Do I Have A Purpose Anymore?
Chapter 33: "The War vs. The Akatsuki Part.5 (The Final Battle)"
"And what I want done right is for all of you to…DIE!"
Madara shouted out with malevolence, before he thrust his arm downward, which his Susanoo mimicked and the huge blade it held sped forward in a murderous arc towards the warriors below.
"Damn it!" Sasuke shouted, as he activated his own Sharingan Susanoo and barely blocked the sword with his bow. However, almost immediately the Susanoo bow began to buckle and crack under the pressure of the blade and the young Uchiha shouted out in a strained voice.
"Hey dobe, I could use a little help here!"
Unfortunately, Naruto was in no shape to offer any assistance, as he was kneeling down on one knee and breathing heavily. He still had not recovered yet from using Kurama's chakra to capture and redirect the four bijuu bombs moments earlier. In fact his chakra reserves were quite depleted and he didn't know how he was going to help Sasuke. That's when he heard Shunsui, Yoruichi, Kira, Yumachiki, and Momo chant in unison, while holding their palms upward towards the blade.
"Sprinkled on the bones of the beast! Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring. Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm. The sound of warring spears fills the empty castle!"
Suddenly, an orb of yellow lighting appeared above the palm of their hands. And just as Madara's Susanoo blade broke through Sasuke's bow, all five shinigami cried out.
"Hado #63 Raikoho!" (Thunder Roar Sear)
Immediately a massive concentration of energy that appeared as a high level lightning strike erupted from their palms and struck the oncoming sword. Madara was shocked that this massive wave of yellow energy actually stopped his Susanoo blade and then was so powerful it was able to repel his attack.
As the shinigami were stopping Madara's attack, both Nel and Sakura ran over to Naruto and the green-haired Arrancar cried out.
"Naru-kun!"
As Naruto lifted his head to Nel's cry, his face was suddenly pulled into his surrogate daughter's now ample cleavage, as she hugged him tightly to her.
"Oh Naru-kun, are you alright?" Nel asked with concern.
Naruto attempted to answer, but was finding it difficult to breathe, as Nelliel was hugging him so tightly to her bosom. Gathering what remaining strength he had, Naruto was able to push his face away and said in a gasping voice.
"Nel-Nelliel, is that you?"
"Yes Naru-kun, it's me."
"Wh-what happened to you?" Naruto asked in a shocked tone of voice, as for the first time he got a good look at her transformed state.
"I know I must look very different, but you need not worry about my transformation. I've just attained my adult Arrancar form, that's all."
It was at this moment that Sakura moved in and attempted to heal and restore Naruto's chakra, before he caught her hands and leveled a hard glare at her.
Sakura was hurt by the look Naruto was giving her and she felt some tears well in her eyes, before she pleaded in a soft voice.
"Please Naruto-ku…Naruto, I just want to help you."
Naruto hesitated a moment, before he let go of Sakura's hands and turned his attention back to Nelliel and asked.
"Why are you here Nel-chan, you should be back at the camp in safety with Hinata-chan."
Sakura slightly winced upon hearing Naruto attach the loving suffix chan to Hinata's name, but maintained her concentration, as she continued to replenish his chakra.
"I, I want to help Naru-kun, in this form my power has grown significantly and I can and want to help you in this battle." Nel stammered in reply.
"I don't know?" Naruto hesitantly replied with concern.
"Please, let me help you Papa-Naru."
Naruto's eyes widened a bit upon hearing Nel, as this was the first time she had ever addressed him as her father. Now Naruto was even more inclined to be protective of her and desperately searched for some reason that would convince the girl to go back to the safety of the Medical camp. Unfortunately, it was doubtful that Madara would let any of them leave, as another explosion rocked the battlefield.
Once again, the shinigami had managed to repel another Susanoo attack from Madara, but Naruto could see that they were starting to get fatigued. Calling out to everyone to move to his position, Naruto slowly rose to his feet, as Sakura pulled her hands away from his shoulders. Turning around, the blonde Jinchuuriki flashed a small smile at his former teammate and said.
"It seems baa-chan taught you well Sakura, thanks I feel a lot better now."
"You're welcome Naruto, I, I know this isn't the right time, but I need to talk to you."
"I know Sakura and we will. As soon as we take down Madara and everyone is safe, I promise you we'll talk then."
Sakura nodded her head in understanding.
When everyone had converged onto Naruto's position, he looked over to Madara who had his eyes closed and he seemed uninterested in them at the moment. This confused Naruto, until he looked up and saw that Madara was reforming another bijuu bomb and he commented.
"Ok everyone, we don't have much time. I think we all need to split up and attack Madara separately. We have the edge in speed between the shinigami and their Shunpo (flash-step) technique, as well as our own Shushin technique. Because if we stay together and the Uchiha-teme manages to score a hit, then it's game over for all of us."
Everyone nodded their head in agreement, before Sasuke asked.
"I have no problem with the hit-n-run strategy dobe, but what attacks should we use?"
"Whatever the strongest attacks everyone has teme. We've got to bring down Madara's Susanoo defense that is protecting him and the bijuu tree."
"I agree with your plan Naruto, but I think you and Sasuke need to hold back and let the rest of us carryout the attack. You two have been battling Madara longer than us and your strength has been depleted significantly." Kakashi offered up in suggestion.
"I'm better than I was thanks to Sakura, but you're right about the teme. She should replenish his chakra as well, because we're going to need his Susanoo to take that bastard down once and for all."
"My Susanoo won't work; it was only able to stop his Susanoo attack for a few seconds. I think Madara has increased his technique's strength somehow."
"This Madara fellow has enhanced and strengthened it using demonic chakra or as we call it reiatsu. We can sense it emanating from his Susanoo frame surrounding him and the tree." Shunsui openly commented, while the rest of the shinigami present nodded their heads in agreement.
"How are we going to take it down if he's reinforced it using bijuu chakra?" Sasuke questioned, as Sakura placed her hands onto his shoulders from behind and began to replenish the Uchiha's chakra.
"I think I've got one attack that might take down Madara's Susanoo, but I've got to go into Sage-mode to do it and that's going to take me a little bit of time."
"We can buy you the time Naruto, but what exactly are you planning for this attack of yours?"
"I'm going to combine my Senju chakra with Kurama's chakra and use it to create the most massive attack I can think of the Cho Odama Rasengan: (Ultra-Big Ball Spiraling Sphere)"
"Will it be strong enough to take down the Susanoo defense?"
"I don't know, I figured I would first hit Madara's Susanoo with my most powerful Zanpaktou attack the Getsuga Tensho first and then follow up with the Cho Odama Rasengan."
"Are those two attacks going to be enough dobe?
"I don't know teme, but it's all I've got, I just need the time to create it"
"We'll give you the time Naruto-sama, I promise."
"Thanks Shunsui, since you know the powers and abilities of your fellow shinigami, you take charge of them in the fight, while Kakashi can take charge of the others."
Both Shunsui and Kakashi nodded their heads in agreement, before Naruto added with sincerity and concern.
"But all of you be careful out there, don't go dying on me."
Another nod from Shunsui conveyed his understanding and a moment later he, Yoruichi, Momo, Kira, Kenpachi with Yachiru perched on his shoulder and Yumachika flash-stepped away.
"Yugito, Ino, I want you to take up position on the left flank of Madara's Susanoo, I'll join you both there shortly."
Yugito and Ino nodded their heads in understanding, before they each gave a fervent look towards Naruto who in return gave a reassuring smile to both of them, before they raced off to take up the position Kakashi had ordered them to take.
"Sakura you stay here and finish healing Sasuke and then the both of you can join the rest of us in the battle. However, when you get there I want you to hang back Sakura, because we can't afford to lose our lone Medic on the battlefield. Help out when you safely can, but don't take any unnecessary risks. I want you to watch over her Sasuke during the fight." Kakashi ordered with authority.
Sasuke scowled for a moment, before he reluctantly answered.
"Hai Kakashi-sensei."
"Kurenai will watch over and protect Naruto, while he is gathering his Senjutsu chakra for his attack."
"No, I will be on the battlefield with you Kakashi-ku...Kakashi."
Now it was Kakashi's turn to scowl a bit, before he said with a hard-edge to his voice.
"Could I have a word with you Kurenai."
The Genjutsu mistress nodded her head and both Jounin stepped away from the others for a private conversation. Once they were a sufficient distance away from any prying ears, Kakashi spoke in a tense voice.
"Now look Kurenai, I don't want..."
"No, you look Kakashi, I've told you before, I'm not some stereotypical damsel in distress who needs a man to always protect her. I'm a Leaf village Jounin and I've worked hard to achieve the rank. Please don't insult me by trying to keep me out of harm's way. Please Kakashi-kun I love you and I don't want to argue with you, but don't try to keep me out of this fight." Kurenai sternly snapped interrupting Kakashi.
The silver-haired Jounin looked down and saw Kurenai gazing at him with love and admiration smiling brightly….a smile that should have made him happy….and it did….but in a bittersweet way. Finally he tore himself away from her withering gaze and spat with frustration.
"Damn it, I'm not trying to insult you by keeping you safe, it's just I'm, I'm..."
"You're what?"
"I'm scared." Kakashi softly answered.
"What are you scared of?"
"This! You and me! You loving me, it scares me death! My life is a curse Kurenai; it can't be shared with anyone who cares for me. Because everyone who has come to care about me and I them in my life…..dies.
"You're afraid of me."
"No, I'm not afraid of you, I'm afraid for you."
"I'm sorry, you may believe that your life is cursed but I don't. And even if it is, I don't care Kakashi-kun. I've finally found something that I was beginning to believe I would never have in my life, someone to love and to love me in return. I'm not about to let that go out of fear."
"You mustn't love me Kurenai."
"That's for me to decide Kakashi-kun not you."
"I can't change your mind can I about participating in this battle?"
"If I'm going to die I'd rather it be with the man I love than anything else." Kurenai replied, before she embraced the silver-haired Jounin in a loving hug.
"So Kakashi-sensei and Kurenai-sensei, who would have ever guessed that?" Naruto openly remarked, as he saw the two Jounin hugging one another in the distance.
"It knocked me for a loop when I walked in on them in bed together." Sasuke answered in mild amusement.
As Naruto turned to look back at Sasuke with Sakura still healing and replenishing his chakra, a feeling of sad nostalgia swept through his mind. A few seconds later the blonde Jinchuuriki commented in a wistful yet also biting tone of voice.
"Well doesn't this bring back fond memories. Team #7 reunited and look it's just like old times me off to the side while Sakura fawns all over you teme. Much as I'd like stay and relieve this scene...again. I need to start gathering my Senjutsu chakra and since Kakashi's going to lose his argument, Nelliel you can watch over me."
"Of course Papa-Naru, I will protect you."
A second later both Naruto and Nel disappeared in a swirl of leaves leaving behind his two former teammates.
As Sakura and Sasuke watched Naruto and his surrogate daughter vanish from sight, it was Sakura who commented in a saddened tone of voice.
"He's still so bitter when he sees us together."
"Bitter Ha! We should be grateful if that's all he feels towards us. If it were anyone else they would hate us with every fiber of their being, if we had done to them what we've done to him over the years."
"I know we should have treated Naruto better when we were a team, but we were young and foolish. But I don't think we did anything that should make him hate us with every fiber of his being as you put it." Sakura offered up in excuse.
"Why would you say something so stupid Sakura? I only tried to kill the dobe on several occasions in the past. I'm pretty sure that's a valid enough reason for him to hate me if he wanted to!" Sasuke fired back, as his anger began to grow towards his former fiancé.
"But Naruto forgave you for that Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke winced upon hearing that affectionate suffix Sakura always addressed him by, but grew even angrier when he heard her remark.
"I know I've done some things to hurt Naruto and I'm sorry about that, but I don't think I've done anything that would make him hate me to the degree you say he should."
Sasuke turned his head around to level a harsh glare at Sakura, which sent a shiver down her spine, before he turned back around and darkly declared.
"You should have told me the truth Sakura."
"I don't know what you mean; tell you the truth about what?"
"Do you remember the day I asked you to be my girlfriend?"
"Y-yes, I remember."
"Then do you remember what I asked you before that?"
Sakura bit her lip and knew what Sasuke referring to, but she couldn't vocally admit it. After a minute Sasuke spoke up once again and said.
"I'll take your silence as confirmation that you do remember what I asked. Which then begs the question of why did you lie to me Sakura? Why did you tell me that the two of you were just friends while I was gone? When the truth was you had been together for three fucking years, before Naruto brought me back!" Sasuke spat angrily.
Sakura's throat went dry and her stomach twisted into a tight knot upon hearing Sasuke's question and she struggled desperately to try and answer, but couldn't seem to find the words. However, Sasuke's held no more patience for his former teammate and fiance' and he snapped with fury.
"Damn it Sakura...Answer me! Why did you lie to me?"
"I, I lied because I thought I loved you and was scared if I told you about me and Naruto that I would lose any chance of being with you."
Sasuke fumed silently, while Sakura continued to replenish his chakra, before he replied in pained tone of voice.
"As much as I hate to say it, but you were right. I never would have asked you to be my girlfriend if I had known that. I couldn't do that to Naruto if I knew you two were in a relationship knowing how long and how much he loved you. Which is why what happened after that makes me sick to my stomach."
"Y-you mean when we first made love?" Sakura asked in a hurt voice.
Sasuke heard Sakura's pain-filled voice, but it meant little to him now as he somberly answered.
"It's not what we did that makes me sick to my stomach, but the fact I know Naruto had to witness it."
"Wh-what are talking about?" Sakura asked in confusion.
"I'm talking about that day in the hospital when I asked you to be my girlfriend and we made love for the first time, Naruto saw us."
"N-no, that can't be true." Sakura exclaimed in a panic.
"It's true and it gets even worse. Naruto came by my room that day because he was going to propose to you and ask me to be his best man. And what sight was he greeted with when he arrived at my room. He got to see me his supposed best-friend and surrogate brother fucking the girl he had loved his entire life. The same girl he had decided he wanted to spend the rest of his life with."
Sakura dropped to her knees as the once happy memory of that day had now become a source of incredible pain, as she spoke in a gasping choked voice with tears streaming down her face.
"I, I never knew he saw that! I never even questioned why he broke up with me when I saw him later that day. All he said was that he knew I loved you and that he would step aside so the two of us could be happy and he walked out of my apartment. At the time I was just so relieved that I didn't have to break up with him on my own. Oh Kami, what did I do to Naruto, he must hate me and I don't blame him."
"He doesn't hate you Sakura or even me, which is a miracle because Kami knows we deserve his hate. I can't even imagine the pain and anger he must have felt seeing us together like that. How he had enough self-control not to kill the two of us right then and there I'll never know. If the situation had been reversed I know I wouldn't have had that self-control."
"Kami, for how much the two of us have hurt him, we can't even ask him for forgiveness can we?"
"No we can't Sakura, all we can do is pray to Kami that one day he will. We do have one thing in our favor though."
"What's that?"
"It's that of anyone I've ever met or known, no one has the capacity to forgive as much as Naruto does. It's one of the things that make him so special and a better person and human being than you and I can ever be."
A moment later Kakashi came marching up with Kurenai beside him and he looked around and asked.
"Where is Naruto?"
"He's over there about 100 yards gathering his Senjutsu. He figured you were going to lose your argument about Kurenai-sensei protecting him, so his kid is going to do it." Sasuke answered, while pointing to where Naruto and Nel were.
"I didn't lose any argument; we just came to a compromise!" Kakashi replied in annoyance.
"So does that mean Kurenai-sensei is going to stay behind and protect the dobe?"
"No it does not." Kurenai sternly answered.
"So where was compromise Kakashi-sensei?"
"Shut up Sasuke." The silver-haired Jounin replied with irritation, before adding.
"It looks like Shunsui and the rest of the shinigami's are in position to attack. We need to get to Yugito and Ino's position now. Are the three of you ready?"
All three Leaf shinobi bore determined looks upon their faces and nodded to Kakashi, before all four of them shushin'd away in swirl of leaves.
As the battle began, it soon became clear that both combatants had clear advantages and disadvantages working for them. Madara was indeed powerful, but by merging himself with the bijuu tree he had limited himself to using only his Sharingan Susanoo for both attack and defense. While his opponents held the advantage of numbers, speed, and a myriad of attacks they could unleash. However, even with these advantages the shinigami and Leaf shinobi found they could do little against the bijuu reinforced Susanoo that Madara wielded.
So for the next half hour the battle had degenerated into a hit-n-run affair of the shinigami and shinobi unleashing attack after attack onto the Susanoo skeletal being, while also dodging the massive blade it held. In fact if one were to look upon the scene from a distance, it was almost akin to someone flailing away at flying stinging bees with a sword. Unfortunately, stinging was the appropriate word, as the shinigami and shinobi found that even if they were able to inflict some damage onto the skeletal frame of the Susanoo, it would quickly repair itself thanks to the infusion of bijuu chakra it was receiving from Madara.
As the Susanoo being swung his blade again at one of his opponents and missed yet again. The frustration that had been growing within Madara came to a boiling point and he shouted out in angered malevolence.
"Enough of this! You bothersome insects may be able to dodge my strikes, but attempt to dodge the power of a bijuu bomb explosion!"
Madara then thrust his arm downward and the bijuu bomb fell downwards towards the battlefield.
"No...!"
Naruto shouted in alarm and was about to cease his Sage-mode in gathering Senjutsu chakra to activate his Evil Wind Technique and once again to try and capture and redirect the bijuu bomb, before he heard Sasuke shout.
"Don't do it dobe! Keep gathering your chakra, we'll be alright!"
Sasuke then activated his own Sharingan Susanoo and using its frame enveloped himself, Sakura, Kurenai, Ino, Yugito, and Kakashi within it. While Shunsui shouted out an order to his shinigami comrades.
"Shinigami, Kido Pyramid Barrier!"
A moment later, all the shinigami formed a green pyramid-shaped barrier around themselves, while Yachiru suddenly appeared in front of Naruto and Nel and chirped happily.
"Kenny sent me here protect the two of you!"
The little pink-haired shinigami then erected the same green pyramid-shaped barrier around them just as the bijuu bomb struck the battlefield and exploded with tremendous force.
This defensive barrier technique was created by Head Captain Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto and was immensely strong, able to resist all but the strongest of attacks. Regrettably, the immense power of a bijuu bomb explosion proved to be one of those attacks. The barriers were able to hold long enough until the explosion began to disperse, but eventually they shattered and sent the shinigami flying in various directions.
Sasuke's Susanoo lasted just as long, but only because Yugito had managed to reinforce it with her own bijuu chakra. However, even that was not enough to prevent it to crumbling to the ground in pieces, but fortunately both barriers had successfully protected everyone.
As Momo landed in some nearby woods near the battlefield, she struggled to get up, as she was quite fatigued and dazed because of the reiatsu she had to use for the barrier. So she never even sensed the individual who snuck up behind her and thus was unprepared when she turned around for the vicious strike across chest opening up deep claw-like lacerations, as she fell to the ground unconscious.
Kiba stood over Momo's prone body and smirked with pride at what he had done, before he remarked to himself.
"Not a bad looking bitch, kind of reminds me of Hinata, but she doesn't have the tits. If I had the time I'd stick around and have a little fun with her, but I've got a certain wife-stealing demon bastard to kill!"
Kiba then reached down and picked up Momo's Zanpaktou and keenly inspected it, before saying with a hint of evil and malice in his voice.
"And this little item should help me out nicely in accomplishing that!"
Kiba then stealthily crept back into the forest to patiently wait for the most opportune time to strike.
As the Gotei shinigami picked themselves up from the ground, they all converged on Sasuke's position and watched as the dust and debris began to dissipate and settle from the explosion. A feeling of frustration spread through all of them when they saw Madara still merged within the bijuu tree and still encased and protected by his Susanoo warrior, which looked as though it didn't have a scratch on it from the explosion.
Madara gazed down and saw the looks of resignation and defeat upon his opponents' faces and grinned to himself, before he declared with contempt to them.
"Impressive that all of you were able to survive, but I highly doubt that you will be able to pull that trick off a second time! Take some time to pray to whichever God's you worship. Your deaths will come very shortly."
Madara then closed his eyes and began the process of creating yet another bijuu bomb.
Everyone seemed to exhale a sigh of resignation, as they were tired, frustrated and out of ideas on what they could do to stop Madara, as Shunsui commented.
"Well, this really sucks, we've used just about every Kido spell and Bankai at our disposal and we can't seem to inflict any damage to that monstrosity."
"That's not entirely true; we have inflicted damage onto the Susanoo." Kakashi stated.
"A fat lot of good it does us when the damn thing heals the damage almost immediately when we inflict it!" Kenpachi groused in anger.
"Wait a minute, where's Momo?" Sasuke exclaimed in a worried voice, as he and everyone began to look around.
It was Sasuke who first spotted the shinigami officer stumble out of the woods holding her chest, before she weakly called out, as she collapsed to the ground.
"Sas-Sasuke-kun."
"Momo!" Sasuke cried out, before he shushin'd away to appear next to her. He lifted the young woman into his arms and quickly reappeared where the others and shouted.
"Sakura, please help her, she's been hurt!"
Sasuke laid Momo down to the ground and Sakura's hands began to glow in a green chakra light, as she ran them over the wounds the girl had.
"Did the explosion do that Sakura?"
"No Kurenai-sensei, these injuries aren't consistent with the wounds you would receive from an explosion. The way these lacerations look, it's almost as if she was attacked by some sort of animal."
"Can you help her?" Sasuke asked in a worried voice.
"She's important to you isn't she Sasuke."
"Yes...she is." Sasuke softly replied, while he cradled Momo's head in his lap.
"I can help her; she'll be alright in awhile."
"Ok, while the pink-haired medic is helping Momo, what are we going to do about that old bastard in the tree?"
"We're going to follow through with our original plan Yoruichi" Naruto announced as he, Nelliel, and Yachiru appeared beside them, before adding in a determined voice.
"I'm going hit Madara's Susanoo with my most powerful Zanpaktou attack the Getsuga Tensho first and then follow up with the Cho Odama Rasengan combined Senjutsu chakra and Kurama's chakra.
"Have you gathered enough Senjutsu chakra Naruto?"
"I don't know Kakashi-sensei, but what I've got will have to do, because we don't have the time anymore. We've got to hit Madara before he completes another bijuu bomb to wipe us all out."
"Not to be a fly in the soup Naruto-sama, but I'm worried about regenerative powers of that Susanoo being. We underestimated the speed in which it recovers from the wounds we inflict on it. We need an attack that can wound the entire body of that beast at once. Can your Gatsuga Tensho and Cho Odama Rasengan accomplish this?"
"I'm not sure Shunsui, but what else do we have?"
"You now have us for the fight young Naruto!"
Everyone turned around and were stunned to see the former Gotei 13 Head Captain Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto standing before them in all his regal glory.
"Yamamoto-san!" Naruto exclaimed in surprise.
The former shinigami were equally surprised that the Head Captain had decided to join the fight. However they were even more shocked when Byakuya Kuchiki stepped out from behind the imposing figure of Yamamoto.
"Byakuya!" Shunsui, Yoruichi, and Zaraki shouted in greeting.
A slight nod from the ever stoic former Gotei 13 Captain of Squad 6 was the only acknowledgment he gave to his comrades.
"Byakuya-sama." Sasuke addressed the man, while bowing in respect.
"Uchiha-san, it is good to see that you are still alive. Did you manage to unlock your Bankai?"
"Hai, I was able to achieve that thanks to help of my friend Naruto and my former sensei Kakashi."
"It has been a long time hasn't it Hatake Kakashi." Yamamoto expressed to the masked shinobi.
"It's you!" Kakashi uttered in disbelief.
"What is it Kakashi-sensei, do you know Yamamoto-san?" Naruto asked in curiosity.
"I never knew his name, but many years ago about when I was your age I was severely injured on a mission. I thought I was going to die, but when I woke up this man I found that my wounds had been tended to and this man taking care of me. He saved my life and while I was recovering taught me about Kido spells, as well as Bankai. If not for him, I wouldn't have been able to save Ino or help you unlock your Bankai Sasuke."
"We can reminisce later; quickly I need all you to appraise me of the current situation, as well as a concise briefing of all of the powers and skills each of you possess. So I may form a battle plan." Yamamoto ordered with authority to everyone present.
After a few minutes of considered review of the information he gathered from everyone. Yamamoto stamped his wooden staff firmly on the ground and announced.
"Thank you all for the information you have provided me. Young Naruto, if you will allow me to take command, I have assessed the situation and formed a strategy that should allow us to defeat this Madara individual once and for all."
"Umm yeah sure Yamamoto-san, you can take charge. From what Shunsui has told me you've got more battlefield experience than all of us combined."
"That is merely a byproduct of my advanced years over all of you, but I thank you for placing your faith and confidence in my abilities. Now I must speak to this Madara and offer him the opportunity to surrender."
"Surrender! Are you nuts old man, he's an Uchiha, we never surrender!" Sasuke exclaimed in response.
"Are arrogance and impudence is an inherited trait within the Uchiha clan?"
"Pretty much Yamamoto-san." Naruto replied with a grin, while everyone else save for Sasuke seemed to nod their heads in affirmation.
"Well be that as it may, I have always offered my foes a chance to surrender, before engaging them in battle. It is the honorable thing to do." Yamamoto declared, before he flash-stepped away and appeared in front of Madara.
"Madara Uchiha, my name is Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto! I am the Head Shinigami Captain of the Gotei 13 Divisions of the Soul Society."
"Hmph, I'm supposed to believe that you're a Shinigami." Madara spat with derision.
"No, you should believe that I'm…..The Shinigami!"
"Why are you here supposed shinigami?" Madara asked with contempt.
"I'm here to offer you the chance to surrender. I have assessed the situation and developed a strategic battle plan to defeat you. You have no hope of victory, so you would be wise to accept my offer, as I will only make it this one time!"
"Bah, I have no time for you old man and your delusions. I refuse your laughable offer, now be gone, as I have people to kill and a world to decimate!"
"A imprudent decision Madara, one which you will soon regret."
"You foolish old man, I may not look it, but I have over a century of battlefield experience. I highly doubt that you could devise any plan that I cannot counter, so my defeat is nothing but a whimsical fantasy on your part."
"It is not I who is foolish, but you Madara. For you may well have over a century of battlefield experience, but that is nothing compared to the 21 centuries that I retain!" Yamamoto declared, before he flash-stepped away.
Upon his return to Naruto and the others, he exhaled a heavy sigh.
"He didn't go for it did he Yamamoto-san."
"No young Naruto he did not. His pride and arrogance will be his undoing, as he will soon learn."
"So what's the plan old man Yama?" Shunsui questioned.
"All of you pay attention and listen closely, as here is what I've devised."
Madara saw all of the shinigami and Leaf shinobi suddenly appear on the battlefield. He looked about and then saw that fool of an old man a short distance behind them with some pink-haired girl who was tending to someone on the ground. He smirked with confidence, as his Susanoo defense lifted its black blade ready to strike. Madara decided he would let them make the first move. This was a mistake that he would soon regret.
"Kurenai and Byakuya you may begin the attack!" Yamamoto commanded.
Kurenai immediately went through a series of hand-signs and called out.
"Genwaku Kahen Arashi!" (Blinding Petal Storm)
Instantly a swirling mass of flower petals appeared around Madara moving about and blinding him. The elder Uchiha knew this was a Genjutsu and activated his Sharingan to dispel it. However, it bought enough time for Byakuya to get into position, before he dropped his Zanpaktou straight down and said.
"Senbonzakura Kageyoshi." (Vibrant Display of a Thousand Cherry Blossoms)
"Scatter!"
The sword phased into the ground, as though it were a pool of water. Energy began to ripple and expand out, turning the surrounding area dark, and within seconds, two rows of a thousand giant blades rose up from the ground. Those thousand swords then scattered and countless flying blades began to pierce Madara's Susanoo being. Madara cursed to himself as even with his Sharingan he could not see the movements of these blades.
Byakuya controlled the movement of the blades with his mind alone; using his hands allowed him to do so more effectively, making the blades increase in speed threefold. Through this blinding speed and control of the blade fragments, it allowed Byakuya to inflict thousands of shredding wounds onto Madara's Susanoo all at once.
"Shunsui, Yoruichi, Zaraki, Yachiru, Kira, Yumachiki, Kakashi, and Sasuke….Attack!" Yamamoto called out.
"The shinigami warriors immediately incanted the same Kido spell they had used before, except for Zaraki who lifted his eye-patch away and a stream of electrical energy discharged from his eye to join with the high level lightning strikes erupting from the palms of his comrades. Meanwhile both Sasuke and Kakashi appeared next to the head of the Susanoo being and sped through some hand-signs, before calling out in unison.
"Chidori!"
The two Leaf shinobi thrust their electrically charged arms into the Susanoo being adding to the electrified attacks of the shinigami. Soon, the entire skeletal frame of Madara's Susanoo was electrically charged, which prevented the shredded wounds inflicted by Byakuya to heal.
Yugito, Nelliel, and Ino, wound the beast even further!" Yamamoto called out.
Yugito in her two-tailed Nibi state unleashed a vicious claw strike onto the Susanoo, while Ino unleashed a barrage of kunai with exploding notes attached to them. Finally Nelliel with her enhanced Espada strength followed up Ino's attack by punching the ground with earth-shattering force and sent a shockwave heading directly towards the Susanoo and nearly caused the immense being to topple over.
"Naruto, unleash your Bankai now!" Yamamoto quickly ordered.
Naruto pointed Zangetsu forward, as he placed one arm upon his sword, while the other held the Zanpaktou straight and true, before boldly shouting out.
"Here we go, Zangetsu…..Getsuga Tensho!"
Naruto then swung his Zanpaktou towards the Susanoo and a crescent shaped wave of spirit particles erupted from the blade's edge and was now streaking directly at Madara. As the blue crescent of energy arced forward from point blank range, it forced Madara to bring up his Susanoo blade to block against the powerful attack. However, when the spirit particles struck, the seemed to combine with the electrical attacks of the others further electrifying his Susanoo and preventing it from healing.
"Now Naruto, unleash your ultimate Rasengan!" The Head Captain declared.
Naruto quickly went through the hand-signs, but before he finished he called out in his mind.
'Are you ready to do this Kurama?'
"I'm ready kit, just be quick about it, as maintaining the balance between your Senjutsu chakra and my own is difficult. We don't want this damn ball of energy of yours blowing up before you're able to deliver it!"
A moment later, Naruto activated the final hand sign and raising his arms above his head called out.
"Cho Odama Rasengan!" (Ultra-Big Ball Spiraling Sphere)
Instantly, a wildly spinning huge mass of chakra compressed into a high density in the form of a gigantic sphere appeared above Naruto. This swirling mass was a combination of Naruto's blue Senjutsu chakra mixed equally with the Kyuubi no Youko's red colored chakra. After a moment, Naruto thrust his arms forward and the Ultra Rasengan flew towards Madara.
"Everyone to my position at once!" Yamamoto cried out.
All the shinigami and Leaf shinobi immediately flash-stepped or shushin'd to the Head Captain's position. Who threw up the same green pyramid-shaped barrier they had used earlier only this one was of a larger scale and more powerful as well.
Madara brought his Susanoo blade up to block Naruto's Rasengan, but his eyes grew wide in horror, as it broke through the blade almost in an instant, before it struck the black skeletal frame of his Susanoo and crackled all around it. The elder Uchiha screamed in anguish, as the sphere of chakra then…..exploded.
The force of the blast was massive and the people inside of the pyramid barrier huddled close to the ground. Except for Yamamoto, who stood proud and confident watching with a keen eye as the bijuu enhanced Susanoo being began to crack and then crumble to the ground in a heap around the bijuu tree.
A few miles away, Hinata and Princess Kazahana Koyuki rushed out of a medical tent along with several other people who had heard and felt the massive explosion that shook their camp. Several miles off in the distance, a large mushroom-like plume of smoke and debris rose towards the heavens, as everyone looked on in shock and astonishment. Hinata felt some tears well in her eyes, as all she could do was silently pray that everyone was alright.
Naruto rose agonizingly from the ground where he had landed, and began to cough out some earthen debris. He had been unable to teleport to Yamamoto's position in time and had to buffer the explosion using the Kyuubi chakra-cloak as a shield. The blonde Jinchuuriki gazed around and was stunned by the destruction, as it looked as if the force of the impact had blown every tree, shrub, and rock formation within a one-mile radius away. Naruto looked to where Madara had been and smiled. It appeared that Yamamoto's plan had worked, the Susanoo defense was gone, which meant Madara was completely vulnerable to one final attack delivered by the Head Captain himself.
Yamamoto dropped the green pyramid-shaped barrier, before he brought his wooden staff forward and pointed it at Madara. Instantly, the wood began peeling off, revealing its true form of a standard katana, with a dark purple handle and a circular hand guard. This Zanpaktou's power is so great, even the strongest of Shinigami are afraid of it, even in its sealed form. The name of this blade was only spoken in whispers in the Soul Society, so it was always surprising to the shinigami when the Head Captain unleashed it as he did now.
"Ryujin Jakka!" (Flowing Blade-like Flame)
"Taimatsu!" (Torch)
Then Yamamoto with a simple wave of Ryujin Jakka created a great inferno engulfing Madara and the bijuu tree instantly. Madara screamed in agony as the fire being generated by the attack completely consumed him and the tree he had merged himself with. Yamamoto increased the intensity of the flames and soon nothing remained, but ashes of the elder Uchiha and the tree to which he was going to destroy the world with. Everyone around Yamamoto rose from the ground to see the still smoldering remains of Madara Uchiha and exhaled a sigh of relief. It was finally over and the threat to the world had been stopped yet again. It was then they noticed that Naruto was not with them and they frantically began searching for him.
"There he is!" Yoruichi shouted and pointed in the direction Naruto was limping towards them.
"Hey dobe, nice job with the Rasengan!" Sasuke yelled out to his former teammate, as he waved to him.
Naruto grinned and waved back and was about to say something when he suddenly coughed out some blood and felt a searing pain in his chest. Looking down Naruto wondered why a sword was sticking out of his chest, until he heard Kiba who was holding the hilt of the blade behind him proclaim, as he fell to the ground, with his blood quickly pooling around his body.
"Die you damn demon!"
Author Note: Happy Thanksgiving to those of my readers who celebrate it, I humbly present to all of you my Thanksgiving gift of a chapter update. Are sure many of you are happy to see this updated once again, as I'm sure you're probably cursing me out about the ending of it., lol. Ah well, I can't win them all. Anyway, I hope everyone enjoyed the final climatic battle against Madara. It proved to be a difficult fight for me to write and try and include all the characters or at least most of them of having a part in defeating the Elder Uchiha. I also thought it would be cool to see Yamamoto leading everyone to the victory. So I do hope the battle met with everyone's approval.
I do wish to thank everyone both old and new readers who took the time to review my last chapter. You all had a lot to say about it and I'm pleased that this story has such a strong fan base with readers who actually write out well thought-out reviews. Because of that, I enjoy reading many of your reviews, so please leave lots of them, as they do help a writer get a sense of the thoughts and opinions of the fans of a story. They also can help lift the spirits of an author as well. Also, to any readers who are staff members to any C2 communities, please feel free to add my story to your community if you feel it is worthy of it. I won't mind, I swear. I'll even pinkie swear if I need to?
In 2010, my fellow author brown phantom initiated a poll asking the following question.
Who is the best Naruto fan fiction writer on this site?
Upon completion of that first poll I finished a very respectable 8th to which I thank all of you who voted for me on that poll very much for making that happen. Now brown phantom has decided to run a second poll asking that same question. However, he is getting ready to end the poll at the start of the new year. So I humbly ask if you feel I'm worthy of being one of your 10 author picks to please place a vote for me on brown phantoms second poll. I thank you in advance for your support and normally I would provide you the links to the profile pages for brown phantom for you to use. However, one of the "oh so wonderful" changes FFnet has recently made is making it more difficult to list a link anywhere even if it's a link on their own freaking site. So just do a quick search for the author, brown phantom. As I said I finished 8th on his first poll and I would be ecstatic if I could improve on that showing, but I will need all of your help to achieve that.
Thanks to everyone for your support of this story!
Take it easy and be good!
Kingkakashi