A/N

Ay guys...last chapter, man this is something I have been looking forward to for a while now. I have to say, for those who didn't knock this fic before trying it, for those who found it and kept reading, looked for answers in the small mysteries added here and there, I would like to thank each and everyone of you for your support and reviews and PM's.

Chapter 15

A Maelstroms Wrath

Two weeks had passed since that night, the one filled with love, tragedy, and contemplation, and it went all too quickly in Naruto's opinion. He had come to really like the open space of his warehouse, the fact that he could wake up and immediately train or run laps, without the caution of someone seeing his superhuman feats. Ah, but all good things must come to an end, and although this was a good place to hide out, he knew he would have to hide somewhere even more remote after the battle. Actually...in the time he had spent in this warehouse, he felt something that was...off. As if someone were watching, perhaps, but he was not too sure.

Maybe he was paranoid, it was what the girls told him.

Speaking of the girls...Rize had come to him one day and told him about her stomach being volatile at that point, that it hurt way more than it should be able to. Naruto raised a brow, knowing in at least his basic knowledge that ghouls don't get stomach pains that bad, unless they eat human food, which she assured him, she would never think of touching the stuff unless she had to put up an act for humans themselves.

Concerned for his little 'binge eater,' Naruto suggested that he attempt some medical ninjutsu, search for the reason why her belly ached so vehemently. The answer nearly floored the blond Uzimaki. Rize had the beginnings of Chakra developing in her. It developed first in the midsection of course, as was for babies and children, but she was a grown woman, and the Chakra was constantly burning away paths in her to create the systems necessary for it to flow, but her regenerative abilities heal the wounds just as quick.

Seeing as the general to Kaneki's army of ghouls could not be missing in action, Naruto decided to seal it off, as it could not develop further anyways. After painting a seal on her stomach, doing the correct hand seals, and all that he was supposed to do, he sealed the wild fire of Chakra inside her. She gave him a kiss in return for stopping the 'damn ache,' as she had called it.

Now thank you's and your welcomes aside, he had wondered how she could ever gain Chakra in the first place, but then he remembered, a few months prior, after being captured by the clowns, Naruto had to allow her to eat a piece of himself so that she would not die from famishment. He deduced that there was a small piece of Chakra in his flesh that went into her stomach, and since her healing was too fast for it to sustain a circuit, it just festered there.

Pretty happy with himself for figuring that out, Naruto decided it was time that she joined Kaneki at their base-which was off somewhere the rich Gourmets owned. She bid him good luck as she went, and when Rize was gone, and all that remained was himself-for Kaguya was setting about his pronged daggers about in hidden places, so that he may suddenly disappear once he 'died.' By himself, Naruto sat back, and thought.

He thought of the events that lead him into this world.

He thought of the self-employed missions he did to ensure money, a place to stay, and eat and sleep.

He thought of all the people he met, all of those he had come to care for, those he grew to love.

And now he sat, in the middle of a warehouse, on a mattress, ready to dawn the visage of a villain and 'claim' the destruction of two waring people, just to unite them. It was ironic, in a way, as he had always fought characters of such countenance, or 'bad guys' doing 'bad things.' But, now that he looked back, some of those people were doing what they thought was right, none of them just decided to do evil for the sake of evil, but they are pushed to the extremes by the occurrences of the world, of the decisions of others. Even if the decisions of others were for the best intentions, for the best of the majority of the people, those actions can lead to the terrible upbringing of horrible humans-or ghouls.

No one is born evil, nor good, but ultimately, these things may come to balance the other, and yet in hope should the latter prevail.

In the end, Naruto thought, no matter what anyone does, there will be strife, tragedy, lamentations of the lost, ever since humans-or anyone capable of existential thought-exist, then there will always be problems in the world.

When Naruto laid back on his bed, pondering such things, he came to a strange sight.

Sitting there, high above, on the tail of an eye-beam, there was a cloaked person. Naruto had all but a moment to realize that a maroon cloaked fig'r had suddenly loosed themselves from their position atop an I beam, and were falling butt first right on top of him. Naruto gave a horrendous yelp, and the mattress springs screamed in rended agony as that being slammed right on top of Naruto's gut. Between his poor unprepared stomach, and his dead and flat bed, he was surprised that the bandaged faced person was fine, giggling even, sitting on him as if he were a beanbag chair.

Eyes of gold flashed where once sapphire had been, golden flames ready to burst around him, as Naruto was thoroughly pissed off that someone just landed on him. He was not ready, not ready at all for that. But this thing-a young woman by the sound of her self induced laughter-just sat there, taunting him to do something.

"Who in the nine levels of hell!-"

"-your cute, for a human...or whatever you are." She stopped him, head cocked to the side, a jingle of laughter seemingly always stuck in her voice.

Having had enough of this bewildering madness, Naruto grabbed her up under her arms, standing on his ruined mattress. Her head lulled to the side, clothe eared hood cocking with her as she said, "Oo, you move fast, is that how you got Kaneki-chan? The Binge Eater? The weird eyed one?"

Naruto gave a pinched look, half tempted to throw her through the far wall, but stilled himself, setting her down as he got off the bed.

Crossing his arms over his broad chest, Naruto looked this strange woman up and down, and he came to the conclusion that this woman here had to be clinically insane-and he meant that too-as he had met some crazy people before, and she nearly took the cake. A ghoul by smell, and human, so says his sniffer, which meant that she was a one eye like Kaneki. Though despite all this information, this speeding moments of what was going on, that other people might become too distraught to deal with, Naruto could close his eyes, calm down, and open them again, blue orbs shining anew, as he readdressed her.

"My name is Naruto Uzimaki," He gave a short, respectful bow, "what is yours." He finished, going now instead for the more amiable approach to find out her intentions.

"Oh, the beast and the gentleman, hmm...not many can be both nowadays. Fine then," she said pulling off her hood, her tentive fingers beginning to undo the wrappings about her face. "I am the person whom you have intrigued in the best of ways, as you are the most interesting person I have yet seen. My name," she started as her leaf green hair began to spill out in messy curls, and the start of her face was almost to show. "It is Eto Yoshimura."

His breath hitched at both her words and her visage, finding both striking with the latter being that of beauty, while the former lay in confusion. She was a very attractive woman, a set of green hair that was unkempt and messy, yet it curled itself and held a cloud appearance, and at the edges still there were points that contradicted this as well. Eto's gaze was much the same color, and all the same in depth, whilst her face was a smooth draw of angles, ones that met with a point at her chin.

But before he grew too head long into her looks, he remembered her words, and he bit his tongue.

"Your father never mentioned you." Naruto told.

"Let's not get into my personal life here Naruto, m'kay." Her cheery reply came out as more of a warning than anything else.

Holding in a faint growl of annoyance, he asked her at last what she wanted, as this conversation between him and her seemed to bite on his nerves. "Oh, I want you, Na~ru~to-kun" Eto's tone drew heavy as her single Kakugan showed, and in the same process, she began to circle him, like a lioness yet to spring on its prey. Naruto had no time for this.

"No." He told, whipping around to face her. She stopped, saying he misunderstood. She didn't want to eat him, is what she said, but he still denied her. Naruto had enough women in his life as it was, and he didn't need anymore crazy women.

"Then I'll tell." She smiled, sweet voiced. "I will tell everyone what you plan, and your sacrifice of face will be pointless. Or...heheheheh," She trailed off with a giggle.

Raising a brow, Naruto realized he wasn't getting rid of this woman so easily, and even if he were to knock her out, he couldn't just keep her locked up or something like that. It would be wrong-don't get him wrong, it was tempting-but still. So he made a different decision instead.

"After this whole thing is over, this false war, then I may. The others will have to know, so don't think we can just secret this from them."

Eto seemed to genuinely consider denying him, and it was there that Naruto really thought he might have to knock her out, but she nodded, saying that as soon as this charade of his was over, he would be hers. Crazy part aside though, Naruto knew she wasn't joking.

After a moment, Naruto realized it was about time for him to show up for the party, and be persecuted on a global scale as the worst person to live, as his persona was that he desired the genocide of both races. As he dawned his orange jacket, just before he was to leave, Naruto asked Eto what she thought of what they were doing.

"Oh. Well in my honest opinion..."she paused, and in that moment of silence, she truly looked normal, as if the insane glint never entered her eyes. "I want a world where ghouls aren't persecuted, seen as the villain of every day life. Whether that means the eradication of humans, or they are at peace with us, I could go either way." Eto told earnestly. Nodding, seeing another side of what people could be once more, Naruto disappeared in a flash of yellow light.

Kaneki had gathered forth her army of ghouls, and even now, with Rize recently having arrived, marched on the twentieth ward. They were great in number, and strength, and she knew that the army of men, of humans, of the Doves, would soon meet them, and yet they would never strike against the other. Yes, everyone was riled up, pumped for battle with those they saw as weak mortals, but soon they would face a god, one that walked and breathed the very earth. Her Naruto would soon show defeat and 'perish,' whilst the combined union of races would rejoice and finally come to an understanding.

And so they went, humans who had yet to leave fleeing when seeing their visage, and all were stricken in fear as their feet thudded in powerful stride to the battle of what was to come. True be it, it was a battle no one expected, heir if man and ghouls separate could not defeat a god yet together could, then this fear will soon begone. As was her's and the others intentions, for actions spoke louder than words, yet words would soon ebb the peace to close and fit the new age.

There, on the distant streets of yonder, they saw forth coming men and women clad in arms and armor, of both the special sewn cloth or the ghoul hides, and then there were guns holding those special ammunition or Quinque held for dear life. From all ranks, on either sides, from D to triple S, they came marching to meet, middle bound, ready to start and end what was to come.

They all had seen the message, the hacked news report that turned everyone on their heads. Kaneki had been on the air with that black, white toothy grinning mask of hers, one eye covered and all, her Kakugan blaring bloody red, black rimming that in a threatening abyss. Her notion of war was spoken, time and date, location and terms spoken, and it seemed it was taken in utmost seriousness.

We will take humanity for all the wrongs they have done, and no more fear the dark. Her voice had come in static tones, those words reverberating throughout everyone's hearts-as she meant the last part especially.

The time had come, they were now but a stones throw from the other. Each of them held the same serious expression, that stern look, determination, the collective thought of staying alive, keeping each other alive to keep themselves alive. Then there was that driving emotion, of pride, of what was at stake, written, scrawled across their faces. Kaneki was not surprised to find the man rumored to be the death god leading the whole charge, Arima Kishou as he was called, already out and about with both Quinque.

Before a single word, before even an inaudible utterance could ever hope to be, there before them came a flash of yellow light, and a figure of a man engulfed by golden flames, ruins of black edging along his form stepped out before them. It was Naruto, fully dressed for battle, one of the nine truth seeking orbs formed into a staff with a ring forming at its head-with several smaller rings looping it. He looked every bit the god he was supposed to be, striking and mesmerizing, awe and shock personified.

The world was struck silent in the moment he took in breath, and his words spilled in a striking beat of bass drums, deep and strong, a tune of hate frightening them all-and admittedly, even those knowing of his act, were surprised by the convicting voice he held. "Ghouls, Humans, it doesn't matter," was the beginning of that climbing crescendo of a powerful voice, "because all of you, needs to DIE!" Boomed Naruto's voice, sending chills of eternal fear rippling through the majority of them. "Ever single last one of you!" He yelled out again, the golden flames around him wavering quickly with each words struck with harshness. He raised a single finger up to them, and atop that, to a point so small they could not see-yet hear-there was a small orb forming between tiny golden hands, perched there, atop his digit.

Before he could come to flick that small Rasen-Shuriken at anyone, there came a clapping, an outburst from somewhere yet to be seen, almost all around came the sound, and Naruto lowered his hand as a sensation suddenly began to shutter throughout his body. The air had grown thick and taught, hot and heavy, as Naruto felt something familiar. It was a familiarity that he found no comfort in, nor did he expect to ever feel this again, as was with Rize, as was with Kaguya, this was one of the very few times-nowadays-that he had felt Chakra other than his own. And not just any Chakra.

His Chakra.

"Mehehehahahah! It seems you have taken to acting a role similar to mine, huh Naruto?"

His voice.

"I guess being the villain was just too tempting to pass up now. Or was there another reason, hm? What was your plan exactly? Unite this world by sacrificing your face as a hero? How endearing. . ." Trailed off the man, and when Naruto sought out the visage he expected, eyes glimmering with wide anticipation, of fear, of what could be but can't, he found him.

Madara Uchiha, in all of his glory, and more so than usual, or so it seemed to Naruto. This man shouldn't be here, right now, breathing in his own breath. When Black Zetsu took over and Kaguya was reborn, his body was no longer his, so how...the scientist. Naruto cursed as he stared on at the floating man who stood above them all. Somehow-Naruto didn't know how-but in some way, he regained form, and as appearances go, and by just the feel of the intensity of the other gods Chakra, Madara had grown stronger, much stronger, with added features that did not boast well for Naruto.

Naruto lifted his own staff, taking a step forward, and Madara did likewise atop his airy perch. There was no time to warn everyone, no time to shout out anything convincing enough that they might run. Kaneki of course might come to know what to do, and order a retreat when the battle began, and surly Arima was a smart man, and even he would know when a situation called for an unexpected exit, but the question was not of if they would order such. It was a question of if they could make it out of the area before hand. If they could escape the coming of rippling blows that even mountains could not sustain themselves against. In the end, just as both gods began to truly move, speed beyond the sight of mortals, both leaders, of both armies, came to shout a single utterance that later, Naruto would remember was a movie about a rat wanting to be a chef.

"EVACUATE!"

And all hell broke loose.

Naruto shot forward, snapping his whole form into the sky to meet Madara in the air, and likewise, the other god met this opposition with just as much enthusiasm. Those black staffs with the rings mounted on top of it met in a clash that boomed out against everything around it. The buildings glass shattered in the wake of the very first clash, and the second-even more forceful swings-ruptured the shattered pieces into dust. The Doves and the Ghouls fled past the other, trying to escape the path of their fight, each trying to push themselves out of the way as to gain further ground, each deafened by the battle of the gods.

All but three women, loyal as they are, standing against the tides of humanity and ghoul alike, rising against even the whirlwinds of blasts caused just from the two beings swings, even standing their ground against the gales that came from the crashing black staffs. They; Kaneki, Rize, and Kaguya each, in their own way, owed Naruto, not just what he did for them in the past, but for what he kept doing for them, even now, despite all the confusion and chaos. They remained. They yearned to aid him, but didn't know how. Not yet.

Above the world where gods sped on in battle, Naruto found himself surprised, as Madara had grown stronger, gotten faster, more vicious since last time. Not only that, he thought as he ducked beneath a swing, turning himself round to snap his foot over the mans face, but there's something off.

He was not wrong, as what he did not know, would surly be the end of Naruto, but for now they fought, the unbeknownst Uzimaki unaware that for ever strike, every hit he dealt and was dealt with, a small portion of his Chakra was taken, so minimal, and stretched throughout their brawl, that he had not yet noticed.

Breathing in a great breath, Madara nearly shouted out a great plume of flame, incinerating air and what ever remained in the vicinity, yet Naruto had suddenly disappeared. Abruptly, out of no where, he felt his sensory skills scream for him to move, and when he did, found a pronged dagger shoved deep into his ribs. He did not scream, yet instead, he grinned madly, whipping about as he felt Chakra pulse through the metal.

When in a flash of yellow, Naruto appeared to deal damage to the Uchiha, the blond was taken unawares as the black haired god grabbed him by sudden instinct, his arm nearly rendered from its socket when Madara spun about in the next instant, flinging Naruto away and down several blocks. While Naruto recovered, Madara jerked the pronged kunai out of his ribs, tossing the weapon down to the streets.

Naruto came back, flinging himself at breakneck speeds, the gold and black ruined flames on his body having sprouted several large, claw-like hands, each holding a different colored rasen-shuriken spinning about in each palm. The raven haired man's gaze widened, knowing that attack, at the speed Naruto was going, was not one he could dodge. The name of the jutsu was shouted, just before they came down on the god.

He screamed bloody murder, pure agony wrenching at him as each orb began to rip him asunder, and in the same fashion, drove him into the side of a skyscraper. Madara felt every muscle, ever sinew, every nerve in his body wail out, his own mind screaming for it to stop, but the pain persisted, his death seemingly nigh, mortality casting him over the edge. Even as everything around him was destroyed, the shattered windows and rendered steel beams, of concrete exploding out around him, Madara had only one chance-one small, very threatening chance to live, to ascend to an even higher plane of god-hood.

He took his chances, and went for it.

One hand launched itself out between those spinning orbs, and immediately what skin, or of any tissue that remained there already, was ripped away, leaving bones to soon be ground to dust. Switching out his eyes for the rennegan, he used that instead to force his bone whittled hand to touch Naruto, aiming directly for the seal on the blonds stomach. One of his eyes was destroyed, just as his stump of marrow was to touch, but he pushed on, despite everything, too close to relent, too stubborn to give in.

Then, it happened, Madara made contact.

The golden aura about Naruto suddenly vanished, along with it too went the nine rasen-shuriken's, following with it was the truth seeking orbs, just gone. As the lost shinobi looked on, he saw Madara grin, and Naruto was now aware of a startling fact, of an absence in himself. Kurama was gone. The six paths sage mode-his very hallmark of god-hood-was gone. And since his Chakra was no longer shelved by the fox, it was only a matter of seconds before it was gone too. Naruto looked, and saw the vile man grin, and without preamble, with all these things happening in but an instant, Naruto no more knew, no more did he feel, for vacant grey eyes took his now lifeless form.

Naruto was dead.

And Madara grinned, grabbing hold of the blonds orange jacket, and with some force, cast him down into the streets below. As the effects of his victory began to take place-his regeneration beginning to kick in-the power of the six sage paths mode, the power of the nine tails, everything Chakra wise that was in Naruto, became his. Nothing physical changed, but it was internal, his Chakra reserves expanding far past what they ever were before, greater than even Kaguya's when she took his body. Madara had gained it all, but in a few moments, he came to realize something. Something he hadn't before, that tinge of one-no-two Chakra's down there. The greed of having grown stronger, and the possibility of growing even stronger than he his now, ate at him. So, he decided that if he did not have all the Chakra of this world now, he would soon. And so he descended, slow and regal, grinning to himself.

Madara's 'toss' had thrusted Naruto's body across the streets like a meteorite, causing the same thing that a space rock might. The pavement was ripped out in a trench as the blonds body crashed through it, cement breaking up and being flung out as it all occurred. When Naruto's form stopped, it was laid out, half propped upright, mangled with thread bare clothes. A grim sight as any, especially for the three women who came sprinting for the crash sight.

When, upon seeing him, those dull eyes that once shined with the oceans passion, now grey and gone, they at first felt as though this was a dream. Naruto was...Naruto, he couldn't be dead, he could do anything, he could have saved this world from itself. Naruto can't be dead. But as they stared on in horror, they knew it was him, and they knew he truly was gone, and without that doubt, tears began to prick at their eyes. Kaneki felt her eyes burn, cheeks wet, much the same as the other two. That man who seemed to know Naruto, Madara, oh how that name burned in the girls' hearts, how hatred now began to fill them, a burning flame lit in their souls.

They heard footsteps come from somewhere to the side of the street, and even in their state, they turned not to attack, but to see. And they saw him, a man whom had led the Doves to battle the Ghouls, Arima, the so called god of death. He held before him both his Quinque, but not to strike them down, no, for his expression had changed, from that of indifference, to a grim slant of the brows, a pinched frown on his face. He strode to Kaneki, stopping just before her, taking a short glance at the fallen form of Naruto, then looked back at her.

"I have no clue as to the nature of what is going on," began the triple S ranked investigator, "but I only understand that the man who struck down Mr. Uzimaki is not friendly. I doubt he will leave, or spare this world anymore hardships." the man stopped, considering his words as he cast his gaze down. "I aided in escorting everyone, even your army, away from the fight, but...I returned because...well I don't really know." Arima told, voice hardened as he set his eyes back into Kaneki's. "I cannot stand by while someone like that continues to exist. Naruto gave me a hope that I would die in battle one day, as someone was strong enough to face me, but that Madara guy, he took away the chance for me to enjoy that fight. So here I stand," he paused, nodding to the half-ghoul, "ready to end this confusion. Help me end that man, and if we win, then Naruto is avenged."

Kaneki, as like the others, was struck silent by the bold words, but just the same, she accepted his offer. It would take all of them, together, to even try to start dealing damage to Madara, and even that wasn't guaranteed. But they were willing, angry, and were spurred on by the blonds death to take on his murderer. Kaneki, Arima, Kaguya, and Rize each stood at the ready, as before them, coming from above, came that man.

No words came from him at first, but when he touched down, he addressed them each, cocky as ever. He told them he was there only for the Chakra, only there for more power, and that he would have it. Kaguya glowered, knowing what he meant by that, as she had felt the absence of Chakra in Naruto, even that demon that was there too, was gone, she felt that it was in him, in Madara instead, and she knew instantly that he had stolen those things from her liberator.

When an idea spawned from that mans vile ways struck her, and the others leapt at the god, Kaguya stayed behind, hovering over Naruto's dead form.

While the white haired woman began to go over in her head what must be done, and its consequences, Arima and the other two pursued their battle with an actual god. Arima leapt high, aiming one of his Quinque at Madara, firing off a bolt at him. The Uchiha jumped back out of instinct, but twisted out of the way as both Kaneki and Rize snapped their Kagune out at him, aiming to pierce him. Madara lifted a hand as a truth seeking orb came over the back of it, ready to fire out at the two. Before he could, Arima appeared before him, slashing out at the god. The truth seeking orb suddenly formed into that black, ringlet staff, spinning out to not only block the Quinque, but to rip it out of the white haired mans grip.

Sensing a strike coming his way, Arima switched his remaining Quinque into his opposite hand, letting the piercing weapon untwist to form a round, umbrella-like shield, barely blocking the fan like form that staff became. It knocked him back, flipping Arima head over heels. The man twisted to land on his feet, and rushed forward on the next instant. Rize and Kaneki came from behind in the same fashion, and in the same moment Arima had, coming from three different directions.

Madara grinned.

Pushing Chakra to his palm, the raven haired man knocked the white haired man's Quinque to the side, causing an unprepared Arima to fall right into the spot that Madara planned him to be in. Within the same instant, the god did a front flip, allowing Kaneki to pass below him, whilst also grabbing hold of Rize's Kagune and slamming her far away into the street.

Below, by the designs of the calculating mind of Madara, Kaneki had come to accidentally pierce Arima with her Kagune, a blow that was mortifying by nature, the tip of her rinkaku shining through the the mans back. Both their eyes were wide as Kaneki quickly pulled her Kagune out of the man, knowing he would surly die. When he hit the ground, before death took him, his eyes screamed at Kaneki, to fight on, to keep going despite this, to let go.

And in that moment, the Centipede was released.

Madara was surprised as that woman, Kaneki, seemed to suddenly go insane, bending-literally-over backwards. A strange, black beaked mask formed over one side of her face, a red leering eye in the middle of it, and just as soon as this occurred, two strange-centipede like-protrusions exploded out of her back, writhing along with those red rinkaku Kagune. A thumb came over one of her fingers, and a loud crack came as she grinned. Her Kakugan stared after Madara as she spoke in a shrill voice that seemed toppled off, doubled, by a twisted version of itself.

"W-What's one thousand...minus seven?"

"Wha-"

She leapt, disappearing for a moment, appearing behind him the next instant, slamming the four Kagune of hers into Madara's back, mirroring what she had done to that investigator in the ghoul prison months ago. When he twisted in the air to use a katon jutsu, angry that he had been caught off guard in the sudden change of the woman, something big and looming seemed to catch him, a pair of big albino white clawed hands flung him away.

Even in her half-crazed state, Kaneki recognized those shapes, the smell of someone she knew of, at least out of the two. The One Eyed Owl, and the Non-Killing Owl, or, Eto and her father, both in their 'owl' forms, the former grinning, brimming with hate and insanity as much as Kaneki was. She regarded both of the hulking behemoths, as only an insane person could, tilting her head to the side in greeting-still grinning madly. Eto returned the favor, while the old man simply nodded.

While the three power-houses of what a ghoul could be got ready to fight on against a god, Rize was kept back by Kaguya, the white haired woman urgent in her tone. She spoke of a way to bring Naruto back, and immediately, she was met with a glower. Rize told her she was foolish, especially for not helping in the first bout of the fight, but Kaguya persisted, telling Rize that she and her were the key to reviving Naruto, but at the cost of their lives. She said that by using the Chakra in Rize-which was and still is Naruto's-and by using her own Chakra, they could restart the man's system, and he might even stand a chance at beating Madara. Rize didn't waste a thought in agreeing, saying that she hoped Kaneki and the others could hold the man off while they did this.

Kaguya said they had to, as it would take time for this process to be complete.

When Kaguya began to perform one handed signs-while she had Rize place her hand on Naruto's stomach, where the seal for Kurama was-and her other hand was holding Rize's unused hand, the fight with Madara raged on.

With two One Eyed Owls, and the One Eyed 'Queen,' the fight might be only that much more difficult for Madara to fight, or so many would think. Of course, in any other battle with anyone else, they combined in full effort could hetero take nearly all forces on, of any beast or man that may rise against them, but to one transcended to God-hood, who had fought in many, many battles of bloody and death-filled states, war true to an epic scale, they were but that much less prepared.

Ripping through the sky on speeds unaccountable for, the God rushed for the biggest threat of any, that being one of the One Eyed Owls that-in his extensive career of fighting-figured that it was the strongest of them-Eto. With the experience hither held from his exploits as a shinobi, Madara shot out a blast of fire from his lips, the great plume of flame coming as fast and as heavy as a fully loaded semi, crashing down on the still grinning beast. With noticeable effort, the Killing Owl spun about, the plume of her Kagune expanding and twisting to meet the plume of near volcanic flame, sending remnants of it out around her huge form.

In these same moments, the non-killing owl flew from the ground up, coming up to the side of the Uchiha, ready to rip the mans head off. When in the same moment, Kaneki came at the man as well, coming down from above, leaving the only exit to be a skyscraper, which would take some doing to move through or about-at least in the Owl's and half-breeds minds. But what happened next was a catastrophe, horror and shock, rippling throughout to be the true catalyst of something terrible in even cosmic might.

Madara killed them all, so fast, that they were dead before they hit the ground, killing them each with a small blast from a truth seeking orb.

And in the same moment, Kaguya and Rize slumped over just as dead, having fulfilled what they sought to do.

Here, in all these instances, of these happenings that occurred all at once, Madara spoke out, saying he was tired of playing such games with children, glad in tone to say that he was rid of them. While this was said, Naruto had come to draw in breath once more in a mortified gasp of life, coughing some as his blood once more ran through his system, along with Chakra. With blood flow back, he began to bleed, all the gashes and cuts open to let out a flow of red, causing pain to swelter in the blond. But it was in opening his eyes, those sapphire orbs, that did now daze about in lazy sweeps, half closed lids tempted to shut forever again, that true agony came in the form of loss.

He spotted them.

There on the street, along the pavement and sidewalk, he saw their bodies, saw the ruby blood spilled out in reckless pools of forgone humanity, cast aside as if they weren't even dirt. Arima, Eto, Yoshimura, Kaguya, Rize and...Kaneki. The whiskered man felt his throat hitch at the sight of them, acquaintances and friends alike, his girls. He could not bear it, much the same as they could not have bared his fallen form before. Tears pricking, accumulating in his eyes in hot globs that streaked down his face. Sadness began to combine with hate, anger, fury, and when upon looking away, head tiltered down with clenched jaw, Naruto snapped.

Madara had only but a seconds thought when suddenly everything in his left cheek suddenly seemed to cave in, pain rising there, as he was sent flying out into a building, crashing through offices and the like. The second punch was more noticeable, as Madara had come to acknowledge the speed and force he was actually being hit with, and raised his awareness to the assailant. Color the man surprised when he found out it was the supposed-to-be dead blond, but despite his awe, he quickly quieted this feeling, blocking the next strike with his open palm.

The bones in that hand were instantly shattered, even with what the God thought as a sufficient amount of Chakra to deflect the blow.

Being driven out of the now crumbling skyscraper, and with a timed dodge, the black haired man quickly let his arm and hand regenerate, just in time to raise his staff so as to keep his torso from exploding out as Naruto came at him again, a rounding kick coming straight for his spine. Spinning the staff about, Madara mustered up some strength to smack the blond away, sending him crashing into several buildings below. Free of the blonds constant assault for the time being, the Uchiha blinked his eyes to reveal byakugan, activating them shortly thereafter. As his veins bulged around his eyes, he saw what he had been seeking. He could see it now, in Naruto's body, Chakra circulating about his whole form, raging in constant cycles. Something didn't make sense though, for even if his life had somehow returned, for if someone gave theirs up-Kaguya and Rize-and gave him Chakra, it still wouldn't be enough to come close to what Naruto was doing now, the feats were way higher then what he should be able to do.

Blinking once more so that one eye was the eternal mangekyo sharingan, the other a rennegan, Madara readied himself. If he was to fight this bastard, if he was to bring this to an end, it would be here and now. With full bore of strength, Chakra flaring of gold and of purple flames, of everything the man had to soon use against Naruto, to absorb the last trace of Chakra in this world, he would do so without hesitance.

Naruto rose out of the rubble, shaking the dust off of him as he lifted his head and gritting teeth to the murderer. White orbs of oblivion came to gaze in heated staring at Madara, not blue, nor crimson, not of orange or even gold, just blank whiteness ever compassing in a near cosmic rage of a man wronged. It was in this sight that the Uchiha came to conclude what he assumed was happening; with the combined nature of their shared progenitors Chakra, a small spark of Naruto's own, mixed with unbearable loss, a rage unlike any other now produced an increasing amount of Chakra. In this way, muscles tight and bulging with that energy, that only seemed to keep increasing despite use, gave Naruto the might he needed.

And so, the battle began anew, and such was the increasing intensity of their battle, that the earth below shook from their powerful strikes against one another. Punches or kicks, it didn't matter, the sheer force of either clashing would rend a building-no matter its toughness-from its very base, ripping it from the ground and atomizing it to nothingness.

Naruto let punches fly like gun fire, all slamming into Madara like pistons, breaking bone that healed instants later. Aiming for Madara's head, Naruto seemed to miss, and was instantly repaid with a kick to the gut. Naruto responded with grit teeth, grabbing hold of the leg and rending the limb from Madara. Cringing, the god went and bared the pain, opening up his hand, palm before Naruto's face in a point blank attack. A hole appeared in the mans hand, a truth seeking orb there, and in an instant later, the man fired it at the blond. Naruto could not fully dodge the decimating blast that ripped a crater large and ever colossus in the city below, as he had come to lose an arm from it.

Blood sprayed from the non-regenerating wound, much like the rest of his gash covered body, and in this weak state, he could no more remain aloft with the man who had committed crimes against him. he fell once more like a star, crashing into the rended ground below. He still breathed, if barely, as Madara came down to him, ready to steal the mans Chakra once and for all. Alofting himself there on the ground, Madara grinned in vile victory, raising his hand to reach down and grab up his winnings.

"Luck has forsaken you, boy. I've won, you've lost." The man chortled with glee as he grabbed Naruto's throat.

There, in that indent and bedded dirt, Naruto stared half dazed from the fight, tired...so tired. His body was losing grip of his very soul as his Chakra was once again being stolen. It would be so easy, a voice in him told, to just close your eyes, and forget everything. Naruto listened to the voice, his lids beginning to shut as his body lost more power by the second. But as his gaze winked out for a second, he caught one last glimpse of Madara's villainous face.

NO!

He couldn't stand that face! He couldn't stand the thought that everything he had ever come to love, to appreciate and care for was gone because of this bastard! He was done with that man's existence! And he hated the very visage that bore into him!

Eyes snapping wide open and an animalistic snarl ripping out of his clenched teeth was just enough for one last burst of energy. Madara was tackled and brought to the ground in an instant as a world trembling, terrifying roar of humanities rage exalted itself from Naruto as his single arm was reared back, steam bursting around the sheer intensity of the movement. The air ignited in furious fires by the mere friction of his single punch, the pressure and power of the collision completely destroying Madara's head, and body, and everything else around Naruto, as a hole was ripped open beneath him from the sheer force of the mans punch.

Without ground beneath him, Naruto fell into that hole, falling falling falling...

But he smiled grand despite this, tears clumping above him as the rush of air pulled them from his cheeks, much the same as his blood did. He had come to sacrifice everything, mentally, physically. His precious people too, were gone, but he knew, as he smiled brighter, that he would see them soon again, just not here in this world. With tears streaking and contentedness in his heart, the broken man closed his once more sapphire gaze, ready to accept death.

And then the impossible happened.

Chakra of both his, of Kurama's, of Kaguya's, of the Sage of Six Paths, and even of Madara's, all of it came flooding back into Naruto, all at once in a brilliant grandiose light of gold and white and purple and blue hues, once more filling him fully and past what Chakra he ever had before. All his wounds, even his arm, regenerated completely, his strength and of the three others strengths combined and topped one another off, bringing forth the form of a new, true God-Hood. Horns long and evident protruded from his temple, a third eye accompanying this along with everything Madara and Kaguya had before, yet still more abilities beyond came.

Naruto opened his eyes, revealing them to be once more gold, with the hints of ivory and purple flickering in them as flames. The rush of air from falling ceased, and suddenly, knowledge pierced him, of all things and greater still, of what happened and of what he can do in this now limitless form.

It seemed that all that compound Chakra had come to obey the now unrestrained Kurama's consciousness, who them directed it into Naruto-so to say the fox was well and alive-thus meaning he had every ability imaginable. Which meant...

Suddenly and without his fathers pronged kunai, Naruto snapped out of reality for one instant, appearing once again before his fallen loved ones, friends and otherwise. Notwithstanding their death, he lifted forth his hand, Deus Ex Machina-ing them back to life. He is a True God now, after all, and with power came knowledge, and vice versa, nothing was impossible, all things were open to him, including the return of his precious people. Even the extra-dimensional travel that he would later do, and with this he also came to know of many more worlds than his and of this one.

In the end, when all came to a calm, Naruto performed many great things before leaving the ghoul world and taking his girls-Eto and the old man too. For one, he made it so that ghouls could only eat human food, reversing the effect of what was set before. If a ghoul ate a human, they would now taste beyond horrible, and cause them great pain. He also fixed Arima as well, giving riddance to that aging problem the man had been stuck with, and deeming him as the perfect candidate for leading the ghoul and human progression, made-forced-him to rule over both.

When asked by the girls and Yoshimura on what happened, of what he was now, and of many other things, Naruto answered them simple. He told them that he had struggled enough in life, that his mere rage against the tragedy of their death brought him the strength to finish the fight. He loved them, he cared for them, and he didn't feel like losing them as he had lost others. It was in this fashion that Naruto returned to his world as well, fixing all the wrongs, undoing death and all. In the end, Naruto found happiness, he found peace, traveled many other worlds and had a very big family with those he loved.

Pushed back against the world we are to fall, but only in staying down do we truly fail, like an oceans current we are pursued with struggles against tides of misfortune, but it is letting our hardships take us that we become a stigma of misery. It is rising up beyond our fate, hither fold to greater heights to pursue, that, like Naruto, can come to a better future because of our past struggles. There is a candle of hope in Life, no matter how faint or lost it seems to be, so we must safeguard it and go forth with a stride in step. Smile and wave, work for what you wish to earn in genuine effort, even in the seemingly desolate tragedy of the world.

The End