Chapter 1
Naruto and Shikamaru sat facing each other, a sheet of plane parchment spread between them, covered in various designs and words, every stroke of the brush made with full accuracy, an incomplete seal.
Naruto worked on it silently, completely focused. the others were scattered inside the hall they were staying in for the time being. Sasuke and Gaara were on the guard duty, while Kakashi and Ino checked the others for injuries. Since the day they lost sakura, their medical team had been severely understaffed. Tsunade could only do so much. Somewhere they knew that they didn't have a great chance of making it, but they couldn't lose hope, not now. Not after everyone who believed in them.
"The barrier is up," said Orochimaru as he stepped in, clearly exhausted with putting up a three-man barrier himself. it was a little funny, how the ones surviving had managed to put down all their differences and work together for what they had left. Orochimaru truly grieved over the death of Jiraiya, he had broken down into sobs in Tsunade's arms and told her how once she and Jiraiya left, he was alone. How easy it was for Danzo to fill his head with poison with no one to care about him.
Somewhere along this road to getting back their world, everyone had acknowledged Naruto as their leader, it just happened.
Obito nodded to him and took over the patrol, to check for any remaining survivors as well as the location of their enemy. He had joined their team after his fight with Naruto, as well as his momentary death and confrontation with Rin. He couldn't quite forgive himself, even if the others managed too, but this felt right. Being on the right side, with his comrades. No, maybe he will never forgive himself, but he will spend every remaining minute of his life making up for what he has done.
They would probably stay in this hideout for a few more days before they had to move again, everyone inside had to wear an invisibility seal, made by Naruto himself. It didn't quite make them invisible, but just as good. Their chakra, scent or movements were completely invisible to anyone outside their group.
"Right, it's almost done, have everyone come back inside. There's no need for anyone to remain on guard duty, I think everyone should be here," Naruto said without lifting his head. Shikamaru nodded and stood up, admiring the delicate and complicated seal for a moment before going to call the others. Within ten minutes everyone had assembled into the hall. The seal took only a few more minutes before Naruto finally stood up. Their last possible chance of winning this war was this seal that would allow them to stop things before they get worse.
A month earlier
"Naruto, I think you know we can't win this the way we are going on now, I have an idea" he heard a familiar deep voice grumble. "What is it?" Naruto mumbled distracted as he fought off a few Zetsu clones.
"We go back in time."
''Yeah that-, wait what? this is not the best time for these jokes as you may have noticed," he replied, killing of the remaining clone.
"It's a gamble, but it may be the best option we have, you have chakra from all the nine tailed beasts, and the Uchiha brat has the rinnegan, it is very likely you both can return to the past," Kurama said, voice serious. "Between you, me, and the Uchiha, we might just be able to do it."
---
They had begun working on the seal and other arrangements immediately after that. Everyone agreed that this was the best option. Right now, even if they won the war, there wouldn't be much left to celebrate. Going back and preventing things from happening was indeed an ideal situation. after much discussion Naruto and Sasuke both were mentally prepared for this, and now the seal was complete.
Both Naruto and Sasuke were at full chakra, along with Kurama. they were ready to go back.
Obito, Tsunade and Orochimaru had each given naruto a bit of their chakra, so that when they go back, they could return this chakra into the respective owners and give back their memories up till here. It was best that not many people know about the time travel, but certain figures of authority, as well as major figures of the war, were needed in order to go with their plan.
Also, chakra impressions could only be given during certain conditions. Tsunade had the strength of the hundred seals fully restored, Obito was a former Jinchuriki and could spare his chakra, and well, Orochimaru was hardly human. Two children, even if they had the memories of their older selves and the powers of the sage of six paths couldn't do everything themselves, especially not in their previous bodies.
Everything was complete, Sasuke and Naruto sat on the floor as the seal surrounded them, glowing golden from the amount of chakra it contained. No one said their goodbyes, for they would see them again. They had already talked about this, made peace with it, everyone had. Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other once, their eyes portraying their emotions before they closed them and felt a pull at the back of their mind. There were so many people they could save, Neji and Jiraiya and Itachi and Sakura and Choji and Nagato and all the jinchuriki and so many more.
They could do this, they couldn't fail, they wouldn't fail, not after everything.