Never Perfect

Hello again my friends, so many reviews and thank you everybody for the offers of a Beta. I have taken Telpei up on the offer HOWEVER, the Beta has not started yet but for next chapter and the pervious ones will be reposted. Please enjoy, I hope this chapter…clears up a few things.


All in all, it took them only a day and a half to reach the edge of the border. Late into the night they began to hear the sounds of the waterfall; they knew they were getting close to the Valley. Naruto stopped so suddenly that Sasuke nearly ran into him. They had rested not long ago, so he couldn’t be stopping because he was tired; Sasuke tried to reason out the blond’s thinking since he still wasn’t communicating. Maybe memories.

Sakura wasted no time in returning to them. “What’s wrong?’

Sasuke didn’t take his eyes from Naruto, who had begun growling. He had hunched down into the animalistic stance he hadn’t adopted since the previous morning.

“This is where … where I put the Chidori through his chest. I think he might be remembering.”

Naruto ignored them both, nose high in the air, scenting. His growl grew louder, but Sasuke tried taking his arm to move him forward. A few more miles and they would be over the border, safe from Leaf Village. However, Naruto violently snatched his arm from Sasuke’s grasp.

“No!”

His voice was clear and without hesitation. It wasn’t a cry of fear, it was more like a command and a warning rolled into one. If the idiot would just talk, they could work this through.

“Naruto, you have to tell us what is going on.”

Sakura’s voice was concerned but Naruto’s agitation continued to rise along with his chakra. The whiskers on his cheeks were quickly being more pronounced, widening as his eye colour bled to red.

“Oh god Naruto! Calm down or it will come out again!”

Sasuke was desperately trying to catch his gaze, the Sharingan was already spinning, but Naruto swivelled his head so all Sasuke was presented with was that scarred eye. Suddenly, Naruto burst into action, his movement so fast that his image blurred, and he dove behind Sasuke. There was a sickening ‘thunk’ as a kunai buried itself into Naruto’s raised forearm, at the perfect height and placement to have buried itself in-between the Uchiha’s shoulder blades. Instantly they were all on alert. Naruto wrenched the Kunai out and held it, cradled it as if trying to decide something. He shook his head. Surprising both his comrades, he cut a strip from the bottom of his shirt and tied it over his one good eye – blinding himself completely. The move sent chills down Sasuke’s spine as the action brought two things into light: what might have happened to Naruto’s other eye, and the unquestionable fact that there was only one opponent that still lived for whom Naruto would wilfully surrender his sight and make himself so vulnerable. They were facing Madara.

“Can you fight like that?” Sasuke kept his voice bland

“Yes.” Naruto’s reply was short and to the point

Sakura moved between the two as she pulled her gloves on. “What’s going on?”

Sasuke drew his sword. “The Kunai was just a warning, but I’m guessing from what Naruto is doing that we’re about to face Madara.”

Sakura gasped.

“I think he was trying to avoid the fight, but there’s no running now. Let’s get to the Valley if we can, that is at least familiar territory for Naruto and I.”

Naruto reached out and took Sakura’s hand. A gentle squeeze calmed her, but it was the fact he could locate her hand so easily that reassured her. The three took off, while staying close together. Naruto’s fox ears were constantly moving, swivelling to take in all the sounds he could. Sasuke’s Sharingan also swept the darkness that surrounded them.

Naruto’s hand fumbled into one of the packs on his back, only to pull out a handful of food bars. He began consuming them at an amazing rate. Red Chakra burned to life but it was centralised around his mid-section. Before their eyes, the last of the weight he had been missing was rebuilt. If not for the fox ears and scarred eye, he looked almost as he had before. With each meal they had shared a similar phenomenon seemed to happen.

“That’s not possible.” The awed tone to Sakura’s voice was easy to hear.

Sasuke shook his head, going back to scanning the darkness after witnessing the transformation. “You and I have both seen it happen little by little over the last two days. Nothing has even been impossible for him.”

Sasuke was trying to get a plan down in his head. Sakura’s deadly strength was best used as a short range attack, but Madara was not a foe she could get in close range with before the Sharingan locked her down. Her landscape-altering punches would be useful as a long range attack to keep him distracted instead. Naruto was a short to mid-range fighter, assuming he could locate the target in his blindness, but Sasuke knew he too had to be kept out of Madara’s reach or the evil man would rip his blindfold away. Sasuke, because of the gift from his brother, would be the only one able to fight in close range.

“Naruto, did you ever learn to throw your Rasengan?”

“Yes.”

At least he was giving answers when they needed them the most.

“Can you target him without having to see him, with just your hearing?”

“Yes.”

Sasuke found himself grateful for the Kyuubi right now. Although on second thought, maybe not, since Kyuubi was the reason Madara was after Naruto.

“Sakura, stay away from Madara, but I need you to keep punching the ground. If you keep him moving it will be harder for him to lock you in with the Sharingan. Naruto, clones and long range attacks only. Stay out of the bastard’s reach. I’ll go in for close combat. If I power up a Chidori, I’ll need a Rasengan right on top of it, but the sound may throw you off. Just aim for me, and I’ll do my best to dodge it.”

Sakura nodded. “His clones will help too, Sasuke,” she interrupted. “Whatever they see and hear gets passed back to Naruto when they are destroyed.”

This was something that Sasuke had been unaware of. No wonder Naruto used them as scouts. “Alright, keep one with me at all times if you can,” he directed the blond.

Too soon, they skidded out of the trees to a stop on top of the First Hokage’s head. Across from them, standing on his own likeness, was Madara.

“So nice of you to bring me a gift, Sasuke-Kun.”

Naruto flung the bags he was carrying back into the bushes to give himself a full range of movement.

“You’ll not lay one hand on him asshole.” The harsh tone left the black haired man almost violently.

Madara made a tsk-ing sound. “Now is that anyway to talk to family, Sasuke-kun? Besides that, if we’re going to take down The Village Hidden in the Leaves, we need the demon.”

Sasuke grit his teeth and blocked out the low growl presently coming from Naruto. “I’m only after those who were responsible for enabling the massacre. “

Madara’s laughter was nice; it was warm in a way that was so wrong when coming from such an evil man. “The Uchiha clan was responsible. They had been plotting against the Village.”

“I know that! However, there were other ways to deal with it than killing every man, woman and child! They didn’t have to use Itachi!”

Naruto’s hand came down heavily on his shoulder, causing Sasuke to draw in a deep, calming breath. Knowing that Naruto was there beside him helped to calm his anger.

“Ah Naruto-kun, whatever happened to your lovely eye? Do you really think that little strip of cloth on the surviving one will protect you long?” Madara taunted, turning his attention to the demon’s cage.

Naruto’s hand fell away as his grip on the Kunai tightened, the whisker marks on his cheeks spread further. “…”

“What that, Naruto-kun? You’ll have to speak up.”

Sakura cracked her knuckles. “Back off, Asshole. You’re facing the Students of the Legendary Sannin. Naruto is more than the Kyuubi Vessel, Sasuke is more than the Avenger, and I, well I’m more then I appear as well. Together, you’re not going to be able to get to us.”

Madara’s easy smile didn’t falter, but Sakura’s words, her pride in them made Team seven stand taller.

“Then by all means, let’s dispense with the pleasantries.”

With that the battle began. Katon Goukakyuu no Jutsu filled the Valley, one from Madara and the other from Sasuke. They burst against each other in an incredible display of power. As the flames died down and the smoke cleared, hundreds of clones burst through, raining down upon Madara. He encountered no real difficulty avoiding them until one swiped at him with a Katana – the henge disappeared to reveal Sasuke now in close range.

“Ah, there you are. I was beginning to wonder.”

“You’re forgetting something.” As Sasuke spoke, one of the clones was launched at Madara from behind with Rasengan spinning in its grip. The Rasengan and the clone plunged into the ground as Madara jumped from the spot in which he had stood, retreating back to the banks of the river. Sasuke followed with one Naruto clone at his right shoulder. Sakura was fulfilling her role; she kept Madara moving by plunging her fists into the ground, tearing it apart beneath the other Uchiha. Madara was forced further back, but Sasuke followed through the settling earth. Madara’s unearthly speed kept him safe whenever Sasuke got close enough to slash out with his sword.

“You can’t hope to beat me. In history only one man moved anywhere near my speed and he’s dead!”

A yellow flash careened out of the forest and Madara took a blow to his back, halting his retreat and making him stumble forward before the streak was gone again, out of reach. Madara’s eyes were wide and he coughed once.

“The Yellow Flash! He’s dead, I saw it with my own eyes. Yondaime died sealing the Kyuubi!”

The flash came again. Sasuke caught a flicker as Madara was struck in the stomach. This time blood burst from his mouth with the strength of the blow.

“Naruto! Stay Back!”

Naruto was already back on the other river bank, but Sasuke could see the way his body was held proudly, fists balled loosely at his sides. Madara glowered, tilting his head to take in the sight. Longish blond hair, his figure, that technique

“So he used his own son? How cruel.” His growl turned easily to a laugh at the surprised look on Sasuke’s face. “So you never knew that he was Namikaze’s son? The Fourth’s own child on your team and you never knew. Just think of the strength you could have harnessed there. How differently his life could have gone had he not been the sacrifice.”

Madara’s gaze returned to the blindfolded man. “So you have your father’s Flying Thunder God technique*. I’m assuming that the movement seal is on all of your clones. That’s how you got so close. Never mind. You’re still the demon child – even more so now, judging by those ears.”

Red Chakra exploded, bringing with it a scream as a full- fledged tail burst from the base of Naruto’s spine. It was not made of chakra but of flesh and blood, covered in yellow fur. Sasuke’s chest throbbed, and his eyes locked on Naruto, he was dying to reach out and hold him, though he felt unworthy. All this time, Naruto had lost his family too, and to the very thing he carried. His pain was also thanks to Madara, who had called on the Kyuubi.

Naruto chose that moment to speak, his voice issuing forth with depth and authority, also echoing with the power of Kyuubi.

“You want to see a demon? I’ll give you the monster I’ve become.”

He leapt, coming at Madara, and the dynamics of the fight changed completely. Sasuke tried to surge forward to break them apart but clones latched on to him, holding him back by his arms as he strained against them and writhed in their grasp.

“No! Naruto, stay away from him!!”

Sakura was in a similar position, but no matter how many clones they destroyed, more took their place. They could but watch as black and yellow streaks slammed into each other, becoming visible and then streaking again. The percussion of the impacts sent shockwaves out to wash over the landscape.

“Rasenshuriken!”

A blue glow was mixed in with the yellow and red, and then it was flying, Madara stilled, becoming visible for a split second before changing direction at the last moment to avoid the attack. The Rasenshuriken slammed into the forest along the banks, cutting a wide swath through the trees.

“So you finished his work on it? My, my, he would be so proud.”

Madara, for all his cocky words, was not unscathed. Here and there, bloody red furrows ran over his body, one even ran across his cheek dangerously close to his precious eyes. He was panting, trying to catch his breath. Naruto also paused. His deeper cuts were still visible, but blood was the only indicator in other areas where he had been harmed; steam was all that was left of the wounds. However, he seemed to be favoring one leg. His blindfold was a little tattered, but still in place.

“How many more can you make, I wonder?”

Naruto was already forming another when Madara released another flame attack.

“Katon Goukakyuu no Jutsu!”

The flames engulfed the blond haired man and Sakura screamed. However, Naruto’s clones remained in place. Sasuke arched against them, trying futilely to free himself. As the smoke cleared, Naruto still stood with red chakra surrounding him; the flames had burnt his shirt and singed the blindfold, but the man was still standing.

“Interesting.”

In one hand Naruto held his deadly Rasenshuriken and in the other he still held the kunai that had been thrown at Sasuke. The smaller weapon was easily forgotten as, with all his might, Naruto threw the Rasenshuriken and flickered out of vision with great speed as soon as it was done. Madara dodged this one too, straight into Naruto’s path. Sasuke let out a roar, finally sweeping away the clones, as Madara snatched the blindfold away. Everything seemed to happen it slow motion. Naruto’s one good eye was caught in Madara’s gaze. A second and third tail ripped out of Naruto, his back bowing in agony. Before Sasuke could reach him, Naruto’s arm was swinging in a wide arch, blurring, the Kunai meant for Sasuke clutched tight in its grip. A forth tail appeared, this one pure chakra, not flesh. The Kunai blade flashed as it slashed across Madara’s face. Madara let out a scream of agony, clutching at his eyes, as Naruto fell to his knees, head hanging, free from the Genjutsu.

Madara fled but Sasuke only had eyes for Naruto; there were three fur covered tails and the chakra one was also waving dangerously behind him. The Kunai knife fell from the blond’s loose grip, making a clanging sound as it hit the ground. Naruto’s clones all disappeared in rapid succession. The blindfold fluttered through the air in between Sasuke and Naruto, slipping onto the ground when Sasuke finally reached his side. His body was slumped, his hair was keeping his face in the shadows but his posture wasn’t threatening in any way. However, those four tails made Sasuke cautious. Slowly, as he watched the chakra tail recede, taking the red chakra with it, it left only Naruto’s own body and those three strange tails.

“…”

Naruto had mumbled something under his breath, and Sasuke moved closer to hear; he was now within Naruto’s reach.

“Monster.”

Sasuke’s heart ached.

“You’re not a monster Naruto. You most likely just saved our lives.” Sakura had joined them. “Naruto, you just sent Madara Uchiha packing. I never knew you could move like that.”

Obviously he’d been hiding it, for his lineage would have become obvious before the council was ready for it. Alternatively, he had been ordered not to use the technique. Naruto’s arm snatched out, catching them both off guard. Before either of them could react, Sasuke’s sword was in his hand and he pulled back. Sakura gasped as Naruto cruelly wrenched one of the tails forward and hacked it off at the base, his body jolting against the pain. The tail fell to the ground with barely a whisper of sound as Naruto reached for the second one, but Sasuke was there. One hand wrapped around Naruto’s own on the hilt of the Katana, while he used his chest to press the tails up between them, on Naruto’s back, shielding them with his own body. Sakura could only gaze on in horror, shocked at seeing Naruto essentially maim himself. Naruto struggled violently, trying to dislodge the Uchiha; Sasuke’s other arm had wrapped about his waist. Sasuke’s voice came out in a pained, broken whisper.

“Please, Naruto. Stop doing this. You’re hurting yourself.”

Sasuke could feel blood running down his pant leg from the severed tail, but the stump was retreating, healing. Naruto’s almost panicked fighting slowed to a stop, and left him in the Uchiha’s grip, quivering. Sasuke knew they had to talk now, while Naruto was still vulnerable.

“Your eye … you …”

Sasuke had to stop and collect himself before he could speak again. He was scared to confirm his theory.

“You took out your own eye. In case Madara came for you again.”

The quivering intensified.

“Yes.”

Sasuke closed his eyes and buried his face in Naruto’s neck as he fought back his own pain. Sakura was crying for them all; her sobs echoed out into the valley as the full import of the words sunk in.

“What about the other one? Why not that one, too?”

“Kyuubi stopped me. In case you came.”

Sasuke breathed silent words of thanks to the fox for preserving that life line.

“Do you really feel the need to remove the tails? They seem to be a part of you, not the Kyuubi.”

Naruto’s voice was a hoarse growl.

“Yes!”

Sasuke remembered the three tails that had joined Kyuubi-no-Kitsune and Naruto in the cage and the way they had ripped in half when getting Naruto out. He guessed that that was the origin of the tails.

“If it’s what you want Naruto, let me do it. If I charge the sword edge with Chidori, it’ll be cleaner, less painful.”

Naruto nodded and let his grip on the katana go. Sasuke stepped back raising it above his head as Naruto sat down, tails spread out flat behind him.

“Sasuke, no!”

He would not be swayed. Whatever Naruto needed he was willing to give.

“It’s what he wants, Sakura. Chidori!”

The sword blazed to life, the sound of a thousand birds screamed out over the water. He brought it down, cleanly severing the last two tails. Naruto cried out and Sasuke dropped the weapon, coming to his knees in front of Naruto and sweeping the man up into his embrace. He whispered into one pointed ear while stroking his back. Naruto’s hands balled into fists, twisting his shirt.

“It’s alright, Naruto. Everything will be okay. I’m here and I’m not leaving you. I promise. We’ll find our perfect.”

Information on how the Yellow flash works,
http ://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Flying_Thunder_God_Technique

Information on how the Yellow flash works,
http ://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Flying_Thunder_God_Technique