Merry Christmas Everyone!

I wanted to give all of you awesome guys a gift for sticking with me, so here's a new chapter. Undoubtedly by the end of this chapter some of you guys will have questions, so please make sure you check out the Author's Note at the bottom.

I'm editing this at 3:00am, so I apologize for any spelling mistakes ahead of time.

And without any more delay, here's the next chapter. Chapter 31: Broken

"Sasuke." Naruto greeted as he entered the Uchiha sitting room, "Why did you call me to the Uchiha district? We aren't going spar here are we?" The Last Uzumaki glanced around at all of the buildings that undoubtedly cost quite a bit of Ryo, "We tend to be very destructive."

"I didn't call you here for that." Sasuke almost snapped, but held back by the barest of threads. He had promised himself that he would try to remain more calm, more rational. Like Naruto had been when he fought Itachi. Charging into battle with rage clouding his mind negatively affect his ability to kill his brother.

"I call you here for three reasons." Sasuke did his best to emulate the cool calm Naruto possessed sometimes, "First: What did you do to council?" The Uchiha grunted to himself, seemingly remembering something that had been very annoying. "Ever since you became the Uzumaki Clan Head, most of the civilian council and part of the shinobi council haven't left me alone."

Naruto blinked. "I...don't think I did anything really." He scratched his head. "I mean, I just pay attention in the council meetings and occasionally suggest stuff for the most part." Pondering the issue, "Come to think of it, I mostly suggest stuff about protecting your family and friends first. And if everyone does that, the village will be protected too."

Sasuke scratched his head, unconsciously mimicking Naruto. "Perhaps they are stupid then. After all they are not Uchiha nor an Uzumaki." He shrugged, seemingly finding comfort in his idea of the council. "Secondly," Sasuke looked directly at Naruto, his eyes flashing with determination, "How are you so powerful? What drives you?"

"I live to protect those I care about." There was unshakable certainty in his words. "And I train to become strong enough to protect them from anything or anyone."

"There has to be something else." Sasuke shook his head. "It can't be as simple as that." "Mother and Father cared for me, wanted to protect me. So why did they die then?"

"That's all I fight for." Naruto reiterated, not understanding why Sasuke couldn't understand. "What is so hard to understand about protecting your precious people?"

"That can't be true!" "All I have is my hate. There is no one I care about. They are all dead!" Sasuke fought the urge to pull his hair out. "You must hate the village for what they did to you!"

Naruto couldn't but chuckle, slight bitterness coloring the sound. "Actually I don't."

"What? How can you not hate them?"

"I know what they did was wrong, but I can't summon any emotion to it." Naruto sighed before shrugging. "So I just focus on what I can feel and care about."

"What they did was 'wrong'?" Sasuke could almost feel his eyes widening. "They literally chased you down and beat you while you were but a child!" He shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Naruto must be hiding how he gained power. It makes sense now." Sasuke nodded, something vaguely close to admiration in his thoughts. "An attitude that is close to an Uchiha's mindset."

"And for the third thing," Sasuke was now openly frowning, "Two weeks ago the Hokage examined my brain for any damage that..." Hatred dripped from his tone, "...Itachi's Tsukuyomi had done." The Last Uchiha shook his head, attempting to dispel the frothing emotion he was feeling. Hatred would do him no good here.

"The Hokage discovered scarring in several places." Sasuke sounded like he was halfway between being filled with anger and tired dismay. "However, given the years that have passed since the injury, there was nothing physically she could do, given that I may lose some of my knowledge of the shinobi arts. But she feels that I can use a psychologist."He practically spat the word. "As if anyone could understand what I went through!"

"Control! Control! I am Sasuke Uchiha! I will have control over myself!" Taking several deep breaths, Sasuke continued, his voice somewhat calm, "But when I pointed out that I did not need one, the Hokage informed me that she could mark me as unfit for combat." There was an aggravated grunt. "The psychologist is coming tomorrow."

For the first time since Naruto had known him, Sasuke looked uncertain. "When the psychologist is here, I, Sasuke Uchiha, ask that you, Naruto Uzumaki of the Uzumaki Clan, are here as well. They wouldn't dare try something with you around."

Despite not understanding why Sasuke wanted him in particular, Naruto couldn't find any reason to deny him. "I'll do it as long as I can bring some sealing stuff to study."

Sasuke nodded. "I will see you at Two-Fifteen then." "I won't say thank-you. People like us don't need such words."

"See you then." Naruto waved as he headed out, still more than slightly confused at the entire exchange.

"Shino-Sama. Kin-San." One of the Aburame Clan members reported, "Naruto-San is here."

Glancing up from where he was carefully showing Kin how to harvest the poison of a Death Scarab, Shino looked towards the open door as Naruto stepped through it. The Death Scarab was one of the finest creations of the Aburame Clan. It was the result of careful breeding of different bug species over a seven dozen generations. It's paralyzing poison was almost absolute, paralyzing muscles and organs with equal ease. Given that Kin had chosen to stay with the Aburame Clan, Shino had taken to showing her what combat skills he could show her, given that she could not longer be a ninja.

When she had been given a choice between becoming a ninja of Konoha or becoming a civilian, the choice hadn't been hard for her. She had never been given a choice by Orochimaru, and thus decided to pursue civilian life as a medic specializing in counter-poisons. Given her choice of vocations, Shino had obtained permission to allow her to stay at the Aburame compound. It was only logical, he had explained, given that the Aburame insects produced many different varieties of poisons and toxins. In addition, those in the village who still blamed Kin in part for Sound's actions would think twice about harming her.

"Naruto-San." Shino's monotone somehow indicated his happiness at seeing his friend, "How are you?"

Naruto grinned. "Doing well." He knew Shino preferred simple and concise answers.

"I bet you are." Kin mumbled sarcastically, having heard about how Naruto was dating three people at the same time. Despite her words however, she was still grateful to Naruto for accepting her, and by proxy, many people who Naruto knew accepting her as well. She thought back to the moment when Naruto changed all of her perceptions of what being a friend truly meant.

"...This is Kin-San." Shino introduced, having brought together all those he knew personally to assure them that that Kin meant them and the village no harm.

"Wasn't she from Sound?" Kiba's voice was distrustful, bordering on hostile.

"Yes." Shino nodded. "But she is not anymore." Despite Shino's reassurances, there was open distrust on many faces.

"Shino," Naruto looked directly at his friend, "Do you trust her?"

"Yes."

That was all of the verification Naruto needed. "Hello Kin." Naruto smiled at the girl, "I'm Naruto."

Soon after Naruto had accepted her, many of those present had followed suit, feeling that if both Naruto and Shino trusted her, then they could too. It had been almost overwhelming for the girl, having been told for so long that the only reason she hadn't been killed or sold as a sex slave was due to Orochimaru's grace and benevolence, and that no matter what, she should remember that she was nothing but a dirty orphan girl without him.

So for someone who had viciously fought Sound to trust her based solely on trust forged by friendship, it was astounding. And in that moment, Kin had promised herself one thing. "I will become a friend worthy of Shino-Kun's trust."

"I am teaching Kin-San how to extract the poison from the Death Scarab." Shino informed his friend, "She has learned over a dozen species so far and created four antidotes." His tone was laced with something close to hearable pride, despite the flat monotone he almost always had.

"Stop." Kin punched Shino's shoulder. He stoically took the hit. "I-It's not that big of a deal." Pink tinted her cheeks ever so slightly as she turned her head away. "It's not l-like I hearing you say things like that or anything."

Somehow sensing that he had interrupted something, Naruto took a few steps back and waved. "I'll let you two get back to your lessons. I have to talk to your dad anyway Shino. See you guys later." After he turned away, only then did Naruto let his calm political mask drop over his face. Tapping the seal containing the documents with a possible alliance with the Aburame Clan, the Uzumaki Clan Head moved deeper into the compound, intent on speaking with Shibi Aburame.

"I'm so glad you could join us," Ino beamed at Sakura, Hinata, and Haku. "Between training, moving, and going out with Naruto, you haven't joined us for lunch in sometime." The blonde haired girl smirked. "I understand of course, given that another girl must be the last thing on your mind while Naruto is around..."

"Shut-up Ino-Pig." Sakura ordered without heat as she sat down, "You're just jealous."

Ino blinked. Just a few short weeks ago her comments would have brought a fiery flush to Sakura's face. She didn't know Hinata nor Haku that well, but she guessed that it would have brought the same result. But now, there was only the faintest of blushes dusting their cheeks. "What had happened? Why aren't they overreacting?"

"Spill." Ino was most eager to hear what had changed. Not only was it potentially gossip worthy, but she cared about Sakura as her friend.

"We have decided to keep any interactions of a private nature with Naruto Uzumaki private." Hinata's emotionless mask would have made even the most uptight Hyuga proud. "However, If you must have some details, know this: We are quite...alright with the current pace that is unfolding."

Ino looked like she didn't know what to say. Torn between the healthy imagination of a young woman, her political training, and her clan's knowledge, she wasn't sure what to part of her pay attention to. "That's...good I suppose."

Glancing at Sakura, who nodded, Hinata spied Haku nod as well. "Ino-San." Hinata's voice was almost casual, "Would you mind if we discussed a few clan matters? It would be, of course, completely hypothetical."

"The Uzumaki clan has several unique seals that cannot be gained anywhere else..." Sakura continued, "...and the Yamanaka Clan has several unique talents as well..."

"Naruto." Jiraiya greeted, "Before we begin our training, I have something I want to tell you." His voice grew serious. "Do you remember the cloaks Itachi and Kisame had on when they attacked you?" Naruto nodded. "I have reason to believe that they are part of a larger group. One of my deep cover informants have more information, but I have to personally meet them. Depending what the information says, I'll be gone for about a two months, three tops."

Jiraiya then grinned before giggling. "So that's what I'm doing. What about you my young apprentice? Or better yet, who have you done?"

Naruto tilted his head. "I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but I'm going to assume it's perverted. So no, I haven't 'done' anyone."

Jiraiya's grin only grew at Naruto's flat reply. "Oh? So have you tried out the hot spring?"

"Yes..." Naruto's voice was wary, "What of it?"

"Oh..." Jiraiya's grin didn't abate, "And so perhaps, just perhaps, one night you will be relaxing in the warm water and you'll hear a sound behind you..." The super pervert then proceeded to describe a particular scene in one of his more popular Icha-Icha novels with relish and great detail.

"I-It's nothing like that!" Naruto vehemently denied, "I wouldn't do anything that they wouldn't want me to." Dropping into his combat stance, the Last Uzumaki attempted to push away the images Jiraiya's story invoked, "Ready yourself."

The Toad Sannin allowed himself the luxury of one final chuckle before dropping into his own stance. "Ready when you are...Naruto." The Last Uzumaki charged.

"Well damn." Jiraiya rolled his shoulder, attempting to massage the soreness out of it, "You really stepped up your strength training didn't you?"

"Yep." Naruto nodded, "I figured out how to talk to the Kyubi a few months ago, and was talking with him shortly after Itachi attacked. He is pumping more chakra into me after I strength train, enabling me to push myself much harder each day, fully recovering overnight."

"Doesn't...that hurt?" The Toad Sannin knew how training muscles worked, and there was a reason why you were not supposed to do it every day. Repeatedly tearing one's muscles within a short time frame was generally looked at as a bad thing.

"I got used to the pain."

"But you-" Jiraiya began, his fatherly worry kicking in, but Naruto interrupted him.

"After the fight with Itachi, I realized something." Naruto's voice was quiet but resolved. "All this time I was judging myself based on how powerful an army of Jonin were. But there are those who are army killers." The Last Uzumaki shook his head. "Those people are who I have to measure myself against; They are the ones who I have to be able to fight without losing." He looked up at the Toad Sannin. "I can take the pain."

Jiraiya nodded before sighing. "I'm not going to tell you to stop." He attempted to impress upon his godson the importance of not forgetting himself. "Just remember, be careful. You aren't invincible." After a moment to let his message sink in, Jiraiya pointed at his godson. "Since I leave in two days, let's get as much training time in as we can."

"Yamanaka." Sasuke opened the door, "Let's get this over with." Inoichi frowned, but entered the Uchiha sitting room none the less. "Now." Sasuke sat down and crossed his arms, "Do whatever test you need to so I can go back to combat training."

The Yamanaka Clan Head was about to begin when the side door opened. "Uzumaki-San," Konoha's foremost physiological expert questioned, "What are you doing here?"

"He's insurance." Sasuke bluntly replied. "I don't trust you." Blinking at the fact that his statement could be misunderstood, the Last Uchiha quickly clarified, "I don't trust him either. But I trust you even less than I do him."

Inoichi wondered why Ino ever even considered liking the Uchiha. Slipping into his professional mode, Inoichi wove the hand signs for one of his clan's special jutsus. Closing his eyes, the Yamanaka activated the technique.

"Kokoro Sanpo."

Inoichi found himself standing in the ashes of a burnt out compound. "This isn't good." The blonde haired man looked around, surveying the area around him. "If this is the general state of Sasuke Uchiha's mindscape, who knows what kind of memories are feeding his mental state?"

Moving forward, Inoichi walked through the compound, listening carefully for the sounds of a memory bubble. The Kokoro Sanpo jutsu allowed the caster to enter the target's mind. It not only showed the target's general mindscape as something that visually represented their state of mind, but it also showed the target's strongest memories as 'bubbles'. Interacting with them would allow the caster to experience the memory.

It took only a short time before Inoichi heard the first memory bubble, the wispy, ghost-like sounds of a memory drifting into his ears. Walking towards the sound, Inoichi turned the corner and saw a sight that would have shaken most ninja. Charred corpses littered the ruined street, and over each blackened skeleton hovered a memory bubble. Judging by the redish-black color of the memory, it was not a good memory. Stepping towards the first memory bubble, Inoichi took a deep breath and pushed his hand into the memory.

The sword swung into the defenseless flesh. It was a sharp blade, easily carving through the body. A flick of the sword cleaned the blade. There was much killing to be done tonight, and he was just getting started.

Inoichi surfaced from the memory with a puzzled look on his face. The memory was from Sasuke's perspective, but as far as the Yamanaka was aware, Sasuke hadn't even been in the compound when Itachi had started his rampage. Reaching forward yet again, Inoichi pushed his hand through the memory bubble, intent on examining the memory for clues.

The sword swung into the defenseless flesh.

Inoichi paused the memory, moving forward to examine the memory closer. While he could only view the memory from the angle that was in the memory itself, the Yamanaka jutsu allowed him to pause the memory, effectively letting him examine details in the memory more closely.

"Now..." Inoichi bent forward, "Let's take a look at those hands." Peering closer at the hands gripping the sword, the experienced mind walker judged the hands' size based on how much room they took up on the standard issue sword hilt. "I was right. The hands are too big to be Sasuke's. But if this is not his memory, then how did it get into his head?"

A chill ran up Inoichi's spine as a thought occurred to him. "Tsukuyomi couldn't do that could it?" Inoichi moved forward to another memory bubble, pushing his hand into the memory.

Blood sprayed the ground as the sword claimed another victim.

Moving to the next memory, Inoichi was treated to a new variation of the same. On and on it went, each memory being a new corpse, a new face, but dying the same way. A few tried to resist, but they never stood a chance.

Arriving at the end of the ruined street, Inoichi could do nothing but shake his head. "Itachi, how could you do this to your brother?" Now that he knew what was the cause of the memories, and how they didn't belong, Inoichi could help the young Uchiha. Reaching for the closest memory bubble, Inoichi crafted a memory vault to hold it in.

While he didn't want to risk removing the memory, he could block it, limiting its hold on Sasuke's mind. Carefully gripping the memory bubble, the Yamanaka eased it into the vault. Looking down the street at all of the hovering memory bubbles, Inoichi steeled himself and began to work. It wouldn't fix the problem, that would take time. But once all of the false memories were removed, Sasuke could begin healing.

"I'll be coming back next week." Inoichi tiredly informed Sasuke, "I will have fully recovered my chakra by then." The blonde Yamanaka didn't offer any pity, knowing that Sasuke wouldn't accept it. The mind walker headed out, still amazed that Sasuke hadn't cracked under the stress of the memories. Shaking his head, he headed towards his house. Ino had something she said she wanted to talk to him about…

"See you next week Sasuke." Naruto pushed himself off of the couch, "I'll be heading out. I've got training to do." Pausing in the door opening, the Last Uzumaki glanced back. "I'm not going to push. But if you need to ever talk, just let me know."

Sasuke only grunted, not trusting his voice. It was only after he was sure that Naruto was gone did the Last Uchiha uncoil his tight control on his emotions. Focusing on his hate for his brother, Sasuke shoved the emotions and tears deep within himself. "I am not weak!"

"Hey, Hinata-Chan." Naruto moved to stand beside the blue-haired young woman, "Have you decided where you want to go for our next date tomorrow?" It had been just over a month and a half since Jiraiya had left on his spy mission, and Naruto was beginning his third round of dates with the girls.

Hinata shook her head. "I am still considering it, Naruto-Kun." She glanced away to hide the flush at certain thoughts that popped into her head. "I will tell you tonight."

"Ok." Naruto easily accepted, "I'll be heading out then. Tsunade wants me to get a physical for my Chunin papers." At Hinata's questioning look, Naruto shrugged. "Apparently I've never gotten one before, so they have to do a complete one."

"Who is doing the exam?" Hinata's voice was careful.

"Shizune said she would be doing it."

"Ah." Hinata relaxed slightly. Shizune saw Naruto as a younger brother after all, so there shouldn't be an issue. Hopefully.

"Right this way, Naruto-Kun." Shizune directed the blonde into Exam Room Three. "Since you have never gotten an exam before, "We'll start from the very beginning. Please remove your shirt." After the blonde removed his shirt, Shizune noted down her visual assessment into the exam sheet.

"Height : 1.72 Meters. Hair Color: Bright Blonde. Eye Color: ..." The black haired medical kunoichi peered closely at Naruto's eyes. "...is bright blue."

"Muscle Structure: Above average muscle tone, compact muscle structure. Body is athletic type, only slightly bulkier. Scars..." Shizune noted the scars and it was a struggle to maintain professionalism against the anger, " ...Scars: One deep scar on patient's abdomen and about a dozen smaller ones." Glancing down at the next line, the med nin's brow furrowed in confusion. "Size:...What does this mean? And why have I never seen this on a physical sheet before?"

Elsewhere, Jiraiya giggled. "I wonder if the hospital likes the line I added to the physical sheets?" He giggled again as he headed towards his next destination. "Hopefully some serious...action is going down at the hospital..."

Shizune frowned before shaking her head. "Ignoring that line, onto the next. Repertory:..." Shizune's hand glowed green as she waved it over Naruto's chest, "...Perfect condition. Organs:..."

"Alright Naruto-Kun," Shizune clicked her pen closed, "I have all of the information I need. Lady Tsunade will be in shortly to run an advanced scan of your brain." Moving out, Shizune quickly found her mentor who was spending her weekly time at the hospital going over procedures and processes. While the Legendary Healer couldn't be at the hospital at all times due to her position as Hokage, Tsunade was slowly reworking how the hospital functioned, and vetting staff at the same time.

Privately, Shizune suspected that Tsunade was checking to make sure that there was medical personnel at the hospital at all times in case Naruto needed medical treatment.

"Well," Tsunade reported after she scanned Naruto's brain using a dozen different techniques, "The good news is that you don't have any new brain tissue since I last checked. However," Her voice took on a warning tone, "This doesn't mean that you can go about damaging it again."

"Jiraiya was able to find a mind walker to see if there was any mental, but non-physical damage to your mind. Inoichi Yamanaka is a trustworthy person, vouched for by the pervert." Tsunade frowned for the briefest moments at the thought of Jiraiya, before her face cleared. "Given that Inoichi has given his recommendation that Sasuke Uchiha can be put back on combat training, Inoichi can look at your mind anytime you wish. If that's what you want, Naruto-Ku-...Naruto-San." The last part came out hesitantly. She didn't want her godson to feel like he was being forced to do something he didn't want to do.

"I'll talk with him before he does anything," The Last Uzumaki decided, "To make sure he knows what he's getting into." He paused, considering. "Perhaps later this week? Friday maybe?"

"He'll have his schedule open." Tsunade promised.

"Saku-Chan." Anko greeted, "How are you doing today?"

"Good." Sakura nodded. Privately, she suspected that Anko's slightly calm mood was due to Kakashi's influence, but the pink-haired girl knew better then to bring it up. "How are you?"

"Doing well." Anko smirked. "But I suspect that you'll have a much better day soon."

"I'm almost afraid to ask." Caution was always warranted with her teacher.

"Now how would you say that?" Anko dramatically placed her hand over her heart, "I'm just an innocent flower..." Sakura merely raised her eyebrow, used to her antics. "Fine then." Anko grumbled, her face scrunching up into a frown, "Ruin all my fun." Shaking her head, purple haired kunoichi grinned once again. "So Naru-Kun was talking about training with Kakashi and I, and I gave him insight into a certain subject..." Spotting Sakura's look, Anko only grinned impishly. "Nah-uh...Saku-Chan." She waved her finger, "No spoilers..."

"Sakura-Chan." Hinata greeted, "Naruto-Kun called you here as well?"

Sakura nodded, attempting to mimic Hinata's unconscious grace. "Yes."

A moment later Naruto entered the room, his bright smile lighting up the room. "Hello." He sat down on the other available chair. "I called each all of you here because I was speaking to Anko-Chan, and she cleared up something for me."

The blonde looked down and gathered his thoughts. "I care about for each of you. And while I don't yet understand love, what I do know is that I'm realizing that my feelings are stronger than mere like for each of you." He took a deep breath, "And so I want to ask each of you something." Raising his hands, he attempted to clarify what he was about to say. "I know that what I'm about to ask is different than the social norm, and I want each of you to carefully think what you want, rather when what I or anyone else wants."

Naruto took a deep breath and turned to face each of them, making sure that they knew he was addressing all of them. "Would do me the honor of becoming my girlfriend?"

You could have heard a pin drop.

Naruto waited, attempting to hide his growing worry the best he could. "I've messed everything up, haven't I?"

"Naruto-Sama," Haku gently brought him out of his worry, "Could you come back to the house in ten minutes?" She smiled lovingly at him. "We need to discuss a few things."

Naruto nodded. "I'll be back."

Once he had left the house, Haku turned to Sakura and Hinata. "We discussed this already." There was a faint trace of disapproval in her tone from making Naruto worry.

"I know." Sakura sighed. "But I still hoped…" She averted her eyes from the other two as she worried her lower lip with her teeth. "I...hoped that maybe…"

"That Naruto-Kun would pick just you?" Hinata's voice was calm as she utilized her emotionless mask, "Sakura-Chan," The tiniest bit of empathy leaked into her tone, "Each of us felt that way." The blue haired girl sighed, the motion graceful as always. "But that is not the case. We have to figure out that each of us want for ourselves given the situation before us."

"You're taking this rather well." Sakura pointed out as she attempted to sort through the chaos of her emotions.

"I have already planned for this possibility, given how Naruto treats each of us." Hinata's response was calm and collected.

"I am willing to share Naruto-Sama." Haku spoke up, having come to terms with what she wanted. "I would rather share him then not be close to him at all."

"I am willing to share Naruto-Kun as well." Hinata nodded, "Because I know that he will treat each of us with the same level of care and love."

The two waited on Sakura, knowing she was the one who struggled with letting Naruto be with someone else the most.

"Fuck it." Sakura threw up her hands, "I'll see how this sharing thing goes."

Ten minutes later the door opened. During that time, Naruto had, despite his best efforts otherwise, half convinced himself that he had ruined everything with all three of them.

"Naruto-Kun." Hinata spoke, "Please sit down."

Naruto obeyed the request, sitting down hesitantly, his mind inventing exactly what they would say. His worry increased.

Hinata nodded at the other two girls. Mentally counting to three, they spoke in almost perfect unison, "We will be your girlfriend."

Joy flooded into the Last Uzumaki's system, instantly banishing his misery and worry. "I-I d-dont't know what to say." A few happy tears trickled down his face as complete and utter joy suffused him. "I didn't mess everything up. They still care about me." A moment later he felt three different sets of arms embrace him. Something warmer and stronger than mere care filled him. He didn't know what it was, but he didn't think about it at the moment. He just tried to return the hugs, gathering them up in his arms the best that he could, returning the embrace with all of the emotions he was feeling.

He couldn't imagine anything more perfect than this.

"Hello Inoichi-San." Naruto was serious, drawing on the political training Hinata had been giving him. "Before we begin, I wish to ask you if really want to do this." There was an unidentifiable look in Naruto's eyes. "My mind isn't a nice place, nor are many of my memories."

Inoichi nodded seriously as well. "I'm aware of that. Or at least, I already figured that, given what I have observed." He shook his head. "But I swore an oath to help those who I can with my Clan's expertise. I'm not going to give up just because it's going to get hard." The mind walker took a deep breath. "I already explained what the Kokoro Sanpo jutsu does. We can begin whenever you are ready."

"Do it."

"Kokoro Sanpo."

Drip

Drip

Drip

Inoichi had seen the horrors of war and the horrors of the mind. He had seen the worst of humanity. But nothing, nothing, prepared him for this. Starting up at power manifest, he couldn't help but feel part of himself quail at the sight of the massive demon fox staring down at him.

"Hello Human." The Kyubi glared at the the human who dared to attempt to enter his container's mind, "Do you know why I haven't torn your soul and mind to shreds?"

"My mind and my what?" Inoichi couldn't help the question that slipped out. Less than a second later he cursed himself, "What am I doing? It's the Kyubi! I should be running!" With that thought in mind, the Yamanaka Clan Head closed his eyes and attempted to cut the chakra to the technique. Fear trickled at the back of his brain when he realized that even though he had cut the chakra he was still inside the cage with the Nine-Tailed demon fox.

The Kyubi chuckled, the sound so powerful it was terrifying. "No escape." It grinned, and looked all the more terrible for it. "You cast your soul into my container…" It brought it's muzzle, many times larger than Inoichi, down to the mind walker's level. "And what do you think this seal does?" Chest deep chuckles erupted from it's mouth at the sudden look of dawning horror on Inoichi's face. "That's right. It was designed to hold something infinitely superior to you."

"Now that you know exactly how easy it would be to crush you into dust, you are going to listen." The demon fox leaned slightly forward, prompting Inoichi to take an unconscious step back despite himself. "I despise you." The Nine-Tails' eyes narrowed. "You and all those who grew up loved and cared for while my container grew up with nothing but pain!" The cage trembled with the Fox's momentary rage. "Luckily for all of you misbegotten flesh bags, Naruto has found those who care about him. Friends and Girlfriends."

The massive red eyes flashed. "So what you are going to do is this: You are going to ensure that Naruto, Sakura Haruno, Hinata Hyuga, and Haku are not harmed by your clan." Something terrible choked the air. "If something does happen to any of them, I will turn everything you love into ash."

Inoichi attempted to still the trembling in his hands, knowing that if the Kyubi wanted to, it could crush him into nothing with ease. "W-why do you care about my clan?"

"Because your mind techniques allow no defense. And unlike Naruto, they don't have me to protect them."

"You've encountered the Yamanaka before?" Inoichi was more than slightly concerned. "What has my clan done?"

The Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's smile was full of terrible malice. "Your clan has attempted to control or harm Naruto before. But what they found instead…" A deep horrifyingly powerful chuckle. "Was something far...far worse."

"You killed them didn't you?" It really wasn't a question.

"I am a monster." The Kyubi acknowledged. "Now that I have told you what you will not do, there is one final thing you must experience…" The Kyubi locked eyes with Inoichi. "Experience one memory of my container, mindwalker."

"It hurts." The thought ghosted through Inoichi's head as he clutched his belly, hunger clawing at him. "Why can't I find any food?" Trudging through another alleyway, the blonde child wandered down it, attempting to ignoring the way his tummy tried to eat itself.

Suddenly, like a beam of sunlight, a delicious smell wafted past his nose. Eagerly bounding forward, the child found himself ignoring his well trained sense of caution in favor of silencing the grumbling in his belly. Shoving the trash bag open, the little hands of a three year old dug through the trash, his eyes searching for the wonderful smell.

Giving a cry of joy at the sight of a slightly moldy half-eaten loaf of bread, the small hands clutched the treasure to his chest. Hearing sounds of shouting within, the small boy pushing himself off of the ground and hurried way, ducking the stone that was hurled in his direction. Ignoring the curses directed at him, the small boy quickly ran on, happiness etched in his heart. "I get to eat today!" The thought was comforting.

Tilting his head, Naruto watched Inoichi as he headed out the door. "I wonder why he rushed off?" Considering what the Yamanaka had cast his technique on him in the first place, Naruto wondered if Inoichi was heading off to speak to Tsunade. "I wonder what he saw." While Naruto knew that some not very pleasant things happened in his past, none of it was that bad...

Inoichi hurried towards his home, seeking to banish the feeling of being utter alone that he felt in Naruto's memory. Arriving at home, Inoichi headed inside his home only to freeze at the smell of warm delicious food. The flash of vivid memory of the Naruto's hunger clawed at the Yamanaka, and Inoichi understood then the awful injustice the village had done to the Last Uzumaki.

"Daddy?" Ino popped her head around the corner, "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah." Glancing at his daughter, the Yamanaka understood what he had to do, what he had to make up for. "Everything is fine Princess." He and the village had failed Naruto. How had they slept, warm and fed, when there was a young boy who was protecting them from the Nine-Tails wrath outside, cold and alone?

No more. Inoichi vowed. "Princess?"

"Yes Daddy?"

"Tell Sakura-San, Hinata-San, and Haku-San that I agree to their terms and will speak to Naruto within a few days."

Drawing a small 'x' on the calendar beside his bed, Sasuke rose for the day. Today marked the fifth day in a row that he didn't awake screaming from his nightmares, not that he was keeping count or anything. That would be weakness. And of course, he wasn't grateful or anything to the Yamanaka for sealing the memories Itachi had forced into him.

Today was his day for sparring with Naruto, and Sasuke would not miss it.

"It's been three months since Jiraiya left." Tsunade thought as she looked over the village from her office's room, the village looking splendid in the dull glow of the evening sky, "I have a bad feeling about this." Ignoring the slight urge to somehow bet on the outcome, the Fifth Hokage resolved to remain extra vigilant. Unfortunately, someone had already entered the village, and peace wasn't on his mind.

"You are sleeping peacefully, Little Brother." Itachi frowned as he looked down at his brother, "Why are you sleeping peacefully when your family's killer stands close? Why are you resting when your target of revenge is here? Or have you forgotten me?"

A moment later a Itachi tilted sideways, dodging the kunai that Sasuke hurled even as Sasuke flipped out of his bed. Still in midair, Sasuke shoved lightning chakra into his hand, the signature chirping noise of the Chadori filling the room. "Itachi." Hate dropped from every syllable. Holding himself back from charging, Sasuke tensed his muscles, barely able to stop himself from attacking.

Sasuke's enraged Sharingan met Itachi's indifferent one. "Have you forgotten your parents?" Itachi's voice was indifferent. "Have you forgotten your clan?" He took a step forward. "Have you forgotten your duty?"

"Shut-up." Sasuke flared his chakra, spiking it in the predetermined patterns to indicate a powerful enemy had invaded the village.

"Foolish little brother." Itachi stopped holding back for a moment, flashing forward to grab Sasuke by the neck and slamming him into the wall. "Allow me to help you remember."

"Tokoyami." And with Itachi's words, Sasuke fell back into the the black abyss of hate once again.

"Hold on Sasuke!" Naruto rushed towards the Uchiha compound. Beside him, Sakura, Hinata, and Haku moved with equal speed. While Naruto wasn't exactly Sasuke's friend, he understood a portion of what Sasuke had gone through. And perhaps, the Last Uzumaki thought, the reason Sasuke acted the way he did was because he never got a precious person like Sakura-Chan, Hinata-Chan, or Haku-Chan in his life.

Arriving at the compound, Naruto homed in on the two chakra sources within it. Throwing open the door, Naruto threw five kunai at Itachi instantly as he moved forward. Itachi spun out of the way of the kunai, dropping Sasuke as he had to physically move to avoid being hit.

As soon as Itachi moved away from Sasuke, Hinata's lightning bolt rocketed towards the missing nin. On the heels of the attack, a dozen ice senbon threatened to perforate him if he didn't move or attempted to counter Hinata's lightning attack.

Defying belief, Itachi countered the lightning attack with the same technique, both attacks charged with the exact same amount of chakra. Even as he released the jutsu, he was already twisting out of the way of Haku's ice senbons. Snagging one of the senbons, Itachi used it to block all of the other projectiles with quick, efficient movements.

As the chaos of battle flashed onwards, Sakura blurred over to Sasuke's unresponsive body, her hand already glowing with the diagnostic jutsu. Her green eyes raced over the information. Sasuke was physically fine minus the bruise where he had slammed into the wall. Mentally however, there was quite an alarming amount of REM happening.

Itachi, realizing that Sakura was helping Sasuke, spun the ice senbon and prepared to throw it. Even as it spun in his fingers to the throwing position, a sudden spike of chakra from Haku had him dropping the ice construct. Not even a second after he let go, the construct suddenly grew wicked spikes that would have easily impaled his fingers had he kept holding onto the senbon. Not to be deterred, Itachi drew and threw a shuriken of his own. A blurred of blonde and red intercepted the deadly throwing weapon just after it reached the halfway point to Sakura. Blood dripped from his left palm as Naruto stopped the spinning weapon. The room lit up with a dull red glow as Naruto drew on the Kyubi's chakra.

Opening the palm of his right hand, there was a noise that was a cross between a hungry growl and a high pitched whirring as a brightly glowing stable rasengan spun into being. Itachi's eyes widened ever so slightly. Sensing multiple chakra signatures moving his direction, Itachi couldn't help but frown in annoyance. "This was not how I wanted it to go."

Knowing he couldn't fight Naruto and the ANBU at the same time, Itachi snapped a smoke pellet onto the ground, using the cover of the smoke to use a high-powered shunshin to leave the village. Sensing Itachi's chakra leave the area, Naruto took a deep breath and slowly released his hold on the Kyubi's chakra. The red glow faded from the room, leaving only the harsh blue light of the Rasengan. Cutting chakra to the technique, the room was quiet for the briefest of moments before the ANBU burst onto the scene.

The entire confrontation between Itachi, Naruto, Hinata, Haku, and Sakura only lasted twenty-five seconds.

"Patient shows no signs of awakening." Tsunade wrote onto her chart, "No change. Vitals stable." The blonde haired medic clenched her fist as she remembered what had transpired two days prior. Itachi Uchiha had somehow infiltrated Konoha and assaulted Sasuke. Luckily, Sasuke had remembered to spike his chakra in the distress pattern, and Naruto had quickly come to his aid.

Still, Itachi had used Tokoyami on Sasuke, and who knows what damage it had caused. Sasuke had been quickly brought to the hospital where the slight brain hemorrhage had been healed before it could do any real damage. Psychologically though, they suspected that he would be back to where he was before he got help, if not even worse. But until Sasuke awoke, the Yamanaka wouldn't risk using any of their clan's techniques, given that it may harm Sasuke's mind even more. "Goddamn you Itachi. Why did you have to attack your brother?"

Hate. Sasuke couldn't help himself. He hated his brother more than he thought possible. While he had hated Itachi before, it was a fanciful abstract hate. But now, having caught the briefest glimpse of what his life could have been without his brother killing everything he cared about, Sasuke's hate transformed into a powerful caustic emotion. Snarling, Sasuke slashed the training dummy in the Uchiha grounds. "I thought I had escaped from my past. But I was just fooling myself. Naruto's method of protecting didn't work. Itachi defeated me just as easily as before."

"Sasuke Uchiha." An unfamiliar voice began behind him, "How would you like to be trained to become truly powerful?" Sasuke slowly turned around, about to lambast the voice's owner when he spied the ninja's headband. "Orochimaru-Sama has an offer you will find most interesting…."

Tsunade cursed in her mind as she waited for the last of the Chunin to arrive in her office. "Damn those Uchiha!"

A moment later Kiba arrived, shutting the door behind him. "Listen up." The Fifth Hokage began, the tone in her voice commanding their attention, "Sasuke Uchiha has left the village twelve hours ago. He has left his headband behind." The room stilled. They knew what that meant. A ninja only left their headband behind when they were either going to a spy mission or if they were abandoning the village. Given that Tsunade had called them, it wasn't a mission.

"We do not know all of the details, and given that Sasuke has been deemed mentally unstable due to the recent attack by Itachi Uchiha, we are sending you out to retrieve him." She met each of the Chunins' eyes. "This is why you were promoted. To take on missions that not every ninja could." The Fifth Hokage glanced down at her paperwork. "You leave in ten minutes. Shino Aburame, Kiba Inuzuka, Rock Lee, and Neji Hyuga will be temporarily called Team Seven. Team Eight is still made up of Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Hinata Hyuga. Rock Lee and Neji have been recently field promoted to Chunin. Their performance on this mission will determine if I approve the field promotion." The Fifth paused for a moment before firmly ordering, "Dismissed."

"Naruto." Tsunade softly asked, prompting him to turn around, "Stay safe." Worry filled her eyes. "I've got a bad feeling about this."

"I'll come back." Naruto promised. "I promised not to make Haku-Chan, Sakura-Chan, or Hinata-Chan cry."

The Konoha group was moving towards through their assigned area when a dozen shurikens rocketed towards them. Diving out of the way, the Sasuke Retrieval Team readied themselves. A moment later five ninjas dropped down onto the forest floor, blocking their route forward. Their forehead protectors marked them as ninja from Sound.

"We are looking for Sasuke Uchiha." Naruto took a step forward, "You wouldn't happen to know where he is would you?"

"You won't escape here alive Konoha trash!" One of Sound ninja took a step forward, his bearing and outfit denoting him as the leader of the Sound group. Naruto promptly covered the area with several smoke bombs. He wove his hands through the jutsu to create a small wall made of earth that provided cover from the Sound ninja.

"Kiba." Naruto's mind raced as he attempted to figure out the enemies' strengths, "The ninja that was on the far left. He has faded fang lines on his face like yours. You should be able to predict his attack patterns."

"Leave it to me." Kiba nodded.

"Shino and Neji, the twins standing next to Kiba's target. I'm not sure what skills they have, but between your two different skill sets, you two should be able to take them. Separate them if you can. Twins normally have collaboration techniques."

"We will take care of it." Shino's monotone was determined.

"Sakura-Chan, the large one is yours. His chakra feels slightly like earth chakra. Hinata-Chan, the one with the flute looks to be a genjutsu user." The Last Uzumaki broke his calm mask for a moment. "Stay safe." The words, though simply spoken, carried an emotional weight. The mask came back down. "Lee. You are the fastest. You're with me."

The smoke lifted. "Hmmm..." The leader tapped one of the fang lines on his face, "Wasn't there more of you?" He shrugged. "Oh well. We'll find them when we're done with you lot."

"Gatsuga!" Kiba's voice rang out, signaling the start of the battle between Konoha and Sound. Unfortunately for the Sound ninja, their information on the Konoha nin was woefully out of date...

Charging across the open grassy plane, Naruto wondered how Sakura and Hinata were doing. He had complete confidence in them, but he couldn't help but wonder. Earlier, when they had first met the Sound nin, Naruto had checked the enemy's chakra levels. Sakura and Hinata's chakra levels were close to that of the ninjas they were fighting, so he knew that his girlfriends could take the sound ninja.

A pale-white haired man blurred towards them, his intent obvious. "Go Naruto!" Lee exclaimed, "I will take him." Nodding, Naruto swung wide and shot forward while Lee met the sound ninja head on, preventing him from going after Naruto.

"Move." The white-haired man's voice was emotionless. "You will not stop Orochimaru-Sama's will from being carried out." He held up his hand, bones growing out of it to form a wicked looking blade. "Die for Orochimaru-Sama's will."

Lee dropped into his balanced stance, his hand extended. "I will not die. Not here. Not now." Batting away the arm blade, the combat specialist snapped his fist forward, seeking to end the attack with one blow. Spikes made of chakra infused bone shot out of the ninja's chest. Lee pulled his fist back, narrowly avoiding having it torn to shreds.

Lee focused and blurred. He struck the Sound ninja in a dozen different places, alternating attacks and patterns. But the result was always the same. The bone was always there to take the hit, negating any damage Lee could inflict. In return, the Sound ninja had managed to nick Lee several times. Lee, finally realizing what bloodline the ninja had, leapt backwards to reassess the situation and assess the several dozen wounds he had. The white-haired ninja possessed the Shikotsumyaku, a bloodline that allowed the user to create indestructable bone structures both internally and externally.

Lee considered what he could do. The injuries he had sustained, while not immediately life threatening, would hinder him more and more as the fight went on. A plan birthed itself in his mind. Charging forward, the hand-to-hand combat specialist snapped a kick at the Sound ninja's chest. Once again, none of his attacks did any damage, but that wasn't Lee's goal. He watched as the bloodline user created a solid, impenetrable carapace of indestructible bone.

Planting his back foot firmly on the ground, Lee centered himself. "Breath in."

He blurred forward, his palm flashing towards the direct center of the enemy ninja's chest. "Exhale."

A spike of bone popped out of the Sound ninja's chest, seeking to impale Lee's hand. Lee accepted the pain. The Konoha ninja's palm slammed into the Sound Ninja's chest with a thunderous boom. Outwardly, Lee didn't even scratch the bone-white carapace.

Then Kimimaro, the Sound ninja, felt something wet bubble up in his throat. Blood spilled from his mouth as he staggered back, pain erupting from his chest. Falling to his knees, he couldn't help to but choke out, "What have you done to me?"

"I hit your body with a palm strike. While your bones blocked the damage, it couldn't stop the shock wave from the attack." Lee felt no satisfaction from winning. "The shock wave destroyed your organs."

"I-I'm s-sorry O-Oorchimaru-S-Sama I-I f-f-failed you." Kimimaro choked out amidst the blood. The bloodline user went still.

"Stay safe everyone." Naruto moved onwards. Roughly ten minutes later, the Last Uzumaki spotted a canyon. Valley of the End was its name if Naruto recalled correctly. Glancing at the statues that bookended the waterfall on one side of the valley, the Last Uzumaki noted that one statue was of Hashirama Senju and the statue opposite the First Hokage, the legendary traitor Madara Uchiha.

Naruto arrived at the edge of the canyon, peering down into it. Spotting Sasuke standing on the far side of the valley floor, he called out, "Sasuke! What are you doing?"

"I'm leaving Konoha." Sasuke replied, his voice oddly quiet. "Orochimaru has promised to train me so I may be strong enough to kill Itachi."

Naruto quickly made his way down to the canyon bottom. Across the wide body of water stood Sasuke. "Orochimaru is a bad guy!" Naruto attempted to get through to Sasuke, "He kills innocent people. He's just using you for some plan."

"Don't you think I know that?" Sasuke snarled, frustrated. "But as long as I become powerful enough to kill Itachi, I don't care." His eyes drifted away from Naruto, as if seeing something only he could see. "I'm going insane you know." His voice was distant. "I was slowly losing my mind before, but after Itachi did something to me, I can feel myself slipping away." The Last Uchiha suddenly pressed his fingers harshly into his temples. "The voices of the dead won't leave me alone! They scream for vengeance! I hallucinate Itachi whenever I'm awake and I see my parents dying everytime I close my eyes!"

"We can help you." Naruto extended his hand as he implored, "Just trust me. We can find a way to make you strong enough to face Itachi."

"I wish I could believe that." The words were soft. "I wish that I trusted someone enough to believe." He swiped the lone tear away. "But all I have is my hate." Bringing himself out of his emotions, Sasuke dropped into his combat stance. "Fight me. Fight me with everything you have. I have to prove that all of those years of hate were not wasted." Chakra spiked to his eyes, activating the Sharingan. "I need to prove that I haven't wasted everything I have on hate."

"I will come at you with everything I have but I'm not going to try to kill you." Naruto understood what Sasuke was trying to say. Sasuke needed to know that everything he had done and everything he had sacrificed mattered. "Ready yourself." He would not disrespect Sasuke's decision, no matter how wrong it was.

The wind blew across the water. Sasuke cycled chakra through his limbs, knowing that this fight would define his path for years to come. "Ready." Naruto blurred forward.

Sasuke had thought he was a match for Naruto, that his hate would give him the necessary edge to win. He thought that Naruto had always been holding back slightly. He was wrong. Naruto was far beyond his skill level. Blows came faster than Sasuke could block, and soon he found himself driven to the canyon wall, unable to retreat any farther. Sasuke was at a loss. He had focused on his hate and it wasn't enough. He had focused on his eyes and it wasn't enough. Nothing he did was enough. A sudden pulse of power and energy shot through him from the Cursed Seal. Sasuke resisted.

Naruto moved closer, reading the final knockout blow.

"This can't end here!" The Curse Seal pulsed.

" I have to win!" The Seal pulsed again.

" I will be lost otherwise!" The Seal promised power, power enough to win. All he had to do was give in.

"Ready yourself Sasuke." Naruto warned, giving Sasuke time to gather himself, to redeem his pride.

Another pulse from the Cursed Seal. "I hate…"

Sasuke gave in.

Instantly dark, vile chakra exploded out of the Last Uchiha. Power, intoxicating power, flowed through his veins. "Yes…" Sasuke felt his mind sharpen, even as the heady sensation of hate flowed through him, "...this is what I was waiting for!"

Naruto hesitated, shocked at the sight of Sasuke giving into the seal. He had thought Sasuke was better than that. And that hesitation nearly cost the Last Uzumaki everything.

Pushing the new and corrupted power to his legs, Sasuke blurred forward, his hands automatically making the handsigns for a very specific jutsu. "Five Pronged Seal!" His hand slammed into Naruto's stomach.

Naruto staggered back, feeling his gathered chakra dissipate. Instantly bringing his hand forward to grasp his left wrist with his right hand, searching for the release seal so he could gather enough chakra to release the Five Pronged Seal. He almost made it.

The Chidori surged with more power than Sasuke intended as he shot forward, aiming for the center of Naruto's chest. "I'm going to win!" A sense of satisfaction filled him. The Uchiha thrust the black-edged assassination jutsu forward. Blood splattered the ground. With a wet squelch, Sasuke pulled his hand free of Naruto's chest. The Last Uzumaki hit the ground with a meaty thud.

"I-I won." Sasuke felt elation and the rush of victory. "I finally won!" Something warm brushed his sandal. Glancing down, Sasuke tilted his head at all of the blood slowly covering the ground. "Naruto?" Sasuke couldn't help but point out, "I won. You're supposed to acknowledge that." The blonde didn't move or respond. "Uzumaki." Sasuke's voice was sharp, "I said I won." Something tickled at the back of his mind. Ignoring it, Sasuke leaned a bit closer to the silent blonde.

"I didn't hit you that hard." Sasuke didn't take the time to identify the emotion that started welling up in him, "This isn't a funny joke." The Last Uzumaki didn't flinch. "Wake up!"

Memories of exactly what he had done broke free of their bloodthirsty tint, shooting into the forefront Sasuke's mind. "D-Did I d-do that?" The memory of his hand impaling Naruto, flashed through him. The dark satisfaction that he had felt before now sickened him. "No." Sasuke dropped to his knees, ignoring how Naruto's blood stained his clothes, "You're fine." Sasuke felt panic edge at him. Moving his hands though the hand signs for the Mystical Palm technique, Sasuke held his bloodstained hands over the gaping wound on Naruto's chest, shoving every ounce of chakra he had into the technique. He cursed, realizing he didn't know the counter seal of the Five Pronged Seal.

The blood slowly stopped pouring out of the blonde's chest, but the wound wouldn't close. Only now did he remember Kakashi's words of warning.

"...Just because you can instantly learn a jutsu by watching the hand signs with the Sharingan, doesn't mean you mastered it."

"No!" Sasuke watched the green glow on his hands grow dim as his chakra began to run out, "You can't die!" The glow died out. "You're Naruto Uzumaki!" The Last Uzumaki didn't move or respond. Looking at Naruto's pale waxen face, Sasuke staggered back, the sound of the blood sloshing on the ground sounding thunderous. The iron smell of blood choked him. Any sense of victory turned to ash. "Don't go." It was a whisper, a plea from one orphan to another. "Don't leave me alone."

Naruto didn't respond. Rising slowly, Sasuke began the long trudge away from the valley, feeling more alone than he ever had. Hate, choking and terrible rose in him again. But this time it wasn't for someone else. This time he hated himself.

Kakashi blurred across the ground, moving so quickly that even his surroundings meshed together to his eyes. He had been too late to save his Father. He had been too late to save Obito. He had been late to save Rin. He had been too late to save Minato. He had been too late to save Kushina. "Please," The grey haired ninja desperately prayed, "Don't let me be too late this time!"

Hurling himself off of the cliff, he rapidly expelled his chakra in controlled bursts, increasing the distance of his jump. Making it to the opposite side, he blurred down the canyon wall, skidding to a stop in front of Naruto's body. The Jonin part of him reminded Kakashi that he could still catch Sasuke, but that part of him was easily ignored. Gathering Naruto up in his arms with all of the tenderness he possessed, Kakashi blurred back towards Konoha, keeping the warm green glow of the Mystical Palm hovering over Naruto's chest. "Please don't let me be too late!"

It was nothing but chaos in the hospital as Kakashi crashed through the front doors, not even taking the time to open them. Spinning to take the blow on his back, the glass shattered as the rapidly moving Jonin slammed into them. Spinning once again, he blurred off towards the Critical Care Exam Rooms. Not even a few moments later, Sakura, Hinata, and Haku arrived on the scene, zeroing in on their love's dim and flickering chakra.

Tsunade had thought she had felt horror before. She thought her world had dropped out from under her when she failed to save Dan's life all those years ago. All those emotions paled in comparison to what she felt now as she stared at Naruto's blood covered form. Feeling herself freeze at the sight of all of the blood, she felt the helpless numbness creep over her limbs as her hemophobia kicked in. "No." The numbness froze. "I will not stand idly by while my godson dies."

The Legendary Healer stepped forward, brilliant green suffusing her form. "You will not die Naruto!"

With a thunderous crash the Kyubi hurled itself at the cage door once again. "Let me out you stupid seal!" The roar shook the mindscape. "Naruto is dying!" Hurling itself at the cage yet again, the Nine-Tails cursed Minato for creating such a powerful seal. "Break damn you!"

Then, as the Demon Fox gathered itself for another run at the cage door, it noticed one of the symbols on the seal holding him inside Naruto move. Peering closer, he watched the seal slowly start to adjust, seemingly modifying itself to get around the Five Pronged Seal. Taking a step forward, the Kyubi froze as it watched the seal freeze when his chakra presence moved closer. "Minato…" It breathed, "You brillant flesh bag…" Drawing all of it's chakra to the far back corner of the cage, it fixed it's eyes on the seal, watching the symbols rearrange themselves with mind crushing slowness.

Tsunade hands were but a blur and her mind was calm, her training not allowing her to panic as she hooked up another blood bag to her godson. "Why aren't you healing?" Naruto's heart had stopped twice already, and Tsunade had brought him back each time. Blurring her hands over his heart once again, she sent a jolt of healing chakra through Naruto's system. Tears mixed with sweat on her face. "You will not die!"

Tsunade felt Naruto's body shudder, attempting to keep going despite all of the damage it had taken. Sasuke's attack had torn directly through Naruto's chest, punching a hole in his left lung and nearly slicing his heart in half. Despite the attack would have killed anyone else instantly, Naruto fought on.

Then it happened. The shrill alarm of the heart rate monitor rang out. "No!" Tsunade's hands had never moved faster as she alternated between administering CPR and attempting to shock her godson back to life. "You will not die!"

"Clear!" Naruto's body jerked, but didn't respond.

"Clear!" The shrill alarm continued.

"Clear!" Tsunade couldn't stop the helpless tears.

For ten minutes she fought for her godson, and for ten minutes he didn't respond. Staggering back, Tsunade attempted to think of something, anything to save her godson. She could think of nothing.

The final symbol shifted, finally negating the Five Pronged. The Kyubi surged forward, shoving every ounce of it's chakra that could pass through the cage towards his container. "Hold on Naruto!"

Now aware of his container's condition, the Kyubi couldn't but snarl in defiance. "No." Naruto was his friend. "You will not die." Living without his friend was unthinkable. "I refuse to allow it." Wrapping it's essence around the tiny flickering defiant embers of life that was his container, the Kyubi surged every bit of chakra it had, tying itself to Naruto. While Naruto would remain human, they would be bound now forever. If Naruto died, so too would the Kyubi, if it could die. It didn't care.

On that day, the Kyubi no Kitsune defied death itself.

Tsunade moved forward yet again, to try something, anything, to save her godson. Then, with a near apocalyptic level of chakra, the red chakra of the Kyubi burst forth from Naruto's seal. The caustic chakra wrapped the Last Uzumaki in a cocoon, the action almost seeming tender. Tsunade watched Naruto's chest wound instantly heal, as if time reversed itself. A moment later the chakra surged to higher levels, increasing to a blinding brightness.

A moment later it was over. The red chakra unwound itself from it's host and sucked back inside the seal.

Naruto Uzumaki breathed once more.

So what did you guys think? Drop a review and let me know.

As far as the fights go, I didn't go into detail for them for two reasons. First, fight choreography takes quite a bit of time for me to figure out, and that would have pushed this chapter's release past the 25th. Secondly, the fight scenes would have increased the chapter length by a significant amount.

However, given that some of you guys like reading fight scenes, I'm going make an offer. I put up a poll to see if you guys still want the fight scenes in a separate fic. This fic will be only fight scenes that, for whatever reason, don't make it to the final draft. But I'm not planning on skipping most fights, so it would be only used for instances like this chapter. Again, I'm not planning on cutting fight scenes from HotE.

And in case anyone missed it, Naruto's not dying. The Kyubi saved him. In addition, Naruto's still human. He just has a much closer link to the Kyubi now.

To my reviewers' direct questions:

Vanishing Raptor: I'll be skipping the dates that don't farther their relationship. And given that their relationship won't have another jump until the three year time skip, dates are going to be mentioned, but not written out.

Animaman: Sasuke has currently left the village, but who knows what the future will hold. As far as Karin goes...just wait and see. The council is just starting to realize how badly they messed up, albit off screen.

Antex-The-Legendary Zoroark: While I can't directly spoil what's going to happen to Sasuke, what I can say is that sometimes you need to hit the bottom before you can start climbing back up. And Sasuke hit the bottom this chapter. As far as the Akatsuki go, they are going to have a tougher time, given that Jiraiya and Naruto are going to be much more proactive in stopping them. And yes, something very big and epic is going to go down during that arc. I've been planning that arc for several months now.

Mushroom of Doom: Up until the end of this chapter, normally Naruto could only communicate with the Kyubi whenever he had the Kyubi's chakra in his system and was either sleeping or unconscious. Given that Naruto was warned to not leak the Kyubi's chakra close to the village, he could only gather and hold a tiny bit of the Kyubi's chakra each day. However, let's just say that Naruto's link with the Kyubi is quite a bit closer now, given the ending of this chapter.