Thanks for all the reviews and favs
I think I ended last weeks chapter too soon, lol. A couple people guessed Gaara's role in the cave-in and I did have a reason for why Deidara can't help (read on to find out more.) I should have explained it better.
Itachi is going to use his new technique on Madara in this chapter. If it's not to your liking, read the author's notes after the story where I've tried to explain my logic. Also, keep in mind the characters in this story are Buddhist and Shinto. The gods that have visited Itachi are Shinto and they have a different view of heaven and hell. So, yeah. Read the story, then if you are confused read the author's notes and let me know if I still missed the mark, or it's okay. xD
Disclaimer: Kishimoto owns Naruto.
Chapter 81 - Izanami
Time seemed to pass slowly for Itachi and Madara as they faced off on the beach, but underground, covered by loose boulders and earth, time was passing far too quickly. Deidara brushed a few stray hairs from his sweat-covered face and channeled his chakra into the rock wall. He could sense all the cracks and holes the cave-in had created and worst of all, he could feel them weakening. Pulling his chakra out quickly he buried his face in his hands and groaned.
The sandstone geology of the region was strong enough to create caves, but it was also inherently weak. Even though Deidara was capable of using chakra to move his body through the earth, there were limitations. And he had just run into one. The earth above them was so weak, that if the teen did move his body through the jumbled mess of rock and earth, he would likely become trapped again if – when – the rest of the cave collapsed.
"If only this were granite." Deidara lamented out loud.
"Huh?" Naruto and Sasuke muttered, confused. To them rock was rock. What difference did it make what kind it was?
An explanation seemed pointless, given the current circumstances, "Nevermind."
"Hey! The bugs disappeared!" A distant voice called out.
"That must mean they're heading back to Shino." Naruto sounded almost happy, but it was forced.
The absolute darkness seemed to strain Deidara's eyes as they sought desperately for light. He had heard the tales, back in the Academy, of people who had been underground in the dark for so long that they had actually gone blind. He had never believed it, even when it was medically explained with diagrams on the chalkboard to the collection of bored six-year-olds. But now as he fought to find even the faintest glimmer of light he began to believe the stories.
"What's wrong, Deidara? Your chakra keeps fluctuating." Sasuke said quietly.
"Nothing…" He suddenly turned his head, bumping his nose on a protruding rock. Ignoring the pain he voiced the thought that suddenly came to mind, "Can you see with your Sharingan?"
"Yeah… I can see colors. Well, I mean… I can see yours and Naruto's chakra as colors. I can't see anything else."
"Oh." Well, that was to be expected. It wasn't all that helpful.
Naruto spoke up in a loud, excited voice, "You're an Earth jutsu type, can't you get us out of here?"
Sasuke answered, "The cave would collapse if he did."
"What he said." Deidara answered, not wanting to explain any further. "And you guys should stop talking. It eats up oxygen."
It was silent for a few seconds, until Sasuke whispered, "There's sand moving on the ground and it's filled with chakra… Naruto… didn't you…"
"Gaara!" Naruto called out.
"Of course!" Deidara echoed, just as excited.
"Just be patient. This is going to take time." Gaara called out, "I don't have my sand gourd with me so I have to infuse the sand here with chakra. It's going to take time, but if it works I can create a cocoon that will protect us when the rest of the cave collapses. Then we can get you guys out of your little hole."
The section of the cave where the Jinchuuriki were being held had not only been sealed at either end by rockfalls, but had also been cut in half by another rockfall. That small section was, of course, where Deidara, Sasuke and Naruto where holding out.
"This will work." Deidara smiled and the relief he felt flowing through him was exhilarating. "I can use my jutsu to move the rocks if the ceiling and walls are supported. Too bad there aren't any underground rivers nearby, it's easier to move through the earth if you can find a river."
"Are you sure you aren't a water element user?" Naruto laughed.
"Sasori asked me the same thing the last time we went to a hot spring. He sat on the side playing with his puppets and I kept diving in and out of the pools using the underground water channels. It's a lot of fun, really. Using the heated water you can really propel yourself through the air, like a geyser."
"The bugs are back!" The voice at the end of the tunnel called out. "And they're forming kanji… it says… Stay put we're coming for you."
"No time for that." Bee bellowed, "Gaara, how close are you…"
"Just hold on." The boy called out impatiently, "Just be lucky there's a lot of sand and dirt here. If we were in another cave made of hard rock it would take hours to collect enough sand to do this."
The ground was now swirling with loose sand grains that were moving quickly, charged with chakra and ready for action. Deidara, Sasuke and Naruto had to stand up when the sand reach a foot in depth.
"It's red, yellow and white." Sasuke relayed curiously, his Sharingan sensing the chakra in the sand.
Gaara called out, "Okay everyone, this is it! Cover your faces with your shirts and don't breathe for a few seconds!"
Without any further warning the sand shot up into the air, and the trapped people quickly grabbed the tail ends of their shirts and pulled them over their faces. If it hadn't been so dark, they would have seen the formation of a smooth, sand textured wall cover the inside of the cave. The wall was formed so quickly that it seemed like only seconds later Gaara was ordering Deidara to break down the rock fall separating him from the main cave.
Sasuke called forth another flame to light the small area as Deidara formed a series of hand signs and blasted the rocks away from him. It was a small blast, of course, given the confined area, but it did the tricks and a moment later the trio climbed over a few stray boulders and breathed deeply. There was more air in the larger space and it was refreshing.
X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
"Where… where am I?" Madara muttered angrily. One moment he had been facing Itachi on the beach and the next a bright light had engulfed the pair. "This looks like… the Uchiha compound when I was a child."
"It is." Izuna was leaning against a wooden porch post smiling. Dressed in plain blue pants and a white pullover shirt he looked exactly like the teenager Madara remembered. "You never listened to me. I kept telling you… I kept warning you… I never would have given you my eyes if I new it would come to this, big brother. I existed to help you, that was my belief. That was my reason for being. And you took that away from me. You are the one who betrayed my sacrifice, Madara. Not the clan who sought peace, or the Senju who offered their hands, palms up."
"What… what do you mean? I was accused of killing you!"
"Metaphorically. A few… very few… believed you had driven me to my decision. They were very vocal about how they felt and they did it for the sole purpose of hurting you. You should have seen through that and been able to overcome their taunts. To prove them wrong. But instead you let it eat away at you. Instead… you set yourself up… you set the clan up for destruction."
The teen moved away from the post to stand in the empty, muddy street. On either side of the fifteen-foot wide road were wooden, houses built in a traditional style that, now-a-days, could only be seen in the most remote villages. Rising one to two stories they were well taken care of and echoed the wealth the Uchiha clan had amassed during their long tenure as Ninja. Even the humblest of cottages was solid, clean and well cared for.
"What… what's going on?" Madara wasn't sure if he should be angry or upset, or perhaps even frightened.
"You are in my world. You are in the Uchiha village of the past." Izuna pointed to the Hideout, rising up into the sky like a cylindrical mountain.
"I don't get it. Why? What purpose does this serve? Where's Itachi?"
"Itachi… the boy you should have protected. He had it just as bad as you did growing up, yet you did nothing to help him. And Sasuke, your own son. His life was calm and peaceful, surrounded by people who loved him and you took that away from him. Not to mention all the children killed in that stupid ceremony you and uncle Sora have perpetuated in Mist."
His mind was a jumble of emotions as Madara tried, desperately, to get a grasp of the situation. "This is a Genjutsu… Itachi is doing this…"
"No, Itachi is caught in his own little paradise with Shisui." Izuna paused, "That's another kid who's life you ruined."
"I let him go!" Madara spat, "I…"
"Don't make me laugh, big brother, you only let him go because you knew what he would one day become."
Unable to deny that, Madara ground his teeth in frustration, "What exactly is your point?"
"My point… did I even have one? This was all rather last minute. Who knew the two weapons meeting would cause something this bizarre? Well, I guess the gods did. After all it is their weapons you have forced into battle. A weapon used to create the world should only be used for creation and a weapon given in conciliation should only be used to mend relationships. Using the two to start a war is sacrilege."
It was true, the Naginata Ame-no-nuhoko was used to create the world, and Totsuka was used to slay the eight headed serpent thus freeing the sword Kusanagi which Susanoo gave to his sister Amaterasu as a gift to ease her heart after he had broken it. However, Madara failed to see how that affected his goals.
"My plan is to host the ten-tails and cast a Genjutsu upon the world, bathing them in perpetual peace. That is exactly what the naginata should be used for!"
"The Uchiha would see through the Genjutsu, eventually. They would see what the word really is."
"Sora would keep them in check."
"But not for long. Which is why you need Itachi and Sasuke dead. They would ruin your plans. Of course, Sasuke needs Itachi's eyes to pair with the statue so he's a goner, you just have to make sure Sasuke dies next because he will see through your Genjutsu. With that knowledge he could spread the truth and break your hold over the world. Sora will work with your unborn child to raise her to take his place, to keep the myth of the Genjutsu alive so peace will reign across the world. But ultimately… your plan can only really work if the Uchiha don't exist."
"True." Madara bowed his head, admitting the truth. "And… as the host of the Ten-tails I could kill them in a second. And I suppose… eventually… that is what I will have to do."
"But as long as peace reigns supreme it's a valid sacrifice."
"Yes." Madara's single word held the weight of a thousand generations of people never to be born, never to exist. It was heavy with meaning, heavy with unrealized dreams, lost potential, and silence where there should have voices.
"You know," Izuna stuck his hands in his pockets and stared up at the overcast, gray sky, "The one thing human beings have always feared more than war was the loss of their freedom. And there have been valid reason to fight, historically, you know. Peasants fight for the right to eat the food they grow, nobles fight for the right to keep their people safe from danger, nations fight to free themselves from oppression. There have also been horrible reasons to go to war as well. Of course, no matter the reason, the results are always the same. Death and destruction. With any luck the world that rebuilds itself is better than the one that came before. That is what people call 'hope', Madara. And that is what you are taking away from the Earth. From the ninja world. Freedom and hope."
"That was a long speech. Rather self-righteous. It's not like you at all to say things like that."
"It is like me, big brother," His next words were rather ominous and stabbed deeper than any knife ever could, "you just never listened to me."
Madara fell to the ground as a hundred memories of forgotten conversations filled his head all at once in a jumble of recollection. He saw Izuna as a four-year-old boy standing between two fighting puppies. Izuna as a seven-year-old sitting on top of a bloody and prostrate Sora so the boy beating him up would stop, Izuna as a ten-year-old crying because he had broken his sparring partners arm in a practice duel.
"You were never like me after all." The elder Uchiha rubbed his head, trying to get a grasp of all the images.
"Madara, if we were so unlike, you would be taking the ten-tails to destroy the world. However, because we are alike, instead, you find a way to use it for peace. Deep down, you never wanted to fight either. There was just no other way for you to live. You were raised that way, big brother. Father and grandfather saw great things for you because they believed I was weak. They gave in to my 'fancies' as they called them, because you would be there to clean up after me."
"To clean up…" Madara remembered the muttering of the two men, nearly eighty years earlier, in which they stated the same thing. Telling the young boy that despite his birth rank, he would likely be in charge of the clan because Izuna was not suited to take the reigns. But his father, who was at the time the current chief, could not make Madara his heir. Instead, he made him promise to stay by his younger brothers side and make sure the clan never strayed. To keep Izuna afloat.
"They no doubt sighed out in relief from their graves when I abdicated the position to you."
"Maybe…" Madara also remembered his great-grandfathers admission, written in the official Uchiha journal that only the chief's read. The regret that he had felt upon holding the minutes-old infant that he could not find the courage to throw him in the river. And the inexcusable feeling of dread that had passed over him as the newborn looked eagerly and without fear into the sky as lightening and thunder crashed overhead. "One man knew… he knew everything there is to know about me. But he was too kind to do anything about it."
"Great-grandfather? I have no memories of him. Mother told me that was his one dying regret, that I was too young, that he wished I could have remembered him. However, she also told me that you and I promised to take care of each other. Although young, and not fully aware of what was going on around me, I did make that vow, and she reminded me of it on several occasions because she knew that you and I were intertwined for all eternity."
"All eternity?" Madara suddenly felt a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach and he gave his brother a panicked look.
"That means forever, big brother."
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Itachi shuddered as a chill passed through him. The world Shisui had created was an odd place, where the moon and sun hung far too close to the ground and stars twinkled overhead. If that weren't enough the distant terrain of trees and mountains suddenly transformed into a stormy ocean where cyclones vied with each other over tempestuous waters.
"They're here… aren't they…" Itachi stated plainly.
"They wanted to see you."
There was nothing he could say and without thinking he dropped down onto the ground and averted his eyes from the display.
"Such a polite boy. You always knew the right thing to do in social situations." Shisui laughed, "But there's no need for that here. You are very much like your father, in that regard, you know?"
Itachi wasn't sure he should believe his old friends assurances, after all, the gods of legend had turned out to be real and were nearby. Shouldn't they be more respectful? He remained where he was and chose not to respond to Shisui's comment.
"Suit yourself." The boy smiled, "Izanami is pleased that you have such good manners, at least. I have told you how to execute her attack. It will work if your heart and soul support it. If you waver, even the least bit, both you and Madara will be lost forever. And he has committed far too many crimes… they have no intention of letting him off that easy."
Without warning the teen found himself back on the beach, standing with his feet rooted in the sand and Susanoo wavering overhead. The bright morning sun was at the proper distance and the moon was no where to be seen. The loud roar of the ocean and the gentle creaking of Kisame's fleet of pirate ships assured him that he was no longer trapped in that alternate existence.
Looking across the sand he saw Madara gazing at him with a curious expression. It was somehow different, and Itachi struggled to grasp its meaning but the pain that came from using Susanoo stabbed at his senses and he had to fight hard not grimace.
"That was certainly eye-opening." Madara finally said.
"So you got sucked into that world too?" It was more of a statement than a question and Madara just nodded his head once in response.
"I'm not backing down, though. I know what I want… what the world needs. And I know how to give it to them. I will make the largest sacrifice and bring peace to this hellish existence. The old empire and its technology, the destruction of the world, the creation of the ninja world, it was all paved in blood and tears. Its skeleton standing stark and barren across the landscape, old cities too dangerous to enter rot to the ground, while new ones fall to enemies. Humans have no place to live. No place to farm. No place to work. I can give all of that back to them."
"It's a noble cause, Madara. I can't deny it. And perhaps, if you had gone about it in a less bloody fashion, perhaps I would have followed you. But as it stands now, I have to stop you." Itachi took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When he re-opened them a moment later his Eternal Sharingan had changed, causing everyone, including Madara, to take a step back in shock.
Itachi's eyes were glowing a fierce, fiery red and the chakra that radiated out of them felt far different from his normal chakra. This new chakra was simultaneously damning and uplifting, spiteful and loving. It was the chakra of a god who had been born to be a loving mother, and then died to become spiteful and murderous. Susanoo faded and in his place was a giant, corpse-like ghostly woman dressed in a flowing decayed white robe. Her long black hair flowed out behind her as if blown by a strong wind and her once delicate hands were held ominously in front of her, flexing as if seeking a throat to constrict.
"That's…" Madara was dumbstruck. He had always known that the Sharingan held more secrets than he had discovered, and he had always suspected this technique in particular existed. But the form it took was completely unexpected.
"Izanami." Itachi uttered in a strong voice. The technique was just as destructive on his body as Susanoo and the damage it was doing to his cells was something he tried not to think about, instead pushing it to the back of his mind.
Madara gritted his teeth. "So be it then." His Susanoo raised the naginata and stabbed it into the earth. The force of the earthquake was twice what the previous ones had been and out of the corner of his eye Itachi saw two of the smaller ships roll over in the sudden waves and capsize.
Raising his own hands Itachi pointed at Madara and Izanami reached out with one bony hand and grabbed the naginata out of the earth. There was a brief struggle as Susanoo fought to pull the spear away from her, but a bright white chakra engulfed the long wooden handle and when it touched the storm god's hands he uttered an otherworldly cry that froze the hearts of all who heard it. Releasing the weapon Susanoo raised the Buddhist rosary and held it in front of him. Madara braced himself as waves of pain shot through his body, as if he had been pierced a hundred times by a sword.
The rosary had no effect, however, as Izanami reached out one long decayed arm and grabbed it as well.
"Izanami is death itself. None will stand up to her. Before death, all back down. It is the only thing we are assured of attaining once we are born. The one thing, despite our station in life, that we will all experience. The ultimate equalizer." Itachi's strong words echoed over the beach. "The ultimate technique of the Sharingan is not granted by killing, as the other techniques are, but by living."
"That… that makes no sense." Madara was close to panicking. He knew his plans had failed, that he had failed, but Izanami was… should be impossible. How could a technique that was death itself be granted only to those who lived? Taking a deep breath he shook his head to clear it as the wind off the ocean blew a few strands of hair in his face.
"You have killed thousands of people Madara, not only directly, but indirectly. You must pay for that. I'm told the count is seventy-five thousand three hundred and forty-two. The suffering caused by those deaths is easily twenty times more than that as family members, friends, and acquaintances struggle to deal with their loss."
"Then I am also at fault." Sora limped up to his nephew as Susanoo disappeared and placed one hand on his shoulder. "I will stand by Madara until the end."
"Sora." Madara gazed at the shorter man petulantly, "I walk my own path."
"No, Madara. None of us are alone, in either our beliefs or our actions. Especially you."
"Very noble, Sora." Itachi wasn't amused by the man's words and found them a trifle too dramatic. "But in the end we all make our own decisions, and it's those decisions that condemn us."
Both men continued to stare straight at Itachi, neither speaking nor blinking, their Eternal Mangekyou Sharingans blazing in the sunlight.
Itachi nodded once, "So be it."
The disappointment that washed over Madara was all encompassing and while the desire to sink into the sand and disappear was strong, he nevertheless stood his ground. However, there was another feeling rising up that completely surprised him. Relief. Sasuke would live. The first of his children to do so. It was his dearest wish, the one that drove him forward, that his children not die. That those who had fallen to sickness so many years ago would rise up.
He remembered the rush of exhilaration he felt back then, when the Uchiha still lived in the hideout, upon returning from a mission and finding his sons and daughter waiting at the gate for him. They would each have a piece of fried tofu, his favorite treat, for him to snack on and their big smiles and laughing eyes would lift his spirits no matter how tired he was.
But it had ended all too soon.
"Not everyone will agree with your punishment, Madara, Sora, but it is the one Izanami has chosen herself." Itachi's words interrupted his thoughts and he turned his attention back to the teenager standing before him. The pain that was etched in the young mans face spoke clearly of the suffering he was forced to endure to use the technique and without realizing it Madara lifted a hand to reach out to him before dropping it back to his side.
The movement was not lost on Itachi and he steeled himself, knowing that whatever the man was feeling, it mustn't force him off this path. He remembered the warning. He had to keep his heart and soul firm or Izanami would not work.
The other-worldly Izanami reached down one last time and wrapped her bony fingers around Madara and Sora who cried out in agony as waves of intense pain wracked their bodies. Itachi swallowed hard as he forced himself to ignore the terrible shouts that, while lasting only seconds, seemed to go on forever.
Falling to the ground, the uncle and nephew rolled onto their backs and stared at the pale blue sky. The pain had stopped and something… something was different. Something was…
"I… why am I still alive?" Madara gasped as he held up his hand against the sky and flexed his fingers. He called upon his Sharingan, but, "My eyes…"
Itachi dispelled Izanami and dropped down to his knees as Fugaku, sensing the end of the battle ran forward and wrapped his arms around his son to keep him from collapsing completely.
"Itachi… are you okay? What's going on?" The man was shaking with tension and Itachi gave his father a tired smile.
"Izanami wants them to pay for their crimes. They must each save a million lives before they die. Or to put it more accurately… before they can die." Itachi's voice, though weakened, carried over to Madara and Sora who had managed to sit up and were now staring in disbelief at their vanquisher.
Itachi continued speaking, "Seeing that much suffering, one would surely wish for his own death, but it will not come. Any suffering caused by them will increase the number they must save by a factor of ten."
"But they'll just live forever!" Fugaku argued, feeling suddenly helpless. "If they don't help anyone they'll just… they can keep doing whatever they want!"
"No." Itachi closed his eyes and took a deep breath, or at least tried to. His lungs were burning and he was feeling very nauseous. "It's hard to explain… but Izanami looked into Madara's soul and saw the pain and suffering he had already endured and what had led him down his current path. She is certain that he will abide by her wishes. Also… they… Madara and Sora… have both been stripped of the Sharingan and given normal human eyes. They no longer even have the capability to use chakra as ninjas, nor can they relearn the techniques. And the pain Izanami is capable of delivering will return with each bad deed they commit."
Pein stepped forward and reached out a hand to Madara, who, without thinking grasped it and allowed himself to be pulled up. The red-haired corpse stared at the Uchiha with long dead eyes for several seconds before speaking, "Perhaps you can bring peace to this world after all. At least, one corner of it. But I am just as guilty as you and have no doubt killed as many if not more…"
Madara knew the voice that spoke was uttering the words of Nagato, who was still in the giant statue's cave. He couldn't think of any way to respond, though. The emotions that he was feeling were unexpected and conflicting. To work so hard to achieve the ultimate Sharingan, to bring peace to the world, only to loose it all. Yet he realized that Nagato had to be feeling the exact same emotions as himself. The man had perhaps only a few years left to live, his body had been deformed by the use of his Kekkei Genkai and his health, as a result, was poor. Then Yahiko, the corpse who stood before him on the beach, would truly be dead. And his dream of world peace dead as well.
"I…" Madara cleared his throat as the pain suffered from Susanoo and Izanami continue to wrack his body, "have no choice then. But… how…"
"How does a hated criminal save lives?" Fugaku finished the question, "Why don't you practice here and find out."
The realization of where they were returned to Madara and he looked inland toward the forest where the Uchiha he had brought from Mist were no doubt engaged in battle. He could no longer feel their chakra or even sense their presence. That ability was gone forever.
"Call them back," Madara sighed. "Tell them to go home. Tell them… tell them…" His voice faded as he collapsed, unconscious, onto the ground. The pain and shock finally overwhelming his body.
Sora took a deep breath and tried to stand but Pein pushed him back down, "No need to stand. You're in the same shape as Madara right now."
The man nodded once, "Zetsu, please pass on Madara's last order. Then you may leave. Fugaku, the Jinchuuriki…"
"Are being rescued as we speak." Fugaku finished the sentence as Zetsu disappeared silently into the ground.
"Ah. Deidara's work, no doubt."
"You knew?" Itachi asked in surprise.
"Of course." Sora sighed, "I… kept wavering… I could see what Madara had become, but I had stood beside him for so long that I couldn't bring myself to go against him. Also, I believed in his dream." He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead with both hands, "Deidara was kind of like… if he succeeded in rescuing them I would allow them to escape. If he failed I would follow Madara."
"That's sick." Zabuza's voice rang out as he approached the group. Haku was walking a few paces in front of him with a grim look on his face. The teen rushed up to Itachi when he saw him and began pushing chakra into his body in a cursory exam.
"Yeah." Sora admitted. "I completely fail as a clan chief. An action like that… I will abdicate. I have no heir…"
"You may have Sasuke." Fugaku spoke up.
"You…" Itachi started to object, but Fugaku interrupted.
"Teach him well, and let him spread his wings and I am sure you won't regret it."
"Father." Itachi smiled, relieved to hear the praise, but at the same time worried over what his little brother would do when he learned he wasn't coming home.
Zabuza stepped over to Madara and dropped his sword down onto the sand inches from the unconscious man's throat. "Do you have any idea how much I want to take this bastard's head?"
"Yeah, I think I do." Fugaku answered bitterly. "I don't like this agreement one bit." He went on to explain the circumstances to the newcomers, and then reconsidered the swordsman's sanity when the man dropped down onto the ground laughing.
Haku interrupted everyone's musing, "Itachi needs to get to a hospital. His lungs are in bad shape and it looks like an infection is setting in. He should be okay if we get him to the hospital tent at the Konoha lines. Then we can transport him home."
"I don't feel that bad…" Itachi tried to defend himself, but was quickly interrupted by Fugaku.
"You never do, do you?" Fugaku was smirking and the teen found himself smiling.
"Old habits die hard." Itachi answered. Looking out over the water he watched as several pirates ran over the waves looking for their capsized companions. It would be overly-optimistic to assume everyone had escaped unharmed, but as he watched one young man being lifted up out of the water and thrown over an older man's shoulder, he knew that wasn't the case. It was obvious that he was dead.
"I don't really feel like I won this fight." Itachi admitted half-heartedly.
"Perhaps that's the point." Haku said as he stood up. "I'd like to get you to the tent now, Itachi. You can ride on my back."
"I'll carry him." Fugaku spoke up and before Itachi could think twice Haku had practically thrown him on his father's back.
"Don't jar him too much or he might start coughing or gagging. We need to get that gunk out of his lungs first." Haku patted Itachi on the back lightly and watched as they sped off into the forest.
Zabuza leaned back on his arms next to Madara and grinned, "I can't wait for him to wake up and see me."
Haku frowned, "Well, don't get too comfortable. You should probably go out there and make sure Madara's people really do back down. Some of them probably don't really care about following orders, just killing."
"True. True." Zabuza jumped to his feet and addressed Sora, "If I were you two, I'd disappear. Perhaps you can get Kisame out there to give you a ride somewhere."
"That was almost helpful." Sora replied sarcastically.
"Almost… but not quite." Zabuza ambled back toward the forest, laughing, as a stray wind blew in from the ocean.
Sora fell back onto the sand and held up a hand to shield his face from the bright sin. "The battle isn't over." He spoke to the unconscious man next to him, "We really messed this one up, nephew. A million people each. It's like, that guy in the old stories who has to push a rock up a hill for all eternity, but whenever he gets it halfway up it rolls back down."
"We got off easy." Madara answered, his voice weak and barely audible, "How humiliating. This isn't how a ninja should live."
"We aren't ninja anymore, Madara."
Madara closed his eyes, "Nevertheless, we need to get back to Mist."
"Can I take a nap first?" Sora didn't wait for an answer as he drifted off to sleep.
X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Next week, the Jinchuuriki escape and Madara makes a decision.
Okay, I have a lot of explanations here. Hopefully it makes sense. If it leaves some blaring holes let me know.
I was rather intrigued with the idea of making a man like Madara work with regular people and saving their lives instead of killing them as a ninja and thought it would fit in with Izanami. As soon as he saves the millionth life he will die and if he causes harm he will suffer. My assumption here is that he isn't a masochist. If he were he would learn to accept the pain and continue to cause harm. Also, he can't take his time and take a couple thousand years to do this because it would be literally impossible to go the years without meeting someone who needs saved. Isolation won't help either because pretending the world doesn't exist is the same as causing harm.
I saw the gods as wanting Madara to suffer, to be humiliated, but also wanting him to pay for his crimes. If he were to die right now he would go to the Shinto version of Hell where he would basically live a bleak existence, not unhappy nor happy. Basically, pointless. This way he can make restitution and pay for the suffering he's caused. As a normal human with no ninja abilities he has an even bigger hurdle to cross.
Be assured, Madara isn't going to turn around and be happy with the resolution. He's going to be very mad and upset, but because of the circumstances he's also going to do as he was ordered. The idea is that over time he will get used to it and accept it, but that is years away. Sora is more adaptive and is already accepting it.
This idea ties in with the situation in Water country. Remember how I describe it as destitute and riddled by civil war and food shortages.
I'm sending Sasuke to Mist because Fugaku needs someone to keep an eye on them and he's already familiar with the clan there. It made more sense and they would probably be less hostile to him than someone else from Konoha. The other alternative I was kicking around was to have the Mist Uchiha move to Konoha. But in reality people don't like being uprooted and even if they are only fictional I didn't want them to have to move. Karin and Juugo will stay with him in Mist.
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