AN: Hello everyone, and welcome back. This chapter has been in the making for a little while, but i hope everyone likes it.

Disclaimer: I dont own Naruto

Chapter 5

Naruto led Hinata down the hallway by her hand, towards the medical wing of the stadium to visit her cousin like he promised, though his mind was else ware.

'59 minutes… 59 minutes until I expose myself to the world.'

"Naruto-kun? W-what's wrong?"

Naruto stopped walking and put on his best smile as he turned to his Hyuga princess.

"What do you mean Hinata-chan?"

The girl withdrew her hand from his. "I can tell when something is bothering you Naruto-kun. Your smile might fool everyone else, but I can tell when its fake and when its genuine."

Naruto sighed and took her hands in his. "Nothing ever gets past you does it Hina-hime?"

Hinata blushed at her new endearing nickname. "No it doesn't…"

Naruto got suddenly serious. "I want you to promise me something Hinata. I need you to promise me, for my own sanity."

Hinata gulped, she had never seen Naruto so serious in his life. "Ok, I'll p-promise."

Naruto sighed. "During my match I am going to flush out a very large threat to the village, and I want you to go into hiding. I want you to stay somewhere safe, the safest place you can think of, and don't leave that spot with anyone until I come find you."

Naruto could see fear and confusion spill across Hinata's eyes. "B-but, why?"

The blonde shook his head. "Something very bad is about to happen in Konoha, and I can't let you get hurt, please, just get anyone you can and stay somewhere safe and out of sight."

Hinata wanted to argue the fact that she was a Kunoichi, and far from helpless, but she knew that if he had to he would take her somewhere with his Kamui if she wouldn't agree. She knew that he wanted her to make the decision herself, though to him there was only one decision to be made.

"Ok Naruto-kun, as soon as Neji-niisan is ready to move I'll take him and hide somewhere safe."

Naruto let out a sigh of relief and pulled her close into a warm kiss. It wasn't passionate or long, but it conveyed his feelings of gratitude effectively. "Thank you. Now, let's go see your cousin."

Hinata could only nod.

Naruto couldn't believe his eyes, which was a big deal to a person who was the reincarnation of a god. In front of him, on his hands and knees was one of the most prideful men in the world, and he was begging for forgiveness. Naruto stole a glance to the cot Neji had been in only moments before and found a scroll that looked like it had been kept in a drawer for the better part of a decade, and the blonde could only assume that was the cause for the strange behavior.

"Gomen Hinata-sama. I have been a terrible person to you, blaming you for something you had as much control over as I did. I have failed you as both a cousin and a member of the Hyuga branch family. Can you ever forgive me of my past sins?"

A tear fell from Hinata's eyes and she wrapped her arms around her cousin, pulling him in for a tight hug.

"O-of course I can Neji-niisan, what is family for if not forgiveness?"

Naruto smiled at the touching scene before him, but he had a lot of work to do in the 45 minutes remaining.

"I'll let you two have a moment alone, I'll be right outside the door."

He didn't wait for a response before he went outside the door and closed it behind him. He put his hands in a familiar hand seal and four Kage Bunshins came into being.

"I want you four to go to each of the four corners of the village, henged as civilians. Once there secure the area of any suspicious individuals and create more Kage Bunshins, and repeat the process. I'll lock down the stadium but I'll leave the rest of the village and the immediate vicinity to you. Understood?"

There were four 'hai's' and they all warped to their destinations via Kamui.

Naruto looked out the window up at the sky. "Today is the day I show the world that their actions have consequences. I will have to spill blood to achieve peace, but those who seek clemency shall be given it. Today is the day of reckoning."

His musings were interrupted by the sliding of a door, and Hinata came walking out wiping a tear from her eye.

"Feel better?"

Hinata nodded with a smile and walked over to Naruto, hugging his torso. "Better than ever…"

Naruto smiled and kissed the top of her head. "I'm glad. Hinata, I've been meaning to ask you something important."

She lifted her head off his shoulder and took a step back, not sure what to expect after his last question. "W-what is it?"

Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Well, since I have to leave the village and everything after this, I wanted to talk about us, specifically what we're going to do once it's time for me to leave."

Hinata let out a sad sigh as her eyes began to tear up. Ever since Naruto explained his mission of peace would cause him to have to travel around the world she expected something like this would happen. "Just… just promise me that you won't forget about m-me…"

Naruto looked confused. "What? You thought I was… No! Oh no…" Naruto grabbed Hinata and brought her in for a fierce hug. "Don't be silly, I was wondering if you would come with me."

Her eyes shot open and she blinked several times before she started giggling. "You want me to go with you? J-just the two of us… w-without anyone to interrupt us… a-alone…"

Naruto had a concerned smile on his face, not sure of what to make of Hinata's giggling. "Well… I know it's a lot to think about, having to leave your family for an indefinite period of time, though we would visit every now and then. Just think about it, ok?"

Hinata nodded, she hadn't even thought about leaving behind all her friends and family, especially now that her family was finally starting to come together.

"O-ok Naruto-kun, I'll think about it…"

The blonde smiled and gave her another quick kiss on the top of her head. "That's all I ask for, and I'll support any decision you come to. Now, be safe."

He disappeared in a swirl, leaving no trace that he was ever there.

Naruto materialized outside the hot springs located on the far side of the village.

"So, he isn't even watching the exams?"

The blonde looked around and saw a large man creeping behind a bush, a position that had an excellent vantage point to spy on whomever was unlucky enough to be in the hot springs at this time.

Naruto walked up behind the man unnoticed. "Jiraiya of the Sannin I presume."

The man flinched, but recognized that it was a male voice. He stood up slowly and began to turn to face Naruto.

"Look buddy, I don't have time to babysit any brats today so why don't you run along and-"

The old Sannin stopped and froze mid-sentence when he looked into the eyes of Naruto and saw blue fade to purple with rings spreading out from the middle of the eyes.

"Come now Jiraiya, don't be rude. We have much to discuss."

Genma stood in the middle of the arena once again. Unlike the first round, every single seat was taken, and there were even those who were sitting on railings or on stairs just to get a good seat.

"Citizens and Shinobi of Konoha and beyond, welcome to the second round of the Chunin exams!"

The crowd went ballistic, yelling and cheering at the top of their lungs. It was a good while before it was actually quite enough for Genma to start talking again.

"The first match will be Uzumaki Naruto vs Uchiha Sasuke, will those two competitors please come down to the arena floor so the match can proceed?"

In a swirl of leaves Sasuke appeared with a smile on his face, anticipating his rematch. What happened next no one could explain. Naruto seemed to just materialize from the arena floor, as if he were transparent and faded through the floor like a ghost.

Everyone blinked several times, trying to piece together what they just saw.

Sasuke shook his head. "Oi, Naruto. What kind of Shunshin was that?"

Naruto just stared at him without a hint of interest. "All will be explained soon Sasuke. Before we begin, I would just like to apologize to you Sasuke, you don't deserve what is going to happen. Proctor, has the match started yet?"

Genma adjusted the senbon is his mouth before lowering his hand. "HAJIME!"

Naruto assumed his same Taijutsu stance as earlier, and Sasuke flared his Sharingan to life. This time Sasuke wasn't going to wait for Naruto to get ready, he charged the blonde as fast as he could. Sasuke jumped and went for a roundhouse kick with his right leg against Naruto's head, and just as he expected Naruto blocked it by raising his arm.

'Gotchya.'

Sasuke dropped to the floor and kicked through Naruto's guard with his other leg, catching the blonde on the jaw and sending him skidding across the stadium floor.

Naruto wiped a bit of blood from his mouth and grinned. "Good kick Sasuke, but don't get cocky just yet!"

Sasuke smirked and charged again. They traded blow after blow, each getting more than a few good hits in. They separated before long, and looked across the stadium at each other panting slightly. Naruto brought his hands up into his signature hand seal.

"Well, I guess it's time to get serious. Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Multiple Shadow Clone Technique)!"

Sasuke smirked when over two dozen Narutos popped into existence. He eyed them carefully, and after some silent command they all charged.

Sasuke's instincts made him duck, and he caught the fist of a shadow clone and threw him forward into another clone just in front of him. Sasuke jumped up and let several shadow clones collide with each other on the spot where he just was.

The Uchiha took a deep breath. "Katon Hosenka no Jutsu (Fire Style: Art of the Phoenix Flower)!"

A dozen fireballs were sent towards the mass of shadow clones and ignited them all in a vicious inferno. Sasuke landed on the floor of the stadium panting harder than before, and was pleased to see Naruto, the real Naruto, just as winded. They charged at each other again and began exchanging even more blows.

Up in the stands people were staring wide-eyed, especially the contestants themselves.

Shino and Shikamaru walked up to Hinata who was standing at the railing, clutching the metal hard enough to turn her knuckles white. Shino put a hand on Hinata's shoulder to get her attention, and she nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt the contact.

"Hinata, what are you so nervous for?"

Hinata shook her head. "G-gomen, I'm just n-nervous for my fight is a-all."

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes, knowing there was something she wasn't telling. He shook his head and dismissed it. "Troublesome. Oi, Hinata, do you know what's going on down there? I can't seem to make heads or tails of it. I mean, it's obvious Naruto is up to something, but I just can't understand what he's doing."

Hinata shook head. "Gomen Shikamaru-san, but I can't say. It is Naruto-kun's place to tell everyone, but I think I know what his plan is."

Shikamaru put his hands on the railing and looked down at the match below. "Well that's all fine and dandy, but they're just standing there doing nothing, and it looks like Sasuke is sweating up a storm."

Hinata turned away from him so she wouldn't have to answer any more questions.

Sasuke was finally gaining the upper hand. The fight had seemed like an eternity, and his limbs burned. His arms felt like they weighed several hundred pounds, and he was gasping for air. Naruto was in worse shape, and his exhaustion gave Sasuke the opening he needed to finish it. Just as he went in for the finishing strike Naruto faded away like a specter.

Sasuke collapsed on the ground gasping for air, slowly making his way up on shaking legs. He looked across the stadium floor to see Naruto, sitting there with his arms crossed and a bored look. The worst part was that he didn't look winded in the least bit, in fact it looked like he had just been standing there the whole time.

"Wha… What did you… do… to me?"

Naruto sighed. "I already apologized Sasuke, you really don't deserve to be used this way, but there was no other choice."

Sasuke glared at his opponent. "What do you mean… no other choice?"

Naruto gestured to the audience. "You have just been introduced to Inton (Yin Release), the origin of all Genjutsu, used on the imagination to create form out of nothingness. To you, we have been fighting a vicious battle, one that would have happened had we fought no more than two weeks ago. To the rest of the world, we have been standing there while your body expended energy to supply that imaginary battle that you envisioned."

There were gasps throughout the crowd, especially from the Shinobi, who actually understood the full implications of what Naruto just said. According to him, he had full control over one of the most dangerous powers in existence, control over each of the senses to a point where the mind believed it was reality, and reacted as such. Naruto wasn't finished though, and he flashed through several hand signs.

"Mokuton Hijutsu: Jukai Kotan (Wood Release Secret Technique: Birth of Dense Woodland)!"

Sasuke was helpless against the massive tree that sprouted under him and gripped him in its branches as it grew upwards. Several Shinobi were on their feet, ready to interfere if Naruto decided to go overboard, but soon the tree stopped growing, and Sasuke was merely suspended in the air as Naruto turned to face the crowd.

Up in the Kage booth a certain older Hokage was smirking under his hat. 'This should definitely be interesting. I hope you handle this with care Naruto.'

"To answer your questions, yes, I am able to wield the famous Mokuton bloodline of the Shodiame Hokage of the Senju clan. For your next question, no, I am not a Senju, I was born and raised an Uzumaki. The answer to the riddle takes me 11 days in the past, when I was captured and tortured by the traitorous Sannin Orochimaru."

There were more gasps from the crowd, and there were several people glaring at Naruto, quick to associate the resident Jinchuriki with the largest traitor to the leaf since Madara.

"He forcibly experimented on me and forced foreign chakra into my system. This wasn't ordinary chakra, no, it was the physical manifestations of portions of the Biju, specifically numbers one through eight. Anyone else would have been ripped apart from that much raw volatile chakra forced into their body, but due to my Uzumaki heritage and my own status as the host to the Kyubi no Kitsune, I was able to survive."

Naruto heard several shouts and insults thrown his way, but he ignored them and pushed on, he needed to get this out. Meanwhile the younger generation were still in shock from hearing that the young blonde was the host of the being that almost destroyed Konoha nearly thirteen years back.

"Yes, for those of you who didn't know, as a newborn I was chosen by the Yondaime to house the Kyubi, and he gave his life to seal the Kyubi deep inside me where it would be forever imprisoned. There he would have stayed, trapped forever until I died, but Orochimaru tampered with the seal, and the Kyubi changed when parts of the other Biju were introduced. He changed into the Jubi, the creator of this world and the source of all chakra!"

At this point there were people looking around in horror, here the local pariah just informed them that he now held a being of even greater power than the Kyubi, and he was granted powers beyond what anyone could ever hope for.

"I am not the first person to hold such an honor, no, there was one other before me. His name was Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, better known as the Rikudo Sennin or the Sage of the Six Paths, the father of all jutsu and the savior of this world. I was chosen by the Jubi to be his reincarnation, the Nidaime Rikudo Sennin, the second coming of the Sage of the Six Paths!"

To enforce his point he opened his eyes wide and channeled chakra into them. People gasped as they watched his eyes turn a dark violet color and rings spread out across his entire eye. Finally six tomoe appeared, three on each of the rings closest to the middle.

Naruto pulled out a kunai and cut his palm. Everyone, even Sasuke, watched in fascination as a black substance oozed out of the wound and began forming into a shakujō, a Buddhist ringed staff used for prayer.

"I have accepted Hagoromo's mission as my own, and as such I will strive to create a world where peace and understanding are used instead of war and pain, or I will die trying."

Naruto looked up to the observation balcony and locked eyes with Hinata, who had a small smile on her face. Naruto smiled back and nodded. Hinata nodded back and turned around to do as Naruto requested and find a place to hide until he came to get her.

Naruto looked up to the Kage box, and caught Hiruzen's gaze. Once again Naruto nodded and the aged Hokage nodded back. Suddenly the Kage box erupted in a massive explosion just as feathers began raining down on the entire crowd in the stadium.

"So it's begun."

Naruto created a Kage Bunshin. "Take Sasuke and put him somewhere safe, he is too exhausted to be of any help."

The clone nodded and used his chakra to release Sasuke from his bindings, and despite his protests, ran off with him. Naruto slammed his staff into the ground so it stood upright and sat down cross legged, closing his eyes and spreading out his chakra, releasing each person from the Genjutsu cast on the stadium. He used his senses to pick out which were enemies and which were friendly Shinobi, and those who were enemies he trapped in the illusion of Inton.

As soon as the stadium was cleared Naruto stood back up and grasped his staff, and it was at this point Kakashi landed right behind Naruto. Before he could speak Naruto addressed him.

"I will answer your questions later Hatake, right now I have a Hokage so save. I need you to help escort civilians to the shelters while my clones take care of the invasion."

All around the stadium explosions could be heard as fighting broke out all around the village. Several people began screaming in panic while some of the Shinobi tried to direct them to the bunkers where they could take shelter.

Kakashi opened his mouth to speak but Naruto already jumped up and away, towards the room of a large building where a large purple barrier was forming.

Outside the western wall an Oto Jounin Shinobi was impatiently waiting on confirmation of the summon that Orochimaru had ordered.

"What is taking so damn long!?"

Several of the Suna Chunin huddled around a large sealing matrix flinched, and the leader of the Suna team slowly lifted his head. "M-my apologies, but this summon more chakra than we originally thought it would. Please… just give us a little more time!"

The Oto Jounin narrowed his eyes at the man. "You are already running on borrowed time. Lord Orochimaru doesn't take kindly to those who fail him, your last leader found that out the hard way."

The Suna man paled and went back to channeling chakra as fast as he could. Just as the Oto Jounin turned away another Oto nin jumped down next to him, cradling a broken arm and had blood running down his face.

"Hurry! You must finish the summon before he gets here!"

The Suna team saw the state of the man, and redoubled their efforts.

The Oto Jounin helped the man sit down and gave him a solider pill. "Calm down Waru! What are you talking about, finish before who gets here?"

The man identified as Waru swallowed the pill and took several calming breaths. "We… We were waiting in the appropriate areas, disguised and waiting for the signal to begin the attack, but just before the signal was given we were suddenly surrounded on all sides! It was a slaughter, he was everywhere, and we never even stood a chance. I just barely managed to get away, but he isn't too far behind! And the worst part was his eyes… Oh God those eyes!" The man started shaking and cradled his head in his hands.

The Oto Jounin sat up and cursed. "Shit, Orochimaru is going to be pissed."

"Orochimaru is the least of your problems right now."

The Oto Jounin turned around to face the voice, and the last thing he saw before he fell unconscious were a pair of menacing purple eyes with rings.

Hinata was running down the hallway with Neji's arm draped around her shoulder propping him up. She felt a rumbling all around her as what she could only assume was a massive battle took place all around her.

"C-Come on Neji-niisan, we need to get to the s-shelters before we run into the enemy!"

Neji tried his best to support himself on his own feet, but the strike from the Uchiha to the back of the head messed with his nervous system, and so he couldn't walk very fast.

"Gomen Hinata-sama. Just go, I'll be fine on my own. I know the way there."

Hinata shook her head. "N-no! I won't leave you to fend for yourself!"

Just as they were about to reach the end of the hallway a figure appeared at the exit. Hinata came to a stop and she studied the new arrival. It was the same silver-haired teenager from the Chunin exams who gave up before the preliminaries, but the thing she was focused on was the sound note on his headband.

The boy pushed up his glasses on his nose. "Why hello there, where are you off to in such a hurry? Come, stay a while, we have a lot to discuss."

His hands went to his side and they were soon enveloped in a blue chakra aura.

In the observation balcony Temari and Kankuro were trying to convince their brother to run, or fight, or do something. Instead, he was sitting cross legged as calm as could be in the middle of the floor. All the other contestants had long since fled, the Oto nin Kin having run off as soon as the fighting started, and the rest of the Konoha Shinobi having run off to help with the evacuation or to fight their own battles.

Temari was getting irritated quickly. "Look! If you aren't going to fight then that's fine, I never liked this stupid invasion plan anyway, but at least we should go somewhere safe!"

The redhead shook his head. "No, we will stay right here and not get in anyone's way."

Kankuro tried to grab his brother to stand him up but was stopped with a glare from the redhead. "Look Gaara, it isn't safe right here!"

The boy in question shook his head once again. "You're wrong, it is the safest for us right here. Isn't that right father?"

A Naruto Kage Bunshin warped into being right in front of the trio with his Dojutsu active. "No Gaara, Shukaku's father died a long time ago, I am only his reincarnation. But that doesn't mean we can't become friends."

Gaara stood up and smiled. "I don't know what you are, but for the first time in my life Shukaku isn't whispering in my ear, and I feel more at peace than I have in a long time."

Naruto walked up to Gaara and put a hand on his head and the redhead's eyes glazed over. "I don't know what kind of pain you have gone through Shukaku, but tormenting this poor child won't ease your agony. I want you let this boy be in peace, if not for me, then for your father's legacy I represent."

There was no response, but Gaara collapsed onto the floor. Naruto looked at the boy, then at his siblings. "Keep him safe, the invasion is almost over."

Temari rushed to her brother's side as Naruto disappeared in a swirl.

Naruto had made several Kage Bunshins sit atop random buildings and spread their chakra out across Konoha to watch the battle as it progressed, coordinating the mass of clones that were devastating the combined forces of Suna and Oto. When a clone stationed atop the Hokage tower spread his senses across the stadium his eyes widened when he saw a very sinister chakra rushing towards a very familiar presence.

"Oh no…"

He made a clone as fast as he could.

"Take my position! I have to dispel right now!"

He didn't leave any time for argument before he vanished in a puff of smoke, sending the message to all other clones across Konoha:

Hinata was in grave danger.

Naruto was currently dealing with the rest of the four Oto Shinobi who were maintaining the large purple barrier before Naruto arrived and destroyed it. Inside Jiraiya and the Sandaime were dealing with Orochimaru, and only him. He had tried to summon the previous Hokages to fight for him, but Naruto was able to stop him from desecrating the legacy of Konoha.

Naruto had a large boy with orange hair on his knees gasping for breath next to the lifeless body of a blue haired boy with two heads and another with six arms. There was a foul-mouthed redhead who was currently fighting Kakashi and the Cat ANBU, and she was currently losing. It was at this point that Naruto received a vital piece of information, one that struck fear into his heart.

Naruto made a clone and before he had even given orders the clone went back to finishing matters on the roof. Naruto locked on to his intended destination and gathered chakra into his eyes as fast as he could.

Kamui

Hinata was trying everything in her power to stop the attacker in front of her, but the silver-haired man was just too fast, too strong, and had too many back up plans. She couldn't dodge his strikes forever, and Neji had been knocked out early on in the confrontation with a swift chop to the back of the head. It was clear that the boy's target was Hinata, and he was making sure to keep her alive.

"What's wrong? You showed much more fight back in the exams, so where did all that fiery passion go?"

Hinata ducked under a strike to her neck only to receive a kick that sent her skidding back along the floor.

"W-why are you d-doing this…"

Kabuto laughed and rushed in again. "Simple, you are the only thing that Naruto cares about more than his mission for peace. To have that power over the reincarnation of the Rikudo Sennin is something Orochimaru-sama isn't going to let slip through his fingers easily. Plus having an unsealed Byakugan doesn't hurt either."

Kabuto managed to tap her left arm, severing the tendons and causing the arm to go limp. Hinata screamed out in pain, and tried to jump back to get some room, but Kabuto jumped forward with her. He reached forward with his arm to strike at her chest.

"This is going to hurt, but don't worry, it won't be anything permanent!"

Hinata closed her eyes. 'Please, anyone, help me!'

The pain never came, and after a few seconds she opened her eyes and saw her blonde savior holding Kabuto's wrist, and by the look on the boy's face, it was a very strong grip.

"Attacking Hinata-chan was one of the most idiotic things you could have done, but hurting her? That is something that will cost you, dearly."

Naruto increased the pressure on the wrist and a loud crack sounded through the halls followed by a hiss of pain from Kabuto. Naruto held on to the wrist and pulled the boy closer, kneeing him in the gut hard enough to make him spit up bile.

Naruto let Kabuto fall to his knees gasping for air, but Naruto wasn't done yet. He gripped the boy's hair painfully and pulled his head back so he looked directly into Naruto's eyes, and the last thing he saw were nine tomoe spinning wildly around the three rings closest to the center of Naruto's eye.

"Tsukuyomi."

Naruto didn't even wait for Kabuto's body to hit the floor before he turned on his heel and scooped Hinata into his arms and set her gently to rest against the wall. Hinata was surprised to see tears forming in his eyes.

Naruto knelt next to her and hugged her gently, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

"Oh Hinata… I'm so sorry… I… I shouldn't have left you alone like that… It's all my fault that you got hurt. You could have been… Oh Kami…"

Hinata brought her good arm up and hugged back as best she could. "It isn't your fault Naruto-kun…"

Hinata felt a wetness on her neck, and she began to feel Naruto shake slightly. 'Is… Is he crying?'

"Naruto-kun?"

Naruto knelt back, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Hinata… In those seconds when I sensed Kabuto attack you I felt a fear I haven't felt since I was strapped down in Orochimaru's lab, no, even worse than that. This past week has shown me something that I have never had in my life, something I've only ever dreamed about, love."

Hinata's eyes grew wide. 'Oh Kami… Is he…?'

"Whenever I'm with you I feel a sense of wholeness, and the thought of losing that tears me in two. If I ever lost you I don't think I could ever be the same again because… Hyuga Hinata… I… I love you."

Naruto gently cupped her cheek and leaned forward, capturing her in a tender kiss. She responded in kind and the two stayed that way for several seconds, but between them it felt like an eternity. After they finally broke apart Naruto rested his forehead on hers, and just stared into her eyes.

"I'll go…"

Naruto leaned back and blinked. "What?"

Hinata smiled and cupped his cheek. "I said I'll go with you. I don't care where we go, or when we get back, but I know that I want to be with you. I can't wait, I need you to stay with me, but if that can't happen that I'll go with you. Besides who'll fight off the other girls?"

Naruto grinned and leaned forward again. "There will only ever be one woman for me."

He closed the rest of the distance and kissed her again.

They stayed that way until they heard a shifting behind them. They both turned towards the noise and saw Neji pushing himself up on his feet.

"Neji-niisan!"

Hinata tried to stand up and help him but a firm hand held her to the ground. Hinata looked back at Naruto who was shaking his head while standing up to his feet.

"Go ahead and rest Hinata, I'll take care of you both."

A Kage Bunshin poofed into existence and made its way over to Neji, surrounding its hands in a glowing green chakra. The real Naruto gently rested a hand on Hinata's shoulder, causing Hinata to flinch back from the pain. Then there was sudden relief when Naruto's hand was enveloped in a warm green aura.

"He severed several tendons in your shoulder so it'll take me a few moments to reattach them. It might sting a bit…"

Hinata gritted her teeth as she felt her muscles crawl around under her skin. She fought off a sudden desire to scratch at her skin, it felt like an army of ants crawling around under her skin, but as soon as it appeared, it vanished.

Hinata sighed as she reflexively rubbed her shoulder. "Thank you Naruto-kun. How is Neji-niisan?"

"I'm fine, Uzumaki-san is quite the medic. I feel better than I did before my match. Thank you very much for protecting Hinata-sama, Uzumaki-san. I owe you a debt for keeping her safe."

Naruto eyed the Hyuga who was bowing to the pair of teens. "Well I'm glad your misguided animosity towards Hinata has been resolved. I'm glad I wasn't forced to take… measures."

Neji looked at the motionless body of the traitorous Kabuto and cringed. "Yes, I have seen the idiocy of my ways and am glad to say that I have changed, hopefully for the better."

Naruto helped Hinata up, putting her arm around his shoulder, and the Kage Bunshin from earlier grabbed Kabuto, disappearing in a swirling vortex.

Hinata watched them leave and turned to the blonde. "Naruto-kun, what did you do to him?"

Naruto took the girls hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I put him in a place where he won't be able to threaten anyone anytime soon. A place of my own making, so he won't be able to escape anytime soon."

Suddenly a Kage Bunshin appeared in yet another vortex. "The battle is over. There we no friendly casualties, and the only enemy losses were from those who refused to surrender."

The real Naruto turned towards his clone and motioned him to help support Hinata. "What of the snake?"

The Bunshin walked forward and put Hinata's arm his shoulder. "That is the only fight yet to be resolved. He has defeated several clones and is still fighting the Hokage and Jiraiya. The ANBU are staying out of the fight under direct order, but it looks like the two are tiring."

Naruto ducked out from Hinata's arm and once again brought out his shakujō slamming it into the ground. He leaned forward and captured Hinata's lips yet again before he disappeared in a swirling vortex, leaving the Hyuga with her lips still pursed.

Neji walked over to his cousin, holding out his hand to help steady her. "Let's move Hinata-sama, we should go to the compound before Hiashi-sama begins to worry."

Neji turned his gaze to the Naruto Kage Bunshin, nodding the unseen question for immediate transport. Right before the clone brought them through space and time to their destination, there was only one thought that ran through the young girls mind.

'Please be safe Naruto-kun.'

Jiraiya was panting, out of breath and nearly out of chakra.

"When the hell did Orochimaru get so damn strong? Or am I just getting soft? I knew traveling through Udon no Kuni (Land of Noodles) was a bad idea…"

He barely had time to dodge as the Sword of Kusunagi came flying overhead. Jiraiya ducked and watched it sail towards Hiruzen, who had Henge: Kongōnyoi (Transform: Adamantite Staff) and was able to block it. The momentum sent the Sandaime sailing across the roof, leaving Jiraiya out in the open.

Orochimaru retracted his sword and lunged at Jiraiya. "You have gotten weak you fool, and now you will pay for getting in my way, along with that senile fucker you call a Hokage!"

Just as Jiraiya was about to be run through there was a loud clank sound, and standing in front of the Sannin blocking the sword was Naruto with his shakujō.

"So my experiment comes to show me the fruits it has bourn? I will take great pleasure in showing you that your power can be taken away as easily as it has been given."

Naruto looked as impassive as ever as he pushed Orochimaru back. "You assume that my power was yours to give. All that I am now is a result of Jubi-sama deeming me worthy to hold the same position as Hagoromo-sama. You were just the bridge to that power, and for what it's worth, I thank you… But your sins have forced me to call for your death so that thousands of others may be saved. I hope you find peace in the next life."

Orochimaru chuckled. "Better brats than you have tried. Jagei Jubaku (Binding Snake Glare Spell)!"

Two snakes shot towards Naruto, but were quickly beheaded by a quick flourish of Naruto's shakujō. Orochimaru tsked and sent several more snakes at Naruto.

"Sen'ei Tajashu (Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands)!"

The blonde sighed and flashed through several sets of hand seals.

"Katon: Gōryūka no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique)!"

A dragon's head wreathed in flame consumed the snakes and bathed Orochimaru in fire. When the fire subsided the body inside crumbled to dust, and another Orochimaru appeared from the roof.

"A Bunshin. It is sad to discover the great Orochimaru of the Sannin is really only a one trick pony, just snakes, snakes, and more snakes."

The Hebi Sannin usually didn't suffer insults to his ability, and this was such an instance. "You insolent brat! I am the entire reason you are what you are, I brought you into this world. I gave you all the power you have now! I spent years researching how to mix the different chakras of the Biju, and don't you think for a second that I don't have plans to do so again!"

Naruto smirked. "Well, thank you for confirming my suspicions, it saved me many months of searching the black market for information. Now that I know, I'm afraid I can't leave you alive."

Naruto grabbed his staff and rushed forward, swinging his weapon too fast for the Sannin to dodge and severed him in half. Naruto jumped back and watched with disgust as the top half connected with the bottom half with a bridge of snakes.

Orochimaru smirked. "Nice try, but those two fools before tried the same thing."

Orochimaru jumped forward and threw a punch at Naruto's face with his right hand, but the blonde knocked away the punch with the top of his left hand. Naruto brought his right fist and connected it with Orochimaru's gut, causing the snake Sannin to hiss in pain and jump away.

Naruto held up his hand. "Banshō Ten'in (Heavenly Attraction of All of Creation)!"

Orochimaru could do little to stop his body from flying towards the blonde with his arm stretched out. Naruto grabbed Orochimaru's throat and held him in the air.

"Asura Path"

Two mechanical arms sprouted off of the arm holding Orochimaru up in the air. They grabbed Orochimaru's two arms to make sure he was unable to form any hand seals. Naruto gathered chakra in the palm of his hand holding Orochimaru up.

"This is the end Orochimaru, good bye. Anketsu (Darkness Hole)!"

Orochimaru's face contorted in horror as he felt something heavy and strong emerge on his neck. It felt like it was a force, pulling him in on himself, as if it was sucking him into the singular point on his neck. Overall it was a very painful process, and Orochimaru knew then and there that this was the end. He was going to die here, by an experiment gone rouge.

"No… NO! I… I CANT DIE HERE! I WONT! IM IMMORTAL!"

Naruto scoffed and continued to hold the man as he was sucked into the growing black vortex. "No one is immortal Orochimaru, not even me in all of my power. We are all doomed to mortality, but that is what makes life so special. The fact that death may occur at any second is what prompts us all to live every day to its fullest. It is a shame that you only found that out in the end."

Among the mindless screams and pleads to let him go, Naruto honestly heard tones of regret, though he had no way of knowing if it was regret for his past actions or regret towards his imminent demise. It mattered little, since he was finally gone in the next few seconds, his entire being compressed and smashed in a space of infinite gravity that trapped time itself. Naruto dispelled the jutsu with a sigh, happy that the entire event was finally over.

Jiraiya limped over to the blonde, rubbing his broken ribs. "Thanks gaki, I don't think we would have survived if you hadn't showed up. I don't know how he got so powerful, but I'm glad that it's all finally over."

Naruto sighed and picked up his staff. "He has been augmenting his body with Biju chakra, giving him different abilities and enhancing his overall strength. He obtained a power that dwarfed even that of a Kage, but against me it is useless. The power I have would never be his, and it would only be a matter of months before his body began tearing itself apart."

Jiraiya nodded and went over to the downed unconscious Kage and hefted him up on his shoulders. "I'll take care of things from here on out, you go rest. We will meet in three days at the front gates just like we discussed."

Naruto smiled. "Indeed. You will need to rest up and heal if you are to accompany me. Oh, and before I forget, Hinata-chan is coming with us."

Jiraiya got a lecherous grin. "Oh? So your girlfriend is going to be coming with us is she? I hope that is the only sense of coming that will be going on…"

Naruto narrowed his gaze. "What we do in our private time is our business and our business alone. If I even so much as sense your chakra signature anywhere near us if we get intimate, I will personally see to it that Orochimaru has a friend to share in the wonders of infinite gravity. Do I make myself clear?"

Jiraiya nodded his head nervously. "Ok ok, geeze, no need to go all Rikudo Sennin on me, I was just making a joke. Go meet with your girlfriend, I think I will have more than enough work to keep me busy…"

Naruto chuckled. "That was out arrangement Jiraiya. You would take care of the council and deal with any opposition to me leaving the village just as you have done in the past, and I will allow you to travel with us and train under me."

The older man sighed. "Yeah yeah, it's just that I never thought I would ever subject myself to training under a gaki…"

Once again Naruto only chuckled. "It is an honor to be trained by the Nidaime Rikudo Sennin; I know people who would quite literally give an arm and a leg to have an arrangement such as yours. Oh, and Jiraiya?"

The older man looked up. "What is it gaki?"

Naruto smirked. "It's Gaki-sensei to you."

Then the blonde disappeared in a swirling vortex, leaving two aged men standing alone on a roof.

"Oh dear lord, what have I gotten myself into?"

END

AN: Well, i know its a bit late but merry christmas, hope everyones was as good as mine was. Please review and tell me what you think of it, or tell me it was a hunk of trash, either way just tell me what i can improve on and what elements can be added to make this story better.

PS: Also, i cant decide if i should add a lemon in the future, just a little lemony lemon with some lemony goodness. I will leave that decision up for you guys, and if i get a significant amount of people asking for one then i will write one (and have someone proof it so it isnt a turd). So review and tell me yes or no!

Peace!