Chapter twenty two – Akhet.

In ancient Egyptian, Akhet was the place where the sun rises and sets; often translated as "horizon" or "mountain of light". In ancient Egyptian religion, the gateway to a temple mirrored the hieroglyph for 'horizon' - akhet, which was also associated with recreation and rebirth.

With a sigh Naruto picked up the red armor. It was just like the one Naruto remembered Uchiha Madara wearing when he'd been resurrected during the fourth shinobi war.

Earlier Naruto had attempted to appeal to Hashirama, telling him she didn't need all this gear since it would just slow her down, and anyway, it looked ridiculous on her. He didn't seem to think that was a good enough excuse, and after the sixth time she'd appealed on the matter, he'd banned her from bringing it up again.

The uniform was alright, but she still liked her old jumpsuit better. Naruto was certain she would survive a blade through her gut thanks to Kurama. At one point she'd survived a chidori through her chest, and this armor wouldn't stand much chance against something like that either, so the uniform was just in the way.

In this time they were more strict about attire in general, so Naruto had eventually sucked it up and started wearing it on missions. Hopefully they'd start taking a note out of Uzu's uniform code. They were much lighter and cool looking anyway.

Thinking of Uzu, her thoughts turned back to master Yasu and his ridiculous request, and Naruto grit her teeth together in frustration.

The fuinjutsu master was not getting better. These days he resembled more the corpse she knew he'd become soon, than the strict teacher she had in Uzu.

It had been a month since their conversation, and Naruto still came to visit him as much as she could. But there had been a lot of missions lately, and she found herself more outside of Konoha than within because of the growing number of attacks on the village. The old man was also starting to get angry at her too. Telling her that he knew what he was doing, that it didn't matter to him if the attempt failed. That the fact that Sasuke wasn't born might mean the edo tensei wouldn't work.

Again and again they'd disused the outcome, and master Yasu still felt it was a better idea than Naruto sacrificing herself through the use of the death reaper seal.

And the worst part of it was that Naruto was tempted.

She was constantly doubting herself, switching between arguments born from her fierce desire to get rid of black Zetsu contra her moral code.

Naruto wasn't a murderer.

The edo tensei would kill master Yasu - no matter if it worked or not. His health wasn't good enough to even consider hoping he'd manage to survive a false infiltration of another's soul into his body. It would be too painful to even start the ritual, and she had misgivings if he'd even survive the exchange. That he would die before it was completed, and that way just be completely pointless.

There was also the possibility that the edo tensei didn't work the way she and Kurama thought it did. It was the hair of a thirteen year old Sasuke she had in her possession, not the seventeen year old Sasuke with the power of the rinnegan.

If this worked she needed the edo tensei to resurrect the Sasuke who died at full power. Since it was the soul she was summoning - and not someone's body - it would hopefully mean that her friend would be like she last saw him.

But that all depended on his soul even existing somewhere at all.

Ever since Mito's death, Naruto had desperately hung on to the words of the sage of the six paths. He had told her that her friends souls were with him wherever that was, except Sarutobi who was currently with Naruto in the world of the living.

He'd told her that when Naruto fainted after creating the barrier seal around the Uchiha village. It could mean that they were just hanging around until they were born, and she'd get a useless edo tensei, or it could mean that things was a bit more timeless when you were between lives.

Naruto had long since realised that she would doeverything to see them again. Mito's murder was the ringing alarm bell in the back of her mind screaming that she had screwed up time so much that they would never come to be.

In a way, she'd made sure Tsunade was never born. It felt like Naruto herself had killed her. Killed both Mito and Tsunade. If she'd never interfered, they would still live.

Who else were gone? Probably Sasuke and Itachi. She had screwed up that clan already. Izuna was alive and Madara didn't seem to have any thoughts of abandoning Konoha. That in itself was rewriting history in all five nations.

It wasn't lost on her that she was being such a hypocrite. Wanting to make a better world, but at the same time longing for things to be as they were. It was impossible to have both, and in a way, she'd already made her choice.

She saved Izuna. The younger Uchiha brother could of course still die, but it wouldn't be at the hands of a Senju.

Because of this Naruto believed Madara was very different. Of course she had no idea how he'd been at this age originally, but it didn't change her belief that she'd royally messed up time.

While he still had that aura of self importance, much of the same ego and an unhealthy obsession with fighting Hashirama, he was not as blood thirsty or revengeful. There was definitely some wounds that would never heal, like the death of the rest of his family, but Madara still believed in his clan. He wanted the alliance to work, and still hung on to hope. Something the ancient Uchiha Madara hadn't done at all.

She remembered Obito's speech clearly. How her love for Jiraya made her hate. How Sasuke had betrayed her. How ninjas wanted peace and at the same time forced the weaker into submission though their skills. Ninjas were trained to kill to protect. One over another.

There was no doubt in her mind that the world would have been a better place without chakra. But they did have chakra, there was no take backs.

Now all she could do was use her power to create some sort of unison. Even civilians fought, there was no promise that a ninja free society meant peace either…

It was like saying that the world would be a better place without humans, since they were the ones fighting, and by removing them the earth would be saved. But people would fight to survive, it was the most primal instinct within them.

Naruto sighed as she looked into the mirror in her bathroom. Now wearing the red armor while she tried to force her hair into a ponytail.

She had a mission starting in half an hour. And while she and master Yasu hadn't said it out loud, they both knew the deadline was right around the corner. Looming in the close distance. If she was going to do the edo tensei it would have to be very soon. Probably before the end of this week.

But first there were enemies moving along the borders of Konoha that needed to be kicked out.

She knew the Uchiha brothers were dealing with the main protection already. They'd been out for two days so far, and had asked for backup so they could get some rest. Naruto would be there tops for a day before coming back, and by then she needed to make up her mind.

Izuna dragged the palm of his hand over his forehead, trying to get his bangs out of his eyes while he watched their opponents. It looked both good and bad.

Good, because they were winning, bad because there was a mix of clans fighting them. They had lost three ninjas in this battle which had already lasted way too long. Almost a whole day, and all of them were going on very little sleep, making the possibility of an error very likely.

His brother had his back though, and they knew they'd get reinforcement soon.

In that moment he saw Katsu come running towards them, a very serious expression on his face.

Madara had ordered him to take one of their prisoners a safe distance away, and get him to talk. The situation was very confusing, and they wanted to know as much as possible before some unpleasant surprise revealed itself.

"It's bad. He was though at first, but eventually I got him to talk." Said Katsu as he came up on Madara's side.

At the moment their enemy had retreated. They were just as tired, but at least they had a larger force than they did. It was just the twelve of them, two boarder guard groups against thirty fucking rebels who seemed to have back ups to switch with.

At the moment it was Izuna's job to keep watch and be backup, to make sure no opponent suddenly charged forwards. Tōka was leading the ones holding them off while Izuna and his brother helped anyone who needed it. They had both led the attack so far, and needed a break.

"What did he say?" Asked Madara without taking his eyes of the fighters. Izuna had forced him with tooth and nail away from the front line, so he would rest for an hour before rejoining the battle.

While his brother might think otherwise, he needed to save his chakra as much as he needed to rest his body.

"He said they formed an alliance with the Yuki clan, and there's more coming..." He trailed off as ice nails flew towards them. It was directed at Tōka, but she had already gotten out of the way.

"That makes the Yuki clan now allied with the Akebino, Terumī and Hōzuki." Muttered Madara, his eyes harder than earlier. He glanced quickly at Katsu, wordlessly ordering him to continue.

"There is more coming, we might consider this a war now. Uzu was attacked shortly after Mito's death… but we haven't heard anything, at least I haven't. So Uzushiogakure has put up a complete barrier around their village. Meaning a complete shut down. No one goes in or out anymore, there's too many opponents for them to handle, since apparently some clans from Lightning Country came to join in. They see us as a bigger threat than Uzu, and after the rumours of Mito's death they have guessed correctly that our alliance with Uzu is shaky. They are attempting to pick us down one at a time." Katsu took a deep breath and looked concernedly in the direction of their opponents.

"I asked how they imagined winning against us. We're stronger than ever before. I mean, everyone knows Konoha is the strongest village in all five countries. He died shortly after I asked this, but he muttered something about a weapon." Katsu explained quickly while Izuna felt his shoulders tense.

"Nothing else?" Asked Madara, for the first time taking his eyes of the battle and looking back at the older man.

"No, just… I don't think he was talking about a fancy katana. It seemed like something a lot more dangerous."

Izuna and Madara automatically turned towards the fighting. Both clutching their weapons tightly. Izuna peeked at his brother in concern.

They probably wouldn't use whatever it was right now. It seemed a waste of energy to keep battling for this long only to use their weapon at the very end. No, they were plotting something. Something Izuna had just decided wouldn't happen.

Naruto sat on Kurama's claw while thinking hard. Her hands where folded tightly about her, and her face was skewed up in concentration. Kurama musing about their situation as always in the background.

'Brat, we have to assume black Zetsu used his Mangekyō to rile up the other bijū, it makes the most sense to me. Son attacking that village always felt off.' Grumbled the fox with a deep exhale.

The blond nodded absent mindedly, her focus rather on the problem with master Yasu, and if she really was going to do this. 'It doesn't explain too much though. He isn't an Uchiha… I don't get it. I never got the impression Kakashi-sensei was too good with his own given Sharingan, how can Black Zetsu use it to that degree?' Asked Naruto tiredly.

'Because he was made from Kaguya. In a way he is of the same blood as the Uchiha. That rabbit was the first with the rinnegan, so it would make sense that ink blotch can use that cursed blood line. He could even use wood release when merging with white Zetsu, but they were weak, so his techniques became weak as well. His greatest ability is definitely that he can take in and use external powers, and we never got the chance to see just how good he was with that. He severely wounded Uchiha Madara with one blow. Someone with the power and healing ability of my old man, clearly he was making us underestimate him. If you remember earlier Sasuke split Madara's body in two, and that barely hindered him at all. But oneblow from black Zetsu through the chest and he's completely defeated... That sly abnormality.' Kurama rambled on while Naruto sighed.

It was so hard to go looking for a black puddle. But the fact that he'd been so close to Konoha gave her both the chills and hope. It meant there was something he wanted to do here. Probably make chaos, and Naruto could guess he wasn't glad about the alliance.

After all his hard work for war and destruction amongst the three descending clans of Ashura and Indra, and then suddenly all three had been within the same village. Eating, drinking and creating bonds… It hardly added up with what she knew of his plans.

But killing Mito, though… That didn't fit his usual style.

It was very forwards, and he'd gained a lot of attention because of it. He must have been more cornered than he had expected to become, got rash and acted for his own survival more than his plans.

Zetsu was scared of her.

Madara had told her everything he'd said, and from what she heard it was clear he had focused on making Madara doubt her. Which meant she herself might become a target next… She wasn't scared of him though. Naruto wasn't scared of death either… Not anymore.

Naruto was shaken out of her concentration by Shin. He was looking at her with a worried expression and his hand on her shoulder.

"Captain? Are you alright?" He wondered aloud while the rest of her squad turned to look at her.

"Yes..." She answered slowly, looking around to see that they were still in the forest heading for the boarders.

"Look up there, captain." Said Yuko, pointing into the air where a bird was sailing by very quickly. She recognised it even from a distance. It was Mamoru, Madara's falcon summon.

Naruto was suddenly struck by a deep sense of urgency. As if she was heading in the wrong direction. She was in the wrong location, and there was not much time left. Mamoru had it right. He was heading back to Konoha. Just where Naruto should have been too.

"I have to go."

The words were out before she'd thought them through.

"Well, we all do, but you suddenly stopped. You sure you're alright?" Asked Shin, now studying her face for signs of illness.

"I'm needed in Konoha. You'll have to do without me." Said Naruto with certainty, turned, and ran away in the direction they had come from earlier.

"Captain!" Shouted Yuko while they stared confused after her.

"Naruto? Already back?" Asked Hashirama as the blonde came into his office without knocking.

Parts of her armor was dangling in her hand, which didn't surprise him. She hated it after all and had never been shy about telling him that. However, right now she should be wearing it, and not be in the village, but on the boarders fulfilling her mission.

"I… Had to come back with some urgent information." She said and closed her eyes.

Hashirama tensed in his chair, he hated news like this, and hoped anxiously that everyone was okay. "What's happening?" He asked while his friend opened her eyes, looking far away and haunted while she looked at the Hokage.

"I'm… I'm going after Black Zetsu. But before I do..." She took a deep breath while Hashirama's fists clenched hard. It was strange to see Naruto looking so torn and resolved at the same time, and it didn't explain why she had not go to reinforce the troops as she'd been ordered to.

"Is that thing in the attack?" Asked Hashirama suddenly extremely worried. Maybe he should go as well then, it made sense if that's why she came back, but when he though more about it, anyone could have done that. Naruto was invaluable, and her presence in the battle was worth more than her being here delivering this message. Why didn't she send someone else?

"Zetsu? No, at least I don't think so…?" She answered frustratedly, and without an invitation she sat down on a chair in the corner of the office. "I never got there, I was needed here because of master Yasu's failing strength. He'll die soon and I need to do what's needed before then. It's… It's my only shot. I sent sent the rest ahead." She said and sighed heavily.

"What's going on, Naruto?" He asked, now even more worried then earlier. This didn't make sense at all.

"I'm going to use a technique called the edo tensei. If successful it resurrect the dead. For it to have a chance of working you need a living sacrifice. And master Yasu has volunteered." She explained and leaned back in her chair. By now Hashirama had frozen, staring widely at Naruto with his mouth half open. Was she-? Was she going to bring someone back to life? Bring… Mito?

He didn't notice how quick his breathing had become or the growing feeling in his chest, before she suddenly got to her feet and shook her head. "No.. Not Mito..." She said silently while she started pacing the office.

Hashirama felt his stomach clench, but tried not to show his pain outwardly. "I'm sorry, Hashirama. But it's not like that, the person wont be truly alive, just a temporary being forced back into the world of the living. While under the edo tensei they can't be killed, they will have endless chakra, and in general be more like a walking and talking corpse than a living human being. They will have their old personality and techniques as well..." She paused shortly in her stride to calm down before continuing her walking.

"I need to get rid of black Zetsu, but you have no idea how fucking hard that thing is to take down. I need to seal him, I need someone with a special yin chakra. And currently that person isn't alive." Naruto looked hard into Hashirama's eyes. "I don't have much time, I need your clearance. Master Yasu has already informed Kurou and Hachirou of this as well, and they will inform Uzu as soon as it's done. They're with him now." She stopped her walking and came up to his desk with careful steps. Hashirama had a feeling it was more forced then natural.

"So Yasu-dono… Will be a sacrifice? He's very sick, Naruto… Won't that make the edo tensei weak as well?" He asked uncertainly. Trying to wrap his head around this as best as he could. Why she suddenly seemed in a great hurry and why on earth he hadn't been told of this earlier was discomforting.

"Not really. I've seen edo tensei people have their upper body blown off and they still walked around until their bodies reshaped itself. The technique is very dangerous though. So I'll leave no trace of it for other to use later. In the wrong hands this is lethal, Hashirama. They never tire, never dies and have unlimited amounts of chakra. It's good that I'm the only one who knows it so far. Let it stay that way." She said pointedly, and Hashirama felt both weary and extremely curious as to how she knew this.

"Where did you learn this?" He asked instead, prolonging his answer because truthfully he was very nervous about the state of Naruto. She wasn't acting like herself at all. He hadn't heard her say 'dattebayo' since Mito died either.

"I sort of taught myself with the help of Kurama. I've seen it done though, but the caster who used it isn't alive." She explained and sighed. "Yes or no Hashirama? You should know I'll use it either way." Naruto said and folded her arms in front of her.

For a long while they looked at each other. Their eyes not blinking as if they were trying to psyche out each other. Slowly Hashirama nodded. "You'll have my clearance, as long as I get to watch the procedure, and I'll have master Yasu confirm what you just said. And… I just got word from Madara. They say there's a really bad fight at the moment. Multiple clans are attacking us. I need you there, is that possible on top of this edo tensei?" The Hokage asked, trying to say it more like an order, but failing slightly at the end.

Naruto nodded, and before Hashirama had gotten to his feet she was out of the window and heading for the hospital.

In the corridor outside Yasu's room stood Kurou with hands folded and his shoulders stiff. The young man looked up the moment Hashirama came in and breathed a sigh of relief. "Hashirama..." He said uncertainly as the Hokage came up to him. "She's started the… ritual." He said slightly confused and pointed at the door behind him. "He's been weak all day, holding on more out of stubbornness if you ask me..." He said trying to make a joke but failing miserably.

It was odd seeing the usual strict and rule abiding man now at a loss for what to do, looking younger than usual and very helpless.

"She was supposed to wait." Was all Hashirama replied with furrowed brows.

"She couldn't… He's in a lot of pain and got worse a couple of hours ago. You'll just prolong his suffering and he might not make it much longer anyway. Take my word for it, Hashirama. Naruto didn't want to do this, it was his choice, it was master Yasu who suggested it. Do you think I'd be here if it wasn't?" Said Kurou with his eyes set, and some of his usual aura back. With a small nod Hashirama walked past him and into the hospital room.

Inside Yasu was sitting in the corner with his eyes closed and breathing heavily. Naruto sat a couple of steps away with a blank expression, and Hashirama noticed the fresh wound on his arm.

"You had to hurt him?" Asked Hashirama with boiling anger in his voice. The old ninja then looked up at him, and he could see nothing but conviction in his eyes.

"This was... my... choice. I believe… Naruto-san… can do this." Yasu said slowly. Hashirama couldn't fight the discomfort on his face. It was very obvious that the seal master wouldn't be able to hold on much longer, and he looked back at the blonde sitting on the floor.

"Ready?" Asked Naruto with her hands ready in a seal. Her face still hard and avoid of emotion.

"I leave... the rest to you, Naruto… I'm ready. Make it right."

With blazing eyes she started going through hand seals, but Hashirama was instead looking at the sacrifice, who didn't look away from Naruto. His pale wrinkled face looking tense and ready for an impact. It was very unsettling to watch.

His mind started working very fast as he wondered what would happen next. How this technique could possibly work at all. Who was being resurrected? Why hadn't he asked that? Why couldn't it be Mito? Was this really necessary?

Naruto had been more or less obsessed with this creature for a long time. Had she finally snapped? It felt more like a mistake the more he looked at the man who'd volunteered to sacrifice himself.

For a split second his face wavered, doubt seeping into his expression and his eyes looked down and away from his executor.

Hashirama stepped forwards, his right hand starting to stretch out towards Naruto, but then the seal master made an angry sound. He was staring daggers at Hashirama who halted in his track. Their eyes met, and for a moment Hashirama felt a strange understanding with the man. He too, would have died for the sake of Mito, so who was he to stop Uzuni Yasu from doing the same?

"Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei."

They watched as a light washed over the room. How Yasu's appearance was emerged in an odd substance. Small pieces of paper covering every inch of his body, and from within they heard a piercing scream of agony.

Naruto had gotten to her feet while they watched, clutching Hashirama's hand tightly, making him able to feel how her hand shook in sorrow as she watched Yasu disappear completely.

In his wake stood Izuna. Or at least that was Hashirama's first thought.

At a second glance he noticed the defined differences. This man was a little shorter, most likely because he looked like he was at the end of his teens, but it felt wrong to call him a boy. Something about him screamed maturity despite his obvious young age. His eyes and face resembled Izuna's greatly, but his mouth was what separated them most. His lips was thinner and turned downwards in a clear expression of discomfort. Or nervousness. Or anger. It was hard to decide.

The edo tensei made sure to show what he was though.

His skin looked more like paper than actual skin, it was cracked like stone, and peeling off slightly here and there as he finally opened his eyes. Pieces of paper still whirling in the air around him, and slowly fastening to the body of the young man.

He looked confused for a moment, his stare intent on Hashirama, before his eyes wandered to the smaller figure next to him who had tensed up so much Hashirama wasn't sure she was breathing anymore.

Seeing the many emotions crossing Naruto's face while staring at the man, Hashirama felt he was intruding on something private.

Who was he to her?

For a long while none of them spoke, but then the man stepped forwards while looking at his hands. The skin like texture was pealing off and resealing itself as he watched.

Hashirama had no problem reading the fury in his eyes as he seemed to figure out what was going on. Taking a deep breath he looked up again so his bangs fell away from his face. In his right eye span the Mangekyō Sharingan, and in the other was a strange circled patterned eye that Hashirama had never seen before.

"Naruto."

His eyes bore into Naruto's, his brows furrowing and his mouth frowning even more. Whatever he was thinking, it was negative and seemed to piss him off.

They stood in silence for over a minute, his attention wandering from the blonde and back to Hashirama, and then to the dark room they were inside. Night had closed in on them and the moon was visible through the window.

"How come you two aren't like me?" Was the first question he asked, now studying his own skin with interest. "Senju Hashirama is dead, and so are you, Naruto. I saw it myself." He continued with a forced calm about him.

Hashirama tried very hard to understand what he was getting at. There was too much about him that didn't make sense, not just his appearance, but his words as well.

He'd never seen this man before, but he was clearly an Uchiha. He was certain he'd known all of them, so this must be someone who died when Hashirama was young. Someone who were killed when Hashirama was twelve or younger. How on earth did Naruto know this person? And why did he believe they all should be dead?

"I will explain everything on the road. Right now we need to go hunt Black Zetsu." Naruto answered seriously, and Hashirama noticed how his eyes hardened at her instruction. So he knew this creature too?

"That parasite? What about Kaguya?" He wondered, and took another step forwards. "And I want answers. You look different… Older? How is that possible? We died at the same age." He asked and shook his head. "If you're a edo tensei like I am, how come your eyes are normal? And your skin… You look alive. Him too." He said and nodded towards Hashirama.

"What does he mean? Why does he believe you died? And who is that?" Asked Hashirama curiously looking down at Naruto who was struggling with her facial expressions while looking back at the Uchiha.

"I didn't die… I was sent back. Some sort of space-time ninjutsu, I ended up exactly where we had been fighting earlier. That area where we hid under your susanoo when the infinate tsukomi started. I didn't recognise it though, everything was so different, and there was just a large forest wherever I went. I was also younger, six year old and neither Kurama or I understood what had happened for many days. But…" She looked at Hashirama and swallowed.

"I met Hashirama and Madara when they were twelve, and I was thirteen..." She said seriously while the Uchiha's eyes snapped back to Hashirama while Naruto continued explaining. "I've been working on getting rid of Black Zetsu ever since, but I have had problems catching him, he is so good at running away. It also seems like my jutsu have very little effect on him. If I stab him he doesn't bleed, if I try ninjutsu he escapes through the earth. No matter what I do… He still lives on… I need to seal him away, I need your yin ability to use the permanent sealing we were going to us on Kagyua where there's no chance of escaping. You need to help me, that's why I forced you back."

For a moment Sasuke didn't speak, and Hashirama had the impression he was thinking very hard, very fast, and from the looks of it he understood a lot more then Hashirama did. Then he sighed while closing his eyes. "You… travelled back in time?"

At this Hashirama felt like his eyes would pop out of their sockets. Time travel? Why would he come to that conclusion? Why would he assume she had done something so far fetched? With a jolt he remembered the Uchiha's confusion as to why he himself had been alive. Like him living was something not possible. He felt his throat dry up and looked sharply at Naruto.

Time travel…

"Who did it?" Asked the raven haired man while looking intently at the blonde. Naruto swallowed while sending an uncertain peek up at Hashirama.

"You know… The old guy." Naruto answered and held up her hand with her palm up. Her bandaged hand in a posture as if to stop the man from coming closer. With an intense look at her hand he nodded while deactivating his odd Sharingan. The different coloured eyes turning a similar shade of black.

"Why didn't he send me then?" He pressed on, and Naruto sighed and looked impatiently towards the window.

"He said you wouldn't have survived it. That only someone with my type of healing power as a jinchūriki and Uzumaki could have dealt with it. There was nothing else that could have been done, at least according to what he told me later. As you said; I should be dead, but instead he… sent me back." Naruto tried to explain growing a bit frustrated.

The atmosphere in the room was growing very strange. Mostly because Naruto and the stranger seemed to know each other very well, but Hashirama couldn't decide if that was as friends or enemies.

"When are we then? Is this Konoha? And who did the edo tensei? In fact, how the hell could anyone do the edo tensei on me at all? I'm not even born yet and you needed my blood." Started the man and stepped closer. While his words spoke of confusion, he didn't look anything but in control.

"I did the edo tensei by using one of your hairs, but it's a long story, Sasuke. We don't have time for chit-chat or catching up because we should be moving instead." Replied Naruto impatiently.

"You?" Asked the Uchiha now identified as Sasuke, and for the first time there was some surprise on his face. His eyebrows rising up and his eyes widening slightly. "Didn't think you had that in you."

"Let's go, we'll talk on the way." Said Naruto and walked towards the window. But the Uchiha stood firmly in place when she turned to look if he was following. "Why aren't you coming? You seemed willing enough to fight Kagyua. Changed your mind again?" Asked Naruto bitterly while studying Sasuke.

Hashirama felt the tension in the room rise slowly. They stood very still, sizing each other up as if they were weary of one another. Why had Naruto resurrected someone like that?

"You ask me to help you?" Sneered the Uchiha while placing his right hand on his hip, his left fingering the hilt of a blade.

"No. I'm telling you to." Said Naruto, her voice going down an octave as she answered him. Her hand slowly going up in a sign, as if she were about to attack with some ninjutsu or challenging Sasuke to spar.

"So you're going to control me, are you? Have you even thought this through, Naruto? Whenever you release me I know how to counter it. If you don't remember anymore; I was trained by Orochimaru. I know how to counter the edo tensei and I'll just stick around. Never dying, never tiring. Continuing what I was doing when I was interrupted by getting killed." He said casually, and Hashirama felt the corner of his mouth turn downwards. For some reason that sounded like a threat, but who it was directed at was uncertain. For some reason his survival instinct had kicked in.

"If you help me seal black Zetsu then we'll fight, I wont control you to save myself." Replied Naruto, her face just as determined, but her eyes looking slightly hurt. Torn in two somehow.

For a long moment they watched each other, neither blinking as the tension grew to new heights. "I'm immortal, Naruto. There's no way you'll win that battle. Even with the kyūbi's power, I'll win." Answered the Uchiha, his hand leaving the hilt of his blade and falling lazily to his side. A spark glowing in his eyes as he took in every reaction Naruto revealed. "I'll kill you."

Hashirama had stepped forwards before his final words were finished. Truly angry at him for threatening one of his closest friends. Maybe his best friend. His only sister.

"Then so be it."

He stopped in his track, his head flying sideways to Naruto who looked resolved and calm. As if this was something she'd been expecting.

"What? Why? There's no way I'll let you die, Naruto!" He exclaimed before looking back at the Uchiha. "Who is this? Why would you..." Why would you bring back someone like this?

"He has the power we need to seal black Zetsu. And..." She looked directly at Sasuke now, her eyes so intense they seemed to light up. "He is my friend. I once said we'll die if we fought one another. But since we never got the time to do that… Well, it wouldn't be the first time you tried to kill me, and yet here I am." She said clearly and finally looked away from Sasuke who nodded.

"I guess you can understand better now." Answered Sasuke and walked towards her. "You miss them."

She closed her eyes for a moment before looking back at the man, her blank facade dissolving into a truly pained expression for the first time.

"I've changed time. There is a very good possibility I've already killed both of us. We probably won't be born." She explained, her words being answered by silence. "But it's too late to fix that, and we need to leave. Will you help me?" Her words were careful at the end.

"Hn." He answered and turned toward the window. Naruto looked at his back with a small, wistful smile and pained eyes as he climbed out. With a last look at Hashirama she followed after him.

Author note: Thank you so much for reading, I really appreciate it!

400 reviews! Thank you so much for commenting and sharing your views about the story!

I am so very sorry for the long wait. I never intended for this chapter to take so long, but clearly it did. To those of you who have been waiting, I hope you can forgive my slowness…

I'm a student, and when my teachers give me deadlines I sort of have to prioritize those. I'm not out of the woods yet with the hand ins and presentations at school, so the next chapter might take a bit of time too, but I promise 'Second Wind' will be finished. I swear! There's no way I'll write this much and then just leave it to dust.

It's really annoying I don't have so much time (or energy) to write, since there's really not many chapters left. Maybe five, give or take a chapter, it's a bit hard to tell...

Please forgive any grammar mistakes, they occur since english is not my native language, and grammar was never my strong subject in school either...