A/N: The war begins, some things will feel familiar, but I am definitely making changes and some will be noticeable. I won't cover everything like cannon but anything I skip just assume it happens the same. Look for an ellipsis in the center of the page, on such occasions, I won't go crazy with these but it will save me from having to worry about a lot of the fights and things that were mostly done for nostalgia.
Naruto stood just behind listing to Gara speak to the entirety of the Allied Shinobi Forces, his words put a steady end to the anger and distrust among the troops. It was strange after all the preparation and struggle here they stood, set to fight for the future of the entire world, for reality itself…
"I know you're nervous, but where you go I go, no matter what, okay?" Sakura whispered, squeezing Naruto's hand, as they stood together.
Sakura was strangely calm, despite not knowing what they were going to face in the war. True to her word she put several wood clones amongst the troops—one for each company, leaving her real self free to stay by Naruto's side.
He whispered. "Sakura, aren't you worried about your wood clones disappearing?"
Sakura assured. "My Chakra control means a lot of different things, for instance, my wood clones don't disappear easily.
"I was never good at that," Naruto admitted.
"That's okay Naruto, between the two of us your ninjutsu is better." She praised. "It looks like Gara is finished rallying everyone." Sakura was filled with anticipation, but Naruto was still anxious.
Moving out at Gara's order the Allied Forces departed, going where they were needed based on information gathered by intelligence and those in command back at headquarters...
Kakashi, in command of the third division, is surprised to see that both Naruto and Sakura insist on sticking right by his side.
He was blunt "You two should be with the less experienced ninja in this division, I don't need protecting."
"I knew you would say that, I have wood clones in every company," Sakura said just as bluntly.
"I do too, not wood obviously but shadow clones. The point is you're stuck with us, ya know!" Naruto grinned at his first squad leader.
"Clones won't be able to move fast enough to save someone in a dire situation." He said seriously.
"Why do you think I had you explain Flying Rajin to me!" Naruto said with an eager smile.
"It doesn't matter how good you have gotten with flying rajin you can only move instantly— "
"When there's something marked with my dad's technique formula, I know how the jutsu works." Naruto cut in dismissively.
"Are you telling me that you gave eighty thousand ninja marked kunai?" Kakashi asked, despite the absurdity in his voice.
"Of course not that's impossible—I'm the one that he marked, it was my idea." Sakura said with a serious tone.
"Your idea…" Kakashi's thoughts raced now. "Sakura's got to know that the mark never disappears —why unless… is their chakra really sufficient enough for that…? "Hmmm," Kakashi smiled. "Since you both have clones and Sakura's marked, you as a duo of clones will be able to transport just about anywhere amongst the Allied Forces. That's quite ingenious, the two of you are my peer and my equals now if haven't realized that yet, I am proud of you both." It was the truth, he had never been more impressed or proud of his former students.
"Thank you but you are the leader here so you just tell us what to do," Naruto said.
"The third company is supposed to defend the border of Land of Frost based the enemy war strategy." Shortly after crossing the border of the Land of Frost, the sky lit red some distance away. "A flair… Part of the surprise attack division is in that direction, let's go!" Kakashi said hastily.
When they arrived to help, Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura were shocked to learn tthe culprit of the attack.
"No way…" Sakura said anxiously.
"That's the executioner's blade, that means… " Kakashi trailed off.
"Zabuza and Haku, we watched them die years ago, it was our first mission." Naruto said in confusion.
Zabuza Momochi had just killed several ninja with one swipe of his blade, he was amused. "Those voices, it figures the three of you would be here. Look who it is Haku."
"There were four of them, the boy who saved Naruto by standing in front of my attack, did he die?" Haku asked.
"Sasuke is alive, the better question is how are you too alive?" Kakashi asked calmly.
"We have no idea, but it's clear that someone is using our powers as tools of war." Haku said evenly.
"I suppose there is no greater irony in that, given how I treated Haku when we were alive." Zabuza laughed bitterly.
"I served you, willingly," Haku said.
"I don't appreciate being brought back from the dead just to kill." Zabuza was angry that his free will was being stripped away.
"Your loyalty was always admirable Haku," Kakashi said somberly.
"Thank you, Kakashi. We have no desire to fight you but tools of war do not get to choose how they are used on the battlefield." Haku frowned.
"I certainly have no desire to kill you three but I don't think I have a choice this time, I can't control my body." Zabuza was clearly annoyed.
"Yes, it appears you will have to stop us again." Haku smiled.
"Is there anything you remember about who brought you back from the dead?" Kakashi asked.
Neither of them ever had the chance to answer, both seemed to be fighting to hold their sanity.
"My head—Kakashi you must stop us!" Zabuza warned.
"It appears the time for talking is over, I hope that you all are much stronger, I can feel my mind slipping away entirely." Haku said.
The other members of the allied forces were shocked that Kakashi knew these seemingly ruthless enemies but Kakashi ignored their surprise and hastily issued orders. "Don't hold back against them, they possess extremely powerful Kekkei Genkai; Naruto, Sakura with me!"
Mist shrouded the surrounding area, forcing Kakashi used a defensive strategy. Many of the inexperienced ninjas began to panic or freeze from fear.
"I will handle Zaubuza!" Kakashi said hastily.
"We'll handle Haku," Sakura said.
...
"Thanks to the gold and silver brothers we're getting hit pretty hard here, what a drag." Shikamaru said more to himself than anyone else.
"They have to be sealed but we will never get close enough at this rate, it is too dangerous given they have a decent amount of the nine tails chakra." Darui said anxiously.
Naruto appeared suddenly, along with Sakura, shocking everyone. "Not yet, I knew that I felt the nine-tails chakra much earlier, it's what made me realize that the war already started."
"Those are the brainless oafs from years ago who ate my stomach lining when I swallowed them whole, so you better get back the chakra that dumb and dumber stole from me or I'll take over your body for good!" The fox demanded angrily.
"You must really hate them!" Naruto said suppressing a smirk.
"Naruto I can't stand the idea that anyone who can hardly string words together has my power. You at least have brain cells even if you don't use them as much as you should." The fox said smugly.
"Naruto and Sakura! What are you doing here?" Shikamaru asked almost incredulously.
"Taking the chakra of those brutes, they stole it from the nine tails after all!" Naruto said seriously.
"Since when can you take chakra?" Shikamaru said with shock.
"No, only the nine tails—that's how I can took his chakra, he's been in my body since the day I was born, but enough about that I can't get distracted now." He was very serious. "Sakura if they are as powerful as headquarters says then— "
"Yeah I know," Sakura assured him.
Darui explained quickly. "Wait, you have to be careful about the Benihisago and your spirit word. If it's ripped from your body then whatever you've said the most in your life will leave you sealed away, and so will prolonged silence."
"Right, got it!" He nodded.
Though he still had questions, Shikamaru recognized they would have to wait. The gold and silver brothers were irritated at the new arrivals and targeted Naruto and Sakura, which actually kept them distracted from attacking anyone else within the rest of the First Division of the Allied Forces…
Naruto quickly recognized that the gold and silver brothers were powerful but slow, which gave him an idea.
"Sakura surround them!" Naruto said seriously.
"That huh, alright." She said with a casual smile, she knew what Naruto was going to do.
Sakura made several wood clones surrounding the brothers who were triple her size, waiting for them to attack her.
"Why would Sakura of all people bait barbarians like these into attacking her…?" Shikamarau wondered quietly under his breath.
In an instant Sakura punched both brothers with crushing force, enraging them to enter a tailed beast state. Naruto wasn't even sure if this would work but he knew that such powerful chakra had to be separated from ill hosts. Nobody watching things unfold knew what was happening except Shikamaru but even he was nervous.
"I can't decide if this is a smart or stupid idea." He said quietly.
"Your turn Naruto, grab their chakra so the sealing battalion can seal these guys away." Sakura said.
Naruto transported himself to the real Sakura using the marking on her back. "Thanks for getting them into tailed beast state, mind keeping one of them occupied? I doubt that I can take their chakra at the same time."
Sakura was seriously determined. "Yeah, I was going to save this for later but there are no style points in war!"
"That symbol on your forehead, it's just like Granny Tsunade!" Naruto said in surprise.
"Yeah I am at full capacity now and I won't even have to waste any of my chakra on youthful appearance, which means more power." Sakura was almost smug.
"Good, they are definitely angry ya know!" " Naruto said anxiously.
Just then Naruto felt an incredible force sucking him inward towards the gourd…
"Damnit when did he get cursed I to him to be carful he only has a few seconds before he's sealed— " Darui stopped abruptly All of the sudden Naruto vanished on the spot. "He can move that fast fast enough to escape being sealed inside the gourd!" Darui couldn't believe that the Raikage's story—that his encounter with the Fourth Hokage was true.
Sakura was busy fighting off the other of the gold and silver brothers and was completely unfazed by Naruto's sudden reappearance at her back.
"Good the thing you've been practicing." She grinned.
"Flying Rajin, I didn't think that would work." He admitted anxiously.
Everyone watched as Naruto and Sakura fought Kinkaku and Ginkaku on the battlefield.
Darui was impressed. "So that's flying rajin, the technique the fourth Hokage mastered to out-speed A, and it looks like it's fast enough to escape the sealing power of the Benihisago."
Sakura quickly found out how difficult being a distraction was, especially when dealing with the nine-tails chakra.
She sighed. "They are just destroying with every punch and if they use tailed beast bombs it could devastate the entire area. I need to restrain this one until Naruto can take the nine tails chakra, once it's gone from both of them they will be easier to deal with. I can't just dodge this time: Wood release Smothering Binding Technique!"
Sakura's arms erupted into numerous wood tendrils that captured Ginkaku easily thanks to his lack of speed.
Elsewhere Naruto was preoccupied with Kinkaku "Man I really need to learn some kind of restraining jutsu, this guy won't stop!" Naruto heard the commotion and knew instinctively he could switch places with Sakura now. "That's definitely Sakura's wood release—hey someone take over while I go deal with his brother!"
Darui, Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji all rushed to contain Kinkaku while Naruto rejoined Sakura who couldn't help her amusement.
"Hi there." She said.
"How long can you keep him restrained?" He asked casually.
"As long as you need, Naruto," Sakura assured him confidently.
"Here goes nothing!" He said.
Naruto thought that having the nine tails inside of him would make taking that specific chakra from an outside source—in this case another person much easier, it wasn't. Ginkaku was fighting tooth and nail to escape his bonds and this version of the tailed beast psyche plane was a pit of rage and despair, the volatile chakra was inescapable.
"Looks like I need to use my new chakra mode!" He said.
Protected by the flaming orange cloak of chakra that seemed to be a fusion of his own chakra and the nine-tails chakra, Naruto was able to absorb the nine-tails stole chakra from Ginkau. Kinkaku was furious at his brother's captivity and transformed into a tailed beast state too.
"Naruto, there is no way we can hold him back if he is like this!" Shikamaru shouted.
"Hang on Shikamuru we'll switch." Naruto said quickly.
Sakura was quick to remind him. "Naruto, you can't go anywhere, we only got here because you switched places with other clones miles away!" She was serious.
"Then what do I do?" He asked anxiously.
"I hope you can throw a marked kunai far— "
Terrorized screams drew Naruto and Sakura's attention quite a distance away, Darui and Shikamru could be heard telling all others to run…
"I thought only actual tailed beast's could launch those chakra bombs?"
"Uh oh, that's not good!" Sakura said swallowing her anxiety. "NARUTO, THROW ME OVER THERE NOW!"
"What but I would have to create even more shadow clones— "
"NOW!" She yelled.
As if willing it, an extra pair of flaming hands erupted out of Naruto's actual hands, grabbing Sakura and then slingshotting her right into the path of the tailed beast bomb, punching it back in the direction it came, back at Kinkaku—who merely jumped out of the way. It exploded in the ocean taking out a fresh wave of White Zetsu in the blast.
"Nice work Sakura!" Naruto said enthusiastically, after transporting to her side once again.
"Don't celebrate yet, take the nine tails chakra from Kinkaku so we can defeat and seal them both." She said bluntly.
"Right!" He nodded.
Meanwhile Shikamru was watching from some distance away, both shocked and intrigued, along with most others that had fallen back so as to escape the blast radius of the tailed beast bomb…
"They are both maintaining clones for long periods of time, it's incredible." He muttered under his breath.
"Deflecting a tailed beast bomb with nothing but brute strength is impressive," Darui admitted. "It looks like Naruto took back the chakra that Kinkaku stole from the nine tails too." Darui said surprised.
Shikamaru wore a calculated expression. "We only have a handful of sealing unit members at this post, I think it's best to stand by until Naruto and Sakura defeat them."
Now without the nine-tails power, the gold and silver brothers were not a threat to anyone that had fallen back earlier. Deciding to conserve chakra, Naruto returned to normal.
"Ready Sakura?" Naruto asked.
"I've got an idea!" She weaved a long string of hand signs. "Fire Release Fire Cyclone!"
Sakura expelled fire from her mouth until it spun rapidly into a flaming vortex, trapping the Gold and Silver brothers. "Throw a Rasenshuriken, they won't be able to withstand the pressure caused by combining both jutsu!" She said bluntly.
Naruto did just that, resulting in an intense outward explosion, it was lucky that others were so far back.
Darui was shocked. "Both of the Gold and Silver brothers were knocked out so easily—all available sealing ninjas, move in to seal them away!"
"Naruto and Sakura are in perfect sync now," Shikamaru said bluntly.
"I don't want to take credit but I did help Sakura get her head on straight," Ino said with amusement.
"Stay alert, we're still on a battlefield." Shikamaru urgently reminded his squad mates.
"That's smart advice." A new, but familiar voice said darkly.
"That voice…" Shikamaru became tense, and that voice was easy to remember.
Naruto and Sakura were now protecting the sealing ninja from ongoing waves of White Zetsu while they focused on sealing the Gold and Silver Brothers away for good.
"I knew you could use it, but since when is your Fire Release so powerful?" Naruto was impressed.
"I've been working by myself too, using wood clones to speed up training, I got the idea after remembering how fast you mastered wind nature—you can admire me later, we've got to deal with these freaks!" Sakura said bluntly, as she killed several White Zetsu at once.
"Have I mentioned how glad I am not to be on the receiving end of your punches anymore?" He said.
"It's just like you to joke around in the middle of a battle but now isn't the time. It looks like the others are dealing with that guy who has multiple hearts, and then…no way, it's Asuma too!" Sakura looked shocked.
"They robbed the graves of fallen Shinobi, I hate this jutsu, I wish we knew who the caster is." He was angry now and there was an icy glare in his eyes.
"I have a pretty good idea, but something doesn't add up about the war and I want to make sure I'm right before I guess," Sakura said bluntly.
"We should help the others fight," Naruto said.
Headquarters had other plans, however, informing that Madara along with six other massive chakra signatures was now on the move, but worse still was that a chakra signature recognized as Sasuke was not far from the Hidden Leaf Village.
"Sasuke? Is he fighting the war and if so which side is he fighting for!" Naruto said anxiously.
"They don't know, but it doesn't matter, you can't get distracted by him. If Madara is on the battlefield with all of the Jinchiriki except the eight tails then you need to be there." Sakura urged seriously.
"But the Kage are all busy leading the war, and I doubt anyone who stayed in the village will be strong enough to protect the people who are not a ninja." He was frustrated.
"I'll deal with Sasuke, you protect the battlefield at large," She said with conviction.
"A clone won't cut it, it would have to be the real you, and that's way too dangerous Sakura." Naruto sounded uneasy.
Sakura released her wood clones, and stopped using the 100 healings mark so as not to waste any chakra. "I know, luckily I made sure to take one of your marked kunai and leave it in your apartment so as long as you leave one here, you can drop me off and come back in an instant." She said calmly. "Don't give me that look," She frowned noticing the hesitancy on his face. "Naruto, I know that you like to save the day, but you have to let I fight for you too. Our friends can handle themselves and I can too!" She insisted fiercely.
"Alright," Naruto transported the real Sakura to his apartment. "I'll be at your side instantly if you need me, just be careful Sakura."
"You too, Naruto!" Sakura kissed him for an extended moment, and then, he was gone.
Sakura told none of the remaining residents about Sasuke's apparent proximity to the village, she intended to be its barrier and stop him before he got anywhere close to the gate entrance so she made her way deep within the forest outskirts and waited, she had no idea why she felt so calm but knew that she was going to defend the village with everything she had, not that she intended to die but Naruto was right about one thing. Sasuke had snapped, and she needed to be careful, there was no more room for emotions, this wasn't her former crush, friend and squad mate. No, this is a threat and traitor to the leaf and if she had to kill him, this time she would not fail…
A/N: I hope the cliffhanger doesn't bother you too much. A Sasuke and Sakura battle has always been in my head for this story but it deserves it's own chapter so that's coming next.