Spitting out blood, I begin to slowly take the foreign body out of myself, gradually healing the consequences of my carelessness, which could have cost me my life. After all, this blow had touched and partially damaged the chakra focus, which is already a death sentence for a chakra user, but also the spine itself. If the blow had been two millimeters to the right, I would have been left with temporarily paralyzed legs and partially lower nervous system.
And again, only because of a miracle and someone's mercy, I again missed death. This simply made me laugh, because how much longer will I wander along the edge between life and death?
Quietly laughing, lying in the dirt and blood, I had no choice but to wait for my complete healing, because I had again begun a deadly game with time, because that creature or swarm. They were a single organism, a single entity. It was useless to fight against them because of the collective mind granted to them because of their queen. And now I could only wait and hope for another miracle so that his relatives would be far from this place and would not have time to come here before my complete healing.
Thirty seconds, one minute, three, five... Counting the time to myself and not removing concentration from recovery, I began to listen more attentively. Because it was worth counting ten minutes, as all the sounds died down for a moment. The few birds and animals that remained to live in this forest seemed to cease to exist, feeling what was approaching here and quickly rushed in the opposite direction from it. At the fifteenth minute, I myself began to feel this tremor... The earth trembled and shook. The many kilometers of forest that surrounded this place bowed before the horde of thousands that flowed and destroyed everything that was an obstacle for it, between it and its only goal.
The green glow that covered the guy's hands changed its color to the usual blue, and then completely disappeared. And he, opening his eyes, smoothly rising, taking a sitting position, began to stretch, warming up and developing, the recently injured area and then his legs, because he had no right to make a mistake. Although who else but him to know this, made the smile on his face become wider and wider. He himself did not know why he was smiling, whether from the excitement that had seized him or whether the recent incident had affected him in this way.
But already fully recovered, Uzumaki did not leave at that moment but waited for those who were coming for his soul. The guy looked at how the forest was being demolished in front of him and how various creatures were crawling out of it. Each individual had a different size and colour, so he did not even try to peer into it and notice at least something among this sea of flesh? The swarm within a radius of hundreds of meters surrounded him, so much so that it inadvertently recreated a dome of its own bodies above him, through which no source of light could break through.
— Long time no see human, I see you liked my gift? — A unanimous choral voice was heard, filling the entire space where their target was.
— So-so to be honest, so tell me, queen, did you prepare something else interesting? Otherwise, you can't kill me with this alone, and you can't catch me either. — Throwing his hands behind his head, he settled down on the ground again, taking a comfortable pose. Your Majesty expressed a desire for imaginary negotiations, so why not please her.
— What's the point of me killing you now? I'll kill you and say goodbye to an interesting object for research, it's better to wait until you fully prove yourself as the last of your kind of chakra owners. - Did it seem to me or did this phrase reach me the image of a surprised, distorted face, as if he said something stupid.
— Your power and chakra volumes are abnormally large for this world, and you shouldn't look at me like that, because you know yourself that if I absorb something, it always works out for the best. And now I'm looking for new material, and you know what I'm talking about. The last fragment of nine parts that once created one whole. Give it to me and I'll leave you alone. — As soon as I understood the meaning of her words, I immediately stopped suppressing my chakra, releasing it around me, creating pressure on everyone at once.
— And forget about it! You may be developing by devouring people, but you are far from the concept of family ties! —
— Bonds... Family... This is complete nonsense, there is only a single and integral collective. All desires and needs of the entire hive are equal to each other. And only I, the queen, can decide which whim to fulfill. And now my children want to taste your flesh, so forgive me, I intend to fulfill their desire. — She expressed her point of view, and I understand it, because she is partly right as a queen, a queen of a swarm, but not of people. Individualism, that's what she lacks and should learn.
— If this is your answer, then we have nothing more to talk about, queen. Wait and live in fear for your last hours of life, because I am coming for you! — Raising my hand up, I direct chakra there, causing the swarm to rush in my direction.
Slowly, the chakra began to swirl on the guy's palm, which soon began to acquire the characteristic shape of an eight-pointed shuriken, having formed, the technique had a diameter of more than two meters, but the constant influx of the creator's chakra continued its development, due to which the growth of the technique he created began in geometric progress.
— I feel sorry for you, queen, despite how strong you and your children did not seem ... You are still weak ... — With some sadness, I look at her creations and release a technique carrying the destructive power of the wind element on them. While I quickly covered myself in red lightning, as if disappearing in a flash.
Finding myself at my own base, I threw off this pompous mask of fearlessness, yes, I knew that I could easily leave there, but what was better? To fall under the action of the rassen shuriken or to be absorbed by the swarm? I was not satisfied with both options, but to leave and not risk destroying at least some part of her army? An unaffordable luxury for me.
Taking off the remains of my previous equipment, it had already become unusable due to the damned acidic blood. Left in what my own mother gave birth to, that is, without anything at all, I headed to the bathroom. I need to wash off all the dirt and this rotten smell. Yes, even in the case of an apocalypse and the end of the world, you should not forget about personal hygiene. Chakra is not a panacea, so I am not sure if I can pull or cure an unknown infection that I could easily pick up from them. I don't need to become that very patient zero. Therefore, turning on the normal light in the corridor, switching it from the emergency one, I headed towards the bathroom.
Time flies, perhaps this is the only way I could describe the last five years. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. The beard and long hair that reached my waist did not decorate the picture. And screw this beard, I shaved it off and forgot about it, but the hair, or rather its color... I don't remember it changing so abruptly from blond wheat to blood-burgundy in the last five years or so. An obsessive question appeared in my head, when did I manage to awaken the inheritance from my mother's blood? If so, what should have been the trigger?
A sharp flash of headache gave the answer, helping me remember and relive that moment. The moment of meeting Miho and her last seconds of life, followed by the moment when I treated myself. Could it be that the damage to the chakra focus, and then its rapid restoration, forced me to wake up? This is an interesting hypothesis that needed to be studied, but I will clearly not do this today. Having shaved my beard and cut my hair to my shoulder blades with a kunai, I looked at myself in the mirror again. But I was still unhappy with the result... Either because of the kunai or because of my own hands, I sculpted my old friend out of myself. At least take it and play with yourself find ten differences. Well, let's play? Red hair is there, characteristic marks on the cheeks, also there, predatory facial features, perhaps also there. Although, one thing still united us, the same damned onyx eyes ... Eyes that were both a gift and a curse for us ...
— Knock-knock! — A voice rang out in my head, hearing which my mood quickly rose.
— Who's there? — Having decided to support this game, I ask myself this question out loud.
— Your red-haired personal schizophrenia! — Kurama answered me, once returning to me an old joke used on him a long time ago.
— Glad to hear you Kurama, I know that you have a lot of questions, so give me five minutes and I will explain everything to you. — I smile sadly in the mirror, knowing full well that he sees her.
Gathering his hair into a small ponytail and pulling it back with a black elastic band, he took out a sealed scroll from the closet, which contained a set of black clothes. After changing, he turned off the light in the bathroom and moved to the living room, sitting on a simple sofa, he glanced at the table next to him, or rather at the vinyl player. Having connected it to the power source, he took out one old vinyl record from the pull-out cabinet.
— Orochimaru clearly has a taste for music. — He said out loud in surprise as soon as the music reached my ears.
Having sat down on the sofa, I lifted up my turtleneck, causing the seal of the god of death to appear. Using my left hand, where the key to the seal was kept, I sharply twisted the gate of the seal counterclockwise, the click that was heard notified me of its opening and freeing my friend. What was now flowing out of the seal in a small stream of scarlet chakra, forming the image of a fox that was twice as big as its relatives. The only thing that distinguished it from ordinary foxes was its nine tails, which were folded together like a fan. My eyes slowly watched my partner, while he was looking at me, noticing the obvious differences that had happened to me since our last meeting. Snorting with displeasure, Kurama hesitated, then jumped onto my couch and lay down on my lap.
— Tell me. — He asked, closing his eyes.
— It happened five years ago, the moment Sasuke and I removed the Eternal Tsukuyomi. What was left of the Ten-Tails threw a dead fish to the world, whose name was Roy. They are children born from this creature, the moment when they appeared was missed, because at that time Isobu disappeared and I was busy looking for him. Ahead of your question Ku, Roy is involved in his disappearance, although not only him... Kurama, they were absorbed, and I could not do anything because of the unusual energy structure of their body. After all, they do not have chakra, but they are able to absorb it and live on thanks to it... —
— They are fine Naruto, I don't know how, but I feel like there is still a connection between us, albeit weak. They are simply again enclosed in something like that Gedo statue. — Kurama interrupted my story, causing me to ask many questions, but apparently he himself did not know the full answers to them.
— Naruto, answer honestly, are you still the same naive boy who wants to help everyone and anyone? — Looking into my eyes, the bijuu asked a provocative and perhaps most exciting question for him.
— Forgive me, Kurama, but even an idiot like me has changed during this time, my hands are stained up to the elbows with the blood of innocent people because of the actions I have committed. I had to kill, and kill a lot, for a reason and just like that, because of a sudden outburst of anger. And sometimes I even liked it, Kurama... Among those who survived, there are many names and nicknames personifying me, and all of them are partly right. I realized and learned an important lesson that I cannot save everyone and anyone, but if there is an opportunity to help someone in need right here and now, then I will extend a helping hand to him. — Gave an honest answer to a friend, because what was the point of lying to him and to yourself, trying to escape from the truth and hide behind a hundred masks. thereby further breaking your own self and your essence.
— I'm glad you're honest with yourself, I can't say that I'm happy with such changes, but you are you, and it's not for me to judge your actions without knowing the full picture of what happened. You are the reincarnation of my father's youngest son, but this does not mean that you should go down identical paths and adhere to the same views on life. You rejected his essence or became something more than a simple reincarnation. Now you are vaguely similar to both brothers, this is neither good nor bad. After all, you yourself have already realized that there is no such thing as only black and white in the world, and you are not obliged to be on anyone's side, do what you think is right. You can pretend to be anyone you want, but know Uzumaki Naruto... I will continue to watch, believe and support you throughout your life. — Hearing words of support from my friend, my soul became much lighter, because now I am not alone anymore.
— Th… Thank you, Brother. — I answer him a little confused, feeling how the moisture in the area of my eyes is no longer held back by anything.
— And how could it be otherwise, Brother? Now wipe your snot, and get up. — The fox snorted contentedly, watching how I smiled and slightly laughed as I wiped away my tears.
So, what I know at the moment about Roy and the Queen in general, in themselves, they are at the Kage level in terms of physical skills. Add to this a single collective mind and we already have the potential for such a good judgment day. They also have complete immunity to extremely high and low temperatures, their chitinous cover is very strong, so it cannot be destroyed without chakra, and coupled with the ability to absorb chakra, my adventure is already becoming quite difficult to accomplish. Well, and let's not forget about their acidic blood, which is more likely to harbor infectious surprises. At the moment, this is the only thing I managed to adopt from Orochimaru before he was absorbed by the Queen herself. Further, what I have already learned myself, during all that time of research. This is a complete ability to mimicry and take on someone else's appearance, it is like the basic henge technique, but it only works without the use of chakra due to the restructuring of the host's cells. And now sprinkle this thing with regeneration, no, they cannot grow limbs and other body parts, but this does not reduce their survivability. Therefore, fighting them with poison is pointless, it simply will not work ... We have already tried this method, Orochimaru bet on it and burned out.
Having said all of the above, the only way to fight them is banal brute physical force, or the use of colossal technology, like the one used in the last battle with Sasuke. But there is a huge risk that this attack can be absorbed, and I will lose the ability to continue the fight normally. Edo Tensei? Perhaps, but there is no suitable victim that can adequately accept the summoned soul. The body may not withstand, and if it does, then the maximum I will get is a chunin or jonin, it is not even funny to throw at least three immortals, on a billion-strong army. Although wait Uzumaki! I think I know a way to significantly thin the ranks of this dishonest army. After all, something in between a strong blow and my strongest attacking technique is needed. And this something was already invented in that war and was used on Obito. Yes! Although the damage was minimal, you shouldn't compare the durability of the Ten-Tails jinchuriki, who was like a deity, and ordinary parasites, whose durability is a couple of orders of magnitude lower! Having created a couple of shadow clones, we immediately got to work, and Kurama could only watch me and grinned contentedly.
— Hey, are you sure you need to use this? Don't get me wrong, the idea of using combat pills for temporary strengthening is certainly good, but it's like filling a huge vessel with small doses, despite the fact that you will consume such a huge dosage at once. — The partner asked with interest, looking at the liter elongated vessel that resembled an ordinary drinking sports can, only there was no water in it.
— We are going against an army that can absorb chakra. And besides, I will have to spend money on a couple of techniques and maintain them for at best a couple of hours or even a day. The Queen has long understood that I know the location of her hive, so now she is busy densely increasing the number of her soldiers. And with the chakra feeding of all the other Biju, then believe me... We are in for a hot reception. Well, and for dessert, did I mention that we will be talking about regular combat pills? — Filling the bottle with the last prepared stimulants, I was well aware of the consequences that awaited me if I only took all this.
— Yes, and sooner or later, but we had to try out the creation of Sakura and Orochimaru. Now we will find out how much their effect has increased if we compare it to its first version, made back when I was just learning to master the natural transformation of chakra. — After a short pause, he began to demonstratively throw one of these third-generation combat pills, thereby focusing the fox's attention on it.
And having achieved the desired result, he took out from under the table a small container that also stored these drugs. For me, it was a regular daily ration that replaced my regular food, probably for the last year. They tasted really shitty, but I can't complain. I didn't feel any side effects from them, given their current strength, but they could satiate for a long time. Taking one of these pills out of the pack, I demonstrated to my friend how much they differed even in size. The difference was actually two and a half times, and that's already decent. But their base itself was radically different, the third generation resembled thick blue jelly in its structure, and not the standard compressed small lump consisting of stimulants.
— You know that you're crazy, right? — The fox asked languidly, turning away and no longer looking in my direction.
— ...
Having filled the bottle to the end, I quickly closed it and, having applied a simple protective seal, moved the container to one of the pouches. Now it's a small matter, leaving the laboratory, I headed to the arsenal in an escort. This place was much better protected than the entire underground shelter. I am an Uzumaki half-breed, but the knowledge of barriers, especially those tied to blood, was available to me. I used it to protect this room. Stopping in front of the wall, which abruptly departed the corridor, I had to let my blood in order to open the gate installed in the barrier. And with a characteristic crack and tremor, a passage opened in front of us, giving the opportunity to go further.
The arsenal itself was a room measuring 60 squares, equipped with shelves with armor and weapons of various types of action. Many copies were collected here in recent times, for example, the legendary seven swords of the fog, which are rich in their history, now hang quietly in the shelf, having found peace. Or those same treasure artifacts left by the sage of the six paths, which were used for selfish purposes, will now be forever forgotten by people. For the last battle, I could take whatever my heart desired, but what's the point? I'm a close- and medium-range fighter, and this already cuts the available choice in half. Shurikens, kunai and other throwing junk that are designed for long-range combat immediately fell away, because they are simple consumables. Firearms with flintlock pistols that were found in the land of snow are also out. Too fragile, and not able to conduct chakra, and this has not yet been mentioned the cartridges themselves, of which there are ten or fifteen, thanks to which these, from simple sticks, turned into shooting sticks. The result is also useless ...
My father used petal kunai as his main weapon because of his fighting style, he was fast and maneuverable. I could follow in his footsteps and use his weapon, but I'm not him. And my speed is much faster than his teleportation technique of the flying thunder god used at short distances. Well, if I had to think from this angle, then it would be much more advantageous to use a weapon with a much larger radius of destruction at short distances. So we need to move away and dance from this, so what suits us? Maybe leave our choice for scythes or spears, or maybe swords?
— Hey, why are you hanging around? — Having slapped me with one of his tails, Kurama, having assessed the contents, was no longer able to wait for me.
— Just like that. — Scratching the back of my head, I walk towards one of the shelves with a storage scroll prepared in advance for weapons.
Having filled the scroll with weapons, I headed towards the stands with armor. Although I could use my usual equipment, which was somewhat similar to the ANBU, as usual, but it did not protect well, and was not suitable for large-scale battles, at most it was used for reconnaissance or work in the field. Perhaps I became paranoid, but I probably did not find anything better than the plate armor I had modified, which was previously used in clan wars. Although they are heavy and bulky, as for an ordinary shinobi, but do not forget what tricks Madara and Hashirama with Tobirama did in it, so the goods have long passed the quality and time check. Leaving the arsenal alone, I mentally prepared myself for the future, yes, I could pretend to be all-powerful and pompous, but the truth is. I am mortal, was born mortal and will die a normal death. But being mortal, people did the impossible.
Having sat down at the altar of Shinigami, I had no choice but to pray for the last time. Yes, perhaps it was stupid and the patron of my clan will still remain cold to the pleas of a half-breed. Even so, because my mother came from a family of priests and I was obliged to take this position sooner or later. Having finished the prayer to the patron and folded my hands in a respectful gesture, my palm lay on the temple mask, from which all the candles suddenly went out, and a chill ran down my back. Having removed the mask from the pedestal, performing all the regalia of a priest, slowly putting it on and tying it with a ribbon, I felt strange. My whole body seemed to be tingling, but Kurama assured me that everything was fine with my body. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes, after which my body disappeared in a flash of lightning.
Unknown location.
A scarlet flash of lightning illuminated the darkness and a man dressed entirely in black armor appeared on top of one of the mountains. Quickly looking around, he found his target, although it was hard not to notice. After all, a huge black hole, the edges of which were not even visible, was dug right at the foot of this mountain. The guy under the mask grimaced because even he was disgusted by the stench and fetid odors that emanated from this place. Even just looking at this place, when empathy worked again, he felt endless rage. Kurama, who had been hiding in the seal all this time and accumulating chakra for the fight, reared up, as if struck by lightning.
Moving the mask to the side, the jinchuriki unsealed the container prepared for this moment, which glowed slightly due to the high concentration of stimulants. Opening the lid and throwing his head back with his mouth wide open, the man began to absorb the contents that flowed out. The boy's pupil immediately dilated, and sweat began to accumulate on his open forehead. He felt how his hearth and the entire SCCH system simply boiled and expanded from the gushing stormy flow of stimulated chakra. Throwing the empty bottle aside, he noticed that even through his clothes and armor, steam was seeping. Each movement was accompanied by severe pain, but could this stop him when he had already crossed the line? Of course not, biting his lower lip, he felt a scalding stream of blood on his skin, which he quickly wiped with his palm and adjusted his mask, unsealing ten simple explosive seals. Stretching his hands forward and unclenching his hand, he watched as ten unfortunate pieces of paper slowly flew downwards, but he did not have that much time to stand and wait for them to reach their target. No longer hiding, he released a powerful burst of chakra, entering the combined mode of the nine-tailed and hermit chakra. Unsealing a long, heavy spear with a wide tip, a lightning discharge passed through it, which instantly flowed to its owner.
Queen, how much meaning there was in one word. People who were ordinary entertainment for her, often mentioned this word with trepidation and awe. She was strong from birth, and so it was natural when she easily moved up the hierarchy, taking a leading position. She was interested in this unusual world, this energy that was hidden in eight huge carcasses, but absorbing more and more, she did not stop developing. Her children, or servants, adopted her ability to quickly develop and adapt, and with each absorbed shinobi, she convinced herself more and more that she was the strongest. Yes, she had heard from people's memories about a certain god of shinobi, but she could not even imagine how much of a difference there would be between what she saw through her memories and what she was feeling now. He had warned her that he would come for her. And she had prepared herself, she had waited for him, along with the last key that should revive her creator again. Feeling that pressure from above, all her instincts screamed to rush into battle and eliminate the threat! With a long squeak, all her troops immediately rushed into battle in order to protect their Queen from a dangerous enemy!
Standing under the peals of thunder and lightning, the man watched as a faint yellow glow appeared at the bottom of the abyss, which, like the sun, became brighter and brighter with each passing second. Laughing loudly under his mask, the guy jumped into the abyss and with one hand folded a single seal, signifying the beginning of the activation of the technique. The petals of explosive seals thrown in advance began to multiply at high speed, creating a continuous series of explosions. Bright, incessant flashes illuminated the abyss with a destructive light. Gojo Kibakufuda was perhaps one of the most underestimated techniques in Tobirama Senju's arsenal, since it directly depended on the reserve of its user. This technique had colossal potential, which could only be developed with a resurrected kage-level shinobi. And Uzumaki Naruto, albeit for a short time, was able to demonstrate the full potential of this technique.
At the same time, piercing the hearts and cutting off the heads of the hive representatives, Naruto used their own bodies as a hard surface to bounce from one carcass to another. Ricochet, perhaps this name was ideal for this technique, because with each bounce his already excessively huge speed became an order of magnitude greater. But from this the guy was increasingly surprised how the world began to slow down with each bounce, but what was the use of it when your opponent managed to adapt to this insane speed and reacted by attacking? A sweeping blow from one of the swarm representatives that appeared from behind cut the chakra cover like a knife through butter and left a jagged wound along the entire back. The inertia received from this blow sent the guy's body down like a rag doll, straight to the flying huge eye of light. And the closer he got to the center of everything, the more his body was entwined like a lump and gradually pumped out chakra. As soon as the huge ball came close to the seemingly miniature sphere from which thin rays of light were seeping, it began to absorb it.
At the very bottom, the Queen smiled contentedly. After all, as soon as her troops reached the target, all his attempts at imaginary resistance ceased. The endless chain of explosions that destroyed, according to her calculations, about twenty-five percent of the army died down, but the man himself... This monster single-handedly destroyed almost as many, and understanding this, she could not help but respect him. And only because of this, she gave the order to her children to completely absorb him. Yes, she would not receive the last fragment, but she knew perfectly well that after some time after the death of this vessel, the fragment would be reborn again and she would fulfill the role she had destined for her. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the feelings that her children were experiencing, until at one moment they suddenly opened up and stared at the sphere hanging there far away. Until at one moment, something went wrong! The Queen simply stopped feeling it for a moment, and a second later she saw how the light began to ooze out with greater force from the huge cage. A scarlet flash illuminated the entire abyss for a moment before a huge explosion thundered, shaking the entire abyss.
— So stupid... So that's the end you chose? — Looking at where her children once were, she exhaled tiredly with her retinue, her first and strongest hundred, and was about to leave.
— I'm glad you liked my performance. — The quiet, satisfied voice of the guy, whose body began to emerge from the strange black funnel, reached the Queen, catching her off guard.
There were several hundred meters between them, so she was interested in examining her opponent. He was no longer covered in a veil of golden chakra, and only light crackles remained from the elemental chakra of lightning, making it clear that he was about to run out of chakra very soon. The armor and his mask that once covered his body were destroyed by powerful mandibles and acidic blood. The rags that could barely cover the boy's entire body were tearing away what was underneath. Uzumaki's body seemed to be covered in a scattering of blue cracks that ran over many open wounds that could no longer regenerate and from which blood flowed. The long hair that was braided into a ponytail was completely missing and in its place, a terrible wound adorned his head. Only from this wound, in addition to blood, a small gray stream was flowing. His condition was terrible, but even in this state, he did not stop emitting this oppressive aura of death.
— How did you manage to get out? — Preparing to personally enter the battle, stalling for time, the creature asked. But, without waiting for an answer, she rushed into the attack.
Watching a hundred giant creatures rushing at him, he involuntarily smiled, old warm memories flashed before his eyes. Purely mechanically, his body began to make a light jump, warming up his whole body, which was as if it was bound by chains and only a warm-up could somehow throw off these shackles. And the shackles fell from the guy's body, and Uzumaki himself did not yet know where all this lightness in his whole body came from. But feeling how the pain no longer bothered him, he slowly headed towards the army, only step by step he accelerated and already seemingly switched to a familiar run. Having passed a hundred meters, he jumped high up, thereby equalizing his height with his enemies. Taking his left hand behind his back, a small clap occurred, and a scythe appeared behind the man's back.
— The first one is ready, there are still a hundred left. — Cutting off the head with a swing of the scythe, he stated without emotion.
Having landed on the body of the defeated enemy, Uzumaki jumped back again, dodging the spikes and limbs aimed at him. And as soon as he got close to one of the elite guards and cut off his legs, his head was cut off again. But that was the only way he had to fight, he had little strength, little time, and making a lot of unnecessary movements in his condition... It was easier to kick the bucket when his body was in that sphere than to make one mistake now. Cutting off heads one after another, one of the monsters, or rather the queen herself, was finally able to get him. Right hand, such a price had to be paid just to get away from the attack himself.
— Naruto, be careful! — The bijuu howled in his subconscious, his heart pounding wildly and ready to stop at any moment, although this was unlikely due to his physiology.
— I'm fine, keep saving chakra and don't waste it on my treatment. — His partner responded dryly, who in the present time glanced at his stump and clicked his tongue in displeasure.
He grabbed the scythe tighter, narrowed his eyes slightly and quickly examined the vulnerable spots near the queen herself, and again continued to dodge and sometimes redirect the attacks aimed at me. Damn! They really pinned me down, if it weren't for this lightness in my body that specifically dulls all the pain, I would have died a long time ago. But this is not a good sign. Pain is a defense mechanism, and when you lose it, your body gains new strength, but there is always a price you pay for it. But the price of this strength... Having taken on too much that I myself did not know when the end was waiting for me. No way! Where did these thoughts come from? And why do I feel so heavy in my eyes?
Crack!
An unpleasant crunch of broken ribs, and a copious stream of blood flows from my mouth. And again my carelessness led to a mistake, a furious blow from the queen, who no longer tried to cut me, decided to simply hit me hard, transforming one of her limbs into a huge claw. My carcass was carried away for a good ten meters, which, tearing away the rock, tore off the skin and meat from my back, untouched in some places.
— Idiot! What did I tell you about your carelessness?! Get up quickly before you get eaten. — Realizing that his friend needed help right now, Kurama stopped accumulating chakra and began to try to at least slightly restore Naruto's body.
— No need... Ku... — He tried to stop his friend, but it was in vain because his body was filled with a weak warmth, which gave him the strength to rise.
Leaning on my scythe as if it were a cane, I had no choice but to continue this fight. My whole body was shaking, and my eyes... my remaining right eye no longer saw so well, but I saw the queen frozen in horror. She almost completely lacked all of her upper limbs and only that claw remained her only weapon. Having taken a more confident stance, shifting the center of gravity and straightening my back, I felt what was bound to happen sooner or later. The steam that had been enveloping my body all the time changed to red, and my body was slowly turning to ash, I was slowly dying, and nothing remained of my body.
Stopping leaning on the scythe and looking at my palm, which I was clenching into a fist, a slight smile appeared on my face. It was time to end this with one, final blow. Kurama said nothing more, he knew perfectly well what was happening to my body, the fate of an observer was perhaps the worst thing I had prepared for him. Jumping up from the spot with a quick and straightforward jerk, reaching the queen, I, ignoring my instincts, pierced her shell with my hand and, reaching her heart, squeezed it. A huge head, so similar to an ant, looked at me with boundless hatred and disbelief. The queen was finished, and her carcass began to fall on its back. This was the end, the end of all nightmares. The end of the disease that poisoned the earth with its presence.
— It's over, Kurama. — Taking out my bloody hand, disfigured by the acidic blood, I could only joyfully rejoice in the victory. My body weakly obeyed, but I still had to do something.
— Yes, Uzumaki. — He answered with reciprocal sadness in his head.
— Your brothers and sisters are now free, and given that people in the world no longer have chakra, you will never be able to enslave them. When you meet them, please hide and continue to live in peace. — Slowly moving away from the body of the former monster and sitting on the stone surface, and at my will, the seal of the god of death appeared.
— Don't you dare! — The fox growled, as soon as I began to open the seal. Brother understood what I wanted to do and decided to stay with me until the very end.
Closing his eyes, the guy began to remember the past, it didn't hurt him, because could a dead body feel pain? Old friends and relatives have been waiting for a long time in the afterlife, perhaps there he will find the peace he so desired. His heart stopped at the moment when he made his last jerk. The dead body, covered in blood and terrible wounds, bowed its head down under its own weight before completely crumbling into ashes.