La Speranza Ultima

XIV. Exodus

Naruto chewed on his thumbnail, holding onto Sasuke’s hand as he waited anxiously for Kakashi and Iruka to show up. Already, the demons in attendance were beginning to become restless, whispering amongst each other, doubting. If they waited any longer, they would begin to leave, taking their chances amongst humans rather than among their own kind. Sasuke tugged on Naruto’s hand then, tilting his head toward three demons Itachi had introduced him to – Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraya, the three Sannin. They were the oldest and wisest of the demons, and everyone would do as they said without question. Tsunade moved forward and knelt before Naruto, a hand on the boy’s shoulder.

“You must lead us now, Naruto-kun. There’s no more time.”

Naruto shuddered. “But… Kakashi… and Iruka…”

Tsunade closed her eyes for a long moment, a sigh escaping her when she reopened her eyes. “We can’t wait any longer.”

Naruto bowed his head, feeling tears prick at his eyes. He couldn’t leave without Kakashi and Iruka. He just couldn’t. He loved Iruka too much to leave him behind and he really, really liked Kakashi. But now he had to make a choice. It wasn’t one he really wanted to make – two lives in exchange for hundreds.

The blonde boy looked up at the woman, finally giving a shudder and nod. “Alright… show me what I need to do.”

Tsunade reached out to put a hand on Naruto’s shoulder, gently brushing the tears away. She took his free hand and Sasuke released him so he could follow the three Sannin up to the altar. Tsunade set him on the pedestal, carefully instructing the boy on how to open the doorway to begin the Exodus.

Naruto shivered, closing his eyes tight as he felt the tendrils of power curling around his body. It was unfamiliar power, much too strong for his small body, but he simply clenched his fingers into fists and began to recite the words whispered into his ear. Everyone standing in the courtyard of this old temple hushed, watching the Kyuubi’s son create their safe haven. Not one person breathed as the gateway began to shimmer into existence, not even those who had doubted, those who had begun to speak of returning to the human world to try and survive.

Naruto’s tail whipped excitedly from side to side, that small body charged with the energy needed to continue this venture. His voice slowly grew in volume and intensity until he was all but screaming, heads bowing behind him to pray.

Then all went silent.

Naruto felt something warm come around him and found Itachi wrapping his coat around him, the blonde boy giving a shaky smile. Itachi only shifted, helped the boy up, and set him beside Sasuke before he and Kisame disappeared into the shimmering portal. Gasps went up from the crowd, for the pair had simply vanished, leaving no trace of where they had gone. Sasuke clung to Naruto as Naruto clung to Sasuke, tense and waiting.

Then Kisame reappeared and said simply, “It’s paradise.”

He stood beside the boys as the demons began to move, slipping into the shimmering portal in pairs and trios, the shimmering veil becoming more solid as more and more passed through. It showed the other side, the rolling fields, the massive rivers and the tiny streams, the animals grazing carelessly, and the demons that had crossed over. Paradise, a place free from any sort of hatred, a place so pristine that none who lived there now would dare to destroy its purity.

Naruto shivered as he watched the three Sannin disappear into the veil, eyes locked on the back of a small pale boy who clung to Orochimaru’s hand. He watched the one called Zabuza carry a small boy named Haku through the veil and watched as the very last demon crossed the line. Still he waited, back now turned to the veil, feeling Sasuke growing anxious. So he let Sasuke go, felt the hesitancy coming from the darker boy.

“I’ll follow. I want to wait a little longer.”

Sasuke squeezed Naruto’s hand before he let go. “Don’t make me come back after you.”

Naruto grinned. “Promise.”

He watched Sasuke cross into Paradise before he turned his eyes back to the entrance of the destroyed temple. He felt a hand on his shoulder then and looked up into the red and black eyes of Uchiha Madara. The man said nothing, just gave the boy’s shoulder a squeeze, and followed his descendant into the veil. Naruto stood alone on the altar, waiting.

“Naruto!”

Naruto’s face split into a grin as he saw them, as he saw Kakashi bounding toward him, Iruka in his arms. He rushed to meet them, jumping into his big brother’s arms as soon as he had the chance to, nuzzling the man’s neck. He was crying, but he didn’t care, feeling Iruka nearly squeeze him to death in the hug. Kakashi knelt beside them, hugging them both before he began to tug them to their feet.

“Come on,” Kakashi said softly, “let’s go.”

The three rose, Naruto talking excitedly about the event the elder pair had missed, moving quickly for the portal. Kakashi paused at the very precipice, turning back to glare down at the wounded demon dragging himself up the final step.

“You can’t take him,” Mizuki gasped out, “he’s mine.”

Iruka felt Kakashi’s arm wrap around his shoulders and turn him around, both standing in the shimmering veil. He pressed close to the lightning demon, watching Mizuki’s eyes widen in abject horror as Kakashi placed a hand against Iruka’s belly, gently walking them backwards through the veil.

“Mizuki,” Kakashi began softly, “you traded everything you were for selfish reasons. You tried to destroy precious life. Now give yours, so that ours may live in peace.”

Mizuki let out a scream of primal rage and denial as the shimmering veil closed behind Kakashi and Iruka, sealing the demon out of the Paradise. He died with hatred in his heart, eyes forever locked on the hand on Iruka’s stomach, knowing what Kakashi had meant in his words.

For life to live, lives must be given in return.

The road to Paradise is fraught with sadness, but for those who persevere, Paradise will open a newer, better world, where sadness is only a memory.

Owari