This is my first story on fan fiction and my first step towards becoming a writer on this site. Considering that I'm a rookie at this I ask that any criticisms be levelled and constructive so that I may improve my style of writing for the benefit of all.
I don't expect this work to become well received by all but I am simply writing what I consider to be good so I take any recommendations to become by better by all.
Notice:
Before you start reading this fic there are some things that need to be verified in advance:
This work has an OC (original character) set as the main character.
Sakura is not in this fic, its nothing personal but I simply couldn't find a way to fit her into this story.
Naruto is female and goes by the name of Nariko.
The storyline will gradually branch away from the actual manga storyline.
The OC character will be very "different" from normal shinobi.
Some of the character may seem OCC (out of character)
The Jutsu and terms are in Romaji though the translation is next to it
This story is told from multiple view points
If any of the above completely ruins a story for you then it is advised that you do not read it at all.
Disclaimer: I do not profit from this story and the rights to Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto
Naruto: Tale of Yin and Yang
Prologue: The Sacrifice
Konohagakure no Sato (the Village Hidden in the Leaves) one of and considered by many to be the mightiest of the five great ninja villages. Many a talented shinobi has been produced by this village with the greatest believed to be Minato Namikaze the Fourth Hokage, Konoha's no Kiiroi Senko (Yellow Flash of the Leaf), and many times hero of the village.
Yet like all great heroes Minato carried a great responsibility to the village and must be willing to sacrifice everything to preserve the village's peace…
And that time seemed close. The village of Konoha was in deep turmoil and had suffered the most brutal of attacks, the mighty Kyuubi (nine tailed beast), the greatest and most terrible of the nine Biju (Tailed Beasts) had appeared and laid siege to the village unexpectedly in the dead of night. Though the village was renown for its strength even the entire armada of shinobi and kunoichi were helpless before the near immortal demon, countless ninja had selflessly given their lives in an attempt to halt the Kyuubi's rampage but despite the villages best efforts, the demon advanced inexorably towards the village.
It seemed that all hope was lost when the Fourth Hokage finally showed himself, astride his mighty summon, Gamabunta, even the Kyuubi paused its relentless assault, but the Hokage, no matter how mighty, was still a mortal being and could not compete against such a foe, the only way to stop the rampant demon was to invoke the powers of an even greater entity; Shinigami (Death God).
But like all higher beings, a price would be demanded and there is only one thing of worth a God, especially a Death God, would see in a mortal…
With a sigh Minato gazed calmly at the snarling visage of the Kyuubi, he knew that this was the only way to stop the Biju was and was fully willing to pay the price, he only wished that others did not have to suffer for what he had to do.
Below him Gamabunta squatted warily eyeing the Kyuubi, he knew what Minato was going to do and what it would entail from his summoner and was saddened that he would lose a friend that night.
"Are you sure this is the only way?" Gamabunta spoke. Minato sighed and smiled sadly down at his summon "Bunta, you know as well as I that this is the only way to stop a Biju (Tailed Beast), there is no alternative".
Gamabunta released a great breath. "Very well, do what you must, but I'm sorry that I could not be of any further help".
Minato nodded distractedly, all his concentration trained on the Kyuubi while gathering chakra for his technique.
Below them the shinobi of the leaf were tending to their wounded comrades, they all wanted to help but knew that they were of no use in this battle, all they could do was hope that the Yondaime (Fourth Hokage) could prevail in this battle as he has done so many other times.
Minato took a ragged breath when he finished the jutsu preparation, the only thing left to do was to release it but he hesitated, "Is this truly the only way" he thought "Is there nothing else I could do". Unfortunately in that moment of weakness the Kyuubi acted, gathering chakra into its massive jaws it fired its Kyubiko Imari (Nine-Tailed Menacing Ball) towards Gamabunta and Minato.
Minato barely reacted in time and frantically attempted to use a counter technique. "Futon: Tsuisutashirudo (Wind Release: Twister Shield)", a spiralling wall of air immediately materializes and blocks the Kyubiko Imari (Nine-Tailed Menacing Ball). Minato almost collapsed when he felt the force of the attack against his defence, never had he encountered such a potent technique, his shield would be overcome in only a few seconds, so, gritting his teeth, Minato began gathering chakra for a second defence.
Just as the shield of wind began to rupture Minato declared his jutsu "Futon: Guretoenkyanpumento (Wind Release: Great Encampment)" a sphere of wind encompassed the Kyubiko Imari just as it detonated.
A massive explosion filled the forest straining against the seams of air that forced it back, although Minato and Gamabunta were caught in the attack the sphere of air successfully held the radius just short of the leaf shinobi.
With a gasp Minato crawled out of Gamabunta's mouth, Gamabunta had used his tongue to quickly grab Minato and pull him into his mouth seconds before they were engulfed by the blast of malevolent chakra, it was a wonder that he was still alive though he knew he would not last much longer, pain wracked his entire body and from the feel of his chest he had sustained multiple fractures and possibly bleeding internally, his outer body was in little better shape, one leg sank to the ground useless while his body was practically smothered in blood, both his own and Gamabunta's, and he could tell he was in danger of haemorrhaging to death.
A glance a Bunta told him that the Toad Boss also suffered near fatal wounds, Bunta's entire body was blackened and shrivelled from the explosion and it appeared that the blast had dealt severe internal damage to his body as well.
Forcing himself to look around he saw the true horror the Kyuubi's attack had dealt, the surrounding forest had been completely vaporised, there was not even a hint of dust left, and a massive crater had been punched into the ground were the attack had detonated.
Minato felt tears leaking from his eyes, all of this happened because he couldn't bring himself to finish the Kyuubi, he had considered his own life above the villages and here was the price. Bunta lay in the mud, likely dead and such irreparable damage had been wreaked on the land and he himself was likely to die, whether he used the kinjutsu (Forbidden Technique) or not, it would be so easy to just give in and die...
A sudden wave of evil chakra spurred the Yondaime from his dark thoughts, he was not dead yet and the Kyuubi had to be stopped, this was his final task and so Minato forced himself to stagger to his feet and saw the Kyuubi looming over the crater of its handiwork. Clasping his hands together Minato coldly gazed at the Kyuubi, it was time.
"Shiki Fujin! (Dead Demon Consuming Seal!)"
The Kyuubi stared at the broken remains of toad and human, they were both alive which was surprising given that the Kyubiko Imari was one of its most devastating techniques it had in its arsenal, few could withstand its might.
It had no qualms against the village, it was simply bad luck that this was the chosen area, it was then when it noticed that the human had recovered to a degree, the Kyuubi wasn't worried as it was clear the human was going to die soon enough without its intervention. That was when the Kyuubi felt an odd ripple emanate from the human as though something had been summoned and that the summoning somehow distorted reality, like a stone dropped into water, the Kyuubi began to grow uneasy. Perhaps it was best it finished the mortal, just as it raised one of its nine tails to smite the broken creature, it felt a sudden stabbing pain at its heart. The Kyuubi stared in shock as a figure cloaked in white suddenly appeared before him, one of its arms had sunk into its body while passing through the humans, that was when realization hit the Kyuubi.
"That's right", the Kyuubi sharply glanced at the human, it was still torn and injured but the look it had was triumphant, "so this was you plan" the Kyuubi thought as it stared at the mortal, it appeared that as long as they were connected by that arm they could communicate on a telepathic level. "Yes, I have invoked that powers of Death itself to contain you, even your might is useless in this situation," the human answered.
At that moment Shinigami began to pull on whatever it had in its grip and slowly the Kyuubi's blood red soul began to exit its body. Seemingly unconcerned the Kyuubi continued its conversation "you must be aware of the repercussions of what you have done," the mortal gave a humourless smile "of course, my life in return for your end," the Kyuubi snorted at the fearless attitude the human had even in the grip of the Kakari no ashiato (Taker of Souls) "then you must be aware of what we will happen to us," the human gave that cold smile again "yes, whoever calls upon Shinigami shall be sacrificed along with the victim, they shall be devoured and forever forced to battle in the belly of Shinigami," the Kyuubi snorted again "Shinigmai? Is that your name for the Kakari no ashiato? Well no matter, you may believe that you have sentenced me to an eternity of doom but you are wrong. Pain, suffering, despair all those things are what I am drawn to, what I crave. Send me to whatever hell you desire it does not matter I shall flourish!" At that point the Kyuubi's soul was almost completely removed by Shinigami.
The human kept smiling "well in that case I am sorry to tell you that you are not being sentenced to hell of any kind," that caught the Kyuubi's attention "what," the human looked almost laughingly at the Kyuubi and gave a cryptic response, "Your ultimate fate will not be some burning pit nor freezing wasteland, the price for a Demon's soul is too great for a mere mortal soul to pay, no you shall live the rest of your days forced to help the village you have tried to destroy."
The Kyuubi glared but could not make sense of the humans words, how could any power force it to bow down to a small insignificant herd of hairless monkeys, to help those it would rather turn on and tear to shreds. It was then that it noticed a small stream of its essence being drawn towards the village, separating its mind, it followed the stream the Kyuubi moved along the pathway with an ever growing sense of foreboding, at last it saw the stream dip into a large construct, the Kyuubi followed and at last saw the prison it would be confined too.
It was only then that the Kyuubi began to struggle and howl, frantically attempting to prevent what was its inevitable fate, it saw the humans soul be swallowed by the Kakari no ashiato, a kinder fate as far as it was concerned. The Kyuubi was drawn ever closer to its prison as it moved past the village it tried to destroy slowly until it was forced into the abomination that was now its prison, the Kyuubi felt a seal, held tight by the power of Death, lock itself over his entry and the Kyuubi howled its despair.
The shinobi of the leaf stared in awe as the Yondaime, battered and bloodied, confronted the Kyuubi, no one was sure what happened but they were all shocked when the Kyuubi's body suddenly began rotting away, its fur was shed first while the flesh beneath began to decay at a rapid rate, all the muscles, veins, arteries and tissue were revealed and slowly they too began too rot, slowly all organic parts of the demon disappeared leaving nothing but the gleaming white bones, slowly the bones began to crumble and fall apart eventually collapsing in a massive heap on the ground and then the bones began to dissolve into a strange red aura in the vague shape of the Kyuubi, eventually even that disappeared as well.
There was silence for a minute before the shinobi, as one, cheered. The Yondaime had prevailed, the almighty Biju has been slain. No one was particularly worried when the Yondaime collapsed, dismissing it as chakra exhaustion for defeating the Kyuubi, it wasn't until they leapt down to help and congratulate the Yondaime when they realized the price that was paid to vanquish the Kyuubi…
To be Continued
Authors Notes: Like I said this is my first story so please forgive any mistakes you may see, constructive criticism is welcomed.
On an added note I'm sorry if the beginning seemed a bit dark but this was a completely serious event, hopefully the next part of the prologue will be light so until then.
