Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine, but then at least I can write a FF, can't I?
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"So this is how it ends. But I won't go with a whimper. It would be just like that bastard Deidara said, with a bang."
Naruto knew it was the end. He was not going to survive this. He was not going to keep his promise. But that didn't matter; Itachi would die. He would win it for Sasuke. And Sasuke will have to go back. And Sakura-chan will be happy. He would not go back on his word; that was his nindo. Still doubts persisted, will Sasuke really go back? He did not know, and at this moment, he really didn't have the time. He stood before a giant statue with nine eyes, all closed.
"Oh so you think you can get away, squirt?" Kisame's words boomed in the cave.
Naruto sidestepped the swipe from Kisame's Samehada and ran forward beyond him. Then he stopped. They were all there, surrounding him. The Akatsuki. It was now or never.
"You bastards, do you really think I would allow you to get you hands on that furball? You will never get him, you hear me? Never!"
And then Naruto's hands moved through five rapid hand-seals. All of his opponent frowned and the leader's eyes widened. There was a smirk on Naruto's face as the words echoed through the cave.
"Kinjutsu: …………….!!"
"Shit!" was the only word that formed in the leader's mind as a spike in chakra choked the words in his throat.
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"What was that?", Neji asked.
"Naruto…..", Gaara's cold voice replied, even though there was emotion hidden inside.
"North-east, 25 degrees, maybe 6 or 7 miles from here", Pakkun's voice was heard, not wavering a bit.
They took off.
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Dark clouds crowded up in the sky, as if mourning for the dead. Charred bodies lay here and there, bearing witness to the massacre that happened at this place. Gai's foot got caught in something and he almost stumbled. Looking down he found a hilt of a sword sticking out of the rocks. Looking closer, he saw a mist hitai-ate crossed out in the middle, by the sword.
"Kisame……."
The roof of the cave had given way and rocks had fallen on the cave floor, making walking difficult.
"Naruto was here. His smell is strong", Pakkun's voice pierced through the silence.
Gaara turned and said, "He's not here. I can't sense his chakra anywhere."
They didn't know what to do. They were sure however, that Naruto had done all this. Only he was capable of something like this. Gaara looked up at the skies. It would soon rain; and he didn't like it at all. Sand and water are enemies, and Gaara sure wasn't happy with the way this had turned out. He had hoped that Naruto will survive, but looking at the carnage, his hopes had faded. Even Naruto was human.
"Let's go. I don't want to be drenched in the rain. I'm calling for reinforcements", Gaara's voice commanded.
"Hai Kazakage-sama"
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The next day they found it. It was only a hitai-ate; a leaf hitai-ate. Pakkun smelled it and nodded. It was his all right. It was beyond hope; Naruto was gone, but not without taking the most dangerous organization with him. They found the bodies in the rubble, but could not find a few of them. Itachi was missing, and so was the leader. Tobi was missing too, but then probably he was vaporized away, for they only found his mask. The teams returned contented but still sad. Technically mission was a failure, for they could not rescue Naruto. But then probably, it was for the best. He had died a hero, and he would get his place with the others, and if anyone tries to think otherwise, well they be damned. Not even the council can force them the other way.
The End
This fic is actually a study on what I'm going to work on next. There are two projects lined up, and I am still sitting on a Bleach story that need reediting.
The Timeless Man
"Am I alive? No, I died a long time ago. When? I don't remember. I wonder how much time has passed, and to think I was sleeping. In fact it still feels that I'm asleep. It's all a dream, a fleeting moment, a bird that is free and yet can't fly away. I have been living too long."
Naruto, at the age of 20, fights the Akatsuki at its strongest and manages to seal all the bijuu away in himself using a jutsu he created. But the still untested jutsu
backfires. Watch our blond friend live as a cursed immortal, trying to die and be at peace. Naruto with a touch of Cowboy Bebop. Angst but still humourous. Self mutilation freaks and suicidal ones please keep away, this does not appeal to you.
Devils And Angels
This is one big crossover Naruto x Yu Yu Hakusho x DBZ, and yes, major AU. From DBZ only Goku is there and his power has been toned down to Super Saiya-jin only. No SSJ 2 or more. From Yu Yu Hakusho, I'm taking Hiei and Kurama. Naruto remains he same except for that the Kyuubi is extracted out of him. This may be just because I'm just too lazy to make OCs (thinking up Japanese names is hard too, I don't know Japanese), but the characters will be tweaked up if necessary. But no OOC Naruto.