Reviewer Shout-Outs: The Unapologetic and Sherryfanfic1999. Thank you both for reviewing the last chapter. I hope you guys like this one as well.
I would also like to give a special shout-out to Icequeen III for reaching out to me. I really appreciate our talk and hope to hear from you again soon.
As a side note, don't forget that any of you can drop me a message anytime. I love hearing from you guys. It doesn't have to be about my fanfictions either. I love helping and talking to people. I get excited when I see a message from you guys. So, please feel free to drop me a message anytime and we can chit chat about literally anything. My messenger is always open.
With love,
Badbutt94
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Chapter 25: Declaration
Normal P.O.V.
Morning came quicker than Naruto is willing to agree with. Bright rays of sunshine peak through his still curtains. The blond fox slowly sits up and stretches the muscles and kinks in his upper torso and back. Sighing contently, he swings his legs over and stands up to work out his legs. However, by standing up too fast, Naruto has to rebalance himself due to the weight of his heavy four tails.
"Damn, I'm still not used to their weight yet,"
"You will in due time,"
"Oh yeah? You've had them your whole life. Of course, you're used to them, dad. An unfair advantage if you ask me,"
"Well excuse me for having an "unfair" advantage. I can't help it,"
"Yeah, whatever," Naruto grumbles as he walks to the bathroom.
He flicks the light on, slightly hissing at the brightness of said light, before looking at himself in the mirror. Dull azure eyes squint as they focus on the image in front of them. Clawed hands smack tan, scarred cheeks before pulling on them. He plays with his cheeks, taps his strong chin and smirk at the few tuffs of blond hairs peeking out, and tries to massage the bags from under his eyes.
"We get it, you're a pretty princess. Now stop admiring yourself in the mirror,"
"Princess? Excuse me? I am a handsome king, not a pretty princess,"
"Oh, that's right. Please forgive me, son. Sasuke was the princess. You know how foggy my brain can be first thing in the morning," Kurama chuckles to himself, especially when he feels a vein pulsing in Naruto's right temple.
"Keep playing and I'm going to tell Sasuke you think he's a pretty princess,"
"Oh yeah? And what is the Uchiha brat gonna do? Paint my claws? Yell at me? Please, I've eating scarier things than him,"
"He has the Mangekyō Sharingan now, ya know? I'm pretty sure he could think of a few ways to torcher you," Naruto chuckles, making Kurama glare hard.
"You wouldn't dare,"
"I would. I think it'll be fun a fun experience for you. I'll make sure to lock the memory away for blackmail later too,"
Naruto gives a hardy laugh as he strips himself of his sweat pants and boxers after turning on the hot water and letting it run for a little while.
"You brat! You dare threaten your father?! I'll make sure to open the gates of hell and~"
"Drag me down there, drop me off to Satan himself after parading my body through the Nine Levels of Hell, making sure I experience every level at a slow and agonizing pace so that I beg for only you to save me. Ya dad, heard it a million and one times already,"
"I'll do it, ya know,"
"Yes, I believe you. You know, I often think of you as that parent that would scare all the kids away, so no one would date or come near me. It's sweet, but also frightening and annoying,"
"I only do it to annoy and protect you. Mostly annoy though,"
Naruto rolls his eyes as he slips into the shower, purring in pleasure as the hot water hits his skin. He uses the shampoo and soap to wash his hair and body. Naruto knows that he should rush to make it to the meeting on time, but it is rare that he gets to enjoy a shower like this. Why not indulge himself. After a while of standing in the shower and letting the water wash over him, Naruto got an idea.
"Hey, question," Inside of him, Kurama is laying down with his eyes closed and his nine tails curling into his right side. When Naruto calls out to him, Kurama opens one eye to let Naruto know he's listening. "Sasuke is still my mate, right? Even though we haven't mated recently or are around each other constantly?"
"Yes. Once you mark a mate and they mark you in return, you stay mated until one of you die,"
"Ok, so as my mate that means that he's your mate too, right?"
"I don't like thinking about it like that, but sure? Where are you going with this, kit?"
"I was thinking. That "Tobi" guy from last night said that Sasuke and his team were on their way here, right? So, I was thinking that if I have you search for our bond while I play attention to the meeting, then we can catch him before he does too much damage and we can end this right here,"
"You want to capture him here?"
"Why not? This is one of the few times he's coming to me. He may not know I'm here, so we may be able to catch him off guard and bring him back without chasing him all over the countries,"
"Hn. I don't know kit. You know better than anyone how stubborn he can be. What if this doesn't work?"
"It has to. I'm running out of options here, dad. I mean, that plan I told you about last night is kind of my last resort. If that doesn't work… then I don't know what else to do,"
"Well, let's hope it doesn't come to THAT. But, if this is what you want, then I will help you. Just know I DO NOT approve of any of this plan of yours. But I will help in any way I can,"
"Thanks dad. I won't let you down,"
"I know you won't. Now hurry up, I'm pretty sure they're waiting on you at the meeting,"
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Naruto arrives at the meeting about ten minutes late. He gives the door a few knocks before entering. Naruto gives a nervous laugh when Tsunade greets him with an annoyed, hungover glare.
"You're late, brat. We've been waiting,"
"I know, I'm sorry grandma,"
Tsunade sighs as she pinches the bridge of her nose and sits up straight. "Well, you're here now, let's get started,"
Ōnoki nods before starting the meeting, "Mr. Naruto Uzumaki, we five Kage have thought over your willingness to sacrifice yourself for the young Uchiha and have come to a final decision," Naruto takes a few steps until he is standing at the center of the u-shaped table. His jaw is clenching tightly at the tension in the room. He looks around to see the five Kages, Kiba's team, all the Kage's other escorts a glaring Danzo, a bored Kakashi, and an interested Neji observing him. "We have decided to grant your request. We will hold you personally responsible for the capture of Sasuke Uchiha and if you should fail, both of you will be executed. Do you understand and accept these conditions?"
Letting out a shaky breath, Naruto nods. "I do understand and accept your conditions. However, I do have a question. When I do capture Sasuke and return him to Konoha, what is to be his punishment?"
This time, A is the one to spoke. "We have decided that since both of you were or are Leaf nin that Lady Tsunade will be responsible for his punishment and your execution,"
"With that being said, Naruto," Tsunade chimes in, "Sasuke will still be considered a Missing-nin and once you do bring him back to the village, I will review over his case, all the circumstances, and decide his punishment from there. So, for right now, we are playing his punishment by ear and will all depend on what is occurring at that moment. That will be my final say about this. Come, take a seat behind me, we have other issues to discuss,"
Naruto nods a final time before moving to sit behind Tsunade and next to Kakashi. In the background, Naruto drowns out the Kage's voices in favor of Kakashi's compliment. The bored shinobi places his free hand on Naruto's shoulder while his other holds his book.
"You have made me proud, Naruto,"
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei,"
After a while, Naruto can feel himself drifting off to sleep. Meeting like this always made Naruto drowsy, even though he knows that he'll be in that seat someday. However, right now, all Naruto wants to do is take a little nap.
"BOY! WAKE UP! YOUR MATE IS HERE WITH COMPANY!"
"Are you sure?"
"Look, I have to be there when you have to fuck that man, so I think I can recognize his scent anywhere. It's show time, kit,"
With this information, Naruto leans forward to tap on Tsunade's shoulder.
"Grandma,"
"What is it Naruto, can't you see we're busy?" Tsunade whispers harshly.
"Sasuke's here,"
"What?!" was all Tsunade had time to say before the building started to rumble.
"What's going on?!" Ōnoki shouts.
Everyone rises to their feet as the building keeps shaking. They brace themselves, gripping anything and anyone they can to keep themselves steady. After a few minutes of this, the building finally stops. Cautiously, everyone looks around while slowly standing up. Naruto, being the first to move, makes his way to the door and throws it open. His steps are slow, he looks around, crouches low to the ground, and sniffs the air for his mate; his tails following the movements of his body.
"Where are you, Sasuke?" Naruto closes his eyes and tries to focus on their bond. A slight shift of distress manifests itself when Sasuke feels his mate looking for him too.
"Everyone! Outside!" the blond fax yells as he leads the way to his mate and their enemies.
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When everyone reaches outside in their winter wear, Naruto uses Kurama's chakra to keep himself warm, they are shocked at who they realize they're facing.
"So, these are the current Kages of the hidden villages? Pathetic. How the mighty have fallen,"
Standing in front of them are Sasuke, his team: Taka, the masked man Naruto met with last night: Tobi, and a tall, menacing man with black, feline appendages and piercing Sharingan eyes.
"It's can't be…" Tsunade whispers as she steps forward in shock and devastation. "How… how… HOW ARE YOU ALIVE?!"
"It's good to see you too, young Tsunade. You've grown into such a beauty. Looking more and more like your grandfather,"
"Madara… how dare you stand before us with this superior attitude! How dare you even be alive!"
"That will have to be a story for another day, dear Slug Queen. I only came for one thing: your Jinchūriki. The Akatsuki demands your Jinchūriki," Madara declares.
"What do you want with them?" Mei asks.
"We plan on using them to create our own peace. The world you have created is flawed and I plan on fixing it. We will create a perfect world and rule it with an iron fist. But to do that, I'll be taking your three demons there,"
"Madara, we will not allow you to disrupt our meeting with these ridiculous demands! You will have to go through us first," Ōnoki glares.
Everyone readies themselves for the fight. Naruto crouches low to the ground again, his red chakra flowing over his body and tails. The blond fox lets some of his alpha aura out to try and get his mate to submit. Sasuke's body trembles as he feels Naruto's aura enter his senses. Trying to fight his omega's instinct to submit, Sasuke struggles while letting out small whines.
"Are you ok, Sasuke-kun?" Karin asks quietly.
"No. I have to leave," he answers, looking for anyway to escape.
"I can see you trembling, Sasuke. Just submit to me and we can end this,"
"Using your alpha aura against me? I never thought I would see you sink so slow,"
"You know I don't like doing this. You know I love you too much to make you like this. But, I can't lose you, Sasuke. They're going to kill you if you don't come with me. Please Sasuke, don't make this harder than it needs to be,"
"I'm not leaving until I have had my revenge on the people who have wronged Itachi, our clan and me! I will destroy Konoha! I don't want to hurt you Naruto, but if you remain in my way, I will kill you,"
Naruto sighs harshly, making his cold breath manifest itself, as he stands up calmly. "You were always so stubborn. You're really going to make me come after, huh?"
"Let's see if you can keep up,"
Before anyone could say anything, Sasuke takes off running towards the village's entrance. His team follows close behind him, shouting his name the whole way. Madara and Tobi stands in silence as they watch the members of their party separate from them.
"Stop him! We can't let Uchiha or his team escape!" Ōnoki shouts with his fist in the air.
"Kiba, Hinata, Shino, Akamaru with me. We're going after them," Naruto commands.
"Do you need me to go too?" Kakashi asks nonchalantly.
"No. I'll take care of Sasuke from here. He is my responsibility after all," the blond fox smirks.
Naruto, wait," Tsunade calls out. She walks over to Naruto and wraps her arms tightly around his body. "Come back home safely, squirt," she whispers.
"I will,"
He gently pulls away from her before taking off with Team 10 after Taka.
"Hn. This should be interesting," Tobi chuckles.
"Indeed. Let's see how this plays out,"
"Now, to deal with you," Tsunade smirks as she slams her fist into her left palm.
"Sorry but looks like we have to go. We won't be fighting you today," Tobi says with his hands up.
"Well will just see you on the battle field. We Uchiha declare war on all the nations. Be ready leaders of the shinobi world. We will show no mercy. We will win. And, we will begin a new world of peace birth from your destruction,"
And with that, the last two oldest Uchihas disappear in a cloud of gray ash. Everyone gives a sigh of relief. Avoiding a battle, they are not ready for has saved them this day. However, something Madara said dances in the back of their minds.
"What did he mean by "Uchihas"?"