DISCLAIMER: I do not own "Naruto"
Chapter 37: Understanding
A sharp exhale broke the silence.
"Nagato?"
His head creaked toward the sound of Konan's voice. His body felt so stiff and his lungs seemed incapable of drawing in enough air.
"Nagato, what's wrong?"
He sighed. "The last one has been destroyed."
Konan's eyes widened. "What?"
"Tendou is dead."
"Yahiko," she whispered, a tear sliding down her cheek.
Nagato looked at her and all his muscles tensed. Anger surged through him...as well as the desire to soothe away her tears. She had always loved Yahiko best. He frowned.
"Yahiko has been dead a long time. There is no need to waste any more tears over him."
Konan looked at him with dead eyes, the tears replaced by raised streaks of reddened skin. He wondered whether the love she had shown him all these years was truly and uniquely his. He treasured her tender touch and the weight of her in his arms…but...they hadn't really been his arms. He had experienced these things through Tendou, through Yahiko's body. Ever since that night so long ago, his body was too weak to even stand on his own—too frail to sustain life on his own. He wasn't enough. Perhaps he had fooled himself into thinking she was his angel. Perhaps he had fooled her, as well. Perhaps he had fooled her into believing he was a god…the god who could give her and Yahiko a second chance. It was all so twisted.
Now he could see how she resented him.
There was a rustling like autumn leaves in the wind. Across from him, he could see light peeking through a crack in his origami tree. The crack widened as paper was torn from the tree, blinding light now streamed around a darkened silhouette. The man, for the figure was obviously male in build, stepped through the opening and walked with a tense step. Another taller man stepped through followed by a slight woman. Nagato's frown deepened. He easily recognized them. Naruto and his team had arrived.
"Stand back, Knonan."
"Nagato." Standing her ground, she looked up at him pleadingly.
"Are you the real one?" Naruto asked.
Nagato heard something in his raw voice. Something that reminded him of a man he once knew.
"Indeed," he replied. "And are you peace incarnate?"
Naruto's eyes were blazing as he continued to move forward.
~.~.~
Shikamaru stood with hunched shoulders. He stretched his tired limbs and let out a sigh. He pulled a cigarette from his pack and stuck the tip between his teeth. He reached for the lighter in his pocket, but paused. He hated cigarettes. He hated the taste. He hated the smell. He hated the burn in his lungs. Why he continued to light up...well, he knew exactly why. It reminded him of Asuma-sensei. After a moment of his internal battle, Shikamaru sighed again and gripped the cold lighter. He raised it to the tip of his cig and ignited it. His inhale was shallow and he immediately released the smoke through his nose, hating the way it burned on the way out.
"Shikamaru."
"What is it, Ino?"
"Your dad's been spotted on his way back," she replied quietly.
He smiled a little. "Took him long enough."
"Yeah…"
Shikamaru turned to face Ino, eyes narrowing. "There's something else, isn't there?"
She looked down. "Chouji's father…is among the casualties."
Shikamaru bit down on the cigarette too hard and the gritty taste of nicotine filled his mouth. He pulled the ruined cigarette from his mouth and, dropping it, ground it out with his foot. He turned his head skyward and noticed that the dirt haze was beginning to lift.
"Man…. Does he know?"
Ino gripped her arms and looked away from him. "No. Not yet."
"I'll tell him."
Ino's brows crinkled. "No, I should be the one. I found Choza."
Shikamaru stared at her. She was so stubborn. So troublesome. "Ino, he's my best friend."
Her eyes sparkled with tears. "He's…more than that to me."
Shikamaru blinked. He never thought she'd admit it, but, now that she had, he felt oddly relieved. Chouji'd been suffering for a long time from what, he believed, was unrequited love. It would be good for him to have her in these difficult times.
"We should tell him together. He'll need us both."
Ino sucked in a shuddering breath. "All right."
They walked in silence, navigating through the rubble of their once beautiful village. Shikamaru couldn't control the wandering of his eyes no matter how much he wanted to. Survivors stood motionless as they tried to absorb what happened—or repel the shock they were experiencing. There were a few who sobbed. Others worked. They worked to distract themselves. They worked to help.
There were bodies. Not a lot, yet too many. There were many who had already been pulled from the rubble and the growing pile worsened the sense of loss. There were still a few bodies strewn here and there, in the streets, under collapsed buildings. The smell of blood was strong, despite the thick cloud of dirt lingering in the air. Shikamaru decided he preferred the stench of his cigarettes to this—the stifling smell of death and tragedy. It was no wonder Sasuke turned out the way he had, experiencing such a thing at so young an age…and his own family at that. He couldn't blame the Uchiha. Shikamaru clenched his teeth, imagining how he would've felt had it been his father, instead of Chouji's, who'd died. No, he couldn't blame Sasuke at all.
As he and Ino continued to search for their teammate, they passed by a group of jounin. Bright red caught Shikamaru's eye and he looked over. The jounin were escorting three strange shinobi, two men and a woman. They looked familiar. He blew off the thought, it wasn't that important. He had a friend to find.
~.~.~
Karin ignored the looks of the Konoha citizens. Well…she tried to. Honestly, it was difficult to keep her cool when all the staring made her feel like a caged circus freak. She thought it was rather strange to be attracting so much attention considering the disaster surrounding them…but she supposed it couldn't be helped. She'd always been an attractive girl.
She scowled.
The looks they were getting had nothing to do with her looks—she couldn't lie to herself anymore. They were rogue shinobi and it seemed the whole village knew it.
"Are you listening?"
Karin's attention snapped back to the jounin before her. "Yeah," she replied.
He frowned. "Hmm." He scratched his head. "Anyway, it's noble of you to want to help, but we're still going to have to take you in for questioning."
Suigetsu huffed, but said nothing.
Karin wondered if they'd made the right choice entering the village. She studied the jounin's chakra carefully and was somewhat comforted to see that he held no animosity toward them—his chakra was bright and sunny. Karin was sure he was just as distressed as anyone else who had survived Pein's attack, but he'd been rather kind to them.
Sighing after some consideration, she said, "Fine."
The jounin attempted to smile, but it came out as more of a grimace. He gave up and instead nodded. He called over two shinobi and they joined him in escorting Team Taka to a temporary holding facility.
~.~.~
"Do you hate me?" Nagato asked. "Now that you see me with your own eyes…does the need for revenge burn in your veins?"
Sasuke's eyes adjusted to the dark and he was able to see the true face of Pein. He was a skeleton of what he'd expected. Nagato was hooked up to a strange machine with multiple rods impaling his body. He was bone-thin with red locks and the Rinnegan eye. Sasuke looked at him with disgust. How could such a frail man be the cause of so much destruction?
Konan looked at them with red rimmed eyes. Her face was stony, but her empty eyes spoke volumes about a difficult life. When she spoke, her voice was just as empty as her eyes, lacking passion and inflection. "If you kill Nagato for revenge, nothing will be gained. Nothing will change. Only you will be different."
Nagato seemed to be in agreement, nodding only once. "Do you have an answer for me, Naruto? Do you want to kill me, despite the truth in Konan's words?" He frowned. "There's nothing that can be done to change what is necessary, what has been ordained. Your role is to be the sacrifice that will bring peace to the world."
A rod shot out from the machine, but it wasn't fast enough to catch Sasuke off guard. In a single graceful movement, he flicked his katana and deflected the attack.
"We're not here for revenge," Sasuke stated coolly.
Nagato's eyebrow arched. "Oh?"
"We're here to talk," Naruto answered. "But there was one thing I needed to find out."
"And what was that?"
Naruto bowed his head and clenched his teeth. "I wanted to see how I would feel when I saw you in person."
"And…?"
Sasuke's knuckles turned bone-white from the force of his grip on his katana. His muscles were restless. He wanted to jump at that self-righteous monster and sever his head from his shoulders. It was so hard to hold back the impulses, but he had to. From the corner of his eye, he noticed that Naruto was struggling just like him. The Kyuubi's fury was making his features wilder.
"I can't FORGIVE YOU!" Naruto screamed. "I want to kill you so much…I'm trembling."
Without warning, Naruto jumped forward, his arm pulled back to attack Nagato. Sasuke and Sakura both sped forward to catch their teammate, each grabbing an arm.
"Remember why we're here, Naruto," Sasuke growled.
His raised fist shook and his eyes fell. He relaxed in his teammates' grip and they cautiously released him.
Sasuke turned to Nagato and glared. "I don't know what made Naruto want to talk to you, but I have no interest in what you say."
Nagato's eyes shifted to him. "Uchiha Sasuke, I'm surprised that you, of all people, haven't already jumped at the chance to slit my throat."
Sasuke's mouth tightened and his stomach filled with ice. "Of all people, I know what hate and revenge can do." His arms tensed as his fingernails dug into his palms. "I witnessed the annihilation of my clan. I was left alive for one purpose, to avenge them—to kill my brother. And when he was dead…well, I'm sure I don't need to tell you that I didn't find peace."
Nagato smirked. "So you won't kill me because it won't bring you peace? How selfish."
Sasuke scowled. "I don't need to kill you to find peace," he said. "I once believed that I was alone…but I'm not and that is my peace."
"Yes, but what worth is your peace to the shinobi world?" Nagato asked in spite. "You are nothing."
Sasuke scowled and curses jumped to the tip of his tongue, but before a single word escaped his teeth, the motion of Naruto stepping forward stopped him.
"Pervy Sage said the day will come when people truly understand one another. He had faith," he said shakily. "I didn't understand because I wasn't really listening. He told me that I'd find the answer one day, but I was just glad to have his approval. Now…I think I know what he meant. That we have to stop fighting and try to work things out with words."
"Talking won't help you forgive me. I've done things you can't understand." Nagato replied. "Love and forgiveness can't be bought with pretty words."
"Yeah…you're right," Naruto replied.
"It's too late for Jiraiya's idealism now. It's just not realistic." Nagato closed his eyes in thought. "You said you would defeat me and bring peace to the world, didn't you?"
Naruto said nothing.
"It seems to me that's just an excuse for you to selfishly have your revenge," Nagato continued. "If that's your justice, fine. But you're not God, you can't bring peace through my death."
Naruto ignored the frail man's words and ploughed on with his plan. "When I found out you'd been his apprentice, there was something I wanted to ask you."
Nagato looked at him curiously. "What?"
"How did you turn out like this? What made it so easy…" Naruto choked and he scrunched his eyes shut. After a moment, he composed himself. "What made it so easy for you to kill your sensei? I want to hear your story before I make a decision."
"Fine," Nagato replied gruffly. "I'll show you our pain."
Konan turned to Nagato and frowned. "Talking is a waste of time, you said so yourself. Just hurry and—"
"Wait, Konan."
Konan bowed her head, but she was unable to hide the sorrow in her eyes.
Nagato closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath as if preparing for a physical blow. "I have two great sources of pain," he said quietly. When his eyes opened, they were distant and angry. "Amegakure was a battlefield and my parents were casualties in the war. They were civilians. They should have been safe. They shouldn't have been killed. But they were."
Sasuke stiffened. Nagato's family had been taken from him just as his own had.
"We hadn't eaten in days, we were too busy hiding and trying to stay alive. Enemy shinobi were camped in our house and eating our food. My parents knew that if we didn't eat, we would die of starvation. So that day, we snuck through our own house to find something to eat. It was dark and all I heard before the attack was the crash of something shattering. My parents screamed and the next thing I knew, they were dead and bleeding. One of the shinobi mocked me with his apologies. His headband was engraved with the Leaf symbol. My Rinnegan awakened that day and I saw what I had done. I had avenged my parents." Nagato frowned. "My mother and father died for a war Konoha started. I will never forget that pain…it hurts even now."
Sasuke stared at Nagato and hated the slight empathy settling in his chest. What Nagato had done was wrong. He had killed many people, many innocent people. Guilt filled Sasuke. Hadn't he wanted to do the same?
But I didn't, he reasoned. He had plotted, but he knew if he'd been given the chance, he would have chosen not to destroy Konoha. Revenge wasn't worth the emptiness. There were people that didn't deserve to die. There were people he still had bonds with. Didn't Nagato understand?
"I left. But there was nowhere I could go. I continued to starve and would have died, if not for Konan and Yahiko. We were all war orphans, but they were desperately trying to stay alive. They became my friends."
Konan's eyes slanted to look at him, yet Sasuke noticed there was no fondness in them. Whatever had her staying by Nagato's side had nothing to do with friendship.
"We stole a lot. There were no orphanages in a small war-torn country like ours. Kids like us could only survive by stealing. And even though times were hard, Yahiko never gave up hope. He dreamed of ruling the world and making things right. He wanted to be like God so he could put a stop to all the war. But even as he said such things, war continued around us. We got caught on the battleground where Jiraiya and his team fought Hanzo, Chief of Ame. The fighting reached its peak and that's when Yahiko's dream became my dream as well. But…in order to reach that dream, we had to become powerful. We had to become shinobi. So we began searching for a master and we found the one who fought Hanzo. We found Jiraiya. I couldn't accept the Konoha shinobi…you can understand that."
Sasuke looked over at Naruto. His head was lowered and his eyes troubled. His gaze shifted to Sakura. She was crying. Her tears fell silently, but her eyes remained hard.
Nagato continued. "I learned that Jiraiya was different. He decided to stay with us and help us. Not long after we began living together, something happened."
"What?" Naruto asked.
"A lone shinobi attacked us. He nearly killed Yahiko, but I fought back and my Rinnegan awoke again. Jiraiya hadn't been intending to teach us to become shinobi, but after he saw what I did, he began teaching us different jutsu. He said they were for self-defense, but I think he wanted me to be able to control the Rinnegan. I was scared of my own powers and I was filled with hatred. Guilt tormented me, convincing me that I'd done something wrong. But Jiraiya saved me. He said that killing the shinobi had saved Yahiko's life and it had been the right thing to do." Nagato's gaze shifted to Naruto. "Without realizing it, I came to accept Jiraiya. He said that when people get hurt, they learn to hate. When people hurt others, they become hated and are racked with guilt. He said that knowing pain allows us to be kind and allows us to grow. How you grow is up to you. You know pain, you think about it, and the answer to that pain is up to you. Jiraiya was like you, Naruto. It was as if he hadn't found his own answer yet."
"And you knew your answer?" Naruto asked.
"Of course," Nagato replied with a smile. "I wanted to protect my friends, no matter the cost."
Konan's eyes drifted shut and tears bloomed from her lashes. Nagato looked at her and hurt crossed his features momentarily. There was some silent battle being waged between Nagato and Konan, that much was clear. Something had obviously happened to cause a rift between them. When his attention returned to Nagato, his face was inscrutable.
"After three years of training, we'd grown stronger in mind and body," he continued as if he hadn't stopped. "But Jiraiya's words stayed with me, stuck in my heart. He said he thought my Rinnegan could be the answer to find peace. He spoke about days of old and a priest who introduced the world to jutsu. In those days, being a shinobi was not about making war, but bringing peace. This priest was known as the Sage of Six Paths and he had the same Rinnegan as me. Jiraiya said that he saw the Sage's hopes in my eyes. He entrusted me with peace and then left us.
"Yahiko became our leader and our gang grew famous overnight. Everyone agreed with our desire to bring peace without relying on brute force, but the world was still in the middle of war. Hanzo heard of the rumors about us and approached us. He said he wanted to use us to begin peace negotiations between the three great countries. He believed in us, so we decided to help him. But it was a great mistake…a catastrophe. We were only children—fools."
"What happened?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke watched Konan and Nagato carefully and he guessed the answer before the words left Nagato's mouth.
"Because of him, Yahiko died."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"It was all a trap. Hanzo was afraid we would wrest control of Ame from him. When we arrived at the rendezvous point , Konoha's Black Ops were waiting along with Hanzo and his minions. He'd joined forces with Danzo's group to obliterate us. It seems Danzo wanted Hanzo's help to become Hokage, and Hanzo wanted Danzo's help to protect his position." Nagato looked down at Konan, who turned away in shame. "They captured Konan and used her to threaten Yahiko. They told me to kill Yahiko and they'd let Konan live. Even Yahiko told me to do it."
Sasuke understood now. Both Yahiko and Nagato had loved Konan and she had become their shared weakness. His eyes drifted to look at Konan. How guilty she looked. How she must have hated herself. His thoughts turned to Sakura. He loved her as did Naruto. If this same scenario happened to Team Seven, what would happen? Would he kill Naruto to save Sakura? Would he sacrifice himself to save Sakura? Sasuke looked at the pink-haired kunoichi. She looked torn between anger and anguish. Nagato's words brought him from his thoughts.
"In the end, Yahiko died by his own hand. That was the second source of my pain. I thought I had grown, but nothing had changed. It was the same as when my parents died. I realized that my answer—to protect my friends no matter the cost—was worthless. I failed them. In my rage, I used my power and saved Konan. I became the leader of our gang in Yahiko's stead. I lost many more friends in battle after that. So many friends…"
Sakura sniffled. Sasuke looked down at her before gently taking her hand in his own in an attempt to comfort her. She glanced at him and said nothing.
"Everyone in the Land of Fire crows about peace," Nagato said. "But each mission Konoha undertakes funds the war. The people of Fire know they are complicit in this war, yet they hypocritically speak of peace. The peace of big countries is built on the sacrifices of the little countries. Your peace is violence toward us.
"Just by living, people hurt others without realizing it. As long as there are people in this world, so too will there be hatred. There can never be peace in this cursed land. What Jiraiya spoke of was nothing but a fantasy." Nagato was silent for a moment as he frowned. His strange eyes looked at each face expectantly. "Now you've heard my story…so let me hear your answer."
It was silent.
The hand in Sasuke's gripped tightly, almost fearfully. Both his and Sakura's eyes were focused on Naruto, who had stepped forward. Sasuke knew what had to be done. He knew that they had to overcome hate and settle things differently, but Naruto…Naruto was struggling. Sasuke could see that his best friend couldn't decide. The pain of losing Jiraiya was too fresh in his heart. It still haunted him. Sasuke understood. So many years had passed and he was still trying to overcome the pain of loss.
Naruto's shoulders began to quake and he made a strangled noise. Sasuke stepped forward, pulling Sakura with him. He saw the streams of tears flowing down Naruto's face. Sasuke moved so that he stood between him and Nagato. He opened his mouth to speak, but was surprised when Sakura's voice sounded, strong and condemning.
"You've hurt and killed countless! How are you any better than the shinobi who killed your parents, or Hanzo who killed Yahiko? What makes you right?"
Nagato eyed her disdainfully.
"Terrible things happen. Loved ones are lost. That's the way of our world. That's life."
Sakura continued strongly. "The chain of hate will never stop if we continue to seek vengeance against those who hurt us." Her fist rose to wipe a stray tear from her cheek and Sasuke wondered if she cried for Kakashi.
Sasuke's dark voice broke in after her. "You deserve to die for what you've done and I would gladly deal out your punishment, but I can't judge you." He turned to Naruto then and the boy's blue eyes lifted. "I can't apologize for leaving. I did what I had to."
Naruto's jaw clenched.
"That's why you have to decide Nagato's fate."
"You're right," Naruto replied. He stepped forward and looked up at Nagato. " I can't forgive you. I hate you," he said passionately.
Nagato frowned. "Then let's finish this."
"No," Naruto replied. "My team believes in me. Kakashi-sensei believed in me. My dad believed in me. And that pervy sage believed in me…so I will believe in what they—what he—believed in. That's my answer."
Nagato's eyes widened.
"I will not kill you."
"So you expect us to sit here and wait for you to bring peace to the world?" Nagato asked incredulously. "Don't be a fool! There is no such thing as real peace. It's impossible as long as we live in this accursed world."
"I will break the curse…me and my friends."
Sasuke nodded listlessly when Naruto looked at him. "If there is peace, I will find it. I won't give up!"
The blood drained from Nagato's face as his eyes bulged as if to leave their sockets. He reacted as though he had seen a ghost. He uttered something indecipherable at which Konan looked up at him. Her face was drawn with worry and bemusement. Licking his lips, Nagato only managed a hoarse whisper.
"…those words…"
Sasuke frowned and then his attention was brought to Naruto when he heard the sound of ruffling fabric. Naruto's hand emerged from his nin-pouch with a small book. Sasuke couldn't see the title, but didn't have to in order to know who the author was.
"That's right," Naruto murmured. "Those words were lines from this book…the first one he ever wrote. "
Naruto gazed in silence at the cover for a moment, a well of memories filling his eyes. Sasuke could see something there that he didn't understand and he was…jealous. Naruto had shared so many of his days with a man he could call not only sensei, but friend…and family. Sasuke hadn't had someone like that in so very long. He had given up that opportunity when he left all those years ago. And now, the only man who tried to be that person in his life was dead. His fists clenched.
Naruto smiled a little. "He wrote this book to try to change the world." He flipped open to the last page. "At the end, he says he wrote this because he was inspired by one of his pupils—by you, Nagato."
Nagato's mouth opened and his jaw moved, imitating words, but no sound came forth. Clamping his jaw, he visibly swallowed before trying to speak again. "I've seen that book," he said softly. "This must be a coincidence."
Naruto's eyes were sharp as daggers. "Then you should remember that the name of the hero was Naruto!" He took a bold step forward. "My name is a precious memento of him. I can't just give up and spit on this memento. I will become the Hokage!" he yelled with confidence. "And when I am, I'll make sure there's peace, even for Amegakure. Believe in me!"
Silence filled the space between them, seeping into the air and making it thick. Naruto's words reverberated in their ears, and every eye was turned on Nagato who was quiet as death. His very eyes seemed to glaze over, whether from deep thought or memories past, it was obvious he was no longer with them. He took in a rattling breath, reminding everyone that he was indeed still alive. When he spoke, his words were quiet, but weighty, and landed like stones in the pit of Sasuke's stomach.
"We studied under the same master…I told you before that we should, therefore, be able to understand each other. I was only joking, however…" He paused and regarded Naruto with a curious glint in his purple eyes. "You're an odd kid…you remind me of myself when I was younger."
"Nagato," Konan said wearily, but he paid her no heed.
"I couldn't believe in what Jiraiya believed in. Or…in the man himself." He bowed his head and the cords in his arms became visible as he strained against the mechanism that held him. "You chose a different path," he continued. "In you, I can see a different future."
The origami tree seemed to shudder as Nagato groaned, flexing and pulling his arms free of the machine, tendrils of slime clinging to the rods in his forearms. Sasuke's legs tensed and he became like a coil ready to spring, his sweaty palm tight around the katana. His eyes bled to red and he watched apprehensively as Nagato brought his frail hands before his chest, forming a seal so that his fingers were even to his chin. Nagato's eyes snapped open and his gaze landed intently on Naruto.
"I will believe in you…Uzumaki Naruto."
Sasuke's eyes widened and he tensed further. It was some sort of ruse…but he could see no ill intent in Nagato's eyes. There was something new there.
Nagato opened his mouth and words poured from him. "Gedo: Rinne Tensei no Jutsu."
"Nagato, you—"
"Konan," he sighed. "I have a new choice before me. I'm going to change things."
"What is that jutsu?" Naruto asked, his face stricken with panic.
Konan's eyes fell and sorrow became a mask upon her face. She drew in a long deep breath before hesitantly meeting Naruto's stare. "He who controls the Rinnegan is master of all six paths. They say he is outside life and outside death. Nagato is the seventh path, able to control life and death…"
She looked up at Nagato as he mumbled in concentration. Sweat formed on his brow and he groaned as if in pain. Sasuke's nails dug into the hilt of his katana as he watched anxiously. Something was happening. When Nagato let out an especially pained groan, he stepped forward and Naruto flinched.
"What's going on?" Sasuke asked.
Katsuyu crawled out from Naruto's jacket, quivering as she spoke. "Something's happening in the village. It's chaos!"
Sasuke ground his teeth and made to pounce, but Nagato's next words quelled him.
"There's still time to save those I killed when I came to Konoha…it's the least I can do."
Katsuyu squeaked. "It's true!" she said joyously. "They're coming back to life! They're coming back to life!"
Sasuke's eyes flickered from the slug back to Nagato, disbelief clear on his face. He had seen many strange things in his years spent with Orochimaru and the Akatsuki, but never had he seen someone rise from the dead. It couldn't be true.
"War brings death…and wounds and pain to both sides…" Nagato panted and wheezed. "There's nothing harder to accept than the deaths of those you love…so you believe…they could never die." He bent in a fit of coughing. When he finished and looked up, blood trickled down his chin and colored his teeth pink. "Many try to find meaning in death…but there's only pain…and hatred. Dying like trash…never ending hatred…pain that never heals—that is war." He slowly lifted his head, his face appearing that much more aged. "Naruto…this is what…you must face."
Naruto's brows furrowed and his fists clenched. Sasuke could see the determination and readiness emanating from his teammate. He grabbed Sakura's hand as the tree surrounding them began to sway and tilt, the paper rustling like crashing ocean waves. Her pink hair blew as gusts of wind picked up around them and she glanced around nervously.
Nagato chuckled. "The book and…you—it's like someone set…this all up. Or maybe…this is the hand of the real God."
The tree burst apart around them, origami sheets flying in every which direction, their paper-edges slicing and cutting at their skin. Sasuke pulled Sakura to him, shrouding her from the razor cuts as he buried his face in her shoulder. In a matter of seconds, the wind died and the flurry of razor paper was over. Sasuke cautiously looked up and, when he deemed it safe, he released Sakura from his grasp. Standing beside Naruto, he watched as Konan finished hiding Tendou Pein in a coffin of paper.
"You're taking him, too?" Naruto asked morosely.
"Tendou was created from Yahiko's corpse," she said softly. "He was someone very special to us."
"That's Yahiko…?"
Konan simply glanced at him. Lifting her hand, the two paper coffins rose into the air and hovered, waiting for her command.
"What about you?" Naruto asked. "I don't want to think you'd return to the Akatsuki."
She rose, her face toward the sun, the light reflecting off her eyes made them appear as translucent disks of gold. Sasuke could see on her face how very old she felt and he knew that she had already used up all her tears.
"I'm through with the Akatsuki," she said clearly. "Yahiko and Nagato were everything to me." Turning to Naruto, she held warning in her gaze. "Yahiko's dream…and Nagato's dream…if they've entrusted it to you, then now you are their dream now. Nagato believed in you, so I believe in you as well. Amegakure will help you make that dream come true."
Naruto bowed his head, his eyes distant. "The name Naruto, and the guts to never give up…and pain..." he said heavily. "…that's what my sensei and fellow pupil have given me."
~.~.~
Karin stiffened when someone grabbed her ankle. Chills ran up her spine. The person she had just stepped past was dead, she'd been certain of it. But now…where there hadn't been chakra a moment ago, chakra radiated. She glanced behind her with wide eyes and nearly jumped. The person who had grabbed her ankle let go and began pushing himself up from the ground. Karin dropped to her knees instantly and took the man by his shoulder.
"Are you hurt?" she asked, concern lacing her cracked voice.
"No…" he said. "No. I'm alive." And he seemed almost as surprised as she was. "I'm alive," he said again and laughed.
Karin stared at him agape.
Then a discordant cacophony arose around them and Karin's head snapped up to look around. Everywhere she looked, the dead were rising to their feet. Their eyes were opening, their chests heaving with life. She didn't understand how it was possible. No…she had an idea. Turning her gaze toward the horizon, she felt a strong chakra signature dispersing and filling the air around them. She was so amazed that she fell to the ground and sat in silent awe.
~.~.~
Team Seven walked through the forest in silence. They leaned heavily against each other for support as they were each exhausted from the ordeal they'd been through. Sasuke didn't appreciate being sandwiched between his two teammates, but there wasn't much he could do change it. Naruto's body had gone through so much in the past two hours that he could barely stand, depending on Sasuke to shoulder the burden. Sakura, on the other hand, just appeared distraught. She walked close to Sasuke, her head slightly bowed. He allowed her to hold his hand, knowing that it offered her comfort that otherwise could not be given, for he didn't have the words to calm her.
The guilt began to eat at him.
Sasuke was finally free from imprisonment. He was finally free to choose a path for himself. He could continue with revenge or he could find a new path. In fighting Pein—in growing close to Sakura—he had made his decision. But the thought of returning to Konoha, where the murderers of his clan had power…he still couldn't force himself to be content with that. He would not forgive them. He supposed in some ways, Naruto was stronger than him. He could stand before the object of his hatred and choose not to enact his revenge. But Sasuke? His blood boiled just thinking about trying to do the same. Therefore, he decided on a compromise.
He would leave.
His guilt intensified. Leaving would mean turning his back on Sakura. What happened between Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan was at the forefront of his mind. Yahiko had died because of their bond. Sasuke couldn't allow his precious people to be hurt in the same way…the best way to protect them would be to leave.
"Do you…do you think it's true?" Naruto asked, breaking Sasuke's train of thought. "Do you think he brought them back?"
Sasuke frowned. "Don't get your hopes up," he finally said.
Sakura sniffled and he squeezed her hand.
"But why would he say that…and Katsuyu ,too?" Naruto persisted. "Kakashi-sensei could be—"
"Naruto," Sakura sighed. "Just…don't…"
Sasuke heard a rustling ahead and his Sharingan activated on instinct. He tensed instantly.
"Good job."
The three of them stood straight at the voice. Sakura's eyes widened and her lips parted in a gasp. Kakashi stood before them, a smile hidden behind his familiar mask. Sakura broke away from Sasuke and ran to Kakashi, tackling him in a jubilant embrace.
"Kakashi-sensei!" she sobbed. "You're alive!"
Sasuke didn't know what to do. Disbelief, joy, relief, all flooded through him and he didn't know how to react. Naruto grinned and pushed past him with a look that said I told you so. He watched as Naruto neared the other two and laughed, while Sakura cried, and Kakashi fought the tears that made him misty-eyed. And when Kakashi looked at him, he felt a strange fear settle in his chest and heat rise to his face. He'd lost people before, but to have them come back…it was weird. Slowly he took a step forward…and then another…and another until he was just feet from his team.
Kakashi looked…proud. After a moment, he smiled and Sasuke grunted when an arm reached out and pulled him into the group. The heat was stifling as he was surrounded, arms reaching around him. Despite being uncomfortable, he couldn't help but smirk as happiness filled him.
Kakashi was the first one to squirm out of the group hug. "Come on, punks, let's go."
Team Seven was complete once again.
When they broke through the forest line, they were met by a crowd and cheers erupted into the sky. Jubilation filled the area as cheers of welcome home and you're heroes and we believed in you rang out. Sasuke took a step back, his eyes wide. The only thing keeping him from running was Sakura's hand in his. It'd been a long time since he'd been met with praise and, though he knew it wasn't all directed toward him, it made him nervous.
"They've all been waiting for your return," Kakashi said.
Katsuyu popped out of Naruto's robes. "I told them everything," she said.
The crowd surged forward, engulfing them as questions spilled from numerous mouths, each becoming indecipherable from the next. Sasuke flinched as people pushed against him and Sakura laughed. Hinata pushed her way through the crowd until she came up to Naruto. Her eyes were bright as she stared at him and he pulled her into a hug, causing a blush to ignite her cheeks. Sakura smiled, releasing Sasuke's hand as she clutched her own to her heart. A stillness moved throughout the crowd at the sight of Naruto and Hinata and Sasuke took the opportunity to shrink into the shadows.
He walked back into the shelter of the forest and forced himself to ignore the uncertainty clawing at his lungs. He could have a home. Team Seven could be whole. Sakura could be happy…if he stayed. But he was lying to himself. If he stayed, he would destroy all of that. He would kill the Council members and he would be imprisoned. Team Seven would be broken. Sakura would hate him. It was better for everyone if he just left.
But—and he stopped in his tracks—he had to say goodbye. Retracing his steps, he made his way back to the forest line and saw that Sakura was already making her way toward him. Her brows were furrowed and she stopped.
"Sasuke-kun?"
"Sakura," he said slowly, savoring her name.
"What's wrong?" she asked, her mouth pulling tight. Her eyes sparkled and the corner of her mouth twitched suddenly.
He sighed. "I…I have to go."
"What do you mean you have to go?"
"Exactly what I said," he replied. "I can't stay here."
Her jaw flexed. "I-I don't understand." Her fists clenched and she looked at him with hard eyes. "You helped us defeat Pein. You fought on behalf of the village. You're a hero!" She stepped toward him, her hands reaching out. "I'm sure Tsunade-shishou will pardon you and revoke your sentence."
"This isn't about my sentence," he bit out.
She shook her head. "Then what is it about?"
Sasuke unclenched his jaw and took in a calming breath. "Read the letter I gave you."
Her eyes narrowed. "Now? Why don't you just tell me?"
He glanced away from her. "It was hard enough to write it out," he mumbled.
Nostrils flaring, Sakura reached into her nin-pouch and pulled out the envelope Sasuke had handed her when she'd been healing him. She ripped it open and pulled out the contents. He watched as Sakura's eyes scanned the words he'd written and his stomach turned. What if she thought differently of him after reading the letter? What would she think of Itachi? Of Konoha? He fought his fear and tried to remain patient, but found himself unable to do so when Sakura's eyes widened. He could clearly see that she reread a line. Her jaw dropped and tears tumbled down her cheeks. Her lids fell, hiding her brilliant green eyes, and a hand reached up to cover her mouth as she tried to regain composure. Sasuke felt as if he were sinking when her eyes opened and she gazed at him. Sorrow reflected in her bright eyes and it was enough. It was enough to let him know that she understood now. Her hands dropped to her sides and she looked defeated. She didn't know what she could say and he didn't know how to comfort her. Not now that he'd decided to leave.
"H-how is this…possible?" she asked. "How could they get away with it?"
His eyes gravitated toward the ground and he let out the breath he'd been holding. "I've been wondering the same thing."
She sucked in a choppy breath. "How long have you known?"
"Madara told me…after I'd killed my brother."
She looked off to the side and bit her quivering lip. Tears rolled freely down her cheeks and her eyes grew distant…and angry. Sasuke's heart pounded heavily in his ears and the thumping hurt terribly. He felt as though he had destroyed Sakura's world, disillusioned her so that she was no longer ignorant…no longer confident in her village. He watched as she breathed heavily, trying to stay strong before him, but he knew how she was hurting. She was hurting for him just as she always did. Finally unable to watch her grieve for him any longer, he decided to speak.
"I wanted to say goodbye," he said quietly as if he didn't quite trust himself to speak.
"Why?" she croaked.
His brow arched. "Why?" he repeated. "I thought it would've been obvious to you, Sakura."
She turned away. "Why come back if you were just going to leave again?" She asked and her voice cracked.
He bit his tongue. Of course she'd ask that. He'd never been one to lie…so he told her the truth. "I came back intending to kill the elders."
"After what you've told me, they certainly deserve it, don't they? But something's obviously changed," she retorted. She neared him again, pleading with her large eyes. "Tell Tsunade. She'll help you! This is what they've been hiding…why they want you dead. We can prosecute them with this. Just…don't go, Sasuke-kun."
He shook his head in the negative. "No, Sakura. I can't stay. Not as long as they live."
She let out a frustrated grunt and pounded her fist against his chest. It wasn't hard enough to hurt him physically, but it was enough to pierce his heart. He gripped her wrists and stopped her thrashing and she whimpered. "Haven't…haven't you figured it out yet?" she asked through tears. "I-I love you," she whispered.
"That's why I have to leave," he replied.
Her eyes met his with confusion.
"If I stay, I'll destroy everything. I will kill them and I will betray you."
"I don't understand what you're saying."
Sasuke fixed Sakura with an intense gaze. She was going to force the words from his mouth. "Sakura," he saw her shiver. "I don't want to hurt you anymore. I'm trying to do the right thing."
"This isn't it, Sasuke-kun," she replied. "You know what the right thing to do is, you're just scared. Let Tsunade handle the elders."
He ducked his head so that he could see straight into her eyes. "I care for you more than I hate the elders." He watched her eyes widen, but he continued. "This is how I'll overcome revenge."
She drew closer to him and frowned. "No. Don't lie to me, Sasuke." Her voice took on a dangerous tone, deeper and quieter.
His brow furrowed and frustration bubbled in his stomach. What could he do to prove that he wasn't lying?
"If that were true, you wouldn't leave me," she said. "What you said isn't overcoming your need for revenge…that's letting it simmer. Overcoming revenge would be staying and fighting it every day. Stay, so neither of us has to be alone."
He was silent as her words pounded in his skull. The thought of being alone was not new to him. He'd known loneliness since he was a child, it was a constant companion, yet it still terrified him. He had learned to ignore the pain, but he couldn't always keep it at bay. There were the days when he suffocated in his isolation. Sakura…Team Seven—they could banish the loneliness once and for all. She'd already begun the difficult task and made progress. He knew that she would always be there for him and would try to help him repress his desire for the elders' blood. Maybe…
He must've taken too long to respond for the look of anger and passion on Sakura's face transformed into one of fear and desperation. "If you leave, I will never forgive you."
Sasuke smirked. It was a terrible sort of déjà vu. "You would resort to threats."
Her eyes widened and her cheeks burned crimson. She looked lovely. He didn't want to leave her…he didn't want her to be alone.
"Fine," he said. "I'll stay."
Her face lightened and she almost smiled. "You will?"
He nodded. "Because…I wasn't lying." He reached forward and brushed his thumb over her cheek, drying her tears. His hand lingered on her face and he began to inch closer to her.
"Sakura…I love you."
She smiled. "I know."
Seeing her sparkling eyes and brilliant smile, happiness swelled inside Sasuke and he couldn't contain his desire for her. Her lips drew his eyes and instinct told him how to respond. Shifting his hand to rest against her jaw, he pulled her to him. When her eyelids began to flutter, his heartbeat increased, warming his blood as it sped through his veins. When her pink lips parted ever so slightly and her warm breath fanned over his face, his stomach flipped. She pushed up on her toes and their noses brushed, spreading goose bumps across his skin. Without waiting another beat, he gently laid his lips on hers. Her body seemed to sigh and his flushed with heat as if charged with the Chidori.
After so many years of practicing his aim, it was strange to find something he'd almost missed. He'd almost let her slip through his fingers, and his lips hadn't landed perfectly on hers. He supposed there was always something to improve…and it didn't bother him. He looked forward to the practice he knew was sure to come. As he kissed her, he memorized the feel of her soft lips—he wanted to know everything about them. She was smiling and he never wanted her to stop.
A/N: Hi everyone! I'm back, and with a mushy new chapter. I hope you find it as melty as my awesome beta did! Thanks, Sakura's Unicorn, your rock my socks!
I want to thank everyone who left me well-wishes for my husband. He's doing great, back to his regular self. I appreciate the love. :D
So NaNo killed me, I got to just over 30,000 words and it was so difficult. Maybe next year I'll hit 50,000 and beyond. We'll see. I did make some progress on my novel, though, which I'm stoked about.
Now...about the chapter. I'm sure some of you are wondering, so I'm just gonna come out and say it. This is not the end of the story. I have a little more plot left in me and depending on how I can write it out, there is about three to five chapters left of the story. So you still have more to look forward to. Yay! I can promise more fluff from this point on, but don't expect any lemons. I will not write any, so please don't ask. And as of right now, I don't have any plans to write another multi-chaptered fic. Now, that may change between now and the end of this story, but I can't promise anything. I don't intend to write a sequel, but again, that may also change. I'll definitely let you know if I decide on a new fic. So...yeah.
Sorry about the long wait, but I do hope this made up for it.
Leave me some love in the form of reviews.
And if I don't get the chance...Merry Christmas!