Yo...

Thank you for the support, so far. Yes, I have won the bet...but more than that I am happy with the way the war arc has ended. Though the real struggle is just beginning and not just for Naruto, but for everyone. Every character will have to understand they can't just leave everything on Naruto...or he'll completely break down, because in the end he is still a 15 year old young boy.

I read some opinions of few of my readers, suggesting that I should have ended the war arc in another way...they still can't understand why Naruto wants to build an empire. Every person believes in something, and they work for it to become a reality. Naruto hates the ninja world, and thinks that an empire is the solution for a little stability in the world...and not complete peace, because that is not possible.

Even Hashirama didn't know if his system of ninja world would succeed or not, but he still created a less chaotic world than the clan era. The empire gives Naruto and everyone a purpose to build something, rather than hoping for understanding each other like in Cannon.

And like Tobirama said, Naruto was not fit to be in Blacklight (Emotionally). It was only due to his power and leadership skills, as well as the necessity of war that he was sent there...and Idk how many of you believe it but Naruto is the reason Konoha won the war, despite his traumas he is still fighting. He alone defeated the Heavenly Alliance (3 great ninja villages and their 3 kages alone) with his tactics, and fooled Akatsuki as well as Madara.

As for why he is so traumatized and focused on the past. He lost his 2 best friends (Armin and Kotetsu), his teacher (Commander Fox), his first comrades (Hisana, Bird, Eagle, Owl), good friends (Yugao, Aoba, and many more Blacklight). Naruto had to murder 300 innocent people, and kill another 15,000-16,000 ninja (In Total) just to end the war...so just ask yourself can such a sensitive boy who has suffered this much just recover like that? And can you really blame him for lamenting in the past? Even Kakashi just lost Obito and Rin in Cannon, if he had been through the shit which this Naruto had to go through then it would take him more than 3 years to move on...

Enjoy the chapter...

Chapter 62

A Hero's Tears

Joy.

Happiness.

Relief.

He could see so many feelings in the eyes of his fellow Konoha shinobi, the entire battlefield was echoing with cheers. People were hugging, kissing, jumping with joy, some of them were still keeping an eye on the defeated enemy forces and capturing them. The Anbu shinobi of Konoha were leading the task of capturing the now surrendered enemy forces and their leaders.

And yet he stood all alone on a far off mountain cliff. It was still hard for him to believe, he was scared that any moment this dream might just end and he would again find himself on a bloody battlefield fighting against enemy forces.

Was the war really over?

7 years...

It had been 2555 days since he left Konoha to join the war, all the pain, suffering, anger, sadness that he went through got him to this point. Konoha had won an impossible war, defeated 3 great ninja villages and were now victorious.

But for him, the war was still not over. It was still going on inside his heart...for only one single question...

Did he really deserve this? After everything that he had done, did he really deserve a life of peace?

Even if he had won the war, he was still defeated.

"Naruto..."

"Naruto...

"Naruto...

Minato stepped beside his son, he couldn't understand why was the boy not hearing his voice? However one look in his eyes was enough to show him what had happened...

"Even if he looks fine from the outside, from the inside he is already dead..."

He could still remember Tobirama's words and looking into his son's eyes proved it. There was no spark, no love...no life in his son's eyes.

Naruto was just there...standing like a vessel without a soul, and it broke Minato's heart.

He hesitantly placed his hand over Naruto's shoulder, and as the boy slowly turned around Minato got a glimpse of the terror his son had endured for the past 7 years. There was a small line of water resting on the edge of Naruto's eyes, begging the boy to let it go.

"It's over..." said Minato in a comforting voice, as Naruto tried to say something...but couldn't say it.

Minato saw his wife and his younger son approaching towards them from the battlefield, and he knew seeing Naruto like this would break their hearts. So, he did the only thing he could do...

He grabbed Naruto's shoulder tightly as both father-son disappeared in a bright flash...

Naruto silently watched as he was now standing at the shore of an unknown lake. His father was beside him and was just standing beside him, peacefully observing the reflection of the sun that was setting in the sky.

"Let's go for a swim..." said Minato in a very calm voice,

"I..."

"Don't resist, son..." replied Minato politely, as the hesitant boy quickly shut his mouth.

Without another word, Naruto started walking forward and slowly stepped inside the lake. As he continued to get submerged in the water, all the dirt, blood on his clothes started to get washed away. He turned around and saw his father entering the lake and slowly coming beside him.

As Minato neared towards his son, he realized the mental state his son was in. He was still not able to believe that the war was over, this was something which Minato had not thought about when he sent his son into Blacklight. Indeed, Naruto won the war for Konoha...but at what cost?

Looking at the broken state his boy was in made Minato ashamed of himself, instead of giving him a good, peaceful life...he pushed his innocent son into a life of war, suffering, pain, murder. Today, Minato Namikaze realized one thing...

He had failed as a father...

"It's cold..." said Naruto tiredly, and was just staring at the deep blue water of the lake.

"How are you doing, son?" asked Minato sadly,

"Why did this war happen?" asked Naruto in a remorseful tone, as tears fell from his eye.

"I don't know...but it's over now" said Minato patiently, although Naruto didn't seem convinced.

"Is it Tou-san? I can still see those faces, their screams, I can still see my friends dying in my arms...and I couldn't stop it." said Naruto sadly,

"Naruto, whether you believe it or not. Their deaths were not your fault, every person chooses his own path...

Bird sacrificed himself to save the rest of his squad...

Eagle died defending his country against those who wanted to destroy it...

Hisana died protecting you, she was a true squad leader till the end...

Hawk fought besides his comrades and did his duty like a true soldier of Konoha...

Commander Fox was your teacher and commander. He taught you everything and made you a true shinobi, and ultimately died saving his students and comrades...

Yugao fearlessly fought with the Iwa army and died protecting all the innocent children of Konoha...

Aoba fulfilled his oath as a Blacklight soldier...

Kotetsu didn't leave Armin and Aoba, and continued to fight beside them till the very end...

And Armin was a true hero. He was a true soldier but more than that he was your true friend who died for you..."

By the time Minato finished his sentence, Naruto had tears freely falling from his eyes. And Minato knew this was the chance to relieve Naruto from the guilt inside his heart, to free him from something for which he was not at all responsible.

"All of them chose their own paths, and fought for what they believed in. Yes, they died...but are they really died?" asked Minato patiently, and pointed his finger at Naruto's heart.

"I..."

"The fact that you still remember that after so much time and will continue to do so, proves that they are still alive in your heart. Honor them by remembering them as true ninjas and good people, be grateful that you met such wonderful people." explained Minato carefully, and he was pleased when Naruto attentively listened to each and every word.

"Do you really believe it, Tou-san?" asked Naruto curiously, bringing a smile on Minato's face.

"Yes, and you should believe it too. All those people were heroes, and they wouldn't want you to destroy yourself like this. None of them asked you to blame yourself, it was war and they were ninjas first, and your comrades later. Cherish the bond that you have with them, it will make you strong...you are a hero of Konoha, Naruto" said Minato proudly, but Naruto shook his head in negative.

"I am not a hero..." replied Naruto stubbornly, as Minato just smiled.

"Only you don't think so. Every person in Fire country has probably received news of our victory, you are a hero now. Someone who people will look up to, the young children who are the future of Konoha are depending on you..." explained Minato seriously, as Naruto attentively listened to each and every word.

"Tou-san, I know what people expect from me...but I've done some terrible things. Something which a hero would never do, the real heroes never lived to see this day, while I did. I never believed that I would survive this bloody war...just leave me alone" replied Naruto harshly, for his part Minato didn't lose his determination and instantly glared at his son.

"Do you have any idea how much power you hold in your eyes? You can change the world with this power..." said Minato in a little aggressive manner,

"This power is my curse. These eyes of mine record everything, I can still see the moment where my friends died...and I can't forget it. It's not easy..." replied Naruto in a bitter voice, but Minato put a firm hand on his shoulder.

"It's over, son. It's over!"

The only answer Minato received was a devastating punch on his face that knocked him away, and he spotted Naruto glaring at him with his Mangekyo sharingan.

"NOTHING IS OVER!"

Minato slowly wiped the blood that was oozing out of his mouth, as Naruto took in a few deep breaths but still couldn't stop himself from giving a hateful look to his own father.

"Just shut up, Tou-san. I'm not some fucking switch whom you can turn whenever you want. This wasn't my war...you asked me, I didn't ask you!" yelled Naruto furiously, as Minato looked at him sadly knowing what the boy was saying was indeed true.

"Naruto, I-"

"No, you listen to me. I did what I had to do, to let Konoha win. And unless you've been me, felt what I felt when my friends died in my arms...I fucking murdered innocent children, do you have any idea how disgusted it makes me feel? DO YOU?" asked Naruto in a very angry voice, and quickly forward grabbing Minato's collar roughly.

"You're a good boy, don't destroy yourself like this. You'll kill yourself if you keep this up..." said Minato in a pleading voice, as Naruto's glare intensified.

"I'm already dead..."

Tears fell from Minato's eyes as Naruto released his collar and started walking away...what had he done to his boy?

"The village is going to award you the Black Cross. The highest award a shinobi could ever dream to achieve...because we're alive due to your sacrifice. You're our hero, Naruto...come back to us" begged Minato, making Naruto stop and turn around to look at his father.

"Back to what? My friends died here, part of me died here..." said Naruto honestly,

"The war, and every other suffering you went through for us was wrong. But don't hate us for it..." replied Minato sadly,

"Hate? I would die for all of you..."

Minato stepped forward and looked his young son straight in the eye, trying to search for something...

"Then what do you want?" asked Minato curiously, and was surprised when Naruto tossed a picture towards him.

The Hokage's eyes moistened when he saw what was in the picture. It was the place in which his son was still trapped, the smile which Naruto had on his face as he stood beside all his comrades of 1st company was priceless. He had his best friends Armin and Kotetsu beside him, with the figure of Commander Fox towering above them.

Hisana and her team were beside the boys, while Aoba, Yugao were standing beside the rest of their comrades.

"I want, what they wanted, and every fucking Blacklight who fought, bled, suffered and ultimately died for Konoha wants...for our country to love us, as much as we love it. These people are your heroes...not me" requested Naruto sadly, and started disappearing inside his pocket dimension.

Minato knew he had to let Naruto go, he had tried to help his son...but the damage Naruto had suffered was irreparable, and there was only one person in the world who could help him.

"I don't hate you, Tou-san. I just hate myself..."

Those words broke Minato's heart, and he didn't have the heart to stop Naruto...

"How will you live, Naruto?"

"Day by day..."

(1 Hour later: Osaka Base Camp)

Mikasa was currently standing in a small open field, her entire team as well as Kushina and Yagura were beside her enjoying their victory in the war. However her eyes were still searching for someone who was still not here...

"He'll be here, I bet his mother is swooning all over him by now..." said Izumo in a light hearted manner, bringing a smile on her face.

"He's just a mama's boy, Mikasa..." replied Rangiku cheerfully,

The Blacklight squad erupted into wild laughter on hearing that remark, as Kushina happily watched the young kids enjoying their banter.

However her eyes widened in shock, and she quickly rushed towards Mikasa...

CLANG

CLANG

CLANG

CLANG

The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki as well as the entire Blacklight squad were gunned down with kunai embedded in various parts of their bodies. Even Yagura was hit and was lying on the ground...

Mikasa's eyes widened in horror when more than 400 Blacklight surrounded her entire squad, and it didn't take her a second to realize who they were.

"The 2nd and 3rd Blacklight Companies..." said Genma in a painful tone, as he tried to stop the bleeding from his stomach.

Kushina didn't know why these kids looked so nervous, but looking at the terrified look in Mikasa's eyes was enough to increase her worries.

Because only Mikasa knew that these 2 entire Blacklight companies were extreme loyalists of one man...

She felt a sword being put on her neck, and turned her head back to see her greatest enemy standing above her.

"Baku..."

The man just gave her an evil glare while his soldiers quickly captured her entire squad and put restraining seals on them.

"Mikasa Ackerman...you are under arrest for treason"

Author's Notes: End of chapter..

As promised I introduced the new arc within a week...

Akatsuki's Operation Exodus, Baku's return, Naruto's traumas, and many more things are coming up.

This chapter was just a preview for what's coming in this arc and the ones after that...Naruto's war for a better world is far from over. It's just getting started...

PLEASE KINDLY LEAVE A REVIEW...XD!