"I must say, Raikage, for us to meet in secret like this...it must be extremely important."
The large man did not have break his neck to look down to the Tsuchikage. The elderly man simply floated to eye level. A level of respect they had reached during the war. The Kage would keep his feet planted on the ground if he held no respect for you.
"You came alone?"
"Of course. It's what you said to do."
Little did either of them know, or chose to ignore, their guards stood at the ready in their hiding spots. While out of earshot, only the best sensors would find them, both kages came prepared. Trust and respect only went so far in the Shinobi world.
"So, why drag me all the way out to the middle of nowhere for a chat?" Onoki grumbled. "You know how bad my back is in the cold!"
"There's been a change. The Akatsuki leader has been killed."
The small, elderly man floated nonchalantly. "So, I've heard."
"Then you know that only two jinchuriki remain, correct?"
Onoki hid his surprise. This intel had slipped his grasp. "...No. How did you come by this information?"
Ay breathed out heavily, condensation forming from the colder air. "My scouts learned that Konoha led a counterattack on Amegakure because the Akatsuki leader assaulted their village. According to Konoha sources, that was where the leader was hiding."
"Why would the Akatsuki leader attack a great village? To take a jinchūriki?" Ōnoki questioned. "That's a bold move, even for them. Besides, I was under the impression that the Bijū needed to be sealed in numerical order."
"You really must be out of touch, Ōnoki. Konoha had two jinchūriki within their walls, one of which was yours. And they were both captured. The Akatsuki had beasts four through seven in their captivity. Credit is being given to Naruto Uzumaki for leading the counterattack, but Konoha was too late. Now, only my brother and the Nine-Tails remain."
Ōnoki elderly face became stern. "Why is this a concern to us? Our efforts should be against Konoha, not a rouge rag tag team of misfits."
"Those misfits have seven of the nine Bijū's. And if we do something then they'll come for my brother!"
Onoki realized where the man's concerns truly lay. "Ah, your brother is the Eight Tails jinchūriki, I had forgotten that. So, this isn't about some newly discovered love for the world. You just want to protect your own family interests."
The Raikage could not refute. Now that his brother's life was in immediate danger, he was concerned about this organization. Before, when Yugito was captured, he chalked it up as a necessary loss. Jinchūriki's were respected in Kumogakure but were not considered valuable like in other villages.
Jinchūriki's could be remade again and again. But his brother could not be replaced.
"Regardless, I believe we should call a ceasefire with Konoha until the Akatsuki are destroyed. We cannot afford to fight them all simultaneously."
Onoki laughed. "A truce?! You're losing your spine, Raikage. We can win this thing. If you just let you jinchūriki enter the battle..."
"I will never allow Killer B to fight in this war."
The Tsuchikage clicked his tongue in annoyance. "And this is why Konoha and Suna are pushing us back! We aren't using our strongest assets! I utilized my jinchūriki and we were winning battles and gaining ground!"
"And now your jinchūriki have been captured and no longer of use!" Ay snapped back, reaching his boiling point. His strong voice echoed in the silent cold. "There is an uprising that we can no longer ignore. As much as I want to see Konoha burning, I am not forsaking my brother's life for it."
The Raikage sharply turned to leave. "I'm calling for a Kage Summit."
The elderly Kage fumed with anger. They had Konoha and Suna in a prime position to strike swiftly and they weren't taking the shot. This wasn't a cease-fire, this was a surrender. The village of Iwagakure never surrendered. It wasn't in their nature.
A shining cube of disintegrating power formed in his hand. Ōnoki was not going to allow this to stand. He raised his hand, the power shining brighter with his rage. The particle cube expanded, nearly a hundred times the original size. Rock, snow, and air all disintegrated instantly, leaving no trace of anything.
"Did you really think you would get me with that, Ōnoki?"
The old man glanced behind him, the Raikage had used his Raiton Chakra Mode to completely dodge his particle disintegration. It seemed Ōnoki's theory about speed beating disintegration was true. He finally discovered the weakness of his ultimate destruction.
"We can't quit now, Raikage. This is too far gone. I need to see that god forsaken village burn before I kick the bucket."
"Your hatred for the Fourth Hokage blinds you, Tsuchikage." The lightning disappeared from the Raikage's body, depowering. All subordinates from both Kage's appeared, ready to battle. "Agree to the summit or consider this alliance over."
"You wouldn't dare."
"I'll order my men to treat Iwa shinobi as hostiles. And only Iwagakure."
Ōnoki breathed out heavily, showing his frustration. Weighing his options quickly, Ōnoki made his choice. It was his only choice.
"...Fine. Set the summit."
-In Konoha-
"I understand that you are grieving, so I appreciate you meeting me so quickly, Naruto Uzumaki."
The shinobi stood quietly in the stuffy office. He was standing before the official Sixth Hokage, not a stand in. With the warnings from his enemies weighing on his mind, Naruto tried to pick up on certain things that might help him understand their words.
"First off, I'd like to congratulate you on the success of the mission. Commander Kakashi will brief me once he finishes up his report, but I felt the need to speak to you first."
"Why?" He questioned immediately. "You were against me leaving. Is this not a punishment meeting?"
"No. I've had time to reflect, and I realized what you were doing was the right move. Not for moral reasons but strategic reasons. They were caught off guard, and it resulted in the Akatsuki leader's death. That is nothing to ignore, Uzumaki."
"...Thanks, I suppose." All things considered; Naruto wouldn't really consider his triumph over Nagato a victory. There were many things to come from his death, including a newfound suspicion of the man before him.
Naruto never trusted Danzō, Tsunade and Shikaku were quick to always dismiss the man as untrustworthy. But that did not mean Naruto would simply judge every action of the Warhawk. Much like Sakura, he wanted to form his own opinion. He trusted his superiors to guide him on right and wrong. So far, Danzō seemed like a good leader.
Learning from others about Danzō's dark deeds, Naruto started to see the aftermath. Those dark deeds often led to long, draining devastation for many poor souls, Konan and Nagato apparently.
"You should thank me. A successful counterattack that you led will look great as a first notch under your belt as a jonin."
"I'm not a jonin, though."
"You are now, Uzumaki."
"You're promoting me?"
"Yes, I am."
"Why? What about the Jonin Exam and the trials?"
The Warhawk chuckled. "Boy, I believe you've done more than enough to earn this rank. Promoting you will be my first official act as the Sixth Hokage."
Danzo thoroughly enjoyed saying that.
"Sir, with all due respect, why?"
The Hokage owed the jonin an explanation. "Uzumaki, you have been, arguably, Konoha's biggest asset in this war. Near singlehandedly, you turned the tide against Iwagakure. Without you, I'm sure we never would have ever come close to Iwa's borders. Now, Gateway Task Force is on their doorstep. That accomplishment rivals that of your father. That's something to be proud of."
Danzō was uncharacteristically upbeat. It was giving Naruto a weird feeling. Upbeat was not a word that was used to describe Danzō.
"Regardless, while a difficult task, I would like for you to do it again."
Perplexed, Naruto needed clarification. "What do you mean, do it again?"
Danzō sild a manilla file across the desk, motioning for Naruto to read the contents. It was a personal dossier. The jonin didn't bother to hold the file, simply flipped the cover open. "...Fucking unreal..."
"Is there a problem?"
"You expect me to hunt the only other jinchūriki in the world? You have got to be kidding me, right? This is a joke."
"Uzumaki, one thing you will learn about me is that I do not make jokes." Danzō tapped the file. "This is our enemy. It is your duty as the jinchūriki to fight in our wars against another village's jinchūriki. That's how you were able to push back Iwagakure so effortlessly. They lost both of their jinchuriki. We still have ours."
"I just went into the damn Akatsuki's home and fought like hell to get them all back and you want me to fight the last one?!" Naruto simply could not believe it. "There's Akatsuki still out there!"
Danzō closed the folder. "Are you referring to Madara Uchiha?"
The anger washed away instantly. "Y-You know of him...?"
The Warhawk chuckled again. "Boy, I know more than you'll ever come to understand. I've known of that man's existence for years."
"And you never said anything? This whole thing may have been resolved by now!"
"Your naiveness is repulsive, Uzumaki. We are talking about the man that rivaled the First Hokage in strength. His very name breathes unimaginable fear into nations. Furthermore, Madara Uchiha has been believed to be dead for nearly a century. Releasing that information would destroy a near century's worth of belief and send the world into utter chaos. With four of the Great Nations at war, that is the last thing needed. Until the time is right, Madara Uchiha will remain dead."
"But he's gotta be old, right? He can't be as strong as he used to be."
"Madara has seemingly unlocked the secrets for immortality. It would hardly surprise me if he has been able to retain his strength after all this time. Picking a fight with him will only seal our fate. Madara Uchiha's existence will remain a secret for the time being. That is an order."
Naruto stared down the Warhawk, who was hardly fazed. Danzō had seen much worse than the angry glare Naruto could produce.
"You're deploying with Commander Kakashi to the east. Convene with him for departure. Your R is almost up." The jonin turned to leave, stewing over the new assignment. "The file."
Grumbling, Naruto swiped the file from the desk and left the office.
The newly elected Hokage turned to look out over the village – his village. A moment he had waited decades for. Decades of crawling through the mud, standing over the bodies of his adversaries. All his work in the darkness to finally be in the light.
The light was more blinding than he anticipated.
See, Hiruzen? We're finally equals.
-Konoha Hospital-
"So, these are the others, then."
The jonin and medic nodded. "That's Rōshi, Han, and Utakaka." Naruto pointed to each jinchūriki laid out on the medical table. "And this is...Fū. She was..."
"Fū was the Seven-Tails jinchūriki." Sakura finished. "Her and Naruto got pretty close in their time together."
A sad nod and rubbing hand for comfort. "Sorry, kid."
It sounded insensitive but Naruto knew Tsunade meant it. He wasn't a kid anymore. Death was a part of this life they had chosen.
"And Kiba." Sakura laid the chart down on the adjacent table with a white sheet covering the body. "Has his sister and mom been made aware?"
"I'll take care of that." Tsunade said with grace. "I don't have too much to do around here anymore. This will, at least, make me feel useful. And they should hear it from me, not Danzō."
Funeral services will be set up in the coming days for all that had died in the assault on Amegakure. As well as redeployments back out to the front lines for both fronts. It was a never-ending cycle that Naruto was beginning to realize how fed up he was becoming. How could this be normal? How could this be okay?
Nagato, Pain, Konan, and the Akatsuki were the by-products of war and hatred. Naruto truly understood how easy it was for someone to fall from grace and give into the darkness of their desires for revenge and personal vendettas. He felt that being good and staying in the light was harder to accomplish than falling into that darkness.
The Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, Killer Bee. Danzo assigned Naruto to hunt him down. As Konoha's jinchūriki, this was his purpose. The reason why Naruto had this power. But it wasn't as simple as that anymore. Naruto needed to be better than simplicity.
"Danzō has ordered me to head to the eastern front with Kakashi sensei...to find their jinchūriki."
"You can't be serious?!" Sakura was quick to shout. She was mentally and emotionally drained. She was in no mood for this. "We just got back! And you are in no condition to fight right now!"
"I know...but I think I need to."
The Sannin turned towards her godson. "Why do you say that?"
"He's the only one left besides me. Me and him...we gotta stand together if we want to have any chance of doing this."
Both Tsunade and Sakura glanced between each other. Naruto was coming up with a plan.
"Doing what?" Sakura questioned, concerned.
Fuck that stupid order.
"Madara Uchiha is alive."
Sakura was slightly taken back. She knew the name. Every academy student knew that infamous name. Konoha started with that name. There was an unnerving shiver shooting down her spine. "How is that possible? Madara Uchiha died nearly a century ago."
"That's what history tells us. More often than not, history isn't always accurate." Tsunade stated. With prior knowledge from Kakashi, the Sannin was not as surprised as her student. "Tell us what happened."
"He came to me while I was held captive in Amegakure." Naruto recalled their encounter. It was short and felt like a dream. "He said that his victory was being written after all this time."
"Do we really believe this? Can we confirm that who you saw was actually Madara?"
"Kurama confirmed it." The jonin said heavily. Naruto ran his hand through his shaggy hair, taking a seat in a nearby chair. In this moment, Naruto realized how exhausted he had become. "I have no doubt it was him."
Naruto had been fighting for months now, hours and days on end. He couldn't remember the last time he slept for a full eight hours uninterrupted. Despite his seemingly endless chakra and energy supply, Naruto was ready to sleep for weeks on end.
He wondered if this was how his father felt during his time in the Third Great War. Minato was fighting on both fronts, taking on two different enemies simultaneously. Naruto could only imagine how exhausted his father had become after years of fighting like that.
I have to keep fighting. I can't stop now.
The white sheets covering the bodies spoke for the dead. These were the ones that they had to keep fighting for. Without their sacrifices or knowledge, Naruto would not be here today. In some way, each person underneath those sheets meant something to Naruto and their deaths were in direct correlation to him.
He failed to save them. He had the chance, but he buckled.
Naruto couldn't let it happen again. He wouldn't let it.
"Do you really trust the fox?" Sakura would forever question the beast, no matter what he did for her.
"Considering the history that we are taught, I would think the Nine-Tails would be the subject-matter expert for Madara Uchiha."
Sakura turned back to her master. "What do you mean?"
"When Madara fought my grandfather, it was said that Madara took control of the Nine-Tails with his Sharingan and used the Nine-Tails like a puppet. Out of all living beings, the fox would be the one to trust about Madara Uchiha."
Outside of Naruto, it was odd to hear someone defend the Nine-Tails. After the fox brought her from the depths of death's clutches, Sakura had come to terms with the beast for the time being. He was a necessary evil for the upcoming conflicts. Once the Akatsuki were completely defeated, including Madara Uchiha, then she and the Nine-Tails would settle their score.
"Regardless, we can't take the chance that this masked man isn't Madara. Until proven otherwise, that man will be Madara Uchiha. And I assume that you both know that this isn't something you can spread around. Got it?"
The two shinobi nodded. Naruto had broken the order once, he didn't intend to do it again. "Hey, I'm a jonin now. You can't be ordering me around like some chunin or genin."
Both kuniochi sharply turned to the young man, shocked at what he just said. "When did you make jonin?" Suna's medical director questioned.
"This morning. It was Danzō's first official act as the Sixth Hokage."
"He pulled the same move that I did." Tsunade snickered, all the way smirking with pride. "Well, good for you, kid. Well deserved."
"Thanks, Baa-chan." Naruto did not feel like he deserved it.
"We should celebrate before we're all scattered to the wind again." Sakura said, knowing that their time together was short. "It's been a while since we've had a down night."
"I could go for some ramen." The jonin said with a slight upbeat. It had been awhile since he had those wonderful noodles.
"It's a date." The girl smiled. It was nice to say that again.
The boy smiled. It was nice to hear that again.
"Good."
-Ichiraku Ramen-
Naruto could smell the ramen from down the street, making him feel like a kid again. Seeing perk up made Sakura smile. It was such a refreshing feeling to see him feel the slightest bit of relief from the stress of the world resting on his shoulders.
"Well, I'll be damned." Teuchi smiled like a proud father seeing his son come from from war. "It's been too long, Naruto."
"Feels like a lifetime since I've sat down in this place." Naruto graciously slid the stool out to sit on. "Can I get my usual?"
"Son, for everything that you've done and been through for us, it would be my honor." Teuchi did not say another word and went straight to work.
"...Thank you."
A shinobi on the other side of the bar top couldn't believe her eyes. Was it him? It couldn't be? She needed to work up the courage to say something. She was unbelievably nervous to interrupt, it felt wrong to say something. But the shinobi had to.
She owed her life to Naruto.
"...Naruto Uzumaki?" He spoke up.
The jonin turned his head. "Yeah?"
"...Do you remember me? My name is Hokuto."
There was a slight familiarity but nothing that Naruto would remember outright. "I can't say that I do. Is there something that you need?"
The shinobi nervously chuckled. "I didn't expect you to. You were doing so much out there, I bet you can't recall everything that happened."
No truer statement said. It felt like a blur. There was hardly a moment Naruto could truly single out from the past few months.
"You're fighting to watch everyone around you die!"
It was beginning to happen.
"...You saved me, and so many others. You swooped down, took out every enemy in the blink of an eye, and pulled me and three others to safety with those impeccable shadow clones. I've never seen something like that." The shinobi ruffled for her money. She placed it on the counter. "Your meal is on me." She grabbed Naruto's hand and gently, yet vigorously, shook it. "I just want to thank you for saving my life! I was able to come home to my family! I'll never forget what you did!"
Hokuto quickly pulled Naruto into hug, struggling to hold the tears back. Sakura was too stunned to speak, it was an amazingly beautiful scene before her.
"You're a hero, Naruto!" Hokuto quickly pulled herself back, tears beginning to fall. "I'll follow you anywhere into battle! Hell and back!"
It was odd for Naruto to feel such recognition. He didn't feel like a hero. He barely felt like he did anything. Most of his time out there was spent chasing Rōshi and rescuing Fū.
For Sakura, it was unbelievably heart-warming to see. She had been with Naruto for a long time, as a teammate, friend, and lover. She knew him longer than practically everyone. He was finally getting the positive recognition that he rightly deserved. However biased it may be, Sakura believed Naruto to always be a hero. To her and to everyone.
"Hey! There he is!"
A man angrily moved the flap aside to enter the ramen stand. There was a large group of people standing outside, waiting for this man to follow through on his promise.
"See! I knew he was still here!"
There was a mob, growing to two hundred strong, gathering at the entrance of the small ramen stand. Some knew what was happening, others were curious witnesses.
"And who the hell are you?"
The man spared a quick glance at Sakura, realizing who she was. "My name is Komaza. And I'm here on behalf of all the villagers that are sickened by this...thing!" The hatred returned, one glare Naruto could never forget. "He is the return our lovely home has been turned into a warzone multiple times! Many outstanding shinobi and our beloved family members have died because of this kid!"
The man was gaining traction with the crowd, some tried to defend and interject but were quickly snuffed out by many others that were agreeing with the shouting man.
"This...monster has been let loose by our predecessors and given an unbelievably long leash in this war! And I, for one, am sickened by it!"
"What in the world are you saying?!" Sakura could see through the baseless lies that this man was speaking. "Naruto has been a main pillar for our military in this war! If it wasn't for him, it may never end! Do you read the articles in Konoha's newsletter?! His name comes up repeatedly!"
"Not because of heroics!" The man held up an article. "Yes, there are articles out there that say he's done great things. But not all great things outweigh the negative! This piece says he left injured comrades behind while engaging in battle by himself! He ignored his comrades' cries for help!"
While not entirely true, Naruto did not have much to rebuttal. He did that more times than he could count. He would often leave comrades to fend for themselves, injured or not, to engage the enemy for them. It was all a part of his efforts to fight the war alone, to not let others be killed.
"Naruto's saved more lives than he didn't!" Hokuto shouted in defense of her hero. "It's war! Sacrifices have to be made!"
The shouting continued the grow, coming from multiple different people. Hokuto was able to match Komaza's intensity, gaining support from others in the crowd. Things were escalating quickly; the mob was turning into a riot. Military Police would be called in shortly if things did not calm down.
"Naruto, Sakura! Go out the back!" Teuchi quickly shuffled the two through the kitchen and to the back door. "Get out of here before things go to hell out there!"
"What about you?! This is your shop."
"There's nothing by business can't withstand!" The man was proud and would forever remain that way. Regardless of pride, that mob was going to implode, and Naruto did not need to be at the center of it. Teuchi may not know everything Naruto was dealing with but something like this did not need to be added on to his plate. "Now, go. Let the heat die down and get out of here."
Naruto and Sakura hesitated for a moment before taking off. The two leapt high and far, reaching the village walls in moments. From their height, they still could see the crowd in front of Teuchi's shop. The crowd now encompassed multiple streets.
"What in the world was that?" Sakura was shocked. Konoha was a peaceful, accepting village. She had never seen it so full of anger. "I've never seen something like this? The villagers turned into an angry mob."
"...I have."
The memories jolted of all the things Naruto had to endure as a child.
"...I guess things are harder to change than we thought."
"I accepted a long time ago that there are some people out there that can't have their minds changed. Pain and grief are feelings that some people have a really hard time letting go. I think I truly understand that now."
Sakura could see the heaviness on Naruto's shoulders. He shoulders the burden of hate from the villagers because of a past he cannot change. He holds his master's quest for peace in his hands. The responsibility of being one of the last jinchūriki, knowing that he could be, and is, the last man standing for world devastation. The weight of responsibility he knew would debilitate someone.
Despite the heavy burden Naruto had, he was walking taller than he used to. There was purpose behind him. He is learning from his experiences and teaching himself to be better. Sakura knew him enough to see that.
Sakura was so proud.
"I don't suppose that angry mob is because of something one of you two did?"
Their slyer than a fox sensei, Kakashi, approached them from the rear.
"Kakashi sensei!"
"What are you doing up here?"
"Oh, nothing. I was just taking a stroll around the outskirts of the village. I noticed the two of you running about. I figured something was up." The commanding jonin looked on. "Want to tell me what happened out there?"
Sakura waved it off, annoyed with the entire thing. "Some loser tried to heckle Naruto about his actions in the war. People seriously take things way too far."
Kakashi knew that all too well. During his time with the ANBU, he was given a rather horrific nickname because of his actions on missions. Cold Blooded Kakashi. That part of his life would haunt him forever.
"Well, hopefully things die down once we redeploy again."
"When are we leaving?"
"I just left a meeting with the Hokage. He wants us to redeploy by the end of the month." It was not something he was looking forward to. The amount of paperwork he had to do was going to seriously cut into his reading. "But he wanted me to inform you that your mission is in effect immediately. You are too leave by sun down."
A piece of information he wished he had known earlier. Naruto would have spent the day doing something else rather than run from a mob again.
"Sundown?" Sakura gasped. "That's in an hour."
"Mind filling me in on what that might be? Lord Danzō wasn't too keen on sharing the details."
"Just more jinchūriki bullshit." The jonin sighed, unfolding the personal file from his back pouch. "Gotta find the last one."
The commanding offier looked over the personal file the eighth jinchūriki. "Hm. Killer B. I've heard of him. He was a huge problem for Konoha back in the Third Shinobi war. His older brother is the current Raikage." Kakashi handed back the folder. "Your father fought them both a few times during the course of the war. He'd have some great insight."
The lightbulb went off in Naruto's head. He smacked his forehead in immediate frustration. "Oh god I'm a moron!"
Both Sakura and Kakashi looked at each other in confusion, watching their comrade dig through his pouch once more. He pulled out a dark brown journal. His father's journal. Naruto flipped through the pages.
"My dad had hidden caches around village and the Land of Fire. I bet he has some scrolls laying around."
"About the Eight-Tails?" Sakura questioned.
"No. I've been stuck with trying to figure out his teleportation technique. And I didn't get the chance to ask him about it when I saw him." He scanned the page of coordinates. "These shouldn't be too hard to find."
Kakashi needed clarification. "Hold on. When you saw him?" Sakura was equally confused.
It dawned on Naruto that he hadn't said anything to them about what happened with his father in Amegakure. "Oh, right. When I went on that rampage, I was close to being completely taken over"
"The Nine-Tails was manipulating you to break the seal, wasn't he?"
"No. I was being manipulated by the spirit that resided inside Tojin. That spirit tried to take over my mind and then use me to break the seal to free Kurama. That's when my dad appeared."
"How in the world did Lord Fourth do that?" When it came to the Fourth Hokage, Kakashi wasn't surprised by what his old master could do.
"Just before he sealed Kurama away in me, my dad set a binding seal with his chakra so that when the seal unraveled to the point of the eighth tail, he would appear to stop me." Naruto chuckled. "If it wasn't for my dad, I don't we'd be having this conversation."
Sakura was in awe. The history books were always very kind to the Fourth Hokage, raving about his accomplishments and pure talent. Hearing Naruto speak only confirmed that everything said about him is true. "What did your dad say to you?"
For most of his life, Naruto only ever considered his father as a piece of his story. Someone to blame for how his life turned out, and rightfully so. After finally learning about the events of that night and an extremely heartfelt apology, Naruto was at peace with his father and was learning to appreciate the things he had done for him.
"...He said that he believed in me."
And there was that smile. That shining, unbelievable smile that Sakura had come to miss and forever love. It warmed her heart to see that it was still there in him, that he still could be that beacon for her.
Maybe she did love him. Truly and deeply.
"Well, fathers usually have something to say to their sons. I'd expect nothing less from my old master." Kakashi took note of the sun's position. "Well, I'll leave you two be. You'd better take off soon, Naruto. We have orders."
"Yeah yeah. See ya out there, Kakashi sensei."
"Good luck in Suna, Sakura. I've heard nothing but good things coming their medical department."
"Thank you, sensei!"
As the jonin trekked off, the man couldn't help but feel an abundance of pride. His students were becoming the shinobi he had envisioned long ago. Mixed with pride was a sense of fulfillment. He was their initial contact in the Shinobi world. His teachings, which had been passed down to him, were what shaped them into the incredible shinobi they were today.
Sasuke...
His fallen student. The one he could not save. Through the grapevine of rumors, Kakashi had learned that Sasuke had completely turned from the light and had killed Itachi. While impressive, Kakashi knew that fulfilling that need for revenge doesn't truly help someone get over their trauma. Revenge doesn't satisfy anything.
The man hoped that one day Sasuke would realize the truth and move on from his past and come home.
He did not want to go through the same thing that the Third Hokage went through with Orochimaru.
They were alone and there was a heaviness with him. And she could feel it too.
"What's the matter, Naruto?"
He knew he could tell her anything, but that didn't make anything easier. "...I just don't know when we're going to see each other again. With everything going on and you going back to Suna...it just hurts."
Sakura hadn't thought about going back to Suna. Her mind had been in such a rush for the past few days that she completely ignored that responsibility. "I know. But this will all end soon. I have faith in you."
Their hands joined together. For this moment, it was peace in their minds.
"I know you do. I just...want a little more time."
Sakura smiled, bringing him in close. "We have all the time in the world."
Two halves of the same person. Love burned hard and bright.
Between them, Naruto and Sakura would find a way.
For now, things were darker than they had ever been.
-With Hebi-
"Sasuke...what the hell happened?!"
Karin was distraught. In the aftermath of the fight at the Uchiha Hideout, Sasuke had disappeared without a trace. She, and the rest of Hebi, were waiting for his victorious return, yet Karin felt his chakra vanish. They searched high and low with no results. All that was left were the scars of battle.
For the next week, Hebi remained close by to the hideout, hoping that Sasuke would reappear. Though, Suigetsu planted the idea that this might have been Sasuke's plan. He got his revenge against his older brother. He figured that Sasuke simply disappeared, not willing to follow through on his promises to them to help them.
Karin did not believe that. She was convinced something happened. And, as it turned out, she was right.
Suddenly, Sasuke appeared before them, bloodied and starved.
"Where have you been, man? We've looking everywhere for you."
Haku knelt, examining the Uchiha closely. She could see the signs. She once saw them in herself. "Torture. You were held captive and tortured."
Karin immediately offered up her arm for Sasuke to bite. He was in deep need of rejuvenation. It looked like Sasuke was about to die from starvation.
"Who did this to you?" The girl whispered.
The Uchiha did not have the energy to speak. He needed rest. He needed food. But most of all, he needed time to think.
"Hold up your end of the deal, Sasuke, and I will hold up my end. Itachi's eyes are useless to anyone else but you."
Unfortunately, to achieve what he wanted, Sasuke would now need his brother's eyes. Those who were responsible for Itachi's suffering had to pay.
First, he needed to find the Eight-Tails.
Fine...I'll play your game...Madara. But don't you worry, I'll be coming for you next.
