Yay, I got this one up faster! I think I'm getting back into writing, slowly but surely. =D Hope you enjoy.
Darkness, it was something Meng Ka could never get used to as it swallowed all colors and light, letting nothing through and the silence. That was the worst. No sound could escape the blackness as it spread endlessly into nothingness. Were her eyes even open? Meng Ka thought they were as she felt her lids flutter as she blinked against the darkness. Was she standing? Floating? She could not tell as there was nothing solid to hang onto, nothing anywhere to bring her back to sanity. Was this what it felt like to die? Was she truly dead? How could that be though, she was not even actually there in that fight. It was only a wind clone of her body and mind. Did it also clone her spirit? Her soul? Meng Ka felt something wet roll down her cheek as she thought back to the moment of her death, being able to see Uncle Shi one last time and all her friends. How they had grown, she barely recognized some of them, they had gotten so tall. When did they get to be so much taller than her? She wasn't that much younger than them. And Kiba, she was so happy to see him as well. Akamaru had grown the most though; he was as big as a pony now. Meng Ka gasped for breath as she felt more tears roll down her cheeks, her heart aching for her family and friends. She had failed them, she had promised to protect them all and now she was dead while they were all still in danger; still at risk of dying themselves. She had to be there for them, she had to somehow survive death. This was just another adventure for her after all, through all this darkness there had to be light. If only she could move, she felt numb to everything around her; the only feeling was the pain in her chest. Her lungs were tight as breathing became harder and so this was it. This was how her life was going to end, with nothing but regrets.
Light flashed before her eyes as she felt heat starting to build all around and her back hit something hard as she opened her eyes. Fire. It was always fire, it burned bright all around her as she stood up and looked through the flames but they were endless. Just like the darkness, the fire around her engulfed everything, devouring whatever came in its way. The heat was building and so was the smoke as Meng Ka began to cough, her throat raw from the smoke. Nothing was making sense as she protected herself from the flames that licked at her skin. Soon the coughing became unbearable as she fell to the ground, holding her chest and waiting for the flames to engulf her as well. As they came closer and began to make its way up her arms and legs, everything became dark once again as Meng Ka let out a scream of frustration. Her throat already raw from the smoke only aided in her coughing fit as her scream was cut short and she rolled to her side as her face rubbed against the cool wet grass underneath her. Slowly she opened her eyes and felt the familiar kiss of the wind against her scorched skin. Looking up, Meng Ka saw Tinktink sitting atop broken stone and there beside her was the old man with his cane.
"Bout time you woke up." He said shaking his head, "I thought you would be the first of your village to fail that. That would have been embarrassing." He chuckled and came over to her, pulling out a rag soaking wet and wiping her head with it.
"What happened?" Meng Ka asked as she turned around and sat up only to find herself completely covered in ash. Coughing a bit more, Meng Ka looked over at the old man. "Can I have some water?" Her voice sounded like an old lady's whose had one too many smokes.
The old man suddenly smacked her with his cane, "Get it yourself, you were just reborn not on your death bed." He shook his head and got up to leave, walking away from her as the sun began to rise above the floating island.
"How did I get back here?" Meng Ka asked, "And what do you mean reborn?" She asked curiously as she stood up, feeling a bit shaky but followed the man no less. "Answer me!" She said annoyed, she thought that she had just died and that she would never be able to see her friends or family again but here she stood, perfectly fine.
The old man stopped walking and turned to look at her. "How about you do some reading and then ask some questions. That book you've been taking along with you will answer your questions, I'm pretty sure." He then turned around and began to walk once again, not even giving Meng Ka a chance to argue or ask another question.
Sighing, Meng Ka walked slowly back to where she knew her stuff would be. Walking through the fallen structure she came upon her backpack and opened it. Reaching in her bag she pulled out the book that Kabuto had given her so many years ago. It was strange looking down at the book, knowing that Kabuto was dead just like she had been only moments ago. Sighing she opened the book and flipped through the pages, the familiar strange language dancing around on the pages. Groaning, she sat down and actually looked at the words and to her surprise she could read them. They suddenly made sense to her as her eyes scanned through the page and she became lost in the book as it talked about her people and the village, what it was like back when everything was alive, what their abilities were, their responsibilities, ect. She continued to read the small book a good five more times before she got up and ran out to find the old man. "Old man!" She yelled as she saw him in the distance, stroking Tinktink's feathers. "I can read this!" She said excitedly as she showed him the book and smiled brightly up at him. "I know about the rebirth too. It's a coming of age ritual, much like how the phoenix is reborn so are we when the time is right. But it stops there, what does the rebirth actually do?"
The old man smiled up at her, "It prepares your body for change and links your mind with your ancestor's. That is why you can read that now."
"What does it prepare me for?" Meng Ka asked, unable to contain her excitement as she knew something big was about to happen and that she was even closer to returning home, able and ready to protect them.
"To take in nature chakra of course." The old man chuckled, "You've been doing it without even realizing it your whole life but now you must be aware of it and use it. Which is a lot harder than it sounds; after all you have to be very still in order to take in nature chakra. Nature chakra is what balances you, like yin and yang, but be careful for if natural chakra takes over you will turn into a dragon for life." He raised an eyebrow at her as Meng Ka continued to smile.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's do it!" She said as she was practically jumping up and down.
"Alright, alright but first you are going to have to call a certain someone." He said as he motioned towards the sky and then went to sit down on a rock. "He won't be happy, I'll just warn you. He never is happen when he is summoned."
Meng Ka rolled her eyes and formed the right signs before pushing her hands onto the ground and a bright light eliminated from her hands as chakra raced through her veins and suddenly Astarot's familiar roar filled the sky and shook the island. "You again? I see you have been reborn. Let me guess I now have to teach you the ways of nature?" Astarot said frustrated as he blew hot air at Meng Ka.
"Don't lie; you know you love teaching me." Meng Ka smirked back at him and crossed her arms, "So what's first on the list?"
"The first thing is to shut up and float in the air completely still. You can only move from that spot when I say so." Astarot said board as he himself floating among the air.
"How about we make this interesting." Meng Ka said as she floated up in the air to be eye level with him.
"What did you have in mind?" Astarot asked now interested.
"Let's see who can stay still the longest. If I win, you have to admit that we are friends and if you win, you won't have to show your face in this part of the world anymore." She smiled brightly as the old man below them laughed along with Astarot.
"Child, you have a deal. When it comes to being still, dragons are masters at it. After all I once stayed still for so long that humans had built homes among my scales." He snorted and his booming laugh filled the air once again. "Alright, let's get on with it."
A Few Months Later
"Know pain." His deep voice said as he held the nail up between two fingers at Kakashi as he was held in place by fallen debris. Blood ran down his face as he held one eye close and the other open, watching as Pain stood before him and the village crumbled around him. The nail suddenly went flying through the air and embedded itself into Kakashi's head, snapping him backwards from the force as he swayed back and forth. His body went limp as he slumped forward and everything around him went silent.
Meng Ka's eyes snapped opened as she gasped for breath as she bent over and looked down at the ground far below her. Tears welled up in her eyes as the imagine continued to play in her mind over and over again. "Uncle Shi…" She barely whispered as the tears fell.
"Hmm…" Astarot said as he opened his eyes and looked over at Meng Ka, "What is wrong?" He asked as he lifted his head and blew hot air onto Meng Ka.
Meng Ka instantly stood up and balled her hands into fist, "I have to go." She said tightly as she lowered herself back down onto the ground and got dressed. "The village is in danger and they need me there." Her eyes were pure gold by this point as her breathing came in labored as she fought to hold back her anger. Whoever this Pain was, he was going to die at her hands.
"You still have training to do." The old guy said as he came up behind her was going to smack her with his cane but Meng Ka blocked it.
"I don't have time for your games!" She yelled as she turned around, tears still streaming down her face. "I will not stand by and lose another home. I can at least fight in this one instead of run away like a coward. This is what this training is for after all." She said loudly and harshly as anger and grief overwhelmed her. She had to get to Kakashi before it was too late; she refused to acknowledge that he was dead. He could not be dead, he just could not be. She then turned around and jumped into the air, "I don't care what you have to say, I'm leaving."
"Wait." The old man said as he floated up towards her, "You are indeed ready but just remember, your training is never over. Return here alive and in one piece."
Suddenly Astarot's large head was underneath her as he pushed her farther up into the sky, "Don't think you are going alone. Tinktink and I will be there to help you. After all, we are friends." He said the last word tightly but still, Meng Ka couldn't help the large smile that came over her face and she hugged Astarot as well as she could. "Yeah, yeah. Now just hang on, you need to save your chakra for the fight ahead." Tinktink chirped in agreement as Astarot flapped his large wings and they began to soar through the sky, climbing higher and higher until they were above the clouds and racing against time to reach the village before it was too late for everyone.
"I guess I'll be taking you now." Pain said as he looked down at Naruto as his rods ran through his body and held him against the ground completely helpless. Naruto glared up at him as he grinded his teeth, hating to feel this helpless. Then out of the corner of his eye, Hinata raced forward and was almost able to hit Pain as he dodged the blow, putting Hinata inbetween Pain and Naruto.
"I won't let you hurt Naruto anymore." She yelled over at Pain as she stood her ground.
"Reinforcements?" Pain asked mildly interested.
"Why did you come out here?!" Naruto asked worriedly as he looked up at Hinata who was next to him. "Get away quickly. You are no match-"
"I know." Hinata said quietly, cutting Naruto off. "I'm just being…selfish."
"What are you talking about?!" Naruto yelled at her as he became angry. "Don't put yourself in danger like this."
"I'm here because I want to be." Hinata said sternly as she continued to look ahead. "This time…I'm going to save you, Naruto. I was always crying and giving up before even trying. I made the wrong turns so many times…but you helped me find my way and take the correct path, Naruto. I always chased after you; I wanted to catch up to you. I wanted to talk beside you all the time. I wanted to be by your side, always. You changed me, Naruto. Your smile is what saved me! That's why I'm not afraid to die…if it means I can protect you!" She then let a gentle smile slip onto her face, "Because…I love you, Naruto."
She then glared ahead and took her stance as she locked eyes with Pain and the two stared at one another. Silence filling the space between them. Hinata suddenly spun around as she kicked one of the rods, breaking it in half. As she moved to break another rod, a gust of wind pushed her away; Pain having used his almighty push on her. She rolled back a few yards and got right back up as she looked back at Pain in shock. Whipping the blood from her mouth, Hinata raced forward and just as she reached Naruto, Pain moved his hand to the side, making Hinata be forcefully thrown in that direction.
"Hinata!" Naruto yelled worriedly as anger built inside him as he continued to only be able to watch helplessly as everything was destroyed around him, first his village, and then his frog friends and now Hinata was going to be next.
Hinata stood back up as blood fell from her head now and she brought her hands up to her side as she concentrated chakra all around her hands until they formed two lion heads. "Gentle step twin lion fist!" She yelled as she raced after Pain, who now stood in her way of Naruto. Pain dodged every blow that Hinata made but she never gave up as she continued and just as Pain brought up his hand, the real Pain off in the distance coughed up blood, having used up too much chakra as it was, making the fake Pain hesitate as he barely moved out of the way of one of her gentle fist. Hinata took her chance and broke one more pole, only needing to break one more before Naruto could move once again. However, Pain gained his composer and pushed her back high into the sky as she fell back and landed in a cloud of dust. Barely able to open her eyes, Hinata struggled to stand and walk back to Naruto. Falling down as Pain watched her crawl to Naruto and take hold of one of the rods.
"I don't understand." Pain said as he watched. "Why would someone week like you try to resist? Why fight me? Knowing that you will die?"
Hinata struggled to breathe as she held onto the rod tightly and looked up at Naruto with a smile, "I stand by what I say. Because that's…my ninja way."
Suddenly she was lifted back into the sky, straight up this time and even higher as she flipped through the air and then pain sharply brought his hand down but Hinata remained floating in the air as a large shadow blocked out the sun and Meng Ka appeared next to Hinata while Tinktink circled around them and they gently floated back to the ground. With a roar, Astarot landed around the crater, circling his body around it as his large head rested next to Meng Ka. He blew hot air over Pain as a low crawl emitted from his throat. "He smells of death. His soul is no longer in this world."
"That is because the real one is hiding, too afraid to face death himself." Meng Ka said bitterly as she looked upon the Pain before her, Naruto having defeated the other five already. Meng Ka looked different from the last time they saw one another, her eyes were slits of gold, red and black as her bone structure in her face was sharper and more angled, as her nails curved out into long claws. Powered raced through her veins as she glared at the man who killed her Uncle, rage consumed her as everything around her was sharpened by the dragon's vision, movements were slower and words were took too long to speak. This was her sage form; taking in natural chakra gave her the strength and vision of a dragon but it also gave her the rage of one as well.
"Be careful, Meng Ka. That rage can take you to dark places, control your feelings." Astarot said as he noticed the scales forming on her body, if she could not control the rage she would take the form of a dragon herself and be able to never return to her normal self.
"Hinata!" Naruto suddenly yelled as all eyes went back to him and his eyes went red as the nine tails took control of him and he bursted forth in fox form as he chased after Pain, bent on killing him for vengeance.
Meng Ka sighed, "Great, I come to help the village and now I have to babysit the fox while he tries to kill pain. He's going to destroy the whole village." Meng Ka said as she rubbed her temples and Astarot laughed beside her.
"What village? It is already destroyed, at least this way you can use him to your advantage. Once Pain kills him, he won't have any chakra left to fight you as well."
Meng Ka glared over at Astarot and shook her head, "Don't you have some gate to protect?" Astarot snorted a laugh before disappearing all together and Meng Ka looked over as a wave of water began to fill the crater. With a shake of her head she picked Hinata up and jumped to higher ground before letting Hinata go and chasing after Naruto and Pain who were thankfully making their way away from the village. "He must be moving closer to the real Pain. Meng Ka chased them down, avoiding chucks of earth and water as it flew all around. A giant ball of earth was in the sky when Meng Ka finally caught up with them and she leapt forward as she as she came in front of Naruto. She then made a few symbols and closed her eyes and she absorbed more natural chakra and then yelled as she opened her eyes and pushed her hand against Naruto, "Sealing Jitsu!" Blue light appeared all around Naruto as it wrapped him up in a tight cocoon and Meng Ka concentrated on sealing the nine tails away, it took a while but soon Meng Ka was lowering Naruto down onto the ground and looked back over at Pain.
"You have gotten stronger, Meng Ka." Pain commented as he stood before them both. "Good. It will only aid us in our quest to bring peace to the ninja world."
"Peace?" Meng Ka laughed a little, "Are you sure it is peace that you want? Or is it revenge?" She spread out her arms and looked around her. "Look around you; everything is in ruin because of you. I stand before you wanting nothing more than to kill you because of what you did to my uncle, to my friends, to my village but I don't. What you have done here is nothing but enacting your own revenge on the leaf village for what it did to yours. You yourself said that hatred is a never ending cycle and here you are, living proof of your own words. How can you speak of peace when you have done nothing but cause chaos and more hatred?"
"You will never know peace until you know pain." He said calmly back as he stared down at her, "No one understands anyone anymore. What the rain village was put through was far beyond what I have done to the leaf village. Under my rule, everyone will know peace. Through Naruto's death, the world will know peace. You are just the final puzzle."
"Listen to yourself." Meng Ka said as she frowned deeply, "Through all your pain you have come up with some twisted idea of a false peace. What you plan will do nothing but bring darkness in this world, there will be no peace." Tinktink chirped softly in agreement as she rested on Meng Ka's shoulder.
"I will show the world peace!" Pain said as he lifted his hand, "Almighty pull." He said as Meng Ka was brought up into the air and flung towards him. Meng Ka sighed as she dissolved into the wind and then appeared in front of him as she pulled out all of the rods and then sent a pulse of chakra through his, stopping the heart as Pain fell back onto the ground. She had avenged her uncle in a way but she did not feel any better than before. She looked over at Naruto and walked back over to him, she then healed him and smiled down at him as he woke up, "You did it, Naruto. You defeated the last Pain." She smiled at him as he slowly got up and rubbed his head.
"What happened?" He asked dazed as he looked around and then sharply at Meng Ka as she was still in sage form. "Meng Ka! We thought you were killed! How are you here? What are you doing here? Where have you been?!" he sighed and shook his head, rubbing his hair. "Ugh, I don't have time for this. I need to find the real Pain." He stood up then and took one of the rods, reversing the chakra and finding where the real Pain was hiding. "Got you." Naruto smiled and looked back at Meng Ka, "I expect all my questions to be answered when I get back."
"Wait." Meng Ka said as she walked over to him and held his hand. "Prepare yourself, Naruto. I'm going to give you natural chakra. Let go when you have had enough." She then sent a pulse of natural chakra throughout Naruto's body and continued to do so until he dropped her hand.
"Right, thank you Meng Ka!" He yelled as he jumped into the air and raced towards the real Pain. Meng Ka looked back over to the village and calmly floated in the air until she came back to where she had left Hinata. Once there she found herself face to face with Sakura, Guy, Lee, Neji, and Tenten. "It's alright. I have it from here. Everyone will be alright, I promise." She said as she looked down at Hinata, who she had barely been able to save just in time.
Everyone stared at her as Sakura stopped healing Hinata, "Meng Ka?" She asked softly as tears weld up in her eyes, "You're not dead?" She asked barely above a whisper now.
"No, and I'm finally home." She smiled softly back to her before looking back over at Tinktink. "I'm going to need your help, Tinktink. There are many who need healing and quickly." Tinktink nodded her head and sored up into the sky, Meng Ka closely behind her until they were above the village. Meng Ka stood still as she brought her hands together in front of her and concentrated on the natural chakra around her as well as Meng Ka. Meng Ka began to glow as she came closer to Meng Ka and suddenly the two of them were incased in a fire ball until they were broken by Tinktink's wings which were larger than Meng Ka now as they were attacked to her back. Meng Ka's hands were down by her side as her head fell back and she could feel everyone's chakra as she connected to each and everyone one. Then her white chakra wrapped around her as she felt her chakra incasing others as she pushed a little natural chakra into them to help heal them quicker. A tear rolled down her cheek as her chakra came to Kakashi and his chakra was gone, biting her lip she concentrated on those who were alive and then finished shortly after. Slowly lowering herself back down to the ground as she fell forward but strong arms wrapped around her as they brought her tightly against a hard chest. She knew that scent.
"Oi, Meng Ka." Kiba said as tears fell from his eyes and as he pushed his face into her hair, taking in a deep breath as he shook. "Never do that to me again." He said quietly as Meng Ka took in deep breaths, trying to get her heart to calm down and she let her body lean against Kiba's as she was tired. "I've missed you so much." Akamaru barked in agreement as he rubbed his head against Meng Ka's hands and she petted him softly. Tears raced down Meng Ka's face as her shoulders shook, the pain from looking Kakashi was too much as allowed herself to cry in Kiba's shoulder. "Uncle Shi…" her voice trailed off as she griped onto Kiba's shirt and cried harder as he held her closer to him. "I wasn't fast enough." She cried and shook her head.
"It's not your fault." Kiba whispered as he rocked Meng Ka back and forth slightly, trying his best to ease her pain but he knew that she needed to grieve and he'd rather she grieve with him than alone. He was just happy that he could hold her in his arms once again.
The ground began to shake as one of the pain's jitsu appeared in the middle of the crater. It opened its mouth and out soared hundreds of souls as they flew all around the village as they raced back to their bodies. "Uncle Shi…" Meng Ka said once again and then pushed her way out of Kiba's arms before racing after Kakashi's soul, his chakra plan as day to Meng Ka's eyes. "Meng Ka!" Kiba yelled as he chased after her. Meng Ka stopped as she watched Kakashi's body light up and she smiled as he slowly opened his eyes. She ran towards him and hugged him tightly to herself and she began to hiccup from all of her crying. "You're alive!" She was crying from both happiness and relief now as Kakashi looked down at her in shock.
Choji cried out in surprise and then whipped his tears away, having been sitting next to Kakashi along with his father this whole time. "I'm so glad you are alright, Sensei."
"Meng Ka?" Kakashi said he looked down at her. "Meng Ka!" He yelled then and stood up as he picked her up and held her close to him. "You're alright! I can't believe this!" He stammered a bit as he put her back down and kept her at arm's length to get a good look at her. "You've grown so much! How are you alive, we watched you getting killed?"
"I was reborn." Meng Ka said as she whipped her tears away. "It is something like a coming of age ritual that my village goes through. But don't expect me to do it again." She chuckled slightly as Kakashi laughed and pulled her into a hug. Choji sniffled before running and joining the two, Kiba following shortly after.
"Come on." Meng Ka sniffled. "We better find Naruto. I'm sure he is too tired to make it back here on his own." She said as she whipped her eyes and smiled up at the four of them.
Kakashi nodded his head, "You're right. Let's bring him home."
Naruto stumbled forward as he walked among the trees, his eyes dropping as his vision blurred and he fell forward right on top of Kakashi. "Got you." He said as he looked over his shoulder at Naruto.
"Kakashi Sensei…" Naruto said tiredly as he smiled down at him. Meng Ka smiled over at the two as she floated nearby, Tinktink soaring above them. "Meng Ka…"
"Just lean on us." Kakashi said before he started to walk him out of the forest and back to the village. Cheers could be heard in the distance as they came closer and as they walked out of the forest, the whole village was waiting for Naruto as they cheered for him. "Way to go, Naruto! We knew you could do it!"
"They've been awaiting your return." Meng Ka said as Kakashi let him down.
"Naruto." Kakashi said as he looked over at him, "You did well."
The villagers began to race towards Naruto as he gazed in shock at them. "What is going on?"
The snail in his shirt poked her head out finally with the answer, "I relayed every detail of the events that occurred."
"Hey, what was the enemy like?" Some villagers asked as they surrounded Naruto as Sakura walked towards him. "You are so reckless, you idiot!" She said sternly as she punched him on the head but then caught him and helped him back up by hugging him close. "Thank you."
Meng Ka chuckled and smiled up at Kiba as he put his arm around her shoulder. "It seems Naruto has outclassed us all." Shino said beside them.
"Oi, shut up!" Kiba said, "We'll just have to catch up to him starting now." He smiled over at Naruto as he was surrounded by the kids of the village and then looked down at Meng Ka as she leaned against him. "You did great as well Meng Ka." He said softly as Meng Ka looked up at Kiba with a small blush on her cheeks.
"I only did a small bit." She mumbled as she looked down and rested her head on his shoulder.
Kiba smirked and put his finger underneath Meng Ka's chin and turned her face towards his, "Just promise me that you won't leave me hanging with nothing but a note." Meng Ka blushed even harder as she remembered that she hadn't said goodbye to Kiba all those years ago but he did not seem upset as his face drew closer to hers and his lips brushed slightly against hers. But then his face went crashing into the ground as Kakashi stood on top of him.
Kakashi sighed as he looked down at Kiba, "I'm dead for only a couple of minutes and you go and make the moves on my niece. What am I going to do with you?" He shook his head as Kiba's mother came over with a boom laugh and smacked Kakashi on the back, pushing him into the ground next to Kiba; making both men groaned. Meng Ka chuckled and helped them up as the villagers began to throw Naruto up into the air and chant his name.