3rd Person POV:

"Well...if Iguro refuses to join....I will simply force them." Pein spoke, emphasising your discarded surname, narrowing his eyes dangerously at Naruto's remark.

This causes Naruto to slightly growl in anger, as his hairs on his neck shiver.

They began to fight.

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Y/n's POV:

Since Naruto was fighting Pein, Itachi and I were helping people that were still alive escape and get to safety.

Suddenly you hear someone shout out loud, "ITACHI!! THAT DISGUISE IS PATHETIC-"

It was Shisui, Itachi's cousin and partner in crime. Itachi gained a slight tick-mark at Shisui's sudden insult.

"My disguise is perfectly fine! Nobody has found out...Why aren't you surprised i'm alive?..." Itachi Irked at his idiot cousin, tilting his head slightly.

"I am surprised! It was only just a slight hunch. I'm surprised you're in Konoha of all places, too..." Shisui shrugs, "Oh, Iguro! Hello!" He adds, with a grin.

You nod in acknowledgement, "You can just call me Y/n L/n. I dislike my original surname..." You state, as you observed the two cousins.

"You should also henge into a disguise, Shisui. People will freak out if they see you." You explained to the missing ninja with a deadpan.

"Oh yeah.." Shisui sweatdropped, as he changed his appearance.

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3rd Person POV:

Naruto was pinned to the ground, poles going through his body to keep him still and in his place.

"W...Why are you doing this?!" Naruto yelled at the ginger.

Pein crouched down to face Naruto, explaining how nobody was there to help him when he was struggling.

All of this fight that Pein was doing was actually for peace and justice.

What about his family? His friends? His village? They suffered at the same fate as Konoha due to the hands of the hidden leaf ninjas; the same people who preach about peace and justice.

Konoha wasn't as perfect as some wish it would be. The world is not truly black and white, but instead grey.

But that is what life is; cruel.

Pein then proceeded to compare both Naruto and his goals; the peace that Jiraiya envisioned. Both are motivated by their desires for peace and justice.

The justice Pein delivered against the leaf village truly isn't different from what Naruto was trying to do Pein, in some sense.

Everyone feels the same pain in losing something dear; and everyone has at least felt that once in their life. Naruto has, and Pein states that.

They are both just striving for their own versions of justice.

"This shinobi world of ours is ruled by hatred, and hatred alone....So, Naruto...How would you confront this hatred in order to create peace?" Pein finished his speech.

"I want to know what your answer is." He stated, staring into Naruto's eyes and observing the blonde's reaction.

"I don't know." Naruto admits, after a long pause, "I don't have an answer." He muttered, taking in the male's words.

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"I guess I'll be taking you now..." Pein bluntly said, about to kill Naruto.

Suddenly, Y/n arrives; standing in front of Naruto's body in a defensive manner.

"Y/N!" Itachi and Shisui both yell under their disguises, as they both noticed where Y/n had run over to.

"Akira. Make sure those two don't come closer. Pein is strong, and will instantly notice who they are." Y/n furrowed their eyebrows.

"I can do that, don't worry." Akira agreed.

All your other Konoha friends also seemed shocked, quickly noticing what you were doing.

"How cruel." Y/n bluntly scowled, "Restricting Naruto's movements?"

"Y/n Iguro." Pein spoke, narrowing his eyes slightly at you as he nodded in slight greeting, "How amusing to see you here."

"Why'd you come out here?!" Naruto shouts at you, "Get away from here, you're no match-"

"I know." Y/n tilted their head, confusing everyone, "I'm being selfish, okay? Like you told me many years ago; to do what I want to do and to be selfish about it."

"What are you talking about?!" Naruto glares at you slightly, "Don't put yourself in danger like this! That was different!!"

"I'm here because I want to be." You bluntly said, still not looking at Naruto.

Naruto stares at you in slight shock.

"You are always the one who's helping me..." Y/n admitted, "You helped me find my way in life and showed me the correct path. You showed me my reason to live when we were younger and first met."

"I've always been ready to die." You stated, "After all, Akira would just reincarnate me, despite my wishes for her not to..." You bitterly thought, irking a little.

Naruto narrowed his eyes, nervously sweating, "They've always been ready to...die...?"

You withdraw your sword as you hold it tightly, ready to fight and protect Naruto with your life.

Pein gets a pole ready in his hand, prepared to stab you with it, "You should join the Akatsuki, Y/n Iguro."

You began to glare, veins bulging out of your skull.

Suddenly, Y/n sliced off one of the poles that were going through Naruto with their sword, catching everyone off guard.

"No thank you. Your Akatsuki group seems weird." Y/n stated.

Pein narrowed his eyes at you, "Then I'll force you."

You quickly go to slice another pole, but were pushed back by a sudden large and powerful gush of wind. You were flung back, and harshly hit the ground.

"What...strange abilities." Y/n blinked, irking a little.

Pein's palm was held out and facing you, indicating he was the one who attacked you.

Y/n got back up, and ran towards Naruto again in an attempt to try and rush in and quickly slice off another pole.

Pein quickly realised what you were trying to do, and used his powers to throw you way up into the air.

"Y/n!" Naruto shouts, as Y/n falls to the ground.

Blood was coming from your head now, as you quickly composed yourself and stood up.

Pein moved in front of Naruto so you couldn't try and help him again or let him escape.

"I can't get near Naruto..." Y/n irked, glaring at Pein with narrowed eyes, "I must do something..."

Y/n closed their eyes as they gripped onto their sword, positioning themselves to attack.

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"First Form: Winding Serpent Slash"

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Shock was evident on both Naruto and Pein's faces as a singular frontal horizontal slash was aimed towards Pein in a winding motion.

Caught off guard, Pein was only barely able to dodge.

"You truly are...an Iguro..." Pein manages to speak up, as Naruto had a stunned expression.

Y/n frowned slightly, tilting their head, "Although I despise being an Iguro...I unfortunately cannot change my DNA..."

Using this time to your advantage, you quickly used another attack to surprise him.

"Second Form: Venom Fangs of the Narrow Head"

Y/n quickly dashed behind Pein at a blinding speed and aimed to slice off Pein's head from behind.

Pein only barely manages to dodge your extremely fast attack, his neck gaining a large cut on it, but not deep enough to fatally injure him.

Pein was utterly stunned by this, and froze for a split second, which you used to your advantage.

"Now's my chance..." Y/n narrowed their eyes, as they managed to cut another pole from Naruto's body.

Naruto slightly smiled at this, "Good job, Y/n!!"

Pein's eyes widened in surprise, "That attack they just did was simply just a distraction...?!"

"One more time..." Y/n furrowed their eyebrows.

Pein quickly composes himself and puts him palm out, using his powers once again.

Y/n's eyes widened an inch, as they got thrown into the air. In your shock, you accidentally dropped your sword right in front of Naruto as you got thrown.

Naruto stares at you with wide eyes, as he also glanced at your blood-covered sword.

It was mainly your blood, as well...

"Y/N!" Naruto yells in a panicked tone.

As you fell, a loud thud was heard when your body collided with the ground.

Your forehead was drenched in your blood from the fall, as you stumbled to get back up.

"Y/N!" Naruto shouts over at you in concern, "STOP TRYING TO HELP ME! RUN AWAY!!"

The onlookers were also watching in concern.

"How...cruel." You bluntly said to Pein, as your stoic expression was contradicted by the veins popping out of your head.

Pein stares at you, emotionlessly, "Cruel?...I am only punishing you for your bold actions." He stated.

Y/n glared, as they tried to attack again, "Fifth For-"

You got cut off from your attack, as Pein threw you again.

"Stop..." Naruto stuttered, watching you, "Hurt me, not Y/n...!!" Naruto begged.

Pein ignored Naruto, "So, Y/n Iguro...Will you join the Akatsuki?"

You sneered at him, "Even if you asked a million times, I would refuse..." Y/n hissed.

"Fine, then..." Pein frowned, "I'll have to kill them...Even if Tobi doesn't want me to; I have to do this. The risk of having them alive is too much..."

Pein faces his palm towards Y/n, "Say goodbye. If you are of no use to the Akatsuki, then you must die."

You irk, gritting your teeth, "I can't win this fight...can I?"

"Even if you died, it wouldn't matter...I'd bring you back in a few years, nonetheless." Akira carelessly stated.

Y/n irked, fury clear on their face, "You...-"

"You are talking to your beast, aren't you?" Pein whispered into your ear so Naruto couldn't hear.

Y/n instantly tensed, "Kill yourself." You bluntly told Pein.

"Y/n!!" Naruto yells, "He's going to kill you, don't say that!!"

Pein now had a pissed off expression, as he finally cracked, "I'll kill you, Iguro."

"Do it." You tilt your head, your eyes staring menacingly into his.

Naruto glared at you, "Stop it!! Stop, Y/n!"

Pein tensed slightly at your terrifying gaze before relaxing, "Of course..."

He flung you into the air, as Naruto began to scream in utter fear and horror.

"What the hell are you doing, Y/n!? You...idiot!! You're going to die!!" Akira yelled.

"So...?" Y/n deadpanned slightly, as they were being held in the air.

Akira hissed, "You always try to kill yourself...! Why?! I'm just trying to protect you, you know?!"

"I've always wanted to just die...Yet you, despite my wishes, keep bringing me back!!" You irked in utter frustration.

Before Akira could reply, you fell to the ground; close to where Naruto was.

Y/n slowly looked up to where Naruto was, and met his gaze. His eyes were shocked and horrified.

Blood trailed after you, as you stumbled in front of him.

Naruto could only watch you, as tears brimmed his eyes, "What...What is wrong with you?! Why!!-"

"Shut up...Just let me be without a guilty conscience of leaving you behind..." Y/n bluntly spoke, as Naruto glared at your words. You were dying, and were telling him such insensitive words...?!

Naruto closed his eyes, and looked down, not wanting to look at you and witness your body which was drenched in blood.

Pein observed the duo, "I don't understand..." He murmured, "Why are you trying so hard to protect him?"

"....He's my friend..." You hesitantly stated, as Naruto froze slightly.

"Why would you fight me, knowing that you'd die...?" Pein questioned, frowning slightly.

"I stand by what I said...." Y/n spoke with narrowed eyes, "He's my...friend."

You turn to Naruto, meeting his gaze, "Good luck, you idiot..."

Naruto stares at you; eyes widened and mouth gaped.

Suddenly Y/n was thrown upwards at a rapid speed.

Naruto's eyes followed your figure in horror as Pein dropped you to the ground harshly.

Naruto was unblinking as he stared at your unconscious body.

Pein then grabs a pole. He stabs Y/n through the dusty and foggy air, as blood splatters everywhere.

"It was just like this..." Pein spoke, as he stared at your lifeless and bloodied up body with a poker face, "My parents were killed before my very eyes. By ninja from the Hidden Leaf. Out of love, sacrifice is born...Hate is born. And we are able to know pain."

Naruto's eyes dilated instantly as the realisation dawned upon him.

His best friend.

His closest friend...

His crush.

Was now dead.

And it was all his fault.

TBC...