I know that I have started a bunch of stories and have only finished two out of six, I think. I know it's damaging my reputation as an author, but I started a new one. It's called 'Chibi Naruto,' a crossover of Chibi Vampire and Naruto. I plan to delete some stories and review the plots of them. Sorry if any will be missed.

-Second Hokage

Chapter 22

A bright light engulfed Naruto, his whole body levitated into the air. He seemed to stir, but stopped after a while.

"The seal is faded, but it is there." Pein observed. The seal on Naruto's stomach glowed faintly through his white shirt. Good, I was afraid this would not work. With the on tail gone, we need every ounce of his power. "Zetsu, have your physical body stand guard. Use the one with the greatest range, got it?"

The image of the plant man nodded. "Understood."

Pein turned his attention back on Naruto. "This is going to take longer." He told everyone. The seal on Naruto's stomach was barely visible, meaning the Kyubi was almost out of their grasp. "We have to use more than the required amount to retrieve this one. Remember, the fox is dead."

"That means some of us will die." Itachi commented. "I wonder how many are committed?" He murmured curiously.

"It can't be helped." Pein looked at his subordinates. "If we all put out the same effort, it is most likely all of us will die. Who are volunteering for put forth the extra so their fellows will survive." He asked, or ordered.

There was a quiet. None spoke, all were adverting their eyes. Finally, a blocky figure, a long hair man, his assistant, one in a mask, and someone else all raised their hands. "We all volunteer, our plan is worth more than our lives." Konan said. There really isn't any other choice.

The volunteers were all thinking the same thing. Either way, we die. Whether by choice or by him. All let out a depressed sigh.

Pein looked at all the volunteers approvingly. "Good." He looked at Itachi and Kisame. "What about you two?"

"I'm not ready to die yet." Itachi replied.

Kisame shrugged. "I still have things to do too."

XXX

"They sure can travel." Kakashi felt his patience begin to dwindle. They had been trailing them for a day and a half now. They were resting by a river. The rushing waters felt like an hourglass. The more water that rushed by, to them, felt like a grain of sand falling.

Hinata rose to her feet. "We can't sit here any longer! We have to get going." She exclaimed. Sakura and Sasuke agreed, but both had different reasons.

Itachi will be gone if we don't hurry. I'm sorry Naruto but my own personal gains matter more than you at the moment. He looked at Kakashi, waiting for his answer.

Naruto, I couldn't help you last time. This time will be different. Sakura curled and uncurled her fists holding her anger for the right time.

Kakashi gestured her to sit. "I understand how you all must feel, but we won't be any good to him if we push ourselves too much. Plus, Pakkun has to find the trail again." He glanced at the puppy sniffing at everything, trying his best. His eye curved, his way of smiling. "Don't worry, we will save him."

"I found it!" Pakkun called from beyond the river. "Hurry, judging by the age of it. We're close."

All of them smiled, relieved. Any further and they would be crossing into river country. The news of him being so close chased away the weariness they could feel catching up with them.

"Hear that?" Kakashi looked at them over his shoulder. "All you have to do is believe. Let's go!" He took the lead, leaping over the river and into the forest.

In their excitement they didn't see a man's head in a venus-flytrap sink into the ground.

XXX

"Enemies approach. Four in all. They are a Hyuga, Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Sasuke, and Haruo Sakura, all leaf shinobi." Zetsu reported.

Pein closed his eyes. "Hm..."

Itachi and Kisame suddenly jumped off from their place. "We'll go slow them down." Itachi said. "We have given our tribute."

Kisame heaved his sword onto his shoulder. "Might as well have fun before we die."

"Go then."

XXX

Naruto was sitting in a familiar field. The warm breeze gently caressing him and the cloudy sky letting in just enough sunlight was making him sleepy. "Wow...this place is so beautiful..." He let out a huge yawn. "I could sleep...forever." He eyelids drooped. Everything was becoming blurry, but he didn't care. It was peaceful, no more fighting, no more worrying about things. "Did I become precious to anyone?" He asked himself suddenly. "No... probably not..." Hinata's face popped into his mind. "Oh, yeah. That's right..." He smiled sadly. "I sorry, Hinata-chan. I broke my promise. I said that I won't go anywhere... I wonder who she'll grow to love?..." He let his eyelids shut, welcoming the peaceful oblivion. He could hear his lost family calling to him.

Some how, he could see them through his closed eyes. His father looked just like himself. And his mother was beautiful, her red hair and green eyes. She was crying while his father had an arm around her. They were saying things to him, calling to him. Even his grandfather was there.

"Kushina... Minato... Mother, father..." He whispered.

Minato was grinning broadly. "That's my boy. I'm proud of everything you have accomplished."

"You can come home now." Kushina beckoned, tears falling freely down her face. "We missed you so much!"

They looked sad for a moment. "We're sorry we had to leave you, son." Minato and Kushina bowed. "I never thought any of that would happen... I didn't think of it at the time."

Naruto grinned, he couldn't be mad. Like him, it wasn't their choice. "Dousan, kaasan I don't blame you for anything." He could feel tears streak down his face. "I'm just glad to see you now." He turned to his grandfather. "Even you ojiisan, thanks. I'm sorry I never avenged your village. Orochimaru still breathes."

Roushi shook his head. "Don't worry about it. I should have never asked you in the first place."

Kushina's fist came down on his head. "You think?! How dare you make my baby promise such a thing!" She shouted.

"Honey, calm down." Minato held her by her arm. "I'm sure he was caught up in the moment."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Roushi whimpered at her feet.

Naruto smiled at the scene. Maybe things would have been different if- He felt a sharp bite on his foreleg. "Ow!" He bolted upright. "Huh?" He was back in the field. "Wait, no! I want to go with them!"

"Good to see you too, brat." A red fox with nine distinguish tails greeted him.

"Kyubi?! What are you doing here? I thought you were dead." Naruto shot off a bunch of questions.

One of the Kyubi's tails covered his mouth. "Be quiet. I don't like it anymore than you do." He looked off into the forest. "It seems someone wants my power. They are trying to bring me back. I can feel five of them begin to slip away...dying. Giving their lives just to bring back a demon lord... How interesting."

Naruto removed the tail. "So why am I here?"

The Kyubi chuckled. "It should be obvious. You're dying too."

"What?!" Naruto exclaimed. So that's why... dousan, kaasan, and ojiisan... I can't die yet, I'm still have things to take care of. Promises to keep... Hinata's crying face flashed into his mind. "Kyubi-san, you have to send me back! You can do that, right?"

The Kyubi closed his eyes. "I can... but, I would have to go back with you."

Naruto stopped. "Oh... Then I'll have to face it then..."

The Kyubi looked at him questionably. "Why is that? I thought you would be trilled at the chance to go back."

"I would be, but I would have to force you to come back. After everything that you have done for me, that would be selfish of me..." Naruto looked at the forest dejectedly. He couldn't make his legs move toward it.

The Kyubi sighed. "I must becoming soft." He went to Naruto's side. "Get on. We'll eventually come back this way."

Naruto looked at the demon, shocked. "Are you sure? After all this time you-"

The Kyubi held up a tail, stopping him. "I have lived for centuries, a little longer can't hurt."

"Alright!" Naruto hopped onto his back. With powerful strides, they rode into the dark forest.

XXX

"The scent ends here." Pakkun stopped in front of a blocked cave. "He's in there, I'm sure of it."

"Good job Pakkun. It would be best if you left now. I sense that we have been detected." Kakashi said, his hand already pulling up his headband.

Pakkun nodded before puffing up in smoke.

"You three ready? These guys aren't pushovers, so be on guard." Kakashi's sharingan eye spun rapidly.

Sasuke activated his sharingan, ready for anything.

Hinata did the same with her byukyugan.

Sakura smirked while putting on her gloves. "This time, Naruto, we'll be the ones doing the saving."