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“Akashi!” The said boy blinked his eyes and he was back to reality. “Akashi!” Multiple yells resounded from around him and he closed his eyes to take a deep breath. “Akashi!” Another yell was heard, but this one was right in front of him.

Akashi glanced ahead of himself and was met with a perturbed Sasuke. His onyx eyes were wide in distress as he was looking at the red-headed boy in front of him. As their eyes met, Sasuke blinked, before a relieved sigh left his lips. “He’s fine”. Was what he said.

Of course he was fine, what’s up with that? Did something happen?

“Huh?” In the midst of the confusion he was feeling, that was the only thing that Akashi could say.

“That’s good…”. Tobirama commented, narrowing his eyes at Akashi. “What was that?” He questioned and Akashi didn’t have an answer.

“What was what?” He asked, tilting his head to the side. From the corner of his eye, he saw Sasuke raised his brows.

“All of that”. The raven-haired boy gestured above Akashi and only then, did he see what had happened. His chains were hovering over him. What the hell?!

Willing them to return, he shook his head.

“What happened?” He received grimaces in return and he already knew that it wasn’t something good. “I see…”.

“I’m glad you’re back and all that, but we have a problem at hand right now”. Tobirama spoke up and turned back to face Obito. He was right… They really were in a bind right now. Then, Akashi looked back as he sensed a chakra spike in the giant toad’s system. Its mouth puffed up and it spit out a whitish liquid at Obito, who created a small shield with his orbs.

Then… The shield started breaking…?

Was the toad’s attack working… Why? How?

“A toad from Mount Myoboku?” Tobirama glanced back to look at the toad, prompting Naruto to do the same.

“What was that about, Gamakichi?” Naruto asked. “If you’re going to make a move, do something diversionary or a combo…”. He made a few propositions, before the toad spoke up.

“Sorry, but we’re approaching the time limit for the summoning”. Was the toad’s answer. “I wanted to repay him with a parting shot!”

“Thanks for the effort! Go get some rest!” Naruto thanked the toad and sent it a smile.

“Sorry about this”. With that, the toad disappeared.

Akashi felt like something was burning into the back of his skull and he glanced to the side. Sasuke was staring at him. Akashi furrowed his brows in question and the Uchiha said nothing. Something akin to realisation flooded him and Akashi nodded at the boy, receiving a small nod in return a moment later.

Huh… So he was worried…

How nice…

“Obito, I thought you wanted to become Hokage”. Minato called out to the man. “Why are you doing this?” He asked.

“You want to know why?” Obito questioned. “Lecturing me now? Isn’t it a bit late for that… Sensei?”

Minato had a habit of being too late.

“You’re always too late when it matters most”. Ah… So Minato also wronged him? Who would have thought…? “I’m glad my teacher was a Hokage”. Obito said. “It made it easy to give up on becoming Hokage”. A throb raked through Akashi at the feel of Minato’s chakra.

The emotion he felt was…

Intense regret…?

“Even though you were my teacher, you didn’t realise it was me”. Obito closed his eyes for a moment, “…that’s just who you are fundamentally”, before he opened them. “How pathetic… You died a heroic Hokage, but now you’re being exposed as a disgrace in front of your sons…”. He said. “That’s right… A Hokage is a pitiable existence… compared to what I am now”.

Akashi looked at Naruto’s hand just in time to see a Rasengan burst into existence and a different kind of chakra being focused within him. “You have no right to make fun of a Hokage when you couldn’t even become one yourself!”

“Naruto, you-!” Minato began and Tobirama teleported behind Naruto, placing a hand on his back.

“Especially my dad… who actually became the Hokage”. The two of them disappeared and Akashi glanced at Obito as they appeared over him. Naruto slammed his Rasengan into Obito’s back. “How dare you put him down?!” The Rasengan dug into the man’s back.

“That worked?! Why? How?” Sasuke said out loud, staring at the sight before him.

Ah… Now it made sense…

“Sage Jutsu”. Akashi commented, remembering the toad’s attack. Sasuke looked at him and then looked back at Obito.

Obito was slammed down into the ground. “You bastard!” Naruto yelled out as an intense gust of air slammed into everyone else. A few moments later, Naruto and Tobirama went back.

“Sage moves will work!” Naruto exclaimed.

“Sage Power?” Sasuke questioned.

“The toad attacks are Sage Jutsu… They use Nature Energy. Come to think of it, when I tried to sense the Ten-Tail’s power, it was Nature Energy itself”. Naruto explained. “So you can maybe counter Nature Energy with Nature Energy…”. Maybe?! “Not that I really understand it, but I’m glad I learned Sage Jutsu! All right!” He slammed his fist into his palm. “Next is frog Kumite!”

Obito stood up and was visible when the dust cleared.

“It clearly worked, but he’s recovered already and is now guarding his back”. Tobirama commented.

Akashi watched as Obito crouched down and placed his palm onto the ground. “I should start preparing for the Tsukuyomi. Let’s tidy things up”. Not a moment later, in an instant, his chakra spiked and a giant tree-like thing burst out from the ground. It reached up into the sky and giant flowers opened up along its bark. “There is nothing worth saving in this reality”. He said and hovered up into the air. “This world is already dead”.

Then, Akashi felt his body stiffen as the four giant flowers formed Tailed Beast Bombs. “Those…”. If any of those hit anyone, they would be erased from the plane of existence. Calm down. He heard Kurama speak. Nothing good will come out of your distress. Akashi almost scoffed at his words. I am not distressed. He said back, receiving nothing, but a deep chuckle as an answer.

“It would take one person per each of those to teleport away using the Flying Thunder God”. Tobirama said. “The Fourth, Akashi and I can get to two of them, but that leaves one more. Impossible!” He turned to the side. “Where’s Elder Brother?!”

Before anyone could do anything, Obito created six sticks and embedded them into the ground around everyone. Then, he did hand-signs and a moment later, a giant crimson barrier was raised, trapping everyone within its confinements. “Endgame”. Obito said as he concealed himself within a barrier made out of black orbs.

“Our only choice now is to teleport those spheres outside the barrier using the Flying Thunder God”. Tobirama said. “Fourth, can you take two?” He asked.

“Since we can’t mark them, I can only take one”. Minato answered.

“Let me interrupt you right there… I know the Flying Thunder God, but I’ve only teleported someone or something along with me once”. Akashi glanced at Sasuke, before he looked back at Tobirama. “I’ll try and help you out with this problem, but if I blow myself up… Well, too bad then”. He shrugged his shoulders and Tobirama raised his brows at him.

“Dad… I don’t know if it’ll work, but I’ve got an idea”. Naruto then looked at Akashi. “I’ll need your help with this”. Akashi blinked at the sudden proposition.

Naruto needed help? From him? Is the sky going to rain fire now?

“Akashi… Will you… bump fists with me?” The said boy was taken aback at the question. Bump fists? What did that have to do with anything? Akashi, just do it. Kurama spoke up and the redhead sighed out loud, before he reached his fist towards Naruto’s already extended one.

Then, he was back in the sewers.

_

“What’s up with this? Why did you bring me here?” Akashi questioned, crossing his arms across his chest.

“Do you remember Naruto’s previous appearance? The one where he merged his own chakra with the other half of me?” That was an unexpected question, but yes, Akashi did remember.

Naruto looked… Nice… To say the least…

“We need to do that now”. Kurama said.

“Now?” Akashi asked.

“Yes, now”. Hmm… It was an interesting idea, one worth trying.

Because, if Naruto could do it, why couldn’t Akashi do it?

“Okay, let’s try it”. As the words left his lips, Kurama reached his hand forward, opening his palm towards Akashi. Knowing what he meant by that, Akashi reached his own hand forward and placed it atop Kurama’s palm. “Is this necessary?” He asked, receiving a nod in return.

“You need to get used to it first, since this is the first time you’re using it”. Was the explanation he got. That made sense…

“Okay… What now?” Kurama closed his eyes and it was then that Akashi sensed it.

A surge of chakra went through his body.

“Focus on the feeling of that… Try and bring it to the surface”. Akashi did as he was asked, closing his eyes in the process. He reached deep within himself to try and pull the chakra to the surface.

But, each time he tried to grab it, it slipped through his fingers.

Getting fed up, Akashi opened his eyes to glare at the fox.

“It’s not working”. He bit out, but Kurama didn’t even open his eyes to look at him.

“You’re trying to grab it, which is the wrong thing to do… Instead, try and absorb it into your body, connect with it… Make it your own”. Ah… He should have said that sooner.

Closing his eyes once more, Akashi searched for the chakra. Once he found it, he reached his hand towards it, but did not try and grab it, instead, he let it dance across his skin. It brushed over his arm, over his shoulder, over his neck, over every part of his body and he relaxed himself.

It was then, that he felt it.

It seeped into his skin, into his blood, into every part of him and he felt…

… Free…

_

As soon as their fists made contact, Akashi felt the chakra burst out of him.

He watched as his body was covered with it, but it was different than Naruto’s own.

It’s shades had a more dark orange look than his.

“Akashi… I’ve been wondering how you’re still alive after you lost the Nine-Tails… But it seems it was still there”. Obito called out, making Akashi look at him. “That was what you planned all along, right? That day, you made me think you died and I left you there”. Just thinking about it, sent shivers down Akashi’s spine. “I thought I failed”.

“You did fail”. The redhead said. “I also failed”. He failed in completely sealing Kurama away… But he was glad he did. “I’m glad that happened, at least I had somehow screwed up your plans”. He sneered out at the man.

“You two know what tomorrow is, don’t you?” Obito suddenly asked.

Tomorrow? What was tomorrow?

“It’s the anniversary of Minato and Kushina’s deaths”. Ah… So that was what it was. “The day both of your parents died”. Who would have though he would forget something like that? “In this world, it’s over when you die… you see-!” Before Obito could continue, Naruto spoke up.

“Oh, right… Which means… It’s also the day we were born!” He declared. “So you see… It’s not over… Cause we exist in this world!” It was then, that the chakra covered Naruto’s body.

Now that that happened, he and Akashi were almost identical.

“What’s your plan, Naruto?” Sasuke asked a moment later.

“Just… give me some time to focus…”. Was what the blond answered.

Then, Akashi heard his voice in his head. Akashi, I’ll tell you what Kurama and I came up with and you tell me if you can do that, all right? Was the question he asked. Not only could he hear Kurama in his mind, but now he could also hear Naruto? How nice…

Go ahead. He answered.

Since you can use the same jutsu as dad, the one where you teleport yourself, can you use it on anyone who is in contact with your chakra? That was an unexpected question, but one worth answering.

The seals I placed on my kunai are filled with my chakra and that is how I teleport to them, and based on what Minato said earlier, that he can teleport anyone who is in contact with his chakra, it’s safe to say I can also do it. Akashi answered.

Okay, great, because I’ll need you to teleport a lot of people… Can you do that? Naruto asked.

Did he mean… Everyone? Did Akashi have that much chakra? Well… He has Kurama, so that could work…

The only thing left is to actually try it.

I’ll try, but how do you plan on me teleporting everyone when I don’t have any way to come in contact with them? Naruto, of course, had an answer for that.

Before you and Sasuke arrived, I had shared my chakra with everyone and there are still small traces of it, so when you and I mix our chakra’s, I can share it with them again and you will be in contact with everyone. Oh… Who would have through? His little brother isn’t as dumb as people thought… I can hear you, you know?! Naruto yelled at him.

That will work… He ignored the last part and answered him.

Okay, perfect.

Then, for as far as his eyes could see, Akashi saw red chakra cover every ninja in front of them.

“Minato, I have a favour to ask”. Surprised, the man looked at Akashi.

“Yes?” He slowly asked, not expecting something like that.

“I have no means of teleporting us outside, so I need you to teleport to one of your kunai which is out of the barrier, so I can teleport to you along with everyone else, since I had already marked you”. Minato blinked at his words, before he nodded. “I’ll signal you when”. With that, Akashi turned to face ahead of himself.

Sensing an approaching chakra signal, Akashi glanced back just to find that Juugo had arrived. “Juugo”. Sasuke said.

“Sasuke, this is looking bad. Let’s get outside of this barrier”. Was what he said. “Use the Snake Reverse Summoning”.

“That was my plan already. I’ll take you, Naruto and Akashi with me”. Were Sasuke’s words.

At the sound of his name being mentioned, Akashi spoke up. “Sasuke, come here”. Not saying anything else, Akashi faced away from him once he saw him start moving.

“What?” Sasuke questioned as he stopped besides Akashi, but as soon as that happened, his hand was grabbed by none other than the redhead himself.

From the corner of his eye, Akashi saw Naruto reach Juugo with his chakra hand.

Then, as soon as the Tailed Beast Bombs were fired off, Akashi waited until Minato disappeared and he activated the Flying Thunder God, following after him and outside the barrier.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, the chakra cloaking his body, along with the hold he had on Sasuke, disappeared and he stumbled forward, caught off guard with the amount of chakra that was used for the jutsu. But, before he could fall down, a hand grabbed him by his own and pulled him back. He came in contact with something solid and another hand grabbed him by the waist, holding him still.

“Are you all right?” Akashi took a deep breath, before he opened his eyes.

He had no idea when he had even closed them.

Onyx eyes met his own violet ones and Akashi raised a hand to the boy’s cheek. He tapped it and grinned. “Who do you think I am?” Multiple sighs of relief resounded from around him and he took a step away from Sasuke, but the hold the said boy had on his hand didn’t disappear.

“Fourth… You really got a fine boy right there”. Tobirama commented as he looked at the redhead.

“I really do, don’t I…?” Minato mumbled out, staring at Akashi with wide eyes.

“Akashi! I knew you could do it!” Naruto placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder and sent him a blinding grin. Akashi felt his lips quirk up into a small smile.

Good job, little one. Kurama spoke up inside his mind. Little one? Little human? When are you going to stop saying that, eh? He asked. You will always be little for me, so for as long as you are alive. Akashi shook his head and sighed.

“What’s wrong?” Sasuke asked from besides him, the grip he had on him slightly tightening.

“Kurama is being an ass”. Naruto laughed out loud at his words.

“I know how you feel!” He said.

“What did you do?” Juugo asked from behind them and Akashi turned around to face him.

“I teleported everyone out of the barrier, but as you can see, I’m kind of weakened right now…”. That sucked… That really sucked… It will take some time to get his chakra to its original size.

But, why did his chakra layer go out?

You’re not yet used to it, that’s why. Was Kurama’s explanation, which made sense to Akashi now that he said it.

“I shared Kurama’s and my chakra with everyone earlier, so if Akashi, and our chakra and everybody were to uh… um…”. He trailed off and glanced at Akashi in a hurry.

“Indirectly…”. Akashi helped him.

“Right! If we were all in indirect contact with each other, it would work”. Naruto said. “So, I connected Akashi’s chakra with Kurama’s and mine. That’s all!”

“What he meant to say is, he joined my chakra with his own, which linked me to everyone who had Naruto’s chakra residing within them… That’s how I was able to teleport everyone”. Akashi simplified Naruto’s jumbled up words.

“Eh? Is that what I said?” Naruto dumbly responded and Akashi almost facepalmed at his words.

He never changed… Still the same as he was before…

Still the same Naruto as before…

He felt Sasuke’s fingers slip between his own and Akashi looked at him.

Dark hair framed a pale face. Dark lashes framed even darker eyes.

Maybe… Just maybe…

They could win this war.