The Red Flames
Chapter 24

Hotaru P. O. V

The First finished and then said.

- I don't know how Madara returned to life now. I definitely killed my friend... for the sake of the village. The village that Madara and I first envisioned... is something that joined one clan to another. It protected the children and averted pointless conflict. It made peace a reality. However... it gave rise to despair, the kind that your brother Itachi was forced to bear. Perhaps what Madara said was correct, after all. I am the shinobi who created these circumstances. I believe that shinobi are those who endure for a purpose. But depending on what that purpose is a shinobi can change. - the First said.

- Shinobi... Shinobi are those who endure... in order to achieve their goals. - Sasuke said.

- For me, it was building a village. But it seems Madara found something else. - the First said.

- It's the Infinite Tsukuyomi. - Sasuke stated.

I looked at him and he told us what that thing was.

After that he said.

- To negate everything that my older brother did, Madara's younger brother... and all of you have tried to protect. Nii-san inherited your will without even talking to you. Nii-san... even in death... my older brother endured longer and harder than you. And died stating he was proud to be a Leaf Shinobi.

Then Sasuke smiled slightly and said.

- Isn't ironic that the shinobi who understood you more than anyone else... was from the Uchiha Clan?

After hearing that I smiled a bit but soon that fade away hearing Tobirama say.

-Your brother was not the only one.

Then Tobirama explained us why he said that.

After some conversation the Third mentioned Danzo's name.

- I killed Danzo in vengeance. Until the end, he spoke that he would protect the village, no matter how dirty the means. - Sasuke said.

- It seems I've failed miserably time after time as the Hokage. I guess I'm responsible for creating the situation that exists now. - the Third said.

Otou-san looked at him and said.

- No... you're not to blame, Lord Third. You did everything you could for the sake of the village, I'm the one who died during the Kyuubi's attack on the village! You had such high hopes for me as the Hokage... and I couldn't live up to them. - I'll say... after he passed over me and picked you. Everyone was so disappointed. - Orochimaru said.

- Orochimaru-sama... you sound like you're pouting. - Suigetsu said.

- A little, since the Third is right here. - Orochimaru answered.

Otou-san then looked at Sasuke and said.

- Had I lived, perhaps I could have helped to foil the Uchiha's plans for a coup d'état much sooner...

- Now then... Sasuke-kun... what will you do? Will you destroy the village? Or... - Orochimaru said.

We were all looking at Sasuke and he closed his eyes.... so he's thinking about it.

He finally opened his and said.

- I'm going to the battlefield! I won't let the village and Itachi become nothing!

I widened my eyes.......... h............ h.............

HE WON'T DO IT!!!

I run to him and hugged him tight.

(A hug like that)

- H-Hotaru? - Sasuke said confused

- H-Hotaru? - Sasuke said confused.

- Thank you... - I whispered.

- It's been decided then! Tobirama! Prepare to fly us outside! - the First said.

- I'm bound right now, I can't! - Tobirama said.

I stopped hugging Sasuke and looked at Orochimaru.

- Orochimaru, was it? What will you do? - the First asked.

- You said earlier that you'd follow Sasuke. - the Third said.

- Of course... we will accompany him. - Orochimaru said.

- WHAT?! J-Juugo, what about you? - Suigetsu asked.

- I'm going too. - Juugo answered.

I putted my hand on Suigetsu shoulder.

- Don't worry, you'll be fine! - I said smiling.

- You say that because you're like a monster! You're incredibly strong! - Suigetsu said.

I bonked him in the head.

- WHAT DID YOU CALL ME SUIGETSU?! - I said mad.

-N-Nothing! Gomenasai!!!! - Suigetsu said scared.

I glared and everyone sweat dropped.

With that we went outside.

- This view brings back memories! - the First said.

- It's you after all, SASUKE!

We heard and turned around to see Karin beating Suigetsu up.

- I sensed your chakra and I couldn't believe it, so I backtracked and look what I found!!! - she said.

- Karin?

Sasuke said.

- OH YEAH! I forgot she was in Konoha! - I said laughing nervously.

- Oh my... so many of my best experiments gathered here in one place! - Orochimaru said.

- YOU BASTARD! I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!!! - Karin said to Sasuke continuing beating Suigetsu up.

I sweat dropped... poor Suigetsu.

- I'm sorry Karin. - Sasuke said.

-You... you bastard! As if a simple apology will get you off the hook... you good for nothing... - Karin said.

- You almost killed her and you say "sorry" just like it was nothing. - I said.

- I see you still have a weakness for Sasuke, Karin. - Orochimaru stated.

- Listen Orochimaru-sama... Sasuke... had the gall to stab me and - Karin started but was interrupted.

- What a coincidence. Me too. But I'm helping Sasuke now. This is perfect timing. You help too. - Orochimaru said.

- What?! I guess I have no choice... - she said getting all over Sasuke.

- she said getting all over Sasuke

SON OF A BITCH!!!!

- Oi.... Karin... - I said mad.

- Huh? - she said.

- GET OFF OF SASUKE! - I said pulling her off of him.

Then Sasuke putted his hand on my shoulder and whispered so only I could hear him.

- You don't need to be jealous beautiful.

- Tch! I said looking the other way.

- Fellow Hokage! As we stand atop the Great Stone Faces that have watched over Konoha... let us burn this sight of the village into our memory! - the First said. Tobirama sight and touched the First shoulder and teleported them.

Then Sasuke went to Otou-san's side and said something to him that I couldn't figure it out what it was. Suddenly Otou-san punched Sasuke in the abdomen... WHAT THE!!! I went to their side and heard Otou-san say with venom.

WHAT THE!!! I went to their side and heard Otou-san say with venom

- You better not hurt her.

-I-I won't. Sasuke said.

I raised an eyebrow.

- See you soon, Hotaru. - Otou-san said to me sweetly and with a smile then he teleported himself and the Third.

- What was that?! I asked confused at Sasuke.

- Nothing to worry about... he really is worst and scarier than Kakashi. - Sasuke stated.

After that I healed his wound... wow... Otou-san was mad.......... I wonder why.

- You guys go ahead, you know where to go and what to do. - Sasuke said to the others after I healed him.

- Very well, let's go Karin, Suigetsu, Juugo. - Orochimaru said.

With that they went away.

- Nee... Sasuke...

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- Yeah?

- Why did they went ahead? - I asked curious.

- Because of this... - he said and took a deep breath.

Then....... then h................................ got on............o-one knee.....

- Hotaru... I've been keeping this for a while now. Since that mission where we fought Haku, I knew I love you and knew you were the one. You're always by my side when I need you, even when I hurt you... you always stood there by my side. Thank you beautiful... for making me smile. Beautiful... maybe this is not the best time or place to do this but... would you make me even happier and become my wife? - Sasuke said.

I was speechless and a crying mess, all I could do was nod but finally I managed to answer.

- Y-Yes!

He putted the ring on my finger, got up and kissed me, but this one I could tell it was different, it was so full of passion and kindness

He putted the ring on my finger, got up and kissed me, but this one I could tell it was different, it was so full of passion and kindness... love.

We stopped and he cleaned my tears, then I remembered something.

- Nee... why did Otou-san punch you?

- Well... since he was here... I-I thought that I should ask him if I could marry you, well and then that happened. - Sasuke said.

- Gomen... but you know... you still have to tell Kakashi. - I said sweetly.

- Please don't remind me of that. I'm sure I'm gonna get punched again. It's worth it tough. - he said looking at my finger that had the ring on. Then he kissed my forehead.

- I love you. I said happy.

- I love you too beautiful. Now, let's get going. We're already behind. - Sasuke said grabbing my hand.

- Hai! I'll make us get there in a blink of an eye! - I said happily and he smirked.

- Ready Kurama?

- Ready kid. Congratulations by the way.

I smiled.

- Thank you! Nee... do you think we can use that?

- What I told you?

- Yeah... it might be useful here.

- Sure! I want to bite Madara's head off.

I sweat drop.

- Hai, hai. Let's go then!

I teleported me and Sasuke.

We were now in front of Naruto.

- You sure took your time getting here, Sasuke, Nee-chan. - Naruto said.

- Sorry we're late, a black cat crossed our path so we had to take the long way. - I said amused.

Sasuke smirked.

- S-Sasuke-kun... H-Hotaru...? - Sakura said.

Me and Sasuke turned around.

- Is that you, Sakura? - Sasuke said.

- WHY?! Sakura screamed.

- Great. - I mumbled while seeing the old teams getting together and coming our way.

- S-SASUKE-KUN! - Ino said coming towards him.

- Hey Ino! Stop! He's an enemy! - Shikamaru said stopping her.

- Hotaru! - Kiba said.

-You're all still as noisy as ever! - Sasuke said.

- Old habits die hard. - I said with a small smile.

- Why the hell are you here bastard?! And what are you doing Hotaru?! - Kiba said.

- Why are you here, Sasuke? - Sakura asked.

- A lot of things have happened. I've decided to protect Konoha. - Sasuke said.

They all looked at me waiting for me to say something or do something.

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I nodded to them.

- And then, I'll... become Hokage. - Sasuke said.

- Huh? - I said.

We all looked at him with a dumb face

We all looked at him with a dumb face.

I slapped his head.

- WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SAYING?! - I asked and he just smirked.

- WHAT?! Sakura said shocked.

- You can't just come back all of sudden and crack a lame joke like that, you Rogue Ninja! Do you even know what it means to be Hokage? - Kiba said.

- I don't know what happened to you, but that's not possible. Do you even realize what you're saying? - Shikamaru said.

- YOU BAKA! WE CAME HERE TO HELP, NOT CAUSE MORE DRAMA! - I said pointing my finger at him.

- It doesn't matter what you guys think of me. I will become Hokage and change the village. - Sasuke said.

I sighed and looked at Naruto who was getting up and he nodded... well then... I leave him to you... Nii-san.

Then I remembered.

- Nee, Nii-san! - I said singing.

- Huh? - he said confused.

- I won. - I said with a devilish grin.

-I said with a devilish grin

- HEEEEE!!! - Naruto said.

I laughed.

Then I heard Hinata say.

- Kiba... what's wrong?

When I looked at my side Sasuke was being punched by Kiba and then after that he came by my side, hugged me and whispered.

- I'm happy for you. Congratulations.

- So you noticed, huh? - I said quietly.

- Of course! I'm your bestfriend. - he said.

- Thank you. - I said and we stopped hugging and Sasuke came to my side.

- Strike 2. Don't forget you still have Kakashi. - I said with a smile and he sighed.

- I'm going to be Hokage, dattebayo! - Naruto said.

- I'm glad there's so much interest in becoming Hokage... but you guys are taking too much time! Let's take down 10 Tails with an all-out attack! - the First Hokage said.

- Sakura-chan, thanks for healing me! Nee-chan... thank you for everything you've done so far. It's your turn to get some rest. Let's go Sasuke! - Naruto said.

Then I froze... I zoned out...

Did they just left me... BEHIND?! AFTER ALL I HAVE DONE?!

I notice Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke were on the heads of their Summons.

Then Sakura said with a smirk.

- Hotaru, just rest.

I AM SHOOK!!!!

- Kurama! I want to do that!

He smirked.

- Go for it brat!

I smirked.

I bite my thumb and did the hand signs and then said.

- Kuchiyose no Jutsu!

I had already activated Kurama's eyes and the Mangekyou Sharingan.

There was now a cloud of smoke and nobody could see what I summoned, but soon the smoke fed away.

- HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE?!?!?!?!?!?! - Naruto said.