There's only chapter 24 and the epilogue left!!! P

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Chapter 23: The will of fire

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

Inside a little bunker, on the side of the mountain, Iruka was helping the children. After Konohamaru had tried to escaped, he explained everyone what it really meant to be ninja.

-The third and everyone will now fight for us... The will that everyone had given to the ninja, Konoha's greatest value... We do not have the time to rest today. People are fighting because they love the place they live. Genins, chuunins, jounins and sensei are all fighting for a tomorrow on our village and on ourselves...

-You think about Naruto? Asked Konohamaru.

Misty and Shino had been fighting for long now, both of them couldn't take any more...

Neji and Tenten were hopeless against that big snake...

Tifa, Kiba and the others couldn't fight so many at once, even if they were a lot themselves...

-I'm not thinking only of Naruto, answered Iruka. Everyone is fighting.

Syng was running along with Sasuke and Naruto and stopped when they finally saw the demon. Gaara was looking at them, floating near the ground. He was smiling like a demon would have smiled... the sand was burning around him, no longer trapped in the sand gourd.

-Give up and die, demon-boy! Said Syng, pointing his sword at Gaara.

Gaara sand found his way to them, but only hitting Sasuke.

-Sasuke! Screamed Naruto.

The Uchiha was thrown on the tree near him. The sand was wrapping him hard, hurting him. Naruto rushed to his friend to help him, but Sasuke had fainted from pain, his seal running naturally on his skin.

-A seal? Was surprised Syng. Naruto, we're alone to fight that demon!

-Nani!? He won't hurt my friends! Shouted Naruto.

Naruto did his kage buushin no jutsu to fight Gaara, but every replica was thrown away, fated to disappear by the sand.

-You will allow me to live, roared Gaara.

-You took too many life already! Shouted Syng.

-Why do you fight to defend a village that isn't yours!? Roared the demon.

Naruto was getting back on his feet from the last attack and listened...

-Because... started Syng.

-There's a will that everyone share, explained Iruka. The will of fire.

Misty avoided the last attack with her remaining strength. Shino fell on his knee.

-Shino! Said Misty, getting near him.

-We can't... take... this many... panted Shino.

A flash of Juusan made its way through Misty mind. She wasn't gonna give up... The little sun sealed around her bellybutton started to glow. She smiled and dropped her daggers, watching the barrier made to prevent people helping their leader. Slowly taking her arm to her neck, she unfold her scarf, slowly letting it fly away in the wind.

-What are you going to do? Laughed a sand-nin, ready to attack.

She turned to face the one who talked. The sun on her skin felt like it was real, a real sun burning. Shino lift his head to watch Misty... it seemed like she was slowly moving.

-There's something nobody can go against... Up there, there's an old guy fighting his life to defeat all of you... started Misty. There's someone willing to sacrifice his life to save everyone! Everyone is putting their life on the line to protect Konoha... just like Juusan has done with Tsurugi... That's my reason to protect this village. Some faces aren't meant to be forgotten, they are meant to bring forth strength!!

The kunoichi started forming seals with her hands.

-Misty? Said Shino. His rose up and got near her.

Kunais and shuriken started flying toward them, which the bugs of Shino blocked easily. Misty closed her eyes and smiled... it was a soft and beautiful smile...

-Crossroad no jutsu! She shouted.

-Screams? Wondered Neji.

-Neji! Shouted Tenten.

The snake was launching an direct attack toward him.

"I ain't going to run or hide... I'm strong... and I decided my fate was to destroy you!" thought Neji.

He concentrate his chakra and waited. The head of the snake was now too close too him, he concentrate everything in a single blow.

-Neji! Screamed Tenten.

Once the cloud of dust was dispelled in the air, you could see people standing at Neji's side.

-Hiashi-sama?! Was startled Neji. Hinata-sama!?

-I've lost a brother, I won't lose his son, said the Hyuuga clan chief.

Hinata smiled, a smile that Neji reflected to her. Tenten sigh with a smile.

Kiba grabbed Tifa staff to remove her from an attack, while he counter-attack with kunais.

-Be careful cat-girl! Smiled the boy.

Shikamaru and Asuma put many sand ninjas down, even Sakura was helping at the fight. Temari and Kankuro were outnumber when every ninja that had fought alongside Syng, Naruto and Sasuke were in front of them.

Misty and Shino, covered with dust were slowly approaching with the Aburame and the Inuzuka clan. Kiba's mother and sister smiled with their dog watching Kiba ready to attack.

-My lil' pup! Laughed Kiba's mother.

Shino's father walk silent behind his boys, analysing Misty again and again. Near them, Neji was in head of another troupe, the Hyuuga clan. He was walking in front of Hiashi, something he had never done, Ino, Hinata and Lee behind them. Tifa let out a sigh of relief. Everyone was okay.

-We're here to fight, said Lee.

-We're here to defend our home, said Shino's father.

Tifa smiled.

-Then everyone... We gotta help Naruto and Syng! She shouted. If Gaara is defeated, the invasion will stop and we'll help your Hokage.

Konoha nodded.

From the inside of the barrier, Sandaime Sarutobi was smiling... he had a sword piercing his body, but his heart was at rest. From where he was, he could see all of Konoha, getting together to fight against the invasion...

-Your plan has failed, Orochimaru... Konoha is saved!

-I will not... die... old man! The snake guy panted.

Sarutobi were remembering the soft words of everyone... each face in the village was familiar to him... He was ready to die now... but he still had to hold on a little bit...

Syng was now with his fourth sword. Naruto had been thrown on the ground again with his buushin jutsu. Gaara almost in his demon state, half of his body covered with sand. Sasuke was still held again the tree, unconscious.

-Gaara! You'll die! Screamed Syng lunching another attack.

Handling two sword and moving the two other with his chakra, he managed, with Naruto's help to go to Gaara and strike... only a little cut on his chest before he was thrown on the ground, next to where Naruto landed.

-YOU TWO WILL DIE! Screamed the sand demon.

Naruto was on the ground, not able to move, wishing he could use the demon fox chakra, while Syng was lying next to him.

-Why aren't I able to defeat him, Naruto? I...

-You're... strong Syng, panted the blonde. But he's a demon...

-We have to fight him... and defeat him... for what he did to everyone... said Syng.

Syng closed his eyes... he felt the sand crawling on his skin... he would soon join Juusan... he couldn't even summon more sword...

-Naruto, he softly said. Fight him...

-You will fight him too! Shouted another voice.

Syng opened his eyes. Numerous weapons were thrown at the sand boy while he removed his attack from Syng. Naruto Got up and helped Syng to. They both look behind them...
The genins of Konoha... Sakura, Ino, Kiba, Shikamaru, Hinata, Neji, Chouji, Tenten, Lee, Shino... and Misty as well as Tifa. Neji and Hinata helped Sasuke get down of the tree, getting back to himself... All the ninjas were defending Konoha... all who claimed to have the will of fire were there, waiting for the demon to be defeated, and for the Third to claim victory... Naruto Looked at Syng while the tanned boy looked at Naruto.

-You... are all dead! Screamed Gaara, watching his blood drip from the little cut Syng had opened where Sasuke had already hurt him. PAIN... SUFFER! He screamed, sand roaming on his body, unleashing the demon.

-Syng, Naruto! Shouted Sakura.

-We'll be alright Sakura, smiled Naruto, still panting.

-Let's go, said Syng.

-Syng! Shouted Tifa.

But it was too late... the sand was forming a wall around them! A great territory around Syng, Naruto and Gaara was protected by an invisible wall who attacked everyone with sand.

-We can't get near! Noticed Neji.

-Chouji! Said Shikamaru.

The boy tried his rolling attack, without success... Not a single attack from the genins would work against the wall. They were left alone to fight the demon, under the eyes of Konoha.

-What's that in the forest!? Asked a little girl, looking by the window.

Iruka got near the window and watched outside himself. A great demon of sand was waking up in the forest, near the south gate... Around Konoha, the ninjas of the leaf were getting control over the invasion, but the barrier was still held were the Hokage was.

-They have to believe in themselves... sigh Iruka.

-Naruto!

-Syng!

They looked at the demon a little far from them.

-Let's go! They both shouted.