The Jutsu Master

Chapter 33: Stand Proud

Sadao and Naruto stand over the defeated body of Pain. As Ju Ichi holds Shiroi in his arms as he looks out to the distance to see the remnants of the battle going on.

"Do it Sadao." Ju Ichi mutters.

Anzu sits on the ground being healed by Karin as she looks onward. "You can do this."

Karin nods, with a slight smile. "Yeah, he can."

Naruto walks up to the last body of pain as Sadao grabs one of the chakra receivers from his body before tossing it to Naruto as he extracts all the visible ones. He turns to Naruto to see him in sage mode tracking back to the real pain.

"The real one isn't among them. Naruto, are you?"

Naruto nods. "Yeah."

"Then this time, use reinforcements." Katsuta tells the pair.

Sadao shakes his head. "No. You want to go alone."

Naruto nods. "Yeah."

"Then do it. But I won't be far behind."

Ju Ichi stands carrying Shiroi's body as he notices Eijiro hobbling towards him. "No." Eijiro mutters collapsing against the wall, being caught by Noda. Ju Ichi lowers his head as he hugs her motionless body when Katsuyu alerts them and Anzu with Karin

"Everyone, Naruto and Sadao have defeated the sixth Pain."

Ju Ichi smiles somberly. "I knew he could do it."

"You've outdone me this time, asshole." Anzu says.

"How is Sadao? Is he hurt?" Noda asks.

"He's exhausted, but ok otherwise as is Naruto."

Ju Ichi lowers Shiroi. "Where are they now."

"Naruto's on his way to where the real Pain is. Sadao will follow behind but will only interfere if Pain attempts to take Naruto. However they do not want assistance."

"Naruto! Sadao!" The pair stop as they look behind themselves seeing Shikaku, Inoichi and a Hyūga with them.

"Inoichi? Shikaku?" Sadao asks.

"That fact that you're both here... does it mean you've defeated the sixth Pain?"

Naruto sighs. "It doesn't matter who won or lost."

"What happened?" Shikaku asks.

"We, can't put it into words, exactly."

"What do you mean... you can't put it into words?"

"Look, I'm going to see the real Pain. Please don't follow I want to go alone. Sadao is only tailing, But he'll stay far enough away to not interfere."

Sadao nods "That's what we agreed upon."

"Naruto, Sadao, you know where the real Pain is?!"

"Yeah... I found Pain's body through Sage Mode. And when I pulled out the black rod I felt his chakra."

"I see, but you want to go alone? What's going on?" Inoichi asks.

"I want to confirm something."

"Confirm? What is it?"

"I want to talk to the real Pain."

"What? You're talking nonsense! We're all grateful that you've defeated Pain. But it's far too late to settle things with words."

"Then tell me! If we destroy the real Pain and his minions, and the village and everything else connected to the enemy, will that "settle" things?!" Naruto asks.

"What good will talking do? He is our enemy who destroyed the leaf village! We cannot forgive him!"

Sadao scoffs. That's the fucking point! He was created because we did the same to him and his village! I feel the same way! My home! My family are gone because of him!"

"Then-!"

"Inoichi. Let's do as Naruto says and let him and Sadao go alone." Shikaku interrupts his friend and teammate.

"Shikaku..."

"It is Naruto and Sadao who both stopped Pain. They have every right to speak to Pain. Besides, I'm sure he he has his reasons."

"But-!"

"Just let him go."

Sadao smiles softly. "Thanks, Shikaku." The pair jump away and continue for a few minutes when Sadao stops letting Naruto go alone as he takes a deep breath deactivating his Mangekyo for the first time since the attack began as he suddenly collapses coughing up blood.

"I nearly ran out of chakra... heh. And I didn't even notice." He chuckles slightly, Katsuyu sits on his shoulder healing him and slowly restoring him. "Don't, Katsuyu, I'm not that bad, focus on those who need it more than I. He sits against a nearby tree taking a few deep breaths before he looks down his mind wandering as he thinks back as he imagines his perfect dream world. A world where Shiroi is peacefully walking around Konoha when Ju Ichi joins her the pair smiling as they hold hands when they come a cross Noda with Shizune, as he stands with Karin and his mother the three relaxing as Mako spars with his father and Anzu is pouting as she watches all of their friends dating someone else. He smiles imagining this when senses a sudden spike in chakra in the leaf and teleports back to see a large head sticks out of the ground and green lights flood the ruins.of the city. He looks around and jumps out finding Ju Ichi as Shiroi slowly sits up his eyes widening as Ju Ichi hugs her crying into her shoulder as Eijiro watches a tear escaping his eyes.

"It's enough to make a grown man cry. *sniff* And thats okay. You go right ahead tear." Eijiro makes a reference but is ignored. Sadao smiles when his eyes widen and he suddenly teleports to Kakashi's location as he see's Kakashi starting to move.

"Kakashi sensei!"

"Ugh... Sadao I thought I told you, you don't need to call me sensei anymore." Sadao smiles and hugs Kakashi, he then sighs, returning to the body of Pain, leaving Kakashi to follow him. He lands in front of Naruto defensively between he and Konan.

"And who are you?" He stands ready to fight.

"My name is Konan. I'm glad you came here, it',l make it easier for me to tell you where Jouji Jouta is."

"JoJo?"

"Go to the hidden rain village in three weeks and travel to the tallest building. He'll be at the top with Kira Yoshihara."

Sadao smiles. "Understood, Thank you, miss Konan."

She nods at him before taking off as Sadao wanders around for a bit with Naruto and walks with he and Kakashi. Once they return to the village, waiting for them is a large crowd as he hears cheering for the both of them. He raises his head with a smile and takes in the emotion of the crowd. The crowd in front of him cheers and celebrates their return. Ju Ichi, Eijiro, Shiroi, and Karin all swarm him giving him hugs and high fives, everyone around him stops, as Karin walks up to him and hugs him as he looks her in the eyes.

"Please, don't scare me like that again." She says still buried in his chest.

Sadao smiles softly. "I won't, I love you." He holds her close as the pair share a kiss for the first time and the crowd goes crazy.

Chapter End.