Two years after Danzo's coup d'etat. . . .
Naruto winced as he felt the sharp kunai prick his skin. He let out a small curse as a single blood drop fell from the small cut on his chin and fall into the pond below, dispersing in a red mist within the water. Looking down at the rippling water, Naruto's now eighteen year old body was reflected from the waist up. Now dressed in a simple beige robe and tattered white cloth pants, both which he found in the temple, after he had outgrown his clothing that he arrived with. His body was now large, as he stood taller than his grandfather and his frame was thick with muscle, yet it didn't hinder him at all; a result of his arduous physical training. His hair was now long, enough to where it would cascade down to his lower back, but he tended to keep the spiky mess in a tight pony tail at the base of his skull. He noted with a bit of pride that he almost resembled his father now, with how his hair was, as he left enough hair out of the ponytail to frame his face. The only downside with no longer being a kid, in Naruto's opinion, was having to shave.
Grumbling to himself, his voice now deep and masculine, he again slowly drew the sharp kunai down his face, keeping extra care not to overdo it as he felt is shearing off the rough stubble on his face. As he continued his work, he looked down at his reflection and saw that his face reflected the anxiety he felt. It didn't spawn from shaving, even though he couldn't wait to get an actual razor, no it came from what today was. It had now been a little over five years since he came to Uzushiogakure, and today would be the day he was going to confront the Kyuubi, once and for all.
The past five years he had known very little rest, only taking off on very rare days where he would spend time with his grandfather. Every day he trained as hard as he could, knowing that every moment he spent slacking off would be a moment that would keep him from going home. Two days ago, his grandfather had told him Naruto had learned all that he could from the old man, and that he would be as ready as he ever could be against the Kyuubi. Naruto would rest for a day, then the preparations would begin.
Sliding the kunai one final time across his skin, he gently rubbed his face, feeling for any spots he might have missed, and there were none. With a flick of his wrist, the kunai disappeared and a faint glow appeared on Naruto's wrist, a tattoo formed with chakra that glowed a light green before fading back, not leaving a trace on his skin. He had several of these invisible tattoos all over his body, a secret art that the Uzumaki had created long ago. Much like a sealing scroll, the user would scribe or have scribed chakra enhanced seals on their body. This allowed for storage of anything the user wanted, though the size of the mark would have to increase or decrease depending on the size and volume of the items stored, as the seal itself is what held it, rather than it acting as a medium. The seals could then be activated by chakra enhanced touch, withdrawing whatever item(s) the user required or storing them.
Though he resented the alliance of ninja that eradicated his clan, he could see why they feared them so. Many of the techniques that he had learned could be devastating if used improperly. One example being the very seal that rested upon his stomach, it was the Uzumaki who long ago created the jutsu that could call upon a Shinigami, a God of Death, to come forth – something that no mortal should ever do.
His father's scroll was now much easier for him to understand, and it fascinated him. Many of the techniques Minato had used were built from the Uzumaki clan's jutsu, and others were original jutsu he had created. The Flying Thunder God technique was still beyond him, though he understood the basis of it, the actual application was mind numbing. One of Minato's original techniques, the Rasengan, was something Naruto liked the idea of, though he hadn't had any time yet to learn it.
Naruto reached down and cupped a handful of the cold pond water, washing his face, and trying to clear up his nervousness. He needed to focus on the fight ahead, not on anything else. His mind flashed the image of Hinata, and he took a deep breath. The reason he was doing this was waiting for him, and he could finally be with her again, if he can just do this one last thing. He recalled then, the recurring nightmare he had had long ago when the Kyuubi had first warped his seal, where he destroyed Konoha and murdered Hinata. He shuddered for a moment, closing his eyes, it still could affect him so when he recalled it, because he knew that it was possible if he failed. Standing up, he furrowed his brow, feeling annoyed with himself for his negative thoughts; he would defeat the Kyuubi, he had to. Reaching over, he grasped his sword and slung it onto his back, the zanbatou now no longer dwarfing him and instead looking at home on his broad back. Turning hard on his heel, he started up the small dirt path through the forest that would lead him back to the Uzumaki temple, determination fueling his steps.
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In the quiet of the Uzumaki temple, Tenchi sat with his legs folded in front of the large golden Buddha statue that sat in it's eternal pose, legs folded and arms held in a prayer, with it's serene face gazing out over the shrine. The old man looked up at the statue with a smile, as he had for over one hundred years now. The statue had lost some of it's luster, as Tenchi had ran out of the wax he used to polish it with many years ago, but it still retained it's glow in a more dignified manner now, or so the old man thought. He seemed to always be at this place after cornerstones of his life, be it after he had met his wife Izayoi, when Kushina had left for Konoha, during the assault on Uzushiogakure, and also when he first met Naruto. This statue served as almost a journal for Tenchi, whenever he sat at it as he did, and had in the past, he could recall almost everything. And he would have to say, through all the good and bad he knew, being with Naruto had to be among his fondest memories.
His grandson was truly amazing to Tenchi. The boy had already become a man by the time he had come to Tenchi, his life experiences as a ninja seeing to that. But he didn't have the same calloused outlook that most ninja adopted, he still held onto his passion for life. It troubled Tenchi to know that he had been treated so roughly in Konoha during his youth, being the Jinchuriki was a position to be honored and uplifted, not scorned. But it again did not hinder him, it only spurred him to try harder, to prove everyone wrong. It gave him much pride to say that he was his grandson. He only wished he could meet the girl who had smitten him so, Hinata Hyuuga. The way he talked about her was like how he would about Izayoi. A woman who became so entangled with a man's life, that they were as necessary as air to live. He knew that it was due to wanting to return to her that Naruto managed the amazing feat of learning all the Uzumaki techniques in only five years. It had taken him twenty to reach the same place Naruto was now at, not that he had told him that. Truly, if any was worthy to continue the Uzumaki name it was Naruto.
Standing up, he turned around to look at the area he had set up for the coming confrontation. A massive circle of one hundred and eight candles arranged in the Uzumaki swirl had been set into a circle around a ring of salt just large enough for someone to sit in, all of which that had been made from materials here in Uzushio. He had already preformed a cleansing ritual before hand in the area, further purifying the already sacred temple. He would leave no stone unturned for this fight, Naruto would need every advantage he could.
A creak coming from the main temple door alerted him to the only possible person that could be entering the temple. Naruto appeared in the doorway, his face hard set into that of a man who was ready for whatever might come his way. Tenchi smiled as he crossed the room, meeting Naruto close to the circle he had prepared. "You seem ready." Tenchi observed, looking his grandson up and down.
Naruto nodded, looking down at his grandfather, "Let's finish this, I'm going to defeat the demon and finally be free." His voice was full of cold steel, his words reflecting the state of his will. In his mind he added, and then I'll see her again. He wondered what she looked like now? She had to be beyond beautiful.
"Then let us begin. Go and sit over in that circle. Be absolutely certain you do not move a candle or touch a grain of salt, it cannot be moved in the slightest." Tenchi explained, and then moved towards the open door, where the only source of light was coming from.
Doing so, Naruto carefully stepped over the candles and salt circle, stepping as gently as he could, to avoid any vibrations on the wooden floor that might shake the salt loose. With the same amount of care, Naruto pulled off his sword and sat down with his legs crossed, minding to keep his hair over his shoulder so it wouldn't touch the salt, and placed his sword over his legs, balancing it.
Seeing that Naruto was fully seated, Tenchi closed the large wooden door, enshrouding the temple in darkness. Naruto took a deep breath, calming himself. He listened intently, but didn't hear his grandfather walking towards him, the older man was as quiet as a ghost. Then, as he swore he could make out a shape in the dark, a small spark exploded into a tiny flame, the burst causing Naruto to close his eyes for a moment, before he watched Tenchi lighting the first candle, muttering hushed chants. Naruto knew the chanting, it was part of a ritual to cleanse and purify an area with holy objects. It was rarely used now, as demons were all but gone, if not in hiding, but he learned them the same. It was part of the Uzumaki legacy.
Tenchi slowly made his way around, lighting the one hundred and eight candles, chanting as he did so. The number was sacred to the old religion that the Uzumaki had long since forgotten the name of. Each candle was to represent the wish to ward off a delusion of the mind, a negative emotion. The candles he himself had been making since Naruto first arrived, each being roughly three inches thick and twelve inches high, large enough to last the entirety of the confrontation that would take place inside Naruto's mind. As each candle was lit, the temple illuminated more and more. Finally, after what seemed like a day, the last candle was lit, and the last chant uttered. The room now was aglow with the orange brilliance of the Uzumaki symbol in fire. Looking at Naruto, he smiled, seeing the boy had entered a perfect meditative state, the heat from the candles unaffecting him. "Good Naruto," Tenchi started, "stay just like that. No matter what you hear or feel, you must remain at peace until the fight begins." Tenchi waited a moment for a response, but received none, which told him what he needed to know.
Turning towards the Buddha statue, Tenchi almost let out a gasp as he saw the statue was now almost blindingly golden, the light from the candles reflecting upon it perfectly. It looked just as it did long ago, the brilliant light reminding him of the color of his late wife's hair in sunlight. Tenchi took it as a good omen, and walked with a renewed hope to the table he had with various tools laid out before the statute. On the white linen that covered the table two objects sat, from the left a single tanto blade with white cloth wrapped around where the steel would normally rest in a handle and a clay mask made to look like the Shinigami. Taking hold of the mask, he turned once more to look at Naruto to ensure he was still focused on his meditation. Seeing he was, he fully turned with the mask in his left hand and blade in his right.
Putting the mask on, he felt an unnatural chill envelop his body. He never once had used this technique, nor had he seen it used, but he knew what would happen. The masks were made with an ancient technique that allowed the wearer to be possessed by the Shinigami and have control over it. Soon, the golden glow was accompanied by an unearthly blue glow that nothing from the realm of the living could produce. Tenchi knew better than to turn and look behind him, as death itself was looming over his back. Taking a deep breath, he raised the tanto he held and saw the glow shift in front of him, signifying that the Shinigami mimicked him. With a quick stab and pull, Tenchi drew the blade across his stomach, splitting open his gut.
Above him, the Shinigami was forced to repeat the movement, and slashed open it's own stomach, and as soon as it did, two souls, one blue and the other red burst forth from the death god and sped across the room in the blink of an eye, and slammed into Naruto, seemingly being absorbed by him.
Naruto's peace of mind was almost broken when he felt an almost overpowering maleficence surge through him, and the feeling was not foreign to him, he knew it was the Kyuubi. There was a second feeling that trailed on the tail of the first too, but it was the exact opposite. It felt warm and, if Naruto had to put a word to it, loving. Before he could think on it more however, he felt the familiar pull of the Kyuubi that he hadn't felt in years tug on him, pulling away his consciousness.
Tenchi reached up and removed the mask, the blue glow fading away. Staring ahead, he watched Naruto, and saw his body fall ever so slightly from his rigid stance. He knew then that Naruto had been brought within himself for the confrontation. Only half of the Kyuubi had been sealed away into Naruto, as Minato had sealed the other half with him as his soul was devoured by the Shinigami. Now with both of them free, the Kyuubi would be whole again and the seal could could no longer hold the beast. It now stood to Naruto to either conquer his inner demon, or be destroyed by it. Taking a seat, Tenchi reached down where on a normal human there would have been his entrails hanging out from the gaping wound in his stomach, but there was no cut. He now could only wait, to see whether his grandson would stand, or the Kyuubi would emerge.
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Naruto's sense of existence returned to him once more in the form of rolling through putrid sewer water. Being used to the transportation of his being, Naruto regained his senses quickly and kicked off the ground to flip onto his feet and out of the roll. Sliding to a stop in the dark tunnel, Naruto suppressed a groan, even if it wasn't technically real, being covered in the simulated slime still disgusted him. Shaking his body and limbs to get as much of it off as he could, Naruto was became aware that the normal miasma of hatred that hung in the air was much, much more severe now. Forgetting about getting the slime off him, Naruto turned slowly towards where the Kyuubi's cage was, and saw that the metal gate was shattered, the bars looking as if they were no stronger than paper.
Switching his mind to battle mode, he pulled his sword from it's worn holster and began walking towards the broken cage, his senses on full alert for the smallest thing. As he approached the cage, he saw that a pathway that hadn't been there was adjacent to the cage, leading down into another disgusting waterway. Seeing as the cage was empty, the Kyuubi had to of gone down the other way. He didn't like it one bit, after getting rejoined with his other half, Naruto was certain the beast would have charged him to try and kill him, not play games. But just as he was about to head down the path, a voice called out to him.
"Naruto."
The female voice took him off guard, and he spun back towards the cage with his sword held out diagonally in front of him, a basic stance he learned from the scroll Kisame gave him. But he almost dropped his sword when he saw who it was that called out to him. He had only seen her once before in a picture, but she looked no different than the day the photo was taken, from her burning red hair and soft purple eyes, down to the dress she wore. His mouth parted only a hair, his voice failing him as he barely croaked out in a whisper, "Mother?"
Kushina stepped a bit more forward from inside the cage, her eyes dotted with a tear each that threatened to spill. She gave a silent nod, a soft whimper being the only thing she could utter. Though his rational mind rejected it, he could not contain himself as he dropped his sword and crossed the span between them in three steps, embracing his mother in a warm hug, feeling her arms wrap around his back. In his arms was the woman he had wanted to meet so badly since the day the Third Hokage had given him the only photograph he had of her. "I can't believe it. . ." he whispered, "How is this possible?"
Kushina gently pushed away from Naruto, enough to look up towards him, Naruto being as tall if not taller than his father. "It's a complicated story, one that your father can explain when you see him."
"Dad's here too?" Naruto asked, his heart leaping in his chest at the thought of getting to meet both of his parents.
Kushina nodded. "He's buying us time, distracting the Kyuubi," she nodded down towards the hallway. "I won't be able to stay here much longer, now that the seal is broken, so please allow me to speak before I go."
Naruto almost immediately yelled out that she couldn't go, not when he was reunited with her, but bit it back. It wasn't the time for such a thing.
"That's a good boy." Kushina praised, smiling at her son, feeling proud. Then her smile faded some, and her lip quivered. "Naruto, I'm so sorry that you had to grow up the way you did. It's caused both your father and I no end of grief that you were denied a good childhood. It had been our last hope that you would be treated as a hero to the leaf, but it was obvious not many saw it that way." Naruto felt his mother's hands tighten some, from where they rested against his sides and saw her eyes start to brim with tears, though she pushed them back. He wanted to tell her that it wasn't her fault, but knew that she was just speaking her mind, not looking for forgiveness, not that there was any to give, she did nothing wrong.
"But I want you to know, your father and I are so very proud of you. Through everything you've gone through you've remained strong and grown into a kind hearted man. I couldn't ask for a better son." Naruto felt himself almost want to cry as well, the words his mother spoke comforting him beyond anything he could imagine. "I know you can beat the Kyuubi Naruto, you were a far stronger jailer than I ever was, being able to contain the Kyuubi and resisting it's evil influences. And now I want to give you another tool to help you, you're going to need all the help you can get." Kushina leaned into Naruto once more, and her hands traveled up towards his mid back. Before Naruto could ask however, he felt a warm pressure on the area she touched for a moment, before it faded. He looked down at her, his face asking for an answer when she spoke again.
"You're my son, and carry the same blood I do. I imparted the knowledge of the Chakra Chain technique to you. If you use it on the Kyuubi, it should hold him." Kushina spoke, her smile never leaving her face.
Naruto tilted his head for a moment, but when he heard the name of the technique, knowledge of how to use it created itself in his mind and he smiled. His grandfather hadn't taught him this move, it would come in handy for certain.
Kushina let out a small sigh, her face looking wistful. "That seemed to bring my time to a close." She stopped for a moment, and raised her hand up to Naruto's cheek, making the blond gasp as he saw that her hand was almost translucent. "You've grown into a handsome young man, you know? Hinata is going to probably faint again when she sees you."
Naruto couldn't suppress his blush, feeling embarrassed. He then asked in a low voice. "You know about Hinata-chan?"
Kushina nodded, "Yes, we were able to somewhat watch you, and were able to see her through your memories. We both very much approve of her." She let out a small laugh, as she saw the troubled look on Naruto's face. "Don't worry, we gave you your privacy. Although," and she giggled a bit, "your father couldn't stop laughing when you found her sleeping on top of you the first night she lived with you." Naruto let out a small groan, the memory of that day popping into his head. Kushina leaned into Naruto once more and gave him a large hug. "It's time for me to go. But know I'll always love you Naruto, and I hope I can continue to watch you. I love you Naruto." Her words began to get muddled by her crying, tears streaming down her face.
Naruto held his arms around his mother tighter, shaking his head. He wanted to tell her not to go, but it would only make it harder on them both. Hearing the words he had always wanted to hear from his parent caused him to shed a tear as he replied, "I love you too, mom." Naruto spoke, words he had never uttered before.
Kushina smiled, and felt her soul release fully from the seal that held it. She knew that he would be fine.
Naruto's arms fell to his sides, the person that had been within them gone. He stared down at the empty space where his mother had been just moments before, but he wasn't sad. He had gotten to meet her, just as he always wanted to. But if that was the case, why didn't his tears stop? Reaching up with his arm, he rubbed his eyes to clear the tears away. From what his mother said, his father was further in fighting the Kyuubi. He wouldn't let him fight alone. Leaving the cage, he reached down and grabbed his sword and slung it over his shoulder as he sprinted down the tunnel, still feeling the lingering warmth of his mother's arms around him.
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The darkness of the tunnel became absolute shortly after he left the destroyed cage, and even the water disappeared. His feet felt as if he was running on air, but he didn't let it bother him, he only continued on straight ahead, following his gut as to which way to go. After what seemed like too long, the infinite darkness was pierced by a small orange dot. Finally seeing a change in scenery, Naruto kicked up his pace even faster, and soon began to hear the terrifying sounds of the enraged Kyuubi.
As he neared his destination, the orange dot began to grow, and it became clear that it was being made from a massive fire. Soon, burning buildings began to take shape, as did the looming form of the Kyuubi that seemed to be chasing something around, it's nine tails whipping about in a frenzy, shaking the very air around Naruto. A bright yellow spark caught Naruto's eye, and he knew it had to be from his father, who's signature technique left the same effect, granting him the moniker the Yellow Flash of Konoha. It wasn't long before the roars of the Kyuubi were becoming deafening, and the buildings were now very recognizable to Naruto. Is that-?He thought, as he surged his legs with a burst of chakra and launched himself up, high into the 'sky'. As he did so, he was greeted by the sight of an older Konoha, the very one that the Kyuubi had set out to destroy on the day of his birth. With a scowl, Naruto ignored the questions of how and why in his mind and aimed his descent straight for the back of the Kyuubi's massive head.
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"Yikes! Too close!" Minato yelled as he came out of his Flying Thunder God technique. The Kyuubi seemed to be much faster and far more ferocious than he remembered. But then again, being stuck inside the Shinigami's stomach for the past eighteen years had made him a bit sluggish. Being dead wasn't something easily explainable, and even more so in such a desolate place as the Shinigami's gut. From what he gathered from the memories his chakra had retained, the bit he stored within his son, the Shinigami had been forced to loose his soul and the Kyuubi's other half.
He had been overcome with emotion for a moment, when years of memories had been remerged with him, including those he had of watching his son grow. Minato bit back a curse, as he jumped over a swipe of the Kyuubi's massive paw, this wasn't really a good time for thoughts like this! Just then, he noticed a flash of steel from high up in the night sky, or the simulated one as anyone who was within this constructed reality would see a forest and night sky around Konoha, even if there was none. Minato smiled as he knew it could only be one person.
Naruto plummeted with a roar, his zanbatou drawn. He saw the Kyuubi snap it's head up at the last moment, intense hatred directed at the blonde in it's eyes. But it was far too late for it to do anything, as Naruto slammed his sword down with all the force his powerful body could muster, and cut a deep slash straight through the fox's nose, hacking off and large slab of black flesh.
The Kyuubi let out a pain filled massive roar, as a massive spray of blood exploded from the gaping wound. The force of the sound waves was enough to send Naruto spiraling off towards his father, making the blond curse as he turned as best he could in mid-air, managing to catch himself on the ground as he came to a skidding stop in a large main street of the illusory Konoha. Naruto snapped his head up with a large grin, the action of causing the fox that much pain feeling like a solid payback, and he was far from done dishing it out.
Minato ran up to Naruto, his grin matching his son's. Seeing him in person as he did now was far from the memories he had retained, he already knew that he was the proudest father alive – well, kind of alive at the moment. "Naruto!"
Naruto turned, again hearing his name called by another person he had so badly wanted to meet. If it wasn't for the fact he was about to enter a battle for his life, he could easily say that this was one of the greatest moments in his life. He couldn't help but think the Hokage head statute didn't really do his father justice, at the moment, Naruto couldn't help but think how heroic his dad looked with his coat and jonin outfit on. "Dad." Naruto replied with, not being able to hold back the joy in his voice.
"Sorry son, I really want to talk, but we have a large problem on our hands." Minato spoke, nodding with his head towards the Kyuubi who was still thrashing around violently from the painful wound. "Nice hit by the way."
Naruto smiled at the compliment, and found his voice. "You're right, but he's not gonna be that easy to take down. I have a plan though."
Minato nodded, he knew that if Naruto wasn't able to subdue the Kyuubi here it would devour his son's soul and would either possess his body or regain it's own. In order to stop that, he would have to do more than just seal the Kyuubi again, he would have to defeat it then seal it's essence, otherwise it could possibly tamper with the seal, just like it did before. "Alright, just let me know how I can help."
The Kyuubi was beyond enraged, as felt his chakra start to reform his deformed nose, the pain still stabbing into him like a hot knife. How dare a lowly mortal injure him so?! He glared down at the two blondes who had caused him so much grief, swearing he was going to make them beg before he tore off their limbs and then savored their screams as he ground them in his teeth! Slaming his tails down in a procession, he let out a ferocious yell. "Bastards! You think to injure I, the Great Kyuubi?! I will see your entrails scattered on the wind!"
"Hah!" Naruto yelled out, taking a few steps forward. "So it's the Great Kyuubi now is it? Big talk for an idiot who's been sealed away for the past eighteen years! The only great thing about you is how great your stupidity is!"
The Kyuubi's slitted pupils shrank to almost nothing as he glared at Naruto, his vision turning red. "I've had enough of you! Begone!" The Kyuubi's tails all raised at once and with blurring speed came straight for him. Naruto smirked, even as terrifying as facing something like the Kyuubi was, the prospect of finally getting to fight his demon excited him. With a yell, he charged forward and jumped towards the incoming tails.
The Kyuubi waited to feel the satisfying crunch under his tail, like swatting away a fly, but no such thing happened, as his tails slammed into the ground and he barely registered a golden flash directly in front of him.
Minato had to admit his son had a good plan. After taunting the Kyuubi into an attack, he would throw two of his special kunai, one by Naruto, and the other to fly straight for the Kyuubi's head and transport both him and Naruto to the second kunai, taking the Kyuubi by surprise. Looking over at Naruto, he watched with professional interest as two seals glowed for a half second before Naruto threw two activated exploding tags attached to kunai straight at the Kyuubi, specifically at the eyes. Interesting, sealing weapons directly in seals that are tattooed on your body? That's my son for you. Minato thought with a chuckle.
The fox had no time to react as his eyes were forcibly penetrated by two razor sharp kunai, followed by the massive explosion of both the tags, obliterating his eyes and sending gory chunks of the remnants soaring into the wind. The Kyuubi's rage ignited along with his pain, as it howled out in agony. His thoughts couldn't focus on any one thing, it's disbelief that not once but twice now he was grievously wounded was tearing away into his pride and filling his mind with madness. "I'm going to kill you!"
"Naruto! Watch the tails!" Minato yelled to his son, as he teleported away from a wild swing of one of the nine tails. He couldn't decide if the uncontrolled tails were more dangerous than when the beast was actually aiming his strikes. Worriedly checking over on his son, he saw he didn't have much reason for concern as Naruto was skillfully bounding between the rampaging tails, slashing into them as he passed, leaving large gashes that bubbled over with chakra trying to seal them.
Naruto found himself starting to almost have fun, even if he could get crushed like an insect with the smallest misstep. All his training in the ruins of Uzushiogakure, running from broken building to building, climbing and jumping as fast as he could had given him the perfect practice for maneuvers like the one he was doing. Seeing another tail coming towards him, he turned in mid-air to meet it feet first, kicking off it hard and using it as a spring board to launch him up towards the tallest tail, where he put as much force into a slash as he could to leave a huge cut across it, spraying himself with burning hot blood as he did so. Soaring high into the air, Naruto turned himself to look back down at the Kyuubi who was sporting several bright red gashes, all of them bubbling with chakra. He watched as he father was doing similar attacks all along the Kyuubi, using his Flying Thunder God to teleport from the marks he had been marking the Kyuubi with while Naruto kept his tails distracted.
His plan wasn't the easiest one, but it was the only option he had open to him. According to his grandfather, merely resealing the Kyuubi wouldn't be enough, it would risk the same scenario as last time. And he couldn't kill it either, as it was still far too interlinked with his own soul. So the only thing he could do, was weaken the Kyuubi enough to where he could unleash a top rank sealing jutsu that would allow for the Kyuubi's very essence, that being pure natural chakra, to be sealed. But weakening the Kyuubi would be no small task, it's chakra was so profound and massive that trying to outlast it would be foolish. However, Naruto had a hunch there would be a way, and so far he was proven right. As he noted that he had a fast regenerative healing, fed by the Kyuubi's chakra, so too would the fox for itself. So if he inflicted as much injury as he could, it would make the Kyuubi drain it's chakra trying to just heal itself.
The Kyuubi let out a roar of frustration, the small gashes being dealt all over his body more annoying than painful, his eyes distracting him from the rest of the pain and they still hadn't regenerated yet. "Get away from me you annoying insects!" The Kyuubi screamed out, and tucked his body inwards for a moment before lashing out at a high speed, whipping his tails about and spinning in a circle.
Minato focused hard, and teleported to the Kyuubi's back, right above the right shoulder where he left a mark. He stabbed his kunai into the hard flesh of the beast and held on, as he felt the inertia of going from still to moving hit him hard, a downside to the Flying Thunder God technique, still couldn't escape physics. Managing to hold on until the Kyuubi stopped it's spin, he held out his right hand and immediately formed a rasengan, wasting no time in slamming the drill like sphere where the shoulder met the chest, right where the major tendon was located, and let it go, teleporting away again in the flash of gold as blood sprayed from where the chakra tunneled into it's target.
At the same time, Naruto decided to try out his inherited technique from his mother, and from his back he materialized a single golden chain, shooting it out straight for the Kyuubi's back. The chain stabbed deep into the foxes flesh and Naruto grabbed a tight grip with his left hand onto the chain, using it to swing underneath the Kyuubi. Not being able to help himself, Naruto let out a yell as he swung at full speed and slashed three times at it's tender underside, letting the chain disappear as he felt it get close to it's end and caught himself on a rooftop, just as the Kyuubi collapsed from having one of it's shoulders destroyed.
Naruto quickly got up, patting off an area where his robes had caught fire, apparently even if this area was an illusion the fire could still hurt. Looking towards the still blind and enraged fox, he almost felt sorry for it as he watched it struggle to stand, screaming out in bloody rage as it's tails lashed around horribly, shaking the earth with every strike. Luckily, he was just out of it's reach, or for now he was. With the quietest whisper, Naruto heard the sound of his father materializing next to him.
"Not bad," Minata started, his breathing only slightly winded, "But beyond annoying it I don't think that drained much of it's chakra."
Naruto nodded in agreement, breathing hard. "I know, if tried it this way there's no way either of us could last. I'm just trying to really piss him off right now." No sooner than when he had finished his reply, The Kyuubi snapped it's massive head straight for them, two newly regenerated eyes glaring straight at them and all the rage of hellfire contained within. Unleashing a bestial roar, it's mind having long been since taken by rage a need for vengeance, It pushed back on all four legs.
"Time to go!" Minato yelled out, seeing the obvious tell and grabbed onto Naruto's arm, moving across Konoha to where he had one of his kunai planted, just as the Kyuubi pounced. Right as they reformed by the kunai atop another building, they were greeted the sight of the Kyuubi sliding through the area they were just at, sending destroyed building remnants flying. The Kyuubi however was already aware his prey had vanished, and spun hard, using it's tails to obliterate everything around it and send large chunks of debris sailing into the air, as it looked around furiously for the father and son.
"I think you definitely got him mad Naruto." Minato chuckled, wondering how many people could say they wanted to piss off one of the most dangerous things in existence.
"It's not enough, can you get us behind him when he charges us again?" Naruto asked, looking at his father.
Minato checked by where the Kyuubi was, mentally checking the various points he could teleport them to. "It'd be no problem." Seeing Naruto nod, Minato readied himself to teleport them as soon as the fox attacked again.
The Kyuubi slammed it's tails again, sending more objects flying into the air, ignoring the small patters he felt on his fur as the earlier debris smashed against his massive hide. Where – WHERE?! The Kyuubi roared in it's mind, a deep roar reflecting it's mind speech as it scanned the horizon for the cowards who dared stand to him. Spotting two blond spots among the fires with his keen vision, he grit his teeth as he charged once more for them, intending to whirl his tails around and crush them. Pushing off it's hind legs with all it's might, the Kyuubi made another mad charge.
Naruto already had his chakra forming as his father once more grasped onto his arm and moved them. Reappearing a good distance from the Kyuubi, he bit back a curse as he watched the Kyuubi stop on a dime and spin it's tails around, causing him and Minato to dive to the ground, barely avoiding the tails path. Damn, Naruto thought, if we get hit once by those it's game over! That trick isn't going to work much more. Standing back up quickly, Naruto reformed his chakra and with a large yell, several chakra chains burst from his back and he sent them straight for the base of the Kyuubi's tail and his hind legs. He watched them as they crossed the distance in a blink of an eye and he grinned as they wrapped around their intended targets before the Kyuubi could react. "Dad! Can you make shadow clones?!" Naruto roared out, starting to focus chakra into all his limbs. Minato answered by forming close to a hundred clones, making Naruto smile. "Alright! Now just follow my lead!"
The Kyuubi snarled as it saw the rats had once more escaped him. It didn't matter, they would run out of energy before – The Kyuubi's thought train was cut off as it felt a numbing sensation around the base of his tails and legs. Snapping it's head back, it saw that it was the same cursed golden chains that the red headed bitch used on him before!
Naruto let out a strained grunt, pulling with all the force he could possibly muster, granted to him by his powerful body and chakra enhanced strength along with the efforts of his dad's clones. With another mighty heave, Naruto almost lost his concentration when he felt the Kyuubi move, but grit his teeth and with a muffled roar, pulled.
The Kyuubi felt himself get lifted off the ground and let out something akin to a gasp as it was suddenly moving through the air. It's mind could barely comprehend what was happening, and got a single glance at the blonde as he had fully rotated the Kyuubi in a half circle before letting the chain disappear and sending the fox spiraling through the air.
Naruto instantly dispersed his chakra, his arms dropping to his sides as he watched the Kyuubi screaming in pure anger as it was hurtling away, it's tails lashing about and one of them getting to close for comfort as it hit the crest of it's movement and started to plummet. "Never . . . doing that . . . again!" Naruto breathed out, the move having taken more of his chakra than he would have liked.
The Kyuubi slammed into the ground, his weight causing the ground to shake for miles, simulating an earthquake. The tailed beast felt beyond humiliated, a mere human had done something that no other had ever accomplished by making him get tossed to the ground. Not even when he had faced off against the other tailed beasts had they ever toppled him. Shooting back to his four feet, all his hair was on end from how much rage flowed through him. Staring at the two, seeing the smug grin on his jailers face made the proud beast lose it. "I'm going to scatter your remains to winds you insolent mortals!" the force of his roar was enough to push Naruto and Minato back a few feet, both having to brace themselves against the wind. Focusing all of it's hatred and rage into it's chakra, the Kyuubi raised it's head and tails into an almost ritualistic pose, as a ball of black and red chakra began to form above it's opened mouth.
"Well." Minato chuckled, seeing the familiar technique. "You certainly got him mad."
Naruto grinned, as he pulled out one of Minato's actual kunai, causing a look from his father. "That's what I've been hoping for!" This was the feared Bijudama, the one he read about in his father's scroll. A tailed beasts ultimate attack that inspired him to create the rasengan. Looking towards his father, Naruto hesitated for a moment. "Dad, if this doesn't work I -" he was stopped as Minato put his hand onto Naruto's shoulder.
"You're my son remember?" Giving him the goofy smile his son inherited from him he continued, "There's no way you're gonna lose! So wait to say it until after."
Naruto bit his lip, feeling the want to shed a tear hit him, but he shook it off. He couldn't believe how incredibly warm his father's hand felt on his shoulder. "Okay!" he yelled back in reply as he turned his head. "Get ready!"
The Bijudama had dwarfed the Kyuubi, as it was obviously pouring every last ounce it could spare into the attack. The good and evil chakra was so powerful sparks of electricty were traveling along the surface of it, creating loud crackles. If the Kyuubi could grin with it's mouth open it would have, as it knew it was ready. With a constriction of it's jaw, the Bijudama fell in on itself and was now barely larger than the Kyuubi's open maw. Dropping it's head, it aimed at the two blondes it hated beyond anything in existance and screamed, "DIE!"
With a single push, the Bijudama flew, it's very existence warping the laws of nature as it disintegrated anything that stood in front of it, continuing on an unstoppable journey straight for it's targets. Naruto took a deep breath, and suddenly felt a strange nervousness take him as he saw the incoming ball, it's black mass not even allowing light to survive within. But, he felt a quick squeeze on his shoulder, where his father's hand still rested and smiled. Whatever happened, his father was with him. Pushing both his hands forward, he started channeling chakra into his father's worn kunai, the seals on it lighting up and he focused. Months of practicing this technique under the waterfall by the temple flashed before him, as he saw the small vortex open in front of him, and small black seals appeared in mid air around the circle, fanning out in a pattern akin to the Uzumaki symbol. Sucking in a deep breath to prepare himself, the Bijudama was upon them. Time slowed to something that human's normally couldn't percive except in times of extreme stress when adrenaline flooded the body, and reaction time spiked. He could feel as the vortex threatened to split open and let the Bijudama hit, but Naruto held his herculean focus, and for a moment, it was stopped. Then, with an almost slow motion that sped up into an unbelievable speed, the Bijudama was pulled into the vortex.
At the same time it disappeared infront of Naruto, a second, much larger vortex, opened above the Kyuubi, where the massive ball of pitch black chakra began to reemerge. Minato stared up at the ball, his jaw agape, as he laughed to himself mentally. Turned it's own attack back onto it. Stupid, crazy and thinks quick. Definitely my son.
The Kyuubi only had a moment to process it's shock, not being able to believe that the brat had managed to subvert his attack, it had been beyond even the one Minato had moved away so many years ago. With a quick look up, he saw his attack no more than a few feet in front above his body. It can't –!
Minato squeezed his son's shoulder once, knowing they were way to close to the Kyuubi right now. With a thought, they reappeared far on the other side of the fake Konoha, just as the Bijudama hit.
Naruto was taken off guard, as he was suddenly pulled to a new location, just as a massive explosion beyond his wildest imagination went off, a light far brighter than the sun exploded infront of him, causing him to yell out as he covered his face, and then felt a force of air knock both him and his father to the ground. The sound of the explosion was deafening, overshadowing everything, including the Kyuubi's pain filled scream of agony as it was caught in it's own technique.
Naruto started coughing as he pushed himself up, the air consumed with dust and dirt, a haze covering the area. He waved his hand in front of him, trying to disperse the dirt as much as he could to try and get a fresh breath of air. Looking ahead, his eyes watering from the smoke and dust, he could just barely make out a massive crater, the edges of which still almost glowed red from the heat of the blast, a column of smoke rising from it, high into the sky.
"Naruto! * cough* are you okay?!" Minato called out, worried that the move might have actually been powerful enough to kill the Kyuubi, thus taking Naruto too.
"Fine! * cough* That was awesome!" Naruto tried to laugh out, but instead was only able to hack up more dirt. Managing to stand, Naruto strained his eyes into the dirt cloud, seeing it was starting to disperse as something was swirling around in it. Feeling a sense of dread, that the attack didn't work, he let out an almost disgusted grunt as he saw the smoke fade enough to see what lie within. The Kyuubi had been damaged alright, over half of it's body was reduced to it's skeleton and with barely any scraps of muscle clinging to the charred bone. It's innards were spilled out to one side, though the bubbling red chakra was already at work to keep him alive, while repairing the damage caused. Anything else on the fox had been turned into a blackened husk, all it's fur burnt off and it's skin melted. Only one tail had survived the carnage, and was weakly swirling about in the crater, looking as if it was about to die at any moment.
Turning his head towards Minato, who was looking at the sight with a slight grimace, Naruto spoke, " * cough *, can you still get us on top of him?! This is what we needed!"
Minato nodded, feeling one mark still survived on the Kyuubi's back. Grabbing onto his son, he jumped them to the spot, and was immediately greeted by a horrifying stench. He had smelled burning flesh from his years in war, but this was on a whole other level of disgusting. He was rather glad he was dead, the smell wouldn't linger in his nostrils for weeks after this.
Naruto wasted no time, as he immediately began going through a complicated set of seals, remembering the last technique his grandfather had taught him. It was a technique that would strip the Kyuubi of it's physical body and trap it's very essence. Finishing the last seal, he slammed his hands down onto the charred flesh, yelling, "Uzumaki style: Demon Prison!" and immediately lines of seals shot out from under his hands, the seals crawling all over the Kyuubi, wrapping around every last inch of it, and causing the bubbling red chakra to retreat into the Kyuubi.
What are you doing . . . you bastard?!
Naruto heard the sound of the Kyuubi in his mind, smirking as he concentrated on finishing the technique. Taking back my life, asshole! The Kyuubi's face barely twitched, as if to try and form an expression, but the muscles were annihilated. Then, in a tone akin to fear, Naruto heard the Kyuubi again.
Stop! No!
Naruto almost laughed as he heard it. Begging for mercy after everything you've put me through?!
If you kill me, you die too!
If you die, I probably would. But I'm not killing you, just reducing you to a state you can't do anything in. Naruto bit back.
The Kyuubi, his body numb, feeling the seals start to eat away at his very being, understood with a chilling fear what the blonde was going to do. It was far worse than just being simply sealed away, his soul was the only thing getting sealed back! Trying his hardest to fight against it, The Kyuubi felt his frustration peak as his body wouldn't respond. As he felt his body start to get sealed by the jutsu, The Kyuubi understood it lost. I swear to you, when I reincarnate I will hunt down every single last of your descendants!
Hah. Don't worry about that. If I have my way I'll make sure you get resealed into a nice object later and buried deep in the earth after I die! I just hope you'll be able to be conscious for it! Naruto tried to quell the sick joy he was getting out of the situation, but he decided he'd let himself enjoy it. This is for what you did to Hinata-chan you bastard. I hope you have to suffer for the rest of time!
NOOOOO!
The Kyuubi's voice was cut off short, as Naruto felt the technique complete and under his hand was now a bright red ball of energy, that quickly shot into his stomach. Then, in a flash, the entire surroundings was destroyed in a blink.
Naruto had to take a moment to register what had happened, as the destroyed Konoha was replaced by a bright golden field, the sky around from horizon to horizon a beautiful blend of red, orange and purple. Wind blew gently across the field, making the golden grass shake in rhythm. Naruto looked around for a moment, trying to understand what happened when he heard his father speak up behind him.
"The Kyuubi's projection vanished. What you see now is probably from me." Naruto turned to look at his father, who had a small smile on his face. "You actually did it Naruto. You managed to beat the Kyuubi."
Naruto let out a small laugh, his father's praise making the event seem more real. He still wasn't sure. "I couldn't have done it without you dad. I'm really going to have to learn the Flying Thunder God technique – If I can ever figure it out." Naruto chuckled, as he scratched the back of his head.
Minato walked up to Naruto and placed both his hands on Naruto's shoulders. "You'll figure it out. You've already surpassed me." Seeing Naruto shake his head, Minato laughed. "Hey, every dad has gotta accept his kid's gonna do better than him at some point right?"
"Dad. . ." Naruto whispered in reply. He took a small breath, and then pushed himself forward, enveloping his father in a hug. "Thanks."
Minato's smile softened, as he gently returned the hug. "I bet your mom was crying, eh? She was always the one to do that kind of thing." Minato's voice was slightly choked, as if he was holding back his own want to cry at getting to be reunited with his son.
Naruto let out a small sniffle, not being able to hold it back. "Kinda." He replied with a laugh. Then, with a small gasp, he saw that the very edges of his father were starting to turn translucent. Noticing his son's look, Minato checked himself over.
"Well, I'm surprised it took this long." Seeing Naruto's confused look he explained. "I sealed some of mine and your mother's chakra into the seal when we first put the Kyuubi into you. It allowed us to help you out when you needed us the most. Like when the Kyuubi had gained control of you temporarily after your fight with Shukaku. We helped you bring the fox back."
Naruto let out a small gasp, remembering that terrible day, having to watch Hinata get violated by the fox. His voice was hitched, as he tried to thank his father, but Minato held up a hand. "Of course, once the chakra was used up, we would disappear, much like how a clone works. The only reason I was able to fight with you, was I remerged with the chakra I left with you. Your mother has already passed on, as I'm sure you saw. Now I too have to go."
"No!" Naruto couldn't hold back, as he didn't want to lose his father.
Minato gave his son a sad smile, as he felt more of his essence get pulled away. "Sorry Naruto. Your mother and I weren't the best of parents, I'm really sorry for that, I wish I could stay and make it up to you."
Naruto shook his head vehemently. "You're wrong!" he cried out, "I couldn't ask for better parents! You saved Konoha doing what you did and –" he let out a sob, "I love you both! I'll never forget what you did for me!"
Minato's head dropped for a moment, as he looked down towards the ground. When he picked it back up, he had two tears moving down his cheeks. "Man, I promised you mother I wasn't gonna cry. She's gonna kick my ass when I see her. Your mom is really scary when she's mad, you know?" As he spoke, the light behind him seemed to grow, and Minato's body was almost fully opaque. "Naruto, I couldn't be more proud of you. I know that you're going to be the greatest Hokage Konoha will ever have. And you take of Hinata okay? You only get one like that in a lifetime."
Naruto nodded, quickly rubbing his eyes, his vision getting clouded by his tears. "I will!" he shouted back. His heart was gripped by a sadness and joy so profound he couldn't explain.
Minato gave a final nod, as his face softened. "Goodbye my son. I love you." With his final message spoken, the light grew into a blinding white and Naruto's vision was overcome.
XXXX
Naruto's head snapped up with a startle, and he snapped his head around. He was back in the temple, although all the candles had completely burnt out and the only light that was coming in was from the cracked temple door.
"Naruto?"
Naruto turned, looking towards his grandfather, who stood a few feet away, looking down at his grandson. "Gramps." Naruto replied with a small breath, still not able to come back to reality fully after everything he had experienced.
Tenchi smiled as he closed the gap between them. "It is done. I can feel the evil taint of the Kyuubi has been purified." Holding his hand out to Naruto, he helped him back to his feet. "Tell me what transpired within?" He asked, and couldn't help but smile as Naruto retold the tale, his gestures animated highly and his grin more so. After he finished his tale, Tenchi took a deep breath. "Amazing. Your father truly was a master of fuinjutsu to seal portions of both his and his wife's chakra within. I wonder if he did so, because he knew today would come? But regardless, the day is won and you may finally leave here without fear."
Naruto absentmindedly touched his stomach, where the red essence had shot into him. "Is the Kyuubi really gone?"
Tenchi nodded. "In a matter of speaking. All of us, every last thing in existence is comprised of the energy we call chakra, tailed beasts more so. They are massive sources of natural chakra that form into conscious beings. What you posses now, is the Kyuubi before it was the nine tails, it's primordial essence. You will now be able to draw upon it's purified chakra without fear of it's corruption or influence. I do not joke when I say you may very well now have the largest chakra that any human in the elemental lands currently posses."
Naruto let out a small breath, hearing it from his grandfather made him feel more at ease. He still couldn't quite believe he was going to get to leave finally. Looking at his grandfather, he asked the question that Tenchi had side skirted many times in the past. "You said after I defeated the Kyuubi you would finally give me an answer. Will you return to Konoha with me? You're my only family." Naruto tried to keep the pleading tone from his voice, but he truly wanted to have him come back with him. He wanted Hinata to meet him, and he was sure Sarutobi would get along great with him too.
Tenchi's face remained neutral, until he let out a small breath. "Come, Naruto. There is something you must see."
Naruto's grew confused, as he watched his grandfather turn on his heel and move towards the large golden statue at the end of the temple. Tenchi stopped for a moment, making sure Naruto was following before continuing. "Grandpa, what -"
"You will see." Tenchi cut off, reaching the Buddha statue. Reaching down, he pressed on the stone base the statue sat upon, and a small click was heard as an area the size of a fist pushed into the wall. The statue shuddered once, before a mechanical sound was heard, and it began to move backwards to Naruto's amazement. After it moved a few feet, Tenchi hopped onto the area where the statue moved and beckoned Naruto to follow him.
Doing so, Naruto glanced at Tenchi with a raised eyebrow, before he saw a small hole cut into the mortar work, large enough for a person to fit into. Before he could ask however, Tenchi jumped into the hole, disappearing in the darkness. Naruto hurried after, deciding to hold onto his questions.
Darkness greeted him at the end of his short fall, but soon the sound of a match striking, followed by a burst of light pushed the dark back. Tenchi had lit a candle that had sat in a pile of cobwebs and dust on a small shelf on the wall. The first thing he noticed in the dim light was the skeleton in the far back on the small space, along with two dust covered katanas that sat crossed on it's lap. The next, was the paper seal that was on the chest of the skeleton, still wearing it's age tattered clothing. A chill ran up Naruto's spine, as his mind put forth a suggestion that he immediately rejected. Looking over at his grandfather, who had his back to him, Naruto finally asked. "What is all this?"
"You already know." Tenchi replied, his voice solemn, not turning to look at Naruto.
Naruto didn't want to look at the seal again. But the memory of when he did presented itself clear as day. He knew the seal, it was a forbidden Uzumaki technique that his grandfather taught him. It allowed for one to trap chakra in it's place and was first used to seal enemy attacks, but it was soon discovered it could allow for a person to trap someone's very essence, thus why it was made forbidden. "You don't mean. . ."
Without preamble, Tenchi spoke. "On the day Uzushiogakure fell, there was very little any of us could do to stop our annihilation. The real reason this ground remained untouched and I was not killed was that they found no one within the temple. When the attack started, our leaders knew that above all else, I could not fall into enemy hands. It was then I posed to them a suggestion. In abiding with our ancient traditions, I would bind myself to this ground, until such time a successor of Uzumaki blood would come." Tenchi turned towards Naruto, his face solemn. "I am sorry, that I did not tell you this until now, but perhaps you understand why."
Naruto stared at his grandfather, slowly shaking his head. "But if you're . . . if you're not alive, then how?" he trailed off, not able to find the right words.
"The easiest way to explain it is that my body works much like that of a clones. It is not my physical body, but it works the same with the exception it cannot be hurt or killed. It can be dispelled, but I can reform it without any trouble."
Naruto's head dropped, and he stared at the ground. He was silent for a while, with Tenchi looking on without saying anything, understanding the boy needed time. As Tenchi began to wonder if he should speak after all, Naruto spoke up again. "Today, I met my parents and was able to defeat the Kyuubi. And it was all thanks to you." Naruto raised his head, his exhaustion clearly visible from the day. "And now, are you saying that you're dead too? Am I going to lose my family again? All on the same day?"
Tenchi remained silent, but took a deep breath, before stepping closer to Naruto. "I know that it cannot be easy for you, my grandson. But you must understand something. All of us were already dead, we persisted through death so that we may assist you until our purposes were fulfilled. Your parents are now in the next life, and I too wish to pass on so that I can rejoin my loved ones. But you have not lost anything, only gained. The Kyuubi is defeated, and you can now return to Konoha, where I believe a certain someone has been waiting for you? We are all your family Naruto, but she is the only one who should still be within this world."
Naruto once more grew silent, as his grandfather's words rung in his mind. He knew that he was right, that him even getting to meet his parents was something many in his position would be glad to do, even just once. Taking a deep breath, Naruto stepped forward. "All I have to do is pull the seal?"
Tenchi smiled and nodded once. "Yes, but before you do – take hold of those swords on my lap."
Kneeling next to his grandfather's skeletal remains, he reached out gently and grabbed one of the blades. They both seemed normal, both katana's with black wooden sheaths and old cloth handles that had long since faded and rotted. Expecting to find the blades rusted and destroyed from their ignored state, he was surprised when he found the blueish steel blades to be in perfect condition. He also noted with an interesting glance that they had seals along the blade length, and if he wasn't mistaken, it was a formula that could in theory hold chakra.
Seeing that his grandson was inspecting the seals, Tenchi spoke. "Those blades are very special. They were made from a metal that no smith alive can work with, the name has long since forgotten. It's very powerful steel, capable of storing chakra and allowing the user to imbue the blades with elemental chakra. Give it a try."
Naruto nodded, and pulled the sword out fully, it's highly reflective surface catching the candle glare and dancing lights along the walls from the blade. With ease, he focused on flowing his chakra into the blade, and to his surprise, the blade was encased in a red glow. Naruto wondered if that was due to the new way the Kyuubi's chakra was sealed within him. But, he soon stopped channeling the chakra and re-sheathed the sword, he found himself unable to properly enjoy the swords, when he still had an unpleasant thing to do. Staring down at the seal that allowed his grandfather to remain among him, he hesitated.
Tenchi stood by, watching his grandson with pity. He could understand his hesitation. With a breath, he spoke. "Naruto, I want you to know that the time I have spent with you these past few years was some of the greatest I have ever had. If only my wife could have met you, I'm sure you would have loved your grandmother." Naruto turned to look at Tenchi, his eyes troubled. "I have lived long enough, however, and I wish to see her again, I have been too long without the love of my life."
Naruto couldn't help but understand fully what his grandfather meant. He had been separated from Hinata for five years, and words couldn't do justice to the feelings he had from missing her. The idea of being possibly stuck forever, bound to duty to keep the knowledge of your clan alive, keeping him from Hinata was one he would dread. Finding new found strength to do what must be done, Naruto asked, "Are you ready?" Tenchi nodded once. Naruto turned from him and knelt next to the skeleton, his hand reaching for the seal. He hesitated one last time. "Grandpa, you gave me what it would feel like to live with my family. Even if it was for a brief time, I will never forget these days, nor what you taught me. I will always love you." Then, with a forced pull, he tore the seal off and dropped the paper as if it burned him.
He waited. He didn't know for what, but he expected to hear a sound or perhaps some light. Minutes passed, and Naruto knew he waited not for a response, but for the courage to turn around.
When he did, he was alone.
XXXX
The sun was nestled now between the ocean and the sky, once more turning the sky a pale orange. Naruto stood in front of the massive graveyard at the base of the temple, staring down at the grave he had dug for his grandfathers remains. Beyond it, thousands of makeshift graves were lined up in almost perfect lines, all of which that had been dug by Naruto's own hand. In the five years he remained on Uzushio, he made it his duty to give every body the proper burial they had been denied, and now his grandfather joined them.
The warm ocean wind blew across the island, blowing Naruto's hair gently across his back, where his zanbatou sat in it's usual sheath, but was now joined by two katanas that sat tied to his hip. Naruto knelt down to his grandfather's grave and put his hands together, closing his eyes in prayer. Naruto never gave much thought to things like gods or the afterlife, but after everything he had witnessed today, he knew that such things were a certainty. "Mom, Dad, Grandpa. I don't know if you can hear this, or if you can really see me, but I want to say thank you. All of you helped me to defeat the Kyuubi, and are the reason I'm still alive now. I don't know how, but I swear I'm going to live up to the hope you entrusted within me." Opening his eyes, Naruto stood. He looked down over the grave of his grandfather one last time, and felt another hard wind push over his body.
Without any further words, he turned towards the coast he had arrived on Uzushio long ago.
I'm coming home Hinata-chan.
XXXX
Damn, that took a while, sorry for the wait but when I do chapters like this I'd hate to break them up.
Eh, what's that? I forgot something? I have no clue what you're talking about!
Until next time,
Shinobi no Ryu