A large group of men and women gathered in a cemetery, the moon of All Hollows' Eve hung overhead. The trees, that were dead and warped, held their claw-like branches out almost wishing to snag a snack. An open casket sat under a demonic tree, one that seemed to have blood dripping from the cuts and scratches in the bark. The casket itself was that of stone, nearly black and seemed to absorb the light of the moon and the candles that surrounded it. Two scythes leaned upon the casket, the tips of the blades pointing to the inside of the casket. A pentagram drawn in charcoal rested on the side, facing the group.

"Finally, years of planning and we'll finally be able to release our king from his puny prison!" The leader of the group dressed in crimson robes said to the others surrounding him, the man's hair was black and his eyes a dark amber. "That foolish Hokage thought that a seal could hold him back, and that with the Shinigami's own help that it would be indestructible. Well he never took into account the ancient ritual from Demon Country. Soon! Our lord will be free and we shall help in the destruction of this pitiful village!"

The large group cheered, encouraging the man to continue.

The leader pulled out a blade, black and seeming to be created of glass, from the folds of his robe. "With the blade, we can release our lord and master. With the obsidian blade he shall return!"

A middle aged man ran to the front of the group, "Sir!" His face lighting up with a dark smirk. "We have captured the jailer, unconscious and ready for the ritual."

The leader's eyes lit up with a form of psychotic glee, "Excellent, soon our master shall be free, and we shall rule by his side!"

The group cheered again, fists raised in the air.

-Line Break-

A young child of six years sat within a pentagram, drawn in what looked like ash and blood, and bound by rope and chain. Eyes an azure that rivaled the sky searched wildly, searching for an escape. Blonde hair lay matted and caked with blood and grime. The child's head snapped over the the figures walking towards him.

"So this is our lord's puny jail, no matter, he shall be free of it soon." The man then turned towards the group that stood behind him, "Now we shall have our king!"

The child quivered behind the man, staring at the blade that was held in the man's hand. He was about to speak when the man spun around again and faced him, his eyes holding the psychotic glee once more.

"Now you child, shall be sacrificed to Death. With your life taking our master's place, he shall be freed!" The man waved his arm to the group behind him, five walking over and lit the candles that sat on the tip of the five prongs. Once they were finished the man opened a black, leather bound book. He and all the followers began the chant, the voices maniacal and foreboding.

To avenge the deed expelling
Thee untimely from thy dwelling,
Mystic force thou shalt retain
O'er the blood and o'er the brain.

When the form thou shalt espy
That darken'd on thy closing eye,
When the footstep thou shalt hear
That thrill'd upon thy dying ear,

Then strange sympathies shall wake,
The flesh shall thrill, the nerves shall quake,
The wounds renew their clotter'd flood,
And every drop cry blood for blood!

And with the finishing words, the leader plunged the obsidian blade into the child's chest. He watched the child gasp sharply, then the light dim from his bright eyes. A cruel smile gracing his features as he did so, enjoying every minute with sickening joy. He then swiftly yanked the blade from the chest, ignoring the body dropping to the ground with a dull thud.

He then turned towards the group, "Now put this useless husk into the casket, cover it, and then we shall wait for out master to come to use. We do not need any foolish shinobi searching for this pitiful thing." The group nodded their heads and grabbed the child and placed him withing the casket. Filling it to the brim and then hoisting it into an open grave hidden behind the demonic tree.

-Line Break-

The child open his eyes, looking around but only finding darkness. The dull blue eyes soon stared at where his feet stood, then sat down and brought his knees to his chest. He sat, unaware, of what formed behind him. A being of death and soul, a monster said to only bring pain and misery where ever he went.

"Ah," The child jumped and spun to face the creature, backing away soon afterward. "So young Naruto Uzumaki and the demon fox have come to pay me a visit? How unexpected..." The figure waved his hand, and a second later a large fox stood beside the boy and began growling at Death.

Naruto, who still quivered like a leaf, managed to gain enough courage to ask, "Who, who are you."

The opposing figure laughed lightly, but only succeeded in making the atmosphere even thicker with tension. "I am Death child, and I have a... deal to offer you." Death smirked slightly, showing rows of jagged teeth.

"What kind of deal are you offering?" The fox beside Naruto growled, not liking where the conversation was going.

Death glanced at the fox for a split second, before returning his gaze to the Uzumaki. "You see child, the world has become corrupt with power and greed. But also with the power to heal wounds and stop the mortals that should die, to not. Kami graced the mortal realm with that power to stop wars and such, but that plan merely backfired. I need someone, a henchman of sorts, to go to the mortal realm and collect the souls of the dead, and dieing before they can be healed."

The fox snared, "And what of me God of Death? Shall I be sent back to the ninth ring and wait to be summoned again for petty revenge?"

Death chuckled again, "Oh no, you see fox you shall be helping Uzumaki find the souls. Unless, of course, you wish to return to the ninth ring?"

The fox shook it's head quickly, "No, no, working with the kit will do."

"Excellent, so child what do you say? Shall you work for me? Or do you wish to go to Kami's domain?"

The child looked up to Death, "Why should I work for you and not go to Kami's domain?"

Death took on a grim look, while an almost angry aura coated him, "Kami and the other divine and holy gods were to watch over you as a child. Kami, however, thought that it would be foolish to help an unholy being. Namely the Kyuubi next to you." Naruto looked towards the fox in shock, while Kyuubi had the decency to look ashamed, "But if you work for me, I shall make you into something that the heavenly gods fear and the demon's of hell cower before. Something that has long since been forgotten."

"And what is that?"

"The only thing that can be created from that ritual those foolish mortals had done. You shall become an Ankou, a being lost in the sands of time."

Kyuubi's eyes widened, a spark of fear entering it's red eyes. "Ankou! They are a myth! Nothing more!"

Death glared at Kyuubi, "As I had said, they have been lost in the sands of time. You see child, the Ankou were beings that watched over souls and graves. They were properly titled "The Graveyard Watcher" but after the fall of the Continents and the rise of the elemental nations, the name and tale have long since been lost."

Naruto eyes then began to sparkle, "And if I become this thing, I'll be strong? I be a ninja!" His childlike mind, from both lack of acknowledgment and teachings, not grasping the weight of the conversation he held with Death.

"Oh no," Death started, upon seeing Naruto's downcast expression he continued. "You shall be something much more."

-Line Break-

And that is your first chapter, terribly sorry if it is short. Alright, so before everyone begins firing questions at me like I'm a criminal who murdered a few cops. Let me explain and give you the information that is most likely needed.

Ankou: Often called the grim reaper, and it's even said that the story of Jack the Ripper and the Grim Reaper were taken from the tale. The Ankou is "Death's Henchmen" and was said to be cast out from Heaven and feared by Hell. The Ankou is said to be made by a person of pure soul and heart being sacrificed by the Obsidian blade on All Hallows' Eve in a gruesome ritual. (The ritual has been lost in time unfortunately, or fortunately depending on who you are) Ankou are said to be both the collectors of souls and the watchers of graves. (You need a picture type Ankou in the image box and you'll find quite a few pictures.)

Obsidian: a naturally formed Volcanic glass, often used to create top quality surgical knives.

The chant is Death Chant by Sir Walter Scott

Also, before you even begin to tell me pairings for Naruto and other things I shall say this. Naruto. Is. Dead! That means no love, no sex, no drugs, no booze, no nothing. This shall change some events in the original storyline, but oh well.

And before I forget, and the lawyers come to take me away (Haha), I shall say this. I do not own Naruto in any shape or form, neither do I own the Tale of the Ankou.

Thank you, have a nice day/night

Wraith