Yo, it's Ken
Here we are in the big aftermath from the duel with Naruto and Arashi, I had to write that fight multiple times before while editing at the last minute I really felt my stride get hit writing the battle so I'm glad if you enjoyed. I know this chapter came pretty fast but like I said even with the holidays I stay on the grind until this is finished. I enjoyed writing this chapter as it wraps up the arc pretty nicely before we finally reach the end in the next chapter.
Let's get to the reviews!
Hnbutt: Thank you so much I'm glad you enjoyed and Arashi's backstory was one I genuinely enjoyed writing especially with how it fits with the theme of the story and reflects on Naruto as a character in comparison to him in a similar situation seeing how their two stories with ever so different prespectives could change so much. Thank you so much for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!
Dragonkeeper10: I'm glad you enjoyed the duel, it was definitely one of my favorites to write along with Arashi's journey. One of the biggest events that has been connected with the most people in this arc was the Third Great Ninja War and it's participants it was really interesting to see it all written out now that we've made it here. With Kakazu and Hidan it was very clear Arashi never stood a chance but I enjoyed writing their cameos in this arc because they will be playing a bigger part in the story very soon. The next arc is something I'm super excited for as well. I've got a lot planned and have a lot of writing to do by far lol but I enjoy it and I'm glad you are looking forward to it. Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!
Kreiger Techpriest: Kreiger! If you can't find yourself liking Arashi I honestly don't blame you, just because you've got a messed-up backstory that doesn't automatically make you a likeable character but I do hope it gave you some insight into him. Arashi was another character I like writing a lot as well because there was always a subdued part of his character I got to mess around with before the big reveal. Naruto was definitely on his limit breaking anime protagonist stuff right here haha I loved writing it. Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!
Alexander4443: Thank you so much for reading brother! I hope you had a merry Christmas with your loved ones and enjoyed the holidays and I have that update coming up fast before the new year! Thank you again for reading and I'll see you in the next one!
miguel.a. : Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter, I had to push myself for this one, but it turned out pretty good and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you again for reading!
Jagsboy: Thanks again for reading the chapter! I had to make sure to send you guys off into the holidays with a nice little gift for Christmas before we reach the end before the new year. I'm super excited for the next saga as well and can't wait to introduce it to you guys as we head into the future after the Land of Iron Arc. As for Naruto and Kurotsuchi finally having their moment, you'll have to read and see as always, my friend. Thank you so much for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!
Spellbat: Happy Holidays! The experiments continue even during the holidays haha. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter as well as the reveal for why Arashi was so deadset on his war path I couldn't wait to write that scene and I still can't believe I made it here I couldn't have done it without you guys. Thank you so much for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!
Poizonn98: I'm glad the chapter was one of your favorites, it was one of mine too honestly. Also regarding the point you bring up, for me while writing this story the different stance (Which were all parts of Wind Stance that hadn't been combined yet) per beating the main threat of the chapter was always more symbolic to me than anything else regarding Naruto's growth as a character during each general rather than a random buff of strength this will not always be the case but I'm glad it was satisfying for you to see regardless. In all honesty I loved writing the swordplay in the fight scenes in the Land of Iron Arc but I'm looking forward to next arc where I'll be back to writing the classic ninja style fight scenes and man do I have plenty planned out. All of those things you are looking forward too are going to be coming up in the next arc once we finally get there after one last chapter stay tuned to see it all. Thank you so much for reading, I hope to see you in the next one!
Gamesdean1: Hey Dean! I'm sorry I haven't been sending over a lot of stuff lately with the holidays and the chapters coming out almost back-to-back I gotta make sure these are in order to release them haha. Also, Naruto as of right now is 14 years old almost 15 now. Thank you so much for reaidn and I hope to see you in the next one!
Javiur: I'm glad the ending was perfect for you, I felt like it wrapped up the fights rather nicely for the arc as the last one. Also, don't let the title scare you it could mean many things or multiple things guess you'll have to find out for yourself when you read it. Lastly Arashi's backstory was one that I've been waiting to write for a while and now that it's finally here I'm glad it was received well and you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!
Another nice batch of reviews here, as always if you want to leave any questions, thoughts, or criticisms please feel free to leave a review. I read them all and will be sure to respond to them all as best as I can!
Looks like we finally made it to the last chapters of the Land of Iron Arc, we've been through at lot going through this arc and its been a lot of fun writing this and watching every read and enjoy it. With this chapter there is only one more chapter left in the Arc before we finally move into the new arc starting next year in 2024. This chapter is the first part of the wraping up of the Arc before we wind down into the second part which is the finale of the Land of Iron Arc. In this chapter there are references to underage drinking however in the land of Naruto all participants are of age or status to partake in the festivities.
That being said with one chapter left after this one I wanted to open up a question to the audience, in the reviews that you leave on this chapter please feel free to give your answer to the following question.
Who would you like to see join Naruto on his journey next?
You can put down anyone and while I do have a good head around where I want the story to go next who knows you could have an awesome answer that could require me to become flexible so never say never because I sure won't. I'm looking forward to your responses!
Thank you all again for reading and I hope you enjoy.
-Ken
Next Time! Chapter 26: Welcome Home (12/31/2024)
{...}
Chapter 25: Rest In Peace
Naruto woke up with a jump while he looked around rapidly.
The last thing he remembered was he had spoken to Arashi before his near total exhaustion of chakra caught up with him. Now he was in a dark room, he could see the stars from the window in the room meaning it was nighttime.
He was out for a while but even he couldn't piece together why he was here, where even was here exactly? The blonde slowly stood but winced, once again he was covered in bandages while he got to his feet.
The blonde scratched his head while he saw a door, he slowly walked toward it before he placed his hand on it sliding it open.
The room was bright but when Naruto's eyes adjusted there was a table with food and drinks lined up on it. Sitting at the table was Mifune, Okisuke, Urakaku, Marika, several of the samurai council, Kurotsuchi, and even Arashi.
Instead of armor they were all wearing Kimonos sitting together at this large table while they stared toward him.
The blonde blinked before scratching the back of his head.
"What a weird dream."
The blonde spoke before he was tackled with a hug from Kurotsuchi, the teen nearly fell over from her embrace.
"I told you he'd wake up pretty fast!"
Kurotsuchi yelled while she held the boy tightly as the rest of the room began applause clapping their hands together while the blonde looked around with confusion.
"Oi wait, what's going on? How long was I out? Why's Arashi here?"
Naruto asked while Mifune chuckled, "Easy Naruto. We'll explain, honestly we thought you would be out longer, but this is just as good." The older man spoke while the blonde blinked.
"Wait a minute… that means you all were going to eat without me?!"
The blonde yelled while the room began laughing except for Arashi who chuckled to himself. Soon Naruto found himself settled between Marika and Kurotsuchi, for some reason the atmosphere didn't feel too awkward despite everything.
He did feel bad but these two didn't seem to be mad at each other, what kind of peace talks did they have while he was out?
"Naruto, to start things off. It's been 3 days since you've been unconscious."
Mifune spoke while the blonde's jaw dropped, "3 days?!" The ninja yelled while the older samurai nodded his head.
"The doctors told us a week, but you heal very fast even after all of that, and it looks like a little rest was all you needed to recover your chakra."
Mifune spoke while Naruto blinked at the man before Arashi cleared his throat.
"As for why I'm here… the civil war has been officially declared as over. Mifune is now the commanding force of the Land of Iron. The Shogun."
Arashi spoke while Mifune gave the general a look, "I prefer general. I was never one for ruling titles. This land shouldn't have a Shogun… not anymore." Mifune spoke while Arashi nodded his head.
"So, what's with all the food?"
Naruto asked while Marika smiled toward him, "It's a celebration to honor both the end of the war and your recovery." The girl spoke while Urakaku grinned.
"You have more than earned it."
Urakaku spoke while Okisuke lifted a small sake glass, Naruto blinked before he looked toward Arashi who lifted a glass. "I still have so many questions! Does this mean that everyone's done fighting? What happens after this?" The blonde asked while Kurotsuchi gave him a nudge before handing him a glass, Naruto looked toward it before she smiled at him.
"Naruto. It's ok."
The girl reassured the blonde who stared toward her before he smiled, lifting the glass as the entire table lifted up glasses. "To the end of war!" They all shouted before taking a drink, Naruto made a face before almost spitting out the drink before he forcefully swallowed the burning drink.
"The hell is this stuff?!"
The blonde asked while Mifune grinned, "Only the finest sake in the Land of Iron." The older man spoke while Kurotsuchi gave him a look.
"What? Too much for the Dancing Blade to handle?"
Kurotsuchi teased while the blonde narrowed his eyes at her, "Dancing blade? Also wait a minute you made a face too!" The blonde yelled while the girl shook her head.
"You're imagining things! I drink stuff like this all the time, I'm worried about a newcomer like you, that's all." Kurotsuchi argued back while the blonde huffed.
"Yeah yeah, keep up the big talk. I've been traveling with you for months and I've never seen you taste a drop!"
The blonde yelled while Kurotsuchi raised an eyebrow, "Oh yeah?" The girl challenged while she took another drink before making a face while the rest of the table laughed beginning the festivities.
Naruto could still hardly believe what was going on around him, it had been months of fighting and training yet.
It seemed like it was over now.
The blonde watched Kurotsuchi and Marika laughing together while Orisuke and Urakaku enjoyed their food watching the teens with a smile.
"It must be shocking for you."
Mifune spoke while Naruto looked toward the man who passed a glass over to him, "Don't worry. This one is non-alcoholic, with all the stress Lady Kurotsuchi has gone through she needs to have her fun. I'm guessing you want to be conscious enough to take care of her." The older man said while the blonde smiled before taking the glass.
"Is the war really over? I know we're not fighting right now but it's still a little hard to believe. It still kinda feels like I'm still there."
Naruto spoke while Mifune gave the blonde a look, "The several days you were out were quite stressful, Arashi surrendered nearly sending all the land in an outroar. Some wanted his execution, others wanted to keep him alive, not to mention having to begin reorganization." Mifune spoke while Naruto blinked.
"You guys had to do all that while I was out?"
Naruto asked while Mifune gave the boy a pat on his shoulder, "It was hardly your responsibility as the people of the Land of Iron it was ours. While our land still remains scarred, we are unbroken and rebuilding. Arashi and I organized this celebration to act as a reprieve before we get to work repairing everything." Mifune spoke while Naruto looked toward his glass.
"There's a lot that goes into this whole peace thing isn't there?"
Naruto spoke while Mifune chuckled, "There is… however it always begins with belief. You believed, allow yourself to enjoy this. You've earned it. This land and these people earned it, the hard part can come after." The older man spoke while the blonde nodded his head.
"I think I get it."
The blonde spoke while Mifune chuckled again before he took a drink, "How did you do it?" The samurai asked while the ninja raised an eyebrow at the man.
"Do what?"
Naruto asked while Mifune looked toward his sake glass, "I once told you that no man could become as free as the wind… yet your Wind Stance proved me wrong. How did you become so free?" The samurai asked while Naruto looked around the room again before he smiled.
"I've always been free… for a little while now. Being on the road and being able to go anywhere, it helped me see things about myself I couldn't before. It was scary but it was fun too. It hurt but it allowed me to do a lot."
The blonde spoke while he looked toward Kurotsuchi who was taking another drink before she laughed.
"I met people, precious people. They taught me all about being free too. I couldn't be here without them. You once told me when I did calligraphy to think about a character that I wanted to write. I thought about it and picked whatever I wanted."
Naruto spoke while he looked back toward Mifune who looked at the boy with surprise before the ninja grinned.
"I have you, Judon, Amanai, Koga, Arashi, Marika, and Kurotsuchi to thank for allowing me to see myself. I fought for me, that's the best way I can put it right now."
The blonde spoke while Mifune began to laugh at the teen, "Well said Naruto, I sense that your journey is far from over. So, you should relax and remember this moment. You get to carry happiness with you too." The samurai said while Naruto nodded his head at the man.
"You mind if I steal him?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto looked toward the slightly flushed girl while Mifune smirked, "Of course, have fun." The older man spoke while Kurotsuchi grabbed onto Naruto's arm pulling him along with her while Mifune smiled at them.
"Geez you getting super drunk already?"
Naruto teased while the girl shot him a look, "I am not. I'm perfectly fine, jerk." The pink eyed girl said with a slight slur while the blonde chuckled.
"Naruto?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm so glad you're ok."
"I'm glad you're ok too."
Naruto responded while the girl hugged him, "I… I want to be just Kurotsuchi for a bit longer, is that ok?" Kurotsuchi asked while the blonde held her tightly back.
"Of course, it is."
Naruto said while the kunoichi smiled, "Good, then I get to be selfish." She spoke into his ear while a giggle followed.
The blonde looked toward the girl with a smile before he looked toward the direction of Arashi who was walking toward the balcony outside.
"Hey, don't hate me. I gotta do something real quick."
Naruto spoke while Kurotsuchi looked toward the same direction he did before she sighed, "I'm not always the biggest fan of that good part of you, he tried to kill you." The girl spoke while Naruto nodded his head.
"Yeah, but some things need proper closure. I won't be long I promise."
The blonde spoke while Kurotsuchi sighed, "I trust you, but if he pulls something I'm decapitating him." The girl threatened while Naruto gave her a look.
"I know."
The blonde spoke while he walked toward the balcony, Kurotsuchi watched the blonde walk away while she looked down slightly.
Once again, Naruto stepped up to be the bigger person…
She always adored that about him.
Kurotsuchi's face dropped slightly while she watched the blonde stand next to Arashi outside before she took her glass and downed another drink. She wanted to spend more time with him, because she had no idea how long this time was going to last together with him.
They would be leaving for the Land of Stone, her home after this now that the civil war had been finished. They would hit the road and be on the way to her village, then she would be back.
Then they would go their separate ways.
"Kurotsuchi."
Marika spoke while the brunette looked toward the shorter bespeckled girl who lifted a small glass toward her, "Do you have time for a quick drink?" the girl asked while Kurotsuchi looked toward her before sighing.
"Yup, I just got some."
Kurotsuchi responded before the pair had sat at the table next to each other each with their own glasses in their hands, Marika took a long sip from hers before she sighed. "I told him… I told him how I felt." the glasses-clad girl said while Kurotsuchi looked toward her.
"Oh. Well, I did make you promise so no hard feelings about it…"
Kurotsuchi spoke while Marika sighed, "You're really special to him you know? I'm jealous despite my awareness. The way he looked on that day, it was like he was ready to fight the entire world to get to you." the girl said while Kurotsuchi looked at her glass sadly.
"Yeah… that seems like something Naruto would do. He's special to me too."
Kurotsuchi said while Marika looked toward her, "You look like there's something weighing on you." the girl asked while the kunoichi gave her a quick look before she poured herself another drink.
"Never be mine."
Kurotsuchi said while she took a drink from her glass, "Never be mine? Did he say that to you?" Marika asked while Kurotsuchi gruffly chuckled while shaking her head.
"No, I said that to him… because of something Nobuzagi said to me. He said that since we were enemies that a relationship could never work between us. Perhaps he was right."
Kurotsuchi said while Marika tilted her head in confusion, "Enemies? I thought you and Naruto had been traveling together all this time?" the girl asked while Kurotsuchi nodded her head.
"We have been traveling together for a while but before that we came from two separate villages. My village hates his or at least the one he used to be from… that makes us enemies technically."
Kurotsuchi spoke again while pouring another drink, Marika watched the girl down it before sighed. "The way I see it Kurotsuchi, right now since you both aren't anywhere near your villages. I don't see you two as enemies right now while you're here. With how you two feel, I doubt you'll be enemies even once you do make it to your home. I'm happy for you two." the glasses-wearing girl spoke while Kurotsuchi gave her a look.
"I suppose you're right huh? If only I could this moment last forever. That'd be the dream, wouldn't it?"
Kurotsuchi spoke while Marika wanted to say something, but nothing came out of her mouth before the brunette poured a drink into Marika's cup.
"You've been sipping on that juice all night, it's a party. You more than earned a real drink."
Kurotsuchi spoke while Marika flinched at the alcoholic beverage, "Kurotsuchi, I would prefer not to drink. My body is a temple, I have no idea what alcohol would do to me." the girl said while Kurotsuchi smiled at her.
"Don't sweat it, look I'm right here. At least try a little bit."
The kunoichi said while Marika looked at the glass before she looked at Kurotsuchi's pink eyes, the girl caved before she lifted the alcoholic glass before she downed it. The burning liquid rushed down her throat before Marika started coughing.
"Attagirl."
Kurotsuchi said before she leaned over pulling Marika into a quick hug, Marika looked toward the girl before she sighed hugging her back. "Thank you for everything you've done, Kurotsuchi. I'm glad you didn't die." the blue haired girl said before Kurotsuchi pulled away.
"You know… I really think you would have taken really good care of him if I did die. Maybe it would have been better if I did. Who knows?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Marika gave her a concerned look before the pink eyed girl gave Marika a little nudge to let her know she was joking, causing the other girl to ease up.
But perhaps if she was then that might have been easier than what she has yet to face.
{...}
Fireworks went off in the air popping loudly and in multiple different vibrant colors lighting up the night sky.
Arashi looked over the balcony at the celebrations going on throughout the land after his surrender, it was fitting and well deserved for everything he had put them through.
"Too much fun for you?"
Arashi heard Naruto ask while the general stared ahead exhaling out of his nose, "Naruto, you face me even now? After what I've done?" The former general spoke while the blonde stood next to him.
"I already won our duel, there's nothing else to fight you for. You're just a guy right now and so am I."
Naruto spoke while Arashi looked toward him, "I suppose you're correct. I'm no longer a general just as you right now are not a shinobi. It's almost funny thinking about it." The general said while Naruto nodded his head.
"Why did you spare me? You defeated me in our duel. You should've ended it."
Arashi spoke while Naruto looked toward him, "I didn't want to. Don't get me wrong you've done some pretty crappy things and have a lot to face for them, but I decided I didn't want to kill you." The blonde responded while Arashi sighed looking toward the fireworks again.
"What an odd man you are, Naruto."
Arashi spoke while the blonde chuckled, "You better believe it." The ninja said while the former general turned toward Naruto.
"What do you believe true peace is?
Arashi asked while Naruto looked into the distance at the popping fireworks, "I don't know… I have an idea but not really a definition. What I want true peace to be is a world that doesn't allow its scars to prevent it from just trying to trust people." Naruto spoke while Arashi looked down.
"Some scars run deep, far deeper than one could see from the surface. Some hatred just can't be satisfied, this land… these people. They will hate me for what I've done."
Arashi spoke while Naruto looked toward him, "I embrace that hatred, as the man responsible for all this death and destruction in my own home. It is my burden and my burden alone to carry it." Arashi spoke while Naruto shook his head.
"You do have to carry it, but you don't have to carry it alone."
The blonde spoke while Arashi looked toward him in surprise, "What do you mean? These atrocities I committed, it was I who did them and ordered them." The former general spoke while Naruto nodded his head.
"That's right too. You did, but that's also another reason why I didn't kill you. You lost a lot of things that made you do those things, you kinda looked like me."
Naruto spoke while Arashi's eyes widened, "Looked like you? That's your justification for what I've done? My losses? I've ended lives." The general spoke while Naruto glared at him.
"So have I, it's not a justification. I just understand you. Like the other generals, I got to understand them too, but I didn't justify their actions either regardless all of you helped me understand myself. They helped me enough that I could properly see you."
Naruto spoke while Arashi continued to give the blonde a shocked look, "See me?" The man asked while the blonde nodded.
"All those things you lost… you must have lost them alone. You want me to blame you, you want people to blame you. You want to be responsible and take the punishment all alone because you think you deserve it."
Naruto spoke while Arashi shook his head, "That's because I do. I deserve their hate and their pain. I earned it, all of it. This life and the lives I've taken. I deserved to be punished." The former general spoke with a strained look in his eyes while Naruto gave him a small smile.
"Yeah, I used to feel like that too."
The blonde spoke while the former general's eyes widened, "What?" Arashi asked while Naruto placed his hands on the railing.
"I was banished from my home, the Hidden Leaf. All because of the Nine Tailed Fox in me, that hurt a lot of people a long time ago so it's a part of me. I wanted it to be my fault so badly. That made it easy to deal with, I was a demon. I blamed myself and punished myself."
Naruto spoke while Arashi looked at the blonde in disbelief, this shinobi in front of him that he once faced. He too was sent out into the world alone.
"I traveled to a lot of places forcing myself to live, using other people as my excuse to keep going. I was strong enough to bear their burdens but refused to bear my own. That really hurt for a while."
Naruto spoke while Arashi looked toward the fireworks, "Why are you telling me this? Naruto, I've done nothing to earn your story. I'm not worthy of being understood. I have to bear this alone, I'm strong enough to. Please don't reach out to me." Arashi said while the blonde shook his head.
"Too bad. I am. That feeling that you have, the one you're trying to bury. I have it too. So, I will reach out toward you."
Naruto spoke while Arashi closed his eyes while he held onto the railing even harder, crunching his nails into the wood.
"Hate me."
"Never."
Naruto responded, causing the black-haired man's eyes to snap open while he looked toward the shinobi once upon a time his wife had said the same exact thing to him so long ago.
"I wanted to hate you a little, when you were speaking about how people were monsters as if they couldn't be redeemed and that war was the only way but when we fought, I could feel it. Every attack held your fury, your hate, and your pain… Everything you were holding in you put into swords."
Naruto spoke while Arashi's eyes watered slightly looking toward the blonde, the blonde looked back toward him before pointing his finger at the man.
"All of your hate, your rage, and your pain. I carry it all with me, I'll bear all of your burdens so give them all to me."
Naruto spoke while Arashi shook his head, "Why? That's not… you can't. How?" The black-haired man asked while the blonde pointed toward him.
"Because all of you finally made me strong enough to bear my own burdens and now, I can bear others as well. I won't let you suffer alone anymore. I won't let anybody suffer alone, because I know their pain."
The blonde spoke while Arashi felt his tears beginning to run down his face, the kid who he had put through so much. A shinobi who he wanted to erase from this world, faced him as he was.
With those kind eyes.
"I hate you… I hate you so damn much. You took my master and ran as he died in my arms; I killed innocent people to kill you. I got sent out into the world alone to suffer, cursed to live through it all because of you. I met the love of my life on the day I was supposed to die, she taught me how to live again and I built a home. You took it all away for some war. My wife's smile is gone… she took her life because of what you took. I hate you. I hate you…"
Arashi poured out while he held onto Naruto's shoulders allowing the tears to run down his face freely.
"There you go."
Naruto spoke while the man grieved holding onto him, "How? You've been out there alone like I have, how did you live with that?" The former general asked while Naruto looked back into his eyes.
"I gave the world a chance."
Naruto spoke while Arashi looked at him, "A world of killers that take what they want without care? Humans that are monsters? You gave them a chance." The man spoke while Naruto nodded.
"No one's perfect. The world is filled with people that can hurt you, that can take things away from you. I can't forget that monsters can be human too and those people can sometimes give things to you too. While not everyone is, people can still be trusted if you give them a chance. I'm strong enough to give them that chance and I made some really good friends."
Naruto spoke while Arashi took his hands off of the blonde's shoulders slowly using his arm to wipe away his tears from his face.
"To make a world that has peace. A true peace the world could understand."
Sasaki's words echoed in his head while Arashi looked at Naruto. This teen never met his master, he didn't even know who the man was and yet…
He understood his words far more than he who trained and made memories with him ever could.
"Naruto… your world. Where people can die surrounded by the people that they love instead of who they hate… What does that look like?"
Arashi asked while the blonde looked toward the former general, "It's a place where no one has to be perfect, that we can trust each other. A peace that we want to make, not one we force ourselves to pretend we accept. I'm gonna make that place…"
Naruto pointed toward the general who watched the boy who gave him a small grin.
"Believe it."
The blonde spoke while Arashi gave Naruto a look, "What an odd man you are, Naruto. You really have beaten me completely." The black-haired man said while he looked toward the fireworks again.
Those kind eyes this teen had.
He couldn't believe them, he refused to because people couldn't be kind. Humans were monsters but this ninja who he pushed and tormented proved to him that it was possible.
Naruto's kind eyes were real.
"Hey Arashi…"
"Yes, Naruto?"
"Tell me about the things you lost…"
Naruto said while Arashi gave him a look while the blonde looked ahead at the fireworks that continued to go off.
"Kurotsuchi… that precious person. After this I gotta get her back to her home. So, I guess in a sense I'm going to be losing her too. Then it's back into the world for me, to a faraway land. Where I think my parents are from… I want to understand that part too."
Naruto spoke while Arashi looked toward the blonde before he sighed allowing a small smile to grow on his face.
Arashi then bit his finger drawing a symbol on it before placing his hand on the blonde's chest, "Before I forget." The general said while Naruto felt the burning sensation of the seal fading away now it was completely gone from the blonde's chest.
Naruto felt refreshed while he looked toward the man who continued to keep the small smile on his face while thinking about his life before his return including his wife. "You see Naruto, almost all of my life I held a blade in these hands. It was my badge of honor and justice. When I became a samurai I made my entire world into that and never thought of much else." Arashi spoke while Naruto nodded his head at him.
"It's odd to me really... all I had for a long time was my master and Lord Mifune yet when I lost my master that was when I made the most meaningful connections in my life. The bravado that was Judon, the spark of love that was Amanai, and Koga the man who couldn't help but live. There were also others far beyond these walls."
Arashi spoke while he stroked his hand in the air, "Others that taught me skills, that taught me the feeling of healthy crops in my hands, the softness and roughness of hungry pigs, and the sweat and tears that went into building a home with the wood you chopped down... those times are when I truly felt alive being taught how to live." the former general spoke while Naruto close his eyes and reminisced as well.
He had a lot of the same experiences just as Arashi did.
"My wife, Yuri. She was always a bit of a hypocrite; she had times where she would get frustrated even with her infinite patcience and struggle to do something for a day even if she's aware she needs the help just being stubborn. But she was honest. A woman a little rough around the edges but she loved with all of her heart and kindess. She…"
Arashi thought about his wife as she looked at him with her eyes filled with grief and hatred over the men that destroyed their home as she told him to kill them. This was the last face that Arashi remembered the most since it was the last face, he saw her make and the one that haunted him the most.
The man faced that look on her face while he continued to look up into the sky, before he hugged the woman. Slowly Yuri's face changed from her grief filled one to the one that he hadn't seen in so many years as she looked at him.
Tears ran down Arashi's face again while he chuckled next to Naruto on the balcony, they stood on surrounded by the night.
"She had the most beautiful smile."
Arashi said while Naruto smiled at the man before he looked in the sky with him, "Yeah, she sure does. Doesn't she?" The blonde agreed while the former general placed his hand on Naruto's back.
"Thank you, Naruto…"
Arashi said while the blonde looked toward the general.
"Thank you too."
The blonde spoke while the pair of men fell into silence watching the fireworks popping in the distance.
No hatred was in sight.
The pair went back inside where the party had continued waiting for them, Naruto looked toward Arashi giving the man a nod before Arashi nodded back at him.
"There you are… No more running, you."
Kurotsuchi slurred while she grabbed onto Naruto's arm while Arashi flinched looking toward her, "Lady Kurotsuchi." the former general spoke while the girl slowly looked toward him.
"I…"
"I'm sparing you."
Kurotsuchi spoke while Arashi gave her a look, "Naruto… he just gave you an earful, right? That should be enough for now… that doesn't mean you're off the hook but if you make any moves I won't hold back." the girl spoke while Arashi sighed.
"Of course."
Arashi spoke while Kurotsuchi nodded her head before she tugged at Naruto, "You're drinking with me, no more being nice." the girl said while Naruto felt himself get dragged away from Arashi who stood there watching the girl smile at the boy and vice versa.
Arashi closed his eyes before he approached the party where Mifune was giving him a look from the table while lifting a glass. The celebration went on late into the night while the large group had multiple drinks together filling the room with laughter and joy.
Dedicated to an ending war.
Soon after the night had gotten really late Naruto found himself carrying a singing drunk Kurotsuchi in his arms to their room that had been prepared for them.
"You have fun?"
The blonde asked while Kurotsuchi nodded her head drunkenly, "Yeah!" The girl cheered while the boy chuckled.
"Looks like it, don't worry we're almost there."
The blonde reassured the girl who whined, "I don't want today to end yet…" Kurotsuchi said while Naruto grinned.
"Too late for that, since you decided to get drunk now you have to sleep."
The blonde spoke while the girl groaned in his arms, "Let me sleep here… you're warm." Kurotsuchi spoke, nuzzling her face into his chest.
"I think a futon is warm and far more comfortable than me."
The blonde spoke while he slid open the door to their room, he gently placed Kurotsuchi on her futon while the girl groaned.
"Rest up."
The blonde said while he tried walking away, but he felt a hand grab his arm before pulling him hard toward the floor. Naruto looked up at Kurotsuchi who looked down on him while straddling him, the boy flushed while the girl grinned.
She leaned down kissing the blonde on the forehead for a few moments before she leaned back placing her forehead on his. "I… I have something I want to say to you, but I want to say it to you when I'm not drunk. So, you know it's real." The girl slurred her words while Naruto tilted his head toward the girl in confusion before she smiled.
"So, wait for me. Ok?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto speechlessly nodded his head at her before she rolled off of him, passing out immediately.
Naruto looked at the girl for a moment before he chuckled, "Good night, Kuro." The blonde said before he went to his own futon.
He wasn't exactly tired yet so he finally did something he hasn't done in a super long time since they first came to this land. The blonde pulled out Makeout Paradise Vol. 2 before opening it up to the last page he could remember.
The blonde read the book for a while and for the first time in months…
He relaxed.
{...}
Morning had arrived.
The sun shined down brightly on the Land of Iron while sakura petals blew through the air on the breeze.
A horse's hooves crunched against the snow while Naruto and Kurotsuchi sat on the back of it standing in front of the gates. Mifune and Marika stood in the snow with them while the older samurai gave them both a smile while patting the pack on the horse.
"There should be enough supplies to last you all the way to the Land of Stone. The journey will take a little time, but this horse should shorten the trip by a large margin."
Mifune spoke while Naruto nodded, "Thank you." The blonde spoke while Kurotsuchi nodded her head as well.
"We're going to miss you guys."
Kurotsuchi spoke while Mifune chuckled, "As we will you. However, I don't believe our paths will not one day cross again. I shall eagerly await that day to arrive." The older man said while Kurotsuchi smiled toward the man.
"Naruto… The debt we owe you is one I cannot even begin to put into words. Both of you have done so much for us, strangers who brought you into their war."
Mifune spoke while Naruto shook his head, "I ain't ever going to leave anyone who needs help, so you didn't drag us into anything." The blonde spoke while Mifune sighed.
"Of course, you would say that… should the need for anything come up. Please, don't hesitate to ask for the help of the Land of Iron, you have our gratitude."
Mifune spoke while Naruto nodded his head, "Thank you Samurai Pops… for everything." The blonde said while the older man looked down toward the snow.
"Naruto. That peaceful world you want to make, I wish to make it come true as well. From now on the Samurai shall represent that and I shall hold my own blade for the sake of that peaceful world. One where these swords can become just decorations built on trust. Thank you for reminding this forgetful old man of what that meant."
Mifune said while Naruto smiled sadly toward the man, "Naruto, Kurotsuchi… thank you both. For everything. I hope your journey is safe and treats you kindly." Marika spoke while Naruto nodded his head.
"Naruto… thank you for bearing my vengeance and putting it to rest. I have a new goal too thanks to you… despite how things look. I have someone that I'm aiming for, I made a promise to someone else about in case they fail to do so. Even if you're super far away, I'll still make good on that promise."
Marika said while she looked toward Kurotsuchi who looked back at her, "When you get tired, I'm still more than happy to take over. So do your best and I'll do mine.'The girl said while Kurotsuchi chuckled.
"In your dreams but aim as much as you like, Marika."
Kurotsuchi said while Naruto looked at the two girls with a confused look on his face while Mifune began to laugh. Naruto looked at the Land of Iron while in the distance he could see multiple figures waving toward them. The blonde smiled as he lifted a hand toward them before he tugged on the reins of the horse beginning to move away from the gates.
"Your journey will be long and filled with peril, never forget your kindness and everything that has brought you here Naruto… that's how you'll make it."
Mifune spoke out loud while Marika teared up while waving her hand toward the leaving horse, Naruto and Kurotsuchi waved from the horse as well before they began to move faster forward.
The horse made its way up a hill while Naruto looked toward the large compound again before stopping the horse.
"Next stop, the Land of Stone… I've been gone for a long time. It's been months."
Kurotsuchi said while she looked at the map they were given while Naruto looked off into the distance.
"They're going to be happy to see you. I know it."
The blonde said while Kurotsuchi looked at the boy before she smiled at him, "We can take our time you know?" The girl said while Naruto looked toward a hill.
Standing on that hill was Arashi, the breeze blowing through his hair while he looked toward Naruto and Kurotsuchi on their horse.
"Yah!"
Naruto yelled, causing the horse to neigh loudly standing on his hind legs briefly before his hooves hit the ground. The blonde gave the man one last nod before they dashed off into the woods.
Farewell, Land of Iron.
Thanks for everything.
{...}
Cherry blossom petals fell slowly before hitting the ground, the dirt was covered in the flower petals while a large group of samurai stood before a large white cloth.
Kneeling on that cloth was Arashi wearing an all-white kimono while a small sword sat in front of him. Mifune walked toward the kneeling man with a sad look on his face, while Arashi looked up toward him.
"Arashi… must it really be this way?"
Mifune asked while Arashi looked toward the man before he looked down toward the small sword. The one he has carried with him for years repaired just for this moment before he opened his mouth to speak.
"I hate them, Mifune. The shinobi, I realized that. I couldn't see them as people as humans just as much as they were monsters. People capable of peace. My hatred took that chance away from them and it hurt a lot of my own countrymen."
Arashi spoke while Mifune looked away from the man, "Arashi… I was the one who failed you. You surrendered, please reconsider. I know life is painful and you're filled with hate but if you live you could redeem yourself. Give back to the land you love, these people can forgive you." The older man nearly pleaded while Arashi patted his hand on his leg.
"You believe I'm here as a punishment?"
Arashi asked while Mifune looked toward the man in confusion while the kneeling black haired man looked seriously back into his old friend's eyes.
"I have no hatred in me any longer, the burden that I bear. My fury, My loss, my hate. Has left from this land on a horse and from my soul. I am now empty, meaning I can fill myself with anything."
Arashi spoke while Mifune gave his old friend a surprised look.
"I chose to fill myself with belief."
Arashi said while Mifune looked toward the cherry tree, "Belief?" The man said while the kneeling man nodded.
"Naruto's words… I want to believe them and I do. I do not kneel here today as a punished man with nothing…"
Arashi trailed off while Mifune looked back toward the kneeling man in the ground who smiled gently.
"I end here… as a display of faith."
Arashi spoke while Mifune looked toward the smiling man, "I covered my grief in my responsibility, my need to fulfill a purpose. It was just that though, grief. My love persisting at the cost of everything else. That boy, that ninja. Naruto can do something I could never do until now. Have faith in people." The man explained while Arashi picked up the blade unsheathing it.
"I choose to be free, I choose to trust someone, and I choose to believe in his world. My only regret is that I cannot see it."
Arashi spoke while black haired man smiled before placing the blade against his gut while Mifune looked sadly at the man.
"Mifune, I chose you for this ritual not because you failed me. But because there is no one else I could trust to do this more than you. This land needs to see you, hold to your honor and justice. My end by your hands will bring them peace as their hatred dies with me."
Arashi spoke while Mifune looked toward the man as he gritted his teeth, slowly the older samurai unsheathed his sword.
"Mifune… you never failed me. You gave me my greatest gift, my curse and my blessing."
Arashi spoke while Mifune's hand trembled on his sword's hilt as he looked toward the smiling man.
"When I look at everything with clear eyes instead of tear-filled ones… my life. That life that I lived… both the pain and happiness… it was quite beautiful."
Arashi spoke while Mifune tightened his grip on his sword even harder as he could feel his eyes beginning to water. In front of his vision was the young man he had escorted to the gates, but instead of the sad look he had back then.
That young man was now smiling.
"Arashi Nobuzagi… for your crimes against the Land of Iron and disgrace of your title of samurai… your sentence is execution… by Seppuku."
Mifune struggled out while several samurai surrounded them pounded on drums while Arashi pressed the blade harder into his gut.
"Thank you, Mifune. For telling me to live."
Arashi spoke while his sword began to stain his kimono red as it pressed into body, Mifune meanwhile lifted his sword upward.
"Oh… Arashi… Was it really so bad? To draw my blade… a weapon forged to protect and serve as a samurai… with the mere hope that one day…? We made a world… where we would no longer have to draw our swords?"
Sasaki's dying words echoed in Arashi's head while a single tear ran down his face, the man envisioned Yuri's hand grabbing his.
Arashi saw the younger version of himself fall over in the mud while Yuri laughed at him, Taro splashing mud all over him before he laughed. All the while inside of his house his sword remained untouched collecting dust.
Yuri's green eyes stared into his dark ones while they embraced each other in their living room with Taro at their feet.
'No master… It wasn't bad at all. I did it for a very long time… it was real. They were the best years of my life…'
Arashi thought to himself while his smile slowly opened into a bigger one.
"Arashi… I forgive you."
Arashi said out loud to himself while Mifune's eyes widened as the tears that were in them finally fell.
The drums beat again while Arashi dragged the blade across his gut cutting himself open, blood flew while he looked in front of himself.
"I want to make a world where someone can die, not surrounded by the people that they hate on a battlefield… but by the people that they love."
Naruto's words echoed through his head while Arashi saw them, Amanai took her mask off to smile at him, Judon grinned widely, Koga had a small smile, and his master Sasaki stood proud in front of him.
His eyes landed on Yuri who had a big smile on her face looking into his eyes while holding onto Taro.
"...Kept you waiting… huh?"
The final words of Arashi left his mouth as Mifune's blade cut through the air removing his head from his neck.
Surrounded by the people that he loved.
Naruto…
"Live."