A/N: Fine, fine, fine!
Everyone wanted a serious NarutoxChaldea story so here it is! Not My Chaldea is its own beast of course, meant to be more humorous and a crack ficlet than most, but this far more serious. Oh, it'll have its moments of levity and zany brilliance of course, but I wanted to write something that served as a balance between the two; not grim and dark, yet not a crack fic either. This Naruto draws parallels to Scathach, but to say any more would delve into spoilers, so do read on~!
As far as the timeline goes, it ought to be obvious.
Now then, I proudly present to you...
...A Most Unlikely Avenger!
And YES, there's a Prisma Illya story with a Naruto/Archer variant story coming eventually too!
A Most Unlikely Berserker will be updated soon as well~!
...are you sure you're an Avenger?"
"What makes you say that, Master? Was it the eyes?"
"You're surprisingly...chipper for someone of that kind of class."
~?
Rise and Shine
What is an Avenger?
"A person who exacts punishment or inflicts harm in return for an injury or wrong."
That much is indeed true.
If one were to look the definition up in a dictionary, they would find as much. Be it vengeance in word or deed, that is the truth of an Avenger. Someone who exacts revenge for misdeeds, perceived or otherwise. Innocent or guilty. An avenger isn't necessarily evil, but neither can they be called wholly good either. I took no pleasure in the lives I took, the battles I fought...they were necessary. Not light, nor dark...but grey.
I don't know what to do with grey.
By the aforementioned logic, one could say I've avenged many. My parents. My family. My friends. In the eyes of the people I was their savior, yet also an avenger. Someone who helped to right a great wrong against the world. A young man who sealed away a goddess and thwarted a plot centuries in the making. A boy who revealed the truth to the world, knowing full well what it would cost him. An ignorant fool who, when the chips were down, went back on his word and killed his friend to survive. A coward, content to fade away into quiet anonymity.
But the truth is always stranger than fiction and fare rarely leaves us happy, I find.
In killing Sasuke on that fateful day I unknowingly cemented my name into legend. No one cursed me for it. No one blamed me for taking his life. Not even Sakura. I almost wish she had. But she didn't. Instead the world showered praise and accolades upon me and made me Hokage. They forgave me, as if a few words could simply wash away what I'd done.
"Its not your fault."
"You did what you had to."
"He was too far gone to save."
Its almost ironic, in a bitter way. The world may forgive me for what I've done. But I'll never forgive myself. How can I? I went back on my word and prospered for it. Broke my solemn vow. What kind of man does that make me? Sakura loved him. Yet scarcely three years down the road, I eventually found myself married to her. With a daughter no less. In the end I outlived them both, and all the children and grandchildren that came after them. I survived them all, the village, the ruin that came after...all of it. An endless cycle of years, stretching on into eternity.
Did the war change me somehow? Or perhaps it was Kaguya. I'm not sure anymore.
So long as humanity remains, I suspect I'll still live on, unable to die.
So I choose to smile, ever searching for a second chance...
...a chance to right the wrongs of the past...
...to mend my many mistakes...
...that...is my sole wish...
...and I will have it.
(...0o0o0...)
Could light be black?
Surely it must be so, for there could be no other description for this.
Ritsuka Fujimaru wondered if that were possible as the golden card danced in his peripherals, skittering with rainbow sparks. The young man recognized it as an Avenger at once-this was hardly his first rodeo by now-and inwardly steeled himself against the inevitable explosion that would follow. He'd had enough experience with Alters and Avengers these days to know that the latter could be infamously short-tempered when provoked, if not made outright hostile by the circumstances of their summoning. A particularly...volatile example stood out in his mind in that regard.
"Oh, what fresh hell is this?!" a harsh, irritated growl greeted him through the fading light. "Avenger?! Really?! Why not an Archer?! Who's responsible for this farce?!"
Even as Gudao took his hand from the lever and squinted into waning radiance of the summoning chamber he realized he'd made a blunder. Maybe he should've granted Mashu's request after all. He felt the sudden and powerful urge to cower behind her shield when greeted by that less-than-pleasant voice. Perhaps he should step back before-too late. Oh, dear.
Three swift steps carried the new Servant out of the haze into daylight in a blur of blackened gold. He didn't feel like an Alter, but certainly held the appearance of one. Golden eyes the color of poisoned honey glared back at him, scrutinizing him, judging him, all but assessing his worth.
All at once they narrowed.
"Wait...
Something in the young Master faltered as the full weight of that frigid gaze settled upon him.
Despair.
It rose from the Servant in palpable waves, choking, cloying, an oppressive aura of bottom guilt and grief. Here stood someone whose legend had been irreparably warped by one bad decision, a soul steeped in corruption yet grinning in bold defiance of it. A bleak pall seemed to hang over him-darker than the cloak he wore-but still those whiskered cheeks dimpled in a small sardonic smile. It felt fake. As though he were actively putting on an act in an attempt to conceal his earlier outburst.
"You, there." the Servant tilted his head, considering. "Did you summon me?"
Despite his concern Chaldea's last Master nodded.
For a brief moment Gudao glimpsed tattered orange and black rags hidden beneath a dark cloak. A faded headband bound by worn black cloth hung around the newcomer's neck, its symbol smooth and worn near-invisible by time. It made no sense. Servants were summoned in the prime of their life. At their physical peak. Yet everything about this one was...scruffy. Even his care-worn smile seemed battered and tattered, yet his shoulders still radiated a stubborn show of strength. All this transpired in the merest of moments.
Because in that precise sliver of a second, the new Servant surged forward and seized him by the collar.
"How?"
"How what?" Gudao croaked out.
"How did you summon me?" Avenger shot back, giving his shoulders a shake. "It shouldn't be possible. Tell me! Now!"
To his quiet dismay Fujimaru realized there was no anger in those golden orbs; only a quiet yearning, a burning desire to understand his situation, a poignant need to keen it was almost painful to behold. So he told him, well, everything. Slowly and carefully he raised his hands-while keeping them in full view of this twitchy Avenger!-Gudao relayed Chaldea's plight from the beginning; from the FATE system and the threat to humanity, to the singularities, even the own events of this very morning that lead to his summoning. All the while keeping it threadbare enough to keep the Servant's attention from wandering.
And at the last, Avenger released him and took a step back.
...I believe you." those keen golden orbs regarded him warily. "You're no liar, at least, and it would explain how I came to be here." at this his expression turned pensive indeed and a gloved hand rose to thumb at a whiskered cheek. "If the world ended that would mean I...died? But I don't remember dying...unless...no that doesn't make any sense...and my wish...
With an exasperated hiss, the Servant flung himself into pacing and began muttering to himself. Gudao could only look on in utter disbelief as the once hostile entity darted back and forth, visibly descending into a fit of muttering and cursing beneath a veil of irritated hissing toward himself. Under any other circumstance he might've found it funny, were it not for the pained look etched into his craggy visage. Something was genuinely disturbing the young man, though he knew not what. Still, if this continued, who knew where it might lead...
"What do I call you, then?" he asked into the silence, words echoing hollowly. "Just Avenger?"
A spike of vicious killing intent stilled the words in his throat and nearly had Fujimaru ready a Command Spell before it was quickly stifled. When next those golden eyes found his they held no emotion-no, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that he'd gone so far as to suppress said emotion from emerging in the first place. He gazed into the void lurking behind those eyes, and the void gazed back.
...Naruto." the Servant croaked at last, forcibly halting and lowering his voice with an effort of will. "That will do for now. Please don't call me that again...Master."
At this silent relinquishing of authority, Fujimaru felt a modicum of control return to him...and more than a touch of internal relief. He would've hated to sever their contract after spending that many saint quartz to pull a new Servant. Blasted black keys. Even the idea of calling down one of the few Servants they had would've strained the FATE system beyond repair. Naruto was only the seventh such Servant to answers Chaldea's call; if he'd forced a fight they'd have still more repairs to attend to.
In the end, he settled for a limpid smile and offered his hand. "Well, I'm sure we'll be glad to have you. Could you at least try to get along with the others?"
Naruto blinked.
"Other? As in Servants?As in more than one? How many are there?!"
Gudao dared a small smile in the face of his confusion. "I'm sure you're confused. Would you like a tour? Anything to eat, perhaps, while you're brought to speed?"
A small, churlish expression wrinkled Avenger's nose quickly and abruptly, like a passing storm. It almost made him look boyish. Indeed, the sudden glint in those dead eyes made the young Master sweat.
It was almost as if something had suddenly snapped back to life in Avenger, though he knew not what it might be. Regardless, those great golden orbs were suddenly fixated on him with near frightful intensity. When that hand descended again it fell upon his shoulder like a great weight, a looming guillotine that promised pain if he didn't answer true. Or something much worse. Much worse. As such, Gudao found himself completely floored by the relatively innocent inquiry that followed:
...I don't suppose you have any Ramen?"
Ritsuka actually blinked at this inquiry. "What?"
"Did I stutter, man?! Ramen! Do you have it or not?!"
A/N: BAHAHAHA! They said I wouldn't do it, but I did!
Naruto as an Alter/Avenger, but not at all the kind you'd expect. We're also going with the male Fujimaru in this route for obvious reasons. As to the pairing...well. One might thing that was obvious, but I'll keep my lips sealed for now. Madness and hilarity await!
Clearly this is going to be different from Not My Chaldea for several reasons, but I'll leave it to you to find them.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the previews.
(Previews!)
"Catch."
"What are you-eep!"
To her credit, Saber caught the ball.
Golden eyes narrowed upon him. "You do realize-
"This means war?" a ghastly grin flashed back at the alter. "Bring it!"
"Che, how annoying! And you call yourself an alter?! You're a disgrace!"
Much to Jeanne's annoyance, her fellow Avenger continued eating.
"I'm sorry, did you say something?"
...not interested, missy."
"I wasn't asking for permission."
The spear swept his feet a heartbeat later.
R&R~!
=D