And here's Chapter 28. Hope you enjoy it. Readers, Reviewers, Thank You...Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
"Incoming!"
Jiraiya barely dodged to the side as the Raikage plowed into God Realm Pein, slamming the walking corpse across the muddy ground, and landing heavily, his followers behind him. The Raikage grinned as he came out of his crouch, moving in front of the panting Jiraiya.
"Looks like you need some help, Old Man. Don't worry, the Swordsmen of Kumo and the World's Strongest Man are here to save the day."
Jiraiya's beady eyes stared up wearily at the Kage, not really knowing how to respond. He needed a breather, that was true enough. Perhaps this was fortuitous. If they could keep Pein occupied for a little bit until Ma and Pa could gather more Natural energy...
"He puts up a barrier to repel attacks. After that, you have a five second window where he can't use his jutsu anymore. Keep him occupied until I come up with a plan."
The giant black man snorted and squared himself off against the now recovered Pein, the swordsmen unhooking their weapons and readying themselves.
"Five seconds is all we need. Catch your breath, Jiraiya of the Sannin. We'll handle it from here."
Pein let out a long, slow breath as his gray, ringed eyes took in the ninja of Kumogakure.
"You don't interest me. Go away."
Samui took a step forward, her sword held at her side.
"You interest me. I want to know how a dead man can walk. Maybe if I slice you up enough I'll find out how you do it."
The gray eyes narrowed and Pein's cloak fluttered slightly.
"Yahiko will not be destroyed."
Omoi quirked his left eyebrow upward and rolled his cigarette around his mouth.
"Who the fuck is Yahiko? I thought your name was Pein?"
"It doesn't matter! Let's go!"
The three swordsmen followed their leader into battle, the stony faced Pein awaiting them.
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Human Realm had not been having nearly as hard a time as the other Peins. His opponents, while skilled, were nowhere near powerful enough to hinder him in any way. Team Ten had been little more than a nuisance, with Shikamaru's planning and shadow manipulation being the main factors of annoyance.
Chouji had tried his best to keep the body occupied while Shikamaru came up with a plan, but the taijutsu-using Pein swept him aside like a child. Growing to the size of the summons had only made him a bigger target for the long-maned corpse. Pein's fist had found its way into his oversized, rotund belly. The gentle giant's girth reduced rapidly and a hard knee found its way to his chin.
Ino had tried to use a chakra scalpel to cut the body's tendons, but she was nowhere near quick enough. Just before the auburn-haired cadaver ruined her pretty face with a punch, it froze in place and she heard the five words that made her muscles relax.
"Kage Mane no Jutsu, success."
Shikamaru let his hands pull apart, his body shuddering with exertion as the clinically dead body fought his control. His breathing was ragged as he forced his arms to his sides.
"Ino, disable him. Do it now!"
The blonde pulled a kunai from her pouch and took a hesitant step forward, before looking back over her shoulder.
"But Shika...you'll get hurt too."
Shikamaru grunted as his right arm began to move on its own, a sure sign that his control was slipping.
"Just do it! You can heal me afterwards! We still don't know how Chouji's doing!"
Ino didn't bother to nod as she turned her attention back to the shaking Pein. The kunai in her hand raised into the air and lingered but for a moment before she plunged it downward into the chest of the pierced man. Shikamaru gasped in pain and his grip on Pein nearly slipped. He had to endure this. If Ino could strike a debilitating blow on Pein, then she could hurry and heal him before he bled out.
It pained Ino to do this to Shikamaru. His gasps coming from behind her were like a knife through her own heart. She needed to finish this quickly. She had to help her boys. Shutting her ears off to the sound of Shikamaru's groans and whimpers of pain, she thrust the kunai down again, only for her hand to stop. She looked up into the Rinnegan eyes of Pein, his gaze cutting through her.
"That's enough."
Ino began to shake as his grip began to crush her wrist, only to cry out when she felt the bones begin to pop. Pein cast her aside haphazardly and glared at Shikamaru, who held a hand to his chest, his breathing labored.
"I'll deal with you shortly, girl."
Shikamaru had never felt this weak. Not when fighting Tayuya all those years ago, not when he was in his second Chuunin Exams, not even when he fought against Kakuzu and Hidan. His team was decimated once again and now this...abomination...was going to kill him...kill them all.
And thanks to his own willingness to sacrifice himself like a shogi piece, he was unable to protect himself.
Pein's unblinking eyes rolled down to the kneeling Nara, taking him in.
"I've heard that the Nara clan prides themselves on being incredibly smart. You all play shogi. You know about the sacrifice of pawns to save the king. That's what made your little play here so...strange. You're obviously the king. Why did you try to sacrifice yourself?"
Shikamaru merely rolled an eye upward and grunted.
"...troublesome..."
"Yes...yes, you are..."
Pein's hand shot forward to grasp the Nara's forehead and the young man closed his eyes, accepting his fate. Rinnegan eyes turned to the side, catching a flash of blonde, and Pein blasted Shikamaru with a roundhouse kick as he grabbed an attacking Ino by her head.
Ino felt the fingers on her forehead and suddenly she could feel something probing deeper inside. A slight tug on something that was uniquely hers. Light flashed and she shivered. Her father had described the feeling of mind walking to her in detail. Whatever this was, it was similar and yet so very different. A chill ran up her spine as her eyes locked with those of the Rinnegan. Another tug and she fought back. Whatever he was reaching for deep inside her wasn't his to have.
She used every bit of her will to push his presence out...
And then she screamed.
Pein let go of the blonde girl with a gasp, her body crumpling to the ground unceremoniously. A tingle ran up his arm that left him baffled. No one had ever fought off his soul-stealing technique before. Intriguing. He left a battered and broken Team Ten in his wake as he stalked off towards where Hungry Ghost Realm was fighting a pair of Hyuuga. When this was all over, he might have to come back for the girl.
Hell Realm might have a new body...
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Itachi watched as the spectral sword of Susanoo came hurtling down and gasped when it entered his body, piercing his soul. He heard the cry from Madara as it entered the man as well and closed his eyes, giving himself up to his own illusion. Perhaps an eternity of lies would be kind to him. His world flashed for a moment and then all was silent.
"Hello, son. We've been waiting for you."
Itachi took in his surroundings with wide eyes, not believing what he was seeing. He was seated before his family's dinner table. His father sat opposite him, quietly sipping his tea, while his mother chopped carrots for a stew.
"Mother? Father?"
Fugaku sat his tea cup down and stared curiously at his son.
"Yes, Itachi?"
The younger Uchiha touched the table in front of him gingerly, as if it would fall apart. Fugaku quirked an eyebrow and frowned.
"What troubles you, son?"
Itachi looked up from the table, hope in his eyes.
"Is this...real? Are you here?"
A clunk in front of him brought his attention to a bowl full of steaming stew. A soft hand settled on his shoulder and he gazed up, taking in his mother's smile.
"Of course we are, Itachi. Eat your stew before it gets cold."
Itachi's head nodded absentmindedly as his hand groped for the spoon. Gingerly he dipped the utensil into the stew and brought it to his mouth. A few quick blows and the spoon was brought to his mouth, where he slurped it, savoring the flavor. Fugaku and Mikoto watched confused as tears ran down their eldest son's cheeks. Itachi turned to them, a smile on his face.
"It's so good. It's just like I remembered...so good..."
"Brother, why are you crying?"
Itachi froze in his place, another spoonful of stew halfway to his mouth. His lips quivered as he turned slowly to find a young Sasuke standing behind him, his big round eyes curiously appraising his brother. Itachi sucked in a lungful of air and shook.
"Sasuke?"
Itachi pushed himself off of his comfy pillow and crept forward on his hands and knees toward what he was sure was a ghost. His hand rose shakily and he poked a surprised Sasuke in the forehead. His breath caught in his throat when the child cried out in protest and he crushed the little boy against his chest.
"It's real. It's really real. You're all alive. We're together again."
Mikoto smiled at her eldest son's antics and put her hand on Itachi's head.
"You're going to be late, Itachi. She's on her way over. You'd better go get ready."
Itachi's head whipped around to face her.
"Who's coming?"
His mother's smile widened as she turned back to her cooking. A knock from the front door echoed throughout the house and Sasuke ran out of the room, shouting that he would answer it.
"As if you didn't know. Ah, there she is."
Itachi turned slowly to the doorway where he heard footsteps and his heart nearly stopped when he gazed up into his lover's face. Her gentle smile warmed his heart and he suddenly didn't care if this was real or not. He stood and crossed the room and, taking her in his arms, kissed her deeply. He wanted nothing more than the family and woman that he loved.
This beautiful lie was better than the ugly truth.
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Madara watched, furious, as Itachi gave into the genjutsu with a blissful smile, his arms open as if accepting something or someone. He would not be taken by this illusion. He would not succumb to this farce. Closing his eyes, so as to better concentrate on fighting off this intrusion on his mind, he focused on breathing, knowing that his own body was real.
"Brother?"
Madara's eyes wanted to snap open so badly. But he knew if they opened, he would succumb to this hateful illusion. The timbre of the voice was just as he remembered. If he opened his eyes and saw the visage of his brother, then he would not be able to come back. He knew that.
"It's not really you, Izuna. I know that. It's just an illusion that is torturing me. Illusions aren't real and my Sharingan knows that. I know that."
A tinkling laugh came from behind him and his heart fluttered. Oh, but this delusion was cruel. Now it had begun to imitate...her.
"Husband, why won't you look at me?"
Madara took in a shuddering, angry breath, his teeth grinding against each other.
"You're not her. My wife has been dead for decades."
"Of course it's me, husband. Here, I'll even prove it."
Sharingan eyes snapped open when a pair of soft arms wrapped around him from behind and a familiar weight pressed into his back. The arms squeezed him in a way that he would never forget as an almost forgotten voice breathed into his ear.
"We're here, husband. And we'll never go away. Ever again."
Madara heard her words, but his eyes remained locked onto his brother's face. Izuna smiled at his brother and nodded his head.
"Yes, brother, we're real. Now stop being foolish and hold your wife. She's missed you."
Madara sucked in a lungful of air and spun around, his arms encircling his wife's waist as he crushed his lips to hers. This was his test if this was real. Her taste, the feel of her rose petal soft lips, her smell...it was all uniquely hers. This had to be real.
Why, then, did it feel so wrong? Why did it feel like it wasn't there?
His wife happily returned the kiss, melding her body against his as Izuna laughed joyously.
"See, brother? It's as real as real can be. Our Sharingan can't be fooled by illusions."
Madara nodded his head as he cradled his wife against him. Yes, he had been foolish. But he still felt like a fool. Izuna laughed some more as he clapped his brother on the shoulder.
"Why, the only way to fool the Sharingan is with another Sharingan. And if you've been fooled, then there's no way to check it. You'd need to check it with another Sharingan."
Madara nodded his head, happy with that explanation until something clicked. He was ecstatic to see his family again, but something nagged at his mind. His family wasn't under a genjutsu. Their own Sharingan would have caught caught it. Perhaps it was only him? There were no other Sharingan in existence and he wouldn't take his family's eyes.
No, there was another...an eye that possessed an ability unknown even to him.
Hatake Kakashi.
The background of the scene darkened as Madara pushed his wife away. Tears poured down her face as Izuna caught her.
"Husband, why do you push me away? Surely you're not leaving again?"
Madara shook his head, his brain now fuzzy as his psyche fought against the power of Susanoo. Things began to fade in and out as reality and genjutsu pushed against one another, one overlapping the other, confusing him even more. He had to be sure. His wife hung off his right side, pleading with him to stop as his brother tried to reason with him.
As reality and illusory perception began to blend into a cocktail of confustication, Madara's muddled mind kept grasping onto one thing. One of these had to be real, either his family or the muck and rubble before him...and only one man could help him now.
Hatake Kakashi and that single Sharingan eye...
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TenTen and Shino leapt back to safety, each cradling a drained Hyuuga in their arms. Neji and Hinata had put up quite a fight with Hungry Ghost Realm, but their Jyuuken relied on chakra to be effective and the fat man just absorbed their blows like a sponge. Before long, the two had been drained of most of their chakra, leaving them weak and helpless.
Kiba and Akamaru engaged the rotund warrior next, giving the Weapons Mistress and the Kikai Master time to get the two Hyuuga to safety. After checking their vitals, the two returned to back up the feral fighter of the group.
Shino was worried. This body, no, this corpse, as his bugs had informed him, was making a mockery of everything they did. It stood there, with it's ever-present scowl and gray, ringed eyes, not saying a word. It reminded him so much of the attitudes of many of his own family. For but a moment, he wondered if this was how the enemies of the Aburame saw them. But...even an Aburame tried to stir the emotions of their enemies in battle. This thing wouldn't even do that...and it infuriated him.
Any bugs he sent to attack Pein simply fell to the ground as soon as they touched the time-stilled flesh. And Hinata and Neji had proven that hand to hand combat was not the answer. Even now, he could see Kiba and Akamaru slowing down, though they were fighting valiantly. Nothing seemed to touch him.
His eyes shifted when he saw TenTen preparing herself out of the corner of his eyes. She would have to take point against this foe. A kikai floated to Akamaru's shoulder and warned him of what was to come. A bark signaled Kiba and the two began to turn the Pein so it couldn't see what was happening. The duo began to lead the Pein away from TenTen and into position.
TenTen waited until she was sure the peripheral vision of Pein was no longer focused on her and unleashed a barrage of kunai at his back. The Konoha ninja all watched in shock as he evaded every weapon thrown without ever looking.
In the shadows, Human Realm sat crouched, waiting for opportunity to knock. Hungry Ghost Realm had decimated this team. Of course, not many could stand against the chakra absorbing ghoul. He could see the Aburame watching with hard eyes as the girl continued to chuck every last weapon she had at the fat body, only for every one to miss. He let his chakra disruptor rods fly just as the kikai master came to his realiztion
"There's another one!"
His warning was not fast enough, however, as a rod found its way into his back and the sides of Akamaru and Kiba, shocking them into submission as their chakra began to move about of its own volition. TenTen spun when she heard the shout and batted the rod aside, only to see Shino get taken out by a rod as well. The Aburame fell like a sack of bricks and his bugs swarmed out around him, agitated by the disruption of their host's chakra.
Human Realm stepped out of the shadows and strode purposefully towards TenTen, who moved to the side and stood before Hinata and Neji, her sword at the ready. The pony-tailed body cocked its head to the side, as if perplexed.
"Why do you stand there as if you can harm me? Do you not know I'm a god? I can end your existence in a heartbeat."
TenTen gripped her sword tighter and narrowed her eyes as she watched the fat Pein step beside the other.
"You're not my god. And you never will be."
She barely got her sword up to block the rod that Human Realm thrust at her, only to gasp as Hungry Ghost Realm slid one into her side. She stumbled backwards and fell on the ground, helpless as she watched the two stalk toward Neji and Hinata and slam more of the rods into their bodies. Hot tears ran down her face as she watched the blood seep from the wounds. She was confused though, as to why he didn't kill any of them. Pein saw the look of confusion on her face and stared down at her before nailing her hands to the stone behind her with another rod.
"I'm leaving you alive as a bargaining chip. I haven't killed anyone yet of your generation. I need you alive for the time being so that the Kyuubi jinchuuriki will know that I am God. I hold your lives in my hands. With but a whim, I can kill you all at once. Such is the power and wrath of god."
TenTen could only look on at the destruction the man had caused, her entire team, all her friends, powerless.
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Zetsu melted out of the ground away from the battleground he'd just escaped. He was a high-rank ninja, but even he knew when it was time to retreat. The Suna ninja were bad enough, but the two summons made moving about incredibly difficult. It was almost like they knew where he would pop up.
His body was littered with cuts from all of the various jutsu used and he wasn't sure, but he thought he'd been nicked by one of the boy's poisonous needles. His body was resilient, but nowhere near the level that Kisame's was. Vaguely, he wondered if his comrade was still bedridden or had decided to join the festivities.
He couldn't remember being this tired after a fight in a long time. Not that he'd had many fights in recent years. Perhaps that was why his senses were dulled slightly. Perhaps that's why those children had gotten so many hits in on him. Well, he'd show them. If Pein left any of them alive, he was going to personally kill them himself. He'd rip their limbs off one by one and eat them while they watched, saving the juicy intestines for last.
Perhaps the years of inactivity as a shinobi had dulled his senses somewhat. But he was still the best infiltrator and spy around. That's why it was so astounding to him when his trained ears didn't hear the familiar whistling nor his trained senses feel it when his left arm suddenly fell from its socket.
He looked down in surprise as his blood flowed freely from where his arm had been. He was surprised that the pain had not registered yet. That's when he felt the breath down his neck and froze.
I told you that I'd rend your flesh from your bones. Nothing in this world can save you once I have your scent. I'll follow you anywhere you go...and as injured as you are, you can't go far.
Sanzoku's teeth shone as he grinned and began to grow larger and larger. Zetsu's yellow eyes widened in shock. Nothing he had ever seen had prepared him for a summons like the raccoon.
Scream for me, bitch.
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Off in the distance, Temari and Kankurou heard the screams and yowls of both Zetsu and Sanzoku. The siblings shared a look and then took off for where they sensed the most chakra, leaving behind the horrid squeals of a dying cannibal and the broken remains of Kankurou's Blank Ant.
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Jiraiya watched intently as the Kumo shinobi once again rushed Pein in a wave and were again repelled. The Raikage rushed in for the five second interval only to find himself in a game of cat and mouse as God Realm backpedaled away until the round was up. Ma and Pa gathered the necessary energy for what was to follow and opened their eyes again.
We're ready when you are, Jiraiya-chan.
"Good. Prepare yourselves. I don't know if this will work or not."
Don't tell me what to do, little boy!
Ma...not now.
The three watched as Pein repelled and the two tiny toads immediately began to croak, singing their song. Pein heard the song and narrowed his eyes. He'd need to end this quickly. Jiraiya was too dangerous to allow the sage to live any longer. He carefully counted out the five seconds and just as the illusion was beginning to take hold, he cast his hand forward and pulled Jiraiya in.
Jiraiya's eyes snapped open when he felt the tug on his body and the song stopped immediately as the trio flew toward Pein's outstretched hand. Jiraiya's eyes widened in realization of what was about to happen. He watched as Pein's hand stiffened so that his fingers were pointed forward. Jiraiya was about to be impaled through the stomach.
Jiraiya hit the arm at high velocity, his innards rushing out his back as Pein's hand displaced them. Blood rushed from his mouth as the Kumo shinobi looked on in horror. Jiraiya's eyes glazed for a moment before the life shot back into them as he used his last strength to grip onto Pein's arm.
"Let's see you dodge while carrying all this weight, Nagato. I'll see you in Hell."
The two toads on his shoulder jumped free as his chakra faded, shouting out for him just as Tsunade entered the area with her group in tow. Her scream echoed across the expanse and Jiraiya smiled as he coughed up more blood, his voice coming out in a whisper.
"Heh, tears for me, Tsunade? And here...I didn't think...you cared..."
Tsunade collapsed on her knees, unblinking as she stared at the sight of Jiraiya's now lifeless body hanging from Pein's arm. She couldn't believe it, another of her friends, her loved ones...gone...All because of some egomaniac with a god complex. Rage boiled within her and she rose to her feet, until someone clapped a hand on her shoulder. She looked up into the sad, blue eyes of Naruto.
"No, Baa-chan. No."
Her rage immediately subsided and tears began to take over instead. The sadness and anger in Naruto's eyes seemed to wash over everyone present. Pein simply stood there, unimpressed as Human Realm and Hungry Ghost Realm landed beside God Realm and pulled Jiraiya off forcefully from the arm with a wet, sucking sound before casting the body to the middle of the open space. Jiraiya's body hit the ground hard and rolled a couple of times till it came to a stop, his face still smiling.
Tsunade's tears redoubled and Sakura put an arm around her to support her as Naruto strode to his sensei's body. By now, every one of the invaders had gathered to help, but stood at the edge, not willing to interrupt. Silence roared in Amegakure as Naruto kneeled beside Jiraiya.
"You didn't deserve to die like this...killed by a former pupil."
"He died by my will. That was enough."
Naruto didn't bother to look up. Pein wasn't his concern at the moment. He picked up Jiraiya's body and brought it back to Tsunade, setting it down beside her.
"Just so you know, jinchuuriki, I am god here. I will bring peace to this land through my forced rule. There will be no war under my rule. It will be utopia. And those who stand in the way of my justice, my will, become dust."
Naruto tried to ignore the obvious bait, but it was becoming harder. In the back of his mind, a presence stirred that he had long since thought was forever silenced.
"I have your friends, jinchuuriki. A simple pulse of my chakra and they all die of heart failure."
"No, they won't. I've already had my clones looking for them before we arrived. The rods are being removed as we speak and they're being taken to safety."
A slight quirk of the lips was all that showed Pein's annoyance.
"Then I suppose more drastic measures are to be taken."
God Realm's hand raised and Karui was pulled into his grasp, dangling above the ground by her neck. Kira, despite his weakness, yelled out to her and Pein turned in his direction.
"Give yourself to me or she dies. If you come voluntarily, I'll let the Kumo ninja go peacefully."
Karui glared over his hand and spat into his stoic face.
"F...fuck...you..."
SNAP!
Pein let her body tumble to the ground and wiped away the spittle.
"Too slow. Perhaps one from Konoha this time?"
Kira and the Raikage were mortified. Was the man that untouchable? Pein raised his hand again and Kakashi's eyes widened when he felt the pull on him. His hands flashed through handsigns as he was tugged along and his Raikiri was ready by the time he reached Pein.
God Realm watched impassively as Hungry Ghost Realm stepped before him and absorbed the blow, sucking all of the chakra with it. Kakashi gasped at the pull on his chakra and Human Realm caught him by the forehead.
"Come to me or Hatake Kakashi dies."
"NO!"
Pein turned his head to find Madara behind him, without his mask, and his eyes looking dazed.
"No, not yet. Give him to me. Yes, brother, I know that. But I have to be sure. No, I can't simply do that."
"Madara, are you alright?"
"Tobi's not sure if Madara's alright. Give us Kakashi. His eye will tell Tobi if we're alright."
Human Realm handed Kakashi over and Madara grabbed him by both arms and slammed him to the ground.
"Yes, wife. I'll be very careful. Pein, hold him. I can't have him moving while brother is trying to distract me."
The fat Pein held Kakahsi down while Madara knelt beside the man. All the shinobi watched as Madara plucked his left eye out without a cry of pain.
"No, brother, it's not the same as when I did it to you. See? I still have my wonderful eye. This is just to see if this is an illusion."
Kakashi could only watch in horror as the fingers descended towards his Sharingan. Madara had almost reached his socket when a huge vine erupted from the ground, smashed the Uchiha in the chest and sent him flying. The Pein holding Kakashi barely avoided the swipe and leapt back to safety, leaving the vine to hover protectively over Kakashi.
Naruto's green aura had returned and his voice was ragged as he raised his staff.
"No. You can't have his eye."
"BUT TOBI NEEDS THAT EYE! MADARA MUST KNOW WHAT'S REAL!"
The black fire of Amaterasu roared from where Madara had been thrown and latched upon the vine, burning it to a crisp. Madara was upon Kakashi in a heartbeat, straddling him, and thrust his fingers into the Copy Ninja's socket, pulling out the bloody Sharingan. Kakashi cried out in agony, but could do nothing as Madara stared down at him.
"Yes, brother, I agree. This man did steal our precious eye. And you know what they say, 'an eye for an eye'."
Blood hit Kakashi's mask as he gurgled, a kunai sticking out of his chest. Madara giggled as he stood up and put the eye in his own socket, hissing as it took hold. He blinked and then began to moan.
"No, no, no, no, no no no no! I can still see both! It's not fair! Why can't I tell if you're real? I want to know which is real!"
For Naruto, time stopped in that moment. His hearbeat slowed, his motor functions shut down, and the green aura pulsed wildly.
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The blond jinchuuriki opened his eyes to a familiar sight and a frightening one. The cage of the Kyuubi was opened and the beast sat on its haunches in the light, its mouth open in what he was sure was a grin. Beside the massive beast stood a face he would never forget. It was the old man that had entrusted him with the power of the green. Ancient eyes gazed upon him and a small smile lifted a white beard.
"Well, it seems its time."
Naruto shook his head, unsure of what the old man meant.
"Time? For what?"
"To make your choice. The prophecy concerning you is nigh. Here, you will either bring the world to a new level of happiness and prosperity...or destroy it."
The old man silenced the growling of the Kyuubi with a single hand and continued.
"Make no mistake, boy, this is monumental. You were never supposed to have a say in the matter. You were never supposed to go to Suna. You were never supposed to attain my power. You were never supposed to meet the raccoons. This situation should never have been and because of that, you get a choice in what happens next."
"But...but why?"
Wizened eyebrows lifted and eyes turned into a happy U-shape.
"Because, Uzumaki Naruto, you fought fate and destiny...and won. You made your own path...but you still have to choose. My power...or the Kyuubi no Yokou's."
Choose my power, boy. I'll lay waste to your enemies, I'll slay them for you. I'll destroy everyone who has ever hurt you. All for you. You won't hurt anymore. There will be no more pain.
Naruto listened to the honeyed words that poured off the beast's tongue and nodded before turning to the old man.
"What's your argument?"
A single eye opened and a dry chuckle rang throughout the room.
"You're going to die."
"What?"
"You're going to die, one way or the other. You can either be a savior or you can be a demon. One or the other. But I can give you something that the Kyuubi can't before you go."
"What's that?"
"I'll let you say goodbye to Temari before you die."
Naruto turned from the Kyuubi, eliciting a snarl, and was about to comply when the old man raised his hand.
"Make no mistake, Uzumaki. This is a mere courtesy. You will not have long. And there is a price for accepting my power. You will become the embodiment of the green, just as you would become the embodiment of the Kyuubi. I will finally pass on, just as you will one day pass on that power to another worthy person. But it will be millenia before your mantle can be passed. Do you accept?"
Naruto thought for a moment before nodding.
"Yes. So long as I can say goodbye."
A long slow sigh escaped the old man's lips and he turned to the beast.
"Back to your cage, fox. Our time in this plane is ended."
The Kyuubi ranted and snarled as the door slammed shut against it, throwing it back into the depths of the cage. Naruto watched as he began to fade out, a green aura encompassing him again.
"I'll let you see here right before you pass on. No sooner, no later. Good fortune, Uzumaki Naruto. And goodbye."
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The ninja all watched as Naruto began to glow with an unearthly power. His voice rang of a deep timbre as the green tendrils began to slide off of him.
"Leave this place. Go to safety. You have little time."
Temari took a step forward and Naruto cringed.
"Don't. Don't do that. Just go."
He turned to look at her over his shoulder and gave her a small, sad smile.
"Make sure everyone gets to safety. Get out of Amegakure. I'll see you soon, Temari."
Tsubasa leaned down low enough that his head almost touched the ground.
Naruto, are you...
"Yes. And I will complete my end of the bargain. All I ask is that you take everyone out of here. It will no longer be safe. Goodbye, Tsubasa. It was an honor to serve you."
Tsubasa nodded his head and summoned several members of his clan to assist in getting the ninja out. As all the living were transported, many under protest, he turned to the now glowing Naruto.
You're the last, you know. There will never be another summoner for us.
"All I ask is that you take care of her. Take care of them all in the world I create."
Hai. I can do that. Farewell, Uzumaki Naruto. May the heavens guide you to a restful slumber.
Tsubasa galloped off after the others, leaving Pein and Madara facing Naruto, whose eyes were now totally green. Madara tilted his head to the side and blinked, his eye still bleeding.
"Why are you glowing? I can see it through both of my eyes."
"That's inconsequential. Tell me, Nagato, was it worth it?"
Pein nodded his head.
"To create a new world, the old one has to die. This is the truth."
Naruto titled his head back as the power coursed through him. His life on earth would end when things had run their course, but his responsibility would be eternal.
"Nature, Nagato. New life is built on the death of the old, but the old is not simply destroyed. It's used to help create the new. That's what I'll be doing. Instead of razing it to the ground as you would, I will simply build upon the old world."
"I would give them a utopia, free of war and strife, with a new god. What can you offer them?"
"Eden. And the choice of how to best use it. Our sensei's teachings will be the model for the new world. 'Help others, treat people with kindness...' These are things he taught us. You warped them, I embraced them. The weak don't live to serve the strong, the strong live to serve the weak."
"The words of a mortal fool."
Naruto's green eyes became slits as the power built to its crescendo inside him.
"They were the words of the God of Shinobi, the teacher of our teacher."
Without warning, the power exploded inside of Naruto and his head and arms snapped back as a wave of green washed over everything. Wherever it touched, new life sprang forth from mud and rubble. Vines wove about the feet of Madara and Pein and held them in place, and lifted up the bodies of Jiraiya and Kakashi out of the muck reverently.
Outside Amegakure's walls, the shinobi watched as the green wave passed over, leaving grass and flowers just outside the borders. Inside the city, trees began to erupt from the ground, tall trees of every distinct and beautiful kind. They marveled at their friend's power, but Temari sat with her brothers, her chin resting on her crossed arms. Naruto had said he would see her again. But it felt like he was saying goodbye...
Naruto's arms fell as the power stabilized and his unearthly gaze settled on the men in front of him. They watched as he began to slowly stride toward them, every step taken bringing forth flowers that bloomed and then died. He stopped in front of Pein and brought his staff to chest level, aiming the end at God Realm's chest.
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Nagato grunted in frustration as he tried to force his Realms to move. He would not be taken by this insignificant little insect. He was Pein. He was a god! No mortal could stand up to the power of a god.
He didn't see Konan turn from the glass, so caught up in his struggles. He didn't see her hold out her hand. He didn't see her ever present paper flower reform into a kunai. His Rinnegan eyes could see many things, but they couldn't predict betrayal.
Nagato only saw her step in front of his chair and looked up to tell her to go away. He froze when he saw the tears in her eyes.
"I'm sorry. This is for Yahiko."
Nagato's eyes crossed to look at the paper blade lodged in his forehead and he gurgled a bit in surprise. He'd never been hurt since his eyes had changed. This sensation of floating...what was it? Was this...death? But...gods can't die...they're immortal...
The last thing he saw with his many visions was a weeping Konan leaving through the shattered window and the scowling face of Uzumaki Naruto as his staff thrust into Yahiko's chest.
His last thought was that he didn't know which broke his heart more...
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Naruto frowned when Pein's three bodies went limp and looked up when he heard glass shatter. The blue-haired woman he had heard about flew out of the window, her paper wings shaped like that of a moth. How...beautiful. Yet, some moths were poisonous...and he couldn't let such a dangerous insect roam in the world to come.
Madara watched through his hazy vision as Naruto held out a hand in Konan's direction and a huge Venus Flytrap emerged from the ground. The giant plant grew to the woman's level and swallowed her whole, the acids in its digestive tract already working on her papery wings. It wouldn't be long before she was digested.
He couldn't have her sowing poison in the new world.
His gaze settled on Madara and the man squirmed.
"Are you real? Or are you a trick?"
Naruto leaned forward and beckoned with his finger. A rose bush grew behind the Uchiha and the blond picked a particularly thorny rose, brushing it against Madara's face. The man hissed in pain and Naruto spoke.
"Tell me what you see and I'll tell you if it's real."
"I see my family, my wife and my brother. I see the Kyuubi jinchuuriki glowing with an ethereal power that is green. I see Amegakure overrun by flora."
"Your family is an illusion. Someone of your ilk doesn't get to see their loved ones when they die."
"Why?"
"Because Hell is torture. And seeing your family wouldn't be torture to you."
The rose lengthened into a spike and Naruto drove it into Madara's chest. There would be no teleporting away, no phasing out. The man simply gasped and began to babble again.
"Wife, why are you fading? Don't go. Brother, don't go. Why is everything getting dark? Is this...reality? Was everything a lie?"
Naruto closed his eyes and sighed. He didn't feel anything from Pein or Madara's death. He didn't feel anything from Konan's. Perhaps that was the curse of being the embodiment of the green? Just like nature, you were neutral to everything? No, he wouldn't be like that. Deciding it was time to give in, he gave himself over to the power and heard a voice in the back of his mind.
"You have little time. Make it count."
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Temari had had her eyes closed as she prayed and had only opened them to see if anything had changed. To her surprise she found herself on a street corner in Konoha. It seemed very familiar, but she couldn't figure out why.
"Don't you remember? It's the first place we met."
Temari whipped around to find Naruto standing behind her, his hands in the pockets of his jacket. She ran to him and wrapped him in a hug, pressing herself into his chest. His arms wrapped around her as well and the two stood there for a moment in silence before she broke it.
"Why are we in Konoha?"
"We aren't."
"Then where are we?"
Naruto gave her another small smile and motioned for her to follow.
"Come with me. We don't have much time."
She walked beside him down the street, her ears catching the sound of feet shuffling behind them. A glance over her shoulder revealed an ancient man, leaning on a staff.
"Who's he?"
"A friend. Don't worry about him. I have to tell you something. Sit. I'll push you."
Temari hadn't realized where they were going or when they got there, but they were in front of the Konoha academy, at the swingset. She obediently sat down and Naruto began to push her.
"I'm not coming home, Temari."
She slammed her feet into the ground, stopping her momentum and leaped out of the seat.
"What do you mean?"
"I can't come home. He gave me this time to say goodbye. I wanted to let you know that I love you and I'll miss you."
She shook her head.
"No, you have to come home. We have a life to build together."
Naruto shook his head sadly and put his hands on her shoulders. Leaning forward, he placed a kiss on her forehead.
"I'm sorry. Promise me that you'll find happiness, Temari. My happiest times were spent with you. Just promise me that you'll be happy."
Tears stung her eyes as she glared at him.
"How can I be happy without you? Take me with you!"
He turned his head to the side.
"I can't. Where I'm going, you can't follow."
She whipped around to the old man, her teeth grinding.
"You! Don't take him. Please! And if you have to, take me with him!"
"I can't do that. I don't get to say who stays and who goes. I'm only here to guide him."
Temari's shoulders shook and tears began to roll down her face.
"But...I don't want you to leave. I want you to stay."
"I know you do. And I want to stay. But I can't. This is part of my sacrifice, Temari."
She looked into his blue eyes, locking them to her teal ones.
"Haven't you sacrificed enough?"
Naruto smiled at her and wrapped her in a hug once more, crushing her to him, before leaning back and kissing her deeply. Temari tried to make the kiss last as long as she could until Naruto gently pushed her away and the old man touched his shoulder, not daring to look at her.
"It's time."
Naruto nodded his head and gave her one more gentle kiss as he began to fade out.
"I love you, Temari. With all my heart. Be happy."
Temari jolted out of her stupor when Kankurou shook her shoulder.
"Temari, you okay? You started crying."
Her response was to sniffle and then to launch herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face into his chest. Kankurou, not knowing what to do, awkwardly patted her back as he looked to Amegakure when it happened.
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Naruto never really opened his eyes the way Temari did. He simply let the power overtake him and pushed it outward, bending it to his will. He would give this world an Eden and a guideline to live by. He would bring peace to this world by taking it back to its roots. After all, if there is plenty, then there is no reason for war. And if the strong protect, then there are no weak.
The green's new embodiment pushed its power to the limits and Amegakure exploded into life and color. The green aura rushed out from the center of the Elemental Nations and into every nook and cranny. The invading shinobi gasped as grass and glowers grew under their feet and fruit trees erupted from the ground beside them.
The people of Iwa were astounded when their barren soil bore vegetables and fruit they had never seen began to grow.
The people of Kumo watched as their rocky terrains began to flower and bloom and vines began to grow on their tower.
The people of Kiri watched as their soil, always to wet for most things to grow, began to become overbearing with bounty.
The people of Konoha, a land that had always been rich, watched as the forest surrounding them became bigger and more expansive.
The people of Suna watched in awe from their walls as the desert surrounding them became one massive oasis. They cheered, for this could only be the doing of their own Uzumaki Naruto.
Tsubasa and his tribe watched with both excitement and sadness as the green once again covered the earth. This was what they had wanted, but the price was so high. He hazarded a glance downward to Temari, who had a smaller Sanzoku nudging her with his nose out of sympathy. A deep, rumbling sigh escaped his lips and he ambled off back toward Amegakure.
Come on. We should go see what happened.
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Color was everywhere as they walked through what used to be a great maze of pipes and water. Colors of every shade and hue popped up around them, surrounding them and bombarding their perceptions with a fusillade of flora. The group followed along behind Tsubasa, but two in particular trailed behind, knowing already what they would find.
I'll miss him.
"Please...don't say that..."
I'll stay with you if you want me to...
"...I'd appreciate that...thank you..."
The various plants around them seemed to spread apart, leading them to where they needed to go. Tsubasa gasped when he came upon the site they had departed from and bowed his head. Everyone stepped around him to see what the matter was and gasped. Most started crying.
Upon three seats made of vines, sat the bodies of Naruto, Jiraiya, and Kakashi. One by one, they all came forward to see them. Temari wouldn't go and neither would Tsunade. It was too horrible for either of them. Shikamaru limped to stand before Naruto, whose chin rested on his chest as if he were asleep and squinted his eyes.
"There's writing above each of their seats."
The others all calmed down as he began to read, starting with Jiraiya, then Kakashi, and then Naruto.
"I believe in a better world."
"Those who abandon their friends are trash."
"The weak do not serve the strong, the strong serve the weak."
Words to live by. It's their legacy to you.
The shinobi all turned to the Raccoon King, their attention given.
They sacrificed everything so that you would have a better world. Do not waste it. Do not make their deaths be in vain.
Hachi Kira, in a rare moment of lucidity and seriousness, turned to where the three shinobi were seated and knelt down.
"I swear on my life that this world will be better. I'll bring about change with my own two hands."
And one by one, the others followed him, swearing to change the world for the better.
Temari looked up from her spot, her cheeks and eyes red from crying, as she whispered to her departed lover.
"But what is a new world when my world is gone?"
Hope you enjoyed this. Come back for the epilogue.