Chapter 19: The Final Task

It was the day before the final task of the Triwizard Tournament took place. But before that task started, a few things happened in the past few months of course. Firstly Naruto managed to find what was making Gaara act like a deranged person with a psychotic tailed beast, it was the seal being poorly made. With some convincing, Gaara accepted Naruto to rework the seal. Since Naruto was taught fuinjutsu by Jiraiya, he was the one to rework the seal for his fellow jinchuriki. It took a few hours at best, but soon the seal was reworked as Gaara is finally feeling as if he were at peace with himself, without the one tails dictating his every move. Speaking of Gaara, both him and Naruto finally became friends as the two started talking. Heck Naruto even introduced him to his group of friends, and it took some time, but eventually they accepted him. What was even surprising was that some of the students from Durmstrang such as Krum began to see Naruto in a new light as he was the one to help Gaara, to the point where they nod at the boy out of respect.

We now see Naruto as he was walking to Jiraiya's cabin the night before the final task took place. Naruto enters to see Jiraiya packing his bags. "You're going somewhere, sensei?" Naruto asked, as Jiraiya turned to see Naruto. "I'm going to be gone for a while," Jiraiya said as he handed Naruto some scrolls. "That will also mean I'll miss the final trial, but I have confidence you have what it takes to win this tournament." Naruto was confused, "Where will you be?" Naruto asked, wondering what could take priority over the final task of this deadly tournament. "It is…rather something we shouldn't talk about," Jiraiya said with solemnness as he packed his final bag, as he knew what was really going to happen. "What about Tsunade, does she know?" Naruto asked, as Jiraiya nodded. But before he left, Jiraiya had one last thing to say, "Naruto…I want to just say thank you."

Naruto was taken aback by the sudden compliment, "What for?" he asked. "Naruto, you have been the best student I can ask for, and someone I can consider a son. After the death of your parents and the disappearance of my three previous students, my whole life I thought I was a failure. But when you came into my life, you helped me turn my life around and now I have everything I wanted. I never told you this, but I considered this world to be my home unlike our previous home. You have introduced me to so many friends and colleagues that I cherish as of now, so for that I thank you." He put a hand on Naruto's shoulder and smiled, "Walk tall… my student." But Naruto had this to say, "Wait Jiraiya, before you go I have this to say. Thank you for being my teacher and accepting me knowing that I am a jinchuriki. Thank you for telling me about my parents and telling me a lot about my family's legacy. Thank you for everything, and don't worry I'll make you proud, believe it!" Jiraiya smiled and the two shook hands as a sign that they have established a close bond and it will never break. Jiraiya soon left the cabin and as he began walking, he met up with someone.

"You know, Jiraiya, you should have told the boy the truth," the cloaked figure said as he hopped out of the tree. Jiraiya sighed, "If I did, then that will make Naruto want to come with me, and I can't let him, given he is bound to be in this tournament, and I can't let him see what will happen." Jiraiya then looks at the man with seriousness, "I need you to promise me that you will continue to train the boy, if I die, do you understand?" The cloaked figure was hesitant, "Are you sure about this?" Jiraiya nods as he hands the cloaked figure a scroll, "Promise will you, as a shinobi?" he asked. The cloaked figure was silent, but soon he accepted the task as he took the scroll and soon disappeared flying away as a crow. Jiraiya looks up at the moon before heading off to where he had to go as he vanished like leaves in the wind.

The Next Day

The day of the final task had arrived, as everybody was in the stands cheering, while the champions were on the ground awaiting orders. Naruto and Harry were feeling rather nervous about this task, while the others looked confident and full of determination. Dumbledore demanded silence to the audience as he began to explain everything. The task they were about to face was a maze, and inside the maze lies the trophy in the center, but they will be tested physically and mentally as there were obstacles in this maze. "Contestants gather round," Dumbledore said as he addressed the champions. "QUICKLY. In the maze you'll find no dragons or creatures of the deep. Instead you'll face something more challenging. You see, people change in the maze. Oh find the cup if you can, but be very weary. You could just lose yourselves along the way." Ok this is a red flag that this sort of tournament shouldn't even exist.

Soon the cannon went off and one by one, the champions entered the maze in search of the trophy. Naruto was exploring the maze trying to find where the trophy lies, and he even went into sage mode just to find the trophy. Using sage mode, he was pinpointing the location of the trophy, as well as finding where the other champions were. He found the trophy and smirked, "Bingo," he said. But just before he went to the trophy's location, he heard a scream and it was coming from Fleur. Naruto knew that he had to get the trophy, but his consciousness is stating that he won't ever forgive himself if he left Fleur to whatever was out there, so he decided to go save Fleur. He ran quickly and found Fleur who appeared to be backing away from…Krum?! But something was wrong with Krum, as he looked possessed. Krum begins to fire at the two, but luckily Naruto uses the protego spell, and manages to teleport him and Fleur out of harm's way. Naruto summons Brutus, "What is your command Naruto?" the wolf asked. "Stay with Fleur here, lead her out of the maze and back to the entrance, I even marked a trail so follow the trail, got it?" Naruto asked, and the wolf barked in acceptance, before doing as told.

Naruto continued onward with the task as he now had to follow where the trophy was located. It was getting pretty dark so Naruto used the lumos spell to bring some light. He kept walking until he felt a sharp and violent wind coming. Soon the walk turned into a marathon as Naruto had to run fast from whatever was coming at him. But the situation turned dire as Naruto had to play hide and seek with a varcolac(like the one from Resident Evil Village) that just appeared out of nowhere. 'Ok where do these beasts come from?!' Naruto thought to himself, as he was busy hiding from the beast who was trying to sniff him out. Luckily, the wolves taught him about these cursed beasts, that were hideous abominations the wolves tried to neutralize. These beasts were known to be strong physically, but when it comes to intelligence, they're rather dumb. When the beast was done trying to find Naruto, it went on with its business, so Naruto charges his chakra powered tanto, and sneaks up on the beast. When the beast wasn't looking, Naruto went on its back and stabbed it as the beast tried shaking him off. The beast was screaming, but Naruto didn't care as he kept stabbing and cutting it up, before powering up a rasengan and drilled a hole in its back. The beast finally went down for the count, as Naruto looked at the creature and spat at it. Naruto moves forward avoiding the vines until he meets up with a familiar face. "Naruto?" Harry asked, wand raised. "Naruto is that you?"

"Harry," Naruto said, smiling as he was glad to see a friend here. "Thank god it's you." The two had their brief reunion and decided to find the trophy together as it's better to stick close to each other, than to be apart. Suddenly Cedric appeared in front of them as he pointed his wand at them. "Don't shoot!" Naruto said as he and Harry put their hands up. "GET DOWN!" Cedric ordered as the two did what they were told, with the spell Cedric fired shooting at the bewitched Krum. Krum was knocked out and as Cedric was about to finish him off, Harry stopped him before he committed a serious mistake. "Wait Cedric, Krum's bewitched, look at him." But the conflict continued as the three found themselves facing the glowing trophy. Naruto was chasing after the two as they both ripped and tugged at each other, pulling and shoving in order to get ahead of one another and closer to that trophy. But that wasn't the only competition as the plants snapped and swiped at everyone, adding the second layer of protection over the way out. The plant caught Cedric, as it dragged him away, while he tried to crawl. "Guys help me! Please!" he begged.

Cedric was looking weak and helpless at this moment as he begged the two for their help. Naruto looks at Harry who, for only a moment, looked back at the trophy as if he were going to leave him just struggling there. Naruto knew he couldn't leave Cedric out there, so he decided to use the reducto spell on the vine, freeing Cedric. Naruto clasped Cedric's hand and pulled him to his feet. "Thanks…For a minute," he wheezed, "for a minute I thought you two were going to leave me." Naruto shook his head, "I don't care about this damn tournament. If it's going to hurt people, then this trophy ain't worth it." Soon the wind picked up again, seemingly more forceful than ever. The three decided to run to the trophy together, as they need to get out of here. They finally arrived at the trophy, all equal in the same position by the symbol of the winner. "One of you two taking it!" Cedric exclaimed. "You guys saved me and you won, so go…now!" Naruto nodded, thanking him as Harry looked at Naruto. "Together," he said. "One, two, three!"

Both Naruto and Harry grabbed the trophy, but soon they were sucked into another dimension… or another location to be honest. "Where the hell are we?" Naruto said as he looked at this dark and gloomy area. "I don't know to be exact, but I think this trophy is a portkey," Harry stated as he took a look around the area. They spotted a creepy statue of the Grim Reaper, as it was dark, but the most horrifying discovery was the name. "Harry, we need to go. Come on, we need to get out NOW!" Naruto shouted trying to wake Harry out of his stupor. But they were too late as Harry was trapped at a grim reaper statue. Soon some random death eater appears holding a small baby-like figure. Naruto tried to get Harry out, but he was flown back to many gravestones, and soon he was imprisoned.

The blond tried to break free, but he couldn't as if there was a chakra binding seal on the statue that was holding him. Naruto saw Voldemort getting resurrected, but there was someone else walking towards him. It was a man wearing a dark blue-gray robe with gray lining and a fur collar along with a tattered gray-blue cape. He wore a white mask that resembled a fox and had long and shaggy black hair. The man walks to the imprisoned Naruto, as he observes and darkly chuckles at the boy. "So we finally meet…Naruto," the man said in a deep voice. "Who the hell are you?!" Naruto shouts as he believes he saw this man during the riot at the Quidditch world cup. The masked man chuckles, "Me? I'm nobody, but you may call me…Menma," he said in a child-like, arrogant voice. "I've been trying to reach you, you're part of this too," he said as he pointed a blade at the imprisoned Naruto. "How am I part of this?!" Naruto shouted in anger as he didn't know what Menma's game was. "You'll see, but I'm afraid you won't because I'm here… to KILL YOU!" he shouted as he was about to stab Naruto.

Luckily Naruto was saved by Jiraiya, who appears to be in sage mode. He uses frog kumite on Menma as the masked man who was blown away, but saved himself from being knocked out. Jiraiya freed Naruto out of the statue, as Menma got back up. Menma smirked, "Jiraiya the toad sage, I see we meet again, though I remembered you to be a lot more boisterous." Naruto looks at Jiraiya, "Do you know this guy?" he asked. "No Naruto, I've never met this man in my life, heck I don't even know who he is," Jiraiya explained. "Awww, you don't remember me," Menma said in a faux hurt voice, "Here let me give you a hint." Menma rushes at Jiraiya, as the toad sage prepares himself. "Naruto! Get Harry out of that statue and get out of here!" Jiraiya ordered. "But-"

"Just do what I say Naruto! Trust me!" Jiraiya said as he prepared to fight Menma hand to hand. Naruto was hesitant, but did as told by freeing Harry out. But soon Voldemort and his death eaters caught up to the two, and both Harry and Voldemort locked into a duel. Over with Jiraiya and Menma, the two were having the most intense battle as they exchanged jutsu and blows. Jiraiya was about to perform a jutsu, when Menma disappeared and reappeared and used his blade to cut Jiraiya's left arm. "AGHH!" Jiraiya yelled in pain as he clutched his left arm, even though it was missing. Naruto stared in horror, but he couldn't do anything as he felt petrified in fear. But Menma wasn't letting up as he stuck four blades behind Jiraiya's back. "NOOO!" Naruto screamed looking at the blood from this brutal scene. Jiraiya slowly looked at Naruto, and to Naruto's surprise, he was smiling in his last moments, while crawling. But Menma ruined the moment as he evilly laughed while sticking the fifth blade at Jiraiya's back, soon making the toad sage unable to move.

"Jiraiya! You better get up! Come on! Get up! Please get up!" Naruto pleaded hoping this wasn't happening, that this was a nightmare. But it wasn't as Menma laughed like a maniac. "Now," he said, turning to Naruto. "What I've come for." But Naruto was pissed as he looked at Menma with hatred in his eyes, "I'll kill you!" Naruto screamed, throat dry yet wet with emotion as he cried, but still showing hatred. "I swear I'll rip you apart and kill you, you bastard!" But Menma laughed, "And how do you plan to do that Naruto? How do you plan to kill me?" Naruto rushes at Menma in his jinchuriki form as he decked him. Naruto kept punching Menma, as he wanted to kill him all by himself. But Menma had a spare blade as he tried to slash at Naruto. Naruto dodges, but Menma somehow used that to his advantage and he brought Naruto down to the count. Menma was being merciless as he brutally punched Naruto multiple times and was prepared to kill him. But luckily Naruto kicked him away as he took Jiraiya's body and carried the man that was somehow slowly dying. Harry ran over as he managed to distract Voldemort, and he too witnessed what happened. He points his wand at the cup, "Accio!"

Soon the three arrived back at the arena as everybody was cheering. But there was nothing to celebrate as Naruto was crying over Jiraiya, while Harry was shocked after what he saw to the point where he was petrified to speak. The other champions were there, and both Cedric and Fleur saw something horrifying as they saw Naruto's mentor dying. Only Fleur screamed in horror, and soon everybody stopped cheering as things were getting serious. The adults came to check what was wrong and let's just say that it was shocking. Tsunade stared in horror as she tried to check on both Naruto and Jiraiya. "I'm sorry Jiraiya! I'm so sorry Jiraiya!" Naruto said desperately as he tried his best to get Jiraiya healed as Tsunade began to help him. "It's alright Naruto…It's alright," Jiraiya said as he used what strength he had in his right arm and put Naruto's head close to his chest. "You'll be…mine and…your father's living legacy," he croaked. Naruto was silent as he couldn't process this moment due to shock. Tsunade was crying as she desperately tried healing Jiraiya. "Tsunade…It's alright…you don't have to do…this anymore…promise me…you will live for our children…" he croaked as blood was coming out of his mouth. Tsunade was crying as she nodded knowing that there was nothing she could do as his life was fading fast. "Naruto…look at me," Jiraiya asked the boy who closed his eyes as he silently cried. Naruto opens his eyes to see Jiraiya smiling, "Promise me…you will take care…of the ones…you hold…precious," he said as Naruto swore to do so. "Thank…you…Naruto…" he said as Jiraiya finally died with a smile on his face. Naruto screamed in anguish as Dumbledore tried to calm him down. "Naruto! Harry! What happened?!" Dumbledore asked worriedly. That's when Harry finally responded, "He's back," Harry said emotionlessly as he was still in shock. "Who's back?!" Dumbledore asked. "Voldemort! He's back! But he wasn't alone!" Harry cried. This situation got even more complicated as eventually Mad Eye Moody came to drag Harry away from the scene as Naruto and Tsunade were busy grieving, while Naruto's friends and some of his professors tried to comfort the boy.

Note: Hey guys, I just wanted to say that instead of Cedric dying, it was Jiraiya who died as it will give Naruto more of an incentive to help Harry out with his journey and make Naruto fight Menma. Also the reason why I didn't kill Cedric is because I believe Cedric could provide some use for future volumes as an ally. And yes I decided to portray Menma as an evil asshole as I always did find Menma to be an evil Naruto, so that is why he was brutal here. But yes we are close to the final chapter of this volume, and in the next chapter a fan favorite character is going to offer Naruto some training, so hope you enjoy and feel free to review.