AN: Happy New year! Heeheeh, I watched the Naruto Marathon on New Year's Eve, and I got to see Naruto kick Kiba's butt again!
Kiba: I almost had him!
ME: Noticed difference between "almost" and NOT!
Kiba: ….Grumble….
Me: Sorry man, I much I as love you, I love Naruto better, not to mention he's cute.
Sakura: What about Sasuke?!"
Kiba; (rolls eyes) Uh hello?
ME: Yeah…he's good looking, but in the time skip, Naruto is MUCH hotter. Sorry
Sakura: NO WAY! Sasuke.
ME: Naruto
Kiba: Sigh….I guess I'll have to do it. Kiki-Chan doesn't own me, Sakura, Naruto or anybody else.
Me: NARUTO!
Sakura: SASUKE!
Kiba: Well this is going to take a while….. (sweatdrop).
Akamaru: woof.
Together Chapter Nine
The ninja way:
We are Fighting Dreamers and a family!
The Rookie Nine, Team Guy, and the sand siblings stood shoulder to shoulder, and glared at the former Leaf ninja. Orochimaru licked his lips like the snake he was, then said,
"So Sasuke, I see that you are no longer wearing your belt and are instead wearing your leaf head band. Does this mean you no longer wish to be my student?"
It was true. Sasuke had gotten rid of his purple belt. (Naruto drew Orochimaru's face on it then gave it to Akamaru to chew on then Naruto and Sakura gave it a proper burning. Last but not least, Akamaru relived himself on it to finish it off. ) Not only that, Sasuke was wearing a long sleeved, dark blue shirt with the Uchiha symbol on the back.
"Yeah, you could say that unlike you, I saw the errors of my ways." Sasuke glanced over to look at Naruto who was smirking.
"Too bad for you Sasuke, it's too late to repent. You bare my mark. You are my next great body. You are mine." Orochimaru hissed.
"Oh yeah? Well, you'll have to go through all of us first before you get anywhere near him!" growled Naruto, him and the others took a step forward, weapons and eyes glaring. Inside, Sasuke was crying. He mentally kicked himself for everything he did. He knew he didn't deserve his friends. He drew his sword, and pointed it at him. When Orochimaru saw the sword his eyes got wide.
"That's…."
"That's right Orochimaru. This is Kakashi's sword. He had it repaired then gave it to me. He said that it was time for me move forward. I broke the sword that you gave me. (Naruto had a hand in breaking the sword as well; he held it as Sasuke broke it then Naruto got him to fire justu it for the heck of it then made a target that looked like Kabuto and threw the pieces at it). I have no more bonds with you."
The snake master smiled and said,
"How wrong you are Sasuke…." Orochimaru's eyes then got big, and then he jumped forward. When he did, everyone braced and waited for him to come to them. At the last second, everyone jumped expect for Sasuke and Gaara. Sasuke did his fire justu, while Gaara began to do his desert sand attack. Orochimaru dodged it, and went right for Sasuke's throat. But just as he neared him, the snake found he couldn't move.
"I wouldn't forget about the rest of us so easily." Glared Shikamaru. Orochimaru was able to turn enough to see that Shikamaru had stopped him in his tracks. Thanks to the rain, there were more than enough shadows.
"Oh, you think that's enough to stop me?" he snickered. Somehow, Orochimaru twisted himself out of Shikamaru's bind and spun extremely fact, shooting kunai in all directions. Everyone jumped, and then Temari used her fan to blow the kunai away from them. When she did that, Akamaru and Kiba came charging right behind her wind doing fang over fang. He dodged just in time to met Naruto's Rasengan. When he cut it, he found it was just a clone. Orochimaru jumped out of the way of TenTen's weapons into a tree. The rain had lightened up enough for everyone to clearly see the wicked smile on his face.
"What? Is that the best you've got?"
"You've seen nothin' yet."
Orochimaru turned to see Hinata and Neji glaring at him with their byakagan. Then the two jumped at him, Hinata Shugohakke Rokujūyon Shō, Neji Hakke Kuushou. Orochimaru was able to hold off some of the two cousin's attacks, but he still got winded. Sakura and Ino jumped in, and both used the Mystical Palm Technique, cutting him across the lower part of his body. Then they jumped clear of him, Orochimaru was able to land on his feet in time to meet Rock Lee's foot. Even after getting kicked around by Lee, he was still able to move fast enough to get away from Lee and hit him into Neji.
"Not bad for children." He panted looking around.
"Give it up Orochimaru." Yelled Naruto.
"Not only are you out numbered, you're out of time! You're body is already starting to decompose!"
"I wouldn't get too confidante yet boy. I still have many tricks up my sleeves."
"And so do we." Growled Naruto with a large foxy grin plastered on his face.
At that moment, the real Naruto, along with Sasuke, came charging at him, doing Rasengan and Chordi. The sanin jumped out of the way while Sasuke's and Naruto's attacks caused a very large crater right were the ninja had been the tree now was splinters flying everywhere.
The one word that went through everyone's mind was simply this:
"BAKAS!" as they got out the line of fire from the remnants of the tree they had just destroyed.
The two teammates turned to see Orochimaru on the ground, pleased to see splinters sticking out of his body. The two then jumped down in front of him, Sasuke drew his sword, Naruto his kunai. The two stopped just in front of him.
"So, ready to give up yet?"
They just stood there looking the rotten ninja, but then; he glared at them in a way that shook everyone right down to their bones.
"You think that you have severed all ties to me Sasuke? Foolish boy, did you forget about the curse mark on your neck?"
It was Sasuke's turn to smirk.
"I will never use it again. It is sealed."
You think that a simple seal CAN STOP ME?!" he yelled, then did a number of hand signs. Suddenly, Sasuke felt a burning in his neck.
"No, it c-can't be…" thought Sasuke desperately.
"Sasuke!" yelled out Sakura. She jumped down and stood behind him. Sasuke's eyes got wide then he went down on his knees, screaming in agony, gripping his curse mark.
"SASUKE!" His two teammates crouched down beside him. Naruto glared at Orochimaru and said,
"CUT IT OUT!"
"I had a feeling that you would betray me Sasuke, just like you betrayed your friends. So, I made sure when the time came, I could make your mark go into the second stage, and take your body."
"OVER MY DEAD BODY!" yelled Naruto getting up and in front of Sasuke.
"Naruto…no…don't…"
"No Sasuke."
Just then in the shadows, Tsunade and the sensei plus Yamato where hidden in the trees watching them.
"Should we…go help them?"
"No."
"Kakashi…."
"This is their fight. Their right. It is time that they stand on their own feet."
"But…."
"Trust me. I know they can."
Tsunade only nodded and said,
"He's right. This is their fight not ours. Let them prove themselves to themselves. Only then will they ever truly meet their potential."
"Fools you have no idea what really pain is…nor what true power is…"said Orochimaru walking slowly around Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto his face dark.
"No idea what hell is…" At that moment, the curse mark went into the first stage, he screamed out in even more pain. He just couldn't fight it back.
Naruto looked at his friend then Orochimaru, and then charged full power at him, his eyes red.
"You have no idea what hell is! I have the nine-tailed demon inside me! But I still fight, because I never go back on my word! That's my nindo!"
Everyone expect Sasuke, Hinata, Temari, Gaara, and Sakura were surprised when they heard Naruto state that he had the nine-tailed fox sealed inside him.
"Of course! That's what he meant when he said that he had the real thing sealed inside him back when we caught Gaara trying to get Lee!" thought Shikamaru finally understanding what his friend stated what seemed like a lifetime ago.
"Well Naruto, you may not mind having a demon but what about your friends?" he said glancing at them. And what Orochimaru saw actually made him truly scared. Hinata and Sakura glared at the ninja ((hey if Sakura AND Hinata glared at me I would be terrified too!))
"You think that we, I would abandon Naruto just because of that?!" yelled Hinata.
"I already know! He told me! But it didn't make me love him any less! No matter what, I shall always stand behind Naruto for he IS going to be the next Hokage Orochimaru and…He is stronger than you will ever be." Stated Hinata proudly. Neji smiled at his cousin then stood beside her and said,
"Couldn't of said anything better myself. Naruto is my rival and fellow shinobi. I will never falter. I am proud to fight beside him."
"The only monster around here Orochimaru," growled Shino,
"IS YOU."
"Right. You are not going to win." Said Rock Lee stepping forward to help Naruto pick up and support Sasuke.
"Fools.You all have just sealed you fates!" Orochimaru did another hand sign, which made the curse marks glow red, bringing Sasuke crashing down on his knees in pain again.
"Just go…" muttered Sasuke. His vision was blurry he was in so much pain. Lee and Naruto let the Uchiha down slowly and Naruto said to him.
"I will never leave you Sasuke. You are my brother. Shut the stupid talk and leave this to us." Naruto and Lee straightened up and glared at the Snake master with utter loathing. Orochimaru then yelled and went to get Sasuke. Sasuke eyes closed waiting for a blow but it never came. He instead heard yelling and weapons clashing.
Sasuke looked up to see everyone fighting. Even though his vision was blurry he could see everyone…Rock Lee fighting using the primary lotus, Neji using his rotation, Hinata using gentle fist, Sakura and Ino both slashing kunai, Choji his fists, Shikamaru backing Choji up with his shadow sewing, TenTen using her own swords, Shino using his bugs and kunai, Kiba and Akamaru slashing out, Gaara attacking with his sand, Temari her fan, Kankuro his puppets, and Naruto…Naruto was using his fox chakra even though he knew what was going to happen if it got out of control….and they were all fighting for him. Slowly, he panted as he reached for Kakashi's sword and gripped it tight. The curse mark was already starting to slowly go into the second stage. As his vision got even more blurry, he saw Naruto take a hit….
"Naruto…"
Then Sakura and Ino got smacked…
"Sakura…(cough)….Ino…"
Was this it for him? Was Orochimaru really going to win? Was all the training, all the missions, all for not? Was he never going to avenge his family? Then he heard Kakashi's words echo in his head…
"Live in the present Sasuke, the present can be more important than the past…"
Sasuke then remembered his father…
"Do not follow in your brother's foot steps Sasuke…"
"You're like my brother Sasuke…."
He looked up to see Orochimaru blow Choji and Shikamaru to the side then cut down Sai's tigers. Everyone else was already on the ground…
"No…."
Orochimaru then jumped up to Sakura, sword raised…
"I won't lose this family too they're my family now too!"
Sasuke somehow, he didn't how, nor would he ever figure out how, but he gathered his chakra and pushed back the curse mark, which was in the second stage. He roared out, picked up his sword, then speed in front of Sakura and blocked Orochimaru's deathly blow.
"I lost one family, I WON'T LOSE ANOTHER ONE!"
Orochimaru now knew what real fear tasted like. Sasuke's Sharingan. eyes glared death at him. Sasuke had not only pushed back the curse mark, but as Sasuke defied him, it slowly started to…fade.
"Look at the curse mark!" cried Anko in total shock.
"It's fading!"
"S-Sasuke…" cried Sakura.
Sasuke then pushed Orochimaru back and started to duel furiously with him.
Naruto slowly got up and so did Sakura. Naruto turned to the others and told them to get back. They didn't argue.
"Naruto…" whispered Hinata.
"It'll be okay Hinata. I promise. I always keep my word." He said looking at her. She nodded then He and Sakura charged forward, squad seven taking turns slashing at the former Leaf ninja.
The three had totally calm looks on their faces and were working as one, as a team, fighting Orochimaru back.
Kakashi was crying quietly, as he watched them, tears falling slowly. Proud that they had finally reached what he had stressed all along. He never felt, nor would he ever feel prouder then what he did right there and then.
Suddenly though, Orochimaru gathered chakra in his hands, and blasted Sakura and Sasuke back, then grabbed Naruto and put him in a head lock. The two fell back a few feet, and both spat up a little bit of blood.
Both could only watch as Naruto struggled with Orochimaru.
"Sorry to disappoint you Naruto it seems this is the end for you…"
"Never." Growled Naruto.
"It's so sad, you are so much like your father the fourth…." He gripped Naruto even harder making him cough and gasp for air. Gaara, Choji, Shikamaru, Lee, and Neji all went to charge but Naruto yelled out to them to stay right where they were.
"Death must be so amazing, Naruto…."
"Won't be for you bastard…" he growled at the snake.
"Silly boy…you have no hope. The fourth could have probably been able to fight me…"
Naruto gasped and out of no where, Kakashi's voice came into his head…
"It's because I have great expectations for you as a shinobi, Naruto…I believe that only you can surpass the fourth hokage…"
Slowly, unnoticed by Orochimaru, Naruto's hand started to glow, his eyes red…
"No, he probably couldn't, BUT I CAN!" yelled Naruto, as he elbowed Orochimaru then turned and jumped forward, and yelled,
"THIS IS MY HOME AND YOU WILL NEVER HAVE IT!"
"WIND RELEASE RESEGAN!"
Orochimaru's eyes widen in terror as Naruto's ultimate technique ((YES HE MASTEREDIT!)) came forward in all its power towards him. Orochimaru screamed, and just as Naruto's wind element Rasengan came in contact with his heart, Orochimaru's sword pieced Naruto right above his stomach through his right lung, energy flowing from the blade into him.
"NARUTO!" screamed Sasuke, Sakura, and Hinata in horror as Orochimaru's body became dust, then Naruto's body slowly fall forward onto the ground. He didn't get up.
------
"No…" said Tsunade slowly, seeing images of Dan and her brother in her mind.
Hinata just stood there for a moment, Shino and Kiba where holding on to her to stop her from charging forward. Now they where holding for comfort. Not for her, for them. Rock Lee was holding a teary eyed TenTen, Neji was so over come all he could do was look at Naruto with disbelief. Ino was weeping into Sai's chest while he cried as well, Choji just stated down at the ground not sure what to do. Temari placed her shaking hand on a teary eyed Shikamaru's shoulder, Kankuro was just in total disbelief as well, and Gaara, Gaara was crying just like the rest of them.
"N-naruto…, NARUTO!" the Hyuga screamed. Sasuke and Sakura both got up and turned him over. Blood soaked his orange and black shirt, his eyes shut, and his face peaceful. Sasuke and Sakura let their tears flowed freely.
"NO" cried Sasuke. Sakura couldn't say anything. Then she blew.
"NARUTO YOU BAKA! WAKE UP! Please…." Sakura leaned over into Sasuke and he hugged her tightly, crying into her hair. Hinata shook her head, and then she ran to him. Shino and Kiba willing let her. Akamaru started to howl.
She threw herself down on her knees, crying, she buried her face into his chest.
"Naruto you lied! You said everything would be alright! You promised! P-p-please Naruto…please…" she cried losing all control.
For what he swore was only a minute, Naruto saw nothing but light and heard a deep voice say,
"I am proud of you. You did what I never did. I am proud of you my son. Know that I am proud of you Naruto."
Then just like that, Naruto felt conscious again, and heard crying, and felt a warm body pressed against him. He also felt, slowly but surely, the fox's chakra healing his wounds.
"Wake up you dobe. They're worried about you."
Naruto slowly opened his eyes to see Hinata's indigo hair, and beside him, a crying Sasuke holding a crying Sakura.
"Guys?"
Hinata looked up in total and complete shock. So did Sasuke, Sakura, and everyone else for that matter.
"What's with all the tears? I beat him didn't I?" he said grinning his famous smile that Hinata had fallen in love with.
"NARUTO!" yelled Sakura pulling him into a hug. Hinata slipped back an inch or so that his team could hold him.
"You hopeless loser." Said Sasuke shaking his head and pulling the two into a hug.
For a few minutes, the three embraced each other. Once they pulled away, Sakura smiled at him, and then she hit BOTH of her teammates on the head."
"OW WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!" yelled the two together.
"YOU TWO ARE GOING TO BE THE END OF ME YOU KNOW THAT?!"
Hinata couldn't help but laugh. Naruto turned to her and then hugged her.
"I kept my promise didn't I?" he whispered quietly.
"You always do." She whispered back softly.
Everyone else too was beside themselves. Lee, Kiba, Akamaru, Choji, Ino even Sai were jumping around out of pure joy and relief. Neji, Gaara, and Shikamaru simply wiped their tears away and smiled at the knuckled-headed ninja.
As one, the older ninja sighed relief, and laughed at Sakura.
Naruto assisted by Hinata slowly stood up to see everyone. He smiled at Sasuke who, smiled slowly back.
As TenTen leaned her cheek on Lee's, Naruto suddenly remembered….
"Hey, Sasuke, we won right? Shikamaru, Sai, Lee…."
The other boys looked at him for a moment then looks of understanding came on each of their face, then sly grins.
"Oh yeah…" grinned Sasuke turning to look right at Sakura. Sakura raised her eyebrows at him and said,
"Okay, what are you guys up to?"
The girls looked at their respective boys.
Shikamaru groaned, Lee smirked, and so did Sasuke, Naruto and Sai.
"You see, we made a little promise to do something if we all got though this.
Hinata narrowed her eyes slightly and said,
"And what would that be?"
Sasuke and Naruto glanced at each other then back to Hinata and Sakura.
Naruto then smiled and whispered,
"This."
He quickly before Hinata could even register what Naruto said; he pressed his lips against Hinata's. Sasuke smirked as he locked his lips with Sakura's, he could only imagine the look on her face. Sai looked cheekily at Ino, dipped her a little and kissed her. Lee just simply pulled TenTen forward a little and kissed her; while Temari went to say something not noticing any one else, Shikamaru grumbled something thing that sounded like "Troublesome" though with a smile, and took Temari for a loop as he locked his lips with hers.
Instantly, Kiba cheered Naruto and Hinata on, as Hinata jumped into Naruto arms holding each other closer, while Neji cocked an eyebrow though there was a small smile on his lips as he looked at his cousin. Kakashi was laughing at not only Naruto and Hinata but also Sakura and Sasuke as the two held each other very close as well. Asuma was laughing and shaking his head at Shikamaru's somewhat goofy smile and Ino's giggling. Choji was cheering on Shikamaru and Naruto while Temari's brothers simply smiled at their sister, And Guy was cheering on Lee and TenTen saying something about their youthful vigor, (TenTen made a mental note to kill Guy later). Anko and Yamato just laughed at the lot of them. Jiraiya was smiling and wrapped his arm around Tsunade's shoulder and whispered something into her ear that made her smile even wider. While Kurenai smiled and thought,
"Hinata, you finally got your wish."
She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder and looked to see Asuma smiling at her. She smiled back then looked back to their students. Finally after a large amount of uncounted minutes, the couples broke apart, smiling into one another's eyes.
The older shinobi jumped down then approached their students. Kakashi stood just stood there for a moment at his three pupils. Then said with a smile hidden behind his mask said,
"Took you three long enough!"
Everyone laughed. Then Tsunade got a business like look on her face and cleared her throat.
"Naruto, please come here."
He glance at Hinata, Sasuke, and Sakura who all nodded, he then went and stood in front of the fifth hokage. Tsunade looked at him for a moment, and then…she whacked him on the head.
"OW WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!"
"For calling me granny-sama." She grinned.
Naruto glared at her then Tsunade got serious.
"Naruto, you and your teammates have proven that you are more than capable to protect and care for this village. I am proud of you all for what you all have done today." She looked at Sasuke then said,
"More than one dream has come and," she grinned, "Will come true today."
Sakura eyes grew big. Did Tsunade mean that…?
"Now, I can't make it official right away but…Naruto Uzumaki as soon as everything is finished, I wish to make you my replacement for the position of Hokage."
Naruto just started at her with a total surprised look on his face but when in sunk in, his face exploded with a humongous smile then ran around like he always did and even grabbed Hinata and twirled her around.
Tsunade rolled her eyes and said,
"Man where does that guy get all that energy?!"
Kakashi smiled and said as Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura hugged again,
"Who knows? All I know that our number one hyper active, knuckle headed ninja just became the greatest ninja before our very eyes."
Jiraiya smiled and thought,
"Just as you hoped Yondaime, he will be known as a hero."
All together watching ball drop…
3,
2,
1,
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!!
………
Naruto: Okayyyy….now what?
ME: (slaps forehead and sighs) We party baka.
Naruto: OH! Why didn't ya say so?! Let's go!
(Runs around with Lee acting like the nut jobs they truly are)
Me/Sakura: (sweatdrops).
Kakashi: Well, you can never say they don't keep things instering…(Naruto and Lee where trying to get Neji to wear a stupid hat and he wasn't too willing)
Me: I guess….
(Now they were karoking "All star" by Smash Mouth
Sasuke: Speaking of losers….
Me: OH NO! Heaven help me, WHY did I get that dumb machine?
(Akamaru barking along, while Tsunade smacks Jiraiya on the head for some reason, Sakura and Ino are teasing Kakashi with his book, Kiba, Guy, Lee and Choji join in singing while Shikamaru, Sasuke, the other sensei and the sand siblings just watch shaking their heads.)
Me: This is the last time I throw a party at my place. (Then goes and joins in the singing).
"Hey now you're rock star….!"
Giggles.
I was up till about 3:00 a.m writing this, dunno why, my writer's block became unblocked.
Happy New Year everybody!
LoLove, Kiki
P.S- At least two more chapter shall come so don't worry! Oh and I'm not too sure how Kakashi told Sasuke to move on so I just winged that part. And please let me know how I did with the fight part! (Good, bad, okay…yeah know) Have fun!