DISCLAIMER: I don't own the anime/manga Naruto or any of its characters
Chapter 4: It's War
"An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind."
-Mohandas Gandhi
Naruto panted heavily. At his right the Hachibi's jinjuuriki looks exhausted as well. He dared to give a quick glance towards his left.
Uchiha Sasuke.
Even though exhaustion is clearly painted across his features, with his spiky hair even more disarrayed over his head, he still stood in that elegant yet strong posture that the ladies obviously liked about him. When they were younger he envied him because of it. In every place they went it was always Sasuke who was being noticed, even though his snobbish and a jerk. Even the first woman she ever loved had chosen Sasuke. The sudden thought of the pink-haired medic caused a tumult on the blond's chest. Yes he wanted to make that teme pay for her death. To kill him after all of this was over. But then again, who was he really? Isn't he Uzumaki Naruto, the optimistic blond who dreamed to become the next Hokage. He had caused even the ruthless of criminals to have a change of heart. Gaara for example, if it wasn't for him the red head would still be the killing machine he once was and not the compassionate Kazekage who is now the leader of the shinobi alliance. Yes, he was Uzumaki Naruto. And the Uzumaki Naruto known by the others won't cling to revenge. That was a thing that only Sasuke would do. He sighed. Sakura wouldn't want them to kill each other anyways. Besides, the mere fact that Sasuke is on their side now was just like saying he is regretting everything he had done. If the rosette hadn't died by the bastard's hands he would gladly accept him with open arms. And after this war is over, he will drag him back to Konoha whether the raven head like it or not. But now, it wasn't really possible. He hated to admit it, just like the case with Nagato, he won't kill Sasuke, but he wouldn't ask him to go back either. He had cut their bonds a long time ago, fine. Like he cared.
He glanced at the other shinobi attacking the juubi, clamoring of metals and the likes echoing around them. Death after death. It makes him sick. He wanted to end it as quickly as possible. And to do that, he needed to make a temporary truce between him and the Uchiha. So he looked at him, anger sealed in the deepest dungeon of his subconscious, and ask "You've worked with them don't you have any idea how to stop that thing?"
The younger Uchiha brother's eye widen in surprise with the blonde's questioning. He wasn't expecting the blond to address him anytime soon. But then his mask of indifference was placed once more over his face as he answered "I didn't really work with them. At the moment I just thought that it is the good thing to use them for... For my revenge so I went to that Tobi guy. I have never learned of his plans because I think it wasn't necessary."
"But you captured me before so you should have known something boy." Killer Bee said with his usual rap.
"Akatsuki's need for the tailed beast is a common knowledge. Besides, during that time I wasn't capturing the eight tailed for them, I am merely capturing it for myself." Sasuke admitted, almost shameful of his past actions. He then looked at his older brother "Perhaps you know something aniki?"
His brother's revelation makes his heart ache. For the first time he would want to thank Kabuto for bringing him back to the world of the living. He really had underestimated the level of his brother's foolishness if he is as easily swayed and gullible as he is right now. He then nodded, "I had learned something during my stay as an Akatsuki member. But Tobi was always wary of me so I wasn't been told with the entire truth about the statue. But I'm not a fool and I got it all figured out. The moon was the prison the sage used for the juubi. Madara took that shell out from the prison and wish to revive it by using the other tailed beast. At of this moment the statue had the entire tailed beast except for the Hachibi and the kyuubi, although there are some of these tailed beast chackra inside of the statue which had caused it to be revived once more." Itachi looked at each of the three men listening to his explanation then continued, "Tobi was right, we cannot defeat the juubi even with the use of the Hachibi and kyuubi's chackra within Naruto-kun's and killer bee's body."
Naruto growled in frustration. "Then what can we do now?"
"We need to get all the other tailed beast out of the juubi so it will be back to the empty shell it once was and then we will seal it back to the moon." Itachi finished.
Naruto's mouth flung open, "You made it sound too easy! I remember our mission when saving Gaara. And I now the extraction wasn't that easy and it will take hours. How can we do that when we can't even prevent the juubi from attacking for a minute? Besides there are still lots of those white freak clones around, not to mention the infamous Uchiha Madara himself!"
Five figures suddenly appeared few feet away from them. All four men turn to an attacking posture but instantly withdraw when they saw who the newcomers where.
Naruto grinned widely "Good to see you guys! I thought that old man already had gotten the worst out of you."
"Che. Who do you think we are kid?" Tsunade snort then looked at the Uchiha brothers "Why are you here?"
"Long story baa-chan, but they are on our side for now." Tsunade noted the 'for now' part on Naruto's answer but said nothing about it. "Itachi was saying something about reextracting the tailed beast that the Akatsuki sealed inside the juubi." the blond incline his head towards Itachi.
Gaara eyed him curiously, "I've seen the other endo tensei summon vanished except for Madara of course. Is that because of the sharingan because it seems that whatever he have or did to remain in this world was also present in you."
"His been around when the second hokage developed that technique so he probably figures out how to 'break free' from that technique. I on the other hand, was around Orochimaru for quite some time and I had learned about that technique in one of our... Battles" the older Uchiha remembered the time when the snake tannin tried to steal his body. The snake then realize that he was stronger than him that's why he targeted his younger brother instead only to find out the hard way that even the little boy is stronger. "And because of that I was able to make Kabuto to stop his massive endo tensei and keep myself bonded on this world, but only temporarily."
Sasuke frown when his brother mentioned the word 'temporarily.' Well he knew that his brother was already dead so it is impossible to wish otherwise. He would better remind himself later that his brother would most likely 'move on' to the other side after this war had reached it's end.
The kages nodded. Then A spoke, "Tell us about this 're-extracting' thing that Naruto had mentioned about."
XxxxxX
Kakashi's kunai clashed with Obito's, both of them panting heavily and with beads of perspiration on their forehead.
"Obito stop this, Rin wouldn't be happy if she sees you like this."
Both the sharingan and Rinnegan eyes glistened with unshed tears, "Just shut the hell up Kakashi! Rin is... Rin..."
"I'm sorry..." was all Kakashi could say. They stood there in silence, both of them unmoving. Suddenly the tears had traitorously fallen on the Uchiha. He was physically handsome like most of the Uchiha's although half of his face has these ugly scars on it. The time he had received this scar was very memorable for both of them because it was the time when Obito gave his left sharingan eye to Kakashi. This act is a sign of their deep friendship. Although they were rivals back then, they were really close friends. Obito was the brother that Kakashi never had.
"I love her. I always have. But she... She loves you instead. But you..."
"I could have loved her, but I can't because I knew about your feelings. And besides, the day we thought you had died I saw it in her eyes. Love. She love you as well, only it was too late when she realize it."
"Lies." the Uchiha drop the kunai he was holding. He placed his arms to his side an knelt "Lies."
"If we only knew you were still alive, she wouldn't accept that mission. I tried to coax her out of it knowing that it was a suicidal mission but she insist in taking it. She loves you so much that it hurts her to even live in the world without you. I still accompanied her in that mission despite of her protest." this time, it was Kakashi who shed tears. "When we are almost caught she asked me to kill her, I couldn't do it but she... She controlled my movements using that medical jutsu of hers and the next thing I knew my hands... My hands are piercing thru her heart. You should have known the trauma I had then. I couldn't believe I was weak enough to be controlled. But before I lost consciousness I saw her smile and say thank you." he knelt before Obito and placed both of his hands on each of his shoulders and shook him vigorously. "You know why? Because she thought she was finally going to be reunited with you! Damn it Obito! If you would continue to create a new world with a fake Rin in it and stay there, do you think what kind of loneliness you are giving the real Rin hah? Would you rather hold the hand of an imposter? Tell me Obito!" Kakashi stopped shaking the sobbing man infront of him. "If you'll stay there, there's no way you nor I would be able to see her again. The real Rin."
Obito shouted not because he disagrees with Kakashi's words but because he was damn right. The Rin he fell in love with was dead and no one, even a Rin created from the infinite Tsukiyomi could replace the real one. How stupid was he? He took some even breaths to regain his composure. He wiped his eyes dry then looked at Kakashi, "You're right. We better end this now." he stood offering a hand to Kakashi who took it and in an instant they had dissappered in that dimension.
XxxxxX
The five kages together with Naruto, Killer Bee and the Uchiha brothers surrounded the juubi in a safe circular distance. Itachi had told them about the extraction technique that the Akatsuki used. Although this time around, the nine of them will exert more chackra than that of a regular Akatsuki member during the ritual because they don't have the ring used to enhance the said technique. But it wasn't the problem; it was the certain Uchiha elder who watched them warily. He raises an eye brow at their antics, "And this is supposed to be what? Have you forgotten that I'm still here and I won't let you do what you wanted." he made some hand seals but before he could finish it to bodies materialize between the group and Madara.
Obito looked at the juubi then at Madara, "Let's stop this... I don't want to continue this anymore."
The people present around them were surprised with what he said. Madara clenched his teeth and seethed, "What the hell? Obito we are really close on succeeding our plans. It's not time to turn back."
"I really don't understand what you will get out of this Madara. Power? Fame? Or you just wanted to create this illusory world to bring Izuna back because you regretted you're brother's death? But the latter was pretty much unlikely your motivation in doing all this. The clan wasn't really something of an importance to you so don't tell me that it is to revive the name and glory of the Uchiha clan either."
"Bullshit!" Madara continued the hand seals he was doing, his entire body radiates in a bright light.
Obito looked at Kakashi with a very sad smile on his face. "I think this is farewell my friend. Until we meet again."
Kakashi tried to reach Obito but the moment his hand lingered on the dark haired man's shoulder, the man disappeared together with Madara and the juubi. Kakashi clenched his fist and shouted on top of his lungs, "OBITO!"
XxxxX
After the disappearance of the juubi and the infamous Madara, the shinobi alliance just fought with the Zetsu clones.
By twilight, all the enemies had been defeated and the group of ninjas knew that it was their victory. They all shouted with joy and relief. The war was over.
Finally.
Some cried. Some Laughed. Others collapse in extreme exhaustion.
"Is it really over?" Naruto spoke with a tone only above a whisper.
"Na-Naruto-kun" Hinata said as she wrap her arms towards the blond happily. "It's over! We-we had won!"
Naruto wrap his arms around her slowly and nodded, "Yes, we won." the blond knows he should be happy but still tears fell on his eyes. He rest his head at the space between Hinata's neck and shoulder.
Sasuke watched the exchange and knew it was the best time to leave. He didn't even look towards the location of his brother for the fear to see him dissolving and disappearing from his life once again. It was clear that after what he had done, Naruto wouldn't want him back at Konoha. So the Uchiha pivoted his heel, do some hand seals for a transportation jutsu and disappeared into a cloud of smoke. Naruto felt Sasuke's sudden departure but did not say a word about it.
XxxxX
Tents serve as a makeshift clinic to heal the injured shinobis. Inside a rather huge tent was one of the hero of the war. Uzumaki Naruto lie on his side, resting. He heard some footstep towards his place so he opened his eyes and ask, "What do you want?"
Uchiha Itachi entered the tent and looked at the blond, "What happened between you andy brother. The last time I saw you you were willing to die for him... But now..."
Naruto sat on his bed. His eyes transfixed over his hands that are clenching the blankets tightly, "He killed Sakura."
Itachi had thought about this earlier but he is still somewhat surprised to hear it from the blond with a tone full of venom. "But he also saved your life. Naruto-kun I thought you treated him as a brother."
"I don't have to anymore because you're already here."
"Temporarily," he reminds him, "I'm already dead remember?"
"Tst. Yeah, and that bastard killed you. How could you even face him after all he had done?"
"Naruto-kun, I was ordered to kill my entire clan but one, and yet when Sasuke learned the truth all his hatred towards me was alleviated."
"And now he hated the world instead. You have your reasons for killing, mind you I'm not agreeing with those kind of things, but it least you had justification in what you did, but Sasuke didn't."
"Can't you forgive him?"
Naruto laughed humorlessly, "Only time can tell."
Itachi frowned. The only hope he had to remove his brother from solitude is slowly slipping away. "Where is Sakura-san body right now?" he needs to see the corpse, maybe his brother did not really intend to kill her. Maybe it was just an accident. And if it was, he is sure that Naruto's anger would lessen, even a bit.
Naruto closed his eyes, "I don't know. When one of my bunshin saw Sasuke at that cliff, Sakura-chan was already nowhere to be found. I couldn't feel her chackra as well. But the teme said he had killed her. I..." he bit his lower lip, "itashi-san can you leave? I wanted to take some rest, if you mind?"
Itachi nodded and went out of the tent. He needed to find her at any cost. If the corpse hadn't been seen, there is a possibility that the rosette is still alive. He needs to find her because it is the only way to bring back his brother to the right place where he belongs so he could have a life once more.
/end chapter 4
"Where there is love there is life." -Mohandas Gandhi
AN: Thank you for reading. Please do leave a review. Sorry for the late updates guys.