Akai Kami

by Missy the Cat

Since the first time they met, Sasuke has cared for Karin and now enemies and mysterious things started appearing. Will he be enough to protect her?

17. Chapter 17

Chapter 17.

Please Review.

No Flames.

---

Day Time.

A few hours later.

Mountains Graveyard.

Inside.

Laboratory.

Sasuke, in his usual outfit excluding his shirt, cloth, and sword, was sitting on a medium sized light brown bench with his eyes bandaged up in white bandages as his head was lowered and his right hand on his eyes and his left hand was on his left knee. Karin, who still had her hair wrapped up in a mid-ponytail and in her usual outfit, sat beside Sasuke on the left side as she was looking at him.

Sasuke and Karin were sitting behind the Sharingans in the unknown liquid filled jars on the wall.

Tobi, in his usual outfit excluding the Akatsuki cloak, was standing a few meters away from them as he was facing them.

"You'll need some time to recover. It's going to take time to get used to the Mangekyo. Are you in pain?" Tobi asked.

"No... I feel at ease." Sasuke said smirking, lifting his head up as he moved his right hand from his eyes. "I feel Itachi's visual prowess. I can tell that I've already become so much stronger."

Karin looked at Sasuke worried as she sensed that his chakra became darker. "Sasuke..." she thought.

---

A few days later.

Day Time.

Mountains Graveyard.

One of the Rooms.

Karin, her hair down and in her usual outfit, was laying on a medium sized bed as her sandals were on the right side of the floor with her. She was quietly staring up at the ceiling as the room as mostly dark except for a candle light on the brown desk beside her on the right side.

Sasuke had gone to the Valley of the End to think about something for awhile. Tobi was gone from the Mountains Graveyard as well as she sensed it.

Karin was thinking about what she and Sasuke had done 2 days ago.

...

Flashback.

Night Time.

One of the Rooms.

Karin sitting on the brown wooden chair at the end of the bed, reading a beige book with both hands when she suddenly sensed Sasuke coming towards the room. Karin looked up as she closed her book with both hands and placed it on the desk beside her on the right side as she was so attuned to Sasuke's dark chakra now that it worried her. Karin held her breath as Sasuke stopped outside the door. Karin can hear her heart beating, feeling that time stopped for a moment. Ever since Sasuke's chakra had become dark, Karin had become a little frightened of Sasuke. But despite being frightened of Sasuke, she still was attracted to her boyfriend romantically and sexually.

Karin's pulse started to jump and the area between her legs growns warm and wet with anticipation. She released her breath she was holding as Sasuke, in his usual outfit and the white bandages still covering his as it was wrapped around his upper head, opened the door with his right hand. Karin stood up from her chair and walked over to Sasuke, who entered the room and closed the door with his left hand.

"Sasuke." Karin said.

Sasuke turned to Karin, despite that he couldn't see, he could still hear perfectly.

The very sight of Sasuke that is standing there was leaving Karin breathless. Sasuke was standing a few feet away from Karin as they stood there silently. Karin let her eyes travel up from Sasuke's sandals to his long dark blue pants, to his short sleeved grey zipped up shirt, next she noticed muscles over his shirt, his broad smooth chest to her hungry eyes. Sasuke's spiky black hair around his head especially his bangs covering his forehead, his fair skin face looking as if he had spent the last hour running his hands through it. Finally Karin's eyes were on Sasuke's bandaged ones. Karin could picture Sasuke's charcoal black ones despite that Sasuke now had Itachi's crow black ones now.

Sasuke walked towards Karin, which made her a little bit nervous.

"Sasuke." Karin said.

When Sasuke stepped in front of Karin, he quickly placed his lips are on hers, he suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist and pushed against his chest. Karin closed her eyes as she wrapped her right arm around Sasuke's neck and reached up with her left arm to tangle it in Sasuke's hair. Their lips continued to kiss each other as Karin felt Sasuke's tongue brush up against her closed lower lip. Karin opened immediatly, meeting his tongue with her own. They started moaning in their make out session. As they continue to be locked in a heated embrace and passionate kiss, Sasuke took his hands off of Karin's waist and picked her up by her legs and carried her to the bed.

Karin opened her eyes as she jolted out of her lust filled daze when she feel her back hit something soft. She pull away from Sasuke's mouth and look around the room to realize that the soft thing in question is indeed the bed. Karin looked up at Sasuke. Sasuke's face is flushed and he is breathing hard, his chest rising up and down fast.

Karin reached her left hand up to smooth back some hair from Sasuke's beautiful face. "Sasuke, I love you." she said.

Karin couldn't read Sasuke's eyes because they were covered up by the bandages but she could tell that he was surprised when he stopped moving. She was not suprised at his shock. It's true that they have told each other our feelings but it has been awhile since they said to each other after they left the village.

"Karin, you are my heart." Sasuke said.

Karin felt a smile spread across her face from Sasuke's words. She close her eyes as she anticipated another kiss but open them when Sasuke continued to speak to her.

"I'm sorry about the things that's been happening lately. I would never hurt you like that. As soon we're done with are mission, I want us to talk alone about our future. But I don't plan to stay here forever. So would you continue to stay with me, it's your decision if you want to leave? Do you understand Yuki?" Sasuke asked.

Karin looked at Sasuke for a moment as she sensed that he was telling the truth and despite all the things that's happened over time, she couldn't see herself leaving Sasuke's side. "Yes, Sasuke. And don't worry, I'm not leaving your side." she said.

A soft smile crosses Sasuke's lips only to be replaced by a hungry smirk. That is the only warning Karin got before Sasuke once again captures her lips with his own. They closed their eyes again.

A moan grumbles in Karin's throat as she felt Sasuke's right hand started to trail up her body. Stopping at the zipper on Karin's shirt, Sasuke doesn't hesitate in zipping the material down and pulling it off with both hands and tossed it on the floor. Sasuke quickly pulled off Karin's shorts and stockings with both hands and tossed them on the floor as well. Karin spread her legs wide as Sasuke settles between them. Sasuke then breaks our kiss to trail hot wet kisses down Karin's check to her throat.

"Sasuke." Karin said, gasping out as Sasuke's lips settle on a pressure point and start to suck. Karin mimicked what Sasuke planned to do as Karin arched up into him as she felt his left hand grasp onto her cloth covered breast. Sasuke's right thumb moved to stroke over my right nipple, pleasure coursing through her body.

"Hm, Karin I love it when you moan my name. Do it again." Sasuke said, whispering against her moist skin.

Karin blushed and shook her head, trying to gain control of her thoughts. Sasuke suddenly pulled himself away from Karin. Karin whined and started to reach for Sasuke with both hands, only to have him chuckle. Sasuke unzipped his shirt with his right hand and pushed it off of his shoulders, leaving his chest bare to Karin.

Karin's eyes roam over his naked form memorizing the hard muscles of his chest. The tight sweep of his abdomen, down to the smooth and hairless skin he has. He unwrapped the cloth, rope, and sword he has on with both hands as it falls to the floor, he leaves his pants on for now. Next Sasuke reaches down for Karin's bra and starts to unhook it with both hands. In a matter of moments, Karin was naked as Sasuke tossed it on the floor with his right hand.

Sasuke makes an appreciative sound deep within his throat and leans down to capture Karin's right rose colored nipple between his lips.

"Uhh." Karin moaned, letting loose and arch up her chest, offering more of myself to Sasuke. She opened her eyes halfway.

Sasuke once again pulls his body away from Karin's, but this time he gets off of the bed to remove his pants and sandals with both hands.

Once Sasuke was fully naked, Karin took a moment to appreciate Sasuke's sculpted figure. His broad shoulders down to his long strong legs. Finally Karin settled on a piece of him, she had yet to have glimpsed. Sasuke's straining cock pointing up to kiss his stomach. Karin only got but a quick look as Sasuke was once again on top of her, settling himself between her spread legs.

"I can't wait. I wanted us to be slow and passionate Yuki, but I need you." Sasuke said against Karin's lips.

Karin spreaded her legs wider and curl her arms around Sasuke's neck.

"Come on, Sasuke. I need it now." Karin said. She didn't know how she became so bold, but suddenly all the hesitation she felt from being like this with Sasuke disappeared. All the was left was the intense need to be with Sasuke and to make him happy. Karin close her eyes and tilt her head back as she felt Sasuke positioned his cock at Karin's entrance with his right.

Karin felt Sasuke's mouth next to her left ear.

"Now Karin, you have to be patient for a moment." Sasuke said, whispering.

"H-hai." Karin said, whispering the last part as she stared softly into Sasuke's eyes.

"Now Yuki. I cannot wait any longer." Sasuke said, suddenly thrusting into her womanhood and making me gasping as it's been awhile since she and Sasuke had sex.

Karin wrapped her legs around Sasuke's hips and tense up. Sasuke lowered his face to Karin's to kiss her on the right side of her neck

Sasuke kissed Karin's right cheek. "May I move now?" he asked.

Karin unwrapped her legs from around Sasuke's hips and give a tentative shake, she suddenly felt a delicious sort of tingle. She to her consent and Sasuke started to thrust at first slowly then gradually he starts to pick up speed. His hips creating fierce pleasure flood through Karin's body. Sasuke hits a g-spot within her and she threw her head back with a moan ripping from her lips.

"Please Kaname. Don't stop, right there." Karin said, closing her eyes as she pleaded desperately with Sasuke.

Sasuke grunted as his hips smacked against Karin's even harder. "Never." he said then brings his right hand down to tangle in Karin's hair.

Karin felt a tug on her head and tilt back so that she could look at Sasuke. She could hear the heated possessive in Sasuke's voice. Sasuke's mouth opens slightly, his teeth showing. She feel her body heat up more as she opened my mouth to expose her own teeth.

Sasuke tugs her head up to meet Sasuke's lips again. On Sasuke's next rough thrust as they kissed each other again. Karin could feel Sasuke's tongue on her lower lip as he wanted to enter her mouth, which she immediately gave him. While Sasuke continued to thrust Karin wrapped her hands more around his neck. Karin clenched up against Sasuke, her release rushing through her. With one final thrust Karin felt Sasuke release inside of her, their mouths still together, drinking deeply.

After what feels like hours but in reality has only been minutes Karin felt Sasuke withdraw from her and lay down beside her on the right side. Sasuke and Karin pulled their lips away from one another, Sasuke pulls Karin close with both hands and tucks her head under his chin, his arms encircling her.

"Sasuke?" Karin asked, opening her eyes.

"Shh Karin. You need to rest." Sasuke said before he kissed the top of Karin's head sweetly.

Karin smiled softly at Sasuke's face. "I hope Sasuke's telling the truth." she thought as she noticed that Sasuke fell asleep.

That is the last thing to cross Karin's mind, she takes her glasses off of her face and quietly placed them on the stand before nuzzled into Sasuke as the sleep takes her as well.

Flashback Ends.

...

Karin closed her eyes as she sighed. "I know Sasuke was telling the truth but... I still sense the dark and coldness in his chakra. How is he going to change especially when he and Oniisan said to each other?" she thought.

---

Tomorrow.

Mountains Graveyard.

Inside.

Day Time.

From left to right, Karin, in her usual outfit, and Sasuke, in his temporary clothes, were sitting on a bench as Black and White Zetsus, in their usual outfit, were standing a few feet away from them.

"Is it time?" Sasuke asked.

"We've been waiting for a long time and I think Sasuke's new eyes are almost fully healed." Karin said.

"Not yet. You 2 stay still." Black Zetsu said.

"The next time you see, it'll be like a whole new world. It's going to be interesting." White Zetsu said.

"The war?!" Karin thought, worried.

"I don't give a damn about your war, but I'm going to be the one who crushes Konoha." Sasuke said.

Karin looked at Sasuke, worried. "Sasuke..." she thought.

...

A few days later.

Day Time.

Mountains' Graveyard.

One of the Rooms.

The ground was shaking as rocks from the Akatsuki Hideout started to break apart.

Sasuke, in a black robe with white bandages wrapped around his waist, was standing up as he actived his Armoured Susano'o form, who had the bow in it's left hand and an arrow in it's right hand, as his eyes were still bandaged up.

White Zetsu backed away from to a wall, scared as he tried to convince Sasuke to stay in the Hideout. He held up his left hand. "No, stop! Why are you doing this?!" he asked, yelling.

Sasuke's Armoured Susano'o shot an arrow at White Zetsu, which stabbed him to the wall.

White Zetsu closed his eyes and screamed in agony as he was now being burned by the Amaterasu. Within moments, the screams stopped as White Zetsu was now dead.

The ceiling cracked as some of it showed sunlight.

Sasuke grabbed the bandages from his eyes with his left hand. "Let's test these outside, shall we?" he questioned then pulled the bandages off before he opened his eyes to reveal his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, it was a mixture of his and Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingans. "I already know these eyes... see the darkness quite well."

"Sasuke!" a female voice said.

Sasuke looked at the right side to see Karin, had her medium sized grey pouch wrapped around her waist, holding his clothes, sandals, and sword with both of her arms.

Karin walked over to Sasuke. "I have your clothes for you." she said.

Sasuke continued to stare at Karin as he lowered his left arm.

...

Karin was standing on the grass on the edge of the Akatsuki's Hideout, looking down as she saw Sasuke, in his usual outfit and his crow black eyes, took out his sword with his right hand and sliced the large bones and jumped up as he crouched down on the right side of Karin.

Karin watched as Sasuke stood up and placed his sword back in it's holster with his right hand.

The large bones collapsed as Sasuke destroyed the Akatsuki's Hideout.

Sasuke looked back at the Akatsuki's Hideout.

"Which way are we going, Sasuke?" Karin asked.

Sasuke forward as he walked away. "We're going to the Hidden Leaf." he said.

Karin walked after Sasuke. "I knew this would happen, Sasuke turned back into that cold and dark person again." she thought.

...

Afternoon.

Cloudy and Raining.

2 hours later.

Sasuke and Karin continued to walk in the rain as their clothes were getting wet. They stopped in an abandoned village but couldn't finds anyone there. Karin was looking around the area as she sensed no chakras anywhere.

"Something's not right... Where is everyone?" Karin thought.

Sasuke looked at Karin. "Karin, what's the matter?" he asked.

Karin looked forward. "I'm sensing another in the area, they've must've gone somewhere." she said then looked at the unknown village up ahead. "Or they're dead."

Sasuke looked forward to see the unknown village Karin was looking at as he remained silent.

...

15 minutes later.

As Sasuke and Karin walked through the unknown village, Karin saw a medium sized brown dog eating out of a fallen medium sized light brown basket on the right side.

When Sasuke stopped walking, Karin almost immediately stopped walking as well as she looked up at him.

"Sasuke, why did you stop?" Karin asked.

Sasuke looked down. "What is this?" he asked then looked forward.

"It's the uneasiness in the area." Karin said. "But why did everyone went away?"

...

Almost an hour later.

Sasuke and Karin were out of the unknown village as they were walking in grass and it still continued to rain. About 20 minutes ago, Karin told Sasuke that she sensed a small army of White Zetsu clones were heading towards them.

When the White Zetsu clones were standing a few meters away from them, Sasuke and Karin stopped walking and turned around to see the White Zetsu clones.

Sasuke smirked at the White Zetsu clones. "You didn't waste any time coming after us." he said.

"What are you doing out here?!" one of the White Zetsu clones asked, yelling.

"Or not... as it seems to be..." Sasuke said.

Some of the White Zetsu clones gasped.

"We passed by 2 towns on my way here, but they were both completely deserted. We thought something wasn't quite outside. Do you happen to know anything about what's going on?" Sasuke asked.

"First you're gonna have to answer our question, how come you're outside?!" one of the White Zetsu clones asked.

"What happened to our original that was with you?!" another White Zetsu clone asked.

"If you hate it so much that I'm outside now then why don't you capture me? After all, you do out number us this time." Sasuke asked.

Some of the White Zetsu clones eyes widened.

"Hold on. You didn't kill our original, did you?" one of the White Zetsu clones asked, shocked.

"With this many of you now, I hope it's more of a challenge this time." Sasuke said.

All of the White Zetsu clones became angry as they ran over to Sasuke and Karin.

Karin became annoyed as she stepped forward to battle the White Zetsu clones.

"No." Sasuke said.

Karin suddenly stopped as she looked to the left side at Sasuke.

"I'll handle this." Sasuke said.

"Hai." Karin said then looked forward at the White Zetsu clones.

Sasuke closed his eyes and opened them again as he activated his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. He summoned his Armoured Susano'o. "Susano'o!" he said.

Sasuke's Armoured Susano'o held out his right hand as it held a purple orb ss it turned black before the black flames came out of it and started burning the White Zetsu clones.

The White Zetsu clones screamed in agony as they started falling on the ground and dying.

Sasuke waited for a moment before he used his Armoured Susano'o left arm to pick up one of the White Zetsu that wasn't burned and held it close to him so it could speak.

Sasuke and Karin looked up at the White Zetsu clone, serious.

"Sharingan!" Sasuke said.

The White Zetsu clone's eyes were now half closed as he was placed under Sasuke's Genjutsu.

"This is a war... Our orders... take down the enemy." the White Zetsu clone said.

"War?!" Karin questioned, shocked. "So, that's what happened while Sasuke was recovering all this time. No wonder those 2 villages were empty." she thought.

Sasuke smirked again. "Looks like Madara's started things. He has begun his plan." he said.

"Capture Killer B and apprehend Naruto Uzumaki as well." the White Zetsu clone said.

"Oniisan." Karin said.

Sasuke made a serious face again as he remembered what he and Naruto said to each other the last time they saw each other before he smirked again.

"If you don't hurry... More and more of his friends will join up with him... one after another." the White Zetsu clone said.

Sasuke closed his eyes before he remembered the fights he and Naruto had when 3 and a 1/2 years. "Have you forgotten, Naruto... Just what truth strength really looks like?" he said then remembered what he said a few weeks ago.

...

Flashback.

"Sasuke... If you attack Konoha, then I will be forced to fight, don't doubt that. Until that day, save your hatred. Then you can throw all of it right at me! The only one who can handle all of your hatred is me! Do you understand? I'm the only who can fulfill that duty." Naruto asked.

Sasuke gritted his teeth in anger.

"Then, I will carry the burden of all your hatred. And I'll die with you!" Naruto said.

Flashback Ends.

...

Sasuke smirked as he closed his eyes for a moment then opened them again. "Fine by me but at I'll take you down first!" he said.

Flashback Ends.

...

Sasuke grabbed his sword with his right hand pulled it out and sliced the White Zetsu clone's head from his body as he made a serious face. "I think that it's time for me to come and find you... It's time to cut you down." he said.

Karin looked to the right side to see a White Zetsu clone slowly crawling away. "Sasuke, one of them is still alive." she said.

Sasuke looked at the White Zetsu clone to see that it was running away. "You're not Hidden Leaf Village shinobi. You're not part of the promise." he said then turned his Armoured Susano'o to the White Zetsu clone before the orb shot the Amaterasu at him.

The White Zetsu clone screamed in pain and fell down on his stomach as the Amaterasu was on him, dying moments later.

Sasuke smirked again. "These are good eyes." he said, placing his left hand over his face.

Karin looked at Sasuke, worried.

"I'm quickly getting used to them, Niisan." Sasuke said.

...

Flashback.

"When you possess the same eyes, come back and face me." Itachi said.

Flashback Ends.

...

"The scenes burned into these eyes... that once belong to my Niisan... are disgustingly sad... They eeigh me down. But that's only fitting. Just you watch, Niisan!" Sasuke thought.

"I can't believe there's a war now. How are our clans and families doing in battle?" Karin asked.

Sasuke's Armoured Susano'o disappeared as he started to put his sword back in it's holster with his right hand but stopped when he and Karin looked up to see birds flying away in the distance.

Karin suddenly gasped and her eyes widened as she turned to the right side and looked at the forest as she sensed a familiar chakra moving away from them. "It can't be... Sasuke said that he was dead...!" she thought.

Sasuke looked down at Karin. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Karin looked up at Sasuke. "I sense him, but I don't know how it happened." she said.

"What do mean by that?" Sasuke asked, reverting his eyes back to the Sharingan.

"Come on, you have to see." Karin said before she ran towards the forest and the familiar chakra.

Sasuke held up his sword with his right hand and followed Karin.

As Sasuke and Karin ran into the forest, Karin suddenly stopped to see Itachi, who now had pale white with linings on his face, dark grey and has soulless onyx eyes minus the irides and in his usual outfit, mesh armour with navy accents under an identical T-shirt with a simple white belt around the waist and dark blue long pants, grey sandals, white socks, and a long sleeved hooded maroon cloak, hopping from tree to tree in the opposite direction.

"Itachi. He's right over there." Karin said.

Sasuke's eyes widened and he stopped running when he saw Itachi, he started to remember some memories of Itachi when he was younger and when he died in front of him as he put his sword back in it's holster with his right hand.

Itachi continued to jump from tree to tree.

Sasuke made a serious face before he jumped after Itachi in the trees.

"Hey, wait up. Sasuke!" Karin said, jumping after Sasuke in the trees.

Itachi looked back slightly to see that Sasuke and Karin were following him.

"Wait!" Sasuke said.

Itachi looked forward as he jumped jumping from tree to tree as Sasuke and Karin continued to follow him.

"Is that you, Itachi?!" Sasuke asked.

Itachi still didn't say anything as he continued jumping away.

"Where's Itachi going in such a hurry anyway?" Karin thought.

Sasuke became angry. "I told you to wait!" he said before he activated his Susano'o ribcage and the right arm to grab Itachi.

Itachi looked back at the Susano'o right arm coming towards him before he activated his Susano'o ribcage and right arm to deflect it from grabbing him.

Sasuke became surprised. "A Susano'o!" he thought.

"Sasuke did mention that Itachi had a Susano'o, but he never told me it was orange-red..." Karin thought, surprised.

Sasuke became serious again. "This Susano'o... So you are Itachi!" he said.

"I'm impressed. I didn't know you'd been able to master it as well, Sasuke. And came along as well, Karin. It's been awhile." Itachi said.

Karin gave Itachi a serious look.

"But what what are you even doing here?! You're supposed to be dead!" Sasuke asked.

Itachi unactivated his Susano'o ribcage and right arm. "This is Kabuto's jutsu... I have become a reanimated shinobi." he said then looked at Sasuke and Karin. "No time to talk right now. There's something important that I have to do." then looked forward.

"Reanimated?! Karin questioned. "And Kabuto's doing, it's been awhile since we've seen him."

"So what, I don't care! You're here right in front of me right now!" he said then unactivated his Susano'o ribcage and right arm. "And I have questions for you!"

"Ask me later... But I guess that's not going to happen." Itachi said.

"You're the one who told me to come and find you once I had the same eyes as you. Now you wanna run away from me. Are you running out of guilt for being a liar?! You don't have the courage to tell me the truth! I already know... everything about you anyway!" Sasuke questioned.

Karin watched as Sasuke continued to yell at Itachi.

"That's why me and Karin are going to destroy the Hidden Leaf!" Sasuke said.

"I told you before when we fought against each other... We each live inside our own fantasies... I asked you to think about it that way and about how one's reality might be an illusion." Itachi said then looked at Sasuke. "However, my truth is real."

"I no longer live inside an illusion! And I can see through your genjutsu! These eyes are your eyes!" Sasuke yelled.

Itachi started to remember what Naruto said to him earlier.

...

Flashback.

Earlier.

"Sasuke understands all of your pain and your resolve to do what you did! But Sasuke isn't like you, he's going to destroy the Hidden Leaf, somehow convinced Karin to help him! He's gonna kill everyone in order to avenge the pain that the village caused his older brother!" Naruto said.

Flashback Ends.

...

"I can tell that part of you is still the same, but I've heard from others what's happened to you. I know how much you've changed." Itachi said.

"You're wrong! You were the one who changed my world long ago!" Sasuke said then closed his eyes. "We were also supposed to die with half of our clans! But no..." remembering the Massacre of half the Uchiha clan and half of the Uzumaki clan.

Karin sadly looked at Sasuke for a moment before she looked as she started remember seeing the dead bodies of her clan and Itachi placing her under that genjutsu.

Sasuke and Karin started to remember the pain memories and what they were told.

...

Flashback.

8 years ago.

Night Time.

Karin, 7 years old and in her old usual outfit, slowly stepped forward while she sadly looked down her clan's lifeless bodies. As she made it to the location where the chakras were disappearing now, she looked up to see Itachi, 13 years and in his old Anbu uniform, was killing a Uzumaki clan man in near the house with his sword in his right hand. The man fell lifeless on the ground when Itachi pulled his sword back, blood puddled around the dead man.

Karin watched the whole thing, it scared her and gasped. Itachi heard the gasp and looked to see Karin standing almost 6 feet away from him, looking at him shock, scared, and sad and having both her hands over her mouth. Karin looked into Itachi's eyes and saw that they were black and red designed in, three black spiralling curves around the pupil, they were cold. Itachi faced his body towards Karin.

"T-that must be his mangekyou sharingan Fugaku explained to me weeks ago..." Karin thought.

Karin slowly took her hands from over her mouth and put them together near her chest, she sadly looked down at all of the dead bodies before she looked at him again.

"I-itachi... w-why did you kill them...?" Karin whispered sadly to him then she closed her eyes. "J-just why? The Uchiha clan and the Uzumaki clan have been close allies.. for generations..."

Itachi reached into his pouch with his left hand and pulled out a shuriken.

Karin slowly opened her eyes again. "... I-I just don't know why would you do something like thi-" she stopped and her eyes widened when she saw Itachi threw a shuriken at her.

The shuriken flew past her on the right side and landed on a house behind her. She suddenly felt a sting and something wet slide down the right side of her face. She put slowly put her right hand on her right cheek and looked down at it to see blood on it. She looked at Itachi in shock.

"You really are foolish like my little brother and our 2 clans." Itachi said cold and harshly.

"Huh? S-sasuke.. did he do something to him...?" Karin thought worriedly.

"W-what did you do to Sasuke?" Karin said sadly and worriedly.

"He's unconscious right now..." Itachi said.

Karin was relieved to hear that but she didn't show it.

"He'll be dead soon just like you will be." Itachi said.

Karin backed away a little in fright.

"But let me show you something before I kill you." Itachi said before his eyes widened at Karin. "You'll be joining some of the others soon."

"Wait?! Others...? So that means some of the clan are still... alive..." Karin thought.

Karin suddenly felt this wave of energy and the scene change to the people that Itachi killed was alive again and the background was red and everyone was doing what they usually do. She wanted to warn them.

Flashback Ends.

...

Flashback.

Months ago.

"So Itachi made up his mind, he himself tried to drop the curtain on his own clan and Uzumaki clan history, but couldn't fully do it. Of course he did not hate the Uchiha nor the Uzumaki, he simply did what he had to. The discrimination by the village... and the object of their antagonism. He shouldered all the blame himself. No one should ever question Itachi's decision and the sacrifices he made." Tobi said.

Flashback Ends.

...

Sasuke opened his eyes and looked at Itachi, sweating a little bit. He started to remember the dead bodies of half the Uchiha clan when he returned, talking to Itachi before he placed him under a genjutsu.

"Now explain it, why half?! Why, why did you spare the halves?!" Sasuke asked, yelling as he looked up.

Karin looked at Sasuke. "I know me and Sasuke saw it for ourselves but... this effected him more than me." she thought.

...

Flashback.

Months ago.

"He just couldn't bring himself to kill the other halves. Do you understand what that means?" Tobi asked.

Flashback Ends.

...

Sasuke looked back at Itachi. "Why spare the halves?! What's different about this half verses the other half, why only half?!" he asked.

"Because you and Karin didn't know anything. You 2 had no part in the Uchiha clan and Uzumaki clan follies. You 2 were just children. And half of them decided not to go through with it." Itachi said.

Karin quickly became angry and turned to Itachi when she heard him say that. She couldn't sense that he was lying but she couldn't trust him. "Liar! You tried to kill me that day! When I witnessed you killing a member of my clan!" she said.

"I wasn't going to kill you, I let you believe that because I knew Sasuke was coming so I purposely let him save you." Itachi said.

Karin anger decreased a little bit as she stayed silent now.

"And you think I did it just for you, Sasuke? I wanted you to grow up and judge me. I deserved to be dealt with only by another Uchiha. And so, I took advantage of the hatred inside you. That's why I failed." Itachi questioned.

Sasuke and Karin continued to stare at Itachi.

"Ultimately I only filled you with hatred and you and Karin go rogue. I turned you 2 into criminals!" Itachi said.

Sasuke and Karin started to remember some of their memories from their past.

"Even though all I ever really wanted was for you to walk the right path... Back before I died, I-I tried to lead you down the path to righteousness, down a path without any forks or turns... I changed the sign posts on it with lies and my Visual Prowess." Itachi said.

"What I was supposed to happily walk that one path, ignorant of everything?!" Sasuke questioned.

Itachi didn't say anything.

"I couldn't... I never could've walked that path!" Sasuke said.

"Yeah.. You're absolutely right. You ought to decide your journey for yourself." Itachi said.

"No matter how you try to rewrite the sign posts, my eyes can strip away all of your lies!" Sasuke said.

Itachi smiled as he laughed a little bit.

"What's so damn funny?!" Sasuke asked.

"Nothing... I'm just realizing that the sign posts were not your only guides." Itachi said, thinking of Naruto.

Karin immediately knew what Itachi meant. "Oniisan." she thought.

Sasuke became surprised.

Itachi stopped smiling as he looked at Sasuke. "Properly speaking, I'm a dead man now." he said then looked forward. "There's no point in talking any further."

"When you were alive, you never paid any attention to me. Always flicking my forehead, say 'forgive me' and running off! And even now that you're dead, you're still running away from me?!" Sasuke asked, yelling.

"I'm not running away from you. As I told you, there's something important I have to do." Itachi said. "I must stop... the Reanimation Jutsu." he thought.

...

15 minutes later.

Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin were still hopping from tree to tree.

Karin gasped when she felt a powerful but strange chakra nearby. "What is this? Who is this person?!" she thought.

Itachi looked back at Sasuke and Karin, who were still following him, before he quickly made summoning hand signs with both hands as he summoned a few crows on them.

"Summoning Jutsu!" Itachi said.

Sasuke and Karin became surprised as they stopped on branches and covered their eyes as they tried to fend off the crows.

"Damn!" Sasuke thought.

"I need you 2 to stay here." Itachi said then headed forward.

...

A few minutes later.

Sasuke and Karin were still trying to get the crows away from them. Karin pulled out a kunai from her right sleeve with her right hand and started stabbing some of them. She suddenly stopped when all of the crows were all were now dead.

Karin opened her eyes as she lowered her kunai to see Sasuke holding his sword with his right hand as he was standing a few feet away from her. "Thanks, Sasuke." she said, putting her kunai away in her medium sized grey pouch.

Sasuke put his sword back in it's holster with his right hand. "Which way did he went?" he asked.

"Over here." Karin said jumped into the trees as she started hopping.

Sasuke followed after Karin.

"There's someone near Itachi." Karin said.

Sasuke looked at Karin. "Do you recognize the chakra?" Sasuke asked.

"No! But, this chakra... has a real nasty feel to it and and it's powerful!" Karin said. "We have to hurry to see who it is."

...

A few minutes later.

Sasuke and Karin jumped off of the trees as they made it to a cave.

"Is Itachi in there?" Sasuke asked.

"Yeah, along with that other chakra." Karin said.

Sasuke and Karin walked into the cave as they looked around for Itachi and the mysterious chakra. As they went further into the cave they heard a male voice and Itachi talking.

"That voice sounds familiar." Karin thought.

The unknown male laughed. "I just my luck hasn't run out quite yet! Yeh, Itachi!" he said.

"No battle plan survives contact with the enemy." Itachi said then closed his eyes. "So true."

Sasuke and Karin stopped a few feet away from Itachi and the unknown man.

"We've finally caught up with you. What the hell are doing in such a-?" Sasuke asked but was cut off.

"That man." Karin said, looking at the the unknown man.

Sasuke looked at the unknown man, who looked to be 24 years, had beige scaly skin, shoulder length ash-grey hair, yellow eyes with slitted pupils, around which were similar to Orochimaru's characteristic purple markings, a long white snake also fuses with his abdomen, which he wraps around his waist and which sometimes slithers under or behind him like a tail, in his usual outfit, black rimmed circular glasses, long black pants, and a maroon-coloured cloak with a hood designed to resemble a serpent's head, with white, red, and yellow markings that resemble eyes, had chess board and pieces as he was sitting behind an unconcious Anko, now 28 years old and in her usual outfit, was laying on her back before he became surprised and moved to the left side.

"Orochimaru?! Is that you?! Sasuke asked.

The unknown man laughed a little bit. "Close but not quite." he said.

"I know that voice! Kabuto!" Sasuke said.

"Kabuto, he must've changed myself. No wonder I wasn't able to recognize him." Karin thought.

Kabuto smirked. "And now, with perfect timing, my insurance for military cooperation comes along with a girl waltzing in of his own accord. Lady Luck must love me." he said.

Itachi opened his eyes.

"What are you talking about? What are you 2 doing in this hidden cave?" Sasuke asked.

"It's all a little tangled, but please let me try to explain." Kabuto said.

"Go ahead and meanwhile I'll make you stop the Reanimation jutsu." Itachi said then placed his hands together.

"This jutsu has no weaknesses. It has no risks. I want you to understand that Itachi. I already told you once. And besides, even if you do make a move, I doubt Sasuke-kun and possibly Karin-chan will just quietly stand back and watch. If you rush, you may not succeed even if it were possible conversely." Kabuto said.

Itachi put his hands apart as he placed his arms down.

"Kabuto! Answer my question now!" Sasuke said.

"Looks like I really have no choice but to talk. You've got me there, Sasuke-kun. In any event, while you 2 were asleep, recovering from having Sasuke's brother's eyes transplanted into you, something rather momentous has happened in our world." Kabuto said.

"The war." Karin said.

"You mean that Tobi started to war, right?" Sasuke questioned.

"So you 2 do know a little bit at least, but yes that is truth, The Fourth Great Ninja War. Tobi and I are currently facing the Fire Nation, the Wind Nation, the Water Nation, the Earth Nation, and the Lightning Nation. The 5 Great Nations have joined forces to create the 'The Allied Shinobi Forces' to fight against us." Kabuto said.

"That's impossible, you won't win!" Karin said.

"There's no way the 2 of you can fight against all the 5 Great Nations!" Sasuke said.

"Oh but we can and that's just what we're doing! We have 100,000 mass production models of White Zetsu. And then there are the Reanimated Squads I created. Kinkaku and Ginkaku. The former members of the 7 ninja swordsmen of the Mist. The Second Tsuchikage. The Third Raikage. The Second Mizukage. The Fourth Kazekage. And Madara Uchiha. Frankly, if I kept listing names, we'd be here all day. But your brother over there is also one of the ones that I reanimated." Kabuto said.

Sasuke and Karin looked at Itachi.

"Well?" Kabuto asked.

Sasuke and Karin looked back at Kabuto.

"You have to admit I'm pretty awesome. Though I'll concede that this whole plan was developed by Madara Uchiha." Kabuto said.

"What do you mean by that?" Sasuke said.

"Just like the 2 of you. He has a grudge against the shinobi world. And so, he came up with Project Tsuki no Me." Kabuto said.

"Project Tsuki no Me?" Sasuke asked.

Karin's eyes widened a little bit. "I heard of that." she said.

"To use the the 10 Tails to place the entire surface of the Earth under one vast genjutsu." Kabuto said.

Sasuke and Karin became surprised.

"And thereby control the whole world. To achieve that goal, we need to obtain Naruto'-kuns Nine Tails and Killer B's Eight Tails. And just about now, Madara is causing a ruckus on the battle field in order to get them." Kabuto said.

"Oniisan." Karin thought, worried.

"So that's it, that's the tale of the war." Kabuto said.

Sasuke looked at Itachi. "There's one thing I don't get. What's a Reanimated shinobi like you doing here?" he asked.

Karin looked at Itachi again.

"Your attempt to kill is real." Sasuke said.

"The answer here is simple, I'm not understand his control any longer." Itachi said.

Sasuke and Karin looked at Itachi a moment longer before they turned back at Kabuto.

"That is indeed the case. I must hand it to you Itachi Uchiha. Imagine over riding the Reanimation jutsu with your genjutsu. Most ninja wouldn't even think of that." Kabuto said.

"I'm sorry but I simply can't stand taking orders from others." Itachi said.

"Oh that point we are in complete agreement." Kabuto said.

"But you haven't answered any of my questions!" Sasuke said.

"Sasuke-kun, haven't you learned yet? You seem to be under the peculiar impression that all you have to do is ask and somebody will give you the answer." Kabuto questioned. "You really haven't changed a bit since the days when you were the popular one at the Academy. However, Karin has changed."

Karin made a serious face.

"What's in character? Getting what I want with brute force?" Sasuke questioned.

"Only joking. Now don't forget while your big brother's here..." Kabuto said.

Sasuke looked at Itachi.

"To destroy you, Kabuto." Itachi said.

"Well, you heard him." Kabuto said.

Sasuke looked back at Kabuto again.

"Reanimation... of all the forbidden techniques you could steal, this one is most tiresome." Itachi said.

"Hey, now. It's thanks to this technique that you two are having this heartwarming reunion. I was hoping for a little more gratitude." Kabuto said.

"The Reanimation jutsu can't control what's in the heart. You've discreted souls that were purified. And continued to spread unnecessary sadness and hate." Itachi said.

Everyone stayed silent for a moment.

"Can you understand the pain of the dead who are forced to fight? To say nothing of the feelings of those who yet live. They finally overcome the tragedy and the sorrow. Only for your technique to throw it back in their face." Itachi questioned.

"Well, this is a bit of a surprise. That someone who slaughtered half of the Uchiha clan and the Uzumaki clan in cold blood turns out to have such a soft heart." Kabuto said. "So does that mean you secretly regret what you did back then, if so I'm not interested in the slightest?"

"Say what you want, you will still die here." Itachi said.

Kabuto looked up at Itachi. "Sasuke-kun, Karin-chan. You 2 want to defeat Itachi Uchiha, the enemy of the Uchiha clan and Uzumaki clan, once again." he said. "After all, I've brought him back to this world. In other words, you're little more than a bothersome presence to Sasuke-kun, Karin-chan, and myself. How about it? Why don't the 3 of us work together this one time and defeat Itachi here? Me and Sasuke share the same serpentine power and the same master-"

"He was no master of mine!" Sasuke said, moving his right arm around for a moment.

Everyone stayed silent for a moment.

"Besides, it's you don't know anything do you." Sasuke said. "Me and Karin only came here chasing after Itachi so that I can talk to him."

Kabuto looked up at Sasuke. "So whose side might you 2 be on right now?" he asked.

Karin was thinking as she was against Itachi for many reasons but she also wanted the Reanimation jutsu to stop.

Sasuke quickly took out 3 shurikens and threw them at Kabuto with his right hand. But Itachi deflected Sasuke's shurikens by throwing 3 shurikens with his left hand.

Sasuke and Karin looked at Itachi.

"What'd you do that?! This guy's just like Orochimaru. That makes him my enemy." Sasuke asked. "Right now, he's your enemy, too isn't he?"

"I hear you, Sasuke. And we will talk later." Itachi said then looked at Sasuke. "First, we need to take this one down, but don't kill him."

Sasuke and Karin at Itachi confused.

"If you kill the caster of the Reanimation jutsu, it can never be undone. First, will put him under my Tsukuyomi and we'll make him tell us how to stop this jutsu. Then, while he's still under Tsukuyomi, I will take control of him and do so." Itachi said.

Sasuke and Karin looked back at Kabuto, who was now standing up and looking at the 3 of them.

"That was an eloquent summary of how you plan to defeat me. Thank you for that. It would be nice for you if things went that smoothly, but this jutsu has no weaknesses and no risks, as I-." Kabuto said but was cut off.

"Every technique has a flaw that can become weakness." Itachi said.

Kabuto became confused.

"This jutsu's weakness has risks... It's simply me." Itachi said before he activated his Mangekyo Sharingan then stepped forward.

"Itachi! You always kept lying to me. Saying things like next time and later and then you died on me." Sasuke said then stepped forward.

Karin followed Sasuke.

"So this time for sure, I'm gonna hold you to your promise." Sasuke said, placing his left hand on his rope around his waist.

"We're temporary allies now because I don't want the Reanimation jutsu to continue anymore, but we're still enemies." Karin said.

Sasuke and Karin stopped beside Itachi.

"They say a person's character never changes until they die, but I have already died once already. I plan to honour it." Itachi said.

"So the brothers and the Uzumaki woman are ganging up on me?" Kabuto asked smirking, sticking his tongue out. "This should be fun." raising his hands as he summoned 6 snakes around him.

Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin watched as Kabuto lowered his hood over his eyes with both hands.

"Don't stare at me. Bookish types like me aren't used to being stared at." Kabuto said then lowered his hands.

Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin were now cautious.

"But genjutsu countermeasure." Sasuke said.

"We must watch him at all times." Karin said.

Kabuto's snakes hissed at them.

"The way those snakes are moving, they can sense exactly where the 3 of us are." Itachi said.

"Well some snakes are able to perceive body heat and they can smell the air by using their tongues." Sasuke said.

"It seems you'd studied a lot. You're like a snake expert." Itachi said.

Sasuke smirked. "Of course I did. I had to take down Orochimaru." he said.

"Because he was in a weakened state." Karin said.

Sasuke stopped smirking when Karin said that.

Kabuto placed his hands together. "However, being a snake expert will not help you take me down. I chose this battle field and nature is my ally." he said.

All of Kabuto's snakes slithered forward and were now bigger.

Sasuke and Karin became a bit nervous as they noticed the change.

"The snakes have gotten are bigger!" Sasuke thought.

"They're larger. How's that possible?!" Karin thought.

"Does this terrain give him an advantage? Be wary of, Sasuke, Karin." Itachi said.

"Traps? Oh no, that's not what I meant!" Kabuto said.

All of Kabuto's snakes charged towards Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin, who quickly backed away as the snakes made gravel. The 3 of them continued to dodge as the snakes continued making gravel before they stopped then Itachi and Sasuke, who activated his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, activated their Susano'o skeletons.

Kabuto looked at Itachi and Sasuke's charcoal Susano'os. "That's the Susano'o, right?" he asked.

Karin used her Chakra Enhanced Strength with her left fist on 2 of the snakes as they fell dead then she watched as Itachi's Susano'o's 4 hands grabbed the 4 snakes with his Susano'o as Sasuke cut off 2 of the snakes heads with his Susano'o's sword with his upper left hand.

"Good work, Karin. But don't get too violent, Sasuke! Remember, I told you not to kill him!" Itachi said.

"It seems that he's acquired Orochimaru's power. He won't go down as easy as that!" Sasuke said before he ran towards Kabuto.

Karin noticed that Kabuto's chakra had divided into 3. "What's he planning?" she thought.

Itachi's Susano'o's right hands pulled back the remaining 2 snakes to him.

Kabuto grunted as he fell backwards.

"Sasuke!" Itachi said.

"The hood! I know!" Sasuke said.

"Sasuke, wait! There's something wrong!" Karin said.

Sasuke's Susano'o's right hand unhooded Kabuto's cloak to reveal 3 snakes.

Itachi and Sasuke became surprised.

"What's that?!" Sasuke asked.

The 3 snakes started jumped out of the cloak and headed for Itachi.

"Why that-!" Sasuke said before he grabbed the now empty cloak with his lower right hand.

The 3 snakes changed directions as they were slithering on the rocks to hide.

Sasuke spotted one of them before he grabbed his sword with his right hand and threw it as pierced one of the snakes tails to the cave rock.

The snake slithered from the sword as it's tail was split.

"Karin, can you sense where Kabuto is?" Sasuke asked.

"Not right now since he divided his chakra." Karin said, closing her eyes and held her hands together.

"You're taking this bookish thing a little too far. First, you hide your face, and now your entire body Kabuto?" Sasuke questioned.

Everyone stayed silent as Sasuke released Kabuto's cloak as it fell on the ground.

"Did you just molt to make a getaway? All you have is what you took from Orochimaru. You're still nothing!" Sasuke asked.

"Sasuke... You underestimate me. Well, then again, I was listed lower than you on the danger scale in the Bingo Book... And of course I'm nothing compared to Orochimaru-sama." Kabuto said.

Sasuke activated his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan more. "That's for sure. Especially if this is what you consider hiding." he said, seeing chakra.

"No, Sasuke! I just told you, there are pieces of his chakra everywhere..." Karin said.

Sasuke looked around to see more pieces of chakra.

"It's hard to tell which is the real one." Karin said.

Itachi noticed that the snakes his Susano'o was holding were melting.

"It's the ability to transform one's flesh into liquid. To detach and separate using one's own life substance. That's why it looks like a shedding. I've researched and applied the Hozuki Clan's flesh Transforming ability to this technique. You 2 know who I mean, right? Suigetsu. He can transform from human to water and back to human again. Plus, I have the amazing ability to recuperate quickly. I'll admit it's a healing technique I studied from the Konoha documents and from the body of an Uzumaki clan woman, Karin." Kabuto asked.

Karin quickly opened her eyes as she became shocked. "He copied me and my Clan's technique!" she thought.

Sasuke became angry. "You copied that from Karin?" he asked.

"Yes and it's a special trait of those with Uzumaki blood is their red hair. And their life force is tenacious as a cockroach's. Now then, you must be thinking about the last member of your team. Or perhaps you're no longer comrades. At any rate, you have a discerning eye to have chosen those 3." Kabuto said.

Karin looked down at the ground at what Kabuto just said.

"Karin." Sasuke said, unactivated his Susano'o but the purple aura stayed.

Karin looked up at Sasuke to see that he was nodding 'no' to her before she started sensing again.

"In the Shinobi World, those without talent are nothing. But then those who lack talent can just steal it from those who do possess it." Kabuto said.

Karin sensed a chakra increased.

"Do you have Jugo's abilities too? You seem too..." Sasuke asked then looked to the left side. "Did you receive a curse mark from Orochimaru?!"

"No!" Kabuto said.

"Sasuke." Karin said.

Sasuke looked at Karin to see that she was pointing to the forward with her right index finger. He looked in that direction.

Karin put her right arm down as she, Itachi, and Sasuke to see an explosion happened as dust covered some of the air and it cleared up to reveal 4 large snakes.

"That thing is just a temporary boost. This power is something I actually mastered myself... at Ryuchi Cave!" Kabuto said.

Itachi became shocked. "Ryuchi Cave?! Can't be!" he asked.

The 4 snakes started to combine with each other.

"Yes, that's right. I found it. A place as legendary as Mount Myoboku and the Shikkotsu Woods!" Kabuto said.

Sasuke and Karin were both on guard as the snakes started to melt.

"Orochimaru-sama was not the only one to have reached it. I went there... and trained under the guidance of the White Snake Sage and awakened this ability. And I was able to surpass Orochimaru-sama at long last." Kabuto said.

The 4 snakes stopped liquifying as one of the snakes started to spit up something and Kabuto's right arm came out of it's mouth.

"I did it!" Kabuto said.

Sasuke activated his skin Susano'o as it's upper right hand had an arrow and it's upper left hand had a bow before it started to aim.

Karin pointed her right index finger at the center. "There!" she said.

Sasuke's skin Susano'o shot the arrow at what Karin was pointing at.

"Wait you 2! Don't be impatient!" Itachi said.

Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin waited for a moment before they saw that the arrow hit below.

"Nuh uh ah." Kabuto said, waving his right hand arrow.

"Do dodged it? The Susano'o arrow." Sasuke questioned, shocked.

"How did he redirect it?" Karin said surprised, lowering her right arm.

"My sensory ability is far better than it used to be. Nature Energy is my ally now as I mentioned before. Maybe even better than yours, Karin." Kabuto said.

Karin made a serious face.

"Nature Energy?" Itachi asked, unactivating his Susano'o but the orange-red aura stayed. "I knew it. So he does have..." he thought.

"Just listen, I'll explain... The members of Jugo's clan have always had special bodies that are able to absorb Nature Energy. That's the secret behind those rampages. The ability causes them to suddenly become more powerful and wild. Orochimaru-sama wasn't interested in Jugo's rampages... so much in the origin of his clan's power." Kabuto said.

"So that's the reason why Jugo wanted to be locked up." Karin thought.

"And he finally tracked down the source of the power and it's well spring was the Ryuchi Cave. Orochimaru-sama immediately tried to acquire that power. However, he didn't yet possess a body that could tolerate it. That's why..." Kabuto said before he started coming out of one of the snakes mouth.

Itachi and Sasuke were serious but Karin was serious and disgusted at the same time.

Kabuto, who now had 4 horns on his head, was on his hands and feet as he was completely out of the snake's mouth. "Orochimaru-sama was not able to become the perfect Sage... not like the one I have now become! No." he said.

"I see... As I thought... you're using Sage Mode power." Itachi said.

Sasuke smirked. "You're just like Orochimaru! You're just a disgusting snake!" he said.

Kabuto stood up. "You ought to know better, you snake expert... I'm no longer a snake." he said.

Sasuke made a serious face again.

"My perfect Sage power has allowed me to shed that snakeskin..." Kabuto said before he placed his hands together as he made a hand sign and a burst of wind came. "And I am now a dragon!"

Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin were on guard as the wind blew before it stopped.

Kabuto made another hand sign and his snake eyes closed, his cheeks and stomach puffing out "Sage Art: White Extreme Attack!" he said, his cheeks and stomach were normal again as a spirit dragon and dark purple orb came out of his mouth and to the center of the cave.

Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin were surprised before Itachi ran towards Sasuke and Karin.

As the dragon and dark purple orb were now spinning, Sasuke and Karin were on guard.

When Itachi stopped near Sasuke and Karin, the dragon disappeared as the orb burst as a bright white light appeared with a loud sound.

Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin quickly closed their eyes and covered their ears.

Sasuke and Karin screamed in pain a little.

"My ears... And my bones... They feel like they're being grated." Sasuke thought.

"When is this torturing sound going to stop?!" Karin thought.

"It's a jutsu that uses light and sound to impair vision and hearing... It causes the air to oscillate to paralyze the senses, freezing you in place." Itachi thought then opened his eyes a little to see some of the rock breaking and Kabuto running.

"With my snake cornea, I can shut my sight off and block the light. By turning my body to liquid I can simply flow with sound and vibration. Thanks to my sage mode powers I'm the only one who can move in these conditions." Kabuto said, running towards the 3 of them.

Karin could sense Kabuto coming towards them but couldn't do anything because of the sound and light.

"It's no use! I can't hold the Susano'o!" Sasuke thought, his skin Susano'o disappearing.

"I need to go after Itachi. I'll rewrite the Paper Seal in his head and make him my pawn again. Or even better..." Kabuto thought, running towards Sasuke.

Kabuto opened his mouth as he was almost towards Sasuke but Itachi activated his Susano'o right hand and covered Sasuke. Kabuto stopped and jumped back on the left side.

The light and sound started to disappear.

"Itachi... Somehow you always seem to find me don't you?" Kabuto questioned. "Are you sensing my chakra like Karin is?"

A few moments later, the light and sound disappeared.

"But... wait a minute here..." Kabuto said before he started to remember the conversation he had with Itachi earlier. "Hold on, I remember you said something about back when I was still controlling you. So now that I'm not doing that any longer you can't sense my chakra can you?"

Itachi opened his eyes completely and looked at Kabuto.

"Are you trying to fool me with your lies again?" Kabuto asked.

Itachi lowered his hands to his shoulders. "I never said I was the one who was able to sense your chakra. I couldn't sense your chakra. Only Nagato was able to do that and he relayed the information to me. I have no such ability." lowering his arms.

Sasuke and Karin opened their eyes and lowered their arms before they looked over at Kabuto.

"Besides, even now, I know what your target is anyway. I do have instincts you know. I'm able to detect that which I think you'll most want to attack. If a man is cautious and opportunistic as you want Sasuke... you will go for him first. Your best chance to capture Sasuke is now, before the 3 of us figures out your jutsu. And then after that, you can use my brother to try to stop me and Karin." Itachi said then made his right Susano'o arm disappear.

"What sets you apart the most from the rest of your Uchiha Clan bretheren is that you have true Visual Prowess... You have the ability to peer into and read people's souls. And then use what you learn in battle. That is why you were so good at deceiving people... You died lying in the first place, that makes you a dirty lying ninja through and through!" Kabuto said.

"That's true." Karin thought.

Sasuke became angry and activated his Chidori with his left hand and turned it into a long blade to attack Kabuto.

Kabuto immediately jumped and stopped stood up on the ceiling.

"He's on the ceiling!" Sasuke thought, unactivated his Chidori.

Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin looked up at Kabuto.

"You truly think that a makeshift team of 3 people who hate one another can outwit my perseption skills and stop me? And because you're brothers lied so much you really know nothing about him and you will never trust each other, Karin doesn't trust him..." Kabuto asked.

Sasuke glared at Kabuto.

Itachi walked forward. "Sasuke..." he said.

Sasuke and Karin looked at Itachi.

"Do you remember the time that you tagged along with me on my mission? The wild boar?" Itachi asked then stopped.

"What? You mean that mission you 2 were on years ago?" Karin asked.

Sasuke smirked as he remembered some of it. "Oh yeah that. I remember." he said.

Kabuto became confused. "A wild boar...?" he asked.

...

Flashback.

9 years ago.

Day Time.

Konohagakure.

Uchiha clan Compound.

Fugaku and Mikoto's House.

Itachi, 13 years old and in his Anbu outfit, was sitting down by the shoji doors as he was putting on his sandals with both hands and stood then looked behind him. "I'm heading out. " he said then turned forward as he stepped towards the shoji doors and slid one of them open with his right hand and stepped out to see Sasuke, 8 years old and in an Anbu uniform, and had a bow in his left hand and arrows in a holster behind him. "It's you...?!"

Sasuke smiled. "I heard you're going on a wild boar hunt, Niisan!" he said.

Itachi closed the shoji door with his left hand and walked on the left side.

Sasuke followed after Itachi. "I heard that it's incredibly huge as big as a monster. It's bad because it's tearing up the fields and ruining them. That's why you're going on the mission to take it down aren't you? And your doing it by yourself isn't that right? But don't worry, it'll be okay because I'm gonna come with you too." he asked. "You know right, that I'm a really good Archer. But you should know we've been hunting together a lot a bunch of times before." he asked.

When Itachi suddenly stopped, Sasuke stopped as well.

Itachi turned around and looked at Sasuke before he called him over with his left hand. Sasuke became confused as he walked towards Itachi.

Itachi held up his left index and middle fingers as he poked Sasuke on his forehead.

Sasuke closed his eyes as he stepped back a little.

"Sorry, Sasuke. Some other time." Itachi said.

Sasuke looked up at Itachi before Itachi disappeared. "No!" he said then started running. "Niisan!"

Itachi was now jumping away.

"Niisan, wait!" Sasuke said.

...

20 minutes later.

Itachi was sitting on top of a small wooden house as he watched a giant brown wild boar squeal and break things before it eats vegetables. He heard a sound and turned around to see Sasuke standing on the ground and his hands on his knees panting.

"I'm surprised that you caught up." Itachi said.

Sasuke stopped panting as he looked up at Itachi. "Yeah, well I've been training..." he said.

"Climb up here." Itachi said.

Sasuke smiled. "Okay!" he said, nodding.

...

2 minutes later.

From left to right, Itachi and Sasuke were standing on the roof as they looked down at the wild boar.

"That's it, right?" Sasuke asked.

Itachi looked down at Sasuke. "Don't kill it." he said.

Sasuke looked up at Itachi, confused. "Huh?" he asked.

"Just hurt it, and it will return to the mountain." Itachi said.

Flashback Ends.

...

"Karin, can you please stand somewhere else?" Itachi asked.

Karin glared at Itachi. "No, you're not the boss of me." she said.

"Karin." Sasuke said.

Karin looked at Sasuke.

"It's okay, just for awhile." Sasuke said.

Karin sighed for a moment. "Fine." she said then jumped on the left side of the cave before she started to watch the scene.

"Let's go." Itachi said.

"Yeah." Sasuke said before an purple aura was around him.

...

Flashback.

"Don't hit a vital spot." Itachi said.

Flashback Ends.

...

Itachi and Sasuke activated their skin Susano'os.

"I got it!" Sasuke said.

Itachi ran towards Kabuto as Sasuke's skin Susano'o aimed an arrow at Kabuto. Itachi's skin Susano'o threw 3 shurikens around Kabuto, covered himself with his hands.

"Right now!" Sasuke said before his skin Susano'o shot an arrow as it pierced Kabuto's stomach snake on the cave ceiling then he smirked.

Kabuto fell off of the ceiling before he started reaching for Sasuke's sword.

Sasuke made a serious face. "Watch out! He's going to steal my blade and cut off his own tail to escape!" he said.

Itachi jumped up after Kabuto as he unactivated his skin Susano'o.

Kabuto grabbed Sasuke's sword with his right hand and stabbed him in chest.

Sasuke became shocked.

Karin sensed something strange with Itachi. "I know it's a clone but... it has this strange feeling." she thought.

"That's why he told you not to be so impatient." Kabuto said as his stomach snake started to liquify.

Itachi activated his Mangekyo Sharingan more before he burst into crows as a bright white light appeared.

"What is this stange feeling?" Karin thought.

Kabuto tried moving away from crows as he dropped Sasuke's sword with his right hand. Itachi grabbed it with his right hand.

Kabuto grunted when Itachi cut off his upper right horn with Sasuke's sword. The light and the crows stopped.

Itachi and Kabuto landed on the ground as Kabuto's upper right horn fell on the ground.

Sasuke, who unactivated his skin Susano'o, smirked before he and Karin walked over to Itachi.

Kabuto felt his cut off upper right horn with his right hand. "Oh yeah that's right these things are new. I totally forgot that I had these horns up here now. Oh well." he said, lowering his right hand as he faced Itachi.

Sasuke stood on the left side of Itachi while Karin stood on the right side of Itachi.

...

Flashback.

Sasuke took out an arrow from his holster with his right hand and aimed his arrow at the wild boar as Itachi jumped into the air threw 4 explosive attached kunai around the wild boar with his left hand. The wild boar stood still as the explosions happened.

"Right now!" Sasuke said before he shot his arrow at the wild boar but missed, making himself surprised.

The wild boar looked up at Sasuke angrily before it ran it's left hoof into the dirt before he squealed loudly and ran towards Sasuke.

Within moments, Sasuke yelling and flying into the air with some of the now broken house. He fell on the ground and stood up to see the wild boar running towards him. Sasuke pulled out another arrow with his right hand and was about to aim the arrow but he closed his eyes as he waited for the wild boar to come. He suddenly heard a loud squeal and the ground shaking before he opened his eyes to see Itachi standing on the now unconscious wild boar.

"Niisan..." Sasuke said.

Itachi jumped off the wild boar and turned to look up at it. "You completely missed, Sasuke." he said.

Sasuke looked down at the ground, sadly. "Sorry, Niisan..." he said.

"It seems you need to do more training." Itachi said. "Let's go home, Sasuke."

Sasuke stopped looking down, but he was still sad.

Itachi smiled as he looked at Sasuke. "And I'll help you train when we get back." he said.

Sasuke smiled. "Okay!" he said.

Flashback Ends.

...

Itachi smiled as he looked at Sasuke. "It looks like now, you might be able to take down that giant wild boar now." he said.

Sasuke closed his eyes and smiled for a moment before he opened his eyes and had a serious look. "Except instead of a giant wild boar, we've got to take down that snake." he said, placing his left hand on his rope belt.

"Yeah..." Itachi said, still holding Sasuke's sword with his right hand.

Karin sighed. "Which attacks should we use next?" she thought.

Everyone went silent for a moment as some of the cave ceiling dripped water.

Sasuke took his left hand off of his rope.

"It's so ironic..." Kabuto said, smirking.

"Oh, what's that?" Sasuke asked.

"Looking at the 2 brothers now, you think that the 2 of you were best friends. What happened to those brothers who fought so fiercely and hated each other? I know Karin-chan still hates him." Kabuto said.

Sasuke looked at Itachi as he remembered their battle before he looked back at Kabuto.

Kabuto raised his left hand. "All in all isn't very hard to guess. Something happened between you when you took Itachi down. But what exactly is it that you want to ask of a once dead man?" he asked, lowering his left hand.

Sasuke looked at Itachi again as his eyes turned to the Sharingan. "I want the truth." he said.

Karin looked at Sasuke, annoyed. "Why? We were already told the truth, Danzo even admitted to us." she thought then looked back at Kabuto.

Itachi looked at Sasuke then looked back at Kabuto.

"Oh really, interesting. Could it be?" Kabuto asked then looked down, closing his eyes. "With the way that you're talking..." then opened his eyes as he looked up. "Do you really not trust Itachi after all? I know Karin doesn't trust in the slightest."

Sasuke looked at Kabuto again.

"Sasuke-kun. Karin-chan... Don't you 2 think that maybe you 2 already know the truth about Itachi." Kabuto said.

There was silence for a moment as Sasuke and Karin looked at Itachi.

Kabuto held up both of his hands. "Well, it's no wonder that you 2 didn't returned to the Hidden Leaf Village after defeating Itachi. No wonder you joined the Akatsuki, who sought the Leaf's destruction!" he said then lowered his arms.

Sasuke and Karin looked back at Kabuto.

"I see now... Now that I have all the pieces, it makes so much sense to me. That's reason why you intend to destroy the village that caused your brother such pain." Kabuto said.

Sasuke looked at Kabuto with more seriousness.

"Just as I thought, you aren't denying it." Kabuto said then placed his right index finger in between his glasses and lowered it. "So you 2 ran into your brother and followed him all the way down here to find out the truth once and for all of ask 'is that what happened back then' or what about that one other time too'. All the dirty details. I know Karin doesn't care either way because she'll despise Itachi no matter what."

Everyone stayed silent for a moment.

"But like I already told you 2, your brother is a liar! Trust me. I know." Kabuto said, pointing his right index finger at them. "So doesn't it seem just a bit odd?"

Sasuke and Karin became interested.

Kabuto lowered his right arm again. "Itachi was willing to kill half of his own clan and half of the Uzumaki clan as well to protect the Hidden Leaf Village. Isn't that an indirect opposition to what you 2 trying to do now?" he asked then raised up his right index finger to point at himself. "However, I'm the one who wants exactly the same thing that you 2 yearn for, right, Sasuke-kun, Karin-chan? Orochimaru-sama couldn't complete his operation to destroy the Leaf and I inherited that task."

Sasuke and Karin became cautious.

"What?" Karin questioned.

Kabuto lowered his right arm. "I think you 2 should ponder that very carefully. Join me now and stab your tretcherous brother, Itachi in the back in the process. What you 2 don't even have to feel guilty, he's not even him. He's already dead. He's just an imitation." he said.

"He's right... but, I can't." Karin thought.

Sasuke closed his eyes as he started to remember what Tobi told him months ago and another incident.

...

Flashback.

"It was a mission to become known as a criminal who murdered half of his own clan and half of the Uzumaki clan, to bear the burden of disgrace and become a Rogue Ninja. All of that was part of the mission. Itachi almost completely fulfilled his duty, except for some mistakes. He could not bring himself to kill the other halves.

...

A few months ago.

Restaurant.

From left to right, Tobi, in his usual outfit, and Sasuke were wearing beige hooded cloaks over them as they were sitting at the bar and quietly having tea. Jugo, Suigetsu, and Karin were at one of the inns resting.

Far behind them, 4 Konoha male ninjas, in the Konoha flak jacket uniforms, one had short grey hair in a bandanna, one had short spiky dark brown hair, one had 1 point in his hair, and the last one had sandy brown hair in a bandanna, were on the floor at a 4 way table and having drinks and food.

Sasuke held up his cup with his right hand as he was about to drink some of it.

"We've received intel that Itachi Uchiha of the Akatsuki has died." the sandy brown haired man said.

Sasuke stopped midway and started to listen to their conversation.

"You should mark his entry in your Bingo Book and remove him, just cross him out." the dark brown haired man said.

The 4 of the men took out their bingo books and held them up.

"So that traitor is finally died has he." the sandy brown haired man said.

Sasuke held his cup of tea away from him.

The 4 Konoha male ninjas opened their bingo books to Itachi.

"I'm surprised. Who was able to kill someone that powerful, do you know?" the grey haired man asked.

"Looks like it was his little brother, Sasuke. Poetic that someone who killed half of his clan and the Uzumaki clan got taken down by his own kin." the dark brown haired man said.

The 4 Konoha male ninjas laid their bingo books on the table.

"Yeah, well it serves him right! After the atrocious things he did!" the sandy brown haired man said then looked down at Itachi's picture. "Not only did he join the Akatsuki but he also attacked the Leaf Village! He's the most notorious criminal in the Hidden Leaf history!"

Sasuke gritted his teeth in anger as he placed his cup of tea down with his right hand.

The grey haired man took out a kunai with his left hand. "Damn it all, I wished that we'd gotten our hands on him first!" he said then stabbed Itachi's picture with the kunai.

Sasuke stood up from his seat as he activated his Sharingan.

The 1 point haired man unknowningly looked at Sasuke.

The grey haired man smiled. "Since Itachi's little brother took down such a special S-class criminal, I bet he'll get a ton of decorations and a large bounty from the nation and the village." he said.

The 1 point haired man looked back at his group.

"I wonder how much he'll get?" the grey haired man questioned.

"It's not a question of money. You're out of line." the dark brown haired man said.

"Well... I know, but..." the grey haired man said.

Sasuke took out a kunai from his left sleeve with his left hand and was about to turn around to attack them until Tobi placed his right hand on Sasuke's left shoulder as he stopped him.

"They don't know the truth... Besides, there are too many people here." Tobi said.

"Then I'll teach them the truth!" Sasuke said.

"Don't... Even if they try to confirm the truth about Itachi with their superiors, the Leaf's elders would denied it vehemently. The current and Fourth Hokage would probably wouldn't even tell them either to not start anymore problems. Furthermore... Itachi did in fact slaughtered half of his own clan and the Uzumaki clan and as an Akatsuki member, he pretended to attack the Hidden Leaf. No one would believe the truth... Look how long it took you and Karin." Tobi said.

Sasuke gritted his teeth in anger again. "For bastards like them... He sacrificed everything for those who had branded him a traitor for these bastards... my niisan..." he said.

"This is exactly what Itachi wanted. If you do not like it, what is it that you want?" Tobi asked.

Flashbacks Ends.

...

"No. We're not the same." Sasuke said then opened his eyes. "My operation to destroy the Leaf is nothing like yours!"

Kabuto looked at Karin. "What about you Karin? Would you like to join me?" he asked.

"Trust me, I really would like to because I can't stand Itachi and what all the things he did." Karin said.

Sasuke looked at Karin.

"However, my clan, are families, the Uchiha clan, and others are fighting in the war. And some of them are dying because it. As much as I want to, I have to think about them." Karin said.

Sasuke stared at Karin for a moment more before he looked back at Kabuto.

Kabuto stopped smirking as he stayed silent for a moment. "I can sympathize with Itachi. I understand his choice. Because honestly I'm just like him..." he said then fixed his glasses with his right hand for a moment before he lowered it. "It was nice and good being taken in by Leaf Shinobi, but because my background is a mystery, I was immediately raised to be a spy. Medical Ninjutsu was drilled into me just so enemies would come to trust me. I went from village to village spying... I pretended to be someone else, living a life of lies. There was no place and no space for the real me. With no friends or comrades who knew who I really was, I continued to work on suppressing myself and around the time I stopped knowing who I even was anymore the Hidden Leaf Village stopped trusting me and I was relieved of my mission. Both Itachi and I worked for the good of the Hidden Leaf, but in return, all we got back was just dishonor and disgrace! So you tell me, what in the world does the Leaf Village ever done for us?"

Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin continued to stare at Kabuto.

"How Itachi lived is what led to the creation of the current you. And though I am still alive, something similar to you is born from me as well. Face it Sasuke-kun, other than Karin-chan there is no one who understands you better than I do. I'll be you and Karin-chan's big brother and I'll stick by both of your sides through thick and thin. Come, join me..." Kabuto said.

"I already have an older brother and I don't need another one." Karin thought.

"Sasuke, Karin." Itachi said.

Sasuke and Karin looked at Itachi.

"Don't listen to him. He was an even greater spy than I was. Which means, he's even more skillful at lying than me and no matter what darkness and contradictions lie within the village I'm still Itachi Uchiha of the Leaf!" Itachi said.

Kabuto stopped smirking as he Sasuke and Karin continued to look at Itachi.

"Sasuke... It's my fault that you're like this right now. I know that I have no right to advise you in anyway... but I sencerely hope that you 2 will hear me out because I have to tell you something." Itachi said then looked at Sasuke.

Karin looked at Itachi serious while Sasuke looked at Itachi surprised before the 3 of them looked back at Kabuto.

"After we've settled things here... So help me stop him." Itachi said.

"I casted the Reanimation Jutsu, you cannot kill me and I can instantly recover from any wound you try to inflict. This is pointless. I've also shut off my vision, so the much hearted genjutsu of your visual prowess won't work either. You 3 have no chance because I cast it, the Reanimation Jutsu is invincible!" Kabuto said.

"It's really quite annoying listening to him talk but he's explained the situation well." Itachi said.

"It's annoying to hear your voice as well but you're still talking." Karin said.

Sasuke looked at Itachi again. "I know you don't need to tell me. I'll right, what should we do?" he asked.

"It's seems he doesn't know the true power of the Uchiha." Itachi said then stepped forward. "We have a visual jutsu that can be used against an opponent without eyesight. In exchange for losing a light in one's eyes."

Sasuke and Karin started to remember Sasuke's battle with Danzo.

"The Izunagi." Karin said.

"The Izunagi...?" Sasuke questioned.

Itachi looked at Sasuke and Karin, surprised.

"How do you 2 know about the Izunagi?" Itachi asked.

"Danzo used it against me, back when I had to fight him." Sasuke said.

"Well then, you're lucky to be alive." Itachi said.

Kabuto looked at Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin confused.

"Nevermind about that... How do we use Izunagi here?" Sasuke asked.

Itachi looked forward. "I'm not talking about Izunagi. But another forbidden jutsu considered it's other half." Itachi said.

"Another one?!" Sasuke asked.

"What?" Karin asked.

"I've already relayed the plan. An ultimate visual jutsu that holds his fate within his grasp, the Izunami!" Itachi said then ran towards Kabuto.

Sasuke and Karin became surprised as Kabuto, who had his chakra coated left hand raised, running towards Itachi, who had Sasuke's sword raised, before they clashed.

"Izunami?!" Sasuke thought.

"It's other half?" Karin thought.

Itachi and Kabuto clashed for a moment before they separated as Itachi landed on the left side of Sasuke while Kabuto landed a few meters away from them.

"If the Izunagi changes one's fate, the Izunami's a jutsu that decides it." Itachi said then made a stance. "Sasuke, Karin... Do not leave my side."

"A jutsu that decides one's fate? So there's another jutsu similar to Izunagi?!" Sasuke thought.

"How many forbidden jutsus does the Uchiha clan even have?" Karin thought.

"I confess that I don't entirely know what you're up to, but what ever it is nothing will work against me." Kabuto said then put his hands together as he made a hand sign, smirking. "Seems you still don't understand just what exactly I have become now. Sage Art: Inorganic Animation!"

The cave spikes came at Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin but Itachi summoned his left Susano'o hand to protect Sasuke and Karin by covering them. Itachi was pierced by the cave spikes.

Sasuke and Karin looked at Itachi.

Sasuke quickly became shocked. "Itachi!" he said, worried.

Itachi didn't say anything.

Kabuto separated his hands. "This jutsu brings inanimate objects to life and allows me to control them in any manner I see fit. It's different from a jutsu that just manipulates chakra." he said.

Itachi looked at Kabuto.

"A bit extreme, don't you think?" Kabuto questioned.

Sasuke and Karin looked at Kabuto.

"Protecting Sasuke-kun and Karin-chan with your Susano'o slowed you down. Oh well, but don't you worry. I would never harm Sasuke-kun and Karin-chan, they are my precious test subjects after all." Kabuto said then his stomach spit out a red paper attached kunai as he grabbed it with his right hand. "Now then... Time to rewrite that brain of yours with this. You know what will happen, right?" then ran towards Itachi.

Sasuke activated his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan as his left eye started to bleed. "Amaterasu!" he said.

Kabuto stopped when black flames covered his path as it circled around Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin.

Itachi unactivated his Susano'o left hand as Sasuke and Karin faced Kabuto. Kabuto's jutsu stopped working as the cave spikes went back into place as they removed themselves from Itachi, who was now crouching down on the ground.

"Well, it appears that the greatest offensive Visual Jutsu could also act as the greatest defense... It's so hot, the limestone cave has gone back to being just a cave." Kabuto said, looking around the cave.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke, Karin..." Itachi said.

"Unfortunately for you, this is my win. I'm so near the point where I'll be able to achieve and control everything... but I simply can't imagine myself failing at this stage of the game." Kabuto said. "All the laws and principles of nature was Orochimaru-sama complied and studied for so long are now stored and being used inside of me. I have evolved from human to snake to dragon. At this moment I'm the closest thing in the entire world to the Sage of 6 Paths. Compared to me, the Uchiha and Uzumaki are nothing-"

"Just shut up! You don't know the Uchiha nor the Uzumaki!" Sasuke yelled, angrily.

Karin looked at Kabuto annoyed.

Sasuke raised his fist midway. "You see...!" he said but was cut off by Itachi.

Itachi held up his left hand to Sasuke.

Sasuke looked down at Itachi surprised as he lowered both of his arms.

"Kabuto... When I look at you, it's like looking at my former self. And that's the reason you will lose..." Itachi said.

Sasuke looked at Kabuto seriously as the black flames rose up more.

"Look... I'm not on the sidelines anymore. I'm not just a player! I'm a central figure! I own this war! I have the Akatsuki twisted like around my little finger, and manipulated the war to my advantage, and I even pushed the 3 of you into a corner." Kabuto said.

"Make no mistake, Kabuto. I hate you. However, I also understand you. We've both lived as spies as liers, presenting a false front to the world. I didn't know who I was at one point either, but I finally understand now and to know oneself not to achieve everything and not to become perfect. Instead, it is to become aware of what one is and isn't capable of." Itachi said.

Kabuto smirked again. "That sounds like the vociferous of a loser. You're saying one should acknowledge and give up. What one cannot do." he said.

"I'm not, it is simply to forgive oneself for the things one cannot do alone. It's because you cannot do everything yourself, that you have comrades to help you. And also you should never ignore things one could still accomplish." Itachi said then closed his eyes. "If you want to know who and what you are... You must reexamine and acknowledge your true self. I failed to do that. I lied to everyone around me, I lied to myself, I was dilluted. Those who cannot or will not acknowledge themselves are sure to fail..." then opened his eyes. "Just like I have failed."

"What do you do imagine what you know about me, anyway? I have been pursuing what I am in my own way for the longest time. My whole life..." Kabuto questioned then started to tell them about his past.

"That's my first memory... I was a nobody and had nothing right from the very beginning. Nothing at all. I didn't know my parents... or even my own name..." Kabuto said.

...

"My name is symbolic. My eye glasses, a tool... From the very beginning, I was a nobody... From the very beginning... I had nothing. Nothing at all." Kabuto said.

...

"And that is why... I've kept on adding to myself." Kabuto said, finishing his story.

"Even back then, Danzo was a crooked bastard. And I can't believe they let him do that." Karin thought.

"So what I want right now is not your lecture. But instead your abilities and intel. Not only are you a Leaf Shinobi, you're of the famed Uchiha bloodline. You possess the Sharingan and you have awakened the Mangekyo..." Kabuto said then held up his left hand and placed his right hand on his right hip, smirking. "You also bore many secrets and stopped the war... And you have many jutsu and a lot of power. Itachi, you possessed many things that made you who you are. There is no finer foil to my Reanimation jutsu than you." then lowered his arms. "And my pawns are part of my power!"

"You exaggerate... The reality is, I failed." Itachi said.

"No." Kabuto said then walked forward. "Earlier, even though I may have mocked the Uchiha and Uzumaki names in front of you, I have to admit that I'm actually still quite envious of them."

Sasuke crouched down and picked up his sword with his right hand and stood up, looking down at his sword.

Itachi stood up as well. "The Uchiha and Uzumaki names nearly indicates a bloodline and clan memberships." he said.

Sasuke and Karin looked at Itachi.

"Their meanings was for you to claim them." Itachi said.

Kabuto stopped walking, starting to remember his past again. "Until I was given a name and a place to call home, you think that claiming a name is meaningless? It's not." he asked, making a serious face. "What does hold meaning from me!" then made hand signs with both hands.

Sasuke placed his sword back in it's holster with his right hand. "Are you sure it would be bad to kill him? As it is we're stuck playing catch-up!" he asked.

"Yes it is, this war will go on forever." Karin said.

"She's right and I already told you 2 no! He controls the battlefield right now. Be patient." Itachi said.

"Is the Izunami still not ready? He's about to come after us!" Sasuke asked.

Sasuke and Karin looked at Kabuto, who separated his hands as something was forming on his stomach snake.

"Don't worry you 2. I'm already on him. It's just going to take a little more time." Itachi said.

Kabuto's stomach snake formed Sakon. "Orochimaru-sama said this to me once..." he said. "Sekon: Demon Twin Jutsu!" he thought then it formed into Jirobo. "Jitobi! Earth Style: Terra Shield!"

The ground started to shake before it split apart where Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin were, creating a lot of dust.

"If you want to know who and what you are, all you need to do is gather every last thing and piece of information that exists in this world!" Kabuto said, his stomach snake forming into Kidomaru. "Kidomaru! Spiral Web!" he thought then made a web before he threw it around the cave.

"These strands can't be cut with a blade!" Sasuke said.

"Then what?" Karin questioned.

"Amaterasu!" Itachi and Sasuke said, their eyes bleeding.

Black flames covered the web as it broke apart.

Kabuto moved to the left side and stopped as he stomach snake now formed Kimimaro. "Kimimaro! Macabre Bone Pulse! Bracken Dance!" he thought.

Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin looked at Kabuto as bone spikes came from the ground and headed towards them.

"He's laid down the spider silk all the way to the back." Sasuke said, looking at the web. "Me and Karin will get the one behind us! Take the front, Niisan! Can you still use the Susano'o?" activating his Susano'o and swords in the right arms

Itachi activated his Susano'o and sword in his right arm.

Sasuke and Karin ran together before they stopped.

"Inferno Style: Flame Control!" Sasuke said, separating the webs.

Itachi ran and broke the broke the bones.

Kabuto's Kimimaro made a flute before it transformed into Tayuya.

"They ran to the back, huh? Too bad it's no use!" Kabuto asked, smirking. "Tayuya! Demon Flute: Chains of Fantasia!" he thought as the flute began to play.

Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin were beside each other again.

Itachi looked at Sasuke and Karin. "Are okay Sasuke, Karin?!" he asked.

Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin felt like their imprisoned in their own minds but still could move as they hid behind the 2 cave pillars.

Itachi and Sasuke unactivated their Susano'os.

"A genjutsu, huh?" Sasuke questioned.

"Even your precious Susano'o, cannot block out sound, can it?" Kabuto asked, walking over to them. "I knew it... Now that I've immobilized you. All that's left is..." then his Tayuya changed into Orochimaru. "To take you into me using Orochimaru-sama!"

Sasuke and Karin looked from the pillar to see Kabuto, shocked to see a large snake.

"Well, Sasuke, how about it? Do you remember this?! You recognize this current form of mine?" Kabuto asked.

"That's...!" Sasuke thought, remembering his last fight with Orochimaru.

"Thanks to you, I was finally able to take Orochimaru-sama into my own body after you killed him! That's right, I've achieved it at last. This is my true form...! Remember, I said that all the laws and principles of Nature, which Orochimaru-sama researched and complied for so long... are now in stored and being used inside of me. The only thing that was missing... was Orochimaru-sama himself! But now as you can see I possess in inside of me too!" Kabuto said. "I really can't thank you enough, Sasuke-kun!"

"Kabuto... You are not Orochimaru. It's fine to imitate someone you respect... But don't remake yourself into him, to that extent." Itachi said.

Everyone stayed silent for a moment.

"You do realize majority of people start out by mimicking another person they admire don't you?" Kabuto asked.

Karin looked at Sasuke to see that he was looking forward.

"Just like the way Sasuke emulated you." Kabuto said.

Sasuke started to remember something 9 years ago.

...

Flashback.

Day Time.

Forest.

Sasuke, 8 years old and in his old usual outfit, was crouching down behind one of the trees and had his left hand on it as he was watching Itachi, 13 years old and in his old usual outfit, who was standing a few feet away from a large rock and targets.

Sasuke watched as Itachi jumped into the air then turned upside down, holding the kunais near him with his eyes closed. He became amazed as Itachi swiftly threw the kunais at the targets and became even more impressed when he used 2 kunais to hit the blindspot behind the boulder. Itachi landed on the ground and crouched down then opened his eyes as he had his Sharingan activated.

"Wow, Itachi! You nailed every target." Sasuke said smiling, standing up. "Even the one in the blind spot behind the rock!"

Itachi stood up as he unactivated his Sharingan.

Sasuke turned as he held 2 kunais in both of his hands. "Alright, now it's my turn!" he said.

"No Sasuke! It's time to go." Itachi said.

Sasuke stopped smiling as he looked at Itachi annoyed, lowering his kunais. "What happened to the new shuriken jutsu you promised to teach me, huh?" he questioned.

"It'll have to wait till later. I have an important mission in the morning and I need to prepare for it." Itachi said, smiling.

Sasuke turned away. "You're such a big fat liar..." he said.

Itachi waved his right hand to Sasuke to come over.

Sasuke saw this before he smiled and ran towards Itachi.

"Sorry, Sasuke. Maybe some other time." Itachi said then poked Sasuke's forehead with his right index finger.

Sasuke grunted in pain a little bit as he backed away and stopped before he looked up at Itachi, annoyed. He smiled and turned around. "Okay Niisan, just watch this!" he said then ran towards the large rock.

Itachi stopped smiling. "Hey! Don't be reckless..." he said.

When Sasuke jumped into the air and tried to turn upside down, he fell as he sprained his left ankle.

...

Uchiha clan compound.

Fugaku and Mikoto's House.

Living Room.

Fugaku, 40 years old and in his usual outfit, was sitting down on the floor and holding Sasuke's report with his right hand and had his left hand resting on his left knee. Sasuke was sitting on the floor a few feet away from his father as he was smiling.

As Fugaku was looking at Sasuke's report card, he looked at Sasuke and lowered it. "Keep excelling like this and you'll be just like your brother in no time." he said.

Sasuke stopped smiling. "Father... I... I wanted you to say that's my boy to me."

Flashback Ends.

...

Karin looked at Sasuke with concern. "Sasuke." she thought.

"Such behavior is just a process to help you mature! Don't you use it as a cloak to deceive yourself like you've done. If you've attached yourself value to something external to you, even something admirable and praise worthy then you gain nothing. I'll say this one last time. Don't mislead yourself with lies. Those who cannot acknowledge themselves will invariably fail." Itachi said.

"Fail? The way I am now? How can I fail?!" Kabuto questioned then launched his snake head where Sasuke and Karin were hiding.

Itachi looked at Sasuke and Karin. "Sasuke, Karin... Look into my eyes!" he said.

Sasuke and Karin looked into Itachi's eyes before Sasuke gasped.

"That's right, of course!" Sasuke said.

"What?" Karin asked.

before he activated his Mangekyo Sharingan. "Genjutsu... Sharingan!"

"Tsukuyomi!" Itachi said.

Sasuke freed Itachi while Itachi freed Sasuke and Karin. The 3 of them stopped hiding.

Before the snake head came over, Itachi and Sasuke activated their Susano'o ribcages as the snake bit Itachi's Susano'o's sword in his right hand as Sasuke's Susano'o grabbed the snake head with his right hand. The 3 of them watched as the snake head fell dead on the ground.

Kabuto shed one tear from his right eye.

Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin looked at Kabuto again.

"I shall now engage the Izanami. Which means that you have already failed." Itachi said.

Kabuto fell forward on the ground.

"Is it over?" Sasuke asked.

Itachi unactivated his Susano'o ribcage then held up his left index and middle fingers.

A slimy Kabuto came out of the snake head's mouth before he quickly struck Itachi with his chakra coated left hand in his stomach.

Sasuke and Karin were now surprised.

"You, but used to always have everything would never understand at all. The only thing I want is to be who and what I am. I won't let anyone stop me." Kabuto said.

"Sasu... ke..." Itachi said.

Kabuto held up the kunai in his right hand as he was about to control Itachi with it.

Sasuke took out his sword with his right hand and threw it but it was caught by Kabuto's stomach snake. Sasuke used his Susano'o's left hand to hit Kabuto but Kabuto jumped into the air.

Itachi's upper half landed on the ground a few feet away from them and Kabuto landed on the ceiling with Sasuke's sword in his left hand now.

Sasuke and Karin looked up at Kabuto.

Sasuke placed his left hand to his mouth. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" he said, summoning a fireball from his mouth to Kabuto.

"Water Style: Giant Waterfall!" Kabuto said, summoning water.

When the fireball and waterfall clashed the waterfall started to drown the fireball.

Sasuke, who's Susano'o ribcage disappeared, and Karin yelled when they were hit by the water as it flooded the cave. They came out of water gasping for breath as Karin coughed a little bit.

Kabuto looked around the fog before he stopped Itachi, who had his upper and lower half attached together, in the air before he struck him with the sword.

Sasuke and Karin's backs landed on one of pillars.

Sasuke looked at Karin. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Karin looked at Sasuke as she stopped coughing. "Hai." she said.

Itachi stared at Kabuto with his Mangekyo Sharingan before his left eye went blind. Kabuto noticed this before Itachi turned into crows and scattered. Kabuto covered himself and dropped the sword before the crows formed Itachi again and grabbed the sword with his right hand struck Kabuto's upper right corner.

Kabuto got off the ceiling and landed on the ground as his cut off upper right horn fell on the ground. Itachi crouched down on the ground.

"You're just repeating the same old moves. As expected... It makes it easier for me to counter. I already told you, with this body I have the power to recover from any wound you try to inflict, so attacking me is pointless. Since I shut off my vision genjutsu won't work on me. You 3 have no chance of winning." Kabuto said.

"Your fate is already entirely in my hands. All thanks to the Uchiha's other Forbidden Jutsu. That is..." Itachi said.

Kabuto felt a drop of water dripped on his left shoulder, smirking as he coated his right hand in chakra. "Well then... Shall we put that boasting of yours to the test, Itachi?!" he asked then ran towards Itachi.

Itachi and Kabuto jumped into the air as Itachi blocked Kabuto's attack with Sasuke's sword and landed on the ground.

"The Izunami...!" Itachi said.

Itachi and Kabuto jumped a few meters away from each other as they stood on the ground.

Sasuke stopped on the left side of Itachi while Karin stopped on the right side of Itachi.

Itachi held up Sasuke's sword with his right hand. "Sasuke, Karin, do not leave my side." he said.

Kabuto placed his hands on his hips. "Why this just like deju vu." he said then walked forward. "But you bore me... So let's put an end to this fight already."

"Your fate maybe in my hands now... but only you can truly decide how that fate shapes your destiny." Itachi said.

Kabuto stepped on crow feather with his left foot as he continued walking.

"Remember all that told you. You have to think hard." Itachi said.

Kabuto stopped walking. "Sorry but I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about." he said. "Anyway that's enough of your word games. I will have everything that I want... I'm the strongest of all. That is a simple fact!" he said, launching another snake head at them with his stomach snake.

"He who forgives oneself and who can acknowledge one's true self..." Itachi said then activated his orange-red aura. "Is the most powerful of all!" summoning his right Susano'o arm and grabbed the snake head.

A slimy Kabuto came out of the snake head's mouth. "Losers like you..." he said.

Sasuke activated his purple aura and summoned his Susano'o left hand and grabbed Kabuto.

Another slimy Kabuto came out of Kabuto. "Should be quiet!" he said then bit off Itachi's left arm off.

Itachi dropped Sasuke's sword with his right hand.

Kabuto grabbed Sasuke's sword with his left hand and struck Itachi through the chest. Itachi turned into crows and scattered while Kabuto covered himself.

"Huh? What is this...?" Kabuto thought, dropping Sasuke's sword. "What's... going on? What is this doing?"

The crows formed together to make Itachi, who grabbed Sasuke's sword with his right hand and struck Kabuto's upper right horn.

Kabuto stood up on the ground and watched his horn fell on the ground before he felt his cut off upper right horn with his right hand. "How? My horn had already been cut off! How? I shut off my sight... I should be invulnerable to genjutsu. But this is clearly a...!" he thought.

Sasuke unactivated his purple aura and left arm then placed his right hand to his mouth as he made a fireball.

Kabuto took his right hand off of his cut off horn as he watched the fireball coming towards him before he summoned water from his mouth to counter it as water and fog covered the cave.

Kabuto looked to the right side to see something before he felt a drop of water fall on his left shoulder again. "What did you do to me?!" he asked.

"I have you in my Visual Jutsu." Itachi said, having Sasuke's sword in his right hand.

Kabuto coated his right hand with chakra and ran towards Itachi. "Impossible!" he said.

Itachi blocked Kabuto's attack with Sasuke's sword again.

"It's the Izanami!" Itachi said.

Itachi and Kabuto separated from each other as they landed a few meters away from one another.

Kabuto saw Sasuke's sword pierced the cave floor. "How...?" he thought. "Well, it doesn't matter anyway, because no one can stop me now!" he said then ran towards Sasuke's sword. "I am all powerful!" then grabbed Sasuke's sword with his left hand and stepped on a crow feather." he looked down and looked up again and tried to strike Itachi.

Itachi dodged Kabuto's attack and jumped on to the ceiling. Kabuto jumped after him and struck Itachi through the chest. Itachi turned into crows and scattered around. The crows formed again to make Itachi, wwho grabbed Sasuke's sword with his right hand and cut off Kabuto's upper right horn.

Itachi and Kabuto landed on the ground as their backs faced each other a few meters apart.

Kabuto noticed the horns on the floor.

Itachi looked at Kabuto. "As I told you... I hold your fate in my hands right now." he said.

Kabuto looked at Itachi angrily. "Itachi Uchiha!" he said, yelling. He coated his right hand with chakra and ran towards Itachi and tried to strike him.

Itachi dodged the attacks before he ran away. Kabuto followed after Itachi.

"If this is a genjutsu..." Kabuto thought then stopped running behind he made hand signs with both hands, smirking. "Release!"

Kabuto felt another drop of water fall on his left shoulder before he backed away, shocked. He looked down to see that he stepped on a crow feather again. "Huh?" he thought.

Itachi ran towards Kabuto, but Kabuto coated both of his hands with chakra and grabbed Sasuke's sword with his right hand and took it from Itachi with his right hand as he uncoated his hands with chakra then ran towards Itachi.

Kabuto struck Itachi through the chest before he burst into crows and scattered around. Kabuto dropped Sasuke's sword before the crows formed together and formed Itachi as he grabbed the sword with his right hand and cut off Kabuto's upper right horn.

Kabuto jumped a few meters backwards away from Itachi and crouched down and noticed his right upper horn on the ground. "Just stay calm... It is an Uchiha Genjutsu and since Itachi cast it, he won't be easy to release. But there are many ways to undo a genjutsu!" he thought.

"It's useless. Remember all that I've told you." Itachi said, standing up.

"Of course. I'll just copy the same trick that you 2 use before!" Kabuto said then summoned his Tayuya and a flute on his stomach snake. "Tayuya! Demon Flute: Chains of Fantasia!" he thought.

Itachi closed his eyes and shook his head before he stopped and looked at Kabuto.

Kabuto's Tayuya played the flute.

"This will switch from Itachi's control over to Tayuya's control." Kabuto thought.

Kabuto immediately felt another drop of water fall on his left shoulder again then backed away and fell down then his right hand touched a crow feather, making him shocked and almost immediately get up when Itachi came at him with Sasuke's sword. Kabuto jumped into the air as Itachi followed him.

"Then, I'll do this!" Kabuto said then placed his hands together and made hand signs. "Sage Art: Inorganic Animation!"

The cave spikes pierced Itachi and he turned into crows and scattered.

Kabuto landed on the ground and crouched down. "There! This whole area is under my control. Better retreat for now..." he said.

The cave spikes moved back to their normal setting.

Kabuto started to run for the exit and he noticed that Itachi was coming towards him. "Damn it! Don't mess with me!" he said, coating both of his hands in chakra.

Itachi blocked Kabuto's attack with Sasuke's sword and after a few seconds they separated from each other by jumping a few meters away from each other.

Sasuke stopped on the left side of Itachi and Karin stopped on the right side of Itachi.

Itachi held up Sasuke's sword with his right hand.

Kabuto became surprised.

Itachi was still blind in his left eye. "He cannot escape this loop. He'll remain stuck inside this unsorary." he said.

"So this is the other Uchiha Forbidden Jutsu! The companion to Izanagi." Sasuke said.

"What another very interesting jutsu from the Uchiha clan." Karin said.

From left to right, Sasuke, Itachi, and Karin were standing in front of Kabuto was wasn't moving as he was standing up.

Itachi placed his left hand on top of Kabuto's head.

"A jutsu that decides one's fate... This is the Izanami." Itachi said. "It makes it easier to cast my real Visual Genjutsu on him by keeping him trapped in a small loop like this."

"So then, right now Kabuto's caught in the loop you've created?" Sasuke asked. "And that's the Izanami? When did you cast it?"

"Yeah." Karin said.

Itachi took his left hand off of Kabuto's head then turned around to look at Sasuke and Karin. "The very first time Kabuto stabbed me with that blade." he said.

Sasuke and Karin started to remember what happened earlier.

"Way back then, huh?" Sasuke questioned.

"So that's the strange feeling that I sensed." Karin said.

"But how? You said that it was a Visual Jutsu that worked even without vision. How can a Visual Jutsu work without eyesight?" Sasuke asked.

"Izanami is a Visual Jutsu that works with a physical senses of both yourself and your opponents." Itachi said.

Sasuke and Karin became interested.

"The physical senses of 2 people?" Sasuke questioned.

"As you are battling your opponent, you use your Visual Prowess to take a record, like a picture, of the sensation you and your opponent are feeling in that instant. We'll call that exhibit A. As time progresses, you find that exhibit B is a more important moment then you record exhibit C and so on with Sharingan. Then you recreate those exact physical senses. So you're using your powers to create a perfect copy of exhibit A. We'llcall this A prime. By overlaying and connecting A to A prime, the Izanami also links a path including B prime and C prime to create fluctuations within a fixed time. In other words, it's the power to create an infinite loop. Naturally, all in exchange for one's own sight of course, exactly like Izanagi." Itachi said.

"Very interesting." Karin said.

Sasuke looked down at the ground. "So Kabuto's consious is trapped inside the loop that you created." he said then stopped looking down. "He'll be fighting a phantom me, a phantom Karin, and a phantom you for all eternity then."

"He's really gonna be stuck in there for forever?" Karin asked.

"Not quite. There's an escape route built into the jutsu. He could easily disengage. You see the Izanami was developed to admonish and save an Izanagi user." Itachi said.

Sasuke and Karin became surprised.

"What does that mean?" Sasuke asked.

"You 2 know a little bit about the Izanagi already." Itachi said then held up his right hand midway. "It is a perfect Uchiha Visual Jutsu designed to change destiny. If something doesn't go the way you want it to, you can just erase that outcome and start all over. Ultimately, you can pick and choose the most desirable end result."

Sasuke and Karin continued to stare at Itachi.

"What I'm about to tell you 2 is the story of the Uchiha's Izanagi and how the Izanami came to be. I want to be sure you 2 know this." Itachi said.

"The Izanami... and the story of its creation?" Sasuke questioned.

"How did it all began?" Karin asked, folding her arms.

Itachi began telling the story.

"A long time ago, there was a great battle that the Uchiha clan could not afford to lose. The Izanagi turned out to be an invaluable jutsu... However... a jutsu that allows the caster to choose their own ending carries with them a bigger risk and only the loss of ones vision. Most who use that overly powerful Visual Jutsu couldn't handle it and abused the power that they held. If there's only one Izanagi user there's was no problem, but when 2 or more used it there was a scramble within the Uchiha Clan to see who could get the best result. The Izanagi's ability to influence outcomes caused much inter-clan rivalry. The Izanami was ultimately created to control it's power." Itachi said.

Sasuke and Karin became shocked for a moment before they continued to listen to the story.

"Normal vision-based genjutsu is powerless against a Visual Prowess... In the first place, reality is a product of chance at we call fate. We cannot predict it." Itachi said then looked at Kabuto. "But Izanagi can twist around an inconvenient reality and lead it to a new fate. At a whim, the user can change the original reality into a new one. To the enemy, a fallen opponent will revive, so it's an intolerable jutsu. If someone is using the Izanagi to change an outcome for their own benefit. An Izanami causes them to circle endlessly in a loop." then looked back at Sasuke and Karin.

"I believed that the Izanagi was the ultimate Visual Jutsu. But that means that the Izanami is a far superior Visual Jutsu. Izanami forms a loop around the physical sensation even stopping Izanagi from warping reality." Sasuke said.

"You're right." Karin said, unfolding her arms.

"Since the Izanami is a jutsu meant for stopping the Izanagi. There's an escape route that's built into the loop." Itachi said.

Sasuke and Karin became shocked again then made a serious face.

"Originally, it was a jutsu to save Uchiha comrades from arrogance and negligence. It's to stop you from taking the easy way out from inconvenient outcomes. Once one accepts the original outcome and stops trying to run from it, the loop will stop. This jutsu guides you towards accepting your face, instead of relying on jutsu to change it. But a jutsu that has an escape route is too dangerous to use in actual combat. That's why the Izanami is a Forbidden Jutsu. If Kabuto stops trying to transform himself, then he'll be able to bring the loop to an end." Itachi said.

"I see. That makes sense." Karin said.

"The Uchiha clan and their history of conflict... The arrogance and recklessness displayed by those who misuse the Izanagi... As well as the clash between them and how they stop by the Izanami... We understand now why both the Izanagi and Izanami came to be Forbidden Jutsu." Sasuke said. "And we also see how one must learn from the past and accept one's fate and then find a way to move on afterward."

Karin looked at Sasuke.

Sasuke held up his hands midway as he stepped forward. "But why? Why'd you even bother casting this jutsu on Kabuto? If there's a way to escape..." he asked putting his arms down, looking at Kabuto.

Itachi and Karin looked at Kabuto.

"He reminds me of the old me." Itachi said.

Sasuke and Karin looked back at Itachi.

Itachi looked back at Sasuke and Karin. "He thinks by acquiring all there is, he can accomplish what ever he wants to. And he makes himself believe that he can't fail, even if that really amounts to lying to himself. I stopped listening to what anyone else said. And I stopped letting myself trust anybody." he said.

Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin looked at Kabuto again.

"In his case, Kabuto is so deluded that he thinks all of these powers are his and his alone. I understand him too well. Both of us were used by the shinobi world... He can neither forgive himself nor accept himself for what he truly is. It's clear that what he's doing is wrong but he's not completely to blame for not being able to realize that. My chance has past me by, but he can still forgive himself before he dies." Itachi said.

Sasuke looked at Itachi angrily. "But why Niisan? Why would you ever feel like you need to help him do that? He is not like you. No you were perfect!" he questioned.

Karin looked angrily at Sasuke. "No, not even close. He killed half of our clans in cold blood!" she said.

Sasuke looked at Karin.

"Karin's right." Itachi said.

Sasuke and Karin looked back at Itachi to see that he was looking at them.

"Sasuke... You know I was going to control you with the Visual Jutsu. I planned to use the Koto Amatsukami. I treated you as though you were a child because I thought you needed my protection. I was unable to trust your strength. It maybe that a perfect being does not exist at all in the whole world. Sometimes, 2 people who appeared to be complete opposites are actually 2 sides of the same coin and they can only succeed when they actually work together. Like the Izanagi and Izanami. Look at me, and find in yourself what I was unable to find in myself. However, do not ever say that I was perfect like Karin told you. First of all..." Itachi said.

...

Kabuto's Mind.

"No, it's impossible! I've already become the perfect being!" Kabuto said.

From left to right, Sasuke, Itachi, and Karin were standing a few meters away from Kabuto.

"But this isn't the real me!" Kabuto said, shedding from his skin.

"How long will you imitate Orochimaru?" Itachi asked.

Kabuto grabbed his glasses from his shedded skin with his right hand and put them on.

"If you want to exit this loop, you must reexamine your mistakes!" Itachi said.

"Shut up!" Kabuto said, taking his right hand off of his glasses. "I know he's going to come at me with a Fire Style Jutsu." he thought then held up his left index and middle fingers. "Water Style: Water Dragon-!" but was cut off.

Itachi held up his left index and middle fingers. "Water Style: Water Dragon Missile!" he said, summoning water.

Kabuto was hit by the water dragon as he was moving backwards in the cave. "He saw that coming with his Sharingan!" he thought then felt drops of water dripped on his left shoulder.

Kabuto saw Itachi coming towards him with Sasuke's sword in his right hand then took off his glasses with his right hand. "But how did I get any of this wrong? Where have I ever made a mistake in all this?" he asked.

Itachi jumped up and prepared to attack Kabuto.

Kabuto started to remember his memories when he was a child. "All I ever wanted was for someone to be there for me. Someone to acknowledge me. Someone to appreciate me. Tell me, where is the mistake in wanting that?!" he thought.

End of Kabuto's Mind.

...

Night Time.

Cave.

"First of all... I should have acknowledged and appreciated myself for the person I was. If I just done that I never would've had to lie to anyone. To myself or to you. If you lie to yourself, how can you have friends who be trustworthy? In the end, all these lies will keep you from seeing your true self." Itachi asked.

...

Kabuto's Mind.

Kabuto put on his glasses again with his right hand and stood up. "If I wasn't trapped here... I'd have won this war by now." he thought. "I'd would've been sleeping right now." he said then hit the water with his right fist. "Damn you, Itachi!" then ran towards him.

Itachi ran towards Kabuto and prepared to strike each other.

End of Kabuto's Mind.

...

Cave.

Itachi turned around as he, Sasuke, and Karin looked at Kabuto.

"I'll stop the Reanimation Jutsu now." Itachi said then stepped a little closer to Kabuto and took his glasses off with his right hand. "And... all the reanimated shinobi will be gone."

Sasuke became surprised.

"And that should bring the war to an end." Itachi said.

"That's good news." Karin said.

Sasuke made a concerned look. "But... you'll be gone too, Niisan." he said.

"But I will have protected my village as I'm Itachi Uchiha of the Leaf once again." Itachi said then looked at Sasuke and Karin. "I have no more regrets."

Sasuke became angry. "But why?! Why help the very village that did this to you that put you where you are now?" he asked, yelling. "You maybe able to forgive the Leaf, but I cannot! You have no more regrets? What about what you've made me become?! What about that, huh?!" then started panting.

Itachi started to remember what he said to Naruto earlier. "I'm not the one who can change you, Sasuke." he said then looked at Kabuto.

Sasuke stopped panting.

"But I can stop this jutsu. This Reanimation jutsu is something that I can effect. In doing so, I'll fulfill my promise to Naruto at least." Itachi said.

Sasuke and Karin became shocked.

"Oniisan!" Karin said.

Itachi placed his left hand on Kabuto's forehead. "I will stop the Reanimation Jutsu!" he said then opened Kabuto's eyes. "Tell me the signs to stop the Reanimation Jutsu. Tsukuyomi!" using his Mangekyo Sharingan. "I've kept my promise. I leave the rest up to you... Naruto."

"Ne (Rat), Ushi (Ox), Saru (Monkey), Tora (Tiger), Tatsu Dragon), I (Boar)..." Kabuto said.

"That's it, huh..." Itachi thought. "All right... Ne..." he said.

Kabuto put his hands together and made a Rat hand sign.

"Ushi..." Itachi said.

Kabuto made the Ox hand sign.

"Saru." Itachi said.

Kabuto made the Monkey hand sign.

Sasuke looked at Karin.

Karin looked at Sasuke for a moment before she looked at Itachi and sighed then started to talk. "Our fathers were best friends that and so close that they were brother's. I believed that it was true because when my father sacrificed his life for everyone to live, your father activated his Mangekyo Sharingan. I know you knew that Itachi. My father wouldn't have done something like what you have done years ago, he would've found a solution that didn't lead to that. Our clans are slowly growing back because of that." she said then looked down at the ground. "Danzo hated the Uchiha clan and Uzumaki clan and he wanted us to die but he wanted our abilities. After what you did, you're no better than Danzo." then looked at Itachi. "However, you're helping to stop the war that everyone is trying to stop and I mostly believe everyone deserves a second chance, yours happened when you became a Reanimated shinobi. So I can slowly forgive for what you done, but I'll never forget. At least, when you go back you can see my parents again."

Itachi stayed silent but he glanced at Karin for a moment before he looked back at Kabuto.

When Karin was done talking, Sasuke looked back at Itachi before he closed his eyes and opened them again to have crow black eyes.

"I guess... it won't matter what I say too, will it? As soon as we saw you... we tailed you because I wanted to confirm whether or not Tobi and Danzo told us the truth. But that wasn't the only thing I was able to verify. When I'm with you, the past comes flooding back. The feelings I had as a child, of adoring for my Niisan. That's the reason why... the closer I get to you the closer we become the how we were before as brothers and the more I understand you. The more I come to hate the hidden leaf village for causing you so much pain! I hate it more now than I ever hate it before! I know what you want me to do. How you want me to be. You're my big brother so I know your going to disapprove. But it's because I'm your brother that, no matter what you say, you're not going to stop me even! Even if you protect the village now... I will still destroy it someday." Sasuke said.

"Tora." Itachi said.

Kabuto made Tiger hand sign.

"Totsu." Itachi said.

Kabuto made Dragon hand sign.

"So it's good bye." Sasuke said.

"Make sure to tell my parents that I love them." Karin said.

"I." Itachi said.

Kabuto made the Boar hand sign.

"Reanimation Jutsu... Release!" Itachi said.

Itachi, Sasuke, and Karin felt wind blowing through their hair for a moment.

"Niisan..." Sasuke thought.

Itachi began to glow a bright white light.

Karin suddenly sensed 2 familiar chakras coming to their location.

Itachi turned around and faced Sasuke and Karin, he raised his right arm up. "There is, still time..." he said then slowly walked towards Sasuke.

Sasuke and Karin became surprised.

"I feel like my consciousness is slowly fading... I must tell you 2 everything before I say goodbye and we part for good. There is no need to lie anymore. The night I left you, I did everything Danzo and Tobi told you 2 I did. I'll show you 2... the whole truth." Itachi said then used his Sharingan on Sasuke and Karin.

Sasuke and Karin felt themselves blackout before they saw they were near a forest and water, and Shisui, 19 years old and in his usual outfit, was facing the waterfall as Itachi, 13 years old and in his old Anbu outfit was facing Shisui.

...

Genjutsu.

"These are... Itachi's memories." Sasuke thought.

"This must've happened before the massacres." Karin thought.

"It's seems we can't fully prevent the Uchiha and Uzumaki coup d'etat. And if civil war erupts in the Leaf, the other nations will evade for sure. Real war will break out. When I tried to stop all this with the Kotoamatsukami, Danzo stole my right eye." Shisui said then looked at Itachi. "That man doesn't trust me at all. He intends to protect the village his way, no matter what it takes or how it looks. I suspect he'll come after my left eye as well. So I'll give it to you before he has a chance." taking out his left eye with his left hand and fully turned towards Itachi.

"Shisui..." Shisui thought.

"You're the only person I can count on, my best friend. Please protect the village... the Uchiha and Uzumaki names. 3 of them." Shisui said, handing his left eye to Itachi.

...

Night Time.

Hokage Mansion.

Meeting Room.

From left to right, Homura, 63 years old and in his usual outfit, Hiruzen, 64 years old and in his old Hokage robes, Minato, 32 years old and in his usual outfit, Koharu, 63 years old and in her usual outfit, and Danzo, 64 years old and in his usual outfit, were sitting at a long brown table with 5 seats as Itachi, in his old Anbu outfit, was bowing.

"We cannot allow such a thing!" Koharu said. "If they are going to start a revolution then use it try to usurp our power, then we have no choice but to judge the Uchiha and Uzumaki as traitors to the Hidden Leaf!"

"Please wait, Koharu. Don't rush to such a decision." Hiruzen said.

Danzo looked at Hiruzen. "However, Hiruzen the Uchiha clan and Uzumaki clan will not be swayed. And since that is in fact the case we must take measures to avoid any mayhem." he said then looked forward. "And that includes innocent children too."

Hiruzen looked at Itachi. "Don't say such things in front of Minato and Itachi. Minato's married into the Uzumaki clan and as well as family there." he said.

"Besides which, only half of the Uchiha and Uzumaki clans decided peace but our battle against them will be far from an easy task. There's got to be some sort of strategy we can use!" Minato said then looked at Danzo.

"They all want to and we're in a race against time here. Are ought to strike them preheptively before their first moves. If we join forces and use our respective Black Ops to launch a surprise attack from behind, it will be over in no time." Danzo said.

Minato looked forward. "The Uchiha and and Uzumaki are our comrades in arms. I would like to use words first and peace before violence. Me and Hiruzen will come up with a strategy. Itachi... it doesn't have to be long but by me as much time as you can before I talk to him." he said.

...

Night Time.

Cave.

Danzo and Itachi were facing each other as they stood a few feet away.

"Despite what Lord 4th and former Lord 3rd said, they will move to protect the Leaf if push comes to shove. That's the kind of men they are. In which case, as the Hokage even Minato will have to take desive measures whether it starts a war or not. Once the coup d'etat happens the Uchiha and Uzumaki's will lock themselves into a faith of getting annihilated. Including your innocent little brother and Minato's son and neice, who knows nothing. However, there is a way to spare just the halves, prior to any revolt. If things come to pass, those 3 will likely come to know everything. And if they witness a Leaf Shinobi slaughter half of their clans, it will give them a vengful heart towards the Leaf! And then I'm afraid that they will unfortunately will have to die as well or be locked up."

"Is that a threat?" Itachi asked.

"No, I just like you to make a choice. Either align yourself with half of the Uchiha and Uzumaki, launch the couch d'etat, and die along with the half of them. Or side with the Leaf, save you the other half of the Uchiha and Uzumaki clans before the revolt and then help us eliminate half of the Uchiha and Uzumaki. But no matter what happens, to protect leaf this must be be quelled before mayhem can arise. The only way who can handle this mission is you a double agent from the, Uchiha, Uzumaki, and the Leaf. There is no one else... Itachi." Danzo said then closed his eyes. "Itachi, this will make you be the most painful mission for you. But on the other hand, this will allow half of your clan and the Uzumaki clan to be spared. I know you care about the village as much as I... Will you accept this mission?"

Itachi closed his eyes and turned around then started walking away.

...

Forest.

Tobi, in his old usual outfit, blanchy, and Itachi, in his usual outfit, were standing a few feet away from each other.

"How did you know about me?" Tobi asked.

"You slipped through the highest level of Leaf Security and went to examine Nakano Shrine's secret stone tablet. Only the Uchiha are aware of its location." Itachi said. "After that, I've kept an eye your movements, and looked into what kind of character you are and what your idealogy is."

"Well then, that saves me much time. So you already know that I'm an Uchiha myself and bear hatred for both the Leaf and my own clan..." Tobi said.

"I have terms. I'll help you exact revenge upon half of the Uchiha Clan. But you are not to harm the other half and the village itself. Nor... Sasuke Uchiha.

...

Uchiha clan compound.

Itachi, in his Anbu outfit, was crouching down on top of a pole as he watched Sasuke, 8 years old and in his old usual outfit, was running towards the Uchiha compound.

"I regret now, not telling you everything before it had come to this." Itachi thought.

End of Genjutsu.

...

Sasuke and Karin were now looking at Itachi again, surprised.

"There's nothing more to say. I have told you 2 the whole truth. I won't have to ever again... I always lied to you and asked for your forgiveness. Deliberately keeping you at a distance by my own hand. All because I didn't want you to get caught up in any of this. But now, I believe... that perhaps you 2 could've changed half of the half Uchiha and half of the Uzumaki as well." Itachi said, moving closer to Sasuke.

Karin stepped back a little to give the 2 brothers some space.

"If I had only come to you from the start... and looked you straight into your eyes and told you the truth, then I wouldn't have had to stand before you, as a failure, telling you all of this. But." Itachi said, making it to Sasuke and was about poke his forehead but decided not to. "So this time, I want to impart at least this truth to you..." he grabbed the back of Sasuke's head with his right hand and pulled him towards him as their foreheads were touching, he smiled. "You 2 don't ever have to forgive me. And no matter what you do from here on out, know this... No matter what I will love you always."

Sasuke and Karin became surprised.

Itachi's soul separated from the dead unknown male Konoha shinobi and the pieces of paper shedded and fell to the ground then he started to rise up.

"Don't worry, Karin. I'll tell your parents what you said." Itachi said.

Sasuke and Karin continued to stare at Itachi until he disappeared as well as the light.

Karin felt tears coming from her eyes before she wiped them under her glasses with her right hand before she looked at Sasuke to see that he was just standing there.

"Sasuke…" Karin said, a little bit concerned.

"I…" Sasuke said then started to think of Itachi, his parents, and his clan. "What does it mean to have a clan?" then started to think some people in the village and Konoha. "What does it mean to belong to a village?" then started to think about the Raikage, the Tsuchikage, Minato, Gaara, and the Mizukage. "What does it mean to be a shinobi?" then started to think about Kakashi, Yamato, Naruto, Karin, Kiba, Shikamaru, Choji, Sakura, and other villagers.

Sasuke looked up at the ceiling. "What am I supposed to…" he said.

Karin was about to say something to Sasuke but turned to look up at the upper right side of the cave ceiling as she sensed 2 familiar chakras. "Not them again." she said, annoyed.

A few tiny rocks fell from the ceiling before some of ceiling collapsed, the dust cloud appearing.

Sasuke and Karin jumped a few meters backwards and looked up to see Jugo, in his usual outfit, and Suigetsu, in his usual outfit excluding his sandals, and a black cloak.

Suigetsu smiled. "Ha. Found you 2." he said, laughing a little.

"It's you 2." Sasuke said.

Jugo and Suigetsu jumped and landed a few feet away from Sasuke and Karin.

"That's right." Suigetsu said.

Karin folded her arms. "How did you find us?" she asked.

"Jugo used the birds to sense you." Suigetsu said. "But what are you 2 doing here, anyway?"

"Putting a stop to the Reanimation Jutsu." Sasuke said.

Suigetsu became confused. "Huh? You've always been like this you know that? You never really feel the need to explain things in better details do you? Look it's been awhile since we've seen you 2 so just tell us what you 2 really been doing." he asked.

Karin became annoyed. "He's telling the truth." she said.

Sasuke raised his right arm as he pointed at something with his right index finger.

Jugo and Suigetsu turned around.

"What?" Suigetsu asked.

The dust cloud disappeared to reveal Kabuto.

"That's Kabuto." Sasuke said.

Suigetsu became confused.

"Kabuto was the one who casted the Reanimation Jutsu." Sasuke said.

"Told you Sasuke was telling the truth." Karin said, unfolding her arms.

…

A few minutes later.

From left to right, Sasuke and Karin were sitting on the lower part of the rocks. Suigetsu was in front of Kabuto as he was examining him. And Jugo, who now had 2 birds on his shoulders, was crouching down on the right side of Anko.

"What are we gonna do now?" Karin asked, looking down at the cave ground.

"I'm not sure." Sasuke said.

"So this is Kabuto? He's kind of gross, huh? And this thing sticking out of his it looks like some kind of huge-" Suigetsu said but was cut off.

"Just leave him alone, Suigetsu." Sasuke said.

Jugo looked down at Anko. "She's still alive." he said.

Sasuke looked at Jugo and Suigetsu. "Listen. What are guys want with us after all this time?" he asked then raised his right arm. "Why did you go out of your way to look for us?" the lowered his right arm.

Karin looked at Suigetsu.

Suigetsu stopped looking at Kabuto and looked at Sasuke smiling. "Oh yeah. That's the thing." he said then reached into his cloak with both hands and started looking. "Wait. Where is it?" then looked at Sasuke. "We found something incredible in one of the hideouts." then turned around and walked towards Sasuke and Karin, still looking. "Now where is it?" then stopped.

Sasuke, Suigetsu, and Karin looked at Jugo, who had Anko over his right shoulder, was walking towards them.

"Earlier, you said that you, Itachi, and Karin stopped Kabuto's Reanimation Jutsu right? But if it really worked the way it was supposed to why's Madara still here?" Jugo asked then stopped walking.

Sasuke and Karin became surprised.

"What?!" Karin asked.

Sasuke started to remember Itachi and some of his memories before he made a calm face. "I see. So it wasn't stopped then." he said.

Suigetsu looked at Jugo, annoyed and angry. "Can't you see that I'm talking to Sasuke! Don't interrupt me like that." he said then smiled as he reached into his cloak again with both hands and pulled out a scroll with his right, smiling. "Anyway, never mind all that." then stepped a few feet away from Sasuke, holding out a scroll. "Here!"

Sasuke and Karin looked at the scroll.

"Take a look at it!" Suigetsu said.

Sasuke grabbed the scroll from Suigetsu, who lowered his arms, with his right hand before he opened it with both hands then he and Karin examined the scroll.

"I know this. I was shown this twice by one of my clan members." Karin said.

Suigetsu raised his arms. "See! Amazing isn't it?!" he asked. With this scroll, we Taka can take over the entire shinobi world!"

"This is it..." Sasuke said.

Suigetsu became confused as he lowered his arms.

Sasuke looked up from the scroll. "The human who's all-knowing..." he said then stood up as he now held the scroll in his left hand.

Jugo, Suigetsu, and Karin looked at Sasuke.

"Now. I need to go meet up with someone. I'm leaving." Sasuke said.

"Who exactly are you going to meet?" Karin asked, standing up.

"Huh? Meet who?" Suigetsu asked.

"Orochimaru." Sasuke said.

"What?!" Karin asked, surprised.

"Huh?! What are you talking about? You already killed Orochimaru, remember?! I wanted you to use this scroll to..." Suigetsu said, moving his arms around.

Sasuke and Suigetsu looked at Anko.

"Don't you think it's possible that someone as tenacious as Orochimaru might not be killed so easily? And even if I do find him vile and repulsive... I still need him to do something for me." Sasuke said. "The clan... The village... It's time to go see the all knowing."

Suigetsu looked at Sasuke again. "I don't get it. How can you talk to Orochimaru? Who exactly is this all knowing person?" he asked.

"That isn't something you need to know right now." Sasuke said.

Suigetsu placed his right hand on his head, closing his eyes. "What? I don't get this. But it doesn't really matter." he asked then opened his eyes as he took his right hand off of his head. "In any case, you can't because Orochimaru must never be revived! You're planning on asking Orochimaru for help with controlling the power of the scroll aren't you? But you don't have to. You can learn to do it on your own, I know it. I mean that's why I looked for you 2... And that's why I'm giving the scroll to you."

Sasuke put the scroll in his pouch with his right hand. "There are still things only Orochimaru can do." he said.

"I hate to say this but Suigetsu's right. You don't need to do that. I know you this scroll and we can do this together." Karin said.

Sasuke looked at Karin for a moment before he jumped forward and landed a few feet away from Jugo and Anko.

"Sasuke doesn't believe we can do that." Karin thought, a little hurt.

"Sasuke. Just listen to us. You were Orochimaru's favorite weren't you? His star pupil. So why can't you do it?" Suigetsu asked.

Sasuke looked at Suigetsu. "Suigetsu! Just don't." he said.

"Huh? What?" Suigetsu asked.

Sasuke looked forward. "Don't underestimate Orochimaru." he said then walked over to Jugo and Anko.

Jugo nodded as Sasuke stopped walking. Jugo put Anko off of his right shoulder with both hands and sat her down on the floor. Sasuke kneeled down and examined Anko's curse mark as he held up his hands.

"What? You idiot! I don't underestimate that guy at all! It's just the opposite! You do. The only reason that you defeated Orochimaru was because both his arms have been rendered useless by the Reaper Death Seal, that's all. You're the one who's underestimated him! You know even if he is revived somehow he'd probably still won't be able to use his arms but he'll still be dangerous. He's gonna come after your body again! If he finds out about this war, he's going to want to be apart of it. He wants to destroy the Leaf too remember?! And that means that Team Taka will get all mixed up in this war as well! Is that what you want?" Suigetsu asked, moving his arms around.

Karin made a serious face.

Sasuke placed his hands together.

"We've only now surpassed our mentors. This was supposed to be our time to shine! Look, nobody wants to see Orochimaru ever again." Suigetsu said then closed his eyes. "Hasn't he caused us enough trouble?"

"Shut up, Suigetsu." Sasuke said then looked at Suigetsu. "Please just go and dig out a piece of Kabuto's flesh and bring it over here to me."

Suigetsu opened his eyes as he looked at Sasuke, annoyed. "Huh? You don't listen to me, but for some reason you expect me to listen to you?" he asked.

Jugo started to walk over to Kabuto. "Fine. I'll do it." he said.

Suigetsu placed his right hand on the top of his head again, closing his eyes. "So that's how it's gonna be, huh?" he asked then opened his eyes and took his right hand off of his head. "Are you really sure about all this, Jugo? Orochimaru's going to be resurrection, you know..."

Jugo stopped in front of Kabuto and looked at Suigetsu. "I don't mind. Sasuke's will is Kimimaro's will." he said then looked Kabuto. "I will abide by it." transforming the his right hand and little of the right side of his face.

"Still the idiot that is foolishly loyal to Sasuke despite what happened because of what a dead friend told him." Karin thought, sighing.

Jugo placed his right hand on Kabuto's chest and started to remove some of his skin.

Suigetsu stepped on the right side of Jugo as he looked at him, annoyed. "You're the same as always. But what is it even going on here?" he asked.

Jugo removed his right hand from Kabuto's chest as he held some of his flesh. He looked at Suigetsu. "This is called Sage Transformation in my village. Just like my original transformation. But in all of my clones, it's called Curse Mark Transformation." then walked over to Sasuke and Anko then placed Kabuto's flesh on Anko's curse mark.

Kabuto's flesh fused with Anko's flesh before her curse mark glowed red.

Sasuke started to remember what Kakashi did to him when he still had the curse mark before started making hand signs with both hands. "So the reverse of it is: Curse Unsealing!" he thought then placed his right hand on Anko's curse mark. He pulled out a snake head as it grew and opened it's mouth to reveal Orochimaru, in his usual outfit.

Suigetsu became surprised as Karin became cautious and serious.

Sasuke looked at Orochimaru as he took his right hand off of the snake.

Suigetsu ran to Kabuto and hid behind him as he watched.

The snake spit out Orochimaru, who was now crouching down.

Orochimaru smirked, looking at Sasuke. "Who would have imagined that it would be you of all people who would fucilitate my return!" he said.

Everyone stayed silent.

Orochimaru stood up on the cave ground and looked at Kabuto.

Suigetsu nervously smiled. "Oh, hi there! Long time no see." he said.

Orochimaru continued to look at Kabuto.

Sasuke stood up from the ground and walked towards Orochimaru before he stopped a few feet away. "Orochimaru. There's something that I want you to do for me now." he said.

"You don't need to bother explaining it." Orochimaru said then looked at Sasuke. "I've been watching from inside Anko this whole time. I secured My Sage Jutsu Chakra into those Curse Marks. They're like pieces of my own consiousness."

"Then you know about the war as well?" Sasuke asked.

"Yes, of course." Orochimaru said then looked at Suigetsu. "And I just have one thing to tell you about that, Suigetsu."

Suigetsu became scared. "Huh?" he asked.

"And that is I have no interest in this war at all." Orochimaru said.

Suigetsu became confused. "Huh?!" he asked.

Orochimaru held up his arms. "I mean. It is someone else's war." he said then lowered his arms and looked at Sasuke. "The only thing I'm interested in now is your young body. Yes, that's right my dear Sasuke-kun."

Suigetsu closed his eyes. "I told you!" he thought.

Orochimaru looked at Kabuto again.

Suigetsu opened his eyes as he became nervous.

"But then again, it's not as if I currently possess the strength to steal away from you." Orochimaru said.

"I wouldn't be so sure..." Suigetsu thought.

Sasuke took out the scroll from his pouch with his left hand and held it out to Orochimaru.

Orochimaru looked at Sasuke, serious. "What is your intent in meeting with them?" he asked.

"There's too much that I don't know. So I plan to ask them everything." Sasuke said.

Orochimaru smirked. "Everything, huh? There's no need to know it all just yet. You are still a child after all." he asked.

"No, you're wrong." Sasuke said then remember some memories of Itachi earlier, closing his eyes. "I'm not a child anymore. I can't stay a child." then opened his eyes. "I want to discover what started all of it. To find out what I'm suppose to be and what I'm suppose to do."

"Are you questioning your vengeance?" Orochimaru asked.

"Not at all... Not my quest for vengeance itself, not a bit. After reuniting with Itachi, my hatred toward the Hidden Leaf has grown even stronger. It's just... I want to understand how even in death Itachi could call himself a Leaf Shinobi and care about and try to protect the village that dishonored his name. Who was Itachi? What is a village? What is a clan? And so... that is why I have to know everything so I can finally have the answer. I need to see with my own eyes and decide with my own mind what I must do." Sasuke asked.

Everyone stayed silent for a moment as they looked at Sasuke.

"He's no longer the boy who was manipulated by Itachi... or me... or Tobi." Orochimaru thought then turned to Kabuto and walked towards him.

Suigetsu became nervous before ran from Kabuto's body.

Orochimaru stopped in front of Kabuto and placed his left hand on his right shoulder. "What a strange sensation." he thought.

Suigetsu stopped behind Sasuke, who placed the scroll back in his pouch with his left hand. "He's going to absorb all of Kabuto's power, and then kill him! So you better stay alert and watch out. He might try catch you off guard too!" he said.

Orochimaru started transferring some chakra to him from Kabuto then looked at Sasuke. "The current you... isn't half bad." he said.

Kabuto's horns, sage mode, and scales disappeared.

Sasuke and Karin watched closely.

Suigetsu started to become scared again, moving his left arm around. "Didn't I tell you? He did absorb his power!" he said.

Jugo walked and stopped near Sasuke and Suigetsu. "No, you're wrong on that. He undid the Sage Transformation. He took back his own chakra that was inside Kabuto. Not any of Kabuto's chakra."

Orochimaru looked at Sasuke, taking his left hand off of Kabuto's right shoulder. "Very well. I will help you out." he said then walked away. "Come along."

"And just where are we going?" Sasuke asked.

Orochimaru stopped walking as he smirked again. "A place where you and Karin actually know quite well." he said.

"If that creep even thinks about destroying the village, he and Sasuke will see the consequences." she thought.

Jugo and Suigetsu became confused.

Orochimaru looked up at the huge hole in the ceiling. "Shall we be on our way." he said.

Karin walked towards it before she jumped up and out of the cave with Orochimaru, Sasuke, Jugo, and Suigetsu following after her.

...

1 and 1/2 hour later.

Konohagakure.

The crickets were chirping in the night of Konoha.

Orochimaru, Jugo, Sasuke, Suigetsu, and Karin were standing near buildings before they turned around as they suddenly sensed a large amount of chakra.

"What is this chakra?" Suigetsu thought.

"This chakra is... enormous...! And Oniisan...!" Karin thought.

Orochimaru smirked as he looked up at the sky. "Interesting. They all perceive the chakra, even though Karin's the only sensory type." he thought then looked at the rest. "This chakra is..."

Sasuke looked forward. "Let's just go. Hurry up and lead the way, Orochimaru." he said.

Jugo, Suigetsu, and Karin looked forward.

Orochimaru looked down at Sasuke. "It looks like he's a bit concerned... about Naruto-kun." he thought then forward as he walked.

Jugo, Sasuke, Suigetsu, and Karin followed Orochimaru.

Karin made a serious face. "Orochimaru. I know where you're heading and there's no way I'm allowing you to go near them." she thought.

...

10 minutes later.

Uzumaki Clan's Mask Storage Temple.

Orochimaru, Jugo, Sasuke, Suigetsu, and Karin, who were now wearing black hooded cloaks, were standing a few feet away from the Temple.

"So this is it...?" Sasuke asked.

"There seems to be no one here." Orochimaru said.

"This place is enormous." Suigetsu said.

Karin folded her arms. "None of you are going inside." she said.

Jugo, Sasuke, and Suigetsu looked at Karin.

Orochimaru smirked before he walked forward only to be stopped when a clear barrier suddenly appeared around the temple. "What is this?" he asked, attempting to go in again before he stopped.

Jugo, Sasuke, and Suigetsu looked at the clear barrier.

"It's a barrier the my clan created using our chakra to outsiders from stealing our masks for evil purposes." Karin said.

Orochimaru, Jugo, Sasuke, and Suigetsu looked at Karin.

"We need to use one of them." Sasuke said.

"What? So you can revive them and him getting control of his arms then destroy the village?" Karin questioned.

"But we need to use one so Sasuke can answer his questions." Suigetsu said.

"That creep is not going anywhere near them." Karin said.

"What about Naruto-kun?" Orochimaru asked.

Karin looked at Orochimaru, annoyed.

"You won't be able to help him or end the war your clan is also fighting in without it." Orochimaru said.

Karin was about to yell at Orochimaru but stopped herself as started to think about what Orochimaru just said before she closed her eyes and started to think.

Orochimaru, Jugo, Sasuke, and Suigetsu looked at Karin.

Karin sighed before she opened her eyes. "Fine. I'll go into the temple and get the mask but only one person can go with me and that can't come in." she said unfolding her arms walked forward.

Sasuke walked after Karin as they walked up the stairs and into the temple as Orochimaru, Jugo, and Suigetsu stayed outside.

Sasuke and Karin stopped inside the temple.

"Which one is it?" Sasuke asked.

Karin looked around at the masks. "Be patient. I'm trying to look for it." she said then looked up at the upper right side to see a white mask with 2 horns on its head, looked old and was smirking evilly with teeth showing. "Found it." then walked forward and jumped up and grabbed the mask with her right hand before landed on the ground. She looked down at it. "Let's go." then turned around and walked away as Sasuke followed after her.

Sasuke and Karin walked out of the temple and down the stairs.

"You found it." Orochimaru said.

Sasuke and Karin stopped walking.

Karin looked at Orochimaru, annoyed. "Of course I am. I've studied these masks for years." she said.

"Man, this place gives me the creeps... If you found what we were looking for, can we please get out of here?" Suigetsu asked.

"Yes, let's go..." Orochimaru said then looked at Sasuke. "To the place where all the secrets sleep."

Karin looked up into the air as she suddenly sensed a very familiar chakra coming.

Sasuke looked at Karin. "What's the matter?" he asked.

"I sense my Uncle Minato coming here." Karin said.

"What?! Isn't your uncle still the Hokage?" Suigetsu asked.

"Hai and we'd better get going." Karin said.

...

10 minutes later.

Orochimaru, Jugo, Sasuke, Suigetsu, and Karin were walking as a few people were nearby and talking. Suddenly Sasuke and Karin jumped up on the buildings as they were reaching the top.

Orochimaru, Jugo, and Suigetsu stopped walking as they looked up at Sasuke and Karin.

"Huh?" Suigetsu asked.

From left to right, Sasuke and Karin stopped on one of the buildings together before they unhooded themselves with their hands as they looked down at the village.

"This place sure has changed a lot too." Sasuke said

"I wonder how they constructed so fast if it was destroyed?" Karin asked.

Suigetsu placed his right arm on his right arm on his right hip. "What is up with Sasuke and Karin now?" he asked.

"They're like me before Sasuke wanted to destroy the Leaf." Orochimaru said.

Suigetsu looked at Orochimaru confused. "How so?" he asked.

"You see, though they and the village changed. This place still remains their home land. Even though Karin made up her mind, Sasuke needs time to reconfirm his decision and resolve but immersing in sentimentality and by retracing his past." Orochimaru said.

"Hmmm... I see." Suigetsu thought. "So you're over it already then?" he asked.

Orochimaru looked at Suigetsu.

"That and merging sentimentality to confirm your resolve to destroy the Leaf thing." Suigetsu said.

Orochimaru smiled.

"Hey you know, come to think of it all of a sudden were cream topped off subordinates isn't that right?" Suigetsu asked, raising his hands a little. "And right now, we're here inside the Leaf village with all the strong folk away fighting the war. So isn't this like the absolute perfect chance for you?"

"Yes perhaps, well except for one little thing..." Orochimaru said.

Suigetsu became confused, lowering his arms. "Huh?" he asked.

"You're no longer Hebi anymore." Orochimaru said.

...

10 minutes later.

Uchiha Clan compound.

Nakano Shrine.

Orochimaru and Take were inside the shrine as it was empty but still remained cautious. Sasuke removed the seventh tatami mat from the far right with both hands before he made the Naka Shrine Pass Technique hand signs with both hands before a large rectangular grey rock rose from the air as it revealed passage way that had stairs.

"So this is where all of the Uchihas go when they have a meeting." Karin thought, looking down at the entry way.

"Wow, youou use a jutsu to remove the entry stone..." Suigetsu said.

"There's barely any Uchihas here right now." Orochimaru said.

"They all went to war. Let's go." Sasuke said lowering his arms and jumped inside the entry.

Orochimaru, Jugo, Suigetsu, and Karin walked down the stairs and saw the stone tablet in the middle, Uchiha crests, 2 torches lighting up.

Sasuke was standing on the left side near the torch. From left to right, Karin, Suigetsu, Orochimaru, and Jugo were standing a few feet behind Sasuke.

"Well then, I'm going to get started." Orochimaru said then started taking off his cloak with both hands and dropped it to the ground.

Sasuke took his cloak with both hands then dropped it to the ground before he looked at Orochimaru.

"It's best if you stand back." Orochimaru said.

Sasuke turned around and walked away before he stopped near Orochimaru.

Karin took her cloak with both hands and dropped it to the ground before her eyes widened at Minato's chakra coming towards them. "Hurry up. I sense my Uncle Minato coming." she said then walked over to Orochimaru and handed him the mask with her right hand, which Orochimaru accepted with his left hand, and backed away from him and stopped.

Orochimaru put the mask on his face with his left hand and lowered it before he was literally by chakra. He screamed as he moved around and turned around then shadow of the spirit appeared.

Take looked up at spirit.

"It's just like that day." Karin thought, remembering Orochimaru battling Hiruzen and Minato over years ago.

They started to remember what Orochimaru said when they were walking to Konoha.

...

Flashback.

"In order to perform what is written in that scroll. First, the Death God's Mask is necessary. That is inside the Uzumaki Clan's Noh Mask Hall in the compound. And one must allow the Death God of the Reaper Death Seal to possess onself and guide it forth. Slice open the Death God's abdomen and the seal will come undone. Although I shall then end up as a human sacrifice." Orochimaru said.

Flashback Ends.

...

The death God grabbed the knife from his mouth with his left hand and sliced his stomach. Orochimaru screamed as his stomach was also cut open.

...

Flashback.

"However, it will also allow me to get back both of my arms from inside the Death God's belly." Orochimaru said.

Flashback Ends.

3 spirits came out of the death god's belly as well as Orochimaru's power to his arms. The power to Orochimaru's arms returned to Orochimaru while the 3 spirits floated in the air.

Orochimaru raised his arms. "They're mine again!" he said.

...

Flashback.

"If I regain the power in those arms, I can perform the Reanimation Jutsu. That's right... I can revive those 3. Of course in that case, you're well aware of what will then become necessary..." he said.

Suigetsu pointed his right index finger at Orochimaru, shocked. "Ah no, you're planning on using as sacrifices for the Reanimation Jutsu, aren't you?!" he questioned.

"That's not such a bad idea, but we've actually got something better than you guys. Though it's still invisible to you yet." Orochimaru said.

Flashback Ends.

...

Orochimaru took off the mask with his left hand before the death God disappeared. "Jugo, Sasuke, Suigetsu... Get ready now!" he said.

"Got it. Right." Jugo said, walking over to Sasuke and placed his right hand on Sasuke's right shoulder and his right arm transformed alongside some of the right side of his face.

...

Flashback.

"Now Jugo, give Sasuke some of your curse Mark Sage Power." Orochimaru said.

Flashback ends.

...

Sasuke closed his eyes.

Karin could sense her Uncle Minato getting closer. "We better hurry up." she thought.

As Jugo gave Sasuke some of his chakra, Jugo turned into a child again as 5 white Zetsu clones came out of Sasuke, who opened his eyes.

...

Flashback.

"And when you do, the Zetsus that Tobi stuck on to Sasuke to watch him shall respond and rise up to the surface." Orochimaru said.

Flashback Ends.

...

Orochimaru was crouching down as he held his stomach with his right hand, bleeding from his mouth.

"Damn it! How did you-?!" one of the white Zetsus asked but was cut off.

"I know your Hashirama's cells inside and out from all of my experiments." Orochimaru said then coughed. "And that includes how to detect you of course. 5 of you huh?" then 5 white snakes came out of his left leg pants and slithered away. "Tobi sure wasn't taking any chances!"

The snakes wrapped themselves tightly around the white Zetsus, who were now laying on the ground.

"When I reclaimed and reabsorbed my chakra from Kabuto, all his intel was transferred into me as well. And he'd thoroughly investigated the 5 of you that had been attached to Sasuke. I possess the DNA of those 3 since I love collecting and storing knowledge too." Orochimaru said.

...

A little later.

From left to right, Jugo, who was holding down a white Zetsu clone on the floor, Karin, who was standing up, Sasuke, who was standing up, and Suigetsu, who was holding down one of the white Zetsu clones, were near the stone tablet as Orochimaru stood in front of them.

Orochimaru was crouching down as his right hand was on the ground and making a seal as he binded the 3 white Zetsu clones with his seal.

"Suigetsu, Jugo... Take care of the remaining 2." Orochimaru said.

"Okay, Orochimaru-sama! You got it." Suigetsu said, opening the white Zetsu clone's mouth with both of his hands.

Jugo absorbed one of the white Zetsu clones as he turned back into his regular size and age again.

Orochimaru lifted his right hand up. "Reanimation Jutsu!" he said then placed his right hand on the floor again.

The 3 spirits entered the 3 white Zetsu clones as they started to transform into the 3 dead Hokages. From left to right, Hashirama Senju, a tall man that looked to be in his early 30s, tanned skin, black eyes, straight waist-length dark brown hair typically styled in a centre-parted fringe that framed his face, in his usual outfit, a dark red armour worn over a simple black suit, black sandals, red armour was constructed from numerous metal plates, formed into multiple protective guards along his body; each collar of his shoulder guards bore the Senju symbol, and a black clothed Konohagakure forehead protector, Tobirama Senju, a fair-skinned man that lokked to be in his early 30s, white, shaggy hair, red eyes, three red markings on his face, one under each of his eyes and one on his chin, in his usual outfit, a dark blue armour with a distinctive white fur collar over a simple black suit, armour was constructed from numerous metal plates, formed into multiple protective guards along his body., beneath his shoulder armour he wore two bands on each arm, black sandals and a grey happuri in place of the Konohagakure forehead protector, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked to be 69 years old but was 72 years old, in his shinobi battle armour, a black and green armoured hood with a bandanna-like forehead protector over this, tied with two black long straps, a black jumpsuit, mesh segments over the lower portions of his limbs, and a green gauntlet that covered much of his right arm, and dark brown sandals, as their eyes had black irises now.

Karin felt her heart beating faster as she sensed her Uncle Minato a few meters away. "He's here...!" she thought.

"Now, here I come!" Orochimaru said before a white snake came of his mouth and entered the white Zetsu clone's mouth that Suigetsu had before he started transforming to his usual outfit.

Suigetsu released the former white Zetsu clone to the now Orochimaru.

Orochimaru smirked. "Yes. They, who are all-knowing..." he said then stood up.

Minato, in his usual outfit as he activated his Sage Mode, suddenly appeared on the left side of Hiruzen. "Karin, what are you guys doing here?" he asked.

"U-uncle Minato...!" Karin said.

"He's fast." Suigetsu said, standing up.

Jugo stood up as well.

"The previous Hokages!" Orochimaru said.

Minato unactivated his Sage Mode as he looked at the 3 dead Hokages. "You reanimated them." he said then looked back at Orochimaru and Team Taka.

"That's the first Hokage?" Suigetsu asked, pointing his left index finger at Hashirama. "The real Hashirama who's been touted as a God of Shinobi?" then lowered his left arm.

Hashirama became confused.

"Don't tell me it's that shinobi Ochimaru again!" Tobirama said.

Hashirama looked at Hiruzen and Tobirama. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Hiruzen looked at Hashirama. "I suspect what's going on is that he undid the Reaper Death Seal, the very same thing that sealed us away and then performed the Reanimation Jutsu." he said then looked forward.

"No way... You solved how to undo that Sealing Jutsu?" Minato asked, looking at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru smirked as he transformed completely to his usual self and outfit.

"How did you do that Orochimaru?" Minato asked.

"You underestimate me, Minato. It was originally a Sealing Jutsu in the Uzumaki Clan... I extensively researched the old ruins and scattered the documents of the clan's old home ever since I lost my jutsu." Orochimaru said.

Karin looked at Orochimaru serious. "There must have been copies left behind since he can't have researched them in the village." she thought then looked forward.

Tobirama folded his arms as he looked at Minato.

Minato looked at Hashirama. "Well Lord First... it appears that you 3 have been recalled to the world of the living." he said.

Hashirama looked at Minato confused. "Who the hell are you?!" he asked.

Hiruzen became confused as he gasped then looked at Minato.

"You don't remember 3 years ago?" Minato asked then turned around and pointed his hoari with both hands. "The 4th Hokage, sir."

Hashirama smiled. "Oh? The 4th Hokage, you say?" he asked.

Minato stopped pointing as he turned back around.

Suigetsu stood on the left side of Sasuke as Orochimaru and Team Taka watched the scene.

"Nice, nice!" Hashirama said then spreaded his arms. "So the village has remained stable then!"

"Uh, not actually, the village was destroyed a few months ago and rebuild again but I disappeared for awhile before returning." Minato said.

Hashirama stopped smiling as he placed his arms down. "Hm? Is that so..." he asked then walked forward and stopped near Hiruzen. "So who was temporarily the 5th Hokage then." raising his arms a little bit.

"Your granddaughter, Princess Tsunade." Orochimaru said.

Hashirama lowered his arms as he became gloomy. "Tsuna, huh? he asked.

Minato closed his eyes as he smiled nervously.

"How long were you gone and is the village still okay?" Hashirama asked.

"Is there something to be worried about?" Minato asked, opening his eyes.

Hashirama stopped becoming gloomy as he smiled again. "She was my first grandchild, so I spoiled her rotten! In the end, she eventually picked up my gambling habit I'm afraid..." picturing a kid Tsunade then laughed.

Suigetsu became confused. "He's not quite what I expected of someone considered to be the God of Shinobi! How do I put it, uh?" he thought.

"He's different from the last time I saw him but then again he was fighting the 3rd Hokage and my Uncle Minato." Karin thought.

Hashirama stopped laughing.

Tobirama raised his right arm as he looked at it. "It's the Reanimation Jutsu again... I can't believe the Jutsu I devised would be used so casually." he said then lowered his right arm.

"Well, it really isn't all that complex a jutsu. However, you should not have created it in the first place." Orochimaru said.

Tobirama looked at Orochimaru confused. Hashirama, Hiruzen, and Minato looked at Orochimaru as well.

"Second-sama... Many of the policies that you created and jutsus that you'd developed causing problems later on down the line. Even now..." Orochimaru said.

Hashirama, who stopped smiling, Hiruzen, and Minato looked at Tobirama.

Tobirama looked at Orochimaru annoyed as he pointed his left index finger at him. "Why you! Are you planning to attack the Leaf again?!" he asked.

Hashirama, Hiruzen, and Minato looked at Orochimaru.

Tobirama folded his arms.

"I took away your jutsu in exchange for my own life. Yet even now you still and then at this time you revived me, your former master to pick me against the Leaf and Minato!" Hiruzen said.

Hashirama closed his eyes as he placed his left hand on his head, sighing. "Conflict, no matter what era, huh? For sure it can't be called a great jutsu." he asked then opened his eyes and turned to Tobirama as he lowered his left arm and raised his right arm. "Tobirama, that's why I told you that time to..." but was cut off.

Tobirama looked at Hashirama. "Will you be quiet, Elder brother? I'm trying to talk to this Stripling right now." he asked.

"What? But I..." Hashirama asked but was cut off.

"Shut up!" Tobirama said.

Hashirama lowered his right hand as he became shocked then gloomy as he turned forward.

"So not dignified for the God of Shinobi!" Suigetsu thought.

Orochimaru spreaded his arms. "Please do not misunderstand. I do not have anymore leanings in that direction at all." he said.

Hashirama stopped being gloomy before he, Tobirama, Hiruzen, and Minato looked at Orochimaru.

"Haven't you noticed that I'm not suppressing your personalities. There are certain circumstances are at play this time." Orochimaru said then walked towards Sasuke then stopped on the left side of Suigetsu. "I am merely creating a stage for discourse for his strong desire." lowering his arms.

"I am Sasuke Uchiha and I want to ask you Hokages some things." Sasuke said.

"Hm, you 2 Sasuke and Karin." Hiruzen said.

"You belong to the Uchiha do you? And you girl, judging by your large amounts of chakra and red hair you're from the Uzumaki clan. Of course the boy would stick with the scoundrel but I don't think the girl would." Tobirama asked.

Hashirama looked at Tobirama. "Tobirama! I thought I told you to stop saying things like that!" he said.

Tobirama looked at Hashirama. "You're too soft, elder brother!" he said.

"It doesn't matter." Sasuke said. "3rd and 4th Hokages... why'd you make Itachi do it?"

Minato's eyes widened for a moment.

"So, we take it you 2 learned what happened?" Hiruzen asked.

"Hai." Karin said.

"Itachi's dead... I killed him to avenge half of the Uchiha clan and Uzumaki clan. Afterwards, me and Karin learned the truth from Tobi and Danzo. And I leaned towards swearing vengeance against the Hidden Leaf. However, I want to hear it straight from the 2 of your mouths. Everything regarding Itachi." Sasuke said.

"Is that true, Karin?" Minato asked.

"Yes but Sasuke didn't kill Itachi. He died of natural causes months ago. I secretly examined Itachi's corpse and saw in his blood system that he was taking medications. I'm guessing he knew that he was going to die but wanted Sasuke to believe that." Karin said.

"I see." Minato said.

"So, it came to that... I not only had him kill half of his brethren and the Uzumakis... and bear the false charge of traitor but also to keep tabs on the Akatsuki all by himself. From the time he was a small child, Itachi paid attention to the teachings and signs of the predecessors that no one else gave heed to. He was a sensitive child who understood our village's past and our shinobi. And perhaps, do to that the trappings of the clan never bound Itachi. He was able to think about the future of shinobi and of the village. And always had misgivings regarding those futures even at the age of 7, he thought quite like a Hokage. We left everything to Itachi in his hands alone... and he executed his missions perfectly. He slaughtered half of his clan and the Uzumaki clan, stop the revolt and prevent the coming war all by himself. He even infiltrated the Akatsuki as a spy to protect the village. All on the condition that we protect the other half of the Uchihas and Uzumakis." Hiruzen said.

Sasuke closed his eyes. "So all of it is true." he said.

Karin looked at Sasuke, annoyed. "There was evidence and they told us this and you're finally realizing this. You're pathetic." she said, looking forward. "Now he's becoming slow like Suigetsu." she thought.

"This is all just part of the Uchihas curse at fate. And I can't believe the Uzumakis were also involved." Tobirama said.

Sasuke opened his eyes and looked at Tobirama.

"So they even plotted a coup de ta did they, along with the Uzumaki clan. I'd invisioned it might come to something like that. The rebellion elements bearing Madara's will have been smoldering." Tobirama said.

"But you're the one who drove them to it, Lord Second... It could be said that the seeds were sown with the Uchiha Leaf Police Force you created." Orochimaru said.

"What's did you say?" Tobirama asked.

"Those who control the crime also tend to be very easily disliked. The more authority such a group has, the more conceited it can get. By building the Police Station next to the prison under the pretext of facilitating the monitoring of criminals, you conspicuously shoved the Uchiha Clan to the margins of the village. That's what helped foster the adherents to Madara." Orochimaru said.

Hashirama looked at Tobirama. "Tobirama! Did I not emphasize to you many times not to slight the Uchiha, huh?" he asked.

Tobirama looked at Hashirama. "But I gave them posts that they were very eminently qualified for that if another Madara emerged I thought he could just be dealt with right away. As you well know, Elder brother, the Uchiha are... a clan possessed by evil!" he said.

"Huh?" Karin asked, interested.

"It's like Madara left a psychological scar upon you. To cause such fear of the Uchiha." Orochimaru said.

Hashirama and Tobirama looked at Orochimaru again.

"You stripling. You do not know Madara." Tobirama said.

"Second Hokage, a question for you... What is it about the Uchiha clan? What do you know?" Sasuke asked.

Tobirama closed his eyes and sighed before he opened his eyes again. "Alright, the Senju and Uchiha Clans have a long history. That is a long history of battling with each other. In fact, the 2 clans once bitter enemies." he said.

"I know that much... But what did you mean about the Uchihas being possessed by evil?" Sasuke asked.

Hashirama closed his eyes and opened his eyes again.

"There used to be a thought that in contrast to the Senju Clan, who based their strength on love as opposed to jutsu... The basis of the Uchiha Clan's strength was based on the power of their jutsu. However, the truth is actually different. There is no clan that feels deeper love than the Uchiha. And that's why the Uchihas have suppressed and sealed it away." Tobirama said.

"What did you mean?!" Sasuke asked.

"Once a member of the Uchiha comes to know love it is as if all of his or her previously check emotions are released. They awaken a strong love and power that exceeds even the Senjus awakened." Tobirama said.

"But why is that a problem? It should help the bond with the Senju this super strong power of love shouldn't it?" Suigetsu asked.

"Except that it is quite problematic. This great power hides within at the possibility of losing control. When an Uchiha has known love then loses that deep love. It is replaced by an even greater hate that changes them. I've seen it happen quite a few times and that's when a special condition emerges." Tobirama said.

"A special condition?" Sasuke asked.

"When an Uchiha rise in agony over the loss of the great love or from disappointment in themselves, the unique chakra released in their brains and reacts with the optic nerves changes and appear in the person's eyes. This phenomena is called the Sharingan, the eyes that reflects the heart. The Sharingan taps with the power of that person's heart. Rapidly increasing their strength along with the power of their hate. There were many sensitive individuals among the Uchihas, and nearly all exposed to strong emotions were taken by darkness and fell to evil. The deeper the darkness gets the greater the Visual Prowess until that person can't be stopped just like Madara." Tobirama said.

"Madara cares deeply about his younger brother... His love was, perhaps, greater than your brother's love for you." Hashirama said.

Sasuke closed his eyes.

"I see. My father and Fugaku did have a brother-like relationship but I never thought something like this. No wonder he was able to activate it." Karin thought.

"I thought I'd arranged and guided things since the Uchihas power could be harnessed to serve the village, although if they're self destruction benefited the village been so be it either way in the end they were of use to the Leaf Village." Tobirama said.

Hashirama looked at Tobirama. "Tobirama! Stop saying such things! You are speaking to an innocent Uchiha child!" he said.

"What is all important is the village. The village is the keystone. I know you know that too, elder brother." Tobirama said.

"It doesn't bother me. I am neither innocent nor a child." Sasuke said, opening his eyes as he activated his Mangekyo Sharingan.

Karin looked at Sasuke, serious. "What are you doing?!" she asked.

Hashirama and Tobirama looked at Sasuke's eyes.

"It's not the standard pattern... He's got the Mangekyo Sharingan..." Tobirama thought.

"First Hokage... I ask you this... What does it mean to be a village? And what does it mean to be a shinobi?" Sasuke asked.

"Unactivated that right now." Karin said.

Hashirama closed his eyes and placed his left hand on his chin. "What is a village and what are shinobi huh?" he questioned.

"My older brother Itachi, despite having been used by the Leaf Village, still defended it with his life and he died proud that he was a Leaf Shinobi. Just what is this village that once stride to protect even if it meant killing one's clan members or one's own death?" Sasuke asked.

Hashirama opened his eyes as he placed his left hand on his left hip.

"And what are shinobi who have created such circumstances and considered them to be acceptable?" Sasuke asked. "I'll listen to your response and find out the truth, and then I'll make my decision..." then unactivated his Mangekyo Sharingan to crow black eyes. "Whether or not to declare vengeance on the Leaf. Or..." then started to remember his conversation with Orochimaru.

...

Flashback.

From left to right, Sasuke and Orochimaru were walking on a dirt path.

Sasuke looked at Orochimaru. "Orochimaru..." he said.

Orochimaru looked at Sasuke. "What is it?" he asked.

"You once tried to destroy the Leaf Village. At first, when you said you did it on a whim, I believed you But now, I know it was something different. What was the real reason?" Sasuke asked.

Flashback Ends.

...

"Are you really apart of this, Karin?" Minato asked.

Karin looked at Minato with a concerned look. "No, I stop being apart of this when he mentioned possibly destroying the Village for not getting the answers he wants." she said. "And beside, I can't see myself fighting my family and people that I care about." she thought.

"Vengeance against the Hidden Leaf?" Tobirama questioned. "You brat possessed with the Uchiha evil! In that case I shall..." activating a burst of wind.

Everyone became surprised and looked at Tobirama as Suigetsu hid behind Orochimaru, and Karin covered her face with her arms.

Tobirama lifted his left index finger up from his folded arms.

"Second-sama!" Hiruzen said.

"Tobirama!" Hashirama said before the floor cracked around him.

Jugo stepped in front of Sasuke and Karin as he held up his left arm. Orochimaru held his left index and middle fingers up.

"Now we're talking presence! Like seriously." Suigetsu thought.

Tobirama looked at Hashirama.

"Lower your finger." Hashirama said.

"All right... Don't get your chakra, elder brother." Tobirama said, lowering his left index finger as the wind stopped.

The ground stopped cracking around Hashirama.

Tobirama closed his eyes.

Hashirama closed his eyes and laughed, placing his left hand on his left hip then opened his eyes and stopped laughing. "Sorry about that!" he said.

Jugo stopped stepping in front of Sasuke and Karin and was now on the right side. Karin lowered her arms from her face as Minato made a surprised look and Hiruzen closed his eyes and placed his left hand on his chest sighing in relief before he opened his eyes and placed his left arm down.

Minato looked up as he noticed the ceiling, raising his hands midway. "Wow, that's incredible!" he said.

"You haven't changed a bit, Hashirama-sama." Hiruzen thought.

Orochimaru lowered his left arm.

Minato stopped looking up at the ceiling before he lowered his hands.

"Well then, Sasuke, you had a good older brother. He was a greater Shinobi than I ever was! I don't mind telling you more about the village, but it'll take a while." Hashirama said, lowering his left arm.

"Itachi wasn't a great shinobi!" Karin thought.

"If possible, please tell the child everything he wants to know quickly? We don't really have much time." Orochimaru asked.

"Why is there no time?" Hiruzen asked.

"We're in the middle of a war. Madara Uchiha has been revived and apparently intends to erase all of the shinobi of this world." Orochimaru said.

Tobirama opened his eyes as he Minato, and Hiruzen became shocked.

Hashirama closed his eyes and placed his left hand over his face, sighing. "Always conflict, no matter what the era." he said.

Minato started to feel the chakra in the air.

Tobirama closed his eyes. "I definitely do sense some powerful chakra." he said, opening his eyes and looked up at the right side. "Over in the direction of 2 o'clock." unfolding his arms and walked over to the right side and stopped near a wall.

"This is Naruto and the Nine Tails' chakra. I see. So you did it Naruto! And you're fighting together... even now!" Minato thought.

"It seems to be the truth." Tobirama said then closed his eyes. "I do indeed sense Madara's chakra."

Hiruzen raised his left fist. "Then we ought to head right to the battlefield." he said.

"As you 3 are under the control of my Reanimation Jutsu, your movements can be restricted. If you insist you may head down to the battlefield after we're done talking." Orochimaru said.

Hiruzen moved his left arm around once. "No we can talk later! Do you truly understand this? The gravity of Madara's being revived?" he asked.

"Yes, I sense the very powerful chakras battling each other." Karin thought.

"Still, I'm staying with his child. If the explanation that you give don't satisfy Sasuke-kun, I may use the 3 of you to destroy the Leaf now and I doubt Minato could face all of you. The timing couldn't be better." Orochimaru said.

"No way in hell." Karin thought.

"Uh curse this jutsu!" Hiruzen said.

"Uncle Minato." Karin said, her eyes filled with sadness and concern.

"It's alright, Karin." Minato said.

Tobirama placed his right hand on the wall, opening his eyes. "Orochimaru, is it? You seem to be misunderstanding something." he asked then looked at Orochimaru. "The fact that you've made the Reanimation Jutsu more precise since last time so be you're done for."

Everyone looked at Tobirama.

"Now that all of us here are revived at merely our original power..." Tobirama said then some of the wall cracked on the right side. "I am not someone who can be bound by the Reanimation of one such as you. Don't forget, I'm the one who devised this jutsu in the first place." then looked at Hashirama. "Elder brother, you must agree that we have no choice. I will take action!"

Orochimaru put his hands together.

Tobirama looked forward as he couldn't move anymore.

"Well, Sarutobi you certainly raised quite a shinobi." Hashirama said, looking at Orochimaru.

"It is an honor to be praised by the God of Shinobi himself." Orochimaru said.

Karin looked at Orochimaru, serious. "That's it! I had enough of this!" she thought, quietly reaching into her shuriken holster with her left hand.

Hashirama laughed for a moment then looked at Tobirama. "He's acquired my cells and enhanced his power to bind us. Tobirama... Your instincts have dulled a bit." he said.

"Damn him... I do I take a closer look, most of his body is composed of my older brother's cells..." Tobirama thought then noticed Karin has her left hand in her shuriken holster. "What is she doing?"

Hashirama looked at Orochimaru and smiled. "Now then..." he said.

"First Hokage Hashirama... He's different. He could undo my bindings at any time... I'll have to be careful not to let down my guard." he thought.

Karin pulled a kunai with her left hand and coated it with her chakra before she threw it at Orochimaru, who was distracted, as it pierced through his right hand and a little bit of his left hand.

Orochimaru grunted in pain and pulled his hands apart, unbinding Tobirama in the process.

"Thank you." Tobirama said.

Everyone looked at Karin.

"Why you little-" Orochimaru said but was cut off.

"If you think we're going to let you do that because you're following a dim whit, you're sadly mistaken." Karin said.

"Karin-" Sasuke said but was cut off.

"Just shut up!" Karin said.

"Well, Minato it seems you have a brilliant niece." Hashirama said, looking at Minato. "She reminds me a little about Mito."

Suigetsu backed away a little so he wouldn't be Karin's next target.

Hashirama looked at Karin. "Karin, was it?" he asked.

Karin looked at Hashirama.

"Listen, that won't be necessary. I shall prioritize and doing the I'll feelings that are binding this child. Of course, I can't know what he'll decide after he finishes listening to me... But I do know that if we ignore him now he will definitely be one the next Madara. In that case, even if the war ends and we win it would be meaningless."

Everyone looked at Hashirama.

"Do as you please, elder brother." Tobirama said.

"Fine." Karin said, turning forward.

Hashirama sat down on the floor. "Now then... Where exactly should I begin this tale?" he asked then closed his eyes. "Yes... In order to tell you about village and shinobi... I must first speak of the Uchiha and Senju Clans..."

...

Flashback.

"And that was the first time I encountered Madara Uchiha." Hashirama said.

...

"Our personalities differed, and yet I sensed a mysterious kinship with him. All the same, I felt that I knew why'd he come down to the river too." Hashirama said.

...

"During the Era of Waring States, the average life expectance of both shinobi and citizens was around 30 years old. And the reason the average was so low was... The deaths of many young children." Hashirama said.

...

"In all honesty, I was shocked... That another person understood how I felt especially considering all the people that didn't. So there was another foolish kid, who thought as I did, who wanted to try to change this war-torn era. Maybe shocked isn't the right word... To me, Madara was a gift from the divine." Hashirama said.

...

"Not that we thought alike in every respect of course... After that, we started meeting up every now and then, still without knowing each other's family names... We'd spar and compare our shinobi moves or talk about the future..." Hashirama said.

...

"Each time we met, we became closer friends." Hashirama said.

...

"That was where the Village Hidden in the Leaves would eventually stand. I made a resolution that day. I swore I would endure for the sake of my vision." Hashirama said.

...

"It seemed the Uchiha coincidentally had the same idea. Exactly the same circumstances. Butsuma Senju and Tajima Uchiha both knew from numerous prior clashes that they possessed practically equal strength. Shinobi are trained to keep their hearts in check on the battlefield, no matter what happens. A single flash of emotional display can lead to vulnerability and mean the difference between life and death. However... The 2 adults were well aware... that if their own child were killed right before their eyes, it would likely, no matter how slight, unbalance their heart. Meaning... whoever could land the first strike would determine the outcome." Hashirama said.

...

"In that moment, I felt like I understood what awakening the Sharingan truly signified. He decided to completely erase his friend. To erase me from his life. After that, we battled. We fought each other day after day. And before we knew it, we'd each become our respective clan's leaders. We were at the furthest place possible... from the dream that we wanted to fulfill." Hashirama said.

...

"It was clear to all that the Uchiha Clan was in an unfavorable position. In fact, defectors to the Senju soon began showing up. And that's about when Madara changed as well. He had obtained the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan." Hashirama said.

...

"At the end of a battle that lasted a whole day... Madara's back touched the ground for the very first time." Hashirama said.

...

"Madara had given me a choice, an option where I wouldn't have to kill my little brother. He knew all too well... how an older brother feels towards his younger siblings." Hashirama said.

...

"It was like a dream... The Uchiha and the Senju had formed an alliance. There would no longer be any casualties, nor would anymore children have to die. And so, at last we began building our village. Later, we would Ally with the Land of Fire, and the creation of a peaceful state where nation and village stood on equal footing also commenced. In any case, it was like a dream." Hashirama said.

...

"It took a long time, but it felt like we were back to being the friends we once were." Hashirama said.

...

"And so... I became the First Hokage." Hashirama said.

Flashback Ends.

...

"I became the First Hokage..." Hashirama said.

Everyone continued to look at Hashirama silently.

"From the Era of Waring States... where shinobi clans fought and killed each other... the Uchiha and the Senju joined together to create the ideal shinobi village... A shinobi village born from the hope for peace... That is the Village Hidden in the Leaves. And I became its First Hokage." Hashirama said.

...

Flashback.

"Upon saying those words, Madara left the village. We had come this far together. And now, Madara was gone from the village we had created together. But in the world, everyone respected and copied our village system of Allied Ninja Clans which had been created by the former warring rivals, the Uchiha and Senju, joining forces. Villages like the Village Hidden in the Leaves which began in the Land of Fire, and its one leader system, spread like wildfire across the Great Nations. In the Land of Lightning, Hidden Cloud Village was formed with its leader named Raikage. In the Land of Earth, Hidden Stone Village was formed with its leader named Tsuchikage. The Land of Water had the Hidden Mist with their Mizukage. And in the Land of Wind, the Hidden Sand was formed and they named their leader, Kazekage. Not only the Great Nations, but even the smaller nations adopted this system. Madara's and my dream had come true. Shinobi children learned and played instead of battling. And they started living long enough to even know the taste of alcohol. But, as if he wanted to destroy his previous dream... Madara came back to attack the Leaf Village." Hashirama said.

...

"I made up my mind right then... to endure in order to watch over the present." Hashirama said.

...

"And thus... my battle with Madara came to an end." Hashirama said.

Flashback Ends.

...

"I don't know how Madara returned to life now. But I know I definitely killed my friend... For the sake of the village." Hashirama said then closed his eyes. "That's right... The village is.. the village that Madara and I envisioned... and beginning is something that joined 1 clan to another. It was an invaluable cornerstone created order out of chaos, then maintained it. It protected the children and averted pointless conflict. And it made peace a reality. However... it gave rise to darkness, the kind your brother Itachi was forced to bear." then opened his eyes. "Perhaps what Madara said was correct, after all. Perhaps he foresaw this state of affairs. Still I am the shinobi who created these circumstances. Furthermore, I am also the one who considered them acceptable. And I believe that shinobi are the ones who endure for a purpose. But depending on what that purpose is a shinobi can change. Just as both Madara... and I did." Hashirama said.

"So Shinobi... Shinobi are defined as those who endure... in order to achieve their goals." Sasuke said.

"From me, it was building a village. But it appeared that Madara found something else. About this plan of Madara's that Orochimaru mentioned earlier... To erase all the shinobi in the world... I don't know what that means in a literal terms, but..." Hashirama said.

"It's the Infinite Tsukuyomi where village, shinobi, and citizen are all irrelevant. He'll put everyone under genjutsu and manipulate them as he sees fit. To negate everything that my older brother, Madara's little brother... and all of you... have tried to protect." Sasuke said.

Everyone looked at Sasuke.

"It turns out my brother inherited your will without you ever having to exchange words with him." Sasuke said. "My older brother... Even as he shouldered that heavy responsibility for our clan... He stood between the village and the clans in their strife... He even killed half of the Uzumaki clan... He was forced to kill half of his clan and endure the brand as a Rogue Ninja... Yet, he continued to keep an eye on the organization that wanted to harm the village. And even in death... My older brother endured longer and harder than you. When he died he still said that he was proud to be a Leaf Shinobi." then smiled as he remember a few things from the past. "Isn't it ironic that the shinobi who understood you more than anyone else... was a shinobi from the Uchiha Clan?" then stopped smiling

"Your brother was not the only one." Tobirama said, folding his arms.

Everyone looked at Tobirama.

"I had a subordinate named Kagami Uchiha who was like your brother." Tobirama said.

"Second Hokage... I thought you despised the Uchiha." Sasuke said.

"That's not entirely true. I treated anyone who posted a danger to the village, no matter what clan they belonged to, with extreme caution. And there's no doubt that the Uchiha Clan warranted my suspicions... The Uchiha just happened to be a clan particularly disposed to be considered as such. But, it is also because they could feel such deep love that there were quite a few Uchiha over the years like your brother and Kagami... who could transcend the boundaries of the clan and devote themselves to the village. My elder brother believed the village was something that could eliminate the framework of clans. Well, the reality is... This wasn't so simple." Tobirama said then unfolding his arms. "The idealism of my elder brother Hashirama... And the danger that Madara posed... Mediating between these 2 things, and protecting and strengthening the village were my duties as the Second Hokage."

Everyone except Hashirama, who was looking at Tobirama annoyed, looked at Sasuke.

"Shisui Uchiha was a descendant of Kagami Uchiha. He was a friend of your older brother Itachi. Many, including myself, embraced the First Hokage's Will of Fire. But perhaps, I was more naive than any other shinobi. I wasn't able to continue the Second Hokage's task of village-building skillfully enough. Which is how I ended up burdening Danzo with the village's darkness." Hiruzen said.

"I killed Danzo in vengeance. Until the end, he spoke that he would protect the village, no matter how dirty the means." Sasuke said.

"It seems I've failed miserably time after time as the Hokage. I guess I'm responsible for creating the situation that exists now." Hiruzen said.

Minato looked at Hiruzen. "No... You're not to blame, 3rd-sama. You did everything you could for the sake of the village respectably. I'm the one who stopped the Nine Tails' on the village! You had such high hopes for me as the Hokage..." he said.

Everyone looked at Minato.

"And I can't live up to them." Minato said.

"Uncle Minato, you are a great Hokage. If father was still alive, he would be proud of you." Karin thought.

"I'll say... After he passed over me and picked you." Orochimaru said.

Karin looked at Orochimaru annoyed.

Minato closed his eyes.

"Everyone was so disappointed." Orochimaru said.

"That would've been a disaster." Karin said then looked forward.

Suigetsu looked at Orochimaru. "Orochimaru-sama... You sound like you're pouting." he said.

"A little... since the Third Hokage is right here." Orochimaru said.

Everyone looked at Sasuke.

"Had I told them, perhaps I could have done more to foil half of the Uchiha's and Uzumaki's plans for a coup d'etat much sooner..."Minato said.

"You did everything you can Uncle Minato." Karin said.

"Now then... Sasuke-kun... What will you do? Will you destroy the village? Or..." Orochimaru asked.

Sasuke closed his eyes as he started to remember some memories of Itachi before he opened his eyes again. "I am going to the battlefield! I won't let the village, and Itachi become nothing!" he said.

Hashirama smiled. "It's been decided then!" he said then stopped up. "Tobirama! Prepare to fly us outside!"

"Even if I wanted to use Flying Raijin, I'll be bound again." Tobirama said, looking at Hashirama.

Hashirama and Tobirama looked at Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru, was it? What will you do?" Hashirama asked.

"You said earlier that you'd follow Sasuke." Hiruzen said.

Orochimaru smiled. "Of course... We will accompany him." he said.

Suigetsu became shocked. "What?!" he asked then looked at Jugo. "J-Jugo, what about you?"

Jugo looked down at Suigetsu. "I'm going too. It's my job to protect Sasuke." he said.

Suigetsu looked at Karin. "What about you, Karin?" he asked.

"I need to help my Oniisan and others I care about in the war in order for it to end." Karin said.

Suigetsu looked forward, smirking nervously. "3 super-stromg zombies... 4 monsters... If I tag along, I'm dead for sure! I'm making a break for it when I see a chance!" he thought.

...

9 minutes later.

Outside.

Above the Hokage Monument.

From left to right, Minato, Hiruzen, Tobirama, Hashirama, Karin, Sasuke, Jugo, and Orochimaru stood on it while Suigetsu stood a few feet behind them.

Hashirama placed his right hand on the top of his head. "Oh! This view brings back memories!" he said.

Suigetsu took a step backwards before he turned around and ran away. "It's now or never!" he thought.

Everyone looked behind at Suigetsu.

Karin suddenly sensed a familiar chakra coming towards them. "It's him." she thought.

As Suigetsu kept running away a boy that looked to be 15 years old had fair skin, crimson red hair that is short, and azure blue eyes, and in his usual outfit, a wearing a high collared long sleeved light brown shirt that had the Uzumaki crest on the back, long beige pants, and brown sandals, suddenly jumped up and kicked Suigetsu with his right foot, who immediately fell down.

"What the hell?!" Suigetsu thought, landing on his stomach.

The unknown boy now stood up on the ground and placed his left foot on Suigetsu's back. "What are you in Konoha?" he asked, looking down at Suigetsu, serious.

"Ruyu." Karin said then turned around and walked towards Suigetsu and Ruyu.

"Another one." Orochimaru said.

Ruyu looked up at Karin, who stopped a few feet from them. &Karin? What are you doing here?" he asked.

"We're going to help Oniisan and the others on the battlefield." Karin said.

"What?!" Ruyu asked.

"I don't have time to explain but..." Karin said then reached into her pouch with her left hand and pulled out the mask and held it up to Ruyu. "But can you please take this back to the mask hall?":

Ruyu looked down at the mask for a moment before he took it with his right hand. "Fine." he said.

"Thanks." Karin said.

"Who is he?" Hashirama asked, looking at Ruyu.

"Judging from the chakra and that red hair... He's from the Uzumaki Clan as well." Tobirama said.

Hiruzen walked towards Orochimaru and stopped next to him as they weren't facing each other.

"Orochimaru... Why did you decide to help Sasuke? You were trying to destroy the village." Hiruzen asked.

"After being inside Kabuto, I realized something... He imitated the way I lived and tried to possess everything, and failed. So now, I'm curious about the different path Sasuke-kun has chosen. Unlike Kabuto, Sasuke-kun didn't copy me." Orochimaru said.

Karin turned around and walked where she was before and stopped on the right side of Sasuke.

Everyone looked forward.

Hashirama smiled. "Fellow Hokage! As we stand atop the Great Stone Faces that have watched over the Hidden Leaf..." he said then raised his right fist. "Let us burn this sight of the village into the our memory!"

Tobirama unfolded his arms and closed his eyes before he walked over to Hashirama and placed his right hand on the left side of Hashirama's left shoulder, sighing before the 2 brothers disappeared.

Minato placed his left hand on Hiruzen's right shoulder then they disappeared.

Everyone watched as the 4 Hokages headed to the 4 Monuments.

"I'm finally going to see my wife and son again. Naruto, I wasn't able to help and see you for a while... I'll make it up to you by bringing you a huge present." Minato said.

"All right! It's been a while since my last war! I'd better be on my toes!" Hiruzen said.

"Madara... We'll defeat you this time for sure!" Tobirama said.

"This may sound foolish, but I'm kind of looking forward to seeing my old friend! Just you wait, Madara! There's always conflict, no matter what the era. But this shall be the end of wars! Let's go!" Hashirama said.

The 4 Hokages were now on their head monuments.

...

30 minutes later.

As everyone was running towards the battlefield, Karin suddenly sensed 2 very familiar chakras and 4 familiar chakras fading far away on the left side of them.

Karin suddenly stopped as she looked at the left side. "Hold on!" she said.

Everyone stopped and looked at Karin.

"What is it?" Hashirama asked.

"I sense that Tsunade and the other Kages are really low on chakra in that direction." Karin said, pointing with her left index finger in the left direction.

Everyone looked in the direction Karin was pointing at.

"What do we do now?" Minato asked.

"I'll go help Tsunade while you guys head to the battlefield." Karin said.

"Me and Suigetsu are coming with you." Orochimaru said.

Suigetsu groaned.

"We'll join you guys later." Karin said.

"Okay." Sasuke said.

Orochimaru, Suigetsu, and Karin headed in the left direction while Hiruzen, Tobirama, Hashirama, Minato, Jugo, and Sasuke continued to head to the battlefield.

...

17 minutes later.

From Suigetsu, Orochimaru, and Karin continued to run to the location where Karin sensed Tsunade and the 4 other Kages.

"I sense powerful chakras being released. What's going on?!" Karin thought, curiously.

"At least I'm still safe! No thanks to being on the frontlines!" Suigetsu thought.

The 3 of them looked ahead to see broken trees and gravel everywhere.

"There they are." Orochimaru said.

Orochimaru, Suigetsu, and Karin jumped on top of the gravel to see an enormous white slug with three blue streaks that run vertically down the middle and side of its body from its head and tapering off at its tail, 2 optical tentacles have a slight tint of grey to them and it also has two sensory tentacles on either side of its mouth, and 4 medium sized slugs and lots of mini slugs beside her on the right side.

"Look at the sorry state you're in, Tsunade." Orochimaru said.

Karin's eyes widened in shock where she saw Tsunade, in her usual outfit but she didn't have her jacket and her clothes were slightly ripped up and doesn't have any lipstick on, cut in half at the waist as the waist as the slug was sitting on her. "Tsunade...!" she thought.

"Gross... A gigantic slug... How much salt would you need to take it down?" Suigetsu asked.

"You're not hurting Katsuyu!" Karin said.

"That's just one part of Katsuyu that was summoned from Shikkotsu Woods. I'd say it's pretty small, actually." Orochimaru said.

"You don't say." Suigetsu said.

Karin looked at Orochimaru and Suigetsu, annoyed. "Come on. We have to help Tsunade and the other Kages. We have to heal them quickly so we can joined in the war." she said then looked forward.

Orochimaru and Suigetsu looked at Karin.

"Are you that upset because you couldn't stay with Sasuke-kun?" Orochimaru questioned.

Karin closed her eyes. "That's totally... not the case! Let's just do this!" she said then jumped over to where Katsuyu, Tsunade, and the other Kage are and stopped.

Orochimaru and Suigetsu went after Karin and stopped beside her.

"Tsunade-sama! Is that you, Karin-sama?" Katsuyu asked.

Karin looked up at Katsuyu. "Hai!" she said then looked down at Tsunade to see that her body had wrinkles. "Wait, so this is wait Tsunade looks like when her chakra is low?"

Suigetsu looked away to the left side in disgust. "Ugh... It's not like she had a really long torso either, right?" he asked.

"It seems you were reckless, Tsunade." Orochimaru said.

Tsunade slowly looked at Orochimaru and Karin. "Orochimaru? Karin?" she asked.

Katsuyu closed her mouth and filled it with Tongue Tooth Sticky Acid as she aimed it at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru looked up at Katsuyu, smirking. "Katsuyu... We came here to aid the 5 Kage. I'm not an enemy." he said.

"I know Karin-sama wouldn't harm her but I have no reason to believe you. Besides, you were dead!" Katsuyu said then started aim more.

Orochimaru and Karin didn't move as Suigetsu moved away.

"If I do anything that strikes you as suspect, you're welcome to kill me once and for all with your acid." Orochimaru said.

Katsuyu moved closer as Orochimaru and Karin didn't move and moved her optical tentacles around before she swallowed her acid.

"All right. I'll believe you." Katsuyu said.

"You're quite sensible, unlike Manda." Orochimaru said then looked at Karin. "Now then... First of all... Where are the other Kage?"

Katsuyu looked at the other 4 slugs. "They're recovering inside my fragments. They sustained serious injuries, and it's very..." she said.

Orochimaru and Karin looked at the 4 slugs.

"But Katsuyu... With you here, why is it taking so long for them to heal?" Orochimaru asked.

"Because it's not that simple." Karin said.

"Karin-sama's correct. I can only use my power in response to the strength of Tsunade-sama's 100 Healings. But Tsunade-sama is extremely weak right now, so I'm not able to activate my strength fully." Katsuyu said.

"Is that how the system worked?" Orochimaru asked.

Suigetsu came back and stopped near Orochimaru.

Orochimaru placed his left hand on his chin. "Anyway, whatever I remember, I've never seen Tsunade so weak. So it must be true." he said then lowered his left hand from his chin.

"I am trying to persevere and focus on healing, despite the Summoning starting to unravel. That's why I haven't been able to properly reattach her body." Katsuyu said.

Orochimaru looked at Suigetu. "Suigetsu, bring Tsunade's lower half and join it to her upper half." he said.

Suigetsu became surprised. "Huh?! I'm better at cutting things up." he said.

Karin looked down at Tsunade, worried.

Orochimaru walked to the left side.

Suigetsu walked forward before he stopped and crouched down next to Tsunade's lower half in the slugs and stuck his arms in them. "The slugs are all slimy and wriggly. Gross!" he said.

Karin looked at Suigetsy annoyed as she placed her hands on her hips. "Well, they're not gross, Suigetsu! You are!" she said. "In fact, you're gross and weird because you have a human form!" lowering her hands from her hips.

Suigetsu became even more creeped out when one of the slugs climbed on him.

Orochimaru looked at Karin. "Karin... Let her bite you so that she can heal." he said.

Karin looked at Orochimaru annoyed again. "That's what I'm going to do! I came here so I can heal Tsunade, not watch her die!" she said.

Suigetsu slowly joined Tsunade's upper and lower halves together.

Karin walked over to Tsunade and crouched down beside her before grabbed the back of her head with her right hand and held her up a little bit before she placed her left arm near Tsunade's mouth.

Tsunade bit Karin's left arm as she slowly started to regain a youthful appearance.

"Hurry up and heal, so we can go to the battlefield." Karin thought.

After a minute, Tsunade stopped biting Karin, who moved her left arm away, and sat up as her lower half was fully connected to her upper half again.

Suigetsu and Karin stood up and moved away from Tsunade a little bit.

Tsunade looked up at Karin. "Thank you. I appreciated it, Karin." she said then looked up at Orochimaru.

Karin just nodded.

"Tsunade-sama, you're going to be all right!" Katsuyu said.

"Tsunade, be a little grateful to me." Orochimaru said.

"You betrayed the village... So why all of this now?" Tsunade questioned.

"The range of things that interest me has expanded. In the past, I wanted to become the wind and turn the windmill myself. But now, I know the pleasure of waiting around for someone's wind. And I don't want that wind to get sealed away before I can enjoy it." Orochimaru said.

Tsunade looked down. "You still don't make any sense." she said then looked back at Orochimaru. "But... I supposed you've changed a little. I never imagined you would help me..."

Orochimaru spread his arms out a little. "Even that is possible." he said.

"Do you remember? The 3 Way Deadlock from that time?" Tsunade asked.

"The summoning..." Orochimaru said.

"No... Just like how it's written... The 3 Way Deadlock..." Tsunade said.

Orochimaru and Tsunade started to remember the past.

"People can change." Orochimaru said.

Tsunade looked down.

"Or they die before they do. It's one or the other. Although he died without changing..." Orochimaru said.

"He problably trusted you until the very end." Tsunade said then looked up at Orochimaru. "Orochimaru... If you were like this sooner, Jiraiya might not have had to die..."

"And if I had... Jiraiya might have changed too." Orochimaru said. "Like how it was for us, the Legendary Sannin, things don't always go the way you want them to. We're not made of stone. Distortions will appear somewhere." then started to think about Sasuke. "Perhaps that's why I want to observe Sasuke-kun's future. While patiently waiting for his wind to blow." he thought.

Tsunade slowly stood up. "Fine. I also thank you for helping me heal. So... Do you know about the war?" she asked.

"Of course. That's why I'm helping you out like this." Orochimaru said.

Tsunade looked at the left side. "How long have I been like this?" she asked.

"I can report on the battle situation." Katsuyu said.

Tsunade and Karin looked up at Katsuyu.

"How did you end up on the front?" Tsunade asked.

Tsunade smiled. "I see... Sakura summoned Katsuyu!" she thought.

"So... Sakura now has the Strength of a Hundred Seal..." Karin thought.

"Around now, a new 3-Way Deadlock is probably making their debut." Orochimaru said.

"What?" Tsunade asked.

"Well, we're heading back. You should work on healing the other Kage." Orochimaru said.

"Good luck, Tsunade." Karin said.

Orochimaru, Suigetsu, and Karin immediately jumped and towards the battlefield as Tsunade prepared to heal the other Kages.

...

25 minutes later.

Most shinobi had Nine Tails'chakra on them while some were dead and had none.

Orochimaru, Suigetsu, and Karin were jumping through the crowds of shinobi.

From left to right, Kushina, now 38 years old, her her wrapped up in a ponytail, in the Konoha flak jacket uniform, and in the Nine Tails' chakra mode, Minato, Tobirama, Hiruzen, who was now holding a large black and golden staff in his left hand, were standing up while Naruto, now 17 years old and in his usual outfit but it was ripped up a little, was crouching down.

"This giant tree is closely connected to Obito... They're like limbs that suck out chakra. We can't approach carelessly." Hiruzen said.

"Such words of weakness. So very unlike you." Orochimaru said.

Tobirama, Hiruzen, Minato, Kushina, and Naruto looked at the right side to see from left to right, Suigetsu, Orochimaru, and Karin were standing a few meters away from them.

"Sarutobi-Sensei..." Orochimaru said.

"Oniisan. Aunt Kushina." Karin said.

"Karin!" Kushina and Naruto said.

Karin looked away on the right side to avoid eye contact.

"Orochimaru... You're late... What of the 5 Kage?" Hiruzen asked.

"Karin had them healed. So as long as they don't chicken out, they should be coming." Orochimaru said.

"As sarcastic as ever, I see." Hiruzen said.

Suigetsu and Karin looked at right side to see from left to right, Jugo and Sasuke, were covered in the Nine Tails' chakra while standing on a large flat rock. They walked forward a little bit then stopped.

"Sorry I'm late Jugo! Sasuke!" Suigetsu said, looking up at Jugo.

Jugo looked down at Suigetsu. "You're here..." he said then looked forward again.

"Sasuke!" Karin said.

Sasuke looked down at Karin. "Karin." he said.

Karin looked up at Sasuke in amazement as he had his Sharingan activated.

Suigetsu looked up at the god tree as he placed his left hand on his head. "This tree is huge now that I see it up close. I wonder how long it'll take to cut down?" he asked.

Karin looked at Suigetsu, annoyed. "Who cares about that right now?!" she asked then looked up at Sasuke again. "What's important right now..." then smiled. "... Is to figure out how to stop Tobi!" she thought.

Suigetsu lowered his left hand from his head and looked at Karin. "Is to heal the Allied Forces shinobi, right?" he asked.

Karin looked at Suigetsu annoyed again. "Yeah that too! I know that already, damn it!" she said.

Suigetsu looked at the god tree again.

Karin looked at Sasuke to see that he was motioning her to come over. She jumped up and landed on the right side of Sasuke before the 2 of them looked forward.

Orochimaru looked up at Sasuke. "He seems to be in a foul mood." he thought.

The Hashirama clone looked up at the god tree. "What's going on? When the bud blooms, the Infinite Tsukuyomi will be complete. That's what Madara said. And yet, after depleting the chakra of this many shinobi... the bud shows no signs of blooming." he thought.

Hashirama and Madara continued to fight each other.

"So when is it going to bloom?" Hashirama asked.

"The 8 and 9 Tails still live. Do you get it?" Madara questioned.

"So the chakra of the 8 and 9 Tails is essential to complete the jutsu..." Hashirama thought then noticed that the bud opened up a little bit.

"However, if it contains even a small amount of each of their chakra, it's fine." Madara said then raised his left hand as a long black rod came out of his left palm. "In other words, it's not like it can't bloom. All that is affected... is how long it will take to bloom. There's about 15 minutes to go. In that time, I shall stop Obito and switch places with him. Using your Sage Power."

The Hashirama clone continued to look up at the bud. "This is bad. Everything my original just heard must be relayed to the Allied Force." he thought then looked at the right side and held out his right arm. "Anyone here belong to the Yamanaka Clan?!" he asked.

Choji, now 17 years old, in his usual outfit with the Konoha flack jacket, and had the Allied Shinobi Forces forehead protector on his forehead, Shino, now 17 years old and in his usual outfit, Sai, now 17 years old and in the Konoha flak jacket uniform, Kiba, now 17 years old, in the Konoha flak jacket uniform, and the Allied Shinobi Forces forehead protector on his forehead, Akamaru, now 8 years old, Ino, in the Konoha flak jacket uniform, Shikamaru, in the Konoha flak jacket, now 17 years old, and Sakura, 17 years old and now had a blue rhombus on her forehead and in the flak jacket uniform, and wearing a red Allied Shinobi Forces forehead protector as a hair band, we're standing and crouching down as they had the Nine Tails' chakra on them.

Ino and Sakura were healing Shikamaru with their Mystical Palm Technique.

Ino stopped healing Shikamaru as she looked at the Hashirama clone. "Here!" she said.

Hashirama lowered his right arm as he looked at Ino. "Can you do the Mind Transmission Jutsu?!" he asked.

"Yes, I can, sir!" Ino said.

"Good! Please link me to everyone here! There are things I'd like to explain about the giant tree, and the Infinite Tsukuyomi!" Hashirama said said.

Ino walked over to Hashirama.

Obito, also known as Tobi, looked to be 31 years old, had the Rinnegan in his left eye socket and the Sharingan in his right eye socket, short, spiky, white hair, the entire right half of his body gains a scale-like pattern across it, replacing the scars, white skin, 2 horns sprouted from his forehead – the left smaller than the right – and 6 magatama markings appeared across his chest, 10 protrusions emerge from his back – 5 near his shoulders and five near his hips – to form the collar and coattails of a haori, as well as a black assortment of ten magatama markings appearing on his back; 1 large one, with a black Rinnegan-like pattern within it, and 9 smaller ones arranged in rows of three below it, and long black pants, was floating.

Obito raised his right arm. "I'll retrieve a little more chakra. It's taking too long for it to bloom." he thought.

Karin immediately noticed the branches were starting to hover over some of the shinobi before she noticed that Sasuke was activating his Susano'o around her, Jugo, and himself. "What's Sasuke going to do?" she thought as they started to fly towards one of the branches.

"That's right. Just stay like that. I'll take you to a world where there are no regrets." Obito said.

Naruto started to cry again.

Sasuke's Susano'o grabbed it's sword from his right holster with his left hand and sliced a large branch with both of his hands.

Everyone became surprised.

"Naruto, are you done? Because I'm not." Sasuke asked.

Karin looked at Naruto for a moment before she looked at Sasuke again.

Sasuke's Susano'o landed on the ground.

"Let's go, Jugo. Karin." Sasuke said.

"Yeah..." Jugo said.

"All right." Karin said.

Naruto stood up as he activated his Tailed Beast Mode and Sage Mode.

Everyone became shocked as they felt something strange.

"These are..." Sakura thought.

"I can feel them, these are Naruto's feelings... coming through my jutsu." Ino thought.

Karin reached out her left hand to feel the Nine Tails' chakra on Sasuke to see why was everyone so surprised before she felt the strange feeling. "Oniisan's memories..." she thought.

Naruto started to remember some memories years ago. "Back then... I knew I should've called out to him. I thought about it over and over afterwards." he thought.

"His thoughts are flowing in." Sakura thought.

Naruto started to remember failing the Academy and his parents and Karin cheering him up. "That's why..." he thought.

Naruto started to remember battling Sasuke a few times.

"It's from that day..." Kiba said.

Naruto started to remember the 3rd Hokage's funeral and Asuma's funeral, memories of Jiraiya and his gravesite. "I..." he thought then started to remember the reanimated Nagato and Itachi, the death of Chiyo. "I..." then he remembered the death of Neji. "I don't want to regret anything. I never want to think 'I never want to think 'I should have...'!"

"Naruto-kun..." Hinata said sadly.

Naruto started to think about his family, Minato, Kushina, Uzume, and Karin.

Minato, Kushina, and Karin made serious faces.

"And... I just can't make everything we've done..." Naruto thought as he jumped forward and activated his Tailed Beast Mode and stood on the right side of Sasuke's Susano'o. "Up to this point meaningless! he said then looked at Sasuke. "Sasuke! I'm coming too, dattebayo!"

Sasuke smirked for a moment.

"Naruto Uzumaki..." Obito said. "Time and time again..." he thought.

Kushina started transferring some of her Tailed Beast Mode chakra to Naruto.

"Sorry to have to borrow more chakra." Yin Kurama said.

"No worries!" Yang Kurama said.

"Naruto, we're counting on you, dattebane!" Kushina thought then unactivated her Tailed Beast Mode.

"Hey, Sasuke... You realize that only Sage Jutsu works on him, right?!" Naruto asked.

"Don't compare me to you." Sasuke said.

Karin looked at Jugo and noticed that he was activating his Curse Mark as it started to spread all over Sasuke's Susano'o. "Woah...!" she thought.

"Suigetsu placed his left hand on his head as he looked at Sasuke's Susano'o. "Look, Orochimaru-sama... Isn't that... Sasuke's Curse Mark patterning?" he asked.

Karin looked at Sasuke again. "The Curse Mark is supposed to have lost its power..." she thought.

"Sage Power is the source of Jugo's Curse Mark. And with Sasuke-kun, back when I experimented with injecting Jugo's chakra into him, he immediately unleashed the Curse Mark. So it's not surprising for Sasuke-kun's Susano'o to adapt to Jugo's chakra in similar fashion. In other words, you could call it a Sage Jutsu Susano'o." Orochimaru said.

"Sasuke Uchiha, huh? He shows the same potential that Madara once did... You Uchiha..." Tobirama thought.

"And Sasuke-kun... Unlike this 1 in the back, your power... Rather, unlike any of my experiments... your power is nothing like theirs... I can tell... From my lifelong research and the data I've gathered... my instincts tell me... that you'll one day be a shinobi who surpasses Madara!" Orochimaru thought.

Sasuke activated his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.

"And Naruto Uzumaki... You remind me so much of Elder Brother when he was young. He's a foolish brat who spouts idealisms at the top of their voices. And yet, everyone likes and wants to depend on you." Tobirama thought.

"Aim!" Sasuke said.

"Gotcha!" Naruto said.

Sasuke and Naruto headed forward.

"It'll be too late for regrets, you know. Not that there's going to be a future for either of you." Obito said then raised his left hand as he made a black staff and held it with his left hand then flew forward.

The Hashirama clone heard what some of the shinobi are saying before he remembered something decades ago.

...

Flashback.

"I'm looking forward to the battles we'll fight... up until the time I achieve my true dream." Madara said.

"What is your true dream? I thought everything we've aimed for is here in this village!" Hashirama asked.

"You just can't see it. What's even further ahead... dreams of the far future." Madara said then activated his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.

"Then tell me about your dreams of the far future." Hashirama said.

"Dreams of the future..." Hashirama said.

Then the Hashirama clone started to remember the first Kage Summit.

Flashback Ends.

...

It's true that we've never gotten along in the past... But we each did what we did to protect our brethren and clans. There were, perhaps, times when we had no other choice. And now, today, even if our 5 Nation Treaty comes to be... I can't say how long it will last... or if we can even hold to it. But I have this dream, that sometime in the future... There will come a day when shinobi will collaborate, and help each other, with one heart, regardless of their affiliation. That is my... My dream of the future. I ask you to take the first step toward that dream today! So please, please, please, please... I beg you! All of my, our beloved children! Now is the time to take all the pain, the suffering, and frustration we shinobi have endured... and weave it into... Our true dream!" the Hashirama clone said.

From left to right, Gaara, Raikage, Lady Mizukage, Tsuchikage, and Tsunade, in their usual outfits but we're ripped up a little, were now standing in one of crowds of shinobi.

...

3 minutes later.

Sasuke and Naruto were flying after Obito as they were a few meters away from him. All of them stopped in the air.

Naruto started making a Tailed Beast Ball.

Sasuke looked at Naruto for a moment before he looked forward as he prepared to have his Susano'o fire an arrow.

Naruto looked at Sasuke. "Sasuke!" he said.

"I'll keep in sync with you!" Sasuke said.

Naruto looked forward as he and Sasuke fired their Susano'o arrow and Tailed Beast Ball at Obito.

Obito turned around and threw one of the truth seeking balls forward as it transformed into something flat and it collided with Sasuke and Naruto's attack, creating smoke.

Karin watched as she was astounded. "Amazing... They're using very powerful attacks on him." she thought.

"Incredible..." Kiba said.

"What just happened?" Sai asked.

"Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun are attacking simultaneously." Hinata said.

"Did they succeed?" Shino asked.

"Everyone watched as the smoke cleared as Sasuke and Naruto landed on the ground.

"You better be prepared..." Obito said.

Naruto started to remember what he said earlier.

...

Flashback.

"I'll never let my comrades die!" Naruto said, yelling.

Flashback Ends.

...

Sasuke and Naruto went after Obito again.

Shino, Kiba, Choji, Akamaru, Sai, Ino, Hinata, and Sakura noticed that the Nine Tails' chakra appeared on the unconscious Shikamaru again.

Sakura continued to heal Shikamaru with the Mystical Palm Technique as she was crouching down on the left side of Shikamaru while Choji was holding him from behind.

"This is...!" Sakura said then she looked up at the sky when she heard a boom sound. "Naruto!"

Sasuke and Naruto continued to battle Obito as a few explosions happened.

"Even as he's fighting, he's helping his comrades recover... Naruto! Just focus on what only you can do! Leave the healing to me!" Sakura thought.

"You don't understand, Sakura." Ino said then looked down at Sakura. "Naruto is doing this unconsciously."

Sakura looked up at Ino confused. "Huh?" she asked.

Ino turned towards Sakura, spreading her arms out a little bit. "His chakra is acting on its own, from his desire to help Shikamaru." she said then lowered her arms. "I can sense it clearly from my Mind Transmission Jutsu."

Shikamaru was now conscious as he slowly opened his eyes a little. "Damn it, Naruto... You never change. You're always going overboard... Sticking your neck out for us... How far will you go...? All this time, you've never held back or compromised when it came to us. In front of you, I can't complain about what a drag things are..." he thought, thinking about Naruto and his father. "Sorry, Dad... Naruto doesn't want me... to join you just yet." he said.

Sakura looked down at Shikamaru. "Shikamaru, stop talking! I'm not letting you die! Naruto... rather, everybody needs you!" she said.

Shikamaru closed his eyes. "Dad... I only found out later that Naruto gone through a ton of painful, bitter things on with his family. I don't ever want to him to go through that again, or at least that's how I feel... when I'm with him. I told you once, remember, Dad?" he thought.

...

Flashback.

"Someday, he's going to become a very important ninja to this village. When I'm with Naruto... he makes me want to follow him." Shikamaru said.

Flashback Ends.

...

The Hashirama clone looked at Shikamaru.

"Unlike First-sama, that dumb Naruto doesn't have an adept brother... like Second-sama, to be his advisor. That's why... even more so... I need to stick around so that when he becomes the Hokage, I can stand next to that idiot." Shikamaru thought before he started to sit up. "So I'm sorry, Dad... I can't join you just yet."

Sakura stopped using her Mystical Palm Technique as she looked at Shikamaru concerned.

Shikamaru opened his right eye. "There's no one more qualified than me to be Naruto's advisor." he thought.

Choji smiled as he started to cry a little bit.

Tobirama smiled to himself.

Sakura smiled as she cried a little bit. "Naruto, thank you... Your chakra and the power of your heart saved him!" she thought, some of her hair now covering some of her forehead.

Sai smiled and nodded. "Yes! He's rallied!" he said.

Ino smiled. "Thank you, Sakura." she said then looked up. "Thank you, Naruto." she thought.

Kiba and Akamaru smiled at Shikamaru.

"Don't overdo it, Shikamaru. You just might become my advisor instead!" Kiba said.

Akamaru whimpered.

"Don't worry, Akamaru. It's a Kage can have up to 3 advisors." Shino said.

Akamaru barked.

"I want to stay by Naruto-kun too. I'll have to work hard!" Hinata thought.

"Shikamaru!" Choji said then closed his eyes as he hugged Shikamaru.

Shikamaru closed his eyes.

Choji stopped hugging Shikamaru as they both opened their eyes again.

Tsunade suddenly appeared in front of Shikamaru and placed her right hand on Shikamaru's forehead.

Everyone became surprised.

Sakura placed her right fist near her chest. "Tsunade-sama!" she said.

Tsunade placed her left hand on Sakura's forehead as she smiled down at her. "You did well!" she said.

Sakura smiled.

When Tsunade was done heading Shikamaru, who stood up with Sakura and Choji, she took her hands off of their foreheads and walked over to Hashirama.

"Forgive me, Grandfather." Tsunade said then stepped a few feet away from the Hashirama clone.

"Tsuna, don't apologize. I dragged this mess into my grandchildren's era. My cowardice is to blame..." he said.

"But your heart and dreams have also been passed down." Tsunade said then looked up. "Even beyond your grandchildren's era... Yes, your... Will of Fire!"

"Hey!" Naruto yelled as he tried to hit Obito but he missed.

Obito flew away as Naruto went after him.

"Why you...!" Naruto said.

Hashirama looked up at the battle in the sky. "All right! Let's cut down this giant tree while he is distracted by his battle!" he said.

Everyone on the ground looked at the giant tree.

"No matter how large it may be, that tree is nothing compared to this very earth! And the great earth, this land is on our side!" Tsuchikage said.

"Right!" some of the shinobi yelled.

The Raikage started to remember his conversation with Naruto in the past.

...

Flashback.

"I'm begging you, dattebayo! I don't want us killing each other out of vengeance anymore!" Naruto said.

"A ninja does not bow his head so easily! A ninja values action and strength!" Raikage said.

Flashback Ends.

...

"It seems those who become Hokage like prostrating themselves, but... As an act that relays one's heart, perhaps it can lead to strength and be meritorious too." Raikage thought. "Let's go, everyone!" he said.

"Okay! Double lariat time, bro! Yeah!" Killer B said, moving his arms around.

"Here we go!" some of the shinobi yelled.

"As a woman, I mustn't get a late start on battle... All right, everyone. Let's go!" Lady Mizukage said.

"Right!" some of the shinobi yelled.

Naruto threw another Tailed Beast Ball and Sasuke fired another arrow at Obito before they landed on the ground.

"Damn it!" Naruto said.

The smoke cleared to reveal that Obito blocked.

Sasuke and Naruto went after Obito again.

"Naruto... You truly become a necessary existence to this world... What the 2 of us had always wanted to be. And you will now save the entire world, Naruto!" Gaara thought. "Everyone, follow me!" he said.

"Let's go!" some of the shinobi yelled.

"Your past is filtering into me through the others. Naruto Uzumaki, you are uniting everyone right now. Your tempestuous life made you into who you are. And your way of life has given everyone's hearts hope!" the Hashirama clone said.

Everyone looked at the giant tree.

"Let us pursue hope! Onward!" the Hashirama clone said.

Everyone on the ground ran towards the giant tree.

"Let's cut down that giant tree!" the Hashirama clone said.

Shinobi were starting to cut the tree branches.

"Let's go too." Shikamaru said.

Choji looked at Shikamaru. "Are you okay though, Shikamaru?" he asked.

Shikamaru looked at Choji. "Yeah, I'm fully recovered." he said.

"But what if that tree Rob's us of our chakra again...?" Chohi asked.

"Now that we know, just have to be careful." Shikamaru said before he started running towards the tree.

Choji followed after Shikamaru.

"Kushina, I'm going to use the link between your chakra and Naruto's." Tobirama said, placing his right hand on Kushina's left shoulder. "I can't move simultaneously like Minato, but I'll still help you and Minato to protect them all with my Teleportation Jutsu."

"Orochimaru... Are you just going to spectate?" Hiruzen asked.

Orochimaru said at Hiruzen. "I have no interest in this war. However, this dream of Obito's would lead to the elimination of this, my precious laboratory... So I suppose I cannot support it." he said, looking forward as he smirked.

"Then lend me a hand." Hiruzen said.

"Fine then." Orochimaru said, raising his left hand as 3 large snakes came out of his left sleeve as it wrapped around some of the branches. "I'll partake in a bit of nostalgia..."

Hiruzen jumped up into the air as his staff has gotten longer before he cut the branches with both hands.

"And participate in some student and teacher teamwork!" Orochimaru said.

Obito looked forward as Sasuke and Naruto were following him. "I'll shift to a more offensive form!" he thought.

Some of the shinobi stopped as some of the branches were looking like dragons.

"What is it?!" one of the shinobi asked.

"Do not panic!" one of the shinobi said.

"It's coming!" one of shinobi said.

Before the dragon branches could attack some of the shinobi were transported somewhere else.

"Huh?!" one of the shinobi asked.

"What?!" one of the shinobi asked.

"I'll use my Teleportation Jutsu to whisk anyone in danger away. So go forth without fear!" Tobirama thought.

"It's the voice of Second-sama!" Kiba said.

"We can give it our all. It's because..." Shino said.

"Still, don't get careless!" Kiba said.

From left to right, Sakura and Tsunade were standing together as they had their hands together.

"With 2 100 Healings adepts, we can likely summon one-tenth of Katsuyu's actual body here from Shikkotsu Woods! We'll mode Katsuyu into the Allied Force's entire footing, into a Healing Area where one can be restored just by standing on her. Ready, Sakura?" Tsunade asked.

"Yes!" Sakura asked.

Tsunade and Sakura activated the rhombuses on their foreheads.

Tsunade and Sakura crouched down as they placed their left hands on the ground.

"Summoning Jutsu!" Tsunade and Sakura yelled.

A large Katsuyu appeared in front of them.

Tsunade looked at Ino, who was behind them.

Ino closed her eyes as she held up her right index and middle fingers.

"Ino! Have you relayed that to everyone?" Tsunade asked.

Ino lowered her right arm as she opened her eyes. "Yes!" she said.

Katsuyu melted into a large puddle.

Obito landed on one of the branches as Sasuke's Susano'o was above him Sasuke's Susano'o had a blade in it's right hand and tried to strike Obito.

Obito moved out of the way as he flew away from Sasuke and Naruto's attack.

"Damn it! He really is fast...! But... I'm starting to sense him better and better!" Naruto thought.

Sasuke and Naruto pinpointed Obito's next location.

"Right there!" Sasuke and Naruto thought.

Sasuke and Naruto attacked Obito but Obito blocked the attacks with both arms and truth seeking balls.

"It's about time that you go to sleep." Obito said.

Sasuke, Naruto, Jugo, and Karin became surprised.

"I'll guide you into the dream. There's no time left!" Obito said before he grabbed Sasuke's Susano'o and Naruto's Tailed Beast Mode with both hands with the elements of the Truth Seeking balls.

Sasuke and Naruto struggled in pain as Karin watched in horror.

"What's gonna happen now...?!" Karin thought.

Obito quickly flew down as he took Sasuke, Naruto, Jugo, and Karin with him.

"What?!" Sasuke asked.

"Huh?!" Naruto asked.

Karin gritted her teeth. "We're going hit the ground...!" she thought.

Sasuke looked at Karin before he used all of his strength to wrap his arms around her body.

"What is he doing?!" Karin thought confused.

Obito released Sasuke and Naruto as they fell to the ground, making a large and deep hole as the waves of wind blew most of Katsuyu's flesh and shinobi away.

Sasuke and Naruto unactivated their Susano'o and Tailed Beast Mode.

Hinata activated her Byakugan.

"What was that just now?!" Kiba asked.

"Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun are... But wait...!" Hinata said.

Karin opened her eyes to see that her head was buried in Sasuke's chest she lifted it up to see Sasuke had his eyes closed and his arms were still wrapped around her waist. She was on top of Sasuke but s barely was injured during the fall.

"Sasuke!" Karin said.

Sasuke opened his right eye as he looked up at Karin. "Are you alright, Karin?" he asked.

"Yes but I should be asking you that." Karin said.

"I'll be fine." Sasuke said, unwrapping his arms around Karin's waist.

Karin got off of Sasuke and crouched down on the ground before she looked around to see Jugo and Naruto crouching down before she stood up as well.

"Why do you get up?! And what are you fighting for? Is it for your comrades? Or is it for this world?" Obito asked.

Naruto panted as he still was using his Sage Mode.

Karin looked at Naruto for a moment before she looked back at Obito.

"Listen, friends will eventually betray you. And this world transforms love into hatred. You should know! In the past, the people of the village and Sasuke betrayed you. And your love for Jiraiya made you hate. You and I are the same. The cumulative weight of all your suffering will change you in time. And now, even more pain shall assault you. And you still insist that you will not change?!" Obito asked.

Karin walked over to Sasuke and held out her right hand for him to grab on to.

"You don't know when your friends will betrayed you again..." Obito said.

Sasuke grabbed Karin's right hand with his right hand before he slowly stood up from the ground. He released her right hand before they looked at Obito.

"Or if the Allied Forces might go back to fighting each other. And you don't even know if you can defeat me! There is no reason to keep on fighting for a world like this. In a few minutes, this world will be gone anyway. Why do you still fight?" Obito asked.

Jugo looked at Naruto.

Naruto stood up. "Because it's my Ninja Way." he said.

Jugo stood up from the ground.

"I never go back on my word. That's my Ninja Way." Naruto said.

"I thought I told you go to sleep!" Obito said.

Naruto activated his Tailed Beast Mode again.

Sasuke stepped towards Naruto on the left side and stopped.

"Let's settle this with our next more, Naruto!" Sasuke said.

"Right!" Naruto said.

Sasuke activated his Susano'o again.

Karin watched in amazement as Sasuke and Naruto were slowly combining their Tailed Beast Mode and Susano'o.

"We'll sleep tomorrow, dreaming of our own dreams!" Naruto said.

Jugo looked at Sasuke and Naruto carefully. "The Susano'o is..." he thought.

Sasuke and Naruto completely combined their Susano'o and Tailed Beast together as Sasuke, Naruto, and Jugo and Karin went up in the air. Sasuke's Susano'o now covered Naruto's Tailed Beast like armour.

"That's..." Hashirama said.

Karin was a few feet behind Sasuke and Naruto as she watched with astonishment. "Their working together a lot more..." she thought.

Naruto looked at Sasuke.

"I believe this is what Madara did once before." Sasuke said, remembering Hashirama's story.

Obito flew into the air as he used his Sword of Nunoboko in both of his hands. "Nothing you try now will change anything. Look above you..." he said then looked up. "What can you see through that that hole at the top? The moon... The time to enter the moonlit dream world nears. The gaping hole of hell that has opened will be filled by the moon's dreams... That time is finally here! This sword is the divine blade of the Sage of the 6 Paths... the Nunoboko. You can no longer defeat me. Strong emotions dwell within the blade. It's a sword of the soul. The Sage created the world with the blade."

"Hey... did you feel that... just now?" Kiba asked.

Shino looked at Kiba. "Yeah..." he said then looked forward and up.

Lee, now 19 years old and in his usual outfit, and Tenten, now 19 years old and in the Konoha flak jacket uniform and the Allied Shinobi Forces forehead protector on her foreheadd, were standing together from left to right as they looked up at the sky.

"Tenten, isn't it...?" Lee asked.

Tenten looked at Lee. "Yeah. Let's go, Lee!" she said.

"He's calling us." Shikamaru said.

Choji, Ino, and Hinata nodded.

"My desire will vanquish you all. No matter how much you resist, it's useless. The power of the Sage will stop you." Obito said.

"Sasuke... Let's focus everything on a single blow. I think we're gonna have a tiny window to strike. Don't miss it." Naruto said.

"Hmph." Sasuke said.

Karin heard a noise before she looked behind her to see 9 Rasengans forming on the Naruto's Tailed Beast Mode. "That's new." she thought.

"And I will use this sword to obliterate this world!" Obito said.

Karin looked forward as Sasuke and Naruto's Armoured Tailed Beast Mode roared.

Obito looked up to see from left to right, Lee, Tenten, Sai, Choji, Shikamaru, Ino, Hinata, Shino, and Kiba were falling from the sky as they landed inside the 9 Tails. The 9 of them were now wearing Tailed Beast cloaks.

"I'm giving a Rasengan to each of you!" Naruto said. "Use it to blast through his shield, dattebayo!" Naruto thought.

"This, right?" Tenten thought, grabbing on to the Rasengan with both hands.

"Can I really do think?" Lee thought.

"You can!" Naruto thought.

Obito became surprised when the 9 of them pushed the 9 Rasengans out of the Armoured Tailed Beast Mode at him.

"Go get him, everyone!" Sakura thought.

Sasuke pushed his right hand forward and Naruto pushed his right hand forward. Sasuke's Susano'o sword strike Obito's sword with his right hand.

Obito's sword from his right hand broke but as another strike was about to happen, he imagined memories.

As Sasuke's Susano'o sword and Obito's sword in his left hand clashed, Obito's sword started to break.

"Why am I... seeing such images...?" Obito thought.

Obito released the sword from his left hand as Sasuke's Susano'o sword struck his stomach on the right side as they moved behind him. The 9 Tailed Beasts were coming out of his stomach from behind.

Naruto looked at Obito as Obito looked at Naruto.

"Just like we thought! The chakra you received from the Tailed Beasts earlier reacted to the Tailed Beast Chakra inside him and you were able to pull it all out in one shot!" Yin Kurama said.

"Yeah!" Naruto said.

"This wouldn't have worked if the Tailed Beasts hadn't taken a liking to you back then and shared their chakra with you." Yang Kurama said, remembering the Tailed Beasts and the Jirjurikis in the past.

"Naruto... You really are something special..." Yang Kurama said.

"Now!" Naruto said.

The 9 Armoured Tailed Beast tails transformed into the 7 Tailed Beasts faces as they connected.

"You know what to do next, right, Naruto? It's a tug-of-war! Just pull the Tailed Beasts' chakra right out of him!" Yang Kurama asked.

"Yeah!" Naruto said.

The 8th and 9th tails tried to connect with the 2 that look like the 8th 1st Tailed Beasts' but they were swatted away.

"Damn! I guess it won't work with 1 Tail and 8 Tails because we never got their chakra." Yang Kurama said.

Gaara appeared as he was riding on sand, he raised his hands. "One Tail used to be linked to me. I'll get him." he said.

Naruto looked at Gaara. "Gaara!" he said.

Gaara summoned his sand as he used it to grab the one that looks like the One Tail. "Come here, Shukaku!" he thought.

Killer B also appeared as he landed on the ground, moving his arms around. "We finally found a weakness, that's the key! You can leave 8-o's chakra to me!" he said then 2 octopus legs came out of him before he wrapped them around the one that looks like the 8 Tails.

"Octopops!" Naruto said, smiling for a moment then stopped.

"Let's do this, Bee! Don't lose!" 8 Tails said.

Shikamaru, Lee, Shino, Kiba, Choji, Tenten, Ino, Sai, and Hinata on the ground as their Tailed Beasts' cloaks disappeared.

Sasuke and Naruto landed on the ground as they still continued to tug-of-war over to Tailed Beasts.

The 9 of them looked up as their Nine Tails' chakra appeared again.

"Extract them! Then the only power he'll have left is the 10 Tails' shell! And the Divine Tree's bud will not bloom!" Yang Kurama said.

Obito tried to pull the Tailed Beasts back.

The bud from the Divine Tree stopped moving as the tree branches stopped moving as well.

"They've stopped..." Hiruzen said, holding his staff with his right hand. "Which means... he's lost control of the Divine Tree! In other words..." he thought.

"Everyone... Remember when I said that even a small power can be helpful depending on how it's used? Now is the time! That power will change the course of this world... Listen closely." Shikamaru thought as Ino placed her left hand on his forehead connected him to everyone.

As they continued to get the Tailed Beasts out, Naruto suddenly started to see Obito's memories when he was young. Naruto started to cry.

Karin looked at Naruto, sad and concerned. "Oniisan..." she thought.

"It's because your chakra is connected to his! His feelings will flow into you, but don't let them distract you!" Yin Kurama said.

"Don't underestimate the power of the 10 Tails' Jinchuriki. I'm equivalent to the Sage of the 6 Paths!" Obito said as he started pulling the 8 Tailed Beasts back in.

Sasuke reached his right hand forward as a right hand was made from Sasuke's Susano'o right shoulder before it grabbed on to the 8 Tailed Beasts.

Naruto and Karin looked at Sasuke.

"Just keep pulling, Naruto." Sasuke said.

Shikamaru, Sai, Shino, Lee, Kiba, Tenten, Ino, Choji, and Hinata jumped up into the air and on to the 9 Tails.

"Naruto! You're the one asked us to lend a hand! So we're helping out until the very end!" Kiba said.

Naruto and Karin looked at the 8 of them.

Naruto smiled. "Guys!" he said.

"And that's not all..." Shikamaru said, smiling.

Naruto looked up into the air to see some shinobi were falling from the sky before they landed on the ground.

Kushina held out both of her hands as she activated her Tailed Beast Mode. "Everyone! Grab on to my chakra!" she said then extended her left hand until it grabbed on to the 8 Tails.

Kushina landed on the 8 Tails before multiple arms came out of her back as it went over to shinobi as they grabbed on to them.

"All right! Everyone, we'll do it together on my mark, dattebayo!" Naruto said.

Obito became surprised.

"Pull!" Naruto said.

Everyone started pulling at the Tailed Beasts.

...

Border between Obito and Naruto's Subconscious.

Obito and Naruto were standing a few meters away from each other as they were in a light blue/grey star room.

Obito suddenly saw Naruto's friends, family, and other shinobi standing next to Naruto. He looked behind him to see no one standing behind him before he turned forward then he suddenly saw an image that would've been him replace Naruto.

"Are you saying... That I... I've got regrets...?!" Obito thought, imagining himself as Hokage.

"You once told me... 'I'm nobody.. 'I don't want to be anybody...'." Naruto said.

"Stop! Don't come into my thoughts!" Obito said.

Naruto for a moment. "But the truth is... You wanted to become the Hokage, just like me. It could have even ended up where I was chasing after your shadow... since I've always wanted to become the Hokage." he said.

"I threw away the past and my naive self! So don't tell me I'm-" Obito said but was cut off.

Naruto made a serious face. "Then why am I able to see this? You can't hide behind a mask." he asked. "You were Kakashi-Sensei's friend... My dad's subordinate... an Uchiha like Sasuke... and a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf who had the same dream as me."

"What... What exactly... do you want with me?!" Obito asked, pointing his left index finger at Naruto for a moment then lowered his left arm.

"To remind you that you are Obito Uchiha." Naruto said then pointed his left index finger at Obito. "I told you, didn't I? I swore I'd tear that mask right off your face!" then lowered his left arm.

"Obito Uchiha? What meaning is there in that name... in that existence, now?" Obito asked then closed his eyes. "I have merged with 10 Tails." then opened his eyes as he raised his left hand. "I have transcended and attained enlightenment. I am no longer human. I will guide mankind to the next stage. I possess the same will and body as the Sage of 6 Paths. I am the Second Sage of 6 Paths!"

"Wrong! You are Obito Uchiha!" Naruto said.

Obito became annoyed.

"When our chakra touched earlier, I saw your past. Our personal histories and our dream of becoming Hokage are the same. Almost exactly alike. Neither of us knew our parents. And we both lost people precious to us. Which is why you tried to scare me by saying solitude is my worst nightmare. In the beginning, you too wanted to be acknowledged and praised by others!" Naruto said.

Obito looked down.

"That's why you wanted to be Hokage... If you're the same as me, that is!" Naruto said.

Obito started to remember a memory of him and Rin when they were young.

"But look at you now! You've turned all shinobi into enemies and you go spouting some nonsense that you're doing it for the sake of the world... when you're only doing it for yourself! No one... not even those precious to you would ever acknowledge this current dream of yours." Naruto said.

Obito looked at Naruto.

"You used to have the same dream as me. But now you've become the exact opposite of a Hokage! It's because you're just like me that..." Naruto said.

"No, it's because of that... That I wanted to see you despair about this world. Or... I suppose I wanted to feel again for myself, that the path I have chosen for myself is not a mistake." then started walking to his left side as Naruto continued to watch Obito. "When I was fighting you, you made me recall my youth. That's why I started wanting to test you." Obito said.

Naruto became surprised.

"To see when you, someone who's just like me, would fall to despair..." Obito said then stopped walking. "and abandon your feelings, your past."

Naruto looked at Obito serious. "It's because we were so alike that I'm pissed off! You're just... abandoning everything and running away!" he said.

"No... What I'm doing is no different from a Hokage's actions." Obito said, looking at Naruto. "In fact, I'm doing even more... I can make peace a reality."

"Are you really serious? Do you really believe that?" Naruto asked.

Obito looked away from Naruto and closed his eyes as he remembered the same memory of him and Rin then closed his eyes and looked at Naruto again. "Yes... That's how I feel." he said then lowered his left arm. "There's no need to voluntarily tread a steep and rugged path, not knowing what's ahead." then looked away before he faced Naruto and looked at him. "You'll have to step over the corpses of your comrades." then raised his left hand. "Anyone would choose a shortcut with a fixed outcome. Yes." lowering his left arm. "The goal a Hokage should seek is world peace."

Naruto made his hands into fists. "What the hell are you talking about? What I want to know about isn't a shortcut... but how to navigate the steep and rugged path!" he questioned.

"Would you still say that if the final destination... were the same?" Obito asked.

"Who can tell in the beginning which one is the dangerous one?" Naruto asked then walked over to Obito. "You never know until someone starts walking. The Hokage is someone who endures the pain and takes the lead in front of everyone..." then stopped a few feet away from him. "So a Hokage never walks over his comrades' corpses. There is no shortcut to become the Hokage! And there are no ways out for the one who becomes Hokage! Isn't that right?"

Obito looked down at his right side as he started to remember some memories from his past then looked at Naruto again. He continued remembering old memories when he was young as he looked down at his left hand.

Naruto looked at Obito's left hand for a moment before he looked up at Obito again. "You... You told Kakashi-Sensei you woud throw away all your memories and feelings about your comrades. But when you became the 10 Tails' Jinchuriki and were about to be taken over by it... Didn't you try to suppress the 10 Tails because you didn't want that?" he asked.

Obito remembered something earlier.

"The reason why you beat the 10 Tails and could control it was because you stood firm on not throwing away the past and stayed yourself, right? You just couldn't throw out the memories of my dad, Kakashi-Sensei or this Rin person, could you?" Naruto asked then walked a little further to the left side of Obito and walked around him. "That's how you could stay Obito even after you became the 10 Tails' Jinchuriki. "Am I wrong?" then stopped on Obito's right side. "But dragging everyone with you onto your path and continuing on it won't be allowed! I'm bringing you back as Obito Uchiha... as a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf... and you're going to atone for your sins." then looked down. "You tried to run away from every single thing." then he started to remember what Obito said earlier.

...

Flashback.

"The only thing that awaits you... is your personal nightmare. Solitude! So why keep living in reality? Now come join us, Naruto!" Obito said.

Flashback Ends.

...

Naruto looked up at Obito. "I bet this Rin person would say this if she were still alive... 'Don't act tough and hide your wounds. I'm always watching.' You're no one else but you, damn it! Don't run away!" he said then held up his left hand to Obito. "Come join us... Obito!"

Obito looked at Naruto surprised for a moment before he closed his eyes and stepped towards Naruto as he reached his left hand out to grab Naruto's left hand but instead he grabbed Naruto's neck as he started choking him.

Naruto lowered his left arm as he grunted in pain.

Obito opened his eyes as he looked at Naruto, seriously. "I will never go over to your side! I have no regrets with my path up until now." he said.

"I told you I saw everything." Naruto said.

Obito became surprised again.

Naruto made a fist with his right hand and stepped forward. "So... don't... keep imagining yourself as Hokage!" he said then punched Obito in the face.

Obito released Naruto as he was pushed back a few feet then looked at Naruto again before he saw a younger version of himself.

"The person Rin wanted to watch over isn't the current you... It was Obito Uchiha." the young version of Obito said.

Obito became even more surprised when he now saw that he was in a field then saw Minato, in his old usual outfit with his arms crossed, and a 13 year old Kakashi, in his old usual outfit, a black T-shirt with white stripes in the middle of the sleeves, additional sleeves over his arms, metal arm protectors, brown leather straps around his back and chest, and long black pants, was standing next to him on the left side.

Young Kakashi placed his hands on his hips. "We're late again because of you... Obito." he said.

"Let's go, Obito." Minato said.

From left to right, Rin Nohara, a 12 year old girl that had fair skin, straight brown hair, which was cut in a chin-length bob that framed her face, brown eyes, a rectangular purple marking on either sides of her cheeks, in her usual outfit, a long-sleeved black top, black shorts, light purple apron-skirt, red stockings that stopped at her thighs, a small, red bracelet on her left wrist, a black shuriken holster and white tape wrapped around her right thigh, and a blue clothed Konoha forehead protector wrapped around her forehead, and 13 year old Obito, in his old usual outfit, a long sleeved blue uniform, a blue jacket with an orange collar and trimmings, was fastened to the rest of the outfit by two buttons on the collar and had the Uchiha clan crest at the back, a white belt, shinobi sandals, the dark blue Konoha forehead protector wrapped around his forehead, a pair of goggles with orange lenses connected to ear protectors, blue sandals, a black shuriken holster and white tape wrapped around his right thigh, were running towards Minato and Kakashi.

"Sorry! We'll be right there." Rin said.

Obito looked behind him to see his younger self and Rin running together. "Rin..." he said as he watched them run past him then he became surprised.

"That's right... You ought to fill in that hole in your heart yourself..." the male voice said.

Obito looked behind him to see 3 clones of himself standing a few meters away.

"Others will be of no help." one of the clone Obito's said.

From left to right, the clones started turning into Rin, Kakashi, and Minato.

"So... come over here. I won't ignore you." the clone Rin said.

"Come..."the young clone Kakashi said.

"Come..." the clone Minato said.

Obito looked at them more. "Obito..." he said.

"Hold on, Rin!" the young Obito said.

Obito turned back around to see the young version of himself and Rin were standing together as they were a few meters away from Minato and young Kakashi.

Rin looked at the young Obito curiously.

Obito gasped when the young version of him and Rin looked at him.

The young Obito held out his right hand to Obito. "That's right... Rin won't even turn to look at the current you. The one Rin wanted to watch over is Obito Uchiha." he said.

Obito gasped again when the young version of him started walking towards him. "Enough already... I am..." he said before he was right in front of him and grabbed his left hand with his right hand before he pulled him. "Obito Uchiha!"

The fields disappeared and Minato, young Kakashi, and Rin disappeared as they were back between Obito and Naruto's subconscious and Obito turned into Naruto.

Naruto grabbed Obito's left hand with his right hand. "Now just come over, you bastard!" he said.

The people behind Naruto appeared again.

"Everyone's power..." Naruto said then pulled Obito forward.

Border between Obito and Naruto's Subconscious Ends.

...

Everyone continued pulling at the Tailed Beasts.

Naruto thought of everyone who were pulling at the Tailed Beasts. After a few moments later, the 8 Tailed Beasts were finally released from Obito.

"Don't you dare underestimate it, dattebayo!" Naruto said then smiled. "They're out!"

Some of the shinobi fell on the ground as they were cheering.

Obito became surprised as he fell backwards.

The 8 Tailed Beasts appeared in their original form as they stood up on the ground again.

Sasuke and Naruto were panting as they looked at the 8 Tailed Beasts.

Obito closed his eyes and went to his original look except that his hair remain grey and still had black pants. "Did I... lose?" he thought then ground on his back.

Sasuke and Naruto unactivated their Susano'o and Tailed Beast Mode as Sasuke, Naruto, Jugo, and Karin landed on the ground as they looked at Obito then stopped panting.

Obito opened his eyes as he looks up at the moon as he started to remember some memories that he did earlier.

...

Flashbacks.

"The gaping hole of a hell that has opened will be filled by the moon's dreams..." Obito said.

...

"There's nothing in my heart! I don't even feel pain anymore. Don't feel so guilty, Kakashi. This hole was opened by this hellish world." Obito said.

"Do you really think that something like this can fill that hole in your heart?!" Kakashi asked. "Don't erase the memories of the real Rin! Rin sacrificed herself to protect and save the village! You can try and fill that hole with delusions all by yourself... But that hole will never be filled! The hole in one's heart gets filled by others around you."

Flashbacks Ends.

...

Obito lifted his left hand up so he can see as he remembered a memory of him and Rin for a moments. "Rin..." he said.

Karin watched as Sasuke and Naruto smiled at each other for a moment then made serious faces.

The 4 Tails looked at Naruto. "You kept your promise, Naruto Uzumaki!' he said.

"That's why I want to save you too..." Naruto said.

"And you really rescued us!" the 4 Tails said.

Karin looked at Sasuke curiously.

"Right, Son!" Naruto said.

8 Tails smiled.

"We were lucky." the 7 Tails said.

"He did it."the 6 Tails said.

"For real." the 5 Tails said.

"You're right." the 2 Tails said.

"I'm so glad!" the 3 Tails said.

"Isn't he...?" the 1 Tails asked, remembering Gaara and Naruto's fight more than 3 years ago.

Naruto and Karin watched as Sasuke quickly ran towards Obito.

Sasuke took out his sword with his right hand.

Naruto held out his right hand. "H-Hey!" he said then ran after Sasuke. "Wait, Sasuke!"

Obito looked at Sasuke, who was running towards him with his sword in his right hand, and Naruto. "Right... I've lost..." he thought.

Suddenly a swirling air appeared before Sasuke and Naruto stopped to see Kakashi appeared as he pinned Obito down with a kunai in his right hand.

"Kakashi!" Sasuke said.

"Sasuke, we'll talk later. I apologize for appearing so suddenly... But I was once his classmate and friend... So please let me take responsibility for him." he said then prepared to kill Obito with the kunai.

"Kakashi-Sensei!" Naruto said. "He's now-"

Kakashi was about to kill Obito until Minato appeared and grabbed Kakashi's right hand with his left hand to prevent it.

Sasuke and Naruto became surprised.

"Dad!" Naruto said.

Karin became annoyed when some of the shinobi yelled for Kakashi to finish Obito off. "Idiots!" she thought.

Tsunade held out her arms. "Hold it!" she said.

"Obito... When we had that chakra tug-of-war just now, I got to see inside your heart. It seems like my son nagged and lectured you quite a bit. I think he might have gotten that from Kushina." Minato said.

"Dad..." Naruto said.

Minato looked at Kakashi. "But that duty actually falls... on you. I think the one who truly understands Obito and should talk to him... is you, his friend... Kakashi." then he looked at Naruto. "Isn't that right, Naruto?" he asked.

Naruto looked at Sasuke.

"Naruto, you 2 should and the Allied Forces should go and help First-sama, and seal Madara away." Minato said.

"Oh, right! We still need to deal with him!" Naruto said then turned around and ran away. "Let's go, Sasuke!"

Sasuke looked at Naruto run before he ran after him.

Karin watched as Sasuke and Naruto ran past her before she ran after them. She glanced back at Minato, Kakashi, and Obito one last time before she looked forward.

"I think you were younger than Naruto is now." Minato said then looked down at Obito. "Do you remember? All the missions that the 4 of us went on? As a Medical Ninja, Rin did her utmost to protect you 2. She would never have wished for a situation like this."

Kakashi lowered his kunai as Minato released Kakashi's right hand.

"But what caused this is my responsibility." Minato said then started to remember some memories from the past.

"Rin... Rin was my only light and hope. After I lost Rin... The world as I saw it, changed. It became a pitch black hell. There's no hope in this world. I took Madara's identity and walked the world. But all it was confirm my belief. Even with my Sharingan, I couldn't see anything... There was nothing to see." Obito said.

"I don't know anything for sure either..." Kakashi said.

Obito became surprised. "Then... my new path is-!" he said.

"Without a doubt, your path is just one of many. And it may not actually be wrong either. I've thought this world was hell too. I thought that you had died... And right after that, I lost Rin... And I lost Minato-Sensei as well. But..." then he remembered something in the past. "Even though I don't know anything for sure... I tried my best to see the world with this eye. I felt that as long as I had your Sharingan and words..." Kakashi said.

"And what you saw is Naruto? How can you be sure his path won't fail?" Obito asked.

Kakashi stood up and stepped on the left side of Obito. "No... He may very well fail too. Of course." he said.

Obito became surprised. "How is Naruto different from me? Why do you go so far for him?" he asked.

"Because I can say without hesitation that he is less likely to fail than the current you." Kakashi said.

"Why is that?!" Obito asked.

"Because if he trips and stumbles on his path... I'll help him." Kakashi said.

Minato looked at Kakashi.

"Why would you help him?" Obito asked.

Kakashi looked down at Obito before he looked up to the left side at the sky. "He would never give up on his dreams... or on reality. That's the kind of guy he is. And the way he forges ahead draws others towards him. He makes you want to reach out when he's about to stumble. And the greater the support behind you, the closer you can get to your goal. That's the difference." he said.

Obito looked up at the moon again before a cloud covered it. "Do you really believe such a thing is possible in this pitch-black hell?" he asked.

"I'm sure you could've seen it too, if you had tried. After all, you and I have the same eyes. If comrades that you trust, gather around you... hope can take physical form and become visible. That's what I believe... Obito." Kakashi said.

Naruto jumped up the giant tree and stood on top of the bud as he activated his Sage Mode and started looking for Madara then he spotted a dust cloud below. "Found him!" he said then put his hands together and made 2 Shadow Clones and the 3 of them held up their arms as they started to make a giant Rasengan. "Massive Rasen Shuriken! Bigger! We'll go with something even bigger! Right!" they said.

Most of shinobi started running towards Madara's location.

"Naruto's path..." Obito thought.

Naruto's 2 clones disappeared.

"Take this! Massive Rasen Shuriken!" Naruto said then threw it at Madara's location with his right hand.

"Perhaps..." Obito said.

Minato and Kakashi became surprised.

Madara couldn't move as he was binded by Hashirama's Wooden Dragon.

Hashirama crouched down a few meters away from Madara. "That Wood Dragon will absorb your chakra! Your chakra-stealing ninjutsu has now been nullified! In other words, you can't move nor will you be able to extract chakra with your next ninjutsu!" he said.

Madara and Hashirama looked up at the sky to see Naruto's Massive Rasen Shuriken was coming towards them.

Hashirama jumped backwards so he wouldn't get hit. "Good timing, son of the Fourth!" he thought, having 6 black rods embedded in his back. "Let's get him with this and seal him away!" The Massive Rasen Shuriken hit Madara.

Sai, who was flying on a giant ink bird, landed on the bud on the left side of Naruto. "Naruto, this way!" he said.

Naruto looked at Sai.

"Let's go!" Sai said.

"Thanks, Sai!" Naruto said then jumped on the ink bird next to Sai before they flew away.

"Without any orders... without a single word... Everyone is galvanized into action... Naruto..." Gaara said then closed his eyes, smiling. "And I'm one of them..." then turned to the right side see the 1 Tail. "Shukaku... I'd like to borrow the power of your Sand to seal Madara."

"You mean, the Grand Sand Mausoleum?" Shukaku asked.

"That's right... A giant one too." Gaara said.

Shukaku laughed for a moment. "I'm not bound to a Jinchuriki anymore. What makes you think I'd listen to you after all this time?" he questioned.

"I'm not ordering you. I'm asking you. If you refuse, fine. I'll just ask one of the others." Gaara said.

Shukaku looked up at Gaara, who was crouching down on a flat sheet. "Naruto Uzumaki, huh? Seems you've become friends with that Fox Demon's brat, Gaara..." he asked.

"If you're not going to help, let's talk later. I'm going." Gaara said.

"That tone you're using ticks me off!" Shukaku said.

Gaara looked at Shukaku.

"As they say, if a fox has 7 tricks, a tanuki has 8! And I, the Demon Tanuki, will not lose to a stupid fox!" Shukaku said.

Gaara became confused.

"I'm not doing this because you asked! I'm doing this because I want to! Lead the way." Shukaku said.

Gaara smiled. "It's this way." he said then looked forward.

Shukaku moved forward. "Now then..." he said.

"Wait up." the 4 Tails said.

Shukaku and Gaara stopped moving before they looked at the 4 Tails. "Huh?" they asked.

"We'll help too." the 4 Tails said then he remembered what Naruto said to him earlier. "Don't worry. We're not doing this on a whim. We want to help Naruto."

Gaara turned to the 4 Tails then bowed to him. "I'm grateful." he said then stopped bowing.

"Sand Shinobi human, are you a friend of Naruto too?" the 4 Tails asked.

Gaara started to remember some memories from his past.

"What's wrong?" the 4 Tails asked. "I asked if you are Naruto's friend?"

"Yeah... He's my first friend." Gaara said.

"Is that right?" the 4 Tails asked.

Gaara nodded. "All right, let's hurry." he said then he turned as they started heading to Madara's location.

...

Jugo and Karin stopped near Orochimaru and Suigetsu as Karin watched Sasuke fly forward as he was flying on a ink bird. "Good luck out there!" she thought.

...

Hashirama put his hands together. "Sage Art: Gracious Deity Gates!" he said.

3 large red gates came from the sky and landed on Madara.

"Naruto's jutsu didn't bring him down, but with this, he won't be able to move at all!" Hashirama thought, separating his hands as he lowered his arms, looking at the dust cloud. "All that's left is to wait for the Sealing Shinobi."

The dust cloud disappeared to reveal Madara crouching down with his head down as 3 large gates were on top of his back.

Madara smirked to himself.

...

Obito started to pant then closed his eyes as he coughed.

Minato and Kakashi looked down at Obito, worried.

"Having the Tailed Beasts extracted from him means that Obito's..." Minato said then looked at Kakashi.

Kushina suddenly arrived as she jumped on the right side of Minato. "No you're wrong." she said, placing her left hand on Minato's right shoulder.

"The 10 Tails' Jinchuriki aren't like all the others. They won't die if the Tailed Beast is extracted. It because the 10 Tails' husk, the Gedo Statue remains. It contains a lot of life force." the Yin Kurama said through Kushina.

"Is that true? How do you know?" Minato asked, looking at Kushina.

"Hey, now. Who you think scattered us all across the world after splitting the 10 Tails' Chakra into 9 pieces?" Yin Kurama asked.

Minato and became surprised.

"The Sage of 6 Paths..." Minato said.

"But with 9 bodies extracted out of him all at once, he'll be so weak it will be like he's dead. He won't be able to move for a few months. Just as it was for the old man back then." Yin Kurama said.

"So that's how it goes." Minato said then looked at Kakashi. "Kakashi... the Tailed Beast inside Kushina just explained to us..."

Kushina took her left hand off of Minato's right shoulder.

Obito started to remember his inner past.

"So you don't have to worry." Minato said.

Kakashi looked down at Obito. "Then... his life is... I was hoping he would atone for all his past deeds, but... It can't be helped if you can't move." he said.

Obito stopped panting.

"Just stay put." Kakashi said then looked at Minato and Kushina. "Sensei, Kushina, please keep an eye on Obito." then walked over to right side.

"All right." Minato said.

"Okay." Kushina said.

Minato and Kushina looked to see Obito's slowly putting his hands together.

"What are you trying to do?" Minato asked.

Kakashi stopped walking as he turned to Obito.

Minato crouched down beside Obito.

"The same thing the man I once tried to use... did to betray me." Obito said, remembering Nagato.

"No way..." Kakashi said.

"I never imagined I'd end up doing the same thing... It's the Gedo... Art of Rinne Rebirth." Obito said.

"But that jutsu will result in your...!" Kakashi said then remembered the end of Pain's Attack.

Minato stood up. "It seems to be a jutsu that trades life for life." he thought.

"I feel like I finally understand why Nagato... betrayed me back then. A string of hearts linked together like prayer beads... That can be a strong power as well, huh... Nagato and Naruto were both Jiraiya's students. So you could say Jiraiya defeated me." then looked at Minato. "Sensei... He was also your master, the one who groomed you to become the Hokage... And I... was your student." then looked forward. "A shinobi who gave up on becoming Hokage... and cut all his ties." then looked at Kakashi. "I won't have much to say to Rin on the other side."

"Are you sure about this?" Kakashi asked.

"You could live and atone for your sins... Kakashi said.

"No... That's the easy way out." Obito said then closed his eyes.

Suddenly a black right hand came out of the ground near Obito and slithered before the right hand placed itself on Obito's chest.

Minato, Kushina, and Kakashi became surprised.

The right hand started digging it's fingers into Obito's chest.

Obito opened his eyes as he turned his head to the left side, gritting his teeth silently.

"I'll help you out this time!" Black Zetsu said, his head coming out of the ground on the left side of Obito.

...

Madara smirked even more. "Time to switch places! It's now my turn to attack!" he said.

"Stop acting tough! This war is over!" Hashirama said.

Sai and Naruto, who were still on Sai's ink bird, jumped off and landed on the ground as Sai had a large red and being in his right arm.

"Sai!" Naruto said.

Sai unfolded the scroll. "I know!" he said, laying the ground as a ink tiger drawing was on it. He put his hands together. "Sealing Jutsu! Crouched Tiger Bullet!" the tiger drawing jumped out of the scroll and towards Madara.

"Naruto... I'm grateful to you. You even extracted the Tailed Beasts from Obito... Saving me the whole trouble of weakening him." Madara said.

"Sorry, Obito..." Black Zetsu said, covering Obito's body. "This is the reason why I stuck on to you."

"Black Zetsu! W-What the-?!" Obito questioned.

The Ink Tiger bit Madara's left shoulder.

"Okay! Just a little bit longer!" Sai said.

"Art of Rinne Rebirth!" Madara and Obito said.

Madara's body steamed a little bit as he was alive again. "Finally, I can fight for real!" he said then used the Fire Style: Art of Hiding in Ash.

Madara looked down at his left hand as he felt his heart beating.

Black Zetsu uncovered Obito's face, who closed his eyes and panted for air.

The 3 gates were gone as Madara stood up.

"This is the form, the body I needed!" Madara said, placing his left hand on his chest armour. "It's not a battle without raging blood... and a pounding heart!" then he stopped smirking when he noticed his eyes crumbling away before he closed his sockets.

Madara suddenly felt the Amaterasu on his back.

Hashirama, Sai, and Naruto became surprised.

Madara looked behind himself to see Sasuke in the air riding on a ink bird as he had his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan on.

"Ancient relics... should just butt out!" Sasuke said, his left eye starting to bleed.

"A brat who doesn't even come close to my level. You stole my line." Madara said.

"Why did he close his eyes?" Hashirama thought.

"Sasuke! It's pointless to just throw attacks at him, dattebayo." Naruto said. "This guy can absorb ninjutsu!"

Madara's upper clothes disappeared as his armour fell on the ground as it was covered in the Amaterasu.

Hashirama became surprised when he saw a face on Madara's chest.

"It is these 2 polar opposites operating together that gives rise to all things in this universe... Hashirama, do you remember me telling you this long ago in front of the Uchiha Stone Tablet?" Madara asked. "That the inscription on the stone says, when 2 opposite sides cooperate, you have true happiness. But I also told you it could be interpreted differently."

"That's..." Hashirama said.

"The one who obtains both Uchiha and Senju powers can attain true happiness. Do you think it could be read that way as well?" Madara asked. "Hashirama?"

"It seems you've been doing a lot of plotting since you left the village." Hashirama said.

"No... Actually, this is something my subordinate's comrades came up with by coincidence. Seems there was a fellow who thought a lot like me." Madara said then raised his left arm to his mouth and bit himself and pulled his left arm away as it started to bleed. "However... Me coming back to life was exactly as planned!"

Hashirama, Sai, and Naruto looked at Madara surprised.

Madara put his hands together.

Hashirama felt that he couldn't move anymore as he he was crouching down. "Damn it... I can't move!" he thought.

Madara pulled his hands apart before he quickly went to the Sai and Naruto then kicked them with his left leg, making them fly backwards in pain. Madara quickly stood in front of Hashirama and grabbed his neck with his left hand.

Hashirama closed his eyes as he groaned in pain.

Madara started stealing chakra from Hashirama. "Though things did happen out of order. Oh well." he said then the face on his chest now had Sage Mode.

Hashirama didn't moan in pain anymore as his eyes were barely open and his face was cracking a little bit.

"So this is Sage Art Chakra... Is that all there is to it? Seems like this will be easy to control." Madara asked then released Hashirama.

Sasuke jumped off of the ink bird and landed on the ground and took his sword out of it's holster with his right hand before he ran towards Madara then tried to attack him with his sword but Madara moved away as he dodged. Sasuke went after Madara again as he continuously swing his sword at him as Madara continued to dodge them.

"This is the perfect chance now that you're flesh and blood. This time I'll kill you for good, and send you back to the afterlife! Regret that you're still not a Reanimation..." Sasuke said then held his sword with both hands, running towards Madara. "As you go to your death!"

Madara stood on the ground as he stopped dodging and Sasuke stabbed him through his arms. Madara grabbed Sasuke's sword with both hands.

"I can feel it... Your Mangekyo are Choku Tomoe, a straight pattern. No wonder you have fine moves. It might be a good idea to take your eyes until I get my Rinnegan back." Madara said.

...

"Obito... Your usefulness is over." Black Zetsu said.

Obito panted in exhaustion.

"What did you do?" Kakashi asked.

"Madara... has come back to life!" Obito said.

Minato, Kushina, and Kakashi were now surprised.

Black Zetsu released Obito before he stood up. "You performed the Rinne Rebirth, so you will die. This is the last step." he said then he started reaching for Obito's Rinnegan with his right hand. "I'm taking back that left eye."

Minato, Kushina, and Kakashi quickly ran towards Obito.

Black Zetsu stopped reaching for Obito's Rinnegan as he merged with the left side of Obito's body.

Minato, Kushina, and Kakashi stopped running and stopped.

Black Zetsu and Obito started to get up.

"He'll last a little longer while I'm attached to him." Black Zetsu said.

"Just what are you, dattebane?!" Kushina asked.

"You're not even human." Minato said.

Black Zetsu and Obito fully stood up.

"I am Madara's will incarnate. I will eliminate anyone who gets in Madara's way." Black Zetsu said.

"Black Zetsu. I thought you'd been captured..." Kakashi said.

"All of you, including Obito, greatly underestimated Madara's plan. You underestimated me as well." Black Zetsu said then remembered the past. "He's a useless traitor who went against Madara's plan. Until Obito dies, I'll use his body to fight you. I've got to get some use out of him, at least at the end."

...

"But killing you would be such a waste with an eye like that. How about it? You're a survivor of the Uchiha like me. Want to join forces?" Madara asked.

"Make no mistake. You're a dead man." Sasuke said.

"Fine then... In any case, you don't have much time left." Madara said then closed his mouth. "Fire Style: Hiding in Ash Jutsu!" he thought then gray smoke appeared.

Sai and Naruto ran over to Madara and Sasuke but they stopped when the smoke appeared.

The smoke disappeared again as they noticed that Madara wasn't there anymore.

"Madara is regaining his past strength. Not good. His next target is..." Hashirama thought then looked behind him on the right side side.

A large explosion happened as some shinobi laid on the and groaned in pain.

Madara stood up as his left foot was standing the back of an unconscious shinobi. Madara's wounds started to heal.

"Ill be taking you all next... you filthy beasts!" Madara said, sensing the Tailed Beasts up ahead.

Some of the shinobi started talking.

C, in his usual outfit and the black Allied Shinobi Forces forehead protector wrapped around his forehead, moved his left arm. "Get away from here!" he said.

The shinobi from the area, including C, jumped away from the area. Gaara only remaining.

Madara jumped towards the Tailed Beasts.

Gaara grabbed his left hand with his right hand. "Shukaku get ready!" he said.

Sand formed around the air.

Shukaku put his hands together. "Let's go wild!" he said then his body expanded. "Wind Style... Sand Bomb! Salvo!" he thought then he exhaled the air at Madara with his mouth.

Madara covered his face with his arms as he was pushed back in the air. "Nice jutsu." he said then uncovered his face. "But it lacks in finishing power..." coming forward again.

Gaara yelled for a moment as he gripped his left hand more.

Madara felt that he couldn't move as he felt the small holes in his arms and chest as they were embedded with sand. "So you implanted your sand with this jutsu to stifle movement..." he said.

The 2 Tails moved forward before she hit Madara with her right paw, making Madara fly backwards in the air again.

The 3 Tails rolled forward as he hit Madara, making Madara move forward.

The 4 Tails jumped up in the air and kicked Madara with his left foot, making Madara fly into another direction.

The 5 Tails head-butted Madara, who was high in the air.

The 7 Tails flew in the air and hit Madara, who landed in the slim covered ground that the 6 Tails made.

"Now, Shukaku!" Gaara said.

Shukaku extended both of his hands as he made a curse mark pyramid on top of Madara.

"Grand Sand Mausoleum Seal!" Gaara thought.

"It's a Mausoleum Seal that uses my sand and curse mark pattern!" Shukaku said.

Some of the shinobi far away started talking again.

"Did it work?!" C asked.

"He'll never take another breath of fresh air again!" Shukaku said then laughed for a moment.

Suddenly the pyramid broke as the Tailed Beasts and Gaara watched in surprise as Madara activated his Susano'o and jumped away as he landed a few meters away from the Tailed Beasts and Gaara as it has a sword in one of it's left hands.

"The Susano'o, huh!" Gaara said.

"I'll be putting collars on all of you shortly. Not one of you will be able to get away." Madara said.

Naruto, in his Sage Mode and Tailed Beast Mode, suddenly appeared. "I won't let you!" he said then hit Madara's Susano'o from behind, who fell on the ground.

"No one here's going to wag his tail for you!" Yang Kurama said.

8 Tails appeared as he started running with the Tailed Beasts towards Madara.

"Sorry we're late! We were moving the injured." 8 Tails said.

"Don't worry! There won't be any more wounded. We're ending this now!" the 2 Tails said.

"Stack tails!" Yin Kurama said.

"Right!" the Tailed Beasts said.

All of the Tailed Beasts hit Madara with their tails.

"You were close, you damned raccoon!" Yang Kurama said.

"Hmph. Quit ordering us around, you dumb fox!" Shukaku said.

"But this should..." the 2 Tails said.

The Tailed Beasts, Madara, and Gaara became surprised when appeared from the dust as he stood a few meters away from them as he doesn't have half of his right arm.

"Persistent bastard!" the 3 Tails said.

"But he's already taken a beating." the 2 Tails said.

Naruto put his hands together for a moment. "All right! One more blast!" Naruto said.

"Yeah, let's go, Naruto!" Gaara said.

A White Zetsu clone suddenly appeared from the ground on the left side of Madara.

"Sorry I'm late, Madara-sama." White Zetsu clone said.

"You're finally here." Madara said.

"Hey, that's Zetsu or whatever he's called." Naruto said.

"Reinforcements? Just one?" Gaara asked.

"What's he doin' here now? It's it kinda late?" Killer B asked.

"Do you have it?" Madara asked.

The White Zetsu clone held out his right arm as he had the a Rinnegan in it. "Of course." he said.

Madara sliced off White Zetsu clone's right arm with his left hand and grabbed it before he stuck it to his cut off right arm. Madara put the Rinnegan in his right eye socket and opened his right eye. "This should make things a little more fun..." he said then looked down at his left arm to see that it was bleeding before he brought it to his mouth and licked some of it. "This taste of blood... this pain!" he thought then lowered his left arm. "This is my body!" he laughed. "Finally... I can fully savor battle again!" then stopped laughing. Madara put some blood on his new right hand with his left hand.

Yin Kurama suddenly felt something.

Naruto looked up at Yang Kurama. "What's wrong, Kurama?" he asked.

"His blood... It's bringing back some really bad memories." Yang Kurama said.

"Blood?" Naruto asked.

"This repulsive blood that summoned me long ago." Yang Kurama said.

"Hey, you dumb fox! Don't get scared and stick your tail between your legs!" Shukaku said.

"I wouldn't underestimate him if I were you..." Yang Kurama said.

"Hmph! This isn't like you! It's rubbing me the wrong way!" Shukaku said.

Madara crouched down as he placed his right hand on the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!" he said.

Obito started to feel weaker.

"Obito!" Kakashi said.

The Gedo Statue suddenly came out of Obito's body.

Minato, Kushina, and Kakashi looked up at the Gedo Statue.

"He's gonna fight us using that?" Minato asked then looked at Kushina and Kakashi for a moment. "Kushina, Kakashi. Can you 2 manage?"

"Hai." Kushina said.

"Yes, in one way or another..." Kakashi said.

Kakashi activated the Mangekyo Sharingan in his left eye socket. "Kamui!" he said.

A small void sucked the Gedo Statue's right arm before it disappeared.

Kakashi stopped using Kamui as he panted.

Minato and Kushina looked at Kakashi.

"Did it work?" Minato asked.

"I think... it failed..." Kakashi said.

...

The Gedo Statue suddenly appeared near Madara and White Zetsu Army clone.

The Tailed Beasts, Naruto, and Gaara became surprised.

"Not that thing again!" Naruto said.

The Gedo Statue's right arm started to leak fluid.

"Seems the right arm's been wretched off." Madara said, looking at it. ""Seems there's someone left with good eyes on the other side." then looked forward. "Well, it's not much of an impediment. And now, I've got a pen for them. All I need to do is shove them in there."

"A fake Rinnegan from a reanimation can summon that thing?" the 4 Tails asked.

"He's bleeding and wounded. In other words, he's not a reanimation anymore. He possesses a real Rinnegan." the 2 Tails said.

"How did he come back to life?!" the 7 Tails asked.

Naruto started to remember some memories from the past. "Don't tell me with Obito's Rinne Rebirth..." he said then remembered more memories. "Then Obito's...!"

...

Black Zetsu and Obito were crouching down as Black Zetsu started reaching for Obito's Rinnegan with Obito's left hand but something stopped him.

"Obito... He's fighting to prevent his Rinnegan from falling into Madara's hands." Minato said.

"You're stubborn, for someone near death. This left eye came to you through Nagato, but it's time for it to return it to it's rightful owner. The only ones who have awakened the Rinnegan in this world are the Sage of 6 Paths and Madara Uchiha. It's not a mere thing to be hoarded by the likes of you." Black Zetsu said.

"I've hidden the right eye... And I'm going to have Kakashi destroy the left eye right now." Obito said.

Kakashi raised his kunai.

Black Zetsu laughed for a moment. "White Zetsu found the right eye a while ago and turned it over to Madara-sama." he said.

Obito gritted his teeth.

"You're a useless fool who refuses to die... So stop resisting. You'd be dead already if I wasn't sticking to you." Black Zetsu said.

"Then detach from me and take the Rinnegan after I die." Obito said.

"The instant I detach from you, these 3 will kill me. Before I can take the Rinnegan. Have you forgotten that I was the one who gathered intel for Akatsuki?" Black Zetsu asked. "I've already analyzed these 3 and their strength."

...

"It's going to take a bit longer for the left eye." Madara said.

"Seems like it. This also looks like it's going to take a bit longer too." White Zetsu Army clone said.

Madara's wounds healed. "Don't compare me to that brat who took years to get back those pets." he said.

"You're covered in blood." White Zetsu Army clone said.

"Knowing that I possess Hashirama's healing powers might cause me to fight crudely." Madara said.

"Let's go, dattebayo!" Naruto said.

"Wait. We don't know how he's planning to attack." Yang Kurama said.

"The Gedo Statue, huh..." the 8 Tails said.

"I'll proceed more carefully. If I use the Rinnegan's true powers, we should see a more sophisticated battle. It will only be a few seconds. So watch closely!" Madara said then jumped on the Gedo Statue's head and crouched down and placed his right hand on the Gedo Statue's head, closing his eyes. "Limbo..." he thought then opened his right eye. "Hengoku!"

"He might try something... So be careful..." the 2 Tails said.

All of the Tailed Beasts were suddenly knocked down to the ground.

Gaara was pushed back a bit. "What is this? What just happened?!" he thought.

"Damn you..." Naruto said.

Some of the shinobi from far away started talking again.

"Was it Madara's jutsu?!" C questioned.

Some of Tailed Beasts groaned in pain.

Madara stood up. "That ought to have tamed you a bit." he said then put his hands together. "Now I can put on your collars!"

Gaara became surprised when the Gedo Statue's mouth opened as a purple bright light appeared from it.

Gaara looked down at Shukaku. "Something's coming!" he said.

9 Chains came out of the Gedo Statue's mouth and wrapped them around the Tailed Beasts' neck.

"Eight-o!" Killer B said.

"Kurama!" Naruto said.

"First, I'll rip the 8 and 9 Tails from their Jinchuriki!" Madara said.

The 8 and 9 Tails were being dragged to the Gedo Statue.

"Eight-o!" Killer B said.

Yang Kurama was trying to break free but couldn't. "Damn it!" he said.

Naruto held up his right index and middle fingers. "That's right... If I just undo this Kurama Mode...!" he thought.

"It's useless. Once I catch them. I won't let them go." Madara said.

"It's not working!" Naruto said. "Kurama's not going back inside me...!" he thought then lowered his right hand as he felt himself going back. "Damn it, I'm being pulled backwards!"

White Zetsu Army clone looked up at Madara. "Madara-sama, you must take them in order starting with the 1 Tail." he said.

Madara looked down at the White Zetsu Army clone. "I know that." he said.

"Since you need to rip out the last 2 Tailed Beasts, 8 and 9 Tails, from the Jinchuriki, why not pull in the others, the 1 Tail through 7 in the time being?" White Zetsu Army clone asked.

"You bastard! I'm not letting you take Kurama!" Naruto said.

Madara looked forward. "You're right, it looks like this will take longer than I expected. So let's start... with this one!" he said.

Shukaku started to get dragged to the Gedo Statue.

Gaara held his hands. "Desert Hands!" he thought.

Suddenly 2 large sand hands came out of the ground and grabbed the chain connected to Shukaku to stop him from being pulled.

"You can't have Shukaku!" Gaara said.

Shukaku looked at Gaara as he remembered memories Gaara and his former Jinchuriki, Bunpuku.

"Gaara, don't lose!" Naruto said.

Shukaku started to remember another memory with Gaara.

The White Zetsu Army clone looked at Gaara. "You Sand brat! Are you really that happy to have your old pet back? How dare you interfere, even when you're not going to die as a Jinchuriki!" he questioned.

Madara activated his Susano'o ribcage and shot an arrow at Gaara.

Naruto watched as Shukaku protected Gaara from the Susano'o arrow.

"My motto is absolute defense! I've still got my pride as Shukaku!" Shukaku said.

"I know..." Gaara said.

"No... you know nothing at all." Madara said.

The Susano'o arrow cut the chain off before the chains reconnected as it continued to drag Shukaku near the Gedo Statue.

Gaara suddenly fell down as he groaned in pain.

"Gaara... Don't overexert yourself!" Shukaku said.

"I'm no longer a Jinchuriki... So... I can finally pull all-nighters with you as an equal!" Gaara said.

"Gaara... You..." Shukaku thought, remembering Bunpuku. "... remind me of Bunpuku."

The 9 Tailed Beasts were being dragged to the Gedo Statue.

The 8 Tails cut off one of his tentacles as he gave it to Killer B with his right hand. "Damn it!" he said.

Naruto was being pushed further away from Yang Kurama.

"Hey, Kazekage brat! Do me a favor!" Yang Kurama said.

Gaara looked at Yang Kurama surprised as he started to say something to Gaara.

"All right..." Madara said.

"You got that... Gaara?!" Yang Kurama asked.

Gaara didn't say anything.

When Naruto completely separated from Yang Kurama, his eyes widened as he felt his heart beat loudly one time then it slowly started to slow down.

Gaara looked at Naruto. "Naruto!" he said.

Naruto closed his eyes as he didn't move anymore.

Gaara raised his left hand as he summoned sand to catch Naruto.

The 9 Tailed Beasts were stuck in order by the Gedo Statue.

Gaara watched as Shukaku got sucked into the Gedo Statue. "Shukaku!" he said.

"Sorry... Bee!" the 8 Tails thought.

"I'm counting on you... Kazekage brat!" Yang Kurama thought.

The 8 and 9 Tails were sucked into the Gedo Statue, who closed it's mouth and opened it's eyes.

Some of the shinobi from far away started talking in surprise.

Madara crouched down as he placed his right hand on the Gedo Statue's head. "Well, I guess... that's about all I can expect from my current strength." he said then stood up and looked down at the White Zetsu Army clone.

The White Zetsu Army clone looked up at Madara. "It took more than a few seconds... But you were faster than Obito." he said.

"You really do talk to much. You're all did inventions of mine... Always finding fault with me." Madara said.

"Black Zetsu is nicknamed 'Wicked Tongue' and they call us White Zetsu, 'Wagging Tongues'." White Zetsu Army clone said then laughed for a moment.

"I hope the other battle is going well." Madara said.

"Don't worry! After all, the base is good." White Zetsu Army clone said.

Madara suddenly sensed that Tobirama appeared behind him with a kunai in his right hand.

"Flying Raijin Slice!" Tobirama thought.

Tobirama tried to attack Madara but Madara moved his head to the right side before he punched Tobirama's right arm, making the kunai fall out, and summoned a rod from his right hand and tried to stab him but Tobirama teleported from that spot.

Tobirama reappeared and grabbed his kunai with his left hand and went after Madara. "You're mine!" he thought.

...

Gaara held Naruto on his back and grabbed his right hand with his right hand as they flew away on sand. He looked at Naruto, worried. "This is my chance! Naruto..." he thought then remembered some memories of his past with Naruto. "I swear I will not let you die!" then looked forward. "Like I'd let you die!"

Madara lowered his right arm as he looked down at Tobirama, who was laying on his stomach, had 6 rods in his back, and was looking up at Madara.

"It's you M.O. to strike an opponent when he's convinced of victory... Making the brats do the work... You're still a delegator, aren't you, Tobirama?" Madara asked.

Tobirama smirked. "Same goes for you." he said.

"However, heaven is on my side. Look at you, the one touted as the fastest shinobi ever. There's a reason why you 2 brothers can't regain your former speed. Whether it's coincidence or if it's inevitable... I've got the edge now." Madara said.

Tobirama stopped smirking.

"Plus I'm nurturing a new eye. Though it's unclear which side they'll end up on..." Madara said.

Sasuke, who had his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, was flying on his giant hawk towards Madara's location as he remembered his conversation with Hashirama.

...

Flashback.

Hashirama was still crouching down as he had the 6 rods embedded in his back. Sai was laying on his stomach on the ground. Sasuke, who now had the Sharingan, was standing a few meters away from them as he was about to leave.

Hashirama looked at Sasuke. "Wait!" he said.

Sasuke looked at at Hashirama from behind as his giant hawk landed on the ground.

"Uchiha lad... Let me give you a jutsu." Hashirama said.

"A jutsu?" Sasuke questioned.

"Yes... Madara stole my Sage Chakra... This jutsu will respond to the Sage Chakra and bind him." Hashirama said.

"Then do it yourself... If you're a reanimation, you'll recover right away. If you want... I'll pull those things out of your back for you." Sasuke said.

Hashirama looked forward. "These rods seem to be piercing my Chakra Points, preventing me from infusing more chakra. Also, I think it's a bad idea for you to touch them. I will give you all of my remaining chakra." he said then looked at Sasuke again. "You must stop Madara..."

"Why ask me, an Uchiha?" Sasuke asked.

Hashirama looked at Sasuke again then closed his eyes. "You're a lot like him... Madara's younger brother..." he said then started remembering Izuna. "Izuna Uchiha."

The giant hawk leaned down.

Sasuke looked at his hawk. "So? What does that have to do with stopping him?" he asked then starting petting his giant hawk's beak with his left hand.

Hashirama opened his eyes. "Madara's fundamentally a kind man. He was very devout and loved his siblings. That's why he gave you a chance at redemption." he said.

Sasuke looked at Hashirama again as he remembered what happened earlier.

"You might be able to stop Madara without using force." Hashirama said.

Sasuke stopped petting his giant hawk as he turned to Madara.

"Now... come stand before me." Hashirama said.

Flashback Ends.

...

Sasuke continued to fly to Madara's location.

Madara made another rod with his right hand as he held it with his left hand and threw it at Tobirama's head and top of his forehead protector. He stepped a bit closer to Tobirama.

"To be honest... I've wanted to do this to you for a long time. Since you're..." Madara said then he remembered Izuna's injuries. "the one who killed Izuna! But you're just a moving corpse, so it's hardly fulfilling."

"Madara... What is it that you so desire so badly that you'd come back to life for?" Tobirama asked. "Our, our time ended... ages ago!"

"I just want to build the nation that Hashirama couldn't. But this world belongs to Hashirama, my predecessor who failed. Drastic measures are needed to save the dying patient." Madara said.

"I'm going on ahead!" White Zetsu Army clone said then sunk back in the ground.

"So this thing called the Infinite Tsukuyomi was your idea? This is your idea of a cure?" Tobirama asked.

"Yes. Hashirama's nation-building bore a paradox. People desire peace..." Madara said then he raised his right hand. "And yet, on the other hand, crave conflict as well. That duality is mankind. To only want peace and to discard conflict... would cause people to stop being people." lowering his arms. "And those 2 things stand together side by side." then remembered his battle with Hashirama decades ago. "People will sacrifice something in order to protect something else. Except in a true dream world."

Tobirama smirked again. "You've got a point." he said. "But... it's not a dream that you should interfere with!" he thought then he used his jutsu Heavenly Weeping with his mouth on Madara.

Madara deflected the attack with his Susano'o left arm and unsummoned it.

When Sasuke arrived at Madara's location, he jumped off of his giant hawk, who flew away, and jumped down with his sword in his right hand as he was going to attack Madara. "Now." he said.

Suddenly Sasuke became surprised because he couldn't and was in midair behind and a little above Madara. Sasuke wasn't holding his sword anymore as it pierced the Gedo Statue's head.

Madara still had his Susano'o aura on his left hand. "You could say that this world is Hashirama's paradox world." he said.

"Damn it!" Sasuke thought.

Madara unactivated his Susano'o aura.

"What is this?!" Sasuke thought.

Madara turned around and picked up Sasuke's sword then stepped towards him a little bit. He looked up at Sasuke. "In order to protect something... one must sacrifice something else." he said.

"Stop, Madara! Don't go any further..." Tobirama said.

Madara raised Sasuke's sword. "'Be they a friend... sibling... or even my own child...'" he said.

Sasuke becomes surprised when Madara stabs him in the chest with his own sword.

"I gave you plenty of time. And I warned you... that there wasn't much time left. How unfortunate." Madara said.

Gaara continued to hold onto the dying Naruto as he continued to fly on on sand.

...

Sasuke started to bleed as his shirt was being covered in his blood.

"Madara! What kind of a man are you?!" Tobirama asked.

Sasuke coughed up blood as covered some of his mouth then closed his eyes in pain.

...

Far away, Tobi, in his usual outfit, a fully white and could be easily distinguished by the spiral-pattern that stretches all over his body, ending in a circular eye-hole, the pattern did not cover his forearms and legs, but could open up in a similar manner to the flytrap extensions of the original Zetsu to reveal that he is hollow inside, and his current outfit, a long sleeved hooded indigo cloak, had his arms folded as he was standing on a giant statue that had a carving of a person and many hands called 'Wood Release: Several Hundred Hands'.

Some of the shinobi in the area started talking again.

As the statue started to attack the shinobi in the area dodged the attacks. The Raikage attacked the statue but ended being injured and stood up on the ground.

The Mizukage attacked the statue but ended being injured and stood up on the ground as well. "My jutsu won't activate!" she said. "My chakra is-!" she thought.

"I can't believe we've been stopped by the likes of him..." the Tsuchikage said.

"This strange thing... It's blocking our way!" Sakura said.

"It's using the Wood Style... What is it?" Tsunade thought.

"I told you, I wouldn't let you pass so easily. By the way, isn't there anyone who can give me a serious answer to my question? I asked you, what does it feel like to poo?" Tobi asked.

5 heads from the statue opened their mouths as they contained Fire transformations, Water transformation, Wind transformation, Earth transformation, and Lightning transformation.

"Well... I'm thinking it's like the refreshing you get after killing someone." Tobi said.

"All 5 elements at once?!" Mifune asked, in his current outfit,samurai armour, much more traditional in appearance when compared to the ones worn by his subordinates: it's composed of a breastplate, with four plates protecting his legs attached to it, identical shoulder pads, and matching arm and leg guards. He also wears a belt, to which is attached a pouch and his sword: Kurosawa in his waist. "How do we counter that?" he thought.

Hiruzen put his hands together. "I know!" he said then jumped into the air as he made 4 shadow clones and stood on the ground as he protected the shinobi. Hiruzen and his 4 clones each shot an element at the 5 statue head, creating an explosion and clouds as they stopped using their attacks.

The dust cloud slowly disappeared around them.

"Impressive... Using the same jutsu simultaneously as a counterbalance..." Tobi said.

Ino raised her left hand to her chest. "We're saved." she said.

Kiba smirked as he laughed a little bit. "Don't underestimate 3rd-sama!" he said.

"That said, everyone's exhausted most of their chakra. Which leaves only a reanimated 3rd-sama to fight back. If 3rd-sama should fall, we're done for... Forget Madara. We need to do something about him." Shikamaru thought.

Tsunade crouched down on the ground as Shizune was beside her on the right side.

"To be honest... Everyone needs to start fighting as if Tsunade-sama, Shizune, and I aren't able to use Medical Ninjutsu anymore." Sakura thought.

"This large-scale battle using big attacks is taking too long! And we haven't had a chance to regroup. We'll just have trust young Naruto to take care of Madara." the Tsuchikage thought.

From left to right, Suigetsu, Orochimaru, and Jugo were standing up as they were hiding behind a large rock. Karin was sitting on the right side of Jugo and held her hands on her shoulders as she was using her Mystical Palm Technique to gain some of her chakra back so she can fight on the battlefield again, her eyes were closed.

"This is our chance, Orochimaru-sama!" Suigetsu said.

Orochimaru secretly looked at Tobi. "Not yet." he said. "This foe..." he thought.

Karin suddenly open her eyes and put hands on her head as she stopped using her Mystical Palm Technique, crying as she sensed that Sasuke and Naruto's chakra were fading away. "Now way!" she said, sadly.

Suigetsu placed his left index finger to his mouth. "Shh! Be quiet!" he said, looking down at Karin.

"No way! This is-!" Karin said.

Orochimaru and Jugo looked down at Karin.

"What is it?" Jugo asked.

"S-sa... O-onii..." Karin said.

"Did something happen to Sasuke?" Jugo asked.

Orochimaru looked up. "It seems I should do it sooner than later, after all..." he said.

Ino suddenly sensed something wrong, gasping.

Shikamaru and Choji looked at Ino on the right side.

"What is it, Ino?" Shikamaru asked.

Kiba suddenly smelt Naruto. "Naruto!" he said said.

Hinata looked at Kiba. "What?" she asked.

The shinobi in the area saw Naruto was being carried by Gaara on a sand cloud.

"Over there!" Gaara said then landed near Tsunade, Shizune, and Sakura.

"Naruto!" Sakura said worriedly as she ran towards Naruto and Gaara.

Gaara took Naruto off of his back as he laid him down on his back in as he separated the sand between them. "There's no time to explain. Hokage! Come with me! Heal Naruto as much as you can while we're en route." he said.

"I've depleted my chakra. I can't use Medical Ninjutsu anymore. Take Sakura. She can still help a little." Tsunade said.

Sakura stood on the left side of Naruto's sand. "How did Naruto end up like this?! What happened over there?!" she asked.

"Just come! Don't waste time! I'll explain later!" Gaara said, moving his arms.

"Quickly, Sakura, get on the sand!" Shizune said.

"Right!" Sakura said.

"How could this happen?!" the Tsuchikage asked.

"Is Naruto-kun there?" Hinata asked.

"Yeah! Over there!"Kiba said, pointing forward with his left index finger. "Can't you use your Byakugan?"

Hinata looked in the direction.

"Did he bring down Madara?" Shino asked.

Hinata used her Byakugan before she became sad and surprised to see that Naruto's heart was beating slower and slower. "Naruto-kun's heartbeat... is getting weaker and weaker!" she thought then ran forward. "Naruto-kun!"

Sakura sat on the sand as she started using her Mystical Palm Technique on Naruto's chest with both hands as Gaara lifted the 3 of them up and started heading into a direction.

As Hinata continued running, she suddenly fell down on her stomach, panting and closed her eyes. "Neji-niisan, please protect Naruto-kun!" she thought.

The Gedo Statue suddenly disappeared as Tobirama and Sasuke were laying on their stomachs on the ground while Madara stood a few meters away in front of Sasuke with Sasuke's sword still in his left hand.

"The fact that you possess such eyes proves that you've continued to seek something despite many great losses." Madara said.

Sasuke, who unactivated his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, looked up at Madara with his right eye opened.

"But it all ends here. You will lose your very self. It's what they call a true ending." Madara said.

Sasuke groaned in pain for a moment as he started to remember Itachi before slowly raised his upper body up with both arms then fell down as he opened both of his eyes as he slowly raised his upper half again. "I'm not dying. I... can't... die." he said then closed his eyes and groaned in pain before he fell down again.

Madara released Sasuke's sword as it pierced the ground before he turned around and walked away from the now dying Sasuke.

Sasuke opened his eyes as he tried to raise his upper half again. "I can't let Itachi's life... be in vain!" he said then remembered Itachi again. "Not yet... not here..." slowly clawing the ground. "Until I build a true village... and become a true Kage." he thought. "I'm... not gonna die!" closing his eyes and fell down, his heartbeats getting weaker.

...

Gaara, Naruto, and Sakura continued traveling as Sakura continued to heal Naruto with her Mystical Palm Technique.

Sakura looked down at Naruto, worried. "Hang in there! Don't give up! You are strong! You will make it!" she said then her Mystical Palm Technique was getting weaker, she closed her eyes. "My chakra's almost all...!" she thought.

Karin cried even more as she sensed that Sasuke and Naruto's chakra were fading away.

Orochimaru, Jugo, and Suigetsu were down at Karin.

"S-Sasuke... O-Oniisan is-!" Karin said.

Suigetsu placed his left hand on his left hip. "What's wrong, Karin?" he asked.

"Sasuke and Oniisan are really going to... die!" Karin said.

...

Sakura opened her eyes. "At this rate... At this rate, Naruto's going to... die!" she said.

...

As Gaara continues to transport Sakura and Naruto to take them to a location, Sakura that the 9 Tails' chakra on her is disappearing.

"The 9 Tails' chakra..." Sakura thought then stopped using her Mystical Palm Technique and touched Naruto's left hand with her left hand to feel for a pulse and leaned down then placed her left ear on Naruto's chest to hear a heartbeat but couldn't, she became surprised. "No heartbeat or pulse..." then leaned up. "No way!" she said.

Gaara looked at Naruto. "Hang in there, Naruto!" he said.

Sakura took her hands off of Naruto as she crouched down instead of sitting down, looking down at Naruto. "What's going on?! My Medical Ninjutsu isn't working on him!" she asked.

"It's probably because the 9 Tails has been extracted from him!" Gaara said.

Sakura looked at Gaara surprised. "That's impossible!" she said.

Gaara looked at Sakura. "Madara got him. But there's a way to save him! That's why we're hurrying!"he said.

"To where?!" Sakura asked.

"To where the Fourth Hokage is." Gaara said, remembering what the Yang Kurama said to him before he went into the Gedo Statue.

...

Flashback.

"Hey, Kazekage brat! Do me a favor! His mother... One-half of me is sealed inside his mother, Kushina Uzumaki. So transplant the other half into Naruto. That will save him. Hurry to Kushina." Yang Kurama said.

"But she's with the Fourth Hokage and he has the Teleportation Jutsu. Can't we just contct them over there somehow and have her come here?" Gaara asked.

"That won't work! His Teleportation Jutsu is written into my Sealing Formula. Once I'm extracted, it will disappear..." Yang Kurama said then he was starting to be dragged. "Just rush Naruto over to Kushina. Got that, Gaara?!"

Gaara didn't say anything.

When Naruto completely separated from Yang Kurama, his eyes widened as he felt his heart beat loudly one time then it slowly started to slow down.

Gaara looked at Naruto. "Naruto!" he said.

Naruto closed his eyes as he didn't move anymore.

Gaara raised his left hand as he summoned sand to catch Naruto.

The 9 Tailed Beasts were stuck in order by the Gedo Statue.

Gaara watched as Shukaku got sucked into the Gedo Statue. "Shukaku!" he said.

"Sorry... Bee!" the 8 Tails thought.

"I'm counting on you... Kazekage brat!" Yang Kurama thought.

The 8 and 9 Tails were sucked into the Gedo Statue, who closed it's mouth and opened it's eyes.

Flashback Ends.

...

"That's what 9 Tails told me. Right now, there's no other way to save Naruto!" Gaara said.

"How much longer 'til we get there?" Sakura asked.

"Several kilometers!" Gaara said.

Sakura looked down at Naruto before she opened Naruto's jacket with both hands and pulled his mesh shirt with her right hand. "I'll do whatever it takes with what little chakra I have left!" she thought then held up her right index and middle fingers to make a Chakra Scalpel and sliced opened Naruto's chest on the left side and reached her left hand into Naruto's chest and began manually pumping Naruto's heart with her left hand as she activated her Mystical Palm Technique. "All right!" she said. "As long as I'm here, I am not going to let you die!"

Gaara used his sand to wrap it around Sakura's chest and looked forward. "I'm going to go at full speed!" he said.

"Right!" Sakura said, nodding.

...

Tobirama, who has hald of his right arm sliced off, looked over at the dying Sasuke. "If I could just... save his soul with my Forbidden Jutsu... I can't sense any chakra in him anymore. I can't even move my body... let alone use Teleportation. Damn you, Madara!" he said.

Karin sensed that Sakura was helping Naruto but no one was helping Sasuke, she took her hands off of her head as she decided on something. "I need to go to Sasuke right away before it's too late!" she thought.

Karin stood up and turned around before she jumped over the large rock and started running to Sasuke's location, yelling for a moment as she cried.

Suigetsu looked at Karin, surprised. "Karin just went charging ahead!" he said.

Orochimaru and Jugo jumped over the large rock and ran after Karin.

"Let's go back up Karin!" Orochimaru said.

"Shouldn't we wait for an opening, or have some sort of plan?" Suigetsu asked then jumped over the large rock and ran after Orochimaru, Jugo, and Karin.

Tobi and the statue looked at Karin.

"Whoa, you're not getting past me. No one's answered my question yet." Tobi said.

The statue began attacking Karin, who dodged the attacks and climbed onto the statue.

"Don't get in my way!" Karin yelled then activated 4 Adamantine Attacking Chains from her back as she attacked the statue with them.

The giant wooden statue was mostly destroyed by Karin's 4 Adamantine Attacking Chains as bits of wood flew everywhere.

Orochimaru, Jugo, and Suigetsu stopped running.

"I'm going to Sasuke! Move, you bastard!" Karin said as she stopped crying.

Suigetsu held up his left hand to his head, amazed at Karin. "You've got to be kidding! Karin is amazing!" he said.

"What is this?!" Jugo asked.

Orochimaru smirked. "The same power as Kushina Uzumaki's." he said. "After all this time, she's finally attained it..." he thought.

"Oh no... You just broke my little toy!" Tobi said, grabbing his wooden staff with his right hand and jumped towards Karin.

"Do not... underestimate me!" Karin said.

Tobi impaled Karin's stomach with his wooden staff, which shoots out several branches.

Karin's 4 Adamantine Attacking Chains disappear before she raises her left arm and bites it as she starts to heal, the branches from her stomach removed.

Tobi looked at his left side to see Suigetsu, who raised both of his hands.

"Double Blast!" Suigetsu said attacking Tobi with his Water Gun: Two Guns technique.

Jugo transformed his left arm and used his Piston Fist to grab Karin and pull her down on the ground.

"Not bad." Tobi said, a human left ear on the left side of his head.

Orochimaru made his neck longer and bit Tobi's right shoulder and paralyzed him with a curse mark and released as his head was now on his body.

"I can't move..." Tobi said. "A Curse Mark!" he thought.

Orochimaru, Jugo, was holding Karin in his left arm, and Suigetsu went back to ruuning to Sasuke's location.

"Ha! Ha! Too bad!" Suigetsu said.

Some of the shinobi started talking again.

"Orochimaru, Karin... They got past it!" Hiruzen said.

Tobi landed on his back on the statue as Orochimaru's curse mark disappeared and raised his upper half. "It's no big deal. It's too late even if you go over there anyway." he said then stood up. "But as for you guys... I'm going to take you down."

"Stop your ogling! We must go too." Hiruzen said. "Still... who is he?" he thought, looking at Tobi.

"Are you all right, Karin?" Jugo asked.

"Yeah... But never mind me. Sasuke! I can't sense Sasuke!" she said.

Jugo released Karin, who lowered her left arm and started running again.

As Madara continues walking away, he suddenly puts his hands together and a large explosion happens behind him as the 10 Tails appeared. Madarada lowered his arms as he absorbs the 10 Tails into himself.

Madara now took on a new form, white hair, pale skin, he became enveloped by a cloak of chakra that stabilised into physical clothing: a full-bodied black garment with black pants, gloves, and boots, over which he wore a flowing white robe with six black magatama markings across his chest and the familiar pattern of a black Rinnegan and nine black magatama markings in rows of three on his back, a grey horn-like protrusions grew out of his left temple and overlapped his forehead akin to a protector with an upward-curve on the right temple, giving him an overall appearance very similar to that of the Sage of the Six Paths, additional black magatama markings around his sleeve cuffs and the rim of his robe.

"So this is 6 Paths power..." Madara said, holding a staff in his left hand as some Truth-Seeking balls surrounded him. "Now, for that left eye." then flew into the air as he started heading for Obito's location.

Sakura placed her mouth on Naruto's as she began doing CPR manually beating Naruto's heat and the Mystical Palm Technique with her left hand. Sakura pulled back and placed her right on Naruto's face as she remembered what Naruto said in the past.

...

Flashback.

"I'm a super elite ninja who's gonna be the Hokage someday... Remember my name... Naruto Uzumaki! I'm gonna become the Hokage! The Hokage that surpasses all previous Hokage, dattebayo!" Naruto said.

Flashback Ends.

...

Sakura placed her mouth on Naruto's mouth again as she started doing CPR again, closing her eyes. "That silly dream you once had... no longer seems silly. I will not let you die!" she thought then opened her eyes. "You're not going to die, no matter what! Your dream... is right before your eyes now!"

Tobirama suddenly heard footsteps. "Who's there?!" he asked but couldn't see through the dust clouds.

As Orochimaru, Jugo, Suigetsu, and Karin continued running towards Sasuke's location, Jugo looked at Orochimaru.

"Depending on the situation, Orochimaru might try to steal Sasuke's body. It's what Kimimaro had wanted, but I doubt Karin would allow it." Jugo thought.

"There's someone else where Sasuke is." Karin said.

"Do you recognize the chakra?" Orochimaru asked.

"Yes! But..." Karin said.

Suigetsu looked at Karin. "But what?" he asked.

"How did he get out of it?" Karin asked herself.

"Then we need to hurry even more. We don't know what this stranger might do to Sasuke." Orochimaru said then thought about Sasuke. "Is this the end for him?" he thought.

Karin gritted her teeth. "Damn it... I'm not going to let Kabuto hurt Sasuke...!" she thought then she jumped forward.

Suigetsu moved to the right side when Karin jumped away from them. "Yikes!" he said.

"Karin! If you up the pace too much, you're going to collapse soon." Orochimaru said.

...

"Hurry, Kakashi... the left eye." Obito said.

"Obito's conscience is clear. Now's our chance." Kakashi said.

"The problem is how to tear Obito away from that guy." Kushina said, unactivated her Tailed Beast Mode.

"And we can't hand over that left eye to the enemy..." Minato said.

...

Sakura grabbed Naruto's nose with her right hand and continued doing CPR as she still continued to manually pump his heart with her left hand.

...

Madara continued to fly towards Obito's location. "I feel a little heavy. There's something catching in my chest." he said then he spit out a guord and jar as they fell to the ground. "The Sage of 6 Paths' Ninja Tools, eh? Useless." then continued to fly away. "But now I'm lighter." he thought.

...

Minato made a Rasengan with his left hand, Kushina activated her Tailed Beast Mode again, and Kakashi, who activated his Chidori with his right hand. Minato and Kakashi panted a little bit as the 3 of them battled Obito and Black Zetsu, who were panting as well.

"You guys are stubborn too!" Black Zetsu said.

"Obito's consciousness is no longer stable." Kakashi said.

Minato looked at Kushina and Kakashi. "Let's go, Kushina. Kakashi." he said.

Kushina and Kakashi nodded.

"Hold on, Kushina! Ask Minato to switch his chakra to Sensory Mode!" Yin Kurama said.

Kushina looked at Minato. "Minato." she said.

Minato looked at Kushina again. "What is it?" he asked.

"Use your Sensory Mode." Kushina said.

Minato looked forward before he used his Sensory Mode, he suddenly became surprised. "No way!" he said.

Kakashi looked at Minato.

"What happened?" Kushina asked.

"We were distracted by what was happening here. There's no mistake. My other half has already been extracted!" Yin Kurama said.

"W-What?!" Kushina asked, suddenly becoming sad. "Then that means Naruto's..."

Minato stopped using his Rasengan and Kushina stopped using her Tailed Beast Mode.

"Sensei? Kushina?" Kakashi asked.

Everyone looked up to see Gaara, Naruto, and Sakura were arriving.

"Kakashi-Sensei!" Sakura said.

Gaara landed them on the ground behind Minato, Kushina, and Kakashi.

Minato, Kushina, and Kakashi turned around and looked down at Naruto.

Kushina unactivated her Tailed Beast Mode. "Naruto!" Kushina said, worried and crying as she ran towards Naruto, Gaara, and Sakura.

"What happened?" Kakashi asked.

"The 9 Tails was extracted from Naruto! At this rate he'll-!" Sakura said.

Kushina stood on the right side of Naruto's sand and hugged his face with both hand, tears continued to fall from her face. "Naruto!" she said.

Minato looked down at Naruto. "Naruto..." he said.

"Kushina, I bring a message from Naruto's 9 Tails! He said to transplant the other half of 9 Tails that you have within you, into Naruto! That will save him!" Gaara said, looking at Kushina.

Black Zetsu became interested. "Oh..." he said.

Minato and Kakashi looked at Black Zetsu.

"Kakashi, will take care of him." Minato said.

"I understand." Kakashi said.

Minato looked at Kushina. "Kushina, you know what to do." he said.

Kushina stopped hugging Naruto's face and wiped her eyes with her left arm. "I know." she said.

As Minato, Kakashi, and Gaara were now facing Black Zetsu and Obito, Minato watched as Kushina made the hand signs for the Tailed Beast Transfer Technique with both hands and placed her left hand on Naruto's stomach.

Minato started to remember something with him and Kushina years ago.

...

Flashback.

17 years ago.

Morning.

Minato and Kushina's House.

Entrance.

Minato, in his old usual outfit, and Kushina, in her usual outfit and pregnant, were facing each other. Minato was smiling and Kushina had a worried look on her face.

"I'm going." Minato said.

Kushina placed her right hand over her chest. "Be careful." she said.

"Of course! I'm not dying until I see my child's face." Minato said.

Kushina looked down at her now medium sized stomach and placed both of her hands over it as she rubbed it with her right hand. "Once this baby is born... I'll have 2 things to worry about." she said.

Minato had a concerned look for a moment before he smiled. "Don't worry! I'll protect the kid! No matter what happens, and no matter what it takes!" he said.

Kushina looked at Minato before she nodded, taking her hands off of her stomach then put her hands together. "But you're busy being a ninja, and I get the feeling he's going to be mischievous and unreasonable and say he wants to be the Hokage..." she said, worried.

Minato smiled nervously as he held up his hands. "Hey, wait!" he said.

"He'll be clueless about girls... And he'll defy his teachers! And..." Kushina said.

"Hold on!" Minato said.

Kushina stopped talking.

"The child's not even born yet... You're even worrying too much! Besides, how do you know it's a boy? Or that he'll want to be the Hokage even before it's born?" Minato asked.

"Because... I'm his mother." Kushina said.

Minato stopped smiling for a moment as he blushed. "In any case, I'm a ninja. And I'm not going to die easily. And no matter what happens to me, I will protect the child." he said then lowered his hands. "Don't worry!"

"You're quite confident when it comes to this baby, dattebane!" Kushina said.

"Well, of course... I'm his father." Minato said.

Flashback Ends.

...

Minato watched as Kushina was transfer the Yin Kurama into Naruto as a bright yellow-orange light appeared then it disappeared. Suddenly, a part of Black Zetsu stepped in between Kushina's hand and Naruto as he had Yin Kurama sealed into him, becoming Yin Kurama's new jinchūriki.

Everyone became surprise.

"Huh?!" Kushina asked.

"What?" Sakura asked.

"That's-!" Yin Kurama said, looking down at Black Zetsu.

"9 Tails... You're finally mine!" Black Zetsu said, looking up at Yin Kurama.

Everyone looked at Black Zetsu and Obito, who were now on their hands and feet.

Gaara looked at Kushina. "What happened?!" he asked.

Kushina tried to punch a part of Black Zetsu with her right fist but Black Zetsu escaped into the ground and back to it's original.

Black Zetsu and Obito stood up.

"How's Naruto?!" Gaara asked.

Something crashed into the ground a few feet away from them.

Everyone looked at the crash sight.

"What was that?" Sakura asked.

"No way..." Gaara said.

"Madara-sama..." Black Zetsu said.

"You're late, Black Zetsu... I decided to come to you!" Madara said. "Zetsu... How long are you going to cling to Obito?"

"Sorry... But that allowed me to steal 9 Tails' other half from these guys." Black Zetsu said.

Madara smiled. "Good. Now bring it, and my left eye, to me." Madara said.

Minato suddenly became surprised again. "I sense Sage Power... And it's much stronger than what Obito possessed." he thought.

"So Kushina's 9 Tails is inside that black thing!" Gaara said.

"Madara?! How did he get 6 Paths' power?" Kakashi asked.

Sakura became surprised again.

Everyone watched as Black Zetsu was starting to leave the left side of Obito.

"Since Madara-sama is here, you can't do anything to me... even if I separate myself from Obito." Black Zetsu said then he suddenly felt himself stop and was pulled back to Obito.

"Now, Kakashi!" Gaara said.

Kakashi and Gaara ran towards Black Zetsu and Obito.

Black Zetsu tried to leave Obito again but couldn't as he was now fully on the left side of Obito again.

Kakashi was behind them on the left side and Gaara was behind them on the right side as they were a few meters away.

Obito panted before he opened his eyes.

Madara stopped smiling.

"Why you-! You're still-" Black Zetsu said.

Obito looked at Black Zetsu. "Not yet..." he said then looked at Madara. "I need to ask you something, Madara."

Gaara raised his left arm and prepared to attack until Kakashi stepped towards him and placed his right hand on his left shoulder. Gaara looked at Kakashi.

"We need the 9 Tails inside that thing for Naruto. We cannot afford to miss. We have to wait for the right moment." Kakashi said.

"Just what am I... to you?" Obito asked.

Madara laughed for a moment. "You're kidding, right? What kind of a stupid question is that, at this point in time?" he asked. "You are only one thing to me... You are Madara."

Obito remembered what happened in the past.

...

Flashback.

"Now go... Until the time when I am revived... You shall be Madara Uchiha." Marara said.

Flashback Ends.

...

"Madara is he who rejects the world. All who hold that in their heart... and strive towards achieving the Infinite Tsukuyomi are Madara." Madara said.

"That..." Obito said then remembered Rin and her death. "That was once my path too."

"I left you in charge of everything... And let you walk in my shoes, while I slept, waiting to return. It's the path I guided you towards. You were supposed to live out your life as Madara in order to achieve our goal. As the savior who rescued this world. This world laid out by the Sage of 6 Paths... has failed."

Obito looked at Naruto.

"Now listen... The chakra dispersed by the 6 Paths was originally... meant to be a linking power. The mental energies of people would connect and feelings would be understood without the need for words... That would lead to peace and stability. The one who preached this as Ninshu, the Ninja Creed and sought to guide the people, was the Sage of the 6 Paths. However... But before long, people used chakra not to connect with others but only to link the mental and physical energies within themselves. Through a method of infusing one's own chakra and increasing it multifold... they changed chakra into ninjutsu that could be used as weapons in battle. Ironically reverting to the way 6 Paths' mother, Kaguya, had originally used chakra." Madara said.

"Just what the hell is he talking about?!" Sakura asked.

"Gaara..." Kakashi said.

"I know." Gaara said.

"All the Sage of the 6 Paths did was to further the human paradox. And even if bonds were established... All they learned was that true understanding was not possible." Madara said, remembering his past with Hashirama. "In any case, chakra only gives rise to conflict and false hope. We all know the reality all too well... Even as we seek peace, we seek war. And this reality compels infinite suffering through the power known as chakra. Power leads to the desire for war. And the lack of power leads to losing everything. I will build a new world that overcomes that! Through the Infinite Tsukuyomi, I will create a dream world without any abdominal chakra! I, who possess the most powerful chakra, shall lead it! And you are not Obito, but me... Madara himself. Obito Uchiha with his Uchiha Chakra, challenged Kakashi Hatake, desired the title of Hokage, and yearned for Rin Nohara! But because his power was false, he ended up losing everything!" Madara said.

Obito looked at Madara, serious.

"This is hell! Have you forgotten?!" Madara asked.

Obito's eyes widened as he sweated, remembering Rin and Madara.

"Come over here. Yes, come, Madara!" Madara said, holding out his right hand. "From this day forth, you are a savior."

Black Zetsu and Obito stood up as they walked over to Madara.

"You are still the savior, even now." Madara said.

Gaara crouched down as he placed his hands together on the ground. "Sand Wave!" he thought.

Kakashi activated the Mangekyo Sharingan. "Kamui!" he thought.

Minato threw a his signature kunai between Madara and Black Zetsu and Obito with his right hand. "Sage Jutsu!" he thought.

Madara became surprised as the Kamui sucked Obito in.

Minato appeared in front of Madara as he activated his Sage Mode and had his Rasengan in his left hand. "Rasengan!" he thought.

Madara kicked Minato's Rasengan with his right foot to the Sand Wave, making it explode.

Minato looked at the explosion before Madara kicked him with his right foot, sending him on his back in between Kakashi and Gaara.

"Minato!" Kushina said, worried.

Minato crashed into Gaara while Minato's Rasengan crashed into Kakashi, making them fall a few meters backwards.

The Kamui stopped pulling in Obito. as the Save Wave fell down.

"No way... Their combined attack..." Sakura said.

Black Zetsu and Obito continued to walk to Madara.

Madara raised his right hand again. "Now..." he said.

Obito raised his right hand and when he made it to Madara he went to grab his right hand only to quickly stab Madara in the chest.

Madara became surprised.

Everyone became surprised at Obito's actions.

Madara lowered his right hand. "You damned..." he said.

"What are you doing?!" Black Zetsu asked, looking at Obito.

Obito looked at Naruto, who was still being healed by Sakura, remembering his conversation with Naruto in the past, and what Madara and Naruto said to him. "One who leads others... is one who never steps over his friends' corpses... even if his own ends up being stepped on." he said.

Obito used some of Black Zetsu to make a truth seeking ball with his left hand as there was a small hole on it.

"Then in order to confirm that, you'll have to become a corpse." Madara said.

"You won't be stepping on me anymore. I realized now that letting someone handle everything in your name isn't the same as truly entrusting them with the task. I am not you." Obito said.

Minato became surprised as he stood up. Kakashi was panting as he was crouching down.

Obito made a weapon from Black Zetsu with his left hand as the hole got bigger. He closed his right eye as he remembered Rin.

...

Flashback.

"Go for it, Obito! Become the Hokage and save the world! That's a promise too!" Rin said, smiling.

Flashback Ends.

...

Obito opened his right eye.

Sakura looked up from Naruto and at Obito.

Obito made his Sage of 6 Paths staff with his left hand as he held it. "The current me... is the one who wanted to be Hokage... Obito Uchiha!" he said.

Gaara crouched down.

"Obito..." Minato said.

"Obito!" Kushina said.

"Obito... You've finally found yourself!" Kakashi thought.

Obito started to take some chakra from Madara.

Madara reached to grab the Rinnegan from Obito, Obito activated his Mangekyo his ability to stop Madara, with his right hand.

"I passed through you. That's your original right eye's power." Madara said then stepped back a few meters only to discover that he was still connected to Obito.

Madara now saw that he in a dark room surrounded by water, orbs of white light, Yin Kurama, Black Zetsu, Obito, and the Tailed Beasts.

"Are you trying to weaken me by taking away the Tailed Beasts? Do you think you can challenge me and win?!" Madara asked.

As Obito tried to get the Tailed Beasts but only took a tiny piece of 8 Tails with his right hand.

"So weak... Is that all? You only tore off a mere sliver of the One of the 8 Tails?" Madara asked.

Obito took the tiny piece of 8 Tails out of Madara then looked at Kakashi, who was now standing up. "Kakashi! Take Naruto into the Time-Space!" he said.

"Obito plans to hand him the 9 Tails there!" Kakashi thought then looked at Naruto's location. "Kamui!" he said, activating the Mangekyo Sharingan again.

Kushina, Naruto, and Sakura were pulled into the Kamui.

"Kamui!" Obito thought, using the Kamui on himself.

"I know that when you teleport your body materializes..." Madara thought then swung his staff at Obito, causing wind to start.

Obito landed backwards on the ground a few meters. "If I try to teleport carelessly, he'll come after me. My teleportation speed is too slow." he thought, reverting his right hand to itself.

"Since he'd been in Sage Mode once, he was able to steal some Sage Power from me too..." Madara said.

...

Kamui's Dimension.

Kushina and Sakura noticed that they were in a dark place surrounded by grey rectangular prisms

The sand fell down as they were now on one of the rectangular prisms.

Sakura closed her eyes and panted. "Madara... could have killed me at any time... I was so scared I forgot to breathe!" she thought.

Kushina looked at Sakura, crouching down. "Please breathe slowly." she said.

Sakura opened her eyes as she looked at Kushina. "Okay." she said. "Of all the people, he's in a different class!"

"I know." Kushina said then looked down at the rectangular prism. "Mito used to tell how me how powerful he was."

...

War Grounds.

Obito crouched down as Kakashi stood on the left side of him.

"All right, I transported Naruto. All that's left is for you to teleport yourself there and Naruto will be saved, right, Obito?" Kakashi asked.

Obito closed his eyes. "Damn it. You always talk down to me..." he said, slowly standing up. "And act so superior... Just like old times." opening his eyes for a moment then closed them as he started to remember the past. "I thought I understood a little about you. But I didn't understand a thing... I finally understood... on our last mission together." he stood up. "This time, I'll take point and you'll be my backup, Kakashi."

"It's been a while since we were a two-man squad. Don't stumble, Obito." Kakashi said.

"Are you prepared for this?" Obito asked.

"Yeah... I'm glad my final op will have been with you." Kakashi said.

"Obito... Kakashi." Minato said.

"Obito, I'm taking back everything I loaned you. Especially that left eye..." Madara said.

"Are you worried, Madara? You told me once that only with both together could the Sharingan's true power be unleashed. And so..." Obito asked.

"You're wrong. Those are Rinnegan, not just Sharingan." Madara said.

"You're wrong." Obito said.

Madara became confused.

"I was talking about these eyes." Obito said.

Minato started to remember something from the past.

"In order to resurrect Naruto, they need the Rinnegan and the 9 Tails. Obito has them both, so as long as I don't allow him to teleport away to his time-space... And I've already discovered... that my attacks are faster than their Kamui's transfer speed. There's no doubt one of them will try to distract me while the other performs the Kamui. Obito will teleport himself or have Kakashi teleport him. Whatever they decide, I'll be able to stop Obito again. I should keep it fast and simple with Limbo... No... I shouldn't use that as long as Obito still has the Rinnegan. Then I'll attack them both simultaneously!" Madara thought than held his staff with both hands as he started to attack Obito and Kakashi with some of his Truth-Seeking Balls.

Minato started to remember what Rin said to him years ago.

Obito and Kakashi activated Obito's Mangekyo Sharingans. "Kamui!" they said.

Kakashi looked at Obito, who was being sucked in by the 2 Kamuis.

Madara noticed this before the explosion happened as a large dust cloud appeared. "They both released their Kamui at the same time! And doubled the speed of the jutsu!" he said.

...

Kamui's Dimension.

Kushina and Sakura watched as Obito, who was now crouching down, appeared a few meters away from them.

"Obito!" Kushina said.

Obito stood up. "Don't worry. I'm here to help Naruto." he said.

"Can I trust you?" Sakura asked.

"It's alright, Sakura. Obito's no longer that kind of person anymore." Kushina said.

Obito walked forward. "Ever since I was a kid, I've never been able to walk a straight path." he said then crouched down on the right side of Naruto and was on the left side of Kushina, placing his right hand on Naruto's chest. "But I've finally gotten to where I needed to go."

Kushina and Sakura watched as Obito used the Tailed Beast Transfer Technique on Naruto with his right hand as a bright yellow-orange light appeared and disappeared.

...

As Orochimaru, Jugo, Suigetsu, and Karin made it to Sasuke's location, they stopped running as they saw Kabuto crouching down on the left side of Sasuke, who was laying on his back unconscious, as he had his stomach snake on Sasuke's chest.

"Sasuke!" Karin said then looked at Kabuto. "You're out of Itachi's Izanami?!" then pointed at Kabuto with her left index finger. "What are you doing to Sasuke?"

"Oh, so that's what's going on..." Suigetsu said.

"Karin lowered her left arm as she looked at Suigetsu for a moment. "Huh?" she asked then looked back at Kabuto.

"So it was you... Kabuto." Orochimaru said.

Kabuto looked from Sasuke to Orochimaru. "I sensed a group rushing this way... It was you, after all, Orochimaru-sama." he said.

Karin raised her left fist. "Get away from Sasuke, you brainy jerk!" she said.

"What brings you here, Orochimaru-sama?" Kabuto asked.

"I should ask you the same thing." Orochimaru said.

Jugo looked at Orochimaru. "What are you planning, Orochimaru?" he thought.

Karin lowered her left arm.

Suigetsu pointed his right index finger at Kabuto. "Mister Kabuto... Don't tell me you're going to absorb Sasuke? And would that make you Kabuke or Sasuto?" he asked.

Karin watched something from Kabuto's stomach snake go into Sasuke, gasping for a moment. "You're the one who did this to Sasuke?!" she asked then ran forward. "You bastard!" then stopped a few feet away.

"Suigetsu... I don't desire to do that anymore. Nor am I going to steal Sasuke-kun, Karin-chan.

Karin started to sense Sasuke's chakra again. "Sasuke's chakra! I can faintly sense it! No way!" she thought. "Kabuto... You're helping Sasuke?" she asked.

"Yes. With my Medical ninjutsu and much-tinkered cells of Hashirama, along with a certain someone's suggestion, I managed to stop him from dying." Kabuto said.

"He's right." Tobirama said.

Orochimaru and Suigetsu looked at Tobirama.

"Huh?!" Suigetsu asked, surprised.

"Well, well... if it isn't the man I most respect... the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju-sama." Orochimaru said.

Orochimaru and Suigetsu looked at Kabuto again.

"However, Kabuto... You being here means that you were able to slip out of the infinite loop set up by Itachi's Izanami?" Orochimaru questioned.

"You're right. I was unable to acknowledge myself, I didn't even know who I was." Kabuto said, remembering his past. "That allowed you to give me easy answers and use me. Making me lose myself even more... But with that jutsu, Itachi made me realize... that I am none other... than Kabuto... and where my home is."

Suigetsu looked Orochimaru. "Does it seem like the person inside has changed too?" he asked.

Karin stepped forward and crouched down on the right side of Sasuke, crying as he looked down at him.

"That is the jutsu known as Izanami. The jutsu is set up so that you cannot undo it until you reflect upon yourself and accept who you are." Orochimaru said.

"Sasuke..." Karin said, sadly.

"Now I wish from the bottom of my heart to not lose my home. And Itachi, who wanted to protect Sasuke-kun even more unto death... His feelings have pierced through my heart strongly." Kabuto said.

Suigetsu pointed his left index finger at Kabuto, annoyed. "Hey! Isn't it a little too late to say things like that? You teamed you with that fake Madara! You guys started this war!" he questioned then lowered his left arm.

"You're right. Both Obito and I... thought we'd lost our place in this world. And dragged everyone else into this. But, I now know who I am. Ad what I must do!" Kabuto said.

Karin wiped the tears from under her glasses with her left arm and lowered it. "I need to heal myself right now. When Kabuto's done healing Sasuke, he going to battle Madara again and I need to help them." she thought then she sat down on the ground and placed her hands on her shoulders as she started to use the Mystical Palm Technique on herself, closing her eyes.

...

Naruto's Mind.

Naruto opened his eyes to use that he was laying on his back in a large dark room and a small pool of water under him. "Where am I? Did I die?" he asked himself.

"What makes thee think that you thou art dead?" a male voice asked.

Naruto raised his upper half up as he looked to the left side to see a man that looked to be in his 60s, beige skin color, purple Rinnegan eyes, deep wrinkles and a strong jawline, spiky, shoulder-length, pale brown hair, with a chin-length, braided lock hanging in front of his left ear, a pale brown goatee that tapered down to his waist, a pair of horn-like protrusions extending from either side of his forehead, a red Rinnegan-like marking in the centre of his forehead, and in his usual outfit, a white, full-length kimono with a pattern of six black magatama around a high collar, a necklace which was also made up of six black magatama, on the back of his kimono was a larger, black Rinnegan marking with a pattern of nine magatama arranged in three rows of three beneath it, and black sandals, were sitting as he was floating in the air.

"Thee ethical viewpoint on death differs much from that which prevailed in my time... To so easily replace oneself with the term 'death'... Thou must gain mettle, oh fledgling." the old man said.

Naruto became confused. "Who are you?" he asked.

"'Tis quite a precise query for this place, but... I am quite uneasy over whether thou shalt be able to connect my name with my actions as a herald..." the old man said then turned around to face Naruto. "I am he who shall achieve peace and order... My name is Hagoromo."

Naruto became even more confused.

"On the other hand... I had foreseen that thou wouldst end up in such a state as that." Hagoromo said.

"Uh... I don't understand what the hell he's saying. He seems to be one of those annoying geezers!" Naruto thought then faced Hagoromo. "Hey, gramps, sorry. But, I..." he said.

"Now then..." Hagoromo said.

Naruto became surprised. "Hey! Those eyes! Rinnegan!" he said, crouching down.

"Thou dost appear to possess observant eyes. All that remains is for thee to pragmatically comprehend thy circumstances. Thou hast not died yet... This place is thine inner mind. I understand thine haste, but at this moment, rushing will accomplish naught." Hagoromo said.

"This geezer's not an enemy? But..." Naruto thought. "Can't you speak a little more smoothly, using easy, normal words?" he asked.

"I am an anachronism. Over the passage of much time, cultural traditions and notions, and ethics have brought about significant change. Each occurrence where I cross time and meet a reincarnate, I have come to sense greatly the differences between the other and myself... I was able to formalistically regulate and learn new mores and words, however..." Hagoromo said.

Naruto pointed his left index finger at Hagoromo. "Shut up already! I don't have the time to be sitting around and listening to some weird geezer!" he said, standing up.

"Not just searching for words... But there is ambiguity in scholarship. If communication of cannot be achieved in addition to difficulty of definition... I see I must speak simply... taking into account current idealistic and materialistic thinking." Hagoromo said.

Naruto lowered his left arm. "Are you an alien or something? I mean, you seem super dignified, but..." he asked.

"Uh, that's a bit much, doncha think? An alien? Seriously?" Hagoromo asked.

Naruto became confused again.

"Well, maybe that ain't too far off. So anyway..." Hagoromo said then became confused. "Do you still fail to understand me? To think that conversation would pose such a complex challenge..."

Naruto smiled nervously as he moved his arms around. "No! Keep talking like just now. I finally get you! I was just shocked because your speaking style changed so drastically, dattebayo?" he asked then stopped moving his arms.

"Oh, for real? Then I'll keep going like this. Much pleased!" Hagoromo asked.

Naruto became confused for a moment before he smiled nervously, putting his hands together. "Uh, yeah. Oh but, those words don't match up with your face at all, so it's kind of super-scary..." he said. "And he loses all dignity too." he thought. "You should be just a bit more formal. Otherwise, you come off kind of dumb."

"Now you're going too far, no? What do you mean by dumb?! Well, considering how I was talking before, I guess I can't blame you for that. So how's this then?" Hagoromo asked.

Naruto pulled his hands apart as he pointed his left index finger at Hagoromo. "That's it! All right! That's perfect!" he said.

"Indeed. I'm getting the hang of it too." Hagoromo said.

Naruto stopped smiling as he lowered his left arm, sighing. "Finally, I can talk with you, dattebayo. So anyway, gramps, who are you? If you know a lot about this place, tell me how to get out of here!" he asked.

"Don't ask so many questions all at once! I am a person of the past, someone long dead. A monk who wanders through this world as chakra, crossing generations, ascertaining the course of Ninshu, the Ninja Creed. My name is Hagoromo, the founder of the Ninja Creed. I'm also known as the Sage of 6 Paths." Hagoromo said.

Naruto became surprised. "What?! The Sage of 6 Paths?! The sage from the legends that Pervy Sage and Nagato talked about?" he asked.

"Oh, so you know about me?" Hagoromo asked.

Naruto spread his arms out. "Of course I do! You're the one who created ninjutsu, right?" he asked.

A black staff, that had 6 rings at bottom and a C shaped object at the top, suddenly appeared on the left side of Hagoromo.

Hagoromo grabbed the staff with his left hand. "Not ninjutsu... Ninshu, the Ninja Creed. My Ninja Creed was something meant to birth hope. Do not it with ninjutsu which breeds conflict!" he said.

"In any case, if you're the sage, I've got tons of things I wanna ask you. But first, right now..." Naruto said.

Hagoromo placed the bottom half of his staff in the water as it made small waves.

Naruto looked down at the water as he noticed the images in it.

"You are my son Ashura's... Anyway, the conditions are all in place now. There are things I must entrust you with." Hagoromo said, moving forward and stopped a few feet away from Naruto.

Naruto lowered his arms as he looked up at Hagoromo. "Ashu... ra? Entrust? Quit talking gibberish and let me out of here!" he asked.

"Forgive me... That is something I have no influence over. That depends on the actions of those outside. I can only relay things to you." Hagoromo said.

"I'm not getting what you're saying again, dattebayo!" Naruto said.

"It means right now, trying to rush won't make any difference." Hagoromo said then turned to the left side a little bit. "So I want you to listen for a bit... No, you must listen..." then moved his staff. "First, about my mother and sons." then placed his upper half in the water as it made small waves.

Naruto looked at Hagoromo for a moment before he looked down at the water to see images again.

"My mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki, came to this land of yours from a faraway place. She came in search of the fruit of the Divine Tree. The chakra fruit of that same Divine Tree, that you have seen in this war. Kaguya consumed the fruit, attained power, and subdued this land." Hagoromo said.

Naruto looked up at Hagoromo, smiling. "Where'd Kaguya come from? Is she stronger than you, Sage of 6 Paths? I guess all moms are scary when they're mad, huh?" he asked.

"It matters not where she came from. Mother was powerful... More powerful than any other." Hagoromo said.

Naruto looked down at the water again to see more images as he stopped smiling.

"Some called my mother the Rabbit Goddess and others considered her a demon... They both worshipped her and feared her. Later, Kaguya would birth 2 sons. I was one of them. We brothers, to atone for the crimes mother left behind, battled 10 Tails, an incarnation of the Divine Tree, and sealed it inside me. The Divine Tree, robbed of its Chakra Fruit, went on a rampage in an attempt to recover it. Much, much later, I had 2 sons of my own. I named the elder, Indra, and the younger, Ashura, and I taught them the Ninja Creed. But there was a huge difference between the 2. One possessed genes containing my powerful chakra and the other did not. And this difference manifested itself in an extreme manner." Hagoromo said.

Naruto looked up at Hagoromo again as he raised his right arm. "It's getting complicated again, dattebayo? What does this all mean?" he asked then looked down at the water as he lowered his right arm.

"In short... There was the exceptional older brother, Indra... and the dunce younger brother, Ashura." Hagoromo said.

Naruto felt hurt. "A dunce, huh? Even though his dad's the Sage of 6 Paths?" he asked.

"Perhaps there's no need to say this to you, but... No matter how exceptional both parents may be, there's no guarantanee one will inherit outright either of their abilities. Sound familiar?" Hagoromo asked.

Naruto looked at Hagoromo.

"Just as it seems to have have been in your case, Naruto." Hagoromo said.

Naruto looked annoyed as he sighed for a moment. "For some reason, I understand that completely, dattebayo." he said.

"And you are truly similar to Ashura, in your actions as well." Hagoromo said.

Naruto looked at Hagoromo again. "Huh? My actions?" he asked.

"Indra and Ashura walked different paths in life." Hagoromo said.

Naruto looked down at the water again to see more more images.

"Elder brother, Indra, possessed strong Visual Prowess and senses from birth, and was called a genius. He always did everything alone, leaning only on his own strength and came to understand that his powers were different and special. He perceived that power could achieve everything. On the other hand, nothing ever went well for the younger brother, Ashura, from the time he was young. And he couldn't do anything on his own. In order to attain the same power as his older brother, he needed the cooperation of others in addition to his own effort. While struggling through training, the power of bodily chakra awakened within Ashura and he attained power rivaling his brother's. He came to understand that he was able to become strong, thanks to the cooperation and help of those around him. He learned of the love for others that arises from thinking about others... And perceived that it was love that can achieve everything. In the way that the younger one chose to live his life... I thought I caught a glimpse of new possibilities. I partitioned the power of the 10 Tails inside of me, and named each of the pieces... And believed that the bond known as 'cooperation' was true power." Hagoromo said.

Naruto smiled again.

"I then named the younger brother, Ashura, the leader and guardian of the Ninja Creed, believing that his elder brother, Indra, would cooperate with his younger brother. However..." Hagoromo said.

Naruto stopped smiling as he looked at Hagoromo again.

"Indra did not accept my decision. And thus from that day on, interminable conflict began. Even after their flesh perished, the chakra the 2 honed continued to reincarnate across time, without vanishing... over and over." Hagoromo said.

Naruto smiled nervously. "It kind of sounds like being haunted by a ghost. It's creepy. So, is it still possessing someone even know?" he asked.

"It's you, Naruto." Hagoromo said.

Naruto stopped smiling as he folded his arms.

"The younger brother, Ashura has been reincarnated in you. My eyes can clearly see Ashura's chakra clinging about you." Hagoromo said.

Naruto looked at his right side. "I wonder if..." he thought.

"You don't seem too surprised. Perhaps, you have sensed Ashura's presence inside you already?" Hagoromo asked.

Naruto looked at Hagoromo again.

"I thought as much. Then you must known already... who is the reincarnate of the older one, Indra..." Hagoromo said.

Naruto unfolded his arms as he thought for a moment. "Sasuke..." he said then he remembered memories from the past. "Isn't that right?"

...

Sasuke's Mind.

Sasuke was standing a few feet away from Hagoromo, who was floating in the air as he was sitting. They were in a dark room as water was beneath them.

"The older brother, Indra, has been reincarnated in you. My eyes can clearly see Indra's chakra clinging about you." Hagoromo said.

Sasuke looked at his left side before he looked at Hagoromo again.

"You don't seem too surprised. Perhaps, you have sensed Indra's presence inside you already?" Hagoromo asked.

Sasuke looked down at the water.

"I thought as much. Then you must know already... who is the reincarnate of the younger one, Ashura..." Hagoromo said.

Sasuke thought of something for a moment. "Naruto... Isn't that right?" he asked.

...

Naruto's Mind.

"Yes. You sensed it, after all." Hagoromo said.

"It seems that there were other reincarnates besides Sasuke and me..." Naruto said, raising his hands. "Who were the others?"

"The first generation of reincarnates were Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha. Hashirama was Ashura. Madara was Indra. You how they ended up. However, Madara could end his life as a reincarnate, he created a certain problem. Madara was so obsessed with power that he stole some of Hashirama's. Which, in short, caused the merging of Ashura's chakra with Indra's chakra... And the result was that it became essentially, my own chakra. That's right, he awakened the Rinnegan I always thought that someone like that would appear among either Indra or his reincarnates. Hence, I left behind the stone tablet that contained my writings on how to deal with this. Although, it seems no one could understand its meaning..." Hagoromo said.

"So, Super Sage Gramps, you've been watching your kids' sibling rivalry all this time?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, I suppose you could say that." Hagoromo said.

Naruto looked down at the water. "I see..." he said.

"Through Ninshu, I preached that chakra is the power that links individuals. I strongly believe that chakra should not be something that amplifies the strength of one person alone." Hagoromo said.

Naruto saw more images in the water as Hagoromo placed the upper half of his staff in the water for a moment with his left hand.

"Even after my mother, Kaguya, put an end to chaotic times, she ruled with her power alone. However, my mother's power bred arrogance within her. And mankind began to dread the existence of that power. That is my mother, once known as the Rabbit Goddess, became feared as a demon. When power is concentrated in one person, that power runs rampant and in time, it possesses the person. The current Madara is a prime example of that... He's become just like my mother, Kaguya. Now, he's no longer Indra's incarnate. He's obtained 10 Tails' power and is getting close to me. And he is trying to obtain even my mother Kaguya's power. The Infinite Tsukuyomi doesn't just cast genjutsu over you. It keeps you trapped inside genjutsu dreams, so that the caster can use your individual power while keeping you alive. You're attached to the roots of the Divine Tree, and turned into living slaves. Mother possessed the power of Sharingan as well as Byakugan. She used her Visual Prowess to cast that jutsu upon the populace. It was a ghastly Jutsu. If all chakra were too reunited into one again, a new Chakra Fruit would take shape. That must be prevented at all costs... or this world will end." Hagoromo said.

Naruto looked up at Hagoromo.

"I would like you to stop Madara. Unlike the previous reincarnates, you tend to be a little bit of a fool. But there may be potential in your unpredictability." Hagoromo said.

Naruto closed his eyes, smiling. "Even long after you died, you tried to protect the world... And even when it's turned out like this, you still have faith in us. Thank you." he said, opening his eyes.

"Don't thank me. I don't deserve it." Hagoromo said.

...

Sasuke's Mind.

"If the current world desires Indra's, or rather, my mother's way... and if that's the natural flow... then I'm the one who's selfishly trying to go against it and stop it. Even in terms of how the Tailed Beasts are being used, not for maintaining peace and balance, but only as weapons... Perhaps my way is naive." Hagoromo said.

...

Naruto's Mind.

Naruto opened his eyes. "No! You're not wrong, Super Gramps!" Naruto said.

"You're absolutely right, old man!" a male voice said.

Naruto looked around for a moment before he notices Shukaku coming out of the water forward of him and Hagoromo.

"Oh, aren't you Gaara's? Why are you inside of me?" Naruto asked then looked at Hagoromo again.

"You see, Obito..." another male voice said.

Naruto looked at the right side to see the 8 Tails coming out of the water. "Octopops!" he said.

"He extracted a portion of Shukaku's and my chakra from Madara. He knew exactly which Tailed Beast powers you were lacking, that guy!" the 8 Tails said.

"Obito did that?" Naruto asked.

"A lot of things happened." another male voice said.

Naruto looked in another direction to see the 9 Tails coming out of the water.

"He even put me inside of you. Now you've got the chakra of all 9 Tailed Beasts within you, Naruto!" Yin Kurama said.

"Even you? The other half of Kurama?" Naruto asked.

Yin Kurama looked at Hagoromo. "The promised time has finally come, old man 6 Paths!" he said.

Naruto looked at Hagoromo again.

"You're right, my dear Kurama... Just as Gamamaru prophesied... a blue-eyed youth who can name all 9 beasts and frolic among them." Hagoromo said.

"Prophesied? You mean the prophecy Giant Gramps Sage passed on to the Pervy Sage? Gamamaru is real name? You're pretty awesome because you know that, Super Gramps?" Naruto asked.

Yin Kurama looked at Naruto. "Hey, Naruto!" he said.

Naruto looked up at Yin Kurama, confused.

Hagoromo laughed for a moment then stopped. "You truly have the ability to win other's cooperation." he said.

Naruto looked at Hagoromo again.

"You managed to summon my soul. And accepted that Ashura has reincarnated inside of you." Hagoromo said then laughed for a moment then stopped.

The water disappeared to reveal the other tailed beasts.

"Shukaku. Matatabi. Isobu. Son Goku. Kokuo. Saiken. Chomei. Gyuki. Kurama." Hagoromo said.

Naruto looked at all of the 9 Tailed Beasts.

"It seems the time has come... for the child of prophecy to change the world. My dear Naruto..." Hagoromo said.

Naruto looked at Hagoromo.

"What do you want to do? What do you seek for the aftermath of this war? I would like to hear your honest thoughts and opinions." Hagoromo asked.

Naruto thought about something for a moment. "Maybe I'm really like this Ashura guy. Only... unlike him, I'm just a stupid kid who doesn't know much about a lot of things. But, I do know what friends are. And I want to protect them all. That's it." he said.

...

Sasuke's Mind.

"Is that your answer?" Hagoromo asked.

"Yeah..." Sasuke said.

"Long ago, I entrusted everything to Ashura and cast my attention away from Indra. That proved to be the source of calamity. Put out your dominant arm. This time, I am also entrusting my power to you, Indra's reincarnate." Hagoromo said.

...

Naruto's Mind.

"From this point on, Naruto and Sasuke... What you both shall do, and what shall transpire, will be up to the 2 of you." Hagoromo said.

...

Sasuke's Mind.

"Naruto and I..." Sasuke said.

...

"Sasuke and I... may not be real brothers, but I really believe that we can make peace. Because we're pretty good friends." Naruto said.

Hagoromo released his staff before as it floated in the air then held up his right hand.

Naruto stepped forward a bit before he raised up his right hand and touched Hagoromo's right hand.

...

Sasuke's Mind.

Hagoromo released his staff before as it floated in the air then held up his left hand.

Sasuke stepped forward a bit before he raised up his left hand and touched Hagoromo's left hand.

...

Drops of water dripped into the water for a moment before they stopped.

---

End of Chapter 17.

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