(A/N): I know this is an overused plot, but it's still fun to write. Time-traveling is an interesting subject, no?
For those who have previously commented/reviewed, or alerted my story, I apologize. I decided to rewrite the whole thing so that there is more details and events. There will still be the same events happening, but more longer chapters, and more details, as well as more events and OC.
It seems that when I don't have a set plot to stick with, I tend to rush things…so here we are! I now have at least a bit of the organized timeline. The plot is not set, so who knows what else might change. The first few chapters will have few changes. Things start to change…probably in the next chapter. This chapter is still the same as the old one. Reviews are appreciated! Enjoy!
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The place was quiet. Too quiet. All that could be heard was the roaring of the resisting Kyuubi, being slowly and painfully torn away from its Jinchuuriki. Akatsuki were all gathered, their hands in seals required to pull out the Bijuu. Concentration was vital, and a single wrong twitch will cause the whole thing to go wrong.
Hachibi was already gone and fused with the Juubi into the statue, but the Kyuubi had only begun. It was a horrible experience, as if a part of your body was slowly ripping away from you, except worst, and slower. Like popping an oversized pimple, for lack of a better, more decent explanation.
Naruto was feeling numb and sleepy, his cerulean eyes near closing. Death was the only thing waiting for him. He was sorry for everything that happened. Destroyed Konoha, all in ruins. Sasuke was back, but joy was short-lived when Akatsuki came back into the picture.
KIT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WOULD ERASE ALL THE BIJUUS' HATRED AND PAIN! YOU HAVEN'T FULFILLED THAT YET! WAKE UP! IF YOU DON'T, I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!
Kyuubi…I'm already lost. What can I do?
IF YOU DON'T OPEN YOUR FUCKING EYES, I SWEAR TO HELL THAT I WILL DESTROY KONOHA!
Even though it was pretty much an empty and unfulfilled-able threat, Naruto's eyes snapped open lazily, noting the Kyuubi's desperate tone, but he was too weak to respond. His mouth was dry, and his limbs felt heavy. He reviewed his days, and felt nothing but regret.
Regret of not saving Sasuke earlier, regret of not saving team seven, regret of not being able to save his village from destruction, regret of not being able to protect his most important people, and regret for not being the ideal Hokage. That's right. He made the Hokage spot, right after Tsunade went into a coma. She woke up, but was unable to continue her line of duty.
He had failed everybody, and that was what caused regret. He promised prosperity, but only brought forth pain and destruction.
What a hypocrite I am, huh, Kurama? Naruto bitterly thinks. I promised them all so much. I swore that I would become Hokage, yet I did nothing. I should just go die…
Kit. You still have a chance. Don't throw it away, Kyuubi sighs with grief. He knew what Naruto was experiencing. The loss of something significant in life. Joy, happiness, and the cause of all that, his family. His friends. He had lost them, along with the battle against death, that challenged his survival.
What chance? I'm already in Akatsuki's clutches. In three days, you would leave me, and I would be dead…
True, but I can still use my chakra. You have enormous reserves even without me, and with all the chakra you bear, I'm sure we can fulfill a deal with the Time God.
Time God?
Yes, the Time God. I already prepared the seal, and since you have the fox contract, we can summon her…
So you mean we're going back in time to change things, hope sparkled as a small flame in Naruto's voice.
Guess you're not as dumb as you seem. Heh, Kyuubi tried to lighten the mood.
Naruto was then pulled into his mindscape, the same sewer and cage, but more spacious. The water was slowly draining, and the cement started to crack and dry into mold. Fungus and moss took up the space that once was occupied with water. The cage was rotting away, and deteriorating fast. The seal was burning at a slow rate with purple flames.
When the water had gone, an intricate seal, about the size of an elephant, lapping over one another in blood red ink. The Kyuubi used his tails like brushes, decorating the remaining seals with more complicated words.
Kyuubi took out a scroll with Naruto's name on it, labeled FOX CONTRACT.
All you need to do is fuse chakra into it, and I can take care of it.
Over the years, Naruto had chosen to trust Kyuubi, just as Kyuubi chose to trust him, along with the summoning contract. Slamming his palms onto the dry ground, slightly wet with paint, Naruto pours all of his strength into it. A purple shine, from the blue of his chakra, and from the red of Kyuubi's chakra, arose from the scroll that laid atop the seal, along with a plume of blue smoke.
There, sitting in the disappeared seal, was a girl with black shaggy hair and sapphire eyes with purple, feline slit pupils. Light red Kabuki paint highlighted the edges of her eyes, and she wore a dark blue Haori lined with golden trimmings over bandages that covered her chest, revealing smooth, creamy-colored skin from the stomach. She had a short skirt and mesh nets under that.
In her hand was a staff that looked like a Khakkhara, a monk's staff, with an amethyst gem floating at the center. There were six rings on each side, each having a blue, sapphire gem.
Black fox ears twitched and her bushy black, white-tipped tail waved as she saw who had called her.
"Kurama-san," the girl spoke, her voice as smooth and silky as water.
Kikuri.
"What is it that you have called me for?" Kikuri asked. Naruto was confused. Foxes also controlled time? Seeing his distress, Kyuubi launched a full-on explanation.
Kikuri. This is my container, Naruto. Naruto, this is a friend Kikuri. We Kitsunes have many different elements. For me, I have fire, and even though I rule over all demons and is named the demon king, there are few that are too strong for us to rule over and influence, and she is one of the two.
Kikuri is strong, but of course, not as strong as me, Kyuubi bragged. About a few decades ago, I learned that she controls water. Water is fire's natural enemy, but because I helped her once with a dire situation, she formed an alliance with me, and promised to help when needed. Thus to the current situation.
I get all that, but she controls water. Not time, and you said Time God, Naruto points out.
Oh for the sake of Makai! You are absolutely dense, you know that?
Thank you for the compliment, Naruto states sarcastically.
Well aren't you back to normal, brat, Kyuubi snickers at the playful tone Naruto gave. Anyways, Kikuri is indeed controller of water, but water resembles time. With the needed energy, we can twist it a little.
"What he's trying to say is that my water is different than others. This water is retrieved from Makai, the demon world. The demons there need no water to survive, and there is no water except for a little hidden spring. This spring has mysterious properties that only my clan, the Water foxes have access to. These waters connect to time and space. Have you ever heard of the 'flow of time'?"
Yeah. It's like a timeline, right?
"Exactly. The 'flow of time' can be considered like that. We Water foxes also compare it to the 'flow of water', in which we refer to as a stream. Do you see the relation?"
Pretty much. Thanks Kikuri. You're a way better teacher than Kyuubi here, Naruto grins. Kyuubi growls.
"Anyways, when you arrive there, you may feel…different. You will no longer be Uzumaki Naruto, so you must choose a different name. One with Namikaze because I cannot change your appearance, nor your blood," Kikuri explains.
Okay…but, do I have to choose a name?
I can choose for you Kit. How about Akiyoshi? It means bright…something. You humans have weird senses of making meanings…
Either that or you have weird naming sense, Naruto muses, earning a scowl from the Kyuubi. Kikuri smiles at the scene.
"They're so…heartwarming. It would be a waste to just let them end here," Kikuri mumbles.
You said something? Naruto asks.
"No, it's nothing. By the way, Akiyoshi sounds nice," Kikuri giggles before Naruto could protest about the name.
Fine. Akiyoshi it is.
"Oh yeah. I almost forgot. You're going to turn younger, probably six or seven. According to the chakra you gave me, the more there is, the farther in time you will travel.
And I just realized! I kind of made this relation with your name Namikaze. It can be pronounced as Wave of the Wind, like an ocean wave. Perhaps you, Akiyoshi, is the wave that will strike the waters of time, in order to change the course of the dreaded future," Kikuri smiles before she disappears into a plume of smoke once again. "I bade you good luck…" her voice echoed as Naruto, now known as Akiyoshi, began to succumb to darkness.