Chapter 14:

It had been a month since their marriage…for some reason Naruto had been visiting Tsunade a lot. He had a feeling a lot of people knew something which they weren't telling him and Naruto himself was more subdued nowadays, spending a lot of time thinking….he was also looking up encyclopaedias about foxes and their habits. That alone was enough for Sasuke to know this had something to do with Kyuubi.

Their love making sessions were alternating between too gentle and hard and fast…there was suddenly no middle ground. And then Naruto had asked Sasuke to mark him…he'd even pointed out the exact spot. When Sasuke had, his husband had whined and yelped a bit, like a real fox. He knew Neji was keeping an eye on the blond and that Sakura seemed to be going off with Lee on her own somewhere and their muddied states when they returned, it wasn't to do anything naughty. Naruto had also made sure that they sparred for at least two hours every day and good fast spars at that.

And lastly there was that completely uneasy feeling, like something was going to happen…something big. And the more he tried to rid himself of it, the more it returned with more force. Naruto noticed, he knew, but the blond did nothing to quell it. So Sasuke let it go…he'd been feeling like this for a week or two…but nothing had happened. Nothing was going to happen, right?

His blood sang…the heat was unbearable. Desperation was born within him, his chakra surged and pulse…he craved blood. Rage, destruction, he craved it with all his being. He felt like he was merging all over again, but the feral urge felt stronger. He tried to fight against it but it consumed him…somewhere inside he was weak to stop it. He wanted more blood shed he needed to be around someone who could quell him…but in this world no one could stop him could they? So be it…

Sasuke leaped off the bed as a surge of chakra emanated from the man next to him. He noted how purple chakra covered the blond's body slowly changing into red, until it had gone completely red. Then it was gone…sucked back into the body as though it had never been there. But then something else was happening.

Sasuke bit his lips hard as he saw those nails lengthen into claws and canine curve over the lips. He wondered what was going and let his own chakra form a ball in his hand, contacting Tsunade. It seemed like there was no need to do so when his door banged open and the Hokage stood in front of him, panting furiously. She studied Naruto's form for a minute.

"So it has begun…he should be here soon too. "She said softly.

Sasuke looked at her, a worried frown marring his face. "Who will be here? What's going on?"

"It is the final merging…his own body cannot hold the chakra of Kyuubi for this long without dying too soon. This is the last physical change that will occur….the Yondaime made it so Naruto can live and house Kyuubi fully. But there is a catch." She looked at Sasuke seriously. "How much do you love him Uchiha?"

Sasuke looked at her in deadly earnest. "More than you'll ever imagine…why? What will happen?"

"Since Naruto is driven by the fox's instincts more forcefully now, he will need to choose a side. Kyuubi cannot have a mate that is weaker than him. He will side with the strongest side, instinctively. And once he chooses he will remain with who he has chosen." Tsunade looked at him seriously. "This time you must beat him…or he will never return. I can sense Orochimaru approaching as well. If Orochimaru beats Naruto…he will side with him for good."

Sasuke stared at her eyes wide. "What do you mean? He's married to me! He's my husband for god sake! Why would he go with the snake? What is he going to change into?"

"I'll explain on the way. She touched him, letting a shield form around him. "This will help you touch. Quick, we have only a few minutes…we need to get him out of Konoha. I'll be helping you in this battle, but I'll mostly be trying to distract Orochimaru…Jiraiya is coming too. You must defeat him… this is the last battle Sasuke. Defeat him and he'll side with you and Orochimaru will be gone. During this merging his memories will be gone…the demon lord fights for power and strength alone. And that is what Naruto will become…Jassin won't matter nor will what Orochimaru did to him unless you can bring those back…you're the only one he'll acknowledge because you claimed him as your mate."

Tsunade caught the blond's hands and Sasuke got the legs before she made the seals to poof into a clearing two miles from Konoha. Sasuke suddenly remembered Naruto's insistence that Sasuke mark him by his neck when they'd made love few days ago. The mark hadn't been healed by his chakra. He was pushed back as Tsunade ran into him….landing a few feet away from the blond. When Naruto stood up, Sasuke almost had a nosebleed…though this was certainly not the time for it.

Naruto's blond hair came up to his shoulders in silky fluid spikes, two red fox ears had popped up on his head, red fox tails, nine to be precise swept the ground below him, his eyes were a nice violet, with the mix of his and Kyuubi's power, his muscles were bulkier and lastly fangs were peeking out on a full bottom lip. He grinned at Sasuke.

"So you're the one who claimed me…we haven't yet decided whether you are fit to be so, since I have not claimed you yet…" His voice came out husky, eyes watching only him with a bit of recognition. "I suggest that you ask you're friends to help you…I do not care as long as you are the one to defeat me in the end…"

"Don't be so quick to side with him, Naruto-kun." Came a disgustingly familiar voice. They turned to see Orochimaru standing a few feet away, smirking at them. "I'm sure I can offer you much more power…I'd be a better mate."

Before Naruto could reply two shadows entered the clearing. Sasuke recognised Jiraiya and… "Sakura?" he frowned, the girl was four months pregnant….what was she doing here? "What are you doing here?"

"I'm helping you of course. We're a team Sasuke…right now I don't want you worry about my condition. You're going to need help beating him and what we need is team work…don't use fire jutsu's…unless he uses wind jutsu's. Use water to weaken him…it's a fairly neutral jutsu and will react badly with him when he uses fire. If he's demon lord, fire is definitely a part of his power. I'll take care of the taijutsu and your shield." Sakura looked at him warning him not to say another word.

Jiraiya looked at Sasuke. "Orochimaru is ours." Then he turned to Naruto. "The snake and the two of us still have a fight to finish, Naruto-sama."

The lord looked at them and then Orochimaru with a smirk. "If you can shake them off, you may attack me…I'll be teaching my supposed mate, his place by then." Then he turned and looked at Sasuke. "Shall we begin?"

Sasuke nodded very slightly and then he ran at the demon lord, but Naruto kicked out sending him sprawling…even before his foot connected, Sakura's punch connected with his side, making him slide an inch. That was enough for Sasuke who made seals for fire quickly. But like Sakura said they had no effect unless Naruto was using a wind jutsu. There was a blast of chakra that sent both of them flying away from Naruto.

Tsunade had all ready run at Orochimaru, whose tongue was wrapped around her waist. Jiraiya hit the snake with the rasengan, but this time it wasn't of any use as Orochimaru used a summon to black him. Tsunade had gotten the tongue off her and was trying to use it to pull Orochimaru towards her. Suddenly his sword Kusanagi came sliding out of his mouth and right at her, making her let go and jump away cursing. Jiraiya used a few quick taijutsu moves but Orochimaru blocked most of them. Tsunade cracked the earth under Orochimaru, using an earth wrap jutsu, but he used kawarimi and brown sludge seeped from the wrap. Orochimaru appeared behind Tsunade, moving his sword in an upward sweep, cutting her back.

Jiraiya lost his temper, chakra flaring around him…he fired a few chakra blasts at the snake. Orochimaru blocked them with shield, but Tsunade attacked him at the same time, landing a punch that sent him sprawling a hundred feet away. But before they could make another move, Orochimaru had sped forward towards Naruto. He thrust his hand out, five snakes speeding towards the lord, when he stopped short, Gamabunta's tongue wrapped around his legs. The Hokage appeared before him with a smirk, catching his wrist in her hand and crushing the writhing snakes. "Oh no, you don't!"

Then her eyes widened, when she found she couldn't crush the snake Sannin's hand. He grinned. "This time I came prepared Tsunade." He used another kawarimi, appearing a few feet away from them and bit his thumb.

"EDO TENSEI NO JUTSU!"

Tsunade's eyes widened as two coffins appeared. The moment they opened, Orochimaru shoved kunai in their backs. Tsunade watched in horror as Dan stepped out of one coffin and Sarutobi out of the other. Rage built up in her and her eyes narrowed to slits as she let go of the seal on her forehead.

"My, Tsunade…could you really kill Dan?" Orochimaru asked smirking.

"Anything would be better than you, controlling him." She used her chakra scalpel to run towards the corpse of her lover. But he jumped out the way, leading her away…grunting she turned at the last minute as she passed Orochimaru stopping to sever the chakra flow in his hand.

The Sannin moved away, but the scalpel hit the muscles in his hand anyway, rendering it useless. Jiraiya was fighting Sarutobi, finally covering the man in a gob of oil and frying him before he could use kawarimi. But the fire melted off his former tutor like water. He glanced to see what Tsunade was doing and saw her trying to reach Dan, Orochimaru was heading towards Naruto. Shit there had to be something he could to stop it. Then the idea hit him, he would wait until Tsunade had taken care of Dan, he needed to keep Sarutobi occupied until then.

As Tsunade and Jiraiya tried to handle Orochimaru, Sasuke and Sakura were trying to get Naruto. Sakura attacked with the taijutsu moves she'd learnt from Lee. While Naruto was distracted Sasuke used a water jutsu to send a dozen or more ice shards at Naruto. While the blond used fire to melt them, Sasuke drenched him in water effectively weakening him so Sakura could intercept with a chakra boosted punch, sending the blond flying into a long line of trees.

The lord growled and came at them on all fours, opening his mouth to send a huge red chakra ball at them. Sasuke stepped in front of Sakura letting her shield him, before letting a Chidori begin to crackle in his left hand. He moved away from the lord and then started running full speed towards the drenched lord who was drying pretty fast, he last moment he hit, he changed his jutsu.

"CHIDORI NAGASHI!"

With that he wrapped him arms around the blond, who screamed in pain as he got electrocuted with a large burst of lightening. A wall of earth shoved between them trying to flatten Sasuke, when Sakura came out of nowhere breaking it down and pushing Sasuke out of the way. She used a water jutsu to liquefy the earth and saved herself.

Naruto growled in irritation. He'd thought defeating them would be a piece of cake. He ran at Sasuke, finally landing a hit and scratching him all the way down his front. When he was about to kill him, a kunai exploded by his back and before he could turn Sakura had rescued Sasuke. The teamwork was starting to irritate him and the medic Nin's shields were very good, since his chakra couldn't get past them.

Sasuke looked at Sakura, wincing as she healed him super fast. "How come your shield is holding so well? Why can't his chakra hit us?"

"It's a forbidden jutsu. Tsunade's been training me for weeks to fight against Naruto as the Demon Lord. You'll need to beat him with raw power. And as a tip…that mark you've made on him is weak…use it." Sakura zipped out of the way, just as Sasuke moved, an energy ball blasting them to the side. Sasuke decided to use his summon, he need help in distracting Naruto. Shimo poofed quickly and understood the situation. His sharingan spun wildly, he could now see when Naruto was going to blast them. He felt like an idiot not having activated it before.

He quickly met Naruto's eyes. "TSUKIYOMI!"

Using the split second before Naruto could break out of hit; Sasuke hit Naruto with another water jutsu. The blond growled, but Sakura came up from below him, hitting him a form of the lotus. As the blond went flying upwards, Sasuke performed the full lotus he'd seen Lee performing long back. Ok…Chidori with the Lotus. It should help. He wondered what Shimo was doing at the moment and saw the wolf trying to keep Orochimaru away, as he wrapped his arms around the blond, before starting his spin…even when the red chakra began to burn him, he didn't let go. "Chidori Nagashi."

The blond tried to struggle as the electricity jolted through him…one more of those and he'd lose for sure. Even his demon power couldn't stand against being electrocuted. Naruto bent his leg and kicked the inside of Sasuke's thigh at the same time jerking his head back into a head butt. Then he slipped out of the Uchiha's hold and threw him, but the wolf summon caught his master.

Sakura used an earth jutsu to make quick sand as Naruto landed, getting the demon lord caught up in it. But Naruto flew out of it and punched her hard, sending her reeling. Sasuke had to throw himself behind her to soften her fall. Orochimaru who'd broken away from Shimo at last tried to tackle the blond. He must have been underestimating the blond, because suddenly he flew back. But the snake man let a bunch of snakes envelope Naruto as he fell. The blond cried out in fury clawing the snakes in two, he used a fire jutsu and sent it at the man, following it when arms wrapped around his legs. Snarling he tried to dislodge the pink haired woman, when Sasuke came out of nowhere and did the unthinkable….he sank his teeth right into the spot he'd given Naruto his mark. The Kyuubi lord howled, suddenly going limp. But Sasuke didn't let go, pinning the blond man to the ground.

Tsunade was tired of Dan dodging her. While Orochimaru was trying to get Naruto, she used chakra to strengthen her speed, finally reaching her quarry; she stuck her hand in there and pulled the kunai out. Dan stilled and turned to her…"Tsunade?" and she brought the hand upwards, slicing her love in half. After making sure Dan was really dead, she turned her attention back to the fight. She saw Jiraiya signalling for her to distract Orochimaru as Sasuke tried to subdue the Kyuubi.

Tsunade nodded and went for the Sannin and as luck would have it, he fell at her feet. She felt a pang of unease go through when she thought of how lucky she was. She caught Orochimaru and threw him into the air, punching him like she'd done all those years ago. She felt a kunai whiz her way and saw it was Sarutobi. She heard Jiraiya sigh, before there was a yell of "Rasengan" and Jiraiya's hand went through Sarutobi's chest and came out through it, holding the kunai. Then he looked at Gamabunta, holding fast to Sarutobi. "Now…do it. Don't hesitate!" And Gamabunta let loose a glob of oil which covered both student and master and Jiraiya… used a fire jutsu…

Sasuke clung to Naruto, refusing to let go of the thrashing blond, until the lord fell backwards onto the ground sighing in defeat. The Uchiha had just exploited his weakest spot…the mate mark. He lay still before, croaking out. "Sasuke? You can let go of me now…I've chosen."

Sasuke let go and found himself stating into blue eyes…the ears and tails were gone, though the bulkier muscles hadn't. "Naruto? You're memories are back?"

Naruto rolled his eyes, letting his head hang back as the wound healed. "Gosh I really didn't think you'd go animalistic on me…though I was hoping that you would in a way…because that's the only way you could defeat me." Then Naruto pulled Sasuke's head back, making a quick bite at the base of his neck. "Okay now that it's done…who do you want me to kill?"

Tsunade and Orochimaru froze and watched as their team mate burned away. Tsunade found herself unable to voice her thoughts, as pain welled up in her throat. With a garbled noise, she went back to beating the shit out of Orochimaru when suddenly someone caught her hand. She looked up to see Sakura.

"It's ok, Hokage-sama…we managed to get Naruto on our side. Please stop…"

They both looked up and saw Naruto watching Orochimaru. The blond had a slightly insane look in his eyes. "Well, well, if it isn't the snake-bastard…what a pleasure. I'm flattered you came all the way thinking you could defeat me…care to try, now that I have my memories back?"

Orochimaru smiled back. "I came to get you back, Naruto-kun. After all you were mine…or have you forgotten it?"

"He was never yours!"

Naruto glanced at Sasuke. "Hey, teme…shut up will you? Let me finish this up. I'll make it simple…I'm giving you a minute to run away, Orochimaru. If you aren't far away when I catch up…you'll die. Your time starts now."

Orochimaru thought about it. He was weak now, from using so much chakra and Tsunade's beatings. He couldn't use another jutsu…so he turned and ran. It was humiliating, but he might just be able to make it. The trees blurred and passed him as he moved blindly, trying to get away and finally reaching the valley of the end. Just as he crossed the border into Rice country, there was a rustle.

"Too slow." Said a voice, before something hit him in the chest full force. Orochimaru looked down to find Naruto's palm against his chest, which the rasengan had hit and he felt the hole it had made in his back. He felt the life flowing out of him. The last thing the snake Sannin saw as his eyes slid shut was a pair of blue eyes and a bright grin.

Naruto straightened his clothes for the fourth time that evening. He couldn't help wishing Jiraiya was here. The toad sennin's funeral had been held last week. Since there hadn't been a body, his name was added to the memorial stone and a small service had been held. All his things had been divided between Tsunade, Naruto and Kakashi. Of course the Icha Icha manuscripts had gone to Kakashi, his scrolls and letters and stuff to Tsunade and his most important scroll…the frog summoning scroll had been left to Naruto. Surprisingly both the snakes and frogs did not mind being his summons, so he didn't have to get rid of either.

The council had almost licked his boots when he'd gotten back Lee though had almost killed him…but when he found that the baby was okay, he was appeased and that pleased Naruto. He was actually looking forward to seeing the child. There was a knock on his door.

It was Sasuke. The dark haired man raised an eyebrow as he looked at the blond. "Dobe…are you going out there with those ears and the tails?"

Naruto shrugged. "I think it looks quite smexy, what do you think?" he wanted to go out there as the Demon Lord…have the people of Konoha see that he wasn't going to hurt them….plus retracting the ears and tail meant no nosebleeds from anyone.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "I've shown you what I think…I don't want to…actually I can't repeat myself again. Now come on."

They walked out to the terrace and Naruto looked down facing the whole of Konoha, with a bunch of fan girls screaming and cheering. Ever since he'd transformed there seemed to be so many of them…they didn't even care that he was married. At Tsunade's glare, everyone quietened down. The blond woman stood and faced everyone.

"Time has come for me to retire. I have tried my best to protect Konoha and all its inhabitants, but in my opinion no one had done so more than, our jounin, Uzumaki Naruto. With that in mind, I award him the title of Hokage…protector of Konoha." She placed the robe around Naruto's shoulders.

All the ANBU bowed and repeated the oaths of alliance. What really touched Naruto was that they all meant it…finally he had been accepted in Konoha. He closed his eyes savouring the moment, letting the breeze blow around him for a while. He wanted to say something but he didn't know what to say. "I really don't know what to say…all I can do is promise that I will protect you all with everything I've got. We haven't all gotten along in the past, but I'm willing to put that behind me…I know some of you are against this, but I'll get you to acknowledge me too."

When he finished though there was a great cheer, everyone brought out sake and food. The celebrations had begun. Naruto however followed Tsunade who'd walked to the gate.

"Do you really have to go, baa-chan?"

Tsunade hugged him close. "I can't stay here, Naruto. I want to get back out there, remind people that the legendary sucker is still alive and make a few people rich before I die. And I know I'm leaving this village in safe hands. You should be celebrating now."

Naruto smiled and shook his head. "I'm still not that much of a people person…not like I used to be. But I have a feeling I'll get back to being at least a bit like I was before…. Goodbye then. Don't worry, I'll make sure Ero-sennin gets his favorite flowers…have a nice journey baa-chan."

"Yeah, gaki. See you then." And she walked off into the distance. Naruto watched her go until she disappeared and sighed. All the older people he'd cared for in his life were gone, except for Iruka and Kakashi. He sighed; this should have been a happier day…

"Are you done brooding, dobe?" came a voice.

"Yeah bastard. Not that you'd ever let me brood in peace." Naruto turned to face Sasuke.

"Aren't you going to celebrate?"

"Nah…too many people."

Sasuke smirked, then. He held out a hand. "It's ok; I have a celebration planned out, just for us."

Naruto looked at him for a moment, before smiling a wide genuine smile. Ne, Jassin…you were right. I kept on dreaming…then he sighed once more and took his husband's hand. Sasuke pulled him close before slipping an arm around him. The couple walked off to their home…to find their own, yummier ways of celebrating. And as he walked, the new Hokage' robe fluttered behind him along with his tails; with the red kanji for fire engraved on it.

THE END

A/N: I can't believe I finished it. I know the chapter was abrupt, but I wanted that. Yes, this was what Tsunade talked to Naruto about. The reason they didn't tell Sasuke was that he should have beaten Naruto without training…they needed someone who could match Naruto's raw strength with his own.

I'm really going to miss this fic…I like an evil Naruto. Though I am playing with a plot for another evil Naruto story in my head…so see you all then. And to you darling reviewers who have supported me through this whole scene…thank you for your support! Ja ne!

Taka

Itachi: Finally! Can we go to bed, now?

Jiraiya: So you killed me? But you promised to keep me with Tsunade…wasn't there supposed to be a lemon between us?

Taka: I lied to keep you fighting Jiraiya. But since you're alive in reality, why don't you just go find Tsunade and leave me and Itachi to whatever we'll be doing?

Itachi ties Jiraiya and throws him to Tsunade. Picks taka up and throws her on bed. Then they snuggle up and sleep…weary from too much sex!

Cookies for all! And love you all!