Naruto looked at Kakashi, he knew that the battle greatly favored the copy ninja; he had already faced a gifted Genin and one of the legendary Sannin in battle. He barely had enough chakra or strength to compete against someone of Kakashi caliber. Naruto waited very patiently for the gifted Jonin to strike. Kakashi knew that Naruto was trained not by one but two Sannin and that he was an extremely dangerous individual.
Kakashi quickly threw a couple of kunai at Naruto who easily evaded, who in return threw his kunais at him.
"You know you can't defeat my Sharingan just give up and maybe you won't get the death penalty" Kakashi tried to get into Naruto's head.
"Funny they say that the Sharingan eye of yours can only copy what it sees? That it's the most powerful genjutsu eye technique the world has ever known, but what if it can't see everything?" Naruto slowly turn to face Kakashi.
Kakashi quickly formed a hand sign that had him surround himself around earth and rock to protect himself from Naruto's deadly attack.
Kakashi barely had time to counter his attack, all he saw was the last figure of a hand sign that Naruto performed so rapidly that his Sharingan could not decipher it. He only out of experience conjured a counter defense. Naruto had used his wind element jutsu mixed with the demon shuriken to attack Kakashi from all sides.
"This kid is really good my Sharingan may not be very effective against him, I barely even seen him make a hand sign, I'm going to have to kill him for the sake of the village" as Kakashi looked at his enemy.
Meanwhile…..
The ANBU finally were able to reach the Third Hokage who was standing next to Hiashi Hyuuga. As they told them what Orochimaru said that Mikado was part of the invasion and he kidnapped Hinata, Hiashi flew into a rage.
"We have to help Kakashi bring down Mikado, how could I be so foolish and give him my precious daughter so willingly? He will die by my hands this day, I've hurt Hinata so much in the past and I'm still hurting her now" Hiashi anger of red showed he met business on killing Mikado.
"Calm down Hiashi, Hinata is safe with Mikado he's the one who informed us of the impending attack. He would rather die than to see Hinata hurt or cry. But we must hurry before Kakashi kills the lad" said the Third Hokage.
"Wait he's a double agent? Just who is he anyway he's not just some run of the mill Genin is he Sarutobi-sama? I have the right to know who he is and did he use my daughter to a means for his mission to succeed?"
"No, it's genuine, he's a Genin; well actually he never got to be a Genin. The lad is Naruto Uzumaki of the Leaf village, the legacy of the Fourth Hokage."
"It can't be Naruto is dead, how is that possible? Tell me everything about this situation "as Hiashi started to get ready to go after his daughter.
Iruka overheard part of the conversation and asked the Hokage was it true? And that he would follow them to help retrieve Naruto and Hinata.
The Third Hokage told them of his suspicion when he felt that strange chakra that healed Hinata. Then he used the Sarutobi Side Step that was on the scroll he stole, he must have memorized it by heart because he did not know he was using it subconsciously." I had someone watch him and they said he was eating more and more at the ramen restaurant. My ANBU asked the chef about Mikado and the chef said he ordered the same thing as Naruto use to. Then I seen him enter through my house the same way that Naruto came in as a kid, he believed that no one knew about it but I did. I left it open for him just in case one day he returned, when I saw him in the house I thought it was an assassination attempt when he pulled out his kunai, as I stayed hidden to see the outcome. He left all of Orochimaru's plans hanging on the wall with the kunai, and then he left the same way he came in. Then I went to talk to him, he still had that sadness of not being liked and being misunderstood, but Hinata made him happy and he wasn't going to let her down. He went from a killer intent in his heart to it being completely filled with love; your daughter is part of his destiny now their fate is intertwined for the future."
As Hanabi came over to her father she told them where Hinata was supposed to meet Mikado at. As Iruka, Hiashi and the Third Hokage started heading to Hinata's destination to stop Naruto from leaving and to make sure Kakashi wouldn't kill him.
Both ninjas clashed at hand to hand combat neither could get the upper hand, Naruto couldn't believe how skilled his adversary was. He knew in time Kakashi would kill him. They had battled for a good six minutes using every type of Taijutsu, Ninjutsu and Genjutsu.
"What the hell is going on? I should have been able to hypnotize him the moment my Sharingan made eye contact with him! When I tried the first time somehow it was broken by some unknown force. I only saw something like that happen when a teammate inserted chakra to another teammate to break a powerful Genjutsu. Is he a successful lab experiment of Orochimaru?" Many thoughts ran across the mind of Kakashi but this boy being a Jinchuriki didn't come across his mind.
"Cub you're almost out of chakra, I suggest you run or take some of my chakra and finish him off." Kurama knew that this battle favored Kakashi and he was not willing to die alongside Naruto.
"No he will only catch me if I try to run plus I've seen enough death for today. But I have a plan that will allow me…"
"Thinking about how you're going to die and no one will miss your traitorous ass? You little shit!" Kakashi pulled out his kunai and stared menacingly at Naruto.
Kakashi looked at Naruto he figured the best way to defeat him would be to use the mist jutsu to hide his presence. As the mist formed all around Naruto he never encountered that jutsu before, Naruto stood there waiting for Kakashi to make a move. As Naruto pulled out his kunai he walked cautiously in the mist. As Naruto took a step he was forced underground by Kakashi leaving only his head exposed, Kakashi came and threw a kunai directly at Naruto's head. As the kunai made contact with Naruto's head a puff of smoke appeared. Kakashi stayed hidden to make sure he couldn't get away; as he heard another foot step he quickly threw another kunai hoping to hit his target. Kakashi started to hear more than one footstep so he knew that his adversary was skilled in using the clone technique, so he decided to disperse his technique.
"Let's end this Kakashi, I know that you're running out of chakra just like me so a winner takes all in this final confrontation" screamed Naruto as he looked around.
Naruto breathing became labored as waited patiently for Kakashi to come out of hiding.
"Yes little boy, let's finish this! After I kill you I can go get Hinata and bring her back safely." Kakashi voice seemed to come from everywhere.
Kakashi came out from hiding; he was looking like he was ready to put Naruto in a grave. His eyes showed murder, this was a necessary kill. It was for the good of the village that another Orochimaru wasn't allowed to exist in this new era.
"Well kid it's time for you to die" as he formed Chidori in his hand. "Any last words?"
Naruto gave a half smirk as he looked deep into the eyes of Kakashi.
"I have a trump card too I've been working on, it takes a lot of chakra but I hope you like it Shadow Clone Overkill!" As over a thousand shadow clones surrounded Kakashi, he could not believe someone so young had that much chakra to summon so many clones.
Naruto let his clones deal with Kakashi; he hurried to check on Hinata. He quickly grabbed her bridal style and used his speed to get as far away as he could from Kakashi. Naruto decided this was enough distance and Hinata could run the rest of the way with him to a new life for the both of them.
As he sat Hinata down gently, he tried tenderly to wake her up. As Hinata was waking up she saw Naruto and smacked him in his face because she was still angry about the revelation on who he really was. As he took the blows from her he backed up and was about to say something when Jiraiya out of nowhere attacked Naruto with precise taijutsu. Naruto quickly back flipped to get him away from Hinata; Hinata was so shock her voice could not leave her mouth to tell Jiraiya to stop, Naruto made two shadow clones to take Hinata to safety.
Hinata screamed for Jiraiya to stop, the shadow clones held Hinata tight as they fled with great speed with Hinata away from the disciple and master battle.
As Jiraiya steadily beat Naruto punch after punch, Naruto could not get his head into the fight. Not only was he exhausted from making all those clones but his arms felt like they couldn't lift more than a pound, he was way beyond his limit.
"Jiraiya stop, you don't understand, don't make me fight you" said Naruto.
"You're part of Orochimaru cohorts; your faction attacked the Leaf and I seen Kakashi battling the clones that look like you, he's resting after I helped him destroy your shadow clones. He told me everything, I believed in you that you were the one to make a change but I must rectify my mistake."
Naruto was barely able to stand, his chakra reserves were low and he didn't want to use the fox's power on Jiraiya. As Naruto stood his ground against Jiraiya he couldn't land a blow against his sensei, Jiraiya was relentless on destroying Naruto for attacking the village. As Jiraiya kicked Naruto backed to the ground, he was hesitant on giving his pupil a death blow.
"You know you're way better than Orochimaru ever was, I guess if I met you maybe I would've been a better ninja. I can't fight anymore and even if I could I wouldn't fight you pervy Sage." As Naruto got up one more time he knew that it was over no matter what happens but he was going out like a proud shinobi fighting to the end.
Jiraiya could not believe the kids determination not to give up. As Hinata activated her Byakugan she used her gentle fist and destroyed the two shadow clones. She rushed back to the area where Jiraiya and Naruto were fighting hoping to end this conflict without bloodshed.
Kakashi had finally caught his second wind and darted toward Jiraiya location also.
As the Third traveled at great speed to reach Naruto he started to get a bad omen on things to come.
As Kakashi approached Jiraiya, he seen that Naruto was still standing and that Jiraiya was hesitating to kill the traitor that had the village attacked. Kakashi performed his Chidori to kill Naruto on the spot as he rushed full speed toward his victim; Hinata saw Kakashi and rushed to save Naruto from Kakashi's Chidori.
Naruto saw Kakashi coming, Hinata jumped in front of Naruto with her arms spread wide to stop the attack. Naruto quickly jumped in front of Hinata to protect her from the Chidori, Kakashi hand penetrated Naruto's chest as blood flew everywhere getting on Hinata's face and clothes. He coughed up blood and held onto Kakashi's hand for support; he stopped the Chidori from penetrating all the way through from harming Hinata by holding Kakashi's hand. Hinata screamed in horror, Naruto felled down and looked at her covered in his blood.
"I am sorry Hinata," as he spit up a large amount of blood" I wanted to protect you but I failed, I didn't want to see you cry. You keep chasing Naruto saying he made you strong. It's the opposite you made me strong. All the hatred that I had disappeared when I met you I wanted to tell you but I didn't have your strength. I wished I would've stayed in the village even with the villagers' hatred I could've still been happy knowing someone in this entire world someone cared for Naruto Uzumaki" he said." Let me look at you with my own face and true eyes."
As Naruto hair color changed backed to blond and the whiskers reappeared he smiled at Hinata and said "I should have been chasing you, you're the real strong one".
"This kid is Naruto Uzumaki? The legacy of the Fourth Hokage "Jiraiya looked stunned at who he truly was.
"Pervy sage you were right it's better to be a good man than a great ninja. I wished that I had you in my life as a child I probably would've been great just like you, except being a pervert" as he laughed and quietly fell into complete silence.
Iruka, Hiashi and the Third Hokage came to the site; they saw Hinata kneeled over a blonde young man crying. The Third Hokage felt a sharp pain in his heart knowing that he failed Naruto once again
Hinata put her ear to his heart, it was very faint" he isn't going to make it. He needs help now!"
Jiraiya kneeled down in front of his pupil he began taking care of Naruto's wounds and so did the Third Hokage.
"This young man must make it; he has been through too much for it to end this way. He is the legacy of the Fourth Hokage. Jiraiya you once said that you were told that you would train someone who will save the world or end it. This boy proved today he is capable of great things and one is to save people.
This boy is a danger and you want to save him?" said Kakashi. "You heard your prophecy this boy could also mean the total destruction for the entire world, he's already close to my level and he will only get stronger as he gets older. He is the true legacy of the Fourth Hokage and you know he was almost unstoppable, this kid can rule with an iron hand before he's twenty."
"I can't explain it but he saved this girl with not a thought for himself he chose death than to see her hurt do you think that's evil? Naruto suffered at the hands of the village true but he could have easily run away from this village and not help but he didn't, he saved the village from the Sound and the Sand by giving us their plans. I couldn't help his father or mother, but I can help their child. He's like my grandson" said the Third Hokage.
"He held back on both of us Kakashi, he formed over a thousand clones but not one came close to killing you and he refused to fight me. If he was really trying to kill you he would've tried harder and if he really wanted the Leaf destroyed he would not betrayed Orochimaru to help save his true comrades" said Jiraiya.
"He was trained by Orochimaru, look at how skilled he is. He has his taint for destruction; Orochimaru is a Sannin just like you, he took this kid to the next three levels in a year's time. Do you think that he is able to come back to Konohagakure being a mere Genin or Chunin; he's closer to a Jonin abilities when you think about it. True his father was my sensei but I have to think of the village safety". Kakashi was pleading with them to just let the boy die for the sake of the village.
"Call the med ninjas; no one but the six of us knows about Naruto, he's coming back to the Konohagakure we owe him for helping save the village and for the villagers' cruelty they cast onto this boy. We will say that Naruto was trained by you Jiraiya. We will falsify papers and make him a Genin. Like you said he's very skilled and powerful. He's the Fourth legacy and needs to be told the whole truth and we will not with hold it from him any longer.
As Naruto was in the boiler room looking at the Kyuubi, he approached the cage smiling liked a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
"I'm sorry, I failed you and I will be dead in less than a couple of minutes, but I'm going to release you but you can't attack the Leaf. To make sure I'm putting the last bit of my chakra to bind you to a verbal contract. My chakra will also help you from being control by the sharingan in the future. Thank you for helping me to survive; when you are released you can't harm the Leaf shinobi outside my body.
"Good-bye young cub, no good-bye Naruto, let the spirit world welcome you with opened arms. You are the second human I ever had respect for. "As the Kyuubi was ready to be released.
Naruto reached for the seal on the cage, it was torn and ready to come off. Suddenly two hands grabbed his wrist and all three disappeared from the Kyuubi cell.
"Who are you two? How did you get into the home of the Kyuubi?" Naruto stood there dumbfounded.
"You can't tell who your parents are? You have my features and definitely your mothers attitude" as the blonde young man looked at Naruto with love.
"My, parents? How is this possible you're here trapped with the Kyuubi? How come you're just revealing yourselves now after all these years" Naruto asked questions nonstop.
Suddenly his mother ran straight toward him and clunked him over the head."Shut up and let us help you, listen up carefully first off we love you. You're dying and all answers will be revealed to you if you shut the hell up" as she rolled up her sleeves to make sure he didn't make another peep.
Naruto never knew such fear, not even from Orochimaru.
"We inserted the Kyuubi inside of you to help save the village; you were to look at as being a hero of the village. We are so sorry and so ashamed of what we did to you and what you went through but I believed that you of all people will be able to defeat an ancient evil. We don't his name but we believe he is an Uchiha; he was the one controlling the Kyuubi nearly fifteen years ago. I tried my best to kill this unknown Uchiha but he was truly an amazing ninja with unknown powers. He is the reason your mother passed and why I had to insert the Kyuubi into you, so you can fight him on his level. Naruto the only reason we were able to contact you now is all of your hatred, envy and fear is finally gone. When you made a verbal contract with Kyuubi granting you his power it was like a summoning contract and the two of you became one. The thing with that is he got some of your emotions as well, he doesn't know it but that is why he saved Hinata. Eventually you will have to find a better way on using his power, although your both in synch now eventually it will fade" as Naruto's father looked at him with pride.
"Naruto please protect the village and Hinata I sense that she is precious to you, but mostly have forgiveness for the people who do not know what's truly is in your heart. Let forgiveness be a beacon of hope.
"I can't be that hope, I've done too many bad things. Or rather I won't, I make my own destiny that I will pave the way for myself. Plus I have maybe less than two minutes until I'm dead anyway so my destiny is fulfilled."
"You can change Naruto, Hinata changed your heart and slowly but surely you started to see the difference. You began to love and with that you began to get your humanity back." Kushina looked at her hand as it started to become transparent. "It seems that we're out of time, I wish that I had more time to help you but like you said you make your own destiny." Kushina started to shed some tears on not being able to help her son.
"Wait you never told me your names, I waited all my life to meet you, just tell me your names" as Naruto begged his parents.
"I am Kushina Uzumaki" as she smiled at her son.
"I am Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, if you want to know more about us ask Jiraiya he has plenty of stories or Kakashi" they both came and hugged their son.
"All my life people hated me, treated me like a disease, I was the disdain of their eyes. I tried to earn their respect through hard work and a human heart of love. I let myself get twisted in anger and I became like the ones who despised me. One shy little ninja with the most beautiful eyes showed me so much more, she showed me what was already there 'love'. I won't make it, my body is getting cold and I can hear my heartbeat slowing down. My injuries were too severe usually the Kyuubi would heal me but a human body can only take so much" as Naruto began to cry, something he hadn't done since he left the village. "My biggest regret is that I can't kiss or tell the woman I love to be happy and thank her for pulling me out of this darkness.
Both parents put a hand on Naruto's shoulder and they reappeared next to the Kyuubi in the cage and touch the Nine Tail fox. As his parent's chakra mixed with the Kyuubi's, the mixture of all three poured into Naruto. "We used some of the Kyuubi's chakra to help heal you and we borrowed a little for ourselves. When the time comes again we will be there in your time of need just as we are now." Minato and Kushina body to started to radiate a bright light inside the Kyuubi's prison. "Protect your love ones Naruto, the secret to being a great ninja is being a good man. His father smiled at him as both his parents started to finally fade.
"We love you son and be a great husband to Hinata, we believe in you" as his mother gave him a wink to let him know his future is what he makes it.
Then there was nothing but darkness. No sound but tranquility that made giving in seemed like the right thing to do.
Naruto never felt so at peace, this was the right thing to do. Was just to let go and see where this new adventure will take him.
"I know they want to help me but I don't want their help, this is what I've been waiting for. Death's cold gentle embrace to finally give me peace."
