Man, I really screwed this up…

"Big time."

Naruto eyes shot open, drifting up towards the gargantuan fox before him. The chain and collar that held him at bay was now barely viable. Rust had broken the metal down to the point that Kurama could scratch his ear and break free.

"Don't judge me. How could you expect me to fight him?"

"I'm not judging you, boy. It's an impossible thing to ask someone to fight a precious person like that. But, that doesn't mean I'm going to condone you simply surrendering like that. Where was all that bravado then? Never give up?"

There was no good explanation. Naruto simply lost his fight. Seeing his master, the man he considered his father, standing against him in battle was too much to bear in the moment.

"I just…buckled. Seeing him like that, it just…"

"Boy, you don't have to explain yourself to me. I feel what you do. But sulking about it won't do any good."

Kurama knew the boy was beating himself up over this. Similarly, if he had ever had to face his own father, Kurama doubted he could go through with it. It wasn't something he relished in.

"But now, we're in this situation. Akatsuki now have all but one beast captured. And these chains they've wrapped us in are draining your chakra. You've got just enough to be kept alive."

"I know I know. We're fucked ten different ways." It had been a long time since he's been this drained of chakra. He, honestly, forgot what it was like to feel chakra exhausted. "Has your chakra been drained at all?"

"Surprisingly no. Not even an ounce of my chakra has been touched."

"It has to do with the sealing. That's the only reason I can think of."

"Perhaps. Regardless, we must think of a plan for this. We cannot allow ourselves to just sit here and wait for death."

Feeling weaker as time passed, Naruto knew time was of the essence. But as the pressure mounted, as did his dread. The mere idea of facing off against his father figure could send him into a dangerous spiral.

It was the look that broke him. Jiraiya was no longer the man that Naruto looked up to, the man that he learned everything from.

I can't believe Pervy Sage would just…turn like that.

"The real one isn't here."

Fukasaku dashed through his mind, the words floating about. There was something about them that carried a different weight now.

Pervy Sage wouldn't just defect from the village like that. Baa-Chan and Grandpa Sage were both certain that he died fighting Pain. If he had just turned against us, why on earth would he have the Rinnegan and all those piercings like the others? That doesn't make sense.

Naruto mulled over the details of his fight. He remembered sensing that strong essence that radiated around all the bodies when he was in Sage Mode. It reminded him of the frequency that the black rod he was stabbed with gave out.

It was similar in nature. Close enough to not be a coincidence. There was a connection.

But what could it be…?

His mind felt lost.

His body chained.

His strength leaving him.

"…ruto…"

Naruto's ears perked at the sound. Someone was calling out to him. But there was no one else in these chambers.

"…Hey whiskers…!"

There was again. The voice was familiar. It was Fū, who was probably screaming as loud as she could to try and get his physical body's attention.

"Hey! Where are you?!"

Naruto looked up to the beast before him, both coming to the same conclusion.

"Fū?" Naruto called out to the depths.

Within moments, Fū came barreling into the light. Her steps splashing as she dove bombed into her friend.

"Whiskers!" She held onto the closest person she knew to family as tight as she could, truly never wanting to let go. The poor girl was worried sick.

Naruto held the girl in her arms. "Fū…I'm sorry I couldn't stop this." The guilt quickly spread through his body.

The girl held on tighter. "No, I'm sorry! If I hadn't been captured, neither of us would be here!"

Naruto was able to pull the girl off him. "How are you here, Fū? This is my mind."

"These they have us wrapped in are chakra chains. I guess they're all connected at some point. So, weirdly, we are all linked now."

Naruto blinked. "We?"

"Girl! Return to us at once!"

"Calm down, big guy. She's right over here."

Two more figures trekked through the darkness of the chambers and into the sole light around them. Han and Utakata stood side by side, just on the edge of the light.

Naruto instantly recognized the taller man. "It's you…"

Han laid his heavy eyes on the boy that cost him his freedom, and which would soon turn into his life.

"It seems you are not invincible to the Akatsuki's grasps. Perphaps Rōshi was wrong about you."

Wrong about me? What does that mean?

"Rōshi? Is he here too?"

The body language of the large man told Naruto that the man was not.

"…I see. So, the extractions have started, huh?"

Fū squeezed just a little tighter, silently conveying her fear. "What are gonna do, Whiskers?"

Dire situations were what made a person. They molded someone into one of two people. Someone who could stare at the situation with no fear and take it head on with no hesitation. That's the person Naruto had always been. For most of his life, there was no other choice.

But this time, things were vastly different. Their opponent was the one who killed his master. Revenge was a feeling Naruto didn't know how to process. There was so much he would give just to have the object of his revenge before him, begging for his own life.

But now his master was the enemy. The object of his revenge.

That's the second option. In face of a dire situation with heavy emotional toll and unimaginable consequences, a person could buckle under it and turn way. Thus, giving into their fear and hesitation.

It was giving up. The person would be giving up.

Naruto had never been at this crossroads before.

He didn't know what to do.

-With Sakura-

Sakura never had trouble keeping track of things. All paperwork was neatly filed and labeled to her liking. The only jumbled mess she kept was a note pad that she used for her chicken scratch writing.

She held that habit of proper organization since her days in the Academy. She credited much of her academic success to her organizational skills. It made studying easy for her.

There hadn't been a subject that Sakura couldn't figure out a way to organize to her liking so she could learn it.

Until she decided to learn all she could about jinchūriki.

"This is just unbelievable." Sakura had to close the file. She needed a mental break.

Ebizō unknowingly created the idea in Sakura's head that Fū was related to that female from Chiyo's Rebirth project. And the more time Sakura considered the idea, the more it became apparent it was true.

The one thing Sakura realized throughout her research is that a jinchūriki needed to have a special property about them. It was apparent in very jinchūriki she knew about.

Gaara was the Kazekage's son.

Rōshi was some lab experiment from Iwa that was meant to be the perfect example of a jinchūriki. According to Naruto, he was.

Naruto was the son of the Fourth Hokage.

And, if her idea was correct, Fū was Sunagakure's attempt at creating the perfect jinchūriki.

Jinchūriki not only had a special job for village security, it seemed they were also specially chosen or created for the role. She had no doubt the other jinchūriki were in the same situations.

Though, her main question of all this research had yet to be answered. She needed to figure out a way to extract the Kyūbi from Naruto without harming him in any way. She couldn't go through with it if he came out hurt. It would defeat the purpose.

Uzumaki DNA came up quite a bit in Chiyo's Rebirth project. With a cross reference into Suna's surprisingly extensive knowledge of the long dead clan, Sakura learned that Uzumaki's were known for their extremely powerful life force and knowledge of sealing techniques.

One report from the First Kazekage, dated somewhere in the beginning of the First Great War, a standard shinobi, such a Chūnin, was forbidden from fighting a clan member. They drew comparisons to the Uchiha and Senju for strength, ability, and intelligence.

It wasn't a surprise, apparently. Uzumaki and Senju were distant blood relatives one source stated. Sakura believed that.

A strong life force…I guess that explains why Naruto's practical refusal to die from some of his wounds. Though, the Nine-Tails does play a part in that, too.

Her thoughts continued to dwell on her longtime love. Sakura still couldn't believe how much Naruto had changed in the months they were apart. The troubled boy she knew had grown into determined man.

She missed him.

"We'll get through this."

"I know."

"Promise me that we will."

"I promise."

Sakura echoed Naruto's words to her. She believed in the promises he made her. She knew everything would, somehow, turn out for the better. Whatever the outcome, Sakura knew she would be satisfied with because Naruto would be there with her.

At least, that's what she believed. Reality tended to be a cruel thing.

"Medical Director Haruno!" The P.A system rang loudly. The feminine voice sounded rushed and worried. "Please come to the front desk in the main atrium immediately!"

Curiously, Sakura mildly jogged out of her office and through the hospital. It was rare that she was called for such haste. Anything to get the blood flowing, she figured.

But when she saw who the emergency was for, Sakura's heart dropped.

"Ino? Sai? What are you doing here?"

Ino's lips pursed, stiffening back tears. "…Sakura, Naruto's been…"

Sai quickly jumped in before a conclusion could be met. "He's been captured, we believe. We aren't fully sure, but all the signs point to that."

"Captured? What the hell happened?"

Sakura was calmer than she probably should be.

Ino mentally slapped herself to set herself straight. This was no time to be a drama queen.

"We'll explain on the way, but we need to leave now!"

The two turned and bolted out of the hospital. Reeling from the revelation, Sakura was quick to follow.

"Director Haruno?! Where are you going?!"

The receptionist called out in desperation but was met with no response.

"Who's gonna run this damn place?!"

Sai's massive ink bird waited from them in the street. Villagers of the sand looked on in bewilderment for the large creature.

Sakura jumped up with Ino, gripping the ink feathers as hard as she could.

"Sakura?! What's going on?!" Kaito ran up, waving his arms wildly. "Where are you going?!"

"Emergency situation, Kaito! Keep an eye on the hospital!"

The wings spread wide and the bird took flight, sending dust clouds rushing. What usually was a full day traveling through the hot, muggy desert was now a quick flyover with a warm breeze.

"Tell me what happened!" Sakura demanded loudly. She had to yell because of the rushing wind. "Why do you think Naruto was captured by the Akatsuki?!"

"The Akatsuki leader attacked Konoha a little over a week ago! They took Fū and Rōshi! When Naruto came back from his hunt for Itachi, he took off after them!"

"Did he go alone?!"

"Of course, he did!" Ino shouted, regret filled her voice. This would never leave her, regardless of the outcome of this situation. She shouldn't have let Naruto go alone.

Sakura knew there wasn't much anyone could do when Naruto had his mind set to something. She didn't hold a grudge against Ino for not going with him.

"How long has it been?"

"He promised he'd be back in five days! It's been eight!"

Promised?

"What's the plan?!"

"We're going after him! Lord Danzō put out a massive recall to any shinobi in our ranks willing to come help!"

Sai interjected. "Obviously not all shinobi can aid in this endeavor! We'll be limited due to our numbers being scattered for the war! It was confirmed that Commander Kakashi is heeding the call and is returning from the battlefield!"

Sakura smirked. It was no surprise to her that their old master would come in to save the day. He may have been late, but never for them.

"So, what happens now?! Are headed to Konoha?!"

Ino shook her head. "No! We're meeting everyone at a port that's close to Amegakure! According to Lady Tsunade, there's an entire ocean that surrounds the village! She stated that's the best place to stage up before engaging!"

Sakura nodded. Her master's insight and knowledge would be invaluable in this battle. She safely assumed that Naruto consulted her the same before he left.

This all is hard to believe. Naruto is…well, I just don't see him being captured. There must've been something that made him surrender.

Sakura shuttered to the idea of what could make Naruto willingly giving himself over to the enemy.

Regardless, this was the situation now. Sakura needed every piece of information she could get her hands on. Balance of everything was now in contention. There wasn't one single aspect in this world that wouldn't be affected if the Akatsuki succeeded in their plans.

And Naruto would die.

Not while I'm still breathing.

The trio glided through the skies without breaking, only stronger winds slowed them to a cautionary speed. What would be days of travel were reduced to hours thanks to Sai's ability. The longer Sai remained with them; the more thankful Sakura was for his selection to her team in Sasuke's absence.

As they approached from up high, the garrison of Konoha shinobi came into view through the fog of clouds. And Sakura couldn't believe it.

"Whoa…"

This many shinobi…for Naruto?

Seeing was believing. But Sakura couldn't quite grasp this amount of shinobi were here to rescue Naruto. There was still so much distain and simple hatred for him that it was hard for Sakura to accept that all these shinobi were here consciously. Sure, some may have come because of an order by a superior. But for this many to come to simply help?

It felt unfathomable.

Maybe…things were really changing.

Sakura has been with Naruto for a long time now, first as friends and teammates turned lovers. Never before has there been such support and care for him.

Sakura couldn't stop the tears forming in her eyes.

"It's unreal, I know."

Ino couldn't hold her smile. Her thoughts were clearly the same as her best friend.

"He's come a long way."

Sakura smiled brightly. "Yes…he has."

"It's seems our dear teammate is someone that we all care for." Sai had an uncharacteristic chip to his voice. It was odd to hear him say something in such solace. "His voice and actions reached the lives of many, changing them for the better. His smile and heart have been a beacon in these dark times."

Both Ino and Sakura have spent numerous hours with Sai, both on and off mission. In accordance to his own words, Sai's demeanor and overall personality seemed to be changing.

Sakura remembered Team Seven and their first meeting with their dear sensei. Times simpler, lives more manageable. There was no worldly threat to combat against, no giant conflict to engage in. It was just simple ambition to be a ninja. Nothing more, nothing less.

Simple.

Oh, where did the time go?

The bird descended quickly, aiming for a lone command section towards the front of the garrison.

"Oi, Kakashi." Shikamaru pointed out. "They're here."

The highest-ranking shinobi in the garrison gave a sigh of relief. Not only was there a leader for the medical team now but Sakura arriving meant they could finally begin their journey towards Amegakure.

Kakashi greeted the trio with the slight wave and the smile that was seen through his eye. "Glad you three made it in time. We couldn't wait much longer."

"We flew as fast as could, Commander." Sai responded, dismissing the ink in a giant puddle. "Perhaps it might be a new record."

"Perhaps it might be." Kakashi surmised. Sai had come into their team in replacement of Sasuke and after he was given command of an entire division. Knowing the boy's past, he was surprised to hear him say such a thing. "It's good to see you again, Sakura."

The girl smiled. Her old sensei was someone she was never tired of seeing. He was battle worn: several holes in his sleeves and flak jacket, his mask was disheveled – slightly revealing more of his mysterious face – and the way he stood told Sakura there was some underlying pain from hasty patch job from a semi experienced medical ninja.

It was probably one she trained.

"As to you, Kakashi sensei."

"Off to save him this time, eh?" Kakashi chuckled softly. "Things certainly have changed."

"Yeah…they really have."

The people close to Naruto had similar thoughts as to this day and what was about to happen. If this situation happened a few years ago, a few months ago even, there wouldn't be this many shinobi ready to fight with their lives to save him.

"I hate to interrupt reunions…" Shikamaru held an unlit cigarette between his lips. "…but we're on the clock here. As troublesome as it is, we can't afford niceties right now." The Nara pulled a lighter from his breast pocket. "Ino…what was the timetable Naruto had in mind?"

The Yamanaka readjusted her long ponytail. "Longer than normal." She chuckled dryly. "He acted on a hunch."

Bellowing smoke out with a sigh, Shikamaru pocketed his master's lighter. "Of course."

"It took the Akatsuki just over three days to seal the One-Tail. And that was with a full group." Kakashi quickly deduced. "What are their numbers now?"

"Two, maybe three, including the leader." Ino answered. "But the group that attacked the village had seven. Did we not know of seven members?"

"It's possible." Kakashi adjusted his mask. "But unlikely. Lord Jiraiya had been tracking the Akatsuki for years before their emergence. I'm sure he would've heard something of these other members."

"Could be new additions to make for the losses." Shikamaru pointed out.

"That's another thing. Ino, didn't you say the attacks all had the same eyes?"

The girl nodded. "Similar features, too. All of 'em had these black piercings. It was like a cult."

Having the Rinnegan is exclusive as it is. If everything I've heard is correct, which is really big if, we're walking into a fight the strongest person in this known world.

The thought of that Madara Uchiha still laundering around emphasized the known world. Despite his reports, not many believed Madara was still alive.

"From everything I've learned, each one had different abilities." Kakashi was being as thorough as he could be. Information gathering was his bread and butter. "That's definitely something to take note on."

Shikamaru rose his brow, the smoke dancing past his face. "How do you mean? It's six different people. It's safe to assume they'd have different abilities."

"…No, not in the way I'm thinking." Kakashi's attention snapped to a dog sprinting up to him. One of his ninja hounds. "Ah. Better late than never, Pakkun."

The small dog dropped in a huff. "You run here from the village as fast as I did and see if you make it on time! You owe me big, Kakashi!"

Tore off the scroll that was tied to the dog's backside. "Of course. I'll get two bottles of that shampoo you like. Floral Green, right?"

"Make it three! I'm taking a very long bath after this one!"

"Done."

The dog immediately exploded in a small cloud, returning to wherever he resides. The commanding shinobi quickly unrolled the scroll and read the contents.

Ino noticed Sakura's slight shiver. "What's the matter?"

How could she say that her and dog use the same shampoo?

"What's this?" Shikamaru impatiently waited for Kakashi to finish reading.

"It's some information I requested from Lady Tsunade. She was at the battle, and I figured she'd be the lead expert. Though, this certainly not what I was expecting."

It was a rushed idea that he decided to follow up on. Kakashi wasn't expecting that Tsunade would give him a lengthy explanation, especially since he figured Pakkun wouldn't relay the request properly. But a single sentence? That was it?

"The real one isn't there."

Shikamaru had to pause. His mind frozen with confusion. Even Ino, who had been with this battle since the beginning, was lost in this piece.

Sakura was trying to place catch up. For obvious reasons, she was missing variables that could be key components. Sakura wasn't just here for her medical powers. Her mind was just as sharp as Shikamaru's.

"Seven enemies and the real one is there? A riddle, maybe?"

Kakashi rubbed the back of his head, tick of his unnerve. "Not in this case, I don't think. Given the circumstances, I don't think Tsunade would give us something we needed to look for. Yet again, the reality says otherwise."

"We know very little about them." Shikamaru added. "And this Rinnegan is it'a own mystery. I've never heard of it until this guy came around."

"Because this is the second confirmed user of the Rinnegan. The first being the Sage of the Six Paths." Kakashi knew that wasn't offering much.

"Hm. Fitting name."

"Paying respects, I'm sure." Kakashi would have loved to spend as much time as he could with this, but they were on the clock. Especially with this many shinobi under him, it would take more time to get moving and organized. "Work on this separately. I need to get the troops ready. They left one fight to get into another. They, at least, deserve to know what they're up against."

The commanding officer handed the scroll to his strategist before disappearing into the crowd of shinobi.

Shikamaru stared into the setting sky. "We've probably got two to three hours before we set out on this mission. I'd suggest you guys do your duties and bed down. Get some rest. It's going to be a long time before we'll have another lull."

The Nara disappeared much like their commander. Sakura and Ino shared a look of, not only dread for the coming conflicts but, surprise by the Nara's rise of leadership. It had been slow, but Shikamaru was proving to be the leader of their graduating class.

"Seems he's not as lazy."

Ino joined in Sakura's chuckle. "He's definitely grown up. We all have."

An understatement for some, an overestimate for others.

But with growth comes responsibility. And they had a responsibility to keep their friend alive.

"C'mon, let's save that knucklehead for a change."

-With Naruto-

"I'm going not to lie to you, it pains me to see you like this, wonder boy."

Kisame looked up to the chained jinchūriki, feeling a sense of waste. He understood that it was the Akatsuki's goal to capture these people, but the potential that Naruto held was near unfathomable.

"Trust me. It pains me to look down on you, shark boy."

The man heralded as the Tailless Bijū snickered. He was still licking his wounds from their bout. "I almost want you set you free and settle the score."

Naruto could see the scales on the sword shimmer with excitement.

"Bring it on."

Whether or not Kisame was serious, Naruto couldn't tell. And he wasn't able to find out.

"Kisame."

A man in an orange mask slowly came into view, emerging from the darkened corner of the chamber. The Sharingan shining through the hole.

"It's you…"

"Leave us, Kisame. Take the six tails with you. The time nears for his extraction."

The shark man nodded begrudgingly. He was growing tired of this. Samehada was growing tired of this. Craving more action, Kisame was willing to rebel. But he also knew better than to rebel against Madara Uchiha.

He pulled on Utakata'a dangling leg, causing the chains to instantly disappear. The jinchūriki landed with a great thud, barely conscious enough to understand what was happening. He had been so drained of chakra, the only thing keeping him alive was the beast inside.

Only Naruto and Fū remained.

"You're Madara..."

It was his first mission back. Gaara was kidnapped. They – he – needed to rescue him. It all ended with Itachi betraying the Akatsuki. And then he appeared.

The legend chuckled. "You remember that day well, don't you?"

"You're supposed to be dead. The First Hokage killed you like a hundred years ago."

"History is written by the victors, Uzumaki." Madara waved his hand and Naruto's chains lowered him to be eye to eye. "My victory is being written after all this time."

The stories of Madara Uchiha were something of a mystery. He was known as the First Hokage's true rival. Their battles were legendary throughout the Uchiha and Senju wars.

Hashirama and Madara were the founders of Konohagakure. It was their dream.

But Madara turned sour and betrayed everyone. Hashirama had to do what needed to be done.

He killed his best friend.

Or, at least, that's what the history books say. That's the history lesson the instructors teach at the Academy.

"Your victory?"

"Well, I suppose I should say everyone's victory." Madara patted Naruto's like a pet he was proud to own. "Don't worry, Nine-Tails. You and I…we'll be reunited again."

"You won't get away with this! Whatever you're planning, I'm gonna stop it!" Naruto barked back.

The dark chuckle sent shivers down Kurama's spine.

"You can try. But you won't succeed. Even in my current state, your power pales in comparison to mine. As strong as you've become, you aren't close to me."

Madara leaned in close, the Sharingan reflecting the red glint on Naruto's face.

"You've failed. And now, you're seeing the consequences of it."

Naruto remained stoic but knew that Madara was right. He had failed.

"Be well, Naruto Uzumaki. We shall see each other again."

In a silent distortion, Madara disappeared into nothing. There was a flash of movement or dash of light. Madara faded away into nothing, like a hallucination.

"That was no hallucination. It was him."

Dread filled his soul. Everything had completely fallen apart. He failed to rescue Fū and the others. He had been captured and could do nothing as he watched all the jinchūriki be taken to slaughter. His master had betrayed him.

And the icing on the cake.

Madara Uchiha was alive and tormenting him.

What the fuck is my life?

"What's it like to be tamed, Nine Tails?"

Tendō, the Deva Path, approached from the entrance. He was alone. Their master nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Pervy Sage?"

"Master is overseeing the extraction. I came here to retrieve the girl." Pain glanced up at Fū, dangling limply. "Before that, I decided to speak to you."

The extraction timeline for what Naruto thought immediately came into question. They had been here for a few days, from what Naruto could tell. Rōshi and Han were taken in days back-to-back. Utataka was just taken earlier, barely a few hours ago. Now Fū too? Something was wrong.

"Wait minute!" Naruto exclaimed. "How are you extracting the Tailed Beasts so quickly?! You shouldn't be able to do it so easily! It took you three days to fully extract the One-Tail from Gaara!"

"It takes a considerable amount of chakra to perform the sealing jutsu that extracts and seals a Bijū inside the Gedō Mazū. It's not about the amount of time, rather the amount of chakra. That's why it took us three days to seal the Shukaku with all nine members."

The purple chains that bound Naruto and the others were similarly colored to the Rinnegan eyes. They did come from them, after all.

"You have been bound to these chains that continually drain chakra. The extraction requires the jinchūriki to be completely chakra exhausted. It only took a few hours for the others to be completely drained. You, on the other hand, have been bound for nearly three full days and still have chakra to give. You could probably go another three days before being exhausted."

A thought Naruto hadn't considered. He had been told that his chakra levels were extremely high. A compliment like that made Naruto realize how much chakra he truly had.

"Your chakra is the reason the extractions have gone so well. Because of the chakra you've given us, we've been able to replenish our reserves tenfold and continue with our plans without stopping."

Naruto's stomach dropped. His chakra was being used to seal them?

"…Why? Why are you doing this?"

"The Akatsuki's goal is to achieve peace, something you or Master Jiraiya could not obtain. Through justice, peace will be achieved."

"Peace and justice?" Naruto darkly chuckled. "Peace isn't achieved by killing the innocent!"

"War kills the innocent. That pain of loss is felt by everyone. You and I aren't so different in that. We understand what it is to lose someone close. And we want the same thing, just in different aspects. My vendetta against Konoha is the same as your vendetta against me."

Pain removed a small memento from his person, holding it in his hand. From time before it all.

"Revenge is another form of justice. It just breeds more revenge and creates that cycle of hatred. The ninja world is ruled by hatred."

The cycle of hatred was something Jiraiya had told him about. The ideology stuck with him because he had never heard of the concept before. Jiraiya wanted to do something about this cycle of hatred but he wasn't sure how to go about it. He gave the quest to Naruto.

The word cycle had been used over and over in recent months. Cycle of hatred. Cycle of jinchūriki. Everything lived within a cycle, it was just a determination.

"Living within it the cycle, aware of the past, one predicts the future. That is what it means to know history. For those who do not know and understand history, they are doomed to repeat it over and over again. We cannot hope to help those who don't understand. This shinobi world…is ruled by hatred."

Pain pulled Naruto down, holding him at eye level. The Rinnegan eyes were intensely focused.

"Tell me, how would you face this hatred to build peace?"

Naruto retorted quicker than Pain probably expected. "Why ask me something like that?"

"You've questioned my motives for peace. I'm merely curious to what you would if roles were reversed."

Stoically, Naruto stared intensely back at the leader. Not saying a word because he didn't know what to say.

"I created the Akatsuki to break that cycle. To break it, I need the power of nine Tailed Beasts. Together, they'll make the ultimate weapon that can destroy an entire nation in a single instant."

Outraged, Naruto flung himself wildly. The chains bound his movements with loud clangs.

"That's not real peace! A dictatorship wouldn't be peace! It's a lie!"

"People are stupid and won't understand. This is the only path to peace."

"Even if it works, eventually people will rise up and revolt." Naruto would lead that charge against them until he was dead. "You won't keep people under rule forever."

"How correct you are. Eventually, that pain was pass and they will begin fighting once more. And when that happens, I will use that weapon again and bring peace. That's how the cycle is broken. Through short bouts of peace."

Somehow, Naruto was able grip the chains so tightly that he could feel them bend.

"You're wrong! Jiraiya believed that people would truly understand each other and live in harmony! What you think of peace is false and will only make more hate!"

Pain shook his head, reaching up for Fū's foot. He slightly pulled and the chains dissolved. Her body fell to the floor in a sudden drop, unmoving against the cold concrete. She was deeply unconscious she hardly felt it, if it all.

"All you do is talk." He pulled the body with her ankle, dragging her like a sack. "What can you do against me now?"

Naruto ravaged wildly. He poured every ounce of strength into somehow breaking these chains. "You can't have her!"

"It's like I said, your death will lead to peace."

The young man pulled on the chains harder and harder, his vision filled with Fū being unconsciously dragged to her death.

The dread and guilt began to turn into anger and burning fury that poured strength into his body.

Pain stopped and witnessed the unbelievable show of strength. Those chains were meant to hold down a Bijū without fear of them breaking.

"Naruto Uzumaki…you really are special."

No! I promised her! I can't break…

The chains trembled as Naruto fought against these forces, giving his absolute all in this battle.

"A PROMISE!"

The chains snapped. His body was freed. Naruto stumbled as he hit the ground, but focus was on Pain.

"Get back here, mother fucker!"

Wham!

Naruto was sent flying back with an enormously strong kick from a third party. He rolled until he smacked against the wall.

"Ah, great timing, Master." Pain spoke to the figure. "Are the extractions complete?"

"The Six-Tails is nearly complete. All that remain are these two."

Jiraiya's voice echoed in Naruto's ears. The underlying tone made him sound like Pain.

"Good. Now, rein in that beast and come rejoin. Once the Seven-Tails is sealed, we begin our hunt for the Eight-Tails."

Pain disappeared into the dark, Fū's body trailing.

Naruto pulled himself up, his body fighting him. Chakra exhaustion had his body. He needed a spark.

My body…it's so heavy.

"You've never been this low in chakra. Your body has never known this. This is the first time you've truly felt limited on chakra."

Now that we're free, you regulate chakra into me. I need it.

Kurama snickered. "I've always wanted to fight this perverted bastard for what he put you through." The chakra surged into his host's system, replenishing what was drained. "Go wild, boy!"

Features changed. Changing the boy into beast he needed to be to fight his master. This was going to be the hardest fight he ever had. The emotional toll was enough to cripple him, like it did before.

Not again. Fū is depending on me.

Naruto steeled his heart, closing it off. This wasn't his master. The man he thought as his father. It simply wasn't. It was just another enemy.

"Whatever you've become…you aren't going to stop me."

The hood slowly pulled back, revealing the man's piercings and purple eyes. He had become one of them.

"Time for you to be tamed…Nine-Tails."

-Sealing Chamber-

Fū's body laid out in the middle of the large room, between two stone statue hands. Kisame and Deidara stood with the bodies of Pain. Konan was nowhere to be seen.

"This chakra…it's even more potent than my one."

Kisame was never one to give out compliments, but Naruto continued to be the exception. Even back in their first bout years ago, Kisame could feel the power deep within the boy.

"Hm." Deidara could only offer a grunt. He hated being inferior to another. Natural power like that always bothered him. It wasn't art or beauty, like his own was. "Let's just get this over with. We've been stagnant for over a week. I'm getting bored."

"Quiet Deidara." The Deve Path spoke. "Our goal is nearing completion. No more delays."

Chakra surged from the mouth of the Gedō Mazū. Phantom dragons appeared and swallowed Fū whole, lifting her body into the air. Bright green chakra poured from his mouth.

Only two beasts remained to be sealed. Then, the world would finally know peace.

A swirl of paper butterflies appeared and created a partial face and body.

"What is it Konan?"

"A large-scale force of Konoha are approaching the village. They are here to rescue the Nine-Tails."

Pain had not foreseen this. He expected a rescue team but not a full-scale force. The shinobi that fell under the village name were not as trained as standard shinobi from one of the Great Nations.

"Ready the troops and evacuate the villagers. Once the sealing is complete, we'll join." Pain turned to the remaining two Akatsuki. "Kisame, Deidara…reinforce. I'll stay and finish this."

The two immediately dropped their seals and leapt to the coming battle. Samehada shuttered in excitement while Deidra licked his lips.

"Are you sure, Nagato? Don't push yourself."

"This is our opportunity, Konan. I am not going to waste it."

Konan stared blankly. She saw the unwavering determination. He wasn't going to be swayed. He was focusing all his chakra into the sealing, then going to battle. It was going to take a long time for him to recover.

"Then I'm coming to you. I'm done sending out paper clones."

"No. Help our forces repel the enemy. They cannot reach this chamber until the extraction is complete. With Naruto free of the chains and the other two fighting, it's going to take a little longer than it has. Buy us time."

"But Nagato…"

"Don't argue, Konan. Follow orders."

Konan hated when he used his authority with her. She wasn't a normal subordinate, like Kisame and Deidara. She had been with him since the beginning of the Akatsuki. They started the group together.

But ever since everything happened and Madara came into the picture, Nagato had been very different. Nothing was the same.

No doubts now. Remember the goal.

Konan disappeared, paper crumbling into nothing.

-Outskirts of Amegakure-

The entire force stood in the silently pouring rain, waiting for the signal from their commander.

They all understood what was at stake. And what could happen if they failed.

This was for the world.

Kakashi gave the signal flare. And the force jumped into battle.

We're coming, Naruto.