NARUTO

Forbidden Chronicles

The Grand Finale

Naruto yelled out as he was burnt and blasted back by the explosion, and sent flying towards the front gates he had knocked down. In mid-flight, he quickly regained his composure and, forming a hand seal, created two shadow doppelgangers in the way of his flight path, which caught him and stopped him in his tracks. The two Narutos helped him to his feet, and then dissipated after he managed to get back his balance.

The young blonde glared towards the staircase, where he saw the man in the white suit holding out his hand towards the boy, a large grin on his face. He chuckled when he saw the by look up through the clouds of smoke, nothing the massive ash imprint of the blast in the stone floor across the courtyard.

"I'm impressed you've managed to fight on this long, ma boy. Any other opponent would already be turning over on a frying pan in hell right now!" Heinkel exclaimed, bringing his hand to his lips and blowing on the fingers. "You… however… you are different. Lad… you are in a completely different league of your own. Not even the ninja of the Land of Wind, Land of Grass or Land of Snow could defeat me or my loyal guard. I credit you for pushing us this far…"

The spiky haired youngster blinked as he looked at the man. Hirano was watching in silent shock and worry, whereas Konoka was overly concerned for the well being of Naruto. He was bleeding a lot from the wounds he had sustained already, and after being hit full on by that man's otherworldly techniques, his clothes were shredded, and now he was covered with burns and bruises. She cupped her hands over her mouth as she looked between both her protector, and the ones holding her mother hostage.

"What is up with this man's techniques… argh?" Naruto stepped forward, but suddenly collapsed to his knee when he felt his whole body shudder, and his leg give way. Gritting his teeth to bite back the pain, he glared back up through a blurry vision up at the tailor suit man at the top of the stairs at a distance of two football fields away from him. "My body is fried!"

"Let me guess, all your successes are based solely around your abilities," Naruto groaned. "You can emit explosive blasts of chakra, an unorthodox fire release technique, concentrated through the seals drawn into your gloves! That's what gives you your superhuman abilities…"

"Oh? So you've figured it out?" Heinkel asked, placing his hand on his forehead and rubbing his fingertips into it. "As it turns out, Satan's hands are easier to possess then the hands of the divine. I love your land and your culture so much! It gives me all the time I need to explore your abilities, and harness your weaknesses!"

"Heh… don't act so proud! A man like you didn't even have to work hard to achieve your strength; you just stole it from somebody else… someone more deserving of that strength! You make me laugh!" Naruto got to his feet, cracking his neck from left to right. He groaned at the strain he felt on his shoulders. "I feel like my body is about to fall apart!" "You think that by taking advantage of these people just because they are weak means you can play God with everyone? Not gonna happen, buddy! This is all gonna end right here and right now!"

The man in white smirked and turned, glancing at his remaining loyal servant still holding Hirano captive.

"Stay here and hold the fort… I'm going to have some fun with this one!" Heinkel, adjusting his gloves, began walking down the stairs, grinning evilly as he fixed his eyes on his target. Upon reaching the bottom, he stopped, cracking his fingers as he prepared for combat. Naruto in turn took a defensive stance, drawing a pair of kunai, twirling them in his fingers, and faced his opponent down with a serious expression in play. "You know of my abilities, yet you still wish to challenge me? Maybe you would consider joining me instead of fighting. I pay well…"

"No thanks," Naruto replied casually. "I've seen what happens to your lackeys. They get a poor health insurance policy and there isn't much job security either!"

Heinkel's grin widened. "Oh… well then that's too bad!"

The man raised his right hand and a snapped his fingers, a fireball suddenly shooting up out of nowhere around Naruto, and detonating immediately, sending a huge cloud of dust and debris flying into the air. The man wearing the suit placed his left hand on his hat to keep it still from the wafting air currents of the blast whipping around him. He watched with glee as his opponent went up in flames and clouds.

"Dear me… is that all? Huh…"

A red and yellow blur shot out of the dust cloud, and in that moment, Heinkel could see the young boy charging at him, both kunai held back as he ran full pelt, covering ground in flashes as such proving his speed to be above normal. Grinning, the white dressed man raised his right hand, extending his fingers and preparing to launch another attack, but before he could do so, Naruto threw both kunai straight at him, the blades lit by his wind chakra, and the velocity of their throw increased by his sprinting pace.

The blades pierced Heinkel's glove just as he was charging another attack, and the man recoiled in agony, and he clutched his wrist as the blades burrowed in deep. Gritting his teeth, the man growled and looked up to see Naruto still on the charge, drawing his tanto and readying to strike.

Acting quickly, as the boy was only a several yards away; Heinkel raised his other, undamaged hand, and snapped his fingers, a flicker of flames emerging before detonating right in the boy's path. The blonde leapt to the left and around it, avoiding the explosions and hooking around to the man's blind spot where his guard was lowered. Once there, Naruto charged once more, coming in from Heinkel's right.

Spotting his target, the man dressed in white spun round to meet Naruto, who struck out at him with his short blade, but extended his chakra through it, increasing the blade's length. However, just as the attack was about to strike, the crafty foreigner unexpectedly detonated another fireball right in the center of him and his opponent's proximity, the explosion hitting Naruto full on, yet leaving Heinkel untouched.

The young shinobi let out a yell as he was sent flying into the air, his clothes now more or less scorched. Within that second, Heinkel, using speed unanticipated by the blonde, appeared airborne right above Naruto, and before he could react, was suddenly kicked straight down into the courtyard's floor, hard.

The crater he made and the dust cloud he sent into the air had Konoka respond in shock and fear, and she dashed forward in an attempt to help him, but was blocked off by the white, seven-tailed fox protecting her.

"NARUTO-KUN!"

When the smoke cleared, Naruto was revealed lying sprawled out in the middle of a ten meter wide crater, eyes open and face stoically staring up into the sky, blood dribbling from both corners of his lips. Groaning, he sat up, rubbing his gut and chest, where he knows a couple of his ribs were cracked.

"Dammit to all thirteen levels of hell… I'm going to be sore tomorrow…"

Just as he was getting to his knees, he heard two feet touching down right in front of him, and he looked up to see Heinkel standing right in front of him, left hand pocketed and right hand extended. A smirk on his face, he tilted his head at the boy and spoke.

"Do you have any last words before I send you to the first level of hell, ma boy?"

Scowling, Naruto rubbed the back of his head, before looking back up at the man. "Not really… accept maybe… save a place for me?" Flicking his hand out behind his head, a kunai appeared, flashing in the sunlight out of the tall man's line of sight.

Grinning, chakra crackled around Heinkel's hand as he prepared to finish the fight.

"Too bad…"

Then, he unleashed his attack, with Naruto leaping up and rearing to strike in response!

But then, just as both their attacks could make anymore progress beyond the point of initiation, Heinkel suddenly jerked forward, causing Naruto to stop and look up at him oddly for a moment. Then, in the midst of suspended animation, the man dressed in a white suit coughed up blood, groaning in agony as he slowly and shakily looked behind him.

There, holding a katana firmly in a one-handed grasp, impaled in his back right through to his front, was his other Jonin bodyguard, who had left the duty of guarding the High Princess to attack him. Naruto, Konoka and Hirano gaped at the sight, whilst anyone else who was watching the confrontation, mainly the guards posted on the surrounding wall of the palace and Kinako who was just regaining consciousness, were in states of silent and confusion. All the while, Heinkel was still trying to hold onto whatever life he had ebbing away as he glared back at his most trusted aid.

"C-Chou-Un…w…why… did you…"

"I'm sorry, sir," the warrior, a young girl as it appeared, replied while looking up at the man from under her straw hat. Flawless skin, and stunning green eyes matching the silver hair hanging back behind her, was the sight that greeted him. "But I cannot allow you to kill this young boy. Your actions are out of order, and are considered by all means without a shred of honor."

"Y-you bitch… I… I thought we had an agreement!"

"We did… but that agreement expired when you began acting out of line, killing innocent people to get your way," the girl replied, a voice of an angel from what Naruto could hear. And although the boy was still stunned at this turn of events, couldn't help but watch what would happen in the next minute or so.

Heinkel grinned, his body trembling and attempting to stay upright as he exchanged verbal blows with his hired assailant.

"What are you… b-blabbering on about? D-Don't tell me… you haven't k-killed others… to meet your own goals… or fulfill… any personal gain?"

"You're right, I haven't," Chou-Un replied, glaring up at him. "Throughout all my life, I have never slain another human being who was innocent or pure, but have defended myself in light of certain circumstances. Yet there has been no person strong enough to be a challenge to me, and hence was not worthy of my blade. But now… thanks to being under your employ, I have found the perfect adversary."

Heinkel choked, and he fell to his knees. Chou-Un sighed and she gripped her sword tighter.

"Closing my eyes, I look away from you as your soul enters the spirit world, and your body returns to the earth," the girl said quietly.

In one swift motion, the girl pulled her sword out from him, spun it, and upon sheathing it to where a audible 'click' was heard, the body of her employer fell over lifeless, right at Naruto's feet.

Getting to his feet, Naruto gripped his side where the gash from his last opponent was, as well as a couple of cracked ribs. Letting out a sigh, the boy staggered backwards as he watched the last remaining Jonin enemy turn to him. With a smirk, the silver haired girl removed the straw hat from her head, and unclasped her cloak, throwing it into the wind. Chou-Un revealed herself to be a rather striking young girl around Naruto's age, armed with a long, custom made katana, and dressed in a short orange and blue, flower patterned kimono top (revealing a very well toned figure underneath, as she only wore a fishnet outfit under that) and black spandex shorts and wooden sandals, Chou-Un was more like a Ronin rather than a Jonin.

Upon revealing herself completely to the boy, she looked over towards Konoka and the Seven-Tailed Fox guarding them. She gestured over her shoulder towards her mother still standing at the top of the stairs, still confused as to what was going on.

"Go to your mother, young miss. I no longer have a reason to be holding onto her…"

Konoka, cautious at first, did so, and ran up towards her mother, who embraced her with a warm smile and tears in her eyes. The two cried in each other's arms, overjoyed to finally be able to see each other again after a long month of torment and loneliness.

Turning to the blonde, Chou-Un reached into her kimono and, under a weary gaze from the boy, pulled out a vial of berries. She held it out to him, Naruto looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"For your wounds… it will help ease the pain…"

Blinking, Naruto chuckled and stood up straighter. Drawing his tanto from its sheath, he twirled it in his finger and held it towards the girl.

"No thanks… I'd rather go with the pain then ease it… it lets me know that I'm alive," the young ninja replied.

Looking at the young man in surprise, Chou-Un then smiled and closed her eyes, tossing the vial of berries aside without a second thought.

"That's good. You are very strong," she replied, stepping to face him completely, flicking her thumb upwards at the handle of her katana, unsheathing it slightly with a click. "To be able to defeat Saji, Fuugo and Kinako simultaneously… you are quite the warrior. I like that…" A blush spread across her lips as she looked upon the ragged boy, seeing him take a step back into a prepared stance.

Channeling chakra into his tanto, a wind blade extended outwards and hummed audibly. The blonde smiled as he looked at her.

"So… what now? Seeing as you've killed your client, you should have no reason to keep on fighting. What's the deal?"

"The only reason I worked for him was to find a worthy enough opponent to test myself against. And here you are," Chou-Un replied, dropping down into a stance, gripping her katana's handle tightly as she focused on her opponent through closed eyes. "My intention was never to hurt or persecute anyone… I have not done so… not in my entire life."

Naruto grinned, he too taking a more prepared fighting stance, chakra blade flickering in the light.

"Good to know that I can honor your request…"

Hirano and Konoka, noticing the two facing off not to far from them, got to their feet, with the young daughter running out to try and intervene. The Seven-Tailed Fox Moka merely stood by the pair, and watched her master face off against the last of the Jonin with interest. The guards that started swarming onto the palace grounds surrounded the area, holding back as the two young warriors faced off against one another.

"Naruto! You've done enough! There's no need for you to keep on fighting! Please!" the girl called out. The blonde turned his head towards her and smiled, winking.

"Don't worry, Konoka… I want this…"

"As do I," Chou-Un stated.

Konoka clasped her hands together, looking on with worry and concern for her savior. However, the reassuring hands of her mother being placed upon her shoulders eased her worry, and she just stood back and watched in silence.

The two young warriors continued to stare each other down, for what appeared to be for an eternity, inside and out. A prolonged stand off was held, both opponents sizing each other up in an attempt to figure out how to defeat the other. Of course, Chou-Un had plenty of time to absorb the young boy's style of fighting when she was watching beforehand; in fact, she just wanted to watch the young, good-looking meat stand her down. Naruto on the other hand was a little concerned about how he would fair against someone as strong as her.

The two of them charged, Chou-Un slashing her katana out, sparks flying as her blade collided with his, wind chakra burning against her blade, but to no effect. This indicated that her blade was more then just a piece of wrapped up, cold steel. The next thing they knew, was their blades swinging through the air at blurred speeds, sparks flying between them, with Chou-Un attacking and Naruto countering in kind, before he was knocked to the side from one swing. He circled her, blade held out as the wind whipped between them.

Gritting his teeth, Naruto took a firmer stance, Chou-Un twirling her blade in a one-handed grip, before reengaging the boy, attacking with a flurry of swipes and thrusts, Naruto maneuvering around a combo and attacking her from her blind-spot. However, she spun around, her blade meeting his thrust and defending, batting it away with a powerful guard break. The blonde swung around her, lashing out again with his blade, their bodies moving round and round as they each tried to find an opening.

Skidding as he thrust forward, Naruto's blade met Chou-Un's in a brief grapple, before the girl's right hand suddenly came round and grabbed his blade wielding arm by the wrist. She twisted them so that her back was to him, and with her sword arm, elbowed him in the face three times, before he kneed her back, breaking her grip. Retaliating, she spun round several times in a quick approach, before kicking him in the side of the head with a shock-wave of a thud, hard, sending him skidding back. Debris flew from the ground and a cloud of dust formed behind the young shinobi from the force of the blow, as he skidded round, pivoting across the ground and slowing to a stop. Gritting his teeth, Naruto let out a growl and charged again.

He swung his air-blade out, impacting her blade as she swung it around, sparks flying once again with a loud clang. Naruto slid underneath her blade and he spun back into a fighting stance, skidding around to stop his momentum and charging Chou-Un's back. The silver haired girl sensed his approach, and crouching low, back-flipped over his thrust, landing on his back and pushing off so that he stumbled forward. Naruto stopped himself from tripping by leaping into the air, and using the forward force of his leap, spun around and threw a cluster of shuriken through the air.

The flying ninja stars curved through the air as they flew at their target. Chou-Un, through closed eyes, sensed their approach, and with a few quick slashes of her sword, knocked them out of the air. Within seconds, Naruto landed, and was on the attack again, letting out a yell as he clashed blades with the girl, who fought with gritted teeth and full strength to hold the young warrior back. She skidded along the ground backwards as Naruto forced his blade against hers. She tried with all her might to push him back, but the stubborn boy, though weakened and exhausted, wouldn't give up.

Growling, Chou-Un opened her eyes, putting her full focus and concentration on the battle. With a shout, she forced the boy off of her, who back-flipped away, landing several feet away and taking another stance. Thy both charged each other again, this time Naruto leaping over her, flipping and striking down at her head and shoulders. Spotting the maneuver, Chou-Un swung her blade upwards, blocking his strikes and sending him over. She spun around and pursued as the boy retreated, sprinting across the battle-torn courtyard, arriving at some boulders and large statue remains.

Sliding to a stop just in front of the boulder, Naruto ran at Chou-Un, who in turn charged straight at him. He swung out, air-blade extending fr greater distance. She blocked it, ducking under a second thrust and passing under the by, who spun around and lashed out, only for her to leap atop of the boulder. He leapt after her, swinging at the girl as she slid down the boulder in an evasion tactics, prompting the boy to follow her. He thrust straight down at her, only for her to back-flip off of the boulder. Upon landing on the ground ten meters away from the boulder, with her blonde shinobi target pulling his chakra blade out of the huge stone, Chou-Un charged aiming for the gigantic rock.

Blade held to her side, the silver haired girl bolted, a sonic boom shooting out as she ran full-speed at the rock, her form literally a grey blur. She went straight through the boulder, the blur surrounded by flashes of streaking blue light, indicating the speed of her numerous slashes and attacks, which cut the boulder to thousands of pieces. Naruto leapt into the air just in time to avoid it, soon to be joined with the rubble.

While in mid-flight amidst the flying chunks of rocks, Naruto spotted his opponent stopping behind him several meters away and in the process of turning to face him. Seeing an opening, the young shinobi spun through the air, using his momentum to his advantage, and kicked several huge chunks of stone straight down at the girl.

Looking up, Chou-Un reacted quickly to the rocks flying her away, and in an amazing display of speed and raw power, sliced out at each individual rock twice, slicing them into pieces and knocking them away. Just as her blade passed through the last chunk of stone, Naruto suddenly materialized in front of her out of thin air in a mid-charge position, blade held back and ready to strike. Chu-Un gasped in shock, and swung her blade out in front of her just in time to block the young man's attack. A cluster of sparks blinded the two as Naruto's momentum in his attack pushed him and his opponent sliding across the stone-paved courtyard.

Stopping after a several meter long slide, Chou-Un pushed Naruto off of her, sending him flipping and spinning through the air in a controlled direction. The boy landed safely away from her, took a stance, and then rushed at her. In his run, he tossed a handful of kunai her direction, forcing her to block them before he struck. She did so, knocking a few away in a hurried attempt to retaliate, but was struck in the arm and shoulder by two, before she was rammed into by the boy, sending them both rolling across the hard floor, her katana flying out of her hand, same as Narutos as the two of them tumbled.

Kicking him off of her, Chou-Un backward rolled to a crouched stance, with Naruto back-flipped through the air, and also landing crouched low. They stared each other down, the blonde swiftly flicking his left wrist out, three kunai appearing between his fingertips, along with a bunch of shuriken. With a yell, he tossed the shuriken forward, the stars curling through the air straight to their opponent at full speed.

Chou-Un blocked them with her bare, hands, getting scarred across the arm by one and wincing when she caught them. The next thing she saw in a blink of an eye was another shower of weapons, this time kunai. Reacting quickly, she tossed the shuriken back, knocking the kunai off-course, breaking them up before they hit her. However, a couple of them scraped her as they flew by, even though they were inches away. Naruto smirked as she yelped and fell to her knees, blood seeping out of her wounds, as he knew that cloaking wind chakra over his kunai had down their job. In a flash, he drew one more kunai and leapt at her, thrusting straight at her.

The silver-haired girl looked up smirking as well, as she saw the young shinobi attack her at break-neck speed. With both hands she jabbed out, grabbing his wrist and twisting it, spinning him around and throwing him behind her, at the same time grabbing the kunai from his hand. Naruto hit the ground via his shoulder and rolled back into a crouched stance, drawing a second kunai and attacking her.

Standing, Chou-Un thrust out with her blade, striking his head long and both of them taking grapple positions. They wrestled against one another and moved across the courtyard, locked in a weapon stand-off. Eventually after glaring hard into each others eyes, they pushed off of one another, each of them tossing a kunai at the other, Chou-Un throwing first, with Naruto aiming just above hers, quickly cloaking his blade with wind chakra. This resulted in his blade slicing straight through the other kunai flying at him, at the same time knocking it downwards. The kunai split in half in mid-fling, and flew straight by him on both sides.

The young girl leapt to the side, avoiding Naruto's kunai, aiming for her sword. Picking it up off the ground, she returned to a solid stance, and spun around, meeting the spiky haired boy as he charged at her. He jabbed out at her, the girl acting quickly and ducking under his punch, the ninja flying towards a statue foundation block right behind her. Naruto landed feet against it, spinning around and roundhouse kicking the girl in the head. She was hit full on by the kick and sent staggering across the ground.

Quickly reassuming a stance, she countered, slashing out at the boy who ducked under her swipe and kicked at her again. Chou-Un leapt back at this, and thrust out at him, only for the boy to, with great agility, leapt over her blade by a couple of inches, and commando roll upon lading, avoiding a second swipe aimed for his torso if he had landed standing upright. Taking a crouched stance, he thrust out at her with a kunai drawn from his back pouch, meeting her blade in a shower of sparks, but was knocked back by a kick.

Skidding along the ground from the force of the girl's blow, Naruto formed a number of hand seals in an instant, and concentrating, unleashed his next attack.

"Wind Release: Dragon versus Fox!"

A tornado of wind whirled around him, taking shape, and soon enough, a giant fox shaped entity of transparent appearance shot out of his miniature tornado and charged its target down. The roar it let out was that of a hurricane or a storm, and Chou-Un was caught by surprise at the sudden attack. However, it did little to affect her progress in this fight, and spinning her sword in her grasp, slashed upwards at the wind release attack. A loud whoosh shot forth from her blade, and along with a shout of effort, the silver haired girl cut his technique in half. The great force of the technique that was supposed to hit her was at least averted, but she was still hit with a violent force of wind.

The wind tore at her already damaged clothes, ripping away her kimono top. Ignoring the obvious show of her fishnet top and nothing else, the girl gritted her teeth and leapt at Naruto. The boy growled and leapt to the right, avoiding a thrust from the girl's blade, which barely missed him as he took refuge behind another statue block. He ducked behind it, drawing a kunai with an explosive tag and stabbing it into the stone face. A second later, he was forced to jump away as Chou-un's blade suddenly cut clean through the rock, slicing it into four pieces at the speed of her attacks.

It was in that blink of an eye moment, a spark was lit, and the kunai bomb suddenly detonated right in front of Chou-Un, sending her flying backwards towards the palace staircase. Wincing at the burns from the explosion, the cuts received and the bruises, the girl took control of her flight path and skidded to a stop. Ignoring her ripped clothing, the silver haired warrior spun her sword again and charged through the smoking dust cloud still filled with embers and ash.

Naruto used this opportunity to retrieve his tanto, picking it up off the ground and turning to face his opponent's supposed position. She shot through the cloud, slashing out at him and forcing him to block her attack. His blade slid along hers and clattered, the blonde being forced back as Chou-Un grappled against him.

The girl smirked at him, and he grinned back, pumping wind chakra through his blade to increase its strength against her unbreakable blade. The two warriors then shoved each other away with guard breaks, and Naruto leapt back then to his left, circling the girl as she did the same, both still facing each other. Then after a moment of repositioning themselves they reengaged in another heated clash of flying blades and unorthodox attacks.

Just as Chou-un was moving in on the attack against her young opponent, who staggered back after being slashed across his right eye, knocking him off-balance and blinding him temporarily from the pain and blood, the girl suddenly jerked to a stop. Gasping, she looked down at the stone floor beneath her to see a pair of hands grabbing her leg. In an instant, the ground right in front of her cracked and exploded beneath her, a second Naruto jumping out of the earth, kunai in hand as it tried to stab her.

With her leg still being held down, the silver haired girl didn't have a great leverage in avoiding, and managing to avert her head slightly to avoid serious damage, ended up with a scratch across her cheek. Growling, she kneed the clone Naruto with her free leg, taking it out in a puff of white smoke. Then, in an unexpected attack, she was then tackled by a third and forth Naruto, one aimed for her torso, the other aimed for her sword in an attempt to disarm her.

Chou-Un was knocked to the floor but fortunately for her, not out. Quickly countering, she hooked at the Naruto pinning her at the waist with her free hand, knocking him into the other and shoving them both off of her. Instantly, the swordswoman rolled back onto her feet, leaping into the air high, just as another Naruto clone shot out of the ground with another kunai, lashing at her.

Upon getting airborne, the Naruto clones on the ground, suddenly surrounded her and took to the air, several jumping off of anther's back to gain altitude in their next attack. Chou-Un met them in mid-air combat, slashing at them as they came in with kunai to strike lethal blows. Though a couple attacks landed, they were non fatal flesh wounds, but the girl was still wounded nonetheless. However, as she was so focused on the clones coming up at her, she missed the one coming straight down at her from above, Chou-Un barely having enough time to cross her arms over her face and block the axe-kick the real Naruto sent down at her.

The two of them both fell from the sky, landing on top of each other hard upon hitting the floor. Yelping in pain, both of them rolled away from each other, Chou-Un still gripping her sword, and Naruto picking up a stray kunai from the ground.

Panting heavily from exhaustion and fatigue both damaged fighters staggered back to their feet. Just as they did, both of them reached their limits, falling to their knees and barely keeping hold of their weapons.

With his lack of chakra, Naruto suddenly found that his kunai was too heavy to hold on strength alone, and tossed it aside. Literally on his last leg, the blonde shinobi instead opted for a final attack, holding his right hand forward and concentrating as hard as he could, formed his easily recognizable signature move. Blue wind energy swirled into his palm, and within seconds, a tennis ball sized chakra sphere appeared. When he was done, it suddenly became slightly unstable, as his lack of energy prevented him from maintaining it for too long.

Chou-Un, winded and also on her last limbs, grabbed her sword in both hands, took aim and quickly threw herself at her opponent only a few feet away, vision blurry and body strained to breaking point. Naruto picked himself up too, and in turn, thrust himself at her. With simultaneous yells of effort, they thrust their attacks into one another.

"RASENGAN!"

Naruto struck Chou-Un full on in the stomach, and Chou-Un pierced him straight through his left shoulder, a spray of blood shooting out of the exit wound. Meanwhile, the blonde shinobi's signature mood dug and drilled itself briefly into its target, until…

The explosion of rippling air currents that followed came from the boy's unstable Rasengan, sending them both flying in opposite directions.

They skidded across the ground, tumbling and rolling to a stop in different positions, covered in dust, gravel and a thin cloud of debris. There, the two warriors laid for a moment as the effects of their attacks on each other settled, and the onlookers gaped in awe and disbelief. Probably the most intense battle of the day, those who could not keep up with the fight were left gaping like fish, wondering what had just happened.

Chou-Un recoiled, gripping her stomach and coughing up blood, attempting to push herself up, but inevitably falling back onto her stomach, groaning. Naruto meanwhile, struggled as he sat up, grabbing the sword's handle, whose handle was pressed right up against his skin. With a loud yell and a cry of agony, he pulled it out, blood splattering everywhere. He threw the sword away and shakily got to his feet, but fell to his knees instead, gripping the deep entry wound made by his opponent.

"Argh! Dammit… ergh…" Naruto choked out, looking up to where his opponent lay.

He saw the girl was lying on her back, gripping her exposed stomach that had a huge bruise mark in it, and obviously a couple of cracked ribs. Breathing raggedly, the girl coughed up a bit more blood before turning towards the boy, kneeling several meters away from her. Seeing him staring at her, the girl took in a deep breath and smiled at him.

"T-To be beaten… like this…" the girl moaned, eyes shimmering with unshed tears of delight. "I… I… feel… very… strange… for some… odd… reason," She looked up towards the sky, feeling a breeze whip at her hair and a bird fly overhead, singing clearly in her ears. "I'm glad… to have h-had… this fight. T-Thank you."

Naruto, through blinding pain, staggered towards the young girl, stopping right in front of her. As he stood over her, she smiled up at him. "You are strong… Naruto"

The boy smiled back, dropping to his knees in exhaustion.

"Same to you… Chou-Un…"

The next thing Naruto knew were blackness as his body hit the floor, and his name being called by the young girl he had returned to her kingdom, running towards him and dropping to her knees next to him.

"NARUTO-KUN! Naruto!"

Later that following week…

When Naruto awoke a day later, he found himself lying in a hospital bed, alongside two of his previous opponents, all of them wrapped in bandages and casts, same as him, and a patiently waiting and attentive Konoka. The red-headed princess was so relieved to see him regain consciousness, she forgot all about his injuries and glomped him, earning a cry of agony from the boy when she put pressure on his chest. Apparently, she was just really happy to see him alive and well, and he appreciated every last moment of the hug, knowing that he too was alive.

After the girl detached herself from him, the boy spotted his newly stitched and fixed clothes, as well as all his weapons and gear deposited on his bedside table. And, lying on a bed not to far from his was his summoned Seven-Tailed friend, Moka. The white fox was napping peacefully, one eye always checking up on him to make sure he was okay.

To Naruto, the sight of the hospital walls was a welcome change, and for once, the boy could rest at ease.

Eventually, by the end of the day, he was up and about, all his wounds healed thanks to the remnants of the Nine-Tailed Fox's power still coursing through his system. It made him grateful for actually having the Kyuubi sealed inside of him in the first place, but he didn't like being scolded by the Nine-Tailed entity, especially after meeting her in his unconscious state. She said he was extremely lucky, but also said he had gotten much stronger from his experience. This made Naruto smile.

As soon as he could walk about again, Naruto was all healed, and could finally tour about the village at his own leisure. During which, High Princess Hirano reassumed leadership of the Kingdom of the Eastern Winds, continuing with the populace's daily business and repairing all the damages Heinkel made to the place, ensuring that the economy and infrastructure was back to normal. The palace, of course, had to be repaired from the battle that took place between Heinkel's forces, and the hero who saved the Kingdom from a tyrant.

As soon as Naruto had recovered completely, a celebration was held in his honor, with the full attendance of the royal family, royal guard and the reinstated council of the Kingdom. The young shinobi was made a hero throughout this land, and a seat next to the High Princess should he ever return.

But then came the time of his departure, and as he stood at the newly repaired front gates of the palace, was seen off by the High Princess, Konoka and most of the population of the surrounding village. Wearing a newly repaired red trench coat, pants and headband, but this time not wearing the vest and just the bandoleer of scrolls and weapons around him, the young warrior prepared to set off. He smiled up at the Kingdom's leader, seeing her return his smile with one of her own, with her bowing to him in extra gratitude.

"Thank you very much, Naruto," the woman said, her voice filled with sincerity. Naruto nodded his head, seeing her straighten back up and smile back down at him. "For all you have done for us… for returning my daughter to me, and saving our Kingdom from a future oppressor, you have restored the very way of life back to my family, and to these people. I just wish there was more we could do to repay you for your kindness."

"Ahh… thanks anyway… but I think I'm good!" Naruto replied, rubbing the back of his head and grinning back to her. "That feast last night was all the thanks I needed to get me started for the journey today. Now… I just wish for you all the best for the future."

"Yes, of course. I promise you, Naruto Uzumaki, that I will make our Kingdom the most prosperous of all, for the benefit of the land and for the people. And to you too, I wish for you all the best on your adventures, knowing that it was through your actions and good heart that has inspired me to help my people the best I can!"

"Hehe… thanks! You're sure to do great!" Naruto then turned his attention from the beaming Hirano to her daughter, who was standing by her side or… more like hiding behind her timidly, admiring the young by from a distance. When his eyes landed on her, she ducked behind her mother a little more, face red. Regardless, Naruto smiled brightly at her and bowed towards the young girl. "And… Konoka… I'm sure you'll grow up to be a beautiful young woman one day, who will be a great leader just like your mother!"

Konoka audibly 'eeped' at his words, and peered from around her mother's dress shyly. The moment she saw Naruto wink at her, the girl impulsively ran out and rushed at him, wrapping her arms around him and kissing him full on, on the lips. She held it there for a few seconds, the crowd around them either gasping or 'awing' at the sight, while Hirano giggled as her daughter bid goodbye to her crush. Eventually, Konoka released Naruto's lips and ran back to her mother, leaving a very astounded, wide-eyed and blushing ninja.

Clearing his throat, Naruto smiled and looked back up towards the pair, spotting one of the former Jonin enemies standing beside the High Princess. Kinako, the blue haired, duel sword weilder, now dressed in an imperial guard garb, smiled at the boy and waved. The young shinobi, not at all surprised by the sight, smiled back at her and waved.

"Hey!" he exclaimed, pointing towards her. "Don't you try anything funny with the royal family, you hear! I don't want to have to come around one day and see you sitting in that throne!"

"Ah, it's okay. I'm through with that," Kinako said, smirking at the young boy. "My duties are now protecting her highness and grace, and training the royal guard and new recruits. Better to have stronger soldiers next time if any trouble arises…"

Naruto grinned. "Well… I hope you do well." As he turned back towards the High Princess, he barely missed the small blush appearing on the blue haired girl's cheeks, and she looked away.

"Well… I'm heading out now! See yah later!" Naruto called, waving over his shoulder as he turned on his heel and started down the road.

"Don't be a stranger now, Naruto!" Hirano exclaimed.

"Bye, Naruto-kun! Thanks for everything! Visit soon!" Konoka called out, also waving towards the boy as he walked on. The blonde haired shinobi waved back, the crowd also waving and cheering him as he disappeared down the road. Soon, the young shinobi was out of the Kingdom's village outskirts, and now crossing the hills, eventually coming to a point at the top of the hill where he could see the entire Kingdom and ocean coast.

For a full minute, he turned to look out over the ocean, admiring the new glow the Kingdom had, which really struck something real deep inside of him. With a smile, he then continued on.

"Please… wait!" a shout came from behind Naruto as he was about to leave.

Turning, Naruto got a bit of a surprise when he saw a fully healed Chou-Un run up the hill towards him, dressed in a new martial arts designed kimono top, katana in a newly made sheath and a scroll tied onto her back. Stopping in front of the ninja who had defeated her, the silver haired girl dropped to one knee and bowed to the boy, eyes closed.

"Naruto… I wish to join you on your journey, and learn the ways of living and fighting through your eyes," the girl said in pure sincere and formal fashion.

It took a while for the surprised boy to actually come to terms with what Chou-Un said to him, and so he just stood there for the next few seconds, his brain absorbing what she said very… very slowly.

"Wha?"

Chou-Un sweat dropped and looked up at him, her green eyes shimmering in the light.

"I said I wish to accompany you on your journey, Naruto-sama!"

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Hold on there for a second! This is… this is just so sudden. Are you saying you want to come along with me? For real?"

"Mm-hm. I wish to learn from you, your way of life, to experience your adventures, and to be close… uhh…" Chou-Un stumbled on her words and looked away, blushing brightly. "I uhh… that last one is irrelevant."

Raising an eyebrow, Naruto folded his arms and looked the girl over for a bit, taking in the girl's words, the way she said them, and by the expression on her face. He could clearly see the streak of red across her cheeks, and the way her eyes shifted away from him and to him every now and again. From what he could tell, she didn't pose any threat to him, and since he was back to full strength and fully rested, he knew he was much stronger then from when he fought her several days ago.

Seeing as that she wasn't back at the Kingdom, and that she was packed for travel, the blonde haired boy figured she wasn't intent on going anywhere else but with him. Figuring that she would be good company and support for him on his long term travel, as well as not wanting to force the girl into taking a different choice, Naruto smiled and nodded his head, letting out a sigh.

"Alright then… I guess you can tag along. I'd appreciate your company if you like to talk…"

"Really?" Chou-Un looked up at him brightly. Realizing she was sounding a bit overly excited, she looked away again with a blush and cleared her throat. "Uhh… that's… that's great. Thank you very much, Naruto-sama. I will not let you down."

Naruto smirked, and turning on his heel, began heading off once again.

"Come on… we got a lot of country to cover still." Chou-Un stood up and followed him, keeping in tune with his steps as they both proceeded for an unknown destination, still in the process of being figured out by the young blonde.

As they walked side by side Chou-Un with a bit of red still on her face continued to take glances at the young boy walking beside her. His great posture, his obviously great body, his handsome face and untamable, blonde hair, he was a picture of health and greatness. She smiled and looked ahead of them, watching the winding path lead them next the eastern coast of this world.

"To be so strong… and so kind, this guy… makes me want to be with him…"

TO BE CONTINUED…

Author's Note: I've decided to try out an interesting device at the end of some of my chapters now. I want to try out a power level system similar to the ones I've been using in my stories to put into perspective how each character featured fairs against each other. It sure as hell beat having to explain how strong each character is at the points of the original plot line.

Be aware though that these are based on chakra, ki and skill, and may be influenced by strength as well.

Power levels:

Battle of Kingdom of the Eastern Winds

Naruto:

Base: 150,000

Full Power: 260,000

Kyuubi:

Phantom Cloak Form: 300,000

Mysterious Five Jonin:

Chou-Un:

Base: 150,000

Full Power: 260,000

Kinako:

Full Power: 225,000

Fuugo:

Full Power: 220,000

Saji:

Full Power: 200,000

Mao:

Full Power: 180,000

Von S. Heinkel (Boss):

Base: 100,000

Full Power (using explosion technique): 280,000

Other:

Jiraiya (though not present):

Base: 400,000

Full Power: Unknown