The beast was standing at it's full might and all hope seemed lost. Konoha had been reduced to a burning pile of rubble now. No one knew where Jiraiya was and no other seal master was competent enough to seal this monstrosity.
She should have never put her students in these god forsaken exams. Two of them had betrayed the village and were who knows where, and one of them was dead and turned into the demon. Kurenai couldn't help but feel like the worst had truly happened. If only there was some way to turn back time.
Being a Genjutsu mistress had it's perks, the most prominent one being of course high level use of Genjutsu. The second being it made annoying people less likely to approach (it tends to be scary approaching a woman who can make them think they are eating their own eyes, again. And again. And again). But there was another advantage, it gave her a good eye for detail. So when she saw the faintest flash of purple in it's horrid red eyes, she had immediately connected it with her supposedly dead student. Perhaps a bit to great a jump, but she had to hold out hope somehow. She had to find Jiraiya.
***
Sasuke had to admit, the day could have been better. His teammate could have not died. The crowd could have not cheered for her death. A fifty story monster could have not been unleashed on the world. He could also not have been chased by said monster with Hinata beside him while the village at large attacks the two kids and the monster. But somehow that is how his day ended up. "Why is it so intent on killing us?!"
"Maybe because we were close to Naruko? And it somehow wants revenge or something?"
"Is this you trying to convince me that revenge sucks? Cause this sucks."
Despite the situation Hinata found herself laughing. "I think we've already made that point. Also I think this is good bye."
"Why do you say that?" He turned to look at what she was seeing with her Byakugan and saw the gathering orb of energy in front of it's mouth. "Shit."
"Our only hope is that Naruko somehow comes back from the dead."
"So there is no hope then?"
"Correct." Hinata decided to stop running there and turn to face the music. "If we're gonna die then I'm not gonna die with my back to the killer."
"What are you, a samurai?" Sasuke skid to a stop and walked up to her.
"Aren't you the one who cares about honor?"
"I guess so, but I think that's changed a bit in the past few months. But yeah, I do still want honor for my family."
"God you are so melodramatic."
"I'm surprised you've calmed down enough to banter, given Naruko only died like twelve minutes ago."
"I've calmed down because I know I'll be with her soon enough."
"Heh, I guess that's fair." The two quieted at that, the beast was almost done making the ball of energy now, it would destroy the village and everything around the village for likely hundreds of miles. They never had any hope of escaping to begin with. "It's been a pleasure, Hinata."
"You made a good third, Sasuke. I couldn't have asked for a better friend."
***
"Nagato shouldn't we go soon?" There was no one left to over hear them, so she had no qualms deferring to Nagato.
"Yes you're right Konan, this is only the start of the world learning pain."
"You know I'm glad you two are alive. Is Yahiko alive too."
"No he really did die sensei."
"A shame then. So what are you two planning."
"World peace."
"You've developed a weird definition of peace."
"There will be no more fighting or bloodshed, the world has already seen the power we have now at our disposal."
"So you planned for Naruko to die then?"
"Yes, we also had her parents killed that night you know. So we could ensure a vessel we could manipulate would exist."
"Gonna be hard to manipulate a dead girl."
"Perhaps for a mortal. But Sensei. I am god."
Jiraiya couldn't help but snort. "Nagato if you're god then I'm gay."
"Sensei is now the time to be coming out?"
"Why do I even bother with you. You understand it, don't you Konan?"
"That you are a pervert and insinuating that you are gay is very far from the truth, yes I do understand sensei."
"Explaining the humor kills it you know."
"I'm aware."
"I love you both like you're my own kids but god do I hate you two… Would it have been so hard to send me a letter saying you're alive?"
"It would have hindered out goals if anyone, including yourself found out."
"I see. Well I'm glad you're alive. But I have a village to save, and a beast to contain."
"It won't work."
"Why not?"
"It's not fully unleashed yet, Naruko is still hanging on by a thread. She has to be completely dead for you to seal it again, or the sealing won't work. And of course I can't let you seal it again."
"Then I guess we fight huh?"
"There is no need. Naruko will manage to contain it."
"Why do you choose to believe in a dead girl you've never met?"
"Because she is an Uzumaki, and more than anything we are tenacious."
"Jiraiya-sama!" The man in question lifted a curious brow as Kurenai arrived.
"What's up?"
She looked at him strangely, Konoha was in ruins and he was just standing here. And that's all he had to say? "I think Naruko is trying to fight back. But she needs help. Do you have any ability to seal it again? Or enhance the current seal?"
He turned to Nagato and Konan, "You don't care that I'm going to put a stop to this?"
"No whether we stop it and resurrect Naruko or you do it doesn't matter." Konoha was destroyed so she would have to go somewhere, and Ame would greet her with open arms.
Jiraiya turned back towards Kurenai. "Alright let's go, we just need to weaken it for a single moment."
***
"Fuck this."
"I was thinking the same thing."
"I'm not dying like this. We may be genin Sasuke but if we're going to die then let's die fighting this thing."
"I couldn't have said it better myself."
They didn't have much time but they could try and do something. They were running out of chakra though so this really would be the last attempt. Large spikes of would shot from the ground and into the beast, it cried out in pain but didn't stop. Sasuke followed up with burning it's eye in black flames. It cried out again and lost some control of the energy. It exploded in it's face but the beast seemed relatively unharmed. Most of the ball was still intact and charging but they had bought a few seconds.
They watched as it prepared to go again but before it could a seal spread out from underneath it. They swore they could hear Jiraiya, but they couldn't make out what he was saying.
***
She got it! She had deconstructed the seal like she intended to. Now to just use the arms chakra and get out!
Nothing happened. It had taken to long and the chakra had faded. She let out a sigh of frustration and tossed the arms aside. The Shinigami quickly ate them. Dammit if she just had chakra she could do it. She had failed.
She would never see Hina-chan again.
She would never see Sasuke again.
She would never see Kurenai-sensei.
Or Fuu.
Or Jiraiya.
Or Hikari and Hiashi.
Or Hanabi.
Or the Ichiraku's.
Huh. When did she get so many people she cared for? For so long it was just her and Hina-chan. But slowly she had met so many people she cared for. She had so many people she was fighting for now, but she had only wanted to fight for Hina-chan. To her surprise that actual made her feel warm on the inside. She was actually loved by so many people wasn't she? And she would never see any of them again at this rate. She couldn't stand for that.
She two hands on her shoulder. She behind her and saw a blonde man and the woman from earlier. No she looks similar, but this woman is different. If anything she looks more like what Naruko imagines her older self would look like.
"We never got to have a proper meeting and now the seal containing us is failing, so we thought you'd like to have our chakra before we go."
"You're… Tou-chan and Kaa-chan?"
The two nod. "We're so proud of you, Naruko-chan. You're father and I have watched over you for so long, you've grown into a fine young woman."
"Like you're mother said, we couldn't be more proud. We're running out of time, but know that wherever you are, we'll always love you."
The redhead girl couldn't help but leap into her parents arms. It felt so good to see them, to hear from their own mouths that they love her. "I'll miss you two. I'll see you around."
"Hopefully not to soon." The girl nods and the two disappear, well one of them gets consumed by the Shinigami, but those are minor details.
Naruko knew she was lacking on time and immediately set to work performing the hand signs. She would likely never be able to perform this again. Because it requires she's in the plane of existence to start with, but that mattered little.
"Akuma no Seikatsu Kessoku Fuin (Demon Life Binding Seal)!" The plain around her was enveloped in white and she found herself standing back at the swing set again.
"It seems you figured something out. Now tell me who are you?"
"I am Uzumaki Naruko! And I'm driven by my loved ones. Especially Hina-chan."
The woman smiles. "Good, I'll admit you surprised me with this, but I'm impressed nonetheless. So just this once, I'll help you return." The woman performed a strange Jutsu using hand signs Naruko had never seen before and just like that Kaguya was there.
"So you managed to swap me and it huh Uzume?" The white haired woman had immediately gone to Naruko. The other redhead had disappeared. All around them the temple started to be built once more.
"I didn't do anything."
"Hmm, you still don't seem to get it, oh well. You'll understand properly. One day."
Naruko was about to say something but the world flashed and just like that she found herself laying in a pile of rubble with Jiraiya crying tears of joy.
"Dying is weird. But somehow coming back is even weirder."
"You have no idea how worried I was."
"What have I missed?"
"So much."