Naruto, harbinger of Darkness
AN: Sorry for being MIA a lot, but I am now back... Please enjoy the story and Review...
Prologue
At the beginning, there was nothing; there was no sky, no rain, and no sun. There was no earth, no ground beneath you, no water to drink, no food to eat, there was just the void… An endless plain of nothingness, an emptiness that just existed… Then the void grew light, a shining shimmering hope, it was a brightening luminous glow that flowed through the void as the darkness protected and nurtured it. As time went on, pieces of the light hardened and clustered together forming life. Life had taken on many names, but the most common one was Truth. Life grew and prospered under the rule of truth, it formed worlds and creatures, making humanity and creating peace… But life could only sustain so much, and so came in death…
Death was a destroyer of civilisations; he stained the ground red with blood in wars and ended entire worlds and species. Everything that starts only ends with death. He watched as entire civilisations fall by his blade, he watched the evil and corrupt claw their way up to their end, and how the heroes embrace him like an old friend. Thus was the job of death, to remove the old to make way for the new. To be death was to be alone…
Here he was, sitting before his old friend Lucifer in a court room decorated with skulls of the wicked, the enslaved; watching as Lucifer casually talked and bantered with him, making merry of his last moments…
"Hello old friend, have you made peace with everything, and said you goodbyes?" asked Death as he sat in the jewelled chair across from an exquisite chess set.
"Yes, yes, how come you are always so ridiculously hard to beat? Not even my successor could think of these moves" complained Lucifer, "you would think that my last match would be a little more dramatic instead of such a one sided battle!"
Death smirked at his friend's banter, "Sorry but you know how hard it is to beat death, though I am going easy on you, since this will be the last time my friend" Death said sadly, as he moved his knight to a key position, making it even harder for Lucifer.
"Yes, but as you say, all good things must come to an end and the old must make way for the new, at least I will meet my sweet Lilith after this, it has been too long since I have held her in my arms." said Lucifer as he reminisces the good times that have past as he ran his hand through his black locks, "Remember that time at our wedding?"
"Ah yes, I remember, I was quite surprised when you asked me to be your best man, but I suppose you left all the planning to Lilith am I right?" laughed Death, "I still can't believe you stole my recipe for the cake"
"Yes, sorry about that, but you know how good of a cook you are, I still can't believe you haven't found a girlfriend yet after all these years" said Lucifer as he moved his rook, "Remember the time when I asked Lilith out? I was a shaking mess now that I think about it. Those were the days when we would just joke around and everything, you used to have the personality of a rock, well before Truth came into our group"
"Yeah, back then I was a killer, you knew my job, wiping out the old and bringing in the new, thank the universe that they evolved. Remember the times I asked Truth out? Man she has a right hook" laughed Death as he moved his queen into position.
"You still love her don't you?" asked Lucifer sadly, "After all these years?"
"I guess but we all have to move on sometime, I guess after the right hook I finally got the message. I still owe you for that stupid pick-up line" Death said as he lightly tapped his right knuckle onto Lucifer's head, "Seriously why would you do that?"
Lucifer laughed before replying, "Yeah, the look on your face was all worth it"
"Yeah and the beating she gave you after was worth it" retorted Death as Lucifer unconsciously winced at the memory.
"You didn't have to bring that up" Lucifer said with fake anger.
"It was fun playing with you my friend, maybe one day we will meet again, promise that you will say hello to Lilith for me?" asked Death before moving his piece into check.
"Yeah sure, I'll be sure to prank you the next time I see you" laughed Lucifer, "I guess I never lost that childish spark of mine"
"No I guess you haven't," chuckled Death, "Goodbye friend, it was fun while it lasted. I think you have earned your rest, Checkmate. Another game sometime?"
"Yes, good game… until we meet again" sighed Lucifer as he flicked his king over with the last of his strength… Smiling as the last of the light faded from his eyes… "You were always a man of theatrics, your timing is always perfect…"
"Yes, but I am like that I suppose, after all, death is just another chapter in life, so while your play ends, mine will continue on, Goodbye" said Death sadly as he vanished in a dark glow, reminiscing of the old times before disappearing to continue his work with a lone tear falling upon the pale skin of his cheek.
*Scene Break*
It has been 1000 long years since the passing of his best friend and Death was still gloomy as ever. Sometimes he wished that he could actually die and finally have rest, but he knows that it is impossible, he would just get revived again and again. Eventually death had just given up hope on everything, he just sat in his palace, casually waiting for the time he would be needed again. Due to the ever evolving life, all life forms had learned to make peace with themselves and gain the ability of reincarnation… All except one…
Luminex was a vengeful, prideful and spiteful man. Ever since his father chose Satan as his successor over him, his own flesh and blood, he has hated everything. Spiteful and vengeful he was, but stupid he was not. He knew that his time had come, he could feel his soul crying for release, and he could feel death looming closer. So he researched far and wide, searching for knowledge, until he found it. The Ouroboros was an ancient technique used by the Atlantians in order to send troops to alternate dimensions in an attempt for ultimate conquest. The technique was so dangerous that it had a high chance of killing the troops sent. It was why death had to wipe out the entire civilisation as crossing dimensions was something unknown even to death.
'Perfect, if the trip doesn't kill him, then he will be out of my hair forever. I hope you have made your peace Death, because I will be forever known as the one to beat death' Luminex thought as he reached for a glass of rich blood, fresh from the carcasses that they were drained from, and continued to scribe the necessary runes onto the stone floor.
Now all that he had to do was wait. He knew that Death would come find him soon enough so there was no need to rush. Patience was a virtue… but it was not one of his…
"Gwah! What is taking him so long?" shouted an already impatient Luminex, "I should make camp. How ironic that someone desperately trying to escape death is now begging it to come quickly."
*Scene Break*
Clashes of metal could be heard from afar as Luminex could be seen fighting a lone man, clad in black. With graceful skill, the man could be seen wielding his scythe with deadly precision, cutting small paper thin scratches on his opponent, dancing around him in circles. Luminex has tried almost everything but all has failed so far. His slashes were all casually blocked or dodged effortlessly as he continuously sliced Luminex with precision. Luminex's sword was a furious blur, like a cornered beast Luminex desperately lured death into his trap. Luminex only had one last trick, one last trick to beat Death, but that was it, if this fails, then it is checkmate…
"Give up, you know that your time is up, your father Lucifer accepted it so why can't you?" asked Death as he lazily dodged a swipe from Luminex who was panting heavily.
"Don't count me out yet, I have one last trick, so just wait for the fireworks" said Luminex, "Dad was a fool, a coward, he wasn't even willing to fight for his own life"
Death looked icily at his opponent, "Don't you dare say that about your father, he was one of the bravest men I have ever met, he accepted that his time was over, and he had even named a brilliant successor, you are just spiteful that he chose Satan over you" he said as he dodged another swipe from his opponent.
"My father, was brave? Don't make me laugh, he wasn't even brave enough to fight you, to fight death" laughed Luminex as he made another slash at Death.
"Your father fought alongside both Truth and me, he also fought his way to the top, gaining the respect of many and the love of his life, he fought against his destiny until that one night 1000 years ago, because all things must end with death. That is one thing that you cannot change. Your father accepted that, your mother accepted that and even I have to. I had to watch two of my best friends die at my hand. You have no idea how painful it is to live" spoke Death solemnly, "If I don't collect their souls then they join the void, into nothingness. Is that what you wish for? Is that what you desperately want, to join the void and be turned into nothing?"
"I won't if I don't die, if I live then I will continue to strive!" exclaimed Luminex, "I will be hailed as the immortal king!"
"You are mad Luminex, you will never be immortal, that is my curse to bear, if I don't kill you then someone else will, and by that time it will be too late to save you" spoke Death, "I am sorry, but it must be done, goodbye…" Death said as he swung a sharp arc and disarmed Luminex in an instant before pouncing towards the injured demon.
"Not yet!" exclaimed Luminex as he led Death into a seal that was prepared for this exact occasion, "Activate Ouroboros!"
Death didn't know what was happening, one moment he was inches away from killing Luminex, the next he was slowly getting sucked into vortex of dark matter. He desperately fought the force with all of his strength but it was useless, the force of the vortex was two strong, even for death.
"What have you done?" exclaimed Death as he was slowly dragged away from his opponent.
"What? Can you not touch me now? What happened to all that skill?" mocked Luminex as he collapsed on the ground to catch his breath, "What happened to the…Argh!"
In the middle of his monologue Death had taken the blade that Luminex dropped and thrown it with such force that it lodged into his throat, instantaneously killing him. Death knew that it was impossible to escape the Ouroboros, his magic was being drained by the second and the runes were etched in blood, so it was impossible to destroy them without certain artefacts. 'Maybe for once I will find peace… Goodbye Truth… My next adventure awaits, Truth, I want you to know that I am sorry for everything, I must have annoyed you endlessly, but I guess this is it, I hope you find someone you love, my only regret is that I will never be that man… Goodbye, Truth… Goodbye my love' thought Death as he slowly faded into the portal with a tear riddled smile, knowing that truth heard every last thought…
Somewhere overlooking the universe, Truth felt a tear slide down her beautiful face. Her heart ached at the departure of her friend, she remembered all of the times he would ask her out while she would decline him every time stating that they weren't supposed to be together, how life and Death could never meet. Now her heart already longing to join him, 'Goodbye Death, killer of empires, hero of peace, brother of war, and someone I am proud to have called my friend, maybe even more. I now wish I was never so cold, so blind… If only I had told you how I felt… I hope you find peace where ever you are, you have completed your job here, and it is time for you to move on… Maybe one day we will meet again, but for now goodbye… Until we meet again my harbinger'
With that, Truth broke down… All the regret came smashing onto her like a tonne of bricks, the frustration and anger of her inability to save Death was over whelming, she knew that even with her power the seal was just too strong, and so she made a promise, one day when the world no longer needed her, she would search and join with Death again. No longer will she make excuses for her weak self, she would tell him how she felt even if she had to track him down to the edge of reality, to the depths of the void, she would tell him how much he means to her, even if he had moved on by then, she would finally say the three words that will change everything, three words that will end everything or create a new beginning… I love you...
*Scene Break*
Death felt weak… very weak… like an infant… The darkness that surrounded him was warm and comforting… as he moved he felt his fingers brush against another… he was absolutely clueless as to what has happened… the last thing he could remember was getting dragged into the portal… Death, now confused and disoriented could feel his energy give out on him… he was tired… very tired… Maybe he would figure out everything once he slept… Thus he fell into a dreamless slumber…
*Scene Break*
Minato was never a selfish man. He would sell his soul to the devil if it meant that a precious person of his would live just one more day. Minato was also an orphan, he had never knew what it was like to have a family, so as soon as he found out that his wife Kushina was pregnant with twins he was ecstatic. He waited on his wife from head to toe, tending to her every need. He had hoped for a son but was ok with a daughter while Kushina wanted a daughter. So having twins were the families dream come true. When Minato had found out that one was a boy and the other was a girl he had climbed the Hokage's and shouted his lungs out with joy. Until Madara happened…
It was the night of the twin's birth, and everything was going well, Naruto was in his crib, being taken care of by the Biyako while Naomi was being born as of this moment when a sudden explosion shook the entire vicinity. A masked man had broken past the ANBU guards and taken Naomi hostage. The masked man then threw the newborn with some exploding tags at Minato before releasing the Kyuubi from Kushina. Minato was unable to stop him as he was forced to escape using the Hiraishin, saving his newborn daughter. By the time Minato had saved his wife, the Kyuubi was unleashed on the village. With no time to check on his son, he knew he had to make his daughter a jinchuuriki as resealing the Kyuubi into Kushina would kill her, and the last thing he wants is to leave his kids without a mother, but he also didn't want to force such a heavy burden on someone so young, and if he used the Shiki Fuujin, she would also be without a father… Thus he ended up splitting the Kyuubi from its chakra and sealing it into Kushina in order to save her life and sealing the chakra into his daughter. What was supposed to be one of the happiest moments of his life was now stained with the memories of that masked man.
Minato looked tiredly at his wife and daughter both sleeping peacefully by themselves before departing to the room next door to check on his son and Biyako. There he found Biyako washing a surprisingly quiet baby. Although he was no expert he knew that babies normally cried at birth. He watched as Biyako dried Naruto before handing him to Minato.
"Your baby is a healthy young boy Minato, although his skin is unnaturally pale, it has no effect on his physical condition, he had only cried for a few seconds before he settled down. Unusual, but I can tell that he will be easier to take care of then normal, for one he won't try to wake you up in the middle of the night" chuckled Biyako, "So how is Kushina and Naomi? It must have been a very tiring day for both of them with the sealing and everything"
"Yes, but they deserve a rest after everything that had happened. I am just glad that both of them are safe and sound now. I can't imagine being placed in a life or death situation in the first few hours that you were born. I can tell that she was going to be a handful. I am just lucky I sealed the Kyuubi before it did any major damage" sighed Minato as he absent-mindedly played with a curious Naruto.
"Yes, well I must be going now, Hiruzen is probably worried sick of me" said Biyako as she left Minato to deal with the curious child.
Minato looked at the child straight in the eye and for a moment he saw age and experience. He continued to look at the child inquisitively before placing him back in his cot. "Don't worry, you will meet your sister soon" he said as he smiled at the child one last time before settling into the bed beside Naruto's cot as he finally drifted off into a blissful sleep, unaware of the puzzled look on Naruto's face.
'What is going on? Why am I an infant? Who was that man? Where are Truth and Satan? Why can't I understand them? So many questions left unanswered, I wonder what happened to me' thought Naruto as he pondered on this event. He thought back to his fight with Luminex, racking his brain for any memory of the time in the portal. Out of the corner of his eye he spied his appearance in a mirror and was shocked at the revelation. He was a smaller and younger version of the man that was sleeping beside him. Then everything had made sense. The state he was in, the language barrier, why he could only make gurgles, his sudden instinct to cry for a moment, and why he couldn't feel Truth nor Satan anymore. He was no longer Death the Harbinger, he was now the son of the man beside him, he was stripped from everything that he has known and thrown into a dimension that had different cultures and beliefs, he is now just a child with the mind of a being who has lived for eons. His power remains dormant within him, unconsciously locked and barred by his mind to prevent damage to his body. He was now Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, nothing more.
AN: Remember to review, and again sorry for the long vacation type thing... Yeah, Goodbye