They all watched the zombies disappear into the dust. The giant section of land was clear through, they could see how much damage was caused to the main gate.

"Now what's going on?" Ebisu demanded. "The reanimation jutsu is wearing off."

"So that must mean the other squad defeated the enemies then right?" Kotetsu said. 

"Yeah," Izumo said. " I hope so."

" I think we're gonna be ok," Kotetsu smiled.

I wouldn't go that far," Genma denied.

"What's happening?" Izumo demanded. Pieces from the big pile of land were falling off. They watched it collapse, taking down the main gate with it.

"Yeah!" Kiba cheered along with everyone else. "That's how you do to it!"

"We have done it!" Lee cheered. "The Jutsu is fading away!" 

"The Leaf village is still standing strong" Choji smiled. 

"Nah," Genma denied. "Shikamaru is right. I could be a diversion. I wouldn't start celebrating just yet."

"This ain't over," Shikamaru said. "There's a much bigger Jutsu coming. Konohamaru said they had a way to toast the whole village. Hey, whatever happened to Yamato and Sakura? Didn't they leave to help Asuma-sensei?"

"No word back from Sakura?" Shikamaru asked.

"No, nothing," Aceso answered. 

" Well, that doesn't sound good," Shikamaru stated.

"Shikamaru," Genma said.

"Huh?" Shikamaru asked looking over. "We have to assume that the village is still in jeopardy. So, for the moment, we should treat the reanimation Jutsu ending as a trick. They want us to let our guard down."

"All right, got it," Shikamaru said. "So we need to locate either Sakura and Yamato or the enemies themselves."

"That's correct," Genma confirmed. "Now go put together a team. I want you to investigate the village."

"Yeah, sure thing," Shikamaru agreed. They soon took off to go find Sakura and Yamato or the enemy, they ran through the empty streets of the village, scanning viciously. Shikamaru glanced over at Aceso, and she nodded. She jumped and took a different route with Akamaru, Kiba, and Lee. 

They soon ran through the forest, shortly after, Shikamaru rejoined them, along with Choji and Ino. "Where ya been, Shikamaru?"

"You sure about this, then?" Shikamaru asked. 

"Is Akamaru's nose or mine ever wrong?" Kiba asked. 

"No," Aceso answered.

"It's not just Sora out there," Kiba said. "Asuma-sensei and Naruto are with them as well. And there's the trace of another scent. Someone not from the village."

"The enemy?" Shikamaru asked. Up ahead a large orange light appeared above the trees. 

"What in the world was that?" Lee asked. They arrived to see a huge crater with everyone inside it, including the stranger, Captain Yamato, and Sakura. Sora was looking a bit like Naruto, with the Nine-Tails cloak over his body. He raised his hand, getting ready to strike, Aceso did her Jutsu. Her ropes tied up all the way around Sora,'s arm, she pulled on it so he couldn't move it, he went to go move his legs, to find them trapped by a shadow.

"Shadow Possession Jutsu complete," Shikamaru said. 

" Shikamaru, Choji, Little Sister!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Ino!" Sakura cheered. Asuma was relieved to see that they showed up.

"What's this? More friends come to save you?" Sora asked. 

"Go for it, Choji," Shikamaru ordered. 

"Right!" Choji responded getting behind Sora. "Partial Expansion Jutsu!" Sora looked back. " Both hands!" His hands expanded grabbing onto Sora's arms to restrain him. 

"Get off!" Sora shouted. "Get off me!"

"Yeah!" Ino cheered. " He got him!"

"Now he won't be able to get away," Aceso said. Yamato, Naruto, and Yamato all walked up to Sora.

"It can't be right," Sora denied. "Doesn't make sense. If you've really got the Nine-Tails inside you, how can you have so many friends? You should be an outcast. Why aren't you alone? Like I've been? Like I've been all these years?"

"It was the same with me, too," Naruto said. "Once. When I was little, for the most part, I was left on my own. But even then, you see, I didn't have time to be lonely. I was too busy getting people to notice me. And it finally worked. " A small smile formed on his face. "Yep. I made friends like these. Good friends. I gained a sister out of these friends. A good sister."

"I have no friends," Sora said sadly. "None to make a sister. No friends at all."

"You're wrong," Naruto denied. "I'm--I mean, all of us are your friends."

"Huh?" Sora asked looking up. The orange chakra grew immensely.

"Ah!" Choji cried out jumping back in pain. "Too hot!"

"Choji!" Shikamaru shouted. "No!"

"Right, I'm on it," Ino responded, she jumped back a bit. "Ninja Art, Mind Transfer Jutsu!" She held up her hands in the symbol, getting into Sora's mind.  Sora dropped to his knees as Ino slid down against a tree.

"Did she do it?" Aceso asked. Suddenly Ino opened her eyes screaming. Kiba and Lee appeared next to her.

"What is it?" Kiba asked.

"Are you all right?" Lee asked. Akamaru whimpered.

"Ino, what happened with the mind transfer?" Shikamaru asked.

"There was--" Ino whimpered. "There was no human consciousness left in him."

"What?" Shikamaru asked. "I'm afraid I've hit the wall, too."

"Same here," Aceso frowned, her ropes dropped as Shikamaru's shadow retracted. They watched two more tails forming out of Sora's body. 

"No!" Naruto cried out, charging forward. "Sora!"

"Naruto, no!" Yamato exclaimed. "Be careful!"

"Naruto, don't!" Sakura exclaimed. Sora raised his arm, when Naruto got to him, there was a powerful air blast going in all directions. Naruto flew back into the crater wall. "Naruto!"

"That idiot!" Shikamaru hissed. 

"Is he ok?" Ino asked. Naruto shakily grabbed onto the rocks in front of him, he used them to help get to his feet again. 

"That's Sora," Naruto breathed. "He's in there. It might now seem like him, but there's Sora is there. He's just gotta be!" Naruto wobbled out of the rubble to get closer to Sora, the transformed boy roared angrily holding up his hand.

"Wood Style Jutsu!" Yamato exclaimed folding his hands, woods beams shot out of the ground, creating a dome, trapping Sora inside. In a insist the wood beams were destroyed. "Such destructive power."

"Sora!" Naruto shouted appearing above him. "That's enough!" One of Sora's tails smacked Naruto to the ground. Sora hovered over Naruto, planning the next attack.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Shikamaru exclaimed. He concentrated hard to get the shadows up to Sora's throat. But Sora was too strong, breaking through the ropes. "I knew it wouldn't work!'

"Let me try!" Choji shouted charging forward. His fist enlarged, and he slammed into Sora's beast hand. Choji flew back, crying out in pain.

"Choji!" Shikamaru exclaimed. 

"Focus on Sora," Aceso said appearing next to Choji. " I can heal Choji." She put each of her hands over Choji's hands, she started to heal them both at the same time.

"Darn it," Naruto growled. "For crying out loud, snap out of it!" Sora looked back, he growled throwing a hand at Naruto. He flew back.

"Let me give it a try!" Lee offered. He charged toward Sora, and jumped, preparing a kick. Sora opened his mouth, Lee flew back.

"That jerk," Kiba growled charging forward with Akamaru, the dog turned into Kiba. "Fang over Fang!" They spun aiming at Sora. The attack hit Sora, but it had no effect. the two landed behind Naruto. "Damnit." Akamaru turned back to his normal self. Sora the two attacks, Aceso, Choji, and Shikamaru flew in one direction. Kiba, Akamaru, and Lee flew in the opposite direction.

 "Wood Style Jutsu!" Yamato exclaimed. The wood pillars shot forward. some appeared out of the ground wrapping around Sora. He easily broke free once again. Ino went to get heal Kiba, as Sakura healed Shikamaru and Aceso healed Lee.

"Damni!" Kiba grunted getting to his feet.

"No!" Ino protested as Kiba ran over to Sora with Akamaru following. Kiba, Akamaru, Choji, and Lee all continued to try to land attacks. 

"You and me are the same," Naruto smiled a little. " Sora." He looked back at Naruto. "Hey, Sora, remember?" Naruto started to walk down towards Sora. "We thrashed around like this then and tried to stop each other. I guess we were pretty dumb, huh? That's just the way we are." Sora went to go attack, Naruto jumped up avoiding it. Multiple Naruto's all appeared, and they shot down towards Sora, landing on top.

"Did he get him?" Shikamaru asked.

"Naruto," Sakura breathed. Soon an air blast took out the clones, sending them flying. The main Naruto was still latched onto Sora.

"Sora!" Naruto yelled. "Sora. Come back to us. I know you're still in there! Sora! Sora." The air blast calmed down. Aceso looked close to see Naruto's hands burning up.

"Don't do this!" Sakura cried out.

"Get away from Sora, now!" Yamato ordered. "Naruto!"

"Sora!" Naruto exclaimed. " Come on. Snap out of it. You gotta try. Listen to me!" Sora smiled, causing Naruto to gasp. "Sora. What is this?" The Nine-tail's cloak engulfed Naruto.

"What's happening?" Aceso asked. Naruto looked around, stepped back, and jumped away from Sora.

"What--what the heck is going on?" Naruto asked as he started the Nine-tails' cloak started to take form. "Did it--did my Nine-Tails awaken on its own?"

"Hokage style, elder Jutsu," Yamato said holding out a hand. "Tenth edict enlightenment!" He jumped forward, putting his hand on Naruto's back, he jumped back, with some blue chakra leash attached to Naruto. Wood beams with spikes rose up in a circle around those three. The chakra leash disappeared. "What's happening here? It's never like this. It's coming from the outside."

"No," Naruto protested as tails started to form. "Not now. I can't let it come out." Naruto started to transform. "Why? Why now? No!" Naruto dropped to his knees. " Damnit!" Sora appeared next to Naruto to attack, Naruto dodged it. Sora was quick to respond, grabbing Naruto by the throat. "You don't want to do this. Come on. Stop it, Sora. Sora!" Sora's skin started to disappear as the fourth's tail started to emerge, he was taking a different form. "No, it can't." A blinding light emerged out of Sora, spreading far and wide.

"What is that?" Choji asked. 

"This does not look good," Shikamaru said. "Guy's run!" They ran back more to get away from the blast, when it was gone, down in the crater was a fully transformed into the 4 tail version of the Nine-tails and Naruto who was still holding on. 

"Naruto!" Sakura shouted.

"Sakura," Naruto breathed looking at her. "Come on." He leaned closer to Sora. "Sora, for the last time. Wake up!" Sora head-butted Naruto, sending him flying across the crater. 

"No way," Aceso breathed. When the smoke cleared, they saw Naruto on all fours as his skin started to peel away. 

"Naruto!" Yamato exclaimed. They watched Naruto struggling to keep the Nine-Tails from taking over.

"Captain Yamato, can't you do anything?" Sakura asked in a panic.

"No," Yamato denied. "My Jutsu won't work on Naruto like this. We just have to hope his willpower is enough to hold it back."

"Oh no," Sakura cried. They watched Naruto stab himself in the thigh.

"Naruto," Ino breathed.

"What did he--" Lee began.

"This bad," Shikamaru said. They all watched intensely, waiting for Sora's next move and Naruto. 

"Naruto," Sakura breathed. Naruto looked up at Sora. "Sora! Come back! I know that you can hear me, Sora! Are you gonna stay asleep forever!" The tails on Naruto started to disappear. "Wake up!" The Nine-Tails cloak disappeared on Naruto, and everyone was impressed. "Sora!" Naruto was burned badly all over. Sora stood on his hind legs, roaring. He leaned forward, dropping his head as Naruto got to his feet.

"Fight it, Sora," Naruto said. "Hang in there. I'm going to save you. Come on, Sora. Hang on." Sora went out another roar. "Sora! I got rid of him. I told the Nine-Tails to get lost. And I did it by borrowing your strength. Now listen, you can do it too if I loan you some of mine. So come on and get to it!" He charged toward Sora." Sora smacked Naruto, sending him tumbling through the ground. He shakily got back onto his feet. He charged back toward Sora. " Sora, snap out of it!" He jumped up, aiming his foot down, one Sora's hand stretched out, took in the kick, then wrapped around Naruto's leg. He swung Naruto around a bit, then slammed him to the ground.

"Naruto," Aceso breathed running over to Naruto. She knelt beside him. Sora began to form a light beam at his mouth. "Hang on, Naruto. Let me give you a little bit of extra chakra." She took out a patch, pulled up his sleeve a bit, and placed it on his arm.

"Dammint," Shikamaru groaned. "Aceso, look out!"

"Everyone run!" Sakura shouted. Aceso's eyes glowed green, and a green barrier rose up high and wide, the blast hit the green barrier creating an explosion, and the shock wave blew past the barrier, taking out multiple trees. Once the smoke cleared, everyone else was protected by a wooden half dome created by Yamato.

"Is everyone ok?" Yamato asked. 

"Yeah," Ino answered as Lee stood up.

"We are alright," Lee answered. "But then, what about Red Rose and Naruto?" The barrier came down, they looked to see a green barrier still standing, parts of it broken, Naruto was in front of Aceso with his arms out. "What kind of power is that?"

"It's Aceso's," Shikamaru answered. "She can create a protective barrier of any size with her eyes, but she doesn't use it often, nor does she like to."

" I haven't seen it in action since the chunin exams all those years ago," Choji stated. Lee blinked, he knew she had kekkei Genkai, it's just been so long that she's used it, and he kind of forgot about it. Aceso blinked at the wall making it disappear. 

"Are you okay?" Naruto asked looking back after her.

"I'm fine," Aceso answered. "What about you?"

"I'll be fine, "Naruto assured. "After all, isn't Sakura always talking about what amazing recuperative powers. I've got? Thanks for the chakra patch. " He smiled lightly. "Sora is our main concern now. I've got to get him back. No matter what, you have to heal him, ok?"

"You got it," Aceso smiled back. He looked forward getting to his feet, he walked towards Sora again.

"Sora," Naruo breathed. "Little sister, go on, join the others. This is between Sora and me."

"Right," Aceso breathed. Sora smacked Naruto to the side again, Sora growled getting a position to pounce. Aceso went back up towards the others, she started to treat Choji's hands. It was taking longer than it should have.

"Any luck?" Ino asked. "I couldn't get it to heal with my medical ninjutsu."

"It's just taking a little longer than it should," Aceso frowned. "I might have to move to a different stage."

"As I thought, it's the same as when Sakura was hurt," Yamato said. 

"Wounds from the Nine tails chakra just take longer to heal," Sakura said. Aceso stopped her Jutsu, she bit her thumb to wipe blood across Choji's palms. She did hand signs and placed her hands back over Choji's, his hand got engulfed by a green glowing chakra, the stronger stage of healing deeper wounds. "The pain, like sharp needles, will remain for a little while."

"I'll be okay," Choji assured. "I got Aceso healing me." 

"So what then?" Kiba demanded. "Does this mean Naruto is the only one who can ever control that guy?"

"That seems to be the case," Yamato said.

"No way," Kiba grunted. 

"Naruto," Lee grunted. 

"Sora!" Naruto yelled running back to Sora. He flew back from another punch. "Stop doing that." He shakily sat up. "It hurts. Come on, Sora. Try and remember. Remember when we first met each other? Remember how you and I got into it with each other? Remember the time in the cave when you came and helped me out?" Naruto looked up at him. "Listen to me." Sora let out a roar. Endless amounts of energy spiraled through the air.

"What is now?" Choji asked.

"What in the world is going on up there?" Lee asked. 

"It must be--" Sakura began. "Captain Yamato, Sora looks different than Naruto did when he--"

"Yes, you're right," Yamato agreed. "It's only a theory, but I suspect Sora's body isn't strong enough to hold the NIne Tails much longer. Its chakra has grown far too powerful. It's seeking to escape his body.

"But that means--"Sakura breathed.

"Sora," Naruto breathed, he fought through the wind to get closer. "All that power. That kind of power won't do you any good. That isn't real strength. Let us be your strength. Me, all of us in the Leaf, we've got all the power you need." Naruto jumped up, going straight for Sora. He slammed his fist into Sora's face. 

"Naruto!" Sakura exclaimed. The energy got bigger and more powerful. Lighting came down as all the orange chakra spun around like a tornado, they saw it take form as the Nine-tails spirit, lighting came down all around it.

"What is it?" Ino asked. "Is that the Nine-Tails?"

"What an incredible amount of chairs," Shikamaru complimented. 

"What now?" Sakura asked as the spirit floated around, roaring angrily.

"What is it doing?" Lee asked. 

"Something's not right, that's for sure," Aceso said. The fox's head disappeared.

"Captain Yamato?" Sakura asked.

"Although it freed itself from Sora's body it apparently needs to find another humans vessel in order to maintain its form," Yamato explained. 

"But then--" Sakura breathed looking down at Sora. The energy disappeared, Naruto and Sora both laid still at the bottom of the crater. Both of them were badly burned.

"Let's head down," Aceso said, they all started to make their way down.

"Sora," Naruto breathed looking at him. "Sora, you okay? Hey, can you hear me? Come on. Come on, wake up. Wake up, Sora." His eyes opened up as Naruto crawled over. "So, you're finally awake." 

"Naruto," Sora breathed weakly.

"Hey, are you ready to go home or what?" Naruto asked.

"Go home?" Sora asked. " Are you joking? I don't have a home anymore. Where am I supposed to go?"

"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked. "Here, of course, the Leaf Village is your home now, buddy."

"The Leaf?" Sora asked. "You mean the same village that I just tried to destroy?"

"That's ancient history," Naruto said. "You're our friend. Get that through your head." Sora's eyes widened. "That's right. We're friends. You got that? Don't let anybody ever tell you differently."

"I'm your friend?" Sora asked. 

"You bet," Sakura confirmed as Aceso kneeled between Sora and Naruto. She wiped her blood on them, and did a few hand signs, placing her hands on both of them. The green healing chakra on Choji's hands fully engulfed Sora and Naruto. Sora looked up to see everyone around them, all smiling. 

"You okay?" Choji asked.

"Sure, they're fine," Shikamaru confirmed. They all laughed, they heard people walk up behind them.

"Sai," Ino greeted as they looked back to see Sai and Asuma.

"Do you mind if I'm a part of this too?" Sai asked looking at the ground.

'So, adorable,' Aceso thought to herself. 

"No way, Sai, beat it," Naruto answered, Sai gasped looking up.

"But I thought--" Sai began. They all broke out into smiles and laughed.

"Naruto, you're terrible," Ino laughed as Asuma walked over. 

"My friends," Sora breathed. Asuma stared down at Sora, he took out his cigarette, blowing out smoke. Naruto and Sora were taken to the hospital to get more treatment. Aceso arrived home around 4 in the morning. She looked into the kitchen area to see Lee sitting at the table, he didn't have a shirt on, he wore nylon shorts and was trying to patch himself up.

"Need help with that?" Aceso asked walking in. 

"Thank you," Lee smiled as she sat in the chair across from him.  She started to put healing ointment where it was needed. "Are they finding a spot for Sora? Will he be living near us?"

"Not quite" Aceso answered.

"Is he going back to the Fire temple?" Lee asked.

"He said he wants to see the world a bit more," Aceso answered. " I gave a couple of places that I liked in the past."

"That's nice," Lee smiled.  "Uh--Red Rose?"

"Hm?" She looked up at him.

"That green barrier...it's your power right?" Lee asked.

"Yeah, what about it?" Aceso asked as she went back to what she was doing. 

"You shouldn't feel weird about using it," Lee said. "You are holding yourself back." She looked back at him. "If you want to feel the full power of youth, you shouldn't hold back."

"Do you want to fight me?" Aceso asked. 

"Possibly!" Lee lit up. "I want to prove myself against any dojutsu that I can!" Aceso laughed. "What you don't think I can do it?"

"In the past, you always seem to melt when you look at my eyes," Aceso laughed even more. "You might have to get past that first." Lee's cheek turned pink, as he looked at his hand. 

****
The sun rose, Aceso went and stood at the gates with a few other people as the village started a few repairs. 

"So you're really not going back to the fire temple?" Naruto asked.

"No," Sora denied. " I think I want to see a bit more of the world and meet different kinds of people and make, or try to ma,e new friends like you have."

"Good plan," Naruto smiled.

"Be sure to come back once in a while, K?" Sakura asked. 

"You know you'll always be welcome here in the Leaf Village," Aceso added. "Don't ever forget that."

"That's right any time," Yamato agreed. 

"Thanks a lot," Sora laughed happily. He and Naruto both stared at each other. "Well, so long." He started to walk away, then turned back with a finger on his face. "Would you tell old Asuma goodbye for me?"

"Got it," Naruto gave a thumbs up.

" Oh, and the next time you see me, I'll have thought of a name you can use for the afterlife," Sora said. 

"Hey, wait a sec!" Naruto exclaimed. "I found out that afterlife means after your dead." Sora laughed.

"Took you long enough, you idiot," Sora laughed, he turned back down his path. " See ya!" A gentle breeze fell past them as they watched Sora leave.