Chapter 38

Naruto and Ino stepped to the edge of the cliff, waiting for his family come to terms with what they had to do. Naruto watched as Kakashi took Sumire in his arms. The silver haired man spared him one last look. "Naruto… I am sorry we have let you fall as far as you have… in a way, we are all to blame." He said with true remorse in his tone. "I wish it could have been different." With his piece said, he began to limp towards the edge.

Naruto watched him go for a few moments. "So do I… Kakashi…" he called out. The silver-haired Jonin stopped his walking for a slight second. He didn't turn around, but he did stop to take those words in. In his mind, those words were said from the mouth of the younger Naruto. The one before this. That's how he chose to remember him. Not with that disturbed mask on his face. With a heavy heart, he left them to the battle of their fate. Knowing only one side would emerge.

With him gone, Minato looked up to Naruto, no one moved, they just remained in their spots, staring at each other. "Naruto…" He called out hollowly. "Regardless of any of this… or anything you've done in the past… I am proud of the splendid shinobi you've become… I always have been." He said getting that piece off of his chest while he still could. To him, and to all of them… they knew this battle would end in the death of either them, or their opponent. There would be no mercy here.

Menma spoke up next, having something he wanted to say as well. "…I don't know if it will mean anything to you… but… when we were younger… the only reason I did anything I did… was for you… That's why I wanted to start my training so early… I just wanted to catch up to you… Seems like I never did." He said with a hollow chuckle, gulping down the lump in his throat.

Kushina didn't have much to say either, but she did have something. She sighed, trying not to cry in front of them. "I don't know… why you did this… I don't know how much it means to you… But…" the flood gates were starting to open. Lucky for her, a crack of thunder seemed to kick start the rain that began pouring down incredibly quickly. "This is the life you chose… and no matter… no matter what the context." She said with a sad giggle. "You found someone who loves you… Someone who lets you see the world… I'm so… happy for you." She said sincere in her words.

Naruto still had not said anything. He was just watching them, his eyes tracking whoever was talking. When they had all said their piece, he looked out towards the sea, watching the violently twirling water below. Finding it poetically fitting with the situation. "Watch me as I sleep and smile when I wake… Before you lay me down again, remember my last words. We will always be as we always were. Complete, even as broken as we are… we will always be complete. Believe me when I say it, because I'll say it once more. We will always be…"

His words ended there and he inhaled deeply. He turned towards the group and steadied himself.

"I know how troubling this can be… family facing off against family. I've seen this scene plenty of times." He said garnering confused looks from the three. He shrugged his shoulders. "I read it in a book… Many books actually. It seems a common thing for family to kill each other… these situations make for the best stories after all." As he was talking, he was readying himself for the coming battle by removing his jacket. "Maybe it be by some sickening design of humanity to have some disturbed thoughts of killing our own family." He unsealed his sword and strap, placing it around his form. "As common as it is, you'd have to assume something along those lines, right?"

Seeing him getting ready, everyone else did as well, allowing the sounds of the thunder and rain to accent Naruto's words as he spoke.

"There used to be a methodical way of writing a good book. In fact, I think Jiraiya was the last person to use such a tactic." He said drawing his sword and swiping it in the air to test its balance. "There will never be an author as thorough as that old pervert." He said with a chuckle bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet. "As grotesquely perverted as he was, the man knew how to write when it wasn't all smut and porn. As did Tsunade now that I think about it… hmm, lot of good authors from Konoha." He said shaking his head. "Anyways! I'm getting off topic." He said finally stopping. "Let's not waste such a beautiful day…"

Everyone stopped all movement. They stared each other down, no one moving an inch. The rain and the crashing waves eating up most of the surrounding sounds. Minato and Menma held their tri-pronged Kunai in reverse grips. Naruto holding his lone sword the same. Ino's swords were also reverse grip and Kushina wielded hers as a true swordsman. The rain between them falling without mercy gave away no intentions on either of their sides.

In the very next flash of lightning, the battle was on. Menma threw his kunai forward and flashed to it, instantly being kicked back by the red head who followed after him. Minato flashed to Menma and grabbed his hand on the way, simultaneously sending a kick towards Naruto that missed him completely. Before Naruto could slice him in half, his blade was parried by his mothers who came rushing in. Naruto flipped to his feet and landed in the arena. Before Kushina could rush towards him, she was drop kicked and sent flying over the side of the structure with Ino diving off right behind her.

Naruto watched the Kunai headed his way become many as they all surrounded him. To his surprise, both Menma and Minato began flashing towards the Kunai, kicking up a light show of bright yellow with each Kunai they flew to. Evening the odds, Naruto began flashing to all of them as rapidly as they were, his red mixing with their vibrant yellows.

Appearing at a tag with Menma, he ducked beneath his swipe at his throat and thrusted his sword forward. Menma flew away, just before it hit him. Naruto flashed away as well, leaving his sword standing up next to a tag. Flashing to another one, Naruto jumped avoiding his father who nearly caught him in the thigh. He flashed to another one and jumped back, avoiding a slash for his throat, on his way back, Menma flashed behind him, hearing a yelp of pain, he knew his plan worked. The flashes died out as Naruto jumped away from the two. Minato turned to see Menma with a sword sticking through his calf. Naruto had placed it upright, knowing how carelessly Menma jumps, he knew he'd flash to the tag without thinking.

Menma pulled it out and nodded to his father who nodded back. Minato created a Rasengan and flashed to a kunai close to the redhead. Naruto expected it and jumped up, avoiding the blast. As he did, Menma came lunging at him with one of his own, he felt his father grab his ankle, not only holding him in place, but also placing a tag on him.

Naruto twisted his body awkwardly and grabbed onto Minato's arm. He used his downed body to pull himself away from the attack from his brother and quickly sent Minato flying with a kick to his chest. Menma recovered from his missed attack and rushed back in. On the way, he scooped up the discarded black sword and threw it as hard as he could.

Kushina flipped back along the water, eventually planting her feet onto the side of the jagged rock formation behind her, flipping up that as well. The blade that was thrown at her impaling into the side. Ino rushed forward and plucked the blade from the stone. She chased the red-headed woman, delivering slash after slash. Kushina was an expert with a blade. She blocked each attack the blonde girl threw her way, even managing to maintain enough distance to avoid the attacks on her pressure points.

Blocking another slash, she stabbed into the rock beneath her feet and slashed upwards, pulling a chunk with it. With the force of gravity, the rock shot towards the blonde who had to cut through it in order to stay on the side of the rocks. As soon as she did, Kushina was dropping towards her with both of her feet out. Ino had no time to dodge and took the skyward drop kick that sent her rocketing towards the water. She stabbed her sword into rock and righted herself. Kushina had done the same and when Ino began rushing forward, she did as well.

Ino planted one of the swords into the rock sideways and continued on, apparently wanting to face the woman in a single-bladed battle. The two locked blades for a second, before Kushina used the weight of her gravity against her and forced her back. Ino quickly got her control back and rushed forward, slashing violently at the red-haired woman. Kushina was once again put on the defensive as they climbed higher and higher. Finally getting some room, Kushina cut her chakra and nosedived towards the surprised blond. She swiped her strike out of the way and tackled her.

The two went into a stumble along the side of the rocks until Ino finally got her senses back. She grabbed onto Kushina's ankles and spun violently before throwing her towards the water, falling right behind her. On the way, she plucked the sword she had stuck into the wall out and threw it down after her.

When Kushina's back hit the water, she saw the sword and the blond headed her way as well. Quickly, a chain flew from her back and knocked the sword off its path. It headed straight for Ino's unprotected form, but she punched the side of the rock formation and threw herself further out towards the sea.

Landing on the violent waters, she waited for the red-haired woman to resurface. Her eyes lit up when she saw a glimmer of gold beneath her. She jumped, avoiding the chain that almost impaled her and she was forced to keep jumping to avoid the many that followed after it. Looking for the source, she finally saw her surface and stand atop the water as well. With a deep breath, she cut the chakra to her feet and used her knowledge of water jutsu to propel her around the rapid currents, trying to flank her.

While underneath, she found herself trying to dodge the same chains that had been chasing her earlier. Figuring she'd have a better chance up top, she resurfaced, shooting through the air and jumping away to avoid the strikes. She began circling around the rock formations hoping to confuse the red-head or at the very least test her and see how far these chains could be extended. She weaved in and out of the bottom of the rock formations created just the day before.

Kushina saw her plan but went along with it anyways. Her focus was lost when a booming sound came from the top of the Arena pillar. It was followed by the sound of rumbling before something flew from the side of the pillar, splitting the top of it in half. Whatever it was shot out with a trail of smoke. When it finally broke through, it was Menma who splashed down and hit the water.

She looked back to make sure the blond girl was still running from her chains before making sure Menma was ok. She saw him scramble back up to the surface with a grimace, but he seemed fine. "Tou-san!" he yelled looking up to the top of the formation. Kushina traced his eyes and saw Naruto rushing the stumbling man with a sword in hand.

Thinking quickly, she yelled with effort, tightening her chains enough to completely shatter the rock formations at their base, bringing the rest of it down as well.

Naruto was thrown off balance by the sudden quake and noticed that it was starting to lean, he looked out towards the sea and leaped away. Landing on the very violently churning water, he steadied himself and looked back towards the three who regrouped. On the other side of them was Ino, standing on the flattened piece that still remained above water.

Their three opponents turned to each other and seemed to discuss something briefly before nodding to each other. Menma and Kushina turned and ran towards Ino, clearly planning on taking her out quickly then ganging up on him with no distractions. A sound plan in his opinion. He stared off against his father who began walking towards him.

"It's a sad day when a father faces his son in battle… especially when death knocks at both their doors." He said, loud enough for Minato to hear him over the sound of the rain and violent waves.

Minato shrugged his shoulders, still trying to catch his breath. He took off running towards the red-head in a slow trot before he built up to a sprint.

Ino ducked under the lunging blonde Kage and blocked the slash from Kushina who came up next. She kicked her in the knee sending her to the ground before rolling out of the way of Menma's stomp that cracked the rock beneath her. She got to her feet and rushed him, picking up her discarded sword and slashing at him. He was forced to swivel out the way, having no Kunai left to defend himself.

Ino nearly slipped against the wet rock, giving Menma his chance. He punched her in the stomach, hunching her body over and making her drop her blade again. As he did, his mother came flying over-head and gave her an axe kick to the back of her head. Ino's mask hit the ground, cracking in half. She rolled out the way, avoiding Kushina finishing blow. Getting to her feet, she was kicked in the chest by Menma, sending her tumbling back out towards the water.

Righting herself, she stood to her feet and went through hand signs. A ball of flames shot toward the two as if there was no rain at all. It hit the spot they were previously standing. They were coming in two different directions now and she knew she'd have to make it back to Naruto if she had even the slimmest chance of survival. Just as they came in with an attempt at a high low attack, she sunk down into the water and shot off with Kushina's chain chasing her.

Propelling out of the water, she jumped from right to left avoiding the chains trying to drag her back. Naruto was only a few more yards away. They worked better together so if she made it, they had a chance. She was surprised when Menma appeared in front of her, kneeing her in her now unprotected face. She felt the blood rush into her skull almost instantly. With no time to recover, Menma delivered a round house kick that sent her skipping across the water.

He ran over, not wanting her to get up. When he thought she was about to, he went for a kick that would have landed had she continued her same movement, instead she cut her chakra, slipping down into the water. Menma jumped away, avoiding her as she popped back up with a kunai in hand. He had her tagged so he could expend a little room. Inhaling, he flashed back over to her and tried to punch her in the face. Ino's reflexes were just too quick and she leaned out of the way and kicked him in his weakest spot. Menma hunched over cradling his baby maker until he was kneed in the nose in revenge.

He stumbled back and Ino was already rushing him with the kunai until her leg was impaled by Kushina's chain. "Argh!" she yelled out in pain. Menma quickly righted himself and went to punch her in the face. Ino cut the chakra to her feet once again and sunk down into the water. Kushina yanked her back out, allow Menma to hit her in the gut. Before he could get another hit in, a flash of red appeared before he was kicked in the chest and sent stumbling away. Naruto plucked the chain from Ino's leg and jumped back.

He landed and immediately began healing the injury while keeping an eye on the others. "That'll lessen the pain." He said forcing her to stand back up. "You gotta keep fighting Ino." He said casually as he placed his hand over the Hiraishin seal they placed on her. She nodded and looked at the three that now surrounded them. She and Naruto stood back to back, staring them down as well.

Again, the battle began with a brief flash of lightening. Menma and Minato ran forward while Kushina stayed back trying to catch them with her chains. Ino rolled over Naruto's back, kicking Menma's leg away before he hit Naruto in the side. As he stumbled forward, she jabbed him in the throat. And kicked his chest before rolling into him, avoiding the chain that split her and Naruto apart. As the chain came rocketing towards her, she flipped back.

Naruto stuck his hand up and grabbed Ino's. Yanking down, Ino kicked out, stopping Minato's run and kicking up the water, hiding his view momentarily. Before it even fell, Naruto's foot has soared through it catching him on the chin and sending him flying back. Naruto jumped back, pulling Ino with him avoiding the set of chains that almost impaled them.

They landed a ways back and he began going through hand signs. Ino spewed out some kind of oil that sprayed and clung to the water and Naruto burned it with a stream of flames. Menma jumped to the side, ignoring the technique and rushed forward, slashing at the two. He jumped over the kunai Ino threw his way and kicked her backwards. Reaching Naruto, he engaged him in a battle of taijutsu before somehow getting the better of the redhead and kicking him back.

Naruto got to his feet and rushed forward with Ino following close behind him. They both jumped, avoiding the chain from below. Menma chased after Naruto going through hand signs. In a poof of smoke, two more of him appeared next to him. The three rushed forward throwing punch after punch that refused to land. With his much superior taijutsu abilities, Naruto was able to dispatch the two clones.

So caught up in the fight, Naruto's foot was impaled by a chain and he was yanked forward. Acting quickly, Menma formed a Rasengan and slammed it into his chest. It tore through skin and bone with ease, sending Naruto skidding back against the water.

Menma watched as his tumble was stopped by a rock he hadn't seen there. Ino ran to him, screaming his name in a panic. He did it… they did it… Ino dropped to her knees and cradled Naruto's bloodied face in her hands. "Hey!... Hey! You're alright!" she yelled out frantically. "Naruto… Hey!" desperation and sorrow were clear on her visage. "Naruto! Please no! Don't do this to me! God damn it!" she yelled slapping his chest.

Minato came up next to him and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Menma… finish it." He said handing him a kunai. Menma stared at it tragically for a few seconds before walking forward. Ino didn't even turn around to look at him. His chest was hurting… in fact, so was his thigh… and his arm… and his head.

Turning around, he heard his mom calling his name… At least, he thought he did. She was back there in the distance screaming something. He couldn't make out what it was, but it was something. Yeah… yeah it was definitely his name. What did she want at a time like this? He was just about to end it all. He was so close to ending this whole thing. All he had to do was…

"Wake up!" his mother's voice finally rang through his head. His eyes opened up and half his body was submerged in the water below. He blinked a few times wondering what happened. He looked up to see his father fending off against the both of them. But… he killed Naruto already. "Come on Menma." Kushina said. "They got you with some kind of toxin. Luckily you've got the Kyubi." She said. "You probably would have been out for days."

Menma blinked a few more times before shaking his head and standing back up. Damn, they got him. "Come on Kaa-san." He said rushing back in. Kushina followed him back and they rejoined the fight.