Naruto: Redone

by OrangeGokage

After the Kyūbi's attack on the village, the Third Hokage decided it would be best for Jiraiya to take his godson and leave the village. Six years later, they return but the village has not forgotten that fateful night and realize Naruto is the Kyūbi's container. When Naruto wakes up in the hospital, his caretaker is gone. How will this change and affect Naruto?

77. Chapter 77

Her vision slowly faded. Her last sight was of the love of her life reaching out to her. Her final thoughts were filled with guilt and failure. She tried her hardest to save him, to prove that she wasn't someone that he had to protect. She wanted to be equals, stand together in battles and in life.

I'm sorry, Naruto...I couldn't...

It's been studied that the brain continues activity for roughly seven minutes after death. And in these seven minutes, Sakura's mind did not replay memories of her life but what Sakura dreamed her life to be.

The war was over, a long-forgotten memory that was only remembered in history books. The village was busting at the seams with life and happiness. The weather was perfect with a warm summer breeze. Life was good because she made it so.

She stood on a small red bridge that meant so much to her. Beside her were the cherished friends she made along the way. Each friend meant something to her, each one was cherished in their own way. On the other side of Sakura, her parents stood side by side and hand in hand. Both happy and full of life. They were proud of her achievements and even more proud of the woman she had become.

One final person took her hand into his. He was the reason this small bridge meant so much to them both. It's where she found him on that fateful day. It's where she comforted him and hid from the rain. And it's where their love came back together. A heaven and earth love story.

This was it for her. She was content with her life.

Sakura Haruno, apprentice to the Fifth Hokage, was...

Oh no. You're not done yet.

Instantly, Sakura's vision changed, the dream vanished, replaced by a blank, grim limitless plane of ankle-deep water.

"This must be afterlife..."

Clearly, this was not what she was expecting. She thought the afterlife would be more vibrant, more welcoming. And there was no one. Nobody that had passed before was there to greet her. It was a shame. Sakura really wanted to see her mom again.

"No, girl. This is not the afterlife."

Sharply turning, Sakura came face to face a miniature Nine Tailed Fox. The mini beast was sitting at eye level with the pinkette, daring her to move.

"Y-You're..."

"You know who I am, girl."

-With Kakashi-

Kakashi followed the path of destruction that led to the outskirts of the city. He hid himself in rubble so he could examine and learn.

For the moment, they had Naruto trapped in that massive satellite. Though, Kakashi had a feeling that the Nine-Tails wouldn't be bound for very long.

Five in total. Each body has their one set of abilities. Because of their positioning, that one on top of that obelisk will be the easiest for me to attack. I know there is a sixth body still out there somewhere, but I can't dwell on that. For now, I just need to...

There was a huge surge of unfathomable power bursting through the satellite. Eight tails exploded through the rock-hard sediment as the skinless main body of the Beast roared thunderously. The transformation was nearly complete. All that remained was for the seal to be completely shattered now.

Pain was thoroughly impressed by the strength. "He dug himself out of the satellite. Such incredible power! I should enlarge and..."

"Raikiri!"

The lightning passed through Naraka's Path chest with ease. The body collapsed and fell loudly to the ground, next to the Deva Path. Kakashi, unknowingly, just dealt the biggest blow to Pain. Without the Naraka Path's ability to revive, he was weakened and vulnerable.

"Ah. You must be Kakashi Hatake of the Sharingan. It's an honor to meet you." Pain calmly stated, holding his focus on keeping the satellite together. "You should have stayed away. This will turn unfortunate for you."

"Hm. I wonder about that."

"Deal with him." The Deva Path commanded the remaining bodies. "I need to keep Tendō's strength on the Nine-Tails."

The Asura, Animal, and Preta Paths turned towards the lone jonin. A final stand against the opposition. To honor the promises made, Kakashi would give his life to save his student.

Father...be with me.

Suddenly, the thunderous roars stopped. The Beast shuttered to a halt, indicating something was happening.

-Bijū Plane-

Naruto pushed his father away, unable to fathom that his father was here. "How are you here?! You're dead!"

"I worked it into the seal that I would appear here when the seal unraveled to the point of the eighth tail. Truthfully, I wasn't expecting it to happen so early. I didn't think I would meet you until you were closer to my age. Though...the idea meeting you as a young man sounded very nice. So, it all evens out I guess."

Minato turned back to the oddly armored man. This was something he did not expect.

"It seems this entity was trying to manipulate you into breaking the seal prematurely." Minato examined the armor more closely and saw the sword attached to the hip. "Ah, I see."

Dashing with lightning speed, Minato appeared in front of the Lingering Will. Before the armored entity could react, it was already too late. Minato's hand slammed against the armor's chest. Black seals appeared and covered the entire body.

"Contract Seal!"

Golden chakra chains appeared from all directions, binding the Lingering Will. The entity fell to its knees, submitting to the strong chakra absorption. The voice was lost and replaced with metallic sounds once more.

"And now..." The Hokage drew the sword from the enemy's scabbard. The armor instantly scattered onto the ground as soon as the sword left the scabbard. A simple hand seal and Tojin faded out, leaving no trace of it behind. "...There. That should do it."

Naruto stayed back. He did not want to stand near his father. "What did you just do?!"

"That sword was the entity that's been affecting your mind. I released the seal that it held in you. You're free of it now."

"Why would you do that?!" Naruto shouted angrily. "Tojin was the only chance I had against Tailed Beasts! Without it, I wouldn't have been able to beat Roshi!"

"Oh, I believe you would have. You are my son, after all." Minato smiled, mildly enthused by Naruto's anger. He began walking towards his son. "And I thought you wanted to rid yourself of that jinchūriki duty?"

Taken back, Naruto stammered over his words. "I-I-I..."

Chuckling, Minato patted his son's shoulder. "You never needed that power, Naruto. I..."

The boy swatted his father's hand away. Anger spilling over into tears. "I don't wanna hear it! How could you put the Nine-Tails inside your own son?! What did I do to deserve all this?! Pervy Sage, Baa-chan, even Kakashi sensei, everyone who knew you said that you loved me! But you sealed a demon in me and fucking left me alone! What kind of a father does that to their son?!"

Tears trailed down his son's cheeks, he couldn't stop them. Years of pent-up anger and unresolved emotions were exploding. Honestly, Minato hoped Naruto was given his level-headedness with emotions.

Kushina...you live on in our boy.

And because this was Kushina's son, Minato figured the same tactic for calming Kushina would work on him. The father slowly embraced his son, gently rubbing his identical blond hair. His assumption was correct.

Minato wiped away his son's tears. "How old are you, Naruto?"

"...Seventeen..." He sniffled.

"Wow...already that old?" A deep sigh of regret. "Please forgive me, Naruto. I can't imagine all the things you've endured." He wiped more tears away. "I suppose that's little consolation for you. I can't rightfully put on a fatherly face and apologize now. I hope Master Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade did right by you."

Naruto wiped away the remaining tears and dried up his eyes. "They did...the best they could."

"Did you...get the box I left for you?"

Taking in deep breaths to calm himself, Naruto nodded. "By accident, I think. It was hidden underneath the Hero's Stone Memorial. I guess old man Third hid it there with the Scroll of Seals."

"Underneath the memorial?" Minato questioned. "When was it given to you?"

"It wasn't given to me. I found it."

His father seemed to be confused by that statement, but he brushed it off. "...I see. Regardless, you read your mother's letter then?"

A smile graced Naruto's face. The letter always filled him with joy and relief. "I did. I wish I could have meet her."

The man smiled like his son. "I wish the same."

Fond memories and eternal love. Minato could not wait to see his wife again. Because of his chakra stored in the seal, he had remained in limbo until now. A bittersweet reunion.

"I sealed half of the Nine-Tails chakra in you because I trusted that you would one day master that power. And because you are my son, I know you can."

"I think I'm well on my way to that. Kurama and I work well together." Naruto stated proudly.

Confused again, Minato cocked his head. "Kurama?"

"That's his name. A lot has happened."

Realizing that there was more to learn than he realized, Minato felt the need to include the Tailed Beast. He snapped his fingers and the massive red gate vanished. The Kyubi appeared in full size.

"Wake up...Kurama." That felt odd to say.

The beast's eyes slowly opened. "It's about time you showed up. I was beginning to think you chickened out on our deal."

Minato chuckled. "As I recall, I was the one to strike the deal with you."

"Whoa whoa whoa." Naruto was quick to interject. "What's going on here? What kind of deal?"

"There is much you need to know, son." Minato began the beginning of a long tale. "There was another reason I went to the trouble of sealing him inside you. It's based on something I learned seventeen years ago when the Nine-Tails attacked the village."

"What...are you talking about?"

"There was a mastermind behind the attack. This mastermind manipulated the Nine-Tails and made him assault the village. He was quite a formidable shinobi. You'll need extraordinary strength to stand against him. I believe he will attack the village again. Maybe even try and take over the world at some point."

"Was it Pain?!" Naruto wanted there to be another reason to rip that bastard's head off.

"No. He had a mask and the Sharingan. He called himself..."

"...Madara Uchiha."

Minato could hardly contain his shock. "You know of him?"

"I spoke to him not too long ago, yeah. I can tell he's really strong."

"He is. Back then...he saw right through all my moves. He is no ordinary shinobi with no ordinary power. He controlled the Nine-Tails and fought me at the same time. In fact, Pain is probably being used and controlled by Madara."

Naruto couldn't believe that. "No! Pain has his own grudge!"

"Yeah, probably. And Madara is using that to control him." Minato would bet on that. "That masked man...Madara...he knew exactly when to strike. Had us all cornered."

"Knew what? What happened?!"

"There are only two ways a seal on a jinchūriki weakens. The first being natural progression. Seals that aren't perfectly crafted or maintained eventually unravel. Much like what's been happening with you. The second is childbirth. And with your mother bearing you, it was only a matter of time."

"...You mean?"

Minato nodded. "During the approximate ten months of pregnancy for a female jinchūriki, the seal weakens because the energy that a body would use for the seal is diverted to growing the baby. And when the birth finally happens, the seal is its weakest point. That's the moment he attacked and stole the Nine-Tails from your mother."

Naruto could only listen in disbelief as his father began the tale of his birth.

-Memory Fragment: Day of Ashes-

Worriedly, Minato stood on the roof balcony of the Hokage's Mansion and watched over the village. His village. He had to remind himself constantly that he really was the Hokage, and not just a stand in. Even though Lord Third decided to stay on as a liaison – because retirement sounded too quiet for him – it made Minato feel like he was merely substituting.

Even though he truly was in charge, Minato could not shake the hellish feeling he's grown accustomed to over the last year. Every night it was the same dream. The same hell induced nightmare.

The village scorched, coated in flames and ashes. Bodies were slain in the streets; blood spilled into the dirt and coated the moon. And the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon had been freed from his prison, laying waste to the earth. Yet, there were no screams for help or cries of pain. It was quiet.

All there was to be heard was a small whine from a freshly born child. A grave tragedy had befallen this child. His parents were gone. He was all alone.

The dream ended each time Minato approached the crying child, unable to ever see what was wrong.

Minato couldn't shake the anxiety or the sleepless nights. It made him feel powerless and unprepared. And so, he had designed multiple contingencies. Safehouses and secret caches in various locations around the world. There were so many markings for this Hiraishin around the village now that Minato had trouble remembering which ones transported him to where.

Whatever was coming, Minato knew he was ready for it – he always prepared. But now that his son was to be born today, the hellish and powerless feeling was stronger than ever.

"I suppose congratulations are in order."

The leader of the Uchiha clan, Fugaku, approached his Hokage. They firmly shook hands.

"Congratulations for what?"

Fugaku chuckled. "No need to play dumb with me, old friend. Mikoto told me about Kushina's pregnancy last night."

"Did she now?"

Kushina's pregnancy was extremely classified. By Minato's count, only seven people knew outside of himself. Even then, the details were even more scarce.

"Don't fret, Minato. Everything will turn out fine."

Fugaku and Minato have been friends since their days in the Academy. The Uchiha leader wouldn't go as far to say they were best friends, like their wives, or even close in a sense, but he enjoyed the Hokage's company. He always did.

Though, Fugaku's words did little to quell the knots in Minato's stomach. "...If you say so."

"Having cold feet for being a first-time father?"

Was that it? Could all his paranoia and anxiety stem from simply being nervous to take care of another human life?

No. It's more than that. I have Kushina to help me raise our son. I'm not nervous to be a father.

"I remember when Itachi was first born. I had no idea what to do. It took me a week to work up the courage to hold him when I walked. Even with Sasuke, it was hard to grasp."

The Uchiha leader was showing an uncharacteristic amount of enthusiasm. While he may be outwardly stoic, the pride in his son's was everlasting. They were all he talked about with his wife.

"But, once the waves settle, you'll find being a father is something more rewarding than anything else."

Forcing a smile, Minato nodded. "Isn't Sasuke just a few months old? He and Naruto will be in the same class then. I hope they will be friends."

"Friends? Oh no. If I may, my Sasuke will be your son's rival." Fugaku chuckled. "The son of the Hokage and the future pride of the Uchiha? What a great rivalry it will be."

Joining in, Minato did not have to force the smile for a moment. "Yes. I would agree."

As the two leaders looked on over the village, a gentle breeze flew through them. A calming wind that would bring so much change.

"Lord Hokage." An ANBU appeared behind the two leaders, kneeling with respect. "Lady Kushina has settled in with the midwives. Lady Biwako is ready induce when you arrive."

The Hokage nodded. "Thank you, Kakashi. You can consider your mission completed. Take some time off."

The ANBU hardly responded, merely disappearing.

Minato silently sighed. He had hoped the mission of guarding Kushina during her pregnancy would help him with guilt over Obito and Rin. The teenager needed a break from the ANBU life; a decision that he and the Third Hokage argued about for weeks. Minato wasn't of he had done much good for him.

Fugaku stuck out his hand again. "Best of luck, Lord Hokage."

Minato returned the gesture. "Thank you."

-Secret Location-

"Minato!" Kushina berated loudly. "You're never one to be late! Why are you late today of all days?!"

"I-I'm sorry, Kushina!" His wife was sprawled out on an examination table, legs up in stirrups. Her stomach was exposed, revealing the seal over the navel. It was off-putting. "Alright! Are we ready?!" Minato placed his hand over the seal, ready to rebuild it as needed.

"We've been ready, Lord Fourth!" Biwako sternly stated. "Childbirth is a woman's matter! Fathers should not be allowed to witness, I say." The Pitocin drip bag was empty. "Taji, check her. She should be ready soon."

As the two midwives continued their preparations, Minato gave his wife's hand a quick grip of affirmation and good luck. They were about to meet their baby boy; they couldn't be happier.

The labor was intense. The screams of pain from Kushina echoed through the cave, even the ANBU guards outside could hear them. Minato fought off the Nine-Tails chakra as hard as he could. It felt like a battle, constant back and forth. He's been dealing with the Nine-Tails for years now, yet this time was different.

He's fighting hard to get out! The longer she's in labor, the harder it will be to push against the Nine-Tails! C'mon Naruto! Hurry up and get out!

The extreme labor continued. Kushina screamed louder, making Minato push against the Nine-Tails as hard as he could. Everything came to a tiny, screeching halt. A baby's first cry filled the cave.

"Get hot water! And a towel!"

"...He's here..." Tears streamed down Minato's face, pride in finally being a father.

Kushina could hardly speak, she was breathing so heavily from the labor. But the relief washed over her, and she was overcome with such happiness. It had all been worth it.

"He's healthy! A baby boy!"

The midwives cleaned up the baby, wrapping him in a towel. They were going to present him to the mother first. That's how Biwako believed it needed to be done.

"I know you just gave birth, Kushina, but we need to rebuild the seal..."

The midwives fell to the floor, dead before the blood could spill. A masked, hooded man held his hand over the crying baby's face.

"Fourth Hokage...step away from the jinchūriki...or else your child will die before you can ever hold him."

The stillness of the cave was broken up by the crying of the baby. Minato made no sudden movements, analyzing the situation as best and fast as he could.

How'd he get passed that protective barrier?! What happened to the ANBU?!

The slightest step away from Kushina and the seal unraveled. Black markings began to spread all over her body, the Nine-Tails forcing his way out.

"Shit! Kushina!"

"Step away, Hokage." The masked man calmly threatened. A kunai shooting into his hand from his sleeve. "Don't you care what happens to your brat?"

"Stay calm!" Minato's focus was being split in two. His wife was in agonizing pain while his son's life was in peril.

"Speak for yourself, Minato." The masked man tossed the newborn into the air. "I'm as calm as can be."

Dashing with lightning speed and quickness, Minato caught his son before the masked man could threaten his life further. Though, the masked man was one step ahead. Paper bombs were glued to the underside of the blanket.

"Good luck with that one...Yellow Flash."

Kushina's screams for her loved ones were drowned out by the explosion. Minato tumbled onto the lawn as their home exploded in a ball of flames. He transported himself and Naruto with the Hiraishin to their home outside the village and tossed the blanket as he leapt out the front door.

That was too close, even for me. Thank goodness, Naruto's not hurt.

Naruto's cries were calmed by his father's embrace. Minato found a moment of comfort holding his son for the first time.

He forced me to teleport. Kushina was his target. He wanted to separate us. Gotta hurry!

The Yellow Flash teleported himself to the nearest and most secure safehouse. There was a bed in the center of the room, along with dozens of lockers full of equipment. The father laid his sleeping son under the sheets.

"You'll be safe here, Naruto. Please be patient. I need to go rescue your mother."

-With Kushina-

The masked man had taken his target to a secluded location, away from Minato and Konoha. Everything to this point had been perfectly planned. Now, it was time for fun.

"Who are you?! What do you want?!" Kushina, bound by chakra, was still as defiant as ever.

The masked man watched as more of the seal unraveled. "I'm going to extract the Nine-Tails from you and crush Konoha."

The seal had unraveled to the point that the black markings had taken over Kushina's body and she could no longer speak.

"Minato's Hiraishin allows him to teleport between marked locations with that pesky jutsu symbol. He worked the jutsu formula into the seal spell." The Sharingan shined brightly through the eye of the mask. "Minato can always protect you. But, even for him, it's too far to teleport like he usually does. The seal is so weak because you decided to try and have a child. I have waited years for this moment!"

The masked man focused his chakra, breaking the final failsafe of the seal. His Sharingan peered into the eyes of the beast, making the beast a puppet of his will. The chakra went haywire, bubbling around Kushina. The massive chakra began to leave the woman's body, taking form in the skies.

"Come on out, Nine-Tails!"

The Kyubi had been released; hell had broken loose.

As the final piece of chakra left her body, Kushina laid across the rock she was bound to. Yet, she found strength to look her attacker in the eye, Sharingan be damned.

"W-Wait..."

The masked man turned back. "You Uzumaki shinobi are just amazing. Even a Tailed Beast extraction can't kill you?" The Kyūbi raised his hand up high, towering mountains. "You were his jinchūriki. I'll let him kill you."

Swift and powerful, the Kyūbi's hand came down, causing winds and earth shakes. Kushina would not have survived that.

But the speed of the Yellow Flash saved her. In the space of a second, Minato appeared and rescued his wife from certain death.

"...Minato...?"

Her voice was weak. Minato could barely feel her heartbeat.

"Don't worry, Kushina. Everything's going to be alright."

Minato did not believe his own words. The Kyubi was free and Kushina was near death. His dream, his nightmare, was coming true.

The Yellow Flash vanished just as quickly as he arrived.

They reappeared back in the safehouse where Naruto was sleeping.

"...Why...?" Kushina protested. "That masked man...the Kyubi...they need to be stopped."

"Shh." The man hushed. He laid his wife down next to their infant son. "Just be with Naruto. I'll handle it."

The woman could no longer hold it together. Kushina broke down, holding her son for the first time. And for the last time.

Fury burned in Minato. A year of nightmares and anxious thoughts had built up to this very moment. Was it a premonition? A manifestation of his fears? For now, it did not matter. The Fourth Hokage had a job to do.

Adorning his flak jacket and Hokage's cloak, Minato was ready for his deathmatch.

Minato kissed his wife's forehead, gently rubbing his son's blonde, yellow hair. "I'll be right back. I love you both."

"...Love you too...Good luck..."

As she laid there with her son, Kushina wept. All the love she was ready to give was about to disappear. With the stress of childbirth and the Nine-Tails being extracted from her, Kushina didn't know how long she would last. Even with her strong Uzumaki life force, Kushina could feel it.

Death was coming for her.

Kushina pulled Naruto in close, cradling her newborn for the first and final time.

"...Now, you listen to me, Naruto..." Kushina began weakily. "What I'm about to say to you are only things a mother can say..."

-Konoha-

The peaceful nights were something that Hiruzen looked forward to every day. The coolness of that nighttime breeze with the warm cup of tea was the true combination for ultimate relaxation. In addition to a perfectly packed pipe, the retired Hokage loved this new chapter of his life.

But, as per usual, life loved to be cruel to him.

A strong sensation filled his senses, causing the pipe to fall from Hiruzen's lips. It had been a long time since this chakra had been felt.

No...it can't be.

Looking out the window of his office, Sarutobi could only look on in horror as the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon appeared in the village center. Chaos ensued as buildings were destroyed and lives were lost. Screams of terror were drowned out by the roars of the demon.

"Lord Third!" An ANBU came crashing through the door. "The Nine-Tails has appeared in the village!"

"I can see that, Ushi." Calm as ever, the Third Hokage adorned his battle armor once again. "I'll restrain him! You all protect the villagers and escort them to the catacombs!"

"Sir, yes sir!" The ANBU dashed away.

Sarutobi leapt out his window and launched himself onto the roof of his home. Dozens of Konoha shinobi and ANBU were there, ready for his orders. Without effort, the Third Hokage summoned Enma, transforming him into the adamantine staff.

Even with all the precautions, the seal still broke. Minato...we need you here!

The Third Hokage stood tall in the face of this Kyūbi's wrath.

"Alright everyone! Let's push this bastard out of our home!"

The man in question, the Fourth Hokage, appeared atop his stone face on the Hokage Mountain. The beast was laying waste to the village as the shinobi, led by the Third Hokage, battled the beast back. It did not take long for the beast to notice Minato's arrival.

The Yellow Flash twirled his kunai. "Bring it."

A Bijūdama formed quickly at the Kyūbi's mouth and fired, aiming to destroy Minato and the monument.

The hand seals were quicker than anyone could see, all executed in the blink of an eye. Seal etchings appeared around the stone faces, snatching the Bijūdama with the grace of a catcher's glove. The large orb contorted into the seal barrier and disappeared. The resulting explosion happened over a mile away behind the village, the shockwaves crashing through the village.

I need to be more careful where I redirect those attacks. With that much power, he could wipe out the village if I'm not careful.

Minato spotted the Third Hokage down below. He needed to get to him immediately.

The masked man appeared out of thin air, moving into attack Minato from behind. The Fourth Hokage was constantly aware of his surroundings and swiftly spun with his kunai, aiming for the kill shot to the head.

But Minato's knife passed right thought the masked man's body, only to be caught in the masked man's grasp.

"I'm your opponent, not the Nine-Tails. You're done for, Minato."

A strong swirl pulled Minato into a strong vortex that centered on the masked man's Sharingan eye. If it was not for the Hiraishin, Minato would have been sucked into the vortex.

"He got away..." The masked man would further be impressed by the Hokage's speed. "The next time we touch, I'll have to take him in quicker. It needs to be as soon as I touch him."

Minato crashed into the yard of the exploded home, his kunai remaining cemented into the ground.

My attack phased right through his body. Then, he solidified and tried to pull me into a vortex. That vortex nearly pulled me in, it was just as fast as my Hiraishin. I've never seen a jutsu like that.

The vortex appeared again, resembling a portal, and the masked man stepped out of it. "I'm not letting you escape, Lord Fourth."

Teleportation ninjutsu?! That explains how he entered the protective barrier so easily and took Kushina. This guy...he managed to kill the ANBU directly assigned by Lord Third and was able to break the seal and release the Nine-Tails. He even knew that the seal weakens in childbirth. And furthermore, he has entered Konoha's sensory barrier without triggering any alarms. There's only one shinobi I know that can do all that...

"You're Madara Uchiha, aren't you?"

A slight deviation in body language: he was disappointed. The man pulled his hood back, only revealing black hair.

"Impossible. Madara Uchiha is dead."

"Hm. I wonder about that." Chains fell from the large sleeves, bound to cuffs on his wrists. "Death isn't as permanent as everyone is led to believe."

Minato was a bit dismayed. If this truly was the man that rivaled the First Hokage, he was in the fight for his life. "Why attack Konoha? I'm having trouble seeing your angle."

"It seems so...whimsical to you, Lord Fourth. But, I promise, it was planned. For the sake of war...and peace. Everything will be revealed in due time."

Either way, it doesn't matter who he really is. He's no ordinary shinobi. Controlling the Nine-Tails while using a teleportation jutsu that surpasses my own and Lord Second is on a completely different level. Matched with this dangerous ideology...I'll have bigger problems to deal with if I don't take him down right here, right now.

Minato struggled to come up with a solid battle plan. There were too many variables, and the differencing outcomes were more extreme than the last. He couldn't teleport to village; the chaos would be too much. The masked man would follow and create more problems. Everything needed to be settled in this moment.

"There's no hope for you!"

Running at each other, Minato lunged with his kunai. Unexpectedly, the Hokage phased through the man's entire body and wrapped up in the long chain. Teleportation was instant, freeing himself from the chain. A second longer and Minato would have lost.

Is his entire body malleable? My physical attacks won't affect him. But his chains grabbed me, meaning he can solidify at a moment's notice so he can attack me. There's an extremely brief moment I can precisely strike. And he knows he's vulnerable when he attacks. And it'll take too long to summon the Nine-Tails here, it'll leave him open.

Everything would be over in an instant. Life and death, fate and future decided in one single moment.

They ran at each other again. This time, however, Minato threw a kunai ahead of him. The kunai passed through the masked man's head, phasing through to the other side. The masked man reached for Minato's shoulder, ready to pull them both into the vortex the second he touched him.

A Rasengan appeared, Minato's signature and created attack.

Even with the Hiraishin, the Hokage could not get away.

I won.

Or so he thought.

Vanishing faster than the Sharingan could track, Minato appeared in the kunai's location behind the masked man's head. The Rasengan slammed into the target's back.

"Hiraishin: Ni no Dan!" (Flying Raijin: Level 2)

The ground erupted in a massive earthquake, showcasing the power his created technique. Minato intended to end this battle with that attack.

The masked man phased through and distanced himself from Minato. The damage from the Rasengan was significant; his artificial arm was bleeding and falling apart. He had already lost.

Minato appeared again, directly in front of him. Faster than his Sharingan could track, Minato stabbed the masked man with his kunai and slammed his hand against his chest.

"You planted a jutsu formula on me mid attack?! And separated me from the Nine-Tails with a contract seal!" Perhaps he underestimated the Fourth Hokage's true abilities.

"The Nine-Tails is no longer yours!"

Back in Konoha, the Kyūbi had been freed from the masked man's control. The Kyūbi froze and provided a momentary distraction for the shinobi to attack the Kyūbi with full force, pushing him out of the village.

The masked man kicked Minato away and jumped up onto a tree branch. It was hard to admit but he had failed.

"You're definitely worthy of your title, Lord Hokage. You inflicted injury on me while separating me from the Nine-Tails. But he will be mine one day. I shall rule this world...there are plenty of ways to go about it."

The masked man vanished into the vortex, erasing himself from existence.

As intriguing as this masked man was, Minato did not have much time to ponder the situation. The Nine-Tails was still on the loose and the Third Hokage needed help. The situation was dire for everyone.

Give his tone...he's serious about this. Once I deal with the Nine-Tails, I'll need to handle him next.

As the shinobi of Konoha continued to fight for their own lives and the lives of everyone. This would be a day to remember for all Konoha's history.

As the Kyūbi's began to create another Bijūdama, Minato finally arrived on the battlefield. Gamabunta flattened the beast down with his massive weight.

"Enough of you, fox!"

The shinobi cheered for their Hokage's quick action. His arrival filled each ninja with confidence to win this battle. However, Minato was not filled with confidence. His mind was set on that masked man and his parting words.

Rule the world? How can I stop that?

"Perhaps you're the Child of Prophecy, Minato?"

"Hm? The what, Master Jiraiya?"

"In the future, I believe terrible things will happen...and the savior that ends all the terrible things will be called the Child of Prophecy."

Minato had been convinced of two things during this night. That masked man, Madara Uchiha, that attacked will be the one to bring the catastrophe upon the world. The second being he was not the Child of Prophecy, but his son was.

It was up to Minato to ensure that the world was saved. By sacrificing his own life and future.

"Hold him down, Gamabunta! Transporting something this big will be hard, even for me! Buy me time!"

"Got it, boss!"

As he leapt off the head of the giant toad, Minato performed a series of hand seals as fast as he possibly could. The touch was made, and the beast disappeared, Gamabunta hitting the ground without notice.

Minato was worldly known for his incredible speed, able to cross great distances in seconds and do things that would be considered impossible. In the space between breaths and heartbeats, Minato teleported the Kyūbi to a far enough distance to keep the village safe from the explosion while teleporting rescuing his wife and son from the explosion that happened around them, destroying their home.

No other shinobi in history could have done that.

"Kushina...are you able create a barrier to stop the Nine-Tails?"

There was no response from his wife. Minato was running on pure adrenaline that it took him a moment to realize that something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

"...Kushina...?"

Her body was limp. No heartbeat. No life in her body.

"...No..."

His worst nightmare, the only thing he was ever truly afraid of. The death of his wife.

Kushina Uzumaki had passed away from the complications of childbirth and Bijū extraction.

The Nine-Tails lurked about, watching the man he had hated stare at the lifeless body of his jinchūriki. This was his opportunity to strike and escape without trouble. The Kyūbi slammed his massive hand on the ground, crushing all three.

But the Hokage was gone, teleporting his wife and child away with him. Scanning the area, the Kyūbi could not find the Hokage. In a small opening on the other side of a line of trees the body of Kushina laid next to an alter table with the small child on it.

"RAH!"

Showing an unparalleled level of strength, Minato grabbed ahold of one of the Kyūbi's tails and threw Kyūbi high into the air. At the pinnacle of his height, the Kyūbi focused the negative and positive chakras into another blast, planning to obliterate his opposition.

This power...where did it come from?!

The blast was fired at top speed. The orb came to a sudden halt, slowly conforming into a seal barrier. Another space-time seal portal appeared as the orb was being transported through it.

That bastard Fourth...he's redirecting the attack back at me!

There wasn't a jutsu out there that could match the destructive power of a Bijūdama, except for another Bijūdama.

The two massive orbs of unrivaled power collided and created an unimaginable explosion unlike anything the world had ever seen. Shockwaves were felt hundreds of miles. The blinding light was strong enough to make the Kyūbi shield himself.

What's going on?! He's completely different from before!

Something hit the Kyūbi strong enough to push him back. Minato appeared before him and slammed his fist into the Kyūbi's snout, forcing him down.

"Senpō: Myōjinmon!" (Sage Art: Gate of the Great God)

A single massive red torii gate fell from the heavens and pinned the Kyūbi by the neck. Suddenly, all the Kyūbi's strength disappeared, and he was rendered docile. He could not move.

"What is this?! How do you know this technique?!"

The beast had seen this technique before. The great battle between Madara and Hashirama that he was forced to partake in. That battle led to his imprisonment in Konoha for the decades to come. He would not allow it to happen again.

The Yellow Flash appeared on top of the torii gate, staring down at the beast.

"This...is your only warning, Kyūbi."

The venom in Minato's voice would have been enough to poison a mountain.

"Who are you to threaten me?!"

"That was my wife! You killed my wife!"

The eyes of perfect sage hood flared, making the Kyubi wonder what else he was holding back on.

Senjutsu was pesky for Minato. He had achieved perfect sage mode, unlike his master, but could not maintain it for long. In fact, this was the first time he used it in a serious battle. His ability was dwarfed when compared to the likes of his master and First Hokage. Though, he credited his ability of summon one of the First Hokage's great gates to his unrivaled talent with fūinjutsu.

"You and I...we've been at odds for years. You were sealed inside Kushina and I've kept you at bay, keeping her and the village safe. But now...I finally have the chance to do some real damage."

Minato was going to channel as much power into his strikes as he could. Fury over the loss of someone he loved were things he hadn't truly experienced. And now, he was going to take it out on the very thing that caused her demise.

As Minato prepared himself for the hellish beatdown, the sounds of his crying son echoed. He teleported over and cradled him, crying soft tears over his wife's lifeless body. His focus shattered and his senjutsu disappeared with his fury.

"Shh." The battle worn Hokage softly whispered. "Everything will be alright, Naruto. One day, I hope you'll forgive me for what I must do." He calmed his son and placed him back on the ritual altar.

He teleported back atop the torii gate, giving no fear towards the Bijū below him.

"Kyūbi...you and I need to come to an agreement."

The Kyūbi said nothing. He refused to speak. He knew what was coming.

Humans were all the same. All they wanted was power and would do whatever it took to take it. Madara Uchiha was no different. Hashirama Senju was no different. And Minato Namikaze would be no different. Conditioned to hate and abuse.

"I'm going to seal you inside my son...that way, you can protect and guide him."

Protect and guide?

"You have a choice to make. Either I seal you inside my son to help him save this world from that masked man...or I let you go, and he hunts you down to makes you his puppet again."

"What's the difference? Be sealed away or used for destruction?"

"The difference...is that you'll come out of this free."

Freedom was a lie. No entity that existed never knew true freedom. There was a never-ending cycle of propagandized freedom that the world ignored. The Kyūbi was no different.

"Help guide my son into the savior this world needs...you'll be free, Kyūbi. Give him protection from those that do him harm and he'll protect you."

"The child is barely hours old. You expect him to be such a person?"

"Yes...because he is my son."

It had been centuries since the passing of his creator, one who he considered his father. The Sage of Six Paths cared for all nine of the Bijū in their early lives, giving them all names. The great sage passed on, leaving all nine to scatter throughout the world.

You are all my children.

Kurama missed his father.

Hand seals flurried and the astral projection of the Reaper of Death appeared behind Minato, the same reaper that would appear behind the Third Hokage years later. The hand passed through Minato's soul and grasped onto the Kyūbi's body.

"Seal!"

The hand of death ripped half of the Nine-Tails chakra out and pulled into his own body. The pain subsided quickly because his body went completely numb, yet he could feel just how heavy the chakra was. And with half his chakra now gone, the Kyūbi shrunk to half his original size.

"You're going to forsake your child's and your own life for the sake this damned village for the possibility that he'd be some mythical hero?"

Somehow, Minato was able to keep himself upright. "To forsake one's country...and one's village is the same to forsake one's child...I'm betting everything on him because he is my son. And it is the duty of a parent to...unconditionally believe in their child. I will die for my son...it's my duty as his father."

The hand of the reaper connected the remaining chakra of the Nine-Tails to Naruto, ready to be sealed.

"Please...take good care of him...just like a father should."

A simple summoning technique and Gerotora appeared. "Why do you summon me?" Then the scroll toad saw the Bijū below him. "Whoa! What the hell is going on, Minato?!"

"Gerotora...I'm giving you the seal spell key. When I finish the seal...go straight to Master Jiraiya. He'll know...what to do from here on out."

Gerotora's scroll-abdomen unraveled, it was blank and ready for transcription. Minato slit his hand with his kunai and used his own blood to create the key.

"I affirm that I've received the seal key! I'm off! Good luck, Minato!"

The rare species of toad desummoned in a cloud of smoke, following through on his orders.

Death was looming. He had moments left. The man teleported over to his son, kneeling next to the sleeping child. Minato gently held his son's hand, tears shedding freely.

"My son...I believe in you..."

A silent prayer for a world of hope.

Eight-Signed Seal...

The nightmare...the mission...it's...finally over.

-End of Memory Fragment-

Minato turned his face away from son, wiping any remnant of tears. As much as he loved his son, Minato did not want to cry in front of his son. This was his only time with him. He did not want to ruin it with tears.

"I'm so sorry for putting you through all this, son." Minato placed a fatherly hand on his son's shoulder. "I wish I could have been there to see you grow, to guide and teach you. I know your mother will regret not being there to give you the love you needed."

"...Y'know...I've been through a lot in my life. And I spent every second of it blaming you...hating you. The mere thought of what you did would send me into a spiral. For a while, I told myself I was happy. I repeated it like mantra because if I didn't, I would have drowned in all the reasons I wasn't. And I had convinced myself it was because you hated me, despite whatever Pervy Sage or Baa-Chan told me. But when I read mom's letter...there was a little bit of hope that you didn't."

The dam broke. Tears free-fell from Naruto's matching eyes. He could feel years of hatred, trauma, and anger wash away. The boy pushed in and hugged his father.

"I don't want to hate you anymore! I don't want to blame you anymore! I don't want an apology! I'm happy to know how much you and mom loved me!"

So much relief and liberation for both. Minato carried the guilt of doing this to his son. Naruto carried the hatred for what his father had done. Now, both men were released from the shackles and could now learn to carry on.

"...Thank you, son."

"Dad...I love you."

Even the self-proclaimed embodiment of hatred held a small smile.

"Now...I think I have just enough time to help you out." Minato gripped his son's hands fiercely. "This...will give you a glimpse of what kind of power you'll have once you master the Nine-Tails."

A surge of foreign, yet extremely familiar, chakra rumbled across the entire Biju plain, causing the Kyūbi to look up in surprise.

"Fourth! This chakra! Could you...?!"

Steam escaped the Hokage's mouth. "Oh, yes I did."

-Omen of Power-

The Beast vanished without warning or trace. No lingering power. No remnants. Just devastation.

The Nine-Tail's disappeared?

From the center of the satellite, something remained. A beam of light shot into the sky, crumbling the satellite. The power emitted from that beam was hotter and much more welcoming than it was a few moments ago. It was more controlled.

What is going on? His doubt...his fury...is gone? What happened?

A shadowing figure slowly rose in the beam, billowing from the strong power. The beam of light ceased, and the figure stood tall in golden flame-like chakra form that was surrounded by a slightly dark aura. That form danced over his body, showing its incomplete nature.

Naruto felt power in every part of his body. He couldn't believe that something like this was possible. A chakra mode transformation? This was unprecedented.

There's so much I can feel. It's...unreal.

His senses were kicked into overdrive. He could feel the chakra signatures and life force of every entity in the entire city. From the bugs in the drains to the shinobi that came to rescue him, Naruto could feel them all.

...Sakura...

Naruto could feel her. Barely. She was still alive. Interwoven into her chakra network, there was a substance healing her wounds. And Naruto knew it well.

Kurama...when did you...?

With his senses being extremely enhanced, Naruto could feel strong chakra being transported into the bodies. Each piercing that was stabbed into the body received a signal. From all those signals, the bodies moved.

I knew it! They are being controlled!

Like I said, this is a glimpse of what you will have, Naruto.

His father's voice filled his ears, much like how Kurama would when he spoke.

Now, go take down that son of a bitch for killing Master Jiraiya.

"Yes sir!"

Speed, strength, reaction: all attributes were increased tenfold. Naruto Uzumaki was now fighting in a new weight class, a higher plain than what Pain could handle.

It was near instant, much like his father's other worldly speed. Naruto appeared before Kakashi and shoved back the three Pains with large chakra arms.

The jōnin sensei could not believe what he was looking out. This is what his student had become?

"N-Naruto?!"

The student turned back and smiled. "I got this, sensei. Go get the others and get outta here."

"W-What is this?!" Kakashi could hardly stand the intense heat the chakra form was emitting. "What happened to the Nine-Tails?!"

"I'll explain everything later. Right now, I gotta beat these guys. Just get everyone and leave. I'll catch up when I'm done here."

As the commander decided to not question a good thing, he took off for the remaining forces to order their retreat. Whatever Naruto had now was something that he believed could not be matched.

We don't have a lot of time to keep this form up. It would be best to end it as quickly as possible.

Naruto's movement speed surprised himself, he wasn't expecting to move that quick. It was near instant to Pain that the Animal Path was taken down by a blur of orange and then blown to hell by a Rasengan.

What kind of power is this?! Even the Rinnegan is...

The Asura Path fired multiple volleys of missiles, creating enormous fireballs that would have killed normal shinobi.

But Naruto was no longer an ordinary shinobi. Perhaps he never was. This new form was faster, stronger, and more intimidating than anything Nagato had ever seen. The Asura Path was the strongest out of the bodies in terms of durability and physical strength.

And Naruto destroyed it in a blur.

"Shinra Tensei!"

The Deva Path fired an extremely powerful repulsive attack, hoping to stun the jinchūriki enough to go in for the kill.

But Naruto outran the blast.

Leaping into the sky, Naruto formed another Rasengan. This time it was not the usual blue color but a purplish black, resembled that of a Bijūdama.

The Preta Path created the forcefield to absorb the attack. At first, it seemed to work. The orb shrunk in size, able to absorb some of the powerful chakra. But this was unlike any other Rasengan. This style of Rasengan was laced with remnants of positive and negative chakra, meaning that it held the same explosive power of a Bijūdama.

The orb exploded in a small, devastating explosion. The positive and negative particles that were absorbed also ignited. There was no way something like that could be absorbed.

The Preta Path was left in pieces.

All that remained was the Deva Path. The last standing man.

"It would seem you've controlled the Nine-Tails to the point of creating this...chakra form. I needed to confirm how powerful the Bijū truly was, yet I never would have imagined that Chibaki Tensei wouldn't have been able to keep you trapped. You've pushed Pain farther than anyone else before. You are...truly impressive, Naruto Uzumaki. " Tendō raised his hand, preparing for the final battle. "But it's time for you to give it all up."

"Take me to the puppet master. I've got something to say to the real him."

"Oh ho. You've figured out there's someone behind the strings. You Konoha shinobi are sharp."

"Take me to him now."

"Talking will fix nothing. Further conversation will change nothing. I will defeat you here and now, no more second chances. I will bring you to the brink of death and let you hang there until your extraction."

Worth a try, I guess. It doesn't matter. I'll find the puppet master.

And how do you plan on that? His father questioned.

I've got an idea, dad. Gotta beat this guy first.

Naruto dashed to Pain's back, going the swift strike to end it quickly.

"Shinra Tensei!"

Therepulsive attack forced Naruto back, but he was able to keep himself upright. The jinchūriki focused chakra into his palm, creating a Rasenshuriken seamlessly. Instinctively, there was a chakra arm that extended from his backside.

Shot from a cannon, the Rasenshuriken missed its target. Naruto thought it was odd that the Deva Path did not simply use that repulsive attack to deflect the chakra shuriken.

That is odd. Perhaps because these aren't the true user of the Rinnegan, there might be a delay of some kind. Maybe a cool down period.

It would behoove you to listen, boy. He's smarter than you.

Ignoring the jab, Naruto decided to test the theory. He summoned the almighty Rasenshuriken again launched it again. This time he remotely guided it to keep it on target.

But this time, the Deva Path used its ability and destroyed the chakra shuriken.

It's a small window. A few seconds. I'd say about five seconds.

Good enough for me.

His opponent's speed was on another level, Nagato could hardly keep up with the Rinnegan. He was going to have to rely on the Deva's Path ability to somehow come out of this.

An orange blur flashed, and Naruto had appeared behind him. It was going to be over in a single moment for one of them.

"Shinra Tensei!"

This was the ultimate attack for Pain, given to the body that meant the most to Nagato. He funneled more chakra into the repulsive force, hoping to force his opponent back. This was it. Pushed to the limit.

However, two large chakra arms exploded from Naruto's back and gripped the ground to hold him in place.

He's withstanding Shinra Tensei?! No!

Tendō channeled more chakra into the attack, trying to destroy the ground beneath him.

"Give up..."

The attack faltered, it did nothing to stop Naruto. The shinobi had withstood the strongest attack in Nagato's arsenal.

...No...

"...on trying to make me give up!"

Naruto dashed in a blur, invisible to the naked Rinnegan eye, with a final Rasengan, infused with lighting and wind. As the elemental orb drilled into Tendō's stomach, the final vision was filled with a glimpse of his master.

Naruto was the true successor of their master's will.

It had come full circle.

The combination of elements vaporized a large portion of Tendō's body, leaving gaping holes and missing limbs. The Deva Path had been defeated. The Six Paths of Pain had been defeated.

There was nothing left to stand in Naruto's way of the true mastermind behind Pain.

The chakra form flickered, losing its potency. Naruto could feel the chakra fleeting, the form was just about out of energy.

"Naruto...it seems we are out of time."

The son returned to face his father in the Bijū Plane. Even Minato's body was fading.

"...You really saved me today...dad."

The man smiled. "I'm happy that I was able to be here when you needed it. I hope it...helps with the pain I've caused you."

Naruto paused, considering his feelings and thoughts. "...I think it has. Knowing how much you and mom love me and everything you both went through that night...I'm glad that I was born as your son." That heartwarming smile finally returned. "So...thank you for being my dad."

Wiping his tears away, Minato felt great relief. He was beyond worried about how his son would feel about him for the things he did. He was thankful that Naruto accepted his mother's love and his own forgiveness. That's all the man could want.

"I'll be sure to tell your mother everything when I see her."

The image of his father slowly faded out of view. He was left alone with the beast that his father had bestowed upon him.

I believe in you, Naruto. I know you won't let me down.

"...No, I won't, dad."

-With Nagato-

"Tendō has been broken..."

Konan shuttered in fear. No man had ever defeated Pain outright.

"... Ningendō is still mobile. Perphaps..."

"There's no point." Nagato answered quickly. "Tendo was the strongest out of them all and was completely outclassed. Ningendō will not stand a chance, not even Master will..."

The man in the machine froze, jolts shot through the rods that were protruding from his back.

"Nagato?"

"The lout...he reversed tracked me using Sage mode. He knows where we are."

Shuttering again, this was the second time Konan felt true hopelessness. The Akatsuki had thrown every strategy, every technique they had at Naruto and the shinobi of Konoha. Nothing stopped them.

"He's coming for us."

This was the Akatsuki's final day.

-Bijū Plane-

Sakura was faced with the being that was responsible for the death of her mother. This was the object of anger and hatred for months. She dreamed of the vile things she wanted to do to this beast because of revenge.

Sakura had no idea what to do.

"I understand your surprise, but you have to..."

The shock was quickly forgotten, and Sakura's fury returned. She funneled all her strength into a single punch. Unfortunately, she fazed through the body of the Nine-Tails.

"Nice try."

"What the hell are you doing in here?!" Sakura shouted, realizing that she couldn't do anything else. It infuriated her more. "What is this place?!"

"Girl, you must listen to me. I am your only chance at survival. Right now, my chakra is the only thing keeping you alive. You'll succumb to your injuries and die. Is that what you want?"

"What I want is to rip your damn head off! You killed my mom, and so many others! I'll never forgive you for that!" Sakura tried one more time to unleash hell on the demon, but she simply fell through the intangible body.

Kurama knew this would happen. "Girl, I understand your anger towards me. But, for now, you need to put it aside. If you do not accept my chakra then you will die."

"I don't want your chakra. I'd sooner die than accept anything from you." Sakura meant every word.

"But what of Naruto, hm? He's the reason we're here, is he not?"

Glaring hellishly, Sakura turned back to the demon. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You are in this situation because you chose to stand against the enemies to protect him. Admirable. I am here...to mend the wounds that I've caused him and you."

Sakura was no slouch. She realized what the beast was getting at. "You think saving me from death will somehow make up for your wrongdoings? My aunt died that night you attacked Konoha, and you directly killed my mom. Saving me will not bring them back."

"No. I am aware of that."

Sakura listened intently to the fox's tone; it held so much regret. It surprised her.

"For how important you truly are to him, I couldn't allow something like this to happen. This wasn't about saving you; this was to save him. I understand that you'll never truly forgive me, or him, for what happened to your mother. And if the day finally comes that you and I get to settle that score, that's when I will mend the fences. For now, I will what I can for him."

Sakura felt her beliefs be shaken. All her life, she was told that the Nine-Tailed Fox was the all-powerful embodiment of hatred. Death and destruction were the only things that came from this demon.

Seeing and hearing the beast before her, Sakura was having trouble putting the two together as the same entity. The beast knew regret and felt it normally, like a human. How could something so sinister and evil do something so selfless for someone? Even if that someone was Naruto.

With slight reluctance, Sakura outstretched her hand. She wasn't ready to leave Naruto, not by a long shot. "When you and I meet again, I'm taking you down."

Kurama chuckled. "I look forward to it."

The Bijū Plane faded, and Sakura was left in a dark, empty void again, floating in the emptiness.

But she was not there for long.

Light broke through the seemingly infinite darkness. Familiar sensations returned as her body was filled with oxygen. Her body was being reignited by the furious flames of the Nine-Tails chakra. It was surprisingly warm, not sinister.

"...kura..."

Is this real?

"Sakura...?"

Yes, it was.

The sunlight blinded her and hurt her eyes, like she was experiencing sunlight for the first time. But that harmful light was blocked by the man that had saved them all. Ironically, they had come to save him.

"Hey sleepy head."

"Naruto!"

Without a second thought, Sakura wrapped her arms around Naruto, ignoring the soreness from her healed wounds. She didn't how it worked or what happened. All that mattered was that Naruto was safe.

Naruto held her tight, unbelievably thankful that she survived. He thought he had lost her. Lost himself in anger and bloodlust. Having her back in his arms felt so alleviating. Two halves together to make a whole unity.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Sakura."

"How's your heart?"

"Fine." He didn't want to get into that right now.

"Naruto, you collapsed..."

"Sakura." Naruto pulled himself out of her arms. There was still a job to do. "We don't have much time. You need to go find Fu and the others and get the hell out of here. Kakashi sensei had already retreated with the main force."

"Why? What's going on?"

"A lot happened, Sakura. I'll explain later. You just need to go."

Usually, Sakura could read Naruto easily. Just by a glance, she could understand his thoughts and feelings and verbalize them in a way he could not. Looking at him now, Sakura had no idea what he was feeling. He seemed relieved and reassured while burdened by another great aliment.

"...Naruto..."

"Just trust me, Sakura. Find Fū, find others, and get out of the city." Naruto pulled his love to his feet. He was getting anxious. "I won't be far behind."

"Where are you going?"

"...I know where the Pain mastermind is." He said wearily. "I'm going there to end this."

"Pain mastermind?! So, Pain was being controlled?!"

"It's complicated, Sakura, even more than I probably realize. I'm going to talk to him."

"Talk to him?!" Sakura was unbelievably astonished. "How could you want to talk to him?! This guy attacked the village, killed so many of our comrades, and you want to talk?! I think we're beyond that point!"

Naruto understood Sakura's apprehension. He was even hesitant about this. "I just...need to understand something. And I know whoever that guy is...he has the answer."

Sakura had never seen Naruto so indecisive about something. He truly looked lost and needed an answer to a question. As much as Sakura refuted the idea, she knew there was no way she was going to deter him. His mind was made and could not overturn it.

"One hour. Then I'm coming to get you. We all risked our lives for you, we're not gonna let you be captured again."

Naruto chuckled. "Yes ma'am."

Sakura held his strong hand in her own, pulling him in for a quick hug and kiss. "Thank goodness you're safe, Baka."

For the moment, Naruto breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought I'd lost you."

The lovers remained for the moment, breathing in the scents of each other. For the moment, they were together. Their lives had survived yet another battle. And they survived for each other, because of each other.

Each other's safeguard. Forever intertwined.

-Secret Chamber-

It was not long after the defeat of the Deva Path that Nagato felt the presence of his opponent. He had to admit, reverse tracking his chakra signals with natural energy was a genius idea. Many had tried to learn Pain's secrets, Naruto and Konoha were the first to decode them.

It further confirmed that Jiraiya would have beaten all six Pains together if he had known.

With a loud bang, the reenforced doors blew off the hinges. Naruto stood at the entrance, finally seeing the true Pain.

"There you are...Pain."

"So, the peacemaker comes trotting in."