Beta:

(ง ⌣ ~ ⌣) ง

I held Kakashi's corpse in my arms.

It was... hard to believe.

Hard to accept.

Was he really dead?

Why didn't he choose us? I wondered. Obito was beside me, leaning heavily into my back. We were holding hands, but it was hard to feel his warmth. The rain was heavy, cold, oppressive.

Kakashi was colder.

The rain washed away the red. He was only pale.

His lips were purple and blue, purple and blue, purple and blue.

With each drop of blood that washed away in the rain, I felt another part of me break.

I had sacrificed so much.

I'm so tired.

My hands were soaked in Red.

I'm so tired.

I couldn't—

I—

"I can't do this," I whispered.

Tomorrow, Obito would transport the Akatsuki to Konoha. They would collect the last bijū.

The world would be at peace soon.

Everything was coming to an end and I—

"Obito," I whimpered.

Obito leaned into me, nuzzling into my neck. "Yes, Oni-hime?"

"I'm—I—"

"I know," he said.

"I'm falling apart," I admitted quietly.

"Me, too."

"I'm so tired."

"Me, too."

"Will it really be over tomorrow? Can we—can we finally rest?"

"Yes," he said.

"We'll really see Kakashi tomorrow, too, right...?"

"Yes," he said.

"He's—he'll scold us, right?"

"Probably," said Obito, chuckling weakly. He swallowed heavily. "He'll be unhappy we kept him in the dark so long."

I leaned into him, closing my eyes. "We can retire after this."

"Laze on the beach somewhere."

"You'll get sunburned within the hour."

"Will not."

"Will too. Kashi will laugh at how red you'll be."

Obito kissed the top of my head. "You'll put the medicine on me afterwards though, right?"

"Yeah," I whispered. "Kashi will help. He always does."

"Yeah," Obito echoed.

(ง ⌣ ~ ⌣) ง

She was tired, so Owari took control.

Obito was tired too, but he had to go back to Konoha anyway. Owari kissed Obito goodbye, the Uchiha lingering in their parting.

There was a mention of him kidnapping Naruto, but after what had happened with Kakashi—

Neither could bring themselves to suggest the idea to Madara.

Owari stood on the rooftop of one of the Amegakure skyscrapers. He no longer needed to disguise himself, everyone in Ame knew that Naasica was he and he was Naasica. Konan stood a little behind him, her face unreadable.

Was she angry at his deception? Or uncaring?

Did it even matter anymore?

"Tomorrow it ends," she said.

"Yes," Owari agreed.

"Peace at last."

"Yes," he said, looking out at Amegakure. He smiled as he turned to Konan. He offered his hand to her. "White Angel, will you join me on the battlefield?"

Konan briefly smiled. It was fleeting and lacked warmth, but Owari could sense it was sincere nonetheless.

"I will see this through to the end," she said as she accepted his hand. "We will save the world."

Owari beamed. "An end at last... an end at last..."

"OWARI!"

Owari and Konan turned as they were greeted by another member of the Akatsuki. It was Mei, her expression morphing into cold shock as soon as she saw them.

Owari, unmasked, in his Akatsuki uniform, and beside the White Angel, Konan.

Mei stumbled, gaping. "It's true... You're... A konoha kunoichi...?"

Owari cocked his head. "I am Owari." He turned to fully face Mei, slowly approaching her. "Are you upset with me?"

"You're..." Mei's expression was conflicted. "I thought..."

Owari reached forward to gently caress Mei's face. She flinched. "We are still comrades. I am Owari, that has never changed."

"But you're... also..." Mei trailed off weakly, but the longer she stared in Owari's even gaze, the harder it was to speak. Eventually, she lowered her head. "I will follow you."

"No," he said. Mei's head snapped up, her eyes widening. "You will stand beside me. You are my comrade."

Mei's bottom lip quivered as she smiled. "Yes... Yes, Owari-sama."

(ง ⌣ ~ ⌣) ง

Obito

It was hard to pay attention to much of anything when he returned to Konoha. Things were already in a panic the first time he returned, but now... now he was drained. Physically and mentally sapped of energy. He collapsed onto Kakashi's bed, hugging his pillow tightly.

He closed his eyes.

Ten hours and it's over. Ten hours and I'll see him again. Ten hours and we'll go on a long vacation, the three of us.

It's almost over.

I chose correctly. I did the right thing. I...

(ง ⌣ ~ ⌣) ง

Naasica

Madara stood beside me the next dawn. "Are you ready?"

I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Yes."

I could transport hundreds of people through my mokuton as long as they were touching one of my trees.

And at noon later that day, that is exactly what I did.

The entire Akatsuki, Black Acolytes, and best shinobi from Amegakure, were abruptly teleported into Konoha.

Konoha had been preparing to invade Ame, not to be invaded themselves. My mokuton flooded the streets as I transported hundreds of enemies onto the streets of her home. Screams tore through the air as the loyal members of my army descended upon Konoha.

It was the hour of reckoning.

All these years... all the pain, the suffering in silence, the sacrifices...

It was hard to imagine that decades ago I was a small, quivering toddler having a panic attack over being born with the mokuton.

Who knew that Danzō and Orochimaru's bid for my kekkei genkai by hiring kidnappers would lead me to Madara?

That I would go on to serve him?

I never even intended to create the Black Acolytes, yet there they were... fighting for me. Dying for me. For my cause.

To rid the world of monsters.

Today that dream would become a reality.

I stood atop one of her trees, my Akatsuki uniform fluttering in the breeze as I assessed the chaos.

"Where to first?" asked Kisame as he hoisted his Samehada to his shoulder.

"We'll be with you every step, Owari-sama," echoed Mei.

"Mei, meet up with Sasori. He should have been monitoring the movements of my students. We can use them as leverage against Naruto in the worst case," I ordered. "Kisame, with me. We're going to take out the barrier so Pein can move if we have to switch to plan C."

"Yes, Owari-sama," said Mei and Kisame. I glanced over at Konan who spread her paper wings. We exchanged nods. Konan would work with Kakuzu on managing the Acolytes and Jōnin.

All that was left was Madara who stood watch over the battle, ready to pounce upon the biggest threat.

Hopping down the branches of my created tree, I guided Kisame to the main barrier building. On the way we were stopped by a group of ANBU who were lead by—

"Naasica," Tsunade whispered, brown eyes filled with pain. "What are you doing?"

"This is going to be awesome," whispered Kisame.

My eyes narrowed. "Stand down, coward, and I'll grant you the mercy of seeing me save the world."

"Stand down?" Shizune demanded. "You're destroying the village!"

"I didn't realize you cared," I dismissed, my lips curled back in anger. "Seeing how you two were so quick to abandon it."

"That—That does not give you the right to do this!" thundered Tsunade. "How dare you?"

"How dare I?! You have no right to judge me," I spat. "Fucking cunt, how dare you?! Know your place, you pathetic worm."

Tsunade's cheeks flushed in anger. She shifted into a fighting stance. "I don't want to have to do this to you."

"Fucking try. Kisame, deal with the rest," I hissed, flickering forward to slam a punch straight into Tsunade's gut. I transformed my hand upon impact to impale her with wood. Tsunade flew back, crashing into several buildings.

The steam rising from her abdomen showed her legendary healing at work.

"You have no idea," I said, watching as Tsunade activated her mark, "how long I've wanted to do this. I only wish we had more time. I'd take it slow with you."

Tsunade's amber eyes flashed. "What happened to you? You were so sweet."

"What do you think?" I sneered. "What happens to everyone. I'm. Fucking. Tired."

Shizune leaped at me. I sidestepped her and bit onto my thumb before summoning Sensō. The ghost leaped into the nearest tree, morphing it into a disfigured trent.

"Devour that bitch," I ordered, gesturing to Shizune.

A wide smile cracked over the ghostly tree. Yes, mistress!

Tsunade launched herself at me, spinning a kick aimed at my head. I blocked it, but the force was enough to send me back several paces. When I blocked it, however, I had summoned wooden spikes from my arms that pierced into her shin.

Steam wafted off her as she healed the injuries, continuing her assault.

She had impressive strength, certainly, and an unblocked kick would result in some heavy damage.

But that with her healing was about the only thing she had going for her.

The next time she moved to kick me, I spat a katon directly at her face. The fire lapped at her, burning her skin off as she let out a strangled cry. Her healing would keep her alive, but her vision would be impaired for the next few seconds.

Using the fan blades on my tessen, I sliced her throat open. I then grabbed her throat, and shoved mokuton inside her.

She did not have the opportunity to scream as I impaled inside out with my trees. I made them follow the path of her bones, spiraling into her flesh and organs and tearing them to shreds. They poked out at the ends of her fingertips, toes, and eyes.

She gurgled, gasping for air as she struggled to heal the damage.

"Keep healing," I cooed. "Suffer more. Prolong your misery as you fruitlessly try to fight off death."

Controlling my mokuton inside her, I made her kneel before me. Her bones cracked under the weight.

"Your rightful place," I whispered, staring coldly down at the seemingly endless stream of blood that poured from her.

A nearby scream caught my attention. Glancing over I saw that Sensō had half of Shizune's body in its mouth. It chomped, cutting clean through her legs as she screamed.

It had apparently already devoured her hands, and was now taking its time as it slowly ate her piece by piece.

"You can hear that, can't you?" I cooed to Tsunade. "But you can't see anymore, can you? Can you imagine what's being done to her? To your precious Shizune?"

Tsunade gurgled, struggling to survive, to somehow escape her demise.Tears streamed down her face, mixing with the blood and hitting the concrete with soft plops.

"You chose wrong," I whispered. "Do the world a favor now, and die."

I turned on my heel and I left.

Kisame had already dispatched the nearby forces. He had a big grin on his face. "You're a demon."

"I prefer hero," I said with a quick smile.

"That, too," he agreed. "I'm so glad we're friends."

He slung an arm around my shoulder in good nature.

"Now why don't you point me in the direction of the barrier and I'll take care of it?"

"You don't want me to go with?"

"I spotted a whiskered blonde fighting over yonder," said Kisame, nodding in the direction of the academy.

"Oh," I said. "Yes. Thank you, Kisame. Please keep going straight, it's the building with the green roof."

"Righty-o."

(ง ⌣ ~ ⌣) ง

Naruto had recently defeated some Ame shinobi when I reached him. Behind him was an unconscious Hinata and Shikamaru, both of whom were looking very battered. It caused some concern, but as none of their injuries looked life-threatening I dismissed them.

"Naruto," I said, smiling at him. "My boy. My sunshine."

Naruto's eyes widened. He whirled around to face me, gaping. "You're... not dead?"

"No," I said. "Come here, my boy. Come to me." I held open my arms, inviting him for a hug. "This all ends if you come here."

Naruto's brow creased, wariness settling into his gaze. "What... do you mean?"

I smiled warmly. "Exactly what I said. All the fighting, the death, the pain... it ends if you come here. I promise you won't be hurt."

"It's okay, Naruto," said Obito, materializing beside him. "It's okay."

"You'll be tired for a bit," I admitted, "but Gaara did okay."

"Gaara—?" Naruto rubbed at his face. "What is going on? Stop being so vague."

"This," I said, gesturing to the surrounding chaos. "All of this was planned, my sweet boy. It's a very long story, otherwise I'd be happy to explain it all. For now, please... please trust us. Trust us that this is for the best, for the happiest ending."

"You're..." Naruto shifted his weight, plainly conflicted. "Really... here...?"

"Really," I assured him, my tone sweet like honey and warmer than the sun. "I'm sorry for the deception."

"Is Tou-san...?"

"You'll see him again," I promised him. "He's with Kakashi right now."

At that, relief fell over Naruto's face. He flickered over to me, embracing her. I hugged him tightly, kissing the top of his head.

"I'm so proud of you," I cooed. "I love you. Come here, my sunshine, let's get you comfortable."

"What do I need to do?" he asked.

"We're going to seal away that bijū inside you. Don't worry, when we made your seal this is what we had planned so it won't take more than a minute of your time," I reassured him. "But you'll feel tired afterward."

"Everything will be okay?" he asked her, his tone conveying a hint of desperation.

"Have I ever led you astray, my little sunshine?"

He smiled at her. "No. You were always right."

I kissed his forehead. "Yes, darling..."