Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Regret Not A Thing ❯ Ch. 26: Samsara ( Chapter 26 )

Regret Not A Thing

By Mizerable

 

 

 

Ch. 26: Samsara

 

 

“Rin Pyou Tou Sha Kai Jin Retsu Sai Zan!”

 

“Fuuin Jutsu: Genryuu Kyuu Fuujin!”

 

The dragons poured from the mouth of the statue, the gates of hell, and swarmed hungrily around Naruto. His body was jerked from the floor and his very being was pulled away. It flowed out, faintly red, as if the air were filled with dried blood.

 

Madara stood off to the side and contributed nothing to the task. All was still carrying on according to plan. The losses the Akatsuki took were not really losses, not if its members fell so swiftly to children. Soon enough he would have the last piece of his personal puzzle, regardless of the rats still scurrying around the cave. Not to mention the Kyuubi would be returned to its rightful owner. And so Madara remained still, uninvolved, watching the events unfold with cool regard from beneath his mask.

 

* * *

 

Kankurou made a valiant, though ultimately weak attempt to keep pace with the others. His hand ached. His wrist ached. The weight against his back grew heavier with each step. He tried to keep his brother's face fresh in his mind. For what else was he doing all of this for, if not for Gaara's sake.

 

(This is a lie. But to acknowledge such a thing…)

 

He could spot Hinata's pale form cut through the darkness, over fallen rock, towards wherever Naruto was. He felt another weight, a mere phantom now, pressing down on his chest. The memory of a different body and a different trek from years ago. He watched Hinata and Shino all the while knowing that day four years ago was a play he had no interest in reenacting.

 

Kankurou felt himself unwittingly lag behind; his steps grew slow with ache and memory. Hinata was setting her feet and climbing over rock, pushing ahead as if she wasn't tired. As if she wasn't scared. As if she believed she couldn't lose anything else. Kankurou wished he had that faith of heart. That same faith that drove Sakura to push herself beyond her limits and save a life despite the stab wound in her side.

 

“I should turn back,” he wanted to say. He wanted to be selfish and run all the way back to Konoha. He'd return Sasuke alive and well. He'd never have to carry that weight of failure another year. After all, the ultimate goal that Kiba got himself killed for was just to get this guy home. Everything would balance out.

 

But his other selfish side wanted to stand by his brother and sister when this was all over. One happy family savoring the victory together. Everyone would be safe. He wanted to believe in that.

 

He forced himself to catch up with the group. Selfish he may be, but he liked the greedy side of himself that chose his siblings over anything else.

 

(Because he would never admit this was something bigger than just his family. Or that he'd carry that weight forever if he had to. It made the risk of failing far too many people far too large for his liking otherwise.)

 

* * *

 

The sun was just beginning to set when Yamato entered the tavern and it cast stripes of orange light and thick shadows about the room. He wore civilian clothing as a precaution; he wasn't quite sure who it was he was looking for in this place. The crowd was varied enough to make him question if Konoha was welcome in this place. He approached the bar and ordered a beer, seemingly casual enough, as he leaned with his back against the railing. It gave him the opportunity to scan the place without appearing to do just that.

 

“It's good to see a familiar face.”

 

He glanced to his right to find a woman seated a few stools down. Everything but her eyes concealed by black cloth. Tsunade had mentioned the call had been placed by a woman…Yamato supposed he could appreciate this person's sense of caution, but it only made his wariness deepen. It couldn't be this easy to just meet an informant out in the open like this.

 

“Have we met?” he ventured.

 

“In another life, perhaps.”

 

Her voice did sound familiar, tugging fiercely at his memory, though he could not place it. He watched her raise a drink, but she made no effort to actually drink it.

 

“You've made quite a bold statement,” he spoke with teasing note in his voice. He doubted anyone who chose to eavesdrop on them would gather the words he and this woman were sharing had very little to do with their present conversation.

 

“But a true one, nonetheless,” she replied glibly.

 

“I must say I find that hard to believe without proof,” an easy sort of smile, “Blackmail photos, perhaps?”

 

She laughed gently behind the thick fabric of her wrap. One had appearances to keep, and all. She slid smoothly from her seat and approached Yamato, leaning close to him as she perched herself on the stool next to him.

 

“Tell me,” she whispered, “Why the order to seek out your defected captain wasn't given until nearly two hours after the fact?”

 

Yamato's smile grew tight. It had been over nine years since former Anbu captain Uchiha Itachi disappeared and left his massacred clan in his wake. And, yes, it had bothered him that no one was sent to investigate the suspicious sounds coming from the Uchiha compound until well after the fact. Until everything had a chance to grow cold and still. However, it was an odd thing to bring up now.

 

“Is this to be a history lesson, then?” he asked as the woman leaned back in her seat.

 

“Hardly,” she replied dryly, “But you haven't answered my question.”

 

“Hmm…I suppose there had to be a good reason,” was his response, “One I hadn't been privy to at the time.”

 

“That's correct…in a sense,” she placed a hand on his forearm and he followed her lead, tilting his head down, “That boy chose his allegiance that night, and it wasn't the choice you're bound to believe.”

 

“I trust your next words will be chosen carefully…?” Yamato smile grew noticeably tighter.

 

“Would you believe he chose Sarutobi's order over Danzou's?”

 

Yamato's fingers unconsciously tightened around the edge of the countertop. Her accusation was a phenomenal one. For starters, Uchiha Itachi had supposedly been chosen by Sandaime for the Anbu. Never had anyone mentioned any connection to Root. Though given the age the boy had been when he obtained Anbu status, he supposed that made a bit of sense.

 

Even so, to believe Sandaime had given the order (or at least turned a blind eye) for the Uchiha Massacre…Did this woman expect him to trust her word alone?

 

“If what you say is true, why are you only coming forward now?”

 

“You strike me as a smart man. Surely you don't believe the Sandaime's enemies would disappear with his death?” she spoke in soft and cautious tones, “Root is attempting to silence the only people who know what happened. Rather convenient Itachi's dead and Sasuke's gone missing right when the Akatsuki appears to be on the move…”

 

“Sasuke? The Akatsuki?” Yamato narrowed his eyes. It appeared he didn't have much time left to remain subtle, “Just who are you?”

 

“Me?” she raised her glass again, “I'm just a ghost.”

 

* * *

 

Pain's six forms carried on with the extraction, despite the fact that it felt different than the other times he had performed such a ritual. And not in the way he anticipated. It felt as if something was missing. The raw chakra of the Kyuubi was still stronger and more malevolent than anything else he had encountered thus far. And yet…It almost seemed as the entire “essence” of the Kyuubi was not where it was supposed to be. But if wasn't trapped within this boy, then where was it?

 

Pain briefly had the opportunity to ponder if he should better adhere to his instincts when his bodies were jarred by a violent tug. The chakra that had been flowing so smoothly from the jinchuuriki's body suddenly halted before it seemed to rush backwards. Naruto's entire body seemed to glow a deep, pulsating red. The skin that had been scorched away by that wicked chakra seemed to regrow because of it. But what really drew Pain's attention was the vibrant light that was emanating from the seal painted on the boy's stomach.

 

Pain attempted again to pull the bijuu away from its host but nothing happened. It put him in mind of reaching a locked door. Now if only he had the key to open it…

 

I'm impressed, Jiraiya-sensei. You managed to find quite the student in Yondaime. For him to use a jutsu that even I do not know of…

 

Madara did not move from his position. He merely ground his teeth and silently cursed the fox's stubborn nature. He was sure Pain would find a way around whatever was blocking the extraction. No matter the failsafe that brat Minato had in place.

 

All in due time, Madara reminded himself. All in due time.

 

* * *

 

Kakashi and Pakkun raced through the winding cavernous paths; raced towards the source of that terrible chakra. Even after it abruptly vanished, it did little to put them at ease. Kakashi forced himself not to think about the Akatsuki's goal and what it meant for Naruto. Though he never thought he'd hope the day would come that he would want to believe Naruto only lost his temper and was lashing out with Kyuubi's chakra. Perhaps he'd only come to his senses…?

 

The corridor seemed to widen after they turned the corner and left them staring at the wreckage of an earlier battle. Assorted debris of rock, cloth, and broken puppetry lay scattered across the cave. One puppet in particular, with red hair and a sword through its chest, triggered Kakashi memory of a photo he'd seen in Bingo Book.

 

“Sasori of the Red Sands…” he murmured. He wasn't sure if he should feel relieved that (unbelievably lucky) group of kids defeated someone like Sasori, or terrified that this probably wasn't even the hardest fight they had to face. As he further scanned the area, he caught sight of a puddle despite the dim lighting. Though it unfortunately did not appear to be water. Pakkun was already sniffing it without prompt.

 

“It's…” Pakkun looked up at Kakashi frantically, “I think it's Sakura's blood.”

 

Kakashi's hands tensed into white-knuckled fists at his sides. Not again. He refused to lose yet another one of his precious people. Not like this. Not after they came so close to actually succeeding.

 

Just hang on. I'll make sure all of you get home safely.

 

* * *

 

Jiraiya moved just as quickly through the cave, though was deeper within the maze than Kakashi. He forced himself to keep going and didn't even pause to study Kakuzu's mangled corpse. It wasn't until he passed the door that something caught his eye. In the dim light, he thought he'd been seeing things. But he had in fact seen a white rose. He entered the cell and saw Konan lying on the ground. She was so very still with only a small trickle of blood trailing from her lips.

 

He stared at her mutely. He thought he'd heard rumors of her death years ago. But here she was; death only claiming her now. Though it was the sight of the robe she wore that hurt him the most.

 

He reached down slowly with a trembling hand to brush stray hairs from her face anyway. But he pulled away quickly. He could not bear to look at her. At a(nother) student he had failed. He wondered if Orochimaru was gloating from wherever he was in hell.

 

And maybe if he'd been more open with Naruto…Maybe if he hadn't broken that trust…Maybe, maybe, maybe.

 

I may have failed her, Naruto, but I will not fail you.

 

* * *

 

Pain rapidly tried to calculate the apparent “lock” that kept the Kyuubi from his grasp. He contemplated elements and seals, weighed the shape and texture of how the jutsu had felt against his mind. Its yin and yang. That thought alone dug at his memory and he felt as if he had just recalled something important.

 

But then there was a faint rush of air that passed each of his forms. Each spotted kunai sailing by, purposely off-target, and each eyed the tags tied neatly to the handles. The six jumped in unison as the explosives detonated and landed smoothly on the ground. Pain paid no heed to the jinchuuriki as it remained still as stone. That was not where the battle lied now.

 

His six forms flowed into action like liquid as his opponents presented themselves. Pain did not require the usual blood for summoning. The form with long hair drawn back into a tight tail drew his hands together into a seal, wishing to call upon a monstrous beast to end things quickly. Temari gave no such opportunity and forced him back with the swing of her fan.

 

Pain's “Asura” form, a man that could scarcely be called a man with his misshapen and nearly comical deformities, drew up behind her with his fist drawn back to strike. His hand met solidly with a wall of sand and unable to pull back as the sand stretched, reshaped itself around his arm. The fattened Pain, the “Hungry Ghost” stood to the side and fed on Gaara's chakra. It forced the sand to drop flatly from the air before Tenten slammed her bo staff against the back of “Ghost's” neck.

 

She landed lightly, already prepared to strike again, while the Pain with his hair long and loose formed a series of hand seals. He did not get a chance to use whatever jutsu he intended as he dodged the glancing blow from Neji's palm. Neji spun with the soft motion of loose joints and flowing silk; he ignored the form behind him and focused only on what was directly before him.

 

This suited that Pain with the face of a young Rain-nin who had not been satisfied with being only that. The Pain who began the ascent to god, the “Deva” form. His hand allowed a black, viscous spear to take shape and steadied his aim towards the blind spot at the back of Neji's neck. A mere Anbu mask could not conceal the Hyuuga blood.

 

That was until his body jerked to an unnatural halt. His other eyes can see the shadow stretched along the ground binding him in place.

 

The final form, with its hulking body and severe features, stood near Shikamaru. His eyes watched his movements intently but made no effort to attack. Yugito took his inaction as an invitation to attack. Her fingernails curled into razor-edged claws and cut through his throat in a spray of blood and gore. Though to her irritated surprise, the body did not fall to the floor. Rather, it melted into the floor.

 

“A poor assumption,” his voice seemed to echo within her head, “that my target was him and not you, Nekomata.”

 

Yugito's mouth twitched into a resigned sort of smirk. She could no longer see Shikamaru, or any of the battle for that matter. She stared at the cold stone stairs carved into the side of the mountain that would lead to the hidden village of Cloud.

 

“How clever…” Yugito muttered to herself, then shaped her fingers into the familiar seal to cancel the genjutsu.

 

The air around her seemed to ripple as the illusion faded away. It flickered once but, to Yugito's chagrin, she found herself still staring at the stairs leading to Cloud. No, she realized, he wouldn't let her go so easily. Not when he needed her (relatively) unharmed in order to extract the bijuu from her.

 

“So you would force me to walk the land of Naraku,” she murmured.

 

While Yugito could no longer see the fight, it certainly hadn't ended. “Asura” managed to evade Gaara's sand for long enough to knock “Deva” free from Shikamaru's shadow. Though it didn't stop the shadows from pursuing.

 

Further away, Neji dodged countless strikes from the long-haired Pain, who now wielded a black spear of his own. However, the constant evading made it nearly impossible to land a hit with his jyuuken. He kept back-peddling until he came into contact with Tenten and bent beneath the swing of her staff.

 

His opponent lunged forward with his spear with intentions to run the pair through. Neji took a moment to reach out and grab something from her weapons pouch before pushing off again.

 

“Kaiten!”

 

The jutsu forced the edge of the spear to glance off the wall of chakra it created, but “Ghost” absorbed the rest of the energy. Neji's target charged forward once more while Neji's spin slowed. But he was ready this time. He smoothly avoided the spear and his hand lashed out with the kunai he'd taken from Tenten, cutting his enemy's throat open and the body dropped limply to the ground.

 

“Deva” raised his hands to bring the fallen form back to life with casual ease. He hadn't counted on the shadow to take such a physical form as to rise off the ground and wrap around his wrist. Instead of using the resurrection jutsu, he formed a doton technique and a wall of earth rose from the ground. It severed the shadow's connection and bought Pain enough time to jump away after Shikamaru's jutsu scaled over the rock barrier.

 

Pain did not panic. He had five sets of eyes with which to survey the battlefield, even if his enemies were evidently up to the task of keeping all his forms occupied. And seemingly too easily, at that. It certainly made him wonder just how much they knew of his abilities. He could live with the fact the Uchiha Itachi had turned on the Akatsuki. Though even he had to give pause and contemplate how Itachi knew all “Six Paths of Pain” so deeply. Pain had never told of his secrets. He would have known if Itachi had dared try to spy on him.

 

Oh, he had his suspicions. But that would have to wait until after this matter was settled.

 

The Summoning Pain managed to evade Temari's attacks long enough to finally call upon one of his beasts. A centaur with tanned skin and sleek, black fur emerged armed with a bow and a quill of arrows. Temari bit off a few choice curses and knocked the assault of arrows from the air with a wide sweep of her fan. She knew her enemy was hardly being foolish with his choice of summons.

 

It's not me he's testing.

 

Across the battlefield, Neji and Tenten put “Ghost” on the defensive. Their enemy was preoccupied with trying to steal away Neji's chakra to avoid having his tenketsu closed; it left him open for attack from Tenten's many weapons. The frustrating thing being he could see all of her attacks coming towards him, but to defend against her left him unguarded against Neji. It had become apparent early on that the pair moved so fluidly together; they had to have trained and fought side-by-side for quite some time.

 

Neji, once again grateful that he also had full vision of the battle, sidestepped and caught an arrow as it whistled by his ear. He scowled as he stared at it in his hand. He'd already had the privilege of being shot down like this years ago and did not care to repeat it. It also raised some concern for how good of a shot that summon must be to get past Temari's defenses.

 

But it would appear he still had a bit of luck left on his side when “Ghost” took his inaction for distraction. He barreled towards Neji; he could feel the pull of “Ghost” tugging chakra from his body. It took perfect timing for all the other forms of Pain to be distracted enough not to see Tenten blindside “Ghost.” Her staff connected with the side of his temple with a resounding crack and a spray of brain matter.

 

Or so Neji wanted to believe that Pain hadn't planned for any of this. Hadn't been willing to sacrifice another one of his bodies. But Tenten seemed to move in slow motion, as if she hadn't heard him call her name. Time didn't seem to catch up until an arrow shot straight through her calf and managed to tear open the wound she earned from Kisame as an added bonus.

 

She fell into a graceless heap on the floor with a cry caught in her throat. Her eyes burned and her mouth opened but no sound came out. Her hand wrapped instinctively around the arrow shaft protruding from her leg. Neji was already racing towards her; that much she could tell through her hazy vision. But as she looked past him, she just barely managed to rasp out a warning.

 

Neji dove to the side just in time to avoid a suiton jutsu from “Deva.” Neji muttered a curse as he tried to calculate the distance between himself and Tenten, and where the other forms of Pain were. He'd expected this fight to be hard. Really, he had. But seeing Tenten injured like that when he had been so close to her…

 

Though judging the space between himself, the ongoing assault from “Deva,” and the speed that damnable summon was charging in for the kill, Neji knew with cold certainty that he would never make it in time.

 

Temari had given up trying to bring down the summon. Considering its size, it was profoundly aggravating that it could move so fast. She had her eyes trained on it, certainly, her body angled towards it. She brought her fan around in a wide arc with a frustrated yell. It was only in that last moment before release that she honed her focus onto the Summoner. The blast was a direct hit and the body hit the stone wall with a splendid snap of bone. She didn't pause to watch it slump down to the floor in a stream of hair fluttering loose and sticky red.

 

Another body down, yes, but it did not have the desired result. The expected one, nonetheless. Pain in the general sense was still alive, and thus the summon was still on the loose despite the lack of summoner. Temari didn't have breath to spare for cursing as she tried to outflank the beast before it reached Tenten. Tenten, who dragged her wounded leg like the dead weight it now was, tried to crawl anywhere that wasn't in the direct path of that creature.

 

Neji lost considerable ground thanks to “Deva's” round of jutsu. Though it seemed “Deva” had finally chosen to set his sights on resurrecting at least one of his bodies after the Summoner died. These were just rats, he told himself, though the added insurance was not exactly unwarranted. His fingers abandoned forming the familiar seals when he caught sight of a shadow dancing out of the corner of his eye.

 

The summon pulled back its bow and steadied its aim. It had a clear shot through the open expanse of the field. It realized a moment too late, as the arrows took flight, that they would not hit its intended target. Temari jumped in from the side, unnaturally awkward and desperate in her motions. She held the fan out in front of her body but wouldn't be able to turn to shield herself as well. She grit her teeth and felt a heated flash of shame for willingly leaving her entire left side in the line of fire.

 

A gash to her cheek, a terrible gouge just above the elbow. And a slow easy breath that that was the worst of it. A glance to the right showed Tenten had just missed getting shot through the hand. But she hadn't. She had no new injuries to speak of.

 

There's a half-second delay during which Temari felt vindicated and still-strong and not through with these guys yet. Then she took an unexpected punch in the kidneys with enough force to send her body careening forward. She lost grip of her fan and it clattered across the stone floor while she rolled to a stop mere feet from Tenten. She was too caught up in her momentary daze to spot which Pain had landed that strike.

 

Or rather, which part of Pain.

 

Gaara snarled as he swept his sand towards the hand that detached itself from “Asura” for that attack. His opponent had evidently anticipated the movement and even had the audacity to grin as his fist punched through the wall of sand. Gaara skid backwards as sand slid from his “cracked” jaw. That punch had hit hard enough for him to taste blood in his mouth. Really, Pain should have known better once Gaara was the one smiling.

 

“Sabaku Kyuu.”

 

Pain realized his mistake once the fine layer of sand covering the ground rose up to engulf him.

 

He planned this from the start. As to be expected of Shukaku's container…

 

“Sabaku Sousou!”

 

He'd forgotten what it felt like. What it was to enjoy the give of a body as it collapsed in upon itself under the crushing weight of his sand. Though he would be sure to realize (once the red haze no longer clouded his vision) he hadn't been this angry in a long, long while. For these bastards to go after Naruto (who was still unmoving, silent, almost as if he was—) and his sister…

 

He was going to run this place red.

 

“Temari-san, get up!”

 

Temari thought it strange that Tenten's voice sounded so far away despite almost being close enough to touch. She climbed shakily to her knees and glanced up at the centaur as it tossed aside its bow, as it reached for the broadsword strapped across its back.

 

I'm going to regret this, I bet.

 

She steadied herself into a crouch and dove forward. Her shoulder caught Tenten squarely in the chest and sent them both tumbling. She couldn't say what happened immediately after; her whole being felt jarred and disconnected.

 

“—mari—”

 

“—ri-s—”

 

“—te—an!”

 

Temari's vision flickered in and out as if she were catching pieces of film in between the static. She caught sight of Tenten's terrified face (there was blood on her chin now), of Neji blasting that summon with a jutsu. Hakke Kuushou perhaps…? Of the gaping slash that had been cut into her side from hip to thigh.

 

“Fuck…fuck!” Temari hissed as Tenten took hold of her shoulders and tried to drag her out of harm's way. It would seem Neji's attack only served to piss off the summon rather than cause any damage. Temari instinctively pressed her palm against the wound in some vain attempt to staunch the bleeding. Someone was still screaming her name. Was it Gaara?

 

No. Of course not. There was only one idiot that would lose his cool at a time like this. She tried to shout for him not to do anything stupid, but Tenten was pulling on her again as they dodged another swing of the sword.

 

“Temari!!” Shikamaru's mind went curiously blank as he charged out into the open. He didn't need another ghost haunting him, least of all hers. All his cold and calculated Anbu training seemed to trickle away from him as he set his sights solely on her. He didn't hear Neji shouting warnings, or the rustle of Gaara's sand rushing to his aide.

 

“You should know better than to turn your back on your opponent.”

 

It was only when “Deva's” voice was whispering by his ear that Shikamaru realized just how little he had changed over the years. His eyes hesitantly glanced down at the black spike piercing his shoulder. The shock of seeing the wound was actually more daunting than the pain at first. He tried not to think of what would have happened if Gaara's sand hadn't thrown Pain's aim off at the last moment.

 

“Deva” merely frowned at the disappointment of not being able to land the killing blow. He tugged once to try and free his wrist from the sand's grip before releasing a powerful raiton burst. It did its job to release Gaara's hold, as well as the added bonus of sending a violent jolt through Shikamaru.

 

But “Deva” didn't have long to relish the moment before dodging Neji's attempts at sealing his tenketsu. Shikamaru, meanwhile, hit the ground hard and pressed a shaking hand against his stab wound.

 

I'm almost out of chakra…how am I supposed to choose who to save?

 

Tenten blindly searched through her weapons pouch as she tried to decide what she could use to fight. She knew the centaur would be able to block or dodge any projectiles. She knew she'd probably have success if she laid down some explosive traps, but also knew she lacked the mobility to do so. She couldn't even walk at this point, let alone attempt to go hand-to-hand against this thing. Not to mention she couldn't abandon Temari.

 

Her fingers slid over one particular scroll and she frowned at the feel of it.

 

Well, there is always that. At the rate we're going, I don't think I have much choice…

 

And that was when she noticed Temari reaching for something. Her fingertips kept slipping, wet as they were with blood, before she got a grip on it.

 

“I know what you're thinking,” Temari growled as she pulled the fan closer, “And I have no use for suicide attacks.”

 

“What other option do we have at this point?” Tenten tried to keep her voice steady. But then Temari snapped her fan open and dragged her bloody palm across the surface.

 

“One that only may be suicide,” Temari even had the gall to smile, “Try not to kill all of us, Kirikiri Mai!”

 

“Geez, could you find a smaller place?!” the weasel grumbled as its sickles blocked the swing of the centaur's sword. The blades ricocheted off each other and one of the sickles swung wide, cutting deep into the cavern wall. The cave trembled violently and brought down a shower of rock across the battlefield. Temari crossed her fingers and silently prayed to anyone that would listen that this wouldn't turn into a suicide attack.

 

Amidst the chaos, Gaara took notice of Naruto's body still lying out in the open while debris fell around him. His sand reacted and managed to block a torrent of rocks before Naruto was crushed beneath it. He took this moment to hurry to Naruto's side himself; he trusted Temari's summon was going to finish the job. Even if it might take everything down with it.

 

“Naruto, wake up,” Gaara all but ordered, “We have to get out of here.”

 

He tapped Naruto on the cheek and pulled back abruptly.

 

He's cold. It's like he really is—

 

Gaara's eyes went wide, pupils now mere pinpoints.

 

…he really is…

 

Shikamaru forced himself to sit up, still clutching his shoulder, mind still fuzzy. It was only now in this brief gap of inaction that he really took notice of things. Over in a far corner, Yugito and that harsh looking Pain were staring at one another. And that was all. They just watched each other, regardless of the sky falling down around them. His brain was working so sluggish (probably a concussion, he reckoned) that it took a moment for him to realize they hadn't moved at all since the fight started. He felt stupid for his lapse in not remembering that particular Pain's specialty was genjutsu. But it begged the question, was Yugito also adept at such a fight?

 

Someone needs to break her out of it.

 

Shikamaru got to one knee before his legs gave out. He'd never get over there. The girls were both badly injured (and so was he because he kept making the same emotional mistakes over and over), Neji picked up where Shikamaru left off while trying to contain “Deva,” Gaara was trying to get Naruto to safety and looked like he'd seen a ghost.

 

No, don't think about it. Don't get emotional. Naruto is fine. Don't get yourself or anyone else hurt. Finish the fight first.

 

So he did the only thing he was capable of doing at this point. He yelled Yugito's name.

 

And Yugito found herself unwillingly climbing the well-worn stairs to her village and passing through its gates. The villagers were gathered there but she couldn't make out their faces. She could only hear their voices.

 

“You are a weapon and only a weapon,” the familiar words the Raikage had said to her so many years ago, “If you do not survive, then you prove yourself to be of no use to us. Your death would sadden no one.”

 

And still she walked.

 

“If you are captured, no one will come for you.”

 

She smiled wanly at each statement. She'd known this all along. Hearing it again did not change anything.

 

“You may think yourself to have the power of the gods, but the gods will not favor you.”

 

A flash in the corner of her mind. A hand held tightly in hers. The press of prayer beads against her palm.

 

“What need have I for the gods?” she asked aloud, “I have my fellow brothers-in-arms by my side.”

 

She reached towards her chest, towards the black thread holding her stab wound shut, and yanked it open with the pull of her claws.

 

The world exploded around her in a white-hot burning flash. She didn't recall pulling a kunai from her pouch, but she woke to reality atop her enemy still clutching the handle with its blade jammed through his eye and right to the brain. Her other hand pressed against her chest as blood seeped out between her fingers. She hadn't imagined it could have hurt this much the second time around.

 

And slowly her awareness expanded. The several Pain corpses littering the battlefield, the smoke and debris, a centaur getting decapitated by a sickle before both summons vanished with a pop. Her comrades were scattered, bloodied, battered. Alive.

 

Her chest hurt like hell (and hadn't she just pulled herself out of hell?) but she still forced herself to her feet. There was still one last body to take out to put this all to rest. “Deva” watched the Nekomata approach, watched Shukaku, the Hyuuga.

 

This cannot be.

I am not a mere man.

I have ascended to the seat of the gods!

 

He felt something latch around his throat and grip tight as if it were a bare hand. His hands automatically reached for his neck when his wrists were bound tightly in place. He could barely see it from the corner of his eye, but he recognized the threads of shadow wrapped around his arms all the same.

 

At last his eyes, the famed Rinnegan, sought the darkened corners of the cave. His final chance to escape. He could always acquire more bodies later. For now he would have to swallow his pride and beseech that man for help. But wouldn't it just figure that Madara was heading towards the exit.

 

Neji turned quick and threw a kunai, surprised when it embedded itself in the earth.

 

“Is something wrong?” Yugito asked.

 

“No, I thought I saw something move.”

 

* * *

 

Madara continued on his path away from that fight, comfortable with the fact that the Hyuuga never got a good look at him. Though he had to admit the boy had remarkable aim. He chuckled at the thought, even after a blast shook the area behind him.

 

And another bloodline falls by the wayside. What a pity.

 

* * *

 

However, when the smoke cleared a much different story unfolded.

 

“Damn it!” Shikamaru snarled, eyes darting across the cave.

 

“I've spotted him,” Neji announced, “I can pursue.”

 

“Not by yourself. We need to regroup,” Shikamaru decided as he began to sink to the floor again.

 

Neji opened his mouth to protest but Shikamaru cut him off with the wave of his hand.

 

“Don't argue with me on this,” and then softer, “Please.”

 

“…Very well.”

 

Neji took Shikamaru by the arm and hauled him back up. Slowly they made the trek to Tenten and Temari.

 

Tenten snapped the shaft of the arrow piercing her leg and pulled it out with a harsh tug. Neji was already tearing his sleeve and binding around the wound.

 

“Will the others be okay, if they cross paths with that Pain?” she asked through grit teeth.

 

“Should be,” Neji stated, “Lee is with them, after all.”

 

Neither talked about how Lee was exhausted and would struggle if they were going to be realistic about it. But the thought of Lee, and their faith in him, put them at ease.

 

Shikamaru was helping Temari patch up her hideous wound with shaking hands.

 

“You're a damn fool,” she groused and allowed herself to lie back down.

 

“I know,” he admitted plainly.

 

“Really, though. Haven't you learned by now you don't have to do everything yourself?” she sighed, “Have some faith in me.”

 

“Ah,” he couldn't help the nervous laugh that crept out, “My apologies.”

 

He vaguely took note of Yugito and Gaara off to the side. They were already by Naruto's side with grim expressions pulling their faces tight. He didn't like seeing that expression on either of them.

 

“How's Naruto?” Shikamaru called to them. He ignored the way Gaara's fists shook at his side. Ignored the way Yugito began looking up and around, as if she were searching for something.

 

“He…”

 

Gaara knew the words. They sat heavy and bitter upon his tongue.

 

“Naruto is…”

 

But they would not leave his mouth. He did not want to let those words see the light of day. It would give those words power. It would make them true.

 

“Naruto is…”

 

* * *

 

Madara walked along calmly towards his next destination, his next goal. Even the shuffling steps approaching from behind did little to deter him.

 

“Body…” Pain's mangled form came into view, “I need a fresh body. Any of those children will do.”

 

“And I suppose you want me to lay one at your feet?” Madara sneered, “Still haven't learned your lesson, I see.”

 

“After all I've done for you—” Pain growled before being overwhelmed by a wracking fit of coughs, “You told Itachi everything, didn't you.”

 

Madara ignored the accusation entirely.

 

“And after all the time you've spent in this world, I thought you would have learned people only help one another to further their own agendas, Rikudou,” Madara paused in thought, “You should have realized your folly by now. You sought to take the powers the gods granted you and make yourself one of them. Thus you've been cursed to walk the wheel of life until you learn from your grave transgressions against the heavens. Yet after all this time, here you are.”

 

“You're a hypocrite,” Pain's back slid down along the wall.

 

“Hardly. What point would there be for me to become a god when they already kneel at my feet.”

 

“I'll learn just how successful you are,” a final gasp, “In my next life.”

 

* * *

 

Hinata was climbing over rubble, hands grasping at rock and pulling her body through a small opening. It was here that she cursed her eyes, her own blood, for letting her see so far. She didn't see the Madara. She didn't see Pain. She saw Gaara standing over Naruto's body. Saw him mouth the words. Saw Neji at last remove his Anbu mask with trembling fingers. Saw the tears drip from Shikamaru's chin.

 

Those words…Those feared, hated words…

 

She lost her grip and her back hit the stone ground hard enough to steal her breath.

 

“Hinata!” Ino cried out while she and Shino rushed to her side.

 

“What happened?” Shino found his throat to be oddly tight, “What did you see?”

 

“He—They killed—oh god they—!” Hinata stumbled and tripped over her words as the floodgates opened, “Naruto-kun, he's—”

 

Ino's eyes instinctively shot up to Sakura and completely missed as the blood drained from Lee's face. Sakura hid her own within the crook of his neck while she gripped his shoulders white knuckle tight.

 

“That idiot,” her voice keened, a wounded animal.

 

Four years ago. A sunny autumn morning. That silly nice guy pose.

 

“I'll bring Sasuke back. It's the promise of a lifetime!”

 

* * *

 

This was an older story. A myth, if you will.

 

A tale of a man granted abilities from the gods themselves. But he was but a man, and power without wisdom rots all to the core eventually. And so he walked the earth time and again. He bore witness to the gifts he once shared with the world when he'd been a better person. Before he tried to claim them for himself.

 

But the man could never forget the power he once held. How he wished to reclaim what he once had. He tried on many forms, yet none fit as well as the first. That body the gods had once chosen as their favorite.

 

But he tried again. A child who was granted a teacher beyond measure. The boy was weak in and of himself, but he could be shaped. He could be made great. And so he'd reached out with blackened hands and tried the body on for size.

 

The child only recalled a body lying at his feet with no memory of how it got there. It was a convenient story. No matter the time or the person, they always believed such a story.

 

But that child grew from a weak boy to a weak man. The body did not perform to his liking. Even took a nasty injury. But the boy had companions. Ones with passion. Ones with revenge in their hearts. Revenge was a thing he understood well enough.

 

Let the gods try to rule a world once there is no one in it. Perhaps they would understand what it feels like to lose everything.

 

So he slid into his next body. An angry, driven young man. Ah yes, this was what he'd been looking for.

 

The final companion, the young woman, looked oddly at him but once. He had a clever story for this change, as well. But she was smart. She likely didn't believe the lie. But she never questioned it out loud.

 

She knew what it meant to lose everything, after all.

 

At least she saw a familiar face staring back at her, even if those eyes didn't belong there. Even if the body didn't always match, either.

 

It was better than nothing.

 

To be continued…

 

* * *

 

Author's Notes: There are quite a few Buddhist concepts when it comes to understanding the character “Pain” that I'm not sure everyone is aware of. His six forms are comparable to the six lower paths a soul can be reincarnated as, depending on the sort of person they were. Some of this we've seen in the manga. The rest is my own conjecture.

 

Naraku: This is actually the realm of hell, which contains several sub-realms depending on the crime a person committed while alive

Hungry Ghost: The person remains constantly hungry/thirsty no matter what. It represents the greed and desires that the person sought while alive.

Animal: People return to earth as animals rather than humans to represent their foolishness and prejudices from their previous life

Human: This is somewhat of a limbo stage. People have the choice to learn from their mistakes, live well, and achieve enlightenment. Or not.

Asura: Known as demigods, or even the “fighting demon.” This stage is when a person achieves great power, but is still aggressive and violent in nature. They may have even been good, but committed wrong action such as harming others and must learn from it.

Deva: A stage of happiness and comfort, that beings often forget to work towards enlightenment due to such a stage of indulgence. It is referred sometimes as the gods' realm, as these beings are far more powerful than humans. However, they never gain true god status or attributes such as immortality, omniscience, etc.

 

The title of this chapter “Samsara” is the Sanskrit word for the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.