This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Naruto, which is trademarked by Masashi Kishimoto. Everything aside from the original characters are created from the wonderful mind of Kishimoto.
Most of the following unrecognizable are original characters of mine.
Comments, suggestions, criticism, even just simple messages are welcomes, please feel free to message me anytime.
Just a quick heads up, especially you guys who have read the sneak peek, there will be some changes, especially on the dialogues.
Phew, I'm so nervous hope you guys love it!
Thanks for reading!
Chapter 26:
The Summit soon ended after the declaration of A as its leader, who was able to stand up against his rage against the other kages to rationalize the importance of an allied force. Misaki now found herself leaving with Gaara, Ayako and the their entire party.
"The raikage and his party told us that he encountered Kakashi on his way here, so he's probably near, within the land of irons." Temari theorized as they prepared to leave. Misaki's eyes went somber, Naruto had came face to face with A to plead the decision of his declaration of Sasuke as a rogue ninja, it would probably even more difficult to tell him the havoc he caused during the summit.
Naruto would be torn, Misaki would know, that's what she's feeling right now. During their fight, Misaki didn't block out her emotions as many would believe, instead it is her emotions that she held onto, it was her will, to stop Sasuke from adding the list of things he would soon regret after, a list he had already started with the 'death' of his brother in his hands.
"Let's go, we have a lot of things to attend to, war is upon us" Gaara signaled their departure.
"I'll try to keep up" Misaki said lining up with the others, giving her a 'a you serious look'.
Aside from that little side note, everybody focused traveling as fast as they can, with their time table a literal countdown to the end of the world, they had to be fast.
"There they are" Misaki sensed as they neared a village. True enough they found their targeted party in an inn.
"Misaki" Sai noticed the arrival of the red head, well red heads as they had their discussion about Sakura and her actions outside the inn.
"Sai, what are you doing here, and you are a clone" Misaki asked approaching them.
"It's a lot to explain, but I'm sure you have a couple on your side too" Kakashi answered her accompanied with an endearing pat on the head, then Misaki moved to give Naruto a comforting hug, a little longer than necessary for a greeting hug, but everybody else welcomed the action in their hectic time table. The twins have been out of sorts since hearing the news about Sasuke and it's just about to get worse.
"We are here on behalf of the Allied Shinobi Force to inform you of what had transpired during the five kage summit" Gaara started as soon as Misaki broke free from Naruto's embrace.
"Wouldn't Danzo-sama should have been there, why would you need to tell us what happened kazekage-sama?" Yamato asked.
"Danzo, he tried to manipulate the summit by putting the moderator Mifune under his genjustu using the eye he stole from Uchiha Shisui" Misaki answered, both Yamato and Kakashi not really needing any more information than that. They both had worked with Shisui during their anbu days, and both know just what Shisui is capable of.
"So where is Danzo-sama now?" Kakashi inquired.
"He escaped when-" Misaki paused, lowering her head as her eyes widened, the events that transpired earlier flashing in her mind. Back then, everything was happening so fast that they needed to move first rather than think things through, but now that she had some time on their hands, every single detail seemed to sink in like an anchor in the sea.
"When?" Naruto asked.
"When Sasuke and the akatsuki attacked the summit" Misaki said, raising her head, with both her fists clenched tight. Although she too did not want to accept reality, between her and Naruto, someone has to swallow the bitter pill first.
"What?" Naruto huffed out, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Then that would make matters worse for Sasuke, he will now be treated not only as a rogue ninja, but attacking a summit means he is declaring violence against all five nations, he's going to be declared a criminal." Yamato explained, something Misaki was half spiteful and half thankful for information. Confused and overwhelmed with emotions, well it seems that confusion has to be the only thing clear about her emotions.
"After that Uchiha Madara appeared and invited the kages to surrender the remaining jinchuriki and join him in his project called the Tsuki no Me, wherein he will put everybody else in an eternal tsukuyomi" Temari revealed.
"Is that even possible?" Kakashi asked, the wielder of the same eye, he knew the capabilities of the sharingan, and also its limitations. Even with someone as strong as Madara, there will be some sort of restriction to how long and how many can be placed under his tsukiyomi.
"Apparently, that is what he is collecting the tailed beast for, that kind of technique will need power just as great." Ayako added.
"However, the kages shot him down, so Madara decided to declare war against everyone who stands against him" Gaara finished.
Kakashi scrunched his eyes, his mind mingled with trying to put the events in order and coming up with the best plan.
"I didn't expect the summit to be that intense, that Danzo" Yamato thought out loud.
"Our best course of action is to report this back to the village, and I'm not to eager in becoming the hokage, and if the situation requires me to accept, I'll still have to return to Konoha first and hear what the others have to say" Kakashi said.
"Madara has declared war on us! There is no time to deliberate" Temari grumbled.
"I'm sure everyone will approve, we should have them proceed on premise that you are the hokage our actions is somehow delayed, and the Akatsuki and Madara take the advantage, that would even be worse" Yamato reasoned.
"Well, I guess you're right, thanks" Kakashi answered.
"Naruto, this is a battle to protect Hachibi and Kyuubi, namely you and it's also for the ninja world, as the kazekage, I would give my life to protect you" Gaara declared, surprising Misaki, forcing her attention to him.
"I Sasuke confronts the allied shinobi forces as a member of the akatsuki, I will show no mercy, Sasuke doesn't care about you, all he wants is the darkness" Gaara continued, Misaki's eyes glazed, looking back to the time where Gaara had not answered his thoughts on declaring Sasuke a criminal until he heard his thoughts, Misaki can only guess the outcome did not fare well for both parties.
"Naruto, you told me before that you wanted to be the hokage, I have become the kazekage, if you are prepared to carry the burden of being a kage, then do what is right, as Sasuke's friend, if you can't do it for yourself, then think about Misaki and how she feels about the entire matter" Gaara stepped forward and placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, only for it to be removed, rather roughly by Naruto, whose face remained blank throughout the discussion.
"We've said all that we need to, Gaara, let's go, Hatake Kakashi, when you become the hokage, Suna will take action, I pray that there will be conflicting intel between us" Temari ended the discussion, abiding her duty as her younger brother's adviser.
"Understood," Kakashi answered meekly, The sand envoy had only began to leave when Gaara began his farewell message.
"I consider you as a friend, in the past, it held no meaning to me, nothing more, nothing less but after meeting you, you made me realize that the meaning of that word is what's important, what is the meaning of the word? What can you do for Sasuke, think hard about that," this time, Gaara's words somehow went across the dazed Naruto, but he did not stay long enough to hear his answer and left, soon after that, everything went silent, with only the blistering wind ringing in their ears,
"Naruto" Yamato walked towards the blonde, but both Misaki and Kakashi stopped him.
"Let him find the answer himself" Kakashi said.
"It's best that we leave him to his devices, the only answer he'll have is what he knows to be right, " Misaki said and walked forward to her twin, standing on her tiptoes to touch her forehead to his.
'Like you always did, Naruto,I know what is happening right now may be hard to accept, but it is the truth. But what we had with Sasuke is not a lie, and though it may be difficult, but find your ri answer, and don't let me or anyone else tell you otherwise, you can do it Naruto, we can do it, like our parent believed we can' Misaki comforted Naruto, mouthing the words only in her thoughts, hoping that her message will get across to him.
And whatever reply Naruto had, were also spoken in hush as he only closed his eyes and pressed his forehead on Misaki's before moving away.
"Let's begin preparations to return to the village, we have a lot of ground to cover" Misaki urged, but Kakashi placed a hand on her shoulder.
"There is still the matter of Sakura" Kakashi revealed.
"Why, what's wrong with Sakura?" Misaki asked worried, Kakashi did not answer and instead directed his eyes to the clone of Sai, simultaneously turning Misaki's attention to the same thing.
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"Misaki, don't worry Naruto is strong, he'll be able to get through something like that" Sai's clone comforted the shaked Misaki as he paced himself while they followed Sakura's tracks. After what happened everything that dominated Misaki's mind went out of the window and all she could ever think about is Naruto.
"This is the first time I'd ever seen Naruto in such a state, I guess it affected him on an entirely different level" Misaki's mind flew back to what happened earlier.
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Sai's clone had just explained to Misaki what Sakura was planning and what occurred on their side of the metaphorical tracks, when suddenly Naruto began panting, struggling to breath as he clutched his chain in pain.
"Naruto!" Misaki, thank god for her speed managed to catch Naruto's head on her knees as she skid down to catch his fall.
"Naruto look at me," She tapped Naruto's face, trying to make him focus on her but to no avail, he was hyperventilating and he'd be in serious trouble if he doesn't calm down now. Moving fast, Misaki opened a battle of one of Kazumi's medicine and poured its contents down to Naruto's throat.
"That'it, slowly, there, go to sleep" Misaki cooed as the medicine began to take its effect sending Naruto into his world of slumber.
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"You did the right thing putting him to sleep so he can cal-" Clone Sai dispersed before Misaki's eyes while they ran towards the direction the real him and Sakura are going towards.
"SAI" Misaki exclaimed when he turned into an explosion of ink.
"What happened?" Kakashi asked.
"We have to hurry, there must be something that happened to the real Sai for his clone to disappear at an approaching distance" Misaki started to quicken her stride, with Kakashi hot on her tail.
"Please be alright" Misaki thought as they speed their way towards their comrades.
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"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you guys, but I have to do this." SAkura left her team that was supposed to help her put an end to Sasuke and went on to continue the mission herself.
'That's right I'll put an end to Sasuke, so they won't have to go through the ordeal of having to deal with him themselves. All my life I've been infatuated with Sasuke, carelessly declaring my love for him and constantly throwing myself at him, but to Misaki and Naruto, Sasuke meant so much more. They loved him so much that what Sasuke is doing is literally tearing them apart. I have to do this, for them'
"Sasuke, I won't let you hurt those two who loves you so much anymore, I will put an end to this," Sakura vowed herself to push through, not just for herself, but for the dear friends she is doing this for.
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"There they are!" Misaki felt them before she laid her eyes on them, for figures sleeping on the ground as if without a care in the world.
"Thank god they're alive" Misaki breath a sigh of relief as everybody's pulses are still intact.
"Damn Sakura did a number on them, left them lying on the ground" Kakashi looked over everyone deep in dream land.
"You go ahead, I'll make sure they're alright and safe, we need to get to Sakura before she reaches Sasuke" Misaki urged Kakashi, Sakura might be underestimating the Sasuke with what she remembers of him, Misaki started to regret not telling Sakura the truth behind the wound that almost killed her, and prayed to the gods that Kakashi make it in time. Misaki began dragging them to a much more comfortable patch of grass as he left.
"Well, she used something pretty potent, she is after all Tsunade-sensei's student" Misaki began to think of counter measurement, but until, she couldn't leave them exposed in the open, especially with akatsuki rampant on these grounds.
Misaki was able to concoct something to counter Sakura's handiwork, but it will take sometime before it can get everybody back on their feet, but before she could even decide to stay with her comrades, Misaki felt a familiar presence rush past her.
"Damn it" Misaki cursed whilst making a series of hand signs.
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'Naruto gently placed Sakura down, frowning.
"Sasuke! Sakura-chan is a fellow member of our Team Seven!" Naruto scolded.
"was a fellow member, I am no longer a member" Sasuke rebuffed Naruto's anger with a smirk.
"Now you see, Naruto, Sakura, his intent to kill is very real. Sasuke isn't who we remember him to be you shouldn't be taking him lightly Sakura, because the one who almost killer Misaki and sent her into a comatose, is Sasuke" Kakashi lectured his two students who are letting their relationship with Sasuke cloud their judgement in battling him.
"Sasuke, I heard the truth about Itachi from a guy named Tobi, I don't know whether it's real or not, but it doesn't matter, what you are doing is understandable" Naruto declared, shocking everyone.
Could his statement be real, could he really understand the movements of his friend, a friend who once almost killed his twin sister, the only blood family he has.
"I told you, you didn't have a family to begin with, no parents no siblings to lose, you were alone to begin, outsiders just better stay out of it" Sasuke growled and yelled through his gritted teeth, fist clenched at Naruto's declaration of his understanding him.
"What are you talking about, do you know what Naruto went through? That even after all the rumors he never stopped thinking of you as his friend, and while the rest of the world targeted you, Naruto alone went to your rescue, even now, you even after you almost killed his only-" Sakura denfended but Naruto raised his hand before she could speak any further.
"Rescue me? From what?" Sasuke deadpanned.
"Well from-" Sakura stuttered, unsure of her answer. Before they had this notion of rescuing Sasuke from being possesed by Orochimaru, but what now?
"From revenge, I swear I'll save you from the chaos of vengance" Naruto answered for Sakura.
"There is no need for that, the stage has already been set for my vengance to happen, just a while ago, I took my vengance on one of Itachi's enemies" Sasuke rebuffed with a smirk.
"I killed a high ranking elder of konoha by the name of Danzo, I have never felt like this before, I can finally feel the name of the Uchiha being cleared of taint, I feel the Uchiha being free of the rotting shinobi world, you guys couldn't begin to understand, isn't what I am doing exactly what you ninja from konoha wanted all along, you've always snubbed and put down the Uchiha, so I'll help erase the Uchiha from your memories, I'm going to to kill every single one of you and destroy Konoha, severing all bonds to Konoha is the ultimate purification, and that shall lead to the Uchiha, true purification." Sasuke professed confidently.
After his declaration, of hatred, the opposing party prepared for battle, he may not listen to words, but he won't be able to avoid to feel.
"But Kakashi-sensei,-" Sakura tried to voice her own opinions, but Kakashi had already made his mind.
"Go, if you stay here, you'll see things you don't want to see" Kakashi made it clear that things were about to go south.
"But-" Sakura pressed further.
"Sakura that poisoned kunai you learned from Shizune won't work, Orochimaru gave him resistance to any kind of poison" Kakashi informed the young kunoichi.
Whilst listening to them banter, Sasuke on the other hand had already formed chidori on the palm of his left hand.
Kakashi did the same thing and readied himself to start one of the most difficult battle he will ever have in his lifetime.
Putting down his own student.
Kakashi held out an arm, preventing Naruto and his newly created shadow clones from attacking.
"This is my task, you two rendezvous with Misaki and the others and get out of here" Kakashi ordered his students.
"Kakashi-sensei, that something we don't want to see, you're going to kill him aren't you?" Naruto asked, something that Kakashi only replied with an order the vacate the area, but Naruto took this chance for a clone to subdue Kakashi giving him a chance to attack Sasuke with his rasengan.
This is my chance, I'm not going to hold back" Sasuke ran head first towards Naruto who was also doing the same thing.
"Naruto" both Kakashi and Sakur tried to call out and stop Naruto but it was too late.
"Chidori"
"Rasengan"
Chakra concentrated attacks collided with each other and exploded in a blinding light. Waves crashed and winds swirled pushing them back in all directions as an explosion erupted. In the middle of the smoke, both Sasuke and Naruto violently flew back in their respective directions, one caught by Kakashi gracefully and the other was cushioned by a Zetsu clone before he could hit the bottom of the cliff and gain any damage.
"Whoah" Sakura yelled, as they tried to hold their ground.
"Sakura hold your ground," Kakashi cautioned the female. The explosion was huge, but it was no where near the damage it could have actually done, chidori against rasengan clashing would have created a more devastating colission.
Once they had all settled and so did the smoke, the winds and the waves, they all looked to the center of the explosion itself where Misaki stood her hair loose, forming a cascade of red waterfall, framing her face and her body.
"Sorry for the inconvenience, I didn't know repelling both concentrated attacks simultaneously would cause such ruckus" Misaki said, finally lifting her head to look at the people present.
'What a hearty reunion' Misaki thought as she walked towards Kakashi who was supporting Naruto.
"Misaki, when did you get here" Sakura asked as the redheah walked towards them.
"I arrived long enough to hear enough" Misaki answered vaguely, focusing her attention to Naruto whose face was scratched.
"Are you alright?" Misaki asked raising her hands to caress the wound on Naruto's face, simultaneously lifting it to look at her. Blue eyes meet against blue ones, but even when their eyes collided, in a point blank range, it seems that Naruto was looking not at her, but somewhere far away.
"Naruto, I told you to go back to the village" Kakashi scolded the blond, as he let him go, starting to feel Naruto gain the strength to stand steady on his own. Naruto raised his hand and placed it on top of Misaki's hand on his cheeks, wiping her wet cheeks. Naruto felt his twin arrive earlier, she had probably heard everything that Sasuke said.
"Now, it's all clear now" Naruto said finally looking into the eyes of his twin as he gripped on her hand tighter, as if to reassure her. Misaki nodded in comprehension and moved out of his way and stood beside him as all of them stared apprehensively at the party against them, a party that seemed to have gain several new members with the arrival of a guy in the orange mask and a few more of white zetsu clones.
Tobi observed the opposition, and he would be lying if he said he wasn't tempted to apprehend the kyuubi jinchuuriki. However there was the problem of Kakashi, and after his siege at the five kage summit and his battle with Danzo, Sasuke was in no shape for another battle. Then there is also the matter of the tiny red head who has inherited so much of her parents, who happened to hold her own against akatsuki members and get away without so much of a scratch. Tobi wouldn't fight her head on without a trick or two up his sleeves, he knew how the girl fought in actual battle, and even in her toughest fights, he has never seen him utilize her abilities to its full extent, as if she has always been holding back.
"Sasuke, when are you going to stop this madness? Can't you see it? Open your eyes and look around you revenge has given you nothing." Misaki reasoned, seeing him in this state would have broken her heart if it wasn't so broken already by the speech he gave earlier, all she knows is that if her heart broke at that, what more could have Itachi felt if he could see or hear Sasuke right now; his precious little brother.
"I thought you said you weren't going to intervene with these matters?" Sasuke yelled at the opposing party as he knelt panting on the water's surface. It wasn't clear to whom he was pertaining to as they contemplated themselves, until a voice raised from their side, this time it was Misaki.
"And I don't have any intention to, remember that night you left, I told you that I will always love you, and that hasn't changed Sasuke, because no matter how deep you go, I will still love you." Misaki professed her feelings, loud and honest for the first time since Sasuke left, and even though declaring love against a rogue criminal should have given her uncertainty and fear, but instead, it gave her a sense of completion, a clarity she had been trying to gain by shutting away her feelings. All at once, the remnants of doubt and confusion pestering her heart after she made her decision began to melt, leaving nothing but the one clarity she should have never let go from the start.
And that is she is in love with Sasuke. Despite his anger, despite his flaws, Misaki loved him for everything he is. He was stubborn, but he was also determined, he was hateful, but it was because he loved so much, Misaki realized that with every single one of Sasuke's flaws, she could see his strength, she had always understood the beauty in his madness.
'If only things had been simpler, I will love your hate away Sasuke, show you that the world despite its flaws, is still beautiful, just like you, if only,; Misaki took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"But if you meddle with something precious to me and for that I won't be lenient, if you ever so much as lift a hand against Naruto, I will not hesitate to revert to the offensive, this is a promise" Misaki's vowed, opening her eyes, her blue eyes, as cold as ice just like the tone in her voice. No one expected what was coming as she unknowingly released a surge of chakra around her body. Misaki only became conscious of her actions when Naruto placed a hand on her shoulder and looked at her, imploring her to calm down.
Sasuke glared at the interaction between the two, no words were exchanged, but it only took Naruto a few silent moments for Misaki's face to display realization and encouragement before nodding. Sasuke felt his anger starting to boil, clenching his fists how far will Misaki go to protect Naruto.
Jealousy, there was a time when she treated her the same, when she would do anything for him. How can she claim to love him when she is on the other side of the argument, standing with that idiot that claims to rescue him. Suddenly flashes of the moments he and Misaki shared flooded his mind like a tsunami it dominated his senses all at once, different emotions threatening to bud out of him, but he chose to push them down the drain.
Sasuke was about to stand on his feet and attack the two in a blind, quite literally blind rage, when Tobi grabbed a hold of his arm.
"Stand down Sasuke, you are in no condition to fight" Tobi held Sasuke down, something that the younger shinobi had no strength to contradict.
Naruto started walking forward towards them, when Kakashi almost intervened, but Misaki raised her arm to block him.
"Don't worry, it's going to be alright" Misaki said smiling at Kakashi, and it wasn't his first time witnessing it, but it didn't fail to astound Kakashi just how deep Misaki believed in Naruto, even in situations like this, Misaki placed her faith and life in Naruto's hands
"Sasuke, remember what you told me back then? That two strong shinobi need no words exchanged, instead they are able to read each other by exchanging blows. Now that we are stronger, you saw it right, what was inside my heart? That if you and I fight, we will both die" Naruto voiced out his heart's contents to Sasuke, who was only getting angrier and angrier by the second, but trying his best to remain in a stoic disposition.
"Sasuke, if you attack Konoha, I will have to fight you, save your hate till then, and throw them all to me. The only one who can handle all that hatred is me! I'll fulfill that duty, and on that day, I'll bear the burden of your hate and die with you!" Naruto declared.
'What the heck is Naruto saying?! Die together, those he even know what that'll do to Misaki? And what will happen to the kyuubi then?' Kakashi thought, looking at the girl before him, who kept a timid face through Naruto's declaration, and then he thought, Naruto probably already considered that, and realized just how much faith he too placed in Misaki.
"What is with you Naruto? Just what the hell do you want? Why are you so fixated on me?" Sasuke yelled out in anger and frustration, the twins' declaration of their feeling for him having an effect he no longer deemed necessary in order to fulfill his goal.
"Because I am your friend. Sasuke from the moment I met you, I knew it would be hard to understand you, exchanging fists makes us understand better that's for sure. Like I said just now, it means we've gotten stronger. I'm not giving up just yet. I will take you back to Konohagakure, That's something I'll never give up on, believe it" Naruto added, before chuckling.
"We've rambled on enough then, a poor talker like me, lecturing you, it;'s just not my style. If we do end up dying, you won't be Uchiha and I won't be the kyuubi's jinchuuriki, we'll both be free of our burdens and we'll finally be able to understand each other in the next world" Naruto ended with a smile, one that reflected on Misaki's face.
"I don't plan on changing, nor am i interested in understanding you and I don't plan on dying. You're the one who's going to die" Sasuke gritted his teeth in reply.
"Sasuke, if I die, we both die Sasuke" Naruto insisted earnestly.
"Fine then, I'll kill you first!" Sasuke smirked.
"It's clear you haven't acknowledged me yet" Naruto replied.
"Enough Naruto, I'll take Sasuke on, you have your precious dream of becoming the hokage, I can't let Sasuke take you down with him, think about how Mi-" Naruto cut off Kakashi's lecture.
"How can I become the hokage if I can't even save one friend, I'll fight Sasuke if I have to!" Naruto intervened.
Before a fight can escalate, Tobi stopped it by leaving the premises, taking Sasuke and his Zetsus with him.
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DUN DUN DUN DUN !
Viola, hope you liked it, plus I'm sorry if the switching between scenes are fast, I didn't know how else I'd be able to put the events in sync and in order, so there's the reason why this chapter holds so much line breaks.
Also I realize that I had a different vision on how the scenes were going to play out from writing the sneak peek and making the outline vs the actual writing of the scene. The sneak peek version were a little, how do I put this, emotionally detached. I mean I could have left it like that and it would have done very little to the plot line, but it just didn't feel right to put it out and read it for yourself, and not feel the moment, the emotion that I wanted to express so I did the revisions. But anyway, let me know what you guys think about what has been happening and what are your hopes for the following events, I'd love to hear from you guys, by message or by review will do.
This is it guys, the momentum is building up and the pace is just going to pick up from here so you better hold on yo your seats cause it's about to get down.
Thank you so much!