Chapter 5: I Used to Think Friend Is Just a Word

Shikamaru's Introduction: Boy, this is troublesome. Some of the readers wonder why Naruto still considers Sasuke his friend and why he places friendship above village. That simply isn't so. Last chapter clearly states that Naruto is willing to go the distance to save Sasuke as long as doing so doesn't endanger Konoha or her ninja. Moreover, one of the main themes of the Naruto manga is friendship, and defining what true friendship is. I think Naruto in this story (starting with last chapter and more in this chapter) will explore more of what friendship truly means, and to reevaluate whether he is being the kind of friend that Sasuke truly needs. Don't worry, Naruto is not going to be an idiot that turns a blind eye to what Sasuke truly is, a traitor and a criminal.

XXXXXX

Four out of five Kages and their attendants are currently seated in the meeting room. Their host Mifune, the leader of Iron Country, entertains them as they wait for the Iwa to arrive.

"That old fart Oonoki is so backward ... maybe our meeting will go smoother without him here," Ei, the Yondaime Raikage suggests.

"Old fart Oonoki? the Tsuchikage?" Naruto whispers to Shino and Shikamaru, hoping that either of them paid attention in the history lessons of the Academy. While it's true that he has read the past mission dealings of the previous Hokages, those mission statements don't give the names of the village leaders, often simply referring to them by title. Naruto guesses Oonoki is perhaps the Tsuchikage since the Earth Shadow is the only one missing.

"Hai," whispers Shikamaru, who is standing to his right, "he is the Sandaime Tsuchikage. He was in power when your dad single-handedly defeated his whole army during the Third Great Ninja War."

"I wonder how he'll react to me," Naruto whispers more or less to himself.

"Logically hostile," comments Shino, who is standing to Naruto's left. "He might even openly attack you. I think we better be prepared."

"No," Naruto raises his right hand. "I want you two to stand down if that were to happen. I don't want our actions to be misconstrue as an act of war."

"Even if he was to attack first?" Shino mouths.

"Don't worry. I'm not entirely defensely," Naruto asserts. "Plus the other Kages will intervene if it gets out of hand."

"I think Naruto is correct," Shikamaru explains. "We are still recovering from Pein and we can't really afford a war right now. If we go to war, we'll potentially have Kumo and Iwa to deal with. The only one we have an alliance with is Gaara. Mei-dono might side with us, but then it's a maybe."

"Oh, right, she is quite taken by our Kage, isn't she?" Shino whispers back.

Naruto knows that Shino is more or less stating a fact, but he is glad that someone changes the subject....

"While we're waiting for Tsuchikage-dono, why don't I begin by explaining the reason behind this meeting," Mifune declares as he grabs everyone's attention.

"As your intel may already revealed, Raikage-dono's brother was recently attacked by an international group of powerful missing-nins who call themselves the Akatsuki. They've been on a rampage hunting the Tailed Beasts, and Ei-dono's brother Killer Bee the Jinchuuriki of the Hachibi is their latest victim. He called this meeting to discuss what course of action we should take."

Gaara offers to start the discussion.

"I was once a Jinchuuriki, having had the One-tailed sealed in me by my father the Yondaime Kazekage. The Akatsuki...."

Then, the meeting is interrupted by someone loudly barging through the doors.

"What is the meaning of this, Mifune-dono?" Oonoki asks. "You guys started without me?"

"Shut up, you old fart," Ei yells back. "It's your fault that you're late."

"Why you brainless brute," Tsuchikage banters back. "Since it was you who called forth the meeting, I knew that if I show up a little late, I'm not going to miss anything important anyway."

The Raikage jumps up and grabs his chair and throws it into the corner. "You must get tired of living out your old age...."

"Whoa! Calm down boys," Mei entreats the two hotheads. "If you boys want to see whose is longer, you can pull down your pants outside and leave us grownups here talking about big people stuff."

Kankurou and Choujuurou openly snicker. The former receives a fan smack from Temari, and the latter, an elbow from Ao. Everyone else tries his or her best to stuff their laughter.

Tsuchikage and Raikage have the grace to blush. Tsuchikage isn't willing to back down quietly, however. He pretends to say it to himself, but he does so loud enough for everyone else to hear. "Yes, mother."

Oonoki is hoping to elicit some laughter to get back at the female Kage, but he notices everyone getting all quiet suddenly. Then he feels a chill working up his spine. He turns to see dark clouds forming above Mizukage's head.

Mifune clears his throat and calms everyone down. He then motions Gaara to take the floor again. "Kazekage-dono was helping us get started...."

"Thank you Mifune-dono," Gaara resumes his introduction. "Like I said, I was once the Jinchuuriki of the Ichibi, until Akatsuki came attacking our village to get me. They wanted the bijuu inside me and used a special extraction jutsu that was evidently very chakra consuming. All the members had to cast the jutsu at the same time and the hosts die after the extraction."

"Oh, Gaara-dono," the female kage voices, concerned. "How are you alive then?"

"Mei-dono, I almost died because of Akatsuki, if it wasn't for Naruto and Konoha here," Gaara explains as he nods toward the Fire representatives. He continues, "We the Sand asked for help against Akatsuki but only the Leaf responded, which is why...."

Tsuchikage interrupts and mocks, "Losing one's Jinchuuriki is an embarrassment best not shared with other countries. The young generation, I tell you...."

Gaara retorts, "That's old fashioned thinking."

"Hm!" Tsuchikage holds his chin high as he snaps his head elsewhere, consequently landing his eyesight on the Leaf representatives, more specifically, the Hokage.

Mizukage comments, "Losing the Bijuu isn't the end, as it takes time to control them. And besides, ...."

In a disruptive fashion, Oonoki stands up and aims his finger at Naruto. "Who are you? Have I seen you before?"

Naruto points to the kanji on his hat as if it is the most obvious thing in the world and replies, "I'm the Rokudaime Hokage. The Godaime is recovering from injuries caused by the Akatsuki invading our land. Their leader Pein attacked Konoha in search of me. I'm the Jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tails."

The Tsuchikage says, "So you're the kid that the despicable Yellow Flash sealed Kyuubi into. But there's something else ... you look familiar...." He taps his chin and sits down. "Damn! these joints!"

Just when Mei is about to resume making her points, the old man Oonoki gets on his feet again, this time not with the same pep. His finger flies out, pointing at Naruto while shouting, "What is your name, boy?"

"Naruto. Namikaze Naruto," the blond teen replies.

"Namikaze, huh? That name sounds familiar," the old man sits down again. "I feel like I should know that name...."

Kurotsuchi, his kunoichi attendants says, "That's because he's the...."

"Oh shut it, don't tell me," Tsuchikage orders, "I'm not that old yet. I'll remember it eventually...."

Naruto and his attendants breathe a sigh of relief, but then become fully alert just as quickly when the old Kage furrows his eyebrows and points at Naruto again. "I tell you, standards for Kage have become lower and lower. You and that redhead brat are so young. No manners, I tell you...."

Naruto and gang tune out the rest of the old man's bantering, relieved.

"We're all equals here, Oonoki-dono," Mifune asserts. He then urges the female Kage to continue.

A furious Raikage smashes the conference table shared by everyone. "I had enough of this useless talk!"

The attendants of the other Kage move in to defend their leaders. Kankurou readies his puppets, while Temari draws out her battle fan. Choujuurou pulls out his sword, while Ao prepares some hand seals. Kurotsuchi pulls out two katanas, while Akatsuchi pounds his fists. Shino and Shikamaru are ready to do their thing, but Naruto's hands on their shoulders stop them.

"Stop! All of you!" Mifune shouts out while his own samuri enter the room.

After much staring, the Kages call off their attendants.

XXXXXX

Zetsu and Team Hawk gather outside the Iron compound where the Summit conducts. They are infiltrating through one of the least guarded section of the Summit.

"The meeting is in session. If we go straight through, we'll find the Conference Hall. Inside, we'll find Danzou," Zetsu explains.

"You better not play tricks," Sasuke warns.

"Don't worry. Danzou is no friend of ours," Zetsu informs.

XXXXXX

"Look! You all made Akatsuki what they are today!" Ei accuses.

"You dumb brute better explain quickly, or I'll have to ...." Oonoki rebutts.

The Raikage continues, "The Akatsuki is composed of ninja from your villages." The other Kages become silent.

Looking at the Tsuchikage, the Lightning Fist Master states, "I also know some in this room have used Akatsuki."

"What?" ask Gaara and Naruto.

"You both are too young to know any of this," Tsuchikage explains, "but think of why a group like them thrives ... the benefits of using a mercenary group who wouldn't drain the village resources."

Raikage looks at Gaara and says, "Enough! Sand used Orochimaru, who may or may not have still been with the group; and they lost the Third Hokage and Gaara's father the Fourth Kazekage because of it."

Gaara is silent.

Eyeing Naruto, Ei states, "Danzou probably had something to do with that, but it matters not now."

Naruto admits, "Apparently he was behind a lot of stuff that we're trying to rectify."

Ei looks at the female redhead and continues, "Furthermore Mist is also involved, as there are rumors Akatsuki started there."

Mizukage is silent but then offers, "Yes, there are suspicions that the Fourth Mizukage was being controlled by some third party, but they are just suspicions."

Tsuchikage tells Raikage to calm down and shifts the blame back to him. "The whole reason countries used Akatsuki was because Kumo continued to build strength during peacetime. Having two Jinchuurikis and all...."

"Hmph!" Ei crosses his arms like a spoiled adult. "You're just jealous."

Naruto gets up and shouts at Ei's and Oonoki's corner, "You old goats, joking about people's lives like that! How dare you to talk about using Jinchuuriki as weapons! Don't you know the hard lives we Jinchuurikis carry? My dad made me a Jinchuuriki because he had no choice. He had to save the village from Kyuubi's rampage, and if he didn't seal that Furball away, everyone including me would have died. But what about you, huh? You went after these Bijuu just like the Akatsuki, hunting them and sealing them away to use as weapons! What about the people you used as human sacrifices? All this war and power struggle! Look at where it led us to! A group that was born out of the same desires to control the Bijuu - the Akatsuki!"

"Ha, Gaki-dono!" mocks Tsuchikage. "You and your ideals! Weapons and choices? Nonsense! Every ninja is weapon, and their choices are life or death. What do you want, then? Utopia?"

"What do you suggest we do, Naruto-dono?" Even the Mizukage laughs at something so foreign to her shinobi core, though her laughter is much more pleasant to the ears.

"Look!" Naruto evangelizes passionately, "Even if we stop this group, the desire for power and the fuel of hatred and revenge will give rise to another group like it, if not worse! Akatsuki is not the problem!"

"Oh, no you don't!" Ei stands up and animatedly shouts, "You just want to save your friend Sasuke! He is Akatsuki now! A criminal and a missing-nin deserving of death that Konoha should have dealt him. If you continue to defend him, you'll risk war with all of us!"

"NO, this is NOT about Sasuke!" Naruto denies while demonstratively waving the notion away with his arms. "This is bigger than that rogue teammate of mine. This is about looking underneath the underneath! This is about dealing with the underlying issue: hatred and distrust."

"Okay, you want to talk about trust!?" Ei shouts back. "Then how about you answer Kumo's question, then? What does Konoha plan to do about Sasuke? about what he's done to my brother? Keep in mind, Naruto-dono ... because Konoha hadn't declared Sasuke a missing-nin when he attacked Kumo and kidnapped Killer Bee, we can hold Konoha accountable because technically Sasuke was a shinobi of the Leaf."

"Shit!" Shikamaru whispers into Naruto's ear. "He's right! They have every right to declare war on us, if they want."

A lot of emotions flood Naruto at that moment. First, he can't understand Sasuke at all. He got his revenge against his brother, right? So why didn't he come back? Has revenge overtaken him? Then, there's Konoha going to war, is that too high a cost to go after his friend Sasuke?

Sure, Naruto is willing to go the distance to rescue his former teammate from his darkness, but like he declared to Shino and Shikamaru yesterday, he will do so ONLY if Sasuke wants to be rescued and ONLY if doing so does NOT compromise the safety of Konoha and her ninja.

Naruto recalls Gaara's words during their private meeting from last night at the Blacksmith Inn.

"Naruto, you must anticipate that the majority of the Kages at the Summit tomorrow will agree to for an alliance to fight Akatsuki and by extension, Sasuke," Gaara reasoned. "And if you won't go along with that decision, Konoha will become common enemy of the four other Elemental Nations."

"But...."

Gaara continued, "Ultimately, from here on out, we can expect war."

"War?" Naruto echoed in shock.

"Most likely," Gaara nodded and then added, "If Sasuke sides with Akatsuki, that means he'll go after the Kyuubi inside you. If that happens, I will do everything to protect you, and I will show him no mercy."

Naruto listened in silence.

Gaara elaborated, "Sasuke had long closed his eyes to everything but darkness. He doesn't see you or anyone else. He longs only to remain in the darkness of hatred. If you want to prove worthy to bear the title of Kage just like how the villagers agreed you are, then do what you must to end that miserable and destructive existence of his. You must do end it for him as his friend."

"Yes, Sasuke is my friend, that's why..." Naruto started to say but had trouble wondering how to continue.

"I think of you as a friend," Gaara's admission shocked Naruto.

Gaara continues, "I used to think FRIEND is just another word, nothing more, nothing less. But when I met you, I realized that what was important was the word's meaning ... think about its meaning ... and about what you're trying to do for Sasuke."

Naruto blinks a few times to reconnect with reality of the present time. He then looks at Gaara, who nods back to encourage him. Finally he looks at Raikage ... his mind made up.

To Raikage who awaits a response, Naruto replies, "I promised your Jounin my reply at the Summit: Yes, I will help you hunt down and punish Sasuke. But I ask for one concession ... that you give me one last chance to convince him to give himself up."

Raikage declares, "The history of life has been a history of war; only the strong survive. Akatsuki are criminals, and if Sasuke is with them, the whole world will be after him as well. Begging for mercy for criminals for the sake of friends is not friendship. Think things over, as the world has no place for such fools."

Shino speaks up in support of Naruto, "Konoha stood by and accepted Hyuuga Hizashi's death when they didn't have to, so Kumo still exists today due to Konoha's good graces. Naruto-sama seeks only a peaceful resolution."

Ei sighs and states, "I admire that you are willing to stick to your ideals. Ultimately I believe following the ideals of peace and friendship will truly make the world a better place. But I and no doubt everyone here along with our long time submersion in the cruel reality that is ninja can't help but label you foolish. Still, if it works...."

The Raikage sighs again and shakes his head before finally saying, "If you get to him and convinces him to surrender himself BEFORE I get my hands on him AND if my brother is still alive like you've so optimistically told Samui, then I'll let you deal with him however you see fit and promise no further retribution against him or Konoha. BUT if I get to him first or if he won't listen to you, then I'll show no mercy."

"Thank you." Naruto nods. Kumo's conditions are very reasonable; in fact, it's probably as good as anyone can get them.

Meanwhile, Shikamaru and Shino look at each other behind the scene shocked beyond belief at another display of Naruto's wonderment - his ability to make people believe him.

This prospect of peace ... perhaps the Old Sage Toad in Mt. Myoboku knew what he was talking about, after all.

XXXXXX

Inside the summit building, Team Hawk notices the white-half Zetsu's sudden absence.

"Shit!" Suigetsu curses. "Where did that walking plant go?"

"Karin?" Sasuke asks the sensor-nin.

Karin closes her eyes and holds a hand seal, concentrating. When she opens her eyes she points down one of the two lengthy hallways and says, "That way!"

Outside the compound, the other half, the dark-Zetsu confers with Tobi.

"Do you think it's time?"

"Yes," Madara replies. "Just make sure Sasuke and his team doesn't see your other half taunting the Kages."

"Heh! Don't worry, they won't," Zetsu laughs sinisterly as he mentally sends this confirmation to his white-half inside the compound.

XXXXXX

In Konoha, the rebuilding work is progressing nicely. So far, the hospital and ANBU headquarter are functional. There are still things to do to them, but fully functional nonetheless. The living quarters too are habitable, despite the many things still need to be done.

Shizune tracks down Sakura at the hospital ....

"Hey, Shizune, how is Tsunade-shishou doing?" the young medic asks.

"Still the same...." replies the slightly older medic. "Listen, we need to talk."

"Sure, in fact, I'm on my lunch."

Together Sakura and Shizune with Tonton in her arms find a secluded corner in the cafeteria.

"The patient load isn't as heavy as before," Sakura starts to say, "When are you coming back Sempai? I don't mind looking after Shishou for a change."

"I'm here to talk about you and Naruto, Sakura," Shizune gets to the point.

"Me and Naruto?" Sakura echoes with a slight blush. "What about?"

"Do you realize what you are doing to that poor boy?" Shizune asks sternly.

Sakura breaks eye contact and looks away. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You do know that Naruto and Hinata are an item, right?" The pig in her arms squeals to make its point as well.

"... maybe..."

"You know it just as well as the rest of Konoha recognizes it, especially what Hinata did for Naruto, and by extension the whole village!" Shizune lectures. "The question then becomes why were you trying to get between them?"

"I'm not okay?" Sakura snaps in denial. "I was ... I just needed someone to be by my side during this difficult time, all right? I mean ... there's Akatsuki's attack and Shishou's coma, and then, Sasuke's new status as a criminal..."

"New status?" Shizune whispers to herself in disbelief.

"... and there's Kumo accusing him of killing the Raikage's brother," Sakura continues, clueless to Shizune's implications, "I just... I just needed Naruto at the time. He's my teammate. We've been through thick and thin. I know him inside out, and he does me, at least I hope he does..."

"Sakura, Naruto matured quite a bit since his trip with Jiraiya-sama," Shizune corrects, "Naruto isn't the same baka that pranked the village for kicks. Naruto isn't the same compulsive kid that kissed the ground you walk on."

"But..." she tries to protest.

"Listen, you're not a little child anymore," the older woman yells, "You lost your chance with him. You need to let him go!"

At this point Sakura has tears swelled up in her eyes.

Shizune softens her tone, "He knows what you've done, and he prefers that you stop this yourself instead of having to confront you about it.... If you value his friendship with you, you need to let him and Hinata have their chance."

The dark hair medic puts down her companion pet, which causes it to squeal in protest, and walks around the table to embrace her sobbing pink hair friend. She then comforts, "Who knows what will happen in the future, heh? But right now, you need to back off, or you'll lose him forever."

The pink hair bobs up and down twice before starting to shake uncontrollably. "I can't believe that I didn't take up his offer before. I can't believe that I'm feeling this way about that bakahwaaaa." Shizune holds on and encourages her to cry it all out.

XXXXXX

Back in Iron Country, the Kage Summit is suddenly interrupted.

The white Zetsu rises from the floor before them. "Fu fu, what a delicious collection of shinobi!"

"That's Zetsu of the Akatsuki," Naruto points out, recalling reading about him in Kabuto's data book.

In an instant, Raikage has Zetsu by his neck and vehemently demands, "Where's Sasuke?"

"You'll regret it ..." offers an unfazed Zetsu, but before he can continue speaking, Raikage snaps his neck.

"Good riddance, you bastard," Raikage hmphs.

Mizukage warns him not to kill again, as they can get information out of Sasuke, but Gaara explains that Akatsuki aren't the type to give up secrets.

"Men!" Mifune orders his samuri, "keep your eyes out for Sasuke!"

"Hai!" They file out to their preassigned stations.

"Let's go!" Raikage and Hokage simultaneously motion their attendants to follow and then bump into each other, annoyed.

"Raikage-dono, allow me this one chance," Naruto insists.

"Very well. This is your one and only shot," Raikage grants and then warns, "I won't get my hopes up if I were you."

"Thank you, Raikage-dono!" Naruto gives a small bow before poofing into smoke.

Ei asks Naruto's attendants, "He made a clone and swapped it already? Where is he?"

Shino looks to Shikamaru, who nods his consent, figuring having Raikage nearby when fighting Sasuke might not be a bad idea. Shino nods back and adjusts his shades. "Very well, follow me!"

The Aburame leads Shikamaru and Kumo running down the linear hallway before making a sharp corner turn and coming to an abrupt stop.

"That's weird..."

"What's wrong, Shino?" the Nara asks.

"I don't understand," Shino shakes his head, his voice about as panicked as an Aburame gets. "He just disappeared. Or more accurately, the tracer bug I had on him simply blinked out of existence."

"What are you talking about? You better not be jerking me, boy!" an angry Raikage warns.

"Sir," Shii his chakra sensing attendant offers, "we don't need to depend on them. I can sense Sasuke's treacherous chakra not far from here."

"Well? Lead the way then!"

Shii leads Kumo, with Konoha following close behind, hoping that by finding Sasuke, they'll find Naruto as well.

XXXXXX

Elsewhere in the fortress compound, Mifune's men make preparations to find Sasuke. Karin is suddenly alerted to their change in pattern and Juugo figures it was Zetsu.

One samurai spots something suspicious and moves to attack, but it turns out to be an empty cloak pinned to a wall. He is quickly struck from behind. Above, the rest of Team Hawk hide.

"That plant bastard, I swear I'll shred him into mulch," Suigetsu whispers his disapproval. He then looks at Karin, "I thought you were supposed to warn us when he lied."

"Shut up!" Karin grunts. "I must not be able to do it on him for some reason."

Below numerous samurai arrive to face Sasuke. The samurai charge chakra into their swords.

"Come at your own risk," Sasuke warns. "I'm angry and won't go easy on you."

They launch attacks which Sasuke easily deflects.

"Karin, find Danzou," Juugo orders.

"I can't!" Karin explains, "I need to know his chakra signature first, and since Zetsu bolted on us before revealing who or where this Danzou is, I can't do what you ask now."

"So, you're now more useless than usual," Suigetsu remarks while baring his shark-like grin.

Just when Karin is about to lash out on the swordsman, she is suddenly hit by a change in Sasuke's chakra.

'What was that?' she muses. 'What's happening to Sasuke's chakra? It's more powerful and stranger than when he was in his level two form.'

The samurai recognize Sasuke is not alone. One of them says, "We should split up. I bet the others are not as strong as Sasuke. Plus there's no sense in us all die here." The rest of them nod and split into several groups.

Karin is disrupted from her thoughts again as she feels something large approaching. Suddenly the ceiling collapses downwards sending rubble below.

XXXXXX

Elsewhere Raikage and his attendants, followed by Shino and Shikamaru, rush on with Shii the chakra sensing type in lead.

"There's a lot of chakra disappearing below us!" he reports to his Kage. "Looks like people are getting killed."

"Do you sense Naruto anywhere?" Ei asks Shii, to which he shakes his head.

"Looks like I found him first," the Raikage levels a glance at Shino and Shikamaru. "See to it that you are witness to this."

He charges a Raiton fist and punches through the floor below him, causing it to collapse downward sending rubble below.

As the dust clears, a Raiton enveloped Raikage warns the young Sasuke to fear his anger...Just then, they see Naruto appears out of thin air, standing in the middle between two opposing parties.

XXXXXX

Flashback (Five minutes before Shino's tracer bug "disappeared")

"Hi, Naruto," the ninja behind an orange mask calls after the running blond the second he whirled into existence.

"Madara!" Naruto seethes as he alters his course to go after the architect behind Akatsuki, the hunting of bijuus, killing of many, twisting Nagato's ideal to serve his own evils, Itachi and potentially Sasuke's path toward hatred.

Naruto's eyes now more angular and defined as he merges with natural chakra. He charges at the villain with a wind rasengan blazing in his right hand.

Then, Naruto, along with Madara, whirl out of existence.

In Madara's time-space discontinuum where the sky is a complete pitch-black void and the ground consists of white giant rectangular blocks protruding out irregularly ...

"What is this?! Where are we?" Naruto asks the Akatsuki in front of him.

"This is a world within my Sharingan...."

"But I shouldn't be affected by the Sharingan's genjutsu, I..." Naruto catches himself from revealing that he has a special Fuuin drawn above his eyes to shield him from Sharingan's illusions.

"Hm... interesting," notes Madara, "However, this is not an illusion. You might as well as know that one of my powers is the ability to manipulate time and space. This world we are in is very real, I assure you."

"So what do you want from me?" Naruto asks as he takes his stance to fight, while the rest of his mind is trying to figure out how to get out of there.

"Don't be so tense. I just want to talk," Madara offers. "Why did Nagato turn against me? What did you say to him?"

"Why would that matter now?" Naruto yells. "Tell me what do you plan to do with Sasuke. You probably told him bunch of lies to turn him against Konoha, didn't you? Just like how you manipulated Itachi to serve your needs."

"Itachi served his own interest," Madara defends. "He probably joined Akatsuki to protect Konoha and his little brother."

"Then why Sasuke? If Itachi never served you, what made you think his little brother will?"

"Sasuke is consumed in the world's hatred. I didn't have to tell him any lies. His hatred lend himself to me. The Uchiha are fated for revenge, and Sasuke took it all upon him to inflict the Uchiha's hatred upon the world. It's his weapon, friend and strength. It's Sasuke's ninja way!"

"LIAR!" Naruto shouts while punching one of the rectangular white blocks. His punch does it no damage.

"Then you don't know the real Sasuke. He's a true avenger," Madara calmly replies. "Sasuke is carrying out what's in his heart, vengeance for what Konoha did to the Uchiha and Itachi."

"Why?" Naruto asks as he can no longer control his sadness inside his heart, sadness for the suffering his former teammate must have gone through and is still enduring.

Madara reveals, "It was destiny, a curse passed through the generations, all because of the Rikudou Sennin. Rikudou preached peace but could never achieve it. He left his two sons with his power. He gave his elder son his "eyes," which meant chakra and spiritual energy. To his younger son, his "body," which symbolized willpower and physical energy. The elder son sought peace through power; whereas, the younger, through love. In the end, Rikudou chose the younger son as his successor, which angered the elder and caused the curse of hatred to begin. The feud continued through their descendants. The elder's descendants became the Uchiha, while those of the younger, the Senju. My battle with Shodai was fate, and I can see the Senju's will in you. I both admired and hated Shodai more than anyone else. The qualities of the Senju and Uchiha are still alive today in you and Sasuke. You are fated to be hated rivals."

"That's bullshit!" Naruto yells back while charging at Madara again, only to have the older ninja melt into and reemerge from another white block.

"You will have to fight Sasuke at some point," Madara continues to explain, "or rather I'll make Sasuke fight you and prove the Uchiha's existence."

Naruto yells, "Sasuke isn't your toy!"

"You won't be able to change Sasuke's mind like you did Nagato's," Madara counters.

"If you are so confident, then why don't you let me try?" Naruto taunts.

"Heh heh. That's not going to work with me. Like I said, I just want to talk, but now that I'm done talking, you can have your shot at Sasuke. Don't say I didn't warn you.... We will talk again."

XXXXXX

And just like that, Naruto warps back into existence, back in the Iron compound, back in real time, minus Madara. This time however, he stands before his friend, his rival, his former teammate, and perhaps his fated opponent - Uchiha Sasuke.

"What are you doing here, dobe? Where's Danzou?" Sasuke asks.

"Danzou's dead. I'm the Rokudaime Hokage."

XXXXXX

Readers' Corner: Ok, just to elaborate more on what Shikamaru said in the introduction. Naruto is challenged to rethink what it truly means to be a friend, and now I challenge you to define what friendship means to you, and/or what would you like it to mean for Naruto.

I look forward to read your feedback!