"What the fuck is that god-damned thing?!" screamed one of the shinobi of the illustrious ninja village of Konoha as he stared in awe at the massive thing that was slowly crawling its way towards their village.
"I don't know but we have to hold it off, distract it somehow until the Fourth can get here!" screamed another seconds before he was frozen by a white mist.
The creature was horrifying. It seemed as though a being of solid death had come into the world inside the Land of Fire's forests. Everywhere that fell into its shadow life ceased to exist and like a hellish tide it was advancing on the shores of Konoha's gates.
The beast stood twice as tall as the Kyubi even though it was still crouched down. It had huge clawed feet that caused the earth to crack and spew forth lava and fire like a volcano whenever it took a step. It had four mighty arms the more human like pair of the set were held above it in a sort of prayer sign as though praying to Kami for another wave of nin to come so that it could crush them. The larger two arms where long and thin and ended with beastly claws that where three times as large as the other arms "hands." Everything that passed under its hands was instantly destroyed leaving nothing but a thick black mist behind.
Its body was thickly muscled on its thick shoulders sat six zigzagging spikes that fired jets of black lightning that was serving as a horrible shield of death serving to finish anyone foolish enough to actually take the creature on face to face. Finally in the center of its chest the creatures head just seemed to bulge out. It's facial features would have been amusing had it been another situation as it where they seemed to have been carved in by a child who mistook the beast for a pumpkin. Its eyes where both glowing bright red and where perfectly rounded. Its mouth glowed the same red as its eyes and looked had drawn it on in about six seconds with its teeth being connected to its face and being nothing more than sort of zigzags. Out of its mouth came a cloud of icy air that caused hail as it passed over the land.
It had been a sight to behold when not three minutes before when it had exited a hole of what had seemingly been nothingness and engaged the Kyubi in combat.
It had been a glorious sight when it had eaten the foxes chakra before ripping the demon in half one and a half minutes ago. It had seemed to the people of Konoha that Kami had smiled on them and sent them an angel.
That joy was not to last as it had laid into Konoha's ranks thirty seconds later.
Now all hope seemed lost as the few surviving ninja were ordered to retreat back to Konoha lest they be killed as well.
The creature made a loud gurgling noise before it began sucking in air and chakra while moving the previously stationary hands in front of its mouth and cupping them around it. Everyone looked on in apprehension as the symbol for End appeared in white between the hands. The looks changed back to horror as a beam of dazzling white light shot out of the things mouth and seconds later wiped out almost an entire fourth of Konoha.
"We're doomed!" wailed an armless chunnin as the beast began inhaling again.
"I think not." said a jounin with a shock of white hair as suddenly Konoha's last hope appeared on the scene with the frog boss Gamabunta. "The fourth has come we're saved!" he yelled causing all the people in Konoha to cheer thunderously.
- - -- - --
'If only they knew what they were cheering for." thought the young Hokage sadly as he flashed through the many hand seals needed for him to complete his final jutsu. "I'm sorry I can't be there for you Naruto." he said to the bundle sitting beside him on the frog boss's head. "But hey look at it this way you'll have so many other dads in Konoha you won't ever need to worry!" he added jokingly as he hit the last hand seal. "See ya Naruto Gamabunta! Shiki Fujin!"
- - - - - - - - -
That was the beginning. The beginning of the legend of a boy named Naruto Uzumaki and of the beast as old as time itself. Sacath.
----- ---- ---
Darkness Within
Konoha 4 years later
'Four years ago the mighty ninja village of Konoha found itself under siege by the mightiest of the tailed beasts Kyubi. Suddenly as the great creature tore through Konoha's ranks and all hope seemed lost a portal of darkness opened and from within it stepped a beast that would go down in history as the most destructive force ever to exist. They called it The Harbinger of Nothing. It was named thusly as wherever it walked nothing could live. Quickly it destroyed the Kyubi and assimilated the demons chakra with its own before turning it's sights on Konoha. The ninja of the village tried valiantly to stop the beast from destroying their home but in the end all seemed lost. Finally after the beast unleashed a mighty blast that sent hundreds to their graves the Yondaime Hokage appeared on the scene and at the cost of his own life vanquished the beast to oblivion.'
"Cool." whispered Uzumaki Naruto closing the book he had recently stolen from Konoha's library. He was a small child for his age stemming from the fact that he could never get a decent meal anywhere unless he was with the elderly Third Hokage. He had blonde hair and brilliant blue eyes that held a sort of warmth and loving for anyone who passed him even though he was constantly shunned by the village populace. How could he hate them after all if he was to grow up and protect them like his hero the Yondaime had? He was clothed in a raggedy old orange tracksuit which was all he could afford seeing as how prices skyrocketed whenever he entered a store.
His most outstanding feature however was the birthmark in the center of his forehead the look exactly like the Kanji for End.
Currently the young Hokage wannabe was sitting in an old alleyway with loads of mold all over the wall and knocked over trashcans everywhere reading the book "History of Konoha: A guide to the past brought to you by Hiro Sabanake" and daydreaming about becoming as great if not greater than the Yondaime. He was knocked out of his reverie however when suddenly he heard a trashcan get knocked over.
"Lookie here!" slurred an older bearded man wearing a worn stained vest that Naruto recognized as signifying that this man was a high ranking ninja. What had it been… joninny? Jouni? Whatever it didn't matter now, all that mattered to Naruto was the fact that this man was obviously drunk and was looking at him with hate filled eyes. "Ya know you caused us a lot of fucking trouble freak." the man said stumbling forwards. "A-and I'm gonna pay you back for it by cutting ya up real slow Harbinger!" Fishing around in his pockets he grinned as he pulled forth a nasty looking curved kunai and brandished it at Naruto. "When ya get ta hell tell the fox Sirus said hi!" dashing forward he yelped as he was knocked back by an ANBU wearing a beaver mask that leaped from the building above.
"What do you want?!" yelled the ninja stumbling back onto his feet. "What're ya doin protecting that thing doncha know who he is?" he questioned squinting his blood shot eyes at the masked nin in front of him.
"I do and I'm afraid I can't let you hurt him." said the ANBU before drawing his own kunai and spinning to face Naruto. "You're drunk and I'm afraid you might not finish the job properly." he said before pinning Naruto to the wall by his hands and feet with the kunai causing blood to squirt all over the men.
"Pft, just make sure you make him pay back in full." said Sirus pulling a bottle of sake out of his jacket and taking a swig while Naruto screamed bloody murder on the while the book lay bloody and forgotten to the side.
"You don't need to worry about that." said the Anbu grinning maliciously behind his mask before he started to saw off the skin on Naruto's arms.
"Stop please, please!" pleaded Naruto causing the men to laugh coldly.
"What's the matter Harbinger?" asked Sirus throwing the bottle at Naruto's face where it shattered into the boys eyes causing him to go blind.
Naruto opened his mouth to scream only to find he couldn't. He felt it, his vocal cords had been ripped out and where hanging limp down his neck. 'I don't want to die!' the boy yelled mentally. 'Why are they doing this? Am I evil and why do they call me Harbinger? Unless…'
Naruto was saved at that moment by the cold bliss of unconsciousness.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Have I died?" whimpered Naruto as he awoke and found himself floating in an ocean of glowing black water. "Is this hell then? Is this where my torture for those people I killed as the Harbinger continues?" he questioned the nothingness.
"THE VESSEL? THE HARBINGER? NOT LIKELY!" said a shrill hissing voice from behind him. Spinning Naruto could only look in awe at the nightmarish creature before him. "AND IT'S NOT CALLED THE HARBINGER IT IS CALLED SACATH!" it added angrily. The nightmarish creature looked pointedly at Naruto before snickering lightly. "DOES THE LITTLE HUMAN THING NOT KNOW WHAT I AM?" it asked opening it's jagged mouth.
"You1 You're the Harbinger!" screamed Naruto knowing immediately that he could in no way be even related to the demon in front of him. "But you're dead!"
"IT CANNOT DIE!" the creature screamed. "IT DOES NOT EVEN LIVE! ALL IT DOES IS DESTROY." pausing for a moment and looking at the look of sheer horror on Naruto's face it slowly began to laugh. Not the evil cold laugh of before but rather a strangely warm laugh. "IT IS SORRY VESSEL BUT OLD HABITS DO NOT LEAVE IT EASILY." seeing the confused look on Naruto's face it gurgled a little in happiness. "IF THE LITTLE ORANGE VESSEL WILL LET IT EXPLAIN. YOUR HERO THING DID NOT KILL IT FOR IT IS TO STRONG TO BE SIMPLY KILLED."
"Who exactly is IT?" asked Naruto angrily. This creature was confusing the hell out of him and if there was one thing Naruto hated yet happened a lot it was being confused.
"IT IS US!" said the creature using a mighty claw to point to itself. "AND THE VESSEL SHOULD NOT INTERUPT IT ANYMORE OR IT WILL NOT GIVE THE VESSEL ANSWERS!" seeing Naruto stiffen like a board and give it the attention it desired the great beast bobbed it's head in approval. "GOOD GOOD IT IS HAPPY NOW. AS IT SAID BEFORE IT IS TO STRONG FOR THE HERO THING TO KILL SO IT SEALED IT IN A LITTLE CHILD THING, THAT CHILD THING IS YOU VESSEL!"
"What!?" yelled Naruto tears forming in his eyes. "Why would he do that didn't he know what would happen to me? Is that why everyone hates me? Just because one man was to weak to kill you he sealed you in me and cursed me to a life of being shunned and beaten, starved and threatened!"
"CALM ITSELF THE VESSEL MUST!" screeched the Harbinger angrily. "IT CANNOT READ MINDS BUT IT THINKS THE HERO THING THOUGHT THE VESSEL WOULD BE SEEN AS ANOTHER HERO THING AND BE LOVED BY ITS HOME. BUT STUPID HUMAN THINGS ACTUALLY THINK THE VESSEL IS ME IN HUMAN FORM!" growling it muttered a few curses before continuing. "THE VESSEL SHOULD NOT DESPAIR THOUGH IT HAS FRIENDS IN GOOD PLACES AND ITS POWER TO HELP IT."
"What do you mean?" sniffed Naruto wiping away his tears. "And why should I trust you?! You blew away our village and are the main reason I'm shunned. And don't give me some crap about how some freak killed your family and put a genjutsu on you to make you attack us! Nothing is that damned strong."
"THE VESSEL IS RIGHT IT HAD NO REAL REASON TO ATTACK THE PUNY VILLAGE OTHER THAN IT WAS BORED AND THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY." the Harbinger said bobbing its head in agreement. I mean what could possibly be strong enough to kill anything it mated with? "THE REASON THE VESSEL SHOULD TRUST IT IS BECAUSE IT MADE A DEAL WITH ONE OF THE VESSELS FRIENDS. DOES THE VESSEL KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ONE OF THE SHINIGAMIS FAVORED?"
"No why?" asked Naruto narrowing his eyes. What could the death god have to do with any of this?
"IT MEANS THAT THE SHINIGAMI HAS SEEN POTENTIAL IN THE VESSEL AND WISHES TO MAKE SURE THE VESSEL REACHES IT." said the Harbinger sagely. "THE SHINIGAMI MADE YOU ONE OF HIS FAVORED VESSEL AND SINCE IT WAS WITH HIS POWER IT WAS SEALED. HE MADE A DEAL WITH IT, IT WOULD HELP THE VESSEL AND PROTECT THE VESSEL UNTIL THE VESSEL REACHED THE VESSELS FULL POWER AND THEN IF IT DID WELL WHEN THE VESSEL DIED IT WOULD BE REBORN WITH JUST A TAD OF ITS ORIGINAL POWER." it looked off into the distance longingly for a few minutes before Naruto coughed and caught its attention.
"So what you're saying is you're going to help me in exchange for being able to come back and destroy at a latter date?" seeing it bob in confirmation. "Then I should kill myself now."
"DON'T BE STUPID VESSEL IT WILL JUST BE A STRONG NINJA THIS TIME. THE DEATH GOD DOES NOT LIKE IT THAT MUCH AND WON'T LET IT RUN WILD AGAIN. STILL IT TAKES WHAT IT CAN GET AND AGREED."
"Fine I'll accept that answer for now." said Naruto tentatively. 'I don't have any reason to not believe him right now but I'd best keep an eye on him. I've seen first hand how easy it is to lie to me.'
"Alright then you said I had friends in good places what do you mean by that?" he questioned curiously. He figured if he had the death god on his side he was set up pretty well but one could never be sure and he wanted to know who he had friends in.
"IT WILL ONLY TELL THE VESSEL IF IT STAYS SILENT THROUGH OUT ITS EXPLANATION." said Sacath. After seeing Naruto nod and cross his heart Sacath continued. "FIRSTLY THE VESSEL SHOULD KNOW THAT SINCE THE DEATH GOD NOTICED HIM MANY OF THE OTHER DARK GODS HAVE TURNED THEIR GAZES TO HIM. THE FIRST OF THESE IS THE GOD OF THE UNDERWORLD HADES. HADES WILL LIKELY PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO THE VESSEL LATER AS HE HAS MADE HIS DICIPLES PLEDGE ALLIGANCE TO THE VESSEL. ONCE THE VESSEL IS DEEMED READY THEY WILL APPEAR AND BESTOW WHATEVER HADES WISHES TO BESTOW ON THE VESSEL. NEXT THE GOD OF WEAPONRY SIGIS HAS DECIDED TO SEND YOU THE POWER TO CALL FORTH HIS ANGELS IN THE FORM OF A SCROLL THAT HE HAS SENT TO EARTH NEARBY. IT WILL TAKE ITS VESSEL THERE LATER TO RETRIEVE THE SCROLL. FINALLY THERE IS THE GOD OF OBLIVION TORAMAN WHO IS THE ONE WHO FIRST GAVE ME LIFE. HE HAS DEEMED YOU WORTHY TO HARNESS THE POWERS HE HOLDS AND GIVES TO YOU A KEY TO HIS DARK LIBRARY WHERE YOU WILL FIND SCROLLS THAT WILL TEACH YOU TO FIGHT WITH THE POWERS OF DESTRUCTION AND COLD AND EVEN A FEW THAT WILL TEACH YOU TO HARNESS MY POWER AS YOUR OWN. IN THE FUTURE THERE MAY BE OTHERS WHO CAST THEIR EYES ON THE VESSEL AND NOT ALL MAY BE FRIENDLY." looking down Sacath noted with some chagrin that Naruto was likely bursting at the rim with questions. "THE VESSEL MAY SPEAK AGAIN NOW, IT IS FINISHED."
"So these guys who favor me want me to be Hokage right?" asked Naruto salivating at the thought of a group of gods being on his side, nothing would be able to stop him then.
"IT DID NOT SAY THAT." said Sacath quickly forming what appeared to be a grin on it's face. "THE GODS ARE STRANGE THINGS AND MIGHT SIMPLY WISH YOU TO BE STRONG BUT JUST AS EASILY THEY MAY WISH YOU TO FIGHT FOR THEM IN A WAR."
"Whatever I might as well cross that bridge when I get to it." said Naruto before his eyes widened and he hung his head again. "It's not like I can become Hokage anyway, I lost my eyes and my vocal cords. By now I'm probably dead as well."
"THE VESSEL SHOULD KNOW THAT THE GODS ARE NOT THE ONLY FRIENDS IT HAS." said Sacath gurgling again while surrounding Naruto with black chakra. "AS FOR THE VESSELS EYES IT WILL LET THE VESSEL USE ITS EYES. IT WILL ALSO HEAL THE VESSELS VOICE THING. IT IS HAPPY TO SAY THAT IT HAS NO MORE TIME TO SPEAK WITH THE VESSEL AND THAT ONCE THE VESSEL IS ABLE TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL IT WILL TAKE IT TO THE LOCATION OF THE SCROLL AND THE KEY."
Almost instantly Naruto found himself staring at the back of a bandage.
- - - - - - - -- - - - -
It had been a long day for the Third Hokage. First he had been given a boatload of paperwork due to a recent string of failed missions in the Rice Country. It disturbed him greatly as all of the ninja he had sent out had been killed.
Next he had opened his desk during his free time to read his precious copy of Icha Icha Paradise only to find it gone. In it's place he had found a not from his secretary scolding him for reading such dirty materials especially during work hours.
Finally and worst of all he had been informed that Naruto was being attacked.
Before the Anbu member could finish his report the Hokage disappeared in a puff of smoke to save his surrogate grandson.
He had found him under attack by an old Harbinger veteran and a new Anbu member. One that he had tasked with guarding him, he thought furiously.
Running through hand signs he us Kawamari to transport the broken boy to his arms and at the same time incinerate the two perpetrators with a huge fireball.
"People who would try and kill an innocent child don't deserve to live." he said to nobody in particular before he scowled and took off towards the hospital. 'This shouldn't have happened.' he said looking down at Naruto, whose skin had been peeled off on his arms and legs and his eyes where bleeding so badly it was unlikely anything could save his vision. On his neck was a long deep gash that had cut his vocal cords rendering them useless as well. 'He was supposed to be a hero but all these fools do is treat him as a beast.'
He found it surprising that such a bright and sunny day could have played the backdrop to such a horrible event.
Rushing through the hospital doors he was quick to gather Naruto's sympathizers to his side to take care of the broken child in his arms, his blood a stark contrast on the old mans previously white robe and the previously white floor.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Four and a half hours later
"So what you're saying is he will never speak or see again?" asked the aged man sadly. Seeing the doctor nod he hung his head and dismissed him. "I am sorry Naruto I failed to protect you." he muttered shedding a single tears.
Staring at the boy in front of him he couldn't help but notice how innocent he looked even though he was so marred with injuries. Looking at the boys neck he knew that a scar would be soon to appear there.
Suddenly black chakra seeped from the boys navel and began rushing towards the boys throat and eyes. As soon as it reached the injury Naruto began thrashing around almost as though he was in pain and seconds later Sarutobi had called medics into the room and was by the young pranksters side.
"What's going on here?!" he demanded as the medics set about running whatever tests they had on the boy. "What is this chakra?" 'Could it be that it is intervening?"
Then just as suddenly as it had appeared the chakra dissipated leaving all the rooms occupants in a state of shock. "What happened?" asked one medic.
"Was he using it's chakra?" asked another looking expectantly at the Hokage who was rubbing his forehead as he felt a huge headache coming on.
It dissipated to joy when he heard a small raspy voice ask, "Why is there a blindfold on me?"
A/N: Tell me what you think.