Prologue: Survive!
There are many theories physicists are split on and are still debating to this day and age. One of those theories is the multiverse; a hypothetical set of finite and infinite possible universes, comprising everything in existence. Scientists tried to classify the various theoretical types of multiverse.
One of those is the second level of Max Tegmark's classification which describes our universe as a bubble coexisting besides other bubble universes that may or may not bear the same laws of physics.
For our story we will observe two specific bubble universes. Universes that chose to be too close to each other at the wrong – or maybe even right – time, a boy that may finally be rescued from his forsaken and isolated life and a girl that lost all hope after losing everything once again.
=3=
It is just another day in Konoha. The sun is shining brightly, a light, cool breeze is blowing and civilians and ninjas alike are going about their day to day business. Buying groceries, buying supplies, hanging out the laundry to dry, doing unimportant missions and so on.
Our focus lies with a small boy that looks to be between three and four years old. Spiky blond hair, a set of three whisker-like marks on each cheek and his rather petite stature for a six year old kid are his defining characteristics. He is no one other than Naruto Uzumaki.
With his 3 feet and 3 inches he was definitely small in comparison to other kids his age. Many might think it is due to an unhealthy diet or even malnourishment but it is just how he is. Small but agile, slender and fast. That is how he even survived until this point.
He is an orphan. An orphan that knows nothing of his parents, not even knowing what parents are. No one wanted to teach him, no one wanted to talk to him and no one wanted to associate with him. The reason eluded him but at some point he just stopped caring.
Unknown to him though was the fact that he was the container for the chakra of a Bijuu. The Kyuubi no Yoko's to be exact. When the fourth Hokage tried sealing it into him six years ago he summoned the Shinigami for help because he himself was already too weak to do it alone. What the Shinigami did though was sealing all of the chakra into the infant instead of only the Yang-half as intended by Minato. The reason being that the Shinigami didn't split it into Ying and Yang but into sentience and inanimate.
Learning to survive was not easy. Teaching himself to do chores, to cook, to read and to write turned out to be quite the challenge.
The first two years of his life were just like his days are now. Lonely. People at the orphanage he was staying at minimised social contact with him as much as possible; only giving him enough food to survive and then leaving him to his own devices. Their faces always neutral and sometimes even showing a bit of anger or disdain.
Other orphans at first tried playing with him but after he saw the matrons talking to them they stopped immediately. They started avoiding eye contact and him at all costs. Something the matron said changed their mind. Was he a bad kid? Did he do something wrong? Why do the adults dislike or even hate him so much? Those were the questions he kept asking himself but no amount of thinking brought him any closer to a logical answer.
That was the day the seedling of distrust was planted.
He also noticed that the ignoring and disdain filled stares turned to hateful stares on only one particular day. October 10th. It made no sense to him. That date has no connection to him as far as he was concerned. Maybe it was his birthday? Maybe something happened on this day that involved him? He resolved himself to find out somehow.
After two years one day the Hokage, the most important and prominent figure in Konoha, came to the orphanage. Of course Naruto didn't know all that, though by the surprised expressions and respectful behaviour of the matrons he guessed the old man to be quite the important person.
When the matron called him over he was already quite suspicious but when she told him that this weird old man got him an apartment alarm bells started going off. Why did this old man give him an apartment? It made no sense to him! He was just some random orphan every adult he met seems to loath for some inexplicable reason.
There had to be another reason. A reason unknown to him. Something connected to the 10th of October.
Even though he was wary of him he couldn't just refuse to go so he went with him.
Now we find him sitting in his apartment eating lunch, wearing a simple white shirt and black shorts. Reminiscing. Since that day the old man kept on visiting him from time to time to "check up" on him or give him his allowance. A kid can't work so he had to get money from somewhere. A couple weeks after settling in he tried asking about his parents during one of his "check ups", trying to sound as innocent as possible and the answer he received did not amuse him. Apparently he didn't know. The person who bought him an apartment for no reason at all, is giving him an allowance and is supposed to be a big shot in this village didn't know.
Making a sad face and feigning disappointment was his best bet at the moment otherwise the old man would've never left. As soon as the old fart left he clenched his fist while he unknowingly build up chakra in his arm and punched a hole through the concrete wall that divides bedroom from bathroom.
That was the day he discovered he had some kind of power or "inner energy" he can use and the day his trust in adults completely shattered.
During another "check up" he decided to ask what occurred on October 10th . At first the old man didn't want to tell him but with a lot of begging and tears he got what he wanted. It turned out that a monstrous being named Kyuubi no Yoko, a nine-tailed demon fox, attacked the village and killed a lot of people before it was stopped by his successor the fourth Hokage by sealing it away.
He knew the old man was hiding something. They always have something to hide. Things like how the Kyuubi and him are connected. He will find out sooner or later so he just resolves to get stronger for now.
No matter what adults do, they all have ulterior motifs. Shops tried raising prices by tiny bits for him, thinking he won't notice and when he called them out on it they just yelled at him and kicked him out, so he had to buy less and pay more to actually be able to cook something decent that could actually fill his stomach somewhat. He witnessed parents telling lies to their kids to keep them away from him; calling him bad influence or often calling him a demon.
Demon. That was the word he heard most when people talked about him in hushed whispers, thinking he can't hear them. It became clear he had superior hearing and senses in general when he picked up things the other orphans couldn't. It was and still is a mystery to him why he has enhanced senses but who is he to complain about such a great advantage?
Maybe that is one of the reasons people call him a demon. Maybe all adults know something about him that he himself doesn't.
Just another reason to not trust adults.
That is just another thing he learned to live with. If these people don't want anything to do with him, then why should he pay them any attention in the first place? So he is solely living for himself and only himself. It may change in the future when he is actually able to move to a different place but for now he is on his own.
Coming out of his reverie he cleaned the dishes and started his daily routine.
Ever since the day he punched the hole into the wall he tried simulating it again, trying to figure out how he did it. After a couple weeks of trying he finally figured it out. By concentrating on what he dubbed as his "inner energy", he is able to strengthen any part of his body dramatically, augment his speed and improve his already enhanced senses.
Continuing on with his training, he tried and still tries to fine tune this ability more and more; practicing every free time he gets, which is a lot for a child that has no obligations. The old fart said something about a shinobi academy and how he should go there once he is eight years old. However, he will probably decline even if the notion of learning new things is enticing, the cons definitely outweigh the pros.
During the three years of training he learned many things he can do with his energy. Quite a lot actually happened by accident.
One time he tried climbing up a tree to take a short nap but was quite exhausted from his training session – can't neglect your own body now, can you? – so he slipped up with his right foot and started sliding down rather fast. In a fit of panic he focused his Chi – inner energy is quite a mouthful and he read that word somewhere and it sounded cool – on his feet and hands to try and grip the bark with more strength.
What he didn't expect was to actually rip out a chunk of the tree with the force he put into his hands. While falling backwards he closed his eyes and awaited the impact but after five seconds of nothing he slowly opened his eyes to see himself standing horizontally on the tree. Afterwards he tried it a couple more times until he got it right and went home, satisfied and happy about his new discovery.
He was so lost in thought that when he was about to take a bath he subconciously put Chi into his feet. Wondering why his leg didn't feel wet he looked down to see his foot resting on top of the waters surface like it was solid.
These kind of coincidences kept on happening, so he started to writing those into a journal as well as how he progressed with each of his new abilities.
His daily routine nowadays is to practice his different abilities and techniques and basic muscle and endurance training. No matter how strong his Chi can make him, if the foundation is shaky, so will be the things build on top of it. Having a strong and solid foundation will only benefit him.
=3=
Meanwhile in the space between universes and dimensions, the Dimensional Gap, two of the strongest beings to exist were fighting once again. One to restore peace and quiet to her home and the other to maintain its stay.
Ophis, the Infinite Dragon God and Great Red, Dragon of Dragons.
While Ophis takes on the form of a petite girl wearing a gothic lolita dress, Great Red represents a massive red dragon with two wings and a horn on its snout.
These two beings of unmeasurable power often clash with one another ever since Great Red took residence in the Dimensional Gap while Ophis was away.
Seeing Great Red intruding into her home, Ophis tries to force him out as often as she can. Even if all their clashes end in ties, she will continue to try it. She will have the Dimensional Gap for herself again, seeing as no other existence can survive here without any magical protection but her and Great Red.
Attacks that could easily destroy a country or even continents are being thrown around nonstop, duelling for dominance. Punches that shatter mountains meeting each other faster than the eye can see, creating shockwave after shockwave.
Only this time during their fight the conditions are different.
Two bubble universes are passing by each other closer than ever before; weakening their respective barriers tremendously. Normally they would be still strong enough to stay intact no matter what happens but this time what ended up occurring was the clash of energy of two of the strongest beings to have ever existed.
Tiny cracks started appearing in a small area when they first traded blows; increasing in number after each clash of attacks. This fact though went completely unnoticed by the two.
=3=
Naruto just finishing up with his physical workout moves on to his Chi exercise. Starting out with meditation and letting it freely flow through his body, forming a blue shroud of energy around him.
To not be disturbed he always goes out of his way to find new spots to train in. Today he decided on one of the forests at the edge of the village.
By increasing the quantity and speed of the flow steadily, Naruto tries to strengthen the pathways his Chi uses to move through his body and to be able to dispense his energy more efficiently. In the meantime the energy shroud surrounding Naruto responds to the change and starts glowing brighter than before but staying the same size.
Unfortunately the shroud also hides away the tiny cracks that started appearing in the air ever since he began the exercise 15 minutes ago.
=3=
Continuing to trade energy blasts, punches and various other attacks, Ophis and Great Red finally come to their final attack. Like always, the fight lasted six days six hours and six minutes. It kind of became an unspoken rule between them to end their battles this way. This will just make another draw on the already long list of draws between them and it frustrated Ophis especially today for some reason.
Meanwhile the cracks spread out, looking like two perfect circles of glass opposite of each other that are about to break.
Forming claws with her hands at her side Ophis started charging her attack; a purplish black orb forming in either hand that looked more vicious than ever before by unconsciously channeling her frustration. She bends her knees a little, taking on a ready stance and preparing to fire off her attack in the direction of her greatest annoyance.
Great Red responded by opening its maw and charging up his own red orb of energy.
Unanimously they fire off their respective beams, letting them fight for dominance in the space between them and simultaneously creating a huge spike in the already dense energy that saturates the Dimensional Gap.
Just as the attacks start to cancel each other out, Ophis heard something akin to glass shattering but knowing that there should be nothing else in here she moved her right eye like a chameleon to investigate what caused that sound.
What she saw made her eyes widen in disbelief and surprise. There, in the middle of nowhere, a perfectly circular hole had formed, with a second one on the verge of coming into existence. What happened afterwards however piqued her interest a lot more.
=3=
While the battle between the two godlike beings was raging on, Naruto was just nearing the end of his flow exercise. The shroud now so bright it would've blinded any observer that looked at it.
A loud shattering noise breaks his concentration though, making him turn around. He only had time to widen his eyes in shock before being sucked into the portal that formed behind him out of nowhere.
Internally he was panicking. What did he just fall through? What will happen to him? Where will he end up? Would he survive? Once the thought of survival crossed his mind he steeled his nerves. He will survive! He fought so hard to get to this poin! He wouldn't let it all go to waste!
With that in mind he focuses all the Chi he can muster into every part of his body. Wherever he might land, this will increase his survival rate, no matter how slim it might be in the first place. Suddenly pain exploded all over his body. Looking at his arm he saw patches of skin slowly rotting away. Deducing that this place was hazardous to his health he tries focusing even more Chi through his body to slow down the process of decay.
Subconsciously, desperate to survive, he begins tapping into his other available power source; a much larger and potent power source. The Kyuubi's chakra.
A warm wave of energy spread throughout his body, a feeling of peace washing over him for the first time in his life as the Chi shroud surrounding his body slowly but surely changed colour, the blue aura turning into a radiant gold.
Old scars being healed and rotting flesh is being replaced. Feeling stronger than ever and with the knowledge of his – for now – certain survival, he looks down to see his falling-destination.
It was another portal. Well, at least it looks like one. This one though is still sealed, but he could make out a large amount of cracks already.
At this point he already knows that he only has one option left. Gritting his teeth while rushing in head first and hoping to come out alive!
It is do or die and he has no plans of letting it end due to some lousy, cracked barrier! He starts clenching his fist and channels as much Chi as he could through it, causing it to burst into golden flames. He rears back his now golden fist and as soon as he was close enough, punches the cracks, shattering the barrier and letting him fall through.
=3=
Ophis saw it all and what she had seen was one of the most interesting things she had ever witnessed. She witnessed a little boy falling through a hole in spacetime, into the Dimensional Gap, surviving the Dimensional Gap, punching his way out of the Dimensional Gap again, and falling into another universe or dimension. Fascinating. Truly fascinating.
Not to mention that strange golden aura he used midflight to survive the atmosphere and heal his wounds. The amount of energy in the boy was staggering! She must keep an eye on him no matter what. He may be key to kicking this giant lobster out of her home.
Finishing the battle in another draw, Ophis teleported away as fast as she could, her frustration completely forgotten. She has to observe him; see what he is capable of. If he already has so much power as a child, how strong would he be when fully mature and trained?
So much potential! So many possibilities!
Smiling slightly, Ophis skips back into some silent corner to observe her new object of interest in peace.
. . .
This is just the prologue setting up Naruto's basic character, how advanced he is, what abilities he might possess and his general mindset. More characters will be introduced in the following chapters.
Beta: Cuddly Cat