guardian of the storm | ✓

Chapter Forty-Eight ~ Legends vs. Heroes

from here on out the war is going to be au to fit this book better.

~Chapter Forty-Eight~

Shock. That is the only emotion that Madara can feel as he lays in the rubble of the ruined ground, electricity coursing throughout his body. A girl no older than sixteen had managed to destroy the greatest defense a shinobi could possess, and she was still standing. An insane chuckle bubbled up from his lips as he pushed himself to a stand, his blood boiling. "I am glad that there are still ninja like you around." He raises his pale hand, his eyes hardening, "Unfortunately, I can't let you live."

Winter's body is shaking as Hakai's chakra fades from her body, the crown vanishing, her eyes flickering back to normal, the silver moon dripping off of her now blood red cloak. She's tired, exhausting dragging deep into her bones, and she can barely comprehend the black compressed orb that Madara flicks in her direction.

Warmth cascades over her as a figure enveloped in hues of soft yellow and radiant orange lands in front of her, easily sending the orb off track. With a wide smile cast over his shoulder at his teammate, Naruto Uzumaki makes his appearance back on the battlefield. "I'll take it from here Winter. You take a break and get some of your chakra back. Then we can kick his ass together!" With one more bright grin in her direction, Naruto dashes towards Madara, his face morphing into one of anger.

Stumbling back a few feet, Winter finds her back pressing against the hard chest of Ja'far. "Easy there my badass best friend." He takes in her pale skin, her low chakra levels, and guides her back a few more feet. Soon they're standing by Kakashi and Minato who are both fixated on the fight between Naruto and Madara.

Footsteps pound rhythmically against the splintered earth and Eien appears, hurrying over to them. Slowly but surely, the war is starting to tip in the Allied Shinobi favor, and Winter closes her eyes briefly, allowing herself a few seconds of much needed rest.

More people make their way towards the main battle, but one of the most notable people that appear is Sasuke, the black haired male looking worse for wear. Winter's eyes snap open when he joins the fight against Madara, the girl taking a few steps forward automatically. Their fight was starting to wear down, but for some reason, Madara was only seeming to get started.

Even though Winter broke his Susanoo and fought against his for a long time, Madara had an unknown amount of chakra flowing into his chakra, replenishing his dwindling supply quickly. It put them at a disadvantage.

The fight seems to last an eternity, each blow making her wince, each advance making her hopeful. Still, Winter can't shake an ominous feeling that is creeping up on her.

And then it happens.

Naruto and Sasuke are trapped. She's not sure how but they are, trapped and defenseless on the ground. The two most important figures in this war at the mercy of the one who started it. The ones who kept the others fighting, the ones who got up time and time again to keep fighting for what was right.

The hairs on her arms prickled, a chill running down her spine as Madara rose in the air, his arms rising as well. "This has been a fight to remember. But I have grown impatient, it is clear that you two will have no place in my world." Spikes formed, all of varying shapes and sizes, each a glittering onyx color. They hovered around Madara, sculpted out of dark chakra.

Heroes and Legends are different.

Sasuke and Naruto were frozen, their limbs locked in place. It was as if invisible chains had wrapped around their ankles, wrists, and necks, anchoring them to the earth. Eyes wide and hearts stuttering, all they could do was watch as the spikes descending towards them.

Heroes live on and inspire millions. They are a living beacon of hope, they speak words of encouragement and tell their own stories of bravery.

Rippling in the wind, black hair flashing across the duo's vision.

Legends are different.

Sasuke's eyes widen as blood splashes across his vision, a stunning scarlet against the bland backdrop of war.

They are stories whispered over campfires, their tales being stretched far from the truth making the legend grow bigger and bigger, their shadows stretching over lands and countries.

Winter drops to her knees, her eyes wide with shock as the pain registers in her body. She coughs, her vision blurring as the spikes make their home in her body. She can feel them, see them, and gods what has she done?

Legends are terrifying. They grow out of proportion are only kept in check because they are just that, legends. They are people that have lived long before those who talk about them, they are people that have long since died.

Naruto can't blink. He can't breathe. He can't look away. His heart is struggling to beat, he is struggling to think, and all he can see is the blood pooling on the ground and feel the drying speck of crimson on his cheek.

But there is one similarity between the two...

Her body is trembling. Once again, Winter reacted before thinking, and this time, it was a fatal mistake. Her hands reach out to stall her descent but her arms are weak and she falls to the ground, blood pooling around her. The thick liquid leaks around her, soaking the earth and matting her hair. Her pale skin turns dark, her clothes going soaked, the blood stretching out and spreading further and further.

They both die young.

Ja'far is running. He is sprinting and hurdling across the ground, his heart punching against his ribs, his eyes wide with disbelief and denial. But is not Ja'far nor Naruto nor Sasuke that screams. It is Eien, the black haired male sinking to his knees, his mouth wide open as he shrieks, the sound so animalistic and feral it barely sounds human.

"WINTER!"

She felt her heart stutter, once, twice. Her ears were ringing, her soul on fire, her lungs filling with liquid. Her eyes felt heavy, impossibly so, and blurry. It was as if she was finally going blind in her good eye and that terrified her. She didn't want to go blind, she didn't want to stop breathing, she didn't want to stop hearing. She wanted to see Ja'far and Naruto and Emiko and her brother and— a sob-filled with blood bubbled free from her throat, tears leaking from her clouded eyes.

"... gomenasai... minna." 

*hides in bomb shelter*

this isn't the last chapter. I REPEAT THIS ISN'T THE LAST CHAPTER SO DON'T KILL ME OKAY?!

this was not rushed. this had been planned since i started this book, no joke. i didn't wake up today and decide to kill Winter. so please don't accuse me of wanting this to be over and rushing things, okay?