Gate of the Crow
Summary: Death was just the beginning for Itachi and he becomes a Celestial Spirit, equal in strength to the Zodiacs. Team Natsu heads east for a job and runs across Sakura's ANBU team in a civil war torn Iwagakure as they search for Sasuke. They must join forces to defeat an ancient evil that threatens all life. Can they save Saskue? Can they stop a goddess?
Pairings: Lucy x Natsu, Sakura x Itachi, also Sakura x Sasuke
Beta: Shotgunhero
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima.
Naruto time frame: After manga issue 699.
Fairy Tail time frame: References up to the Hades arc.
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Chapter One:
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Peace. It was all Itachi Uchiha had ever wanted. He was but a small child during the Third Great Ninja War that had claimed so many lives — including that of the Fourth Hokage. Had Minato Namikaze survived, the tragedy that befell the Uchihas might have been avoided. Years later, Itachi died fighting for his village and protecting them as a double agent of the Akatsuki while always making sure that his baby brother was alive and strong.
He had tried to make Sasuke hate him, because he thought that hate made one stronger. That was the Uchiha mentality after all. He was wrong. He had only made his brother full of misdirected rage. An unusual twist of fate brought Itachi back to life, and he was able to help the Allied Shinobi Nations against the threat of his ancestors and Kabuto. He defeated the latter with the assistance of his little brother that he sacrificed so much for. It was the only time they'd fought alongside one another and he cherished the memory.
When Itachi Uchiha had gone to the grave for the second time, it had been done with a clear conscience and a world-weary soul. He'd helped those still living in the world in the Fourth Great Ninja War and would now have his much deserved peace. He had never been one for religion. Though he did believe in the philosophy of Buddhism and he found a certain sense of connection with the beliefs of Shintoism given a ninja's affiliation for the elements. This wasn't the first time he died, so when he left the mortal realm for the second time after he'd done what he could in the war, he fully expected to experience the blissful oblivion of solitude and peace.
What he did not expect was to be standing before a massive presence known as The Spirit King.
"Itachi Uchiha, welcome to the afterlife — again," the Spirit King greeted him. "I am King of the Spirit World!"
This Spirit World King had a mind-blowing amount of chakra and while his bushy beard might have made him appear genial, it seemed more like a broom to sweep up the mess of his meals. Itachi had to wonder just what he ate. The souls of the dead, perhaps?
"Sir," Itachi replied cooly. He stood with a relaxed posture and pushed aside his worries. One does not live their life as a double agent in the most dangerous mercenary group without being able to stand on their own. If this giant creature attacked him, he'd find out its weakness and respond accordingly.
"Your analytical mind is as impressive as I had hoped," the Spirit King said in a booming voice. "I can read your thoughts, Itachi. You have had a hard life, made very difficult choices, and struggled to protect both your village and your loved ones. When your two loyalties were in direct opposition you chose duty and to be honorable. I am here to judge you," the Spirit King declared.
Itachi frowned at the man's words. He was a master at masking his emotions, but his very thoughts? The task was impossible. "Judgment?" Itachi echoed with a raised eyebrow. Thoughts continued to swirl in his mind, ripe for plucking by this mysterious being. He didn't recall being judged by anyone when he died the first time — just peaceful oblivion.
"This is unlike your first death," the Spirit King said, answering Itachi's unspoken thought.
"And what have you found, Spirit King?" Itachi asked.
The massive king began to laugh, the sound shook the very ground, making it difficult to remain standing. "With every generation of man, I see if there was one individual soul that stands out amongst his or her brethren. And that soul is given an opportunity to become a celestial spirit. It has been many centuries since I have found a soul to which I could make this offer, Itachi Uchiha."
Itachi calculated his options, thinking many thoughts at once, hoping to confuse the mind-reading deity. He doubted if he could put such a creature into a genjutsu. Most likely a giant fireball wouldn't do him any good either. He was in an unknown environment, so escape might be impossible. "What was so spectacular about my life, that makes you want to extend to me this offer?"
The Spirit King began to laugh again. "So humble. I told you, that I can read your mind, but I can also read your heart. You believe you only did what any capable shinobi would have done. I can tell you that your actions are what saved your world from the tyranny of your uncles. Naruto Uzumaki would have been captured in his youth before his training could be completed if it had not been for you protecting him from the Akatsuki. He, your brother — whom you also spared in that massacre, their female teammate, and their leader — a former teammate of yours while you were in ANBU, were the quartet of ninjas most responsible for ending the Fourth Great Ninja War."
Itachi was proud to hear that his brother was included in the four that had stopped the war. Perhaps they would help usher in the era of peace amongst the shinobi. He thought of Naruto and Sakura — Sasuke's old teammates— along with Kakashi his friend from long ago. He was glad that they had never given up on his wayward little brother. "I am glad to hear of this outcome," Itachi said.
"You have proven yourself time and again as a great protector. My offer to you is to make you into the Celestial Spirit of the Crow. And after all the years of heartbreak, you may cast aside the name of Itachi Uchiha and be known as Reaper.
"A shinigami? A reaper of death?" Itachi asked.
"No, no," the Spirit King said waving aside the idea with a casual flip of his hand. "You will work with a celestial spirit mage in battle. You will continue to protect those around you with your powers. You will become part of the Celestial Spirit World."
"So I will not join the resting home of my ancestors?" Itachi asked. His thoughts went to his mother, father, and best friend Shisui.
The Spirit King shook his head. "No, you will be a protector spirit from now until the end of days. Time between this world and that of the living passes differently."
If that was the case, how much time had already passed between his second death and now? "I must know, is Sasuke still alive?" Itachi asked.
"Yes. And if you associate yourself with a spirit mage, it is possible that you will cross paths with him and his friends again. You will be tied to the life of that mage and his or her timeline."
It would give him a chance to see what sort of life his brother made for himself. However, it was time Itachi stopped living his life for the sake of his little brother. "Do I get to choose this mage?"
"Your key will be very powerful. As in life where you were able to overcome evil influences, if you do not accept your master any contract you make with them will be null and void. This is an unique trait that you will possess. You will be too powerful of a celestial spirit to fall into the hands of a madman. And power breeds madness."
Itachi could agree to that last assessment. He'd seen plenty of powerful shinobi succumb to madness. There had been times when he'd worried about it himself. Clear goals and a well-defined sense of duty kept him from losing his mind. "Do you have a mage in mind then, Spirit King?"
"As a matter of fact, I do. She's a very promising wizard. She already possesses most of the Zodiac Keys. Her spirits love her and consider her a friend. And unlike most spirit mages she values the health of her spirits and doesn't treat them as tools."
"Does she have a name?" Itachi pressed.
"She is a member of the Fairy Tail Guild and her name is Lucy Heartfilia. She and her teammates will soon be facing tribulation on an epic scale and she will need the help of Reaper — the Spirit of Death from the Gate of the Crow," the Spirit King explained.
"I don't suppose she might utilize the assistance of her nearby ninja clans," Itachi murmured.
"You could suggest it to her, but once you see her teammates you might find that unnecessary. Have you made your choice, Itachi?"
"Call me Reaper," Itachi decided.
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Revised 1/2/16