Hey there everyone it's me Takeshi1225, the man with so many thoughts in his head it hurts his skull every day, coming at you with another story. This story is based on the story that made me want to join up and write some stories in the first place, course it took some months to sign up it was really hard to do so since I was still sixteen and didn't know much, but I finally did it and well you got Naruto Uzumaki: Successor of the Sage of the Six Paths, my first fanfiction story and now I'm giving you this, based on the story The Akatsuki originally written by Swagosaurus, now owned by Arch-Daishou, which I recommend you read, it's not finish though, but it's still good, I present Akatsuki no Naruto
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter 1: The Mission of Fate
Team 7 was walking along a road headed to a mountain where citizens of a nearby village were trapped in and needed assistance, this was considered a C-rank mission and Team 7 was the lucky squadron that was chosen for this mission
The team was doing their usual thing Sasuke was brooding, Sakura kept on cooing around him and acting all fangirlish, Kakashi was reading his perverted book and Naruto was grinning like an idiot, but unlike the usual routine Naruto and Sasuke were sneaking intense glares at each other, ever since the fight on the roof things between them haven't been the same and that was starting to worry both Sakura and Kakashi
"There it is" Kakashi pointed out as ahead they all saw a grand high mountain far ahead
"Alright let's do this so we can get back home and get some celebratory ramen" exclaimed Naruto sprinting towards the mountain making the rest of the team have sweatdrop expressions
Once getting to the mountain they started climbing the mountain and entered a cave where they found some pieces of clothing
"This must be where the missing villagers have to be" Kakashi deduced
"Then let's go" Naruto ran deeper into the cave "Hello! Villagers where are you?!"
"Naruto you baka get back here!" Sakura yelled at her idiot teammate
"Forget it Sakura, he can't hear you" Sasuke told her
Kakashi sighed at Naruto's antics 'He's just like you Obito'
Deep in the cave Naruto made it to a giant cavern with blue crystals everywhere that shined bright lighting up the place "Whoa"
"NARUTO!"
Naruto turned around to see Sakura sprinted towards him with a pissed off expression that made him be scared shitless
"YOU BAKA!" she punched him in the face sending him down deeper into the cavern
Kakashi and Sasuke made it to see Naruto fall into the cavern and then having his head smashed onto the tip of a giant crystal and then fall to the ground with his body looking lifeless
Sakura screamed in fear in what she had done
"Congratulations Sakura, you finally killed Naruto" said Sasuke emotionless
"I didn't mean to kill him" she then fell to her knees and prayed "Oh Kami please forgive me, I never wanted to kill Naruto, sure he's annoying, but I didn't want to kill him, Please Forgive Me!"
Down in the cavern Naruto groggily got up and rubbed his head to ease the pain, as he tried to ease his pain he kept hearing a familiar dark chuckle
"I said it before and I'll say it again, that little air head is going to be the death of you" said the Kyuubi chuckling darkly
"Shut up you damn fox" Naruto said as he looked around to notice some blood on the crystal "Is that mine?" he asked checking his head for any gashes, wounds or signs of blood
"No, your head is too hard for something like those crystals to put a dent in it"
Naruto ignored the demon king's insult and started exploring around the cavern to notice there were traces of blood on the walls and crystals and it led deeper into the cave "Hey guys!" Naruto yelled "Guys?!"
"Naruto?" Sakura called out
"Hey guys there blood everywhere down here" he told them while feeling the top of his head "And I double checked it's not mine"
The rest of Team 7 jumped down and saw Naruto looking around the place
"Naruto!" Sakura exclaimed with tears of joy running up to him
Naruto turned towards his team just in time to be glopped into a hug from Sakura
"Thank Kami you're still alive" she said with joy that she wasn't a murderer, but she then realized what she was doing "You Baka!" she punched him upside the head
"Sakura please refrain from punching Naruto anymore, we don't want him to lose anymore brain cells" said Kakashi
"I'll try my best Kakashi-sensei" she told her sensei with a peace sign and her tongue sticking out
As Naruto got up he noticed something at the corner of his eyes and being curious he walked towards it and grabbed it from a crystal
"What do you have there?" Sasuke asked
"Check it out" Naruto showed him and Sakura what he had found
"It looks like" but before Sakura could finish her sentence the three of them fell through a hole from the floor that just collapsed right under them
Kakashi hurriedly ran to the hole, but suddenly a giant rock fell from the ceiling landed on top of the hole
'No way that's a coincidence' Kakashi thought "Show yourself" he ordered
Then out of the shadows came a bunch of shinobi
"Sound-nin"
"Kakashi of the Sharingan" said one of the sound-nin
"Killing you will make us legends" said another who had the itch to kill
Kakashi didn't respond to their words, instead he just sent killer intent their way making them sweat a bit and then he grabbed his headband and revealed his sharingan
With Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura
Naruto groaned as he got back up, but then he was hit upside the head again
"Baka! You shouldn't have picked up that stupid thing" Sakura berated Naruto
"Naruto do you still have it?" asked Sasuke
"Yeah sure I got right" Naruto then noticed he didn't have what he found "Oh Damn It I Lost It!"
"Good going baka" Sakura mumbled
Sasuke didn't need to see the thing again anyway because he knew what it was 'A sound-nin headband, what the hell are they doing here?'
As Naruto was taking a lecture from Sakura he then heard a noise coming deeper into the tunnel they were in "Do you hear that?" Naruto asked
"Hear what?" asked Sasuke not hearing anything except for Sakura's voice
"There it is again"
"Naruto it's nothing but your stupid imagination, now stop acting like a baka" Sakura berated him, but she then went quiet when she saw Naruto get up with a serious look on his face
Naruto concentrated hard on the small noise, it was far off and very hard to hear, but Naruto managed to make it out
It was a cry for help
"Somebody's Down There!" Naruto yelled and ran deeper into the tunnel ignoring Sakura calling out his name
As he kept running the cry for help was clearly heard now and Naruto just kept sprinting down faster until he made it to another large cavern to find a young naked girl with long silky orange hair that had bangs that covered her forehead, probably a year older than Naruto, who was crying, had scratches all over her body and was tied up with chains
"Please… help me" she meekly whispered
Seeing this made Naruto's blood boil 'WHAT KIND OF SICK BASTARD WOULD DO THIS!' the anger he felt was giving fuel to the Kyuubi's chakra pumping it through Naruto's body, using the new strength he just acquire he grabbed the chains that constricted the young helpless girl and ripped them off with little effort
The girl was in fear of what this newcomer might do to her that she covered her breasts and crossed her legs "Please… no more torture… please don't deflower me" she pleaded with fear and tears pouring down her eyes
Naruto had mixed emotions of sadness and pity for the young girl and anger for the sick bastards who harmed this young girl, but being pissed would have to wait, Naruto unzipped his jacket which made the girl flinched, no doubt she thought she was finally going to get raped, but instead she felt a jacket put around her making her look up to see a blonde spikey haired boy with six whisker marks, three on each cheek, but his eyes were the most amazing and captivating part of his features that she couldn't take her eyes off of
"Who are you?" she asked for the name of her hero
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki and I'm going to become the next Hokage" he answered her question with confidence
"Hokage? You're a leaf-nin?" she asked him with hope
"Yeah, me and my team came to help save you and the rest of the villagers"
"The rest…" the girl then started to cry again and just grabbed Naruto and dug her head "There are no other villagers… I'm the only one left" she continued to cry into Naruto's chest remembering all of her fellow villagers that have been killed by the monsters who captured them
Naruto just held the girl feeling sad and angry that they hadn't made it in time to save the others
"I'm so scared" she cried into his chest "I've never been this scared before in my life"
Naruto couldn't stand seeing this girl cry, he then pulled her away and grabbed her chin so she could look straight into his alluring eyes "Listen miss…"
"Akiko" she told Naruto her name
"Akiko, I promise that I will get you out of here and back home with your family, even if it means I have to sacrifice my life" Naruto promised her
"Really?" she asked with hope in her eyes
"Of course, I never go back on my word, because that's my nindo, believe it" he told her with pure confidence
Akiko stared at Naruto with so much admiration that she started crying tears of joy and hugged him even tighter "Arigatou"
Naruto smiled and let her cry on his chest and rubbing the back of her head giving her comfort
It was a nice moment, but sadly it was ended when someone behind Naruto cleared their throat
Naruto looked behind himself to see Sakura glaring at him and Sasuke with an emotionless look
"Naruto… what exactly are you doing?" Sakura asked him with malice in her voice
Akiko looked behind Naruto to see a pink haired girl in a red battle dress and what she made out as an emo with a hair style that looks like the ass of a duck
"W-w-who are they?" Akiko asked Naruto scared of these two new arrivals
"Don't worry they're my teammates, they're going to help me get you out of here, ok?" Akiko smiled at Naruto with trust in her eyes "Sakura do you have an extra pair of shorts for Akiko?"
"What makes you think I got an extra pair?"
"Women are always prepared, or at least that's what Ero-sennin tells me" Akiko flinched a bit "Don't worry Akiko he's not here and besides he's not one of those sick bastards who would defile a woman, he's an honorable shinobi like me" that got Akiko to calm down and crack a smile
Naruto was then pushed to the side by Sakura so she'd be in front of Akiko "The two of you go behind one of those rocks so I can help her and if you two dare take a peek I am going to slam your heads straight into the ground making you two look like a pair of ostriches" she threatened them
Not taking the chance Naruto ran behind one of the huge rocks and just stood there just staring straight ahead and not daring to look behind it
"That means you too Sasuke-kun, just because I really like you doesn't mean I won't use any force against you" she gave him a peace sign and stuck out her tongue
Sasuke just went "hn" and walked to the giant rock
Elsewhere in the giant mountain
A small battalion of 50 sound-nins were running down a tunnel
"Time to kill those brats" said one of the sound-nin
"Calm down ya moron, remember we're supposed to capture the Uchiha alive" another said to the blood lust sound-nin
"Got it, got it, but can we still rape pinky and the chained up bitch?"
"What do you think?" said the sound-nin rhetorically
"Alright!"
As the battalion was close to reaching the cavern they all stopped to notice someone was in their way
It was a man that stood tall and unmoving. He wore a long black cloak that reached to his ankles which had red clouds on it, he had black spikey hair and that was all you could see in his facial area because he wore an orange mask that was in the design of a swirl with a hole on the right side of it.
"Hey asshole, get out of the way" demanded the blood lust sound-nin "We're in the mood to kill and rape and you're standing in the way, so beat it!"
The man just stood their staring at them freaking them out a bit
"You pieces of trash love to murder and rape innocence… I shouldn't have expected anything less from the subordinates of Orochimaru, he really is an atrocious leader to his own village" the man stated
"What'd You Say About Orochimaru-sama?!" yelled an enraged sound-nin
"I said he is a pitiful excuse for a leader, only caring for himself and not teaching those the way of peace like a true leader, all he is good for is to let disgusting rats like you to run around this world considering it yours, thinking you can do anything you wish with no regrets or negative consequences, how disgraceful" he then started to leak out killer intent from his body that the sound-nin were falling to the ground or on their knees having a hard time breathing "You are worse than trash, every single one of you, that includes Orochimaru, this world and it's people would be better off without any of you and I shall be the one to dispose of this litter" his eye then glowed red "Permanently"
Back with Kakashi
After finishing off the group of twelve sound Kakashi placed his forehead protector back over his left eye "That takes care of that, now to find those three" suddenly Kakashi felt an enormous amount of KI straight down deeper into the cavern 'That much killer intent… I have to find them' Kakashi then dashed deeper into the cavern
Outside, far from the mountain
Far from the mountain stood four sound-nin, three were in the standard clothing with their masks on and one in bulky armor and a mask covering his face
One of the sound-nins were meditating concentrating on the shinobi in the mountain by sensing their chakra signatures thanks to a paper seal on his back that helps him be connected to their chakra signatures. The sound-nin then gasped as he sensed the battalion's chakra signatures start to deplete.
"What's wrong Takeru?" asked the sound-nin with bulky armor
"It's the battalion general Dai, they're chakra signatures are dropping"
"I guess Hatake was too much for them" said another sound-nin putting in his two cents
"It's not Hatake, it's someone else… someone stronger" Takeru told them "And their chakra signature, it feels similar to the Uchiha"
The other sound-nins eyes widened except for Dai who just grunted in reply "I had a feeling something like this would have happened" Dai then put up his index and middle fingers and yelled "KAI"
Suddenly a huge variation of explosions went off from inside the mountain
"WHAT THE HELL?!" screamed the three other sound-nin
"I placed thousands of explosive tags inside just in case something like this would happen" Dai told them
"You're going to cave them in?!" one of the sound-nin asked
"No Ishi, I'm doing much more than that" the three other sound-nin raised their eye brows in confusion "You see that stone structure isn't really a mountain… it's a volcano"
With Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura and Akiko
Naruto and Sasuke were still waiting for Sakura to help clothe Akiko
"Sasuke" Naruto started "Why do you hate me?"
Sasuke just remained silent
"I just don't understand, I don't hate you, so why do you still hate me, I thought we were passed this?"
Sasuke just still remained silent
"If you're not going to talk then at least listen to me"
Sasuke just still remained quiet
"Sasuke, I know we fight all the time, but you mean a lot to me… you're my friend, in fact you're my best friend"
Sasuke still remained quiet
"All my life I've been chasing after you, at first it was to pass you, but now… I just want to walk by you and I know the same goes for Sakura" Naruto looked down to the ground "Sasuke, I see you as a rival, as a comrade, as my best friend, but most of all… I see you as the brother I've always wanted"
Sasuke stood silent for a moment before asking "Why are you telling me this?"
"…I know this'll sound strange, but… I don't think I'm going to come back from this mission" Sasuke's eyes widened at these words "I don't know how, but I got this feeling in my gut that I won't be coming back alive"
"Shut up" Sasuke said, he then turned to him "Naruto"
"Okay you guys can come back" yelled Sakura
Naruto then jogged back to them to see that Sakura gave Akiko her entire pair of extra clothing from her sandals to her battle dress, she wore the exact same clothing as Sakura, except she still had Naruto's jacket on "Hey I see you're fully clothed Akiko-chan"
Akiko blushed at the added suffix to her name and nodded "Thank you for giving me your jacket, you may have it back now if you wish" she said as she reluctantly started to take it off, but she felt Naruto grip the jacket and put it around her again
"You can keep it, I got more at home" he assured her "Besides I can tell you like it so I don't mind one bit as long as you feel safe with it"
Akiko blushed as she stared once again into his captivating eyes with affection and admiration 'Naruto…-kun'
Sakura felt the heat rise in her cheeks as she glared at the two
"Well, well, welly, well, well" said Inner Sakura "Look who's jealous"
'ME?! JEALOUS OF NARUTO AND THIS GIRL?! YEAH RIGHT!'
"Go ahead and act that way, but I'm your inner, I know what you really feel" said Inner Sakura sounding all smug
'Shut Up!' Sakura cut off her connection with her inner "Anyway we should really get going guys"
"You're right Sakura-chan" Naruto agreed with his crush
The four then started to head out until they felt the earth shake
"What The Hell is Going On?!" exclaimed Sakura
Then suddenly a plume of lava shot out from the ground behind them
"LAVA!" yelled both Naruto and Sakura
"Come On We Have To Get Out Of Here!" Sasuke ordered as the four young teen ran for the tunnel, but they were suddenly blocked off as more plumes of lava erupted blocking the tunnel, the cavern was then being filled with lava
As team 7 and Akiko backed away they noticed they were surrounded by molten magma
"What Do We Do Now?!" Sakura cried "Hold Me Sasuke-kun!" Sakura jumped to Sasuke with her arms opened wide, but was met with the ground as Sasuke moved out of her way
'No way am I going to die with her constricting me'
"Naruto-kun I'm Scared!" Akiko cried grabbing his arm and squeezing the life out of it
Naruto looked around to find a way out and on the upper right he found another entrance of a tunnel. Releasing Akiko from his arm he ran to his right and created a kage bushin that locked it's fingers together and gave the original Naruto a boost, and as he was in the air he created another kage bushin that grabbed his arm and threw him up even higher. As he was high enough Naruto made his signature hand sign and yelled Taju Kage Bushin no Jutsu then a whole bunch of Naruto clones appeared and grabbed each other's legs, as the bottom clone landed in the middle of the ground he swung all the clones towards the tunnel entrance letting the original Naruto grab the ledge "Guys climb on, Sasuke help Akiko up here"
Sasuke nodded and bent his back towards Akiko "Hop on" reluctant at first Akiko climbed onto Sasuke's back "Now hold on" Sasuke then jumped on the Naruto clones backs and started running up them with Sakura behind them
Once they finally got up Naruto dispelled all the clones and tried to climb up but the ledge he was holding onto then broke, but fortunately for him Sasuke grabbed his hand and pulled him up "Thanks Sasuke"
"Let's just hurry up" he said and earned a nod from everyone before they ran into the tunnel
As they ran deeper into the tunnel they stopped dead in their tracks when they found fresh corpses of sound-nin in the tunnel
"W-w-what h-happened here?" Sakura stuttered out of fear
"I don't know, but I think it's best we don't find out" said Sasuke running deeper into the tunnel with Naruto and Sakura behind him and Akiko
As they all made it at the end of the tunnel they made it to another cavern
"Alright let's go!" Naruto exclaimed about to run, but a plume of lava came out of the ground
"Naruto You Got To Be More Careful!" Sakura yelled
"GUYS!" Team 7 and Akiko looked forward to see Kakashi on a ledge on the other side of the cavern
"KAKASHI-SENSEI!"
"Guys the Place Is Collapsing and Erupting You Guys Have To Get To Me!"
The three nodded as they started running trying to get to the other side while dodging as many plumes of lava, fire and steam as they could, everyone was following Sasuke since he had his sharingan activated so he could lead them to safety without getting harmed by any of the plumes "To the right" said Sasuke
"To what?" asked Naruto
Suddenly a plume of intense flames shot out from the ground and burnt the left side of Naruto's body "AHHHHHHHHHH" Naruto's screams echoed through the entire cavern that it made Team 7 and Akiko turn to him
"NARUTO!" they cried his name
Naruto tried to get up with all his will power and as he looked up he saw a gigantic boulder falling from the ceiling and it was about to crush Sasuke, Sakura and Akiko "NO!"
Sasuke, Sakura and Akiko looked up to see the boulder was about to crush them, but suddenly they were pushed away before the boulder landed hard on the ground
"NO!" Kakashi screamed
Sasuke, Sakura and Akiko looked up to see the boulder was on top of the left side of Naruto's body
"Kami no"
"NARUTO!" Sakura screamed her teammate's name at the top of her lungs
Sasuke, Sakura and Akiko ran to Naruto's side, Sakura and Akiko went beside Naruto while Sasuke was trying to push the boulder off
'Damn It Why Couldn't I Have Learned That Damn Kage Bushin Technique!'
Kakashi ran beside Sasuke and tried to help him get the boulder off, but it didn't even budge and inch
"Dammit!" Kakashi cursed punching the boulder
"G-guys" Naruto managed to choke out sounding weak and tired
"Naruto" Sakura said his name with tears in her eyes
"Hang in their dobe, we're going to get you out of here" Sasuke told his friend trying to not only convince Naruto, but also himself
Kakashi then went through some hand signs and then suddenly his hand burst with lightning "Get back" Kakashi then tried plunging his Chidori into the boulder hoping to break it apart, but sadly the Chidori only was indented into the boulder it didn't destroy it, Kakashi was filled with so much anger and despair that he ripped his Chidori out of the boulder then plunged it in again and again repeating the process
"S-sens-sei p-p-please… just stop… d-don't w-waste your ch-chakra on me" Naruto managed to choke out
Kakashi deactivated his Chidori but he still kept punching the boulder "Naruto… I am so sorry" Kakashi then started to cry "I failed Obito, I failed your father… and now I failed you"
"D-d-don't w-worry about it, y-you were a g-good sensei, s-sure you d-didn't teach me much, but you didn't turn your back on me either… and that makes you a great sensei in my book" Naruto's words made Kakashi cry even more "Akiko-chan… I'm sorry, but I don't think I can keep my promise to y-you"
Akiko cried and grabbed Naruto's hand "It doesn't matter Naruto-kun… you saved my life… and I could never thank you enough for that" she held his hand even tighter and letting her tears fall on the floor
"Sasuke" Sasuke looked at Naruto "Those things I said a while ago… it was all true… even if we aren't related by blood, I will always consider you my brother" he finished with his trademark grin
Sasuke then started to cry, all he had been doing was treating Naruto like crap and yet all this time Naruto considered Sasuke as if he was his own brother, someone who was very precious to him and now Sasuke was going to lose the only person he could ever consider a friend
"Come on… d-don't be s-such a crybaby" Naruto said with a grin
"Damn it dobe" Sasuke choked out wiping his tears with his arm warmer
"And Sakura" Sakura looked at Naruto with tears still pouring out of her eyes "I j-just w-wanted you to know… that I really did mean it w-when I said that I-I wanted to kiss your forehead"
Sakura's eyes widened with shock as she learned the truth, she then started to cry uncontrollably and then she buried her head into Naruto's chest "Naruto, please don't die" she cried in his chest "You can't die you baka"
The place then started to fall apart with rocks and stalactites and plumes of fire, lava and steam was erupting and pooling everywhere
"We have to go" said Kakashi
"NO!" Sakura yelled "We Have To Save Naruto!"
"Sakura there's nothing we can do" Sasuke told her
"SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!" she yelled at him making him go wide eyed "I'M NOT LEAVING WITHOUT HIM!"
"Sakura if you stay here then you'll die too"
"THEN LET ME DIE!" everyone's eyes widened except for Naruto's at what she screamed "I'm not going to leave his side anymore… not again"
"Sakura" Sakura looked at Naruto "I love you" her eyes widened "that's why I don't want you to stay here with me… I want you to live your life, please… just go"
Sakura's eyes were crying uncontrollably "I'm sorry Naruto… but I can't live my life… not without you"
"… I understand… Kakashi-sensei"
Kakashi nodded and grabbed Sakura and lifted her up and started taking her away
"NO STOP, LET ME GO, HE NEEDS ME, STOP IT, STOP! NARUTO!"
Sasuke bent down letting Akiko climb on his back and was about to leave when he heard Naruto's voice again
"Sasuke… protect Sakura-chan"
Sasuke turned back and nodded to his best friend one last time before running out of the cavern
Naruto just laid there remembering he had to do one last thing before he entered his eternal slumber 'Kyuubi'
"So you decided to waste your last moments talking to me, I'm honored" the Biju King said sarcastically
'Listen… I don't got that much time so please let me speak' Not seeing the harm in letting his host say a few words he agreed to it 'I'm sorry' Kyuubi raised one of it's eye brows in confusion 'All my life I had always been treated horribly… I've been ignored, insulted and was targeted as the reason for everyone's loss and misery, and it took me this long to realize that I've been doing the same thing to you' Kyuubi was listening to his vessel's word hearing what he was going for 'When we first met, I treated you as the villagers treated me and I remembered there was something familiar about your eyes… and now I realize that you had the same eyes that I had whenever a villager talked to me like that, filled with anger and sadness, but hiding it behind a mask, so in a way we're the same, sort of'
"Sorry to rush things, but get to the point the lava's coming to burn your skin off"
'What I'm trying to say is that if I had one regret it's that I didn't give you what I've always wanted in my entire life… a chance'
Kyuubi's eyes widened; a chance… was that what he really wanted?
'Since we have a little time left I want to do this right, so please listen' the Kyuubi listened carefully 'My name is Naruto Uzumaki and it was nice to meet you'
Kyuubi shut his eyes and said "Kurama"
'What?' Naruto asked
"My real name is Kurama, I guess someone deserved to know my real name before I kicked the bucket, and it was nice to have known you Naruto Uzumaki"
Naruto smiled, shed a tear and said "Thank you Kurama… do you… do you think that if we did this earlier, we would've went down a different path?"
"… Yes kit, I do" Kurama answered
"I bet there would have been so much more ramen down it" Kurama chuckled at Naruto's words "It was nice knowing you Kurama, thank you" Naruto then closed his eyes waiting for a no doubt painful death, but then he noticed that there was a shadow looming over him, as he opened his eyes he saw a man with spikey hair like his own except it was black, wearing a black cloak that had red clouds on it and he also wore an orange spiral mask on his face
"Don't be afraid young one, I am here to save you" the masked man told Naruto
"Are you my guardian angel?" Naruto asked weakly
"Yes… I am your guardian angel" he told him
Naruto then chuckled weakly 'Kurama… look, we're saved'
Kurama opened his eyes and looked through his container's eyes only to widen to see who had come to 'save' them 'No… NOT YOU!' Kurama panicked "NARUTO NO, DON'T TRUST HIM, HE'S NOT A GUARDIAN ANGEL, THAT'S MADARA UCHIHA, HE'S THE ONE WHO MADE ME ATTACK YOUR VILLAGE" sadly Naruto could barely respond as the darkness started to take over "NARUTO! NARUTO!"
With Team 7
The team had completed their mission by bringing the last survivor back to her village
It turns out Akiko was the daughter of the village chief, who was so happy he reward team 7 handsomely with cash for saving his daughter, but when he heard that the credit went to Naruto and what had happen he felt so saddened by it and to honor the young hero the village had built a statue of him, thanks to a photo of team 7 showing his face thanks to Kakashi, in honor of his valiant sacrifice.
Now Naruto had two monuments in his honor from two separate villages
Team 7 was now in the village in front of the Hokage Tower
"You two go home, I guarantee that what's going to happen up there when I break the bad news to Lady Hokage isn't going to be pleasant"
Sasuke with hollow eyes and Sakura with tearful ones just nodded and watched as their sensei walked into the tower
Sasuke turned to Sakura "Sakura listen… Naruto made me promise to protect you from now on, I think you deserved to know"
Sakura just nodded in response
Sasuke just looked at her with sad eyes, Naruto's death had hit her the hardest out of the team, his last words had completely changed her, but for better or for worse was the question, thinking she needed comfort he moved to hug her, but Sakura just pushed him away
"Sasuke don't… I know it was just for comfort, but I don't feel that way about you anymore" she told him
"Are we at least still friends?" Sasuke asked a little worried that she didn't see them as friends anymore
She turned to him with tears still in her eyes and a sad smile "Of course we are Sasuke"
Sasuke smiled in relief that she still considered him her friend and that she stopped using the –kun suffix in his name
"WHAT?!" yelled the voice of the Hokage Tsunade then suddenly a desk was thrown right through the wall and was falling down straight towards Sasuke and Sakura
By instinct Sasuke pushed Sakura and himself out of the way before it slammed down into the ground breaking apart
"Sasuke get off" Sakura pushed him off "I'm a kunoichi remember I could've dodge that on my own"
"I know that Sakura, but I promised Naruto that I would protect you and I intend to keep the promise I made to my brother" Sasuke said with seriousness in his voice
Sakura just smiled that Sasuke was determined to honor Naruto's last request, but that doesn't mean she's going to keep being useless "Then I'll live my life as he asked as well, I'm going to live like a true kunoichi" she then thrust her fist and shouted "Believe It!"
Sasuke smiled at his friend happy she's going to honor his brother's last wish for her 'Thank you Sakura'
Inside the Hokage Tower
Tsunade was a mess she on her knees as she just kept on crying "It's all my fault" she said "I should have never given your team that mission"
"Lady Hokage no one is to blame" Kakashi said trying to comfort her with his words, but then Tsunade slammed him into the wall gripping his collar
"SHUT UP IT IS MY FAULT, I DID THIS!"
"ENOUGH!" Kakashi raised his voice surprising her "Lady Tsunade I apologize for raising my voice, but Naruto died saving his comrades like a true shinobi and he wouldn't want you to feel self-hatred for yourself just because of a decision he chose to do that anyone else would have done, including you"
Tsunade just released Kakashi and fell to her knees again "Your right" she sobbed "Your absolutely right Kakashi… it's just… it's just…" Tsunade just continued to cry mourning for her favorite knucklehead
Kakashi turned to see Shizune on the office couch crying in her hands uncontrollably, he walked over to the couch, sat beside her and put his arm around her shoulder comforting her
"I m-m-miss him so much" she cried out
"We all do" Kakashi told her
Shizune then hugged Kakashi and cried into his chest which he allowed
"Hey what's going on?"
Kakashi looked at the hole in the office to find Jiraiya there "Jiraiya-sama"
Jiraiya saw Tsunade on the floor crying so he went to her and put his hand on her shoulder "Tsunade what's wrong?"
Tsunade looked at her friend and former teammate with tearful eyes and told him what had happened
"WHAT?!"
Naruto's funeral
Everyone from Jounin, Chunin, ANBU, genin and those who knew Naruto were at his funeral in respects, except for the villagers and clan members they were there because they were forced to
"We have come here to mourn the loss of a valiant shinobi who gave his life for his comrades and his village, Naruto Uzumaki. He had played an important part in all our lives as a friend, shinobi and hero, he although some may disagree, livened up the village with his happy attitude and pranks" a few of the shinobi and villagers chuckled at this; annoying as he was Naruto somehow made life fun for everyone in the village
"Given the circumstance I believe it is best to explain something to all of you. 13 years ago on the night of October 10th, the Kyuubi had attacked our village. It had been said that the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze sacrificed his life to kill it, but what you of the younger generation have been taught by your parents and instructors at the academy, this is not the truth. You cannot kill a biju, so the Fourth had to seal the Kyuubi in an infant child, his own son." the Hokage said making the older generation go wide eyed
"Naruto Uzumaki, or as he was born Naruto Namikaze was the container or jinchuriki of the Kyuubi. He was a sacrifice to keep the Kyuubi from destroying everything we hold dear. I ask you to remember this as we grieve Naruto's passing." Everyone was stunned, the genin and Naruto's friends were stunned by what a terrible burden Naruto had to deal with his entire life and most of them just helped add on more pain for him to endure, but everyone was shocked most of all about the fact that Naruto was the son of the village's hero, the Fourth Hokage.
Sakura had cried more because she was one of the ones who had given Naruto such a hard time and all he ever did was love her and treat her like a princess.
"And there is something else I feel I have to tell" Tsunade started again gaining everyone's attention "For those who are older or the same age as myself I bet you all know that back during the time of the second great shinobi war that thanks to my old friend Jiraiya I was pregnant with a child"
Those who didn't know this were shocked
"And as you all know someone had put an assassination attempt on my child, that person who had assigned it was my former teammate turned missing-nin Orochimaru"
The shinobi and elder civilian's blood began to boil from hearing the traitors name and what he had done
"All of you had believed that my child was killed, but recently I had learned in the files of my old sensei Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, that my child had somehow survived and was found by a woman who worked in an old orphanage"
Everyone was surprised that the Senju heir had survived
"He grew up to be a great man, shinobi and hero, my son was originally named Nawaki Senju in honor of my younger brother, but you all knew him as Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze"
Everyone was once again utterly shocked, their hero the Fourth Hokage was the son of two of the three legendary Sannin and the heir to the Senju clan, which meant Naruto was a Senju as well making him royalty and the next in line to the throne, if he was still alive.
"Now that that's out of the way, would anyone like to say a few words?"
"I would" said Sasuke shocking everyone. A few coos of 'Sasuke-kun' came from some of the boisterous girls, but were quickly silenced by glares from Sasuke and Sakura.
Sasuke made his way passed the crowd onto the balcony wiping away the few tears that were shed from his eyes and faced the crowd.
"Naruto Uzumaki was my rival, my best friend and even though the same blood did not course through our veins I considered him my brother. Throughout the Academy you all knew him as the 'dead-last'. He earned the title shinobi through hard work and determination. He knew exactly what it meant to be a shinobi. During our mission, myself along with Sakura, Naruto and a captured girl we had found were dashing through a cavern that was caving in and erupting with lava and flames, the left side of Naruto's body was severely burned by an erupting plume of fire and yet with what little strength he had he had pushed the rest of us out of the way from being crushed by a boulder, saving us in the process, but sealing his own fate as well. I ask that we all remember Naruto for who he was; a great shinobi, and a better friend" Sasuke had then stepped down and went to join Sakura within the crowd
Naruto's final moments had shocked and inspired his friends, colleagues and the entire village. They all bowed their heads in respect for the fallen hero, doing exactly what the Uchiha asked them to do. They no longer saw him as an annoying, no talent prankster or the demon child. He lived and died as a true shinobi of the Leaf.
After the moment of silence, a small group of musicians began play melancholic music as Naruto's coffin was lowered into the earth. His friends, sensei, senpais, grandparents, and even some of the ANBU who watched him as a child tossed white incarnation flowers into his grave in respect. A few moments later the casket was completely covered in earth.
All the villagers and shinobi then began walking back home with tears running down many of their faces. All who were left were Naruto's friends and then one by one they left leaving only Sasuke, Sakura, Hinata and Naruto's grandparents.
Hinata was crying so much with the regret of never telling him how she felt
"I guess he was really important to you"
Hinata looked to her left see Sasuke looking at her "Y-yes" she answered him "H-he always i-inspired m-me t-to beli-ieve in m-myself, b-but n-now t-that h-he's g-gone…"
"Hinata" Hinata looked at Sasuke "If you truly do care for Naruto, then honor him by believing in yourself"
"B-but I-I don't k-know h-how" she then felt Sasuke put his hand on her shoulder
"Then I'll help you, along with the rest of the rookie genin, you have my word" he told her with a smile no less
Hinata looked at Sasuke in a whole new light "T-thank you Sasuke-kun"
"I'll walk you home" he offered her which she took and the two left together to the Hyuuga compound leaving Sakura, Tsunade and Jiraiya left
Sakura looked down at Naruto's grave "I'm so sorry" she whispered "I have a feeling you already forgave me, but I still wanted to tell you… I never knew what you saw in me, but to tell the truth, when Sasuke told me that you saved me from Gaara, I saw you in a whole new light, you were still a baka, but you were the most courageous and sweetest baka I've ever known and I actually looked up to you, even though I clearly didn't show it… I don't think this'll make any kind of difference now, but I just wanted to tell you… I love you… I love you and I always will… I just wish I could have told you it while you were still alive, that's my biggest regret and I'll have to live with it my entire life… thank you for loving me Naruto-kun" she finished with fresh tears leaving her face. She then turned to Tsunade and bowed her head "I'm sorry about all of this Tsunade-sama, I just wish I was stronger so that maybe" she then felt Tsunad put her hand on her shoulder making her look up to see Tsunade have an understanding motherly smile.
"Sakura don't blame yourself, Naruto gave his life for you, I wish he was here as well and I miss him so much, but I am proud of what he did and I'll always be glad that I got to meet him before it happened" Sakura nodded her head understandingly "And if you want to really become stronger then meet me tomorrow in my office"
Sakura's eyes widended "Y-you mean…" she got a nod from the Hokage in response "Thank you Lady Hokage… I promise I won't let you or Naruto down"
"I know you won't Sakura, you're a good girl and you're just like her"
"Who?"
"Kushina Uzumaki, Naruto's mother, I know that just like her you'll become an amazing kunoichi"
Sakura smiled and bowed her head again before saying her goodbyes to both the sannin and trekked back home leaving Tsunade and Jiraiya
"I shouldn't have given them that damn mission" Tsunade said with sorrow
"Stop beating yourself up, Naruto and Minato wouldn't have wanted you to be this way" Jiraiya told her
"I know, but I just can't help myself" covered her mouth then cried fresh tears "I just miss them both so much"
Jiraiya put his arm around Tsunade "Tsunade… I promise I'll always be by your side, no matter what"
Tsunade hugged Jiraiya who hugged her back and cried into his chest "Thank you Jiraiya"
"Anytime Hime" he said holding her with love and affection
At Sakura's home
Sakura walked into her home and took her sandals off
"Sakura" Sakura heard her mother Mebuki call her name "I'm making your favorite tonight"
"Thanks mom… but I'm just really tired… I just want to go to bed" she told her mother
"Are you sure?" her mother asked
"Yes ma'am"
"Alright my little blossom" Mebuki hugged her only daughter "Your father and I will always be here for you"
"I know… I love you mom" Sakura said hugging her mother back
"I love you too Sakura"
Sakura then separated from her mother and headed straight to her room
"I hope she'll be alright" said Sakura's father Kizashi walking next to his wife placing his arm around her
"I hope so Kizashi, I really do"
Sakura got undressed and sat on her bed, as she looked to her nightstand she saw her picture of Team 7. Grabbing the picture she opened the cabinet of her nightstand taking out a red marker, she uncapped it and made a heart around her and Naruto and then held the picture "I love you Naruto" she said one last time before she lied down and cried herself to sleep
The Next Morning at training ground 7
Sasuke waited for his sensei and teammate to show up while he looked into the water traveling underneath the bridge he stood on remembering the good old days when Naruto was still around 'It just won't be the same without you brother'
"Glad to see you're still here"
Sasuke looked to his right to see his sensei "Kakashi-sensei? I'm surprise you got here before Sakura"
"Right, about that, you see Lady Hokage had informed me that she'll be training Sakura from now on, which means from here on out we'll be training one on one" Kakashi explained to his student
"So Team 7 is over?" Sasuke asked
"Team 7 is temporarily disband for now, but we will get back together someday, but until then I'll be teaching you along with a colleague of mine"
"Who?"
"Anko Mitarashi, the only other person in the village who has the curse mark and utilized it, but for today I will be teaching you"
"Then can I make a suggestion?"
Kakashi nodded in response
Sasuke went to end of the bridge grabbing a sheathed katana "I wish to learn kenjutsu"
"Alright then" Kakashi nodded
'Just you watch Naruto, I'm going to become stronger to protect Sakura and honor your memory'
At the Hokage Tower
Sakura was in front of the office doors and then knocked on them
"Come in" ordered Tsunade
Sakura entered the room and bowed in respect
"Good to see you Sakura" Tsunade stood up from her seat "I hope you're prepared, because for the next three years I'm going to give you the most intense training you'll ever experience"
"Hai Lady Hokage" Sakura said with much determination making Tsunade smile 'Just watch me Naruto, I'm going to get stronger and live up to your memory, Believe It!'
At An Unknown Location
Lying on a bed was Naruto with the left side of his body bandaged still breathing and very well alive
The man with the orange spiral mask stood with his arms crossed in the room not taking his eye of the boy
"How is he doing?"
The masked man looked to his right to see a woman with long brunette hair wearing the same cloak as him and wore a with a white mask that had two purple rectangle marks one on each cheek area of the mask and the eye holes were in the shape of sideways triangles
"Well he still hasn't woken up yet, but he's still breathing, no doubt the Kyuubi is helping in his recovery" the orange masked man said
"The poor child" the masked woman said with so much concern
"This feels weird" the masked man said making the woman tilt her head in confusion "I was in the same position like him years ago, the only difference is I'm not going to turn him into what he made me into" the woman then hugged him which he gladly returned
"Come on, let's let him rest"
The masked man nodded in response before following her into the next room
Naruto lied there on the bed breathing calmly and the suddenly he slowly cracked his eyes open and said "Where am I?"
End of Chapter 1
Well that's it for this chapter, hope you enjoyed it and I can't wait to write the next chapter
Takeshi1225 out