I Do not own Naruto, If I did I wouldn't bother writing Fan Fiction.
A Price for Peace
Chapter 2: The Fallen Hero
A young man in his mid teens walked into a village. He looked around expecting to see shop keepers and civilians running around but all that he was met with was silence. "What's going on here?" Naruto asked. His voice seemed to echo back accenting just how quiet the village was.
His feet splashed in a deep puddle as he walked further into the village evidence of how far the effects of the storm brought about by his fight with Sasuke had traveled. 'Shinobi were fighting a war, did you expect the villagers in nearby counties to just sit in their homes and wait for the war to come to them? They left probably to some shelter set up for refugees.' Kurama guessed.
Naruto looked at his reflection within a store window. Despite having his wounds healed from his fight with the last Uchiha he still looked like he had been through a war. "I need to get out of these clothes. Do you think they will mind if I just take some supplies and leave money behind?"
'Considering collateral damage in a ninja war is usually high I am sure the people of this village would be happy if they came home and their homes were still standing.' the fox chuckled.
"Do you think anyone would notice if I used a little chakra to create some clones to gather supplies?" the blond asked as he took out a small senbon to pick the lock on a door. This was one of the first lessons Jiraiya had taught him during their training trip although at the time Jiraiya just wanted to get in the back door of a women only bath house.
Kyuubi thought about it for a moment, he was torn between the risk of some joint shinobi scounting team picking up his chakra signature and wanting to move further away from possible detection. Naruto had stopped using chakra a few hours after leaving the dead bodies of Sasuke and his Zetsu clone. Since that time the trip had gone painfully slow. Civilians were slower than even an academy graduate Genin and that showed as it took almost twenty four hours just to reach this small village. 'Alright but be quick about it, and not more than three, one of you is enough to arouse suspicion.' Kyuubi finally agreed.
Naruto nodded and created three seal less clones. "We need food, water and some camping supplies. With the speed we're going it could be a month before we make it to the Land of Earth and several days before we find a populated village. Oh and nothing too heavy, I need to act like a civilian after all." Naruto said before handing some money from Gama-chan his trusty toad wallet to each of the clones before entering the store. What instantly caught Naruto's attention was a dark orange and red armor plated top. Naruto stopped himself however. It was not something a civilian would wear after all, once he was out of the Elemental nations he could indulge in training and all the other activities that ninja so loved to do. "Do you think we will find people over those mountains Kurama?"
'It's hard to say Naruto, Rikudou-Ojiisama never went over them. Maybe once Juubi was gone he was afraid he wouldn't survive? But I doubt he cared about something like that. He probably thought that the elemental nations were large enough. The further you spread yourself the more difficult your job becomes.' Kyuubi spoke wisely.
In the end Naruto picked a plain set of black pants and a white T-shirt that had some orange and black flames at the hem. Into a pack he stored some rather warm looking thermal jumpers and track pants. Kyuubi might stop him from dying in the cold but he could still feel it. Naruto left the money on the counter along with a hastily written apology note being extra careful to make his writing unrecognizable from his normal script.
Once outside he found his clones had already returned carrying enough food and water to last several weeks and a very large yet compact tent. Naruto stored the supplies into a backpack and dispelled his clones. "Okay no more delays, lets get moving." he said hoisting his new pack onto his back and casually set off only thing guiding him was a vague sense of direction and Kyuubi scolding him if he ever got turned around.
(Elsewhere)
The Joint Shinobi Headquarters had been a extra busy, shinobi were coming and going delivering reports and the field hospital was filled to the brim with the injured including several Kage among them.
Despite all the casualties and injured there was a jovial spirit in the air. The war was over and the villages had never been closer, old wounds that had divided them seemed so petty now, and they all had a new hero, a young teen from Konoha who had ended the war. Those at headquarters eagerly awaited the blonds return so much so that the shinobi currently running each village asked for one volunteer to help retrieve him.
In what seemed like a cruel joke of fate two Konoha chunin sat on guard duty at the entrance to the headquarters. "Do you ever feel like we are being punished for something?" Kotetsu asked his head banging on the desk after letting yet another group of shinobi into the large camp.
"Maybe, but it could be worse, I mean sure it's boring but at least it's safe, look at the state that the Kage's came back in only Kazekage-sama was walking. Still it was cruel for Kakashi to put us on guard duty." Izumo replied.
"Maybe he just knows how good we are at it." Kotetsu suggested.
"No that can't be it. I could have walked right past you two and entered the camp unnoticed about twenty times by now." a Konoha jounin joked handing over some papers to get marked.
"That's cold Aoba." Izumo sighed.
The jounin laughed pocketing the papers he needed before turning to gaze out into the distance. "Still no sign of our local hero huh?" he asked.
"No not yet, it's been over a day now, I'm half expecting to see him running up shouting about how he will have to be the next Hokage now." Kotetsu joked causing the others to laugh remembering the loud mouthed little brat that was constantly boasting about how he would be the next Kage of Konoha.
"Heh well everyone is getting eager for his return, even the shinobi from other villages are planning a surprise party for him. Although I guess you two will be on guard duty." Aoba chuckled. As the Konoha jounin turned to leave he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Three figures slowly approaching. Then a second later another two.
"Hey it's them! Kazekage-sama and the retrieval team!" Kotetsu yelled standing up. He must have been louder than he thought because less than a second later shinobi were pouring out from every angle to get a better look. "Hey I don't see anyone that looks like the Hero of the elemental nations. I was told he had glorious golden hair and bright blue eyes." a young Kiri kunoichi said with a slight blush obviously she had been listening to stories told about Naruto by several more enamored Konoha Genin.
Regardless of the young girls obvious fangirl tendencies most of the others agreed. It was not until the retrieval team got closer did they realize that the group were surrounding a large hovering stretcher made of sand. Instantly two medics shot forward, one with pink hair wearing an all red outfit and the other a brunette that was followed closely by a small pig.
The group watched in wonder as Sakura landed beside the Kazekage. "I'm sorry Sakura we were too late." he said quietly while Shizune began scanning the two bodies for signs of life.
A worried murmur swept through the crowd and sadness followed after as Sakura fell to her knees already lost in sorrow. "He lost?" one shinobi asked. "Impossible Naruto-sama never loses." a Konoha Chunin replied. The group parted as Gaara walked through the gate and they saw both Naruto and Sasuke lying lifeless on a bed of sand. The Kazekage's face was a mask but inside he was crying just as heavily as Sakura.
The group followed Gaara as he walked getting larger by the second several shinobi openly wept at the sight of Naruto's corpse while others stayed stoic as a sign of respect for their fallen comrade. Finally Gaara came to the center of the camp, he had spoken here once before to inspire the troops before they went to war, this time he would address them that the war was over. He created a large pedestal and placed Naruto's body atop before moving Sasuke's out of the way. Anger towards the Uchiha clan was at an all time high and they didn't need a reminder of who killed Naruto staring them in the face while he spoke. "Today marks the end of the Fourth Great Shinobi War. Although it was short it was nevertheless brutal and we all suffered, many lost their lives and many more were injured. Yet when things seemed to be at there worst, we pulled together to come out victorious!"
There was a light smattering of cheering but it was subdued by the presence of Naruto's body lying on a platform made of sand. All the shinobi that fought remembered how Naruto's clones arrived at the various fronts and almost singlehandedly turned the tied of the war.
Gaara took a moment to compose himself before continuing. "Despite the joy that has come with defeating the Akatsuki and saving the elemental nations from almost certain destruction I cannot celebrate. Last night a man I was honored to call a friend, fought and died to help bring this world some measure of peace. Naruto Uzumaki will be sorely missed and I will do everything in my power to make sure his death was not in vein." Gaara spoke. This time the applause was much louder and so was the crying that was spreading through the amassed shinobi. "Naruto was not like other shinobi, he changed people, he changed me. He met me at a time when I was unsure of my purpose in life, I tried so hard to kill him when Suna attacked Konoha." he couldn't help but laugh at the memory of the stupid blond Genin that refused to give up, but then his laugh caught in his throat and he was forced to stifle a sob. "But then he did something that changed me. He defeated me, a boy everyone considered a loser defeated Suna's weapon, and then after all that, he called me his friend." the Kazekage choked out the last word as the sand armor around his eyes began to feel damp against his skin.
The shinobi below were staring at Gaara listening with rapt attention to his heart felt eulogy. For someone as cold and detached as the Kazekage to show any emotion was something else, and it showed what effect Naruto had on the young man from Suna.
Pausing one last time to calm himself Gaara took in a deep breath he had never found it this difficult to control his emotions before. "Naruto was everything that I want to be as a leader and more, he was the best of us." he said before creating a flower made of sand and placing placing it on his friends chest. With that done Gaara disappeared in a swirl of sand wanting to be alone.
At the very back of the army a hooded figure stood in disbelief. 'I came all the way out here to find them, and now they are both dead!? Something is wrong here, that body may have the same chakra signature as Naruto but it doesn't feel right. His chakra was so bright, almost like looking directly into the sun, this chakra is gray and flat, as lifeless as that body is.' the hooded figure thought skeptically before stepping back into the shadows.
Two more sets of eyes looked on bewildered by what they were seeing before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
(Several Hours Later)
Naruto's body still lay atop the pedestal that Gaara had created but now all around the base flowers and weapons were offered up as a tribute to the blond. Each village had a different custom and different ways of honoring a fallen comrade and while the Kumo and Konoha shinobi drank to celebrate the life of the lost one. Iwa shinobi would mourn in silence not a peep could be heard from their tents. The Kiri shinobi participated in mock battles that would have once been fights to the death to honor the fallen and Suna shinobi said prayers in hopes that Naruto's next life would be one of peace.
"How did he die?" Kakashi asked sitting up in his hospital bed.
Sakura's eyes were red from crying as she checked over his wounds. "It looks like Sasuke stabbed him in the heart. But we won't know for sure until we can do a proper autopsy" she sobbed.
"I see." Kakashi said his exposed eye drooping. "And Sasuke?"
"Ruptured organs resemble wounds caused by a rasengan." she cried again, yet no tears would come.
Kakashi nodded. 'Was this really the only way Naruto?' he asked thinking back to the talk they had before Naruto left.
(Flashback)
Naruto stood at the base of Kakashi's bed, the Copycat had woken just a few hours earlier after sever chakra exhaustion. "I found Sasuke." Naruto said with a calm sense of determination in his voice.
"You did?" Kakashi asked in bewilderment.
"Well actually it was Kurama. I am going to sneak out at sundown and confront him." the blond replied.
"You don't have to do this Naruto. You told me what you saw would happen if you were to fight Sasuke seriously again." Kakashi said clearly concerned for his student.
"I know, but I'm okay with it. I have been thinking a lot lately about the quest Nagato and Ero-sennin left for me. I think this is the answer." Naruto replied with a small smile.
"How can your death be the answer! don't be foolish Naruto. Do you know what everyone is saying about you? They call you the Hero of the Elemental Nations. You can bring peace another way." Kakashi whispered desperately trying to change his students mind.
Naruto smiled affectionately at his sensei but shook his head. "There are two things that will lead to peace. Understanding each other, and pain. With this war I think the shinobi of this world are starting to understand one another. But they need something to hold them together once the villages split back up. The memory of a joint loss. They call me the Hero of the Elemental Nations, so my death as a hero will do more good than living as a potential threat in Konoha."
Kakashi could understand the boys reasoning and as much as he hated it, he was going to accept his choice. "What about becoming a ninja and Kage greater than all the Hokage before him?" he asked but already knew that Naruto had an answer.
Naruto sighed, he knew that leaving would mean that his dream to be Hokage never became a reality. "Ero-sennin once told me that a ninja is not judged by how he lives, but by how he dies. I think if I can die and bring peace to this ninja world then I will have accomplished that dream." he said solemnly.
"You know as acting Hokage I can stop you right." Kakashi chuckled knowing this was probably the last time he would be able to talk to the blond.
"I know, but you wont." Naruto laughed in return. He stopped as he made it to the entrance to Kakashi's tent. "Kakashi-sensei?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. For everything."
(End Flashback)
"Sakura, can you get me a new Hitai-ate?" Kakashi said slowly standing up from his hospital bed.
"Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked not sure what he sensei was planing.
"I want to give mine to Naruto." he said grabbing a crutch and hobbling out of his tent.
(Two Days Later)
"Kami this is taking forever! Can't I just use a little chakra to go faster?" Naruto begged.
'No, you're still well inside the range of the shinobi scouts. Now stop complaining and keep moving.' Kurama scolded the boy.
"Oh come on it's not like anyone will find me if I use Sage Mode." Naruto replied.
The blond was waiting for the tongue lashing from the Kyuubi but what he wasn't expecting was to be knocked to the ground by a small toad with a rolling pin and frizzy purple hair. "Naruto-chan! What do you think you are doing!?" the small toad croaked loudly.
"Ma I'm sure Naruto-chan has his reasons. Though I fail to see what they are." a second toad spoke up this one with bushy gray hair and eyebrows to match.
"Fu-Fukusaku-sama? Shima-sama?" Naruto gasped wondering why the two elder Toad Sages were currently standing over him.
"Hai. Now ya got some explaining ta do ma boy." Fukusaku said crossing his arms.
"You can trick shinobi but you you can't trick us Naruto-chan, your name is still on our summoning wall." Shima added gripping her rolling pin threateningly.
Naruto sighed and began explaining everything that had happened in his fight with Sasuke up to the point he left the clearing. "I figured this way the Grand Geezer Toad would still be right. I died in my fight with Sasuke and I can bring peace to the ninja world." he finished as if trying to justify his actions.
"Stupid boy, who cares what that senile old coot says. You should be the next Hokage not on the run trying to avoid detection. Do you know how hard it was to find you!?" Shima yelled angrily raising the rolling pin over her heard ready to strike, causing Naruto to flinch and cower.
"Ma, enough, Naruto-chan has made the right decision. Where will you go?" Fukusaku asked.
"He could come live on Myoboku, if we ever get another summoner he could help teach them, only the strongest will do for the toads now after you, Jiraiya-chan, and Minato-chan." Shima said hopefully.
Naruto paled, not because the thought of living amongst the toads was unpleasant no he would be welcomed with open arms and live out his days in a virtual paradise. But he would never be able to stomach the, unique, local food that Shima always insisted on cooking. "Sorry Shima but even there I could be discovered. I'm going over the insurmountable mountains north of Iwa, out of the Elemental Nations."
"Naruto-chan that's suicide, they are called the Insurmountable Mountains for a reason." Fukusaku said firmly.
"Nah I'll be fine, I have Kurama to watch my back." Naruto said with a smile that seemed to give off a warm sense of confidence.
"Who?" Shima asked.
"Oh right, the Kyuubi's name is Kurama, he's not a bad guy once you get to know him." the blond said with his fox like grin.
"Really? I guess if anyone can befriend the fox it would have to be you. Good luck Naruto-chan, and don't hesitate to call on us if you need something." Fukusaku declared.
"Pa we can't let him do this. He should be being praised as a hero not going off to die on the side of some Kami forsaken mountain!" Shima yelled.
"Ma, Naruto-chan will not die. I believe in him, and so should you. Your secret is safe with us Naruto-chan but remember, no peace lasts forever. A change for the better today could become a noose around the neck tomorrow." with that final warning Fukusaku and Shima disappeared leaving Naruto once more alone.
"Ah I should have known the Toads would find me out." Naruto sighed turning his attention back onto the road.
'I am more surprised that they were able to find you, those little toads had more skill than I gave them credit for.' Kurama admitted.
"Yeah nothing gets past Fukusaku-sama. His mastery of Senjutsu is at such a high level that if he focuses, he can feel life force rather than just chakra." Naruto replied. The talk with the two elder toads had put Naruto in a good mood, it was comforting to know he still had some small part of his old life that he could take with him. He was the holder of the Toad Summoning Contract after all. Which meant that he could still summon and talk to all the toads he had worked with and come to know over the years. All of a sudden the laborious pace that he was setting no longer seemed to be such a chore.
(Meanwhile)
A hooded figure stood in a large open clearing. All around was burnt and scarred earth. 'Amazing, this was the result of Naruto and Sasuke's fight?' the hooded figure asked themselves while scanning the area.
Following the path of destruction led the shinobi to the place the two bodies were found. "There has to be some sort of clue here. I don't know who that was back at that shinobi camp but it wasn't Naruto. I have felt Naruto's chakra and it was completely different."
The hooded figure spent hours on end searching high and low for any sign of a chakra trail or life only to come up empty. But just as they were giving up hope a feint chakra signature so dull it more than likely only residual chakra left within a dying body. That was not what made the hooded figure excited however. It was how the chakra felt. 'Gray and lifeless, just like the body of Naruto that the Kazekage had.' the shinobi thought taking off at full pace in the direction of the chakra signature.
The shinobi jumped from tree to tree before they came to an area that looked as though it had been disturbed recently. Fallen trees scattered across the ground and the soil was uneven and loose like rubble.
"It was around here I am sure of it." the shinobi said to themselves before scanning once more for chakra signatures. "It's underground!" anticipation was building, every time the shinobi removed a stone the prospect of discovering the truth seemed a little closer. The problem was even for a shinobi unless they have a Doton affinity digging half a mile underground is going to take a considerable amount of time.
Hours past like minutes as the shinobi continued to dig deeper into the earth. But finally the persistence paid off. A pale white arm came limply into view. The shinobi was so tired from digging it took a few minutes to fully realize what they had found. "It can't be" pulling back some strands of deep red hair that fell from the hood of the cloak the shinobi continued to dig until the head that belonged to the arm was revealed. "Zetsu! So that's how you did it. You're alive Naruto, and I am going to find you!"
End chapter!
Thought I would give everyone a second taste of this fic. But I ask that from here out you a patient, Unlike the Toad Sages Apprentice and Nightfall this is set completely outside of Cannon so i do not have any guidelines. This will be both liberating and challenging at the same time, as such I will need more time to write a more complete story than with the others which is why I will not be able to update as fast. It will not be a cross over and I will not be ignoring the other characters. More like having both Naruto's story and the Elemental Nations story running in tandem.
I know It will be difficult to keep the level of story telling high but what's life without a challenge or two. The best way to improve as a writer and story teller is to take on more difficult tasks and I just hope I don't let anyone down. Thanks for Reading