Author's Notes: Now comes the tear-jerker part of the fic. Well, one of the tear-jerkers so far. I'm gonna make this short but to DarkRavie and Zane Makura, thanks for your kind comments :) Again here goes with me describing battles once more. I like to think I'm improving :D
Disclaimer/Warnings: From now on I will only post these on the first chapter. I don't want to fill up the chapters with these things and annoy you, the readers. Sound fair?
"Family Ties"
By: Beloved Shadow of Light
+ Willing Sacrifices +
"Orochimaru. I'll show you a special jutsu, one even you don't know about! Behold! Fūinjutsu, Shiki Fūjin!!"
'A jutsu I don't know about?' Part of him was quite cautious about this mysterious technique but another part of him was quite excited about the possibility of learning something that no one else knew. Orochimaru completely ignored the sliver of fear that still ran through his body.
Still hidden in the darkness Hidama resisted the urge to shout and give her position away. 'Hurry up, Goku... even this darkness won't last forever.' Fingers flexed quietly, muscles tensing, breathing slowing, focusing on the sounds all around her but she flinched when she heard the almost inaudible clack of beads striking against one another.
"Show me." Despite being unable to see he struck the hokage repeatedly, multiple attacks being blocked but a lucky strike drew blood that was soon followed by a powerful blow to the midsection. He laughed as the body was thrown back. "What's the matter, sensei? Are you planning on letting the previous hokages torture you to death?" he taunted with sickening glee. "Do hurry and show me this jutsu before you perish."
Sarutobi grunted as he tried to ignore the pain, clutching his bleeding arm. 'How much longer, will it take...' he wondered. Even he wasn't sure if he could last this much longer.
The shinigami silently lifted its arm up, the beads making almost no noise even as he opened his hand, letting them wrap around his arm. With the short tanto in his mouth he began to chant, causing the beads to glow. Scriptures began to form along his out-stretched arm, of a language that existed long before the time of man. The pale woman choked back the gasp and clutched at her chest, opening her eyes against her better judgment to watch as the scripture-written arm lowered and slowly pushed its hand into the bound soul of Sarutobi Goku. She knew he felt it when his back arched and he coughed up blood. Tears welled up in her eyes, her throat locking up, making it difficult to breathe much less speak.
'Onegai... don't...' she wanted to say but nothing came out except pained gasps for breath.
The pain was a welcomed one as he forced his body to continue standing. '... It's ready.'
"What's wrong? You look rather unsteady."
As though a silent command was given the two clones dashed into the darkness, focusing on their targets. They would have only chance at this and they could not fail no matter what. Moving swiftly the duo located their targets and moving swiftly, grabbed a hold of them with all the strength they possessed and held on for dear life.
"Come forth!!" he commanded. The arm pushed in deeper and from all the current hokages' chests, a hand slowly pushed out and grabbed a hold of the being held captive by the clones. Slowly the darkness began to pull back, light filling the area. Soon the light revealed the spirit's hands had reached into the chests of the Shodaime and Nidaime, catching hold of their souls. In that instant, they both knew what awaited them even as their bodies slowly began to lose their color and life.
"Gomen... Goku..." Toshiro said softly with a proud smile on his lips.
"We've caused a lot of trouble..." Yasuo spoke with a sad smile on his lips.
He closed his eyes, steeling him for what he was about to do. "Onegai... forgive me. Fūin!!" At once the souls were ripped free of the bodies and pulled through the chests of the two clones. The sandaime gasped as he experienced what his bushins had gone through as the Shiki Fūjin appeared on his chest where the death god had pushed his hand through. In the new light the brothers slowly crumbled, revealing the lifeless forms of the two nins that had fought in the preliminaries and lost. They were also, the former teammates of one Yakushi Kabuto. The only difference was they each bore the hitachis for Oto.
"... You used the lives of your own men for your own selfish ambitions..." Words of wisdom came from the recesses of his mind, the last advice he could remember receiving from his mentors when he was a young boy, training to become a shinobi of a newly founded Konoha.
"The comrades of the Leaf make up each part of my body. Those of the village believe in me, and I believe in them. That's what being a hokage means!" Toshiro told him proudly and great pride.
"Seiyūki, protect those that love the village and believe in you. Find one you can entrust to carry on your will and guide the next generation," Yasuo said with a seriousness that spoke of much hope. "From tomorrow on, you are..."
"Hokage."
Unbidden tears flowed from his eyes at the memory but his gaze still burned with anger at the monster before him. "How can you sacrifice the lives of your own men?!" he demanded.
"The lives of my own men? How can you keep talking about something so trivial?!" Orochimaru shouted back at him, frustrated that he would still talk about something so useless.
"Did they not believe in you?" No answer was given but even if he did say something, Goku was not in the mood to listen. The clones vanished, their duty done as he called Enma back to him. With a yell he charged at the traitor and weapons clashed, rage fueling each other that with a quick move the Kusanagi blade was torn from the snake's hands. "Now!" The bo extended, Enma's arm reaching out to try and finished what Hidama had tried earlier.
"I've got you now!!"
"Senei Jashu!!" From his upraised arm snakes appeared from the sleeve, lunging and wrapping around Enma. Immobilizing him but before he could raise his other arm and do the same to the hokage, pale arms wrapped around his arms, nearly twisting his shoulders out of joint. He tuned his head to look and growled as Hidama glared back at him with teeth bared. "Damn you!!"
"Go to Hell. Now Goku!!" she shouted, keeping his arms locked though he struggled to break free from her grip. He didn't waste anytime as he released the nyoi bo and grabbed the snake by his shoulders, trapping him between the two of them.
"This ends now!!" Commanding the summoned spirit, once more the hand pushed out through his chest and reached into that of the traitor, and grabbed a hold of his soul.
Gold-colored eyes widened as the strange and frightening sensations now coursing through his body. 'What is this feeling...?' Impossible to explain he knew that unless he did something, he would die. 'Iie!' Ignoring the pain in his arms his right hand formed the needed sign and from the ground the grasscutter sword rose, and flew right for the old man's unprotected back. Enma transformed back to his true self and struggled in the crushing grip of the snakes, reaching out to try and intercept the blade. The shinigami's hand slowly began to forcefully pull the soul from the living body-
A splatter of blood fell and for a moment, time froze.
--
Buildings continued to fall, turning into rumble. Shurikens and kunais flew to either miss or strike their intended targets. Shinobis from Konoha and Suna fought to the death, utilizing every jutsu they knew to aid them. The summoned three-headed snake continued to destroy whatever lay in its path, regardless of the Leaf's ninjas trying vainly to stop it.
"You must stop them here!"
"Where are the reinforcements?!"
Morino Ibiki could only stare at the massive serpent as a dark realization came to mind. 'We can't handle this.' The village would be destroyed and no one would be left if this continued.
"Kuchiyose...! Yatai Kuzushi no Jutsu!" Amidst the chaos a massive toad that almost dwarfed the Hokage Mountain appeared and crushed the raging snake with its weight. Caught off guard the summons was killed, its head falling lifelessly to the ground.
Ibiki was stunned, if relieved, at the situation and he knew of only one person alive who could have summoned the creature before them. There, barely seen atop of the toad's head, stood a figure with a large scroll hanging from his back.
"It's been a long time, Ibiki," Jiraiya said with a bit of humor. "What's this? Was your body the only thing that grew? I couldn't bear to watch that."
"Jiraiya-sama...!" One of the nins with the Head of Torture and Interrogation looked just as shocked as him.
"Jiraiya? You mean one of the sennin?" he asked in disbelief.
"Listen up, you chicks! Open up your beady little eyes and take a good look!" Turning he smirked and performed a dance that would have seem more at home on a stage during a kabuki play than that of a raging battlefield, atop a huge toad with two swords strapped to its back. "Behold, the divine ninja Jiraiya's... Far East of Eden... Wild Dance!" The remaining snake heads stopped their insane hissing and gazed at the new enemy. "You damn snakes that are frozen in fear in a toad's presence, get out of here." Needless to say the snakes didn't move but they seemed to be a bit intimidated at the toad's stare. Ibiki landed next to Jiraiya, glancing at the snakes before looking up at the famous sennin. "Where's the third?"
"At the exam stadium."
"I see." Somehow he knew that his former sensei was fighting in his own battle and nothing he could do would help him. 'Don't die yet, old man.'
--
Kusanagi continued to glow, the sharp edge biting into the flesh of Enma's grip yet he refused to let go. Sarutobi gasped for breath, noticing the tip of the long sword sticking out of his chest yet did not release his hold on his opponent. Hidama's eyes were wide, a few drops of blood staining her pale cheek yet her hold remained strong.
Orochimaru struggled to breath, shock writing on his ashen face as he stared down where his sword had pierced the old man. "Why... didn't you, avoid it...?" he gasped. "What are you doing...?"
The shinigami's hand continued to pull at the captured soul, its grip stronger than any steel known to man; there was nothing anyone could do or say that would have it to release its victim. But for some reason, it had yet to pull the soul completely free.
The monkey king tried to pull the blade free but it refused to move, obeying its mater's orders but he refused to give up. "Kuso..."
"Shiki Fūjin..." Hidama breathed into his ear. "You asked what it could do... if you could see what I see, even now, you would then understand the sensations your body is experiencing."
"W-What are you talking about?"
"It's an Fūinjutsu. In exchange for the jutsu to work, the caster must give up his soul to that which he has summoned, a shinigami." Her eyes meet with those of the being, swallowing the lump that formed in her throat as she tried to quell her trembling. "Why dodge an attack made to kill when he'll die anyways? There is no surviving this jutsu once it's complete... the ultimate sacrificial technique..." Closing her eyes her lips pulled back, teeth grinding against the other as her grip tightened over his arms, as though she was going to personally rip both his arms completely free from his body. "The reason no one knows about it is because it was created by a man who shortly died after using it. That man..." Her voice began to crack but she forced the words out. "That man... was Namikaze Minato! The Yondaime Hokage!"
"Nani?!" Realization hit him with such force as he whirled to look at the seal on the old man's body. "The same jutsu he used against the kitsune!?"
Sarutobi nodded, eyes never wavering from the terrified gold gaze. "Hai. With this technique, the one whose soul is sealed will suffer for all eternity in the belly of death, never gaining release. The souls of the one who is sealed and the one who performed the seal will mingle, hating and battling each other for all eternity."
Despite being pinned Orochimaru tried to move but his body refused to obey him. He could not move! Looking down he watched in horror as he saw his soul slowly being pulled free yet there was nothing he could do to stop it. Even the most basic of jutsus refused to work. 'I can't do a single one!' he shrieked madly.
The shinigami reached up with its free hand and removed the tanto from his mouth, revealing a long and slimy tongue. Golden eyes widen as icy blue eyes closed tightly just as the souls of the four that had been sealed before struggled to get free, only to be cut down by the short blade. Then, they were eaten by the shinimagi itself. Revulsion like the kind he had never seen would forever scar his mind as he watched the astral being before him savoring the taste of a fine and expertly prepared meal, likes one could only dream up. For the first time, the fabled hebi sennin was fearful for his very existence.
"Don't screw with me, you old geezer!! I refuse to die with you!!" he bellowed, managing to move his fingers to have his sword finish the job but cursed when Hidama tightened her grip, the wet sounds of bones slowly being broken. Even Enma grunted in pain as more of his blood was spilt from the razor edge but that just made him hold on tighter. They were all panting for breath, refusing to be the first to fall. "Hurry up... and die," he hissed in rage.
"Hold on, Goku. He's already halfway out," Hidama growled, muscles trembling in exhaustion.
Sarutobi didn't say anything, focusing on the task at hand but he was startled when he gave a hacking cough only to have blood fell from his lips. He knew without saying anything that he was not going to last for much longer.
--
The chunin instructors looked up at the walls around them continued to shake madly, the stone barely muffling the sound of war outside. They calmly had the children walk down the hall, watching as some clung to one another in fear, seeking comfort in their friends and classmates. Even Moegi and Udon clung to Konohamaru who managed to stay brave if just for them.
"Konohamaru-kun!" the little girl cried out, clinging to his shirt as she tried not to break down crying.
Udon sniffed as he looked at the walls all around them. "Are the walls gonna fall on us?" he asked, fearful of the answer.
"Don't worry," he smiled gently; "the inner structure is carved in the stone itself, its old but tough." His face lost the smile as he remembered that it was his ojisan that had told him that. "We'll be fine." They could only look at him with awe and even greater respect.
--
"Suna Shuriken!!"
The three genin cried out in pain as the small but deadly weapons tore through flesh. Even the futile attempts at hiding behind trees proved to be useless as they were cut through. Above their screams could be heard Shukaku's insane laughter, demanding for more blood to be spilt. Nothing seemed to faze him and when Sasuke tried to attempt a third Chidori he realized too late that he had pushed his limit and the lightning faded from his fingers far too quickly. The demon laughed and slammed his body to a thick tree, pinning him in place with the sand and smirked as it slowly began to crush him.
"S-Sasuke!!" Naruto bellowed, glad that the blow hadn't knocked him unconscious but he couldn't help but wince at the pain he was experiencing. He looked to the side where his sister lay, blood pooling from her wounds even as she struggled to her feet. Like him she possessed a great healing factor but she was low on chakra and her curse was trying to take over. "Shiruba-ane!!" Cursing his hands flashed through the signs for the summoning but instead of the great toad Gamabunta, he got a smaller toad.
"Oh, it's just some squirt. Gimmie some candy or I won't play with ya." With a serious attitude problem.
"Damnit, I didn't want you!" he yelled and looked up in time to see the shurikens came right at him. He quickly pulled the toad into his arms and protected him with his body, crying out as the jutsu tore through his body. He could hear his sister cry out in pain but the force slammed him into a tree. Groaning in pain he looked over and tried to force his body up. "A-Ane-chan...!"
Blood pooled from every wound on her body, nearly bathing her in the crimson liquid. The curse was pulsing but it seemed erratic, as though it couldn't continue but was still trying. She gasped for breath as the sand formed around her, lifting her into the air. Her eyes were so dazed and blank but still she reached out for the monster. Demon or not Gaara was still her panda brother and she could not keep fighting him.
"Gaara... onegai..." she pleaded, tears mingling with blood as she search for any kind of recognition in those gold and black eyes. "Onegai..." Lips twisted into a cruel smirk as the sand continued absorbing every bit of blood she shed.
"Gaara's not here. Not anymore."
With a cruel and sadistic move he slammed her body into the ground, laughing as bones broke and wounds opened. She just lay there in a pool of her own blood, staring up at the sky. She didn't hear Naruto screaming her name or the tanuki's insane laughter. All she could hear was the terrified voice of her otouto, crying out for them...
The small toad who called himself Gamakichi could only stare in horror. He had never seen anything like this and before he could tell the blonde that they should run he jumped right into battle. "Wait!!" He watched in amazement as he summoned an army of Kage Bushins to attack him. Could this be the loud-mouth moron that his chichi told him about?!
"Fūton..." The possessed boy's body began to swell as he took a deep breathe, mouths of razor teeth appearing all over his body. "Mugen Sajin Daitoppa!!" Releasing his breath he not only destroyed the army of clones, but he sent the blonde to go flying before connecting with a tree.
"N-Naruto!" the raven-haired boy called out, grunting in pain as the sand tightened even more. If he didn't escape this soon he would be crushed!
"Gah!!" Stunned and surely beyond bruise, he fell onto a thick branch and just lay there. "... That, really hurt."
"Don't die just yet, boy. I'm not done playing with you!!" Shukaku cackled. Secretly, he was bidding his time. Soon he would be back in his true form and then the fun would really begin.
--
Zabuza grunted as he swung his massive sword all around him, ignoring the blood that stained his blade and uniform before he continued running. Blocking and dodging enemy weapons he quickly used Shunshin, managing to catch several off-guard. A moment later the heads fell to the ground, soon followed by the bodies.
'Been a while since I went on a killing spree like this,' he thought as he looked around. No more Suna bastards on the ground so he jumped up to the rooftops, surveying the chaos. There was a lot of destruction going on but there was still the problem with the snakes--was that a toad?! He stared at the huge amphibian for a split second before noticing how one of the snakes was sneaking up behind it, hoping to strike it down. 'This is going to hurt like hell.' Locating the river that ran through the village he summoned all his chakra and let his hands flash through the signs before focusing.
"Suiton, Daibakufu no Jutsu!!" The water churned, churning and slowly rising into the air until it resembled a massive column of swirling water. Tiny beads of sweat appeared on his brow, making sure to stay focus as he carefully fed bits of his chakra into it. Now it began to move, passing through the debris and striking the snake. He was worried when it began to struggle, finding it difficult to hold it steady he didn't realize someone had landed next to him until-
"Hyōton, Sensatsu Suishou!!" Within the watery pillar ice began to form, rapidly slicing the snake bit by bit. It was exhausting and it seemed to take forever but just as they felt their control waver the snake fell to the ground with a mighty crash, scales torn apart by the water with hundreds of large icicles stabbed all over, with several having embedded themselves into the skull. Haku quickly turned and held the jounin steady when he looked ready to drop. "Zabuza-san?"
"That was reckless, Haku." Honestly he didn't think the boy knew how to do something like that but it just proved that he was getting stronger. Patting his shoulder he quickly pushed him down so he was almost kneeling and brought the back of his fist into the nin that tried to stab his adoptive son from behind. Bone shattered under the pressure but that didn't stop him from kicking him so hard in the chest that he went flying off. Needless to say that shinobi didn't get back up. "Where's everyone?"
"Those in the hospital have been moved to the basement underground. I've been taking those critical injured down there so they can be treated. Iruka-san and the other instructors have already evacuated the school so they're safe. I heard that Naruto's sensei came to help," he explained as he released several senbons, each hitting vital points that caused instant death.
"So that hentai is good for something," he added gruffly, using the Kirigakure no Jutsu to hide them in mist, leaving them to attack all enemy shinobi and assist those of Konoha elite while they were hidden out in the open.
"Hai. Naruto and Shiruba went after Gaara but I haven't heard anything from them. I'm worried..."
"They're strong kids, Haku. You know that better than anyone." He grunted as a Fūton blew the mist away but still he charged forward, delivering a fatal blow. "Push come to shove those two will not fail."
"... Hai." He could only agree, gracefully moving out of the way of a shuriken before grabbing his kunai and knocked another off course before letting it fly right into his attacker's throat.
"Where's Hidama?"
"..."
"Haku. Where the hell is she?"
"... She's fighting Orochimaru with the Sandaime Hokage. Unfortunately a barrier has been placed so there's no way out, or in." A sudden explosion that echoed from the forest stunned everyone for a brief moment before resume attacking but for the two former Kirin nins they looked over and their eyes widen.
In the distance, a large creature the color of sand had appeared, a long tail creating whirlwinds with each swing. Another cloud of smoke and what had to be the biggest toad appeared. Though they had no idea what was going on they knew that, somehow, the trio were in the middle of it, fighting for their lives.
--
The ANBU that had been watching since the barrier was erected could only watch in amazement. The battle had been going on for this long and yet none of them had fallen. It was unheard of for shinobi to last this long on their natural endurance but they knew that it would only be a matter of time. Sarutobi was a great and knowledgeable ninja yet time managed to slowly steal away his youth with each passing day. Hidama managed to escape that grasp but her mental and emotional stability had been greatly weakened and even she was feeling the effects. Orochimaru had full well prepared for a battle royal but nothing could have ever prepared him for the Fūin jutsu. But with every battle, there must always be a winner--and a loser.
The shinigami's hand struggled, trying to pull the rest of the soul free but it could not. The sandaime noticed this and realized that he was not strong enough to complete the jutsu. 'To have fought this long, could it be that... that I've lost the ability to pull his soul out completely?' he asked himself, already knowing the answer.
A twist smirk pulled on thin lips as he noticed the situation. "You're on the last of your strength... if you had been a decade younger, you might have stood a chance..." he taunted, growing confident that he would be able to hold out longer than his old teacher.
Ideas were running through her mind but each one would be useless. Even with arms broken once she let go the snake would not hesitate to pull every dirty trick he knew. He could still sue his hands and Kusanagi would continue to obey every command he gave. "Don't you dare give up," she hissed at him, ignoring the pissed hiss directed at her. "Enma, don't you dare let go."
"Wasn't planning on it," the monkey growled. It took everything he had just to keep it from going through the frail body much less try to pull it out. The damn snakes didn't make things any easier as they constricted tighter around his body, trying to squeeze him into submission.
"Fools, the lot of you. Don't you realize the situation you are in?" Eyes of a snake grew wide, trying vainly to crush the hope they still held. "This village is being attacked by my men and ninjas from Sunagakure. You people... the Konoha ninjas will die, as will the women and children! The destruction of Konohagakure will succeed!" Despite the pain and agony he was in Orochimaru laughed cruelly, his voice chilling Goku down to his bone marrow. He almost gave up hope when Hidama caught his eye. She said nothing but her eyes told him that would never happen.
In the center of the village, among those that had fallen in battle, several shinobi from Suna waited outside a home for any sign of life. One of their comrades came running out and shook his head.
"It's empty," he reported.
One of them frowned, a bit perplexed at that. "That's not right."
"Sir?"
"We've advanced into the heart of this village but we've meet minimal resistance."
"That's because..."
"And why have we yet to see any of the women and children?" They never realized that everyone had been evacuated and were not hiding in the one place they would have never expected them to be.
"That's another reason you never became hokage, snake. You never had any faith in the village and that is what will be your downfall."
"What are you talking about, bitch?"
"While Konoha is a peaceful place when backed into a corner then we will fight until very end."
"She's correct," Goku said, hope and pride once more appearing in his eyes. "Never underestimate the ninjas of this village!!"
A group of shinobi bearing headbands of Suna and Oto ran down the streets, searching for civilians they never noticed a rain of shurikens flying through the air until they were cut down. A few manage to deflect them but looking up his eyes widen. Above them were several shinobi dressed in the black and gray uniforms with porcelain animal masks of Konoha's most elite shinobi. The Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai, or ANBU for short.
"You're not taking one step further!" the woman said in a cold voice.
In one of the training grounds of the village Hyūga Hiashi easily defeated three Suna nins with as few moves as possible, striking both nerves and chakra. He didn't say a word as more than a dozen more enemy nins surrounding him in a loose circle.
"What are you guys doing? He's only one man!" the leader yelled angrily.
His pale eyes narrowed and focusing his chakra, he moved into a move only one of Hyūga blood would recognize. His body moved into a tight spin, the chakra building before being released in a powerful wave that sent all of the nins flying. They landed on the ground with a heavy thud, unable to get up. Slowly his body stopped spinning yet there was not a single scratch on him.
"The Hyūga clan is the strongest in Konoha. Remember that!" he told their unconscious forms, the veins apparent around his eyes.
In another part of the village several of the enemies found their bodies unable to move. Looking down they noticed that all of their shadows had formed together and were leading to one man dressed in a ratty looking vest, scars gracing his face.
"Hijutsu no Konoha, Kage Mane no Jutsu... if this is your first time experiencing this... then don't forget this!" Nara Shikaku moved his hand into the proper seal and performed the next jutsu. "Hijutsu no Konoha, Kage Kubi Shibari no Jutsu." Slowly the shadowy hands moved up the Suna nins bodies until they wrapped around their throats and strangled them to death.
Akimichi Chouza moved his hands into the proper signs and summoned the necessary chakra needed. "Baika no Jutsu!" With a mighty yell for battle his body grew until he resembled a giant that parents would tell their children on rainy days. With his strong staff in hand he easily dispatched the enemy.
A handsome man with his dark blonde hair pulled into a high ponytail made a certain hand sign and focused his chakra into the technique. "Shinranshin no Jutsu!" he shouted. The nin before him never had time to move as his mind was taken over and he attacked his own comrade.
"What are you doing?!" he yelled at him, their kunais clashing.
"I-I can't control my body!" he told him, unable to stop himself from killing the other man.
"Iie! Stop it!" It was no use as they buried their weapons into one another.
Chouza continued to walk down the streets, keeping a careful eye out for any more enemies but he stopped when Inoichi appeared on a rooftop next to him.
"Just like old times," he asked his former teammate and long-time friend.
"Hai," the giant of a man replied. Shikaku soon appeared next to the dark blonde.
"It's the reunification of the Ino-Shik-Chou trio," he said with a smirk.
Elsewhere, two women were running along the rooftops, followed closely by four large dogs that could have easily passed for wolves. One of the women looked more like her canine companion than human but both she and the younger woman behind her shared the same red fangs tattooed on their cheeks as did of one called Inuzuka Kiba. They didn't stop even as the enemy appeared before them.
"Let's go, Kuromaru!" Tsume told the large dark blue-gray animal at her side.
"Hai!" he growled, baring his fangs.
Back at Look-Out Tower Goku panted for breath, feeling more of his blood drip down the serpent's blade but didn't dare show any of sign of pain or weakness. "The ninjas of Konoha will fight with their lives in order to protect the village!" he yelled at the ashen man. "You will never gain true strength in this world, even if you master all the jutsus... I have taught you before... that when you protect something important to you... a ninja's true strength will manifest!"
--
Naruto panted heavily, Kyūbi's chakra flowing through every pore of his body as tears flowed over his cheeks. Nothing he and Gamabunta did could stop the insane tanuki, even when they managed a combined henge and turned into the nine-tailed fox itself nothing worked. It grew much worse when Gaara was forced to perform the Tanukineiri no Jutsu but he had managed to land on Shukaku and punched Gaara. It broke the jutsu but the demon didn't appreciate having his power limited and tried to crush him with the sand.
"... Damnit Gaara... you swore to everyone you would never let Shukaku control you... you swore you would use the sand to protect us... so why didn't you protect Shiruba?!" he demanded, lunging forward to strike him but sand wrapped around his limbs tightly, making him unable to win. "Wake up!!" he bellowed and nearly cracked their skulls open when his forehead connected with that of the red-head.
Bright red blood slowly fell down their skin. A spider-web of cracks began to spread from Gaara's body to that of the sand demon itself. The last anyone heard was it shrieking in pain as the sand began to crumble. Down in the trees the sand that held Sasuke capture finally released him and he fell to the ground, gasping for breathe but still he forced himself to look up.
'D-Did... he win?' he asked with halted breath.
They were falling and even from that height there was no way either could survive but the boss toad wasn't going to let his subordinate die on him so soon. Extending his long and barded tongue he caught them and laid them on the ground. They were alive but in bad condition but he couldn't stay any longer. "Hmm?" He looked over in the distance and noticed that several different chakra signatures were rushing this way but he knew they were not the enemy. "Gamakichi, let's go home."
"Sure thing, chichi! Later Naruto!" In a large poof of smoke they were gone and the genin were left alone.
Gaara couldn't stop crying even as he dragged his body to where his sister lay in a pool of her own blood. His hand shook as it reached out to touch her cheek, feeling the cool skin despite the very shallow rise and fall of her chest. He knew what the demon had done while in possession in his body and he hated himself for being so weak. Gripping his head in his hands he let out an animalistic scream, one that tore through even the hardest of hearts.
Naruto couldn't move any of his arms and legs but still he dragged his body along at a snail's pace until he was at the side of his siblings, and finally let loose all the tears. He grunted with pain, grabbing Shiruba's hand and called out to his brother in a quiet voice. "G-Gaara..." The screaming stopped and grief-stricken eyes the color of pure jade looked down at eyes that mirrored the deepest of oceans. "... we're still... a family... right...?"
"... N-Naruto..."
"... onegai..."
His hand shook so badly but it rested atop his and squeezed at tightly as he could. "... hai... kazoku..." he whimpered. The blonde smiled and closed his eyes and it took everything for the poor boy not to start screaming again.
--
Everyone in Konoha heard the scream and many were affected, as though they were forced to witness the brutal death of those most precious to them. Eyes widen and Sarutobi knew there was no time left. "I may not have the energy to drag out all of your soul... but this ends right now!"
"It's not over until I say it's over!" he said in a slightly panicked tone.
"I will hand down your punishment for drowning yourself in jutsus, by taking away all the ones you know now!"
"W-What did you say?!"
The shinigami grabbed a hold of the soul's arms and pulled as much as it could then brought the dagger down and, literally, cut them off. "Fūin!!" The hand quickly pulled that part of the soul within his power within a bright flash of light. The last of Goku and Hidama's strength left them as they released Orochimaru, bodies trembling in exhaustion.
Shocked eyes looked down and watched as his arms slowly turned dark, becoming nothing more than dead and lifeless limbs. "Iie... you stole, my arms...!"
"With no arms, means no hands... no hands, means no signs... no signs, no more jutsus..." Hidama gasped, forcing her body to remain standing. "You've lost." She watched, though, as the soul of Sarutobi Goku was eaten by the shingami. The contract had been fulfilled.
"Iie!! Give back my arms!!" demanded, panic, fear, and anger evident in his screams.
"... You are a fool, Orochimaru. I only regret that we did not die together. So let us meet... in Yomi. Even as his eyes drifted close the sandaime hokage didn't see an enraged traitor but that of his former student, back before his heart had turned to the darkness.
"Where the leaves dance, fire burns. The shadow of the fire will flash over the village... and the leaves will grow once more." In his office, the ornate glass ball with the crystallize flame shimmered before it cracked down the center. As though marking the death of Sarutobi Goku, beloved leader of Konohagakure.
On heavy feet the pale woman forced herself to stumble the few steps that seemed to stretch for miles and dropped to her knees at his side, bitter tears trailing down her cheeks. "..." She chocked back a painful sob but reached out and tried to push the damn sword free from his chest, ignoring the razor's edge slicing through the flesh of her palms.
Enma was too proud to show any weak emotions but that didn't mean he didn't feel the sorrow just like everyone else. Once the soul was sealed the snakes vanished but the pain was still there. Crawling over slowly he reached out, grabbing the cursed sword once more, and pulled.
"Sarutobi, died an honorable death... as expected from one who mastered the way of the ninja," he said softly.
"Gomennasai..." she whispered, moving the body until he was lying on his back; she gently placed his weathered hands and positioned them over his chest like he was prone to do when relaxed. She didn't even notice when the monkey king vanished, nor did she care that the vile snake was standing right behind her. Part of her wanted to turn and attack, to slowly peel his skin away until nothing was left, to tear into his chest and see if he really did have a heart, to make him scream and beg for mercy... but she didn't. "Gomennasai..." she whispered once more, tilting her head back and gazed up at the sky.
His arms burned. They burned so much he knew if it they were ripped form his body he would still be able to feel it. He had lost and Konoha was still standing. "Damn you... all of you..." he hissed out behind clenched teeth.
"Orochimaru-sama!!"
"The mission ends here. Release the barrier; we're retreating."
"Hai!" Moving as one the barrier was dispelled. From the stadium everyone watched as it went down and each of them were wondering how the Sarutobi and Orochimaru were doing, respectively. Surrounding their leader two of the four placed his dead arms around their necks before taking off.
"Let's go," the ANBU captain ordered, taking off after them with the other two subordinates. "You won't escape so easily!"
One of the Oto nin moved before his leader and flashed his hands through several signs. "Ninpō, Kumoshibari!!" He spat a mouthful of webbing that grew and trapped the ANBU, pinning them in place as they managed to get away.
Down in the stadium's arena, Gai watched as they ran off. "Kakashi, they're getting away. Do we go after them?"
"Iie. Wait, Gai," he told him even though he wanted nothing more than to give chase.
"Hai... what good is it to go and chase after Orochimaru when you don't know the condition of your hokage?" the man in the stolen ANBU uniform asked. "You could be falling into a trap for all you know."
"I know that!" Gai snapped, patience running thin. "Whether it's a trap or not, we will not allow our enemies run off so freely. That's what Konoha ninjas do."
"And are you just going to sit back and watch, Kabuto?" A hand reached up and removed the mask, revealing the smirking and cunning face of the young man.
"You found me out."
Baki was torn and turned to his supposed ally. "What do we do now?" he asked. Surely a fight between these three would lead to their deaths!
"We retreat."
"Are you running away again?" Kakashi demanded.
"Hai. If I showed you all my moves you'll just copy them with that sharingan eye of yours." He smirked and moved his hands into a single sign. "Sayonara." And with that, both of the men were gone.
--
Haku moved as fast he could, barely registering the three jounin following as close as they could. Almost at once what remained of the enemy began to retreat. Whether it was good or bad the genin immediately set out to locate his siblings. When the shinobi followed he demanded to know why and they explained they were to help him by orders of Zabuza. He was just hoping he wasn't too late.
He finally arrived at the scene, noting the extended damage done to the surrounding trees before finally making it to the small clearing. What he saw almost made him miss the branch he had about to land on. "Kami..." Without warning he jumped to the ground and ran towards his siblings. "Gaara!"
The jinchūriki jumped, looking at him with frighten eyes even as he the older boy quickly raced to his side. He opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. Brown eyes filled with concern and love met his and he knew without words that Haku didn't hate him.
He quickly looked over at his siblings, quelling the urge to throw up at the amount of blood and quickly moved his hands over Shiruba's body. "Broken bones, internal bleeding, torn muscles, almost no chakra left; but her body seems to be trying to slowly heal itself," he muttered to himself as he did a examination. Moving his hands he summoned his chakra and began to heal as much as he could.
One of the jounin noticed what he was doing and ordered one of his comrades to take the Uchiha and alert the hospital that they would be arriving with more casualties. Moving swiftly yet carefully another took the unconscious blonde and once Haku had done all that he could do, took Shiruba as well. Haku wordlessly pulled Gaara to his feet and together they headed back to Konoha. Only then did he allow his own tears to fall.
--
The jounins stood around the lifeless body of their well-loved hokage, unsure what to say or do. Even Hidama didn't move from her spot but when one tried to get her away she shook the hand off. Only one man dared to move forward and gently gripped her shoulders in his powerful hands. Nodding others moved and took Sarutobi away. When she made to go after them the hands tightened and she relented. She didn't have anymore energy left. Soon it was just the two of them but she never said a word.
"Hidama... his sacrifice will never go unheeded." She didn't know why but those words seemed to have made the realization that this was not a nightmare she could wake up from. Goku was dead and nothing she could do could ever bring him back. Only then did she finally allow herself to give in.
Momochi Zabuza had never seen her in such a vulnerable state that a feeling of protectiveness overcame him. Quietly he knelt and wrapped his arms around her as she clung to him as tightly as she could, the sounds of her broken sobs the only noise around them. A long time ago he had lost the only person that ever mattered to him and he had cried so hard that day that he swore he felt as though he had cried a lifetime of tears. He swore that would never let himself get close to anyone. Imagine his shock when he felt tears escape his own eyes that he just held his partner even tighter and shut his eyes against them. Today had been a day of victories… and defeats.
--
Far off in the distance Sasori watched as Kankuro and Temari continued their slow trek back home, back to Suna. Without him. He'd be lying if he said that he was surprised at them leaving him behind, but he would also be lying if he said he had any love for the village. He looked over at the chaos that was once the beautiful village of Konoha. Why love a village where nothing awaited you?
He silently withdrew his hand from his pocket and looked at the silver ring he had been given a month ago. He stared at the kanji of tama for a long time before he slowly slid it onto his left thumb. A swirl of chakra and he turned to see the woman who had given him the ring in the first place. She was still as he remembered from her black cloak bearing the red clouds straight down to the white rose in her hair.
Her blue gaze bore into his red-brown eyes before giving the briefest of nods. He returned it and slowly walked up towards her until they were less than arm's length from one another. A powerful wind swirled around them, their coats flapping wildly in the wind yet as it died down they were revealed to have vanished.
Author's Notes: I'm afraid I can't write this chapter's after-notes due to the fact that I can't stop crying. I hate how sensitive I am but tell me what you think. If you hate it then please tell me why you hate it but if not, well just leave a review (goes to locate a box of tissues)
Fūin: Seal
Senei Jashu: Hidden Shadow Snake Hands
Kuchiyose, Yatai Kuzushi no Jutsu: Summoning, Food Cart Destroyer Technique
Suna Shuriken: Sand Shuriken
chichi: referring to self's father
Fūton, Mugen Sajin Daitoppa: Wind Style, Infinite Dust Great Breakthrough
Shunshin: Body Flicker
Suiton, Daibakufu no Jutsu: Water Style, Grand Waterfall Technique
Hyōton, Sensatsu Suishou: Ice Style, Death by a Thousand Flying Water Needles
Kirigakure no Jutsu: Hidden Mist Technique
Sunagakure: Village Hidden in the Sand
Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai: Assassination Tactics Special Military Force
Hijutsu no Konoha, Kage Mane no Jutsu: Konoha's Secret Technique, Shadow Imitation Technique
Hijutsu no Konoha, Kage Kubi Shibari no Jutsu: Konoha's Secret Technique, Shadow Neck Bind Technique
Baika no Jutsu: Multi-Size Technique
Shinranshin no Jutsu: Mind Derangement Technique
Tanukineiri no Jutsu: Feigning Sleep Technique
Yomi: Underworld
Gomennasai: I'm sorry.
Kumoshibari: Spider Bind
jinchūriki: the power of human sacrifice
tama: sphere