Prologue: Parent's love and a Shinigami's gift
October 10, Outside of Konoha
The Fourth Hokage and his wife stood in front of a ceremonial alter holding a child, a large claw impaled through both of them.
"It's time for me to go Kushina, I'm going to perform the Hakke no Fūin Shiki and try to leave a bit of my chakra in Naruto, too!" Minato began, "We don't have much time, if you have anything left to say to Naruto…" he left the statement hanging while focusing on the seal.
Kushina nodded and took a couple of deep breaths. Then she gave Naruto a sad smile knowing these words would be her last to her son before she met Naruto again later.
"Naruto…" she started, "Naruto, don't be a fussy eater, eat a lot and grow up to be a big boy! Take your bath every day, and go to bed early and sleep well!" As she spoke Kushina shed a couple of tears, but she continued on.
"Make friends, it doesn't matter how many just make sure they're real friends, even a few is enough," Minato smiled as his wife spoke. "And study your ninjutsu, I was never very good at it, maybe you will be," At this Kushina gave an embarrassed smile but it turned genuine as she continued. "Everyone has things they're good at and things they're not. Don't feel bad if you can't do it all. Make sure you listen to the teachers at the academy okay."
"And remember, avoid the three vices of shinobi; don't borrow money if you can help it, save what you earn from missions; no drinking until you're 20, and don't overdo it or you'll ruin your body; and as for women, well I'm a woman so I don't know what to say, but there are only men and women in this world, and you'll want a girlfriend someday, just try not to pick a weird one, try to find someone like your mother," at this Kushina's smile got wider, "and the fourth warning, watch out for Jiraiya." Kushina chuckled at the thought of the perverted hermit and the boy's godfather.
She paused as breathing was becoming more difficult. "Naruto…" She began when she caught her breath again as her eyes began to mist over at what her son would have to endure by himself, "You're going to experience a lot of pain and suffering, just remember who you are! Find a goal, a dream and don't stop trying until it comes true." Kushina was now shedding tears at the thought of not being there for her only son.
"There's …." She started, "There's so much more I want to say, to teach you about. I want to stay with you, I love you Naruto."
Minato listened as Kushina imparted her motherly wisdom onto their son. Kushina then turned to him when she finished, "I'm sorry Minato, I took all our time…" She began.
"It's okay." He replied then he looked at Naruto, "Naruto, this is your father. Listen…" he paused to ease his own breathing, "to your motor-mouth mother." He said with a smile. He then finished the seal as both parents life force began to fade and the Kyubi was sealed into their sleeping son.
As the young couple took their final breaths, the Shinigami summoned by Minato's Shiki Fujin watched. It looked at the boy before him. The young couple that had given their lives for this boy had died too far ahead of schedule. He then took a look into the boy's future and saw the trials the boy would endure. He then touched his finger to the seal on the boy's stomach. 'A gift…' it thought as it faded back to the spirit world.
As the Kushina spoke, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched on from outside the barrier and cried for the young family. He regretted not being able to do anything. He watched as his successor and his wife sacrificed everything to ensure a future for their son and the village. He watched as the Kyubi disappeared into the infant. Something strange was happening however, the Shinigami Minato had summoned had not gone back to the spirit realm. In fact in hovered over the infant as if inspecting it. Sarutobi watched as the spirit touched the seal and then fade back to its realm, the barrier finally collapsing. The old Hokage didn't know what the spirit did and he grew concerned for the boy and the seal.
October 11, Hokage Tower, Office of the Hokage
Sarutobi had been sworn in as Hokage in the aftermath of the Kyubi attack the night before. He reacquainted himself with his old office as he waited for Inoichi to report in.
He looked over to Naruto, who was sleeping in crib beside his desk, when a knock on the door alerted him to his guest.
"You sent for me Hokage-sama?" Inoichi asked as he entered.
"Yes, come in Inoichi." Hiruzen answered. He waited until Inoichi was seated before he began.
"Inoichi I know that you have clan duties but I have an urgent mission for you." He started a serious look on his face. "I trust no one but you with this Inoichi."
Inoichi seeing the look on the Third Hokage's face immediately understood.
"Hai, Hokage-sama, what do you need of me?" he asked mentally preparing for a dangerous mission.
"I need you to perform a mind walk into Naruto, after the sealing the Shinigami did something to the seal. We need to ensure that the seal is intact and Naruto is without influence from the Kyubi. "
At this Inoichi gave the old man a questioning look. "Why not have Jiraiya have a look at the seal?"
"I have faith in Minato's skills as a seal master but there are currently unknown variables at play. Jiraiya is also currently unavailable. Are you up to it Inoichi?"
Inoichi nodded, performed the necessary hand seals, aimed his technique at the sleeping child and called out "Shintenshin no Jutsu" before collapsing into the chair behind him.
The Hokage could only hope nothing was wrong with the boy and the seal.
Naruto's Mindscape
Inoichi found himself in a vast empty space. "Makes sense" he said to himself. He was after all in an infant mind; it hadn't had a chance to develop a sense of self just yet to build a mindscape
Inoichi began to walk forward until off in the distance he saw a large structure and a man standing in front of the bars. As he got closer he could see the seal as well as the large fox behind the bars of the structure. He then turned his attention to the figure standing in front of the large cage.
The man wore a long coat as dark as midnight. He looked to be as old a Jiraiya of the sannin. His face showed experience, his eyes concealed by a dark pair of sunglasses, and face framed by long black hair.
"Who are you?" Inoichi asked the mysterious man.
"I am a piece of the boy's soul, a manifestation of his spirit energy. I guess you could also call me the Kyubi's warden." The mysterious man said.
"I see. How did you get here and what should I call you?" Inoichi asked.
"For now you may call me a Zanpaktou." The man began, causing Inoichi's eyes to widen in surprise and shock. Here he was looking at an unknown entity claiming to be a Shinigami's spirit sword.
"As for how I got here, I was awakened by the seal placed on the boy behind me was touched by the Shinigami and place some of its spiritual power upon the seal." The man claiming to be a Zanpaktou said.
"Fear not for the boy," he continued when Inoichi could only stare, "It is a Zanpaktou's duty to protect its master after all."
With those parting words the man raised his spiritual power end ejected Inoichi from the mindscape. He then turned to the Kyubi and spoke.
"So then fox do we have an agreement?"
"Yes, but the boy must prove he is worthy first." The Kyubi responded.
"There is no doubt that he will be."
Hokage Tower, Office of the Hokage
In his seat, Inoichi suddenly shot up taking deep breaths. He took in his surroundings, when he realized he was in front of the Hokage, he began his report.
"Hokage-sama, the boy is and will be free from the Kyubi's influence." He began. When Sarutobi threw him a questioning look he continued.
"It seems Naruto was given a powerful tool to help subdue the Kyubi."
"What kind of tool Inoichi?" The concerned old man asked.
"It was a Zanpaktou, Hokage-sama. The Shinigami Minato summoned gave Naruto a Zanpaktou."
At that news Sarutobi's eyes grew wide. Naruto was given a powerful weapon should it ever be given a physical form. At that moment he knew, Naruto would have long hard life ahead of him, but he would also do great things.
Hello! This is my first story and I hope you guys like it! I always wondered what it would be like if Naruto had a Zanpaktou and this is what came to mind when I thought about it. This was mildly inspired by Arch-Daishou and his story Zangetsu, if you haven't read it check it out. Now there won't be any major cross-overs with Bleach except for any other Zanpaktou that may or may not appear in this story. I'm also taking other concepts from other manga and incorporating it into this story as well but hopefully I won't be making any characters so overpowered that it turns you guys away. I would appreciate any feedback you guys can give me. If you guys love it please tell me what you like about my story, but if you guys hate it please tell my why and where you feel I need to improve. Good honest constructive criticism is welcome, flames will be used to warm myself in bed at night. 'Til next time!