KG: I've turned thirty this month. I wonder if this is the time when I get my identity crisis stage.
Wife: Don't worry, I've been having it since I decided to marry you.
KG: Love you too, honey.
Wife: Don't I know it.
Music of the Month: I'd Rather Stay On Earth by Cassinello (If you know what 'game' this is from, you are a proper man or woman of culture!)
Quote: "Forgiveness has nothing to do with absolving a criminal of his crime. It has everything to do with relieving oneself of the burden of being a victim—letting go of the pain and transforming oneself from victim to survivor," by C.R. Strahan.
Konan glared harshly as she stood before her former associates, the members of the Akatsuki. As expected, no one was willing to share a housing space with so many notorious criminals. That left a lot of room for her former teammates to pursue their own interests. Of course, that didn't stop an entire squad of shinobi from being stationed outside the building to monitor them. It wasn't hard for Konan to sneak in either way.
Nagatao glared back at her, his decrepit body attached to that mechanical walker from his excessive use of the Rinnegan to control the Paths of Pain. As far as she was aware, aside from Obito, this was the first time the other Akatsuki members had seen their leader in such a state. As always, the Deva path was between him and the others, ready to remind them all that though he might be physically weak, he could just as easily turn the tide if need be.
"You really think I'll believe that?" Nagato asked.
Konan's frown deepened. "Nagato, you are my friend. You have always been my friend, but I have started to get fed up with what you think. Perhaps I did believe in your vision at some point but I think it was because I rathered you not fall into Darkness without someone to look out for you. I don't know how powerful the Juubi is, but if it's anything like that man Uzumaki Naruto was facing, then even you can see where the end result of your goals. Congratulations, you'll create a world where this is peace, a peace with absolutely no one to appreciate it. A dead world where nothing lives. It's time you stopped we stopped this meaningless crusade of ours," she fired back.
Nagato snarled. "Meaningless, Konan? Nothing was more meaningless than all the deaths perpetuated by the world of Shinobi. If nothing, perhaps this event will prove where our world was always headed against this endless cycle of pain. If you're not here to come back into Akatsuki, then why are you here?" he asked.
Konan slowly inhaled and then exhaled. "Nagato, you and I both know that the power displayed by Uzumaki Naruto was not born of chakra. It was a power vastly superior to that. I have also come to know that it was the power which changed the very nature of the Kyuubi no Yoko. The Nine-Tailed Fox was already the most powerful beast out of the nine. Now, its power has already grown to even greater heights than before. That monster, the Juubi, the weapon you were hoping to create won't come to pass now that the Kyuubi is no longer comprised of chakra. The bijuu are useless to you and Akatsuki," she returned.
Her eyes turned to Kisame who suddenly started laughing. "You want us to surrender the bijuu back to the Kage to help against that Jashin guy, don't you?" he asked, lugging Samehada on his shoulder.
Konan was thankful Tobi wasn't here. The man had a lot of sway with Nagato, despite her friend trying to convince her that she was wrong. Either way, Konan nodded. "That's right. I already know you're holding the bijuu in the Gedo Mazo. You all know as well as I do that we can't stay in this world forever. We'll have to return to our world eventually. We suffered a devastating loss even with two Jinchuuriki and thousands of shinobi from every nation. If we're going to stand a chance, we're going to need the other bijuu and I don't think any of you are keen on becoming jinchuuriki yourselves," Konan replied.
The Regent chuckled. "And so must everyone play their part upon the grand stage as the coming drama continues to reach its peak," he spoke, performing to himself for emphasis.
The others eyed him curiously, most notably Zetsu. Still, Nagato continued to look at Konan before a snarl came to his face. He was about to speak before his body spasmed into a fit of coughs. "Even if I was going to entertain your idea, ridiculous as it is, I cannot currently summon the Gedo Mazo. Believe that I have tried. The statue is back on Earth, and I know not the God of Slaughter's plans with it. If he is even more powerful than we've seen, then I've no doubt that he'll find the statute and make use of it," Nagato answered.
Konan widened her eyes, not at all pleased by this current news.
Apparently, neither were the people behind her.
"Well, that certainly saves us this conversation."
Konan turned around, utterly surprised to see the Four Kage, and a young Iwa kunoichi, coming into the room. "It seemed I wasn't the only one who had that idea. I suppose it's not too much of a surprise since there's nowhere for Akatsuki to hide. Naturally, the nations would want them back," Konan thought to herself.
The paper user then noticed the Mizukage glance at Kisame. Not much of a shock, considering he was a missing-nin from her own village. Not to mention, he had one of Kirigakure's famed swords in his possession. He grinned arrogantly at her, but the Mizukage maintained a neutral gaze, choosing instead to turn back to the rest of the Akatsuki leader.
As for Tsunade, she struggled to keep her face calm. Though they were much older, she recognized the blue-haired woman and the red-haired man. They were those Ame orphans that Jiraiya had picked up and taken care of during the Second Great Shinobi war. She wondered what Jiraiya would think if he saw his pupils in such a tragic manner.
Nagato frowned. This matter would have to be done delicately. He still hadn't forgotten that his parents had been killed by Konoha shinobi. Nevertheless, this wasn't the opportunity to start a war. With his true body so close, Nagato wasn't so sure he'd make it out alive. Additionally, there was the Kyuubi jinchuuriki. That power couldn't be underestimated. As much as Nagato was loathed to admit it, it'd be borderline impossible to combat such a thing without preparation, something that was basically impossible in the location they were in now.
"In order to summon the Gedo Mazo, you would have to speak with the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki and get him to send us back to our world. Even then, that's only if this god hasn't done anything with it. For all we know, the other bijuu could be under his control," Nagato said, no longer speaking to Konan but to Tsunade and the others.
As for the Kage, they weren't too pleased by that knowledge. So currently it was six bijuu to three. The medic corps had also lost a great number of shinobi from the rest of their wounds. It had been a hard day for all to bury friends and family in the cold snow. At least tensions between the nations had remained at a low for now. Hopefully, it stayed that way.
Gaara turned to Konan. "We heard you mention something strange. What did you mean when you spoke of this… Juubi?" he asked.
Konan glanced between the Kage and the Akatsuki, everyone waiting on her words. That said, there was something in the Regent's gaze that unsettled her. She could practically feel the smile burned on his face behind his mask.
Well, it wasn't like they were going anywhere. "Yes. I had set out to capture the Sanbi jinchuuriki but wound up being captured myself. During my imprisonment, I spoke with the Sanbi itself. It showed me things, many things. It showed me what we, the Akatsuki, were creating by assembling all of the bijuu. I have seen numerous horrific things, perhaps nothing more than what we experienced a few days ago, but… that vision was an almost identical second. The weapon Nagato envisioned to create his version of peace, no one mortal will be able to control it. Everything that we as a society have built and gathered of ourselves came from that singular beast. When I saw what would become of this world, I couldn't stand with Nagato anymore. Many have told horror stories of the Kyuubi and what it can do. I urge you all to believe that these tales would be kid stories when compared to the Juubi," she said.
The Kage tensed. Hell, even some of the Akatsuki tensed. They looked at her and none could deny the tremble in her voice. "Wait, you said you spoke to the Sanbi? Weren't these just mindless beasts?" Kurotsuchi questioned.
Konan shook her head. "The Bijuu are in fact quite sentient. It was a surprise to me as well, and I can begin to see how they would harbor such intense resentment toward us. I'm actually not even sure they would help us even if Nagato could summon them. We've not given them a good reason," she answered.
"They've killed thousands of us! They are too dangerous to roam free!" Kurotsuchi argued.
"I'm not here to argue the morals of freedom and who did what. I don't know. All I know is that we're in the fight of our lives and we should start acting like the adults we claim to be before we end up like nothing. A god was able to force us from our own world. As far as I know, the Juubi hadn't come from nothing. If gods exist, then what exists out there could create something like the Juubi?" she asked.
Kurotsuchi would have probably dropped to the ground from the sheer amount of stress running through her body if her pride allowed it. It was just one thing after another. Nothing seemed to be making sense.
Tsunade inhaled and exhaled. "Alright, that's a matter for another time. For now, we should deal with the immediate threat, then we can discuss this Juubi later. We'll make this frank, Akatsuki, can we count on you to aid us against the threat when we return to our world?" she questioned.
"Today's just full of surprises isn't it?" Kisame asked, not believing the words that he'd just heard.
"We share the same enemy. It's certainly one we can't defeat on our own," Black Zetsu voiced.
"I am no longer affiliated with the Akatsuki, so I cannot speak for them. However, I will aid Yuri-san as best I can," Konan answered.
Tsunade offered her thanks to Konan before she turned back to the rest of the Akatsuki, namely Nagato. He looked at her intensely. "As Konan said, we are adults. We must act like it. Akatsuki will help you, but make no mistake. We are not your friends nor your allies. Once this alliance is over, we shall continue on with our own matters until we learn the truth of this… Juubi. For I have not forgiven your village for the sins committed against me and my people. Now get out," Nagato demanded.
Ay scowled, but a hand from the Kazekage eased him back. "Rest assured, boy, none one here has forgotten your sins against us as well. There shall be a settling of accounts one day!" he fired back. He then left with the others following behind him. Mei gave one last look to Kisame before she departed as well.
Finally, Konan turned her eyes to Nagato. "I don't know what it will take you, Nagato, and I'm not telling you to forget what Konoha did to us or you, but at some point… you've got to let it go," she answered before she left via various sheets of flying paper.
Nagato gritted his teeth and clenched his hands. "Konan!" He snarled out in the depths of his mind while the Regent quietly observed. Pretty soon, the grand play would be upon them all.
-x-
A total of five days passed since that meeting time. Tsunade rubbed her eyes. That had been another sleepless night for her. Not once had she been allowed a full eight hours of sleep since that dreadful day. Konoha's supplies continued to slowly dwindle away while efforts began with the training of not only the Hachibi and Sanbi, but also the rest of the elemental nation soldiers.
Naturally, tensions were still high but by the authority of the Gokage, all assaulting offenders were to be punished. At a time like this, where they needed every man and able body to be one unit, there was no room for patience or leeway.
As for now, Tsunade was doing her rounds through the hospital. After so many days, they had finally gone through everyone and treated those they could. That at least gave the medic staff at least one day of rest. All the Hokage had to do was do a brief check on Naruto and Kushina. Once that was over, she would have to make an appearance with the other Kage at the training grounds they'd built for all the shinobi. It was set out to be another busy day.
Coming upon Naruto and Kushina's room, Tsunade grabbed the door handle. Immediately, she grunted when she felt a great surge of divine energy. Her body shivered and she was nearly brought to her knees. Hell, the only thing holding her up was her hand on that handle. Every cell within her body screamed that she was not privileged to enter the room. To gaze upon the inside of it was to go blind from the power within.
Thankfully, the power lessened. Catching her breath, she swung the door open. To her surprise, Naruto was awake. He stood over his mother, looking down at her sleeping visage. Tsunade spoke not a word, unable to resist the blush on her face. Naruto was practically glowing in a bright, white light. The bandages they'd wrapped him in had come undone. The Shinigami's robe covered his body, keeping the cold off him. His eyes were like two blazing balls of fire and his hair fell off the back of his head.
Tsunade dared not speak a word lest she tremble when his gaze fell upon her. Still, as his doctor, she ought to say something. Yet, what could she say that wouldn't have her bumbling like a buffoon?
Naruto leaned over and kissed his mother on her lips. The power from his body slipped into hers, granting her the same ethereal glow as he had. He caressed her cheek for his heart was filled with immense love for her.
He then pulled back and faced Tsunade. She jerked in response to his intense, yet hollow gaze. He didn't even seem like the same happy-go-lucky brat these days. She tried to maintain eye contact, but her eyes started moving downward of their own volition. She wanted to curse her human weakness, but it was just impossible to resist. She was practically compelled to bow her head in reverence to him, just like Jashin, the man who killed her best friend.
"I will be leaving, Baa-chan. Do not look for me," Naruto said, what sounded like three other voices moving through him.
"N-N-Na…" Tsunade stammered out before the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki turned to his mother once again. Again, he kissed her. He'd never tire of doing that.
Naruto turned away from the Godaime Hokage and faced the window. He pushed them open and Tsunade could only watch as he sucked in his legs and flew out of the room without nary a sound. The blonde Kage merely continued to stand in the doorway as he flew into the horizon and disappeared behind a vast sheet of ice, snow, and wind.
"What the…! Naruto, wait!" Tsunade shouted, finally finding her voice. She ran to the open window, but she already knew he was too far to hear her. Her salvation, the village's salvation, had just literally, and figuratively, gone out the window. If not for his utterly terrifying presence, Tsunade might have chased after him just to bash him over the head.
Tsunade continued to look for any small sign of Naruto but there was none. So, she sighed and closed the window from the blistering cold. Pieces of the snow had stuck to her skin, already sucking away her chakra before she wiped them off.
The Godaime Hokage then turned back to Kushina. She was still sleeping. Tsunade took the time to check the Uzumaki Matriarch's vitals. While this was for Kushina's benefit, this was also for the Hokage's as well. She needed this to put her thoughts in order. She'd have to tell the rest of the Kage about this recent development. Hell, she could already see the Raikage and Temporary Tsuchikage complaining about him leaving without a single word. She also wondered what that would do to the rest of the morale of the village. She had no idea where Naruto went. The cold would be the death of anyone who ventured out so far.
Finally done, Tsunade closed the door to Kushina's room. Unknown to her, Kushina slowly opened her eyes and frowned.
"Sochi… you really are my son. Always so reckless," Kushina thought before she closed her eyes, ready to delve back into her own training. Had it not been for that, she would have woken up days ago. However, it became clear that she wasn't strong enough. She'd need grander power if she were to face someone on the level of Jashin. Surprisingly, she had a benefactor working with her this time.
"Are you ready to continue? You must not waste time!" a voice said from deep within the recesses of her mind.
"I don't need you to remind me. I understand," Kushina said as she closed her eyes. She inhaled and exhaled slowly, letting her body fall asleep for the second time since she'd woken up.
In the meantime, Tsunade left the hospital, grabbing hold of her coat. She braved the cold after having assigned Shizune to look after Kushina. Of course, things were still rather tense and awkward between the former kunoichi and her assistant. Duty claimed that Tsunade should kill Shizune for breaking and spilling Konoha secrets, and she'd hardened herself and her guilt to do that, but Naruto had stopped her. He claimed Shizune under his authority which Tsunade couldn't dispute as she was a living being under the realm of the Shinigami. She'd never admit it, but she was thankful for that. However, that left many things unfinished between the both of them. Then, that was just compounded with other shit that Tsunade really didn't want to deal with.
A brief walk through the village, Tsunade found herself standing in front of the building where the Bee and Yuri were training. Five guards stood in front of the main doors, each one a shinobi from each village. The Konoha one saluted her but the others paid her no real mind. At a time like this, Tsunade hadn't the mind to care too much for the international discourtesy.
She stepped inside the room, watching Yura stare down at the battlefield with worry. Heh, the things thousands of people from different villagers could build when they were forced to come together. A large explosion moved over the field as Tsunade watched Yuri stumble back, her body glowing with the power of the Sanbi. She scowled while Bee landed next to her.
"Focus, both of you! There's no time for rest! We're gonna keep doing this until you get it right!" Ay shouted as a pillar of sand swirled around the both of them. Gaara and Mei stood at the Raikage's side.
Yuri cursed before she held up her hands and slammed them on the ground, shaking the arena as the Kage and the shinobi with them trembled, falling to their knees. "Yuri, that's enough! I know you're frustrated but this is what you signed up for! Do it again!" Yugao shouted.
The younger redhead opened her mouth and grumbled. She was ready to respond before Tsunade spoke. "Unfortunately, this is going to have to be a break for everyone!" Tsunade shouted, startling everyone present.
Yura turned her head and so did Yuri. Yugao and the other Kage looked at her.
"We haven't got the time to stop for every little thing!" Ay exclaimed.
"It's urgent news," Tsunade returned.
There were a few murmurs through the arena before Ay sucked his teeth. He dismissed everyone while Tsunade turned to Yura. "This news includes you and Yuri. Get her," she said.
Confused, Yura agreed. She gathered her exhausted sister, Kakashi, Yugao, and a few others from the Uzumaki family. They were gathered around a meeting room with the rest of the Kage.
"What's going on?" Fuka whispered to Risa. The mother of Tayuya shook her head that she wasn't sure. Tayuya leaned against the wall while Yuri continued to catch her breath. Kakashi and Yugao were silently observing as the Kage came together.
"Alright, what is this oh-so-urgent news?" Kurotsuchi asked.
Tsunade faced her. "Naruto's awake," she said, getting gasps and looks of shock from everyone present. Yura released the breath she'd been holding while Yuri couldn't resist cracking a wide smile.
"Fucking finally, you dipshit," Tayuya said under her breath, clearly pleased with the knowledge as well.
Of course, the Kage were thrilled as well, yet they remained measured. "I sense a but coming," Mei replied, her eyes focusing on the Godaime Hokage. Naturally, that reined in the emotions of those around. Kakashi and Yugao frowned.
Tsunade sighed. "He's left the village and disappeared into the snowy mountains. I have no idea where he's gone or when he'll come back. He just told me not to go searching for him," she finished.
"What?! He left?!" Kurotsuchi questioned, slamming her hands on the table.
Gaara thought about this. "Did he say what he would be leaving for?" he asked.
Tsunade shook her head. "Not to my knowledge. I can only guess that he's doing something dangerous that he can't be around us. Either that, or it was the Shinigami that called him away. In any case, I don't think we'll be getting any answers out of him for the time being," she replied.
Kurotsuchi bit her lip while Yura quickly grew concerned. Yuri saw her big sister's expression.
"And Kushina?" Risa questioned.
"Still sleeping. I estimate her to be awake in two or three days," Tsunade explained.
Quietly, Yura slipped away and closed the door. She walked up and down the arena's dark hallways. How surprising that all of this had been built in only two days since the meeting of the Kage. Moving through its corridors, she came back to the battlefield area where her little sister had just been fighting. Of course, Yura wished to join in but…
"Yura, you still need to work on your sealing jutsu. I don't think your current level will be enough to give Yuri what she needs," Risa said. Of course, Yura was aware this wasn't from a place of malice or ill-intent. It was true that she'd only been around the chunin level when she left Konoha. Her career hadn't even been that outstanding anyway. Of all the Uzumaki present, Yura couldn't deny it.
She was the weakest. Yuri had long since surpassed her in strength and Kushina was merely a step or two away from being close to her lover. Now, obviously, Yura continued in her training, diligently even. Yet, she'd not been able to take care of Yuri when it mattered. Her little sister was transitioning into the proper thoughts, ideals, and fears of a woman. Not only that, Yuri was suffering from things Yura wasn't too sure she could help with. When she went to sleep, shivering from the intense cold wind against her window, she too wished for strength. If she were stronger would she have been able to make a difference? She wished to help them. She wished to prove her worth. She wished to earn the right to stand with the rest of them.
Yura clenched her fists. Falling to her knees. "But I don't know if I can! I don't know how I can help! I want to be relied on too. Nii-sama, I don't want you to handle it all alone. I want to be there with you. I want you to share your problems with me. I want to fix this. I don't want to lose my family anymore! What must I do? Shinigami-sama, please tell me!" Yura pleaded, anguish threatening to overwhelm her very soul. Her hair sprawled over her face while tears fell down her cheek.
Suddenly, Yura stiffened when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up, noticing no one around. Confused, she noticed the form of a person walking around a corner. Ordinarily, though embarrassing, she wouldn't care if someone saw her but… the flow of the hair made her stand up. She remembered that hair, even if it had changed from red to white.
Yura walked to the corridor and saw no one. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the figure walk away. She swiftly followed after them. Her travels took her to the very top of the building behind a door. She grabbed the handle and pulled it open. Instantly, she stared out into the freezing, numbing cold of the dimension Naruto had taken them to. She took a step back from fear of the snow, but there was the figure amidst the frozen wasteland near the railing.
The figure was tall and slim, a feminine figure making it easy to understand that the person was a woman. Her hair was long and sleek, nary a strand out of place. Yura looked out and the snow. "Does she want me to go out there?" Yura questioned.
Despite her own judgment, Yura stepped out into the cold, hard blizzard. The wind stung her face and the snow clung to her body. Her breath expelled as white frost from her lips. Her chakra started to drop the further out she got until she made it to where the woman was standing. When Yura turned her head, she stared at the woman. Her lips trembled, refusing to speak the words that her soul anguished on.
Finally, the woman put a hand on Yura's shoulder. The young redhead looked up at the woman and she saw a bright smile on the face of the woman. That smile broke through the bindings which held Yura's lips in their silence.
"I… I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. Forgive me for being weak," Yura pleaded, exhaustion threatening to drop her to her knees. However, before she could fall, the woman touched her cheek and wiped away her tears. Once she had Yura's attention, keeping her smile, she pointed out into the harsh snowstorm. Beyond the ice-capped mountains, beyond the plains of frost, beyond the boundary of mortal sense, she pointed out there.
Yura looked out, very confused by what she was being told to do. She sought to question the woman, but when she turned her head the woman was gone. She was alone on the rooftop, the snow continuing to fall and continuing to drain her chakra. She looked at the large mountain range where no one dared tread. Somewhere out there, Naruto was there.
Yura closed her eyes for a moment, her body shivering from the deadly cold. Nevertheless, when she opened her eyes, she glared out into the vast nothingness. "I must be crazy," Yura thought before she turned around and headed back inside.
-x-
Yuri groaned as she walked through the door, her body aching from the hours of training. Everything burned and she almost thought she'd pass out. "Yura-nee, please tell me there's something to eat in here!" Yuri exclaimed, even her voice cracking from the strain.
There was no response.
Yuri raised an eyebrow. It seemed so weird for the compound to be so quiet. She really didn't like the silence. It made her think of things she really didn't want to. Though the training was hard, that was one benefit she enjoyed. She was much too focused on not getting her teeth pushed in to think about the guilt concerning Yukimaru, Konohamaru, and Moegi.
"Nee-chan!" Yuri called out.
"She's not here. Can you please stop shouting?"
The Sanbi Jinchuuriki turned her head and saw the outside patio door open. Surprised, she saw Karui and Omoi enter the room. She remembered seeing them a couple of times. According to Shi, they were also Uzumaki that hadn't opted to join the clan, instead preferring to stay in their home nation. Though sad, Yuri accepted it. Hell, even her sister had left Konoha's walls and Yuri had basically done it when she and Naruto left with the issuing of his banishment.
"And what are you two doing here?" Yuri asked. If she sounded rude, then she didn't mean to. A lot of irritation and exhaustion was speaking for her.
Thankfully, it seemed that neither Karui nor Omoi minded. "We… exchanged letters with Shi-san numerous times while he was in Konoha. We always wanted to visit, but never found the right opportunity. This seemed like as good a time as any," Omoi answered with a shrug.
In almost any other circumstance, Yuri would have smiled at them coming. Now, the joy just wouldn't reach her lips no matter how hard she tried. "Oh. Well, it's good to see you guys. I think Fuka-nee and Risa-san will be coming back soon so they can accommodate you guys if you need it. Did either of you see where Yura-nee went?" she then asked.
"We saw her when she came through the door. She went upstairs, but she came down just as fast with some sort of pack. She hasn't returned since," Karui answered.
Yuri blinked. That wasn't like her sister. "Did she say where she was going?" she inquired.
"Not that we're aware of," Omoi replied.
Yuri quickly grew worried. That wasn't like her sister at all. She closed her eyes and tried to sense her older sister's unique chakra, but the snow and ice were too potent. She couldn't push through it to sense anything out of her immediate area, even with the Isobu's help.
Concerned, Yuri ran up to her sister's room and opened the door. It didn't take her long to notice a note on her desk. The young woman grabbed the note and stared down at it.
"You might think me crazy, Yuri, for what I'm about to do. I don't know when I'll be back… or if I'll even be back at all, but if it is Shinigami-sama's will then you'll see me again. I'm going to go look for Nii-sama. I know he told us not to, but I feel this is where I'm being led. At a time like this, none of us can afford to be alone, not you and not him. Don't eat crazy while I'm gone. Be sure to train hard and stay out of trouble. I love you.
Yura,"
Yuri clenched the note in her hands and stared out the window in shock. The vast nothingness lay in front of her eyes. She dashed out of her sister's room and landed down the stairs, shocking Karui and Omoi. She pushed open the door and ran out into the snow.
Even with the snow draining her chakra, the Sanbi Jichuuriki sped through the village until she burst through the Front Gates. She looked out, panting and huffing. Shinobi of Konoha came up behind her worried, but Yuri ignored them. Her eyes looked out over the great distance, no sign of her sister anywhere. Her sister was actually gone.
"Nee-chan…" Yuri thought, clenching the note in her hands.
-x-
Yura grunted as she clenched her coat over herself. The chilling snow clung to her, but she pursued her course faithfully. Each step buried her legs up to her knees in snow. She looked up and saw the faint glow of the spirit leading her just ahead. The young woman glanced back at Konoha.
"I can do this. I know I can!" Yura said to herself. She pulled up the straps of her backpack and trudged on. Her chest was hot and her fingers were cold. Exhaustion already started to overtake her as her chakra continued to drain away. Nevertheless, she forced one leg up. She then forced up the other. One in front of the other, over and over.
Yura Uzumaki disappeared into the frozen wasteland.
-x-
"I shall say it again, Shikyō-sama, you're quite possibly the biggest fool I've ever seen. Even bigger than my brother," Tobirama said as he, Madara, and Kagura watched the blond stare up at the largest ice mountain in the midst of this ice dimension.
"Your opinion is noted," Naruto replied, throwing all his clothes except his pants into the snow. He inhaled and exhaled slowly. He then summoned everyone else from his sword. Pakura, Dan, Yahiko, Gari, Suiren, Kimimaro, and the Kindred came out. He glanced at them for a long while. He would have taken out the Kyuubi and Mōryō, but both refused no matter what he said. Clearly, neither seemed fond of the cold.
The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki turned back the others. "Go," he ordered.
They spoke not a word and flew up the mountain. When he looked at Kagura she huffed but flew up as well. That left Naruto alone with Madara and Tobirama. He held out his hand. The two looked at each other. "You will regret this, boy. You give the slightest weakness and I will take it," Madara said while Tobirama snorted.
"And should you allow him do so, I will present a strong argument to the Shinigami of why you shouldn't be allowed to be his summoner. Die with him, and it will be your last one!" Tobirama threatened. The two spirits then flew into Naruto, merging their souls into his… at exactly the same time.
Instantly, Naruto's eyes shot open. He screamed into the cold air, falling to his knees. His body was racked with pain. His eyes turned bloodshot and dark purple, pulsing veins spread out over his skin. He roared as honshou exploded from his body and into the sky, his head shoving snow left and right. He could feel Madara and Tobirama battling for dominance within him immediately. It felt like trying to control a wildfire and a seaquake at the same time.
Blood spilled out of Naruto's eyes and mouth while he continued to agonize against the two. Right now, he was pretty thankful he hadn't bothered to summon anyone of this level during his first time. He would have been immediately overrun.
Naruto tried to will them both down, forcing himself to exert more authority than he ever had before.
FUCK!
He hadn't even started climbing the mountain and yet he felt like he was already dying, his soul tearing itself to pieces. Every blow between the both of them was like a boom of thunder through his spirit. He tried to keep himself strong, even as he thought his heart might blow out of his chest. However, it was too much. It was all too much. Tobirama had one half of his soul and Madara had the other. Naruto just didn't have the strength to pull them both together. No matter how much strength he exerted that only seemed to add to their own. In fact, they seemed to be siphoning power from him to further augment their own ferocity.
Grabbing the top of his head, Naruto hollered into the cold wind before he fell down into the cold ice. His body lay there in the harshness of the frost as his eyes rolled up into his head. His heartbeat slowed further and further until it stopped altogether.
When the patriarch of the Uzumaki Clan opened his eyes, he noticed the Shinigami before him. As always, the god's cold, heartless gaze made Naruto shiver. The blond turned over and stared defiantly at the Shinigami, even if the gaze was making him feel smaller than he was.
"...You're being reckless, Boy. You also overestimate yourself. You have not yet earned the right to attempt what you're attempting," the Shinigami said while Naruto felt his already shaken-up mind snap to pieces.
Ę̵̰̘̮͈̓̀̀ͅả̶̩̪̦R̴͇̠̺̥̱̀͑n̶̡̬̫̠͘!̷̨̢̺̣̀?̴͚̖͖͖͗̒̍ͅ!̸̡̦̍̑̐͘
Naruto stood up and scowled. "EARN?! Then what the hell do you want me to do?! How else am I supposed to beat one of you guys and get our world back?! I tried it the logical way, and as far as I'm concerned, that's what got me in the whole mess in the first place! I've got thousands of lives riding on me and I had tens of thousands riding on me back on Earth! Well, guess what! I fucking failed! When it came right down to it, I couldn't back up what I said I would! If I don't do something stupid, what else is left for me!?" Naruto questioned.
The Shinigami continued to look at him and Naruto started to get even angrier. "You know, you talk about me, but what about you?! I…"
"Watch. Your. Tone, Uzumaki Naruto. Choose your next words carefully," The Shinigami ordered, the god's voice threatening his summoner should he take a step too far. There was worth things than death that the Shinigami could do to those who outright defied him.
After a moment, Naruto wisely held his tongue and settled for a sharp glare. Nevertheless, the Shinigami spoke. "Indeed, it would have changed the outcome had you summoned me. You would have beaten him and you have freed the entire world, nay the entire universe from the terror of Jashin," the Shinigami answered, surprising the blond all the more.
That also didn't do anything but worsen his mood. "Then why didn't you…?"
"Then, who would save the world from Uzumaki Naruto? Would you truly wish me to kill my own summoner?" The God of Death asked, silencing Naruto. The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki looked at the floating specter with wide eyes.
"Who would save the world from… me?" He thought to himself. He opened his mouth, yet silence was the only thing on his tongue. He wished to refute. He wished to question. He wished for a damn explanation. He wished for anything. Yet, nothing answered him. The only thing afforded him, the only thing he'd earned was the cold, yet sympathetic gaze of the god who'd contracted himself to him.
"Know that this would not be a normal death. It would be one that not many have had to endure. It is a punishment that Mother never wished upon any creature that she's created. And I shall let you know, should you have passed away under such a circumstance, everything you'd done, everything you worked towards, everything you'd pursued, would be undone in a single instant. I warn you to remember that. Make no mistake, Shikyō, you are powerful and you have indeed stepped into the realm of our domain, yet you have only set your feet upon a staircase that ascends beyond your own thinking. You will not contest Jashin. Your hubris has grown much too high. Your strength will not be enough to overcome him, even with those two you're training with," he said.
Naruto's nails dug into his palms. His soul still felt like it was collapsing, Madara and Tobirama still fighting over it. However, that pain was nothing like the hopelessness he felt. If there were any left to shed, Naruto might have cried. "How?! How do I make my strength enough to beat him? How can I protect everyone? Please help me!" Naruto urged.
The Shinigami looked down upon him for a long while. Already, the blond's hair had turned into a mix of black and white, evidenced by the two spirits rampaging throughout his body. The Summoner of the Shinigami doubled over, wondering if the pain would make him go unconscious again.
Just before he did, the pain suddenly stopped. Naruto released the breath he didn't know he was holding. In fact, he felt even more at peace than he had in a long time. His body felt wonderful, bathed by the light of divine energy. Opening his eyes, he saw Madara and Tobirama standing next to him. It wasn't just them, however. He also saw Pakura and the others standing a little further back.
"Huh? What happened?" he questioned. He leaned up and rubbed his aching head.
"While reckless, the idea you came up with was rather interesting. Something I've enjoyed witnessing. However, you've gone about it the wrong way. Additionally, I shall provide you with a great help that will no doubt answer the questions not just about yourself, but also about those around you. I shall instruct you. Why make use of those who know not your struggles nor what you've endured? Would it not be better, more enriching for your soul to think of those who have been with you since the beginning? Once you've reached the top, I shall be waiting for you. Remember Shikyō, Paradise and Hell. They are at your disposal," The Shinigami said before he faded away.
Naruto watched his summon leave. He turned to Madara and Tobirama. They both gazed at him, but they faded away as well. This left Naruto alone with Pakura, Dan, Gari, Kimimaro, Yahiko, and Suiren.
He looked at the six of them.
The six of them looked at him.
Try as he might, Naruto couldn't keep the glare off his face. He waved them away and found himself awake at the bottom of the mountain, freezing from so much snow covering him. He leaned up and coughed. "Maybe it was a bad idea to remove my shirt like this," he said to himself.
Using his energy to warm himself up, Naruto glanced back at the mountain and gasped in awe. There was a presence of celestial might in the firmament of the skies. Stars rested in the outer space and comets sailed across the horizon. The ice blowing in the wind seemed like a spectacular painting of the beautiful air. The top of the mountain was covered by large clouds and small pieces of lightning. The northern lights stretched through the sky like a scarf wrapped around the neck of this dimension. Suddenly, what Naruto had planned seemed more challenging than before. In fact, there was something about it that just resonated with his spirit, his sense of self, and his strength of purpose.
For all he'd done, seen, and dreamt, Naruto suddenly seemed so small when compared to the magnitude of the mountain before him. Out here, there would be no one to help him if he called. There was no easy path nor, or someone to pull him up when he fell. There was no one here but himself, not unlike when he'd been growing up.
Naruto walked up to the base of the mountain. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the open groves of the rock, brushing away the snow. Then, he climbed. He climbed up the mountain, the cold winds already pushing against him violently. Naruto dug his toes into the mountain and pulled himself up further. The stones hurt and the rocks embedded into the soles of his feet. Nevertheless, he pulled himself up again. His breath was hot and his body was cold.
Naruto grabbed one of the rocks, watching some of the snow crumble off to the side. He inhaled and exhaled, the cold stinging his insides. He pulled himself up further. Higher and higher, Naruto Uzumaki ascended the mountain. Higher and higher, he'd rebuild his confidence.
Higher and higher, he'd ascend to his destiny.
-x-
Sasuke frowned as he sat on the rooftop of his house, looking up at the stars in the sky and the aurora lights surrounding them. For once, the blizzard had settled down, allowing all of those within Konoha to view the grand spectacle.
"So this is where you were. What are you doing out here?"
Sasuke didn't turn around, aware of his mother's voice. She sat down next to him, smiling. "Thinking," Sasuke replied, taking in the breathtaking view. The cold air stung his nose. He never liked the cold.
"About?" Mikoto questioned.
Sasuke grunted. "You ask a lot of questions sometimes," he replied, hoping not to sound disrespectful. It was just an observation of sorts.
Thankfully, Mikoto didn't seem to mind. In fact, she smiled. "I suppose I do. I've missed out on much of your life. I have to make up for lost time," she said smiling. Unfortunately, she saw that her son wasn't reciprocating her actions. The smile fell from her face as she looked up at the lights with him.
"Where's Yuna?" Mikoto asked.
"Sleeping. She's got a lot of work tomorrow. It seems everyone's too busy lately. Despite the village being filled with people, it's like the touch of death still hasn't been removed from the people. I don't like the silence like this. I sometimes hear the weeping of people and it reminds me of those first few nights when our entire family was wiped out," he answered.
Mikoto glanced at her son. He continued looking up at the sky, a sort of longing in his eyes. "Yes. I've learned a lot about Fugaku that I never thought I might. I see the look in Itachi's eyes sometimes. He still hasn't forgiven himself. I still remember his tears that night, and I wonder how many of them he shed with no friend to help him. It must have been no different for you, but… I couldn't be prouder of the men you've both become. And… because you're men, I think I'll have to start deferring to your decisions. If you and Itachi think this is a good idea, then I'll support you," the mother of the two Uchiha said.
For the first time, Sasuke looked at his mother. She stared back at him with a wide smile on her face. Sasuke continued to look at her and he looked at her face. Under the glow of the frozen night lights, her eyes seemed to sparkle. Feeling rather odd, he had to admit that his mother was very beautiful. The light reflected off her black hair and Sasuke found himself too mesmerized to look away.
Mikoto noticed her son's focused gaze and suddenly felt a little self-conscious. "Something on my face?" she asked.
Sasuke stiffened and tore his gaze away. "No. It's nothing. Thanks for that. I'll be sure to tell Itachi tomorrow. If it wasn't so severe, I might no suggest this option, but I already said it before. The dobe might not have given me all my family back, but he gave me enough. And I'll be the first to die before I let any of you get ripped away from me again. You, Yuna, Itachi, I will protect all of you. Of that, I swear," Sasuke said resolutely, grabbing her hand.
Mikoto felt her words die in her throat, aware of just how big her son's hands were. "I guess we'll hold you to your words then," she said, the warmth from her son flowing into her body. It seemed like such a stark contrast to the cold.
After a moment, Sasuke became aware of himself and released his mother's hand. Not sure what to say, he looked back at the sky. Mikoto leaned against him and smiled. "You know, with Itachi relinquishing his right to the Uchiha clan. That makes you the clan heir. You'll have to take the position from me eventually. Naruto-kun's currently beating you," she teased which made Sasuke snort.
"That he hasn't caused his compound to burn into the ground is a miracle of god itself. I've already settled my revenge. Now, I will indeed restore our clan, and I will create one where no child will have to cut down their parents to keep others safe. The dobe might have gotten a headstart, but I'll overtake him eventually," Sasuke said.
Mikoto laughed, but didn't respond further. As the night continued to draw on, they continued to stay out there. In fact, Mikoto noticed a few couples sitting on their own roofs, watching the lights as well. She even watched a few of them kiss each other lovingly, finding some sort of pleasure and happiness in this hopeless future for themselves.
"My, they're all quite… affectionate. I guess at times like this, it's good to be bold," she thought. That said, seeing this Mikoto wondered if she should try dating again. At least when the world returned to normal. Seeing this was actually a little lonely, no matter how warm Sasuke felt.
As the night grew long, Sasuke suddenly heard his mother's slow breaths. Turning his head, he saw that she'd gone to sleep. He shook his head before he picked her up. She leaned into his embrace as he went back inside.
Making it to her room, he laid her on her bed. For once, a smile came upon the Uchiha's face as he brushed a piece of her hair from the side of her face. He covered her with the sheets and left her room. Then, he returned to his own room where Yuna slept. Once he changed his clothes, he slipped in the bed and wrapped his arms around his lover.
Unfortunately, when he woke up the next morning, he noticed that Yuna was already gone. Her black coat was gone from the closet. He sighed, missing seeing her sleeping face. "Then again, at least I won't have to hear her complain about her bed hair," he replied with a bit of a smirk.
Sasuke entered the living room and noticed Itachi sitting there quietly. Even now, it still seemed so farfetched that the man who'd been the object of his hatred would now share the spaces they once shared all those years ago.
"Good morning, Sasuke," Itachi said without turning around.
The younger Uchiha grunted, but made himself known. "Surprised you're not gone as well. Figured you'd be training Yuri and the Hachibi along with everyone else," Sasuke uttered as he took a seat at the table.
"I agree that helping Yuri-san is one of the avenues by which we'll obtain victory, we can't neglect the training of the other forces. Improving their strength will make it so we don't start losing others as well. That was another reason for that tragedy a few days ago. We simply weren't strong enough to give Naruto the time he needed. This might be the first time where we're all working for the benefit of humanity instead of ourselves. The techniques that we'll come up with could shape the elemental nations for the next century or even two," he said, staring at the harsh blizzard outside.
"Assuming we're not at each other's throats when this is all over," Sasuke stated which made Itachi give something between a snort and a chuckle.
"Perhaps," Itachi answered.
The two brothers settled into a brief silence before Sasuke looked at Itachi. "Mother's given us her blessing. If we want strength quickly, this is one of the best ways to do it," Sasuke said.
Itachi gave nothing away in terms of facial expression. He just continued to look out the window. "Very well," he returned which surprised Sasuke somewhat.
"I figured you'd be a bit more against this," Sasuke admitted, looking at his brother with suspicion. Surprisingly, that got a laugh out of Itachi before he cleared his throat.
"Don't read too much into it. I've heard many tales of the power of the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. Yes, it would help you and I definitely. It'd be helpful if we could give Mother and Yuna-san it as well. Mother's already lost one of her eyes from the Regent incident. I can tell his being around unnerves her. Protect her, Sasuke. You don't know it, but she relies on you more than you might think," Itachi replied with a knowing smirk, one that Sasuke didn't really like.
"And what does that mean?" he asked.
"Who knows? Maybe I'm talking nonsense. Since this is your plan, you'll have to get everything in place. A lot of the doctors will be busy who can potentially do eye transplants. Also, you realize that we'll be disabled for a week or two until our eyes heal. We won't be going anywhere for a little while," Itachi said.
Sasuke snorted. "Better now than not at all. Fine, I suggested it, then I'll take care of it. Try and keep your schedule clear. I'll…" Sasuke stopped when there came a knock on the door. Both glanced at each other until Sasuke got up and answered the door.
"Uchiha Sasuke, your presence has been requested at the hospital along with all available Hinoken members," a jonin said, leaving before Sasuke could even give confirmation that he got the message.
He closed the door and walked back inside. "No rest for the weary, Little Brother," Itachi said, chuckling to himself when Sasuke ignored him with a growl. He marched upstairs and got dressed, but not before informing his mother that they were due at the hospital. His mother awoke with a groan and was ready to leave by the time he had on his Hinoken attire.
"Alright, Itachi. Assume that we'll be back late. You never know these days," Mikoto advised as she wrapped her scarf around her neck. Sasuke did the same as Itachi saw them off.
The two Uchiha dashed into the blizzard, hopping along snow-laden rooftops. If Mikoto was still sleepy, the snow had a cruel way of waking her up. "Did they at least say what the problem was?" She asked.
"Not to my knowledge," Sasuke replied.
In time, they landed in front of the hospital, meeting up with Kakashi and Yugao. "Yo," the one-eyed jonin said with a smile beneath his mask. Mikoto and Sasuke greeted him and Yugao.
"I take it you guys got the rude jonin wake-up call too?" Yugao asked, getting nods from Mikoto and Sasuke.
"Let's just get inside. It's freezing out here," Sasuke said, eyeing the mass of medic tents with injured shinobi. Clearly, the medic staff was still being overworked, but there seemed to be a system in place amidst all the chaos.
The four entered. Speaking to the receptionist, they were guided toward Kushina's room. In the hallway, they saw the entirety of the Uzumaki Family waiting. "Well, it's just a regular fuckton of guests isn't it?" Tayuya questioned before Risa smacked her over the head.
"Shut up, Tayuya," the older redhead replied while Fuka and Yuri observed them, the former chuckling to herself.
Tayuya snarled at her mother. It seemed like the two would get into another confrontation before the door opened. Everyone turned their attention to it, only to widen their eyes when Kushina stepped through. "Glad to see you guys are still loud as ever!" Kushina said as she came through the door, nary a scratch on her.
Before the leader of Hinoken could brace herself, she groaned when she was enveloped in the hugs of her family. Mikoto, Yugao, and Kakashi watched with smiles. Hell, even Sasuke was overjoyed at the sight of his team's leader, though the smile didn't quite reach his face.
As for Kushina, though she hugged them and was happy to be in their embrace again, she still sensed the sorrow raging from them all. She was one of the few of their family that returned. Yuri seemed to be holding her the hardest, nigh threatening to collapse to the ground if she let go.
Finally, her team was allowed in. "Glad to see you awake again, Kushina. I'd call you reckless, but I think you already knew that. You are Naruto-kun's mother after all," Mikoto said while Kushina chuckled.
"Sorry, I'll be sure to hold back the recklessness when I'm trying to keep a damn god entertained," Kushina returned before she pulled Mikoto into a hug. She then hugged Yugao and Kakashi. Of course, Sasuke offered her a grunt, but it was a sincere grunt and that was all that mattered. Sort of.
In the meantime, Tsunade took the time to appear. "As much as I'd like to celebrate your recovery some more, I'm afraid we don't have that luxury. Kushina, is there any way you can track Naruto? He's left the village and no one knows where he is. As I've been told by Yuri, Yura has also vanished to find him. I've sent out a team to look for her, but no one's been able to find anything. Kushina, she'll die out there and we need Naruto back in the village, his presence is the only thing keeping everyone together. We need him," Tsunade said.
Kushina frowned but bit her tongue. She turned toward the Hokage and nodded. "I've always been able to sense my son since I've been granted the power of the Shinigami. I'm sure even Yuri knows where he is to some capacity. However, I trust my son. If he left, then it's clear he feels that whatever he's doing won't be safe enough around the village. I'm sure he knows better than anyone else the severity of the situation. He'll be back. As for Yura, she can be surprisingly stubborn. If she went out there, then I'm sure she'll have a good reason," Kushina commented.
This got a frown out of Tsunade. She could tell Kushina didn't have a favorable opinion of her or Konoha at the moment, especially with them having banished Naruto from the village. Tsunade wouldn't say that she couldn't see where that anger was coming from, but surely there were better things for them to work on than this.
"Besides, I haven't been idle either. I've been doing my own training while I rested and I think it's something that will benefit all of us. At this point, I don't think we'll have the luxury of safe play anymore," Kushina said, getting everyone's attention.
"So we're not gonna be kicking Yuri's ass anymore?" Tayuya questioned which got a growl out of Yuri.
Kushina patted Yuri's shoulder. "Not exactly," she replied, a dangerous smile on her face.
It was that smile that made Kakashi shiver. He'd been on the receiving end of that smirk more often than not with Minato. "You have something dangerous planned, don't you?" he asked.
Kushina was about to speak before Tsunade interrupted. "Yeah well, that's gonna have to wait. I want to know what this plan of yours is before I bring it before the rest of the Kage. I also haven't cleared you from the hospital yet. Technically, I haven't cleared Naruto either, but I doubt I'll be able to go out into the blizzard and track him down to tell him that. Besides, we nearly lost you a handful of times, Kushina. We can't afford to lose you now," Tsunade advised.
"Oh come on, look at her. She looks even healthier than we do! What could be wrong with her?" Tayuya argued.
"I'll be sure to take your question and expertise under consideration when you've obtained your medic license. Now please, I'll give you all some time, but Kushina will be going back to her bed. And don't try to sneak out. The staff have gotten used to a few of you doing that, namely the brat," Tsunade said, glaring at Tayuya and Fuka. Neither seemed sheepish nor guilty about their actions. In fact, the two smiled at each other.
"Your beds aren't good for my hair," Fuka replied.
"I've been poked enough when I was under Orochimaru. I don't need more than necessary from those shitheads," Tayuya fired back.
Tsunade sighed. "Well, I suggest you both get used to it because you'll find that we can be resilient," she returned before she walked down the hallway. The others watched her leave before turning back to Kushina.
"So… you do feel fine?" Risa asked.
"Yup, I feel amazing! You'd almost think I hadn't been in a fight with a god at all. However, I meant what I said. While Yuri's training is important, it's not good to put all the pressure on her and the Hachibi Jinchuuriki. While unconscious, I had Sasori, Deidara, and Asuma merge with me. I got to see their memories of the encounter. I agree that making Yuri stronger is a good thing, but we need to start strengthening the thousands of others in the village," Kushina replied.
"No offense, Kushina, but that's what we were doing already. Not many shinobi get the chance to fight a bijuu. It's also been hard because many people have traumatic experiences with them. Everyone knows it's necessary to improve, but that's easier said than done," Yugao returned.
Kushina closed her eyes and exhaled. "I definitely agree, but even I know we're not gonna be able to stay here forever. We're going to have to return to Jashin eventually and there'll be nowhere to run if we don't face him. As we've seen, he liked to toy with us. He could have killed us all instantly if he really wanted to. We're just entertainment to him. If we bore him by not being prepared, no one's gonna have the time to be traumatic over anything. Besides, as I'm starting to understand, there are more powerful forces out there aside from the bijuu. In fact, some of them have been around longer than the Sage of Six Paths," Kushina revealed.
Tayuya snorted. "Why am I not even fucking surprised? So you're planning to pit us against these guys? How do you know they won't kill us like that bastard did?" the redhead asked which made Kushina smile.
"Don't worry. I can't leave my son to improve alone. As I said, I've been doing my own training. As they are a part of Sochi's domain, I have a limited amount of authority over them, but even I admit that they are very formidable. Stronger than almost any shinobi, and it seems our history with them is much deeper than even we'll ever know," Kushina explained.
"What do you mean?" Mikoto asked.
Kushina sighed. "Turns out… we owe our very existence to them. The Otsutsuki clan, the very first race to use chakra," she uttered, making the hallway go quiet.
-x-
Naruto scowled as he climbed, grabbing hold of the edge of a cliff. He shivered in pain, frostbite had set in over an hour ago. Snow and frost covered the top of his head. He'd long since given up dusting it off. It also seemed like the ice was starting to settle into his bones.
Panting from the thin air, he tried to keep his focus. Yet, it was hard. It was so hard. He pulled himself up as the ice and hail continued to fall. Vicious streaks of thunder ran through the sky as Naruto's eyes gazed up at the clouds and the rest of the mountain that seemed so far out of his reach.
"Why is it so damn high?" he questioned before he dug his foot into a crevice and lifted himself up again. He grabbed a ledge, cursing when it cracked. Swiftly jumping to the side, Naruto barely managed to get away when the side of the mountain crumbled in a violet shaking of rock and snow. He braced himself as the minor avalanche thundered back to the ground. He was so far up he couldn't even see the bottom. That'd… be a long way down if he fell.
He looked back up and kept climbing.
"You know, when you think about it, this is all you're fault!"
The blond stilled as a voice echoed throughout the very recesses of his mind. It seemed no different from the harsh wind surrounding him. No one should be around to hear his thoughts aside from the Kyuubi and Mōryō.
"Kyuubi, Mōryō, was that you?" Naruto questioned.
"Was what us, brat? Quit being weird and focus on your task!" Kurama urged impatiently. Naruto wondered if maybe he'd interrupted something between the two before all seemed quiet again. The only thing that was around him was ice, snow, and more ice. The winds cruelly howled while Naruto tried to find the source of the noise that interrupted him.
Finding nothing, he continued to climb. Everything hurt. It took everything he had just to keep the feeling in his fingers. Nevertheless, he steeled his resolve and continued upward.
After some time, Naruto swerved his body to hook his foot on a steep corner of the mountain. Nearly falling off, he groaned as his muscles burned. He pulled himself up, hoisting over the ridge and falling into a blanket of snow on the side of the cliff.
Naruto coughed. His vision was hazy. The hours seemed to go by either maddeningly slow or maddeningly fast. Yet, nothing seemed slow or fast about the pain. There was just so much pain. He looked at his fingers. His nails were bleeding and his fingertips were red. The cold was just so fierce and the air was so thin. It felt like his lungs were going to explode.
"And just imagine, you could have been with your mother and father in paradise had you not been so stubborn. No, instead you had to drag your mother out of paradise and bring her back to this suffering. Who knew Uzumaki Naruto was so selfish? Then you had the nerve to claim you love her, yet you draw them all into your selfishness and the result lays before you. They all suffer endlessly as you ask more and more of them. You'll be willing to drag everyone down until they're just as miserable as you are, won't you? Even the dead can't rest when you're alive."
The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki turned over painfully. He still had no idea where the voice came from but he could do nothing to tune it out. Between everything, he thought he might be going insane after all.
"I promised that I wasn't gonna die until I became Hokage. I… promised I'd bring Sasuke back. All my life I've dealt with fucking broken promises! What will it make me if I do the same thing?! I wanted to do good!" Naruto exclaimed as he turned over, resorting to crawling from the pain.
"And how would you know what 'good' is? You are a shinobi. Your life is stained with blood and the deaths of others. What know you of anything good? What was it you wished to be, a hero? If you wished to be a true hero, you wouldn't have come back. Rest from your worries forever. That shall be the most heroic thing you've done since you've been born!"
Naruto clenched his fists and stood up. Exhausted, he couldn't even sweat. It would already be frozen before it could even fall down the side of his face. He looked up and he spotted what looked like a cavern of sorts embedded into the thighs of the mountain.
He was so cold. He was also so tired. He really wanted to go to sleep. That'd be nice right now. He didn't know when he'd actually taken the time to rest since he'd begun this ridiculous journey.
Yet, Naruto found himself grabbing another icy-cold piece of rock, lifting himself up, and traveling higher to make it to that place of rest. The struggle was hard and his breathing was harder. At least three different times, he slid back down, gritting his teeth in anger and frustration as his body continued absorbing the pain put on it.
After what seemed like an additional hour of pure suffering, Naruto grabbed the cave ledge. The ice storm was getting stronger and the winds were starting to howl dangerous. Lightning crashed in the distance, destroying the pillars of other mountain tops. Avalanches like the noise of a thousand jutsu being fired at once came down with a vengeance.
Once everything settled, Naruto noticed a hand reaching out to him, hoping to pull him up. Even with blurred vision, it didn't take him long to realize who was trying to aid him. He lifted up his eyes and looked at Pakura. As always, she looked at him with neither a smile nor a frown. There was neither guilt nor innocence in her eyes. She just… looked at him.
Suddenly, the cold seemed so far away. Naruto looked at her. He then looked at her outstretched hand. The frown on his face swiftly merged into a harsh scowl. Yet, the cold soon returned and the scowl went away as quickly as it had appeared.
Finally, Naruto pulled himself up with his strength. He then walked past Pakura, sparing her no glance or attention just as she'd done to him. Instead, he walked away from the cavern and grabbed the cold mountain, continuing his climb. As for Pakura, she stood up and watched him go. Had Naruto turned around, he might have seen great frustration and guilt plastered on the face of the woman he'd considered like family.
As for Naruto, he hoped there would be another cave to rest in. He'd have to climb fast before the storm got any harder and before he passed out from the thick air.
…one cave already seemed to have one occupant too many!
KG: You know, if I'd never stopped writing this fic, I'd probably be done by now. Oh hindsight, you wonderful piece of shit sometimes.
KG: Riot please release that MMO faster. Thank you!
KG: CREAM SODA!