Naruto and Kokujin were battling with the ravaging black beast. Kokujin's black imp had taken one of its heads as a foe, and Naruto in his complete fox form was battling the other. However, the third, middle head was still free, and hitting black fire shots to Itachi's and Sasuke's almost drained Susano'os!

"Ugh we cannot hold him off forever like this!" Sasuke puckered, "We need a different plan!" he glanced back at Shikamaru, who was being protected by a Susano'o hand.

"Give me few more minutes to think!" Shikamaru nervously puckered, sweating and searching for solution.

"We're out of time!" Sasuke cried, hardly holding up weakened Susano'o.

Suddenly, Itachi noticed his orange gems on his rings slightly glowing.

He understood the sign.

"No, there still is hope," he said, "I actually have an idea," he obliquely gazed upon motionless Diyuma and its unconscious guardian, and then turned back to Leaf ninja:

"It will take all my chakra and I'll vanish, but it will help us to buy some time, so it's worth a try".

"But what will that change?" Sasuke was uncertain, frowning, "If we don't use that time properly, we will still lose! We need you here! I won't be able to hold this monster off of our comrades all by myself with the little chakra I have left".

"Just trust me, Sasuke," Itachi smiled, "We will make it. If we buy some time, the help will eventually come, and Shikamaru may also manage to come up with a good plan. But as the diversion of this powerful demon takes a lot of effort and risk, the best option is to use me as the main figure, as I'm just a summoned soul while all of you others are alive".

Hearing this, the friends looked at each other, and then, having decided, they nodded.

Itachi smiled, and looked at raging Kurokami, being determined and self-confident.

"I'm going to put down the Susano'o now, to unleash my new ultimate power, which itself is not a jutsu, so be ready," and he frowningly put his palms together, getting prepared, slowly accumulating energy.

"Not a jutsu?" Sakura was confused, "What kind of power is it then?"

"I don't have much time to explain, so I'll say shortly - it is a power spirits summoned by Mao's jutsu can acquire. It activates when summoner's spirit energy accumulates at its peak. As Mao transformed in Diyuma together with the others, her energy gathered, giving me the power to use my technique," Itachi replied, and then furiously cried: "Sacred Spirit Energy: Itachi Uchiha Talisman of White Raven!" and he glowed orange, spiritual energy of the Orange Diyuma part of Mao circulating around his body, giving him immense strength, and then he bellowed, shining brightly and turning into a huge white spirit raven, which immediately attacked Kurokami's third head and started pecking its eyes!

Kurokami painfully howled and started attacking more ragedly and irritatedly, shaking its middle head to throw the raven off, but the spirit bird didn't surrender and pecked out two of the beast's eyes, making it shrill and howl in pain!

Infuriated Kurokami lacerated Kokujin's black imp and made it vanish, throwing off Kokujin afterwards. The boy got injured and winched in pain, struggling to get up, but didn't succeed.

Then Kurokami turned to the irritating white raven with two heads, easily bit it and threw it off, growling. The raven turned back into Itachi, who had already taken his soul form. He looked at the worried Leaf ninja:

"Now finish this beast! May you prosper in this world! Good luck, and farewell!" he smiled, and started fading!

"No, brother, wait!" Sasuke worriedly widened eyes.

But Itachi's soul disappeared.

Sasuke sighed.

"Sasuke, concentrate on the enemy!" Naruto cried, but got hit by Kurokami himself, falling off.

He puckered and leaped up, growling to Kurokami in demon fox voice.

Kurokami growled back and charged on!

Naruto was ready for the clash, when he suddenly heard familiar deep voice:

"Naruto, let me help! Together we can beat him!"

Naruto and the others widened eyes and looked aside - it was Gaara!

Naruto brightened.

"Gaara, you're back!" he happily cried.

Gaara was attached to Diyuma with thick yellow energy strands and roots. He had a determined expression and strict eyes. He was standing on Diyuma's back, riding it.

"He made it!" Kurama grinned.

Suddenly Kurokami jumped at Naruto!

Naruto was distracted by Gaara's return and Kurokami's sudden jump made him confused and unable to properly react!

"Naruto!!!" Sakura worriedly shrieked.

But Kurokami couldn't touch Naruto, as it got kicked by Diyuma's hoofed leg!

Naruto grinned.

"Thanks Gaara!"

Gaara smiled.

"Let's finish it off together, Naruto".

"Yeah!"

Naruto and Gaara prepared, frowning.

Abruptly Gaara heard divine voice in his inner mind:

"Gaara, go to Guardian Mode to borrow more strength from Sacred Spirit's original power source and perform the highest attack".

Gaara slightly widened eyes.

"How to do it?" he calmly asked in his mind.

"You must just weave the sign - clench both fists and diagonally cross your arms, covering your chest with them - that is Diyuma Guardian Mode sign. Then offer Diyuma to throw the divine light energy ball".

"Alright," Gaara nodded.

Gaara crossed his arms, and closed his eyes, accumulating energy.

Kurama noticed Gaara's actions and told Naruto via mind contact:

"Naruto, let's start creating Tailed Beast Bomb. It looks like Gaara is going to use Diyuma's most powerful attack".

Naruto grinned.

"Got it!"

Naruto and Kurama started creating Tailed Beast Bomb.

Meanwhile, Gaara infused yellow chakra and opened his eyes, they being pitch black, with white eyeballs, and the nerves stressed around them! - He had the Black Eyes of Diyuma itself!

Gaara cried:

"Guardian Mode: Light Energy Bomb of Sacred Souls!"

Instantly, Diyuma growled and reared, forming a huge yellow light ball out of its mouth, and both he and Kurama shot their bombs together!

"Take that!" Naruto added a yell.

The shots united, and the combined enormous bomb hit the perplexed Kurokami, making it howl and yelp, tearing it in small pieces!

And instantly, Kurokami turned into blunt black energy, and merged with Diyuma, turning into light force and finally returning to its prime source from which it was stolen millennia ago!

The black energy was no more...

The friends sighed in relief. Sasuke released the hand of his Susano'o skeleton, finally taking a deep breath.

Naruto got his original form back too, letting Kurama relax and withdraw his chakra.

Kokujin also managed to get up, though still felt pain.

Diyuma released Gaara from its energy threads and itself vanished, the Shin-Lin siblings waking up. But instead, Gaara lost consciousness again, from using up so much chakra and bonding with the Diyuma for the very first time in his life. It got him enormous energy.

He fell on the floor unconscious.

Lao and her siblings gained back their consciousness, and Lao closed her Black Eye, her right bang covering it again, and her left human eye opened instead. She yawned and stretched, looking around, and saw that Kurokami had vanished!

She widened eyes. Everything that had happened appeared in her mind now as a fresh memory, as well as in all of her siblings' minds. They guessed what had just occurred, and Dao instantly rushed to Kokujin, while Lao ran up to Gaara and examined his chest, being frightened.

But then she relieved. Gaara was in perfect shape, just had blacked out from fatigue.

She looked down at the sleeping Kazekage. A maternal beam covered her face...

"My desert rose..." she tenderly caressed him on spiky red hair, "Thank you..."

Dao smiled to Kokujin.

"Are you alright?"

Kokujin beamed, shyly scratching the back of his head.

"Yes, I'm fine, Lady Dao. Thank you. I hope you're feeling well too".

"Yes I am, thanks," Dao blushed.

Naruto grinned.

"Well, I guess we finished the job here!" he cried and raised his thumb.

Hinata giggled.

"Yes, we did," she calmly replied.

Shikamaru smirked.

Everyone was on a happy mood.

Lao then stood up, and turned back to her siblings. They all had noticed the blood marks and pieces of torn clothes on the floor - all that was left of Akuno. Lao frowningly looked at that mess, and then she gazed upon her siblings.

"Brothers and sisters," she finally spoke, "Our mission here is done. After we gain back some strength and show proper gratitude to our new and dear friends, we will depart back home, to fulfill our duty and rebuild our village".

Dao widened eyes, and then looked down, blushing awedly.

Chao and Kokujin noticed her emotions.

Lao then spotted Kokujin, and first widened eyes in surprise, then puckering.

"Who are you?"

Kokujin startled, and then sighed, walking up to her, and bending his knees.

Naruto and the Leaf ninja confusedly and curiously stared at the occurred events, eager to know what would happen next.

Lao raised eyebrow, crossing her arms.

Dao's eyes filled with worry. She pressed hands to her chest.

"Lady Lao Shin, I fear that you might not want to know who I am, for you will be bitterly unsatisfied and your happiness over your victory might turn into anger," Kokujin replied, saddening, feeling shame deep within, but not for himself or his actions, but the fact that he belonged to the roots of his father.

Lao frowned, smelling something fishy.

"And still, I need to know who you are," she insisted.

Kokujin sighed.

"I'm Kokujin Hei, the only son of Akuno, and the last one of the Hei clan..."

Hearing this, Lao gasped in shock, and her eyes flashed - the son of Akuno?!

Her purple nails instantly turned into sharp claws.

Dao got frightened seeing this.

"What are you doing here?!" Lao strictly asked, being ready to strike at any time if need be.

"I came all the way here to avenge my father for his awful deeds..." Kokujin frowned, feeling sad at the same time, "He was the one who executed the plan of my grandfather that most of my clan members were unwilling to even hear, and he even fell so low that he got rid of his own wife and my beloved mother, and then sacrificed my sight to black energy for his selfish purposes..." he puckered, being angry, "He burned and destroyed my village and all of my friends and comrades living in it... I feel shameful for his actions, and of the dirt he has thrown to my clan's name by his deeds... I was willing to return pride to my clan, and dignity to my name, but at the same time, I felt lost..." he bowed, "Please, Lady Lao, you and your siblings are the only ones who can put me on the bright path now... Please, help me..." he clenched his fists in stress.

Hearing this whole confession, Dao felt terribly sorry for the young boy she already admired... She sighed. She looked at her eldest sister, hoping she would warm her heart towards this unfortunate boy.

Lao frowned.

"Why would I believe you?" she asked, but her voice wasn't as strict anymore.

Kokujin widened eyes, and then he sighed in bitter sadness.

"I know you have no reasons to trust me, Lady Lao," he looked up at her with his blind eyes, "And still, I ask you to give me a chance... A second chance to my clan... Let me right the wrongs of my father and his predecessors..." he had praying eyes, "I will do anything I can to honour the memory of my mother and all of our clan members who wished and strove for peace..."

Lao saw the blind eyes of the young man, and his expression of a stressed boy lost in darkness, who wanted to have another chance to show everyone he could walk on bright path, and serve peace and kindness, just like others... He wanted to prove that he was not  the same as his father and his blackened ancestors...

Her frown disappeared. Instead, she softened, and sighed.

"Alright, Kokujin Hei, I will give you another chance..."

Kokujin gasped, and brightened.

Dao covered her mouth in amazement - oh, it was so wonderful!

Naruto and the Leaf ninja beamed as well.

"But," Lao continued, "You must make several promises to me".

Kokujin cocked up, and looked at Lao, carefully lending ear.

"First," Lao started, "You must promise me to work together with us to rebuild the village, be forever loyal to Shin-Lin clan, and do whatever you can to support us. In return, you will receive our help and support as well".

Kokujin frowned, being determined. He put his fist to his chest.

"I promise!" he vowed.

"Second - you must promise to never again use Hei or any other style black powers, including dark chakra and of course black energy," Lao strictly demanded, and then added: "I think you know what this means - I'm forbidding you to be a shinobi".

The Leaf friends widened eyes, as well as Shin-Lin siblings.

Kokujin sighed, and then nodded.

"I promise that as well," he said, being determined.

"I will be taking your powers away, Kokujin, the powers Hei clan stole from its true wielder, Diyuma, in the past... I will return them to their true owner. Promise me you will not hold grudge against Shin-Lin clan for that".

Kokujin widened eyes, and then bitterly smiled.

"I will not, I promise. You are free to do so".

Lao put hand on his head and the black energy rushed out of his flesh, turning into bright energy and gathering into Lao, returning to Diyuma.

Then Lao crossed arms again and continued:

"And lastly - I want you to promise me..." she paused, and then said in a serious tone: "You must promise me you'll help us to revive our clan, the Shin-Lin clan".

Kokujin widened eyes, as well as everyone.

Kokujin surprisedly looked up at her.

"But how can I_"

Lao smirked.

"You will choose a Shin wife and join our clan, that's how".

Kokujin gasped in astonishment, and Dao widened eyes in shock and embarrassment, turning all red.

"You... You will allow me such a thing?" Kokujin was dumbfounded, blushing himself.

Lao chuckled.

"You have chosen already, haven't you?" she grinned, glancing obliquely at Dao.

Hearing this, Kokujin went all red just like Dao.

"Well, I... I..." Kokujin shyly looked down, scratching his head, awkward, but happy smile covering his face.

All of the Shin-Lin siblings and Leaf ninja were kindly smiling.

Chao felt embarrassed and confused - he still felt responsible for his beloved twin sister's safety, and deep down, didn't really want to part with her just yet, giving her to another guy as a partner and lover.

Lao turned to her youngest sister:

"Dao Shin, do you accept Kokujin Hei as your partner from hereby on?"

Dao blushed, being all red.

"I..." she looked down, and nodded. "I do..." she whispered.

Kokujin brightened, hearing this. His heart was bouncing, but he tried to hide it.

Lao smiled. She turned back to Kokujin.

"Well, what do you say?"

"I vow to be forever loyal to her as a partner, and to all of you, as your villager, your subordinate, and your friend," he bowed slightly.

"Well then, stand up, Kokujin Lin!" Lao grinned and stretched him out her hand.

Kokujin brightened up. He grabbed her hand and stood up, thanking her, and all of the siblings. Then he walked up to Dao, and kissed her on hand.

"I pledge my loyalty to you, Lady Dao," he smiled.

Dao beamed.

"And I give my heart to you, Kokujin," she said and touched his lips with her own. They felt delighted.

"Aww such a romantic moment!" Sakura blushed, being happy, and glanced at Sasuke. Sasuke turned red.

Shikamaru chuckled.

"All's well that ends well," he said.

Chao walked up to Kokujin and declared in a strict tone:

"From now on, I'll be watching you. If you ever mess up and hurt my twin sister in any way, I will kill you," he had a piercing gaze.

Hearing this, Kokujin startled, and grew red, scratching the back of his head.

"Well, I will not let you down!" he innocently smiled.

Lao giggled, and then turned to Gaara. Her eyes were filled with love.

Shao smiled and grabbed Gaara. Then all of the friends jumped out of the ruined cavern together.

Their job was done.