Hello everyone and welcome to my second story on this sight. Now for those of you that's read my other story may have been wondering where I've been all this time, and I can only say that my recent fascination with the Fate/Stay series is at fault. Just finished the Visual Novel and UBW anime and now currently on Fate/Zero anime. So yeah, that said I have this idea in my head that just won't go away.
Well besides the hundreds more, but that is besides the point. This idea is a 3 way crossover between Fate/Stay Night x Fate/Zero x Ninja Gaiden with very slight elements from Naruto, but again very very slight. The story will be following some events to Fate/Zero before sticking to Fate/Stay Night only with my own spin of it. :P
Shirou will be understandably different from his canon counterpart, but that's because of who he was before the Great Fuyuki Fire, which you will all understand after reading this chapter. I will however be trying to stick to some of his more favorable traits. I will be mixing in the Ninja Gaiden verse the best I can with the Fate/Stay verse so bear in mind if I make any mistakes please leave them in a review or message me, please?
Before it's said, yes in this story Shirou knows who his original parents are! But don't think Kiritsugu won't play apart in Shirou's life because he will...oh yesss!
Okay, with all that said, I hope you all enjoy this story!
"My son, in time you will come to understand the pursuit of power is filled with trials and tribulations of every nature at every given turn. But in the end, it is all necessary, for our way of life demands no less than the strongest. To protect our way of life, but more importantly, to protect your own Path of the Shinobi, you must become...the strongest." ~Ryu Hayabusa
The Legend of Shirou Hayabusa
Prologue: The Beginning
Many eons ago, before the time of the Gods, before the time of man, was a time in the world where the earth was in it's infancy. A time where the universe itself was caught up in a conflict between it's creator, Gurdur and the embodiment of Chaos and all the Evil in the known Universe, Vigoor. The conflict between the two supreme deities reshaped countless worlds and destroyed countless others, it was a conflict between Law and Order against Chaos and Destruction. There was simply no end to it, it truly was a battle unlike any other.
Yet Vigoor, hungry for more influence took over more and more of Gurdur's territorial expansions in the Universe. Taking one galaxy after the next, and the more it lost, the more Gurdur began break. The unending destruction of his creation was too much for Gurdur and in the end it split into four entities that became deities of their own. Each one representing a conceptual existence to their parent, Gurdur
They were Raptor, the deity of Sentiment, Wolf, the deity of Wisdom, Devil, the deity of Immortality and Serpent, the deity of Creation. Yet out of the 4 them, only one had some semblance of sanity while the others were panicking about their newborn state. This deity was Serpent and to combat Vigoor and it's legions of Evil deities and fiends, the Serpent planted 13 seeds of life within the chaos and destruction left in the wake of Vigoor's war. And as the four deities staved off the Supreme Evil Deity and it's forces of darkness, these 13 new existences given life by the Serpent grew ever so slightly stronger under Vigoor's nose until they each matched a deity in power.
The 13 seeds of life had evolved into the 13 Divine Heavenly Dragons, in their wake they aided the four deities and pushed Vigoor and it's forces back. Wiping out the darkness that threatened to consume all of existence. In their attack, they fought Vigoor for many aeons in a long, hard and fierce war until they were ultimately able to defeat Vigoor and banish it away into the Hellish world.
After Vigoor's defeat, the Universe was cleansed of the supreme deities corruption and the Earth was watched over by the 13 Dragons while the four deities reshaped the territories of Gurdur back to how they once were.
XxX
At the base of Mt. Fuji, shrouded in darkness by thick forestry and illusions, a lone village stood. This village was by no means normal, for it was home to a Clan of Warriors that were long forgotten by most of the Modern era, but their deeds were never forgotten in history. They were deadly beyond comprehension, their abilities in battle was rivaled by none, and their tenacity to complete their objective was unbreakable.
They were the best of the best, and on this night, even with the impending obliteration of their home inevitable, they were happy.
For tonight, a miraculous event was taking place, for a child would be born. A child of their ancient lineage spanning for eons was being born between their most well respected Clan Heir and their very own, Dragon Shrine Maiden.
XxX
However, this brief moment of peace never lasted...
For Vigoor survived it's battle with the Dragons, it's lingered spirit and chaos lived on in the insecurities of the youngest Divine Dragon. The youngest at the beginning held jealousy of inferiority towards it's brethren, for it was the weakest of the Dragons. And with the corruption of Vigoor and it's chaos taking hold. This envy, corrupted by Vigoor, only grew and grew, evolving into a deep seeded hatred for it's siblings.
As time passed on, life flourished on the reshaped earth, evolving life into many forms of animals and mammals, this included the very first humans, all the while the Divine Dragons watched over and lived in harmony with them as their protectors. However, this all changed when the fully corrupted youngest of the Dragons, now an entity of chaos of destruction emerged as the Dark Dragon. Wasting little time he plunged the world into an abyss of death and destruction. Shocked at their siblings betrayal, the other Dragons fought against their younger sibling, but they underestimated how far he had fallen. How far he had stewed in the chaos and in his own hatred, the sheer power of hatred knew no bounds, enabling it with the power, aided with the corruption of Vigoor, to defeat the other Dragons.
With their strength gone, they resorted to the last tactic at their disposal. They placed their entire faith in the strongest of the human warriors that they protected as their own. Bestowing upon them a gift, within one of their own fangs, so that the humans would have a chance against the Dark Dragon. Within this fang, the twelve Divine Dragons placed all their essence, souls and spiritual powers, creating an immensely powerful weapon. This fang would become a Sword unmatched by any other after it with the power that would bring salvation for all life on Earth.
And one human, the strongest human of it's species and tribe had the faith of the Dragons placed upon him. Thus, once he was gifted with the blade, his blood mixed in with the Dragons blood, creating a bloodline that would only allow those of his bloodline to wield the blade. And this blade was named...
Ryūken
XxX
The village was set ablaze, but it's warrior's stood to protect it, and the location of where their Legacy was being brought into the world. A wave of darkness came down upon them, people garbed in black attacked from all sides, but the warriors stood resolute. Defending their home with the determination and resolve that was expected of them.
Even though it was all for naught...
As the village kept burning, the overwhelming numbers that invaded their home outnumbered them 10 to 1, but they never yielded, never surrendered. Even as they were cut down, they still fought on to protect the birth of their Legacy. The courage they had that day would forever haunt those that dared to tread upon their ancestral home. Even as they were butchered like cattle, a single warrior alone brought down their own fair share before being cut down.
There was a reason no one until this night had the gall to attack them. They were the Elite of the Elite, the finest warriors to have ever graced the Earth. Protector's of Gaia, the Warrior's of Shadow, they were the Modern day Shinobi, and unlike the many other Clans of this modern era, they were unmatched in skill and talent. They lived their life's hunting down Fiends and other demonic creatures that roamed the earth, and this extended to Humans that dabbled too far in the workings that went beyond their comprehension.
They were deadly beyond recognition, and it showed on this night for they painted the soil red in the blood of their enemies. And they had many.
XxX
This human would become known as the precursor to the Dragon Lineage, and with the Holy Dragon Sword, he cut down the Dark Dragon. And as peace returned to Earth once again, the Dragon lineage grew as the descendants of that human passed down the weapon from generation to generation. Even as the Age of Gods had come, they remained in the shadows, silently protecting the world from the machinations of the foolhardy Gods and of the Evil Deities. They made many enemies, but in the end, none survived an encounter with them if with the intent to fight them.
Those of the Dragon Lineage were the undisputed finest warriors of every Era, no matter the age. They were the strongest of humans, bringing out the humans fullest potential, and then some. Demons of all kinds steered clear of them, Vampires of old kept as far away as they could from them. They were the original Demon Hunters, the nightmare towards all that threatened the Earth. They were the monster in the darkness, lurking around the corner to strike out with all the fury of a Devil. Not even Magicians that dabbled in the art of True Magic would fight them without a true chance of victory.
Thus as the years, and the centuries passed, the Dragon lineage evolved into every era, becoming stronger and more deadly with each passing era. Until they became the Dragon Shinobi while the priestesses of this tribe became the Dragon Shrine Maiden's. And finally, at the apex of the Age of Gods, this Clan banished all evil from the world, slaying every Evil Deity that showed up on Earth and any and all Gods that were corrupted by the lingering effects of Vigoor. Then they dispersed all the tribes, and allowed for human expansion to take hold without the influence of their 'Gods' having anymore hold on them.
And all the while, they safeguarded humanity and the earth, protecting them all from within the shadows. During this moment of reprieve they only grew in strength, while their numbers may have diminished in bloodline dilution, they only grew more powerful. Yet warrior's still trained to fight and protect the ideal the Clan was founded upon.
That is until...that fateful night...
The night when their most well respected Clan heir and their Dragon Shrine Maiden would be having a child, a child that would continue the Legacy of the Dragon Lineage.
But...there was more to the child than meets the eye, a secret shared only with those of the Elder's of the Clan. A secret forged by a prophecy from the lips of an Oracle of Old. An entity of Gaia's will given form, had warned the current heir to their Clan of what would come.
'On the night of the birth, the life's of many will be slain, and the souls of the fallen shall be reaped. The blood of the Ancients shall be drawn, and soak the body of Gaia. The fires of Chaos and the corrupt will burn and incinerate all that oppose it, but...in those flames a red star will be born, a dragon given mortal flesh, steel given bone, fire given blood. It will be that child, your son, that will finish what was never done.'
It seemed to be a prophetic warning of what was to come, but not even they were prepared for what came that night.
XxX
Watching his home burn and his clansmen die at the hands of his enemies was not a sight the Hayabusa Clan heir, a 23 year old Ryu Hayabusa wished to see on this particular night. He wanted nothing more than to go out there and fend off the enemy with his Clan, but something more important took priority.
The birth of his son...
It was supposed to be a momentous occasion for him and Momiji, something he celebrated more than most would believe. It was his chance at finally taking a moment of reprieve from all his battles with Corrupted Gods and Ancient Evils hellbent on destroying the world. A chance to finally have a family, but it seemed in the end his enemies wouldn't allow him even that. Then again, he's made himself to be an enemy to many top brass of the known world, for both the normal brass and for the supernatural.
'And there's also that prophecy...I guess this is what the Oracle meant.' Ryu thought, his vibrant green eyes narrowing in a frown. Being in his early 20's, Ryu had a youthful appearance with long brown hair tied in a ponytail. He was at the peak of human condition, due to his harsh training from when he was young and his many battles have only conditioned his body to meet the physical capabilities of any human and beyond. He was dressed in a sleek outfit that was similar to a modern Special Op's agent only reconstructed to fit his battle-style and physique. The difference being his tabi boots, shin and forearm guards, his long black tattered scarf. His usual mask and headpiece was non-existent at the moment, though it should be noted that he was carrying a large scroll on his lower back and a katana strapped across his back.
All in all, he appeared to be the epitome to his namesake yet right now he was in a rather troublesome situation.
His hand was being crushed...
''WAAAH! OHHHH! H-HE'S COMMMIINNNGG!'' the cry of his wife, a young woman who was once his apprentice and now one of the greatest Kunoichi to have ever graced the world. Momiji, his Clan's Dragon Shrine Maiden, his wife and the mother his child. Her long raven hair was matted with sweat and his tired hazel eyes squinted in pain, her fair skin was unusually more pale though that would be attributed to the fact the woman was giving birth. She was dressed in nothing more than a gown, but then again they hadn't had much time to prepare when she woke up at night with her water broke.
Currently he and Momiji were situated in the Fortress built into Mt. Fuji a good few miles away from the Hayabusa village. They were taken on the command of his father, the current head of the Clan, Joe Hayabusa. Apparently, while they were getting Momiji prepped by the other priestesses scouts reported back about a large number of forces numbering in the thousands heading straight for them. Which was why his father had him and Momiji taken away on the order to safeguard them and make sure the birth of his grandson went on safely.
'But in the end he gave me this scroll and went into battle...dammit father...' it didn't need to be said for Ryu to understand what he father had done. To ensure their safety, and the safety of his grandchild, he had effectively went out with the rest to repel the invaders, whoever they were. Knowing, Knowing! He would not come back.
But that is their way of life, Shinobi walk with death from the moment they were born, and this was no less true for those of the Dragon Lineage from the Hayabusa Clan. His father knew this better than anyone, and he too knew that as well, but it didn't make it any easier though.
''Cmon Momiji, just a bit more!'' he shook himself of his musings and held onto his wife's hand while casting an eye at the Priestesses in charge of helping with her labor.
The young woman tightened her grip on his hand as if responding to his words and let out another scream as she pushed with all her might. He had to admit, throughout all his battles and his experiences this had to be the most monumental by far. He was a man that had seen and battled various creatures, monsters and fallen gods throughout his life. Many of which carried the power to wipe out all of mankind, destroy the earth and engulf creation in an eternal darkness. But at this moment, this had to be the most memorial moment for him and Momiji, he was sure of this.
''He's crowning! One more push Momiji-sama! One more!'' upon hearing this Ryu could feel a bolt of excitement as he looked from them to Momiji who grit her teeth, and gripping his hand let out one last scream of effort.
''AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!''
And then as soon as she stopped, the sound of a newborn's wailing broke the silence, and it was music to the ears of the couple. Though Momiji was panting in exertion, her smile shined brighter than a thousand suns when the sound of her child, her baby's cries reached her ears. She could only watch as the maidens tended to her newborn. Cleaning him up before wrapping him up in a blanket before coming her way.
''Congratulations, Momiji-sama, Ryu-sama, it's a healthy baby boy.'' the priestess spoke, gently handing the wrapped up newborn into Momiji's awaiting arms. Though she had little strength left in his body, she had just enough to hold her child. And when the two looked down at the face of their child, their shock couldn't have been more evident. While Ryu was a shinobi without equal, and could become a stone cold killing machine without mercy. Even he was surprised when he looked down at the face of his son.
''R-ryu...w-what is this?...'' Momiji was equally shocked, and it was understandable for as they looked down into the face of their son they were greeted with a boy with a naturally fair complexion. But that was just the normal aspect of him, first his hair was nothing like his parents. It was neither brown nor black like his father or mother, but a loose tuff of blazing red hair, but if that wasn't enough it there was also his eyes.
Oh god his eyes...
Once the young newborn opened his eyes for the very first time the two parents were rewarded with the sight of two golden orbs with sharp slits for pupils staring back up at them with all the innocence of a newborn child. The baby in turn could only stare back up into the faces of his parents before tilting his ever so slightly before closing his eyes and letting out a gurgle.
Though this seemed to shake Momiji of her state of shock, Ryu was another case altogether, he could only look down at the face of his child, his son with a troubled expression. Though the joy in him couldn't be overshadowed by this strange development in the appearance of his son. It was the flash of what the oracle, the Prophet had said to him when he was in Britain.
''On the night of the birth, the life's of many will be slain, and the souls of the fallen shall be reaped. The blood of the Ancients shall be drawn, and soak the body of Gaia. The fires of Chaos and the corrupt will burn and incinerate all that oppose it, but...in those flames a red star will be born, a dragon given mortal flesh, steel given bone, fire given blood. It will be that child, your son, that will finish what was never done.''
'Could that mean that...our son is...has my Dragon blood done something to him?' truly he didn't understand what this all meant, but if it was what he feared than there was not much else he could do besides one thing. Something he dearly wished to never put anyone else through, but if this was anything to go by, then he had little choice.
He would need to start training his son in the few years to come, just as his father had done him. Not out of duty, but out of concern for his son, for the amount of danger he would undoubtedly bring would kill him otherwise. He needed to be prepared for what was to come.
Yet whatever thoughts Ryu had on the matter was crushed when he heard windows shattering, and it was only from years of battle honed reflexes that allowed Ryu to draw the Ryūken in time to parry multiple blows from steel daggers. But as soon as he parried them all, Ryu was bestowed the sight of multiple figures in black swarming him from multiple sides. Holding his ground, intent on protecting Momiji and his son, he countered the first few figures allowing him to identify his enemies.
'Black and white robes, multiple rapier style swords and short hilts. Black keys, so that means...'
''What are the Holy Churches Executors doing here?'' the steel in Ryu's voice alone caused many of the less experienced Executors to halt. But none could blame them, they were confronting a monster given human form, a man whose killed so many that the blood of his foes had stained his soul black and left him more than human. Ryu's very existence, to them, was akin to the Devil incarnate, and for good reason.
The one currently infront of Ryu however remained steadfast, even as it's hood covered most of the persons visage, Ryu could tell it was a male. '' You and your filth are an existence that we can no longer ignore. Your clan are heretics to mankind, and are no longer of use in this era, the only thing left is for us to eradicate your kind from his world in a cleansing purge!'' and without another say the Executor charged Ryu, followed by his comrades.
They had him outnumbered 10 to 1, the courage they had was in the numbers they had against him. Surely, even this devil in human skin would have a hard time against the Churches finest warriors of the Holy Fa-
Splurch!
That courage was ripped to shreds as Ryu narrowed his eyes, his green orbs shimmering with a golden hue that demanded blood to be spilled. He didn't waste time as they came upon him, he simply moved faster than they could ever hope to perceive, his sword cutting through them like a hot knife through butter. Slashing through flesh, muscle and bone. Spraying blood all over the room, but not a drop was landed on those behind him.
He was a wraith, a reaper of death, blurring into action with speed that was inhuman, cutting the Executors down with savage, merciless brutality. Dismembered Limbs and heads were sent flying and rolling onto the floor as blood sprayed all over the floor, walls and the ceiling. Coating his body crimson, but it didn't deter the Super Shinobi in the slightest.
There was no mercy to be given, Ryu slaughtered every single one, but in the blood haze Ryu felt several more presence swarm the fortress. The sheer number didn't bother him, it was their power that he sensed. A power he knew all too well in his travels and missions.
'Spiritual energy...?...No...Mages!' and his senses went blazing when he felt the magical energies building up.
''AAAAHHHH!'' a shrill scream alerted Ryu and he spun around only to see a sight that would forever haunt his dreams. Multiple figures, a few were notable Executors and others were garbed in black suits, notably the same ones worn by the Enforcer's of the Mage's Association. At their feet were the warm corpses of the Priestesses, and his wife...Momiji.
With a Black key pierced through her heart...
There was little in this world that could have caused Ryu to break down, to shatter the walls around his emotional state. One was the incident when he saw Kureha, Momiji's older sister die before his very eyes by the hands of the Greater Fiend Doku. The fury he held for Doku at the time nearly got him killed, but he could not help himself from feeling that way.
And this was just like that incident all over again...
''MOMIJIIIII!'' his scream tore through the darkness like a flash of lightning. He didn't waste time as he channeled all the chakra in his body to simply move. The slavic curse, Jujutsu: Satsuriku no Kyoushuu, coursing through his body responded to the cold fury building up within him, and he simply reacted. The sheer shock and terror in her expression pierced through Ryu's heart, in a blur of speed nigh human and more akin to supernatural entity, Ryu simply moved. In the blink of an eye, the half of a second of darkness to pass over, Ryu was already at her side with every single intruder reduced to nothing more than bloody smears all over the room.
His blood drenched sword trembled in his grip, his body trembled with barely suppressed fury as he held onto his wife's dying body. The curse on his body, awakened by his own fury and sorrow pulsed in his body causing waves of excruciating pain to wrack all over his body, but he ignored it in favor for Momiji and his son. His newborn child seemed far more sensitive to the situation as he was wailing his little lungs out. Though he could do little to quell his sons terror, for he could not hold down his own sorrow.
But, just as he felt himself breaking, he felt Momiji's push their son into his arms, and he looked down to her hazel orbs looking back up at him. Though the light in her eyes were dimming, the light itself was nonetheless as strong as ever. Even as her heart was pierced, she still showed the strength to give him their newborn child and give him the most beautiful smile he had ever been graced with.
Her eyes said all that needed to be said between them; the sorrow, the sadness, the pain, the acceptance and yet the immense amount of love for him and their child was all that was truly needed. And as she leaned down to kiss her child on the head for the first and last time she spoke for only the family of three to hear.
''H-his name...his name will be...Shirou...Shirou Hayabusa...'' with what strength she could muster Momiji bestowed the name for their child, and Ryu couldn't help, but find the name fitting.
Yet in his growing sorrow he felt her strength fade, and they locked eyes one last time, and in that moment she could no longer speak yet her lips moved to speak the last words between husband and wife, former teacher and student, and childhood friends.
'I love you, Ryu. Take care of our little Dragon...Goodbye.'
With her last bit of strength spent, Momiji's body slowly went slack, and in that moment. In that soul-wrenching moment, beneath the saddening cries of his newly named son, Shirou. Ryu Hayabusa felt as if apart of his very being had been ripped out of him. Nothing didn't phase him at this point, even as the presences around his home began to swarm around him, even as the smell of fire and smoke reached his nostrils. Nothing phased him as he just looked down at the corpse of Momiji.
The dead body of his wife...
The cooling corpse of Momiji, the mother of his first child...
The one who had been the shoulder he could lean on through his trials and tribulations...
'She's dead...dead...dead...dead..dead..dead dead dead dead deadeadeadeadead!DEAD!'
In that moment, not even the curse that afflicted his body could suppress the emotion building up within the Shinobi of Legend. His power, chakra, the fusion of physical and spiritual aspect of the world built up around his body. Engulfing his body in a aura of blue flame yet it didn't so much as harm the little boy in his arms.
But the outside world wasn't as lucky.
It was as if the gravity increased a thousand fold, every single Executor and Enforcer Magus in the area was forced to their knee's. The oxygen seemed to be sucked out from the world, and the light and darkness of the very world itself seemed to distort at Ryu's chakra. Yet he didn't care, even as the build up started to crush the fortress into pieces, shattering parts of the Mountain it was so naturally built in.
He didn't care.
They were going to die...
They will pay for this...
They will suffer for this...
Gently, he tucked his son in the arms of his mother before he knelt down and picked up Momiji's body in his other arm. Removing the black key from her chest before tossing it aside and into the skull of one of the paralyzed Executors. But none could so much as move let alone make a sound at this, instead when Ryu turned his shadowed gaze on them they were bestowed with a sight that would forever haunt their souls for eternity.
Orbs of purest crimson and gold pierced into the hearts of them all, and only then did he grace them by speaking the last few words they would ever have the privilege of hearing.
''Time...Stop...''
And as if the world beckoned at his command, the entire world froze. The passages of time stopped as his command, and in that brief period of utilizing a miracle that was infact a Sorcery. Ryu vanished alongside his dead wife and newborn son. But these intruder's would never realize this fact.
XxX
Appearing a few miles away from the Fortress, Ryu began channeling his chakra in that direction, opening up the pathway of his reserves to reinforce his attack to wipe out the entire enemy that attacked his home, killed his clansmen and his wife. The air around him began to shimmer as he began to do a couple of handsigns. Once finished, standing protectively infront of Momiji and Shirou, his eyes snapped open, brimming with disgustingly amounts of pure raw power.
''Ninpo: Senpuu no Jutsu!''
What came next was as beautiful as it was terrifying...
The black clouds covering the night sky swirled at his beck and call bringing down a total of 5 funnel clouds down onto the earth, evolving into a multitude of tornadoes yet each one having the force of a F3. Manipulating on his will he set them on course, with a painful wrench, upon his former home for where he was born, raised and trained to be who he was today.
But these invaders attacked his home, his ancestral home, and on the night of his child's birth, slaughtering his Clansmen, and family like cattle. The very same people who killed his wife, Momiji.
They deserved no sympathy...
And with a wave of his hands, it was as if Gaia herself answered at his silent fury and nature beckoned at his call and the 5 tornadoes converged into one giant supercell, evolving from 5 F3 tornadoes into a giant F5 supercell natural disaster. A behemoth monstrosity of nature's fury unleashed that ripped across the region with all the fury of an angry God.
And Ryu was long gone with Momijii and Shirou before this...
5 Year's Later
The outskirts of Fuyuki city was a very natural region where nature reigned supreme. In the far distant western corner of the city. It had it's fill of mountains and thick forestry that not even the most keen eye would be able to trace their way into the forest and arrive back where they originally started without getting lost. It was the home of Fuyuki's natural inhabitants, animal's of all kinds, and all of them stronger than most in the world due to one simple fact.
Fuyuki was the hotspot for chakra, the natural energy of the Universe itself. It was a literal surging beacon of chakra that made it one of the very few rare spots in the world to have such a well of endless power at it's disposal. Due to it's overwhelming power, those sensitive to chakra, the energy of every living thing in existence were sensitive to it, and by extension became stronger by it's influence. Wildlife itself was much more livelier than most around the world, and it showed with how plentiful it was.
It was perfect...
A perfect place to raise the heir to the last living Shinobi Clan in the world, and the next one in line to take up the mantle of the Dragon Lineage.
At least that was what a 28 year old Ryu Hayabusa thought...
Speaking of the Shinobi of Legend, one could find him in the deepest corners of the western forestry at the base of the mountain regions. Shrouded in thick forestry, and hidden by multiple barrier seals that shrouded his new home for the past 5 years, from prying eyes. The home itself was a traditional styled compound built at the base of the mountains, but was big enough to hold multiple residents.
But that was to be expected as this was originally one of the Hayabusa's Clan ancestral homes before they all migrated at Mt. Fuji. It was the ideal place where they trained young children into Shinobi due to the thick chakra atmosphere of the world.
It was also the only place left Ryu felt they were safe from those that attacked him and his Clan that night, 5 years ago. Arguably, this was the most secret and well hidden home of the Hayabusa Clan. It was also the most fortified due to it's position in the forests and mountains giving an overall view from above. Giving an eagle's eye point of view to see if any enemies or suspicious personnel were getting too close.
Which thankfully hadn't happened...
Yet.
'Although, I now know who it was that attacked us that night, but who would have thought they would have banned together to take us out.' Ryu thought to himself, exiting his home and walking down a dirt trail into the forest behind the compound. He had figured it out after extensive investigation, and found out that both the Mage's Association and the Holy Church banned together by combining their Executors and the Association's Enforcer's into a coalition force over the years just for the simple objective of wiping out his kind from the world.
And by his kind, he meant those that walked the path of the Shinobi.
Shinobi were, in the eyes of majority of the world, a myth, a fairy tale for the most part, but only the top brasses of the world's leading governments knew the truth. That they still existed, and protected the world from the shadows. They were hired through extensive contracts from various sources all over the globe to solve problems that were related to harming humanity and the earth as a whole. Contracts that involved the supernatural, strictly speaking.
And that was why the Shinobi were feared and hated by both of the religious organization of the Holy Church and the Noble Mage's Association. In the eyes of both, Shinobi were heretics and blasphemers, a dangerous threat to the whole world. Their manipulation of Chakra, the combined energy of Physical energy and Spiritual energy, gifted them with abilities that far surpassed anything a Magus could ever dream of doing. Bending the elements at their beck and call, manipulating Time and Space on a whim, enhancing their bodies to supernatural limits.
By some extensions they were indeed monsters, more so than even the True Ancestors.
It was thought that they just didn't like Shinobi for freely using Chakra out on their contracts without a second thought of the public realizing it. But it was actually made apparent that Shinobi and those that dabbled in the art of Thaumaturgy called Magus of this era never saw eye to eye. Since Magus saw it as a means to increase their craft and keep it private, Shinobi saw fit to utilize Chakra, the precursor of Magic and Sorcery, to protect the world and safeguard humanity. Plus, there were numbers of incidents where Mages provoked Shinobi time and time again with their incessant efforts to experiment on them at any given moment.
And there were also other times where Shinobi mercilessly and brutally slaughtered Mages like cattle when they were found experimenting on the innocent just to increase their craft. There was no greater sin then to do this, and all Shinobi made it personal to eliminate any Magus that conducted this kind of research, no matter what.
And that was a rule Ryu embodied immensely.
As for the religious organization of the Holy Church...well...they just didn't like anyone that wasn't human and therefore called them a heretic. Prattling on about them needing to die for the sake of mankind, and all that other gibberish. Coincidentally, Shinobi were just their highest target, second only to the Apostles and the True Ancestors.
'But now's not the time to worry about them, I've done all I can to safeguard our location. Now I just need to worry about Shirou's training, though that's a whole matter entirely.' and it was actually. The sheer thought of his son and how his training has progressed while raising has been, for the lack of a better word, interesting.
Actually, that was a major understatement...
When he began training his son, he first began once they settled in at this location. At first he started teaching him the basics of talking, reading, writing and other basic forms of academic study. Seeing as he learned how to walk at 12 months old, Ryu didn't see any reason to not start teaching him academically. Which is why he spent the next year till he turned 2 on the very basic of the basics in academic's. Once he reached age 3, Ryu began to tutor him in the history of the Shinobi and the basics of Chakra.
And Ryu couldn't believe what he witnessed, his son Shirou was displaying an intellectual talent for the Shinobi arts that surpassed any other his age would have. More so than even he did at his age, he easily bypassed his studies at an abnormal pace, and put most of what he could into practice and executed all of it, flawlessly.
And that wasn't even considering what happened once he turned 4 years old.
Whatever happened, when he turned 4, Shirou started to show signs of increased physical attributes without any change in his bodily structure. He appeared like any child his age would be at 4 year's old, but abnormally enough his physical attributes were simply unnatural. He had the stamina and endurance unlike anything he'd ever seen and the strength of an adult four times his age. His speed was also incredibly, to Ryu's own surprise, far above his own, but this led to Shirou having problems controlling his speed and strength. Having little to no control over his own strength led to some rather destructive situations and his speed led to some rather painful collisions with the tree's around the home.
Although Ryu did find a good bit of amusement in those events...
Though it was hard to train a child with such physical abnormalities in such a small body, Ryu made do with putting his son through extensive spars with him at every given moment. Testing his senses and instinctual reflexes in the heat of battle. All the while beating into him the basic foundation of the Hayabusa Ninjutsu style, an ancient martial arts that's been passed down through the generations and evolved through each generation. With it, Ryu began training his son in the aspect of Taijutsu and Kenjutsu, putting him through the early stages so that he would have a solid foundation to work on later as he grew up.
And his training progressed splendidly, he was advancing far faster than he had ever expected, and he was sure that if his own father was alive, he'd be extremely proud at how Shirou was turning out. His progress was outstanding for one so young, almost mind boggling at times.
Though this all changed when he turned 5...
If his progress was insane before, now it was just scary, and no that was not in any form a joke. His son, Shirou at 5 year's old had not only learned, but mastered much of the Hayabusa Clan's techniques. His growing mind was soaking up subjects like a dried up sponge on the beach, and was putting them into practice at such a speed that it took him merely days worth of effort when it took most other Hayabusa shinobi weeks if not months to learn. He'd already exhausted every basic book and scroll in the Hayabusa library, something his father had on that night taken precaution in sealing the entire thing into one of the many scrolls to go into the transportation scroll that night.
And so Shirou was now advancing through the intermediate levels and quickly reaching the more advanced teachings and techniques of their clan. Though he hadn't changed much physically, his physical attributes had only grown, but under strict order he had his son do his best to keep it controlled at all times. He'd rather not have another accidental destruction around their home.
But there was one thing that Ryu did finally teach his son, and that was to unlock his chakra. Every single human being on earth was born with chakra, but most remained completely ignorant of this. Others that under went extensive training were able to unlock a half aspect of chakra such as physical energy or spiritual energy. Martial Artists that unlocked their physical energy called it Ki or Chi while spiritual energy was predominantly called prana which was split into 2 categories by the Mages. The first being mana that, in the word of mages, was the energy of the world and Od being the inner energy within all living things. This was believed to be the true aspect of the energy born in every human for all Mages and others that dabbled in the arts of Thaumaturgy and Magic. But in truth, though it would forever be denied by the ignorant masses, these were only two halves that made a whole that was Chakra.
Chakra was the precursor to all the energy in the world, the natural energy of every living thing in the Universe. It could be attributed to be a miracle or phenomenon all on it's own though it would be a gross understatement at how truly beneficial it was.
However for a child born into a Shinobi clan, they were gifted with chakra that ran throughout the entire body in a vast network called the Chakra Pathway System, though Mages would refer this to being called Magic Circuits. It worked similarly to how blood vessels did for the blood, it transferred and regulated chakra throughout the body and into a total of 361 points or tenketsu in the body. And to truly awaken ones chakra, you would need to break the lock on your reservoir. To reach out into your mind and feel for your chakra and once you took hold pulled on it with all you had.
And that's exactly what his son did...
…..Never before had Ryu Hayabusa been more shell shocked from his son then he had been on that day...
It wasn't the fact that his son had a lot of chakra which was actually true, the moment he unlocked his chakra showed Ryu that Shirou did indeed have a chakra capacity that far surpassed even his own. But it wasn't just that which truly shocked him, it had actually been the essence of his chakra itself. Every chakra had a distinct difference to another, a way to tell someone else apart from another. Yet the difference in Shirou's chakra was just...different.
It was heavy yet sharp, thick yet hot. Upon it's initial release it felt like it was threatening to snuff out all life around him and bend the world at his beck and call. And to Ryu it felt like he was surrounded by countless blades ready to slice, slash, cut and maim everything in existence, including him. Not like killing intent, but in a similar way to when you felt someone channeling their elemental affinity.
But he'd never heard of an affinity that carried the essence of swords, and nowhere near to such an immense degree.
Due to this revelation he had Shirou start training to control his chakra with every chakra control exercise that was available. Beginning with the Leaf Concentration exercise and the Tree Climbing exercise. Even then he still put Shirou through extensive methods to spend as much of his chakra during the training before taking annual breaks throughout the day to meditate and understand his chakra.
To be honest, Ryu was exhausting every conventional method he could use to get Shirou's chakra under control before it hurt him or someone else around him. And while it was a tiring, it helped immensely in advancing Shirou's overall training. Seeing as he's mastered the 3 basic chakra control exercises, he left his son to figure out his own methods of chakra control.
To be honest, in these short 5 yet very eventful years Ryu was left astonished yet quietly proud of his son.
….Was this how his own father felt when training him?
''Though, you might just be more than a little angry with me for training our son so early, huh? Momiji?'' Ryu said, speaking toward the tombstone before him. The dirt trail ending at a large plot of land restricted for those that died in the Clan. This was a daily thing for him as he knelt down before the grave of his wife and mother to his child. 5 year's ago, when he retreated from his devastated homeland, he carried Shirou and Momiji all the way to Fuyuki all the while hiding from any stranglers.
After making sure his tracks were covered, he took them to the only safe haven left in the world for them, and that was this ancestral home for the Hayabusa. And it was here that he buried Momiji with a rightful burial. She deserved more in his personal opinion, so much more, but it was all he could do at the time.
And afterwards he made sure to visit her on a daily basis. Shirou never knew the truth of how his mother died nor of what happened on the night of his birth as he didn't want his son fostering any sort of hatred at such a young age. He wanted him to temper his mentality and be able to kill his emotions like any shinobi. He didn't want him becoming like him, a man filled with regret at the death of his wife and a vessel of hatred for those that took her and his Clan away from them.
Instead, Ryu took the time to explain in detail to him about his mother, telling him all he could about her and showing what pictures he had with her. It served it's purpose in giving Shirou the solace that his mother was a wonderful person, a gentle and kind woman among the Clan and an exceptionally powerful Kunoichi in her own right.
''You know...he's looking more like us as he grows up. Despite his hair, he has my eyes and your face. Though on the inside he has mix of both of us in him...but mostly your stubborn attitude.'' he said with a chuckle, which was true. Shirou was, if anything, absolutely stubborn. If he was learning a technique he would not stop until he not only learned it and every advantage and disadvantage it wielded. He would continue to until he mastered it.
Though Ryu quietly attributed to Shirou's stubborn personality as his own fault as he done one thing that he's regretted to this day, saying something to him when he first began his training. It was a saying, filled with a conviction that he wanted to his son to realize. But he never truly realized how impressionable his son had been, and took what he said to heart.
'My son, in time you will come to understand the pursuit of power is filled with trials and tribulations of every nature at every given turn. But in the end, it is all necessary, for our way of life demands no less than the strongest. To protect our way of life, but more importantly, to protect your own Path of the Shinobi, you must become...the strongest.'
...That had been a mistake for after hearing that Shirou's stubbornness became something more. It wasn't a simple show of false bravado of standing up in the face of adversity. Oh no, it was his own exemplar of his abnormal mental and emotional fortitude. A sheer force of will that was both brilliant yet dangerous. Now he never backed down from a challenge, even with his chakra spent and on the receiving end of more than a few punches and kicks he never stopped, he just got back up and kept going.
It was sometimes ridiculous to a point that he had to knock him out just to save him from further punishment in their spars, but the rewards in the end proved fruitful for him.
Sighing, Ryu lit up some incense at her tombstone and gave a silent prayer for his deceased wife. Though he wanted to stay, there was much he had to do today, and what time he had left was running out.
He only had to look at himself in a mirror to see that. After 5 year's the slavic curse placed upon him by the Regent of the Mask formerly known as Theodore Higgins was never truly cured. Though he defeated Theodore and the man at the end tried to cure him of the curse, it proved far too ingrained in his body, feeding on all those he's slain as a Shinobi. In the end, the only one who could offer him temporary relief was Momiji with her divine magic as a Dragon Shrine Maiden.
But with her gone had left the curse unattended and now it was consuming him as it had nearly done so 6 year's ago when he defeated The Goddess in Japan. The red curse had already completely taken over his whole right arm and was spreading throughout his body. Slowly, but surely, and this only gave Ryu a set amount of time he could work with. And there was only one thing he could do to ascertain Shirou's well being after his inevitable end.
'Not much time...' he thought, wincing from the pain coming from the curse, the only thing that's staved off the curse for the last 5 years was the particular white cloth wrapped around his arm. It was a holy shroud that negated the effects of any curse. Though his curse was beyond repair, it had slowed it's effects immensely for the past 5 years. Stalling the inevitable, but given him enough time to ensure his son would live on even without him.
Still there was much for him left to do and one of which needed to be taken care of now. As he finished and walked away from Momiji's grave he headed towards his home. Currently, he had his son performing a new training exercise, though it carried a bit of risk to himself it was well worth to bringing up his son on how to navigate modern day cities.
Such as Fuyuki...
It was the perfect method to training his acrobatics, reflexes, stealth and all of his senses. He was a natural to traversing through the forests, but now he wanted to tone up the difficulty, and put Shirou through even harder tests. And what better way than traversing the city of Fuyuki in broad daylight in nothing more than black training garb while wearing weights?
….
Whoever said he wasn't a bit sadistic?
Still, once he went inside his home, Ryu walked towards his room, the compound wasn't anything special. It was a traditional japanese home from all the way back in the Feudal Japan era, but it carried a charm Ryu always found relaxing from modern day buildings, and those over the top western architectures.
Reaching his room, he grabbed a small wrapped up parchment, writing down a name and securing it with his chakra he took it and walked toward his window. Giving a sharp whistle, he waited as a carrier bird flew in on his waiting left arm. Tying the rolled up parchment to the birds leg he pet it's head.
''Take this to him, little one.'' with a slight bit of his chakra he gave the bird all the directions it needed, all it needed to do now was follow the trail and seek out the one Ryu needed.
Watching it fly off, Ryu let out a sigh before leaning against the wall where another wrack of pain engulfed his arm and then throughout his body. Clenching onto his right arm with his left, Ryu inhaled and exhaled before looking up at the ceiling.
''You better get my message, Kiritsugu...''
And that's the end of this massively long prologue, but I hope I did a somewhat moderate or passable job in mixing these two verses together. I wanted to put in more for this prologue, but if I did it would have been far too long.
Now I know what you guys are thinking, was I smoking something when I made this? No I wasn't, but I do admit to have been slightly intoxicated during it's creation. Still, I am loving this for what it is because it's mixing up two of my most favorite franchises into one!
Now some will no doubt question that Shirou isn't Shirou from canon, and I'll agree he won't be like he is in canon, but why would I want him to be the exact same way? He'll earn those traits we love about him, but carry faults that we'll learn as the story progresses. He's not an OC because technically we don't know who his parents were so I decided to build up a heritage. If that's a problem, then stop reading, that's all I have too say.
Though I can say with confidence, he'll still retain his reality marble, but beyond that I can say nothing more!
EDIT: I have changed Shirou's age to fit into the criteria for future chapters, that said. He'll be around 20 by the time Fate/Stay Night comes into play, but until then I'll be focusing on Shirou's development in Fate/Zero. Though Shirou will have more to worry about then simple Apostles, Servants, Ancestors, Mages, and Executors. Being the last heir to the Dragon lineage tends to make you become a magnet for trouble.
Anyway, I think that's all that needed to be said, so please leave me nice long constructive reviews and any advice or suggestions you'd like to see happen in this story.
By the way I am still looking for a BETA!
Now have a good day everyone!
Translations:
Ninpo: Senpuu no Jutsu: Ninpo: Art of the Hurricane (Whirlwind)
Jujutsu: Satsuriku no Kyoushuu: Sorcery: The Evil Hand of Slaughter (Grip of Murder)
Ryūken: The Dragon Sword (The True Dragon Sword)