Contract of the Shinigami

by KyuubiGoku

Naruto nearly died at Final Valley, but Fate still wants him alive. The Shinigami finds interest in Naruto and makes Naruto it's first summoner. Watch Naruto as he shows the world what it's like to have the Death God for a summon. Incest warning NaruKushi. Uzumaki Eccentric.

85. Chapter 85

KG: This is gonna be like one of the most outrageous chapters I've written. I can't even begin to describe what I'm feeling right now!

Music of the Week: Still Here by League of Legends ft. 2WEI, Forts, & Tiffany Aris.

Quote: "We desire the good of the world and the happiness of the nations that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened... what harm is there in this?... these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come." by Baha'u'llah.

(Warning: Character Deaths. Like... a lot!)

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Before the battle could even begin, the army of the Elemental Nations watched, entirely stunned at what they'd just seen. Even when they looked at the moon, their minds refused to comprehend the crater-sized hole that had been blasted through it.

Of course, they couldn't keep their gazes held for very long because there came a loud explosion beyond the atmosphere of their world. They were forced to cover their eyes from what could only be described as a flash bang that might ruin their eyes for the rest of their natural lives.

"I… I feel like we're a bit out of our league here," a shinobi uttered as harsh winds beat against their bodies.

"No shit!" another exclaimed.

Thankfully, the explosion died down and so did the lights. When things faded, the masses stared at Naruto. Truth be told, he was a little hard to look at. Some feared staring upon him too long lest they go blind. The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki didn't focus on them; many were happy he didn't. They doubted they'd be able to stand against the enemy if he did.

That said, it was much easier for others, namely Kushina, Hinoken, and the Uzumaki Family. Kakashi found himself reminiscing about the young boy that ran at him headfirst. That same boy who barely passed the Academy with the worst scores in the institution's history now stood with every eye upon him. This was the same boy who could barely walk up a tree two or three years ago, the same one who tried so hard, and failed, to create the Chidori with absolutely no talent for lightning-natured chakra.

"Team Seven, it's always been an unusual number. Yet, never have I known such a thing like that until now. Naruto, who would have thought that the number one, hyperactive, knucklehead would become our savior? Look at them, Naruto. Even the Kage are in awe of you," Kakashi claimed.

The former instructor of Team Seven couldn't have been more right. As the Hokage, Tsunade had been more than used to making mistakes and having regrets. Yet, never more than now had she regretted banishing Naruto. Outside of how horrible it made her feel, she wondered if she'd just dismissed potentially the greatest Hokage, and Kage, the world might ever know.

Kushina smiled briefly before she turned her gaze back to the beasts heading their way. She raised her sword into the air and pulsed a wave of Honshou. Immediately, everyone remembered why they were there.

From her amazement, Yuri turned a seething scowl toward the coming masses. "I've been needing this for a long time!" Yuri claimed, slamming her hands together.

"Eight and three, we go on a killing spree. Three and Eight, it's them we'll annihilate. WWWWWWHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Kirabi yelled while Yuri exhaled.

"LET'S GO! ISOBU!" Yuri hollered.

"No need to tell me twice, Girl. Just make sure you can handle the pace!" The Sanbi exclaimed with a deep growl.

Everyone watched as the full forms of the Sanbi and the Hachibi appeared. Yet, for the first time, no one shirked at the sight of the Bijuu. Rather, they were overjoyed to have their own source of planet-tearing strength on their side.

At the front of the army stood Kushina and Yuri. The mother of Uzumaki Naruto spoke no words. Instead, she charged at the demonic army placed before them. That became everyone's cue to follow. The ground thundered with the shouts of the masses.

"LEAVE NO REGRETS!" Tsunade hollered.

The entire forces of the Elemental Nations charged into the demons. Kushina and Mikoto sped through the battlefield. Working together perfectly, the two ladies bounced off each other. Their blades were like streaks of light and white fire. Groups of hundreds of corrupted humans were cut into tens of thousands of pieces. One beast roared, hoping to swipe them down with immense speed powered by the God of Malice. Unfortunately for them, the two friends were much too quick.

"Try not to fall behind, Kushina!" Mikoto claimed, spreading through her handsigns.

"You've gotten real chatty as of late, Mikoto. I guess you got something to get home to!" Kushina answered back holding her swords back. With a harsh swing, a crescent slash ripped through the ground while the mother of Uchiha Sasuke blew a stream of white-hot flames into the midst of the beasts. The ground was ripped from under the corrupted human's feet as they were burned and slashed away.

Meanwhile, Sasuke and Itachi unleashed the full might of the Susanoo, breaking through the enemy lines while their respective armors protected them from the rain of black spears.

"Don't get complacent, Sasuke. Remember to provide as much cover as possible!" Itachi instructed.

"I don't need you to tell me!" Sasuke grumbled, focusing his gaze on an unmanned patch of land. There, the flames of the Amaterasu danced in all their splendor. In response, Sasuke was awarded with the screams of his enemies. If one looked closely, they would have seen a bit of sapphire fire in there.

Meanwhile, Itachi swung the Susanoo's Totsuka Blade, sweeping through miles of land and corrupted flesh. One by one, many were sealed into his gourd.

To the far south, Yugao and Kakashi landed in front of a myriad of Elemental Nation shinobi. "Raikiri: Chika Bundan (Lightning Blade: Undergrounding Dividing)!" Kakashi exclaimed, stabbing his sword into the ground.

"Suiton: Sora Haretsu (Water Release: Sky Rupturing)!" Yugao called, turning her sword to the air.

The two sword masters charged with the forces at their backs. Water covered Yugao's blade, turning pure as crystal from being touched by her glowing body. Her sword clashed with the lightning from Kakashi's sword. Over and over, their blades touched. Furiously showering sparks splintered off their blades while they dashed through their adversaries.

Kakashi landed on the shoulder of one, beheading it quickly, and fired a blast of lightning toward Yugao. Kakashi had no reason to be concerned for the action as Yugao's sword seamlessly absorbed the lightning. She then threw her sword into the air. The land became ripped with lightning bullets like an underground bar's light show.

While the sword stayed in the air, Kakashi took hold of the lightning and exhaled. "Rakiri: Raijin no Kōrin (Lightning Blade: Descent of the Lightning God)!" Kakashi then called, breaking the dark clouds with a palm of pure lightning that would have made even the God of Thunder proud. The palm slammed into the earth, dividing one side from the other. Countless beasts fell into the crater below.

Kakashi turned his head, watching the millions of others descend upon them. Yugao stood at his side, the lasting streaks of lightning fading away. "You're getting old, Kakashi-senpai. I'll overtake you soon enough," Yugao teased.

Kakashi laughed, watching the rest of the forces charge into the masses. "I'm hardly 30 yet, Yugao. Give me a break," Kakashi countered.

Yugao shrugged her shoulders, glaring back at her adversaries. The spirit she was currently merged to screamed for more combat, yet she made sure to keep her nerve. It was only because of Kushina and Yura that the voice wasn't threatening to overwhelm her. The memories she'd seen and the things she'd learned all seemed beyond the scope of the Elemental Nations.

"I guess this just proved that old proverb. There is indeed always someone better out there," Yugao said. She then effortlessly swung her sword, blasting out waves of wind scythes. With ease, she took the heads of at least ten or twenty corrupted humans. Their deformed bodies fell back to the earth, disappearing into black ash.

Yugao then felt the ground explode, nearly throwing her and others off balance. She looked into the distance and saw giant balls of light, no doubt from Yuri and the Hachibi Jinchuuriki working together.

That said, Yugao wasn't given the reprieve to look away for too long before she noticed the Raikage flash past her, his body blazing with orange lightning. As expected, his strength had been multiplied by hundreds of times. Even he could break the creatures with minimal effort.

"Drilling Liger BOMB!" The Raikage hollered, grabbing one beast by the scruff of its shoulders. With a howl that would make any previous Raikage proud, he spun the corrupted demon through the air. Violent sparks of orange lightning spilled over the ground as he slammed the both of them into the multitude of bodies below. A pillar of lightning surged into the sky, unleashing orange spears over the masses.

From where he stood, Naruto spared one look at the pillar of lightning miles off in the distance. While it was impressive, it was just one of the hundreds of thousands of jutsu being thrown around as more and more explosions ripped through the ground. He closed his eyes and clenched his fists when he heard the screams of some, men and women valiantly dying at the hands of their opponents. For all their improvements, the demons which Jashin summoned were still immensely powerful. If anything, all his mother did was give the Elemental Nations a fighting chance.

Naruto watched their spirits sail into the air while their friends, despite the grief, pushed onward. From afar, a Konoha shinobi covered for an injured Iwa shinobi. A Suna shinobi picked up a battered Kiri nin, taking them to the medic units. How odd that the world seemed to be steeped in chaos, yet his home had finally come to understand the term of unity. While it was sad that it took the literal end of the world for such a situation to come about, perhaps that was a lesson that was meant to be learned for them all.

Turning his gaze back to the realm beyond his world, Naruto exhaled. Sucking in his legs, Naruto drew the attention of everyone when he blasted into the air. With the power of the Shinigami fueling him, the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki flew higher and further than any of them could see.

Kushina watched as her son disappeared beyond the dark clouds. "Come back alive, Sochi. I need you," Kushina claimed before she noticed her other opponents. Holding out her hand, she formed the dark portal orb, the Shunkanyugami. With a shout of her own, she charged toward her innumerable adversaries with Yura at her side.

As for Naruto, he found himself floating in a vast nothingness, watching as stars fell across the heavens. Never did the young Uzumaki think that he might be journeying beyond even his world, much less look back at it from here. It seemed so far away, yet even out here, the smell of blood was palpable.

The planet, normally as blue and green as he remembered, was now black and red like a bloodied moon on a cold, dark night. It seemed to be on its last legs, close to collapsing in on itself. Yet, even from where he stood, he could make out the battlefield happening across almost a quarter of the planet. He saw Yuri and Kirabi fire off numerous tailed beast bombs, covering the planet in a myriad of giant explosive shockwaves.

Unfortunately, he couldn't peruse the situation below anymore because he shifted his focus back to his own battle. In front of him stood Jashin. While the god seemed largely unaffected by the blow the Uzumaki Patriarch had dealt to him, there was a bit of satisfaction the summoner of the Shinigami had when he saw a trail of blood fall down the side of Jashin's lips and under his nose.

Wordlessly, Jashin wiped the side of his lip and cleaned his nose. "How does it feel, Uzumaki Naruto? To step into the realm of godhood? Is it everything you mortals wished it was? I hope you enjoy it for all its worth," Jashin claimed.

"Yeah…" Naruto said, his coat surging with power.

"I'm gonna enjoy kicking your face in," he retorted, immediately appearing in front of Jashin, much to the god's surprise. The God of Malice barely had the time to block the blow aimed at his chest with his arms. The force of the collision crashed into the side of the moon and even the earth itself. Man and demon stopped fighting only momentarily, falling to the trembling ground in surprise.

Even the stars and other celestial bodies around the summoner and god were pushed back. Jashin felt his entire core tremble, and though he might never admit it to himself, somewhere within his black, violent heart, he grew moderately concerned. One might even say… he was a little worried.

"Tch! What is this boy? Where is this power coming from?!" Jashin inquired before his head was whipped to the side in surprise from a blow he hadn't even seen coming. Naruto quickly followed through by grabbing a fistful of Jashin's red hair. In the void of space, Naruto slammed fist after fist into the God of Malice's stomach. Each blow burned the insides of Jashin with violet fire.

The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki then swung Jashin through the air, firing him down and through the moon for a second time. With the Shinigami bolstering him, Naruto flew after the God of Malice. At his sides, chakra avatars like the maw of Kurama appeared. Between their jaws, Gari and Suiren, along with Pakura and Dan appeared around each of his hands. Naruto formed a rasenshuriken in both hands while the others supplied him with the nature of the elemental Honshou.

Yet, that wasn't even enough. The Shinigami and Mōryō took in the part of the void itself. Sparkling stars and celestial bodies were taken into the twin shurikens. Like violently spinning systems of stars themselves, Naruto charged toward his adversary.

"Shisenpō: Shin Shinigami Fukoku: Rasenshuriken: Chōōdama Tentairasen no Hairetsu (Death Sage Mode: True Shinigami Edict: Spiralling Hidden Hand Blade: Ultra-Big Ball Spiralling Celestial Alignment)!" Naruto hollered into the very void itself. With all his strength, he threw the two shurikens toward Jashin.

The God of Malice groaned, finding himself alone on a lifeless planet. He looked up and noticed the massive shurikens coming upon him. Yet, his eyes filled with worry when one rasenshuriken went through a golden door and the other through a violent door. Embodied with gold and violet flames, the two shurikens crashed into the planet, violently tearing it to pieces with enough force to even warp the space around them.

Before Jashin could right himself, Naruto shouldered him down toward another planet. The blond then raised his fist and crashed it down. Over and over, Naruto slammed his fist into the God of Malice no matter how much it hurt. He thought nothing of the particulars. He thought not of how he could breathe in space. He thought not of all the power suddenly granted to him. He didn't even think about where he'd come from as a young shinobi ignorant of the ways of the courts of gods. All he knew was that he had to keep fighting while he still held the advantage. Should he give Jashin even a moment, he would kill the others without mercy.

Naruto threw his fist again, but this time a bloodied Jashin caught it. "Haaaah. Haaaah. That's the spirit, Boy! But don't think I'll let you run away with the battle so quickly. Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do. Worry not, I'm not going anywhere. This… this is the battle I've been looking for my whole life. Your ruin or mine, which shall come first? Let's find out!" Jashin said, kicking Naruto away hard enough to split the ground between them.

Naruto skidded over the ground, digging his feet into the planet's surface. Once he stopped, he grabbed his sword and charged at Jashin. The God of Malice took his spear and equally charged at Naruto.

-x-

Kushina and the rest of the Shinobi Alliance trembled as the planet rocked against, the force from Naruto and Jashin's combat affecting even them. Some were worried that even the planet wouldn't survive such a vicious onslaught. Yet, Kushina knew that for all their fighting, the God of Slaughter wouldn't allow his world to be broken so easily. They were free to battle for their planet as long as they wished.

"Naruto, be careful," Kushina thought, turning her attention back to her opponents. One beast lunged at her, but she quickly vanished in a blur of speed. Immediately that beast and ten others of its kind were torn apart while Kushina charged into the others. With blinding speed, she jumped to her left side when one blasted an array of void energy in her direction. Others quickly followed suit. Kushina exhaled slowly, tightening her grip on her sword. She stared at the others that remained. There was… a lot of them.

Of course, she couldn't stop there. The rest of her family was fighting as hard as they could. The battlefield was vast and numerous men and women had fallen since Naruto blasted Jashin away. Kushina saved and intervened where she could, but even for her dealing with a twenty-thousand of these things on her own was exhausting, even with the might of the Shinigami racing through her. Then she had to keep her focus on the other spirits people were merged with. Many of them wouldn't hesitate to cause havoc if she didn't keep her mental strength intact.

"You two shouldn't be standing anywhere near me. I can't promise that you won't suffer some collateral damage if you stay this close," Kushina said, glancing at Fuka and Risa.

"Please, I'm not gonna be the one explaining to my handsome cousin that his fiancee died when I could have prevented it. Besides, I'm not about to let you hog the kill score," Fuka said rapidly speeding through a number of handsigns. The spirit she was merged with filled her head with otherworldly knowledge.

The younger redhead of the three sharply inhaled. She then blasted a stream of azure fire across the demonic army in front of her. Risa then landed next to her. The cousin of Kushina placed her hand in the fire. While some might think it crazy, they wouldn't have seen the seals spread themselves across the sea of flames. The azure flames turned into a mix of white and blue, some like tendrils pulling their adversaries into the air until they were turned to ash.

Other beasts charged at them from the side but all it took was one swing from Kushina to turn ten demons into a pile of limbs and blood. They fell before her while the others stood next to her. "Shit! With you here, we might just make it out of this alive!" Risa said, scratching her cheek.

Unfortunately, Kushina couldn't hold confidence in those words. It seemed that they'd underestimated the corrupted humans a little. They'd gone under the assumption that they were mindless beasts. However, it seemed they quickly started to learn that just trying to overwhelm Kushina and the Shinobi Alliance wasn't working out. They started luring forces in, and some even made traps. Others plotted sneak attacks and it was clear to Kushina that her allies wouldn't win in a battle of attrition. Kushina just didn't have that sort of concentration, especially since she felt like she was being pulled apart in at least six thousand different directions. If not for Yura, Kushina wondered if she'd be able to manage so many so quickly.

"And how are these others doing?" Kushina asked.

"Do you really need to ask?" Fuka inquired, turning a thumb over to the other side of the battlefield.

On that side, the Sanbi quickly turned back to Yuri. Her feet slammed on the ground, pushing her through the army. Others followed quickly behind her while she formed a rasengan in each of her hands. She blasted one into the chest of a corrupted human while Yuna covered her sides. The youngest lover of Uzumaki Naruto flipped through the air, crashing her heel into a beast's face and catapulting herself into the air over the others.

"Sanbi: Chōōdama Rasengan (Three-Tailed Beast: Ultra-Big Ball Spiralling Sphere)," Yuri called, sprouting the Sanbi's three tails from her backside. Each tail powered the rasengan in her hand, making it larger and larger while the other forces moved out of the way.

Yuna exhaled slowly and weaved the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingain in her single eye. During Yuri's large blast, the black flames of Yuna's Sharingan appeared. When the redhead crashed it down, the lands of Kumogakure roared, exploding in tower-high black flames. Though Yuri stood in the midst of them, she had no reason to fear the fire. Rather she wore them with pride, glancing up at Yuna with a nod.

Yuna nodded in response while Yuri jumped out. "How many of us are left?" Yuri inquired.

Yuna frowned. "Do you really want the answer?" she asked, nearly falling over when another shockwave beyond this world crashed into the planet.

Yuri scowled momentarily only to be surprised when she saw a hailstorm of paper arrows fly through the air. Konan flew off when she was forced to retreat from the artillery fire blasts from the corrupted humans. To even be touched by one piece of these blasts, even if one survived was to be turned into these sick bastards. So far there was no way to stop it. Yuri still remembered how many people begged her to kill them lest they too turn against their allies.

"For the Shinobi Alliance!"

The Sanbi Jinchuuriki didn't even have the time to turn her head before a massive explosion came as the result of another death. Clenching her fists, she stepped back. "Shikamaru's the brainy guy. Can't he think of something?" She asked.

Yuna closed her eyes. "No… he can't," she said, letting the fate of the Nara hang in the air.

Wordlessly, Yuri widened her eyes. She then glared back at the coming army. "I'm gonna kill every last one of them!" Yuri exclaimed.

"I think many would agree with you, but be careful. You, Yura, and Kushina-sama are the cornerstone of our victory here. While you guys are resistant to the effects of these guys, it'd be better if you don't take unnecessary hits," Yuna explained, turning the black flames of the Amaterasu toward another section of the battlefield.

"I know," Yuri claimed. She looked up when one charged at her. It threw its large, violent claw at her, yet she caught it effortlessly. With a swing of her fist, she blew it away until nothing was left save its arm. When Yuri dropped it, the arm disappeared.

Yuna silently observed the young redhead while the cries and screams of war continued to sound over them. The ground thunders with steps while kunai and jutsu flew through the air. Acting quickly, Yuri pushed Yuna out of the way, saving her from a barrage of void blasts from the corrupted humans.

"Think you can keep this up?" She asked.

"I'll be fine. For now, we need to worry about breaking their current formation. If we let them surround us, there'll be no escape for anyone," Yuna exclaimed.

The Sanbi jinchuuriki's frown deepened. Touching Yuna's shoulder, she quickly channeled Shizune's experience and healed the lover of Uchiha Sasuke quickly. The latter stood up and wiped the sweat from her brow.

"Then I won't let them surround us," Yuri claimed. She then bent down, with both arms and legs on the ground. She sucked in her legs and then instantly blasted herself into the demons who continued to observe the battlefield. Yuna watched on before she looked over the rest of the battlefield.

"Sasuke, if you die, I'll have Naruto-sama resurrect you just so I can kill you myself!" Yuna thought to herself. She then looked over and noticed the Hachibi hold out a tentacle toward her.

"Uchiha girl, you climb on. Our enemies, we'll make 'em see a new dawn! Yeah!" Kirabi said through the Hachibi's voice. Yuna glanced at him strangely, yet she quickly hopped on the offered tentacle while the eight-tailed bijuu rampaged through the rest of the masses.

While Yuna surveyed her own area of the enormous battle, she barely had the time to look toward Sasuke and Itachi, their individual Susanoo avatars rampaging far in the distance.

Sasuke's Susanoo drew back its bow and fired a large arrow of pure chakra into the crowd. "Sasuke, make sure you avoid our allies where possible," Itachi instructed, willing his own Susanoo to cleave its sword through the ground, drawing a sharp, cavernous line between the Shinobi Alliance and the demons on the ground.

Sasuke didn't reply. Instead, he tried to focus as best he could. It wasn't as easy as Itachi made it sound. His eyes were starting to hurt from constantly moving this way and that. He already had to douse over twenty different instances of the Amaterasu spreading over people who got too close to it.

He also had to make sure to not accidentally target any of the Akatsuki members. He saw Gai and Kisame charging through the onslaught, riding aboard an entire ocean's worth of water. Had it not been for the Kiri shinobi utilizing it, Sasuke might have actually tried for a powerful lightning deathbed over the ground.

"Sasuke! Our medical team is getting overwhelmed. Provide backup to Sakura!" Tsunade shouted, blasting one of the corrupted humans in the head with her newly found strength. Many marveled at the power of the Godaime Hokage. One fist from her was enough to ignite two newly created volcanoes. When she slammed her foot on the ground, the earth toppled up like waves beneath the blood and ruined soil.

"Go Sasuke. I'll handle the matters here," Itachi urged, grabbing a handful of the beasts and stuffing them into the Susanoo's gourd. Of course, it was rather hard since whatever these former humans were made out of, it drew on greater strength than what his gourd could contain.

Cursing, Sasuke nodded and released the Susanoo. He then dropped to the ground and unsheathed his sword. Acting quickly, he sped off through the battlefield, taking out anything beast that he could on his way toward Sakura and the medical ninja team. The field was like the stuff of nightmares, rotting corpses sank in the seas of blood, limbs belonging to humans and corrupted humans lay everywhere.

Sasuke ran as fast as he could. His legs burned while the skin in his left hand started to burn. Lightning poured out of the Chidori, blazing a trail through the ground as people moved out of his way. The Uchiha's Sharingan spun wildly behind his eyes while he dodged an incoming ball of evil power. One exploded right in front of him before he zipped to the side and continued moving.

"It's impossible. You still hold me back, young blood. You shall not make it at this rate," the spirit currently merged with Sasuke taunted while the Uchiha frowned.

"Quiet," Sasuke growled, streaks of fire and lighting coursing around his body. The spirit cackled at him yet remained silent soon after. Sasuke charged over a hill and even he shuddered when he heard Sakura scream. His eyes widened when he saw her crash into one of the barely standing rock formations.

Scowling, Sasuke held up his Chidori. "Chidori: Kami Yari: Daitsuki (One Thousand Birds: Divine Spear: Great Thrusting)!" Sasuke called. He swung his hand down and many bore witness to a single blast of lightning descend through the clouds and into the ground, scattering the corrupted humans around the medic team.

Gritting his teeth, Sasuke then swung his arm, carving a dreaded path through the trenches and the ground. The spear ripes through, breaking up pairs of hot steam and molten rock. Corrupted humans fell in while medic nin moved away quickly.

Sasuke then jumped down amid the crashing lightning bolts. He spotted the beast that incapacitated Sakura and immediately took it down by thrusting the Chidori through its back. Like the wrath of Raijin, streaks of lightning flew down.

The Uchiha heir panted and stood up from the charred corpse of his opponent. He stepped over it and walked over to Sakura. "Sakura…" he said.

"S-Sasuke-kun, is that you?" Sakura inquired, her eyes closed. They had long been taken in the battle. She'd been trying to give the other doctors some room to work. The spirit she was merged with helped with that, augmenting her abilities with phantom blows. A spectral blow would still blast them to pieces even if they blocked her fist. Unfortunately, there was only so much even she could do. Now, she was down both eyes and an arm.

"Yeah. Can you stand?" he asked.

"N-Not really," she answered. Her chest burned while she tried to nurse her wounds with what chakra she had left. The wounded just never seemed to stop coming. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do.

Sasuke frowned before he noticed the rest of the medics screaming. Cursing, he turned back to them. "Come on. I'll support you. I'll take you to Karin. She might be able to help you at least a little," Sasuke said.

"…"

Hearing no response, Sasuke turned his head and noticed Sakura's body slumped down and head low. There was a pained smile on her face. "I told you we wouldn't make it. You'd have made it if you were faster," The spirit said.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes before he quickly buried Sakura's body. He then turned back to the screams of the remaining populace. "Dobe. You better be right about this," Sasuke thought, finally allowing an armor of celestial fire and divine lightning to circle his body.

With months of training under Kushina, Sasuke slammed his hands together along with the spirit inside him. Slowly pulling them apart, a spear entirely comprised of fire and lightning appeared in his palms. The young Uchiha then marched toward the masses.

From far away, Yura watched the tower of fire and lightning expand in the far distance. She noticed this to be Sasuke's chakra. Yet, her focus was on the others. Those Iwa shinobi still living released volley after volley of earth and stone while corrupted demons plowed through them like blades through a grinder.

"Damn stubborn pieces of shit!" Tayuya scowled, slamming one hand on the ground while the other played the notes on her flute.

"Uzumaki Hijutsu: Mateki: Otosen no Fūin (Secret Technique of the Uzumaki: Demonic Flute: One Thousand Sounds of Sealing)!" Tayuya called out. Yura then touched her cousin's back, reinforcing the jutsu with her own powers from the golden flames.

A spray of seals quickly spread out over the ground. "If you shitheads don't wanna get burned alive, then you better move the fuck outta the way!" Tayuya alerted.

The young Uzumaki redhead hoped that as many as possible heard her because thousands of tendrils sprouted from the seals on the ground, each of them enflamed with the golden fire from Yura's touch. The tendrils slammed on the ground while the shinobi around them quickly evaded. One by one, they grabbed what they could and burned them all to cinders. Once mighty, violent, malicious humans turned demons by Jashin, now became ashes in the wind.

"Futon: Daitoppa (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough)!" Several shinobi from Suna and Konoha called out together. The winds blew into the golden flames, vastly increasing their potency. The swirling flames exploded into a sky-splitting tornado.

Then from both sides came piles of molten sand.

"Yoton: Shin Sabakuyo Maisō (Lava Release: True Melting Sand Burial)," Gaara and Kurotsuchi called out together. A giant coffin of lava-covered sand covered the massive tornado and the tendrils Tayuya summoned. The colossal ball of sand ruptured from the inside out, the swirling of the elements threatening to break it apart.

Gaara scowled and so did the others, yet they remained quickly when there came a step next to them.

Yura and Tayuya turned their heads and noticed the Deva Path of Pain standing next to him. With one hand, he raised it to the floating orb of sand. "Chibaku Tensei," Pain uttered.

Allies and enemies alike were taken off guard when the ground was ripped right from under their feet. With the very corrupted ground that Jashin collected, Nagato encased hundreds, if not thousands more into the ball of sand. The others watched stunned as the sand is covered in a giant ball of floating rock.

"You should move," Nagato claimed. Swinging his hand down, the orb descended on the ground.

"No need," Yura said, getting the attention of the others. With great speed, she appeared beneath the descending meteorite-sized ball. The older sister of the Sanbi Jinchuuriki held out her hand and summoned a ball of violet fire. Holding the flames, she touched the ground.

Immediately the violet flames of The End burst into the skies and crash into the descending ball of rock. A cataclysmic explosion pushed everyone in the surrounding area away while Yura continued to look on. The pockets of force pushed even their mighty and numerous adversaries into gods knew where.

"Yura, below you!"

The young Uzumaki barely had the time to look down before she was grabbed by her leg. "The head hunter jutsu?!" the young woman exclaimed in surprise as a large corrupted human broke through the ground. It then vigorously spun her around before it slammed her into the ground. A mouthful of blood spilled out of Yura's mouth before she was crashed into another side of the ground as well.

Over and over, she was flailed back and forth until she was let go. She blasted past Tayuya and the others, crashing into the ground and sliding over its rough surface. The lover of Uzumaki Naruto tried her best to recover, digging her nails into the dust and dirt.

Finally, she crashed into a large boulder, air breaking out of her lungs. Falling forward, Yura panted, looking out into the distance. It seemed to be true after all. The beasts were growing in strength.

The Uzumaki turned her head, watching someone scream before they were ripped in half. Another unfortunate soul took one of the beasts down with her. Even as it impaled her through the chest, she stabbed it over and over until the light faded from her eyes.

Yura looked to the other side, men and women were blown away as the corruption spread out through their bodies. Others said their prayers and charged into the vile army, their bodies covered in explosive tags. Even when she was so close, the deafening booms sounded so far away.

Yura then spotted the rest of the army coming. Her blood chilled when she saw Konan blasted out of the air. Someone ran to recover her. Many others kept on fighting, unleashing whatever jutsu that they could. The Earth almost seemed to implode in on itself.

Slowly, Yura raised her hand and she noticed the pools of blood stuck to her palm. "We're dying too quickly. At this rate…" Yura thought before she clenched her fists.

Immediately, she thought of Naruto. She hadn't seen him in so long. She wondered what he might say to her if he was standing right in front of her. "No. I think I know what you'd say, Nii-sama. Or rather, I know what you'd do. You'd do something utterly stupid. Something… that I'm about to do," Yura thought as she stood to her feet only to fall down when she realized her leg had been broken.

Her finger ran over the broken leg for a moment before she grit her teeth and channeled a handful of golden fire on the wound. Though painful, her leg quickly healed, allowing her to stand. When she did, she held out her arms. "Shinigami-sama, I pray you watch over me. If Nii-sama is your herald, then I shall stand at his right hand and shall proclaim your mighty name forevermore!" she said. She then turned her gaze toward the sky.

"Yugao, come!" Yura called.

"At once, My Lady," Yugao responded immediately.

Yura looked up and noticed at least ten or twenty corrupted humans making their way toward her. Yet, she raised neither hand nor finger. Before she could even blink, all twenty were cleanly beheaded when a flash of gold appeared before her. She looked down and saw Yugao lying on one knee in front of her.

"You still have to call me that, huh?" Yura inquired a little embarrassingly.

Yugao, equally embarrassed, coughed. "S-Sorry, force of habit. I'd done it for almost fifty years back then. You needed me?" Yugao questioned, standing up.

Yura nodded and released a breath. "Give me your sword," she said, holding out her hand. Yugao didn't even hesitate for a second. She quickly gave her blade to young Uzumaki.

"What are you up to?" Yugao asked.

"Something stupid," Yura said. Quickly, she transferred a piece of the gold and violet flames over Yugao's sword. The blade glimmered in dazzling magnificence. Violet fire burned at the base and gold fire burned at the tip.

Yugao immediately grew concerned. "You're not gonna…"

"I have no choice. We're dying too quickly. We have to take more of them with us. If I don't use the Right Of Ascension now, then there won't be a later," Yura reasoned, handing the sword back to Yugao.

"But you never mastered it. If you're not careful…" Yugao cautioned, slowly accepting the sword back while Yura smiled.

"Somehow, I can tell. While our ancestors were probably good at mastering things before times like this, the current iteration… we're masters when it's crunch time. Plus, if I've learned to love a man like Nii-sama, then how can I not do the same?" Yura asked.

Yugao offered no answer before she sighed. "You better never let him live this one down," she claimed.

Yura's smile widened before they glanced back at the creatures heading for them. "Protect me for a little while. Stupid or not, this takes some time and focus," Yura claimed. Yugao nodded and turned back to face the coming army. Yura sat down and meditated. As she closed her eyes, the last thing she saw was Yugao charge at their opponents.

When Yura opened her eyes again, she found herself in a dense void made up of her own thoughts. Nary a sound came in to disturb her and she quickly looked at her hand. Swallowing nervously, she slowly opened her palms. Within them, the gold and violet flames appeared. Yura then slammed her palms together, mixing the gold and violet flames. In her right hand, came a rather brownish fire. Yura gazed at it longingly and yet fearfully.

"What are you doing here?" Yura inquired, shifting her eyes to the side and spotting the Kindred standing next to her.

"You do realize what you're attempting to do, right? We're just here to wait for you in case you fuck it up," Wolf claimed. While Lamb wouldn't have put it so brusquely that was but one of the reasons they had been called to be here.

"Is it that stupid, what I'm doing?" She asked.

"Let me just say that you and the brat deserve each other. Now hurry up. We were pulled away for this," Wolf retorted.

Yura would have offered a comment, yet she knew there was no time to waste. "Then like Nii-sama, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you," She responded. Yura then shoved the flame into her chest.

On the outside, Yura's eyes blasted open and she screamed in sheer agony as nearly everyone stopped briefly to observe. Yugao looked back in horror as the lover of Uzumaki Naruto cried into the highest heavens. A pillar of brown fire exploded past the clouds while the ground beneath Yura's feet splintered, carving a deep canyon through the groves of the earth while the young Uzumaki gripped her head. Blood spilled from her mouth while the flames stained her once-red hair. They grew in such abundance that the brown flames even spilled out of her mouth and nostrils.

Despite her fear, Yugao quickly turned back to the corrupted humans in front of her. Yet, she saw something utterly unfathomable. Each of them looked upon Yura and… took a step back. Violent pulses of brown fire spread out over the earth. Waves upon waves of spiritual pressure from the realm of Death washed over the masses, both ally and enemy.

From afar, Kushina felt the flames and immediately felt Yura's power. What was this spiritual density? While not quite as powerful as Kushina's, this was nigh unprecedented. Even the older redhead couldn't stop her body from shivering. "Yura… so you think things have gotten so bad that you'd be willing to ascend so early. Alright. I'll support you. Together, we'll support Naruto. We'll do it!" Kushina said, raising her sword and stabbing it right through her heart.

From her side, everyone screamed when a pillar of white fire overtook Kushina's body. Those corrupted humans that surrounded her were instantly turned to ash before they could even react. Hell, even those who had the time were fast enough to escape, quickly overwhelmed by the waves of power flooding them.

As for Yuri, she panted in the ruined lands of Kirigakure. She found herself surrounded by corrupted humans just like Kushina. She gritted her teeth as she stood to her feet. She exhaled slowly until a wave of brown fire washed over her and the rest of the forces who were still alive to help her.

"What the hell was that?!" Tenten asked, looking at the brown flames.

Luckily for Yuri, she did not need to ask such a question. Even from where she was, she could see the pillar of brown fire and the pure white flame pillar in the immeasurable distance. "We're doing that already?!" Yuri inquired.

"It seems that things are more dire than we expected," Ebisu said within Yuri's mind. Shizune quickly agreed and Yuri found herself silent for a moment. When she turned her gaze toward the other beasts, she saw the fear in their steps. Each of them looked into the distance barely even paying her much of a mind.

"So that scared you? I'll give you something to be scared of then!" Yuri claimed. She then extended an arm from Isobu out. Grabbing Tenten, she pulled the weapon user to safety much to the latter irritation and questioning. However, the female member of Team Gai immediately had her question answered when Yuri's body was illuminated in a white fire just like Kushina's.

With a shout, she released every ounce of Honshou that she could. The Sanbi, Shizune, and Ebisu amplified her efforts with their own might. Yuri's cloak elongated into a vibrant robe and her power exploded as well.

"What the hell is happening?!" Tenten explained while Kirabi landed next to her.

"Number 3 has power, alright. Keep fighting, she will all night! Yeah!" Bee said. Of course, either Tenten had no idea what he was talking about, or she opted for ignoring him. Instead, she shivered when she turned her head watching the three pillars blast into the air.

Unknown to anyone, lines of pure Honshou seared through the ground. It bounced from Kushina to Yura to Yuri and back to the former of the three. Everyone stepped out of the way of it.

Over the face of the earth, the Honshou carved an entire sealing matrix of the Shinigami. All the corrupted humans who found themselves caught within the matrix were immediately killed, their souls ripped out of their mortal coils while their bodies turned into dust and smoke. Hundreds, thousands, perhaps even over a million corrupted humans faded from the earth.

Yura continued to scream as three gold and three violet wings sprouted from her back. In her hands, two swords, one gold, and one violet, appeared. On Yura's forehead burned the clan insignia of the Uzumaki. The Kindred watched on, Lamb finally relenting.

"It seems we were indeed wrong, Dear Wolf. Instead, you shall hunt freely after all," Lamb claimed. Wolf snorted as the two spirits merged themselves with Yura's spirit. Finally, the light faded from the three sections of the Earth. Yura stepped out of the brown flames and glared at the demons which remained, though they'd slaughtered the majority it still seemed to be so many, over 900,000 or so.

When compared to the remaining 8000-9000 remaining members of the Shinobi Alliance, it wasn't the most comforting of thoughts. However, Yura marched past Yugao and advanced on the multitude.

"Nii-sama, I love you. Even should I die, I will always love you. Even if the world forgets you, me, or us, I will never forget. Instead, I will herald your return throughout the entire Elemental Nations. To those who stand against you, I shall guard your name. I shall guard the name of the Shinigami. For that is my nindo, my way of the shinobi," Yura claimed. She then sucked in her legs.

For Yugao, Tayuya, and others who still survived, they weren't sure what they'd seen when Yura flew in front of their eyes. A powerfully tall wall of fire broke through the ground, splitting its crevices. Demons screamed while Yura crashed through them, swinging her swords through the corrupted humans. Her steps cratered the land. Gritting her teeth, Yura swung her violet sword, the howl of the wolf releasing its wide maw over those in front of her.

The corrupted humans tried to fight back as best they could, but Yura opened her wings and flew into the air. Weaving beautifully through the air, she dodged their incoming blasts of corrupting power from the realm of Malice. She then pointed her sword at the ground. Beneath the feet of a hundred demons appeared a golden seal.

"Fūinjutsu: Shi no Sairin O Tsugeru (Sealing Jutsu: Heralding the Second Coming of Death)," Yura uttered. Over her targets, appeared a large door with the face of the Shinigami upon it. When the door opened, hundreds of souls screamed and descended upon the corrupted humans. The demons swung at them, yet their deformed claws passed through each without a second thought.

When the souls touched their enemies, the demons were instantly aged by eons until their very bodies withered under the weight of time and death. Understanding what was happening, they tried to escape, yet their bodies were too slow before they faded into nothingness. A trail of blood spilled from Yura's lips, but she quickly ignored it, instead choosing to blaze a trail through the enemies in front of her. She thrust her sword through the chest of one creature while her other sword decapitated the head of another. Shinobi and Kunoichi watched in stunned silence as Yura dug her swords into the earth and ripped them out, bursting a hot stream of molten rock into the sky. Volcanic ash and rock flew down like fire and brimstone.

"I-Is this even ninjutsu? I feel a little out of place here," Omoi said as he stood back to back with Karui.

"Hey, I'll fucking take all the supernatural bullshit help we can get! Don't you pussy out too!" she fired back while Omoi sighed. He really wanted to go home.

-x-

Risa, Yuna, and Fuka silently watched as Kushina rained down spiraling spheres of the six elements. With but a swing of her sword, mountains of corrupted flesh toppled over. Kushina slammed into the midst of at least fifty demons, her sword humming through the air. She swung another time, cutting down several beasts in her path. Yet, what no one was able to see was each slide had carved the seals of the Shinigami into the skin of the creatures. Their unshackled spirits flew out of their bodies and attacked their former allies.

"Should… should we be helping?" Fuka asked.

"Unfortunately, I think we have our own hands full," Risa said, panting as she swallowed another soldier pill.

Meanwhile, Yuna exhaled slowly. She wondered how Sasuke, Mikoto, and Itachi were doing. Her body was covered in bruises and still, she saw no end to their enemy despite just how many Kushina had killed. Never had she been more thankful for The Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan than now. As sad as it was to say that of her little brother, the decrease in chakra consumption was really starting to help out.

"Okay, how do we do this?" Fuka asked.

"We fight, and we fight until we die," Yuna claimed. Risa eagerly agreed. The three kunoichi charged at their own opponents. Fuka and Yuna blew blasts of white-hot fire over the area while Risa enhanced them with a powerful sealing jutsu, all while the landscape changed in unexpected ways. No one knew where one explosion ended and another began.

-x-

Mikoto and Mei Terumi huffed, watching Yuri slam into the ground. The young redhead punched her fist through the head of a demon and kicked another into a separate multitude. When the beasts loomed over her, each of them screaming and wailing wildly. Some managed to hit their march, clawing her face. However, Yuri was hardly perturbed.

With the strength of the Sanbi, she grabbed the arm of the beast that struck her. Holding it tightly, she crushed it until she slowly tore its arm off. The creature wailed in agony, staggering back until the Uzumaki redhead impaled its head with its own arm. She then charged into the others, Isobu directing his chakra to cover any weak points she might expose.

Yuri looked and saw three demons hovering over her. She blocked their blows as they came colliding fists with her. Yet, this was of no consequence as Yuri's fist blew through theirs and buried itself into the chest of one. She opened that fist and formed a giant rasengan within it.

"Suiton: Rasengan: Rasen-jō no Shinsui (Water Release: Spiraling Sphere: Spiraling Submergence)!" Yuri hollered, mixing water with the sphere. Immediately, she thrust out a chakra arm. The water sphere crashed into the chest of one beast. It screamed in agony while Yuri pushed her palm further into it. The beast flew through the air until it took others with it. The water grew more and more unstable, exploding into a large water funnel that tore through the ground and gathered the clouds into it.

From the clouds spears of water rained down over a large area. Iwa shinobi quickly summoned barriers of rock to protect them from the downpour. As for Yuri, she had no reason to be concerned. She stepped over the body of the creatures she'd killed and continued on her way. Others ran, stomping toward her while she furiously sped through numerous handsigns. She released a pile of water from her mouth and flooded the area.

While she sprayed the water out of her mouth, Yuri quickly took out a piece of paper and drew furiously on it. As it turned out, all of that sealing jutsu practice was worth something after all. She threw the seal into the water. The paper was quickly soaked when an array of lightning arrows, courtesy of a few Kumo shinobi, spilled out. The lightning mixed with the water and created a floor of electromagnetic death. Creatures screamed out in agony while Yuri watched on.

The young redhead looked up and she noticed one corrupted human different from the others. There seemed to be something odd about it because as far as Yuri was aware, none of them had red crystals embedded in their chests. It stood on top of a large hill and it grinned at her specifically.

"Oh, I'll give you something to fucking smile about!" She scowled as she charged toward. Numerous lesser beasts attempted to stop her, but Yuri bowled them out of the way, taking their heads and hearts however she pleased. She jumped over one and launched herself into the air. Floating over the area, she was given a glimpse of the wide range of the battlefield. Never had she seen so much blood, death, and war.

However, as Yuri got closer and closer to her target, she quickly noticed another figure at its feet, lying broken and battered. Of the many people Yuri knew, only two people had that sort of hair color, and, unfortunately, Guren was already dead. Another thing that gave the matter away was… the paper crane lying next to the body. Yuri stared at the body of Konan, the beast's leg on her chest tauntingly.

At once, the Sanbi was concerned when he sensed the numerous negative emotions flooding through Yuri's body. Isobu felt more and more of his chakra draw out while Yuri roared. "GET AWAY FROM HER!" Yuri screamed, her voice releasing a shockwave of Honshou that blew at least five hundred demons away.

The one with the red crystal grinned even harder. It then kicked Konan's body away before it sucked in its legs and charged at Yuri. The two clashed in the middle of the air. Yuri didn't remember much about thinking at a time like this. All she remembered was being angry, VERY angry!

Yuri fired out fist after fist trading blows with the Red Crystal Corrupted Human. She assaulted it over and over, burying her fists in its face and chest. Yet, of them all, this was the one to give her some considerable trouble. She then kicked it and it grabbed her leg. With its large claws, it gripped her face and threw her back to the ground.

Acting quickly, Yuri summoned the shell of the Sanbi and softened the blow back into the ground. She hopped out of the crater she'd created and watched the Red Crystal Corrupted Human open its mouth. From its mouth came a stream of malice energy. Yuri quickly rolled out of the way, watching the blast sail past her in surprise and through the air.

"Get down!" Kurotsuchi shouted as she grabbed whoever was close and pulled them down as the blast of malicious energy flew past her and the others. The blast traveled far, even passing Kushina and Yura. It flew beyond even the Earth itself, crashing into a star and rupturing it. The ground shook while Kurotsuchi covered her head.

"What the fuck was that?" she wondered. She'd been watching Yuri dismantle what she could for the past six or seven hours now. Kurotsuchi started to wonder if maybe they'd all live to tell the tale of this damned war, but now there seemed to be one giving the Sanbi jinchuuriki trouble. None of the other deformed… things had red crystals in them.

"U-Ummm, Tsuchikage-sama, I think we might have a problem," someone said.

"Yeah, no shit. I see it too. That damn thing's gonna be a problem. They were already becoming hard to kill before. It's like they're growing stronger as more and more time passes. I think we'll have to regroup with the others…"

"...In case we don't make it back, Ma'am. It's been an honor serving with you," the person said.

Kurotsuchi scowled and punched the person in the arm. "Don't fucking jinx us like that! What the hell are you even… talking… abo-" Kurotsuchi stopped as she looked off to the side. She saw a sight that made her stomach churn and her fears heighten. All over the field, the corrupted humans at the flesh of their own allies. Those still leaving stepped on their corpses and devoured them, skin and bone, piece by piece. Some of the stronger ones even ate the living ones. However, that wasn't the thing that filled Kurotsuchi with dread. No, it was the sight of their chests opening, veins pulsing, and… red crystals forming.

Soon enough, ten, twenty, a hundred, a thousand, twenty-thousand, the number of corrupted humans with red crystals from Jashin continued to climb almost without end. You ask Kurotsuchi if she'd ever been afraid, then she'd lie and tell you no. However, never had there been a time that she'd ever be more truthful than right now.

"God help us," Kurotsuchi thought as she continued to watch the number of red crystal-corrupted humans increase. Each of them roared into the air in sheer unison.

-x-

Naruto crashed into the moon, quickly standing on his feet again while Jashin floated down next to him. The blond glared at the God of Malice, taking a moment to look at the earth. The planet seemed to be getting worse by the hour. It seemed so strange that he'd gotten so used to its sinister red aura that its sudden black color sent a chill down his spine.

"Glorious, is it not? I have to say that in all my eons that I've lived never have I gathered so much slaughter and malice. Surely, you see it as well. I continue to grow in power and might while your comrades are slaughtered where they stand. How many of them have been killed? How many have been slaughtered? How many have been sent to their death in fits of anger and wrath? Of course, I sense the rise in your power as well, but it's nothing compared to the deterioration of your soul being merged with my brother. How long can you continue to last? One hour? Two? Do you even have thirty minutes?" Jashin asked, grinning when he saw the trail of blood spill down Naruto's eyes, nose, and lips.

The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki found himself huffing, struggling for something to breathe in the cold vacuum of space. Power brimmed from his body, so much of it seemed to cause even the stars themselves to fall through space itself. Each of them gleamed magnificently while Naruto dusted off his cloak.

"Really? You're getting more powerful? I haven't noticed considering you fight like an amateur. Heh, even Konan's friend, Nagato, gave me more trouble than you did," Naruto taunted.

While Jashin wasn't sure who this… Nagato was, he had a feeling that he was being belittled. His eyes narrowed, especially given the grin on his opponent's face. "Is that right? Then allow me to correct that misconception!" Jashin said.

"Be prepared, Uzumaki Naruto. He comes," The Shinigami said.

Naruto quickly nodded and jumped back when a spear from the ground of the moon came from beneath his feet. The spear blocked his vision of Jashin and the God of Malice took that time disappear in a blur of speed. Fortunately, Naruto had the Shinigami's divine senses and easily followed Jashin's movements.

Naruto turned his head and dodged a spear aimed to take his head off, courtesy of Jashin. Acting quickly, Pakura and Suiren grabbed the spear and pulled the God of Malice forward, enabling Naruto to bury his fist in the god's cheek. Jashin was sure he heard the bones in his cheek break before he was launched into the air.

Unknown to him, Naruto placed a seal on the god's cheek and immediately slammed his hands together. Behind Jashin appeared another door, it quickly opened and wrapped Jashin in chains, staining his body with more cursed seals from the Shinigami. Jashin tried to stave them off, yet the Shinigami would not allow his brother to break his chains so easily.

Using Naruto as the conduit for technique, the God of Death channeled his might. Hundreds of arms from his body flew out of the door and tightened their hold on the God of Malice. They dragged him into the door and Naruto swiftly sped through another set of handsigns, sweating and cursing when he felt Jashin bash against the frames of the door he'd been confined in.

Suiren, Kimimaro, Pakura, Yahiko, Dan, Gari, and Tobirama quickly supplied Naruto with additional strength, draining their spirits to keep the doors shut.

Finally, Naruto finished and his eyes glowed like those of the God of Death. "Shisenpō: Kami no Shohō (Death Sage Mode: Divine Formulation)!" Naruto roared.

Inside the door, Jashin continued to struggle before he noticed thousands of vile spirits from the underworld spawn themselves, each of them baring their violent fangs at him. Fearlessly, the God roared, yet they roared back. The spirits charged at him and sank their fangs into him. One by one, their strikes sapped him of his authority over the Realm of Malice.

Little by little, Jashin felt the power inside him start to spiral out of control. He screamed, his screamed like he never screamed before. The reverberating pressure of his voice made the doors crack while sweat burned off Naruto's face.

"Brat! Open the door!" Kurama said.

Naruto didn't even bother asking why. He just slowly pulled his hands apart, the doors mimicking his actions. Unfortunately, he was forced to brace against the surface of the moon when Jashin's roars came upon him. The moon cratered, and the blond even thought he felt the floating rock move at least a little.

Acting quickly, Kurama and Mōryō summoned Honshou avatars of themselves. The Nine-tailed Fox opened his mouth and the Ancient Dragon's numerous heads opened their mouths as well. The fox fired a large tailed beast bomb through the air while the dragon heads blasted smaller, though no less lethal, orbs of lightning orbiting around it. Both attacks flew through the door and Naruto quickly closed it.

Attempting to contain the force of the explosion broke Naruto's arms. He bit his lip while his wounds were quickly healed. Unfortunately, he still couldn't relax as the door swiftly shattered, shocking the Uzumaki Patriarch. He quickly grabbed his sword when he saw Jashin rushing for him, spear thrust outward to claim his life.

Naruto blocked the blow, one side of the moon breaking under the onslaught. Chunks of rock floated about, the ferocious boom and blasting of spear and sword. Through the vast nothingness, Jashin and Naruto danced over the moon. Every strike, every blow, every attack, reshaping the very planet that was rumored to be created by the Rikudo Sennin.

Naruto doubled over when Jashin pushed his knee in his stomach. He then found himself skidding over the moon's surface. In his haze, he spotted Jashin coming upon him. Snarling, Naruto quickly summoned a clone that took the stab from the God of Malice's spear.

Pakura, Gari, and Suiren quickly took the time to appear. The powers of water, explosion, and scorch came together to create a blinding light like a flash bomb. Even Jashin was forced to squint and that was all it took for Naruto to land a punch to the god's face. He then followed through by turning his body and crashing his foot into his opponent's face.

Before Jashin could even register the pain of the hit, Naruto quickly kicked him again. The God of Malice staggered back, the force of ten thousand exploding kunai in one kick bashing into him over and over. One kick from Naruto was enough to force the two into a deep crater. The moon became scarred with shreds of evidence of Naruto's relentless onslaught.

The blond kicked and kicked and FUCKING KICKED. This was without a doubt the worst day of Uzumaki Naruto's life. Even with all this power, even with everyone's lives depending on him, he hated today. Of course, he wanted to beat Jashin. Of course, he wanted to kick the bastard so hard that his head popped off his shoulders. Of course, he… he wanted to win, but… he didn't want to win if it cost this.

As Naruto kicked and fought, tears fell down his face. He scowled as he watched Tayuya's departed soul fly into his body. He hadn't missed Sakura, Shikamaru, Temari, or anyone else. He didn't have to imagine what was happening back on earth. He received feelings of it every time. Though the Realm of Death powered him through the Shinigami he couldn't stop wondering who might be next. He worried for Risa, Fuka, Karui, Omoi, Karin, Yuri, Yura, and Kushina. He worried for his teammates. He didn't want to think who might be next.

"Please tell me I'm close!" Naruto said as there came a delay in his assault, allowing Jashin to grab his leg. The god looked highly annoyed.

"You know the answer to that question, Uzumaki Naruto. What must be shall be," Shin said, bolstering Naruto's defenses when the blond was rocketed out of the crater and into the depths of space. Naruto barely had the time to correct himself before Jashin grabbed him by the throat and drove him into the moon's surface.

Naruto grimaced in pain, trying to stand up before Jashin punched him in the gut. A glob of blood flew out of the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki's mouth before he tried to get to his feet. When he looked up, he saw Jashin floating there. Thousands of spears just like the one held in his hand floated around him. On the tip of them all, violent masses of swirling malice cultivated themselves.

Frowning, Naruto slammed his hands together. Kurama and the Shinigami quickly bolstered his already fried reserves with more power. The rest of his summons aided him as well. Immediately, Jashin waved his arm, and the spears with their bombs of malice were launched upon Naruto.

Taking his sword, the Uzumaki Patriarch danced out of the way of the spears, blocking those he couldn't escape with his sword. His robe wove itself amazingly, almost as if it were acting on its own and blocking anything it could to protect the one who wore it.

While Naruto dodged and weaved, he summoned ten clones. Each of them quickly sped through their own handsigns. Instantly, countless portals appeared. Out of them, flew fierce blasts of black chakra courtesy of Mōryō. The blasts pierced through the spears and clashed with Jashin's hand. He effortlessly blocked the blast, but only for so long.

It didn't take long for Naruto to appear behind him and grab his head. The Summoner of the Shinigami forced the God of Slaughter to face the full brunt of the blast, pushing him right through it until they came down to see the Naruto clones with various forms of the rasenshuriken in their hands. They threw them and Naruto quickly moved away as the outer space warped around the barest of boundaries of the moon.

Naruto's eyes squinted as he landed back on the surface of the planet. The harsh explosions seemed to draw in the stars with them, causing a chain reaction of blasts that would make anyone on Earth go blind.

"NGH!" Naruto cursed as he knelt in agony. The Shinigami and the others immediately noticed this. While the God of Death remained visibly passive, there were the briefest thoughts of frustration brewing beneath his visage.

"I have no choice," The Shinigami thought. He then looked at his summoner and then he looked at the Kyuubi. The Fox glanced at him and the God of Death didn't even have to speak for the demon fox to nod.

"Uzumaki Naruto, have you faith in me?" The God of Death inquired.

Naruto's ears continued to ring. The pain was making him dizzy. He couldn't even stand properly without tripping over his own feet. Nevertheless, he heard the Shinigami's voice through the veil of his own tumultuous thoughts.

"A-A-Always," Naruto replied. Immediately, his spirit was granted relief from the nigh-insurmountable pain. However, there was another problem. He felt nowhere near as powerful as he was just a second ago. Immediately, he realized that the Shinigami ceased the merger.

While the relief was nice for a second, Naruto was immediately filled with worry when his arm was blown off. He screamed, his screamed like he never had before as the white robe faded away. His other hand clutched his shoulder before his left leg was torn to pieces as well. His forehead crashed into the surface of the moon. Oh right, he couldn't breathe this atmosphere now that his merger with the Shinigami was gone. Oh, how did he forget that detail?

Cursing in agony from the pain, Naruto heard the deliberately slow steps of Jashin. "It seems I have won our bet, Uzumaki Naruto. It seems you couldn't handle my brother's immense power anymore without killing yourself any longer. Unfortunately for you, I still have eons of authority over the Realm of Malice. Don't take it too hard. A mortal challenging a god, men and women shall tell your tale of tragedy until time itself fades away. You can close, closer than anyone ever has," Jashin said, grabbing Naruto by his throat. The grin on his face widened.

Snarling, Naruto fired a punch right in Jashin's face, the full weight of the Kyuubi, Mōryō, and his summons behind him. However, they all quickly stilled saved for a comment from Dan that seemed to sum up their thoughts.

"May Kami have mercy on us," He thought as Jashin hardly looked fazed by the attempt at retaliation.

"Amusing. Now… it's my turn."

-x-

"Y-You know, you… look like… shit w-w-when you're s-sad," Tayuya said, chuckling as a trail of blood fell down the side of her mouth as her mother embarrassed her. The gaping wound in her chest continued to deep while Risa sobbed.

"Don't curse, Tayuya," Risa said, clutching her daughter tightly even while Tayuya laughed her last breath. Her arms fell and her flute fell out of her hands. Risa choked on a sob, tears burning her cheek while she looked at the chaos of the battlefield, if one could even call it that. It looked more like a slaughterfest.

"Heh, even dead you can still smile. Like mother, like daughter, eh Tayuya?" Risa asked, looking up as she saw the red crystal-corrupted humans advance upon her. They stepped over Fuka's body, their beady eyes narrowing upon her.

"Naruto, we have faith," Risa said, holding up a handsign. Immediately, a cataclysmic explosion rocked the area as Risa passed away, taking anything she could with her.

Meanwhile, hundreds of miles on the other side of the battlefield, Mikoto, Yuna, and Sasuke fell to their knees as Itachi smiled, the corrupting malice slowly taking over his body from a wound in his stomach. His eyes remained closed, having been gouged out.

"Sorry, Sasuke. I never thought I'd have to let you suffer seeing me die a second time. However, know that this is how it must be. We… we will win, and you will rebuild our clan. Make sure… you l-l-leave no… regrets…" Itachi said, activating the Amaterasu so that his body might not become like so many others, fighting against comrades and former allies.

Mikoto clenched the hem of her pants while Yuna held her head down. Sasuke scowled, holding the body of his brother. It just didn't make sense. While the battle was fierce, it had become one-sided so quickly. The Uchiha didn't even know what happened, but the entire Shinobi Alliance had become so weak. The spirits they'd all been merged with had faded away, Kushina unable to handle the strain anymore.

"A-A-AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Sasuke felt his blood run cold as he heard allies scream. Many still fought valiantly, if futilely. Each of them was cut down without remorse, the corrupted humans laughing and cackling. There… There were just so many of them. More than anyone could see.

The Uchiha heir inhaled and exhaled slowly. "We will win. The dobe is gonna win. I know he will. He's too stubborn to lose. We will win and I'll restore our clan!" Sasuke said, laying Itachi on the ground while Yuna and Mikoto watched.

Sasuke then faced them. He turned to Yuna. "I love you," he said.

Yuna looked at him and snorted. "Of all the times, now you show some damn emotional maturity. I love you too, you stubborn idiot," Yuna said. Sasuke pressed his lips to hers while Mikoto watched.

The mother brushed a hand through her deceased son's hair before she noticed Sasuke take her hand in his. When he looked at her, she almost felt her breath leave her body. He didn't need to speak and neither did she. She just clenched his offered hand while Yuna looked on curiously.

Unfortunately, the three Uchiha weren't allowed any more privacy as a screech turned them back to the coming army. Sasuke stood up as did Yuna and Mikoto.

"Teach them not to underestimate the Uchiha Clan!" Sasuke said. He unsheathed his sword, furious sparks of lightning sprayed over the ground. The clouds parted and lightning roared with the might of a furious dragon. The last male Uchiha, once again, howled into the open air as the full might of the Susanoo came over him.

Sasuke's chakra burned away as the Susanoo armor fashioned itself with the scales of a lightning dragon. Streaks ran across its body like it was blessed by Raijin himself.

Meanwhile, Yuna held up a handsign. With the last vestiges of her chakra, her Sharingan turned into the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. Mikoto grabbed her sword and held her stance as tight as possible. The three Uchiha charged at their adversaries.

To the far southwest of the battle, Kakashi slumped down. As it turned out, wielding a sword was hard with one arm and no eyes. He wondered how the others were doing. He didn't remember a whole lot following the massacre. He just remembered losing all the power channeled through Kushina to him and the rest. He wished he could open his eyes so that his thoughts might not be so muddled with the last sight of Gai dying. Always the type of man to smile even in the face of death with a thumbs-up pose, he just never seemed to quit.

Kakashi heard a shift next to him. His nose picked up on a familiar scent. "Sorry, it seems I don't have an eye to give you this time," Kakashi remarked while Obito frowned.

"I wouldn't accept it anyway…" Obito said with a labored breath.

"No, I suppose you wouldn't," Kakashi laughed as he held his head down.

Obito looked at his former teammate. "Didn't I tell you? This reality has nothing worth living in it. It's better if something like this didn't exist. So much suffering, so much death, so much destruction, it could all end because of me. Don't tell me you don't remember the days when scenes like this were common. Don't you want it to end?" Obito asked.

"..."

Kakashi said nothing while Obito frowned. "No, of course you wouldn't. You always have the be the stoic type that can't speak with that laidback attitude of yours. You've always been that way. I… I'm not wrong. My way is the only way that's left. Look at it, the meaningless of life. There's nothing here for us! Don't you get it?" Obito inquired.

"..."

The Uchiha snorted, throwing his head away before his ears picked up on screaming. He closed his eyes and held his head down while Rin landed in front of him. "Obito, Kakashi, are you both alright?" Rin asked, huffing heavily.

"I told you not to call me that," Obito responded while Rin quickly ran over to Kakashi when she saw he didn't respond. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched her kneel in front of his former teammate. He then looked down. Heh, Kakashi, of course. It was always Kakashi. Even returning from the dead, some habits were just too hard to get rid of.

"Aren't you lucky, Kakashi? You always were the one to get the attention of the girls. It never changes does it?" Obito asked.

"..."

Perhaps it was the stress, perhaps it was the loss of feeling in his body, perhaps it was his wounds, perhaps it was a myriad of other things, but Obito had grown fed up with Kakashi's silence. He turned his head, ready to say something that might blow him up inside. Yet, those feelings quickly faded away when he saw Rin's horrified expression.

"Kakashi? Kakashi!" Obito called, yet the member of Hinoken offered no answer. Instead, Kakashi's body slumped over while Rin slowly set him down. Obito watched, his body unwilling to respond to even its own agony when he saw the dying smile on Kakashi's face.

Obito frowned for a long while until… he couldn't help but chuckle. "Truly, a worthless reality. Nothing good in it at all," Obito said before his head was whipped to the side from a harsh slap from Rin. Unfortunately, he was in too much pain to touch his cheek.

"...Obito, it's been a few months. I think I've been more than fair to you. Now, how about I speak my mind? I… I'm sorry I never realized how you truly felt. I'm even sorrier for what I made you and Kakashi endure because of my choice. But you need to grow up! Yes, I died. If I could go back and have the opportunity to redo my choice, I'd still do it! Obito, there is so much about the world to love, people to see, and relationships to have. No, they aren't perfect. We fight, we kill each other, we all say hurtful things, and… we engage in stupid wars where no one is right, but… that can't stop us from seeing the beauty in life. Feeling of the sun, the taste of good food, the joy of parents having their children, if no one in your perfect world dies, then what are we striving for?" Rin asked.

Obito remained quiet, clenching his fists while Rin sighed. "I don't have time for this. Others need my help, our help. I'll have to deal with you later. However, I want you to know if there was someone who loved me, I hope he would see the me in front of him now, and not the one he thinks he's looking forward to," Rin said, closing the lids of Kakashi's eyes and resting his sword on his chest.

Obito said nothing as Rin stood up. He watched her run off, barely even paying him any more mention. The Uchiha grabbed his mask and threw it off his face. He then leaned back and looked at the blood-soaked sky.

"Why are you so annoying even when you're dead?" Obito asked, unable to keep sweat from falling around his cheeks. Yeah, sweat. That's what it was. Of course…

-x-

Kushina landed on her knee as she gripped her sword. She panted, blood falling from the side of her face. In hindsight, perhaps standing amidst so many corrupted humans wasn't the best of ideas. She worried that something happened to her son because she felt the rapid decrease in her power. She couldn't maintain so many spirit mergers anymore without them ripping her very body to pieces.

With that loss of power, the massacre soon fell upon her family and the rest of the nations. The noises were haunting, and the blows were even more body-breaking than before. She watched as Yura flew through the air, swinging blades of gold and violet fire over those in her path. Kushina watched her body burn brilliantly as clawed hands clashed with her swords until she ripped them apart.

Yura roared and swung her swords, pulling up a wall of fire to block the blows raining upon the rest of the Shinobi Alliance, or what little of it remained. Yet, even she was beginning to struggle. The flames weren't as vibrant as before. In fact, they seemed to be withering away in the face of such malicious energy.

Then, there was Yuri. Oh, there was Yuri. It became clear that despite the young girl's exuberance, her lack of expertise in prolonged battles was starting to show itself. Kushina winced when one of the corrupted humans clawed at Yuri's face. She valiantly took the blow and grabbed the beast's arm. She then threw it over her shoulder, throwing it into others while she charged at a separate creature, howling with the full force of the wind behind her breath.

Kushina turned back to the others in front of her. She quickly summoned a clone and ran into her own field of battle. The Red Death weaved between the mass of claws, limbs, teeth, and violent divine energy. She swung her sword, the grace and beauty of years of training standing behind her. Limbs flew off beasts and heads were decapitated. Kushina grabbed one and slammed it down into the ground. She then jumped into the air and swung furiously, releasing a cornucopia of fire, water, wind, and lightning missile-like spears from her sword.

In front of her, the ground ruptured in a flurry of twisting and winding elements, each complimenting themselves in a vicious storm of activity. From her back, white chains flew over and under the ground. Each one grabbed at least ten corrupted humans. She willed the chains to pull them together and all it took was one slash from Kushina, a swing so powerful even the firmament between the sky and the ground split apart.

"Uzu no Fukushū: Saikō Ken'i: DAITEN BUNKATSURU (Whirlpool Revenge: Supreme Authority: GREAT HEAVEN DIVIDING)!" Kushina hollered, crashing into the ground and bringing her sword down with her. A trail of lightning-covered fire struck the ground in front of her, knocking up every enemy in her path and around her. Wolf-like apparitions roared from the flames and hunted down their foes, burning them in blinding white fire.

Kushina panted, turning her head for only a moment to see one of the red-crystal-corrupted humans charge at her. Unable to correct herself in time, Kushina blocked the blow, but she groaned as she sailed along the ground. Cursing, she stood up and ripped off her Hinoken shirt, leaving her in mesh armor.

She tried to open her left eye, but there was too much blood. Even when she wiped it over, the wound refused to close. With her right eye, she looked out and sighed. There had to be 800,000… or maybe even 850,000 still around, especially when compared to the 1000 to 1200 shinobi left. And, as much as Kushina wanted to deny it, the latter's number was dropping almost absurdly fast. If it continued like this… then, there'd be no one left in half an hour.

Suddenly, Kushina's thoughts stopped. Her ears picked up on a sharp whistle through the air. She looked up. Yura looked up. Yuri looked up. All the remaining allies of the Shinobi Alliance looked up as they saw what looked like a fallen meteor sailing toward the Earth.

"What the hell is that?" Karui asked from afar, holding Omoi's arm over her neck.

Kushina didn't know what it was, but she immediately felt dread fill her being. She watched the ball of fire come closer and closer until it was impossible not to see the face of her son through the fire.

"Naruto!" Kushina cried out. She watched as he crashed into the distance, shaking the ground beneath everyone's feet. Even Kushina and Yuri fell over while Yura shivered. The dust from the explosion made them cover their eyes.

Kushina's felt her chest tighten. She quickly grabbed her sword and cared not what happened to the rest of her body. The mother of the Uzumaki Patriarch sucked in her legs and dashed for her fallen son, turning the ground behind her into a deep canyon while she furiously cut down anything in her path.

Men and women wisely managed to stay out of Kushina's way, her blade turning her enemies into a regular blender of blood, limbs, and fire. The leader of Hinoken blazed a trail straight to the crater where Naruto landed. It was deep, deeper than any hole she'd ever seen. In fact, the only way she could see the bottom was with her enhanced sight.

Acting quickly, she jumped into the hole. Landing at the bottom, Kushina wasn't sure what she was supposed to say or think when she saw the state of her son. One arm was missing, one leg was missing, both his eyes had been gouged out and his body looked thoroughly crushed. If not for his ragged breaths, she might have wondered if he was even alive.

"Sochi. Shhhh, I'm here," Kushina said, kneeling next to him. She held him in her arms while he lifted his head up. He tried to speak, but she placed a finger to his lips. She then kissed his forehead.

Taking her son in her arms, Kushina jumped out of the hole, only to be met with Yura, Yuri, and a few others. It wasn't hard for all eyes to land on Naruto's fallen and beaten form. A Kiri shinobi chuckled as he dropped to his knees.

"Why'd we let you talk us into this? It was clear from the start. We… we can't win. Heh… heheheheh… it's impossible to challenge a god after all," he said, getting Yuri to glare at him while Kushina and Yura wisely ignored him.

"Where is Tsunade?" Kushina asked, turning her head to Yuri. the Sanbi Jinchuuriki shook her head. The Godaime Hokage had fallen in the massacre.

"Karin?" Kushina then asked, turning to Yura. The older sister of the Jinchuuriki shook her head as well. All of Sasuke's team had perished, Karin simply didn't have the chakra to sustain so many people at once. Not even her Uzumaki life force could handle it.

Kushina sucked her teeth, frowning when she blinked and noticed Jashin standing a few feet away from her. The god grinned while the others' faces recoiled in horror.

"My brother has abandoned you. Your most powerful defense against me has fallen and now… only four remain," Jashin said, raising his hand into the air. No one moved as the full force of the Realm of Malice came over the whole earth for a second time.

In a full minute, a thousand men and women soon became four Uzumaki clan members. Everyone had been thoroughly given over to the Realm of Malice and killed each other in fits of anger and rage. Malice for the living, malice for friends, malice for enemies, even… malice for themselves. If there was no one to direct the anger at, then it was directed upon the recipients themselves.

Naruto would forget neither the screams, the shouts, nor the cries of the souls who lost their lives in the massacre. Sasuke, Yugao, Kakashi, Mikoto, Yuna, Rin, Karin, Fuka, Risa, Tayuya, Mei, all of them were gone along with so many others. Everything that Naruto worked for was gone, rended asunder because of Jashin.

Kushina slowly let down her son while Yura noticed the gold and violet flames fade away. Her red hair returned and the same could be said for Yuri. Even her form had faded away, no longer capable of being sustained now that the power of the Shinigami no longer flowed through them.

"S-Stop. He's mine! I'll deal with him!" Naruto said, his throat burning and his voice raspy.

His fiancee and lovers ignored him. Instead, Kushina grabbed her sword and drew a line in the sand. "Sochi, I'm your mother. Sometimes, a parent wants to look cool in front of their children. We know you'll win. We don't need to see it. It was a miracle that you attracted the attention of the Shinigami. It was a miracle that you resurrected our dead clan. It was a miracle that… I fell in love with you. A wife must support her husband. Consider this proper bridal training," Kushina claimed.

"Now that's a school I wouldn't mind enrolling in, especially if it's for Naruto-nii," Yuri claimed.

The grin on Jashin's face fell as he watched the three Uzumaki women stand between him and Naruto. He eyed the way the blond tried to stand, succumbing to his injuries every now and then. "Foolish. Stupidly, and irredeemably foolish!" Jashin said, holding up a hand to stop the corrupted humans from advancing. He'd enjoy this by his own hand.

Kushina, Yura, and Yuri nodded. The three charged at the god of Malice. Kushina was the first to get in front of the god. She swung her sword, watching it break against Jashin's neck.

Meanwhile, Yuri came up to the side. She bashed her fist into Jashin's face, only to scowl when he showed no reaction.

Yura came from above and bashed her leg over his head. As with the others, nothing fazed the god until they heard him sigh. "In honor of your efforts, I shall do you the barest of courtesies and… shall end you swiftly. This world is mine, now and forever!" Jashin said.

Instantly, a dark aura surrounded him and he waved his head, sending waves of its corrupting influence over Kushina, Yura, and Yuri. Naruto's breathing quickened when he heard three bodies hit the ground.

Uzumaki Naruto was now alone. On the ground, in agonizing, gut-wrenching, heart-twisting agony, Naruto found himself alone facing down the maddening force of the God of Malice.

…or so he thought.

"N-Naruto."

The blond perked up, dragging his face in the blood-soaked dirt when he felt a hand on top of his head. Though his ears were punctured, he'd never miss his mother's voice. Her was the loveliest out of anyone's that he'd ever heard. As Naruto raised his head, his bloodied lips felt something soft.

Kushina pressed her mouth against his. Neither seemed to care about the taste or the circumstances surrounding their display of affection. All Kushina cared about was her son. She cared for him so much. Her heart ached for him. As sure as she lived, she'd never love anyone else should she lose him. Her hands brushed through his hair and his hand touched her cheek. It felt wet.

With a smack of their lips, they separated. However, before Naruto pulled back, Kushina pulled him forward. She held her lips near his ear.

"Win, My Beloved."

That was the last thing Naruto heard before his ears picked up on the thud of Kushina's body.

"Kaa-chan? Kaa-chan!" Naruto uttered, his gouged-out eyes keeping him from seeing the death of his mother and the smile that adorned her face. The blond gritted his teeth as he crawled with one arm and one leg through dust and dirt. His nails bled and his body trembled in agony.

Instead, of his mother's body, Naruto's hand found the foot of Jashin. "Had you simply fallen in line, you wouldn't have to know such a wretched misery. What's next? One last stand?" Jashin asked.

Rather than Naruto responding, all the spirits within his sword jumped out in front of Jashin. Even the avatars of Kurama and Mōryō towered over the two. Everyone converged on Jashin, yet the god was hardly perturbed. With but one swing, his malicious energy corrupted their bodies. Pakura, Suiren, Dan, Kimimaro, Gan, Tobirama, and even Madara screamed as they were blasted away from the battle, fading away under the insurmountable weighted power of a true god.

Even Kurama and Mōryō were forced away, crashing miles away into the distance while Jashin summoned chains from the ruins of the earth. The chains wrapped around their necks and forced them down to the ground. The two scowled, opening their mouths and firing a furious amount of concentrated Honshou toward Jashin.

Naruto didn't remember much. He just remembered being ragdolled by the force of the colliding blasts. He still couldn't see and there was too much noise to hear what was really going on. However, he could sense Kurama and Mōryō's surprise, frustration, and horror.

Their fears were completely warranted when they saw Jashin appear from the explosion. He dusted off his shoulder before he chained and muzzled their mouths. He then walked until he stood in front of Naruto again. He grabbed him and held him up.

"All your allies have fallen. Your world is mine. My brother has abandoned you. Tell me, why don't you become my summoner instead? You have interested me far more than I thought when I first came upon you. It'd be a shame to not have you for myself. I offer you one more chance. Kneel before me. Swear allegiance and I will…"

Jashin ceased his comment when he felt something wet hit his cheek. He glanced down at his cheek and then looked up to see Naruto smile.

"...Make me," Naruto said, suddenly laughing despite the sheer pain rolling through his body.

"...So unwise, Uzumaki Naruto," Jashin said, taking his spear and thrusting it right through Naruto's body. The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki grabbed the spear with his only hand, unable to stop it as the God of Malice further plunged it into his body. Its corrupted influence quickly started to spread through his body. Slowly, ever so slowly, the pain started to go and Naruto found his consciousness slipping. His blood spilled over the ground and finally, his hand fell from the spear.

Oh, he was dying. He was dying pretty severely this time. The avatars of Kurama and Mōryō dispelled while Naruto hung his head down. Once again, the Summoner of the Shinigami experienced the cruelest embrace of death.

-x-

Slowly opening his eyes, Naruto found himself floating in the depths of a black void. "Shin, I'll admit that when I heard this plan I hated it to the depths of my body. I… I knew it was our only hope, but I never thought that I'd have to let Kaa-chan, Yuri-chan, Yura-chan, and the others experience it. I think… I think I'm starting to know what you meant by the severity of the need for strength. Please, I can't get there by myself. You told me to have faith. Well, I have it and I can only rely on you now. I'll just be floating here without you," Naruto said, his thoughts echoing throughout the void like he was in a deep cave.

The Uzumaki Patriarch continued to float through the neverending nothingness until he found himself landing on what felt like ground. Surprised, Naruto found control given back to his body. He leaned up, looking left and right. No matter where he looked, all was black and dark. The only thing available to his sight was the floor beneath his feet. The young man looked down and saw a very thin bridge. Its length pushed it well into the curtains of the void and into the unknown.

Somehow, Naruto knew he had to walk the thin line. While he didn't know what would happen if he fell off from it, he wasn't so keen to find out. He never felt so alone, so empty, and so crushed. He didn't even remember what gave him the strength to stand. He just remembered that, like he was possessed, he put one foot in front of the other and walked.

Do not ask Naruto how long he walked. He honestly wasn't sure. He just knew that at some point, walking turned to crawling, and crawling turned to sheer struggling.

Pressure, the likes of which he'd never felt before bore down upon him. Naruto was sure his bones broke once or twice while he continued along this wretched path. He panted, he worked, he strove, he tried as hard as he could, and then some more.

"And my future dream is… to be the greatest Hokage! Then the whole village will stop disrespecting me and start treating me like I'm someone, someone important!"

"It might be the Hyuuga's way to cave into destiny, but it's NOT MINE! If you think it's futile to fight back, then just stand there and take it!"

Naruto raised his head. "What?" he asked. He thought he heard his shrimpy voice piercing through the veil of nothingness.

"Cause people called me a failure. I'll prove them wrong!"

"Tell me, Baa-chan, do you think I should win?"

"Yeah, it's our world, isn't it?"

"It's not Iwagakure's world, it's not Kirigakure's world, it's not Sunagakure's world, it's not Kumogakure's world, and… it sure as hell isn't Konohagakure's world. It's our world… Tell me, if I should fight for our world where we keep killing each other day in and day out. Tell me if I should take us back to a world with people who can't even spend a few months together without trying to kill each other. If I took us back, tell me, Baa-chan, would the Kage actually work together to make sure nothing like this happens again?" Naruto asked.

The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki clenched his fists, remembering the words he'd spoken all those days ago. He clenched his fists and forced himself off his chest. The pressure continued to force itself upon him. There was such weight that even the bridge he walked on cracked from the increase. Just trying to stand up made Naruto's arms and legs break four times, the pain was nigh soul-breaking. He was forced back to the ground before he urged himself up, a spark of violet fire brushing across his skin.

"I'll fight for them, my mother, Yuri-chan, Yura, Sasuke, Mikoto-san, Yuna-chan, Kakashi-sensei, Konan, Fuka-chan, Risa-chan, Tayuya, Mei-san, you, Gaara, and… all the others I really care about. I'll fight until I fucking die for them, because I love them, even if some of them piss me off…"

Naruto immediately thought of Sasuke. He managed to get his feet under him and stood up. He took one step, ignoring the pain resounding through his body. He trudged on. He always trudged on. Life wasn't fair. Life sometimes hurt. Life sometimes beat the blond so much that he wondered if it was even worth living sometimes.

No, he didn't have to wonder if it was worth living. He already knew that it was, yet… it made him so much happier if his loved ones might enjoy such a living even if he couldn't. He thought of his mother. How he loved her unlike anyone else. There was just something about her that gave peace to his soul, brought calmness to his troubled ways, and made him confident like the man so many others claimed he might be.

Before Naruto was even aware of it, he found himself standing in front of a large, dark door. His blue eyes looked over its wide frame. Numerous chains kept the door locked. It almost seemed like an impregnable gate to a grand fortress.

"Do you wish for the power to fell Jashin?"

Naruto turned his head and he saw The Shinigami standing in front of the door. He didn't hesitate. "Yeah," he said.

"Do you know what's beyond the Realm of Death? It is The End. The violet flames you and Yura have wielded have been those that come from this door. She was not worthy to open this door and receive the full might of this Realm. I had not deemed her worthy as such. However, it is to you that I have granted my blessing, and it is to you that I allow you to step beyond the door. Do you know why such a plan was needed?" The Shinigami questioned.

Naruto shook his head, never taking his eyes off the door. The Shinigami closed his eyes. "Because I might only give such a blessing should the end of all living things upon a world come to pass. So that I might not abuse this realm granted me by my mother, this was a condition to be passed, one which I have only used one time. And now, you shall inherit the second. Will you open it, even if the flames burn your soul into nothingness?" The Shinigami then asked.

The God of Death narrowed his gaze when Naruto approached the door without hesitation.

"And why do you have to do it alone? Do you think we can't pull our weight?" Sasuke asked.

Naruto then turned to Sasuke, and the Uchiha suddenly wondered if maybe he shouldn't have asked. His best friend seemed sorrowful. "No, Sasuke. While I don't know Karui-san or Omoi-san very well, if Kaa-chan allowed them in the house, then I think that speaks for itself. As for everyone else, I believe in you guys more than I believe in myself. But, I meant what I said. I'm not suited to become the Hokage because… aside from Gaara, Mei, and a few others, I don't trust anyone else. They… they aren't ready," Naruto replied.

"Ready for what?" Kakashi inquired.

"To die, Kakashi-sensei."

Naruto reached out his hand, but he stopped. His fingers twitched and he saw his arm tremble. The blond bit his lip until he felt a hand over his own. Frowning, he looked to his left. His eyes widened when he noticed The Regent standing next to him. Even with the man's masked face, Naruto somehow could tell there was a grin somewhere hidden then.

Yet, that begged the question. Why would this guy, of all people, be here?

"And so the curtains close upon this act. May the next act begin," The Regent said, and guided the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki's hand to the door.

His fingers wrapping around the door handle, Nauto faced the large chained door. The chains rattled, but the door opened just barely enough for him to squeeze through. The flames touched and singed his skin, nevertheless, he stepped inside and the door closed behind him.

-x-

Jashin stepped upon the ruined lands of the Elemental Nations. Spear in hand, he surveyed the entire length of his domain, and he saw that it was good in his sight. Rivers ran with violent blood. His corrupted humans enacted the vilest forms of anger and depravity upon each other. Some would feast on either each other or on themselves. Others would bathe and drink from the blood rivers like it was the greatest wine that had ever passed through their ruined tongues.

The beasts wailed into the open air while Jashin tapped the butt end of his spear on the ground. One by one, black spires like towers of a growing kingdom sprouted out of the ground. In Jashin's ears, the wails of the souls of the Elemental Nations fueled his growing power. His nostrils were filled with vile energy while the Elemental Nations continued to suffer in decay and wrath.

"It seems I have won our little arrangement, brother. In the end, I have added another world to my collection. Though the loss of the Realm of Slaughter shall take some time to recover, I have all the time in the world to gather it to myself. What is a few millions of years? In the meantime, I've still been summoned here, albeit not quite at full strength, but that too shall be remedied in time. Indeed, this is the start of my eternal empire. All creation shall know and worship Jashin, The True God of Slaughter!" Jashin claimed to himself, staring out into the grandeur of his own making.

However, the God of Malice was suddenly horrified when the lands before him ruptured in a sea of black and violet flames. The screams of over 500,000 corrupted humans were hailed over the Elemental Nations in equal measure and equal suffering. Jashin watched as their deformed, decrepit bodies were immediately burned away in a burning tsunami of great divine power. Not a single one was able to withstand the flames. As soon as the violet flames of The End touched them, not even their ashes remained.

Rivers of blood were burned away and the black spires that Jashin had just erupted were torn down. "What the hell is happening?!" Jashin roared as the wailing of the souls he'd taken were finally vanquished. The spirits of those trapped in their spires were finally laid to rest from their agony. Their vicious prisons and torturous chambers were felled one after the other. Like dry wood and fallen tree branches, the spires helped spread the wrath of the violet flames. Even the very malicious air wasn't safe, the stench of wickedness, malice, and slaughter was burned away as the stars and celestial bodies hummed.

Jashin watched in sheer shock as the spirits who'd been mysteriously freed from his grasp floated down to the earth. One by one, they paid him no mind. Instead, they bowed their heads in reverence and humility to the flames. Everyone made sure their eyes were covered and their heads were low. Generations of civilians and shinobi kneeled while Jashin noticed a figure come out of the flames.

The smirk on the god's face slowly fell as he saw Naruto walk out of the flames. The God of Malice shivered with anger. "What does it take to kill this damned mortal?!" he thought.

Naruto stepped out, crossing over the cleansed ground. The flames covered his body, granting limbs to the arm and leg that he lost, and sight to his taken eyes. Each step he took spread out the violet flames. Each step was like a divine drum ringing about throughout the realms of the heavens.

The spirits moved to the side, granting their summoner easier access to his adversary. The fire poured from his eyes and marked the sides of his skin. He took one more step forward and Jashin never remembered trembling like he was currently doing when Naruto instantly appeared in front of him. Unconsciously, the God of Malice took a step back.

"I-I couldn't even see him move. E-Even my divine sense couldn't pick him up. Why can't I stop shaking? He was a bug that I crushed not long ago. Where did he gain this power from? Even my godhood trembles. I'm cowering in front of a mortal? It's impossible!" Jashin claimed.

Attempting to take hold of his pride, The God of Malice smirked. "You're a tough mortal to put down. Don't tell me you truly think you have a chance at victory. What more can you attempt that you haven't already…!"

Naruto rolled his fist back and slammed it into Jashin's face. Violet fire erupted around them both, spreading itself out in a destructive ring that burned all to nothingness. Jashin was taken off his feet while a handful of teeth were ripped from his mouth.

"No more," Naruto said, extending his fist out and firing Jashin into the air. The God of Malice screamed in pain. The burning sensation of the flames tore away at his authority over the Realm of Malice faster than anything the last few days had inflicted upon him. A single decamillennium of authority had been taken from him in that blow while Naruto ignited his fingertips with the violet flames.

"Shisenpō: Shimon: Umon: Shinsei no Bunri (Death Sage Mode: Gate of Death: Right Gate: Separating Divinity)," Naruto called.

Immediately, a door opened behind Jashin. Its familiar chains and foreboding presence made the God of Malice growl. It was only when it opened did he quickly realize what was happening.

"BOY!" Jashin hollered, forcing himself to stop before he could go through the door. However, Naruto would not allow such lenience, he couldn't afford to.

The Summoner of the Shinigami instantly appeared in front of Jashin again and grabbed the god's face with his palm. His grip was like an iron vice. No matter how Jashin screamed or clawed at Naruto, the blond refused to let him go as he pushed the both of them through the door.

Jashin immediately started hyperventilating. Terror flushed through the soul of the malicious god as he and Naruto floated through the dark abyss, its burning flames sticking to both of their bodies. "Foolish Mortal! Do you not know what you've done?! We'll both die here! Your soul will wither away to such a point that not even the Shinigami can revive you! There will be nothing left of you! No one will even remember you!" Jashin claimed.

The frown on Naruto's face deepened before he pulled Jashin toward him. "Then that means no one will remember you either, and that's good enough for me!" Naruto said as all the power of the violet flames in his body ruptured without end. He rolled his fist back and blasted Jashin down into the neverending abyss.

"UZUMAKI NARUTO!" Jashin hollered before Naruto sucked in his legs and dived down after the God of Malice. The blond crashed his body into the god's abdomen, his arms wrapping around the Jashin's waist. Gritting his teeth, Naruto screamed, his life and soul being eroded away, he forced the both of them deeper into the flames of The End. The further down they went, the the thicker the abyss became.

Jashin screamed like his mind was on the verge of breaking into pieces. He snarled and cried like a madman, kicking, punching, and clawing at Naruto. His fists boomed like thunder over the Uzumaki Patriarch's head over and over. Yet, Naruto refused to let go. Using the flames to propel him, Naruto drew in the strength from the Right Gate of Death. He refused to release his hands, his vision shaking and starting to blur.

The pain was unbearable, this pain was perhaps ten or twenty times worse than being merged with the Shinigami himself. Naruto could feel himself withering away as he soldiered on. His body started to burn away as the two continued to fall.

"Uzumaki Naruto, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! C-Cease this insanity immediately and I'll rectify all the wrongs I have wrought on you and your kind. Release me and I'll make sure you and this world never see my hand again! I beg you! Do not do this! I CANNOT DIE LIKE THIS!" Jashin, the weight of the flames coiling and staining not just his body, not just his authority, but his very godhood as well. Never did Naruto think there might come a day when he'd hear a god beg in fear.

Blood spilled from Naruto's nose and the pores of his skin started to ooze out as well. Little by little, even his arms were being burned away along with the skin on his face. His bones snapped in numerous places, unable to be repaired under such inconceivable pressure. Diving down headfirst, he swore he saw sights and heard sounds that no one should have seen or heard. The abyss seemed to turn into a myriad of different shapes and colors.

Through the whole ordeal, Naruto couldn't help smiling, even as the pain reached his teeth. He heard Jashin's rabid screams and curses. However, he sensed the mortality coming upon the man. For every flame that struck his body, more and more of the cruel god's godhood had been stripped away. Eons upon eons of authority continued to in rapid succession and the strength of his blows started to weaken. Hell, Jashin started to look like an elderly man at this point, the strength of his immortality and eternal youth not so present anymore. Yet, he still struggled, he struggled with all the force of a wild, dying dog.

Unfortunately for him, Naruto fought as well. He fought the sweet call of unconsciousness. He fought to bring Jashin as far down as he could. He wished for no exception, no prayer, no salvation, no hope to be brought that this man might come back to torment him or his family and friends ever again. Even if he never got to see the bright future waiting for them all, it was enough like this. Naruto didn't need to be remembered. He didn't need his name to be heard of by everyone in the Elemental Nations. He didn't need to become the Hokage.

All… he… needed…

"Kaa-chan, you know, I think I understand where my problem was. I think in some way I still hated you. I hated you and I hated Tou-chan for putting me through this. Sometimes I couldn't help thinking, 'What makes you think that just a few years with you could make up for the other years where I had to suffer because of the both of you?' Maybe, in some strange way, I fell in love with you to spite Tou-chan. Maybe I didn't want to admit that to myself, to you, to anyone…" Naruto thought, his throat already having been crushed and burned away by the pressure as he continued to piledrive himself and Jashin further into the depths of the abyss. The young chunin closed his eyes and grunted.

"...but now, I can tell you and myself, if it hadn't been for what you both did I wouldn't be here. I would have what I have now, I wouldn't be who I am now, and I wouldn't meet who I've met. In the end, even if you don't remember me, I truly, truly love you, and I am honored that both of you thought me worthy enough to carry that burden. I'm sorry that I can't live up to my promise, but if you do somehow find another man, then he better be even more awesome than me because I think I'm more awesome than Tou-chant at this point!" Naruto grinned as the last of his skin and bones peeled off.

All that was left was his spirit, left tangible by the flames. At some point, Jashin stopped struggling, his eyes rolling into the back of his head while Naruto's soul continued to burn away. With a smile on his face, Naruto sailed the two of them down.

Deep into the right gate, beyond even the realm of Death, Naruto carried Jashin further in while the latter's corrupting influence over the Earth washed away. Red and black skies soon turned blue with glorious white clouds. The barren nothingness of the Elemental Nations, rather than looking like a barren hopeless wasteland, now looked like a wasteland just waiting to be born anew.

And what Naruto didn't know was that he would be remembered. Many would remember this act and parents would tell stories and legends of this young man who, with the weight of the world on his shoulders, dug his heels into the ground and lifted it up.

His name was Uzumaki Naruto, The Number One, Hyperactive, Knucklehead Ninja, who felled a mighty god. The man who didn't want to become Hokage.

---

KG: That... was definitely not supposed to be as long as it was, but sometimes you're not in control of the story. The story controls you and there's only so much you can do until you find yourself bending to its fascinating whims. I'll admit this felt like the most 'Not-Naruto' Naruto chapter I've ever written, but I actually am rather pleased with where I've taken it. Though considering what I think of the ending of this fic, well... I think we've only scratched the surface so far. Either, if I'm gonna be having Naruto fighting gods, then I hoped a bit more leeway might be given. Either way, I had fun!

KG: As for the poll, I missed the opportunity to say it last chapter, but I think some people misunderstood. First, I'll apologize that I made this poll when I was just talking about finishing the other stories. However, my friend was the proper catalyst that made me realize... aside from a few poor quality fics, I haven't actually delved into solo relationships, something I think I should do at least once or twice. Truth be told, I don't know why I made this fic a harem either (It really wasn't my intention to), but I'd like to try my hand at a pure solo fic. So, I ask you that if you haven't pick your favorites, and I'll make it work.

KG: Now some mentioned the lack of Kushina, Hinata, and Sakura. Well, Hinata bores me (not really her fault, but I think she has enough loyal fans). Sakura... no. As for Kushina, well... I think after this I'll be a little Kushina-ed out. Perhaps in the future, but not for this next fic I wish to plan. Thank you!

KG: CHEESECAKE!