Naruto : The ultimate Troublemaker

He was about to throw another rain of stakes when a vortex suddenly appeared.

"Kamui!" Kakashi cried, using his last strength to deflect Nagato's attack.

Nagato took a step back, but before he could react, Gai appeared, violently kicking him in the chest with an energy-charged blow. Nagato stepped back a few meters but grabbed Gai with a mechanical arm, piercing his throat. Gai collapsed, lifeless.

Shikai, witnessing his allies' sacrifice, concentrated all his energy into a final attack.

"Phantom Toad Dragon!"

An immense entity, half-toad, half-snake, made of luminous blue-green chakra, appeared around him. It charged Nagato, breaking the black sphere of the chibaku Tensei and dispersing the chaos. The phantom dragon passed through Nagato, destroying his body from the inside. The jutsu forced Nagato's body to absorb Senjutsu.

Nagato fell to his knees, his face contorted in pain, his skin slowly turning to stone.

"So... this is how it ends..." he murmured before collapsing, dead.

The village was unrecognizable. Ruined buildings, bodies strewn on the ground, and an oppressive silence reigned over the battlefield. The only survivors were Ino, Shikamaru, Sasuke, and Naruto, severely injured and observing from a distance.

Shikai, kneeling before Nagato's corpse, reached out a trembling hand to pluck out the Rinnegan.

Ino ran towards him, her heart heavy.

"Shikai!"

He stumbled, turning to look at her.

"Take me to Naruto and Sasuke," he said, his voice weak.

Ino helped him walk, her worry evident.

"You're in critical condition. You can't keep going like this. My father is on his way with Tsunade-sama. Just wait."

Shikai stopped, looking at her with a slight smile.

"I still have one last thing to do."

Before she could respond, he gently kissed her...

In front of Naruto and Sasuke, Shikai knelt.

"Naruto... You don't have to abandon your path to follow ideologies you despise, even if it gives you an illusory hope. You have the strength to create your own path."

"Shikai-sensei... I-"

"And also... Your mother... she's still alive. I've been treating her for years. She'll probably wake up soon."

Naruto, tears in his eyes, nodded.

Shikai turned his gaze to Sasuke.

"Your brother would be proud of you."

"How do you know?" Sasuke replied, his brows furrowed.

Shikai smiled weakly.

"Because you protected Konoha while saving a friend, which was his dearest dream. And especially..."

He opened his eyes, the Rinnegan shining within.

"You'll hear it from his mouth."

He turned to Shikamaru.

"I've left some scrolls at home. They'll be useful to you." He searched his pockets and threw his lighter to Shikamaru.

Shikamaru nodded silently. He knew what was to follow was the ultimate sacrifice of one of Konoha's greatest jonins.

Shikai looked at his allies one last time and joined his hands.

"The battle has only begun. But know that I will always live in the shadow of the flame that illuminates this village."

The battle has only begun, even though I abandoned you along the way, but know that I will always be alive, in the shadow of the flame that illuminates the village. And also, protect the new generation, my disciples!

A sincere smile illuminated his face as he activated the

*Gedō: Rinne Tensei no Jutsu*.

His cracked body collapsed, but not before a flash of light brought the fallen shinobis' souls back to life, including Gai and Kakashi.

Shikai, now immobile, his hair turned white.

Silence fell over the battlefield.

Naruto rushed to Shikai, his fist clenched, his eyes overflowing with tears.

"No! NO! Shikai-sensei! Wake up!" he shouted, shaking him.

He knew deep down it was useless, but he couldn't help hoping. He struck the ground in rage.

Ino, trembling, fell to her knees beside Shikai. Tears streamed down her face, her tanto slipping from her trembling hands.

"You promised..." she murmured, unable to contain her grief. She gently touched Shikai's face, her fingers caressing his cold, hollow cheeks.

"You said we'd be together, that you'd always protect me, Sensei... Why did you leave me behind?"

She lowered her head, her forehead gently touching Shikai's.

Sasuke stood back, his dark gaze fixed on Shikai's body. His sensei's words still echoed in his mind:

He slightly averted his gaze.

"Always ready to sacrifice everything for others... Idiot."

He closed his eyes for a moment, sighing.

"But I'll always respect you for that. My brother's eternal rival."

Shikamaru approached slowly, his shoulders sagging under the weight of the tragedy. He crouched near Shikai's body, taking a cigarette from his remains.

"You've always been a complicated guy, huh?" he murmured.

He looked at the other survivors, their pain evident.

"Shikai knew it was the only way. But that doesn't make it any easier..."

He averted his gaze, trying to hide his own tears, but his voice betrayed his emotion.

He lit his lighter and left.

Ino remained on her knees, holding Shikai's hand, refusing to let go.

"I love you, Shikai..." she whispered softly.

A solemn silence settled, before an explosion occurred. Tsunade had finally arrived, but unfortunately, she was too late.