Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Eyes piercing the darkness ❯ The calming storm ( Chapter 23 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

I got right into this one, mostly just because I wanted it done, and I’m not going to lie, last time I kind of lost all motivation to keep writing, I have that problem sometimes, but I wrote this story because I love the idea, I’m not going to stop just because no one’s reading it. I love this story and I’m going to write it until my fingers stop working. As for the end that was coming, I’ve been thinking of extending it a chapter, mostly because there’s something I wanted to do and I planned to end the storm arc last chapter, but I got a little into it once I got going. Well this is going to be the true end of the storm saga, and the dive into the Uchiha’s past as well as the past of origin of Isane. I made no reference last chapter so I’m going to jump right in and get this done.




       &nb sp;                         &nb sp;                The calming storm


Naruto had just left behind to finish what he had started with Kimimaro, and knowing all too well the condition he was in, it pained him to do so, but right now there was no time to hesitate, he couldn’t afford to lose even a second or Sasuke would be gone, lost forever to Orochimaru’s grip. He had been chasing him for what seemed like forever, despite the fact that it was only mere minutes since departed, but the beating in his chest alerted him to the extent in which he was pushing his body. Truth be told, he had done more before, and gave more effort, but the anxiety he felt was more than taxing, he didn’t want to lose an ally, a friend to his worst enemy.
Naruto: Sasuke!

He called out to him, positive that he could be heard yet gaining no response. The chase soon led them into a dark tunnel moving Naruto into state he knew all too well. His eyes were accustomed to the dark, there was nothing he couldn’t see in even the darkest of nights, yet Sasuke seemed to be navigating it just as well. Never missing even a single step, Naruto gained on Sasuke, reaching the light peeking from the other side of the tunnel, and finally, Sasuke came to a halt, standing on the head of the first hokage.
Naruto: It’s about time you stopped, what the hell is wro-

Naruto’s question was cut short after catching sight of the marks on Sasuke’s face, his right eye pure golden, the same as Orochimaru’s.
Naruto: What have you done?
Sasuke: I did what was necessary.

He said gazing down into his own hand, and then back up to Naruto.
Sasuke: What’s wrong Naruto, don’t like what you see? Are you intimidated by the new me?

Sasuke’s smiled turned wicked, something Naruto had never seen before. With a face clear of discontent Naruto replied to him.
Naruto: No, quite frankly, I’m disgusted.
Sasuke: Why? I only wanted to become stronger, can’t you relate to that?
Naruto: And then you go and sell your soul to the devil to do it?
Sasuke: Coming from one who turned himself into a demon.

Naruto chuckled, scuffing to the side at Sasuke’s comment.
Naruto: Heh, you mean like the demon that raised me, taught me how to fight and protect the people I care about. If that’s a demon then I’d rather be one of them than a human any day.
Sasuke: The same here, I’ve seen the lowest point of humanity, I’ve walked that line and come back, and then into the bowels of hell. Only so that I could gain the strength I need to kill him.
Naruto: So you turned hatred into strength, that’s not going to get you anywhere.
Sasuke: Oh, and why is that?
Naruto: Because, when turning weakness into strength, strength will surely become weakness.

Sasuke smiled at Naruto and turned away from him, gazing down into the waterfall below.
Sasuke: Do you truly believe that?
Naruto: With everything I have.
Sasuke: Then what if I said to me the friendship we harbor is one of those weaknesses of yours. Or that the will to protect would do nothing but drag you down in the end.
Naruto: Then I’ll make the right judgment when moment comes. I made a promise to save you, and that’s what I intend to do.
Sasuke: Even if you have to kill me?
Naruto: If it comes to that, however I have no intent on going that far. Because I stand before you, confident that you won’t be able to beat me.
Sasuke: Alright then, let’s make a wager, if you lose, I’m going to kill you and gain a new Sharingan.
Naruto: And if I win, you’re coming back with me, one way or another, because I promised I’d bring you back.

Naruto looked back and smiled.
Naruto: Did you hear that Onii-san, Kakashi, Raizen, I don’t want any of you interfering in this no matter the outcome. If he wins, you let him walk away, because I never go back on my word.

Naruto’s words calmed the three watching, there was going to be no interference, Naruto and Sasuke were going to settle everything their own way and with these thoughts fresh in mind, both rushed forward. Each clashing with the other, never gaining ground with their attacks, however as Naruto fell back, Sasuke stared forward, his mind was elsewhere.
Sasuke: It all started then didn’t it?

He thought to himself as he stared down into his hand, the monster he had become, it was all because of him; the person hates yet admires most in the world.


Sasuke: Oniichan.

He called out to his older brother, preparing to leave the house on yet another day of training.
Sasuke: You’re going out again aren’t you?
Itachi: Yes, Father would be rather disappointed if my skills began to weaken.
Sasuke: Then take me too; I want to see how you do it Oniichan.

Itachi smiled back at his younger brother and waved him closer, and eager to answer the call, Sasuke ran for his brother only to receive a two finger poke to the head.
Itachi: Not this time Ototo.
Sasuke: Argh, you know you could’ve told me that without poking me in the head first.
Itachi: Yes, I could’ve.

He said standing to his feet with the same smile.
Itachi: Your job is to look after Yukari in my absence.
Sasuke: Yeah because everyone knows that you cater to her. Then again Father did say he wanted her to be the Uchiha princess, so no training for her, right?
Itachi: That’s what he said.

He repeated with a slightly disagreeable frown on his face, Yukari was only five yet she already showed great potential as a shinobi.
Itachi: I’ll be back soon alright.
Sasuke: Yeah, then you have to teach me something.
Itachi: Yeah.

Itachi finally walked through the door, leaving the house and his younger brother behind.
Yu: Did Onii-sama leave already?
Sasuke: Yeah you just missed him.

He said to her with a pat on the head.
Yu: Ohh, I wanted to say good bye.
Sasuke: Don’t worry about it; he said he’ll be back soon. I’m sure he’ll keep his word, so let’s make sure that you’re ready for when he gets back.

He said playfully squeezing on the girl’s cheeks, causing her to chuckle in response, staring at her older brother in admiration as he also prepared to leave for the day.
Yu: My brothers are cool.

She chuckled out with a playful smile which drew Sasuke’s in return.
Sasuke: You’re pretty cool too, little hime.

Sasuke strapped on his shoes and walked through the door, running through the streets of Konoha with youthful vigor, he was only seven years old, but he was still a proud and growing Uchiha, life for him was guaranteed. Itachi however, was heading toward the hospital in the center of town; it had been four years since the girl he rescued had been sleeping there. His sleeping beauty, never known why she was there or when she’d awake, or so the doctors said, something of the girl’s own power was stopping her from awakening, nothing more, yet for six years she failed to open her eyes. Even Itachi, in all earnest, had no idea why he was visiting her. He said not a word, he simply sat there staring down at her as if she’d wake up if he did, yet she never did. The only true explanation he could give is that it was as if she were calling to him, in a voice he couldn’t hear.
????: I’ve been trying to grasp something.

The girl said as she leaned up from her bed, turning to him, yet never once did Itachi’s expression change, no shock or surprise showed on his face.
????: How are you special, what makes you so different from everyone else?
Itachi: I fail to understand what you mean?
????: You’re just like them, just like everyone else, yet you think yourself special, what is it you fear?
Itachi: I have no fears.
????: Only a fool would utter those words, you’re afraid of something, if you think you fear nothing, then that means you’ve just yet to encounter your greatest fear. Soon you’ll discover what you fear most.

The shadow s behind the girl spread, reaching out to Itachi, latching onto him with vicious force, finally gaining a response from the stoic boy as he realized that control over his body was no longer his own.
????: I’ll stay by your side, even after you discover your fear, I’ll hold you tight, and never let go, after all, you are my shining prince.

Just as the shadows engulfed Itachi, his rose his head, covered in cold sweat, looking down to the girl who had moved not an inch since he had arrived. Itachi hadn’t understood what his dream meant, but he it wasn’t as if he cared either. Itachi looked over to the window; reacting from such a thing was beneath him. Firmly deciding in his mind that he needed some fresh air, he opened the window, allowing the cool breeze to wash over his face as he returned his eyes to the sleeping girl.
Itachi: Is it truly so, that you do not wish to awaken?

He questioned mostly to himself, maybe that question was the reason he frequented her room. He wanted to know why someone with such power would choose to keep themselves in a weakened state such as that. Finally growing bored of his visit he walked toward the door and reached for the knob until the sound of stirring roused his interest. The looking toward the bed he noticed the girl moving, as if trying to gain a more comfortable to position to lie in. As her breathing returned to normal and she began sleeping soundly, making Itachi curious. Did people normally wake from a coma by going to sleep? With this question Itachi walked closer to her, gently shaking her shoulder as if to test if she were in a sound state of mind, and surely, her eyes opened.
????: Huh?

She questioned, gazing up to the boy before her.
????: Hello.

The girl before him rose to sit stretching as if her body hadn’t been in inaction for four years. It was only after she was done stretching that she gave a shocked reaction, but not for the fact that her movements were limited, but because of Itachi, her eyes went wide, staring dead into Itachi’s eyes.
Itachi: Have I offended you in some way?
????: No, I just don’t understand you.

She said as if it were the simplest thing in the world to understand.
Itachi: Do you remember your name?
Isane: It’s Isane, and don’t bother asking any other questions, I’m not so weak as to forget things about myself.
Itachi: Very well, my name is-
Isane: Itachi Uchiha, one of the Uchiha leadership’s children, I’m in Konoha hospital and I’ve been in a “coma” to four years.

As anyone would, Itachi became suspicious of the girl, barely hiding it in his gaze. Isane smiled at him looking right into his eyes.
Isane: Don’t be so scary, I was merely in a state of mental sleep, I could still accurately hear everything that was going on around me.
Itachi: “Mental sleep”?
Isane: I removed my conscious thought from my body so I wouldn’t feel the pain, I figured I was dead though, until I started hearing voices. So I stayed asleep when I found that I had reached a safe place and then I decided to hone my abilities.
Itachi: Abilities?
Isane: I’d love to tell you, but I don’t know you well enough yet.

She smilingly replied to the boy, who was growing ever more intrigued by the girl with every second. However time had been an issue and he had already been there long enough. Standing to leave, Itachi turned his back to the girl who seemed quite disheartened at the sight.
Isane: So you’re going to leave, I thought we were having a good talk here.
Itachi: I’ll return some other time, for now I have to go. I’ll inform the doctor.
Isane: Alright, don’t break your word now.

She said waving him off as a smile slowly crept onto his face. Sasuke stared up at his brother in awe, following his every word as he leisurely talked to him and his younger sister.
Sasuke: So she finally woke up, maybe it was because you were there Oniichan.
Yu: I know that must be it; after all, Onii-sama can do anything.
Itachi: I’m not nearly as amazing as you make me sound.
Sasuke: Yeah right, everyone knows how strong you are and you’re the village star child. There’s nothing you can’t do, even wake a girl from a four year sleep.

Itachi stared at Sasuke with discontent.
Sasuke: I’m sure he understood, I wasn’t very good at hiding it. Maybe I was just jealous when I said that, but even if I was, I admired him, I hung to his every word.


Sasuke: Yahhhhh!

Sasuke shouted, pushing his fist forward into Naruto’s face, knocking him to the head of the second hokage, then pursued him down into his descent aiming to gain a further advantage over him, but not even before he could gain ground, Naruto’s fist flew into his chest, knocking him into second hokage’s hip, leading him into a freefall toward the ground. Sasuke managed to regain himself in mid-air, just in time to land on his feet, gazing over to Naruto, who stared at him from only a few feet away.
Naruto: Did you forget who I am? I’m not going to lose to you.
Sasuke: You’re not the only one who’s special.

Hoping to his feet, Sasuke charged for Naruto, barely missing a straight punch for his face as Naruto prepared to counter, however, before he could Sasuke’s elbow flew back into his head knocking him slightly off balance, right as Sasuke right hand lifted, bashing down into Naruto’s neck, crashing him down into the ground.
Sasuke: Karyu-no-tekken!

He shouted, slamming his fiery left hand down into Naruto’s back, blowing a crater into the ground around his body. Yet, Sasuke quick thinking allowed him to realize that the smoke coming from Naruto’s body wasn’t from the flame engulfing his body. Naruto emerged from the ground only a few feet from Sasuke’s position and slammed his fist into Sasuke’s chin knocking him into a stumble and after landing Naruto launched a straight kick into his face, quickly shifting his balance to his other foot launching another kick into Sasuke’s face as he hunched forward from the first hit. Sasuke body skipped across the ground as if he were a rock, sliding into a sitting position as he fell back into a rock. Eyes now gazing at the blonde shinobi coming at him with everything he had, Sasuke reached down, pulling on a wire that emerged from the gravel as a web, wrapping itself around Naruto’s body.
Naruto: What the?
Sasuke: Dragon flame jutsu!

He shouted, holding his lips to the tip of the wire, igniting it until the flame led all the way down to Naruto, this time though he was sure that it wasn’t a clone he was fighting. Sasuke stared into the flame with eyes cast elsewhere once again, letting his mind wander from the fight.


Sasuke: You’re going again?
Itachi: Yeah.
Sasuke: Fine, it’s not like you’re ever around anymore any way.

He said with a hint of sarcasm dripping from his voice.
Itachi: I promise, I’ll be able to train with you tomorrow.
Sasuke: Yeah, okay, I’ll hold you to that.

Itachi smiled back to his younger brother and departed heading toward the hospital once again, and after a brisk walk and a few sign in sheets later, he had finally reached his destination. Not long after he walked through the door, the girl took notice, gazing at him as she ate her ice cream.
Itachi: You seem to be enjoying yourself.

Calmly smiling and swallow her food, Isane looked back at Itachi.
Isane: I’m used to being pampered.

Brushing her hair to the side she welcomed Itachi to come closer, and like she asked, he did so.
Isane: Why do you come here? Have you fallen for me?

Even though she said it as a joke, Itachi could read the hint of actual curiosity in her voice. Closing his eyes, Itachi began to think to himself, to be honest he had never really bothered with girls, and it didn’t really feel like this girl was anymore than intrigue, however wrong that thought may have been, it was what he believed.
Itachi: That’s not the case; I’m simply looking after you since I found you, nothing more.
Isane: Is that so, you’re pretty boring you know that?

She said, flopping back down onto her bed with a huff,
Isane: Well, I’m attracted to you.

She said, rather bluntly, gaining little more than a lifted eyebrow from Itachi.
Isane: Why did you save me?
Itachi: Because I felt like it.
Isane: Ha, is that all?  You’re a strange one.
Itachi: You more so, how did you manage to remember things from when you were in a coma?
Isane: I told you, I was in mental sleep.
Itachi: And that is?
Isane: It’s something psychics can do.
Itachi: Yeah.

He said, suddenly disinterested in what the girl was talking about, proving so by returning to peeling the apple in front of him.
Isane: You don’t believe me?
Itachi: No.
Isane: Really?

She asked, moving the apple in Itachi’s hand to hers, and then rather eerily rearranging the room around them.
Isane: Do you still not believe me?

She asked with a smile on her face, however Itachi's had never changed from his signature scowl, grabbing the leg of his chair; he grabbed himself a seat and watched the girl from it as she returned the room to its original decor.
Itachi: So, do all psychics play around with their powers like children?
Isane: Boo, you're no fun at all. I really just wanted to show you, and besides I wanted you to believe me.
Itachi: Fine.
Isane: So, do you think it's cool?
Itachi:...

Isane slumped her shoulders and sighed, she wasn't gaining anything from him.
Itachi: From what I hear, psychics can read minds, so why don't you tell me what I think?
Isane: Because I can't read your mind.

Itachi lifted a questioning eyebrow to the girl, inquiring further into the matter.
Isane: Don't look at me like that, I don't even know why I can't, I've tried, but it's like there's some kind of mental barrier around your mind, so I can't see into it.
Itachi: Fine, then I'll tell you in exchange for information about you.
Isane: Alright, shoot away.
Itachi: Where did you come from?
Isane: You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Besides I don't really want to talk about it. What's your family like?
Itachi:....
Isane: Not going to answer?
Itachi: You didn't answer my question either.
Isane: Fine, ask something else first then.
Itachi: You said that you put yourself in "mental sleep" what does that mean?
Isane: I closed off my mind so that I wouldn't feel the pain.
Itachi: Why?
Isane: Now you have to answer my first question.
Itachi: I have a younger brother and sister, my wise and kind mother and a strict yet proud father.
Isane: Sounds nice.

She said with a warm smile.
Itachi: Will you answer now?
Isane: Because I knew what was going to happen to me.

Isane's smile suddenly turned unto depression gazing down into the bed sheets atop her.
Itachi: Care to explain?
Isane: Heh, so you're going to press me huh? What I'm going to tell you must never leave this room.

Itachi simply lifted an eyebrow, signifying that he cared little for gossip.
Isane: My full name is Isane Kusanagi, have you heard of it?
Itachi: I believe so, but I doubt we're talking about the same person.
Isane: We are, trust me. I am the first born daughter of the royal family in the kingdom of flowers. My mother was the previous queen, yet she died shortly after giving birth to me. And six years later, my little sister was born of my step-mother. My father really wanted a son, I could always read it on his mind, you see, it’s a kingdom, so the person I eventually married would seize control over the country, yet even his second child was a girl. Knowing that your father was thinking things like this, it’s rather taxing on the mind.

Isane looked to the ceiling and closed her eyes.
Isane: In fact knowing what everyone was thinking at once, it’s very unfortunate, knowing of those who like you and don’t, and those with dirty and dark thoughts, you can hear them all. Then as my little sister grew she became close to me and her thoughts were always so pure, but I could tell, she was gaining the same powers as me, I pitied her for that, perhaps pity I should have saved for myself.
Itachi:…
Isane: I became aware of my step-mother’s thoughts, she wanted for her daughter to become the next heir, and as such, she despised me. Then the dark hand began to run its course, she wanted me gone.
Itachi: And you knew of this, couldn't you have stopped it?
Isane: I guess what I'd used to describe it would be that I didn't care enough to, then when I was eleven she formed a plan, I was to be transported to my betrothed's palace, my step mother arranged for me to be murdered on the road beforehand, yet I guess the word you could use for what I did was that I “accepted” it, I just didn't feel the need to fight it, after all, life was going to be a dark and depressing road, if I could see everything that people wanted of me. My little sister would be plagued by her memories of me, and the loss, so I erased her memories of me and sealed her powers.
Itachi: Is such a thing possible?
Isane: No, I merely pulled a blanket over it, if she wills it enough her memories will come back, so I gave her the tools she needed to live her life. Once the time had come, I played along as planned and waited for the moment to arrive, but soon after, I met the ones who were to kill me, and I read their minds, in order to make it look as if I were truly met with brigands, they intended to ravage me first. I, for the first time, became scared, completely terrified by the fate about to befall me. So I tried to run, and I can hear in my step mother’s mind, she began to regret her decision, but before she could do anything about it, I tripped, and fell to my death from the cliff. As I fell, I began to dream, and I locked my mind away so that I'd never wake from that dream.....and then I heard your voice.

Isane smiled pulling her knees up to her chin, resting it on them as she continued on.
Isane: It was only then that I knew I was alive, so I stayed locked away, slowly honing my abilities until I awoke.
Itachi: Do you want to go back?
Isane: No, it'd only cause trouble for my little Ishi if I did. She was so warm and sweet; it made me want to squeeze her every time she spoke.
Itachi: I can relate.

He said looking to the side, thinking of his own younger sister.
Isane: Besides, I kind of want to stay here.
Itachi: Is that so?
Isane: I want to pretend that I don't remember anything and live here with you.
Itachi: Me?
Isane: Itachi-sama, I'm very happy I was able to meet you; it's very relieving to meet someone whose mind I can't read.  I like this feeling, I want to stay near it, will you allow me to?

She asked with a pure smile that almost drew a blush from Itachi, however as he had been accustomed to doing, he managed to stifle it.
Itachi: Do as you wish.
Isane: Thank you; I....don't really have anywhere else to go. Thank you for looking after me Itachi-sama.

This was finally all it took to put a small and barely noticeably blush on Itachi's face, no one would be able to tell, but it was there, maybe that was the true reason he found the girl so interesting, she held something that he had never seen before, a power not many other people had, the power to touch his heart.
Sasuke: That was the day that girl started hanging around Itachi, I thought she was nice, but maybe she was what triggered everything. Then again maybe it was that....

It had been three weeks since Isane had been released from the hospital and she remained omnipresent at Itachi's side, and while his father was wary of her, his mother seemed to accept her completely. It was the first time in a long time that Itachi was actually free long enough to train with Sasuke, staring up at them was his parents and younger sister as Isane watched from the side, smiling at the dueling boys.
Yu: Which one do I root for?

She asked over to her mother, who only smiled a response to her.
Mikoto: Why don’t you root for both, I’m sure your brothers will be happy to have your support.

With a nod of determination Yukari pumped his fist into the air.
Yu: Go Oniichan, Oniisama!

With their little sister’s support now fueling them, they rushed forward, Sasuke quickly losing the advantage, however Itachi’s slow retreat allowed Sasuke an opening to fill, this was not something he was able to do however as Itachi quickly slammed the bottom of his fist down into his head.
Itachi: Never assume that an enemy’s retreat means that they concede.
Sasuke: Tch.

He clicked his teeth, throwing himself back in the battle
Shisui: They’re really going at it huh?
Fugaku: What brings you here?

He asked to the boy who had just arrived, with smile he stated.
Shisui: I just came to see what Itachi was doing, besides if I don’t show up Yukari-chan is gonna get worried.

He said rubbing the head of the small girl as she happily chuckled.
Shisui: Speaking of girls missing me, how are you doing today Isane? I bet you couldn’t get me off your mind while I was gone.
Isane: You were gone, I hadn’t noticed, and how many times must I spurn your advances before you get it.

Shisui backed away with a sigh, shrugging his shoulders.
Shisui: Yeah I know, you only have eyes for Itachi; if you ask me it’s a waste of time, that guy doesn’t worry about things like that.
Yu: Huh? Are you Oniisama’s girlfriend Isane-san?

Isane jumped a little, she could read Yukari’s mind and she knew that she had thought about it quite a lot, however the girl tended to speak on emotions, a very difficult habit since she didn’t really process the thought, but felt it.
Shisui: Yeah, those two have done this and that and some more of that too.
Yu: Really?
Isane: No!

She shouted with a deep blush, only being stopped by Fugaku’s coughing into his fist.
Fugaku: Please refrain from teaching my daughter weird things.
Shisui: Yeah, yeah.
Yu: Papa, can I train with them?

She asked, changing the subject on an emotion once again, which gained a chuckle from her father who only smiled as he placed his hand on her head.
Fugaku: No, that’s okay; you leave those kinds of things to your brothers.

Fagaku had a habit of being strict, knowing this, Isane adopted her new personality to match his, hoping to be accepted, but there was one thing that always broke through that wall, Yukari’s innocent smile, Isane noted, that smile was the reason he wanted her to avoid becoming a ninja, to avoid tainting her innocence. However Yukari hated this, her mother was a ninja and so were her brothers, why was she treated as such a baby?
Yu: Papa, I’m not a baby anymore, I can be a good ninja too.
Mikoto: Is that so?

She said, speaking to Yukari as one would a child, only making her even more depressed.
Yu: Com’n Mama, I’m good enough to be a ninja too, look.

She said lifting her self from the porch and closing her eyes. When she reopened them, they were blood red bringing a round of shock to all but Isane, so shocked was Itachi, that he wasn’t able to see the punch Sasuke blindsided him with, yet he didn’t really react to it either.
Sasuke: Hah, I got you.

He said finally noticing what his brother was staring at, and he as well, froze in surprise.
Yu: See now I’m just like Oniisama and Oniichan right?

Asked the girl, completely oblivious to the chaos she had just caused.
Itachi: Do you realized what this means?

He asked in a rushed voice, beckoning to his father who had long since put Yukari to bed after firmly planting his opinion on her request.
Fugaku: My question is what you mean with that?
Itachi: This alone shows Yukari's potential, she has the ability to pass even me.
Fugaku: Is that what you truly think?
Itachi: She was able to achieve the sharingan at such a young age simply because she wanted to, if she could aim that willpower she could possibly grow become the most powerful Uchiha.
Fugaku: Do you hear yourself? I'm not so foolish as to allow such a thing.
Sasuke: Father-
Fugaku: Silence, I will listen to no more of this, leave me now!
Mikoto: I'm sorry, but I agree with your father, please rest and calm yourselves.

Sasuke, barely saying anything the entire time, stood to his feet, leaving downtrodden.
Itachi: You seem to allow your own foolish feelings over losing your sister to allow you to lose sight of your good judgment.

Itachi said standing to his face, earning the full wrath of his father as he almost lost control and rushed over to him, as Itachi budged not even an inch. Fugaku stopped as Mikoto stood in his way, both arms extended in front of him.
Itachi: You haven't changed since then, which is why she chose to throw you away so easily.

Itachi's eyes turned cold, continually gadding his father into a confrontation partly because of the way he reacted when he saw Yukari's eyes, partly because he refused her wish, but mostly because he wanted to see how the girl could grow, but this action was met in the form of a firm slap to the face from his mother.
Mikoto: Itachi, that's enough. Good night!

She said sternly ordering her eldest child who bowed apologetically to her and walked from the room with a frown.
Mikoto: Sasuke, please leave.
Sasuke: Yes mother.

He said as he left the room, suddenly uneasy, he had never heard of his father's sister before, and the way Itachi acted, he seemed, almost frightening.
Sasuke: That was the first time I began to notice the changes.


Sasuke watched Naruto fall to the ground in cinders, but this wasn't the first time he had faced him in battle, he knew all too well what he was capable of, and much like he had expected, Naruto jumped at him from behind throwing his right fist at the back of Sasuke's head, but before it could land Sasuke leaned forward, throwing his foot up into Naruto's chin, knocking him back into the air and with a smooth turn, he slammed his fist into Naruto's stomach.
Sasuke: Heh, you're so predictable.

Naruto soared back across the ground and flipped back to his feet smiling as he wiped the blood from his mouth.
Naruto: Then how about I show you something new, kage-hochou.

Naruto slightly moved his foot back, but the second he did, he was in Sasuke's face, not even leaving a second between his appearances, he slammed his elbow into Sasuke's chest. Then brought his right palm into Sasuke’s chin, knocking him off his feet and into the air, and then as he prepared to throw another blow, he appeared behind Sasuke and launched his right foot into his back knocking him face first into a large boulder, and then right before he could gain his bearings, Naruto appeared before him again this time slamming his fist into his face with such force that the rock exploded behind Sasuke and he was thrown into the mountain’s mighty face once again. Just as Naruto was about to land another blow Sasuke flipped back, attaching his feet the mountain, narrowly avoiding Naruto’s assault.
Sasuke: Dammit, what are you doing?
Naruto: Wouldn’t you like to know, just rest assured that I can crush you-

He said teleporting to Sasuke’s back once again.
Naruto: Anytime I like!

Sasuke’s eyes flew to his back, yet not in time to stop Naruto’s furious punch, knocking him down into the ground directly below. The explosive boom that resounded around the area shock the trees and even the water behind them, however the moment Naruto pulled his hand back he found a log in the place of Sasuke resting down in the hold he had made.
Naruto: Wha?

Before Naruto could process what had happened, he was caught in the enticing sound of birds chirping.
Sasuke: Chidori!

Naruto frowned, the attack coming at him had the power to kill him in one blow, and he didn’t intend to take it full on, instead he teleported to the other side and allowed Sasuke to destroy the mountain face, however Sasuke wasn’t done, using a jutsu he had learned from Kakashi he called the stones together.
Sasuke: Earth style: Collapsing stone prison!

At his command the rocks around Naruto fell to his body, enclosing him in rock tomb, but that wasn't enough to hold Naruto, Sasuke knew this, which is why he was prepared for the next step. Controlling the flame seeping from his body, he focused it onto his hands; creating two orbs of fire. One, he threw above Naruto, the other he charged until it reached and suitable size and then he threw it into the other, causing a massive explosion that blasted Naruto back through the left leg of the second hokage, and into the water beneath the waterfall. Naruto had managed to avoid the brunt of the attack, but it still took him some time to shake off the cobwebs in his head. As Naruto laid face up in the water, he slowly turned to Sasuke who had walked up to him from the small outlet.


Sasuke opened his eyes, laying in his bed he felt a strange chill, as if something was wrong, following this feeling led him to Itachi staring off into the night.
Sasuke: Couldn't sleep?
Itachi: I guess not.
Sasuke: Oniichan, does Father have a sister.
Itachi:.....She died a long time ago, pay it no mind.

Sasuke looked down to the ground with a frown and asked begrudgingly.
Sasuke: Do you really think that Yukari will become stronger than us?
Itachi: Yes. That's why I'm going to take it upon myself to make sure that she does.
Sasuke: Huh?

He questioned, turning to his brother as he now were a much more serious expression.
Sasuke: But Father-
Itachi: Can I trust you Sasuke?

Sasuke only took a second to understand what Itachi was trying to say, and with a lump in his throat, he nodded.
Itachi: Thank you, I know I can count on you Sasuke.

He said placing his hand on Sasuke's head before finally going back to his room.
Sasuke: It bothered me, maybe I was jealous, Itachi never took time out to train me, but he was completely enthralled with the thought of training Yukari. Did that mean, he thought I wasn't worth training?

Sasuke looked down to the ground and frowned. The next day was uneventful, if Itachi had started training with Yukari in secret the next day, it would have been too obvious so instead he waited as Sasuke counted the days, days that he had to endure the ever-present tension between Itachi and his Father. Yet one week, after things had cooled down, Itachi called out to Yukari in the halls of the manor.
Yukari: Hi Oniisama. Is something wrong, you look serious?
Itachi: I want you to come with me.
Yukari: Huh, should I tell Mama and Papa.
Itachi: Don't bothoer, just come with me.
Yukari: Okay.

She said without the smallest amount of suspicion, she believed in her brother's no matter what. With her fingers now wrapped in Itachi's, she followed her brother's lead with a happy smile, it had been a while since he took her somewhere, yet instead of the usual places he took her, she found herself in the middle of what appeared to be a training field. Even before training, Yukari's senses were quite sharp, so the silence behind her made her feel as if the world, aside from the area in which she and Itachi stood was now closed off from the rest of the world, and as much as that sounded ridiculous to her, she could feel it.
Yukari: Oniisama?

She called out to Itachi as he walked away from her, coldly ignoring her call. Itachi turned back to her with the eyes of a killer and pulled a kunai. Yukari stared hard at it, the gleam she saw at the tip let her know that it wasn't a practice kunai. Now confused by what was happening, Yukari stepped back trying to grasp the situation, but before she could, she found the kunai flying at her. Without even a second’s thought, she calmly activated her Sharingan and turned to the side, easily dodging the attack as if it was nothing.
Yu: Phew, that was a close one.

She said as she locked her eyes on the flying kunai now latched into a tree.
Itachi: It’s as I thought, how did you manage to dodge that?
Yu: I didn’t need to do much, the most it would have done even if I didn’t would be to scratch my face.

She said with complete confidence, absolutely sure that her brother would bring her no real harm.
Itachi: I’ve decided Yukari, as of today, you are going to train under me.
Yu: Huh, but father said I couldn’t he even yelled at me.
Itachi: I know, that’s why we’re not going to let them find out.

He said turning to the girl with a rare smile as Isane walked from the brush, reactivating her field, cloaking the entire area in a psychic genjutsu.
Isane: This should last for a while so go on ahead.
Itachi: Everything has been taken care of, are you willing to trust me Yukari?
Yu: Yes.

She said with a smile as she walked closer to her brother, as time passed Itachi stared down at his now sleeping sister, astonished by the amount of potential she showed, as he watched her he could see something, a fleeting shadow.
Itachi: Isane, can you implant techniques into her mind?
Isane: It’s possible, but that could cause problems for her.
Itachi: Is it anything life-threatening or mentally crippling?
Isane: No, but it may cause her to confuse her memories with dreams, she may even develop emotional dependency.
Itachi: Then there is no reason to worry, I know Yukari is stronger than that.
Isane: If you're sure, then I'll do it.

She said with a slightly worried expression as she placed her hand on Yukari's face, then gave a nod to Itachi as he began tto speak directly into Yukari's mind, continuing to train and teach her even in her dreams. Yukari shivered under the pressure, but the sight of her brother in her dreams instantly calmed her down.
Isane: Are we going to kept doing this?
Itachi: I need her to become stronger, and I feel as if I'm rushed.
Isane: Why is that?
Itachi:....

Itachi culdn't bring himself to answer, instead his eyes turned to the sky. It had been little over a year since Itachi began training Yukari, and she had become extremely skilled at hiding the progress she had made. The only tell-tell sign of her training was the strange lean she made towards Itachi ever once in a while, she had started sitting next to him when they ate, calling out to him in her sleep, and even staring at him for long periods of time. Today she found herself alone with Sasuke, who as of late began feeling left out, staring at Yukari who had looked at him very little as of late, Sasuke continued to eat, paying no mind to it.
Yu: Oniichan?
Sasuke: Huh?

He replied loosely, barely able to respond to her in his surprise.
Yu: Do you want to train with me tomorrow?
Sasuke: You shouldn't say things like that so openly or else Mother and Father will hear you.
Yu: Sorry, but I haven't been able to talk to you lately Oniichan, you've seemed...unapproachable.

She admitted, subtly hinting that she could feel his hostility. Sasuke instantly understood what she meant and quickly wiped it from his mind, trying clear the feelings he felt, it wasn't Yukari's fault.
Sasuke: Yeah, sure I will.

Sasuke said with a smile, then it dropped when he caught sight of a bee buzzing behind Yukari, it seemed as if it were looking for a place to land on her, in worry Sasuke called out to her, nearly jumping onto the table to grab the bee, but before he could, Yukari leaned to the side, shot back her right hand and grabbed the bee with a raher thin pair of chopsticks, and then in one fluid twist of her wrist she applied pressure to the sticks, xrushing the bee between, then threw the chop sticks holding the bee in the garbage. She had done all this in not only one motion, but she never turned to look at either of her taragets. Yukari happily tore apar another set of chopsticks and resumed eating as she looked at Sasuke, who seemed to have been staring at her for a while.
Yu: Aren't you going to eat?
Sasuke: Are you mocking me?
Yu: Huh?
Sasuke: Don't you dare look down on me.

He said in a growl, aimed down at Yukari who, for her part, was completely confused.
Yu: I'm not mocking you Oniichan.
Sasuke:....

Sasuke stood from the table and walked away, leaving Yukari on the brink of tears confused as to what she had done to incur Sasuke's wrath. Later on that day, Sasuke managed to catch Itachi, right before he could leave, watching as he tied his shoes, he stared at him with distain.
Sasuke: Hey Oniichan, can we train today?

He asked out, gaining Itachi’s focus as he turned back to him, waving for him to come closer. Sasuke, now more enthusiastic, ran over to Itachi who dashed his hopes, by giving him a two finger poke to the forehead.
Itachi: Not this time Sasuke.

He said with a gentle smile as he resumed putting on his shoes, paying no mind to Sasuke who quickly began to boil over.
Sasuke: After all, I’m not special like Yukari.

Itachi finally stopped preparing to leave and turned to Sasuke in confusion, sharp as he was, Itachi was able to gather that Sasuke was feeling that way.
Sasuke: I’m no worth the problem of actually training, that’s it right. Why bother with the failure right.
Itachi: Sasuke…..Do you truly believe that?
Sasuke:….

Sasuke said nothing, yet the frown on his face remained. Itachi looked down and closed his eyes.
Itachi: I see.

With only those words, Itachi finished putting on his shoes and walked through the door, never once turning back to Sasuke who was too prideful to care. He had known, Yukari had never been trained, and she was being taught in secret, that required a lot of time and effort to pull off, there was also another thing he felt. Itachi truly believed that his younger siblings would surpass him, but Sasuke needed less assistance than Yukari did, she needed to be nurtured, but Sasuke would grow strong on his own. Sasuke was aware of all this, yet the feeling of abandonment never escaped his mind. Suddenly dragged from his own thoughts were the sounds coming from outside, the sounds of shouting. Running to the door, Sasuke gazed at Itachi surrounded by three of the other clansmen, shouting things that could be summed up in one word, “murderer”.
Sasuke: What are you talking about?
Juso: Admit it Itachi, you’re the one who was seen with him last, we knew you did it.
Itachi: And what proof do you have?
Kinai: This is getting us nowhere, why don’t we just make him confess?

He said stepping to Itachi side, suddenly finding that Isane was beside him, none had seen her appear, she didn’t even walk or run there, it was as if she teleported.
Isane: I’m not a member of your clan, but if you don’t stand aside I’ll have to eliminate you.
Shago: Heh, so your little skank actually thinks she can take us?

He said, burning with pride as he charged for Itachi, without much effort Isane pushed down his hand and gave a practically powerless push that somehow managed to send Shago flying through a brick wall.
Isane: I have met no one other than Itachi-sama who can best me, and you all are no exception.

She said with cold eyes, gazing at the remaining two. Juso clicked his teeth and charged forward however this time Itachi stepped forward, only to be stepped by his little sister, slamming her feet into Juso’s face with a vicious upward kick.
Yu: Saiken!

She shouted, forming a circular blast in her palm that knocked Juso across the ground.
Yu: You’re out of line making such accusations against my brother, such a thing is a grave offense to my family, and I’ll see to it that you are punished if this continues.
Kinai: Yukari-sama….I apologize.

He said bowing his head to the young girl.
Kinai: But my beliefs are true, I want to challenge Itachi, will you allow that, since this has begun he hasn’t lifted his hand to us himself; instead he hid behind others like a coward.
Yu: If you wish.

She said, stepping to the side, allowing Kinai to run at her brother, but no sooner he did, he was sent falling to the ground n a heap, holding everything that hurt, which was pretty much everything.
Itachi: Such arrogance; that is the problem with this clan.

Itachi turned to the side and threw a kunai into the symbol of the Uchiha on the brick wall to the side.
Itachi: Soon, very soon, this clan will see its end.
Fugaku: Itachi!

He shouted bringing his son to attention and with a bow; Itachi returned his father’s call. Never had he noticed the look on Sasuke on Yukari’s face when he said what he did, and to Sasuke he turned, revealing a strange Sharingan the boy had never seen. Sasuke tried his best to piece together what he had seen, but even as the days passed, he seemed to find no answer for what he saw. With taxing his mind, he couldn’t even bring himself to care when Itachi took Yukari away for training. For her part, Yukari’s infallible faith in Itachi had managed to overshadow the previous events, leaving her with little more than to focus on the two water dragons she had managed to summon. As they collided with one another, managing to hold their form even after the attack had reached its mark, she finally conceded to the power of her own attack as it fell apart above her, drenching her from head to toe.
Yu: Ah.

She shivered under the freezing sensation, losing herself to the chilling cold of the water she had used.
Itachi: Yukari.

He called out to her, as she sprinted over to him, cuddling into his chest as if trying to warm herself, wetting Itachi in the process as he ignored the feeling.
Itachi: Yukari, the other day when you interfered.
Yu: Sorry about that, I almost got you in trouble didn’t I?
Itachi: That’s not the problem.

He said as Isane came to sit next to them.
Isane: Yukari, you’re special.
Yu: Huh?
Itachi: You have an innocence that should never be tainted, I fear that you are becoming like me, I don’t want that.
Yu: What’s wrong with that?
Itachi: Stay you; forever remain the girl you are now. Can you promise me that Yukari?

With a smile Yukari nodded as she was forcefully sent into dreamland shortly after. Itachi placed a dagger next to her and stood to his feet.
Itachi: Isane-
Isane: I will never leave your side, no matter what demon you become.

With those words, Itachi stepped forward, Isane following not far behind. That evening Sasuke had returned from the academy to find that the entire Uchiha manor was strangely silent, completely void of the rigors of daily life. Thinking to himself that it was nothing more than his imagination, he walked into the house confused by the peering darkness, and soon he reached the door to the living room, and an odd burning rose in his chest, burning into his mind like the flame of a volcano, the feeling screamed to walk away and never peeked into this house again for as long as he live, so strange was this feeling of dread, that he couldn’t seem to find the strength to push open the simple sliding door in front of him and soon he collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily.
Sasuke: What the hell is this?

He asked himself as he tried to regain the will to move on, but his weak knees creaked under him giving out under the weight of his body. Steeling his mind, Sasuke lifted himself, pushing the door to the side instantly making him wish that he had obeyed that feeling he felt. Standing before him was the sight of his parents covered in blood laying beneath the person he least expected, his own brother.
Sasuke: Oniichan, what’s going on here? Who did this?
Itachi: Sasuke…
Sasuke: Oniichan, tell me you just fought off the person who did this, tell me you killed them or something, please.

He begged, receiving an answer in the form of a kunai flying past his face.
Itachi: I had forgotten that you came home around this time. Your misfortune it seems.
Sasuke: What are you talking about?
Itachi: So you’re still unwilling to see the truth. Then let me show you Sasuke.

Stepping forward, Itachi’s eyes began to change once again into the strange Sharingan that Sasuke didn’t recognize, yet this time, when he looked into the eyes of his older brother he was hurled into a world of dim red, a soulless world covered in darkness, yet light from the gray moon fell toward him in eternal twilight. Sasuke’s eyes removed themselves from the sky, gazing into the distance as screams came to his ear, allowing him to hear the wails of the people in front of him, but the more the people came at him, the more he started to recognize those who had fallen. As each body fall to the ground in a bloody gurgle, Sasuke began to feel the tears roll down his face, he knew them all. At the end of his journey through the slaughtered masses were his parents, sitting together in a daze as Itachi heartlessly brought his sword down on them and replayed it, over and over. After finally releasing Sasuke of his jutsu, the young boy fell to the ground on his face, growling in the rage he felt, cursing the name of his brother as run toward him, but in no means was he a match for him, only receiving a punch to the stomach for his efforts. Realizing the fact that he was out of his league, Sasuke’s mind fell into fear. The sound of Itachi walking toward him gave him a start, making him jump to his feet. Sasuke turned away from his brother in tears running in fear screaming to the top of his lungs.
????: Oniichan.

Sasuke’s eyes fell on his little sister, who had awoken from her unconscious state to find a dagger to her side inscribed with the word “promise”. As she happily returned home, she stared at her older brother, worried to the tears she saw on his face, but that was eclipsed by the sense of danger she felt as she gazed back, looking up to her eldest brother as his shadow loomed over her.
Itachi: It seems that you woke up ahead of schedule Yukari, how unfortunate.

He said as he walked closer to her, Yukari stepped back, something she had never done looking at Itachi before, but she felt the overwhelming intent to kill coming from him, it almost forced her to collapse to the ground, but instead she held her ground.
Yu: Oniisama?

She called out, hoping to gain a pleasant response as she used to, but Itachi’s aura was screaming death and soon, Yukari felt completely terrified.
Sasuke: Yukari, get away from him, he killed everyone, Mother, Father, Aunt, everyone, he killed them all!

Yukari would have denied it, but she couldn’t do it in the face of such pressure.
Yu: Oniisama, that’s not true right, please tell me-
Itachi: You should have kept sleeping Yukari.

He said as he pulled his sword and placed it to Yukari’s chest and held the back of her neck whispering something into her ear before pushing forward through her heart. Yukari coughed hard and collapsed to her knees, realizing that what she had just seen was a premonition of her own death she moved away from Itachi in fear as he walked forward, but before he could reach her a fireball flew at him making him retreat.
Sasuke: Stay away from her.

Itachi easily dodged the attack and grabbed Sasuke by the neck readying his sharingan, he prepared to send Sasuke into the world of twilight once again, however before that could happen Yukari’s new blade nearly removed Itachi’s arm, attacking at him with the intent to kill that matched his own. Sasuke dropped in front of Yukari and coughed holding his neck, as the youngest of the three stood in front of Itachi glaring at him with the heat of a thousands suns as tears rolled down her face.
Yu: Who are you?

She asked out, still unwilling to believe that her brother would do such a thing, but Itachi’s hand reached out to her, touching her face as he silently said.
Itachi: If you’re going to make that face, then use that feeling and grow stronger through it as I have. Cast aside the inhibitions as I did to gain my mangekyou.
Sasuke:….Then you did kill Shisui?
Itachi: Yes, in order to gain this Sharingan, I took his life and in order to test it’s limits, I killed others wielding the Sharingan, but I’m not content with this, no one was able to withstand me or even present a challenge, so I’ll let you both live, after all neither of you is worth killing. Once the time comes, you will grow stronger and at that time, I’ll be waiting for you.

Itachi lifted himself and walked away as Isane who had been patiently waiting at the side, yet until now went unnoticed, walked into his pace and joined him, leaving the village and the two weeping children behind. One week after, listening to the selfish words of the adults around them Sasuke felt as if he had lost his mind, so many people “willing” to “care” for the Uchiha children, but Sasuke refused every attempt, he had his sister, that was all he needed. Yukari seemed to be a husk, she was crushed, partially due to Itachi’s betrayal, but partly because of the dreams she had, Itachi had cursed her to adore him even more than she already did, and then stabbed her in the heart. Her cheery personality long-gone, she stared up at the wall, then over to Sasuke who stood in front of her.
Sasuke: Yukari, it’s time to go.
Yu: Father will get mad if I go the academy. He’ll yell at me if I do. Then he’ll argue with Oniisama again, I can’t do that Oniichan.
Sasuke: Yukari, Father’s dead.
Yu: What are you talking about, he’s in the living room with Mother, ah, I forgot to tell them good morning. I have to go greet them.

She said with eyes devoid of life, reflecting her twisted view of reality.
Yu: Then I’ll go see if Hanabi-chan can come play. She’s been crying every time she saw me lately; I have to cheer her up.

Sasuke’s eyes brimmed with a tear, he had never seen someone so broken, he must have look the same, he pitied himself and as if to chastise himself as well he pulled Yukari’s arm and slapped her.
Sasuke: Goddamnit Yukari!!!! Everyone is dead, Mom, Dad, they’re all dead, Itachi killed them all!!! It’s only us now, we’re all we’ve got, so don’t break on me, please don’t break on me.

He said breaking into tears himself. Yukari’s eyes returned to normal and she looked up to the ceiling as she cried to herself.
Yu: It hurts Oniichan, it hurts so much, please just make it go away. I don’t want this, please make it stop.

She said weakly in between sobs.
Sasuke: I can’t do that, but I will make sure he pays for what he did.

Sasuke pulled Yukari into a hug as she finally gave a good cry on his shoulder, he had forced her from her denial, coerced her into facing the truth she wanted no part of.
Sasuke: He’ll pay; I’m going to kill him with my own hands.

As he held his sister, she silently whispered into his ear between her sobs.
Yu: Yes we will, I swear Oniichan.

Sasuke gently stroked his sister’s long hair, comparable to their mother’s, he turned to the sky. The next day Yukari was to attend her first day the academy, and she turned to Hanabi who had been walking with her quietly.
Hanabi: If you need, we can stay home today and forget about all this, we can hang out at my house.
Yu: No, I’m okay, really.

She said as she walked forward briskly, smiling ahead of her.
Yu: Hanabi-chan, can you promise me something?
Hanabi: Anything.
Yu: Don’t leave me, stay with me forever okay.

She said with eyes that looked slightly crazed, showing obvious signs that she wasn’t feeling any better.
Hanabi: Yuka….
Yu: Don’t look like that, I’m still upset, but I’ll get better if you stay with me.
Hanabi: I promise, I’ll never abandon you.
Yu: Thank you, I’ll probably need someone to cry to when the day comes; when Oniichan and I make good on our promise.

At that moment Sasuke stared into the sky, watching the clouds moved as the wind brushed against him, melding his form into the one Naruto was now looking at as he lifted himself into a stand on the water.
Naruto: You seem as if you’re finally done thinking.
Sasuke: You were able to tell?
Naruto: Of course I was; I’m your best friend after all.
Sasuke: Heh, that’s why you’re the perfect one.

Sasuke said as he turned his gaze to the sky.
Sasuke: You’re the perfect person for me to gain my mangekyou.
Naruto: And there you go again, assuming that you can take me.

Sasuke turned back to Naruto and frowned.
Naruto: Do you really think this is going to help? What the hell good will come from this?
Sasuke: None, I just need to remind myself.
Naruto: What?
Sasuke: I need to escape from there. Maybe you never realized, but things were changing, I first noticed when Minatsuni attacked.
Naruto: We agreed not to talk about that.
Sasuke: That’s what I mean.
Naruto: Huh?
Sasuke: I agreed not to, because it hurt to. You never noticed because you were locked away, but you’re the glue that holds us all together. Until you arrived, we were all separate teams and allies, but not friends. Few of us even knew each other and those that we did weren’t on a friendly level. You changed all that, it was because of you that Hinata came out of her shell, because of you that JJ was so open, because of you that Lee started training harder, because of you that Neji realized his own faults, because of you I started talking to all of them. You united us all, and before I knew it, I was…happy.

Sasuke looked down into the water, staring at his own reflection.
Sasuke: I noticed this, and the more I did, the further away my goal went. I can’t lose sight of this, I have to kill him, I need to give up everything and everyone in order to do it.
Naruto: Even Yukari?
Sasuke:…Yes.
Naruto: Then I’m what’s making you weak, we’re what’s making you weak, is that what you’re saying?
Sasuke: Exactly.
Naruto: Then tell me, what makes a man strong, solitude, hatred, fear?
Sasuke: Will.
Naruto: Then maybe your view on willpower is twisted, because there is nothing stronger than a man fighting to protect something.
Sasuke: And what are you fighting to protect right now?
Naruto: You, my best friend.
Sasuke: I don’t need protecting.

He said dropping into stance, preparing to throw himself at Naruto.
Naruto: That’s where you’re wrong.

Naruto whispered; doing the same. Both flew at each other and summoned their strongest attacks. Clashing the middle of the water both’s attack exploded with tremendous force sending them sliding back across the water until they came to a stop. Naruto was the first to recover, throwing himself across the water before leaping into and falling punch into Sasuke’s face, knocking him to the side.
Naruto: I’ll make you understand what true strength is.

He shouted as he lifted is foot into the air and kicked back into Sasuke’s face forcing him into a rolled as while doing so he rolled through a round of seals launched a fireball at Naruto, who punched fiercely down into the water, creating a wall that extinguished the fire before it could reach. Naruto charged through the water and right before reaching Sasuke, he teleported to his back and brought his knee up into it.
Naruto: You must be forgetting who I am!

He shouted as he threw Sasuke back across the water and reappeared above him, dropping with his fist reared back, slamming it down into Sasuke’s stomach, submerging him into the water below.
Naruto: Is this the best you got?

Naruto’s answer was two feet wrapping around his back, tossing him to the side. Naruto barely had time to recover, before he could even get far Sasuke activated his Sharingan and lined himself up with Naruto’s stomach, all done in the span of a millisecond. Sasuke inhaled deep and launched a fireball into Naruto’s chest, then punched into it three times, releasing consecutive Karyu-no-tekken into him, blowing him back into the mountain to the side of them. Sasuke eager to continue his attack ran after Naruto while he was pinned on the wall, however, this was a mistake, for the second he drew close, Naruto kicked away from the wall and grabbed onto Sasuke’s neck, pulling him down toward the water before kicking upward, launching Sasuke into the air, and then with the speed of a cheetah he returned to his feet and grabbed onto Sasuke’s leg send downward, slapping Sasuke face first into the water three times before slamming his back into the very wall he had hit before.
Naruto: Take this!!!

He shouted as he pulled back his fist and punched fiercely into Sasuke’s stomach, driving him into the side of the mountain and then through it. Sasuke rolled to the ground and positioned himself for the next attack.
Sasuke: I’m not going to lose to you!

He shouted taking as deep a breath as he could, preparing for the rapidly advancing Naruto grow closer.
Sasuke: Got you.

He said to himself as he summoned the chidori to his hands and shot a fireball at Naruto, using both to his advantage. Much like Sasuke had expected Naruto teleported away from the fireball and gained Sasuke’s back, but missed the true intent of the attack. Sasuke absorbed the fireball into his chidori and brought the entire attack down into the ground causing an eruption that completely wiped away the chunk of land they stood on into the river around them and Naruto, having taken the hit full-on was sent rolling back into the water once again, falling down into the deep, barely conscious. Yet through his own will he released the air in his mouth and opened his eyes, finally catching sight of the water serpents swimming around him. As they swam for him Naruto looped around them until he finally reached the top of the water and with eyes now burning red, he ripped his sword through the bodies of the water dragons; destroying them as if they were nothing and then he threw himself into the sky creating two shadow clones that all lined themselves up with Sasuke, preparing for the incoming serpents. Naruto slammed both of his swords together and threw them down into the dragons, destroying a good third of them, as his second clone launched explosive tags into the five other while twisting in the air on his way down the third grabbed the blades thrown by the first and slashed down the final remaining water dragons as all reunited falling down for Sasuke who chuckled under his breath as he slammed his hands down into the water, sending an explosive water wall into them, knocking all back away from him. Naruto landed on the water to his feet turning over to Sasuke the wind from his attack blew past Naruto’s face, shortly after being summoned to the boy’s hand in the form of his strongest attack. Naruto’s clones emerged from the darkness, surrounding the original as he waited for his attack to reach it’s peak.
Naruto: Get him.

He said commanding the clones around him to attack Sasuke; however the Uchiha was well prepared for the attack. Sasuke ducked under the first punch and slammed his fist into the clone’s stomach, bending him forward, and then grabbed onto the back of his jacket, tossing him into the next clone, stopping both in their tracks. Sasuke chuckled, throwing his foot up into the both of the clone’s faces, knocking them both into non-existence with one hit.  Sasuke braced himself for the next attack and thrusted his fist forward, crushing into the throat of one of the clones, knocking him into the water without much effort. Sasuke ripped his attention away from the fallen clone and back to the horde coming at him. Ripping a kunai from her pouch he slashed along the throat of the next clones and stabbed down into the one he had grounded. Sasuke ripped his kunai from the back of the downed clone filling the area with a plume of smoke that worked more to his advantage than the clones who decided to use it. Sasuke rounded through seals and aimed his head to the sky, exhaling a plume of fire into the descending clones, before reaching into the flame and aiming his fist at Naruto who only smiled at him.
Naruto: Heh, you actually think that attack can stop this?

He asked, wielding a large focused Rasengan in his hand. What he now held was probably enough to annihilate an entire building and thanks to the byakugan he could focus the chakra completely without much trouble. With his hand reared back as well he charged at Sasuke, who had expected Naruto to meet him in the middle, but the second that they reached one another Naruto teleport behind Sasuke and slammed his rasengan into the water below, causing a hurricane that extinguished Sasuke's burning fist and sent him flying into the air. As Sasuke reached the middle of the aqua tornado Naruto surfed up as if it were little more than a giant wave and performed a cycle of seals.
Naruto: Overwhelming water shark jutsu!

At his command the water morphed into dozens of sharks that shot from side to side ripping away at Sasuke who helplessly screamed from the middle of the tornado. Naruto finally reached the top of the hurricane and smiled as he licked his lips, holding his hands down he took control over the wind and compressed the water down on Sasuke pressing him all the way down into the deep. Even after an attack like that Sasuke was given no respite, instead he found himself being dragged back from the water by what appeared to be a chain of Naruto. Linked by the arms and leg of one another the many clones of Naruto pulled Sasuke from the water and into the air they spun Sasuke around in mid air, and then slammed him into the side of the mountain with an amazing boom. An overwhelming silence overlapped the area and soon after came a shout from the hole Naruto had created.
Sasuke: Fire style: Fireball jutsu!

The true Naruto at the bottom of the chain stared n in horror as his clones caught fire and leapt onto the back of the one directly ahead in the links. Naruto ran along the backs of the clones and jumped from the final one, directly into the flames of Sasuke's attack. With a roar, Naruto cut through the attack and punched down into Sasuke's cheek, knocking his fireball to the side, melting away the very earth around them. Finally giving in to the pain of the attack he had endured Naruto collapsed to one knee and stared into Sasuke's face.
Naruto: Were things really so bad? Were you really so unhappy with the way things were?
Sasuke: ...
Naruto: You said you were happy, why couldn't you just accept that?
Sasuke: Shut up.
Naruto: What?
Sasuke: You would never understand, you've never had true parents, you never got to see their faces, you can't even begin to understand what it's like to lose a family.

He shouted as he grabbed onto Naruto's collar and threw him from the hole. As Naruto descended from the opening Sasuke leapt out after him and wrapped his arms and legs around Naruto's body driving him down into the ground below. Naruto's head felt look it had been rocked, and he dropped limply to the ground in front of Sasuke.
Sasuke: You'll never understand my pain.

After a few moments of silence Naruto chuckled mockingly at Sasuke's words as if they meant nothing.
Sasuke: What the hell are you laughing at?
Naruto: You're so full of it?

He said as he shook his head and sat on the water he had dripped into as if it were solid.
Naruto: Tell me Sasuke, do you remember what it was like when they talked to you? When they held you? Do you remember the knowledge they imported on you, when they scolded you for doing something wrong, or praised you for doing something right? You do don't you, you have those memories right? I don't even have that. The only memories I have of my real parents are when they came to me in dreams, and I didn't have mom until I was seven, that's five long years in cold isolation and deep darkness. So tell me, what do you know about true loneliness? Compared to me, you're just a baby crying because he lost his bottle. So don't give me that bullshit Sasuke, because I'm sick of hearing it! Even if you were alone, so many reached out their hands to you that you have no excuse, your loneliness is only in your head, as a matter of fact you're looking for it. So stop whining like a bitch alright!
Sasuke: You think I'm looking for a reason to be lonely?
Naruto: Yeah, after all you just told me you left because you were happy, that's a suck-ass reason Sasuke; you just want to wallow in your own self pity.
Sasuke: You're wrong, that's what's making me weak!
Naruto: No, What's making you weak is your own inability to accept and grow.
Sasuke: You're really startin' to piss me off Uzumaki!
Naruto: The same goes for you Uchiha, what do you plan to do about though, are you really sure you can take me?
Sasuke: Of course I do!

Sasuke curled his fist and rushed at Naruto, who snapped up from his sit and kicked down into Sasuke's foot knocking him off balance and continued with a spinning back kick into Sasuke's side. Naruto held his hand up and teleported to Sasuke's fling form and punched down into his stomach as he formed the red chakra blades in his hand.
Naruto: Blood red eruption.

Naruto threw his swords into the air above Sasuke and an ark of red chakra flew from both swords and slammed down into Sasuke, crushing him down into the water. Sasuke floated into balance as Naruto had been earlier, trying his best to regain himself after Naruto's crushing attack, but there was very little he could to stop Naruto. With the black marks slowly crawling on his body Sasuke right eye turned golden and the feeling of monstrous power began to seduce his mind. Sasuke rushed back up to the surface and uppercutted Naruto in the chin, knocking him back and in the vulnerable state, Sasuke placed his hand on the water's surface and spun his lower body, kicking into Naruto's feet, sweeping him off of his feet, he lifted himself into a stand and smiled eerily as he slammed his fist into Naruto's stomach, grinding with enough force to make it feel as if he had punctured something. Naruto coughed up blood and skid across the water like a dart, barely able to open his eyes before the boy was right next to him, holding him up by the neck. Naruto stared down into Sasuke's golden sharingan as a cruel smile crossed his face, and then he began to squeeze with one hand as his free hand invoked the chidori, then with a smile, he slammed it through Naruto's chest, tainted the pure water below them red with blood.
Sasuke: Heh.

He chuckled as Naruto's body went limp, bleeding profusely from the gaping hole in his right breast.
Sasuke: And with that, it's game over.

He chuckled to himself, slightly feeling tinge of guilt and then an overwhelming pain in his heart. Had he really killed the first person he ever truly trusted. He could have willing given Naruto his back and counted on him to watch it without fail, but his heart soon turned stone, he had no more need of such things.
Naruto: The game don't end until I press the power button, dammit!

He shouted, slamming his rasengan into Sasuke's face, a ruthless attack in both impact and intent, if Naruto hadn't killed the attack short, it would have killed Sasuke, but it's hard to hold back from killing someone who just put a hold through your chest. Naruto dropped to his feet and watched Sasuke spin away with the strange feeling that his face had just been rearranged.  Wiping away the blood on his mouth, Naruto stood tall and focused on healing the wound in his chest and not long after giving such an effort, he had restored his body once more. From the strain Naruto had used he shortly after lost his breath, watching carefully trying to assess Sasuke current state.
Naruto: You asked for that one.

Sasuke looked up, holding his face with a frown as he lifted himself cursing under his breath.
Sasuke: That was more like it, just like I thought; you're prepared to discard me too.
Naruto: If need be.
Sasuke: SO what makes you so different from me?
Naruto: That I didn't kill you, or try, because if I wanted you dead, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

Naruto cracked his neck and dripped blood red chakra down his body, catching on to the way Sasuke's curse mark was moving. Sasuke wanted t end things, and so did he, the fight was going nowhere fast and they were both expected somewhere.
Naruto: Do you really think that turning yourself into a winged lipstick monster is going to make you stronger than me?
Sasuke: Heh, you don't know anything, like I said, you're not the only one who's special.
Naruto: No, but I'm the only one who actually gained their strength.
Sasuke: Well, As long as I grow stronger, I don't care how I get it.

He said he stared into his hand, back now adorned with webbed wings, closely resembling a hand. He hair and teeth had grown longer, much like Naruto had said, Sasuke no longer looked like a human, but then again neither did he. Naruto's blood red chakra had formed around his body in the form of a fox, but that again was something he was used to, Naruto never considered himself to be human anyway. Naruto clenched his fist and punched at Sasuke, shooting forth a massive chakra fist that Sasuke quickly dodging flying toward Naruto, who had a hard time keeping up with him. Sasuke grabbed Naruto's arm and swung him around , before repeatedly slamming his feet down into Naruto's then finished with a spinning kick to Naruto's face, sending him sliding back across the water, but Naruto's smile alerted Sasuke to something, He hadn't gained the advantage yet. Naruto chakra linked to the spot behind Sasuke and within a second he was standing behind him, and a fierce kick flew into Sasuke left cheek with such tremendous force that he was thrown into the side of the mountain. Naruto smiled and threw his cloak forward, latched the arms around Sasuke and with the hand around him, he squeezed tightly and slammed him into the mountain twice before lifting him up and slamming him down onto the water with an amazing explosion of water before him. Sasuke growled, swimming back up the surface, grabbing Naruto by the throat as he inhaled, ready to release the flames in his mouth on his "friend". Naruto had no time to dodge as the black flames overtook him, blasting him back into the sky. Naruto recovered from the attack and spun the cloak on his arms into a drill, and grabbed onto Sasuke tattered shirt, and then spun himself down into Sasuke with his fangs bared. Naruto's cloak overtook Sasuke and both spun down to the ground like a missile. Naruto lifted himself above Sasuke and charged his rasengan, but the attack soon became canceled in the form of powerful kick to the face that sent him flying back into the first hokage’s head, shattering it into pieces. Naruto instantly rebounded and looked over to Sasuke as he rose to his feet.
Sasuke: You’re not so tough after all.
Naruto: If that’s what you think then come get some.

Both smiled at each other, jumping across the gap as the clashed with fists, punching for the other with everything they had , known reaching the other until the final punch, which sent the other flipping onto a different hokage. Instantly recovering they roared out, charging their most powerful attacks as they met the resonance coming from them sent shockwaves through the entire area and the power from the attack formed a sphere the engulfed everything around it, blowing away the forcing between them, yet inside, as if joining their minds they could see each other’s true self, and as they looked at one another a smile crossed their faces. And then came the explosion, which shook even the trees atop the mountain.


Sakura stared down at the table in front of her with a look of discontent.
Hinata: Here.

Hinata said as she placed a cup of tea in front of Sakura.
Sakura: Are you sure Naruto won’t mind that I’m here?
Hinata: No, we pretty much stay here too, so he won’t mind.
Sakura: It’s a lot cleaner than I expected.
Hinata: That’s mostly in part to us, Naruto-kun cleans, but he’s not good at it.

She said as she pulled up a seat and sipped her own tea across from Sakura who did the same.
Hinata: You’re still worried?
Sakura: Yeah.
Hinata: For whom, I wonder?
Sakura: Well after seeing what he’s truly capable of, not Raizen, but everyone else and Sasuke, what if he actually leaves?
Hanabi: Naruto-kun made a promise; he’s going to see it through, because that’s who he is.

Hanabi for her side was sitting on the sofa, stroking Yukari’s hair as she slept on her lap after crying herself to sleep. Hanabi looked down to her and closed her eyes.
Hanabi: We believe in him because we love him. So we know he’ll come back and bring back your team with him.
Sakura: I’m sure that’d make Raizen happy.

Sakura smiled down into her tea and looked over to Hinata.
Sakura: I know that he’ll keep his word, that’s his nindo right.
Hanabi: Of course.
Hinata: So let’s wait until they get back, besides you have a lot of making up to do.

Hinata said as she sipped her tea once again, ignoring Sakura’s blush.
Sakura: Wha?
Hanabi: After all, all those years of turning him down aren’t going to be so easy to get over. Raizen may just turn you down.
Sakura: I know; that’s why I’m going to make it up to him.
Hanabi: ….Are you going to get him laid?

Both older girls spit out their tea and coughed rather ungracefully, as they turned back to Hanabi.
Sakura: Do you know what you just said?
Hanabi: Yes.

She said with an enlightened smile as Yukari started to laugh under her, waking from her sleep.
Yukari: Yeah and as things stand you might just have to.
Sakura: Ah, y-you really think so?

She asked, initiating a round of laughter through everyone.
Hinata: Well, there’s no need to worry, Naruto-kun will fix everything.
Hanabi: Yeah, he’s never let us down yet.

They both said with a smile. Yet elsewhere the wind from the water and the falling rain washed over the two dueling boys as Sasuke stared down at the unconscious Naruto, then over the to head band that had fallen from his head. Sasuke tried to lift his hand and finish the job, but then he dropped his hand and gazed down into Naruto’s face as he slowly began to walk away. He could feel the presence of the others in the area, but as they had promised, none of them moved, because there was no need to. The second that Sasuke began to walk away, Naruto was sitting up behind him.
Naruto: How long have known each other? What makes you think I go down that easy, especially when you hold back?
Sasuke: How are you-
Naruto: You should’ve tried to kill me, because I have no intent on failing this mission, even if it means going further than this. I’m not going to hold back anymore Sasuke.

He said, standing to his feet as the air around him began to rush, chakra pouring through every pore of his body until soon his skin began to peel off of his face, and after it finished Naruto’s body was completely covered in red, holding his chakra in place over him as even his human appearance had been overlapped by the fox’s cloak. Sasuke turned back to Naruto and changed his form as well, reaching his cursed state once again. Sasuke rushed at Naruto and grabbed onto his neck lifting him into the air, but before he could do anything to Naruto, his lower and upper body switched places, making it so that Sasuke was only holding his leg. Naruto smiled and lifted his body up, grabbing onto Sasuke’s shoulders before slamming his forehead down into the back of Sasuke’s head. Sasuke cringed under the blow and released Naruto leg, as he slammed Sasuke into the ground and then dragged him across the ground and then threw him through the trees. Sasuke flipped to his feet and then suddenly collapsed to his knees, Naruto really was trying to take him down now; he could feel it. Sasuke clawed at his left hand and stared down at the blood and then he sucked it up into his mouth. Head aimed to the sky, Sasuke cycled through a round of seals and blow a massive fireball into the sky and with his attack now ready, he flew into the air and merged with the fireball, turned it black as the darkest night.
Sasuke: Black phoenix descent!

Naruto stared up at the attack as it came down for him, he could tell that it was different from the previous time, as if there was more control and power than before. Despite realizing this, Naruto felt no fear, instead he positioned his tails behind him and leaked black matter into his palm and began to spin it. With an amused smile, Naruto crushed the sphere and voided light began to fly everywhere, destroying the forest around him and the soaring black phoenix coming down on him, knocking Sasuke from the air and down to the ground in a heap. Sasuke tried to lift himself, but the pressure from the attack he was hit with was more taxing than he thought, quickly forcing him back to the ground.
Naruto: You’re way out of your league.

Naruto said walking over to Sasuke through the trees, slowly Sasuke’s eye began to regain focus, but the Sharingan couldn’t keep up with Naruto, there was nothing he could do unless he was somehow able to level the playing field. Sasuke charged as much chakra as he could into his left hand and rushed at Naruto with blinding Speed, Naruto couldn’t keep up with it and soon it slammed into his face. Sasuke smiled as Naruto’s body was pushed back, but only the upper half did, the lower sprouted another Naruto, who grabbed onto Sasuke’s leg and slammed him into the ground and then dragged him forward, unleashing a powerful blast of energy that sent Sasuke soaring backwards through the forest. Naruto walked forward and smiled once again, he completely controlled the flow of this battle. Sasuke stood to his feet, he knew that there was no way that he could confront Naruto as he was. The fight would be decided if he could at least keep a little distance between them. Sasuke opened his mouth seeping forth flames with an evil smile as he blow the massive fireballs at Naruto who took them head on, walking on as if nothing had ever touched him, but the power behind the next one was enough to send him flying back into a tree. With an ominous glare Naruto lifted himself and slammed his hand into the ground, pointing his fingers through the earth Sasuke had no idea what he was trying to do, but his plan was working, if he could ear down Naruto and prepared to fire and another fireball at Naruto, but the second he finished the preparations he felt the ground tremble beneath his feet, and soon he learned what Naruto had done.
Naruto: Let’s see you get away from this.

Five fingers shot from the ground after Sasuke, but he managed to dodge them all with very little effort, thanks to the wings on his back, but suddenly the five fingers became hands, which spread out and became twenty-five more fingers, which spread out again becoming hands. Sasuke flew wildly dodging the many hands as they began to multiply over and over. Soon Sasuke was surrounded by thousands of hands and it became like dodging something that already had you, even Sasuke cut them apart, fifty more sprouted from the stems of the fallen arm, as it became impossible to dodge, Sasuke found himself bound by the many arms as the wrapped around his body and then formed around him in a forty layer sphere. Naruto smiled and ripped his fingers from the ground, holding the massive seventy foot sphere in front of him as with a smile he whispered.
Naruto: Rasengan!

The hands in the middle, holding onto Sasuke began to rotate, as the outer layers melted into chakra and spun with vicious force, pushing Sasuke to the outside of the sphere as he screamed out in unbearable pain. Sasuke was hurled from the sphere at over two hundred miles per hour, flying through the forest and back toward the water on the valley of the end. Sasuke was still conscious, he still had all of his limbs, but he could tell, that was only due too Naruto’s mercy, despite the massive amounts of pain he felt running through his body, there was little more he could do. Through sheer force of will and a mysterious rush of adrenaline, Sasuke stood tall, looking up to Naruto who looked back down at him, hoping that Sasuke would stay down, but that was asking too much. Sasuke now knew the only chance he truly had, there was only one chance left, if it failed, there was no way he’d be able to beat Naruto. Sasuke struggled to move his wings, it was the most crucial part of his plan, after finding that they still worked he flipped down hard, throwing himself up toward Naruto as he pumped as much chakra as he could into his chidori, after reaching Naruto who didn’t expect Sasuke to rise from the attack, Sasuke slammed the chidori into Naruto as the black flare engulfed the area. Sasuke knew this wasn’t the way he was going to win, but it was enough to buy him time as he flew higher into the sky. Sasuke pumped as much strength as he could into his wings, focusing only on flight he pushed up until the air became freezing, cooling off Naruto and forcing him to lose his form. Sasuke dropped his arm and allowed Naruto to fall back to the ground from over two-thousand feet. Naruto free fell to the ground, slipping in and out of consciousness as he slowly grew closer to the ground below. In a single moment, Naruto’s eyes fluttered and then opened wide as he gazed at the state he was in. Before he could gain his bearings though, Sasuke flew down, slamming his fist down into Naruto’s face and then repeated until Naruto once again slipped briefly into dreamland. As his eyes opened, Sasuke blew a fireball down into Naruto, knocking him into a spin that made him lose his sense of direction, but once again he found himself, morphing into the four tailed state once again. Naruto expanded his hand and reached down for Sasuke who easily dodged through the fingers and flew up to Naruto’s face, slamming a flaming fist into his jaw.
Sasuke: Now I’m holding the best hand Naruto.

Naruto’s face rebounded and slammed into Sasuke, knocking him back into a flip like he had done Naruto before, and with his hands locked together Naruto spun his hands around and slammed them down into Sasuke, sending him plummeting down to the ground like a missile.
Naruto: I ask you once again; who the hell do you think I am?
Sasuke: I’m not going to lose to you!

He shouted as he Sasuke bit into his lip and launched a massive fireball at Naruto, but before Naruto could counter, Sasuke flew into it with his chidori merging both into the phoenix once again. Naruto could only watch in horror as Sasuke slammed into him.
Sasuke: Sparking phoenix!

He shouted out, landing his fist into Naruto stomach, the impact was enough to silence even the rushing of the wind as they fell. Sasuke held up Naruto, wildly flipping his wings as he released, leaving Naruto to drop as his form slowly reverted. However, Naruto looked up to him eyes blood red, he smiled as he fell, they he vanished, appearing behind Sasuke.
Sasuke: How?
Naruto: I don’t need to change to face one who seeks false power.

Naruto materialized his swords and stabbed down into Sasuke’s wings, ripping through to the side as the raven haired boy screamed out in pain.
Naruto: I’ll end this here.

With the descent now resumed, Naruto fell down toward Sasuke and created two clones on each side of him, spinning the chakra in each hand until it formed a swirling red sphere in his palms.
Naruto: I’ll show you what the power to protect can do!!!!!

Naruto slammed both of the Rasengan together and created a swirling vortex on his right hand, the power was evident, clearly shown on Naruto’s arm as it was ripped apart by the force of his own attack. Naruto ignored the pain and reared back as he and Sasuke approached the flowing river of the valley.
Naruto: Rasengan!

Naruto shouted as he pushed his ailing arm forward and with a strange silence, Naruto slammed his attack into Sasuke’s chest.
Naruto: Storm!

Sasuke screamed to the heavens as the attack landed, the power of which was enough to completely void the river of water and the backlash destroyed the proud monuments that stood behind them. After the wind calmed and the power faded, Naruto stood above Sasuke, right hand shivering as he reached down and grabbed onto the collar of his friend.  Naruto pulled Sasuke from the shattered area and dropped him on the side right before the forest. Sasuke, broken yet still conscious, looked over to Naruto as he sat near him.
Naruto: I know what the darkness looks like.

He started as Sasuke quietly listened.
Naruto: I know it all too well; I’ve been living in it for so long. I lived in a world covered in endless darkness, eclipsing, and soulless. But I was given a choice, when two came to me, offering an end, stretching out their hands, welcoming me into the light. I don’t know about others, or what choices they would make, but me; I grabbed tightly, firmly, onto those outstretched hands.

He said turning down to Sasuke.
Naruto I feared that even as I was welcomed by those two, I’d never be accepted by others, but before I knew it, the hands of others around me reached out, lifting me from the abyss. That’s why I fight, So that I will never have to let go of those hands. You were one those hands Sasuke. That’s why, I wasn’t playing to lose.

Naruto returned his gaze to the sky and in a flash; he was draped with a long robe with nine coattails. Sasuke stared in disbelief and then smiled.
Sasuke: There….was no way I was going to win.
Naruto: I asked mom to come with me before I left, but I wanted to win on my own, and that’s exactly what I did. But if need be, I would have, I’m not looking to lose a friend, that’s why I’m going to do something, and you’d better appreciate it, because this is the last time I can do this.

Naruto lifted Sasuke and grabbed his neck, leaning to the side, but before he finished he said flatly.
Naruto: No homo.
Sasuke: Wha?

With that out in the open, Naruto bit down into Sasuke neck, and with fierce convulsions, Sasuke fell to the ground and his eyes fell dead.
Naruto: The rest is up to you, make your choice.

He said down to his unconscious friend. Sasuke mind was racing, inside his head, he could see the world flashing around him, and suddenly he found himself staring down at the earth.
Orochimaru: Detestable isn’t it?
Sasuke: What?
Orochimaru: A planet with so much life, yet so many lives is snatched away in the blink of an eye. Every day, we fade further and further into the abyss, yet all we truly seek is a way to use the little time we have. With each passing second your goal fades away from you, what you truly want is growing further and further from your grasp. Why waste so many valuable moments, with those fools?
Naruto: Fools? Is that what you think Orochimaru? Do you believe that Sasuke?
Sasuke: It’s those things that hold me back.
Naruto: Then why is Raizen so strong?
Sasuke: Geh.

He said cringing at those words as the images of his fight with Raizen played behind him.
Sasuke: I don’t want to see this.
Naruto: What do you gain from throwing everything away?
Sasuke: Everything!
Orochimaru: Without those distractions you can grow much stronger than even the one in front of you.
Naruto: If you cling to hatred you will never beat me. You know that more than anyone. There is nothing stronger than the one who has something to protect.

Sasuke’s eyes flew wide, memories of Naruto’s battles, JJ’s fights, the wars his friends had fought.
Naruto: You were there; you know what we were fighting for.
Orochimaru: Your life is your own, only you can make yourself stronger.
Naruto: Then if that’s true then he doesn’t need you.

Orochimaru growled at Naruto’s words and turned back to Sasuke.
Orochimaru: What has allying yourself with such sentimental fools done for you? All they’ll do is hold you back.
Naruto: Do you really think that Sasuke?

He asked, Sasuke now chained to the walls of the room Naruto was sealed in.
Sasuke: I don’t need sentiment.
Naruto: Is that so, then what do you need, power, vengeance. What purpose does that serve, when you have nothing after it? Let me ask you, what do you plan to do after killing Itachi?

Sasuke looked down and said silently.
Sasuke: Nothing.
Naruto: So life just ends there for you.
Sasuke: I don’t need anything else.
Naruto: Is that so?
Orochimaru: Of course it is, there is no need for anything beyond our goals.
Naruto: Then what about Yukari? Is she just a distraction?
Sasuke: She doesn’t need me.
Naruto: Then why did she cry?
Sasuke: She’s young, she’ll get over it.

Sasuke’s world once again vanished from behind him, leaving him standing before Naruto at the valley of the end.
Sasuke: She’s a strong girl; in fact, I believe that she’ll be stronger than me someday.
Naruto: But she’s a girl, and she needs you.
Orochimaru: That’s not your call to make.

Orochimaru said as he appeared between both boys, walking closer to Sasuke, the darkness growing ever closer, Sasuke being consumed by Orochimaru’s influence.
Sasuke: I need none of that.

He said as the darkness began to envelope him.
Naruto: What’s so wrong with being happy?

That question brought the world to a pause.
Naruto: In fact, if you have to lose your life and happiness in order to defeat someone who hurt you, then you’ll always be the loser.
Sasuke: What was that?
Naruto victory without spoils is nothing more than empty battle.
Sasuke: What would you know?
Naruto: The person standing front of you took away my life. Because of his grand scheme I was left with nothing, but a dark room and a lonely life, but ask me if I’d throw away everything just to fight him. That asshole could kick rocks for all I care. My world, my happiness, is worth no prize, no amount of revenge is worth throwing that away.

Sasuke’s eyes went wide and Orochimaru began to panic, Naruto’s words were getting through.
Naruto: Were you truly alone? Were you really so disappointed in your progress, if so, then I’d have helped you, that’s why we’re friends.
Sasuke: What?
Naruto: There was so many people around that would have helped you if you only asked. Hell, do you know how much stronger you’d have gotten if you just asked JJ, Mika, or me for just one sparring session? We wouldn’t have said no.
Sasuke: You would have helped me?
Naruto: We weren’t able to realize how much you were hurting, but we knew you were unhappy, that’s why we reached out. We only wanted you to open up, just to trust us.
Sasuke: How can I trust anyone after what Itachi did?
Naruto: One step at a time.

Sasuke took a step forward and then receded from Naruto.
Sasuke: It’s too late now, there’s no going back.
Naruto: It’s never too late and even if no one acknowledges you, I’m always there; I’ll watch your back no matter what.
Orochimaru: Don’t listen to it; you can’t fall for such lies.
Naruto: Do you really think you can trust someone like him? I’ll always be by your side man, and I never go back on my word, so please take my hand.

Sasuke looked to the ground and then over to Orochimaru.
Sasuke: You know, I never really felt quite right, I didn’t know why, but I knew something was wrong, but every time I looked at you, you seemed so alive.

Sasuke turned back to Naruto with a smile.
Sasuke: Tell me how you do it, walk me through it, I’ll in every footstep.
Orochimaru: WHAT!!!???

Naruto smiled over to as he walked toward him.
Sasuke: I know I say a lot of things sometimes, but it doesn’t come out right, and I act like I don’t know why. I guess a reaction’s all I was looking for.
Naruto: Yeah?
Sasuke: But you look through me, you really knew me like no one has ever looked before.
Naruto: Well, let’s take it day by day and take a cautious step. He wants you to give it up, but all I want, is for you to shine.

He said, extending his hand to Sasuke, the light filling the world around them from behind Naruto as Sasuke took his hand, completely disintegrating Orochimaru as he screamed in defiance.
Naruto: Let’s go home, Sasuke.

Outside of Sasuke’s mind Naruto weakly smiled as the fox mark began to take form on Sasuke’s neck.
Naruto: Heh.

He chuckled to himself as he lifted Sasuke and began walking away limping from his own pain as Yubiki exited his body and smiled.
JJ: Hey, good job man.

He said alongside Mika, Gaara and Lee who gave him a thumbs up. Naruto smiled and continued walking before finally collapsing onto JJ who turned around and lifted him onto his back as Kakashi caught Sasuke standing beside Raizen who sighed in relief at his cousin.
Raizen: Man you’re one headstrong jerk.

Raizen smiled over to the young blonde fox. And with eyes now closed he rushed back to the village to ask for more medical preparations to be made. Learning of this the others gathered at the gate, seeing Naruto come back injured was almost enough to send the Hyuuga girls into shock, but his smile showed them that he was okay. The vacancy behind JJ was stunning, there was no sign of anyone else coming, until suddenly Kakashi emerged from the forest with Sasuke on his back, this wasn’t just a victory for the leaf; it was a defeat for Orochimaru. Naruto, had kept his word completely.
Shikamaru: Why do things go like this when I take the lead? Dammit!

He said slamming his fist into the wall.
Temari: Will you calm down?
Shikamaru: How can you even ask me that?

He screamed back to the girl who didn’t even flinch under his words.
Shikamaru: Choji, Neji, they-
Temari: Yeah I know, but what you’re doing right now isn’t helping things.
Shikamaru: If there was someone better than me leading them.
Shikaku: Then what, things would have went better, they wouldn’t have run into those ninja?
Shikamaru: I let them down.
Shikaku: You’re a shinobi and so are they, even if you weren’t there, it’d still be danger, there’ll still be enemy ninja, and they’ll still get hurt. So grow up and-

Suddenly feeling the leveling gaze of his wife Shikaku stopped his sentence. Yoshino walked over to Shikamaru and stomped on the ground making him straighten up.
Yoshino: Shika, there is danger on every mission, whether you were the leader or not, there will always be a risk on missions. You’re great leader and I’m proud of you, after all, you were the head of your first successful mission as a chunin.

Shikamaru stared up to his mother with wide eyes, being where he was in the hospital, he wasn’t able to hear the news of Naruto’s return, and after wards he turned to his father who gave him a confirming nod. From behind him, he could hear the doctors scrambling trying relieved that they had managed to pull both of his injured teammate away from death’s door, and in relief, his tears fell, and his mother pulled him into her arms.
Yoshino: See Shika, you did well.
Shikaku: Any other time you’re strict as hell, and when he needs a good straightening out, you baby him. Women are so troublesome.
Yoshino: What was that dear?

She asked back to Shikaku, making a strange hanyuu mask appear at the side of his head, gazing down at him.
Shikaku: No I didn’t say anything at all.
Temari: I think I just found a role model.

She said gazing over to Yoshino.


Tayuya slowly opened her eyes, gazing around the dripping ceiling, she could that she was inside some kind of cave, but she didn’t know exactly where. Leaning up to a sit she turned over to the side, noticing Yura sitting next to her.
Yura: Morning.

In a rage Tayuya grabbed onto Yura’s neck and squeezed with as much strength as she could muster pushing the girl down the ground with a growl.
Tayuya: What the fuck have you done!??

Yura frowned and pulled back, punching into Tayuya’s face as hard as she could, which was more than enough to send her flying into the cave’s far wall.
Yura: I saved your life.
Tayuya: I ‘cough’ didn’t ask you to.
Yura: You don’t get that choice; I don’t want you to die.
Tayuya: You’re not the person who chooses that, you bitch.
Yura: Well I did, live with it! You don’t get to come in someone’s life and make them care, then just check out.
Tayuya: I didn’t make you care, I hated you.
Yura: Then why did you protect me, I knew, I always knew. Orochimaru relieved you of your duty to me, but you still looked out for me. I love you Oneechan, you’re all I have now.

She said breaking down into tears.
Tayuya: It’s no use anymore, after a failure like that; Orochimaru-sama is going to kill me anyway.
Yura: No, I wasn’t able to remove the seal from your neck, but I was able to suppress it. As far as he knows, you’re already dead. You have a chance to start a new life, take it.

She said as she stood to her feet and walked toward the exit of the cave.
Tayuya: Where are you going?
Yura: If I don’t come back, he’ll come looking for me. Goodbye Tayuya.

Yura walked away leaving the girl in he cave with nothing but her life, but as things stood that was the one thing she had never had before.


Sasuke stared around the room, the clean white of the room around him was much like Raizen described it, he felt as if he had passed on. It was only the bustling of the hospital room and the beeping of the machine next to him that let him know that he still drew breath.
Claire: About time you woke up.

Sasuke turned to the side of the bed and stared at the woman who was, uncharacteristically, dressed in a doctor’s robes.
Sasuke: How long was I out?
Claire: Three days.

She said over to him, eyeing the chart in her hand which she tended to do when bored. Finally turning her gaze to Sasuke she frowned and stated flatly.
Claire: You’re so lucky that Naruto stood up for you because if he didn’t I’d have let your bones stay in that jacked up state he put it in.
Sasuke: Thank you.

He said turning his sights down to the sheets atop him.
Sasuke: Where is Mast- Naruto?
Claire: Well, I thought he was joking when he said that?
Sasuke: What?
Claire: Nevermind, at least I know now that he wasn’t just defending you when he talked to Tsunade-sama. And to answer your question, he’s right there.

Sasuke turned to the separating cover and caught sight of Naruto staring into a hand mirror as Hanabi and Hinata smiled at him.
Sasuke: What are you doing?
Naruto: Oh, you up? Check this out. Sharingan, byakugan, Sharingan, byakugan, sharingyakugan.

Naruto was cycling between the bloodline limits of the Uchiha and Hyuuga as if it was nothing and then effortlessly merged them into one, and then with a dissatisfied frown he looked away and said.
Naruto: Nah, that name’s too wordy; I’ll name it, Mugen.

He finished with a smile as he turned back to Sasuke who seemed to be in disbelief.
Sasuke: How did you?
Naruto: I get the kekkei genkai of the people I mark.
Sasuke: Mark?
Naruto: Yeah, you’re now a member of the fox demon clan Sasuke.

Sasuke grabbed the mirror from Naruto and aimed it at his neck, staring down at the mark, then he closed his eyes.
Sasuke: So what happens now?
JJ: What are you talking about?

JJ asked as he walked through the door, locking it behind him.
Sasuke: About my punishment?
JJ: That, ell your punishment is…..To repair the damage to the end valley. That is all.
Sasuke: What?
Naruto: Yeah, let’s just say that I was able to pull a few strings. I have friends in high places here.
Sasuke: Why?
JJ: Why should we punish the person who bravely ordered himself to lure out Orochimaru? Although, it was regrettable that they figured out before you could reach him, however, thanks to Naruto’s efforts we were able to recover you in time.
Sasuke: What are you-?
Naruto: That’s what the official record says, if you have any punishment at, it’s to keep that lie going for the rest of your life.
Sasuke: But I can’t promise that I won’t try this again?
Naruto: That’s where you’re wrong, that mark is the mark of the fox’s left hand. Because of that, you are now my subordinate. You can’t betray me, if I was going to say anything, I’d say it’s no longer in your programming.
Sasuke: So now I’m your servant?
Naruto: No, you’re my friend, although you may have some urges to say weird things like master on occasions.

As much as he wanted to, Sasuke couldn’t bring himself to get mad when Naruto said that, instead he just smiled toward the ground and said.
Sasuke: You win, Naruto-sama.
Naruto: Don’t call me that, just refer to me as you used to, after all, we’re friends, Sasuke.

He said extending his hand to Sasuke from across the bed.
Naruto: Look forward to working with you partner.
Sasuke: Same here.

As both met in the middle, the boys were met with smiles Naruto, had brought an end to the storm.


                      &nb sp;                         &nb sp;                         &nb sp;  Chapter 23 end.


Sasuke: I guess asking everyone to just forgive me was too much, I can’t stay idle.
Tsunade: Are you sure you handle this?
Sasuke: Assassination? Sure, leave it to me.
Kiba: And so we get another bullcrap mission.
Raizen: Eh don’t worry about it, we’ll….hey isn’t that?
Kiba: Yura!?
Yura: Uh no, you’ve got the wrong girl!
Kiba: How many cat-girls do you know of?
Raizen: And there he goes.


Next time on Eyes piercing the darkness: Naruto vs. Sasuke: The Aftermath/Picking up the pieces.
Raizen: See you again soon.


Okay now that the chapter is over let me give a little after word. First, if anyone thought that Sasuke was still going to win, they haven’t been reading this story too well. Second: People probably caught onto this if they paid attention to when Naruto saved Hanabi, I openly showed that the curse mark could be over taken for this reason alone. Third: I do not write, nor read yaoi, so don’t read too much into the whole neck biting thing, fourth: Don’t think Sasuke just gets off with coming back or that I’m being too lenient, because his path is going to be anything but smooth just because Naruto brought him home. Fifth: Sakura/Raizen is now canon; Sasuke no longer plays a part in that. Sixth: Naruto doesn’t consider JJ his friend, he consider him his brother, which is much higher on the scale. And the next chapter is going to be the beginning of the end. The climax draws ever closer.

Canon/Omake #1: Bad influence.
JJ: Man is it good to relax once in a while.

He said as he leaned back in the hot springs of the leaf village soaking his bones after a long mission, looking over he gazed at his companions as they slowly moved to join him.
Naruto: Cannonball!!!!!

The resulting explosion of water hit JJ’s face like a tidal wave, making him frown as he turned over to his friend.
JJ: Was that really necessary?
Naruto: No, but it was fun.

He said with a cocky smile as JJ lifted an eyebrow and leaned back in revelation.
JJ: Oh yeah, I did that didn’t I? When we were in stone, right?

Neji sighed at the display and walked over to them, shortly after being joined by Raizen and Choji.
Neji: It does the body good to soak in the hot springs every now and then.
Naruto: Yeah, nothing like hot water to loosen up the stick out your butt huh?
Raizen: Heh, nice one.
Neji: No better than to tame the wild attack dog.
Choji: Nice comeback.
Naruto: You know what, I’m so relaxed right now, I’m not even going to argue with you.
Neji: Yeah same here.
Choji: ‘sigh’, this is nice.
Jiraiya: Isn’t it?

Those words received a start from all of the younger bathing customers.
JJ: Where did you come from?
Neji: I didn’t even sense him.
Jiraiya: I came here to do some research.
Choji: Research what?
Naruto: Don’t listen, this guy only researches dumb stuff.
Raizen: Like what?
Jiraiya: The bodies of naked women.

Aside from Neji and Naruto, those words gained a reaction from all the boys there.
Raizen: Is that so?
Jiraiya: Yes, maybe you all can help me with this.
JJ: I would be honored.
Raizen: How do I help?
Jiraiya: Just follow me.
Choji: Look this is enticing and all, but I don’t think we should.
Neji: It’s a waste of time, don’t listen to him.
Jiraiya: Oh really, well my sources let me know that the girls are all having a little bonding time on the other side of that wall.
Neji: Should that matter?
Jiraiya: Your girl’s in there too.

This was enough to gain Neji attention as he turned to the wall trying his best to fight his urges, but slowly the byakugan started to form, until Jiraiya stopped him.
Jiraiya: There are tags around here designed to alert if the byakugan is used.
Neji: I wasn’t-
Raizen: No need to hide it dude, we all saw.
Naruto: Then it looks like we’re doing this the old fashioned way.
Choji: Why are you suddenly into this?
Naruto: Those tags mean that if I’m careful Hinata-hime and Hanabi-hime won’t catch me.

He said with a smile as JJ grinned at him.
JJ: Yeah, he’s one of us. Let’s do this.

He said as all of them formulated a plan and gained access to the top of the wall, gazing down at the girls below.
JJ: Okay, remember the rule, only look at your girl.
All: Agreed.

With that said, they waited for the fog to clear, so that they could gaze upon their spoils, they could hear the voices of all the girls but the damned fog just wouldn’t fade. Then a sound happened upon JJ’s ear.
JJ: Did you guys here a crack?

All of the men looked at each other and then down to the wood wall they now hung on, and sure enough, it was cracking.
JJ: What the- It shouldn’t be….

After a long pause as they could feel the wood breaking below them, they all turned to Choji.
Choji: What?
Jiraiya: Next time, let’s try this when we’re not hanging with the heavy guy.
Choji: Hey don’t see any of you guys skipping meals.

And with those words, the wooden wall snapped, making the men fall and the alerting the girls, who all shrieked in shock. However, thankfully not all of the fog had been blown away by their landing.
JJ: Crap guys we have to-

When he turned to the group, he found that only Neji, Naruto and Choji next to him, for Raizen and Jiraiya had already ditched them.
Choji: Where’d they go?
JJ: I don’t know, but they had the right idea. Run!
All: Dipdipdipdipdipdipdipdipdipdipdipdipdipdipdipdipdip.

As all ran for dear life, they realized someone was missing and a single gaze back showed them that Neji was no longer with them, for he had seen the promised land, and it left him too stunned to move.
Naruto: Neji!
JJ: No, there’s nothing we can do for him now.

He said holding Naruto back as they moved away from sight, Choji however never stopped running until he got home. Later that night, they all gathered on the roof of the hokage’s manor and stared at the hot springs.
Jiraiya: Let us use this moment to remember our fallen comrade.

Jiraiya said with head hung low as they saluted the image of Neji in the sky, Neji for his part though was sitting in the Hyuuga manor, getting the mother of all lectures as he silently cursed those same men honoring his name.

Canon/Omake #2: Resolve.
Ishi sat silently as the rushing waterfall fell upon her, the chilling waters did little to clear her mind as Anko had advised, but she need to try. Strange memories had been returning to her as of late and her mind was losing itself in the confusion. So distracted was she that she hadn’t realized that Neji had joined her under the rushing torrents.
Neji: That expression is odd for you.

He said finally gaining her attention.
Ishi: I’ve had lot on my mind lately.

She responded, still holding up her ice cold demeanor.
Neji: Care to relieve some of that stress?
Ishi: I don’t think I can. My sister, I think I’ve met her before, but I somehow forgot it. But how could I forget someone like that, someone who used to watch over me?

As if simply asking that question was a curse, her scrambled memories began to flood forth once again casing her to flinch.
Ishi: This isn’t helping at all!

She shouted in a rage, her kind hearted nature being lost in her disillusioned state. She growled, almost past the point of tears as she tried to compose her, yet she failed miserably.
Neji: You’re doing it wrong.

Neji said, ever calm in the situation, paying no mind that the girl; in her confused state had almost snapped on him, before she found herself.
Neji: You have to relax, if you hold on to the tension consuming you, then you’ll lose focus. You must let your mind wonder, but hold it in place as not to stray toward distractions.

Ishi stared at Neji as if he were saying the craziest thing ever, and then she resumed her training, just as Neji had said. With a deep exhale she closed her eyes and focused only on Neji, her mind relinquishing all other thought beside the ones of the person next to her, as she did her memories began to flow back into her. The fond memories of her sister came back and formed together in a tangible stream. Ishi opened her eyes and said in a hushed voice.
Ishi: Neji, I have to meet her.
Neji: I know.

He responded without turning to the girl at his side.
Ishi: I don’t know what’s wrong with her, or why she’s with the people from that group. But I have to know what she’s thinking.
Neji: When that time comes Ishi-hime, you will not have to face it alone. I will stand by your side, no matter what you face, I will protect you.

Ishi closed her eyes without removing her serious expression.
Ishi: I love you.
Neji: I’m aware.

He said closing his eyes as well which gained a chuckle from Ishi.
Ishi: Will it kill you to say it back just once?
Neji: No. You know how I feel, so it’s easier for me not to say it.

Ishi chuckled once again and turned away from the boy.
Ishi: I’ll be glad to have you by my side when it happens Neji-kun.

Ishi leaned over to the side, resting her head on Neji’s shoulder, but the action quickly made it harder for her to withstand the rush of water and she was blown into the river below.
Neji: Ishi-hime!

He shouted diving in after the girl as she struggled to regain herself. After Neji managed to recover her Ishi looked to the side and sighed to herself.
Ishi: I think that before that I should learn how to swim.
Neji: One would normally do that before the sit under a waterfall above a river in the first place.

Neji stated looking down to the girl who despite almost drowning had never once returned to her carefree mindset. Ishi’s resolve was burning like a flame, she didn’t know what she was going to do or say when she saw her sister, but it was something that she couldn’t avoid, it would be dangerous, but she could find solace in knowing that she wouldn’t be alone when it happened.



Welcome all, to Story introduction corner.
Sakura: We have an intro now?

She asked gazing at the popping confetti and high production opening sequence.
JJ: Yeah, let’s just say that I came into some money.
Naruto: How?
JJ: Don’t ask questions.

He replied with an eerie smile.
JJ: Now what say we get this party started? Alright now who has the first question?
Choji: What is the difference between the marks Naruto gives?
Naruto: Well, let me put it like this, the fox demons of royalty are the only ones ho can give the mark of the fox’s right and left hand, but any fox can give the mark of the fox’s mate. As the latter says, it a way of showing affection and making the one’s who love each other eternally bound. Then there’s the mark of the fox’s right and left hand; this allows them to mark someone they trust to be their immediate subordinates, or course this is by choice. Once the mark takes place it amplifies the feelings that one has toward the person who mark them, such as in Sasuke’s case was friendship and trust, which boils down into loyalty.
JJ: And for only the fans out there; in Hanabi’s case, the feeling amplified was love, for her regrettably it’s literally impossible for her to fall in love with someone else.
Neji: Are there other demon clans or gods that can do this?
Yubiki: Yes, it’s like how JJ was able to make a pact with Ino, they are essentially the same, but different in certain ways.
Shikamaru: Speaking of which, what does that entail, I mean what are the perks of the pact?
Ino: There are many, such as being able to use his sword or having access to draconic powers. Besides that we can link minds almost instantaneously and merge our strengths together.
Ishi: Can you give an example?
Ino: No.

She said flatly.
JJ: You’ll find that out later. Now that I think about it, this is probably the only thing that really needed to be answer.
Naruto: Wow, that was a really short episode.
JJ: Yeah, well with the story going to way it is I don’t really know of any more things that really need to be explained that won’t ruin the rest of the story.
Sakura: True.
JJ: Well, I guess that’s it for us today, so to all my friends and fans.
All: Shine eternal!!!!!.
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