I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters. I will be skipping Pein's super long back story. I may also add something to it.
Siblings
Naruto opened his eyes and saw that he was standing beside a massive hole in the sphere of stone Pein had made. His clone had been destroyed when he entered his Nine-tails Cloak so he was in Sage Mode. He sensed Pein and glared at him to see him staring back. Suddenly, the sphere began to collapse. Naruto jumped from one boulder to another until he was on the ground standing before Pein.
Naruto glanced sideways and saw smoke rising where the village would be.
"Katsuyu," Naruto growled as she crawled out from under his jacket, his cloak having been destroyed in his transformation. "Did I do all that?"
"Yes," Katsuyu confirmed.
Naruto lowered his head but it instantly snapped back up and his eyes widened tears streaming down his face.
"Hinata," Naruto breathed smiling. "Thank God."
"I was worried, but no casualties resulted from your assault," Katsuyu stated. "Even thought you were in full Nine-tails mode. We were lucky."
"Just wish I had gotten Pein," Naruto growled.
"The time has come for us to end this!" Pein called out. "Do you finally comprehend Pain? Unless you come to know the same pain, you cannot comprehend someone else. And even if you comprehend them, you still may not agree with them. That is the truth. That, is why your definition of peace is not possible."
"Enough of this," Naruto growled. "Just take me to the real Pein. I want to talk to him face to face, now."
"So, you figured that part out did you?" Pein questioned extending a metal rod. "First Jiraiya sensei and now you. Leaf Village Ninja truly are impressive."
Naruto realized that his swords were all missing and sighed. He would have to do it the hard way.
"But our discussion's over," Pein continued. "Further conversation will change absolutely nothing."
"I just want to discuss something with him," Naruto growled.
"You are in Sage Mode now," Pein noted walking forward. "I believe you are limited to using only two of those bothersome chakra shuriken at a time. Isn't that so? And that causes your Sage Mode to run out. If both of your shuriken should miss, the only possible outcome is that you shall lose."
"I guess I'll have to fight you after all," Naruto sighed.
"I will take you almost to the point of death, and drag you off," Pein shouted sprinting forward.
"I'll just find the real Pein myself then," Naruto growled as Pein neared him.
Pein jabbed the rod at Naruto and he caught it then spun, kicking Pein away and breaking a piece off the rod. Pein crashed into a cliff and Naruto grinned holding the rod up. He jabbed it into his shoulder and used his Sage Mode chakra to trace Pein's chakra back to the original. Then, he ripped it out and threw it aside. Pein stood and growled in frustration as Naruto created a pair of clone.
He and one clone formed a Rasenshuriken while the other clone slammed two purple smoke bombs down. A moment later the Rasenshuriken shot out.
"Almighty Push!" Pein shouted blasting the Rasenshuriken and instantly noticing a second where the shadow had been.
Naruto grinned as both clones appeared to either side of Pein. He reacted instantly, two long rods extending and pinning the two clones down. Then, he used the rods to lift himself over the Rasenshuriken. It carved its way through the stones before dissipating, not having hit anything organic, and Pein sailed through the air.
Pein landed on a boulder and smirked.
Just then, the stones around him exploded and smoke shot out, dozens of clones leaping at him. They all flew straight toward him, all throwing a punch and wishing for their swords. Just as one clone's fist passed within half an inch of him, Pein blasted them all back, the jutsu hitting Naruto as well. Naruto created three dozen clones behind himself to keep him from being thrown as Pein focused the jutsu on him and his clones.
"You with no answers and no solutions," Pein growled. "Just give up!"
Finally it ended with Naruto having two clones left. Naruto formed a Rasengan and grinned. Pein smirked and Naruto's clones took a hold of Naruto.
"Pein!" Naruto shouted as the clones hurled him at Pein. "Give up, on making me give up! Rasengan!"
He slammed it into Pein's stomach and it exploded sending him flying into a cliff and finally killing him. He bent over gasping for breath as his clones brought him his swords. He grinned and took them then turned to Pein and pulled out one of the rods. After a moment, he pushed it into his left palm and images flashed through his head. Jiraiya dead, with five metal rods driven through him and his right arm missing. Kakashi dead, half-buried in rubble. Hinata. Shizune. then an image of a man and a woman. The woman was dead in the man's arms and Naruto could feel pain, rivaling his own when he believed Hinata was dead. They were on a pile of rubble and it was obvious there had been a battle, though Naruto couldn't tell who they had been fighting since there was no one else there. Then, he pulled it out and stood.
"Are you going?" Katsuyu questioned.
"Yes," Naruto nodded.
"Then, you'll need reinforcements," Katsuyu stated.
"No," Naruto said shaking his head. "This is something I have to do alone. You stay here too. I don't want anyone else's blood on my hands."
Katsuyu crawled down to the ground and Naruto left, heading for the real Pein. After a few minutes, he stopped when Ino's father Inoichi, Shikamaru's father Shikaku, and a Hyuga landed on the branch behind him.
"What do you want Masters?" Naruto questioned.
"The fact that you're here by yourself," Inoichi spoke up. "Does that mean that you finally defeated the Sixth Pein?"
"It doesn't matter who won, or lost," Naruto stated.
"Tell us what happened," Shikaku ordered.
"It's hard to explain," Naruto stated.
"I don't understand," Inoichi said in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"It's not really important," Naruto stated. "I'm going to the real Pein. And please don't follow me. I need to go on alone."
"But...why?" Inoichi questioned.
"I...have to talk to him," Naruto stated.
"What?" Inoichi gasped. "You're insane! Don't get me wrong, we're grateful that you saved the village but it's too late for talk!"
"Then tell me, if we kill him, his minions, friends, family, his entire village, would that settle things?" Naruto demanded.
"Be that as it may, Pein is an enemy," Inoichi spat. "We can never forgive him!"
"The thing inside me did the same thing!" Naruto snapped. "And yet you have no problem with me having let him take control as I fought Pein!"
"That's...different!" Inoichi stated.
"Is it?" Naruto growled. "Or is it just that you've had more time to accept that the Nine-tails did what he did and move on?"
"Naruto's right," Shikaku stated. "However, Inoichi is also right. Pein is an enemy."
"I know," Naruto growled. "I don't want to forgive him either. He killed my Master, my sensei, my father! I know he doesn't deserve forgiveness. That doesn't change the fact that I need to talk to him."
"Very well," Shikaku nodded. "Go ahead."
"Shikaku-" Inoichi began.
"We would be useless against Pein anyway," Shikaku stated. "Just as we were against the six puppets. This one will likely have the abilities of all of the others."
Inoichi thought for a moment then nodded. Naruto returned the gesture and left. As the tree the real Pein resided in came into view, Naruto stopped, gathering Nature Energy before continuing in Sage Mode. He reached the tree within seconds, and placed his hands on it, finding it to be paper. He ripped it open and stepped inside looking around. There was a woman standing beside the real Pein. She was the same that had attacked the village with Pein, though Naruto wasn't present for that and was unaware. He did, however, know that she was the woman from the last image he had seen when he had driven the the stake into his hand. Pein, on the other hand, was emaciated, had hair the same color as Kushina's hanging down over his face, had a dozen poles sticking out of his back, and was sitting in a massive machine with six legs and two large cylinders around his hands.
The woman ran out in front of Pein but he spoke before she could attack.
"No Konan," Pein said making her stop. "Stay out of this."
"But, Nagato," Konan said worry obvious in her voice.
"It's alright," Nagato stated. "Welcome Naruto. Have you come to kill me? To take your revenge?"
"No," Naruto stated. "I did. I wanted to kill you. It's what you deserve. But I'm only here, because I know you. I know, that I'm the only one that can forgive you."
"Forgive me?" Nagato questioned. "Why would you forgive me? After everything I've done."
"Because I know you," Naruto stated. "Because we're the same. We're sibling students. We both know true pain. I saw you."
"You saw...me?" Nagato questioned. "You stabbed yourself again didn't you? I felt you chakra. What did you see?"
"I saw you," Naruto repeated. "And her. One of my gifts as Kurama's Jinchuriki is he can read anyone that I link to by chakra. He can see memories, emotions, flaws. Anything negative. Then, he tells me. We both have felt true pain. The same pain. Your family was murdered. You murdered my father. Your best friend was murdered. Two of my closest friends were killed by Danzo, who was responsible for the death of...what was it...Yahiko? And then, there's your dream. I saw it, Nagato. I felt it. I know you know which I mean. For you to truly feel that pain, and truly know what it means to hurt, I should kill her right now."
A chakra receiver suddenly launched out of an opening on the front of his machine, hitting Naruto in the stomach and making him double over.
"It's over," Nagato stated before his eyes widened and Naruto stood, pulling the rod out and driving it into the floor. "Impossible! You can't resist my will this close to me."
"Too bad," Naruto grinned. "I did. Now, if you would let me finish, you would know I have no intention of harming her. I was going to say, you know that pain as well. The same pain that you caused for me, when you stabbed Hinata. That one alone is enough for me to want you dead. But I won't."
"Why?" Nagato questioned.
"If our places were reversed, if I had killed your family, your friends, destroyed your village, what would you do to me?" Naruto questioned.
"I would kill you," Nagato stated.
"And if I had killed Konan as you lay helpless, forced to watch?" Naruto questioned.
"I would tear you limb from limb, then bring you back to life just to shove a Planetary Devastation down your throat," Nagato growled darkly making Konan's eyes widen. "I understand. We are the same. We know the same pain. So you must know, peace cannot be obtained without pain."
"You're right," Naruto stated. "There will always be pain. There will always be people feeling hate, wanting revenge for something. But, Master Jiraiya didn't believe that more pain would solve anything. And it won't. You said yourself that pain only creates more pain. Regardless of how bad the pain is, it will always be true. Your plan will work for a time, but then, even the pain caused by the Tailed Beast weapon will stop bringing the peace back and the world will simply dissolve into even greater chaos. You asked how I would break the cycle. I finally have my answer. I'm going to do what Master Jiraiya would want. I won't give in to vengeance or hate. And I won't kill you. Even though I want to. Even though it's no less than you deserve. I won't."
"That, is how you intend to bring peace?" Nagato questioned.
"It is," Naruto nodded. "So, what do you intend to do?"
"I...I intend to put my faith where it belongs," Nagato smiled. "With our Master's favorite. He chose you. Now, I see why. Excluding the Nine-tails, you remind me of myself when I was young. I couldn't believe what Jiraiya Sensei did. But I wished to defend my friends, even if it meant my life. You have the same desire, but you chose a different path from my own. You chose to believe in your Master. So too, will I believe in you. You say you can bring peace. I will believe you. I will entrust the future to you."
Nagato pulled his hands out of the cylinders and made a hand seal before putting his hands together, as if in prayer.
"I'll yous Gedo Art of Rinne Rebirth," Nagato stated.
"Nagato you can't!" Konan pleaded.
"No Konan," Pein smiled. "It's alright. I am simply making another choice. Even thought I had all but given up hope."
"What's wrong Konan?" Naruto questioned. "What's he doing?"
"Those who possess the Rinnegan, can perform all of the jutsus the Six Peins use, and are said to exist outside the realm of life and death," Konan stated. "Nagato's visual prowess itself is the jutsu that presides over life and death. He is the Seventh Pein."
"Stop!" Naruto said making Nagato stop out of surprise. "What happens to you if you use it at this level of chakra?"
"I will expire," Nagato admitted.
"And if you are at full strength?" Naruto questioned.
"I will be left only slightly weaker than I am now," Nagato stated. "Do you have a way to restore me?"
"I do," Naruto nodded. "However, I don't know that I trust you enough to, because it will leave me extremely drained, and I can't be in Sage Mode to do it. I would be unable to stop you should you want to capture me, or destroy what's left of my village."
"You will come to no harm," Konan promised.
Naruto nodded and walked over to Nagato, closing his eyes and allowing himself to exit Sage Mode. The moment he did, he leaned against Nagato's machine groaning.
"Damn," Naruto sighed. "Guess I had less chakra left than I thought. I don't have enough."
"How much do you need?" Konan questioned.
"Not much," Naruto said beginning to gasp for breath.
Konan rested her hand on his shoulder, channeling chakra to him. After a few seconds, he stopped her and rested his hand on Nagato's shoulder.
"This will leave me unconscious," Naruto stated. ""I'll but my faith in you now. I hope I wake up without being tied up."
With that, he sent a pulse of chakra through his hand, healing Nagato completely while he himself collapsed, Konan catching him. Nagato restarted his jutsu and this time completed it. In the Hidden Leaf Village, the King of Hell's head appeared on a much larger scale then when the Pein used it. It opened its mouth and hundreds of souls in the forms of blasts of green chakra shot out, returning to their respective bodies. A moment later, they all woke up, completely healed.
Naruto opened his eyes and groaned. His head was killing him but he pushed himself into a sitting position anyway, looking around. Konan and Nagato were leaving but weren't very far away yet.
"Wait," Naruto croaked, voice barely audible. "You don't...have to...leave. You could...stay...make up...for...what you...did."
"That's a kind offer," Konan smiled. "But, we don't deserve such kindness."
"After what we did, we don't deserve forgiveness," Nagato stated, still in his machine that seemed to walk for him.
"But that's the point of forgiveness," Naruto groaned pushing himself to his feet. "It's a gift of trust. You have to trust someone not to repeat their mistakes."
"We can never be forgiven for what we've done," Nagato stated.
"I disagree," Minato stated appearing in front of Naruto. "I believe, that what you did to our people was cancelled when you revived us all. As for the village, you can help us rebuild. As Tsunade is in a coma that even Naruto can't heal her from, that leaves me as the Hokage. Personally I would welcome you, since my son believes in you, but I will have to speak with the rest of the village, specifically the Jonin that protect our village."
"Making offers to the leaders of the Akatsuki Naruto?" a familiar voice questioned as Sasuke and Hebi appeared around them. "Another Guren I take it?"
"Ah, Sasuke, perfect timing," Minato smiled. "You and your team will be watching Nagato and Konan while I meet with the villagers to determine whether or not they will be allowed to live in Konoha."
Sasuke nodded and Minato rested his hand on Naruto's shoulder teleporting them both back to Konoha. Everyone from the village was standing on the same side they appeared at and instantly began cheering. Minato smiled down at Naruto as Naruto stared in shock at his warm reception. His mother and Kakashi were both standing in the front of the crowd with several others that Naruto recognized with them like Konohamaru, Ebisu, and Iruka. Naruto stumbled forward, barely remaining on his feet as he rushed forward, throwing his arms around Kushina. She hugged him back, and after a moment he pulled back and smiled at Kakashi and the others then looked around. Sakura was behind Kushina but she was the only one in the Konoha 11 that was present.
"Naruto you were amazing!" Sakura smiled. "I knew you could do it!"
Naruto smiled but then caught a glimpse behind her and the smile faltered before fading entirely. Sakura sighed and stepped out of his way as the others gathered there did the same. Naruto instantly rushed forward, throwing his arms around Hinata. She hugged him back, burying her face in his shoulder.
"I thought I lost you," Naruto whispered holding Hinata tightly, not wanting to let go, ever.
"It's alright," Hinata smiled. "I'm okay. I'm not going anywhere. I promise."
Naruto pulled back and smiled before kissing her. She began to kiss him back instantly, face going bright red as a massive roar of cheering erupted from the crowd around them. they stayed like that for more than a minute before the cheering died down and someone cleared their throat, getting Naruto and Hinata's attention.
"Neji," Hinata gasped face darkening as Neji leveled a blank stare at the two of them.
"Bout...fucking...time," Neji grinned crossing his arms.
"Come again?" Naruto blinked in surprise. "Wait, you mean-"
"Oh please Naruto," Neji snorted. "Everyone saw it coming. We just expected it to happen a long time ago."
Naruto smiled sheepishly as Hinata beamed at Neji and hugged Naruto's arm. He smiled and pulled his arm away, wrapping them around Hinata and glancing through the crowd where he saw movement to see Hiashi staring at him. After a moment, Hiashi nodded and Naruto smiled even wider. It had turned out to be a pretty good day after all.
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