Chapter 6 - Part 2
Running up the Hokage Monument, Jiraiya narrowed his eyes thinking about how everything turned out this bad. "Everyone be on guard!" He screamed out. The ninja behind him nodded and wordlessly dashed up the monument.
The group landed and all could sense the immense power emanating from the boy ahead. His aura alone set off many alarm bells. As Jiraiya approached cautiously towards Naruto, he realized how different the blonde looked.
He knew then that talking might be useless but he needed a way to reach him. As shinobi though, he also have to be prepared for the worst.
"Naruto," Jiraiya called out in a soft but firm voice.
'Naruto' didn't even acknowledge their presence, still preoccupied on testing his motor skills. Flexing his muscle; opening and closing his clawed hands. There was a loud cracking noise, and the Ninja winced. However, the blonde still didn't make sound just testing the function of his body.
The blonde slowly turned around and faced him. Everyone present tensed at seeing the blonde boy face. Even Jiraiya, the most experienced was on edge seeing his student's lone red eye.
"Sanin.." Kyuubi intoned lowly, the possessed clone turned and faced him fully.
Jiraiya eyes widened, he knew then that something was wrong if physical appearance didn't sway him. There's no way Naruto would address him in this way.
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes dangerously "The Nine Tail Fox, so you're behind this..." He then shakes his head disbelieving, "This should be impossible, the seal should've kept you in place but at least I know Naruto isn't behind this atrocity." He in sight relief.
The possessed blonde tilt his head in amusement, "Hmm, I wonder about that. You truly underestimate the boy's darkness that's within him. You should know about the curse seal.." He said chuckling towards the end.
Jiraiya eyes widened in shock at the revelation, remembering the conversation with his Sensei.
Flashback - During Chūnin Exams
Jiraiya's eyes bore the weight of concern as he faced Hiruzen. "Sensei, we can't ignore the situation that happened in the Land of Wave. There's something unsettling about the seal you placed on him."
Hiruzen sighed, weariness etched across his face. "I know, Jiraiya-kun. The burden on Naruto is immense. I can't help but feel guilty for not doing more to support him."
Jiraiya's fists tightened. "I should've been there for him, old man. He's carrying a weight he shouldn't bear alone. The guilt eats at me."
Hiruzen nodded solemnly. "We've both made mistakes, Jiraiya. Naruto's strength is commendable, but we can't let him crumble under the pressure. We must find a way to help him, together."
The room fell into a heavy silence, both legendary shinobi grappling with the shared responsibility of guiding Naruto through the shadows of his destiny.
Hiruzen flinched in surprise as his office door flew wide open with no prior warning. The gust of air the motion sent his way blew several documents off of his desk, and the impact of the doorknob on the wall shook the room. The culprit behind the sudden, jarring entrance was Anko Mitarashi. She looked as though she had hardly slept, with dark circles under her eyes, and her hair disheveled and messy. Most notably, she looked distraught.
"Good morning, Anko." the elderly leader greeted the frazzled woman calmly. Irritated though he was for her unceremonious entrance, reading the room told him that such complaints could wait. Anko took several deep breaths and pulled the door closed once more.
"We need to talk, Hokage-sama." she said with fabricated professionalism. Hiruzen rested his chin on his interlaced fingers and kept his expression unfeeling.
"I gathered as much. Now speak." he ordered. Anko quickly found a chair and pulled it up in front of his desk, seating herself in it a moment later.
"I have a pretty wild hunch, but one I think needs to be taken seriously." she started, straightening her jacket and fixing her forehead protector during a brief pause.
"I think Orochimaru is in the village. Specifically, I think he's in the forty-fourth training ground as we speak." she revealed. Hiruzen felt his blood run cold. Anko Mitarashi was certainly eccentric, and her promotion to jonin had raised several eyebrows amongst the administration, but she was far from dumb, and her intuition was sharp. The Toad Sage was about to jump into action until Hiruzen placed a hand out halting his trek.
"Why have you come to this conclusion? Be thorough." the Hokage pressed. Anko promptly reached into her jacket pocket and produced something chilling. A thin, white snake. It appeared to be dead. Setting the inanimate creature on the desk, the jonin allowed both Jiraiya and Hiruzen to study the evidence she had brought to him.
"I found it just outside the forest. Beyond that, one of the Oto Genin struck me as strange. She looked normal, but…almost too normal. Like she was fake. Doesn't hurt that she was by far the tallest person there despite being a woman." she explained, a touch of nervousness in her voice. She then pursed her lips.
"I thought about confronting her. Her chakra felt off too, but for whatever reason, I didn't step in. I let her enter the forest. I'm kinda kicking myself now-" she said dejectedly. Hiruzen held up a hand to cut her off before she could speak further.
"Don't waste your energy on self-deprecation. As you said, this is a hunch. As of right now, we don't have any concrete proof." he said sternly. Anko nodded and took another breath to calm herself.
"If he is here, what do you think he's looking for? He'd never risk coming back without a goal in mind." she asked. It was a fair question. One that required nuanced thought to process. Before Hiruzen could answer, Jiraiya offered his own hypothesis.
"I could be wrong, but my first guess would be the Hyuga kids. There are two of them in that forest. Their eyes might be enticing to him." He suggested. It was then that two faces popped into Hiruzen's mind.
"I sincerely doubt it. There are several Hyuga children far younger and weaker than Neji or Hinata. If he wanted the Byakugan, he would have taken the path of least resistance." he said with a shake of his head.
"No, if he's here, he wants either the Sharingan or the Nine-Tailed Fox. The exclusivity alone would attract him, not even mentioning the immense power of both of those things." He said. Anko clenched and unclenched her hands.
"In other words, Naruto and Sasuke are the most likely targets. Both are on Team Kakashi. If you're right, they don't have much time. Eighteen hours have already gone by since the start of the second phase. If he's in the forest, he'll be on top of them soon." she said. Hiruzen nodded rigidly. It made far too much sense to have not been predictable. The Exams were the rare time during which a genin was entirely separated from their assigned Jonin, without being among the general population. In short, they were intensely vulnerable.
"If he finds those kids, they're as good as dead. He'll slaughter them." Anko said darkly, reading the Hokage's mind. If he had been apprehensive to subscribe to the theory minutes prior, Hiruzen was now entirely sure of its validity.
"How quickly can you reach them?" he asked, his tone now urgent. Anko glanced off in the direction of the forest, and then back to her leader.
"I can get to the forest itself in less than two minutes. Finding them in there is the problem. Ten minutes at least, if I had to guess." she said honestly. The Hokage briefly weighed his options. Gathering a team of Jonin would increase the chances of the knee-jerk operation being successful in some regard, but it would take more time than they likely had at their disposal. Just as he began to administer an order to Anko, something happened that left no room for debate.
In an instant, the white snake on Hiruzen's desk flared to life, writhing and hissing. The sudden burst of motion caused both Anko and the elderly leader to back away from the creature momentarily. Once the shock had worn off, Anko drew a kunai and stabbed the snake through its skull, killing it once and for all. It was a bad omen, and both knew it. With a curt nod, Hiruzen looked Anko in the eyes.
"Go. As fast as you can." With her leaving, he then turned around to his student. "Jiraiya gather all the information about this, the mere mention of his name can't be by coincidence." Hiruzen said seriously.
Before the Toad Sage left, he eyed his Sensei one last time, "I'm going to protect him this time, and after everything dies down I'm teaching that kid everything to make up for past mistakes. It's the least I can do..." With that he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Flashback End - Present Day
The Toad Sage looked towards his student whose body that was stolen from the entity in him or that's at least what he believes. Many thoughts raged within his head on how to approach this situation but he can't come with a solution that doesn't involve a fight. He blames himself for not killing Orochimaru sooner, blames himself for Naruto's miserable life. He's sure Minato is rolling in his grave for his transgressions.
Realizing that battlefield is no place for these thoughts he strengthens his resolve, "Nine Tails, many people believe that you're a weapon of mass destruction, a unintelligent beast that dead set on destroying the world itself but clearly our information was an exaggeration. You're obviously the mastermind behind this, but I'm sure manipulating a mere child is beneath you but the question is why? How did you even manage to kill the Hokage without him noticing?" Jiraiya asked seriously
Kyuubi smiled softly and thought about everything that was said he then answered indirectly, "Did you know that based on eastern folklore in the edo period, we foxes were depicted as spirits possessed of magic powers. These particular spirits were often depicted as mischievous and dangerous... We were known for tricking other people with the ability to disguise themselves via shapeshifting but had sharp enough fangs to Cleave through any surface and Dismantle through anything from within. Do you understand now Sanin?" He spoke answering his question with a question of his own.
Jiraiya eyes widened, recognizing he just got a hint about the technique Kakashi spoke about during his report, "What do yo-" He was cut off.
"ENOUGH RIDDLES!!" A scream from a women echoed out, everyone turned around to see a masked Anbu taking off her mask, revealing to be Yuugao.
"Stand down, we need-" Jiraiya tried to stop the purple haired Anbu women but she push through him. Her sword drawn towards Kyuubi.
"No Jiraiya-sama you're asking the wrong questions. TELL ME DEMON!! DID YOU KILL HAYATE?!?!" She roared, everyone besides the Nine Tails tensed at the question.
Kyuubi tilted his to the side in confusion, "Who's that?"
She snarled in anger, "You're telling me you don't at least know the names of the victims you terrorize? He's a swordsman, TELL ME MONSTER DID YOU KILL HIM?!?!"
Still confused he tried to wrapped his head on who's she's referring to, "Swordsman... Swordsman... Who are you talking about?" His lone eye then brighten in recognition then he smiled like a hungry beast. "Oh, I see. That miserable human got in the way so I cut him down."
*CLANG*
Suddenly Yuugao appeared before Kyuubi with a downward slash clashing against the smiling beast claws. Sparks and the sound of metal cringing can be heard throughout the surrounding area. Kyuubi began chuckling at the human who's eyes burned with hatred towards him.
Jiraiya first thought was to intervene but this was the perfect opportunity to gauge the threat before him.
After the clashing of steel against claw, Yuugao blade sliced through the air with precision, fueled by years of disciplined training. Her movements were swift and deliberate, aiming to strike down the murderous beast before her. However, Kyuubi, with over a millennium of experience etched into every fiber of his being, moved with a mesmerizing fluidity.
As the swordsman unleashed a flurry of attacks, Kyuubi's responses were almost preternatural. Limbs contorted and shifted effortlessly, avoiding each strike with an otherworldly grace. It was as if time itself had become their ally, granting an intimate knowledge of the ebb and flow of battle.
Yuugao's frustration grew palpable as each attempt to land a blow was deftly sidestepped or elegantly parried. The Nine Tail Fox, like a phantom, danced through the onslaught, his movements a testament to a lifetime of accumulated combat wisdom.
The squadron of Anbu prepared to step in and help her but Jiraiya put a hand out and stop them. He shook his head in the negative, "If he is doing this to your captain then there's no chance for you all. You'll just running towards your death."
In the final moments of the battle, Yuugao, fatigued and disheartened, found herself kneeling and staring at the monster that killed her lover. Kyuubi, still smiling condensing stood unscathed, a living testament to the insurmountable chasm of experience that separated them. The Anbu's valiant efforts had been in vain, eclipsed by the timeless expertise of an opponent who had mastered the art of combat over centuries. Suddenly he Spartan kicked her off the Monument crashing through several buildings. The surrounding Anbu quickly disappear to give her aid.
With that settled he look towards the Toad Sage with mild amusement on his face, "Shall we continue? Let's talk about the future of the world..."
Naruto vs Gaara
''N-No... I refuse..'' Gaara muttered, as he leaked considerable amount of demonic chakra. An explosion of chakra rocketed around him.
"I REFUSE TO HAVE MY EXISTENCE ERASED!!!!" The redhead roared
The blonde became amused despite knowing the dangers that was knocking. He watched as the debris cleared. Gaara had transformed into a chibi Shukaku.
Naruto smiled menacingly, ready for battle against the raging beast. "I see.. So this is your full power?"
"YOU'RE DEAD UZUMAKI !!!" Gaara proclaimed dashing towards Naruto.
"FINE THEN!!! SHOW ME GAARA!!! SHOW ME YOUR WILL!!!" Naruto roared dashing towards transformed Gaara.
Both Naruto and Gaara face blurred in manic glee as they clashed in the middle. The sand container made a makeshift sword out of sand, while Naruto dawned a wind blade. The surrounding forested area shook as the both monsters collided.
Naruto still smiling stared the deranged creature before him. The blonde lone eye sharpened noticing something. "Hm?"
Sensing chakra building up in the monster's sword, he jumped to the side; allowing it the crash on the ground in a loud thud. While in air, Gaara's sand hand attempted to grab him but he was quick and side kicked the offending hand away.
Naruto then flicked his wrist downwards towards the monster's face.
"Dissect"
The sound of a loud whip crack was heard and a thin line suddenly slashed on Gaara's face, causing his head to jerk back but the sand around the gash grew back. The monstrous red head smiled like a beast.
Naruto landed on a nearby tree, using that as leverage he propelled himself towards Gaara in a blitzing speed. The blonde extended his right leg landing a vicious drop kick on his stomach but at the same time Gaara prepared himself by conjuring up a jutsu.
"Wind Release : Vacuum Serial Bullets"
When Gaara exhales several wind bullets spat out in various angles, suddenly multiple grotesque mouths opened on his sand body adding more wind bullets. Naruto lone eye slightly widened, he couldn't dodge so he put his arms up in a defensive position as both was sent opposite directions in high speeds. Crashing through the trees.
BOOM
Sasuke groggily woke up from unconsciousness, his vision was blurry but his eyes widen when he saw his blonde teammate walking towards his general direction. He had a myriad of questions running through his head at this point
Slowly under the fog of dust and debris Naruto casually walked back to the epicenter of the battle. His clothes are now torn to shreds and the right arm sleeve is missing. A thin stream on blood going down his left brow.
Soon with a large crash Garra came down with a huge smile etched upon his face. Gaara seeing the blonde next to the Uchiha cackled from across the foliage, "You aren't strong enough Uzumaki! Leave him behind and run! Nothing has changed, you still don't fight for yourself!"
Gaara then flung more sand shuriken at Naruto who scoffed and grabbed Sasuke by the back of his collar and ducked and weaved out of the way of the projectiles. After he had gotten through them all he dropped Sasuke back on the branch, "If I was the old me, I would've definitely died..." the blonde muttered to himself, as he brushed off the dust and debris off his shoulder. He then eyed the beast, "You're pathetic..."
Gaara snarled, suddenly a hand of sand sped towards Naruto's face, the blonde casually tilted his head. As it passed by him, Naruto sliced through the air with a swipe. A thin line cut through Gaara's sand covered chest, this time cutting deep enough to make him bleed, causing the Shukaku host to reel back in pain. The mutant sand creature snarled and maneuvered his sand to grab the blonde from the back of his head, slightly catching him off guard.
With great effort, Gaara threw the blonde on the ground and dragged him face down throughout the foliage leaving a mini trench. Seeing a bolder ahead the red head threw Naruto towards the hard surface but to his disappointment the blonde nimbly flipped through the air and landed on the rock in a squatting position. Standing straight up, his curse mark glowed in anticipation ashe chuckled in amusement, "Is that all you got?"
Gaara growled like a wild animal and went on all fours. He channeled his demonic chakra to his arms and legs and disappeared in a burst of speed. Naruto lone blue eye sharpened at the movement; with the flexibility and agility abnormal to his usual self he backflip as Gaara came crashing down on the boulder. The blonde continue to black flip away as the Sand Jinchūriki swung and swiped like a madman, desperately trying to kill his prey. Gaara snarled and manipulated his sand to become giant scythes. He swiped down and with a loud crash smoke covered the surrounding area. He smiled in triumph.
Gaara smile was soon wiped off when Naruto appeared before him and using his sand as leverage, drop kick the Sand Jinchūriki across the face. Sending him through multiple trees.
"It's a shame."
Gaara turned around to see Naruto standing behind him. Naruto crouched on the branch and watched Gaara try to stand, "You had a defense that only the fastest could bypass and only the strongest could breach, and what do you do? You cast it away for raw power when things get a little tough. Raw power can only overwhelm skill and finesse in extreme qualities."
Naruto pointed at Sasuke who was over by Sakura, Pakkun, and Gamakichi, "You fight the weak and expect to be called strong?" He shook his head in disgust.
Garra eyes began to burn rage, he has hated many things in his life but this boy.. he was going to kill him. Right here, right now. "There's no way…" Gaara allowed the final shred of sanity and reasoning inside of him snap, "There's no way I'm going to lose to a guy like that!" His chakra surged once again, his body began glowing ominously.
Naruto smiled madly noticing Gaara is going all out. Unconsciously his curse mark began etching all across his body, which is unprecedented because controlling the Heaven Seal is supposed to be impossible at this stage. The ground began shaking between the two monsters putting everyone on edge.
"YOU'RE STILL HOLDING ON?? LET GO YOU BEAST, SHOW ME YOUR WILL TO LIVE!!!" Roared at the raging monster.
Gaara eyes twitched madly, drool coming out his mouth "RAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!" With a feral roar sand exploded everywhere.
Naruto every movement was a dance of defiance, nimbly evading the sinuous tendrils that sought to ensnare him. The air crackled with tension as the colossal beast unleashed its sandy onslaught.
"GAARA I ACKNOWLEDGE THIS POWER OF YOURS!!!!" The blonde roared as he dodge and waves.
With each sidestep, the Naruto's feet barely touched the ground, a ballet of survival amidst nature's chaos. The tendrils lunged, but he glided effortlessly, a masterful display of agility. The forest echoed with the symphony of their struggle.
Seizing the very sand that threatened him, the Naruto used it as leverage and dashed towards Gaara. Closing in on the monster's face, Naruto lone eye glinted with glee and madness. Everyone in the forest held their breath as he leapt, Naruto seeing a opening gleefully extended his right clawed hand.
SQUELCH
Time seemed suspended from resounding impact, Naruto landed a decisive blow on Gaara chest causing him to cough out a glob of blood. But suddenly Gaara grabbed the blondes wrist and he began to chuckle causing Naruto to raise a single eyebrow in confusion.
"Y-You're a fool..." Gaara exclaimed gathering huge amount of chakra for one last blow.
Grotesque mouths then appeared all over his body as he took a deep breath and released everything he had , "Wind Release: Sandstorm Devastation!" Gaara released a massive blast of air in Naruto's direction, tearing off branches and cutting into the bark of trees.
BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM
The colossal hurricane descended upon the tranquil forest, a tempest of unparalleled fury. Winds howled with a deafening roar, tearing through the once lush canopy. The colossal force of nature uprooted mighty trees, their roots wrenched from the earth like skeletal fingers grasping at the tempest.
The forest, once a serene sanctuary, now lay in shambles. Trees that had stood for centuries bowed to the relentless gale, their leaves scattered like confetti in the storm's wake. The air was thick with the scent of crushed foliage and the lingering sorrow of nature disrupted.
A massive trench carved its way through the heart of the forest, a scar etched by the hurricane's wrath. It yawned wide, revealing the raw wounds of the land as if the earth itself had been cleaved in two. The once vibrant ecosystem was now marred by devastation, a testament to the awesome power of the tempest that had swept through.
As the wind died down Gaara couldn't see Naruto, no sign of him either. A smile etched on his tired face, after that attack he lost his transformation due to burning through all his chakra. He then held his chest in pain, not even having enough power to heal himself. 'You'll never be stronger then me Uzumaki... If only you would've known that sooner.' The redhead thought to himself between hard breaths, not seeing a black silhouette behind him.
"GAARRA NOOOO!!!" Temari's shout of warning did no good.
Cleave
In the blink of an eye, Naruto executed a lightning-swift maneuver, that defied comprehension. Gaara stood frozen for a moment, unaware of the impending strike. Suddenly, a surge of movement, and the air whispered with the lethal precision of the swift strike.
A cascade of cuts appeared on the redhead's body, as if painted by an invisible artist. He was caught in the deadly storm, felt the sting of each cut before realizing the assailant had even moved.
The jutsu concluded as quickly as it began, leaving the opponent bewildered and marked by the intricate web of wounds. It was an instantaneous display of deadly precision. Gaara then fell to the ground barely breathing.
Tears welled up the redhead eyes, "I...I lost, again." Gaara said weakly to himself. His eyes slowly travelled weakly towards Naruto, "How are you stronger than me?" he asked surprisingly calm for someone who was like a maniac.
"Because I have purpose..." Naruto said softly, going against the nature of his curse seal.
"Purpose? What does that means?" He asked desperately seeking an answer.
A silence stretched between them as they stared at each other. Naruto turned his gaze away from the sand-nin and he stared up at the dark clouds. His lone eye lingered in the heavens as the clouds flying ahead. The blond lowered his gaze from the blue skies and turned to regard the silent nin.
Gaara's face gave nothing away. Naruto lowered himself on the ground and took a seat, his posture was non-threatening and his demeanour was neutral. He then thought about Haku's solemn words,
'But I knew that something else was taken from me, something even more important and that's what I truly despaired... my purpose stripped away.. that the world itself didn't need me anymore. That I became.. unnecessary'
The blond clasped his hand on his Konoha hitae-ate and his eyes hardened. "To seek something beyond yourself..."
Gaara eyes widened, he let Naruto continue
"I hope you don't think I'm being weird but I believe you and I are similar. It's unbearable isn't it? The feeling of being alone.." Naruto began in a low tone.
The blond lowered his hand and curled his wrist tiredly. Naruto was not here to kill or make an enemy of Sabaku no Gaara. The suna-nin remained silent but he tilted his head in acknowledgement of his words. His jade eyes were curious and his posture was neutral.
Naruto gazed back with solemn eyes.
"I know that place, I've been there. Engross in that dark and lonely place." The bright blue of his lone eye dimmed significantly as he stared at the other chakra vessel in rare understanding. The blond heaved a long sigh and turned his gaze upward to the heavens once again.
"I'm a monster treated with scorn and hated by everyone in the village for something entirely out of my control. My greatest sin was being born." Naruto confessed quietly.
The sand-nin remained quiet for a long contemplative moment. "You have a demon sealed inside you." Gaara confirmed. His voice was low and definite.
Naruto nodded in confirmation. "Since the day I opened my eyes into this world, all I saw was hatred and I was vilified for existing. All I have ever relied on was myself. All I had was myself. But now things has changed."
The silence stretched between them but it did not feel awkward or stifled. The sand-nin gazed ahead at the heavens. His expression was closed off but his jade eyes were thoughtful.
"What do you desire Uzumaki Naruto?" He tilted his head to the side and regarded him with curious jade eyes.
"I want to be free, I don't want to be a tool for the system any longer.." Naruto spoke quietly. He then continued
"Gaara, you say you live for yourself. Do you truly live for yourself when you're undertaking missions on behalf of your village? Are you truly living when you're following the orders of the Kazekage? I think you're not living for yourself, you've only convinced yourself of such lies."
Naruto turned to the sand-nin and he pulled himself up. His eyes hardened and he stared at the genin unflinchingly. "You're nothing but a slave to your village, following orders and answering to the whims of your superiors."
Gaara's eyes widened at the offensive words. Naruto's eyes were patient and understanding. He maintained his calm in the face of Sabaku no Gaara's confusion.
"Is that what you truly want, Sabaku no Gaara? To live serving those who shun you and despise you?"
Gaara glared at him slightly. "What other choice is there?" He hissed as the sand rose around him in large, hostile waves.
Naruto's eyes gleamed and he tapped his finger to his hitae-ate in rapid successions. "There is always a choice Gaara. All of us, from the moment we are born, we are free. This..." He tapped his hitae-ate. "...denies us our freedom. This is a sign of our servitude. I would rather die than spend my whole life tethered to a village I despise. You have a family and the power to make change, Gaara. Don't waste all that for some petty self gratification."
The blond turned back to the clouds and he reached a hand out to the flying birds, gazing at them wistfully. "I will be free... I'll make sure people like us isn't born again." He said clenching his fist. The blonde then look towards the readhead.
"Become stronger so you can choose a path you'd regret the least Gaara." The blond whispered, moving his hands in a fast seal. He met the desperate and sad eyes directly. "I have chosen freedom over a life of forced servitude."
Naruto began walking away.
Due to be low on chakra, Naruto did not notice someone behind him, suddenly a foot crashed into his head. The kick sent him flying away. Naruto regained control over his body, flipped in midair, and landed down the ground with legs touching first then his hands.
The kick was hard and had a lot of power behind him. Naruto had been unable to dodge due to the speed and unable to block because he was also off guard. Naruto didn't recognized the man who had kicked him, unknown to him it's Baki, Gaara's sensei.
"Sensei!" Both the sand siblings at the same time.
Baki had seen what was going on with the different battlefields. He did not like what he had seen. Konoha just won the invasion. It seemed that they had prepared like they knew they were going to invade. If Gaara had been taking part it would not have mattered. But there was another thing he could do ensure that things went his way, kidnapping the Leafs ultimate weapon. Konoha in its arrogance loved its power and capturing this boy it would force Konoha to give into their demands.
Baki smiled inwardly his plan was indigenous
''You will come with me.'' Baki said in a commanding tone.
''I refuse.'' Naruto replied as his lone eye turned slit red. Glowing in ominous rage. He curse to himself, 'Dammit, I'm almost out of chakra. The curse seal will soon recede then I'm done for...'
''I guess I have no choice then but to take you by force then.'' Baki said and blurred out of sight.
He appeared in front of Naruto and attempted to punch him. Naruto desperately blocked the punch with both his hands. Baki swung his right foot towards his hip. The power behind the kick pushed Naruto back a few feet. The blonde tsk to himself in pain, he needed more power or he'll get captured.
Baki suddenly appeared in front of Naruto with his right foot raised. He attempted to kick Naruto on his chest. Naruto blocked the kick by both his hands as he could not dodge despite being able to predict what Baki was going to do. The power of the kick sent Naruto flying away. Naruto regained his balance and touched the ground with his hands and legs so that he could stop. He began breathing hard.
Naruto rose up and looked at Baki. The man was considerably strong, worthy of being a Joūnin. Fighting someone like him without Kyuubi power active would prove to be a nasty thing for him. Baki raised his twin wind blade, "This is over.." Naruto narrowed his lone eye and prepared for battle.
Baki began dashing towards the blonde until a voice stopped him in his tracks.
"No. Baki.. That's enough... it's over." Gaara rasped out as if in a daze.
Baki eyes widen, "B-But Lord Gaara..." not getting a response he sighed heavily and nodded to the siblings. Temari and Kankuro quickly picked up Gaara and all four headed towards wind country. After they had made a distance between themselves with the Konoha group Gaara said two words that made his siblings almost cry.
"Temari, Kankuro... I'm sorry for everything."
Hokage Monument
Kyuubi made a clone putting the Toad Sage on guard but became confused when it disappeared, he then looked towards the suspicious Jiraiya, "Shall we continue? Let's talk about the future of the world..."
He was going to respond until he was interrupted.
Kakashi rushed up in a panic, he looked between Jiraiya and.. "Naruto" He questioned out. This isn't right he was sure Naruto went to go help Sasuke. What happened to the kids? Are they dead? What the hell is going on? A myriad of questions echoed throughout his head. He then recognized that chakra and condescending smile, he narrows his eyes "Kyuubi..." Lightning corse out his hands ominously, he was going to engage until Jiraiya raised a hand. Indicating for him to stop.
The Toad Sage stood there stock still a serious visage etched upon his face, "There's no need for a "Talk" the future of this world is destined for great change and its the child of prophecy that'll bring about that change."
The Nine Tails scoffed "You mean that brat? It's a meaningless endeavor, that ship has sailed. I must thank you though, I wouldn't been granted this freedom if your Hokage didn't seal him away.I'm merely a clone, go ask him yourself." He chuckled in amusement
Jiraiya became slightly guilty but his resolve soon hardened, "Kakashi go, stop Naruto by any means. He's under arrest for the murder of a Kage. If he resists... Kill him." He said with finality
Kakashi lowered his head, this situation was truly horrible. How could this even happen? He blamed himself. Without saying a word he disappeared.
Kyuubi hearing what he said began cackling like a mad man. Jiraiya glared at him, "What's so funny? If he dies you die as well, that was the condition set by the seal of the Shinigami... or did you forget?" The Toad Sage said smiling triumphantly.
The possessed blonde shook his head, "You don't understand, even when I lose... I win. I can care less if you kill the boy, that doesn't hold no value." He said shrugging.
The Toad Sage sighed in disappointment, "That's the problem with the shinobi world, so much hatred. Even you must understand why we must value life."
Kyuubi scoffed at the hypocrisy, "A ninja telling me to value life? What a joke, then tell me Sanin what is the value of one life?
A simple question to which there is no right or wrong answer in the world of Shinobi. Some would take that question and approach it from a monetary point of view, some from a cultural point of view but most would take it from a spiritual point of view. But why would spiritual dominate over other choices?
Because the gift of life is something we do not understand. We do not know how it begins nor what happens after it's over, but we do know that all life is precious and to be protected at all costs. But the question remains…how much is one life worth? Are some lives worth more than others? If so, then why would these lives be worth more if they are all the same?
When would we be willing to trade one life in exchange for another? Or many others?"
"You're asking many questions that I can't personally answer, for I am not omnipotent. But I can say in order for peace to prevail must value life. No matter the place of origin." Jiraiya said firmly.
The blonde went silent for a few minutes until he dawned an animalistic smile that sent shivers down everyone spine. His teeth were all sharp incisors, which had curled up into a toothy grin that managed to be even more psychotic now. It's the same words his father preached thousands of years ago.. Peace. Such a naïve way to think, he remembers his father spouting the same nonsense.
Mini Flashback - Days of the Past
"Ninshu shall unite humanity"
Those were the last words of Hagoromo Otsutsuki, The Sage of Six Paths, The Creator, his Father.
Since the beginning of time the human race had embroiled itself in conflicts of power, greed and ambition. It was a cycle of never ending violence that was supposed to end when The Sage taught humans the power of chakra. With that gift, he had wished to give peace yet humans have an uncanny habit of destroying themselves on their own.
The chakra that was supposed to unite became the catalyst for even greater violence between the Sage's two sons, Indra and Ashura. If only Hagoromo had understood humanity's fault lay in its twisted emotions and granting them power would only embolden them.
A proof of that claim itself was the conflict between the Sage's sons which began over a simple matter of succession.
The Sage who taught the world the importance of peace couldn't teach his own sons the same values.
That was the beginning of a massacre that went on for centuries and he was not only was a witness but a victim to this "Peace"
Mini Flashback End- Present Day
"Peace... that is what you desire isn't it Sanin? Yes. That's the answer. YES THAT IS IT!!!! PEACE!!" Kyuubi roared in a manic glee before dashing towards him. His speed was so intense that the earth below uprooted and it seemed he disappeared in a red flash to the normal eye.
Not expecting this type of reaction, Jiraiya was completely caught off guard when out of no where the blonde palmed his face sending both off the ledge in high speeds. While both were careening towards the ground the blonde dawned a sadistic smile.
"I FINALLY FOUND THE ANSWER TO YOUR LIFE LONG DREAM TOAD SAGE AREN'T YOU PROUD!!!" The beast mocked, all the while Jiraiya tried to struggle and claw his way out his strong grip. Using the momentum the blonde threw the Toad Sage through multiple buildings in the Village Square.
!Boom!
Kyuubi landed gracefully on the neighboring building roof looking down at the Toad Sage. He then saw masked men with brown hair appeared down below, helping Jiraiya out the rubble. The blonde stood there patiently as the Sanin struggled to catch his bearings. He stood strong and stared into the beast lone eye.
"You mortals have been running around for centuries running things and now it's time for me to choke the life from you. That's true peace... Say goodbye to the Village the Third taught you to love, because you'll be joining him soon."
"I will not die here, I sense your chakra. You don't have enough to beat me." Jiraiya called out, his voice firm "Naruto, I know you're in there somewhere. This isn't the path you should be taking. Remember your dream of becoming Hokage and bringing peace to the ninja world?"
Kyuubi smiled at Jiraiya, his slitted red eyes locking onto his former mentor. "Hokage? A naive dream from a long-gone past. What good did it do? Look around you, human. The world is in constant turmoil, suffering from the ignorance of its inhabitants."
Jiraiya's eyes softened with understanding. "I know the world can be cruel, but the answer isn't to destroy it. We must find a way to change it for the better, not eradicate it."
A sinister grin crossed Kyuubi face. "You're words are meaningless. My father felt the same but I've grown beyond those childish dreams. I will bring true peace. It's time to show the world the futility of their ways."
As the tension escalated, the ANBU unit kept a safe distance, ready to intervene if needed. Jiraiya knew he had to act carefully, as Kyuubi is a formidable opponent even if powered down.
"I won't let you destroy everything," Jiraiya said adopting a defensive stance.
"Heh...Funny you have no chance of victory , yet you continue this resistance. Knowing full well you can't win. You humans are so fascinating in your flaws." the blonde chuckled at such blasphemy as the flames raged in the background.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Naruto lunged at Jiraiya, his claws extended, and the ground beneath him shaking with each step. The two clashed with incredible force, their blows creating shockwaves that rippled through the surrounding landscape.
As they exchanged blows, Jiraiya continued to speak, hoping to reach the Naruto he once knew. "You've been through so much, and I understand your pain. But this isn't the way to heal. Embrace your humanity, Naruto. Don't let Kyuubi's power consume you." He tried to get Naruto to take back control of the clone's body but it was a fruitless endeavor.
Kyuubi roared, his rage echoing throughout the battlefield. "HUMANITY? IT'S NOTHING BUT A CURSE! A HORRIBLE SICKNESS THAT CURSED THESE LANDS FOR CENTURIES! THE PATH TO MY UTOPIA LIES IN STRENGTH AND CONTROL. SOMETHING YOU MORTALS WILL NEVER ATTAIN!!!"
Jiraiya dodged a powerful swipe and countered with a swift kick, creating distance between them. "True strength comes from understanding and compassion, not domination."
The battle raged on, the surrounding environment bore the brunt of their power, and the ANBU unit struggled to keep the collateral damage under control.
In the end the clone was destroyed when Jiraiya gave up on talking to the Fox. He wanted to get more information but it was too dangerous. Even though he won the fight, a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach still lingered. He shook his head, right wasn't the time for petty regrets, he needs to stay strong his village and help Kakashi. He then disappeared.
Outskirts of Konoha
"I'll ask you again... How much can you see with that Sharringan of yours? Sasuke," he began, his voice edged with a solemn conviction.
The Sun began to set casting shadows over the field, Naruto spoke to his brother in all but blood with eyes of resolve and nothingness. "Look around. The world is stained with chaos, and strength is the only currency that matters."
Sasuke, usually a expert of that thought process, furrowed his brow in confusion. "Naruto, what are you talking about? Even though I have my opinions about how things are done, I still believe things can change over time."
Naruto's gaze bore into the Uchiha's soul, an intensity that seemed to drown out the moonlight. "Change?, you're still naïve strength is the only constant. The weak are trampled upon, forgotten. You need to embrace the power that will make you invincible. You should know this very well.." He said pointing at the Uchiha eyes, Sasuke clenched his fist when the image of Itachi flared to life.
A shadow fell over Sasuke's face as doubt crept in. "But isn't there more to life than just strength? What about the bonds we've formed, the people we care about?"
Naruto's lone eye gleamed coldly. "Bonds? You should know this... they're shackles. They hold you back. Strength is freedom. Imagine a world where no one can dictate your fate, where power is the only truth."
As the words hung in the air, Sasuke felt a chill creeping over him. Naruto's persuasive allure tugged at the edges of his consciousness. "Strength…freedom," Sasuke whispered, grappling with the seduction of Naruto's words.
He pressed on, his voice low and hypnotic. "You have the potential for greatness, Sasuke. Abandon the illusions of compassion and embrace the strength that will set you free. Gain the power to kill Itachi"
In that moment, Sasuke darkness teetered on the edge, torn between the light of friendship and the alluring darkness of vengeance. Suddenly he was ripped out his thoughts when he heard a familiar voice.
"Naruto, you're under arrest for the murder of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage." Kakashi spoke out
Sasuke eyes widened at the news as Naruto turned around slowly, "We shouldn't keep meeting like this, Sensei..."
Author's Notes
End of Chapter! Hopefully you guys enjoy, I'll update the story soon, again thank you for all of your support to the story!