Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from Naruto or the various franchises that are or maybe represented in this Fan Fiction. Ankiseth is the property of Kaos and Magnus.
AN: Would like to thank 'Kaos and Magnus' for helping get this off the ground.
- - - - - The Forbidden - - - - -
Things have not always been as we believed. Humans were not as independent as they are now. There was a time when demons and humans fought side by side. That was a time of great suffering, which was a time when humans knew peace.
Before the invention of ninja, humans sought out power in anyway way they could to survive. They invented many tools to achieve the power they needed defend their lands from the demons that once roamed freely. They created the blood stone, God's Hand, and the Devil's Arm.
The blood stone was the first to be made. A human, gifted with knowledge beyond his years, created as clay sphere decorated in a multitude symbols. It was meant to be a good luck charm of sorts but in the process molding the clay he wounded his hand and mixed his blood into the clay. It was then the first blood stone was created. He did not know what he made until he threw the stone in an effort to escape a rampaging lesser demon. At the very moment the stone struck the creature, the first weapon was born.
For a while, it proved to be a great step in human defense but it was soon corrupted by greed and selfish desire. People found they had to defend their selves against the abusers of the blood stones. It was then a young priestess was born. In her innocents, she saw many suffer and prayed for salvation. Her prayer was answered as she was gifted with the knowledge to create very special cards. They were known as God's Hand. They held power to reshape the very lands in an instance and were rumored to allow the purest of souls to call forth the guardians of heaven to fight for that innocent soul.
It proved to be a powerful weapon against the corruption and the demons but it was far too difficult to use. Only those who met the requirements placed on them could use the cards and humans were too easily influenced to produce enough bearers. It was then the Devil's Arm appeared. A human corrupted in their ways learned of God's Hand and sought a way to redeem their selves. At first they were turned away by those who guarded those chosen to hold God's Hand. When it came a time where that pure soul was overwhelmed by assassins seeking to simply put money in their pockets, that human was turned away took the lethal blade. So moved by this selfless act by the stained soul, the bearer prayed over the body. In that moment there was a change. The human revived and the blade that had taken their life had changed.
It became known as the Devil's Arm for its wielder gained terrifying power. The power it gave no matter how it was used always felt evil beyond words. Many assumed that it took form of the darkness in one's heart. The truly foolish attempted to create the weapon on their own by performing acts of unspeakable evil then feigning repentance but they never gained from it. It was because of their lust for power did a new menace rise to power over the demons that roamed the lands.
Those who sought power began to make deal with greater demons. The result varied but one demonic clan became notable. Their name was lost in the winds of time but what they gifted humans who swore loyalty to them was what is known today as bloodlines. Power that could be passed from father to son, mother to daughter and in the process creates an endless supply of puppets for the demon. In was during this time that the evil mankind was capable of truly show its head.
Not all at a loss however, demons continued to make deals and two types of contract came into being. A lesser demon clan that proved to be surprisingly peaceful and extraordinarily intelligent realized the threat posed before any other and contacted a small tribe of humans in response. They crafted two types of armor that would grow and evolve with the human that wore it. It was alive in its own way but yet could not truly exist without a human to act as its host. That small tribe of humans was given a task that carried for generations. They hunted the greater demons and fought to free the puppets from its control. In doing so, they made many allies and many enemies.
The other contract that was born was one held and used today though it is in a different form. It is the summoning contract, a contract that allows demon families to work side by side with humans. The original contract however was not one that was linked to families; it was linked to a select band of demons. They were called the elemental gods. Their contract bound a device to the signer that could not be removed till death. It gave the power to summon one of the elemental demon gods and it was to never be abused lest you risk annihilation of everything you cared for.
That contract was used to defend the home lands of many and led to the destruction of many demons until its last wielder abused its power and called forth a demon that rivaled the god of death. It is a legend even now and many refuse to believe it existed. It was the ten tailed demon and with its power, it crushed the old age and left its history to fade away. No demon could stand up to it, humans were helpless before it, in the end, and all anyone could do was run.
Out of fear, the great tools, the contract, and the armors were sealed away and forgotten. The demons that once roamed the world disappeared. Over a thousand years of history, the new age ushered in by the man known as the Sage of Six Paths, and the eventual birth of the 9 tailed demons. It all passed without even a hint of the old world being known.
Until now when a child, a sacrifice, orphaned and shunned by the village of his birth, is forced to bring back that which was forbidden. Through his actions, the world may very well be saved from the evils that lay hidden.
- - - - - The Forbidden - - - - -
The day started out innocent enough. People went back and forth minding their on business. They seemed happy enough but in a single moment, the mood changed. It was like a wave of unease had struck all at once. One by one, their gaze turned to a small child. His clothing was dirty and his hair was caked in mud.
For his part, he froze for only a moment. He was trying to stay hidden but luck wasn't on his side. In his haste to get home he simply didn't see the girl until he was already on top of her. He got up quickly before bowing rapidly.
"I'm sorry, are you alright? I didn't mean to…" Anything else he had to say to the slightly stunned girl was cut off when he was struck. He was back handed away with such force that he for a moment was airborne.
"Get away from her you monster!" The attacker yelled. It was a woman, fairly young, what stood out was a stock of pink hair that was made up into a braid. She picked up the little girl brushing her off throwing out questions of her health rapidly yet not once letting the girl answer before turning her gaze on the boy. "This is the last straw demon. Picking on innocent children, it's time we dealt with you once and for all!"
A new wave spread across the streets. It was hate, it was anger, and it was blood lust. He scrambled as if his body had forgotten to stand as the woman stalked him with a level of hate he hadn't seen. He didn't get far as his back hit the leg of a man who was standing behind him glaring menacingly down at him. He felt panic rise as more and more people were gathering around him with the obvious intent to do harm. He could see weapons once concealed be freed from their hiding places. There was nowhere to run, they were ready to pounce.
"STOP IT!" It was shocking, everyone's attention turned to the little girl who stood outside the ring. She had tears in her eyes that showed the desperation that her voice couldn't do justice. Just as quickly as she got their attention she cried out holding her head in pain before collapsing. The crowed partially dispersed as they rushed to her aid. For only a moment they forgot about the boy and using that he ran.
He worried about the girl, she looked like she was hurting but he couldn't stay. They would just blame whatever was happening to her on him. He knew it, somehow he knew and he was right. A loud yell behind him was all he needed to realize they were set on him again. He never did anything them yet they hated him. He didn't know why, he couldn't see what they saw but it didn't matter, he had to run.
It was unfortunate that he has so very far to run, more and more people crowded the road in front of him and many were picking up on what was happening. Some simply glared at the boy as he passed by but others deemed it necessary to slow him down anyway they could. Shops all around him suddenly closed their doors. A fruit bender started to lob rotten produce at him. He turned the corner, into an empty alley except for one side shop. He didn't have too much time to think about it as he ran. That was when he bumped in someone again.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry, are you ok?" A voice of kindness, a voice filled with concern. This time he didn't bump into a little girl, this was a full groan man.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please don't hurt me!" the boy was panicked.
"It's alright, look at you, you're all dirty. Here, let me get you cleaned up." The man picked the child up with ease and walked into the store with the door shutting behind him. He paid no attention to the sounds outside as people rocketed past shouting screaming in anger. The kind smile that played on his lips never left as he took the boy to a simple sink that had warm water and a sponge floating in it. "I was going to use this for the dishes but I think this is a much better cause don't you?"
The boy couldn't stop himself from staring in wonder. Just a few moments ago people were out to hurt him and with a stroke of luck, he finds one of the few people that didn't want to hurt him. It was too good to be true. He wanted to believe it but after going so long, it became hard to think luck could favor him. He waited ready to run at a moment's notice.
"There, it's not much but it has to feel better than before."
"I'm sorry, um… thank you." The child spoke up in a small voice very hesitant. So far it was safe as long as he didn't anger this man.
"Don't worry, it was my fault. I didn't see you coming. Ah, I know." Either he didn't see the boy tense up suddenly or he ignored it as he reached off to the side and produced a fresh shiny apple. "A gift to a bright young man."
"I…T-thank you…" he wanted to cry, no one really gave him anything much less food. It was an apple, one that didn't look gross or nasty. It was one that he saw sold on the streets. No, it looked far better than one sold on the streets. He almost didn't accept it but his stomach insisted. Thus he took it and bit deep into it. Only then did he start to cry. It was so good, better then he imagined an apple could be. He didn't realize that he had already finished the apple until another one was in his hands.
"Well, it looks like it's getting pretty late. We should get you home." He watched the child freeze mid bite and frowned slightly. "What's wrong?"
"It, it's not safe at home." Part of him wanted to lie but something, like a voice in the back of his head told him it was ok. "The bad people, they are looking for me."
"Well that's no good." The man shook his head frowning before his face lit up in a smile. "I have an idea. There is this old shrine just on the west wall. It's long since been abandoned and no one goes near there because of the Kyuubi no Kitsune's attack. It's not much but I'm sure you will find a nice safe place to rest there."
The boy couldn't help but smile before finishing the apple in his hands. A new place to stay, one that could be his own little hideaway. He couldn't stop himself, he jumped off the sink edge he was sitting on and hugged the man in front of him all but yelling out his thanks.
"Don't worry about it. It was the least I could do. Before you go, take this with you." He handed the boy a small sack containing several more apples.
"Thanks mister… um?"
"Ankiseth, Merchant of the West" he bowed with a smile on his face.
"And I'm Uzumaki Naruto and I will pay you back for this one hundred times over. Just you wait!"
"Ha, well I will look forward to that day. Now you better run along before it gets too dark." The boy's smile seemed like it was enough to light up an entire room before he run to the door. Carefully peaking out to make sure no one was looking he bolted out heading west for the shrine. "Oh dear, I forgot to mention the poor condition of the shrine. Those floors are likely to crumble the moment anyone takes a step on them."
If anyone had been there to see the smile on the man's face, it would have sent shivers down their spines greater than anything the Kyuubi ever could have.