I don't own Naruto in an way shape or form.
talking: Ya' know
thinking: Ya' know
jutsu: Flying Raijin Jutsu
Summoning talking: You little runt
Summoning thinking: You little runt
Tailed Beast talking/slight possession: Damn you 4th Hokage
Tailed Beast thinking: Damn you 4th Hokage
Chapter 23: Final Battle and the Return Home
"Sakura, you think you can hit the rudder on that ship?!" Naruto asked, getting in front of the princess with kunai drawn.
"Definitley." Sakura replied, as she started handsigns for the jutsu Kakashi tought her. "Lightning Style: Lightning Sniper Strike Jutsu!" Sakura yelled, sticking her hand out with her fingers pointing towards the ship.
A strong bolt of lightning fired from Sakura's fingers, and struck the rudder. The strike caused a small explosion, knocking the airship towards the mountain.
-On the ship-
*KABOOM* "Lord Doto, the rudder was hit with a 'Lightning Style' jutsu. We've lost control, we must evacuate." Said Nadare, giving his leader a status report.
"Very well. We'll just finish things here. Leave no one alive!" Doto ordered.
"Yes sir!" Nadare and Fubuki replied.
-Back with Naruto and Co.-
'Great job, Naruto. Having Sakura use the jutsu I taught her to take down their airship, preventing a 'hit-and-run' kidnapping attempt in order to get to Princess Koyuki. But I'm sure he knows that that won't finish them off." Kakashi thought, proud that Naruto came up with that idea so quickly.
"Now what, Naruto?" Sakura asked, after Doto and his henchman landed in front of them.
"We'll just kick their ass, and make sure they don't hurt the princess or anyone else." Naruto replied.
"Of course, just state the obvious why don't cha." Sakura thought, as she mentally face-palmed herself.
"In that case, I'll take the girl. We've got some unfinished business from last time." Said Sasuke, as he took of after a smirking Fubuki.
"Alright. Sakura, make sure the princess and everyone else gets away from the battlefield. We don't need anyone getting hurt. I'll take on that Doto creep." Naruto ordered, taking notice that Kakashi and Nadare had already taken thier battle someplace else.
"What? But Naruto, shouldn't we wor..." Sakura began, before she was interrupted by Naruto.
"Sakura! Kakashi sensei and Sasuke are busy fighting right now. You only have one effective jutsu, but it's useless against that Chakra-Armor. Once you're done escorting everyone someplace safe, then you can help who ever needs it. For now, just do as you're told." Said Naruto, before he took off towards Doto.
Sakura looked dumbfounded with Naruto's reasoning. Thinking about it she realized that he was absolutely right. "I guess Naruto got a brain along with that Chunnin vest. Heheh!" Sakura thought, as she finally went to fulfill her orders.
-Koyuki-
"Naruto's going to fight Doto on his own? Impossible! He can't, no one can beat Doto! He's going to die!" Koyuki thought, not knowing why she seemed so worried about Naruto.
-Kakashi and Nadare-
Kakashi had lured Nadare on the otherside of the tunnel. Once he believed that no innocent people would get caught in the cross-fire, he stopped and turned towards his opponent.
"Finally stopped running, eh Kakashi? You know that copying my jutsu won't help you win, not against me." Said Nadare, with his usual cocky additude.
"Maybe so, but I thought I could show you one of my own 'original' jutsu." Kakashi replied, forming the handsigns needed.
Nadare had started forming handsigns of his own.
"Lightning Blade!"
"Ice Style: Wolf Fang Avalanche Jutsu!"
As both jutsus became active, Kakashi charged towards Nadare, piercing through one of the 'Ice Wolves' that got in his way. Keeping his jutsu active Kakashi attempted to pierce through Nadare's Chakra-Armor, knowing it wouldn't work. Which is what he was counting on.
As the jutsu struck, the Chakra-Armor did it's job by canceling it. However, due to the shockwave that resulted, Nadare was forced off the edge of the cliff. "Heh, is this all he's got? Pathetic." Nadare thought, before he was suddenly grabbed from behind. "Eh, what the?!"
"Even if one doesn't have Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, a ninja must always have Taijutsu!" Said Kakashi, as he started a rapid spin. "Primary Lotus!"
-Sasuke and Fubuki-
"You honestly think you can keep up with me, 'little man'?" Fubuki taunted, smirking at her opponent.
"Hn." Sasuke replied, with a slight smirk of his own.
"Ice Style: Ice Prison Jutsu!" Fubuki called, hoping to catch Sasuke off guard.
Sasuke had simply dodge, and activated his Sharingan. Performing handsigns of his own, Sasuke called out his own Jutsu. "Fire Style" Pheonix Flower Jutsu!"
Fubuki easily dodged the small balls of fire, by jumping into the air. While in the air however, she was caught off guard by the shuriken flying right past her. With a glimmer of light, she noticed that the shuriken were tied to ninja wire. Glancing behind her, she saw that the shuriken were circling around her. "Ugh, this brat! Does he honestly think that he'll beat me with a lame tactic like this?!" Fubuki thought, as she used the 'Substitution Jutsu!'.
Sasuke had seen this coming, so he used his Sharingan to track the Snow Kunoichi. Having located her very quickly, Sasuke immediately began the handsigns for his final jutsu. "Ice Style: Ice prison Jutsu!"
Fubuki was about to come out and start a new jutsu, when she realized that the ice beneath her feet had started to ensnare her. "What?! This is impossible! AAAAHHHH!" Were Fubuki's last words, before she became trapped in a prison of ice. (Remember. This 'Ice Style' isn't a Kekkei Genkai, like Haku's. This is just manipulating the ice, not creating it. I'm sure you might've known that already, but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway.)
Knowing that being trapped in the ice prison didn't kill her, Sasuke walked up to his imprisoned opponent. "I guess I could just let you die slowly in this ice prison, but since I've acquired some justu from you, I'll finish you off quickly without suffering." Said Sasuke, as he activated his his 'Chidori'.
-Naruto and Doto-
Naruto was having a difficult time with Doto, since Doto had taken to the air and refused to let Naruto get close. "AH, c'mon! Get down here and fight like a man you over-grown coward!" Naruto yelled, as he yet again swung his trench knives combined with his 'Wind' Chakra, hoping to make contact.
Seeing the attack coming, Doto simply dodged as if the attack were just a nuisance. "I've heard about all your skills thus far, so I won't fall for such a lame attack." Said Doto, seeing the shocked expression on Naruto's face. Doto then turned his attention towards finding Princess Koyuki, who was currently hidden among the snow covered rocks. Doto figured this much because he couldn't see the Princess among the group that was running away.
"Grrr! You bastard!" Naruto yelled, aggrivated at his failed attacks. "Fine then. I guess I don't have a choice." Naruto thought, as he prepaired for his trump card.
-Koyuki-
Koyuki had managed to slip past Sakura easily, and had been watching the battle. She had seen how Doto had been dodging Naruto's attacks. As far as she was concerned, Naruto had no chance of winning. Knowing this however, she for some reason didn't want anyone else to die. The words Naruto had said to her kept ringing in her head , and would go away like a bad cold. Making her decision, Princess Koyuki stepped out from her hiding place.
-Naruto, Doto, and Koyuki-
"Hm?" Said Doto, as he saw Princess Koyuki.
"What the hell are you doing?! You should be with Sakura and the others! Get out of here!" Naruto yelled, once he saw Princess Koyuki.
"Mind your own business, this doesn't concern you!" Princess Koyuki replied. Turning her attention towards Doto, Princess Koyuki said. "Doto. If you want me and the Hex-Crystal, then fine. Just leave everyone else alone!"
"What?" Naruto whispered, shocked to hear that last sentence.
"Hm. Very well. Doesn't matter to me, so long as I get what I w..." Doto began, but was interrupted by puff of smoke appearing out of the corner of his eye.
"That's not gonna happen! I don't care what happens, I'm not gonna let you take the Princess!" Naruto yelled, as he appeared out of the smoke next to Doto.
Naruto swung a fist towards Doto, hoping to finish off Doto the same way he did Mizore.
Doto ofcourse knew what he was trying to do, but didn't bother dodging. *Clang*
"What the?!" Naruto asked, shocked that his hidden blade didn't pierce through Doto's Chakra-Armor.
"Hahahaha! This is a more advanced Chakra-Armor that what the others use. A pitiful blade like that won't be able to pierce it." Doto said, with a smirk on his face. Doto threw a punch of his own, intending to knock Naruto back towards the ground.
Naruto attempted to parry the punch, but only partially succeeded. Naruto's hand made contact with Doto's forearm, but due to the difference in physical strength, the punch landed square on Naruto's temple instead of his jaw. Naruto was then sent flying toward the snow covered ground.
"Now that the nuisance is out of the way. Shall we go then, Princess Koyuki?" Doto asked rhetorically, sending out a grappling cable similar to Mizore's, Doto grabbed Koyuki. Once that was done, Doto flew off with Koyuki in tow. "HAHAHAHAHA! Now the Kazahana tresurewill be mine! HAHAHA!"
A few moments later, the rest of Squad 7 finally showed up. What they saw surprised them, Naruto was just standing there looking at the sky. "Naruto, what happened? Where's Doto and the Princess?" Kakashi asked, having come to a stop next to Naruto.
"Princess Koyuki came out and let herself get captured, as long as he left everyone else alone." Naruto replied.
"And you're just standing there, doing nothing? How the hell did you become a Chunnin?!" Sakura yelled, amazed with Naruto's stupidity.
"I had a plan ready before she came out and ruined it, so I had to come up with a new plan."
"And you new pla is just to stand here doing nothing?!"
"Will you listen for more than two seconds, Sakura? I'm waiting for them to land somewhere, so that I can take out Doto in one final blow." Said Naruto, getting annoyed with Sakura's yelling without showing it.
"Huh? How do you plan on doing that? And what does them landing had to do with anything?" Sakura asked, confused with what Naruto's plan could be.
"Doto can appearently fly with his Chakra-Armor. So he grabbed Princess Koyuki and flew off. That's why Naruto is waiting for them to land. With the sealing tags I've place within her clothes, Naruto's able to sence a small area around the seals. So Once they've landed, Naruto will use his secret jutsu to deliver the finishing blow, as long as Princess Koyuki is close enough to Doto anyway. Sound about right, Naruto?" Kakashi asked, after having figured out and explained Naruto's plan to his other students.
"Hee hee! Yup! You got it!" Naruto replied.
"Oh. Sorry Naruto." Sakura said, ashamed of herself for doubting Naruto.
"Heh. No problem, Sakura." Naruto replied.
"Naruto, here." Said Kakashi.
"Huh? What's this?" Naruto asked, seeing Kakashi holding out what looked like a small crystal.
"This Naruto, is the real Hex-Crystal. I switched it out just after I placed those tags of your's in her clothes. Once Doto realizes that the one Princess Koyuki has is a fake, then he'll undoubtedly come in close enough for you to take him out." Kakashi explained.
"I get it. He'll think that she tricked him, and he'll be too angry to react when I suddenly show up, and that eliminates the very slight possibility that he might dodge my attack. Hee hee, not like he would anyway." Said Naruto, as he took the real Hex-Crystal and placed it in his pocket.
A few minutes passed with nothing happening. The director of the movie had asked what the ninja were waiting for. It was Kakashi who explained to them what the plan was.
"Hm?"
"What is it Naruto? Kakashi asked, noticing Naruto's sudden reaction.
"They landed. It won't be long now Kakashi sensei." Naruto replied.
"Good. Make it count." Ordered Kakashi.
"Right. He's close enough." Naruto replied, creating a rasengan. Naruto dropped a smoke bomb, and then disappeared within the smoke.
"He's gone? Where did he go?" Asked the director, amazed that someone could just vanish in thin air like that.
"He went to save the Princess. Only Naruto can get to her before anything happens to her. With his secret jutsu, Naruto is the fastest person alive." Answered Kakashi, missing the negative look in Sasuke's eyes.
-Doto and Koyuki, moments ago-
Doto and Princess Koyuki had just landed, and Doto started walking towards his niece. "Hand it over." Said Doto, holding his hand out.
"Fine fine. Here." Koyuki replied, handing him the Hex-Crystal.
Taking the crystal and examining it closely, Doto became infuriated. "Is this some sort of joke?!" Doto yelled, crushing the fake crystal in his hand.
"Don't play dumb with me! You handed me a fake!" Doto yelled, interrupting Koyuki by grabbing he by her jacket.
Suddenly a flash of yellow appeared right between Doto and Koyuki. "You damn right it was a fake, you bastard! Take this! 'Rasengan!'" Naruto yelled, ramming his jutsu in Doto's face.
'This can't be! Where did this brat suddenly come from?! UGWAAAAH!" Were Doto's last thoughts, before his head went flying off his shoulders, shortly followed by his body.
"Ha! I win!" Shouted Naruto, in triumph.
"What the hell?! How the hell did you get here, Naruto? And why did you interfere?!" Koyuki yelled, demanding an explaination.
"Oh shut up. I would've beaten him earlier, if you had just stayed hidden. Because you decided to come out, I had to change my plans a bit. Well atleast it looks like some of what I've said earlier seems to have finally sunk in, huh? Hee hee!" Said Naruto, with his trademark grin on his face.
Thinking about what he meant, Koyuki *gasp*ed. "He's right. I guess I have more potential as a leader than I thought. I gave myself over, so that Naruto and all the others wouldn't get hurt more than they already were. But it was pointless. Naruto beat Doto. It seems I'm just usele.. Huh?" Koyuki thought, before her thoughts were interrupted by something being placed on top of her head.
"Hey. No point in feeling sorry for yourself, ya' know. Besides, you finally showed that you can be a great leader for your country." Naruto said, after having placed a hand on Princess Koyuki's head.
"And how would you know that, huh?!" Koyuki yelled.
"Because you're actually crying on your own, instead of that fake crap you use." Naruto replied, not losing his smile.
Reaching up, Koyuki placed a hand on her cheek to confirm what Naruto had said was true or not. And sure enough, she felt them. Real tears were falling from here eyes. The tears that she had thought had long dried up, had returned with the warm feeling growing in her once cold heart.
-Leaf Village-
It was nearly sunset in the Hidden Leaf Village. All was peacefull...Untill...
"Ah! Finally home! Hee hee, yeah!" Naruto yelled, glad to be back home after such a long mission.
Squad 7 had remained fo another few weeks in order for Princess Koyuki to finish her movie. During those few weeks, there was a large festival. Everyone in the Land of Snow attended, celebrating the return of the rightful ruler of the land to the throne. Once the movie was finally finish, Squad 7 and Princess Koyuki said their goodbyes to eachother. But not before Naruto was given and envelope by the Princess, right before their departure.
*Sigh* "Honestly, Naruto. You don't have to yell." Said Sakura, as they walked through the gates.
"Hee hee. Sorry, I'm just happy to be back in the village, ya' know." Naruto repied, scratching the back of his neck.
"Alright, you two. Anyway, why don't you all go get some rest. I'll give Lady Hokage the report on out mission. Good job, you three." Said Kakashi, dismissing his team.
"Yes, Kakashi sensei." The three replied, before heading off in different directions.
Sakura obviously headed after Sasuke, but Naruto headed off on his own. This detail didn't pass by Kakashi. "Hm. Naruto usually follows after Sakura, even if it means following Sasuke. Wonder what's with the sudden change." Kakashi thought, but shoved it to the back of his mind as he pulled out his book and thought abou the script that Princess Koyuki had been holding. *Sigh* "I can't wait until that movie comes out" Kakashi thought, with a perverted giggle.
-Kurenai's Apartment-
"Something wrong, Hinata?" Kurenai asked, after she poured the tea for the both of them.
"I'm just worried about Naruto. I wonder if he's ok." Hinata replied, as she took a sip of her tea.
"I see. You shouldn't worry too much, Hinata. He does after all have his secret jutsu, just in case he runs into anything he can't handle." Said Kurenai, a she took a sip before continuing. "Then again, I doubt that with that jutsu of his anything could give him more than he can handle. Haha."
"I guess you're right." Said Hinata, as she took another sip. "I'm glad Naruto decided to trust you with with that secret." Hinata comented.
"That's true. But it did seem that he trusted me a little too easily. At least as far as the reasons he gave me are concerned."
"I know. But he must've just forgotten to mention the fact that you've been keeping our relationship a secret this entire time. Even now that you do know his secret."
"Huh. You got apoint there, Hinata." Said a new voice, from the right behind Hinata.
"Huh? N..Naruto?" Said Hinata, after turning around to see Naruto.
"Hee hee. Yup. I'm back, and the mission was a success too." Said Naruto, with his trademark grin.
"Naruto!" Hinata yelled, glomping Naruto. Said glomp caused the two to hit the ground.
"Ouch. Heh heh."
*Giggle*
"Ok, you two love birds. Get up. Naruto, would you like some tea?" Kurenai asked, inwardly laughing at the display.
"Heh heh. Sure. Thanks, Kurenai sensei." Naruto answered, as he and Hinata got up and sat down at the table.
After pouring Naruto a cup of tea, Kurenai and Hinata began asking him about his mssion. Naruto answered what questions he could, over exaggerating some of his own accomplishments in the process. Of course Kurenai and Hinata knew he was doing this to make it sound more exciting, but they didn't mind too much.
"Wow. So, your favorite actress was in fact a real princess after all. That's quite something." Said Kurenai, after Naruto finished his tale.
"Yup. Hee hee." Naruto replied.
"Did you get her autograph, Naruto?" Asked Hinata.
"Huh? Oh, wait a second." Said Naruto, remembering the envelope that Princess Koyuki gave him.
"What do you have there, Naruto?" Kurenai asked, curious if there's and autograph inside the envelope.
Naruto pulled something out of the envelope. Whatever it was, it made Naruto's eyes widen with surprise. "Awe! Why did she have to use this picture?! Couldn't she have atleast used a better one?! Oh!" Said Naruto, placing the photo on the table for the others to see.
Looking at he photo, Kurenai and Hinata saw what was on the picture. It was Squad 7 plus Princess Koyuki. Sasuke had a stoic face, with his hands in his pockets. Sakura was bent slightly forward, with a big smile on her face. Kakashi was simply standing there, with his usual 'eye smile'. It was the part with Naruto and Princess Koyuki that got most of their attention. Princes Koyuki had her left side facing the camera. She was bent down to Naruto's level on his left side, and she had her left hand against his right cheek. She had her eyes closed, and her lips occupying Naruto's right cheek. Naruto had a surpised look on his face, showing that he hadn't seen it coming.
They were almost speechless. Hinata was the first to say something. "Sh...she k..kissed you?" Hinata asked, in a voice that sent chills down Naruto's spine.
"Uh, yeah. I swear I would've told her, but our relationship is supposed to be a secret. It caught me off-guard, otherwise I wouldn't have it that happen. I swear!" Naruto said, in a panic. He was hoping that she'd believe him.
*Giggle* "I know. I was just seeing how you'd act. Don't worry Naruto. I know you would do what you said. Besides, the picture shows that you're telling the truth. If the priceless expression on your face is anything to go by!" Said Hinata, as she started to throw a fit filled with laughs at Naruto's expression, both on his face and the picture.
Soon Naruto and Kurenai began to join in on the laughter.
Well, there you have it. Another chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Please check out my friends 'Red Rellik's' story. It's his own variation of bleach. So all you bleach fans, that migt be a story to peak your interest. Anyway, thank you and please REVIEW. :)
