INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the End of Innocence. As always I like to take this time to say I do not own Naruto.

THANK YOU

A special thanks to those who reviewed last chapter: maliousdei, 101FallingRock, iiDarkness, GravenImage, StoryMaster007, aej0185, Serenity Namikaze, tosakuai, ElRusso, Kushina's Truth of Hell, airnaruto45, charles cdv, theshrewedshrew and Pinulu.

RESPONCES

maliousdei - Thanx. But actually it wasn't Katsuyu. Sakura has her own Slug named Kotetsu. I'm glad you liked what I did with Sakura letting Naruto know she's alive.

101FallingRock - Glad you liked the "little thing" Sakura was able to do. I know it's not the epic reunion many are waiting for but. But for now it's the best that can be done. So you liked the little Choji reference? Glad to here it.

iiDarkness - I'm happy you liked Sakura's message and we will be going back to focus on Naruto soon. As for what the scroll is it's...I picture of a puppy. I'm happy after re-reading chapter five you found it better to understand. I had a friend proof read it after I heard the complaints and he could see nothing wrong with it. So I was at a loss as to how to fix it.

GravenImage - Thanx.

StoryMaster007 - Hmmm? Sakura's a whiny B*tch? Lol! Noooooo! I'm glad the chapter worked for you and sure I don't mind helping out a bit.

aej1085 - You're welcome.

Serenity Namikaze - Dlad you liked it. Fear not, they will get together in time.

tosakuai - Thanx

ElRusso - Thanx. But I already know that. Remember Sakura's flashback? Kotetsu is the name of her slug. But Damn it I forgot there was a Kotetsu in the Naruto Universe. Damn I may have to go back and change the name.

Kushina's - You know I saw parts of that movie but never the whole thing. I don't recall seeing the end of it. O well. *shrug* But I'm happy to hear you liked Sakura's reaction. So you write as well? Hmmm? Perhaps I'll see what you have written.

airnaruto45 - SIR YES SIR! MOVING SIR!

charles cdv - Thanx

theshrewedshrew - I appreciate your honesty regarding the summons. TBH, during my planning of Sakura's evolution I considered other animals for her. But when I considered her as a character; the fact that she had learned everything from Tsunade (who only knows slug summons) and my idea's for her battles (the ones I've done and one that i have yet to do) having her summoning slugs just made more sense to me.

You are right that Naruto will soon be taking the lead again in my story as I'll soon be taking things to "act 2" as it were and everyone will soon be preparing for the FINAL confrontation. Naruto has some surprising plans coming soon that will cement everyone's faith in him. He truely will prove that he isn't the "knucklehead ninja" anymore.

Funny thing about Madara's plans for Sasuke. You really should read this chapter.

Pinulu - HEY! A future brother of the armed forces! I'm a 95 Bravo in the US Army Reserves! Good luck man Basic is gonna be one of the greatest and most frustrating times of your life. The work will be murdurous but when you have time to play those will be memories that last forever dude! Good luck. As for your review...thanx dude. A shame you won't be around to see how this all ends but hopefully when your done you can sit back and find my story and it'll be a great read for you. Again good luck to you dude!

MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR

Ok, so I'm glad you guys are here to read chapter 8. Please remember to send a little review my way when you get the chance.

Naruto: Chronicles of the Seventh

Book III: End of Innocence

Chapter VIII: Madara's Betrayal

******Kirigakure – Akatsuki Headquarters – Sometime after midnight******

Sasuke was lying in his bed naked, covered only by thin sheet, looking up at the ceiling. Snuggled next to him was a sleeping Karin. He looked to her and removed the bit of her hair that had fallen over her face and he noticed just how peaceful she seemed now; how content.

Sasuke had heard that sex had the ability to calm one's soul. He could see that in her face now. Yet he could not feel that within himself. Laying there he came to realize something, that despite everything he'd done to sever the connections in his life he still craved it. So in the end what he had done with Karin wasn't for her benefit but his own.

No matter how much she tried, Karin could never connect with him spiritually or mentally. So he settled for the flesh. Yet even that was insufficient.

Sasuke suddenly winced in pain and began to massage his temples. He didn't bother to mention this to Madara or Karin but ever since his operation he'd been getting increasingly severe headaches. At first they were nothing but a barely acknowledgeable annoyance. But now they had grown in such intensity that the last one blurred his vision. Now he knew something was wrong.

Sasuke carefully moved Karin's hand from his chest and sat up. He reached over and found his pants and quickly put them on and got to his feet. Looking back to make sure he hadn't woken her, he padded to the small sink and mirror on the other side of his room where he poured himself a full glass of water and drank it down.

He placed the glass at the edge of the sink and then washed his face. Again he felt a sharp jolt of pain and he lost balance, knocking over the glass as he fell to his knees.

The shattering of the glass woke Karin up who groggily sat up in the bed. "What was that Sasuke-kun," Karin said as she reached for her glasses. Looking around Karin saw Sasuke splayed out on the floor and she yelled, "Sasuke-kun!"

Karin quickly got out of bed and wrapped the sheet around her body and ran over to Sasuke who was tense and grabbing his head and face. "What's wrong Sasuke," Karin yelled as she desperately looked to see if she could find what was hurting him.

"My…..head," Sasuke yelled through gritted teeth. "My…head is pounding! Like it's in a vice! And my eyes…..my eyes are burning! What's happening to me!"

Quickly, Karin got up and ran and retrieved her medical kit that was laying on the floor by the exit. She ran back as Sasuke rolled about and yelled in pain. Karin took out her little pen light and grabbed both sides of Sasuke's head and said, "Sasuke, I need you to open your eyes and look at me! Look at me Sasuke!"

Sasuke fought through the pain and slowly opened his eyes and as Karin looked at them she gasped and the pen light fell out of her suddenly weak hand. "Oh my God," she said.

Karin stared at amazement at what she was seeing. Sasuke's Mangekyo Sharingan was activated, yet instead of its usual red and black tint it was now turning completely grey. "What's going on Karin," Sasuke yelled.

Still in shock Karin stuttered, "Y…your eyes….they're…"

Before she could stammer out her answer Karin felt a firm hand grab her by the shoulder and toss her aside, throwing her halfway across the room. To her surprise, she looked up to see Madara had entered the room with Zetsu just behind him.

Madara quickly dropped to one knee and forcefully grasped Sasuke by the head and, using two fingers, forced Sasuke's eyes open. "Yes," Madara said. "The final transformation is happening at last Zetsu. Though it's a bit sooner than I originally anticipated. But I guess it's a credit to you Sasuke and your incredible ability to heal. You've come along way."

Sasuke groaned and then yelled as the pain in his eyes and head threatened to make him lose consciousness. It felt like someone was taking a knife and slicing through his brain and eye sockets.

Sasuke's vision was blurry at best and he tried to break free of Madara's vice-like grasp to no avail. "Calm down Sasuke," Madara said. "I'm merely making sure the transformation takes place properly."

"Transformation," Sasuke screamed. "What transformation! Damn you Madara, what the fuck have you done to me?"

Madara remained silent and focused on what he was seeing. Despite Sasuke's struggles Madara was able to keep Sasuke's head in place. Scared and visibly trembling, Karin looked over Madara's shoulder and gasped. Sasuke's eyes are bleeding, she thought to herself.

"Ah yes," Madara said. "Do you see this Zetsu. His retina and cornea are adjusting to the new cells I've added. Though the pain is as much as I thought it would be. But the overall transformation is happening faster than I've ever seen." Madara then laughed and said, "Sasuke, you are truly a marvel!"

Zetsu then looked over Madara's shoulder and grinned. He then said, "Yes, my Lord. Things do appear to be moving splendidly."

Satisfied, Madara let go of Sasuke who fell forward onto the floor. Karin quickly scrambled over to him and helped him to sit up. Weakly, Sasuke said, "Damn…..you…Madara. It doesn't surprise me…..that you would….betray me eventually. But why now!"

Madara chuckled and said, "Betray you? Why my dear Sasuke I have done nothing of the sort. No. In fact you should be on your hands and knees thanking me."

"What the hell are you talking about Madara," Sasuke said.

"Just what it sounds like," Madara responded. "I haven't betrayed you. What I have done in fact is given you the power to overcome your previous limitations and defeat all of your enemies."

Sasuke yelled, "Limitations! What limitations! I have the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan! I have all the power I need to…."

"To what," Madara yelled. "To destroy Konoha! To destroy this ninja world? Damn Sasuke you are so naïve! Do you really think that the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan alone is enough to achieve all your goals?"

Sasuke sat quietly, unable to respond.

"Sasuke," Madara said, "if having the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan was enough to destroy Konoha and this ninja world I would have done it long ago. I've tried….many times…..and every time…..I failed. But you Sasuke….you are not as weak as I am. You have the strength to overcome the limitations of the Uchiha bloodline and transcend all expectations."

"Who are you fooling Madara," Sasuke said as the pain began to subside. "Save your speeches for the weaklings starved for your false promises. You and I both know the truth. You don't do this for my benefit but your own. And in the end, even though I can and will surpass you, it's because of that, that you fear me."

"True enough," Madara responded. "But I am far too old and far too close to my goals to allow myself to get caught up in petty jealousy. As always, our arrangement is mutually beneficial. You assist me with attaining my goal. And my success will mean the end of the Ninja World you so despise."

"If it was as simple as that then why trick me," Sasuke ask. "Why not just tell me what you wanted to do and allow me to decide?"

"Because you would have refused Sasuke," Madara said. "Stop lying to yourself. You would've never allowed this. Your pride as an Uchiha limits your scope. It is that same pride that kept you from accepting Itachi's eyes for so long. You would have fought against it and you know it. This was the best way."

"What have you done to me Madara," Sasuke asked.

"Given you what you've always secretly wanted since you were a child," Madara responded.

"All I want is revenge," Sasuke said.

"Revenge," Madara said and chuckled. "No Sasuke. Revenge is just an excuse. The latest crutch you've created so you don't have to admit to yourself what you truly want; what you truly are. What you want…..is power. To be the strongest. To have no equal. It's always been your secret desire, am I right?"

Sasuke sat silent for a while. His eyes still forced shut. "You're wrong," he said. "My need for power is just a means to an end."

Madara laughed deeply before saying, "Please Sasuke. Stop with the games. You've wanted power and have been jealous of those who've had more than you, ever since you entered the ninja world. As a child you fought for your fathers' approval. Secretly you wanted to have the power to leave him in awe! And your brother! How often did you dream of surpassing him! Of being superior to him!"

"And even your sensei Kakashi," Madara continued. "Part of you was always jealous of him…..hated him for his ability to master an Uchiha's eyes in a way you could not! Part of you dreamt of the day when you had more power than him! The day when you could rip that eye from that imposter's skull!"

"And Naruto," Madara said. "Yes Naruto, the one who is to be your rival. The one you hated because he dared rival you. Who was he anyway? Some goofy kid who could barely graduate from the academy. An orphan? A person without a sense of family pride and nothing to call his own? How dare he challenge you! You, the son of the leader of the Uchiha. A genious! And every time he came close…every time he showed that he could be as strong….no…stronger….than you…..you hated him even more! And in the end that hate….and your need to prove you were better….drove you to Orochimaru…..and then to me. Not Revenge."

"Lies," Sasuke whispered.

"Deny it all you want Sasuke," Madara said triumphantly. "But it's as you say: All things are laid bare before the eyes of the Sharingan. Including your soul. Revenge? No. It is the endless cycle of hate and lust for power, born within the Uchiha, started by our earliest ancestor that drives you. No matter what, it was your destiny to come to me."

Sasuke grabbed hold of the sink behind him and slowly pulled himself to his feet as Madara and Zetsu turned to leave. "I know this will be hard to accept at first Sasuke," Madara said. "But I'm sure you already can feel the additional power that my gift has given you coursing through your veins. And though you won't admit it, you love it. Soon, you'll know that this feeling is all you've ever truly wanted."

Sasuke finally pulled himself up on his feet and breathed heavily before looking up at the mirror. Slowly he opened his eyes and at first his vision was clouded and he was unable to see anything save for the faintest of light.

Quickly his vision began to return and Sasuke, covered in sweat and tense, gripped the sink so hard it groaned under the strain. In the mirror, Sasuke gritted his teeth and stared in horror as Madara stopped at the door.

Just before he closed the door behind him Madara said, "Congratulations Sasuke. You have finally gotten what you've always wanted; to have the ultimate power. You have a power not seen in this world since the days when The Sage of the Six Paths lived."

Sasuke looked at his eyes in horror as he saw that his entire eye, including his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan was now colored grey and black. With black ripples expanding out from the iris. "What," Sasuke said, "What is this? What am I?"

"You're the first Uchiha to go beyond the limitations of the Sharingan," Madara said. "You now have the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and the Rinnegan."

Without saying another word, Madara closed the door behind him and began to walk away. Behind him, in Sasuke's room, Madara heard Sasuke scream and the crash of what he assumed was the mirror being shattered.

******SunaGakure Prisons – The Next Morning******

Naruto stood in his cell staring out of the small window. He took a deep breath and stretched. Today was finally the day. After a month of waiting around doing nothing today was the day of his trial. It would begin in less than an hour and despite not having any real plan, Naruto somehow felt at peace.

"Ready to go," Shikamaru asked as he sat nearby tying his shoes.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Naruto said with a smile.

"You're in a good mood considering what we're about to face today," Shikamaru said as he got to his feet.

"Yeah," Naruto said as he turned to face his friend. "Miracles have a way of doing that too you."

Shikamaru walked up to Naruto and placed his hand on his shoulder. "I'm glad she's still alive Naruto," he said.

"Me too," Naruto said with a smile. "Anyway, any type of game plan that we can possibly use during this trial?"

"Not really," Shikamaru said. "I've had you go over every event from that mission from the moment you left Konoha to when you left to fight Sasuke and I can't find one clue that we can use to help prove your innocence. Whoever planned this whole thing left nothing to chance. How you were able to survive that trap is a miracle in of itself."

"Great," Naruto said. "Then what do we do?"

"Well," Shikamaru said. "There's maybe one game plan we can go with. As you know Krolik is going to be the one attempting to prove our guilt. In my previous dealings with him I can tell you he's a shrewd negotiator. And has the ability to manipulate any situation to his advantage. However, he does have one weakness; one I was able to use to my advantage once and beat him."

"Oh," Naruto said. "What's that?"

"His arrogance," Shikamaru said. "He'll never admit it but Krolik believes himself to be the master of negotiations and looks his nose down on anyone who challenges him. He believes everyone is beneath him in intelligence and cunning. If we could use that against him; turn his own hubris into our ally; then maybe we won't have to prove our innocence. Perhaps he'll do it for us. How does that sound?"

Naruto glared at Shikamaru and said, "Sounds to me like you don't have much of a plan at all and you're just gonna wing it and hope for the best."

Shikamaru smiled and threw his arm around Naruto's shoulder and said, "Yep. I learned how to do that from the best in the business."

Just then the cell doors opened and Temari, along with four guards entered the room. "Ok guys,' she said, 'It's time."

Shikamaru walked up to her and could see the concern in her eyes. "Don't worry," he said.

Naruto then said, "Do you guys mind if I stay here alone for moment. I….just need to gather my thoughts."

"Of course," Temari said. "You have three minutes." Everyone then left, closing the door and Naruto was finally alone.

Wasting no time, Naruto bit his thumb causing a small drop of blood to leak out. He then wiped the blood on his palm and slammed it to the ground and said, "Summoning Jutsu!"

******Meanwhile – In the hallway outside the cell******

Shikamaru stood outside the cells with Temari and four guards. "You four stay here and wait for Naruto," Temari said. "I'll escort Shikamaru myself."

"Do you think that's wise Temari-chan," one of the guards said. "I mean what if this guy tries to escape and what about Naruto? We left him alone with the cell door unlocked. And neither of the prisoners are restrained."

Temari sighed and then said, "Don't worry about these guys. They won't do anything funny. Besides, if they wanted to escape, they would have done it already. No amount of rope or cell could have stopped them. Let's go Shikamaru."

As the two walked down the hall Shikamaru quickly glanced at Temari's face as she looked straight ahead. Her expression was grim and the silence between them was deafening. During their time together Shikamaru had gotten to know her pretty well. Temari, was hardly ever scared of anything. But in the few times she was, she would go silent; as if all of her energy was currently being used to prevent her from showing fear. But Shikamaru knew better.

"You don't have to worry you know," he said without even looking at her. "Our plan may not be the greatest but it'll work."

"And what if it doesn't," she asked.

"Hey," he said with a shrug and a smile, "I'm not above crying for mercy."

"This isn't some game Shikamaru," Temari screamed as she seemed on the verge of tears.

Temari was then stunned to see Shikamaru had the brightest smile on his face. Shikamaru then touched the side of her face and gently wiped away a tear. "Like I said," he said. "Don't worry."

Temari moved Shikamaru's hand away and smiled a little and whispered, "Idiot. Why do men have to pretend like things are ok when it obviously isn't?"

"Because it's our job," Shikamaru said. "And because….we're idiots when it comes to these things. It's all we can think of to do."

Temari laughed as they continued to walk down the hall.

******Meanwhile – Back in the Cell******

"So that's the plan Shima-sensei," Naruto said as he spoke to small female frog.

"So," Shima said, "You've finally received the legacy of Minato-san? But how do you plan to learn that jutsu? It's not something I or any of the other toads know.'

Naruto then reached into his pocket and removed the small scroll he'd been carrying. I've been studying the technique for the past month. I know I can pull it off, but I just need to practice it now."

Shima looked astonished as Naruto handed her the scroll. "This is," she said. "I…can't believe he left this for you. He must have had great faith that you'd become strong Naruto-boy." Shima opened the scroll and looked at the diagram drawn and said, "Hmmm, we have the materials. And we should be able to make them. But you didn't give us much time."

"I'm sorry Shima-sensei," Naruto said. "But I had to wait for the proper time. Plus it took some time to study. How many do you think you can make?"

"Ten," Shima said. "Maybe a dozen, but no more than that. Not with so little time."

"Only a dozen," Naruto asked. "Alright. It will have to do. Please begin making them quickly. I'll be along as soon as I finish here."

"Of course Naruto-boy," Shima said. "See you soon." Shima then disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Naruto then heard a knock on the door. It was one of the guards. "Hey," the guard said, "The trial is starting soon. We have to go."

"Of course," Naruto said as he made his way out of the room, "Let's get this over with."

End of Chapter VIII

Next Time: The Trial of Namikaze Naruto