An:/ Alright, I believe I have to give an apology. I've been a total asshole to my readership for a whole month and a half. I dropped off the face of the Earth and was unable to warn you of my unexpected accidently asshole-like hiatus. I promised you all that I would never go on hiatus without warning you and a valid reason and I broke that promise. Though I believe I have valid reasons for my behavior, they are still unacceptable and I give my most sincerest apologies. Procrastination, laziness, standardized exams, and other personal issues contributed to it but let's not indulge ourselves in my inner turmoil and get on with the formal apology.
I am sorry for being a complete dickwad and for not updating my stor(ies). Next time I fall off the edge of the Earth, I'll make sure to warn you guys in advance. Dead serious.
As a result, I decided to give you both the omake ending and the story soon after. Hey! It's like christmas up here again (and/or (C)hanukkah and other religious festivities)! So two chapters in a matter of days and that's the end of the story until the sequel comes out which I promise I will deliver in a day or so. Pinky promise I swear, I won't sleep until I get it in...which I will do, I will even take video/commentary and put it somewhere for you to see me stay up all night trying to start the sequel (only if you want me to though, I'd hate to waste your time.)
The Beta offer is still up for grabs, I'll should ask for like a resume or something because I wasn't expecting more than one person to offer (how am I gonna pick out of all you guys! TT TT). So, for the "resume" I just need you to send me a paragraph talking about yourself (not personal info) like for example, tell me about your OTP or your favorite manga/anime. I just want to see how you write so type to the best of your abilities (so make sure you're not using too much slang or any texting language (u, omg, ur, wtf, lol) and punctuation and grammar is a must.) I know I'm being picky but I want the best for my readers! Regardless, send it to me by PM if you want it private otherwise leave your paragraph in the reviews!
If it's of any consolation, this chapter is the final draft of seven different variations. That's right, I rewrote this chapter seven different time before I was vaguely satisfied with the results. Don't make me change my mind.
PART 1(CHAP 24) PART 2(CHAP 41)
I PRESENT THEE PART 3 OF THE AWESOME OMAKE
I've decided to call this omake: Memories of an Uzumaki
Naruto's head felt like lead and his skin burned as if he was on fire. He stifled a groan as his bones ached and his neck was stiff. He felt the jab of sharp rocks underneath him and a few along the small of his back. He tried to sense the chakra around him but felt nothing. The perpetual drip of water echoed through the place of his captivity. Naruto could only deduce that he was back in the dungeons.
"Oi, Fishcake, are you going to wake up or what?"
Naruto's eyes snapped open at the sound of the little girl's voice.
"Gah! What are you doing here? I didn't summon you!"
"Che- thought you'd be happy to see me. Regardless, it appears the last time you came here, you flooded the seal with your chakra and overrided a bunch of the functions. I'm now summoned whenever you're on the Uzumaki Palace grounds."
"Well, that's great and all but the real question is, Tomato, where am I?"
"Hmph, the underground royal catacombs of the Uzumaki clan..."
Naruto took a look around the large room. Skulls lined along the walls on stone shelves and intricate swirls were carved into the ceiling, all surrounding an even larger swirl at the center.
"Apparently, the catacombs so happen to hold quite a lot of vaults so don't cut yourself open otherwise a crap ton of scrolls will rain down upon you" The hologram crossed her arms.
"That's comforting that the only reason you don't want me hurt is the vaults. No 'I care too much about you, Fishcake' or 'I would just be heartbroken if you got the smallest cut!' How comforting" Naruto deadpanned.
"Che, just be grateful I'm telling you all this."
Naruto looked at the walls which had the weirdest carvings and paintings. He walked up to a peculiar painting with a green scaled monster behind a redheaded woman.
"This is interesting..." Naruto hummed to himself.
"That...that is the story! The story of the Oni!" the hologram exclaimed as she practically ran towards the painting.
Naruto stepped aside as the girl ran her hand along the painting and looked around in awe. But his eyes narrowed when the girl's eyes widened.
"I...I remember...the Oni...no...it's not really an Oni."
"What? Speak up."
"'Oni' isn't it's real name. It isn't even a demon really. It's a summon."
"A what?"
"A summon. It belongs to a specific family branch of the Uzumakis. It's really just a large shapeshifting lizard." The hologram said proudly.
Naruto raised a brow as he reproached the painting.
"You tell this to me now? Does it tell anything else about it?"
"Well, no but I can tell you more about it. Well, only just a little. I wasn't paying attention in class when we learned about it. Probably why I didn't really know much about it before this picture" She murmured.
"Oh why couldn't you pay attention to probably the most important lesson you ever needed!" Naruto threw his hand up in exasperation.
"Well, I know the Oni is a shapeshifter. Which is probably why they say she takes shape as a woman. And the summoner can only be female. It was passed down to the heir of the branch and the branch was especially known for this specific summon. But I'm part of the main branch so I don't really pay attention to all that."
"Do you know it's name?"
"...No.."
"Urgh...well, whatever. I guess that's enough." Naruto looked around again as he walked around the room to view the paintings.
"Hmm...I've noticed there are no doors...Any hopes of getting out of this shit hole, Tomato?" Naruto hummed.
"Yeah, apparently, during the First shinobi war, they converted this place into a prison and set seals up that made it a one way in one way out. If you knew where the seal was then you could open the door but it's locked right now."
"Well, no shit, Tomato, otherwise I wouldn't be here right now"
"No need to get prissy, Fishcake. I was just helping." She snapped.
Naruto ignored the jab and walked towards the center of the tomb.
"Do you know what type of seal it is?"
"It's a tri barrier seal with 16 prongs. I have yet to find a way to break it but I'm sure my original had plenty of time to research it. It's normally a 3 to 5 meter in radius seal that stretches across the floor to the ceiling though there are 10 meter variations.."
He looked around and formed a ram seal. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath in.
"Whoa-whoa-whoa, wait. What are you going to do?"
Naruto cracked his left eye open to look at the hologram.
"Overflow the room with chakra and sniff out the seal. I don't have to decipher it. I just have to put enough chakra to override the activation and thus cancel it's effects.""
"What?! That requires a motherload of chakra! Amounts like that could kill you! And even if you manage to do that, you'll blow you and the room sky high."
"Well, I happen to have that "motherload" of chakra, so there."
"Wha- how?"
"...Ever heard of a Jinchuuriki?"
The hologram immediately went quiet and that was all Naruto needed.
"Anyways, I can pull off the chakra amount and blowing this place sky high is only a plus-"
"-wait"
It was too late as Naruto concentrated on his chakra and unleashed the wave of chakra. The visibility of the clear blue wisps of energy amazed the hologram as it looked around wide-eyed at the large display of chakra. The floor moaned until the sounds of the stone slabs cracking reached their ears. Suddenly, Naruto began to freefall as the floor gave out from under them, creating a large tunnel around him. The hologram floated next to Naruto as he tried to push away the skulls and debris falling with him.
"Well, maybe not sky high, but you definitely blew that place up and now you're going to die. Way to go, idiot."
Naruto casually looked at the girl with a face of indifference.
"I've been through worse."
The girl looked at him skeptically.
"Right, and I'm a hippopotamus"
"Oh, how right you are."
The girl growled.
"If I could punch you, I would"
"What's stopping you?"
"Cheeky brat"
"I'm older than you, twerp. You can't call me 'brat'"
"...Of course, I can, brat!"
"Twerp"
"Fishcake"
"Tomato"
Naruto frowned as he looked up past his waving bangs.
"I didn't think I'd have to resort to this..."
He bit his thumb and signed a few seals before slamming his hand on a slamming skull.
"Sorry, buddy"
Kuchiyose no jutsu!
The large smoke brought Naruto's fall to a halt as he grunted on impact.
"What the bloody hell was that!" The hologram cried.
"Naruto-sama, I'm going to get a headache if you hit my head that hard..."
"I think I have a concussion..." Naruto groaned.
"Fishcake! FISHCAKE! NARUTO! What is this? What are we on?" (an:/ drugs yo..haha)
The hologram began to panic as she paced around the fur. The cloud finally dissipated, revealing a large grey fox that had claws hooking into the rocks. The fox looked down and back up.
"You don't expect me to scale this, do you, Naruto-sama?"
"No, no, just blow up the bottom with a fireball, if you would do the honors."
"I might need a wind jutsu-"
"Way ahead of you"
Fuuton: Daitoppa!
Katon: Gouka Messhitsu!
The combined fire power blasted through and Naruto watched as the fireball continue to descend down the tunnel. The girl looked down.
"It's not stopping." She said warily.
"Shit."
The two looked over the edge of the large fox's body, watching the fireball disappear as the distance grew. Naruto leaned back and let out a loud sigh.
"Well there goes everyt-"
The faint sound of rumbling and the vibrations on the wall brought Naruto to a halt as his eyes widened. He looked back over the fox to see the bright orange returning. Fast.
"Uh-oh. Here it comes. Get ready."
"That's just you talking to yourself. I don't need to prepare for anything."
"Probably, but whatever."
Fuuin: Toki kukan no kaze no Shouheki! (an:/ I typed this long ago so I don't remember the meaning)
Naruto slammed his hand downward and the fox disappeared just as the seal activated, creating a small layer of air that protected him. The bright red molten fire that was rising at alarming speeds was now in sight, just a few dozen meters below him. The heat began to rise around him as Naruto braced himself for impact. The explosion of heat slammed into his barrier and began to fight against it as Naruto remained steadfast.
"What are you doing!" the girl exclaimed.
"Hold on! I'm causing a build up to rocket us outta here." he gritted through his teeth.
"Are you insane?" she cried out.
"A little!" he smirked as he continued to focus on the heat.
His arm was shaking as the resistance became unbearable.
"Here we go..." he muttered just as he released the hold he had on the seal and the pressure built up shot him upward. The seal remained between him and the explosion, leaving the blonde unscathed. Naruto began to shoot up to the top at high speeds. He closed his eyes and "enjoyed" the ride as the hologram next to him was panicking but matching the same speeds.
"You're going to hit the top you know, and then splat! Your pathetic life will be over! Are you listening!?" She tried to nudge him, but her hand went through him and Naruto just kept his eyes closed.
"FISHCAKE! MAKE A BARRIER IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW BEFORE YOU BECOME A SHIT STAIN ON THE WALL!"
"No worries, the pressure will slow down just before I make it to the top, we're still pretty far from the surface." He responded calmly, keeping his eyes closed.
Naruto was right in respects to the timing. The way up was smooth sailing until the very top where the pressure disappeared and his "ride" jerked a few times before coming to a halt. Just before Naruto began to freefall again, he latched his feet onto the sides of the tunnel and channeled chakra into them. The seal disappeared and the remainder of the explosion had already dissipated. He climbed his way up the tunnel with the hologram giving him a few motivations along the way.
"Get your ass moving, Fishcake." or "My grandma can move faster than your slow ass." or "A butterfly just flew past us you freaking snail. And you call yourself a ninja." were just a few of her favorite quotes as she urged Naruto to move forward. It was still a long climb and when Naruto finally made it to the top, he slumped over the edge and noticed the opening of the cell. He smiled and got up to move right before a hand chopped the back of his neck.
"Argh! Is this going to be a regular occurrence because I'm not sure my fragile neck can take it!" Naruto growled as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"You've gotta be kidding me" he muttered.
He noted the smooth marble flooring underneath him and the lack of bindings. How odd. The room was softly illuminated by a single bowl of fire at the center in front of a few thrones. Ah, the throne room. Naruto took a look around the dimmed room, noting the dark shadows that surrounded him. The seat that was missing a leg seemed to have disappeared as well. Naruto started to feel off as he continued to take in his surroundings.
"Waking up, are you?"
Naruto's head snapped up when he heard a voice. A figure began to emerge from the shadows, revealing a green haired woman.
"Who are you?" Naruto demanded, slowly getting up.
"Hmmm...Like I would tell you." She chirped, "But I guess you can call me, The great supreme ruler of the world, if you'd like" She giggled.
"Tell. Me. Your. Name" he hissed.
"Che- rude. I'm not telling you name." she huffed.
Naruto looked around her to see any form of identification, only finding a hitai ate with three circles forming a triangle.
"You're a ninja from the Land of pebbles? I thought they were wiped out."
"Hmm, they were. I just grabbed one from a dead one right outside the palace," she squealed, "his hand was all bloody, ewww"
Naruto only deadpanned. Who the fuck is this girl?
"Look, from what I know, it's probably you that's going around knocking me out here and there. Could you just tell me what you need?"
The girl ceased her ramblings and turned to Naruto with a small smile gracing her lips.
"Hmmm...let's just I'm planning a small...reunion."
"A...reunion?"
"Correct!" She gave a peace sign before hopping onto the main throne.
"May I ask what kind of a reunion?"
"A reunion where everyone get's thrown into a deathmatch and kill each other off!" She sang as she began to pick at her nails.
Naruto crossed his arms and leaned back against a pillar.
"Not much of a party if there's only me..."
"Heehee, that's where you are wrong~!"
She snapped her fingers and two figures were chucked out from the shadows and slumped onto the floor in front of the chair. Naruto rushed over to check the two.
"Kairi and Kagiri!" he gasped. He went over to check for wounds only to find both unscathed but unconscious.
"They're not gonna wake up just 'cause you say their names, ya know."
"Let me guess, a reunion with the Uzumaki clan?" Naruto growled.
"Correct!" she chirped.
"Well I hate to break it to you, but you're missing a very important member."
"Oh not to worry. She'll be here soon, I guess. But we'll just have to make do with her hologram."
Naruto stiffened and looked back at the small girl with his mouth agape.
"K-Kushina...-chan?"
The girl's eyes widened before she pointed at him accusingly.
"How the hell do you know my name! I never told you-ttebane!"
"Shit...This is so fucked up." Naruto muttered.
"Are you two done because I have a party to start."
The two Uzumakis looked at the green haired woman and glared. The green girl turned away and began to skip towards the shadows.
"Hey! Wait!"
The woman twirled around to face Naruto.
"Who...who are you and who do you work for?" Naruto narrowed his eyes.
"I don't think you're in the right position to be asking questions, Namikaze-kun..."
"Hey!" Naruto shouted but it was in vain as the woman remained silent. A small groan was heard from the seats and Naruto looked to see who was awakening.
"Where am I?"
Kairi opened her eyes a little and shifted in her seat. She blinked a few times to see Naruto leaned against the wall.
"Kairi-san, are you alright?"
She shifted a little and sat up. She looked to the side to se Kagiri waking up as well.
"I-I think I'm fine..." She rubbed her head and looked back at Naruto who was now focused on Kagiri.
"Kagiri-hime, how about you? Are you okay?"
Kagiri sat up as well, clutching her head.
"Damn those ruffians, who do they think they are? Treating me this way."
Kairi looked at Kagiri.
"I'm glad you're okay, Kagiri-sama. We will get you out soon."
Kairi motioned to hold Kagiri but the princess slapped her hand away.
"Don't touch me." Kagiri snapped.
Kagiri caught sight of the green haired lady and she gasped.
"You...what are you-?"
"Kagiri-hime? You know her?" Naruto asked carefully.
"I-I-"
"No need to deny the truth, Kagiri-hime. Let's say that we're business associates" The green haired girl chirped.
Naruto narrowed his eyes but Kairi's gasp caught his attention.
"You...what are you doing with her?" Kairi glared at Kagiri.
Kairi grabbed the collar of Kagiri's Kimono and brough Kagiri's face to her level.
"You're business associates with her? Do you have any idea what you've done?"
"Unhand me! You're my subordinate! I don't need you to question me!"
"DO YOU HAVE ANY FUCKING IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE? SHE'S THE-"
"Now now girls. Let's not fight here." The girl hummed, her eyes glinting, "We have more important things to do...like kill the princess"
The girl raised her arm and a long blade shot out of her sleeve. Kagiri shrieked and Naruto was on the move, dashing towards the advancing assassin. Rasengan at hand, Naruto smashed the ground between the Kagiri and the girl. The girl got up and brushed herself off, the blade retreating back into her sleeve. She tsked.
"This isn't going to work. You're a lot harder to get rid of..." she muttered, uncharacteristically serious.
She began to retreat into the shadows as Naruto ran towards her, only to reach nothing. He looked around and saw that the girl had left. He started to walk back towards the two awakening Uzumaki when an explosion was heard from outside and the room began to shake. Naruto froze and looked around before the floor beneath them began to groan. He ran towards the girls.
"You two, you need to get out of here, now!"
Hologram Kushina slowly approached the panicking Naruto when things went downhill. A crack formed in the middle of the room and an unhuman-like shriek echoed from below, scratching sounds of claws against metal slowly approaching from the crack. The roof was apparently aflame as beams began to fall down, the fire scorching away the vibrant colors and releasing heavy smoke.
"Kagiri, Kairi, it's best if you leave now."
"W-what!? I will do no such thing, I need my servants!" Kagiri responded.
"YOU BOTH NEED TO LEAVE OR THE ONI WILL COME!" Naruto yelled.
Kagiri dashed for the exit when a servant peaked from the doorway. Naruto was about to follow suit with Kushina until he turned around to see Kairi standing in the middle of the throne room.
"Kairi-"
"Heh...heh heh heh..."
Naruto froze at the sounds of a few chuckles before Kairi broke out into full laughter.
"Kairi-"
"The Oni? The ONI? HERE? HA! LEAVE BEFORE SHE COMES? I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE!" Kairi grinned.
There was something off, Naruto could tell (an:/haha no shit). There was a malicious glint in her eyes as Kairi settled down. Her grin was wiped clean off before she glared at him.
"I'm not leaving" she growled, "until you half bloods ARE DEAD!"
Suddenly a large beam fell from the ceiling and crashed in front of the doorway, blocking Kagiri from leaving. She screamed and fell onto her back, scooting away from the wooden beam in front of the exit.
Naruto turned back to Kairi and his eyes narrowed.
"Kairi?"
The roar from below was heard again but this time a lot louder. Kairi's grin returned.
"Ah yes, and about the Oni..."
A large claw clutched the edge of the crack before a large green snout peaked out of the crack. It retreated before it bursted through the crevice, causing another explosion as it forced the floor to widen. The dust settled and Naruto looked on with widened eyes.
"Kairi..."
The large lizard was monstrous. It's jaws were adorned with rows of sharp teeth and it's eyes were piercing gold. It hissed at Naruto who subconsciously took a step back. Kagiri let out a piercing scream and Naruto whipped his head around to see Kagiri sprawled on the floor, scuttling away until her back was pressed to the fallen pillar. Naruto needed to get her to safety.
"Kagiri, hold on and don't move! I'll be right-"
Naruto was suddenly swipped from the side by an enormous green tail that sent him flying through several pillars. He groaned and slowly got up, unsealing his sword. Blood trickled form the gash above his eyes and he tried to wipe away the blood. He breathed heavily as he tried to shift into stance. He spotted Kairi behind the lizard.
He looked back at the lizard and growled. He darted for it, dodging it's claws that crashed down on the floor. He slashed at its side, eliciting a piercing scream that reverberated through the destruction. Kairi screamed as well and made a dash for him.
"K-Kairi! What are you doing! Why?"
Naruto raised his blade to block her but Kairi grabbed the blade with her hands and wrenched it out of his. She chucked the blade to the side and grabbed his throat forcefully before slamming him into the ground. She grinned malevolently at him as her hands crushed into his neck, slowly crushing his windpipe.
"You think that just because you're a jinchuuriki that you're the only demon out there? You're weak...my hatred...my despair...they're greater than yours." She growled.
Naruto grabbed her hands in hopes to alleviate the grip but was slowly losing his energy. He slowly took out a kunai and jabbed it into her side. Kairi let out a screech before letting go. He flashed away and took in deep breaths as Kairi clawed at her side violently.
"You're the summoner, aren't you. You're a pure blood of the branch of Uzumaki. You're not actually the small girl survivor that you spared. You're the one who ordered the Oni to kill her."
Kairi breathed heavily before cackling.
"You're wrong, Namikaze-kun...everyone thinks that the Oni and it's 'summoner' are two separate entities..."
"Wha-"
"I AM THE ONI!" She cackled, "How else did I survive all this time? After that stupid bitch chucked me into the dungeons and took the title as princess for her own, I was left here to fend for myself. She took my sword and stashed it away."
Her tone became venomous as she continued.
"She started sending petty sacrifices but what I really wanted was her...that stupid green bitch. And when I learned that there would be tainted blood dorning the throne, I wanted to kill Kagiri. She didn't deserve the power of the Uzumaki. She didn't deserve to sit in that throne. It didn't help her case when it turned out she's in the same league as that parasite..." she spat.
"Doesn't matter now though," she continued, "I'm going to kill that little quarter blooded stain first and then you before I kill off the rest of these parasites living off Uzumaki land. Now, give me my sword..."
Naruto felt a tug in his seal as Kairi drew her hand out towards him and give a flick of her finger. He felt the sword yank free from the seal and fly towards her. It was one of the twin swords he had found. He watched as she brandished her sword and pumped a malicious chakra through it. The blade began to shift to a puce purple color.
He pulled his own sword to a stance and lowered himself before dashing towards her.
Raiton: Rakurai no akumu!
A cackle of lightning sparked at his hilt before the blade suddenly encased itself in lightning. He drove the blade through the floor to gain momentum as he charged towards the girl. Naruto let out a yell before slashing upward. Kairi lifted her blade everso slightly, completely deflecting in the strike without batting an eyelash. Naruto was pushed back from the force of the collision.
"You know, you look like him." Kairi whispered. Naruto picked up a hint of loneliness and pain in her voice as she looked at him.
"We were your age. We didn't know better. No...He didn't know better. HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE DID. HE DIDN'T KNOW HE TORE MY HEART TO PIECES." She screamed in agony.
"And look what I have become...a monster, a demon, a nightmare. And there's nothing you can do. You're finished." she hissed.
She jumped back onto the green beast behind her and slowly merged into the body.
"The pain...I can't take it anymore . Have you ever dealt with a broken heart?..." her voice rang in the air as the monster began to hiss. It's skin started to sizzle and grow boils as parts began to boil away and melt off. The mass of muscle began to break down, the liquified mass seeping through the cracks of the broken marble floor. At the center was a mass of thick dark red liquid, contracting and contorting into a humanoid shape.
It took in a deep breath before giving a smirk.
"It's been quite a while since I got in this form. Quite refreshing."
Her voice became clearer as the red liquid began to melt off, revealing Kairi. Her hair was still red but there were horns protruding right above her pointed ears. Her skin became a sickly pale shade and her piercing red irises contrasted unnaturally with her yellow scleras. The fangs lining her mouth were accompanied by a forked tongue.
"N-Naruto, that doesn't look good!" Naruto looked to the side to see hologram Kushina trying to get his attention.
"It's okay, Kushina. We'll be fine." Naruto assured her. But he couldn't find any truth in his own words and began to look back at Kairi warily. Kagiri started to scramble behind Naruto.
Hey, kit.
Kurama?
You can't be serious. Are you just going to let her insult me? A better demon? I will not stand for such blatant disrespect for the greatest Bijuu in existence.
Naruto inwardly chuckled.
So what do you plan to do about it? Wanna help me defeat her?
Hmm, I lend you some of my power. Let's show her who is the better demon.
Naruto frowned but let the red chakra flow through him. He looked at his feet as a circle of red chakra began to form around him. It started to rise but not before he heard someone calling his name. He looked back just in time to see Sakura and the rest of his genins break into the room before the red chakra encased him. His name was called again but it was muffled away as he slowly slipped from consciousness.
When Naruto opened his eyes again, his head was throbbing and he moved to clutch his temple only to be greeted with a heavy red sleeves that covered his hands. He looked around him to see he was adorned in a red hakama and his mask was tilted on his head. He reached to pull the mask down but touched something soft and furry that made him flinch. He grabbed them but yelped in pain.
Kurama? What did you do?
Don't be a sissy, I gave you the power of Inari's prayer.
What the hell is that?
I'll explain later, right now, you need to eradicate the Oni.
Roger that.
Naruto crouched lower, ignoring the feeling of something bushy brushing the back of his legs and his back. He dashed toward Kairi with speeds unparalleled with minimal effort. He pulled out the twin blade and struck Kairi only to be blocked and countered. Naruto dodged the slash easily and pulled another attack. Something snapped him because the next thing he knew, he was letting out a feral roar at Kairi, something carnal and bone chilling.
Sakura and Konohamaru could only watch in fear as they watched their jounin sensei let out a blood curdling roar. Sasuke flinched but turned immediately to Kagiri and made his way to the fallen princess.
"Kagiri-hime, we need to get you out of here before the building collapses."
The girl nodded faintly, slowly getting up but wincing. Sasuke turned to Sakura.
"Sakura, we need some medical attention here. I think her ankle is broken or sprained."
Sakura flinched when her name was called and rushed over, eyes widened and hands trembling. The pinkette ran her chakra enforced hands along Kagiri's legs and nodded to Sasuke.
"Her ankle is broken but I can't properly heal it here. The shards are everywhere and the risk of healing the bone improperly is too great. We need to carry her out of here and give her proper medical treatment."
Sasuke called Konohamaru over but before Konohamaru could take a step forward, a pillar was slammed between them. The two boys looked to its source to see Kairi and Naruto brawling. There were no ninja techniques, just pure animalistic full out fight. The two were clawing and growling, digging their sharp claws in each other's skin, violently grabbing at each other's limbs in attempt to rip it from its socket.
Naruto's head was fuzzy and all he could feel was the blood thirst pumping through his veins and the beckoning call for more, for murder, for carnage, for hate. He was barely aware of his movements, barely aware of where he was. The power was corrupting, maddening, sickening.
K-Kurama, w-what is going on?
It's too much for you. You need to pull back.
H-how? What's going on!?
The prayer is backfiring. I need to cut your chakra source off for a moment.
But she'll kill me!
At this rate, you'll both be dead so it doesn't matter.
Kurama!
Naruto snapped his eyes open just in time to see Kairi draw her palm back before smashing into his face. His body slumped and felt like lead as he was sent crashing into several pillars. He couldn't move his fingers as the flow of chakra stopped. His vision blurred and his mouth went dry as Kairi stood over him.
"Looks like your demon doesn't even want to stick around you anymore. He took your chakra! Pathetic." she spat.
"Looks like you're still alive, Uzumaki Kairi..."
Kairi's eyes widened as she whipped around to meet the new voice.
"Isn't this what you always wanted? I should've known though. You never aged. Still ugly as ever, Kairi..."
"K-K-"
"Shut up."
Naruto felt a tug on his wrist as the sword from his hands were forcefully wrenched out of reach. He lolled his head to the side sluggishly to see the new challenger. A blur of long red hair passed his vision as he tried to get up slowly. The hologram of his mother was at his side immediately, panicking over him.
"Fishcake! Naruto! Come on!"
Kairi let out a hiss as she raised her sword at the new contender. The latter raised the twin sword and let out a grin.
"This is perfect. Main house versus branch. I never really had anything against the branch but it's rather ironic isn't it? The swords that is."
"Are you going to keep rambling or are we going to go straight to the point." Kairi growled.
"Touchy, touchy. One was meant for the face of leadership while the other was for those who did the dirty work. Though, I cannot fathom you ever doing any work...grabbing the throne right after the destruction of the main branch, you have some nerve..."
"I only did what was best for the real Uzumaki-"
"Shut up. You don't even know what you're talking about. Spouting nonsense like you know how to rule."
"That scum isn't even pure Uzumaki...she's not worth-"
"You're not worth the throne! Your acts of treason, murder, I think I ought to sentence you to death. But I'll give you a fighting chance. No fun in an opponent who's binded by a seal, right?"
Kairi let out a whimper as she stepped back.
"Oh? You remember? Where's yours? On your back?"
The snap of fingers were instantly covered by the sounds of Kairi's piercing screams.
"I used to think the Hyuugas were cruel with their birdcage. But if that's cruel, then I guess the Uzumaki's are downright murderous. I guess we do excel in torture right after seals."
Kairi slumped to the floor, clawing at the searing pain on her back, the seal glowing red behind her shirt.
"Get up."
The pain stopped and Kairi wracked out a sob that turned into a growl. Kairi dashed forward, baring her blade as it instantly clashed with it's twin. Naruto could only hear the clangs of the metal and see the faint sparks in the air when the blades collided. His ears were ringing but he continued to struggle getting up.
The halls echoed another shriek as Kairi stumbled back, clutching her left wrist that now sported a deep gash. Kairi's glare intensified as her head snapped back up.
"KUSHINA!" She bellowed as she dashed forward again with new found vigor.
Kushina only looked back Kairi apathetically, her eyes holding no interest with the girl in front of her. She had the blade of the main branch. She was safe as long as she had the blade. She knew that, Kairi knew that too. Yet, Kairi kept attacking her like it was going to go somewhere, like she was going to crumple at the girl's feet in defeat. Kushina inwardly scoffed as she deflected another strike.
Even with a summon's enhanced strength, the seals on Kushina's blade countered it easily.
"I'm done dancing." Kushina looked on Kairi coldly.
Kairi's eyes widened before another blood curdling scream was let into the air. Her seals began to stretch farther along her body until the black ink etched across her face. Kairi fell to the floor writhing in pain. The seal began to bind her movements and she fell stiff as Kushina stood over her. Kairi looked at her in the corner of her eye, short of breath.
"The-The green haired bitch...you have to- you have to watch out for her...she's trouble...you don't understand-" Kairi huffed between breaths.
"I am full aware of what is trouble, Kairi..."
"K-Kushina-sama...please...you really don't understand" Kairi began to plead as hot tears began to roll down her bloodied cheek.
"Please...you don't- you don't know what they're capable of."
"'They'?"
"She-she mentioned another...a partner...they are going to kill everyone..."
"Who?"
"A-Ak-"
The seal had extended to her lips and her eyes and Kairi's open gaze glazed over as her mouth ceased to move. The seals began to coil tighter and the sound of Kairi's restricted breathing became shallower until there were no more sounds. A few seconds later, the seal receded and Kairi slumped, her gaze never wavering.
Kushina looked away and quickly walked over to Naruto who was still struggling.
"Don't move, Naruto. You've broken a few ribs."
Naruto winced as Kushina slowly propped him up. Her hologram kneeled at the side, gaping at her 'future' self tend to her son.
Kushina seemed to catch someone's stare and looked up at the small redheaded girl. The hologram flinched as Kushina looked back at her. Kushina smiled fondly.
"Hello, Kushina-chan."
"H-Hello...K-Kushina-san..."
A sudden rumble and Kushina flinched as she looked around. Sasuke, Sakura and Konohamaru came running towards them. Kagiri was propped up on Konohamaru's back as the three genin slowed down to a saunter in front of the Uzumaki heiress.
"Kushina-sama, this place is going to collapse on itself. We need to get out!"
"Kaa-san, we need," Naruto winced, "we need to get out now."
Naruto grabbed his arm to stop the bleeding of a deep gash that trailed down from his collarbone to his elbow. Kushina nodded and stood up. Naruto stood straighter but winced as he felt the bruise on his broken ribs. The group nodded and turned for the exit Naruto hobbled behind as the group made a dash, his wounds were beginning to take toll as his chakra system began to restart. His vision blurred again and he clenched his teeth as he continued to trail the group. The ceiling began to collapse, several debris caught aflame as they fell down.
Naruto's gash began to pour and the blood trickled down to his fingertips before a droplet touched the floor. Naruto froze at the sound of several seals appearing and he slowly turned around. Everything was blurred except the ever dominant black ink etched across the broken room. Naruto's eyes widened as scrolls began to pour out of the seals. A call woke him from his trace.
"NARUTO-SENSEI~!"
Naruto's head snapped back to the group calling him at the exit. The downpour of scrolls began to catch up to him like a flooding river as he broke out into a run, ignoring the screaming pain erupting from his body. As he made it past the arch of the exit, he turned before the door closed.
"Tomato..." he whispered.
The scrolls were closing in but the hologram stood at the doorway smiling and waving.
"It's been fun, Fishcake."
"K-Kushina..." he made a move to step forward but his mother grabbed his shoulder.
"I'll be fine. I'm not real remember?"
Sasuke and Konohamaru began to go through a series of hand seals, slamming their hands on the floor. The wall of stone began to rise and the sound around Naruto became muffled as he focused in on his companion.
He watched the wall blankly only to hear the scrolls slam against the new found wall. The hologram no longer there behind the arch, waving. A single tear rolled down his cheek.
The group made it out of the palace, watching as the roof collapsed in on itself, sending the structure to the ground. The smoke rose above the surrounding cliffs and the once cool air of the gardens were scorching, their lungs filling with the fumes.
They made it to the reinforcements and found Minato ordering medics and troops. Naruto and Kagiri was sent to the medics tent as the genins were sent to help with the aid.
Kushina stood by Naruto's bed.
"She's just past me, ya know. She's not real. She's just a program."
Naruto slowly met his mother's eyes but quickly looked away.
"I just...she felt like a real person and leaving her there felt like I was really sacrificing someone. I know it's stupid because I know she's just a seal but I don't know. I'm just over thinking things at this point."
Kushina ruffled Naruto's hair.
"No biggie. She's returned to the seal and her memories have been transferred back to me."
Naruto smiled and laughed a bit.
"So what happens to all those scrolls I unsealed?"
"Burned away. That room was practically incinerated along with everything in it."
"But the scrolls! They're so valuable! They're priceless!"
"Priceless, yes. But better gone than in the hands of the wrong people. Besides, that wasn't even all of it."
"And Kagiri?"
"She's...she's back in reign."
"But she was in league with the green haired woman!"
"She was threatened. It's fine. Your father has it under control."
"How did you come here so fast? How did you know?"
"The hologram's memories, remember? Speaking of which-"
Kushina whacked Naruto across the top of his head and scowled.
"That's for calling me 'Tomato', you little twerp!"
"S-Sorry!" Naruto wailed as he cradled his head.
Kushina pulled Minato to the side.
"Did you get them?" Minato lowered his voice.
"Both of them. We're cleared."
"Good. Those are historical relics we'd rather not lose again. Send them over to Kakashi and he'll take care of it."
Kushina nodded and scurried away to Kakashi.
"So...did it work?" A voice called out from the forest.
"What did what work?" the green haired girl called out.
"The Reunion, you idiot! Did it work?"
The girl frowned, her eyebrows knitted.
"No...only one died. And it was the one we needed."
"And the swords, did you get them?"
"No...The heiress has them."
"Dammit! Akarii!"
"S-sorry...I just-"
"Silence."
Akarii's breath took a sharp intake.
"You won't fail me again."
"Understood."
An:/ And that's a wrap. Or at least, that's a wrap for the omake! If you want me to make fanart for this omake (like what does Kagiri, Kairi, or the Oni look like, etc) just request it and I'll do it! It's the summer now so I have time to spare.
The last chapter is already up.
I can guarantee you'll have the sequel's first chapter up by this weekend.
Go on to the next chapter!