A few men were crouching on different spots on the ground. They had their hands placed on the ground; and were holding a purple like barrier.
These people were none other than the clones of the Anbu commander.
The man couldn't believe what he was seeing; the entire moon was now covered by dark clouds; and the atmosphere had changed totally.
Only he knew, what horrible battle was going on in the base; and if the chakra that he felt was any indication, then the mission was just about to be completed.
He had been ordered to form a barrier by the Hokage, so that no one can find out what was happening, while Naruto performs the mission.
So here he was, witnessing one of the most terrifying nights of his life.
"This is going to end soon," thought the Anbu commander
Rei couldn't believe what she was seeing; could a man even possess such power?
She had to immediately jump away as several layers of ice was released from that sword; the speed of the attack was immense; as it destroyed all the remaining wooden pieces of her attack.
She watched in shock, as the ice freezed the wood, to the point that the wood could not be seen anymore due to the fog inside the ice crystals.
"Tick" said Naruto calmly
Rei's stared in horror, as the ice that had freezed her wood broke and destroyed the entire wood along with it, the only thing left of the wood were small dust particles that were flowing in the air in minute crystallized forms.
"My Mokuton...he destroyed all of it?" thought Rei in fear,
Danzo had told her Mokuton was so strong that it can subdue tailed beasts, but it seemed even it had a weakness.
And that weakness was Ice!
If it came in contact with ice, then it affects its molecular structure and slowly it starts to rot; due to the water in the ice, and with such powerful ice attacks; she could not defeat Naruto with wood style.
She felt outclassed, what had she trained for?
She had a dream of surpassing Naruto, was it really just an illusion, was this man even a human at all?
"How?...You should be dead...I ran the stimulation over and over again...how can you destroy my mokuton like it was nothing?" asked Rei impatiently,
Naruto smirked on hearing that, she was strong but still she had a long way to go,
"Susanno..."
"What is Susanno?" asked Rei in confusion,
"In exchange for your life, Susanno can turn imagination into reality. It is a forbidden Jutsu of the Uchiha clan, which only a few have been able to achieve," said Naruto patiently
"I don't understand..." said Rei with a frown,
"Only those who possess exceptional spiritual chakra can use this Forbidden jutsu, Susanno is the power granted to the Uchiha by the Sage of Six paths..." stated Naruto seriously
"Sage of Six paths?" asked Rei curiously, was it the name of a god?
"The founder of the shinobi world, the man who taught humans how to use chakra; and the ancestor of the Uchiha and the Senju," said Naruto deviously
"Impossible," said Rei in shock, even the Root Anbu were shocked, there were only myths about the Sage; did Naruto really know the truth?
"Thousands of years ago, humanity was on the brink of extinction. A certain creature was destroying the entire world...the creature was the ten tails..." said Naruto mysteriously
"Ten tails? Are you out of your mind?" asked Fu in disbelief
"Believe what you want, the Juubi was destroying the world, and in an effort to save humanity the Sage of Six paths took some of the Juubi's power. This power was called chakra, and he mastered it; since the chakra was originally a part of the Juubi who was claimed to be as powerful as a god, the Sage of Six paths received unbelievable power; one which was a thousand times greater than my own," explained Naruto
"Captain...this sounds too good to be true," said Rei firmly
"History is forgotten as time passes, but there is a relic that showed me the truth, and the reality of this world; one which was written by the Sage himself. Only those who possess visual prowess like mine can find out the entire truth. The Sage was able to defeat the Juubi, but as it was an immortal creature he could not kill it, so he was left with only one option," suggested Naruto, he was hoping his daughter was smart enough to pick up the hint.
"He sealed it into himself, and became a Jinchuriki like you," said Rei thoughtfully
"So he has told her about me being sealed in you," said Kurama bitterly
Naruto didn't reply, but that didn't mean he was not going to punish Danzo for this.
"Yes, but time passed and the Sage's life was coming to an end, so in an effort to save the world from the Juubi, and with the help of his own visual powers he sealed the Juubi's body into a statue and hid it forever; he then divided its soul and chakra into 9 different parts...these nine different beings will go on to become the nine tailed beasts of this world.
The Jutsu used to create the tailed beasts out of the Juubi was called the Creation of All things. It was based on the Shadow and Light styles: The Shadow style was based upon mental energies that control imagination and create form out of nothing, while the light style was based upon physical energies that govern life and were used to instill life in these beasts...
The Senju and Uchiha were originally one and the same, the Sage of Six paths was our ancestor, so while the Senju inherited the Sage's physical power and body, the Uchiha inherited the Sage's visual powers and spiritual chakra..." explained Naruto briefly
Everyone was quite shocked to hear this, they were listening to some of the most darkest mysteries of the shinobi world.
"But what does it have to do with Susanno?" asked Rei sharply
"Susanno emerges from the spiritual power of the Uchiha, however in order to take shape it uses the Yang chakra i.e physical power of the user too," said Naruto simply
"But didn't you say, Uchiha got the spiritual power, while Senju got the physical power?" asked Rei in confusion
"Yes, that is true however every human whether they be Uchiha or Senju possess both Yin and Yang Uchiha have strong Yin chakra, but they do have Yang chakra in their body too, thought it is not as strong as the Senju. Similarly the Senju also possess Yin chakra, but not as strong as the Uchiha," said Naruto flatly
"So how does Susanno take your life?" asked Rei quickly
"Susanno consumes the Yin as well as Yang chakra of the body. Since Uchiha do not possess powerful Yang chakra like the Senju, the more they use Susanno the weaker their Yang chakra becomes, until it vanishes which creates an imbalance in the body which ultimately leads to the user's death, however there is one way to avoid this.." said Naruto with a smirk
"What is it?" asked Rei suspiciously
"That is a story for another time.." said Naruto with a smirk
"Teme...what is that sword, and how can this thing fly?" asked Rei angrily
"She's quite hot-headed, but she is trying to buy time in order to gather her strength back," thought Naruto analytically
He didn't mind Rei's pitiful efforts, soon everything would end; and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
"Every Susanno possess heavenly powers, one which are totally dependent on the power of the user, this is one of my Susanno's powers :Hyorinmaru. The strongest Ice sword in the world, it not only helps me control the weather but it also converts water into ice, as long as I have water or can convert water from the atmosphere, the power of this sword is unstoppable," explained Naruto in detail
"But this Susanno looks heavy, how can you make it fly?" asked Rei curiously
"Hyorinmaru decreases the weight of the Susanno, allowing it more flexibility due to being less heavy. It also increases its swift movements, and produces strong ice that can handle the weight of Susanno..." said Naruto simply
"Who are you really?" asked Rei with a little fear in her voice,
"I am Uchiha Naruto, descendant of Uchiha Izuna, and I possess the power of both the Uchiha as well as the Senju...because the Uzumaki were relatives of the Senju, and fortunately for me and unfortunately for you, my mother was an Uzumaki. I am the Second Sage of Six paths," said Naruto seriously
Rei gritted her teeth in anger, could she really defeat him? Was it even possible?
"You teme...with your power, you could have helped Danzo-sama bring peace to this world..but you destroyed everything," yelled Rei loudly
Naruto just glared at her murderously, this was something he would never accept.
"All of you believed in Danzo, because you wanted to find solace in your pathetic existence, that man is a demon," said Naruto angrily
"Shut up...Danzo-sama is a good man, he cares about all of us," said Rei in protest
"Did he make you, kill your best friend?" asked Naruto sadly,
Rei's eyes widened on hearing that, this couldn't be true, her Danzo-sama would never do such a sin.
"LIES!LIES!LIES!" said Rei furiously
"Each of us lives dependent and bound by our individual knowledge and our awareness, all that is what you call reality. But this world is full of lies, your reality might just be an illusion, do you know what Danzo Shimura has done?" asked Naruto sharply
"Stop it, don't listen to him" said Torune hurriedly, if she found out the truth; then they were done for.
"What do you know?" asked Rei doubtfully, indeed there were somethings which she found doubtful about Danzo. The man did care for her, but on some occasions she had seen his eyes, and the devious look in them.
"He ran an illegal organization, in order to fulfill his own agenda. He abducted children from orphanages, and made them his ultimate killing machines. Each and every one of us is a killing machine, do you know what is the final test in order to become a true Root Shinobi?" asked Naruto sadly
"I don't know...Danzo-sa...had said only the strong could become Root," said Rei hesitantly, she doubted; she even wanted to call such a man by a high honorific anymore.
She didn't want to believe this, but it seemed the truth. The people who stayed with her in the base, were more like machines than people. They never talked with her, unless she asked a question, and would constantly watch her.
The only thing she learned were ninja arts, and Danzo trained her personally, if Naruto was telling the truth then her entire life was a lie.
"You have to kill your best friend, the one with whom you trained, laughed, shared your feelings. You have to kill him, and become a true Root shinobi," said Naruto shamefully
"That's horrible..." said Rei in shock, she doubted she would ever be able to do such a thing
But then she realized something that made her eyes wide as saucers, she looked at everyone with a new fear and anger in her eyes.
"So all of you here...killed your best friends?" asked Rei in disbelief
"Yes, each and every one of us killed the one closest to us," said Naruto flatly
"You all are monsters...how can you do such a sin? NO! You are lying, Captain Naruto!" yelled Rei angrily, her entire body was shaking
"Let me show you," said Naruto darkly
"Tsukiyomi"
Rei felt herself being drawn in some alternate dimension, she now seemed to be standing in a white plain;
"What is this?" asked Rei out loud,
"My foolish little Rei-chan..."
Rei heard Naruto's voice, she turned around but there was nobody; suddenly everything around her turned black and she found herself standing in a village.
She watched a small blonde boy being chased by mobs, and to her horror; he was caught and was getting beaten up.
He looked no older than her, then her eyes widened in shock when she saw those blue eyes.
"This is my story..." came Naruto's voice
She watched how some old man and a few masked men saved the boy, from there she saw a man named Kakashi adopt Naruto.
A small smile came on her face, as she watched Naruto and Kakashi's time together, their plays, was this how a normal childhood felt?
She saw Naruto's interactions with his friends, their laughter, and all the warm feelings made her want to experience them too.
"But then they came..." said Naruto in a sad voice
Rei watched Naruto train in a small training ground, she was very impressed that her idol was so strong at her age; his talent was so great. But then she saw something that shocked her to the core.
She saw the intruders were none other than Root Anbu.
"Don't do anything to him!" yelled Rei in fear, as she watched the Root Anbu attack Naruto; how could they attack a child with intent to kill?
Her despair increased further as she sensed Naruto's fear, and she further watched in shock as Naruto plunged his kunai straight through one of the Anbu's heart.
"He killed him!" thought Rei in shock,
She then noticed something that made her realize the first thing which she and Naruto had in common: The Sharingan.
"They did the same thing to you, didn't they?" asked Naruto sadly
"How do you-" asked Rei with tears in her eyes, she could never forget that memory.
The day when she had accidentally killed one of her caretakers, when he had attacked her. Danzo had forgiven her quickly, but now everything made sense, it was to activate her sharingan.
"I know everything about you..." said Naruto seriously
She watched Naruto's meeting with a beautiful women named Kurenai next, and she felt a little relieved as she saw Kurenai eased Naruto's pain with every passing moment.
The next moment, she saw Naruto being surrounded by Root Anbu in the forest of death, and they brought him to a base.
"He is the son of the fourth Hokage.!" thought Rei in shock, as she heard Danzo reveal Naruto's truth
Rei completely understood Naruto's feelings as he made a decision to Join Root.
"He was not a bad person, he just wanted to protect his village and family," thought Rei warmly
Then a boy named Konohamaru appeared, and she heard Naruto's happy voice
"This is one of the best moments of my life..."
A few tears slipped up from Rei's eyes as she watched the heart warming love between Naruto and Konohamaru.
However she suddenly found herself standing on top of a cliff, and then she saw something...
"And this is where I lost...my brother," said Naruto in a choked voice
She watched in horror as Shin practically made Naruto kill him, and all of this happened on Danzo's orders. She felt Naruto's pain, his despair, his helplessness, his hands that trembled with Shin's blood.
And finally the activation of his Mangekyo Sharingan...
"They made me kill my best friend...I killed the one closest to me...I am a murderer" said Naruto sadly
"You are not a murderer...you are not like that, Captain" said Rei with tears in her eyes, Naruto's story broke her heart; did Danzo really do such horrible things to him? Was everything a lie?
"Yes I am..." said Naruto darkly
She watched closely as Danzo told his plans about the coup, and the role Naruto had to play in it.
Rei was amazed to know that Naruto was the main player in this coup, a move that Danzo would regret forever.
"They took everything from me...so this was my choice...Watch REI UCHIHA!" yelled Naruto's voice
Rei watched in horror as she saw Naruto butcher one Root Anbu after another, the blood, the screams, the fear. But she felt his pain when he killed each person, the sadness in his heart, she felt all of it.
Naruto's sword cut every person that came in his way, she saw his horrifying blood soaked body, the murderous look in his eyes; he had turned into a monster.
A monster that Danzo created for his own personal benefit.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
"Stop it, I can't see it" pleaded Rei
Immediately the world around her disappeared, and she found herself standing in the same spot in the Root base.
She saw Naruto floating in the air with his Susanno, blood was leaking from his eyes; but her sharingan eyes also saw the tears in his eyes.
Rei immediately felt all her strength leave her body; she fell straight on the ground; her sharingan faded away too, but she never averted his eyes from Naruto.
"Why...did you do such a thing?" asked Rei with tears in her eyes, even though Naruto was done injustice he had no right, to commit a massacre.
"This is my revenge Rei, this is the path I chose..." said Naruto firmly
"You became the monster they wanted you to be!" said Rei loudly, her entire body had become numb; and she knew unconsciousness was approaching her.
Naruto averted his eyes from her, despite his reasons he had killed hundreds of people and that could never be changed.
"You are telling me that you butchered every single person in your way...for your revenge only! Many of them had been your friends, your teachers, your comrades...and you killed everyone of them, there is something you are not telling me...but despite all of this.." said Rei weakly
"This is what Root and Danzo truly are...they destroy people's lives, and I am putting an end to this madness once and for all. It ends here," said Naruto firmly
Rei's eyes started to close, and with her last strength she said a few words; that her heart wanted her to say, but she didn't know the impact which they had on Naruto.
"I forgive you," said Rei tiredly
Her eyes closed as unconsciousness overtook her, but she had learned one thing today...that Naruto Uchiha was not a bad person...but just someone who had a bad life.
"I promise, I'll save you from your darkness,"
These were her last thoughts before she drifted of to sleep.
Naruto couldn't believe what he had heard, did she say what he think she said?
"Kurama did she truly mean that?" asked Naruto with tears in his eyes,
"I sensed no false feelings in her words, she meant what she said," said Kurama happily
Maybe some good did come out of this meeting, now was the time to save Naruto from his madness.
"Naruto, do you really want to die? You are telling me, you will abandon such a child and let her live her life as you did?" asked Kurama quickly
"No" said Naruto hesitantly
"Are you that stupid that you would make Kurenai kill you? That woman loves you more than anyone, is that how you repay her back? Would you make her live the rest of her life in despair? Are you that selfish, you fucking COWARD!" yelled Kurama angrily
"You don't understand anything-" said Naruto but was cut off, when he heard Kurama's next words
"Shin would be ashamed of you!" said Kurama confidently, this was the moment where Naruto's future would be decided.
Kurama knew if he failed, then the world would be facing another Madara. He had been trusted by the Sage of Six paths to help the child of prophecy bring peace to this world, and he truly believed it was Naruto.
The boy was the only one to accept Kurama as a living being, he accepted him as a friend, despite everything.
He wouldn't let a good soul like Naruto fall to the Uchiha's Curse of Hatred.
Kurama, the Nine Tailed Fox, would save his friend at all costs, even if it was from himself.
"That's not true!" said Naruto in shock, will his big brother really be ashamed of him?
Naruto remembered what he had done to Kurenai in despair, he had not thought about her feelings at all. He had been so selfish and had only thought about his pain, he was truly ashamed of himself, and even Shin would be ashamed too.
"What have I become? This is not me, I'm not a monster...I'm...I'm..." thought Naruto slowly
"You are Naruto Uchiha of Konoha, and my friend. You are the savior of this world, you are the one who has to bring peace in this world, it was Shin's dream after all, don't you remember?" asked Kurama tactfully
Naruto's eyes widened as he remembered what his best friend's dream was; and what he believed in. It was Naruto's personal dream too.
"You (cough) are the savior of this world...I just wish I could have seen the peace I desired."
Shin's parting words still rang in his ears, he wouldn't let anyone down. He wouldn't make anyone suffer for his mistakes, he would repay everyone for whatever happiness and comfort they gave him.
He loved Kurenai, he had made a mistake which he would amend as soon as possible, he would try to be the best father for his daughter.
Naruto would fill Rei's life with love, he would give her the best life he could, and apologize for all his mistakes.
He was going to save Konoha, and come back alive from Operation Ghost with his friend Sai, no matter what happens.
Shin, was his inspiration; he had sacrificed his life so Naruto could live. He wouldn't let it go in vain.
"Nii-san..." thought Naruto passionately
"Kurama...I had forsaken myself, my friends, Kakashi, Anko, Jiji, Shin, Sai, Tsunade, Konohamaru, Emiko, Kurenai and even Rei. I have fallen so far...I'm ashamed of myself and my actions," said Naruto shamefully
A wide smile came on Kurama's face, he had succeeded, maybe there was still hope left for this world.
"Come Naruto, I will help you reclaim yourself," said Kurama proudly
The light in Naruto's eyes reappeared, tears freely flowed from his eyes. He felt happy, he had a purpose, he was the savior of this world.
Naruto Uchiha had broken free from the Uchiha's Curse of Hatred