Whoa... and to think this is one of the last chapters in this book...

I am so unprepared. What am I going to do after this is over?! *tears up*

WHAT?!?! Explain this to me, my people!!!

I had NO IDEA this book would get so far. Ever. This was just a dream of mine-- to make my own time travel book, arranging things so my heart wouldn't break so many times. And now I have 20k READS?! WHAT THE HECK?!

You are all so amazing. I'm probably going to repeat this stuff two chapters from now. Whatever, on with the story.

Btw, this one is probably going to be crap since I'm laying in my bed dying. I could possibly have strep throat, so my throat is on fire and whenever I try to talk, I sound like a dying frog.

ANYWAY!!!

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Sasuke ran as quickly as possible without losing everyone else. This was the place they were going to meet-- Sarada and Itachi were coming to get the people from the future home. According to Itachi, that was top priority. The safety of the future was very important to him.

"Are we almost there?" Boruto asked, keeping up with Sasuke easily. He was clearly as jumpy as Sasuke if not more. Finally, Sarada would come home. Whether she liked it or not.

"Yeah." Sasuke looked at Boruto strangely.

Boruto inhaled sharply when Sasuke's gaze turned away. Sasuke was a very intimidating person, and Boruto was... close friends with his daughter.

"Is something wrong, Uncle Sasuke?" Boruto finally cleared his throat. "You've been giving me weird looks all the time."

"No, it's nothing." Sasuke shook his head and averted his gaze. "Nothing." He repeated. "Let's do this, huh?"

"Let's get Sarada back," Boruto nodded, "and go home. I'm missing Hima."

Sasuke nodded, and the two of them increased the pace. Everyone that lagged behind also picked up the pace. "We're getting closer." Sakura told Hinata. "I can feel it."

"I know." Hinata smiled. "Sarada is coming back."

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"Why are we going to them already?" Sarada asked, impatiently. She and Itachi had broken out of the hideout a few hours ago. "I don't--" she sighed deeply and closed her eyes, her foot hitting a tree. "I don't think I'm ready to leave you yet. You still need me."

"Yeah." Itachi looked out at the trees, resisting the urge to sigh. It would only make Sarada feel worse. "I do."

"I didn't even get to say goodbye to the Hokage." Sarada wiped her eyes, feeling her pupils get hot. She knew she was going to start crying soon, but wanted to put it off as long as possible. "I'll never get to see Minato-ojii-sama again." She said, throat closing up.

"You'll get to see his son. And his grandson." Itachi looked back at Sarada. "At least Minato-jii isn't totally gone."

Sarada rubbed her temples. "I know. It's not the same though." There was a clearing up ahead, little specks she suspected were people were standing around. "Is that them?"

"Yeah." Itachi said. "I think so."

Sarada inwardly groaned. "Fantastic. Now I have to go back to awkward hugs, scoldings, and a promise to treat Naruto-jii and Boruto to ramen."

Itachi looked at his niece, frowning. "Stop. Don't complain. At least you have a family to come back to."

"Touché." Sarada said. "Fun." The clearing was five steps away.

One.

Sarada's heart pounded. Her mom was going to get her. Her father was going to scold her.

Two.

"Why does this have to happen to me...?" Sarada muttered. She was so nervous, her hands were shaking.

Three.

Inhale. Exhale.

Four.

Shìt.

Five.

This is my family. They'll love me no matter what.

Now she was out in the open, and all conversations that were happening ceased to exist.

"Sarada." Sakura sighed in relief and ran toward her in a bone-crushing hug. "You're okay."

Sarada sat numbly, accepting her mother's display of affection. "Hi, Mama." She whispered.

Boruto's face spread into a giant grin, and Izumi, Shisui, the younger Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura, Older Hinata and Older Naruto mimicked him.

All except Sasuke, who stared at Sarada. She looked into his onyx eyes and could only see the dark pools of sadness reflecting back on her.

"Papa." She whispered. Sakura smiled and let her go, leaving the girl to look at her father. Sasuke just stared at his child, an awed expression on his face.

"Why...?" He finally asked, voice cracking. "Why would you go to him of all people?"

"To keep you safe." Sarada smiled softly at him. "Papa, he wanted to take your eyes and implant them into himself. By going to him, I was a distraction. He would've taken my eyes instead. You could've gotten away safely, but now you're in danger."

Itachi chuckled. "Sarada, after he had your eyes, he would've gone for Sasuke anyway."

Sarada nodded. "I know. I just wanted to give him time to escape. You didn't take it, though. Thanks, Papa." She sighed sarcastically.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at his daughter. "Why did you have to get your mother's selfless spirit...?" He frowned.

Sarada shrugged. "I guess it's in the family."

"Okay. It's time for you all to go." Kakashi said, coming up and putting a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "We'll see you again in the future."

Boruto sighed. "I'm gonna miss you guys."

"You'll see us again." Izumi chirped, a smile on her face.

"You know, unless one of us dies along the line." Shisui snickered. "COUGH Kakashi COUGH!"

"Why me?" Kakashi said in a whiny voice.

"Because you're the one that's more likely to keel over and die." Naruto added. "Duh."

Kakashi shook his head. "HAH. You're the Nine Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto. Who's to say you're not the one that dies early?"

Younger Naruto pointed at Boruto. "He wouldn't be there if I died. Think again, Kakashi-sensei, 'ttebayo." Then his eyebrow raised. "Besides, we haven't heard anything about a Future Kakashi, hm? Maybe you're already dead."

"Quit picking on Sensei." Older Sakura laughed. "Kakashi is alive in the future, okay?"

Kakashi mentally sighed in relief.

"You'd all better keep yourselves that way, 'ttebayo." Older Naruto exclaimed.

"Hai," Shisui said, nodding his head. "It was great to meet you, Nanadaime-sama."

"Likewise." Naruto said.

Sasuke opened a portal, then turned to the kids. "Say your last goodbyes, we have to go."

Older Sakura, Hinata and Sasuke said their goodbyes quickly and waited near the portal for the kids.

Boruto went around hugging everybody and telling them not to "die, dattebasa". He stopped and started talking to his younger dad, who was giving him advice.

So Sarada took her time, hugging each individual in turn. When she finally got to Itachi, her already tearing up eyes began to water. He pulled her into a tight hug, murmuring encouraging words to her. "I'll be there when you get back."

"What if you're not?" Sarada asked into his neck. "What if we didn't change anything at all? What if this was just a weird dream? Or if this was all real, what if you die doing something heroic before I was born?"

"Don't worry." Itachi sighed. "But if one of those is the case..." he looked up at Older Sasuke, who leaned in to hear what he had to say. "No matter what happens, I will love you always."

Sasuke froze, eyes widening. That hasn't happened yet-- how did he--

Crazy laughter was heard in the distance, followed by some crashing. "I see! It's a party! And I wasn't invited." The voice shouted.

Madara.

Sarada looked at her father in fear. Sasuke activated his Sharingan, looking at Madara.

Older Naruto began using his Nine Tails chakra, but he knew that his younger self wasn't ready to do something like kill Madara yet. He would have to wait a few months to get strong enough. Madara would have to either go, or get pushed back enough to give their younger selves time to recuperate and grow stronger. Naruto decided that his younger self should go through what he had to go through. He leaned over and whispered his plan to Sasuke, who nodded. "Okay. Let's do it."

"We won't get out of here without..." Sakura overheard their conversation and looked away. "Sasuke-kun, this is Madara. I don't know if even we are strong enough to go one on one with him."

Naruto shrugged at his friend. "What are you talking about? We've done this before."

Sakura sighed. "It still makes me uneasy. We had all of Konoha with us then. All of the Konoha 11. And Sai. And now we have to watch the kids, and everyone else."

"They'll be fine." Sasuke said, drawing his sword. "Boruto and Sarada can handle themselves. You know that. And our younger selves aren't that bad either."

"Hello," Madara sang. "I'm still here."

Someone was behind him-- someone that Kakashi recognized. Tobi had taken off his mask, and it revealed a long dead Uchiha-- Obito.

"Obito." He said.

"Kakashi." Obito replied, a smile crawling onto his face. "Long time no see."

"Yes." Kakashi did the handsigns and made a Chidori. "You chose the wrong side, old friend."

"Are you sure about that?" Obito asked, grinning. He was certain Madara would win, and then after that... world domination.

"Obito!" Older Naruto almost sighed in relief. His younger self could convince the Uchiha that what he was doing was bad. Things were working out somewhat like they did a long time ago. "You need to listen to me."

Younger Sakura frowned, took out her black gloves and slipped them on. Obito... the name sounded familiar. Ah, yes. That was the name of Kakashi-sensei's teammate, from his first team. Older Sakura curled her hands into fists and prepared for a fight. Younger Naruto went over to help Kakashi.

Naruto, surrounded by Kyuubi chakra, made a Rasenshuriken that was bigger than Sasuke's portal, and hurled it at Madara. Madara dodged it easily with his Sharingan and activated his Susano'o.

Sasuke sighed and did the same, followed by his younger self and Itachi.

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"WHAT?! NO WAY AM I GONNA HIDE LIKE THAT, 'TTEBASA!" Boruto shouted indignantly. "I WANNA HELP OTOU-SAN! I CAN DO IT, I KNOW I CAN!"

Hinata sighed. "Boruto you're such a handful. Why can't you just sit put when you're asked to?!"

"Because, Kaa-san, I can't just sit here while everyone else is in danger!" Boruto said, looking behind her to where his uncle, dad, and aunt were kicking åss, while he was stuck here with his annoying mom. "That is SO not fair."

"Boruto, they didn't let me out either. Do you hear me crying about it?!" Sarada asked, punching her teammate in the head. "Shut up so Hina-obaa-san can go fight!"

"Fine." Boruto muttered, rubbing his head and sitting down behind the tree. "I hate this, but fine."

Hinata smiled at Sarada and turned around. She softly shouted, "Byakugan!" And her eyes squinted a little. Her fists began to glow blue, and Hinata joined Sakura in the battlefield.

"This is so unfair." Boruto muttered, as him mom joined the group of åss-kickers. "Why us?!"

"Because we are a bunch of inexperienced thirteen-year-olds who have no idea what to do or how to help." Sarada said. She didn't voice the 'duh' but Boruto know it was there.

Boruto crossed his arms and pouted. "That is a lie."

"Really? What would you do if you were out there?" Sarada asked, hugging her knees to her chest.

"Pour water on the glowing monster thing that is surrounding Madara." Boruto answered honestly.

Sarada stared at him in shock for around five minutes. "When we get back home, I'm having a serious conversation with Konohamaru-sensei."

Boruto groaned, then looked up. Madara, who was admittedly angry that Boruto had called his Susano'o a glowing monster thing, was hovering over Sarada's head in midair, about to pierce her heart with a giant Shuriken that had been lying on the floor. "SARADA!!!" He screeched, but it was far too late for him to push her out of the way-- Madara was inches away from her.

Sarada turned to see what Boruto was screaming about, and her face contorted in horror. Oh my kami... this is it, isn't it?

She closed her eyes and waited for the pain, the last pain she would feel in this world.

But it would never come.

Sarada felt a drop on her face. Then another. She slowly opened her eyes, and what she saw shocked her to her very core--

Obito. He was standing over her, a Shuriken coming through his chest. Half of it was sticking out the back, the other half portruding from the front. The blade, inches above her head, was dripping with Obito's blood. Some of it had landed on her cheek.

Obito coughed, blood flying out of his mouth.

Sarada stared in shock. Boruto had gone completely silent, and just watched, jaw completely dropped.

Sarada opened her mouth. "Wh--why...?" She stuttered.

Obito's bloodied lips spread into a grin. "It's what Rin would do." He muttered, sinking to his knees.

Madara pulled the shuriken out of his student's back. "YOU IDIOT! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!" He bellowed.

Obito coughed up some more blood and groaned in pain. His torn shirt was already filling with blood, the cursed red substance dripping down his clothes and onto the floor beside Sarada.

Younger Naruto had just been into Obito's memories. He'd seen the Uchiha's life. Love. Laughter. He was enraged.

Madara was pushed back, a lot like Pein was. The trees were broken from when his body slammed into them.

"I will deal with him later." Younger Naruto growled. He knelt beside Obito, and Kakashi came over to join him.

"This is stupid. You can't be dying from a Shuriken." Kakashi exclaimed, closing his eyes. Dammit... no...! Not him too!

Obito laughed, coughing up more blood. "It seems so." He winced and groaned a little. "Dang, this thing hurts like heck."

Sakura came over and immediately began pumping chakra into her hands. She placed them over Obito's wound, but she knew he wasn't going to make it.

Kakashi cursed. "Don't die yet, Obito. Not you too. Sensei... and Rin..." He squeezed his eyes shut. "I just now found out you were alive!" He opened them. "That was so quick! Not nearly enough time..."

"I'm..." Obito coughed. "Really... sorry... Kakashi... Rin... and Sensei... they're waiting... for me..."

"No!" Kakashi shook Obito's shoulders. "Not yet!"

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura said, pushing the white haired man off Obito. "Leave him alone! You don't want to put him in more pain than he already is in!"

Kakashi nodded numbly, staring at his dying friend. "You always were too easy to beat. Look at you. Dying already."

Obito laughed, coughing violently. "I guess that makes you the strongest out of all of us, huh?"

Kakashi shook his head. "No. You are and always will be the strongest of us. You are more worthy of being in Team Minato than I ever was. I'm sorry for the way I treated you as kids, as if you were inferior to me."

Obito's eyes widened. "Wh...what?"

Kakashi chuckled softly. "I realize now what an idiot I was. You were right."

"How... was i... right?" Obito asked.

"In the Shinobi world those who break the rules are scum..." Kakashi began. "But those who abandon their friends are worse than scum."

Obito smiled. Genuinely. Sadly. He knew his time was short.

Sarada looked down at the man who saved her life. He had been Madara. He had threatened her. He had trained her-- pushed her to be better.

Now he was laying on the floor, dying, because she hadn't been aware of her surroundings.

"Obito-san..." She whispered. The man turned to her, a brilliant smile on his bloody face. "Thank you." She said.

Obito admired this little girl. He cleared his throat so his voice would come back to him. "Sarada-chan. When I was little, it was my dream to become Hokage. Did you know that?"

Sarada shook her head.

"I gave up on that dream when Rin died." Obito said wistfully. "I moved on. But you and Naruto..." He turned his gaze to the future Nanadaime Hokage and his younger self. "You guys share my old dream. I'm expecting you both to fulfill it for me. Okay?"

Sarada was silent, tears swimming in her eyes. Naruto felt the same way.

"Okay?" Obito repeated. "Swear to me that you will do it. You will take care of the Leaf Village while I'm gone."

Naruto spoke up, voice shaking. "I will."

Sarada nodded solemnly, one tear running down her face. "I will." She steadied her voice.

Kakashi looked at his friend and resisted the urge to laugh. "Same old Obito."

"Kakashi," Obito said, blood running down his mouth. "Remember-- Shinobi don't cry."

He closed his eyes for the final time, never to open again. Never to fulfill his childhood dream.

Younger Naruto and Sarada exchanged glances. They nodded, and Sarada stood up.

Sasuke and Sakura walked over to their daughter and grabbed her hands. "Honey... it's time to go."

Sarada nodded numbly. "You guys have to get rid of Madara for good." Her hoarse voice said to her parents' younger selves and Naruto.

Sasuke nodded. Sakura did the same. And Naruto broke into a grin. "I swear it. And I never go back on my word. That's my ninja way."

Boruto, for the first time, looked at his dad with an incredible respect.

Older Naruto placed a hand on Boruto's shoulder. Hinata on his other side, he ushered the blonde boy to the portal.

Sarada turned around, not fully into the portal yet, and gave one last look at the people she had come to love.

Itachi watched his niece as she walked through the portal, pride shining in his eyes.

Everyone else made their way in as well.

Naruto, however, stopped. He stared at his younger self. "You're not alone." He said. "Remember that."

Younger Naruto dipped his head to his older self.

Naruto went through.

Sasuke was the last.

His job was to cast a jutsu that would erase everyone's memories.

He looked at every person in turn, stopping at his younger self. "Revenge will get you nowhere."

Younger Sasuke nodded, closing his eyes.

Then Sasuke cast the jutsu.

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AHA!!!! CALLED IT!!!! This chapter was sucky. Whatever, the next one will be a lot better and a billion times more satisfying, deal? This is so... so bad... yeah, I'm sick. That's probably why.

... I kinda feel bad... I totally messed up the ending by killing Obito.

But, you know, sacrifices must be made.

YOU WILL LIKE THE NEXT CHAPTER, I SWEAR!!!!

Anyway... better get to work on that.

See ya!!! ❤ you all!!!