I don't own Naruto.

Never in his life, would he have ever let her do that for him. He would never have willingly let her do it, the pain he felt was worse than any betrayal he had ever felt before. It hurt more than when he had to watch them bury Kawarama... he hadn't seen Kawarama die, nor had his younger brother died for him by protecting him. It always hurt to lose someone you loved, but... they couldn't have been more at odds. They were always fighting and arguing over everything. But...with one single word, she threw him out of the way and took the hit herself. It was ingrained in his mind...he doubted he would ever forget her last words to him...

The reality of it hurt. "I.. .I a-also...c-couldn't l-let you die... for me... b-because... I... I k-kinda like you...T-Tobirama." Her words hurt, they stung worse than an infected wound with salt poured over it. Her words made all the regret he had been hiding away, resurface and taunt him with her death. He blamed himself, if he hadn't been so distracted with the ghosts of her family, he could have moved out of the way himself, but she took the hit all her own, because he called her a genius... and that was all.

It was raining hard now as Tobirama tried to keep his eyes on Izuna. His gaze flickered to the woman clad in his armor against the tree, her body cold, lifeless; her hair clinging to her skin as droplets trailed over her blood stained skin, turning the droplets red. He tightened his grip on the sword and his chest clenched painfully, the regret he felt was overwhelming. He was in pain as well, he had been fighting Izuna for a few hours now and he was beginning to feel the drain.

"Are you ready to give up?" he asked tauntingly and Tobirama looked up at him with a glare. "I refuse!" he snapped and he lunged forwards with his remaining strength. He still had a massive amount of chakra left, but his body was exhausted. Izuna's chakra didn't drain, nor did he get hurt, and nor did he get tired. Tobirama couldn't release this reanimation jutsu, it had been created just for that purpose, so it couldn't be released. He didn't suspect Orochimaru had that sort of knowledge, so he figured Izuna had been smarter than he had originally thought and had tweaked the jutsu in his favor.

Tobirama flared his chakra, as did Izuna. This battle wasn't going to be over soon. Their chakras flared wildly as their swords clashed. The sparks that fell from the colliding blades continued to fall each time they rushed at each other.

:-:-:-:-:

Naruto felt the massive chakra signatures flaring and he felt chills cover his body as goose bumps rose. He shoved everything off his desk, surprising the occupants of his office. Everything hit the floor as he climbed upon his desk and sat cross legged. They watched as he began gathering chakra for sage mode. His shoulders tensed as the massive chakra signatures breached his senses, his eyes becoming froglike and orange lining over his eyes.

His eyes landed on the floor and his shoulder went limp first, then his arms, and finally his wrists hit the desk top and his face contorted in pain as his tears fell on the desk. Ino walked over to her husband and gripped his hand tightly and waited for him to tell them what happened. His silent sobs shook his shoulders as his other hand fisted against the desk. Ino reached up and placed her hand on his cheek as Sakura's hands gripped her upper arms and her eyes hit the floor as well.

"Hinata... she's dead... isn't she?" Sasuke asked, breaking the silence that seemingly no one wanted to break. "I can't feel her chakra at all anymore...I think so..." he whispered brokenly and Sasuke nodded. "Don't give up on her just yet... she may have just done some reckless jutsu... we can't just say she's dead! We all know how she is! She won't die so easily!" Sakura said and they all looked at her. "I feel nothing of her chak-" Naruto started but he shivered and his hands trembled.

"What the... What the hell... this... what is this?" he asked as he looked at his trembling hands with wide eyes. The group looked at him oddly and he looked at them. "There's so much chakra... everywhere... I can't sense anything out there anymore..." he said and they furrowed their brows. "Naruto... do you think Tobirama could be the one doing this?" Ino asked and Naruto shook his head. "No! it isn't him, his wasn't fully blocked out by it and neither was Izuna's... it... it feels like everybody's chakra mixed... what is that supposed to mean..." he said and gripped his head.

"It feels like all the chakra I have felt all my life, Bijuu, animal, shinobi, and civilian... it feels like something has mixed all the chakra in the world together!" he ground out and the orange faded from around his eyes and his frog like eyes turned blue once more. He was panting and gripping his head. "What... what was that?" Ino asked shakily as the ground rumbled beneath their feet. "I think that was why Tobirama wanted to make sure no one was wandering about..." Naruto said and Ino gripped his arm tightly. "Are you ok?" she asked and he nodded. "Yeah... I had to release sage mode, that chakra was like a high pitched squeal in my ears." He said and the door to his office opened.

"Not surprising. That's what happens when one senses the origin of chakra itself. There are also more things that happen when the origin of chakra is summoned from the depths of the ten tail's tree." A voice that Naruto had only heard once in his life, rang out. They all stared wide eyed at the newcomer. "H-how? I thought you were dead." Sakura stammered and the man looked at his hands. "I thought so too, but as you can see, once more I roam the land of the living. Why I am here, is something I am most curious of." The man said and they all stared at him with wide eyes, as two more males were seen behind him.

"This is impossible!" Naruto exclaimed, tears forming in his eyes as the two males behind the first one smiled softly. "Its good to see you again... Naruto..." the two said and he tried his hardest not to cry. "I see your dream came true." The shorter of the males said and Naruto's lower lip trembled and he forced a grin. "I did it, didn't I?" he asked and the three chuckled. Sasuke was frozen in place as he stared at the three. "Impossible..."

:-:-:-:-:

The first thing he saw was a bright flash of green light then the air filled his lungs and he coughed at the new feeling. He clawed at the coffin over his head, this was not a feeling he liked. He sent his fist through the lid and he dug himself up. When he reached the surface, he managed a sloppy crawl. His legs felt weak. He fisted his hands against the trunk of a tree and he felt the chakra from the tree seep into his through his skin. The tree crumbled beneath his touch and he frowned.

He touched yet another tree and sucked the life out of it as well, he understood that the chakra was part of him and that he needed it, but he didn't like the fact that he was taking the life from the trees to support himself. He could stand up straight now and he felt the chakra flowing through his veins, a feeling so long forgotten to him. He touched the exposed skin of his and a slow smile crossed his lips as he felt a heartbeat and warmth flowing through his veins.

He took tentative steps forwards and nearly bumped into a younger male with darker hair and eyes. "You too, huh?" he asked and the younger man looked at his hands then at him. "I don't see how this is possible..." the younger man said and he shrugged lightly and helped him off the ground. "Neither do I, but if I am going to be given a second chance...I would like to figure out who gave it to me, wouldn't you?" he asked and the younger man nodded.

"Indeed, this is all new to me." the younger man said in a somewhat monotonous voice and he laughed. "You're telling me! not even Tobirama could fully revive a person!" he laughed and the younger male looked at him with confusion in his dark eyes. He laughed nervously and scratched his neck with a sigh. "Let's go see if there is anyone else wandering about the grave yards, ne?" he asked and the younger male stared at his hands. "I wasn't buried in konoha..." he said, but nodded lightly.

"Let's go then kid, we have to see if there are others!" he said with an exuberance in his voice that made the younger male crack the tiniest of smiles. "Alright then..." he said and they began walking at a slightly faster pace, but not such a fast pace that threatened to trip them up in their newfound rebirth. They ran into one more person, and he was on his knees in front of a group of gravestones, tears falling down his pale cheeks from even paler eyes.

"Hey... kid..." he called out and the pale eyed man looked at them in shock. "It wasn't just me? I'm not the only one?" he asked and the two shook their heads as he wiped his eyes. "But... why me? why not them?" he asked and pointed to the group of grave stones that all had the same last name inscribed on each. A huge gust of wind blew the three men off their feet and the first of the three looked at the direction where the wind came from with wide eyes.

"That... was not a natural wind... and that was not human chakra that caused it either... I think I know what brought us back..." he said and the other two watched him carefully. "That chakra you feel... it has every person's chakra in it. When you die, your chakra returns to the ten tail's tree, or the origin of chakra. When we die, our chakra goes back to it, but when we are revived; our chakra comes back to us. Anyways, that gust was from the origin of chakra... but it wasn't the ten tails... it was something else." He said and the youngest of the three nodded.

"You mean like the Kami... who wrought us from our depths?" he asked and he blinked "I never thought of it that way... but yes in a sense it could be a divine intervention..." he said then saw flickers of light in the sky from clashing chakra. "We need to find the current Hokage and see if they know what is going on." he said and the other two nodded. They ran to the Hokage tower and opened the door when they got there.

"Not surprising. That's what happens when one senses the origin of chakra itself. There are also more things that happen when the origin of chakra is summoned from the depths of the ten tail's tree." He said and they all looked towards him. He had a small smile on his lips. The two behind him let small smiles cross over their lips. "It's nice to see you again...Naruto." They said together and the blonde looked close to tears.

"This is impossible!" he exclaimed, but the happy tears that filled his eyes said otherwise. "I see your dream came true, my friend. Hinata has protected you well, has she not?" the shortest of the three asked with a small haughty smile on his lips. "You wouldn't believe it!" Naruto said as he attempted to rub the happy tears from his eyes. "And... I see you chose the right path for him, Naruto." The darkest haired male said and looked at Sasuke.

Sasuke's arms were limp against his sides and tears pricked at his eyes as he whispered a single word. "Impossible..."

:-:-:-:-:

The darkness that surrounded her was suffocating...what was she going to do? Where was she? She had so many questions. "Do not hesitate to ask, my dear..." a voice that sounded similar to an echo contained within a glass room, said softly. "I will answer any questions you have." The woman's voice said and she looked all around her. "Were you the one who brought back Tobirama?" she asked and the voice was silent.

"Yes...and no. I brought back the one who your mother thought would pull you from your rash behavior. I see that he did, in sacrificing yourself for him. I'm proud of you..." the voice said and Hinata's ghostly chest clenched in guilt. "Lots of people had given up on you, you know." The voice said and Hinata held a hand to her chest. "He needs you... just as you needed him. I will grant you four things. Your life, and the life of three others. If I decide that the lives you wish to give are insufficient, I will not allow them to return. I cannot have dark souls wandering about in the realm of the living, like Izuna." She said and Hinata nodded.

"What cost would I have to pay, there is always a cost. It is called equivalent exchange, and I know there is always an exchange to be made." Hinata said softly and the woman laughed. "Ah, you are a bright one. What I ask, is not what you would really have to give, because it was never yours to have in the beginning. You will be allowed to use it one last time, but then they will vanish from you and go to the ones who rightfully deserve them." She said and Hinata smiled softly.

"Will I get to see him, or are you going to take him away as well?" she asked and the woman was silent. "I give life to those who need it... I would never take back a gift I have given to a soul like his. He was desperate, he was trapped and confused. I set him free, I would never take that freedom from him. He never truly lived a full life, and a full life is what he deserves. But, just as well he doesn't deserve to go at this life alone. If you make careful choices, he could be happy once more, just as there are others who deserve to be happy as well." The woman said and Hinata blinked in confusion.

A slow smile crossed over her lips and her eyes closed in content. "I know who I want back..." Hinata said and the aura around her became curious. "Who would it be then?" she asked and Hinata beamed at the light that had formed in front of her. She spoke three names and the ghostly light of the goddess was visibly taken aback. "I...I believe I will have to agree with you on who you wish to bring back, those three had lives that were cut short. They died protecting what they loved despite what the cost had been. You, young lady, are blessed with a kind heart, despite the current attitude you have brought about. I will agree with their souls being released from their slumber." She said and she placed her fingers on Hinata's forehead and she was engulfed by a golden light.

"I will also lend you the power of a Kami... the divine light..."

:-:-:-:-:-:

Tobirama's sword clashed with Izuna's once more. Tobirama was bleeding heavily from his left side and his ankle burned worse than a fire beneath his feet. He suspected he had fractured it when Izuna had swept him off his feet with a swift kick to the ankle. "You should really just give up Tobirama." Izuna sighed as he circled the injured man. "You're injured, you're hurting, and you're obviously hindered by the death of the lovely dark haired girl over there. Why won't you surrender?" he asked and Tobirama looked at him from beneath his soaked bangs.

His shiny hitai-ate lay across the area from him, but beside Hinata. It had been removed when Izuna's foot had collided with his face. He hurt all over, but he wasn't going to let Izuna get away with killing her like that. "You know, Tobirama..." Izuna began and he looked up at him once more, panting heavily. "If you would just let me kill you..." he said and appeared to Tobirama's left and dug two fingers into the slice that drew up his side. Tobirama yelled out in pain and swiped his blade out towards the other male, but he vanished just as fast.

"Then I would release the reanimation myself. You are the only reason I am here in the realm of the living. I was happier with my brothers...Anyone would be happier with their brothers or a lover than they would with a village filled with people who feared them..." Izuna said and Tobirama looked down at his blade with saddened eyes. "You could be with your brothers, you could be with her...you know..." Izuna said and Tobirama looked at his reflection in the blade.

"If you would release the jutsu the moment you killed me...I would consider letting you do so..." Tobirama said and Izuna looked at him oddly. "Hm...the idea of being with your brothers make you give in? or was it the thought of being with her?" he asked and Tobirama looked at him. "The thought of not being alone, was the only thing I needed." He said and his blade hit the ground. The moment the end of his blade touched the ground, armor chinked behind him and the ground erupted in roots that closed in on Izuna.

Tobirama's eyes went wide and he turned around, his jaw unhinged slightly when Hinata stood there, her hands poised in a similar fashion he had seen throughout his life. The wood style user he had called his older brother reflected over her and he ducked down and grabbed his blade. "I refuse to give in!" Tobirama said, his faith in himself restored, having seen Hinata standing there. "I thought you were dead." He said and she smiled.

"I was." She said simply and summoned more roots to try and grab Izuna. Roots wrapped around Izuna and a green flash shot from her body and she jerked. "There goes the wood style..." she sighed and her hands flew through the hand signs for the Phoenix flower jutsu, which set fire to the trees around the area, setting them ablaze. Tobirama grinned at her. "Was that the cost of bringing you back?" he asked as he lunged for Izuna who had broken free from the roots that had grabbed him.

"Nope, that's not for me." she said and flames erupted from her mouth, which Izuna countered with his own flames. Tobirama rammed Izuna in the side and Hinata flooded the area as a red flash flew from her body as well. He noticed that the tattoos on her arms were vanishing as the elements vanished. "I'm curious as to why your elements are leaving you..." he said and she laughed as her foot tripped Izuna up and he flickered from sight to appear behind her. Izuna burst into flutters of paper and the remaining unnatural elements flew from Hinata's body, but a golden light coated her skin.

"This is what I was brought back for, we need to find a way to restrain him." She said and he watched her, mesmerized by the light that coated her frame. "Restraining me is not an option, little girl." Izuna said and Hinata spun on her heel; her flattened palm connected with his gut and the beginning of a seal spread across him the longer she managed to touch him. She smirked at him as he flipped away from her. "What were you saying about restraining? Who said anything about restraining you? How about a divine seal, Izuna?" she asked and he furrowed his brow.

He kept his distance from her, but Tobirama continued to try and close the distance between them. Tobirama chased Izuna into Hinata's direction and they both shoved at Izuna at the same time, and Hinata's palms almost collided with Tobirama as Izuna jumped out of the way. She spun on her heels at the last moment and slid backwards, her back colliding with his chest. "If I touch you, you could get sealed too." She said and he nodded.

"Then let's try this again." He said and she nodded. Dragons waited under the surface of the water and Tobirama controlled them and sent them to attack, one by one. Izuna flipped away from them, dodging was a habit for him even though he was a reanimation. He felt as if he should fight like he was alive and not let the cockiness of being immortal get to his head. His fist collided with Tobirama's and he smirked as his cheeks puffed up and fire swelled within them.

His smirk fell fast when her hands collided with his back and the seal spread swiftly all over him. His eyes were wide as he began to glow gold as well. He managed to turn and look at her as his head jerked back and his mouth opened wide, his soul ripped from his lips as the gold faded from her body and his temporary body shattered like golden glass. His soul hovered over them for a moment before a small smile crossed his lips and he reached out for something, or more so someone. 'Come now, Izuna, its time to go.' A familiar voice echoed around them and they looked up to see Madara reaching out towards Izuna. Izuna's soul reached up towards his brothers, but only afterwhispering a small thank you, to Hinata. Once their souls vanished, Hinata hit her knees on the ground as she panted, she was exhausted. She couldn't help the small smile that crossed her lips though, even though Izuna and Haru had caused her so much grief, she was able to bring them peace in their ends.

"Hinata... that was incredible." Tobirama said and she beamed at him. "Thank you, but it wasn't my power, I borrowed it from the goddess who hadn't lost faith in me." she said and he nodded. He held a hand out to her and she grasped it tightly. That oh so familiar warmth washed over her form and she drank it in. she didn't know how long his touch would last so she wanted to embrace it as long as she could. "Will you accompany me back to konoha?" he asked with a smirk upon noticing her reluctance to release his hand and she rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She said as she grabbed his hitai-ate and secured it to her own face.

"You're an idiot." She said to him as he hit the ground face first. "I think... there are times..." he muttered from the ground. She healed his side the best a non medic could, and she helped him stand back up. He rolled his eyes as she walked him back to the village, her smaller frame tucked under his arm. "Sakura will have to heal you when we get to the Hokage tower, you know." She said and he huffed. "I can honestly say... she likes to have wandering hands..." he grumbled and Hinata laughed lightly. "Fangirls always do." She laughed and he grumbled incoherently. He wanted to make a jab at her for her refusal to release him, but he was in no state to do so.

:-:-:-:-:-: (The unspoken conversation.)

"Who is it you wish to bring back?" The woman asked and Hinata smiled serenely. "I want to give three men a second chance at life. It only seems fair they get one as well." She began and the goddess smiled as well. "All I need are names, dear. Give me a name, and if I see that they are pure souls, I will grant you their lives once more." Said and Hinata closed her eyes as she folded her hands together.

"Hashirama Senju, Itachi Uchiha, and Neji Hyuuga."