FSDYT's Notes:
Please do me a favor and watch Naruto or Bleach before actually reading this. Other wise you will be partially lost in some aspects. Though you don't need to watch both animes to their completion there may be some pieces that I won't give a full explanation to or a part you may not get. As this is a fanfiction. It is assumed only one who would enjoy such anime would read under the genre of their likes, but eh nobody really knows so my advice has been said.
P.S. you know it goes with out saying. . . yeah I gotta make some OCs. (This does not mean that Naruto or Kurama, the main characters. Will not appear! All this means is that they will not appear for some time. And I do mean sometime, so otherwise you will soon be reading the buildup of a long adventure.)
Otherwise enjoy the story for you surely will.
"talk" 'thoughts'
"It does not work that way"
"And why not father?" asked the boy softly unwrapping covers that were carefully tucked around him.
"Son. . . Our clan is a special one. Even though that sounds a bit biased. It is true. Because of that and the times we live in things are harder then what they used to be, I'm afraid"
"Why father?"
"Hm, you really are ever the one to want knowledge. Well son there are a few reasons as to why things are harder. In this world there are those with power. Power beyond the dreams of others. Since that is so, others grow jealous of such a thing but those with power are not alone as they usually have others with them who share that power. Yes, what I speak of are clans son. Some possess bloodlines-"
"Special powers, abilities passed from parent to child. These genetic inheritances grant unique abilities and physical traits not found anywhere else in the world." concluded the boy scholarly.
"Yes, that is right my son. Now some clans necessarily don't have to have a bloodline they could also have a good skill or something unique. This is all good and what not for those individuals but it is kind of one of the reasons that makes life harder for everyone on this planet. For most of these clans in this world have a skill, ability, or bloodline that is potentially deadly. Though it is not just them. Those born in to a clan can't help it and would not abandon their family. And those born with special powers can't help they were born as such but there are some that just become powerful threw training and become deadly for reasons admirable or not."
"Father. . . Your talking about the ninjas and the ninja clans."
"An of their being itself Arata. I speak of why we need to become what we must soon, why we need to now adapt and evolve"
"Evolve? For what the. . . I see father you want us to change, for the changing world"
"You are truly bright my son. Right now as we speak there is a war going on among clans. Countless numbers of clans. They are all fighting for one reason or another. Rather it be a past grudge or just an opportunistic measure they are all at war."
"Why would anyone want to take the opportunity to kill some one else?"
"The simple reason is. . . money and power. It has taken a hold of many. No longer are the days of equality and treating others the way one want to be treated are here. They are long gone leaving behind an ugly existence fueled by those who would take advantage to get ahead. The weak are targeted and the strong get stronger. Worse is that is just the way things are now. For a person to succeed they have to be ambitious. Or conniving. Rare is the few who are honorable. This new system is in full swing, fueled by those who for their own ambition will hire a ninja or a ninja clan to do their bidding. And folly is those ninja who would do the bidding of lowly men just for money and prestige. Yet, supporting yourself and family comes before ones' own honor and morals."
"No! this can't really be the way of the world!" gasped the boy now gripping his father's hand frightened.
"Tis it is a world of hypocritical truths and a way of living that is now just survival."
"How. . . could anyone survive in such a world?!"
"Threw adaption" supplied the man with a sorrowful voice
The boy grumbled a bit mad now "Well then can't you help those other people father!? You run the village! Surely you can help everyone else!"
"Ah Arata. That is harder than what you think. I may run a clan and village and try my best to protect both but to try to protect everyone. That is a task I fear impossible myself. . .maybe another though could have much luck with it"
"Then. . . then. . . What if all of us, as a clan and village try to help the world!?" reasoned the boy
"My caring little boy. . . You remind me so much of your mother. . . but allow me to tell you the history of our clan, one that may put us in favor of helping some but make us the envy of others. . . With this knowledge though you may succeed in your wild ambition" said the man gently
The Uzumaki clan, one that has it's origins as distant relatives to the Senju clan of the forests. Split from that clan many many years ago. For reasons not known.
All Uzumakis are characterized by the red hair, a trademark of the clan and their unique chakra. Though there is another reason that makes the well known Uzumaki clan special. It is the Uzumaki's longevity to live a long life equipped with great and even rumored super human vitality. Except even their extremely long life pales in comparison to their mastery of the sealing arts.
So talented in seals, the Uzumaki clan is a recognized titan and only true masters in the art. Leaving all others to struggle with seals like it's a new language. Able to make seals to do the most simplest to complicated tasks in the world. Having even built seals capable to enforce wooden walls to become as hard as diamonds themselves and marketed to the public a product called the simple sealing scroll, giving others the ability to store items in a scroll depending on its size.
The Uzumaki have made themselves a fixture in the world. As well as a very wealthy clan through selling their one of a kind sealing scrolls and seals to many.
An even with all their talent and blessings they still were blessed with even more, a certain ability was prevalent in the red-headed clan.
A ability the Uzuamki called the zanpaukto, soul cutter soul.
That is what they called it but any being who had fought a zanpakuto wielding Uzumaki in battle and the outside world called it a weapon of pure death.
They called it such for its uniqueness and most defying trait of the Uzumaki clan, the sword said by the clan itself was an extension of the wielders soul and apart of them.
Such statement was not believed until the weapon was made famous by three of the most strongest and famous of the Uzumaki clan as well as best wielders of their respective weapon.
The first was Chinatsu Uzumaki. Reported to be the first man to manifest a zanpakuto with said sword made famous by the astounding ability it had to cast water jutsu.
Such an accomplishment would have meant nothing in the forming Uzumaki clan which already all had natural water affinities but it made all the difference when it was realized his water jutsus were stronger when cast with his sword and very much unmatched when Chinatsu began casting jutsu with out seals. . . An techniques of levels that were soon thought of as myths. . .
Next was a woman who became renowned in the clan that was starting to produce members with zanpakutos, on a more stable basis. No longer once a generation.
Emi Uzumaki benefited the clan incredibly by her experiments, knowledge, and helping other zanpakuto wielders with her studies leading to the exclusive Uzumaki knowledge which she listed as follows;
~The zanpakuto are part of their owner's soul, a Zanpakutō cannot be replaced, though it will slowly regenerate if it is broken. It is generated by it's wielder threw solidification of their chakra in to sword's form. A process in which the voice of the sword, guides it's wielder.
~A wielder knows their Zanpakutō spirit very closely and vice versa. The connection is very deep, though in the beginning the connection is one sided with the wielder being unable to fully hear the spirit communicating with them. It is not uncommon for the introduction of the two (wielder and Zanpakutō spirit) to take place in the zanpakuto's world while the prospective wielder sleeps.
~Every Zanpakutō has its own name as well mind, and a body that controls their powers an a true form that resides inside their own inner world. Wielders are able to grow more powerful by communicating with them as they get to know their own zanpakuto's personality and mind-set which is commonly similar to it's user but is at times temperamental to how it was treated by its wielder. . . Threw training with their sword spirit the pair can each gain great power. As it's only with trust an a open channel between the pair will they grow to their true strength though this is better said then ever accomplished.
~Zanpakutō possess their own chakra, which can be sensed as any chakra can and is identical to that of their wielder though with subtle differences. Zanpakatou are born with the natural affinity of their bonded. It has been theorized zanpaktou can not gain additional elemental affinities as their bonded could. Though it is suspected that some could have other powers different from the elements of their affinities themselves.
~No matter what form (or size) a Zanpakutō takes, it is always virtually effortless for its owner to wield because it is a part of its owner's soul. Wielders in touch and in training to master their weapons become conscious to keep their Zanpakutō in a manageable size, otherwise they would be holding Zanpakutō the sizes that reflect their amounts of chakra. Therefore, one cannot judge one's opponent's strength solely by the size of their Zanpakutō.
~All Zanpakutō have two levels of release. The first one is Shikai (initial release) and the second one is Bankai (final release). If not in a released state zanpakuto will be in a sealed state.
~Most zanpakuto look like regular katana, with slight variations between them as one would expect between different swords. Their variations are commonly:
Katana: standard-size, moderately curved, sword with a blade length of greater than 60 cm (23.6 inches) characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single-edged blade, a circular or squared guard, and a hilt long enough to accommodate two hands.
Wakizashi: A short blade between 30 and 60 cm (12 and 24 inches), with an average of 50 cm (20 inches). It is similar to but shorter than a katana.
Nodachi/Odachi/Zanbato: blade length of 30 inches and higher, hilt varied between twelve to thirteen inches (30 to 33 centimeters). Its cutting capability and range exceeds that of a katana , due to its weight and size.
Tanto: (short sword) commonly referred to as a knife or dagger. The blade is single or double edged with a length between 15 and 30 cm (6-12 inches)
~The power of the sword, truly relies in their released state. There are a known two but only one has been able to be extensively studied.
Shikai: or Initial Release is the second form (or first "upgraded" form) available to a Zanpakutō. To activate it, the wielder needs to learn the name of their Zanpakutō accomplished threw training. In this form the blade changes shape and gains special abilities by chanting a release incantation. Using the special phrase (incantation) followed sometimes by the name of the Zanpakutō activates shikai. It is crucial to memorize each phrase, as every Zanpakutō has a different incantation.
The commands vary between users and range from a simple imperative verb to a short poem. They often relate to the Zanpakutō's signature ability, or hint at the nature of it.
The next release Bankai (final release) had not been able to be extensively studied as there was none a specimen to observe or test but from speculation the following has been recorded.
Bankai(final release): is the second and final upgraded form of a Zanpakutō. To achieve Bankai, one must be able to materialize and subjugate their Zanpakutō spirit. Materialization means the opposite of getting dragged into the Zanpakutō's inner world. Instead the wielder needs to summon the Zanpakutō's spirit into the physical world.
It has been concluded that there could be no possible way that a shikai or bankai's release hold entirely different types of power. Example being a shikai with affinity for water will not suddenly in bankai become a fire type.
Yes, Emi Uzumaki's knowledge had greatly benefited her clan giving them knowledge of imaginable levels. As well as her death was a great blow to the clan having lost such a genius mind.
Though it was with the birth of Arata Uzumaki the first, twenty years after the death of Emi. That the Uzumaki would have their foot hold and reputation they acquired to this day as a clan of pacifists but at times fearless warriors.
Arata Uzumaki was among the rare few in the clan to have a zanpakuto but of the first to acquire what was legend. . . The bankai release. Speculated in years previously by the genius Emi Uzumaki it was beyond what was to ever be expected.
With his astounding power Arata was made head of the clan. An brought it to it's leaps and bounds in to greatness.
Alongside him, his zanpakatou known and called by him as God Earth Spear. It was a sword of average length and seemingly dull if it's brown blade was anything to go on. Yet, it was a weapon of power for in it's shikai state the weapon was said to then morph in to a gauntlet upon Arata's hand that became the fist that could split boulders in to dust with ease.
It was also with that weapon that Arata and the Uzumaki fought off several many enemies that had the clan's downfall and destruction in mind.
And in time Arata had led the Uzumaki to their homeland of Whirlpool. Where he founded the Whirlpool village as a haven and isolated island from the strife of the world. Giving the Uzumaki clan a true home, they had a better chance to survive and a semblance of peace in the chaotic world.
Even if the peace the Uzumakis had did not last for long as many others thought to claim the large island as their own seeing the value it had especially because of it's natural resources, mineral wise as well as food.
Arata would have to then pick up his sword and fight again. Only to then rise in power to his legendary status.
Then after many battles of fighting off invaders, and even diplomatic missions of gathering a few select clans to the island who too were tired of the world's chaos he performed a act that cemented him in history.
With his bankai awakened, now from its gauntlet form transformed to a giant axe, it was said Arata parted the seas around Whirlpool island itself with a swipe of the axe to show the sea bed and inscribed seals upon them to create many more turbulent rapids that now surround the island.
In legend after the enormous task it was said he spoke the words "May the chaos of this world be washed away, by the whirlpools. Never to penetrate this land"
"Amazing. . ." was all the awed boy could say.
The father looked over to his gawking son. He liked seeing the boy speechless at his heritage but at the same time wanted him to know at least some of the heritage he was born in to. The heritage of their clan.
"Arata?" the man called softly at the still gawking boy.
The boy blinked a few times as if struck from a dream but then frowned "Father, you and . . . mom. You guys named me after that man Arata didn't you?"
"No. . . We named you after my father, Arata the second. He was a great man and son to Arata the first."
Arata sighed a tired sigh gaining his father's interest
"What is wrong son?"
"Father. . . you and everyone expects me to live up to such an expectation don't you?"
The man smiled softly at his nervous son "No son. It was truly just a tradition really. Although it really is just in honor of the great man who founded this land. Besides Arata let us also clear this up too, you do not need a zanpakuto to be strong. You are strong not because of weapons but because of a necessity. That is something my grandfather told me."
"Yeah! but! Every Uzumaki who had one was super powerful!"
"Not true. . . as great blessings as they are, they are almost impossible to master and most never get one. Your mother herself spent over ten years to master hers but only got to shikai level before. . ." the man stopped sadly but looked at his son who head was hung too at the painful memory, before he quickly continued.
"Well I myself never got one and it did not keep me back at all."
The boy as if realization hit him announced "You're right. I'll become strong on my own! Then I will show everyone always trying to kill each other isn't the way! I'll be like a super hero! Like Arata the first!"
"Hopefully. . . son. . . hopefully." the red-haired man bargained with a small smile as he tucked his son in to bed.