Inheritance

The Torch Passes

A single tear welled in it's corner and Sarutobi smiled at his oldest surviving friend.

"For Konoha," he whispered, his world dimming and the light leaving his eyes.

"For Konoha." Danzou echoed.

A hundred thousand battles over nearly a century had forged Sarutobi Hiruzen into the God of Shinobi, the ultimate warrior and protector. He could see each of them now, the losses more keenly than the victories. But also he saw those he had saved, the children he had seen grow into fine shinobi or citizens of the Leaf. He saw each celebration and smiling face his sacrifices and the sacrifices of his shinobi had allowed in all his years.

He saw Uzumaki Naruto, standing firm and proud despite everything he'd had to face, ready to protect Konoha and knew with iron-clad certainty that no matter what Danzou intended, that his Will of Fire had been passed on to Konoha's next generation. The Will that had been passed to him decades ago by his predecessors.

And then, the Third Hokage saw no more.

* * *

Naruto stood astride Gamabunta, the Chief Toad Summon, as the wind whipped around him, his final card finally in play. Gamabunta was very nearly equal to the demon across from them in size, and one of his webbed limbs rested upon an enormous blade at his hip. Across from him Gaa- no, the Ichibi grinned malevolently in his direction. Every bone and muscle in him ached, screaming at him to stop. But he wouldn't. He couldn't.

"I'm pretty much spent, Gamabunta - sorry for summoning you, I had no choice." He said between breaths, watching for any sign that the beast across from them was getting ready to launch another attack.

"Don't sweat it kid, we have an agreement after all," Gamabunta's low booming voice rumbled in reply and Naruto grinned. "Still," the toad began again, "for you to have done so much without summoning me is pretty damn impressive."

"It doesn't seem like I've done much at all since he transformed," he answered.

"Don't be fooled. The Ichibi is not loose from his vessel - the play-possum technique the Suna-brat has used to bring out his demon is only temporary and he can only access so much of his power," Gamabunta quirked an eyebrow at him, "or did you think a fledgeling like you could actually go toe to toe with a fully realised bijuu?"

Naruto didn't answer and Gamabunta scoffed. "No kid but you've done a fine job of draining his reserves from what I can tell. What do you say we put this thing down for good?"

"Sounds good to me - you got a plan?"

The toad grunted in affirmation. "Hit it with everything you've got - your most destructive attack. We need to damage it so much that the chakra he needs to replenish himself is too much. He's hiding his vessel right now. We need to get to this Gaara, and wake him up."

"Got it. Cover me as I go in?" He asked, and the chief nodded with a grin.

Naruto took a breath and pulled yet more power from the pool the Fox was providing for him. The usual whispers and temptations were once more strangely absent as power flowed through him - the bastard must really want the other bijuu put down. He felt the power and strength flow but at this point in the fight, his exhaustion remained. His body had almost nothing left to give and he knew full well that he was drawing on far more of the Kyuubi's chakra than he could actually cope with safely.

He ignored all of it and leapt from the Toad, dashing across the forest canopy straight at the Ichibi. It made to attack him but Gamabunta leapt over him, sword removing the limb that would have reduced him to a bloody pulp and it collapsed into a shower of sand. He made the hand-seal for Kage Bunshin and forced as much of his chakra as he could manage into preparing the ninjutsu.