Hello FanFiction! This is evildream 19 posting my newest creation called "Sacrifice"! This is my Naruto/FF13 Xover story that I hope you all will enjoy! This first chapter is in 1st Person Perspective. I adopted this story from pain17ification ehh anyway here we go.
Please note: evildream19 doesn't own Naruto or Final Fantasy XIII
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
[Mental Speech]
"Higher Being Speech"
"Techniques"
(Technique Translations)
Scene Shift
Chapter 1: To Lose and To Gain
I'll never forget the day I lost my beloved sister; my reason for living. It's a memory that still haunts me today.
The day was October 10th and it was a crisp autumn day in the village of Konohagakure. The skies were slightly cloudy, the sun was bright, and the fall breeze blew through the village streets. I was taking a morning walk with my expecting sister, Kushina. She had been pregnant with her soon to be daughter for over eight months and it was nearing time for the baby to be born into the world. When I found out that she was pregnant, I was surprised but very happy for her.
However, before I go any further, I should explain how we ended up as Konoha citizens in the first place…
She and I had started out on our own in the destroyed village of Uzushiogakure. Our parents both died in the war, leaving me and my then two-year-old sister alone. I was five when they perished and was forced to mature much earlier than most children. Two years later, my sister and I moved to Konoha in hopes of starting a new and better life within the care of our home's ally.
Life was beginning to look up for us and I was able to take care of Kushina for another seven years before I entered the Academy in hopes of becoming a shinobi of Konoha. I passed in a single year, setting a record, and became a Genin under a man named Orochimaru.
He was definitely a…unique teacher who wished for me and my now deceased teammates to become legends in our own right. When the Chunin Exams came to Konoha a little over three years later, my team entered and we all passed. During that time, my sister entered the Academy and passed along with many of the Clan Heirs and Heiresses. She was placed on a team with civilian's kid and a girl named Mikoto Uchiha under the guidance of Tsunade Senju.
She was so happy back then…and…and it warmed my heart that I was able to at least give her some sense of peace after our parents' deaths. It's funny… I tried to be there for her as a parent, but all she needed was a friend. Heh… I wonder how much happier she could've been if I acted more like a brother and less like her guardian…
As the years passed, she found herself falling in love with Jiraiya's star pupil turned apprentice, Minato Namikaze. It started out as a simple childhood crush, but her love for the blonde boy was solidified when he was able to save her from some Kumo-Nin trying to kidnap her. I was away from the village at the time on a mission and was unable to be there for her. When I found out what he had done for her, I was ashamed of not being able to protect her, but I also began to respect the young man and actually believed that his goal for becoming Hokage was possible. He certainly knew how to impress people…
I myself grew to enjoy the company of my sister's best friend, Mikoto. She was such a pure soul and she was almost the exact opposite of most of her clan. Where they were arrogant in their "strength", she was humble and acknowledged that there were people stronger than her. Where they overly relied on their dojutsu, she used it sparingly and increased her other skills. She was a fierce kunoichi, a respectable member of the Leaf, and a wonderful person.
I started getting closer to her after she became a Chunin and went on various missions with her. They were my chance to try and win her heart. Kushina found out about my interest in her friend and was ecstatic about it. The two had a sisterly bond and looked out for one another. It was actually Mikoto who introduced Kushina to Minato. I have to say, Mikoto sure was a decent matchmaker…
Unfortunately, I was unable to tell her how I felt before another Uchiha named Fugaku wormed his way into her heart. While I got closer to her during missions, he was able to get closer to her during her stay at the Uchiha Clan Grounds. I never had a chance…
Nearly a decade later, the Clan Heirs and Heiresses became Heads of their clans and married. Kushina married Minato, who worked his ass off to gain my blessing (even though he already had it). Fugaku married Mikoto and they already have two sons; a four-year-old and one that isn't even a year old. During their wedding, Fugaku looked to me daringly when the pastor asked if anyone objected to their marriage. I couldn't find it in me to stop Mikoto from being happy. It was tough to accept, but I was able to slowly move on; though it's never easy forgetting your first love interest…
Kushina's other friends married as well; though, I can tell that Shikaku Nara, Chouza Akamichi, and Inoichi Yamanaka are whipped by their wives Yoshino, Sara, and Bara. Tsume Inuzuka married a hothead named Kamu and had a four-year-old daughter; Hana, I think they named her. I also recall that she's expecting another child…
Shibi Aburame married a quiet girl named Mika, and Hiashi married a kind girl named Hitomi. Both women were also expecting, making many citizens of the Leaf happy that the village would gain new Heirs and Heiresses…
I was still single, but I still had my sister. She was all I needed in the world because she's all I've had for as long as I can remember… Still, I wish I could've been more observant and noticed Mikoto quicker… Maybe then I could've had a chance…
Back to our walk, Kushina was greeting anyone who waved to her with a kind smile and a wave back. She loved Konoha, and its people, and she always put everything in protecting the village. Her skills with the sword gave her the moniker the Aka Kiba, or Konoha's Red Fang.
Her husband also made a name for himself; though it was during the Third Great War. The Kiiroi Senkō, or Yellow Flash, was his name due to his famed Hiraishin (Flying Thunder God) technique. I have to admit that he had a real knack for fuinjutsu compared to my sister and me. Of course, his skills were only around Kushina's level, which was Master Apprentice, while I was a Master Sealer. Combined, they were at Master level and they perfected Minato's famed technique. I'm still proud of Kushina's skills in making such a useful seal…
"Nii-san, are you alright," called out Kushina, breaking me from my trip down memory lane.
I gave her a warm smile and nodded. "Yea, I'm just reminiscing…"
"You do that a lot lately… You can't dwell on the past forever, nii-san," she advised worriedly.
I knew that; hell, I knew it better than anyone… But there were just so many things that I wish I could've changed… We were then approached by Mikoto and her youngest son, who was wrapped in a blanket. I smiled softly at the sight of her when I noticed how careful she was with her child. Though, I couldn't resist the pang of jealousy towards Fugaku… If I was quicker, it could've been my child she was holding so tenderly.
"Good morning you two," she greeted with a smile while we nodded back in greeting. "It's a lovely day."
"Yes it is," Kushina agreed before she tensed and rubbed her stomach. She giggled softly as she did so and said, "It looks like little Kairi-chan is getting a little feisty in there."
Kairi… It was my niece's name picked by my sister herself. She discovered the name while reading over famous Fuinjutsu Masters and wanted her child to be named after someone great. I have no doubt in my mind that Kairi would make a name for herself in the future…
"Kairi, huh? That's a beautiful name for her, Kushina-chan," Mikoto stated with a smile. "Maybe little Sasuke-kun and Kairi-chan will become good friends when they're older."
"Maybe," Kushina agreed with another giggle.
I can't help but smile at this part of the memory. Those two had a sisterly bond better than most blood siblings. If anything, I'm grateful that Mikoto became her friend over the years. However, I felt that I would just be in the way of their "girl time", so I wished them both a good day while promising Kushina that I'd be there for the birth. I always kept my promises… It went with my Uzumaki pride…
Still, I had no idea how drastic things would get that evening… To this day, I don't know how things went so wrong so quickly…
I was standing guard with a team of ANBU outside of a seal-protected cave while Kushina, Minato, and many medical ninja were inside. I don't remember how long it was before I heard her scream in pain due to giving birth, but I do remember that I had to be held back by two of the ANBU with me from going in to make sure she was alright… Heh, call me "overprotective", but I always worried about my sister.
Unfortunately, my worry for her distracted the ANBU and me long enough for a masked man to get the drop on us and knock us out. I don't remember how long it was until I woke up, but Minato was the one who did so after he made sure that Kushina and Kairi were safe.
"C'mon, we need to help keep the village safe from the Kyuubi!" he cried before he disappeared in his signature yellow flash.
I froze at the news. Someone had released the Kyuubi from my sister's seal and it was now wreaking havoc on the village. Many thoughts went through my mind concerning who was responsible, how they knew Kushina held the fox, and why they did it. I would've stayed frozen in shock if she hadn't snapped me out of it.
[Wake up! The village is in danger and your family is safe! Now go protect your home], she yelled to me and I quickly rushed off to help Minato.
I was able to get to the village outskirts in time to see the great fox destroying many buildings and killing countless people unfortunate enough to get caught in its path.
'This is bad… I'm gonna need your help for this one,' I said to my partner who had her essence mixed into my soul. I would go into detail as to how we met, but that's for another time.
[I know… Get ready], she warned me before I felt her power surge within me. My naturally purple eyes changed to bright green while my unkempt dark red hair brightened slightly due to her influence.
I pulled out a scroll and released my treasured katana in it. The handle was black with a red diamond design along the grip, the blade was stunning silver, and the guard was in the shape of Uzu's famed red swirl. This was blade; my prized weapon, Zantetsuken (Iron Beheading Sword).
"Ravager…" I whispered as I felt the energy that flowed within me shift. It became smoother and more fluid; perfect for what I had in mind. I focused lightning-based energy into my hands and had it course through the sword held tight in my grip. Many sparks of electricity surged through the metal blade and I swung at the Kyuubi with a roar of, "Thundaga!"
The energy left my blade and flew into the air above the fox before the clouds darkened and dozens of lightning bolts rained down on the beast. The Kyuubi roared at the electrical damage it had sustained before it began to gather energy in its jaw. I'll never forget the fox's power…power that was so dense that it weighed down on me even from the distance I was from the fox. The energy formed into a rough sphere, and the fox swallowed chaotic energy before it turned its gaze to me. I saw pure malice in its eyes as it unleashed the energy at me, the attack tearing up the ground without even touching it.
I was just about to evade before Minato appeared in another flash of yellow and held his special kunai against the attack. It surprised me when the energy sphere was absorbed into a space-time pocket opening. I knew he could teleport himself and others with the Hiraishin, but seeing the Kyuubi's attack absorbed and released miles away from the village left me amazed.
However, we both had a beast to take down. "I need you to throw me as far as you can towards the fox!" Minato said and I nodded.
"Commando…" I said quietly as the energy within me shifted again and I felt my physique grow slightly. I grabbed Minato by the back of his cloak, spun to gain some momentum, and let him fly towards the fox. Then, while still using my increased strength, I kicked off the ground and went after him. In midair, he tossed his kunai at the fox while I created a Kage Bunshin and used its back as a midair stepping stone to help me keep heading for the beast.
As soon as the two of us landed, Minato stabbed his kunai into the fox's head and yelled to me, "Brace yourself!" before we all vanished in a large yellow flash. We reappeared near a small shack and I fell off of the fox due to the vertigo of the Hiraishin throwing me off balance. As I tried to regain my bearings, I saw Minato and Kushina having an argument but was not focused enough to hear what it was. However, I was able to see Kushina finally nod in reluctant acceptance and Minato summon a small alter surrounded by eight torches and place a bundle on it.
My eyes widened in realization at what he was planning to do… I knew what the child would go through; I watched Kushina go through it for years… I tried to get up to stop him, but my body was still unsteady and I fell immediately. The fox, however, didn't have that problem and tried to run Kairi through with its claw.
…But it wasn't successful.
No, my sister and brother-in-law jumped in the way and stopped the claw from reaching the baby…but they received the strike themselves as a result. I froze in shock at the sight of my sister slowly dying from the claw stabbed through her gut… I didn't want to believe it was real, but I quickly snapped myself out of it and ran to them just when she finished telling Kairi what she wished for her to do.
Her last words to her only child…
"And…be sure to treat people…respectfully, Kairi-chan," she finished before she coughed up some blood and looked to me with tears in her eyes. "I'm so…sorry, nii-san. I know you always told me…to live longer than you, but I…I don't think I'll be able to."
Tears fell from my eyes and I embraced her, not even caring how blood spilled onto me. "Don't talk like that. You'll be okay; both of you." I couldn't accept what was happening… It was like I was trapped in a horrible nightmare…but it was real. "W-We can-"
She shook her head negatively and gave me a sad smile. "Not this time, nii-san… Please…take care of…Kairi-chan for us."
I clenched my eyes shut in a desperate attempt to stop more tears from spilling and nodded to her. "I promise…and an Uzumaki-"
"-never breaks their promises. I know… I love you…nii…san," Kushina finished with a soft smile before she closed her eyes…for the last time.
More tears fell from my eyes while Minato looked on sadly and went through the final seals needed. The last thing I heard from him was his whisper of, "Hakke Fuiin (Eight Trigrams Seal)"
A bright light filled the area, forcing me to shut my eyes from the intensity. I heard the fox's roars dull into faint echoes before they stopped completely. I knew it was a success, but I didn't want to believe it… When the light finally died down, I saw Minato and my beloved sister slumped over dead… I then turned to Kairi, seeing her cry out with a new seal on her stomach.
I slowly stood to my feet and walked up to the altar. My body moved sluggishly with the thought of my dead sister on my mind… As I looked to my niece for the first time, I couldn't help but notice that she looked just like Kushina when she was young… Though, she never had six whisker-like marks and her hair was red instead of the orange tuff on Kairi's head. The color fit her somehow and I couldn't help but smile at her as tears fell from my eyes again.
I gently took her into my arms, soothing her cries, and whispered, "Don't worry, Kairi-chan… Your uncle is here… Uncle Naruto will protect you; I promise."
I held her closer to me as I cried for the loss of my family… It was almost impossible to accept, but I knew that Kushina was gone…
Though, not all was lost…
Kairi was my new family; my new reason for living… And I would be damned if I let anyone harm her. It was at that moment that I decided to go by the name of the woman who gave me the power I desperately sought out to protect my family.
Lightning…
I would be the flash of light that brightens the darkness…The one that brings the light of hope to my family…The one who strikes down those who threaten them without mercy; much like a bolt of lightning strikes the earth.
Lightning Uzumaki and his niece, Kairi Uzumaki… It had a nice ring to it…
[The Sandaime is coming], Clair informed me.
Clair… She was always there to give me needed advice and strength. Over the years we worked together as bound partners, I finally earned her trust and respect enough to learn her true name. I chose to only refer to her as such as soon as she told me… It was hers and she deserved nothing less than to by the name she was born with…
I turned to see the old man come up with Jiraiya and Kakashi behind him. He looked to the bodies of Minato and Kushina sadly before looking to Kairi. "I take it that she…?"
"Yes… She's the new Jinchuriki, Sarutobi," I informed him with a serious tone.
Like Clair, I would only treat the ones I hold in my heart with kindness and care while anyone else would be treated seriously, if not coldly.
"She is my responsibility now..." I said in a way that dared them to oppose me.
I had two clones appear without any seals, due to holding Kairi, and had them pick up the dead bodies before taking them away. Hiruzen was left unable say anything as I walked away from the clearing without even acknowledging the other two.
There was nothing to say to them… What happened over the course of the night wasn't any of their concern…or business. This was a family matter; a clan matter. If Hiruzen wouldn't respect that, then I would just leave Konoha and take my niece with me. I knew I could do it easily too…
After all, I was known as the Shinku Arashi (Crimson Storm) of Konoha…and anyone who tries to stop me from protecting my family will meet their end.
Nothing will stop me from protecting all I had left in this world… Nothing…
(End)
And this is chapter 1 of my Naruto/FF13 Xover! I hope that you all enjoyed it!
Please review and ask any questions! I will respond whenever I can and answer as much as I am willing! ^_^
Next Time: The Aftermath of the Kyuubi Attack! Stay Tuned!