The Legend of the Kyubi

The two Uzumaki descendants were walking toward where Kurama had detected the chakra source.     

"Just a little further on," Kurama said calmly as the two arrived at the designated spot, only to see Dan, or at least what was left of him, ". . ."     

"Dan..." - mumbled Tsunade as she saw the single head of the man she loved.     

"T-Tsunade... chan..." - murmured Dan as he looked at the blonde woman with weakness.     

"Dan... is that really you?" asked Tsunade as she looked at the man.     

"Y-Yes..." - Dan replied weakly - "It's been... so long... time... and there's... so many things I want to tell you..."     

"Dan... save your strength..." - said the blonde with regret.     

"N-No... we don't have time..." - said Dan as he looked at his beloved - "Tsunade... listen... what I have to say..."     

"I-I don't have anything left..." - continued the light-haired man - "M-My soul... is completely destroyed... I... I won't be able to return to the Pure World..."     

"!" - Tsunade opened her eyes suddenly when she heard this - "NO!"     

"T-Tsunade...chan... this... this is the last time... we'll see each other..." - Dan said - "I'm-I'm sorry..."     

"No!" - exclaimed the blonde woman as she watched her former love begin to break down - "Please tell me this is a joke!"     

"I-I'm sorry... I'm really sorry Tsunade...chan..." - said Dan with a tired smile - "But I'm not kidding... my soul was shattered by Orochimaru when he controlled me..."     

". . ." - the tears of Tsunade could not be stopped as she saw Dan's sad smile - "Why... Why did things have to end like this?"     

Dan only smiled weakly as his face broke even more.     

"Dan..." - said Tsunade as he took his fallen lover's head - "I..."     

"Say no more..." - Dan said - "I just want you to promise me one thing..."     

"I will... I'll promise you anything..." - said Tsunade in tears.     

"Promise me... that you'll keep going..." - said Dan weakly as another fragment of his face turned to sand - "Promise me... that you will forget me and move on..."     

"No... it's impossible for that to happen" - denied the blonde woman.     

"Please... promise me..." - said Dan in pain - "I won't be able to leave if I'm aware that I will continue to cause you pain in spite of everything"     

". . ." - Tsunade bit her lip with regret but slowly nodded.     

"Thank you..." - murmured the man as a big smile appeared on his disfigured face - " I... love you..."     

"I love you too, Dan" - said Tsunade as she watched her beloved disappear completely - "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"     

Kurama hugged the woman, who broke down in tears as she hugged the redhead with all her might.     

"Orochimaru..." - murmured Kurama coldly as he comforted the woman.     

* * * * *     

A day had passed since the battle had ended.     

Shizune had been with Tsunade the entire time, who was completely devastated.     

Jiraiya and Pakura were worried about the blonde, though for two different reasons. Pakura because she could put herself in Tsunade's place because she too had suffered greatly, while Jiraiya, he was completely hurt by the expression of the woman he once loved."Sorry for the delay" - said Kurama as he entered the hotel.     

"Where were you?" - Jiraiya asked with a scowl.     

"I was organizing some things," answered Kurama as he sighed regretfully.     

". . ." - Jiraiya shook his head as he decided not to continue the conversation, but was surprised to see the redhead walking towards his ex-partner's room - "Where are you going?!"     

"To try to help Tsunade a bit" - answered the ginger calmly while ignoring the next questions from the Sannin.     

* * * * *     

"Dan..." - said Tsunade as she sighed with regret. She had been crying for a whole day.     

"Tsunade-sama... you have to recover" - said Shizune while holding her teacher's hand - "Dan Oji-san wouldn't like to see you like this"     

". . ." - Tsunade didn't respond, she just nodded weakly as she tried to calm down.     

"Tsunade... it's me" - said Kurama from outside the room.     

"Kurama-kun?" - Tsunade asked in surprise as she looked at the door, only to notice it open - ". . ."     

"Tsunade... I want you to come with me," said Kurama as he offered her his hand.     

". . ." - Tsunade stared at him for a few seconds but still nodded. She knew the redhead wouldn't hurt her, not with all that had happened.     

"Shizune-san... I want you to stay here," said Kurama as he looked at the woman.     

"Ok... please take care of Tsunade-sama" - said Shizune as she nodded with concern.     

"Don't worry, I don't plan on hurting her," the redhead nodded as the two of them left the room.     

* * * * *     

"Where are we going?" asked Tsunade as she continued to walk beside the redhead while holding hands.     

"Just a little longer" - answered the ginger calmly.     

". . ." - Tsunade nodded weakly as she watched them walk in the direction where Dan had taken his last breath, only to notice how the scenery changed, showing a meadow full of flowers - "!"     

The further they walked, the more beautiful the place became until the two of them reached a small grave that was being protected by a small wooden building.     

". . ." - Tsunade's tears started to flow again as she hugged the redhead with happiness because it was obvious he was the one who did all this - "Thank you..."     

Tsunade separated from his companion and walked to the grave.     

'Here lies Kato Dan, good warrior, kind fiancé, loving uncle'     

"Thank you..." - murmured Tsunade as the tears fell on the tombstone of her beloved.     

"Here..." - said Kurama as he handed her a bouquet of flowers - "I'll give you some time to sort out your thoughts"     

"Thank you" - thanked again the blond woman as she knelt in front of the tombstone next to the flowers.     

That said, Kurama disappeared from the scene, leaving Tsunade all alone.     

"Dan... there's so much I want to say to you..." - said Tsunade as she looked at the grave - "It's difficult... it hurts to know that I can never see you, even when I die and go to the Pure World"     

"Dan... you told me to go forward... but I can't do it..." - sighed the woman - "The wound is fresh and deep... it's impossible for me to get over it... even though I have people supporting me... Jiraiya... Shizune... Kurama-kun... he especially..."     

Tsunade began to tell him everything that had happened during the short time since he saw his beloved for the last time, as well as certain events that happened before all this happened.     

"I feel bad about telling you this because I still love you... but I'm starting to feel something for that boy..." - said Tsunade with regret - "He has been by my side for a short time, but he has helped me more than I could ever express..."     

"He not only helped me to try to bring closure to my past, but he is supporting me in my most painful moments" - continued the blonde woman - "That's why I feel like my heart is wavering..."     

A small silence invaded the place before the woman continued - "Tell me Dan... What should I do? Should I try to move forward and give it a chance when I recover, or close my heart?"     

The wind blew and the flower petals flew away.     

"I guess I won't be able to get an answer..." - murmured the blonde as she shook her head - "It looks like I'll have to follow my heart and hope my decision is the right one"     

"I promise to come back one day, Dan, so I can tell you the result of my answer" - the woman muttered as she took one last look at her beloved's grave - "I love you Dan... and that will never change..."     

* * * * *     

Two days had passed and the group was on its way to Konoha.     

Tsunade and Shizune had serious expressions on their faces as they drew closer to their former home.     

"It will be all right, Tsunade" - said Jiraiya as he looked at his former companion.     

Pakura, on the other hand, had conflicting emotions inside her. She never thought she would enter Konoha in this way.     

"I know... I'm just a little... confused..." - said Tsunade as she shook her head. She had lost her beloved permanently and was now returning to the place where it all began, the place that had all her memories.     

"The Uzumaki clan will support you in whatever decision you make," said Kurama as he looked at the blonde woman.     

"Thank you for your support," Tsunade nodded as she looked at the two men, "I am fine... I just need to get used to my situation and I will be back to my old self"     

"Tsunade-sama... that is good to hear it" - Shizune smiled as she hugged her teacher.     

"Hmm... not bad..." - Jiraiya murmured as his eyes glowed - "Seeing how their breasts press against each other, it's fascinating"     

". . ." - the women only looked at the Gama Sennin with neutrality.     

"Really, Ero Sennin?" - sighed the redheaded man as he took the bridge of his nose - "She's going through a tough time, and you come in and say your sexual harassment comment"     

"I'm sorry... it was something involuntary" - sighed Jiraiya - "I'm a super pervert, it's obvious that my concentration will falter when I see something like that"     

"Just keep walking, the faster we get to Konoha, the faster I can get out and take a little break," Tsunade said as she shook her head.     

"Remember, Tsunade-sama... I will always be by your side" - smiled Shizune as she gave her teacher a smile.     

"Thank you Shizune," smiled Tsunade as the five of them finally reached the gates of the Village.