So I'm doing something different for this, and starting out with Naruto's pov. Again! First time for this book. I'm surprised it took so long to do a back to back Naruto chapter set. I got my wisdom teeth removed so the recent gaps in the chapters are due to this, I was planning on getting these written out faster but things happen and can't be helped. 

Anyways, hope you enjoy!

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The place we were led to started with an opening but turned into a cliff face with a waterfall at its center, with a small patch of land in the middle of the area the waterfall fed into. It separated itself like a miniature island, clearly the place of focus.

"Is this the waterfall?" I asked, to which Bee nodded.

"Yes, kid. This is the first test... the test that you must overcome in order to tame your beast within. You must face your true self, and only after can you win. It's not easy to get past this phase. It took me a while, and it's no joke. You can discover what you must get past, so you can work on getting here fast. Yeah!" Bee explained, making me look on with more interest.

"What does he do?" Itachi asked for me, setting a hand on my shoulder.

"Sit on that patch of land and meditate, you cannot move once you start, or nothing will happen." Bee pointed to the obvious patch of land I was staring at when we arrived. 

"That's it?" Sasuke questioned.

"It's all it takes." Bee nodded.

Approaching us from the far end of the clearing was Yamato, still holding a mug of coffee but looking more awake than earlier. He seemed to arrive a little late, considering my freak out resulted in the Nine Tails saying hello to Sasuke's skin.

"You've got this. Go ahead." Itachi coaxed me forward toward the waterfall.

I rolled my shoulders and rubbed my hands together sheepishly before moving forward, eyes tunneling on the spot I was to sit on. It reminded me sort of like my training to get Sage mode.

I still have those two clones somewhere I could use later on for the rest of the trials, but first, I wanted to get a taste of what was to come.

I sat myself down and folded my legs, placing my hands in my lap as I concentrated on letting my mind focus on the sound of the water. Mumbling voices faded away as I got still and comfortable, keeping my eyes closed as I let everything else wash away.

With this space of meditation, my mind reflected over everything that has happened recently, having absolutely no break for air since. There is so much to process... it's so heavy.

"It's disgusting... isn't it?" A voice suddenly hissed above the rushing water, making my eyes fly open with shock.

"Wh-what?" I straightened up in alarm, looking around to find no one with us.

I was alone... I was where I needed to be for this.

"The state we were left in by that Filthy pest, Danzo. It makes me wish we killed him instead." The voice from beyond the waterfall sighed, a figure appearing just beyond it, making me shoot to my feet as I recognized the voice. "I have to give him credit, though. He taught us a great deal, even though you can't remember anything of it. He made us powerful, albeit a bitch."

It was mine.

"Wh... so, you are my true self?" I asked, somehow feeling growing tension in the air as he crossed through the water, red eyes staring back at me with so much rage it made me flinch. "You remember everything from that genjutsu!?"

"Hn." He smirked at me down his nose. "Tell me something, why do you try and act like you get along with them? The people of our village, this world, they don't deserve our help. Why help them in this stupid war when you could very easily allow Madara to crush them all?" He asked, making my jaw drop in disbelief.

"Because they are my friends! Our friends! There is no way you're me!" I quickly and defensively shouted, getting riled up at the thought of everyone dead.

"We can have them tire Madara out and go in for the kill once he's exhausted himself. Let's face it, you weren't anything to anyone until we defeated Pain. The village treated us like garbage, your friends treated us like garbage, Sasuke never liked you... and never will. Itachi only loves us for our blood. We mean nothing unless we have use. Danzo solidified this when he subjected us to his indifference." This other me snarled, walking forward, causing me to walk backward. "We are nothing more than a monster out father selfishly created. He sacrificed our quality of living for the better of the leaf. We never mattered."

"That's cruel! No one is being sacrificed! No one hates us! You're wrong!" I shouted back. "We do matter! We matter to Jiraiya! We matter to our friends! I matter to Itachi, and he loves me for more than just my blood!"

"Are you going to continuously torture yourself like this forever? Convincing yourself that we are more than what we currently are? If you have to convince yourself... and make yourself believe that people care more than its further proof that they don't. It's no wonder the Nine Tails takes a liking to me... I'm smart, and I know how to take things at face value. In my eyes, you're the imposter... not me. You feel hatred, anger, and sadness constantly, yet you shove me down your throat and pretend I'm not there. You pretend to be someone you're not for people who are already dead!" He shouted, anger bubbling in his face. "ENOUGH!"

"I won't fall into the endless cycle of hate! I can't, or I'm no better than Nagato and the rest of the Akatsuki group! I'm NOT going to turn my back on my home and my friends! I'm NOT going to cause anyone else further pain!" I shouted before charging at this imposter.

I will defeat this!

"No, you won't. I'm not going ANYWHERE!" He bellowed before coming at me as well. "YOU CAN'T STOP ME! IM YOU! I KNOW EVERY TRICK, EVERY JUTSU AND THOUGHT YOU HAVE!"

Our fists collided with each other, and we both began to try and knock the other out, throwing kicks and punches to no avail on either side. We gave each other identical bruises and cuts from various blades before leaping away from each other.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" I brought my hands up, feeling an army appear behind me.

One hundred to be exact. However, the other me smirked and held up the same sign.

"Shadow Clone Justu!" He shouted with a smug grin.

I balked as an identical number of clones had met my eyes, making me feel increasingly irritated and at a complete loss on what I needed to do in order to get past this guy! I threw my arm down, and my clones charged forward, him doing the same, leaving us staring the other down, him with an annoying smirk and me with a glare. Despite the loud number of clones clashing, his voice carried over them, and straight into my head easily.

"Why can't you understand... how pointless everything is?" He asked me, eyes flooding with pain, taking me completely off guard.

"I'm not just going to give up because life gets increasingly hard." I reminded him, standing straight. However, my visual on him vanished.

I tensed, eyes widening  as a cold blade pressed against my throat. I went to move, but pain rippled through me from my neck, making me freeze.

"He had us... under his knife... our source of pain, and you were worried about Sasuke more than yourself. You took a knife to your gut. Itachi attacked us at our weakest moment rather than trusting us with his identity and problems, causing us a great deal of fear and pain... after the hell Danzo put us through. Sakura only cared about our well-being after we saved everyone from Pain. Sasuke doesn't care about us... Yamato has to watch us constantly for any sign of Kurama's chakra. He always looks unhappy and frustrated... and I'm sick of Itachi treating us like we can't look after ourselves. Why can't you see these things? Do you willingly look past them? The signs of false alliance? The signs of liars... disgusting glares!" He hissed, the blade shaking against my bleeding throat.

I stared forward with a heavy frown, watching the waterfall spew and our clones killing each other.

"Why do you try so hard to be someone you're not?" Danzo's voice whispered in my ears, making me grimace. "You are nothing more than a tool of war... that's exactly what I'm going to embed into that stubborn skull."

"They don't hate us. Itachi loves us... he really cares." I spoke tiredly, feeling like a broken record as the last of our clones killed one another. "He may be a bit overprotective and possessive, but that's because he can't help it sometimes. He's super relaxed and chill most of the time. He listens when we talk. He worries about drinking too much, and I've had to make him eat for his own well-being. I'm not going to let him starve for my sake. Sasuke shows signs of care. He asks me questions about myself sometimes when he isn't brooding, and he shows worry about me... especially earlier when we were still at home." I explained.

"You think they like being dragged out here? We burden them. We've always been a burden to everyone...!" He growled.

"..." I frowned heavily, eyes looking up to the sky, starts burning above us. "I know that. But I'm not going to give up."

"I have." He hissed into my ear, and red eyes walked into my view with such an amount of anger and pain that my eyes widened.

It's the same look I wore when I found out Jiraiya was dead... maybe he is me...

I went to speak, but he ripped his blade against my throat hard, making me yell out in pain, eyes flying open and grabbing my throat. I started coughing, panting heavily, suddenly sitting down and trembling by myself as if I hadn't moved from my spot at all.

"Naruto!" Yamato and Itachi both called in unison.

They, along with Sasuke and Bee, moved up to me. Itachi was next to me quicker than everyone else, appearing in a flash and kneeling at my side with a wide look of concern. He grabbed my shoulder, making me jump before relaxing under the familiar chill.

"Are you okay? What happened?" Itachi asked me, eyes glaring at my throat to see if I was hurt, eyes growing confused along with worried.

"That guy... looked exactly like me." I hissed, rubbing my aching throat. "We were evenly matched. He had all my jutsu and fighting down... so that's... my true self, I need to get past him?" I asked, looking up at Bee, who stared back with a firm look.

"Yes, it's vital to your success. You feel me?" He tilted his head to the side in understanding. "You have to face the hate inside your heart or your doomed to fail."

I tensed but nodded, looking down at my hands in complete disbelief. I really held all those horrible thoughts in my heart, all of those doubts, and all of those heartless ideas. I gripped my shirt where my heart was, twisting my fingers in the fabric. My eyes looked over to Yamato, his eyes tired and watching me with what looked like exasperation. I felt doubts leaking into my head the more I lingered... the more I stopped shoving them aside.

The more they took root and stayed around.

"Well, we should probably get to the next trigger." Sasuke piped up, beating back the tension I didn't know had formed until he spoke up.

I nodded and rose to my feet, uncomfortably fidgeting with my fingers as we began forward back to where we were training beforehand. I fell behind Itachi, letting him walk in front of me, walking beside Bee while I hung back near Sasuke, who was watching me with that calculating neutral face.

"You okay?" Sasuke asked me.

"Mostly." I replied, watching everyone walk.

"Hn, don't lie. You're extremely tense. Relax, dweeb." Sasuke huffed and grabbed my shoulders, making me realize just how tensed up I was.

I did my best to relax, and he let me go in favor of folding his arms. His eyes studied me for a moment before he let out a sigh.

"It will be alright. You have this annoying talent to get what you want through stubbornness. You actually spar pretty good when you want to. You've improved." Sasuke complimented, making me jolt.

"Th-thanks." I spoke in honest surprise. "You too. You're very quick on your feet and in the heat of things."

"Likewise." He hummed. "Thanks... by the way." Sasuke spoke up.

"For what?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Finding me in the land of iron. I probably would have done some extreme things. I was still high on anger about Itachi's truth. I was going to pulverize the leaf... what was left of it anyway." Sasuke shrugged at me.

I gave him a week smile in return. "I'm glad I found you too. You needed someone to snap you out of your path before you did something stupid."

Sasuke huffed and rolled his eyes. However, he smiled to himself, looking forward. "Yeah... it would have been pretty stupid. Don't get me wrong, I'm still angry at everything, but it's not so bad right now. Its... strange."

"It's okay to be angry. I may not fully understand your pain. But I get it. You lost everything close to you for so long and resented someone who loved you and saved you from the same fate. I'd be angry, too." I admitted, thinking back to Jirayia... to Nagato.

"I want to kill you so bad I can't stop shaking!" My words rang through my mind.

The tone of pure hate, blood lust, and pain. The same feelings swarms inside... making me sigh and fold my arms too, rubbing at my elbows to try and ground myself here instead of being stuck in a memory I'd rather not relive. That was somehow harder than facing my dad before I completely lost it. Jiraiya's killer stood in front of me, a former student of his, and I chose mercy over vengeance. It took every ounce of my strength... and because of that, he revived everyone he had killed.

Entrusted me to bring peace to this world.

"Hey, Sasuke?" I mumbled out, feeling a wave of sadness overcome me.

"Hn?"

"How do you... manage this?" I asked him quietly, but I still saw Itachi twitch and look over his shoulder at me with a worried look.

I ignored him in favor of looking back down at my feet, watching where I was walking.

"Manage what?" Sasuke asked, sighing. "You need to be more specific."

"The pain of losing someone close to you." I answered, letting my feet stop and pausing where we stood, watching Itachi keep everyone else moving forward. "The hell that comes with it."

Sasuke grunted and stopped as well, looking surprised by my question. 

"It... feels heavy. Like some physical weight in my chest holding me closer to the ground. It makes it hard for me to breathe or even move sometimes. "I admitted, not looking up at him. "Ever since I lost Jiraiya, it's been hard. He was the only one who actually... got to know me willingly. He genuinely cared about my well-being and weathered all of my complaining and slow moments. He endured each fight and was there each time I lost myself to my anger. He raised me a little, ya know?" I winced, hating the way my voice cracked. "I faced his killer... I thought I could live up to Jiraiya's beliefs, but when the time came, I still... I couldn't... I couldn't forgive him.

"It's not just him. I can't forgive my dad for cursing me with this life. He didn't have a choice, but... I'm still angry. He didn't do this to me out of malice. He did this because he believed I could handle it. Because of that, I grew up craving what everyone else had. I wanted normal problems... I wanted curfews and homemade meals. I wanted hands to hold and parents to give me attention. Instead, I grew up in an empty house... I never had a curfew, no friends, no family. No one told me what was right or wrong. My problems are insane compared to everyone else's. Madara Uchiha is literally wanting to hunt me down and kill me for Kurama's power in order to basically destroy the world." I hissed, anger boiling in my veins. "And what's worse... is that I'm hoping he does find me... because I want to kill him so badly it hurts! I want him to pay for what he did to me... my parents... Jiraiya!"

Hands grabbed mine off of my arms, making me realize I had dug my nails into my skin and drew blood. I slowly looked up to Sasuke, seeing red... not because of Kurama but because of my anger.

Sasuke searched my face for a moment before letting my hands go in favor of grabbing my shoulders firmly, but not tight. He looked at me with raw emotion, understanding on a level I thought no one could even have with me.

"It doesn't go away." He replied, staring straight into my eyes, making mine widen a little. "That anger only festers until it shows its head. The weight gets lighter with time, but it stays too. Everything stays, but you can change how it affects you. People celebrate the past Hokage for gifting them with philosophy and protection. People celebrate their parents long after they've died and appreciate what they've done for them. That wound will be bittersweet one day, and you will celebrate Jiraiya's teachings. He helped shape you into the man you're becoming, and he's watching to see how you turn out.

"When the time comes for you to face Madara, you must decide what path you choose, but I warn you, don't let him decide it for you. If you do that, then he's won before you go to land the first blow. Revenge doesn't solve anything. It only brings more revenge." Sasuke spoke, making me stare at him in complete shock. "It doesn't help."

Like...seriously, where the hell did the real Sasuke Uchiha go!? His whole life has been about...

Ah...

Who would understand this better than Sasuke Uchiha. He grew up hunting Itachi over what he did to him, overnight just slaughtering his kin, torturing him. Sasuke grew up with this hate and let it consume him to the point of no return. Even after he killed Itachi, he kept hunting for more. Seeking vengeance wherever he could get it, ending with Danzo as Itachi came back after knowing the truth.

He must be suffering inside from that... knowing he killed his brother over something he couldn't prevent or help. Knowing why he was spared, why he was kept in the dark. Getting revenge didn't make him feel better at all. Did it?

Killing for the sake of revenge only breeds more hate.

I sighed heavily, looking down at his chest, suddenly feeling much more tired than I was five minutes ago.

"I'm sorry you went through all the things you did." I spoke up, smiling sadly. "Who am I to say my issues when..."

"Now, this is just sad." Sasuke groaned. "It must be an edgy phase... it's not like you at all. Your hatred really stung you in the ass didn't it?"

"Yeah... heh, it did." I shrugged my shoulders. "It was a jarring experience."

"Get over it. It's nothing more than a bump in the road for you. You get through literally everything and everyone to date. This is the same thing, except instead of someone else in pain, screwed up, or needing saving, it's you, your issues, and your baggage. Heh, it may even be therapeutic. If that really is you, then help him." Sasuke grumbled.

"Mm..." I hummed quietly, looking ahead of us. "So... what does your subconscious say about everything then? Half the reason we are here is for me to get better, but also to round up some animals and see if they'll be helpful."

Sasuke looked to me and then back at the path ahead, getting us into the clearing where everyone was waiting.

"If it's really Madara Uchiha that we are up against. Animals are useless. If you get better we should leave immediately. We don't know when the war will start, if it hasn't already. We'd be faster, stronger, and better than any animal. You can make hundreds of clones, and I can burn entire forests to the ground. We have a man whose physical strength probably outdoes Guy's and a trained anbu member. That's what I'm thinking. Take down Madara Uchiha before he destroys everything. All the nations can agree to peace after that due to the common enemy. It's a perfect chance for unity." He pointed out.

I paused mid-step, eyes bugging as my thoughts clicked.

The fourth great war will really be the war to end wars. If we win... we could forge World Alliance.

World peace.

Jiraiya's words about the hate of this world rang in my head, making me smile to myself and close my eyes as I walked forward. A small bubble of hope spread in my chest as I realized this was true... if the nations got along for a unified war... we will all.... get along.

Like Nagato said, those who suffer the same pain learn the importance of peace.

"Right. Well, let's get this over with first so I can get to my training." I huffed and moved to my spot, standing in waiting as Bee moved over to the chest. 

However, he did not open it. Instead, Itachi moved to the center of the clearing and locked eyes with me, making me tense in confusion and apprehension as all he seemed to do was stare at me.

At first, I didn't understand... but soon, everything around him changed, not physically, but it felt off. The air grew thicker, the silence grew louder, and those eyes suddenly sharpened, making a chill run down my spine. His eyes grew cold and unforgiving, harsh and driven. There wasn't chaos, only stillness, an eerie stillness as those cold eyes drilled onto me. It was like daggers stabbing into my head, a vision of my death playing in front of me as a violent wave of blood lust hit me, shocking me, disturbing me as all he did was stare.

"War is hell... you shall finally fulfill your purpose and let us rise as the greatest nation, Jinchuriki." Danzo spoke, his cold eyes forming in my head. "It's begun, thanks to your efforts. You shall finally become the weapon you were always meant to be. Now kill... kill them all... and kill all who get in your way, even if it's your own friends. If they oppose, you kill them. If they fight back, you kill them. If they hesitate, you kill them."

I shivered and let my chakra course through me, resisting the want to cave under the will of Danzo's stare. His commanding eyes demanded authority, the eyes that demanded violence and total rule. One was normal, and the other was a red sharingan threatening to torture should I refuse the order.

Cold.

I felt panic swell as images flashed then, a river of red by my feet, dead friends, dead people, bodies of tired war survivors panting over comrades and enemies alike. Dead women, men, children, and animals strewn across dead ground. The soil was a red mud, I was covered head to toe in it, panting, exhausted from days of constant fighting. The collar around my neck stabbed into me as I ripped my arm from the last dead shinobi from the resistance.

I had honored Danzo's request, I had killed those who stood in my way. I had killed so many I lost count, and I lost myself to madness along the way. I was a weapon with no face... no name, no personality, no freedom. I was a tool... who served its purpose. The war was over... I was useless now.

"What should I do... now that everyone is dead? What do I do?" I mumbled out, staring with cold eyes out at the vast expanse of dead bodies.

"You return home at my side. You will await your next mission and help me rebuild this world into a united nation ruled under my foot. The Akatsuki are dead. The opposing nations have allied with us and surrendered their forces. The feudal lords gave their power to me. We won." Danzo smirked and patted my head. "None of this could have been possible without you. And now the tailed beasts are mine to distribute and create more weapons. We are unstoppable."

"Half of the population has been slaughtered by this war. Everyone is in pain, Lord Danzo." I numbly whispered, eyes roaming over mourning Shinobi, screaming and crying, no feeling of victory coming to them. "They mourn the dead. They don't celebrate anything. Should I dispose of them, too?" I tilted my head, raising a blooded hand, tired and nearly completely out of Chakra.

"No, this it part of war. Everyone cries... but it unites us all. Leave them to grieve. Let us be off, back home." Danzo huffed.

I blinked, and I was back in the clearing with Bee holding a fist to my forehead. I was slow to process the change this time, not reacting violently but feeling numb and worn out all of the sudden. My vision blurred over as a sudden wave of pain crashed into me, pain unlike anything I'd ever felt. It was horrid. It knocked the wind from my lungs and numbed the rest of my body. It was so horrible I couldn't react, I could only stand still as Bee removed his hand.

Itachi was beside me, those eyes worried, soft, kind and loving, completely different. It was scary how easily he was able to shift his mood and intentions. I keep forgetting his strengths and that no one here has ever seen Itachi go all out in a fight.

"Are you alright? I'm sorry for doing that... but it needs to get done." Itachi apologized, frowning heavily.

I took a few moments to catch my bearings, trying to treat what I had just seen, like a dream. I shuddered and took a few deep breaths.

"No, I'm not okay. But, it's alright, it wasn't real." I reminded myself, trying my best to calm down.

His eyes wore a look of guilt and dissatisfaction, but I only looked back at him with a weak smile, silently reassuring him that he was okay and that I wasn't mad at him, if anything else I was impressed by how quickly he can shift into battle mode like that. He seemed unsure still, so I leaned and gave the side of his face a quick peck before rolling my shoulders. The tiredness didn't leave me alone, and instead festered until it came to a head, fatigue taking over my body quickly. 

"You look about ready to faint." Yamato huffed and moved to my side, creating a bench out of wood for me to fall back on with a soft push from his hand. "Rest up and lets take a break." 

"We need to get these triggers sorted." I argued, going to stand, but Itachi pushed me back until I was sitting again, making me frown up at him. 

"Lay back and rest, you're going to pass out at this rate, love." Itachi caressed the side of my face with his cold fingers before taking a seat next to me, rubbing my shoulders to ease the tension from them. "Mental work like this is a different kind of exhausting, unlike physical training, only naps and breaks can help a mental tiredness, Naruto. You're making good progress." 

"I got over chains, that's it." I huffed. "I wouldn't call that much progress at all." 

"Be patient." Itachi tapped my forehead before continuing the heavenly messages. 

"Good luck getting him to be patient." Sasuke huffed, smirking when I shot him a warning glare. "That's not in his vocabulary." 

"Shut up." I hissed, picking up a pebble and flicking it at him, which he caught to my annoyance. "I can be patient." 

"I've never seen you be patient before, Naruto." Yamato chuckled to himself. "You always jump in headfirst and try to get things done immediately. The Sasori informant mission is proof enough."  

My face heated up slightly as I felt judged, but Itachi merely chuckled and kissed the side of my face as he messaged my shoulders, letting the muscles relax as I leaned into him more, my eyes growing heavier and heavier as each second ticked past us. I looked down at my feet, staring at my toes through the sandals, watching as the grass tickled at the bottom of them, swaying as a breeze blew past us. I inhaled slowly, letting the forest smell mixed with sea overtake my senses. This topped with the gentle messages lulled me into a state between being awake and asleep. 

"Is he asleep?" Yamato's voice spoke softly. 

"Its hard to tell, he's so peaceful." Itachi's warm voice spoke quietly by my ear. 

"He's made some progress today, he deserves this rest." Sasuke hummed. "Yeah, definitely."

"Kid has determination, guts too, its ashamed what happened to him, but he's tough too." Bee's voice gave a heavy sigh. "Nah, that didn't rhyme, ill be back, gotta get my rhymes outta whack, yeah." 

I heard footsteps close by, and the gentle hug around my body tightened, as i was pulled into Itachi's lap, laying my body across his legs, his arm came down on my shoulder, rubbing it gently with this thumb, however the closer the footsteps got the tighter he held onto me. 

"Don't give me that look, Itachi." Yamato spoke in warning. 

"I'd appreciate it if you let him rest up, you don't need to stand so close to do this, create another bench if you want to sit down." Itachi huffed. 

"Can I not stand here?" Yamato grumbled, sounding increasingly cautious. 

"..." Itachi shifted a little, holding me tighter, making me stir slightly until his hold relaxed again. 

"You need to stop being so possessive. Your aggression around him has gotten worse since this trip began. He isn't an item you own." Yamato moved away from us, creating something made from wood. "You should also be learning how to keep that attitude around others under control. Each time you aren't near him you get angry or irritated." 

"Why are we suddenly jumping on me?" Itachi hissed. 

"Easy, Itachi, but he has a point. You act strange around Naruto, very clingy and rude when other people get close to him. You may not notice it but you have a very mean glare when it comes to protecting him. You act like he's made of glass." Sasuke spoke with a calm tone. "It's not like you usually act so its a bit strange for me to see too." 

"I apologize if my mood concerns you." Itachi spoke quieter, shifting again and running a shaking hand through my hair. "I just... Hn, its hard to explain why I do it, really. Its just part of what I am, I assume. I get jumpy when people approach him while in my hold, or laying down. Its an instinctual reaction." 

"You should be learning about yourself on this trip as well, once his training is done you should do some searching into you behavior." Yamato suggested.

"Let's wait for him to wake up, Yamato. I'm done talking to you about things I'm already aware of." Itachi finished the conversation, just as I finally slipped unconscious.