Reviewers;

St3rfire: Damn...St3r you are getting gory! It's like a sudden change occured and it almost suits you. I'll try to do those things.

Czar Joseph: Yes, but being of magic, blood will not be the only thing that will be spilled. No, this is a battle for the soul, my friend.

Guest: Thanks. I'll try to make sure that those things occur in the fighting.

AN: Thanks to all that have reviewed for this story! I know that we are coming to an end for this story but fear not! For my new story should able to be started on being posted around two to five weeks after this finale!

And- better yet! How does 5000 words a chapter sound? Do you all like that? Well Okay...we'll see right? Just Keep looking for the new story column, but a fair warning, I have been working on a new story design for the Picture, so don't always look for the Wolfe!

alright then! Let us begin!

Fire & Ice

Arc 3: Trust

Chapter 47: The Fight between Fire and Ice

Those over confident power hungry eyes stared back down at her, from its owner's place atop the hill to the east. And Sakura saw the small smug smile adorning his face, though to others, it was just a face of concentration. No, she had to reach him and reach him now, before he had a chance to unleash anymore surprises upon her troops, to prevent the unnecessary shedding of more blood.

Sakura looked around herself, backing her horse off a little for a brief respite from the battle, as she surveyed the battlefield. The opposing army was on the ropes, surely, but they still held on to their weapons and their way of fighting on against hope of winning. The armies were evenly matched at around fifty five thousand troops a piece, and Sakura knew that though her troops were tired, their speed was still greater than the heavily armored enemy. If they each soldier needed respite, then they would back off as other soldiers took to the front line, and waited to attack again. Sakura counted out the approximate number of her horsemen, perhaps five thousand left after that second and costly charge. Still, if they could get out and attack the enemy from the rear, then they should win the day.

Sakura looked back to see Layla still just barely behind her, on her own horse, slicing away at the enemy on her right. Sakura got her attention, pulling on the magic inside her and motioned forward, as Layla nodded and moved towards her left side, where a trumpet lay tied to her horse, before she raised it and blew out the upcoming and sounding charge.

Immediately, Sakura's horsemen nearby recognized it from months and years of training, and jabbed their feet into their horses' sides and the horses knew what to do, as they immediately shot forward, whether into the enemy, or following the horse before them. Sakura charged as well, her horse knocking down spear after spear as Sakura slashed over and over again, as time sped up and slowed down. She heard neither the grunts and screams of horses and men as they fell on the battlefield, because her eyes and ears were focused forward; she had to reach Sasuke.

Soon, the last line of spearmen dropped their spears towards Sakura and the rest of the front line of horsemen, and so Sakura formed a trio of knives between her fingers and threw them directly in front of her, embedding them in the open necks and chinks in the armor and three explosions turned into five as the others too close to them died as well. Sakura's line raced over and off the battle lines, moving to the lower lip of the hill and reformed themselves, pulling out their secondary and third spears and readying themselves for another charge.

Sakura cast a glance as the other arrow formations exited out the other sides and points, though far fewer than what she had hoped for, and knew that she had maybe three thousand riders left, but that was enough as she turned upwards, to prepare a charge towards Sasuke and his vanguard. Shock and anger came upon her face though as Sasuke simply spent a casting glance on her before he spurred his horse and took off to the north of the line, moving along the hill towards where it met up with the mountain pass.

Sakura looked back to see Akhlys wave at her mockingly, and sent a kiss of death her way before she disappeared in a body sized wisp of smoke, and the vanguard took off over the hill itself, retreating from the battlefield. Sakura began to move off in pursuit, when Layla pulled up alongside her. "My Lady, wait!"

"What now, Layla?" Sakura asked in angry horror. "We need to stop them."

"But My Lady, we can save the rest of the army." Layla pointed out and Sakura sighed as she looked down as the spearmen in the rear were completely ignoring the cavalry, too focused on what was in front of them. She didn't need the troops to follow her to their deaths, did she?

"Alright, Layla. Have the cavalry pierce through the rear, but keep three hundred to chase after strays. None will leave this battlefield."

"Hai!" Layla turned to the knights just behind her, conveying what was to be done, and the knights soon sped off to deliver the message to the other commanders in the heat of battle. Layla smiled to herself and turned back, but Sakura and her horse were no longer there. Layla's eyes turned to scan far off as she saw Sakura's royal pink hair billowing behind her as she gave chase to Sasuke, and she immediately spurred her horse on, trying to catch up to her.

"My Lady!" Layla yelled. This wasn't the plan. She was supposed to wait for Naruto so that they could seal away the Goddess. Where was she going?!

As Layla charged towards her Queen, still inside the battlefield was Naruto, hacking away into the enemy as behind him, friendly soldiers, finally rested and ready to fight another day, joined the ranks, swelling in against the enemy, and allowing Naruto and his men a much needed relief. Naruto cast a glance ahead of him, proud that his men had lasted so long in the middle of the battle lines and now they could pave a way through the last bit of it.

Naruto swiveled his gaze to the north, prepared to join up with Sakura soon and assist her, but when he looked at the battle raging around him, he couldn't see any horsemen left inside the lines. Had the spearmen truly gotten rid of their shock troops? Naruto's gaze shifted and he breathed a sigh of relief as he saw them reforming behind the lines of the enemy, cutting them off of supply and support, as they kicked into the fray of battle, and the enemy lines began to crumble in from two sides.

Naruto smiled as this battle seemed to be won, and now he just needed to secure his position, but that was the moment that he saw Layla shouting and spurring her horse to the north. His eyes followed her erratic path until he saw Sakura on a straight course to the mountain pass, chasing a fleeing Sasuke. What was she thinking?! That wasn't part of the plan! If he was next to her, then they could easily catch up to Sasuke, and deal with him in a two on one battle.

"Sakura!" Naruto exclaimed as he looked back to the enemy in front of him. Three hundred feet of six hundred soldiers in front of him, all lying in his path to his beloved's side. Naruto's body glowed as he filled himself subconsciously with magic, and sped even faster, his arm swinging wildly around, as his swords pierced armor, flesh, fire and bone, all in the goal of reaching the end of this madness, leaving blood and a cheering row of soldiers in his wake.

Sakura's horse breathed heavily as its rider pushed it to go faster and faster, but its hooves were heavy and it was slowing down. As Sasuke's horse was slower than itself was the only reason they were catching up, but its rider was too focused on the person far ahead to notice. Sakura herself held her eyes narrowed, her ears not hearing the sounds of horses near her nor the sound of battle that she was passing. Her only senses were the feel of the rein and her legs holding the horse steady.

"Sakura-Sama!" Layla yelled out and Sakura finally heard her as she slowed for a brief respite as Layla appeared beside her, and they both raced forward to attack Sasuke before he could escape the field.

"Why are you here? I told you to take over!"

"The other commanders can do that. My role is to protect you, My Queen!"

"...Okay!" Sakura smiled and they both looked forward, Layla proud to be allowed to follow and Sakura to the knowledge that she had someone who had her back. As they kept riding, Sakura willed her magic forward, as icy spikes formed in Sasuke's path, forcing him to move in erratic patterns as Sakura and Layla moved gently to the sides and chased him on.

Still, as they arrived at only thirty feet away, Sasuke showed no signs of stopping as they reached the mountain pass, and as Sasuke began to move up into the snow covered mountain path, Sakura drew back her arm, and as a throwing knife formed in her hand. She aimed for the horse as she let loose the knife, and it sailed straight and true into the horse's rear leg. The horse stumbled and fell to the ground, throwing Sasuke off just before it exploded, but unlike the horse to trip and fall, Sasuke rolled with the jump and landed on his feet, before jumping up a boulder in the passageway and continuing on.

"Come on!" Sakura yelled. They would ride him down and trample him underfoot now that he was slower than them. And as Sakura spun her horse to follow, it was at that moment that three spears of fire-hot metal sunk deep into the sides of Sakura and Layla's horses, the spears originally aimed for their backs before they swiveled out of the way, and the horses neighed and jumped back on their hind legs as Sakura and Layla screamed as the suddenness of the action threw them and they fell hard on the snow, before a crunch was heard and the horses ran off on their own.

Sakura moaned to herself as a brief dizzy spell hit her mind as she looked back and saw what seemed like the hundred or so horsemen who had disappeared from sight at Sasuke's choosing to run. She had failed to listen to their horses' footfalls on the other side of the hill and now they were charging towards them, ready to trample them instead.

"Ahhhmmmm…." Sakura heard and turned to see Layla holding her leg as it looked bruised as if her horse had stepped on it, breaking it in the process. Sasuke would have to wait it seemed, Sakura thought as she bent down to help Layla stand up.

"Here, Layla. Let me help you." Sakura spoke as she took her gloves off and prepared her magic, but Layla pushed her hands away and shook her head.

"No, just pop my knee back in for now." And Sakura looked Layla in the eyes as she punched the knee hard, and Layla bit into her lower lip, as blood trickled out and down her chin, and she nodded as she stood back up more fully.

The hundred horsemen appeared three hundred feet away, and Sakura drew her swords from her belt, ready to fight them head on, but Layla slowly stood in front of her. Sakura tried to move around but Layla swayed back and forth, blocking her path. "L-Layla…move."

"No, My Lady. Go on. Find Sasuke."

"But Layla, you're injured."

Layla smirked as she turned towards her Queen. "My Lady Sakura, how many battles have I been in with you at my side? I know what to do. I will be fine."

Sakura held her tongue and pushed her swords back into their holsters as she turned back before yelling to the creation behind her. "…I order you to not die."

Layla giggled as Sakura ran ahead, her feet gliding quickly along the snow and ice, before she too jumped up the boulder and out of sight, following Sasuke's trail before it grew cold. Layla turned back around as the horsemen cheered and sped towards her, and she lowered the gauntlets down to her wrists before sliding the swords into slots underneath her wrists, leaving her hands free. Layla giggled again as she stared off at the enemy, and remembered her Queen's last words to her.

"As you command…My Queen." Layla whispered before she raised her hands, as ice formed and shot out across the narrow pass entrance, piercing into the front line horses, as riders cried as they were thrown off, exploding into the rocks and the cliffs off to the sides. Layla shot ice once more and as the units steamed through the first dead riders, spears shot at the men, forcing them to dismount or be impaled as they rushed to kill off the Queen's right hand creation.

Layla ran forward, her footsteps heavy from her wound as she began to spin in her Queen's preferred style, slashing at the knees and elbows of the men as they charged at her, cutting into her armor as she pieced theirs, killing five until her sword caught in the stone ground and she was forced to release it and back up as the units pressed in on all sides, cutting her armor until only her soft flesh remained.

Harsh breaths sounded as frosty ice fell out of his mouth, as his sword arm grew tired as he slashed into the last of the enemy in his line of sight. Naruto took two steps further and bent down to a knee as behind him, soldiers surged through the six hundred bodies of the soldiers that he had slain. No enemy units dared to attack him as he took a breather, but Naruto breathed heavily as sweat poured down his face, as he wiped it off and out of his eyes with the back of his blood soaked winter glove.

He had done it; he had completed his primary mission. Naruto looked back to see the enemy cut off all over into sections, with no way of escape as the enemy units moved to the rage of disorder where their eyes dilated and they attacked everyone in sight. Large circles formed and spearmen held their poles out, but they did not move in for the kill. Hopefully, the rest of the explosions would be self-inflicted.

Naruto suddenly felt a pang in his chest, his right hand gripping the place above his heart. Naruto cast a longing glance to the mountain pass and up a little to where Sakura was, above the entrance, just over five miles away, past the northern flank. She was there, and she needed his help. And so, Naruto's body flashed bright golden yellow, and he sped off towards the pass, his body leaving a streak of yellow in his wake.

A young woman in royal silver and red leather armor pushed herself up a boulder, yet another in her way as she followed the melting snowy path to where Sasuke was running towards. Sakura's hands pressed against the heated palm prints where Sasuke had touched, and simply continued on, whereas if it was anyone else, would have howled in pain from the second degree burns they would have suffered, but not Sakura, because her magic was the opposite of his, and so their powers only served to wound the others as if the two were simple humans.

Sakura pushed herself up to her feet and jogged forward, keeping her breathing equalized as her mind split between chasing Sasuke, and having had to leave Layla behind. She knew that her second in command could deal with those creations, but it was only since she gave her latest creations her icy powers that they became able to defend from afar, at the cost of some of Sakura's power dwindling. Now, Sakura was sure that she was at Sasuke's level, or maybe even a little bit at a disadvantage, but she would be okay. She was sure of that.

Sakura hurried over the edge of the corner, and stopped as she turned to look down as twenty feet below her, was Sasuke jogging away from her. Sakura smiles as her magic glowed in her hand and a red-ish blue throwing knife formed in her hand as she held it and aimed carefully, before she let it fly. The knife surged down towards Sasuke, aimed a little bit behind him, before the end of the knife burst from the ethereal fire inside it and sped up, now heading for Sasuke's head.

Just as the knife was within Sasuke's gravitational pull, Sasuke ducked to the snow below, melting it as the blade sunk into the ground next to him, and Sasuke pushed himself up as he watched as Sakura jumped the fifteen below from the cliff down towards the ground, as the snow jumped up to cushion underneath her feet as she ran down and crunched her boots against the snow, ten feet before him, and smiled at her as they were in a nice fifty foot clearing, a natural choke point for the both of them with snowy cliffs on either side.

Sakura's eyes smiled as Sasuke looked at her with a large gash along the side of his face. She had cut him, and now she would-

….As Sakura watched, the cut seeped with red and yellow blood, bubbling out for a second like lava out of the volcano, as the wound healed and the lava was sucked back inside the body.

"What?" Sakura asked breathless at Sasuke's new apparent ability.

"That's right." Sasuke smiled to his magical counterpart. "I now heal like you do, Sakura. And now that we are all alone, let's have some fun."

Immediately, Sasuke's arms filled with two fireballs, as Sakura concentrated as all along her fingers, jagged stars of sharp icy points formed like Kakashi's ninja stars, as she angled them all along her fingers. Immediately afterwards, Sakura let loose her shuriken at the same time that Sasuke threw his fireballs forward. The shuriken were thrown at an angle and avoided the straight fireballs' path, but still, they slashed through Sasuke's arms, legs, and chest as Sakura's arms and chest blistered and burned as she was engulfed in flames. But as the flames subsided and the volley of shuriken ended, Sakura's green magic slid along her skin, and lava seeped over the cuts, and both healed from the other's inflicted wounds.

Sakura glared at Sasuke as she pulled at the swords along her hip as Sasuke mocked her with another annoying smirk as he pulled his own dual swords from either shoulder. Sasuke sped forward, as he always did, and Sakura quickly caught up, driving her right sword deep into Sasuke's gut, as he smiled and brought his swords together, and Sakura dove down and underneath his legs, as Sasuke's wound healed and he twisted around and began to slash his swords along the ground at Sakura's feet, drawing lines in the snow as she back up over and over until she flipped back to get back to her feet and raced forward to attack once again.

Five minutes later and the two had hacked and slashed into the other time and time again, and Sakura knew that usually by now Sasuke would try to back off and attack from afar, but this new healing Sasuke held was one heck of a fight! Finally, the two charged together, and Sakura's left handed sword dug into Sasuke's right side, down to the bone, as Sasuke thrusted his sword quickly into Sakura's gut, and they pushed away, as their wounds healed once again.

The both of them breathed heavily as they had been forced to move faster and faster and their powers showed as the ground had turned into a slosh of snow and fire. It had been formed and melted time and time again until it looked simply like slush. So if they couldn't defeat the other with swords, maybe bites would do. Sakura quickly slammed her hands towards the ground as a pack of nine wolves formed and quickly surged towards Sasuke, but he had thought the same thing, as flames flickered and nine wolves of fire quickly howled and the gnashing of teeth and claws filled the clearing until five minutes passed again and the last wolves bit deep into the other and exploded upon the wet ground.

Sakura couldn't see through the black smoke and bent down, catching her breath while she could. Her eyes dipped down as she felt her fingers shiver and suddenly, as her focus was off, Sasuke jumped out of the black smoke, a long flame wrapped around his knuckles and trailing behind him. Sasuke quickly arrived at Sakura's side as she began to stand up, and the fire crackled as it moved on its own around Sakura's neck like a whip of fire, as Sakura's hands shot up in time for the whip to tighten as Sakura felt her palms burning as Sasuke tightened his grip, using the leverage behind her to pull her on her back, his legs wrapping around her own and pulled her knees underneath her, as Sakura gasped for air as the fire seared into her palms, dragging along the bones, as the smell of burning flesh sounded in their ears.

Sakura felt the position she was in, with Sasuke underneath and behind her, pulling her limbs tightly and looked rapidly around herself, calmly figuring out where to go before her breath left her. Sakura rapidly swung her elbows towards Sasuke's face, and as Sasuke bent further back Sakura pulled her leg back, directly into his groin, as Sasuke hissed and his grip loosened enough as Sakura slipped out from under him and pushed back to her original position, her flesh burning as her magic worked overtime with green coating her bones to heal her most recent wound.

Sasuke laughed as he coughed and stood back up, his back more bent towards her than he should be in his stance, but they couldn't do anything for the other until their heaving breathing and wheezing ended. So the two breathed hard and stared warily at the other.

"...You cheated." Sasuke complained, mocking her.

"You never played fair, even as a child Sasuke." Sakura glowered back.

"True…by the way," Sasuke smirked as he looked to her glowing hands, "your magic seems to have gotten even stronger than last time."

Sakura smiled to him, knowing that he was correct in assuming so. She always remembered being stronger now than in the past whenever she had been with Naruto in her life. "I now follow my heart, Sasuke."

A ringing sounded in Sakura's ears and her heart ached as her eyes cast a glance around, at the scorch mark on the cliff face and the ice freezing in jagged lines all around them along the flatness of the clearing. Sakura sighed and dropped her guard a bit. She would have to go with her second option in this battle, and saw Sasuke more on edge than ever. She had to appeal to his pride. "Sasuke...what are we doing?"

"What do you mean?" Sasuke asked, his stance falling a bit as he listened to her words.

"I mean, what is the point in you creating a new world?"

"I uh-Akhlys said that-"

"-But you have your power, Sasuke." Sakura conveyed back, trying to make her point, and seeing his eyes waver. She was getting to him. "You have the crown, you have the power, but you let Akhlys use your power. Sasuke, you would never let anyone do that…especially not a girl who you clearly admit has more power than you."

"Well…s-she…."

"Sasuke," Sakura's voice caused Sasuke to stall and simmer off, her voice sad and collected with wisdom. "You and I," Sakura smiled sadly as she pointed between the two of them "….we have never had a great relationship, from day one, we've wanted to kill another. Heck, I still remember when we both sparred against each other learning to wield a sword. All of that was a competition, but I still consider you my brother."

Sakura's hand dug into her jacket , and pulled out a small piece of metal before throwing it lightly into the air, and before Sasuke knew it, his arm shot up in reflex and his hand wrapped around the piece of metal as he lowered it to his chest and opened his hand to see a small coin, with the etching of a silver Haruno circle with the raven design.

"You still remember our family's shared history right? Years and generations of fighting between us for our lands, hating each other's guts until a larger force tried to invade my family's land, and who came to our rescue but the Uchiha? That is one of the last Uchiha-Haruno coins, that used to be the currency between our two lands."

Sasuke's shoulders shook slowly as he looked up and Sakura's eyes widened as a single line of tears flowed down his left eye, as his other eyes swelled with red blood at the edge as he sighed. "...I remember this story. My mother told it to me before she died, and my brother had me memorize it before I met you. Gods…I'm tired, Sakura." Sasuke sniffled as his voice melted.

Sakura sniffled as well, her tears forming small crystalline patterns along her cheeks. "So am I, Sasuke. Please Sasuke. I need to understand why you are doing this."

Sasuke's shoulders stiffened, and he stared at her green eyes, with a new somberness in his eyes. "...Kill me," his voice echoed around the clearing "…before I kill you."

But Sakura shook her head and looked at him, pleading. "Sasuke, don't you see? We are meant to circle one another for eternity. End this, and we can both help this world."

"The World will kill me, Sakura."

"They won't."

"Why? I've killed so many of them."

"So have I! And Sasuke, know that I'm paying them back and earning their forgiveness right now, and I'll support your plea with my life. Please," Sakura spoke as she took three sure steps forward, as her open palm moved forward as they stood at arm's length. "Come with me."

Sasuke ground his teeth and looked at the hand, at its firmness while his was shaking uncontrollably. He was indecisive whereas his eternal partner was offering her help. Maybe...maybe this was the life he was meant to lead...be an agent of change upon the world..and then, after five seconds, his head turned up to Sakura, his hand slowly moving out. "Sakura…I-"

"Oh Sasuke~~!" A voice chilled and burned wispily across the clearing as the two turned to watch as parts formed in the open air before the opposing cliff side to see Akhlys form in a cloud of black smoke as the ice behind her melted and formed rivers flowing down the rocks behind. "Don't listen to her." Akhlys's voice whispered as her tongue slid along her lower lip, as Sakura saw Sasuke shiver.

"Sasuke, come on, she's using you." Sakura urged, extending her hand again.

"I-I…." Sasuke stuttered as he backed up and stared between them, his eyes shifting back and forth repeatedly.

Sakura could only watched as Sasuke's tears turned into blood as well as the confusion and struggle inside Sasuke's eyes grew worse. "I see…" Akhlys whispered as she walked forward gracefully and Sakura slid back in time to avoid a black tendril as Akhlys leaned forward, her now full breasts, barely covered as they were, pressed into Sasuke's arm as she embraced him with her body, and her lips sucked heavily upon his, her black magic flowing inside him, coloring black into his cheeks as she kissed him. And Sakura could only watch as the blackness fell into Sasuke's red eyes as his body relaxed from within her body's grasp.

"There there, my precious acolyte. Come, Sasuke….Let us take Sakura's powers…together."

AN: So then, reminder to review and keep me up to date!