A/N: Big thank you to MissMeow1968 for commenting on the last chapter. I'm really glad that you've kept up this far with the story. And thank you to guest reviewer: Tai-Chan! Sorry for not replying earlier to your review, but for some reason there must have been a glitch with FanFiction because your review didn't show up until now. But I am touched that you've enjoyed this story so far. :D
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER: The Fellowship learn the fate of the Moria Dwarves; run for their lives from something sinister, and experience tragedy. SPOILERS for those readers who haven't seen the movie or read the book.
I have no ownership over Naruto or over Lord of the Rings. Damn! Better luck next time :P
Please continue reviewing constructively and responsibly to this story xx
SHADOW AND FLAME
"No rustle came from the trees. No insect buzz or night bird call. The woods were silent in their grief."
- Leigh Bardugo
"Gimli!" yelled Gandalf with concern.
He followed the obviously distraught dwarf into the vast empty chamber; followed closely by the Fellowship. The chamber was lit with a narrow shaft of sunlight, beaming in from a small hole near the roof. Dwarf and Goblin skeletons were piled high around the room, and in the far corner stood a stone walled well. The shaft of light beaming in from the hole in the roof fell directly onto a stone table in the middle of the room. It was a single oblong block, approximately four feet high and topped with a great slab of white stone. Gimli took one look at the stone before he fell to his knees and started weeping.
"No…no…oh, no!" He sobbed. Sakura honed into her maternal instincts and rushed over to Gimli's side, cradling him in her arms.
"Shhh, you're okay." Sakura promised him, "Everything will be okay."
Gimli continued sobbing, and everybody felt helpless as they watched the pink-haired ninja gently rocking Gimli. Nobody could work out who was more surprised when Legolas came over and placed a supportive hand on Gimli's shoulder. It was a well-known fact that dwarves and elves were bitter rivals due to Legolas's father, Thranduil, betraying Thorin – the late and former 'dwarf King under the Mountain' – approximately 60 years before (or so Gimli had bitterly explained to the shinobi while they were exchanging tales and facts about each other during their journey. Although all three decided not to get involved or take sides). Sakura smiled approvingly and admirably at Legolas, who pretended not to see but cracked a barely noticeable smile.
Gandalf approached the stone slab sombrely and began reading.
"Here lies Balin, son of Fudin, Lord of Moria." He sighed sadly, "He is dead, then. It's as I had feared."
Gandalf removed his hat and handed it and his staff to Pippin, who was standing nearby, and carefully lifts the rotting remains of a book clutched in the hands of a dead dwarf leaning against the white stone slab. It had been slashed and stabbed … and appeared to be covered in dried blood. The yellowed pages cracked and broke as he opened the book and blew away dust. Legolas broke away from Gimli and Sakura and approached an alert Aragorn who was standing ramrod straight and glancing around for signs of trouble, as well as keeping an eye on Boromir.
"We must more on, we cannot linger." He whispered urgently. Aragorn opened his mouth to reassure Legolas when Gandalf suddenly started reading out loud.
"They have taken the Bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates … but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes … drums—" Gandalf hesitates before summoning his courage and continuing. "… drums in the deep."
Naruto gulped, hating how he scared he was feeling. He glanced at Sasuke to analyse his reaction to this situation and was shocked to see how tense the Uchiha looked. He cautiously reached out a hand to comfort his boyfriend, praying that it wouldn't be taken the wrong way, but was pleasantly surprised when Sasuke beat him to it.
This must be serious if even Sasuke is scared … The blonde thought, knowing that if Sasuke could read minds that he'd be beaten to a pulp right about now for even suggesting that the unshakeable Uchiha was anything but brave.
"We cannot get out." Naruto glanced back at Gandalf, listening very intently. "A shadow moves in the dark." A cold shiver ran down his spine. "Will no one save us?" Gandalf looked up,
"They are coming…"
Unnerved, Pippin backed away nervously before stumbling against the well, sending a precariously balanced armoured skeleton tumbling in. Merry grabs a hold of Pippin before he falls in after it. The Fellowship freeze in stunned silence as the skeleton continues to clatter down the well, echoing loudly off into the distance. Gandalf looked murderous as everybody breathed out a sigh of relief as one. The wizard slammed the book shut in his anger.
"Fool of a Took!" He snatched back his hat and staff from Pippin, "Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!"
Pippin looked ashamed and prepared to move on with the rest of the Fellowship when a low, rolling boom rises from the depths below.
"Oh fuck…" muttered Naruto.
The boom grew louder as if the caverns of Moria had turned into a vast drum. A loud horn blasts nearby; followed by answering horns, running feet and harsh cries. Sam glanced at Frodo's belt.
"Mr. Frodo!"
Frodo looked down at his belt, and saw a cold blue glow emanating from his sword's scabbard. His eyes widened as he drew the sword and stared at the glowing blade.
Legolas cursed.
"Orcs!"
Aragorn turned to the hobbits and herded them towards Gandalf, who had immediately drawn his sword.
"Get back! Stay close to Gandalf." He turned to Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke. "Find something to brace against the doors!"
They nodded and immediately scattered as Aragorn and Boromir slam and wedge the doors with spears. Boromir narrowly dodged an arrow as he catches sight of something. Cursing, he turned to Aragorn with shock in his eyes.
"They have a cave troll!" He reported.
Gimli snatched up two rusty dwarf axes and leaps onto the tomb just as Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke flanked him from the front, left and right sides, and each armed with weapons.
"Let them come! There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!" He snarled.
BOOM! The door burst open in a shower of wood fragments, and twenty goblins charge into the tomb, followed by a huge cave troll that was leashed with a heavy chain. Gimli gave a battle cry as he ducks a blow and immediately buries his axes in two goblin helmets. Aragorn and Boromir wade in the growing mass of goblins, cutting them down with their swords with Sasuke flanking them cutting down those that escaped their wrath, as Legolas fires round after round of deadly arrows into goblin throats trying desperately to shield the hobbits who were maintaining a shaky grip on their swords from where they were standing behind Gandalf, who was clutching his sword and joining in the battle.
The cave troll swept his club at Aragorn, who stumbled backwards. The huge club makes the descent for a killing blow. Suddenly there was a flash of steel as Boromir's broadsword slices into its meaty, scaly arm. It reared back in pain, spewing green blood from its wound. A lone goblin broke away from its swarming comrades and made a beeline for Naruto, shrieking inhumanly as it went. The blonde cracked a cocky smirk as he swung a solid fist into its deformed face and knocked it off kilter. However, it appeared that the creature was only stunned before it came back for more. Naruto jumped and hooked his legs around the goblin's neck before using the forward momentum to flip them over. He landed on his hands and bounced off to return to his feet before spinning and hacking off its head with his kunai in a gruesome spray of blood. But there wasn't time to reflect on the gore before he was attack from behind by another bloodthirsty goblin which he removed by gabbing the same kunai in its eye. Sakura, shielding Sam and Pippin from the onslaught, quickly calculated the more effective move. Grabbing an arrow out of thin air before it embedded itself in Pippin's eye, she angrily clenched her fist snapping the arrow in half before she gathered her chakra in her right fist.
"SHANNARO!" She hollered, grabbing the attention of Naruto whose eyes widened in horror and scrambled for safety, dragging Frodo and Merry with him.
"Naruto, what are you doing?" asked Frodo, frantically.
But his question was answered when Sakura immediately slammed her chakra-fuelled fist on the stone floor, splitting it like an earthquake and causing any goblins in its path to fall directly into it. Sasuke looked mildly impressed, as he ducked a blow from a goblin and immediately impaled it upon his katana. It was clear that Sakura had undergone some seriously impressive training from somebody with excellent chakra skills.
"Damnit, Sakura! I think you over did it again!" yelled Naruto frantically, as he scooped up his charges and moved to a nearby ledge surrounded with chipped and decaying stone columns. Unfortunately, his naturally loud voice grabbed the attention of the cave troll, and it hobbles towards them. "Oh, shit!" curses Naruto as he grabs Merry and hides behind a column. Frodo following swiftly.
"Oh my God!" Sakura fretted, wading desperately through the mob of goblins to aid her friend and their charges.
Frodo fearfully looked around the room, looking for the troll and sees Sam backing up against a wall; his sword in one hand and one of his saucepans in the other. In desperation, Sam swings wildly at an approaching goblin. To his surprise the saucepan connects, braining it. Sam looks shocked, and tries his luck again as he wallops another goblin. It too drops like a sack of potatoes. Sam laughed a little hysterically.
"I think I'm getting the hang of this." He mutters to himself, before he looked over to see Frodo, Merry and Naruto in grave danger from the cave troll with Sakura fighting her way unsuccessfully. Frodo, the only one in immediate danger, plays an impromptu game of 'hide and seek' with the troll before he sees an opportunity and races for safety. The cave troll lunges forward, thrusting at Frodo's chest with his spear.
Frodo grunts in pain.
"NO!" screamed Naruto.
"Frodo!" Sam screams as Frodo is lifted off his feet by the spear tip and slammed against the wall. He sinks to his knees and falls into a lifeless heap on the floor, dislodging the spear in the process. Naruto is frozen in shock as Aragorn scrambles over to them, looking horrified.
"Frodo! Frodo!" He called out, desperately.
The hobbits go apeshit. Sam slashes at the cave troll's knee, bringing him down. Merry and Pippin jump on him, stabbing and slashing, but are swatted away like annoying flies. Legolas was just about to fire an arrow, when the remaining goblins suddenly recoiled in horror and bolted from the room, running for their lives. Confused, the rest of the Fellowship scan the room looking for the source of their fear when they notice Sakura and Sasuke staring over at where Frodo and the cave troll were. Both were ashen and wore absolutely petrified expressions on their faces.
"I'M GONNA TEAR YOUR FUCKIN' HEAD FROM YA SHOULDERS!" rumbled a low, dark inhuman voice.
Heads turned and they saw Naruto standing in the rubble, glaring at the cave troll who looked proud of what he had just accomplished, despite the amount of pain he was in. Naruto was surrounded by a layer of red, wispy chakra that looked similar to the blue chakra that surrounded Sakura's fist when she powered up. His eyes were red and slitted – almost animal-like – and his fingernails and canine teeth had grown longer and sharper. His normally short, coarse blonde hair had grown longer and spiker and the subtle whisker-like marks on his cheeks were wider, thicker and blacker.
"Sasuke…" whimpered Sakura, clutching frantically at Sasuke's arm. The Uchiha abruptly disentangled himself from Sakura.
"I know, Sakura."
"What's going on? What's happening to Naruto?" demanded Pippin, who was looking at the blonde in horror.
"He's transforming," replied Sasuke, preparing himself for another fight against an unstable, volatile Naruto. He was pretty sure he knew what had finally awoken the Kyuubi from its dormant state… and it was lying in a lifeless heap with a spear sticking out of his chest.
"Transforming into what?" demanded Boromir, who had raised his sword in defence against Naruto instinctively.
"An immortal, 1000-year-old fox demon called the Kyuubi no Kitsune."
Suddenly, Naruto launched himself at the cave troll, who roared in agony as the partially-transformed ninja used his enlarged canine teeth to tear off one of its mangled ears. While the troll was distracted with Naruto savagely ripping into its flesh, Legolas fires his arrow causing the troll to topple forward, moaning, and lands heavily; dead as a doornail. Immediately, Sakura and Sasuke quick-flashed forward and tackled Naruto, pinning him to the floor and ignored the gasps of alarm all around them and the pain of Naruto's flaming hot chakra licking up his arms as Sasuke deliberately glared into his lover's eyes with his sharingan.
"This ain't over, Uchiha. I'll be back." Kyuubi promised before the blonde's blue eyes returned and he passed out. While Sasuke was dealing with Naruto; Aragorn rushed to Frodo's side. The poor hobbit appeared to be dead much to Gandalf, Aragorn and the other hobbits' horror.
"Oh no…" the Ranger whispered and reluctantly turned Frodo over, only to gasp with the others when Frodo coughed and groaned, taking a huge breath. Sakura and Sasuke looked up, and stared wide-eyed at the hobbit, whom they thought had been killed.
"He's alive!" announced Sam in relief.
"I'm alright. I'm not hurt." Frodo confirmed.
Aragorn was mystified.
"You should be dead. That spear would've skewered a wild boar!"
Gandalf suddenly grinned, "I think there's more to this hobbit than meets the eye."
Frodo frowned before realising what the wizard was getting at and slowly opens his shirt to reveal Bilbo's Mithril shirt. The spear that the troll had thrust at him had not pierced through the shirt. Gimli reached forward and gently touched the golden material with awe.
"Mithril!" He glanced up at Frodo, with genuine admiration. "You are full of surprises, Master Baggins."
Frodo smiled humbly, but then trailed off when he realised they were missing someone.
"Where's Naruto?" He asked before looking over at where Sakura and Sasuke were squatted beside an unconscious Naruto and reacted with horror.
"Oh no, Naruto!" He scrambled over to the blonde's side and scanned for injuries. "Is he hurt?" He demanded, frantically. Sakura placed a calming hand on the hobbit's shoulder.
"He's fine, Frodo. He's just knocked out." She reassured him, before glaring over his head.
Frodo frowned and turned to see that everyone, except for Gandalf and Legolas who seemed to remember something important were staring at Naruto warily and with some mistrust.
"What's wrong? Why are you looking at Naruto like that?" Before anybody could reply … BOOM BOOM BOOM! The sounds of drums rang out again.
Gandalf grabbed everyone's attention.
"To the bridge of Khazad-dum!"
Sasuke immediately swung Naruto up into a fireman's hold and the Fellowship hurried towards a distant door as Goblins start scuttling down the Pillars behind them, like cockroaches. Frodo reacted with horror at the overwhelming Goblin army rushing towards them. The Fellowship ran as fast as their feet could carry them, before they are completely surrounded by Goblins all moving in for the kill. Suddenly, a deafening roar fills the air jolting Naruto awake.
"What's happening?" He mumbled groggily, before snapping to attention when he sees the sea of goblins surrounding them.
He immediately jumps down from Sasuke's back and brandishes a kunai, but realises that the goblins aren't paying attention to them. A fiery light casts dances down a nearby hallway creating eerie shadows among the pillars. All the goblins freeze and back fearfully away from an approaching beast, as they melted into the darkness.
"What is this new devilry?" whispers Boromir.
A huge shadow, surrounded by flame, falls across the hall causing the ground to shake, as though from a heavy foot fall. An unearthly sound rumbles. Gandalf warily lowers his sword and staff and closes his eyes, trying to see what was now approaching them. His eyes slowly open as he, in an almost defeated tone, revealed the source.
"A balrog. A demon of the ancient world!"
Everyone (except for Frodo, Sasuke, Sakura and Legolas) pretended not to notice Naruto flinch at the familiar words, having already witnessed what Naruto became when he was angry.
"This foe is beyond any of you!" Naruto gulped in fear when Gandalf suddenly and urgently yelled:
"RUN!"
The Balrog rose from a chasm and immediately gives chase as the Fellowship tear off down a nearby stairway. It was a massive creature: 40 foot giant man-beast, with a mane of flames. Sakura and Sasuke shuddered at the similarity it had with Naruto when he reached this stage in his Kyuubi transformation. When the blonde reached this stage it was almost impossible to sense any humanity within him. The Balrog held in one hand a blade that looked like a stabbing tongue of fire. In its other hand was a whip of many thongs. Aragorn lead the Fellowship to the top of a dizzying staircase with what looked like a bottomless pit beneath their feet. Gandalf followed, leaning heavily on his staff. Both Aragorn and Naruto look back at the Wizard with deep concern.
"Lead them on, Aragorn. The bridge is near." Gandalf urged the Ranger who hesitated. Gandalf shoves him forward.
"Do as I say; swords and kunai are no more use here!"
The Fellowship race down the stairway. Boromir, Legolas, Merry and Pippin make to one side of a narrow stairway before part of it breaks away leaving a large gap behind. It would be impossible for Gimli or the remaining hobbits to cross; and just barely possible for Aragorn, Gandalf and the three shinobi to make it over. Without hesitation, Sasuke scoops a protesting Sakura up in his arms bridal-style and leaps over the gap, landing safely on the other side. He places Sakura on her feet before pressing his sword into her hands and turning to assist the others in bringing the rest of their group over the large gap. Naruto seizes an obviously tired and unusually frail Gandalf's arm and wraps over his shoulder before wrapping an arm around the wizard's waist and leapt over the gap, carrying Gandalf with him.
"Thank you, lad," Gandalf wheezed before turning and watching the rest make their way over. Boromir receives Sam from Aragorn, but Gimli immediately backs away from Aragorn before the Ranger has the chance to pick him up and throw him over to Legolas or Naruto.
"Nobody tosses a dwarf!" He growled.
The Balrog smashes through the wall and spreads out its vast wings causing the narrow staircase to shake violently. Gimli takes a running start and manages to land on the other side, and would've plunged to a grisly death if Legolas hadn't reached out and seized him by the beard.
"NOT THE BEARD!" Gimli shrieks in pain.
Aragorn had just finished tossing Pippin over to Naruto, when the staircase started the crumble underneath his feet and break off; causing him to scramble back to safety. The gap in the bridge was now far too wide for even Aragorn to cross with Frodo in his arms. All seemed hopeless when the Balrog suddenly swooped down past the Fellowship and disappeared into a flaming pit, causing the stairway to shake violently once again and dislodge a piece of stalagtite from above their heads. The stalagtite crashes into the staircase behind Frodo and Aragorn, causing the already unstable staircase to start tilting backwards.
"Lean forward!" Aragorn shouted at Frodo, who immediately obeyed as the Ranger seized a handful of the hobbit's shirt to stop him from stumbling over as they both used their forward momentum to shift the falling staircase towards the others. It crashed against the other side, throwing both Aragorn and Frodo forwards. Frodo was immediately caught by Naruto and Aragorn by Legolas before the Fellowship immediately turned tail and continued running down the narrow staircase. The Fellowship ran into a hall, where upon they spy a very narrow, but steady looking stone bridge. The floor split with fissures, spitting out flame.
"Over the bridge! Fly!" yelled Gandalf.
They race towards the slender bridge of stone and recklessly hurry over the dizzying bridge. However, at the last second, Gandalf stops dead in his tracks and turns to face the Balrog; staff in one hand, his sword in the other. Frodo stops and looks back in horror.
"You cannot pass!" roars Gandalf.
"Gandalf!" Frodo gives an alarmed yell that attracts Naruto's attention. The blonde curses and rushes back to where Frodo stood, ready to pull back the hobbit. Gandalf ignores Frodo's cry as he focuses on the Balrog with a fierce look of distain on his careworn face.
"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun!"
Frodo and Naruto watched as the Balrog placed one foot on the Bridge and drew itself to full height, spreading its wings from wall-to-wall. Gandalf looks tiny; balanced precariously on the narrow stone bridge.
"Go back to the shadow!" Gandalf orders.
The Balrog slashes at Gandalf with its sword of flame, which the wizard blocks with his sword. A ringing clash and the Balrog's sword shatters into fragments.
"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" Gandalf booms as the Balrog places one foot onto the bridge.
Immediately Naruto, Aragorn and Boromir race forward, brandishing their weapons. Gandalf cries out as he summons what remains of his strength and power before slamming his staff on the bridge. A blinding flash of brilliant white flame springs up, shattering his staff and breaking the bridge at the Balrog's feet. Startled, the Balrog slowly plunges into the abyss. Frodo sighs in relief and turns to move to safety. Gandalf sneers down at the falling Balrog before he turns and retreats to the rest of the Fellowship waiting for him on the other side. But alas, the Balrog at the last minute swings up the thongs of the whip and curls it around Gandalf's ankles, dragging him over the broken lip of the bridge.
Gandalf grunts in pain and barely manages to grab on the side of the bridge by his fingertips.
"Gandalf!" screams Frodo as he rushes over to aid his friend, but Boromir puts out his arm stopping him from going any further.
"No, Frodo, stop!" He yells.
Frodo fights him, and Naruto curses and runs over to the bridge and manages to catch Gandalf's hands before he lets go completely.
"Oh no you don't! You're not going anywhere!" Naruto promises and he struggles to pull Gandalf back up to safety.
Gandalf smiles hopelessly at Naruto.
"Take care of them." Naruto stares down at him in disbelief, tears threatening as he mouths 'no'. "It's up to you and Aragorn now to lead them." Gandalf insists. Naruto tightens his grip, just as Aragorn comes up behind him wrapping his arms around the blonde's waist.
Then Gandalf frowns at them fiercely.
"Fly, you fools!" Before dislodging Naruto's hands and he plummets into the darkness.
"NO!" screams Frodo from behind Aragorn and Naruto who stands there, numb from head to toe and his hand still outstretched as he watched the man he dubbed as his second … no third father figure (after Jiraiya and Iruka-sensei) falling away from him.
Aragorn, despite being just as horrified as Naruto, manages to pull away the blonde from the broken bridge and half-carries, half-drags him to safety dodging flying arrows in the process…
A/N: Until we meet again, Gandalf. I hope you've enjoyed this chapter update.
Anyway, please review.
TTFN xx