Now, now! Danzou came from a long bloodline of shamans!

His hobby is kendo, though!

So that's possible to have a shaman/kendo master!

Anyway, Sasuke had a plan and would Naruto not ruin it?

I'm gonna miss this story! Oh! A sequel?

However, I have to focus on other ongoing stories after I finish this.

I really love to thank everyone who read till the very end!

Enjoy reading Kurochi no Pooru (Black Blood Pool)'s ending…

I don't mean vampires by Black Blood… reminder.

Extra long… epilogue included.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or School Mermaid but another finished story!

…

'This could be another grim yet preferred ending for you…'

Final Chapter: Sleep Tight, My Dear…

"Do your best. You couldn't expect me to just let you kill me, Naruto." Naruto had been pounding the whole night. He had been preoccupied by how his life had turned into. He entered junior high school despite whatever happened between him and his mother. Then he fell in love with everybody's girl of their dreams. Then his mind grew very stupid to try out a rumor he read at the Net. And before he knew it, eleven people had already died for him, including his new love. He even had a permanent record at a jail for this. With everything being done without him knowing, Naruto could assume he was being controlled as well. And the so-called wraith… it was his conscience itself.

Naruto had his face shoved at the pillow. The Tuesday sun was out and he had no intention to attend the worthless classes. Once again, he was getting dazed by everything his head had to bear. No one could deny Naruto was exhausted… but he couldn't just sleep it all away. He had already declared his decision… and he knew he couldn't just take it back. Sakura and Sasuke mean something to him. Sakura was a reason why he couldn't just kill himself. She had been his inspiration for all those hard days. And Sasuke was… a friend in a way he never imagined until yesterday. So weighing their importance was… quite impossible. But Naruto had voiced out his choice… for the sake of Hinata's death. But… is he really ready to pick just one?

Naruto rose from bed and rushed to the computer. He tried to find the same site he read about the deal. After minutes, there it was. New site feature, anonymous forum posts… and then he began posting, 'What happens if… the last sacrifice doesn't die?'

He waited for minutes… for the other online members to contemplate one good answer. But it rained with 'I don't know. I haven't tried it…' posts and it was all useless for Naruto. Then… a member coded as AmiHeika posted, 'Why would you stop? Isn't it a paradise if you complete it? Or maybe you're scared to kill one more time.'

'You… tried it out?' Naruto posted and 'she' replied, 'A couple of times now. Believe it or not, though. And about your post earlier… someone told me you'll be in hell if you aborted the deal. More like… an everyday nightmare even if you're awake.' Naruto smiled a bit, 'I've been through all miseries.'

…

Karui and Sasame were at the school. The aura was unlike before, more shuddering and panicky. They were sitting quietly at their desks and Karui was looking around. Naruto was out… and everyone else was making this up. They were talking about the ultimate murder sort of stuff. But honestly, they didn't know that the murders are really going to end the next Wednesday. One more thing that caused panic was about the blood pool found at very hall. This was the first time blood pools were found not only on Thursdays.

And the fangirls feared the most… since Sasuke was out as well. Even Karui, Sasame and the school couldn't contact the boy. Sakura, however, was dropping the rumors about 'Naruto killing Sasuke earlier'. The deal had a strict schedule… so she knew it was just a rumor. Sasame said, "Where's Sasuke? His phone always picks up. Was it true that—?"

"Don't be stupid. Naruto wouldn't do that." Everyone is the classroom heard her and she exclaimed after she noticed all eyes were on her, "W-what? Mind your own chitchats!" everyone turned away and Sakura went to the two, "Hey, you two…"

"S-Sakura." Sasame whimpered and Karui said, "Hm? Anything you want from us?" Sakura looked away and placed her index finger at the side of her lower lip. She pounded for a while and began, "You seemed to care about Naruto… all of a sudden. Why is that?" she looked straight at the girls after. Karui said, "We care… from the start. But… he just won't open up a bit." Karui grew a bit down and Sasame whimpered again. Sakura looked around to see everyone had their eyes at the corner, trying to gossip of whatever Sakura has to say. She grew pissed and she dragged Karui out the place and Sasame chased after them.

It was at the female comfort room of the unused building. Though unused, Sakura still checked if ever someone was there. Then she resumed, "This is just s a feeling but… there's something that wanted me to… tell you… to…" Karui got somehow pissed and hissed, "Get to the point already." Sakura looked at her… Karui stared. Sasame felt some kind of tension and she again whimpered… breaking the tense. Sakura said, "Tomorrow night… before 10. Meet me at the school grounds back entrance. Be sure not to get noticed by the cameras." Sasame and Karui twitched. "Huh? We don't even know where these cameras are—!" Karui yelled and Sakura covered her mouth and said, "Don't yell, idiot." She let her go and she said, "That's no good… just meet me at the park then."

…

It was almost eleven when Sasuke was seen sitting at the benches. Naruto just got there and he was surprised seeing him earlier than he's supposed to be. Naruto just stared at him as Sasuke looked at him. The blonde said, "It's useless to fight. Whatever you do, the Great Entity will still help me… for the sake of his food." Sasuke just smiled and Naruto said, "It's not funny. Why are you laughing? Is losing your life a laughing matter to you?" Naruto looked down at the floor… being the one sad about the loss. Sasuke said, "We're done talking about this, aren't we?"

"Yeah, right. I was just thinking…" Naruto secretly drew out a knife from his back. But Sasuke didn't fail to see it. He was also armed and Naruto didn't seem to know that. Naruto was stealthily going for some quick stabs but Sasuke was preparing for it. they were walking a circular pattern… until Naruto rushed to grab him. But Sasuke had a quick dodge by rolling and went out the way… then he rolled back again to kick Naruto from behind. But he managed to do three flips to evade Sasuke. But the last flip wasn't perfect though… since he fell to his ass after the last one. But the stunt surprised him greatly, "Since when can I do that?"

"Who knows." Sasuke stood up and Naruto as well. Naruto now revealed the knife and he held it like how military men do. Sasuke checked his watch despite Naruto's presence and stance. It was nearly twelve… and Sasuke commented on how time flew so fast. Then he yelled, "Naruto! Come 'ere!" he ran away and Naruto followed him.

It was at the school pool… Sakura was there and the males walked to her. She saw Sasuke and she suddenly tried to stab him. But he caught her hand and clutched her by the wrist. He almost shattered it, "You wouldn't like this when you're awake." Naruto then saw the pool grew black again… and soon the Great Entity will be there. Naruto readied his knife and poked it against Sasuke's back… to where his heart is. Sasuke's eyes looked at Naruto and the blond said, "I told you… I would kill you."

"Greetings, Uchiha Sasuke…" the three flung their heads towards the pool and the Great Entity was already there. Sasuke smirked, "We met again, old fart." Naruto and Sakura looked at each other and then to the two. The Great Entity said as it seemed to point at Sasuke, "Thou, who choosest to abandon thy love, shalt interfere not. Thou, who choosest to achieve thy dream, kill the taboo!" Naruto had a sudden paralysis due to confusion. Then Sakura grabbed back her wrist and tried to kill him… but Sasuke rolled away again. Naruto grew stunned and just watched Sakura and Sasuke ran around.

He couldn't deny he was trembling, Naruto was very scared. It'll only be seconds before twelve strikes. If he couldn't kill Sasuke, he'll be killing Sakura in the process. But due to his confusion… that Sasuke knew the Great Entity. And it seemed that the world was really harsh on Naruto's part. The school's giant clock rang twelve. Sakura suddenly fell and Sasuke caught her by the shoulders. Naruto's eyes grew bigger as Sakura woke up and saw Sasuke. She yelled in surprised, "Sasuke-kun! What? What am I doing here? Why am I?" she was getting all confused and Sasuke said, "Listen to me. No matter what you see… don't scream." Sakura nodded and turned to… she covered her mouth with both hands in horror, but quenching the scream, "What is that?"

"Sakura…" Naruto mumbled and she saw Naruto. She frowned and then… that very second, vines grabbed Sakura by the leg. It pulled her up and towards the Great Entity. She screamed and Naruto and Sasuke walked towards the pool rim. Karui and Sasame ran out from the nearby tree and screamed Sakura's name. They could care less about the two girls, all important now was Sakura. The vines were swaying her and finally slammed her inside. Naruto yelled, "Sakura!" the Great Entity laughed, "Live souls! Thou shalt witness the path thou choosest!" Naruto shook Sasuke, "Can't we do anything?"

"We can watch…" Sasuke coldly said and Naruto froze. Karui and Sasame gasped in horror. The Great Entity then said, "Yes. Watch as thy love dies… watch as thy light vanishes… " Naruto closed his eyes in cursing how hard his life had been. Being stoic couldn't bring him bit happiness and everything was just a mistake. But regret had never been an escape…

Sakura's sticking hand was now unseen from Naruto's place. The Great Entity was laughing and laughing… killing yet another maiden. But then a circle drew around it and seemed to chain around it. It started squealing and Naruto was getting confused once again. Then Sasuke placed a hand at his shoulder… as the chain started to cut the Entity. The girls gasped in wonder and Karui looked at Sasuke. It said, "What—! Who!" Sasuke smiled and said, "Remember this?" he showed the book the Entity feared, "Good night, dear Great Entity. You've heard this before, I know. So to make it original, I'll add… and you'll never wake up again."

"Imbecile!" was the last word the entity was able to say before it withered away. Naruto then looked at him, "What happened?" the raven said as he knelt down the water, "The separation of Sakura's soul from her body triggers the hex. I put it when I held her a while ago… but I didn't do it on my own, though." Then someone from the bushes came and walked to Sasuke, "Did it work?" Sasuke smirked, "More than I thought…"

"How'd you?" Naruto asked then Sasuke said, "I was just like you before… that's all." then the dark water showed movements. It was starting to go red and wading within it was evident. When it was completely red and blood-soaked, a hand shot out of the water. Naruto was pushed to his ass and then Sasuke grabbed the hand, "I wonder whose…" it was Sakura and she said, cursing anyone available for getting almost drowned in blood red water. Then suddenly… moss-covered bodies started floating from the pool. It freaked out Sakura and the girls and then she yelled, "Fuck! Are they dead?" Naruto grew dark and Sasuke said, "Let's find out."

Then a body moved and seemed to drown, "Help me! Help me! I can't swim!" Naruto's eyes shot wide and he dove to the water… and Sasuke pulled Sakura up after that. He swam towards her and held her, "You're not going to drown… I'll save you." She was trying to take the moss off her, "Naruto-kun?" Naruto took the moss off her face, "Hinata…" she was utterly surprised but Naruto had big smile on his face. She smiled too… and when Naruto was about to get his moment… then other bodies started moving as well. They helped each other… and they were all out of the water.

"I could swear I saw Naruto killed me!" Suigetsu yelled and the others chattered, agreeing to that. Sai said, "I didn't really think you were accomplices, Sakura, Hinata…" Hinata jerked her head down and Sakura yelled, "Accomplices? Killed! I don't understand!" Sasuke said… making the others wonder, "Sakura wouldn't remember anything… she just acted without her consciousness to witness it." Naruto then bowed down before everyone else, "I'm sorry for everything I've done."

"I'm sorry for hurting everyone, too." Hinata jerked down as well and Sasuke said, "I'm sorry for keeping this as a secret… but don't wait for me to bow down because I won't." Naruto then said, "I know I can't be forgiven… but so just you know… I'm really sorry." Sasuke commented again, "he was controlled the entire time. Until the last month… but still, he shouldn't stop." Neji said, "Naruto… I understand what you are going through right now. But whatever you feel, don't try to waste another person's life for your own happiness. I forgive you now…"

"Fine. I guess I have forgive you, too." Ino looked away from Naruto, "Since everybody deserves a second chance." The others were bitter… but they forced themselves to forgive him… but no one could forget what happened. Karui said, "At least… everything's just like a dream now… right?" Sasuke nodded, "A very scary dream Naruto has to dream every night. From now on, full moon brings grave pain… more likely when someone's on the deal. This is the price those who abandon the deal have to pay…"

…

Everyone was readying to go home and Sakura went to Naruto, "Naruto." The blond turned and apologized, "I'm very sorry for everything." She smiled, "I understand why you did this. Sasuke just told me. But I am glad you still realized what you lacked. Patience, my dear." Naruto smiled and then he said, "Thanks." Sakura then whispered, "Now, I don't want you hurting our little Hinata, okay? If I see her crying, I'll kill you myself. 'Nyway, take care of her… don't lose her." He nodded and Sakura left… walking towards Sasuke. Hinata went to Naruto, "What were you talking about?"

"Huh? Uhm. Nothing… really." He smiled and Hinata wondered. She smiled back though and held his hand, "Naruto… I want to tell you that… my feelings never changed. I… I still love you." A blush ran at her cute face and Naruto smiled at her, "Same here, Hinata. I love you, too." Hinata cleared any trace of anything but happiness in her eyes and face. Things were starting to get intimate again… until Neji interfered as he appeared beside, "Ehem. It's getting late. We should go home, Hinata."

"Sure, Neji-nii-san." But the two were still staring at each other's eyes. Tenten came to the scene and pulled Hinata by the ear, "Oh no, not here, Hinata!" Hinata started screaming a bit in pain as Tenten dragged her away. The bun-girl waved at Naruto without looking at him, "Night-night, knight!" Neji sighed and looked at Naruto. He twitched and the other guy smiled, "I won't give Hinata to you that easy." He then tapped Naruto at the shoulder and left. Naruto smiled a bit and Karui placed her elbow above his other shoulder, "You're not alone… you just don't where to turn when dark hours come."

"But I was quite thankful I stumbled at the deal thing. It opened my eyes…" Naruto smiled and Karui cheered, "Right! Now, everybody home! Let's go, Naruto." Everybody was walking away from the school. Naruto laid a last look at the gates and mumbled, "Maybe I did the right things to do after all. But in the other hand, why do I have to suffer from something like this just to see them?" then he looked around and saw Sasuke looking at him. The blond smiled and ran towards Karui. The raven whispered, "It's quite nice things ended up like this… now no one would suffer from a big joke." Sasuke's brother chuckled a bit, "I agree. Now I wonder, about the last person requirement. Who could that be when you would be the subject, huh, Sasuke?"

"Hmmm. I wonder, too." Sasuke smirked and the brother shook his head with the thought of 'that's so Sasuke'. Each and everyone walked towards their houses, forgetting the horror Naruto had accidentally bestowed upon them. With peace of mind trying to conquer one's mind, everybody was happy that the nightmare had ended.

Love could have been the sweetest thing in the whole world. Solitude would be erased and sadness will be obliterated. But with love there is lust… there is envy… there is no satisfaction. Some disasters were brought down by love and it worsens the already harsh world. Love could never be bought and forced into one. That's why if love was never bestowed by fate upon one… he would go for those who could give him… despite the price he had to pay. With these prices… one would vow never to try it and risk being loveless forever; would vow to only try it once and only once; and the worst, would try it over and over again… since the price… was something useless to him… even it has to be human life…

At a foreign place, Ami was spotted texting under the shade of a tree that full moon. There was a pool near here. And twelve came… she walked towards the pool and something like the Great Entity emerged from the waters. She welcomed, flipping close her phone, "Is this a rumor… or I heard one of your siblings had been put to asleep again?"

"We are the embodiments of love lust…" it said with a female voice, "We will never perished. And yet we sleep… but this slumber would never stop us from conquering the hearts of those who yearned for love they never will acquire." Ami smirked, "That would be a bad news… anyway, I met a guy… are you going to help me again?" the other Entity answered, "Remember the prize, li'l girl." She just smirked, "I know about that. How long have I been feeding you?"

…

THANKS FOR READING TILL THE END!

HOPE YOU LIKE IT…

In the end… I forgot to mention Itachi's name…

Anyway, it is worthless though…

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Signed with love by ReiHaruno