In the demon world, demons have the ability to change into a human form, duh!"
"WHAT!?" He exclaimed. "It's true, and we human spirits have the ability to turn into anything as well." Like that the place where Minato had stood was now a tall white wolf, who looked much like Naruto, but had a broader head and longer muzzle. His eyes were also slanted more and a lighter blue. Then like that he was back to human.
"Oh! Me next! Me next!" Kushie exclaimed. Then suddenly a bright red fox appeared. It's eyes gleaming it ran around Minato a few times before bounding up unto his shoulder and licking him rapidly. "KUSHINA! What are yo-...ewww stop!" Minato exclaimed trying to pull his wife away. Holding her away, she turned back into a human suddenly, he was crippled from the sudden weight at almost dropped her. She landed gracefully on her feet while he ended up falling into her.
She chuckled and grinned mischievously. "I love doing that." Minato straitened out and coughed. Blushing deeply. "Awwww...he's so cute!" Kushina said pinching his cheek. "Well now I know which parent you take after." Said a familiar voice. It was Sasuke he walked into the grove, his two wives Sektsi and Mitsu on each arm.
"YOU!" Kushina said her eyes going dark she transformed into a giant bear. Roaring and gnashing its teeth. Sasuke blanched and his two wives his behind him. Kushina swiped at him screaming. "I should kill you again! You betrayed my son! You killed him! I hate you! You should be in hell not heaven! Stop dodging my attacks! You bastard!"
Naruto and Minato had to pull her away and calm her. Naruto closed his eyes and transformed. It felt weird, all his senses dulled, and all his limbs feeling so out of place. It was weird to have a face so flat, and teeth so dull. He looked up at his mom, unable to figure out how to stand up again. "Mom!..." he said getting used to the floppy short tongue in his mouth.
"Na...Naruto." "Don't Sasuke is my best friend, I have forgiven him and you should to, I hated him for a long while too, but hatred only begets more hatred, you have to let go, you can't hold a grudge, especially not in heaven..." Minato nodded. "What happened on earth stays on earth, remember, rule one of heaven."
"I fell asleep in that part of the seminar!" Kushina yelled at him. "What? That was the opening statement of the whole thing!" Minato exclaimed. "I was bored, I sleep when I am bored you know this." Naruto during his parents spat was looking at his hands. So strange and foreign to him. Fingernails, so flat and useless, how could you do anything with them?
But the thing he loved most was the use of the one appendage that made it possible to hold things without resorting to your mouth. Thumbs. "THUMBS I HAVE THUNBS OH THANK-KAMI"! He exclaimed startling everyone. His parents looked down at him. "Sorry...it's...been awhile...since I had...hands" "I bet" Minato said.
"Speaking of? Need a hand?" Naruto nodded grabbing, yes grabbing! His dad's hand. Minato hoisted him up. He was surprised out how tall he was. Taller than his dad. He was also taller than Sasuke, by two inches. Sasuke glared at him. "HEY! This is whoa-" He caught onto his dad. "You okay?" "I...forgot how to stand at the moment...these feet...are worthless...what creature walks on two appendages...I feel like I am constantly teetering..."
Kushina patted his back, "You will remember." He nodded. He turned to Yume, she stared at him. "Sweetie, you can do it, just close your eyes and think...'human' and it will work...trust me." She nodded and did so. In a flash of light, the most beautiful female he had ever seen was on the ground before him.
Her long light blonde hair falling in perfect tresses. Her face, oval and alabaster white, with the deepest greenest eyes, so pure and beautiful, it was as if she was carved out of marble like a god. He stared at her. "Y...Yume...?" She stood. "Naruto...am I?" She lifted delicate graceful hands to her face. Pristine nails clutched at her face and swan like neck.
"You..are a goddess" he said, staring at her. She was, so beautiful, his heart stopped...wait did his heart even beat? Was there a point to have a heart? He was already dead. A deep red blush rose to her cheeks. "Stop it...I am probably an ugly human." He swiftly remembered how to walk because he ran the three steps between them and scooped her up in his arms and pulled her close.
He stared into those eyes and one hand pushed hair from her perfect face. "You will always be the most beautiful wolf and human in all worlds put together." Then he planted a kiss on her lips. Kissing her for the first time, a real kiss, not a lick or playful nip a real kiss. He felt her hands dig into his hair, after a few moments he pulled away, he still saw fireworks behind his lids and he still felt as if he were flying.
"That...was amazing..." she said. He grinned. "That was just the beginning. He turned and looked to Sasuke. "Looking good dobe." Naruto smirked. "AIn't feeling to bad either." He pulled Yume close. "Ah, found you guys." Said another voice, it was Jiraiyah, Tsunade trailing behind him, Kakashi also appeared. "Jir-..Tsu-Ka!" He didn't know who to hug first, so he ran and gather all three on his arms. Hugging them close, he was crying he was so happy.
All three smiled as they were crushed by this blonde man. He was tall, but he was also built, not to buff but built. His face had matured and his air was longer so all in all he was one ver attractive looking man, but he probably didn't even know it. "How are you?" "Oh I missed you all so much! I am so sorry Jiraiyah! I wasn't there- and Tsunade! I can't believe what you did! It was so heroic! Kakashi- I...whaaaa"
He cried as he hugged them tighter. "I think we broke him...Minato...please?" Minato sighed. "I am always the one...always me." he said as he broke up the hug. Tsunade smiled. "Gaki, stop crying, we have an eternity to spend together." Naruto beamed, if he had a tail at the moment it would be wagging a mile a minute.
"Can we come out now?" Asked a familiar sweet voice that made him stop, he looked up. He heard another voice hush the first. "Quiet you will ruin the surprise!" Naruto stormed over to where they were hiding behind a log. "Darn it, I knew we should have hidden better. Baru said looking up at Naruto. Naruto hoisted all three of them up and claimed them.
He wept and kissed each of their heads. "Gin..Chickao...Baru...I am so sorry...so sorry..." "Sensei...what did we tell you before? We would always be with you." He nodded. "I know...I know...but having you in my heart and holding you in my hands are two different matters entirely." Gin looked up at him, she was crying as well.
"You accomplished your dream sensei, I am so proud of you, we knew you could do it." Naruto grinned. "I did, I did wasn't that amazing." "You were an awesome Hokage! The best!" Baru exclaimed then he looked to the three other earlier Hokage. "I mean you guys were good and awesome too...it's just...well...he was our sensei so we care more about him then you...plus...you were dead... ."
"Thank-you Baru...for that brutally honest statement." Kakashi said. "Your welcome." Baru said back. Naruto laughed then he exclaimed. "You guys!" He turned and dragged them over to Yume. "THIS IS YUME! Yume, these are the students I told you about I-" Yume put a finger on his lips, silencing him. "Shhhh be quiet my raging fire...we have all the time in the world, lets not rush things okay?"
He mellowed instantly. He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Right, you were always the other half of my heart." She smiled at him. "I am glad you remember that" she said patting his head. "ITACHI!" Sasuke cried out. They all turned to see two brothers face off at each other. Both of them glared at each other. "HEY that's enough of it! Both of you stop it right now!" A voice cried out.
A female, with light white skin and dark long black hair and eyes came storming out of the woods. Itachi and Sasuke looked to her before looking at each other. "What happened on earth stays on earth." She said glaring at them. They both sighed and looked at each other. Before smiling slowly. Itachi spoke "Sasuke.." Sasuke smiled and stepped forward bring his brother into a deep hug.
They buried each others heads in the others shoulder and clapped each other on the back, slowly rocking side to side. They murmured unintelligible things to each other. They must have forgiven each other or something because bother were crying when they split but Itachi held Sasuke head and said. "Brothers forever okay?"
Sasuke nodded and then with a cracking voice he said. "Mother" then he brought her into a close hug, seeming to never want to let her go. Naruto nodded. He looked around to everything. "I guess in a way my story continues." Minato spoke, that it does, that it does, come on this is what we like to do with newcomers, lets all sit."
They all got situated and slowly one-by-one each spoke about their stories a lot of them inter weaved and a lot of them went on a long time. But in the afterlife it seemed you never got tired, and you never really got hungry or thirsty, if you wanted something you could just close your eyes and there it was. The sun never set, and the weather never changed much.
They just sat there in a perpetual storytelling session. Lots of memories going by. Finally after a long while Minato turned to his son. "So Naruto, do you think destiny did right by you? Or did the universe just keep spewing all its randomness in your direction?" After looking around to the many faces, he spoke.
"Huh, I never thought about destiny like that, I...I don't know, I stopped thinking about things like that a long time ago, a person isn't destined for greatness...they make it...I guess...Destiny sometimes you think you have it figured out, and other times you've got it completely wrong, and other times, it turns our right..but not in the way you quite expected...that evidently...was how my destiny ended up being."
After a pause he spoke.."I think it started out the day of the Ninja war...I was running through the trees when..." And so the hero's and legends of Konoha turned and listened to the story of Uzumaki Naruto.
Fin