Calling Upon the Shadows of the Past
By: TheDeadGirlRisen
Beta'ed by: N/A
Prologue Teaser: Minato uses the Shiki Fujin to seal the Kyuubi into his newborn son and Kushina tries to save Minato.
Author Notes: This is a rewrite of Ghost boy, which is a story I never posted. I have 85 chapters planned… before Naruto even becomes a genin. Whether it actually ends up being that long… who knows.
Original Word Count: 341
New Word Count: 2260
Date Written: 2/10/19 - 2/11/19
Date Posted: 2/11/19
Arc 0: The Introductory Chapter
He looked at his son, placed on the altar and he winced at what he was about to do. He made peace with it though, because he had faith in Konoha, he believed that they would treat his son like the hero he was.
He looked at his lovely wife who was holding the Kyuubi down with her chains, he could see how pale she was. He had to finish this soon or she wouldn't be able to survive…
His blue eyes picked up on her making a seal at rapid speed, and as his hands formed the last hand signs he would ever make, he wondered what Kushina was trying to do.
The cold presence of the Shinigami surrounded him, chilling him to the bone and an instinctive fear clawed at him. He ignored it. He stared at the Kyuubi. His blue eyes filled with determination met the slitted red of the biju. He was slightly surprised to see the fear in those eyes. The Kyuubi was afraid to be sealed away again. He suppose he could understand that, he wouldn't want to be locked away either.
His hand finished the last seal and he started to seal the Kyuubi into his son. His first thought had been to rip the Kyuubi in half, but if what he suspected was true, his son would need the Kyuubi by his side to fight the masked man.
The seal was the Shiki Fujin, more commonly known as the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. It was normally used to seal something into himself to be taken into the Shinigami's Domain to fight for eternity.
But this was a deal with the Shinigami, he could change the terms of the deal so long as he was still offering his soul. So he was having the Shinigami seal the Kyuubi into his newborn son. With the Shinigami actually making the seal, he was confident that no human would be able to rip the Kyuubi from his son. Unlike his wife, his son would be able to protect himself, and the Kyuubi with the seal.
A little chibi version of himself was grinning and laughing at a chibi version of the Masked man who looked pissed. He smirked, he would be the one getting the last laugh. He had a feeling that the masked man wanted the Kyuubi for whatever reason, and by making the biju unattainable he was beating whatever game the masked man was playing.
He wasn't called a genius for nothing after all.
The last bit of the Kyuubi was being sealed into his son. His wife was weakening and the Kyuubi thrusted a claw towards his son. He and his wife threw themselves in front of the claw, preventing it from reaching his son. The last of the Kyuubi was sealed into the little baby, and he felt the timer on his soul ticking down. He glanced at his wife once more, she was pale and shaking, he was saddened by the thought that she would not survive.
Her soft violet eyes met his and she leaned forward and kissed him. Minato savored the kiss, for the brief moment it lasted. "We should say our last words to Naruto," He told her quietly.
Kushina nodded and started talking to their son, telling him how much she loved him, and that he should be a good boy, and eat his veggies. Then it came to his turn, he told his son how much he loved him, and that he should always take training seriously, and that he should find himself people he could trust completely, and who trusted him in return.
With the timer on his soul getting lower and lower, he smiled at his son as he used the last of his strength to tie a small portion of his and Kushina's chakra into the little baby.
"I love you, my little flash." he said and ruffled his son's hair.
With that Minato Namikaze's soul was claimed by the Shinigami.
Kushina was horrified when her husband told her of his plan to seal the Kyuubi within Naruto, the sacrifice being his soul. She wanted her son to have a parent in her life, but nothing she could say would convince her stubborn husband to let her to the summoning. He foolishly believed that she would be able to survive. Yet she knew that she would die. There was no surviving for her.
Her mind flashed through hundreds of scenarios in a few seconds before a clarity came across her and as she held the Kyuubi down she started writing a seal, completely brand new, there was no time to test it, but if this crazy idea of hers worked, than Minato would live and would be able to raise and protect the little one.
Her pace was hurried, but sure as she drew the seals. She finished the seal with the activation of it being set for as a kiss. Her excitement allowed the slowly shrinking Kyuubi to thrust a claw forward and she threw herself to protect her baby boy.
The claw and Kyuubi disappeared into Naruto and she nearly collapsed. She looked at her wonderful husband and her mind solid on her decision she leaned towards him and gave him a small kiss. The seal activated, and she could feel her soul being tied to Minato's. It was her plan that because the Shinigami was only supposed to take one soul, it would take her soul and allow her husband to live.
"We should say our last words to Naruto," Her husband said softly, his blue eyes filled with sorrow.
She gave a nod and started rabling to their son, she had so much she wanted to tell him. Finally though the emotions running through her caused her to go silent. With a glance Minato started speaking, telling him how much he loved him.
She felt her husband pull a bit of her chakra out and place it within the seal. "I love you, my little flash," Minato said ruffling their son's hair.
Kushina felt him slump, and she could feel her soul being pulled out of her body. "I love you Naruto."
With that Kushina Uzumaki's soul was claimed by the Shinigami.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was getting too old to be Hokage, he needed to find a successor soon, but no one really seemed up to the role at this time. The aged Hokage looked at the little toddler who was leaning against a tree at the orphanage by himself. He had promised himself, after the boy's parents had died to seal the Kyuubi into him, that he would do his best to protect the boy and uphold the fourth's wish.
His wish that the village would see Naruto as a hero.
Sarutobi in his grief over the loss of the fourth hadn't thought things through and told the village about Naruto's Jinchuriki status. He had told them that the fourth wanted them to see the boy as a hero. He had foolishly believed that they would respect the fourth's wish.
Instead they spat on the fourth's wish and hated the boy.
Perhaps if he had told them that Naruto was the fourth's son then Konoha would actually honour the fourth's wish. Yet, if he did do that then he would be putting the boy into great danger from Iwa. He was already risking enough from Kumo by letting him have his mother's last name.
He had never felt so ashamed of Konoha than whenever he heard yet another case of the bright little toddler being mistreated and scorned.
He had cried when he had gotten a report that the matron of the orphanage had hit the boy. Sarutobi had her publicly executed to make a point. Abusing the boy would not be tolerated. He could do nothing for the neglect, or the looks of hatred. If he killed everybody who glared at the little boy, well not much of Konoha would be left.
Sarutobi went over the the little toddler. He once more noted that as soon as he got within five feet of the boy, that the air seemed to be a couple degrees colder. It always seemed to be a bit colder around the boy, he didn't know why as Kushina had never been cold. If anything she had always seemed warm.
The boy gave him a bright smile and he smiled back. It was a shame that the people took the cold as him being the Kyuubi. He chatted with the boy, teaching him how to speak. He would have to assign someone to teach the boy how to write.
As more time passed and the boy got more and more fluent at speaking he was starting to get some strange reports of the boy seeming to talk to thin air. The people were afraid that Naruto was talking to the Kyuubi. When he asked the boy who he had been talking to Naruto had told him he had been talking to a person.
Obviously from the deprivation of having actual friends the boy was creating imaginary friends. It was worrying that Naruto's imaginary friends always seemed to be adults. But he knew that he was the only person Naruto had friendly contact with. His fellow orphans had been told to avoid the boy, and so none of them go near him.
People were still worried though, and so the council suggested that they have a Yamanaka check Naruto's mind. Reluctantly he agreed and Inochi agreed to go into Naruto's mind. A half later after he came out he said that the Kyuubi was sleeping in a cage.
With the council satisfied the issue was finally dropped. Sarutobi sighed and turned to his paperwork. He never could understand how people could hate such a sweet boy. If only they could see past his status of a Jinchuuriki and see him for the child he was.
Many people hated him, for what he didn't know. He just knew that people called him a demon, a monster. These names used to affect him, used to make him cry, but he heard them so often that now he was able to ignore them.
There were some people though that were different from the rest. These people were paler than normal people, and were a bit see through. He knew that they were spirits, ghosts of people who have died. When he realized that people hated him for talking to the spirits he tried to hide it.
But with no one else willing to talk to him, the few spirits who were strong enough to say things were his only companions. Most of the spirits he could see were pale and generally didn't say much. The stronger ones, like the one the hung around Hokage-jiji was more visible and could speak fluently, though he didn't often say much. That spirit he could occasionally see watching him every few months.
Soon he would be starting the mixed academy, and he was both scared and excited for it. "Hello Naruto-kun."
"Jiji!" Naruto said happily giving the man a hug. He ignored the spirit standing behind the Hokage.
"I have a bit of an early birthday present for you since you are about to start the academy."
"Really?!" Naruto asked excited.
"Yes," The old man who wore read and white robes and has a red and white hat dug into his pocket and held up a key.
Naruto's eyes went wide, "Is that…?"
"Yes, your very own apartment," The old man said kindly.
"Thank you!" Naruto said hugging the Hokage once again.
"It's no problem Naruto, let's walk I can show you where it is." The Hokage grinned. The two living and one ghost walked down the street.
"So Naruto have you thought about our last conversation?"
Naruto nodded, "Un-huh. I want to become a Hokage like you!"
The Hokage grinned kindly at him, "And why do you want to be a Hokage?"
Naruto gave a large grin, "Because that way everyone will respect me they won't be mean to me anymore."
The Hokage frowned at him, "Now Naruto that's not a very good reason for wanting to be Hokage."
Naruto frowned and looked up at him, "What do you mean?"
"A Hokage is someone who protects the village who will sacrifice their life for the village, they are the pillar of support needed for the village."
Naruto paused, "Oh…"
The Hokage smiled at him, "You can still become Hokage but you must remember that to be hokage means more than just being strong you have to have the will of fire and protect the village at all costs."
Naruto grinned, "I see thanks Old man!"
A tick mark formed on his head, "I'm not that old!" He complained good naturedly.
"Yes, you are." Two voices echoed as one as the ghost said the exact same thing as Naruto.
The Hokage smiled affectionately and ruffled Naruto's short hair. Naruto stuck his tongue out at him. The duo arrived at a small decrepit building, "I'm sorry I couldn't get you a nicer place Naruto, but you have this building to yourself mostly the only other person who lives here is your landlord."
"It's fine! Beats being in the orphanage!" Naruto said happily.
The Hokage gave him a sad smile. "Well I'll see you on your first day."
Naruto beamed at the old man. "Alright!"
He watched as the old man and the ghost left. One day he would be strong, just like his Jiji.
End Notes: I hope you enjoyed the Prologue. I have no idea how often this will be updated, but my goal is to have this story actually show the character growth. If you feel a scene is too rushed, or you have a suggestion please let me know. I hope that you guys enjoy reading this story, as much as I know I will enjoy writing it. Have a good day everyone.