Demon Dragon Rider

Chapter 32: Farewell

It had been three days since the end of the war. Iwa was back on its feet, with none the worse from its temporary occupation by Madara, Sasuke and their Zetsu clone army. The mass of dead clone bodies had been piled and burned while the dead of the Shinobi Alliance were preserved to be buried in their respective villages. Kurotsuchi, the newly proclaimed Fourth Tsuchikage, formally surrendered Iwa to the Shinobi Alliance to end the Fourth Shinobi World War. Then she held a special memorial to honor all those who had died to liberate Iwa.

Afterwards, a grand festival was prepared to celebrate the end of the war and the liberation of Iwa. Ninjas from across the world helped prepare the village for the festival.

In private, Kurotsuchi met with the other leaders of the Shinobi Alliance as well as Naruto and Hinata, though Naruto was still under the guise of his alternate persona.

Naruto entered the office of the Tsuchikage with Hinata behind him to find all the leaders present. He bowed to Kurotsuchi. "You summoned me, Lady Tsuchikage?" he asked.

The newest Tsuchikage nodded. "I did. Tomorrow's festivities will begin with a special ceremony honoring those in particular who helped Iwa in her time of need. You and your apprentice are among the foremost to be honored. But I would like to be able to present the person behind the armor of Oni," she said.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, though the action was hidden by his helmet. "You want me to reveal my identity?" he asked calmly while glancing at Tsunade. She shrugged quietly, telling him that it was his choice.

"I understand your desire to remain anonymous. It helped to protect you from those who would wish you harm by going after those close to you. But considering how many of the ninja villages owe you deeply, I think the reason is now moot," Kurotsuchi said before she quickly added, "Of course it is your choice. If you do not wish it, I will not press."

Naruto glanced at Hinata, who simply told him with her eyes that she trusted any choice he made. He then turned inwardly. "Kurama? Onyxia? What do you two think?"

Onyxia answered first. "I think it is high time we stopped hiding. The world should know who to thank. And they should know of the one who will watch over them," she rumbled softly.

Kurama just huffed. "It doesn't matter to me what you do. Tell them, keep it a secret, it all means the same to me. Though it might be nice to have them appreciate the fact that it was my Jinchuuriki who saved them all," she said with a satisfied smirk.

Naruto took a deep breath before nodding to Kurotsuchi. "Very well," he said, as he began to undo his helmet strap and slowly slide it off. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze."

Kurotsuchi's eyes widened as did many of the leaders in the room who didn't know it was him. Only Gaara and Tsunade remained unaffected.

Shibuki's eyes widened before he grinned. "Naruto!! You're alive!!" he said as he hugged him. "It was a sad day when we heard you were dead. All of Taki mourned the loss of the Genin who saved our village."

Naruto smiled. "It's good to see you too, Shibuki. I'm sorry I couldn't reveal myself earlier."

Kurotsuchi blinked as she looked at Naruto. "How ironic," she said softly. "The son of the man who devastated Iwa during the last war is the one who saved us," she said with a small grin.

Others chuckled at the irony of that while Tsunade crossed her arms. "I hope there won't be any Iwa ninjas looking for revenge for what his father did," she said.

Kurotsuchi shook her head. "If there are, they will be dealt with, I promise you. Iwa owes Naruto more than enough to overlook what his father did to us."