This is it. I'm happy with this chapter, with this end. I feel content, but also emotional because I've put six years into this. I started it when I was in high school, worked on it through and past both it and college. I learned so much while writing this story, I doubt I would be the same person I am now if I hadn't.

And now it's over. It's completed. I'm not sure if I'll return to this universe, play around with these characters, but I'm glad to have done so. I'm glad to have gone on this journey with each and every one of you.

Thank you.

Lucidity

Chapter 50

And So It Ends

The Shinigami finished its tale, and Naruto shivered. He never liked stories with sad endings, always preferring the ones where the hero wins and returns home to a village cheering him on. He'd always imagined a future where that would happen, where one day he would wake up and put on the Hokage's hat and step outside and people would smile at him. Where people would be happy to see him, and cheer for him, and...

But that was years ago. Before the banishment. Before Sasuke left. Before broken promises and broken hearts.

"So the Juubi," Yagura finally said, breaking the silence, "was your friend?"

"Yes." The Shinigami inclined its head. "He still is, in a way. Our business is yet unfinished. I could not bring myself to purify him of this poison, to rid the world of it for good. That is my sin."

"What do we have to do with it?" Yugito asked, rubbing at her arms.

"We're dead," Utakata bluntly said. "There's nothing we can do."

"I hold domain over life and death," the Shinigami said. "One dies when I say so. And for you nine, I have not spoken."

"So we're gonna be alive," Roshi said, "just in time for the world to end. Sounds like fun."

"The Juubi can be stopped," the Shinigami said, looking over them all. "I have the abilities required to purge the world of the poison infecting my friend. But there is a cost."

"You cannot appear in the living world." Yagura's eyes sharpened. "So you ask us to take on your power."

"Hold on," Roshi interjected. "What's the catch here? It's gotta be something bad, or you wouldn't say anything."

The Shinigami tilted its head, considering. Naruto felt a chill in his bones when it finally responded. "You would hold the powers of death, my powers. You would die. A hero in the eyes of the world, yes, but still die."

"And you can't do it?" Naruto squeaked, and hated how his voice squeaked. "There's no way for us to come back to life and you battle the Juubi?"

The Shinigami turned its attention to Naruto. It looked old, in that moment, and so impossibly human. "No. I hold no form in the living world. This power I am cursed with is too great to be held within that plane. There was once a ritual your family created to Summon me to the living world, but you have neither the time nor the means to complete it."

"Why?" Yagura asked. "And how? I have studied the Uzumaki clan scrolls extensively, and I saw nothing of this ritual."

"It is obscure, and lost to your time." The Shinigami glanced at Yagura. "It requires that one becomes my avatar to the living world, a tether connected the two of us. Your soul becomes connected to mine, and for a brief time my powers are yours, and your powers are mine."

Naruto blinked, realization settling in. "Would this person die?"

The Shinigami returned its attention to Naruto, a similar glint in its eyes. "Yes."

"And they would die a hero?" Naruto asked, lowering his arms to his side. "For stopping this war."

"They would become a legend in their own right," the Shinigami replied. "But in this instance I know not what the consequences of becoming my avatar would bring. To purge the Juubi would require soul suicide. His and mine."

"So we're damned if we do, and damned if we don't," Utakata said.

"Hold on," Roshi said, stepping forward. "You're not suggesting that we go through with this?"

"I'm not," Naruto assured the older man. "I'm saying that's it me."

"You?" Roshi barked a laugh, then paused when Naruto didn't smile. "Kid, you can't be serious? You'll die!"

"My role fulfills a need in the universe," the Shinigami stated. "To do this requires creating a power vacuum that cannot exist. Are you certain in your decision?"

It wasn't a question. Both Naruto and the Shinigami knew the answer. He nodded.

"You can't do this!" Roshi cried, taking Naruto by the shoulders. "You'd die! Is this really what you want?"

"No," Naruto said, his voice dull. "It's not what I want. But it's what the world needs."

Gaara and Fu stepped forward. Naruto offered his two closest friends a sad smile. Gaara stared Naruto down. "You are certain in this?"

"I only just realized," Naruto admitted. "Back in-in Konoha, Jiraiya, he... he took me to see the Toad Elder. It was weird, because he kept forgetting who I was, but then... he saw my future. Or dreamed it, it was really confusing. But! He looked into my future, and saw death covering the world. I told him that it must've been because I was touched by the Shinigami. And now, with it–him, I guess–talking about sharing the souls it just. Fell into place. I gave it that piece of my soul back then, and it returned Kurama to me. So... that's it. The connection's already set up. I am the avatar of the Shinigami."

"You could die," Fu said. She raised a hand, moving to touch him, but stopped herself, dropped her arm to her side.

"These might be our last words to each other," Naruto said, looking like he wanted to hold her close. He didn't know how a hug worked, like this. How could he hold someone close, knowing that his was going to his death? What should he say, what should he do? "So. Fu. There's no– I'm not– I... like you. A lot. Maybe a lot more than you think. Maybe this is... love? I... love you?" He froze, let out a breath. "I love you. A lot. Even if you never grow to love humanity, but... try. For my sake. People can change. We did. It won't be easy, I know, but... I know. I love you. I will always love you."

Fu nodded. She looked emotional, far too much for any of the teens to know how to handle. Naruto did the best he could, and turned to Gaara.

"You're my best friend. The best best friend I could ever ask for. I'm glad that happened." There wasn't anything else for them to talk about. There was nothing more for them to say.

"I'm glad to have been your friend, Naruto." Gaara– Naruto blinked, surprised at the raw emotion in his friend's voice. His face softened, and he gave in, pulling both teens into a hug. It was awkward, and they had to adjust far too much, but it brought tears to his eyes.

Utakata and Yugito came in, gently pulled them apart, and Roshi and Han faced Naruto.

"Kid," Roshi began, "I am not an old man. Not even close. But you made me feel old. It was awful. And I would never give up the last several years. I feel younger now than I ever did. Because of you. I learned to let loose, and embrace that responsible side that I used to think I hate. Now I hate it a little less. Because of you."

"Brother." Han put a hand on Roshi's shoulder. "Stop."

"Right." Roshi nodded. "You helped a lot. Han wouldn't have tried to get back together with our family without this big, weird... whatever the hell we are that you created. None of this could have happened without you."

"That's true." Han nodded. "You changed our lives. We're alive because of you."

"Okay, that's enough," Utakata stepped in, pulling Naruto close. "But they're right. We're alive. And our lives are more awesome for that."

"So you and Yugito are gonna talk?" Roshi asked, giving Utakata a shove toward the others.

"I'm– That's– That is a delicate situation, okay, and I... will talk to her. About emotions. Maybe a relationship. For Naruto's sake."

"Don't stop being awesome," Naruto said. "For all our sakes."

"I won't." He glanced at the remaining ones. "You don't really know Yugito and Bee. Do you have any last words for them?"

Naruto looked over at where Yugito was comforting Fu–and had her hand pressed against Bee's face, keeping him from speaking. "Wish Yugito luck. It was fun to meet her, and I wish we'd gotten more time together. Especially with Bee. He seems like a really awesome guy.

"Yagura!" Naruto raised his voice. "You're an awesome teacher, and a great leader. I have learned so much about my family and myself because of you. Keep everyone safe and happy. Especially Fu and Gaara. They need someone there to help them with their emotions." His voice cracked. "Utakata, listen to Han in the kitchen. He knows more than you. And don't stop trying to make Roshi laugh. You'll succeed one of these days."

"All endings are new beginnings." The Shinigami laid a cold hand on Naruto's shoulder. "It is time."

"I guess this is goodbye." Naruto tried to smile, his eyes too wet to look clearly. "I'm so happy to have known you. All of you. You made my life so much better than I ever imagined. I try to imagine what my future is like and it just makes me so happy. I'm just so happy right now. So be happy, and live happy lives. Live the lives that we were supposed to."

Everything became cold, then warm. Everything went white.

Out of all the things that Kankuro expected from this war, Uchiha Madara was not one of them.

He'd read the intel, been given a briefing on what was known about the masked man's appearance and abilities, and what the ambush squad found was neither of those.

It was almost pure chance that they had come upon the Akatsuki's hideout. Kankuro had run under the idea that the enemy knew of his coming, but from the looks of it all, he had not been correct.

It was just his luck that his team find the masked man just in time to see him die at the hands of Uchiha Madara – the real Madara, although he had the pallor and look of an Edo Tensei. As it stood, he was toying with the ambush squad, batting away their attacks like a parent humoring a toddler trying to attack and defeat them.

Kankuro stepped back, keeping an eye on the rest of the area. There was a massive Seal across the clearing, every line glowing and feeding into the growing mass at the middle of it. There were eleven bodies scattered at ten points along the edge of the Seal. Two of them were together, surrounded by ash and even from so far away Kankuro could smell the stink of them.

The rest were the Jinchuuriki.

Ko had confirmed that they were all alive, barely, and had been horrified to mention that it looked like the Seal was extracting all the tailed beasts at once, feeding their chakra and selves into the mass at the center.

Kankuro had ordered his team to engage Madara, keeping a careful distance, while he and Kiri retrieved the Jinchuuriki. None of them had any clue what the Jinchuuriki were doing there, but it was imperative that the Seal be stopped. Whatever Madara's plans were, it involved the successful extraction of the tailed beasts.

Kankuro sent out chakra threads, wisps so thin to be invisible, and latched onto the nearest Jinchuuriki. Swiftly, he yanked, pulling the Jinchuuriki – the girl from Kumo, Nii Yugito – toward him. The Seal pulsed, and Kiri confirmed that she was still alive, if barely, but it started their plan. Kankuro went by twos, each hand sending out chakra strings to latch onto a Jinchuuriki and pull them to safety. Each time the mass at the center shuddered, but the Seal remained active. Soon, Kankuro and Kiri had circled the Seal, having gotten all but one of the Jinchuuriki. The only one left was Uzumaki Naruto, and his body was beside Madara.

Who was looking right at Kankuro.

"You're an annoyance at best," Madara said, and Kankuro kept his gaze on the enemy. None of his team were engaging the zombie, which meant they were either incapacitated, or dead. "I've only indulged you so far purely because it's too late for you to stop this. The Juubi is already reforming, and soon the Seal will redirect its power down into the cage, shattering it and awakening the demon within."

Behind Kankuro, Gaara groaned. Madara tilted his head, considering. Kankuro gestured for Kiri to see to Gaara, not taking his eyes off of the enemy. Madara was a legend, a death bringer for all who opposed him. Kankuro couldn't afford to divert his attention, not here, not now.

"He's alive!" Kiri exclaimed, shocked. Matching groans from the other Jinchuuriki started up, and Kankuro saw Madara's attention shift behind him. "They're all– the Jinchuuriki, all of them are–"

"Still alive?" Madara hummed, raising an eyebrow. "Now that is fascinating. How long do they have before they succumb to the extraction, I wonder? Usually it's the Uzumaki that's– urk!"

Kankuro jerked as Madara fell to his knees. His gray body started to flake, pieces of ash falling away. Behind him, Uzumaki Naruto stood, looking like a specter of death.

"How?!" Madara looked behind him, at the purple spreading across his skin. He seemed to be glowing– no, Kankuro realized with dread. He was glowing. And smoking, or both and the same.

A hand settled on Kankuro's shoulder, and he turned to see Yagura looking at Naruto. The other Jinchuuriki were also awake, and all of them were looking at Naruto, silent. One by one, each of them nodded. Naruto, in return, nodded.

"Let's go." Kankuro could only nod. Whatever was happening, the remaining Jinchuuriki were leaving it to Naruto.

Kankuro swallowed. He gestured for his squad – all of them alive, thank the gods – to each take a Jinchuuriki and retreat to HQ. Their job was to save the Jinchuuriki, or at least distract Madara. With both jobs done, it was time to bring the targets back. Glancing back, Kankuro blinked again sure he saw– but no, that couldn't be it.

How could Naruto even vanish between blinks, like a ghost?

Naruto felt powerful, more than he had in all his life. It almost terrified him, how he could look at someone like the dead soul before him and feel little more than mild interest.

"Whoa." Naruto looked at Madara as his body fell apart, his spirit ascending onto the next plane. Feeling out, Naruto latched his attention on the other threads of spirits, of Edo Tensei, and forcibly sent them on. His skin grew darker, tougher, and he could feel horns start to grow out of his head. "This is strange."

"For a time, you and I are one." The Shinigami's voice came from everywhere and nowhere. "You have access and use of all that I have, all that I am. Do not linger too long, else this power will burn through you and I both."

"But I'm still going to die."

"Two beings cannot occupy the same space, cannot share this power. One must die for the other to continue." Naruto's attention turned away from the fleeing Ambush Squad, away from his friends and family, and to his real target. The Juubi's form began to solidify, condensing into a monstrous form. One eye opened, red and glaring, and focused in on Naruto. "The one in control is the one who dies. Give in to me, completely."

"What will that do?" The Juubi raised a foreleg.

"You are young. It is ill-advised that you die for my sins. Rather, I would ask that you take my place, my role." The Shinigami sounded old, and weary. "It is only fitting that I accomplish now what I could not millennia ago. Back then, I could not bring myself to kill my friend. Now, I will sacrifice myself to bring an end to his suffering."

Naruto nodded, giving control. It felt odd, letting go of control. It wasn't like when he was training with Kurama, where he lost awareness of the world – where he was left in his mindscape. Here, there was no mindscape, there was just a separation of existence. He was, but he wasn't. It was his body, but it also wasn't.

He was Naruto, but he was also the Shinigami.

And he was going to fight.

"Report."

"Eight of the nine Jinchuuriki were saved. The ninth, Uzumaki Naruto, was left behind at the site. The Ambush Squad met with the forward unit, and returned for Naruto. However, there was no physical evidence of him having ever been there. Nor of the creature the Jinchuuriki are claiming was the Juubi. Chakra evidence left at the site has confirmed the Ambush Squad's report of Edo Tensei on the true Uchiha Madara, the Juubi, and that Uzumaki Naruto was, in fact, there. We have our best people studying the site and surrounding areas for a trail to follow, but hopes are slim."

Mabui finished the report, and Jiraiya frowned. The victory was what they'd hoped for, but it felt far too hollow. The Edo Tensei had been removed from the battlefield, the White Zetsu were all destroyed, and the Jinchuuriki were brought back alive – even though they couldn't be counted as such anymore. Miracle of miracles, the Jinchuuriki survived extraction. They were alive, without the added benefit that came from having a tailed beast.

And that was something as well. The tailed beasts were destroyed. They weren't just the first former Jinchuuriki, they apparently were the last Jinchuuriki.

"What now?" Jiraiya looked out at the Kage. "Is this alliance of ours over?"

"The war is over." Ay stood, moving to leave the room. "Spread the word. Gather the dead, pay our respects for the fallen, let the injured heal. We're alive, and I don't know about you, but war is exhausting. This alliance shall stand. Do you agree?"

"Peace is good." Tsunade nodded. "I'm good with the alliance standing."

"War is exhausting." Kitsuchi agreed. "Let this one be the last."

"You young'uns are too idealistic," Chiyo commented. "But let this war be our last. The Mizukage would agree, I believe, were she here as well. Kiri has just come out of its own civil war."

"The Daimyo will be informed of this decision, but I do believe that we've just achieved world peace. Congratulations," Jiraiya dryly commented. "Our forefathers would be proud."

"Your forefathers," Ay grumbled without bite.

"An appreciable sentiment nonetheless," Kitsuchi added. "This war, the Fourth Great Shinobi World War, is over."

Peace.

He didn't know that it would feel so calm, that he would feel so calm. Calm, and light, the two parts of peace.

The world was white, was blank, was empty.

The Sage was gone, dead with the Juubi. Kurama, Shukaku, Isobu, all the tailed beasts were gone with them. He was alone, but not lonely.

He was kept busy, people calling out for him for safety, for passage. He gave it to them, offered them their own peace with a smile, a nod, and a promise.

"It's you."

He nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Not with this person.

"Did you greet the others?"

Again, he nodded.

"Will you come with me?"

"Not yet." He had time left, until the last of them was done.

"You're waiting until the last of us have passed?"

He nodded.

"And the others, they're waiting as well?"

"Until the very end."

Yagura offered Naruto a smile, and reached out. "I'm not sure if you want a hug, but if it makes you feel better..."

Naruto grinned, big a wide. He pulled Yagura in close. "One thing you learn is how to give a good hug to somebody. I'll see you in a while, me and Gaara."

"Not Fu?"

"She's not the last." Naruto's grin faded, a little. "I'm still looking forward to meeting with her. Hearing about her life."

"Do you want to hear about my life?" Yagura offered, and Naruto nodded. He knew the cause of death, knew when someone was killed before their time, but not the life they had lived. "Well, it all started when I boarded a ship..."