Can't believe i'm publishing another story, but my inspiration is truly out of my control. So here is another story. Destiny's Intervention. I hope it it entertaining to read.
My beta, Vandenbz, corrected this. Thank him for the easier read.
"Naruto!"
"Sasuke!"
That was the yell of two boys as they locked in a titanic clash. A monstrous child with red eyes and two large hands acting as wings from his back thrust a lightning clad hand forwards. It was met by a blue orb of swirling energy wielded by a blonde haired kid currently cloaked in a red miasma of energy.
"Chidori!"
"Rasengan!"
The two attacks collided, forming a black ball of pure energy around the two. Time seemed to slow down. The two attacks were equal, but the wills of the users were not. Their eyes met. Sasuke's burned with a hatred and insane determination. Naruto's eyes softened though before closing softly in acceptance. A soft smile formed on his face before the Rasengan dissipated. The Uchiha's eyes widened before he gave a vicious grin and thrust his arm forward. The attack pierced the heart of the smiling person in front of him.
Then time seemed to restart and the two fell down, the Uchiha using the shock of when they hit the ground to drive his attack entirely through the blonde. Still though, the accepting smile didn't drop from the blonde's face. Even as the life faded from his eyes.
The Uchiha breathed deeply once the blonde became completely lifeless. He then started chuckling softly before it grew into a loud laugh. One could hear the insanity in the maniacal laugh. Even as he felt his eyes burn, he didn't stop laughing. Even when his hideous transformation receded, he didn't stop. He had done it. He had killed his best friend. Now he had the same eyes as Itachi. Now he could finally fulfill his revenge by killing his brother.
It only died down when he felt a burning on his arm. He looked down to see that a vile red chakra was leaking from Naruto like a faucet. He tried to move back, butit was too late. The red chakra literally exploded in a flash so bright that Sasuke let out a cry as his retinas were burned. He was simultaneously launched backwards with explosive power. He only came to a stop when he crashed into the stone wall of the First Hokage's feet.
He coughed up a bit of blood before looking towards where the explosion occurred with his wavering vision. Naruto's body was…gone. That was the only way to describe it. There weren't even any remnants from the explosion, no marks or burns. Only Sasuke's burned arm and failing eyesight showed that the explosion had happened.
He soon worked himself into a standing position. Grasping his burned arm, he slowly started to limp towards where he was told to find Orochimaru. He would be healed there, and then he could start training his new eyes to defeat Itachi.
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Just before explosion
The Kyuubi sighed as its cage was lit up with an otherworldly light. It didn't even try and struggle. It knew what was about to happen.
There are certain moments in life that act as crossroads for destiny. As a piece of the Juubi, a fallen god, the Kyuubi was hypersensitive to these moments. As soon as his container had engaged that blasted Uchiha in combat at the Valley of the End, he had seen these crossroads. Dozens of different options and scenarios, all resulting in different scenarios. All of them depended on his container's choices. This was a particularly surprising one. Naruto letting the Uchiha kill him.
The Kyuubi sighed in acceptance of its fate as it was engulfed in the light. It felt a single moment where it was reunited with all of its chakra. That taken by its previous containers, the Gold and Silver Brothers, the leftover chakra from its attack on Konoha, and even the Yin chakra in the Fourth. It was a blissful moment of completion before the Kyuubi simply…ceased to exist.
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Aftermath
The death of Uzumaki Naruto had many long lasting consequences. In Konoha, Senju Tsunade went through a brief depression before she decided that she would be the best Hokage she could be, since yet another one of her precious people had failed to achieve the position. She would live for them. Haruno Sakura retired as a ninja due to one teammate being killed and the other becoming a wanted criminal with a death sentence on him. Kakashi also went through a major bout of depression before he too straightened up. He would eventually succeed Tsunade as Hokage.
The tale of Uchiha Sasuke was short and bitter after Naruto's death. After being healed of his injuries by Orochimaru, Sasuke immediately started training his Mangekyou Sharingan. Unfortunately, he was unaware of the Mangekyou's side-effects. He damaged his vision too much before Orochimaru realized the issue. Even after being forbidden from using the Mangekyou, his vision worsened till it failed completely. It seemed the damage his eyes received in the explosion wasmore serious than expected. A month after killing Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke was blind. Orochimaru searched desperately for a way to heal them, but he ran out of time. Ten months later both Sasuke and Orochimaru were killed by Pein for their involvement in destroying the Kyuubi and thus ruining Akatsuki's plans.
After hearing of his brother's death, Itachi gave up on life. He placed both Uchiha Obito and Pein in Izanami, sacrificing his vision in both eyes. This also proved to be too much coupled with his disease, and he passed away right after performing the deed.
Uchiha Obito never managed to escape Izanami, unable to accept the death of Rin. Pein managed to escape three weeks after overcoming his hatred. He then met up with Jiraiya, and reformed Akatsuki. He soon led a revolution of the ninja world, just as prophesized. That is a different tale though.
This tale is about Uzumaki Naruto. A child of prophecy. A person who will decide the fate of a world. A person who destiny did not let death claim. Not yet. Not until he performed his duty.
(I simply included this to provide closure. I always agonize over what happened in the Naruto world in stories like this. So at least I gave you something to chew over.)
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In a different world entirely, a figure looked at the ground where a blonde haired child had appeared before him. The figure tilted his head in a mixture of surprise, confusion, and thought. He looked at the surrounding area briefly before wordlessly picking the unconscious child up from the floor. He then started walking with the blonde over his shoulder.
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Naruto's thoughts were muggy. He couldn't think. It felt like he was fighting through a dense cloud of darkness. After seemingly an eternity of struggling through it, he finally saw a light. Once he reached it, he felt himself gain consciousness. He slowly opened his eyes to see a star filled sky above him. His thoughts were taking a while to start up, so he just stared at the sky for several moments.
In the end, it was a voice that caused him to actually leave the daze he had been in. "So you finally awaken. Good. Now you can leave."
Naruto turned his head while still lying on the floor to look at where he was. He was currently lying in a small campsite. There was a small fire with a large log by it. On the log, a figure was sitting. The figure was a young man, with messy black hair and dark eyes. He was dressed in black robes with gold trimmings, with a large white toga over it. Around his neck was a necklace. The person didn't even look at Naruto. He just kept staring into the fire like he was seeing something in there.
Naruto sat up slowly, feeling like his body was being weighed down. He looked around again before asking, "Where am I? Who are you?"
The man immediately snapped, "We are currently in the kingdom of Stella. The nearest town is 80 miles to the southwest. Who I am doesn't matter. Now leave!"
Naruto frowned at that, and replied instinctively, "Hey, don't be such a dick. I just woke up, and have no idea what is going on."
"I don't have a choice!" the man yelled in anger. He then declared, finally looking at Naruto. The eyes Naruto had previously thought to be black were now red with a black ring surrounding them, "Being around me isn't safe." Almost immediately after he finished, he fell to the ground with a pained grunt. He seemed to be holding his stomach in pain, as if trying to hold something in.
Now Naruto was concerned. Dick this guy might be, but Naruto wasn't the type of person to not be concerned when people seem to be in pain. Naruto approached cautiously and questioned, "Hey, are you okay? Is there any way I can help?"
"Get away! Hurry! I can't control it!" the man yelled before he threw his head back and screamed.
A black wave immediately surrounded the man for a moment before exploding outwards. The grass immediately withered and turned to dust when touched by the black stuff. Naruto didn't have time to react though. The wave hit him like Orochimaru's wind jutsu, throwing him backwards.
The wave engulfed everything within a twenty meter radius. When it dissipated, everything was dead. The trees were bereft of leaves and the bark was a withered black color. There wasn't any grass anymore, leaving just brown dirt.
The person looked around before dropping his head with a sigh and stating weakly, "Nothing ever changes, does it? This is my destiny. A harbinger of death." He felt tears start leaking out of his eyes as his emotions overcame him.
"You fucking bastard! That hurt!" A voice screamed out. The man looked up with wide eyes, only to receive a punch to the cheek. He fell to the ground in an undignified pile. A hand soon grabbed his robes and pulled him upwards. He soon found himself face to face with the boy from before. Although he was slightly different. His previously blue eyes were now red, incredibly similar to his own when he used magic. He was also cloaked in a red cloak of magic. He could feel that it was corrosive from where it was touching him, although it wasn't nearly strong enough to actually harm him.
Naruto shook the seemingly catatonic person before exclaiming angrily, "Hello! I'm talking to you! What the hell was that for?"
The person finally looked at him and whispered, "You're still alive?!"
Naruto frowned and replied, "Of course. That blast of yours hurt like a bitch, but it wasn't nearly enough to put me down. Why?"
The man just muttered, still in shock, "Look around you."
Naruto raised an eyebrow before following the suggestion. Naruto finally got to see the ring of death that surrounded the duo. His eyes widened as he realized what that wave had done. His panic rose even further when he saw the red cloak coveringhim. Even more when he felt it. This was different from the Kyuubi's chakra. It was…purer somehow. It also seemed to respond to his will because it receded as soon as Naruto wanted it to. He soon managed to shake out of his shock though. He'd figure out what was up with the Kyuubi later. For now he had to deal with this guy who apparently sent out a wave of death at him.
Naruto turned back to the man who was slowly standing, while still looking at Naruto in a mixture of disbelief and awe. Naruto pointed at him and angrily demanded, "What the hell is this?"
"That is my magic," the man mumbled in response, still seemingly awed by Naruto's survival. He then added, "I can't control it."
"Magic?" Naruto asked in confusion before shaking his head to get back on topic. He pointed at the man and exclaimed, "So you just let out waves of death randomly. That's insane."
"Insane or not, that is what happens," he muttered. He now scrutinized Naruto so intensely that Naruto took a step back. The man moved too quickly though. Faster than Naruto could even see the man appeared in front of him and grasped his head. He then muttered, "Now who are you to survive my death magic?"
Naruto would have struggled if he could. Instead he was frozen in place as it felt like ice had started flowing through his veins. This man was doing something to him. Naruto knew almost instinctively he was examining his body and very soul. Naruto just had to go along with it.
The man was muttering with his eyes closed in concentration, "Interesting. Bound to a demon at birth, you were also given a great destiny…I can feel the death on you. Destiny interfered. Brought you back. Destiny is not so easy to cheat. You have to fulfill your destiny. You shall…either save the world or destroy it. Another Child of Prophecy succeeded in your world though, so it sent you here. Erased the demon and used its power to give you a source of magic. It is also why my death magic didn't affect you. Your magic protected you. You are also cursed. Magic derived from the power of a demon…I see…We did not meet by chance." He finished with that final statement and removed his hand.
Naruto immediately gasped and fell to his hands and knees. His breath came out in heavy gasps. That was…intense. It was like all his secrets were laid bare. Even those he himself didn't know.
It took a minute for Naruto to regain his composure. He then looked at the man, who was still staring at Naruto stoically, in slight fear. Stubborn and reckless he might be, but Naruto knew when he was outclassed. This man…he was even worse than Orochimaru. Than Uchiha Itachi. It was the same feeling as what standing before the Kyuubi was like. Standing before a being that was so much more powerful than you that they might as well be a god, and unlike the Kyuubi, this man wasn't trapped in a cage.
Naruto finally managed to regain enough of his bluster to demand, "What is going on?!"
The man just tilted his head while looking at Naruto before gesturing to the now dead log and miraculously still alive fire and ordered, "Sit. I'll explain."
Naruto reluctantly nodded and took a seat on the edge of the log, as far from the man as possible. He then waited for the man to start speaking. After almost five minutes of silence beside the fire, the man started.
"There are certain forces at work in each universe that are the closest things to gods in existence. They aren't able to be understood by humans though. They are utterly alien, completely unrestricted by the same rules as mankind. One of these is Destiny. There are beings who are marked by Destiny for a higher purpose. It may not always be clear or what we expect, but it is certain. You are one such person. It was prophesized before your birth that you would either bring peace or destruction to the world."
"Whoa, whoa," Naruto quickly exclaimed while crossing his arms to form an X. He then declared, "I don't believe in all that fate bullshit or whatever you want to call it."
"Fate and destiny are very different," the man claimed with a small chuckle.
"Huh? I thought they were the same thing?" Naruto asked, confused.
"They can seem so to the ignorant," the man stated, angering Naruto. He started speaking before Naruto could do anything, "The general belief among those like myself who know of these powers is that fate is the belief that every one of a person's decisions is predetermined. This is false. There are thousands of possibilities on how things can go. Destiny is very much real though. Destiny is where a single event is bound to happen. How we end up there is a result of our own decisions. In essence, we choose our paths. All these paths eventually lead to this one singular event though, with the result depending on the path you took. Your own decisions. Understand?"
"I think I do…Kinda," Naruto claimed with his face scrunched up in thought.
The man sighed slightly at his answer, but still continued, "There was actually a lie in there though. Not all paths end up at that singular event. The vast majority do, but there are certain cases where you don't end up at this event. When you die…Tell me about what the last thing you remember is."
Naruto lowered his head at that, his hair covering his eyes. He could remember clearly. He didn't want to speak, but he still found his mouth opening, "It was at the Valley of the End. Sasuke had defected to join Orochimaru. Everyone got split up by the Sound Four. In the end, I was the only one left to confront him. I-I tried to talk to him. Convince him to come back, but he just wouldn't listen. We ended up fighting. I soon tapped into the Kyuubi's chakra and he used his Curse Seal. W-We then used our finishing moves…"
"Finish!" the man ordered sternly.
Naruto took a deep breath before announcing, "I could have beat him. I could have easily drawn up more of the Kyuubi's chakra to overpower him, but I couldn't do it. I had so many thoughts running through my mind. I considered doing so many things. Finally I just…gave up."
The man stared at Naruto with surprise clear in his eyes before he spoke up, "You…let him kill you…Why?"
Naruto now stared into the fire as he thought before finally responding, "I couldn't do it. I remember the Old Man telling me. 'Never attack or turn your back on a comrade. If you do, then you are nothing more than trash.' Sasuke was a comrade. My brother in all but blood. I couldn't follow through."
"But he attacked you. He was the traitor. The trash!" the man spoke, anger entering his voice for the first time.
"Maybe," Naruto admitted. Knowing Sasuke had followed through and killed him was a deathblow to any desire to defend him. He then continued, "But that was his choice. I couldn't make it for him. All I could do was…make my own choice. Follow my own path."
The man just stared. He…couldn't understand. To follow your own convictions and ideals to such a degree. It almost seemed…inhuman. He basically let a traitor kill him, and accomplished nothing. He simply couldn't understand. He'd been hoping for death for centuries, but that was because he'd learned that life is cruel. To give one's life for an ideal simply was…alien to him.
He finally just shook his head and stared, "Well, you died. You chose one of the few paths that didn't lead to that huge event of your world. Destiny can't be cheated so easily though. You shall eventually bring peace or destruction to the world. Just no longer your own world. Destiny interfered and brought you back to life. It couldn't put you back in your own world though. Your choice led to another Child of Prophecy taking your place as a savior or destroyer. So it placed you in a different world. This one."
Naruto blinked before it finally registered. He then stood up with a disbelieving yell. He then pointed at the man and screamed, "What the hell do you mean?! You must be crazy, man!"
The man rolled his eyes and ordered, "Sit!"
Naruto acted without conscious thought to the commanding tone. He then scowled when he realized it. He quickly snapped, "Still think you are crazy."
The man sighed and thought before saying, "I guess you'll have to feel for yourself the changes that Destiny made to you when sending you to this world. Reach inside of yourself and grasp the power inside."
"You mean my chakra?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Is that what the shadow of the energy I detected on you is called in your world?" the man asked before shaking his head and adding, "Yes, call it up."
Naruto stared at him suspiciously before reaching for his chakra. He frowned when he simply didn't feel it. He put his hands in the ram seal and tried even harder. His frown grew when he still couldn't find it. Finally, he found a warm energy. He immediately pulled on it. He opened his eyes in surprise when he felt the energy expand out of his control. He then yelped when he saw that he was surrounded by the Kyuubi's purer energy. He was about to will it away when his eyes widened in surprise. This felt different. Even more than it being purer than before.
"That is magic. The energy of this world. It is comparable to your 'chakra.'" the man explained.
"What are you talking about? This is just the Kyuubi's chakra. It just feels…different than usual," Naruto claimed defensively.
"Is that the demon you were bonded to?" the man asked. Naruto hesitantly nodded, so the man continued, "It's gone. I felt its shadow. Very powerful beast. Even I would be hesitant about fighting it. Destiny erased it though. Used its power to give you magic."
"The Kyuubi can't be gone. It is immortal," Naruto quickly argued.
The man immediately snorted and replied, "Immortality is a lie. I know this particularly well. Something may be hard to kill or be unaffected by time, but anything can die. The proper circumstances and conditions just have to be fulfilled. This 'Kyuubi' is gone. The bond created between the two of you at your birth is gone. Some part of you must already have sensed this. A bond like that doesn't disappear without being noticed."
The Kyuubi is gone. That caused Naruto to stumble backwards before sitting back down on the log in a daze. The Kyuubi is gone. The man is right. The Kyuubi is gone.Naruto simply knew that it was the truth. The Kyuubi is gone. He just didn't know how to react. The Kyuubi is gone. Naruto had accepted the fact that the Kyuubi would always be with him. The Kyuubi is gone. That he would die without the Kyuubi being sealed in him. The Kyuubi is gone. The knowledge that he was now free of the burden that had plagued him his entire life was…simply mind-blowing. The Kyuubi is gone. Despite all the trouble it had caused him, the Kyuubi had been the one constant in his life. The Kyuubi is gone. Naruto simply didn't know how to take this news. The Kyuubi is gone. It was truly a life altering event for him…The Kyuubi is gone.
Naruto had no idea how long he sat there taking in this knowledge, or how long he would have sat there if the man didn't finally snap him out of it. The man had apparently grown tired of waiting and spoke up, "So you now understand. This isn't your world. You have been sent here to fulfill a task."
Naruto looked at him blankly before shaking his head and asking with a bit more self-awareness than before, "…Say I believe you, which I don't. I find this destiny talk to be a bunch of crap. What 'task' do I have to fulfill?"
The man now looked at Naruto intensely before announcing, "I don't believe our meeting was by chance. No. I believe your task, the results of which shall either save or destroy this world…is to kill me."
Naruto just blinked in utter confusion before asking, "Why?"
The man sighed before poking the fire and explaining, "My name is…Zeref. I am likely the greatest threat to this world."
Naruto scratched his head and looked Zeref up and down before commenting bluntly, "No offense dude, but I don't see it."
Zeref chuckled before claiming, "Yes, I am not exactly intimidating in my current state, but the potential for chaos and death contained within my body and psyche is at a level that hasn't been seen in centuries." Naruto just stared, disbelieving. Zeref sighed and then muttered, "I see you need a better explanation. Sit down then as I explain to you the tale of Zeref, the most evil and powerful mage to ever exist. The tale that has long since been lost to the ages."
"I was born over four hundred years ago. This world was far more unstable and dangerous back then. When I was twelve, the town where I lived was slaughtered by a large group of rogue mages. I…was the only survivor. I did not come out unscathed though. That much death can warp and twist the world. I was cursed with terrible powers. Powers over life and death. My abilities have since been referred to as the Black Arts. My death magic is what you saw earlier."
"With such great and terrible powers at my fingertips and the trauma of the massacre still present…I fell to darkness. I mastered my powers and brought an age of darkness to the world. I ruled with an iron fist, creating demons and slaughtering those who opposed me without mercy. In a way I brought order and peace to the world, but it was a peace saturated with the blood of my opponents. I eventually went a step too far. I mastered my powers to such a degree that I lifted the grasp of time and death off of myself. I achieved a form of immortality. This was the final straw for the people I ruled over. Hundreds of mages came together and sacrificed their lives in order to defeat me the only way they could. Even with the world aligned against me, they couldn't kill me. So they sealed me. Locking me away for all eternity."
"They underestimated my power though. Less than a century later, I managed to break free…partly. My darkness, my hatred was still sealed for a time. During that time, I managed to regain my humanity. My light. So that when my darkness was unsealed, I still retained control of myself…It will not last though. Eventually, my darkness shall once again surface, and a new age of darkness shall once again cover this world. Even worse than before. To prevent this…you must kill me."
"Whoa, whoa!" Naruto exclaimed while waving his hands before continuing, "What do you mean. I get that you were a bad guy and all, but why not just make up for it? Repent for your sins and all that stuff?"
Zeref's eyes were clouded with emotion and he answered, "Impossible. You saw what happens around me. My death magic is out of control. I am a danger to all those around me, which is why I have spent the last three centuries in seclusion. There is a different danger as well. Time still affects me, even if not physically. It wears on me, punishing me for my temerity in defying it. A human is not supposed to live this long. My reason. My logic. My very sanity wears thin. Eventually it will change me. My darkness shall once again surface when my compassion withers from time, and a new age of darkness shall once again cover this world. Even worse than before. To prevent this, someone must rise to the task of killing me."
"And I'm supposed to be this person? I know I'm awesome, but come on. There have to be some powerful people in this world who can do it instead. You can also just kill yourself, even if that is a really sucky way to go," Naruto exclaimed uneasily.
Zeref shook his head before claiming stoically, "You think I haven't thought of that? No, it isn't possible. My immortality prevents it. While I can be killed, there hasn't been one that has reached a level where they can defeat my immortality. I am even immune to my own death magic when it is cast by myself, the only thing that could possibly kill someone like me. One who wields the power of a dragon might be able to accomplish it, but the chance of one strong enough arising in time is slim to none."
"Dragon?" Naruto repeated in confusion. Those things were real in this world. Holy crap! Naruto shook his head to get rid of those thoughts and asked, "Then how am I going to manage it? I'm still just a genin, my chakra is gone in place of this weird magic stuff, and now I don't even have the Kyuubi sealed in me."
Zeref looked at Naruto and announced, "I shall train you, that is how. My Black Arts aren't something that can be taught. They are a cursed power that shouldn't be in the hands of mortals. I was cursed with them, and only another cursed being can wield them. Your magic is derived from a demon who once was a piece of a fallen god. You were sacrificed at a young age to be the container of evil. You too are cursed. You are the only other being I have encountered who has the potential to learn my Black Arts. I am immune to my own magic when I am the caster, but these cursed powers being wielded by another could finally end me."
"So…you'll teach me?" Naruto asked in surprise.
"Yes," Zeref answered simply.
Naruto scratched his head. He still couldn't say he understood the situation completely. He was apparently in a different world, and now someone was saying it was his destiny to kill him. There was simply too much missing for even the smartest person to truly know what the situation was like, and Naruto was far from the sharpest tool in the shed.
Finally he shrugged and pointed at Zeref before declaring, "Okay, I don't really understand what is going on, and I still call bullshit on this whole destiny stuff. What I do understand though is that you are apparently super powerful, and are willing to teach me. I don't want to be weak or anything, so if you can make me strong…then I guess that is enough for me right now."
Zeref actually chuckled. What a weird person. Basically ignoring everything he says besides that he is willing to teach him. Oh well, he'll take what he can get. He looked at Naruto and responded, "I guess that is enough for me as well, but know this. Even if you don't believe in destiny, the day shall arrive when us two clash in a battle to the death…and the fate of the world will be decided on the outcome."
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5 Years Later
"One more time, Naruto!"
Naruto breathed deeply as he bent over with his hands on his knees. He looked up weakly, looking through his sweat soaked bangs. Standing before him, Zeref was standing there imperiously. Looking down at him like he was a god observing a mortal struggle.
Naruto straightened and bared his teeth as he forced himself to gather up the required magic from his practically exhausted reserves. Once he managed to squeeze the required amount out, he concentrated on molding it. Death is absolute. Death is the end and the beginning. Only those willing to die are worthy of taking a life. There is no fear or regret. Only purpose and certainty. Master death, and use it as a weapon against those who you have judged. The final judgment.
As Naruto immersed himself in these words, black magic started to leak from his body. His eyes burned a blood red. With a final shout and push, Naruto sent a wall of the death magic forward with a yell of, "Death Blast!"
Zeref didn't move before the wall of magic that left only death in its wake. It connected with him. The only sign it having any effect was the step back he had to take to balance himself. In the end he was the only living thing left in a long stretch of land from Naruto to twenty yards behind him.
Naruto immediately fell to his hands and knees, desperately gulping air. Zeref sighed before announcing, "Good, but not good enough. Not nearly enough to overcome my immortality, but enough that it should affect all but the most powerful of magical beasts. You will have to improve the strength behind it if you ever hope to kill me with it. Your control is good though."
Naruto finally managed to recover enough to retake his feet. He quickly snarled back while glaring at Zeref, "I told you, I don't want to make it even more powerful."
The two glared at each other for several moments. This was a topic they had repeatedly fought over. While Naruto had quickly learned to use death magic, it was nowhere near as powerful as Zeref's. Only natural since Zeref had truly mastered the magic. As Naruto's death magic became stronger and stronger though, it became harder to control. By now he could only use it on a person he would have absolutely no regret about killing. The slightest hesitation or doubt would make his death magic go out of control when he called on it. If it became any stronger, then his control would waver even more. If it reached the level required to kill Zeref, his control would be so bad that his death magic might very well escape randomly like it did for Zeref. The only way to gain control at that level is to not care at all about life. When one has attachments or appreciates life, their acceptance of death decreases. Only those who accept death fully are capable of harnessing it in their magic. Naruto did not want to end up in the exact same position as Zeref. Forced to isolate himself to protect others or become a heartless killer.
This had become a common dispute between the two. Zeref was of the opinion that only death magic could kill him. Naruto instead had resolved to kill him with his other magic. Compared to his death magic, Naruto's ability with his living magic and his inborn magic style was far greater. He hoped that this would allow him to kill Zeref without reaching a level where his death magic became a danger to all those around him.
Zeref just sighed and walked away as he called back, "Wash up. I'll make dinner."
Naruto just sighed and hobbled his way over to the nearby lake. The surrounding vegetation was dead due to his workout with death magic, but the water remained remarkably clear. Naruto quickly stripped of his sweat covered clothing and waded in. He sighed in relief as the cold water started cooling down his body. Despite not doing a physical workout today, intense magic use could increase the temperature of a body. He took a few minutes to thoroughly enjoy the water and cool his body down before he started washing the sweat from his body.
When that was done, Naruto made his way over. He drew upon his recovering reserves of magic to cover his body for an instant in a cloak of red magic. It quickly disappeared though to show a completely dry Naruto. He then moved towards his clothes that he had thrown on the ground. He picked them up, his nose scrunching when he noticed the rather ripe smell of them. The red magic surrounded the clothes for several seconds before dying down to show the clothes completely clean and scent free. The sweat and impurities burned away by his magic. Naruto quickly slipped them on.
Naruto had changed greatly in the five years since arriving in this world. He had arrived a rather skinny and undeveloped twelve year old, but now he was a well formed young man of seventeen. His hair was still the bright blonde of before, but the spiky nature of it had lessened over the years. Kept about the same length as Zeref's hair, the only difference was that Naruto's was still spikier than Zeref's. Well that, and the color. His eyes were the same cerulean blue, although they turned a blood red when he used magic. The shape had sharpened somewhat though. The shape of his face had similarly sharpened, losing much of his baby fat and his jaw becoming a bit more prominent. His skin still had the same tanned skin tone that indicated how much time he spent outside. A rather large difference was in his whisker marks. Since the loss of the Kyuubi, they had grown fainter over the years. While still there, they were now faded enough that only when someone examined his face closely could they be noticed.
His body had changed the most. His height especially. Compared to the tiny 4'10" he had been when he arrived, he was now 5'11". It wasn't truly tall, but it was just enough above average that Naruto was proud of it since he had developed a small complex about his height as a child. He was clearly built to be more sturdy then tall, based on his broad shoulders and muscles. While not body builder sized, his muscles were a bit larger than someone who had a slimmer build.
Naruto's clothes were simple and efficient. He had briefly worn his orange jumpsuit and even his own version of Zeref's clothing, but had soon gone into a town to get an outfit that he was comfortable fighting and training in. A black muscle shirt covered his torso, leaving his muscled arms bare. His bottoms were a pair of dark green cargo pants, and he wore a set of black combat boots. The only two extra things he wore were a burnt orange sash around his waist for a splash of his favorite color, and the green jeweled necklace he got from Tsunade.
After stretching, Naruto headed towards where their camp was. It only took a few minutes. He arrived to see Zeref cooking. Naruto sighed and sat down on the stump beside him. Silence stretched between the two of them.
Zeref finally broke it by declaring, "The time has come, Naruto."
Naruto furrowed his eyebrows in thought for a moment before his eyes widened in realization. He gaped for a moment before demanding, "What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. The time has come for us to separate, Naruto," Zeref claimed stoically.
"But you still have so much left to teach me! You are still so much stronger than me!" Naruto argued with a pronounced frown.
"I am still far stronger than you, true. I do not have more to teach you though," Zeref explained softly. He then looked at Naruto intensely before continuing, "You have reached a point where you will progress faster on your own. Experiencing your own adventures and fighting your own battles. You must grow into your own person. While we have had disagreements over your death magic, you are still proficient in it. Your skill in living magic surpasses my own, even though you have yet to use it to create something equal to the demons I have. Your ability with your own magic is amazing as well. Now you just need experience, challenges that push you to your limit. You can't achieve that in isolation with me. So we must go our separate ways."
Naruto opened and closed his mouth several times as he thought of an argument before sighing and replying, "I guess you're right."
Zeref raised an eyebrow before commenting, "I'm surprised you aren't arguing."
"I'm not stupid. I knew this day was going to happen eventually," Naruto retorted in annoyance. He took a deep breath before admitting, "I just didn't know it was going to happen so soon. I have spent the past five years solely in your company besides several brief trips into town for supplies. I'm just a little nervous to be on my own again."
"I guess that is a reasonable worry," Zeref admitted before continuing, "Regardless, it has to happen sooner or later. Better to get it over with sooner rather than later then."
"I guess," Naruto replied with a hint of sadness in it.
"Then it is settled. Tomorrow we shall part ways," Zeref announced as the food finally finished cooking. The two spent the rest of the night in silence.
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The next morning found the two black art users moving. Naruto hadn't questioned Zeref that morning when the immortal mage had told him to follow. Since then not a word had been spoken. The two moved quickly, as two mages of their levels should. The main indication of their future course was when Naruto smelled the fresh salty smell of the ocean.
They finally stopped once they crested the edge of a rocky mountain. This displayed a clear view of the ocean, and the small port sitting on its edge. Zeref gestured with his hand before explaining, "We're currently at the north edge of Caelum. That town is called…Edium Town, if I am not mistaken or it hasn't been renamed in the time since I was last here. I want you to go down there and catch a boat to Fiore."
Naruto raised an eyebrow before repeating in a questioning tone, "Fiore?"
"Yes," Zeref answered with his eyes glazing over slightly as he elaborated, "The strings of destiny have been gathering recently. They seem to be forming over Fiore, creating many different crossroads of destiny. Many significant events shall soon happen in that country, events which will shape the future of the world. That is the best place for you."
Naruto looked at Zeref skeptically. Naruto still hadn't bought Zeref's talk of destiny over the years, not that it seemed to deter the immortal at all. Zeref seemed certain of his belief in destiny.
Naruto had been taught almost all of Zeref's skills over the years, but he still wasn't capable of sensing higher powers like Zeref claimed and acted like he was capable of. Zeref even claimed he had only gained the ability when he was over two centuries old. Almost a way of saying that he'd lived long enough that he couldn't be considered mortal anymore. Like he had ascended to something greater.
Personally, Naruto thought it was a side-effect of his fraying sanity. He had simply started growing delusional and senile. The only reason Naruto had even agreed to eventually kill Zeref was because he understood Zeref's plight. Zeref wanted to die, but there was simply no way for him to do it himself. It was almost like a never ending prison. If that meant that Naruto had to grow to a level where he could end his mentor, then so be it. It was a kindness in Naruto's opinion.
Fiore seemed just as good a place to start his own journey though. It was one of the most magically active countries. More guilds, magical creatures, and thus was one of the countries the Magic Council focused on the most. If Naruto wanted to face challenges and grow stronger, it was an ideal starting point. So Naruto nodded and replied, "Alright. Fiore seems like a good place to go to first."
"Good," Zeref stated. He then looked at Naruto intensely and added, "You need not bother looking for me. Eventually we shall meet again, when destiny wills it."
"I get it already," Naruto grunted out while rolling his eyes. Hesitating briefly, Naruto took a deep breath before looking at Zeref and exclaiming, "Since it seems like we'll be parting for a while, I guess I should get this out there…I want to thank you. I really don't know what would have happened to me or where I'd be if you hadn't helped me when I arrived. You've taught me magic, and helped me adjust to this world. So…thanks. These past five years were…nice."
Zeref looked slightly surprised at the admission, but smiled softly before replying, "It's alright. I…had fun, I guess. In all my life, you might be the closest thing to a friend I've ever had. So I thank you for that."
Naruto grinned and scratched his head in slight embarrassment. He took a breath and started walking down the mountain towards the town. Twenty feet away though he turned around partly to wave at the solitary Zeref and yelled out with a large grin, "See ya, Zeref. When we see each other again, I'll show you how much I've grown. I'll definitely help you then. It's a promise of a lifetime." He then turned back and didn't look back again.
Zeref chuckled at the declaration. He soon grasped his chest with a strained hand and whispered to no one in particular, "Grow strong quickly, Naruto. I'm not sure how much longer I can suppress my darkness. You must end me before that or I fear that it will be too late. Do not make me look down on your dead body. I think any light I have would be extinguished if that happens, and with it…the light of this world."
There it is.
Yep, Zeref. He seem like he's going to be the big bad guy in the future, so i'll be playing on that. Now Naruto is the apprentice of Zeref who is tasked with killing him. So Naruto knows both death and living magic, but he also has a third magic which i'll elaborate on next chapter. I'm still working out a few details for it.
Please do not question the whole Destiny thing. Not a really solid explanation, but it works for getting Naruto into the Fairy Tail world. And for clarification, the Kyuubi is gone. It is a nonentity in this story.
Unlike my other stories, i'm not going to say what the relationships Naruto will be having. I will only say one thing, and then you'll have to wait. Naruto will not be with Erza. She's sexy and stuff, but she is so overused just because she is a redhead like Naruto's mother. Literally half the stories in this crossover are focused on Erza. I'm not a big fan of her in the first place, and so she won't be getting any Naruto love. I'm keeping everything else a secret.
Hope you review and tell me what you like or didn't like.