Don't forget that this is fan fiction, hopefully giving justice to the characters from the Naruto series, which is given to us by the masterful Masashi Kishimoto-sensei. Everything aside from the original characters are created from the wonderful mind of Kishimoto-sensei.
Most of the following unrecognizable are original characters of mine.
Comments, suggestions, criticisms, even just simple messages are welcome, please feel free to message me anytime.
Thanks for reading!
Chapter 45:
Harnessing the energy of all late kages, Hagoromo created a gigantic seal formation around them.
"Summoning Technique"
:*_-+%=o#$*_-+% =o#$%$%$W$LINEBREAK*_-+% =-+$% =o#$*_-+% *=o$
As soon as the rikodo-senin's technique was activated, the ground crumbled and separated moving towards the skies. Kaguya, who had already lost control of her powers as she was being sealed away, couldn't do anything as the nine bijuu eagerly broke free from her body. Now only left with the juubi and her rabbit form, Kaguya struggled to break free from her continuously growing prison, whilst being forced to regurgitate the previous host she had taken over; Madara.
As this was happening, Kaguya's black orb began to deteriorate away, freeing Misaki from having to hold it back. In exhaustion, she fell to the ground on her back, exhaustion taking over her. She didn't even care to watchout for boulders that would take her up towards Kaguya or be crushed by the remnants of her black orb, all that matters was that it was over.
Probably for them too…
They have exhausted all that their options, their strength, everything, even Obito and his mangekyou sharingan capable of dimensional travel are gone, and even if he lived, there is not enough chakra amongst them to travel all of them back. Misaki just laid there while the world shook and levitated and Kaguya struggled, finally and completely at peace for the first time in all her life, she feels her eyes grow heavier and heavier…
In another place, Sakura who was carried to safety by Kakashi waved at Sasuke who sprinted towards them with nine bijuu behind him.
"Sasuke"
"Where is Naruto?"
"He went off himself saying there was something he had to take care of. More importantly, where is Misaki? We need to get farther from here" Sasuke yelled, Kakashi's eyes widened, they were so relieved with their accomplishment that he didn't realize they had already lost sight of the red head.
In another place, Naruto arrived where Misaki has imprisoned Black Zetsu and shot him straight into the sky with his beloved mother, but not before he gave him a piece of his mind.
"You're just a piece of shinobi history I created, a brat like you could never be!"
"Shinobi's history is full of all sorts of shinobis lives and deaths, many shinobi taught me what it means to be a shinobi, the pain and sadness of death, the tragedy of war, and not only that, they taught me the joy of being accepted and being loved, the way they lived, and the way they died, made me who I am, they taught me and trusted me, you're the brat who can't even leave the nest, get over yourself!"
Finally with all things smoothed out, Naruto sprinted towards where the others had gathered.
"Guys!"
"It's over"
"Seal if finally complete, we can finally celebrate" Naruto declared giving them a thumbs up.
"Naruto, we still haven't seen Misaki," Kakashi reminded.
"I thought she would beat me here, don't worry Kakashi she's alright" gave him a grin and a thumbs up. Relaxing, Sakura stretched up her arms in a sigh.
"First thing I want is a hot bath, to wash away all this sweat and grime, wait HOLD ON A SECOND WHAT ABOUT US?! How are we going to be able to get out of this time-space" Sakura panicked.
"OH NO! You're right this is bad, this is bad" it didn't take a second for Naruto to follow her example, and even in the midst of their dilemma.
Just as Kaguya's seal began to outgrow this world….
:*_-+%=o#$*_-+% =o#$%$%$W$LINEBREAK*_-+% =-+$% =o#$*_-+% *=o$
It's cold, Misaki thought as she slowly opened her eyes into the soft bright vision of the moon.
"You've worked hard Misaki" Minato leaned down with a soft smile above his daughter.
Dad? Is this the afterlife, no, his eyes, they're still edo-tensei, that means,
"I'm home" Misaki swallowed in this belief, tears, threatening to fall from her eyes.
"Welcome home" Minato greeted, exhaustion notwithstanding, Misaki leapt up and hugged her reanimated father, finally letting out tears.
"I'm home, Dad I'm home!"
"You're home" if he had arms he would hug his daughter so tight he would never want to let go. Instead he opted to show his embrace by placing his chin on her head as his little girl cried on his chest.
Kushina, they're alive, our children are alive. It's over, they have won and they didn't have to die, it's finally over. The relief was overwhelming. They couldn't even speak, but in that moment, there was no need for words, there was no need for titles, or missions, they were just them; father and daughter. A father and daughter trying to make up for lost and stolen time, a father and daughter who have wanted this moment for so long, a father and daughter who will probably have to say goodbye later.
"Wait, what about the others, Naruto, did they make it back," Misaki pulled away from her father to frantically search the premises the moment she realized she was back in their world and not in the land of the dead.
"It's alright, everybody made it back, the Rikodo-sennin, along with the kages of the past helped us summon you back, along with the bijuu" Minato calmed down her daughter, assisting her to look behind her to see the crowd behind them. Misaki gasped seeing team Kakashi and the giant stature of the bijuu behind them. They made it, they really made it back. Father and daughter watched the rikudo-sennin talk to those who inherited his blessing and his offspring, the tailed beasts, Misaki on the other hand was content to make the most out of her borrowed time with her father. She can feel it, the cold night was beginning to get warmer, the dark night sky began to brighten up. Pretty soon, everything will have to return to their proper places.
"This is the perfect moment, I will release the jutsu, free the five kages and those under the reanimation" the rikodo-senin announced in his reverberating voice, Naruto standing before Kurama began looking frantically around, finally locking eyes with his sister and father.
"Go" Kurama nodded giving his blessing for Naruto to join them, being inside Naruto exposed him to the innermost thoughts and feeling of the shinobi, that is why he understood just how important and rare, no how this chance to be with their father maybe just once in a lifetime. Still, he was considerate to not leave him even at the chance of losing this important moment.
Typical Naruto.
Immediately, Naruto sprinted and jumped to where his family stood.
"Tou-chan" Minato nodded, looking at his children, his little babies he held, remembering how small and cute they were, memorizing each and every feature, how they look and how they behave, he has so much to tell his wife when he finally meets her.
"Listen, I've been meaning to tell you" Minato paused and waited to let the sun shine and the warmth spread out like a blanket upon them.
"Happy Birthday, you both grew up to be splendid young man and woman, Naruto, Misaki" Misaki and Naruto nodded in unison, barely keeping themselves from crying.
"We're an existence outside of the rules, we can't remain in this world forever, it's time to say goodbye" Misaki's tears began pouring once more, when a ray of light surrounded their father. Naruto bowed his head, sad that their time with their father had finally come to an end. Holding Misaki's hand to comfort her in her tears, Misaki returned the gesture by clenching on to his hand like her life depended on it.
"I promise to tell Kushina everything" Minato promised, already planning on what to tell Kushina so he doesn't miss a single detail.
"Tell her not to worry, we're both eating properly, right Misaki" Naruto shook their held hands and Misaki raised her head, wiping her tears away from her eyes to nod and second Naruto's motion.
"Kaede-ka-chan fed me lots, and lots, though sometimes too much" Misaki added.
"I'm not picky and eat lots of different stuff! Like, tonkutsu, miso, shoyu-" Naruto listed down the different ramen selections at Ichiraku.
"He usually only eats ramen" Misaki intervened.
"I don't just eat ramen! And you like sweets too much! Eh, I also try to bath everyday"
"I bathe everyday, you bathe every week"
"So not, uh hehehehe, we also visit the Konoha hot springs every once in a while, only everybody says I only quick dips"
"But you do"
"Do not"
"Do so"
"What else, what else we made lots of friends, all of them are good guys, I was really awful at school, but I never got depressed and had more confidence than anyone else"
"I graduated top of my class early," Misaki boasted.
"Naturally, I obeyed Sandaime hokage and Kakashi-sense, I respect them both, they're right here so you can ask them yourself"
"He also pranked them all the time"
"Hey you were part of some of those pranks!"
"Naruto even painted on your face on the hokage mountain"
"Don't tell him that, but anyway hehehehe oh and those three prohibitions of shinobi? I learned a lot about them from ero-senni."
"He taught him what exactly not to do" Misaki added, this time Naruto nodded with her.
"He was so hopeless when it came to the three prohibitions, but he was an awesome sage and I respect him the most!"
"He taught Naruto and I the rasengan" Misaki supported.
"We just turned 17 today so we really don't know much about alcohol, and girls…I know mom said to find someone like her, but Naruto looked down sadly as did Misaki.
"Anyways! Not everything mom told me about went well, but we're going to do the best we can. I have dreams and I am gonna become an even greater hokage than you touchan! I swear" It got harder looking at Minato when the reanimation technique began to fall apart, but nevertheless Misaki looked forward and Naruto began to break down in tears too.
"So when you see ka-chan you tell her that she doesn't have to worry about us, I will also take care and protect Misaki, so she doesn't have to worry about us!" Naruto assured me.
"We love you, don't forget to tell ka-san!" Misaki called out.
"Got it, I'l make sure to tell her everything!" Minato promised as he ascended and disappeared, finally towards eternal rest with his beloved Kushina. Misaki wrapped her arms around Naruto's torso, as they both shed tears.
Everybody watched the heart breaking separation from the sidelines. Loss, pain and separation are common in the world shionobis, but everything was especially harsh on their family. A loving family torn apart as they were pinned right in the center of the battlefield. Despite that, they swallowed every pain every suffering, every hurdle sent their way and dutifully did what they believe is right, they did as it was in the nindo.
Amongst the onlookers was Sasuke, he stared at the person holding Misaki, the person Misaki had been protecting, the person Misaki would give her life protecting. The longer he watched, the more determined and intent he was for doing things his way. To end this world of hate and pain, to end the world that drove his brother to kill their family, to vanquish the world that is forcing Misaki to put Naruto's life before hers. He will start a revolution, change the world into a world that will no longer bring her pain, or suffering, but to do that, but first he has to eliminate the root of the problem, then get rid of the people representing the ideology of the problems of the past and the people who will stand against him, and most of all he will have to get rid of him. He would protect this new world and keep her and the people he holds dear in it.
Even if it meant taking away the people she loves.
The rest of the past hokages too bid their goodbyes and entrusted their wills and their hopes to the next generation. Even Hashirama and Madara were able to resolve their decades worth of difference leaving the world wiser than they were before. When the past remnants have finally left, a tree sprouted to the ground, serving as a reminder that they were here, and this did happen. All's well that ends well, even the bijuu were all having a good chat, discussing their plans with their brothers and sisters on what to do with their new found freedom. Gyuki even prefers to reunite with Killer Bee. Kurama looked at Naruto who had finally stopped crying, wiping the tears off of his sister's face, and patting her head. For the past seventeen years he had been connected to the fourth hokages children, begrudgingly and intimately, they were the lock and key to his cage, forced to stay inside Naruto. What now that there was nothing keeping him from leaving?
"A little piece of each of your chakra is already within Naruto, in short, Naruto is like a gathering place for you, if you want to discuss something, you can speak to each other through your chakra inside Naruto. Kurama, I'd like you to stay inside Naruto as the overseer of the gathering place, it's no longer a hardship for you anymore is it? Well if you say "so old man, I guess I have no choice" Hagoromo ordered, which Kurama pretended to reluctantly agree, making the others laugh at his phony reply.
"Still not upfront with your feelings, you haven't changed at all Kurama" Kokuo said even the twins laughed at Kurama's bashful side. Misaki took this time to separate herself from Naruto and approach the floating origin of nindo, standing right next to Sasuke.
"I didn't get the chance to thank you, you had no business saving me, but still you did, not only that, you also saved them" Misaki looked up to the old sage.
"I have looked in both heart and minds of Naruto and Sasuke, their feelings and memories about you are a testament to who you are, and all you did, that itself is more than reason enough to save you" Hagoromo said, patting Misaki's head.
"So the great ninja war is finally over now" Sakura said, supporting Kakashi's weight as the older man had barely enough strength to keep himself awake, much less stand up.
"Yes, all there's left is too-" Kakashi didn't continue his eyes shifted to the hundreds and hundreds of cocoons littering across the battlefield, trying to guess which one of these cocoons had his wife in it.
"Naruto and Sasuke…I asked you before, after battling my mother Kaguya, is there any change to the answers you gave me?" Hagoromo asked both reincarnations.
"My answers still the same, and I'm sorry super ji-chan, but there is one thing I feel strongly after fighting Kagyuya. I'm really glad that Uzumaki Kushina is my mom. Kaguya is different from anyone I've ever battled. It's like she didn't have a heart at all" Naruto answered.
"It's said my mother Kaguya started off as the beloved goddess of the people. I do not know for sure chat caused her to transform into a being that came to be called a demon. I suspect something was triggered the moment she devoured the chakra fruit. In any case you are not like my mother. I trust you not to become like her, even will all of the bijuu's chakra within you, now then all that is left is to undo the infinite tsukuyomi." Hagoromo explained.
"How specifically, do you need our powers?" Kurama asked.
"No you're alright, Naruto has the chakra of every bijuu, and Sasuke possesses the rinnegan, if they both weave the sign for the rat simultaneously, the jutsu will be undone." Hagoromo instructed.
"What? That's it? It's so simple?" Kurama asked.
"I researched thoroughly how to undo my mother's infinite tsukiyomi. There's no mistake, now then the rest is up to you, Sasuke" Hagoromo asked Sasuke who had his head hung low.
"That's right, but first I'm executing the current five kage inside their infinite tsukiyomi" every single tissue of everybody's entire being froze solid ice at Sasuke's declaration.
"What did you just say to Sasuke? What about the five kage?" Kakashi was the first to recover from the shock.
"Oh and I'm putting all of you bijuu under my control and eventually get rid of you as well"
"What did you say" Kuruma growledm, raising his claws to attack Sasuke, but with one glance, took control of not only Kurama but every single one of the bijuu. Once he was done with the bijuu he rushed forward to Misaki. Chest to chest, their noses brushing, before Misaki can even react Sasuke placed one arm around her waist and looked her right in the eye.
Misaki had no chance to respond as her blue eyes was slowly replaced to mirror the rinnegan on Sasuke's eye. It all happened in a split second, Sasuke needed this to happen in a split second. A split second slower and Misaki would be out of reach, however fast he was before he can take full control of her, Misaki was able to hold on to his shoulder and mutter a single word
Why?
Sasuke caught her in his arms before her body lost its ability to stand. He pushed the hair away from her face and held her limp body close.
"Soon you'll understand," Sasuke whispered again, he bit his thumb and Aoda arrived in a puff of smoke.
"Your orders Sasuke-sama"
"Take her to the cave" Sasuke carried Misaki and placed her gently inside Aoda's open mouth. Before disappearing once again in a puff of smoke.
"MISAKI" everybody yelled as the red head fell victim to Sasuke's tsukiyomi and was taken away by his snake. But they couldn't approach carelessly when they just watched Sasuke subdue all nine of the bijuu with a single look, and took care of the only person capable of out speeding him.
"He put the bijuu in a genjutsu and with a single glance too" he even took Misaki away. A good tactical advantage, taking out one of the only two people capable of stopping him, but it wasn't all there is, because if it was he would have easily killed her instead of summoning his most powerful beast and instructing him to take her where she will be perfectly safe, tucked away in her slumber whilst he takes care of the rest of what is stopping him from creating his world. Sasuke wasn't doing this to Misaki, he was doing this for her. And he was willing to do everything to accomplish that, including taking away everything she holds dear from her.
Love is a powerful motivator, Hagormo thought.
*_-+% =o#$*_-+%=o(#$%$%$W$FIN*_-+% =o#$*_-+$ % =o#$*_-+% *=o$
Anyone wanna see what kind of Tsukiyomi Sasuke puts Misaki through? No? Too bad because you're still going to see it anyway *evil laughter* so stay tuned for the next chapter.