Naruto: The Tale of an Otsutsuki

"Tailed beasts? Weren't they absorbed by the Ten-Tails? Why are they here again?"

"Is this war not over yet?"

"I'm completely out of strength..."

The sight of the massive tailed beasts approaching the Ninja Alliance caused unease among the ninjas who had just woken up from the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Many were still disoriented from their dreams, while others hadn't regained their strength after Kaguya had drained their chakra. Even those in good health felt exhausted from the prolonged battle.

The memory of the Ten-Tails' destructive power was fresh, and its mere association with these beasts left the ninjas on edge. Despite their overwhelming fatigue, the alliance instinctively adopted a defensive posture, ready for any threat.

Naruto, surrounded by the crowd, stood at the center alongside the Five Kage and their closest allies. Tsunade, with Sakura's help, was tending to Naruto's injuries.

"Kirito, you're back!" Naruto called out cheerfully as he spotted Kirito and the tailed beasts approaching. Recognizing no hostility from them, he waved and shouted, "We've successfully undone the Infinite Tsukuyomi!"

Kirito's eyes swept over Naruto, pausing at his missing right arm. "What happened to your hand? Didn't I already deal with Kaguya?"

Naruto scratched the back of his head with his remaining hand and laughed awkwardly. "I had to do it... to show Sasuke how I felt."

Kirito's sharp gaze quickly assessed Naruto's condition. The power of Yang that had once been in his body was gone, as was the Yin power in Sasuke. Kirito surmised that the Sage of Six Paths had reclaimed these energies after their purpose of sealing Kaguya was fulfilled.

Noticing the crude white cloth bandages covering Naruto's arm, Kirito offered, "Do you want me to help you heal it? You still have the potential to recover fully."

Naruto nodded quickly. "Thanks, but let's do it once we get back. For now, there's too much to deal with."

Kirito raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. He understood that Naruto's missing arm was a badge of honor, a symbol of his resolve and the bond he shared with Sasuke. However, as someone aiming to become Hokage, Naruto couldn't remain incomplete for long.

"Can something like that really be done?" Sakura asked in amazement, overhearing their conversation.

Generally, regrowing a lost limb was considered impossible. When she had seen Naruto and Sasuke's injuries, she had already begun mentally preparing to craft prosthetics for them.

Tsunade, however, had no doubts. She had seen Naruto's power of Yang firsthand, watching him heal her life-threatening injuries during Obito's attack. Still, she reconfirmed, "Are you certain?"

Kirito simply nodded without elaborating further.

Attention turned to the massive tailed beasts, whose sheer presence drew a larger crowd of onlookers. Kirito turned to Naruto. "These tailed beasts came here to find you."

"Find me? Why?" Naruto asked, confused.

"The Sage of Six Paths predicted that a blond boy with blue eyes would be able to communicate with and unite the tailed beasts. I believe that person is you," Kirito explained.

Shukaku, the One-Tail, stepped forward, its round body resembling Little Leopard's. "I remember you! You're the brat who sealed that stupid fox!"

Naruto blinked in surprise but responded eagerly, "You know Kurama?"

"Hah! Of course! My uncle is—"

"Shut up, you loudmouth tanuki," Nine-Tails interrupted from within Naruto. "Stop embarrassing yourself."

"What did you just say?!" Shukaku roared, his temper flaring as the other tailed beasts exchanged glances.

From the Nine-Tails' tone, the tailed beasts realized that its relationship with Naruto wasn't as antagonistic as they had assumed. This revelation piqued their curiosity, especially given the Nine-Tails' infamous hostility toward humans.

While Naruto continued his lively exchange with the tailed beasts, Tsunade and Kakashi approached Kirito. The Five Kage had already dispersed the surrounding ninjas to give Naruto and the tailed beasts privacy and ease any lingering tension.

Tsunade addressed Kirito directly. "I understand everything now. No matter what your origins may be, you'll always be my student and a part of Konoha—a comrade."

"That's right," Kakashi added with a smile. "You're one of us."

Kirito, who had revealed his true identity to Kakashi earlier, appreciated their acceptance. Though it had taken Kakashi some time to process the shocking truth, he eventually came to terms with it.

"Thank you," Kirito replied politely. "What's next for the Ninja Alliance?"

Tsunade answered, "We're confirming casualties, treating the injured, and rooting out any remaining Akatsuki members. But overall... the war is over."

She stretched her shoulders before playfully slapping Kakashi's back. "And the rest of it is your problem now."

"Yes, yes..." Kakashi sighed dramatically but smiled nonetheless.

After a brief conversation, Kirito left Tsunade and Kakashi to search for his wood clone. He found it stationed at the battlefield's temporary hospital, tirelessly tending to the wounded with advanced medical ninjutsu.

"Are you okay?" TenTen asked worriedly as Kirito returned. "You took down Kaguya on your own. You must've been injured."

Kirito smiled and pulled her into a gentle hug, flexing his arm playfully. "Not a scratch. I'm fine."

Relieved, TenTen smiled back. "Welcome home."

"Yeah," Kirito said softly. "I'm back."

Bearing the mild resentment of his wood clone for cutting its task short, Kirito tightened his embrace, grateful to finally rest.

Thus, the Fourth Great Ninja War came to an end.

(End of Chapter)