'Till Eternity's End
Summary: On the night of the Kyuubi Attack, the sacrificed child was never delivered to the hands of the third Hokage. Another man had found and claimed the child, a man not of this world. And so, a young Naruto grew, under the guidance of none other than the SOLDIER commander himself – the One Winged Angel Sephiroth. Naruto x Harem
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Final Fantasy.
Note: The Prologue chapter takes place about 16 years before the main game, and one year before the start of Wutai/Midgar war. Sephiroth is at age 14, Zack at 7, Cloud at 5.
Note 2: The age of the characters will very slightly deviate from their official age for the sake of this story. The difference will be a year at the most.
This is my first fan fiction, so please be nice, and no flames.
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Prologue: Descend of Darkness
Estuans interius
Ira vehementi
Estuans interius
Ira vehementi
Sephiroth
Sephiroth
He stalked through the war torn streets; his Mako infused green eyes reflecting the cackling fires that burned around him. It was as if the entire village had become logs caught in some gigantic bonfire, great bellowing infernos claiming everything in their raging path. No one paid attention to the dark haired man as he silently moved towards the source of the disturbance, of this glorious destruction. Occasionally, men and women, dressed in strange garbs, charged towards their target – a titanic, nine tailed fox that practically oozed in malice and hatred as it came thundering towards the settlement that now seemed puny by comparison.
Despite the fear exuded by those around him, the swordsman was not frightened in the least. He had dealt with much worse foe, after all. And even if his Materias no longer functioned, he was still more than a match for the over grown beast. If they ever come face to face, his broad sword would severe the beast from head to its nine furry tails. Of course, he had hoped that this day would not end in bloodshed. Right now, until he could get his baring, the last thing he need is unnecessary attention.
In all honesty, he had no idea why he was here, in this backwater and primitive area in the first place. It lacked the sophistication and the technological precision of the upper plate Midgar, and the smell of burnt flesh did not help matters. Why was he here, when he should have been fighting against the Wutai soldiers?
He remembered distinctively that one of the high ranked Wutai warriors had charged some sort of an attack towards him. Of course, he had deflected the beam with careless ease, before running the unfortunate man through with his blade. Then his memories drew blank, and he could not remember anything afterwards, until he was wakened by the earth-shattering howl of the Kyuubi.
A spell that manipulated time and space it self… The swordsman mused over the nature of the spell the Wutai warrior had used. No meager feat, if I must say so.
He was rather impressed. It was true that Wutai, a place almost devoid of technology, could not hope to match Midgar or Shin-Ra in terms of firepower. However, they made up for it with innovation. This is why even now; Shin-Ra is still so hesitant in their war plan.
However, he was jarred out of his reverie as one of the warriors in the village patted him on the back roughly. The man was bleeding from several scars, and seemed to have lost right eye a moment ago.
"I don't think I've seen you around before, stranger." The shinobi said in a low growl, trying to ignore the throbbing pain. "But you look like a fighter to me, and hell, we need all the help we could get."
The swordsman looked slightly annoyed for a moment, but nodded nonetheless. "Very well." He agreed as he tightened his grip up the hilt of the knight saber that was strapped to his waist.
The ninja returned the nod and began to speed towards the site of the Kyuubi. Before he could get a few feet however, the swordsman called out to him.
"Here, I think this will help." With that, the man extended his right hand, glowing with a soft aura. A soothing green light washed over the injured shinobi, and almost instantly, the bleeding stopped and most of the wounds began to heal at a visible rate.
The shinobi looked startled as he examined his body. "You a medic?" he asked in shock.
The raven-haired warrior simply shook his head.
"No, I'm with SOLDIER."
With that, the SOLDIER walked passed the stunned shinobi, his eyes glowing with supernatural in the scorching winds of despair.
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Estuans interius
Ira vehementi
Estuans interius
Ira vehementi
Sephiroth
Sephiroth
The tail of the Kyuubi slammed down heavily against the earth, causing several stone spike to shoot upward, impaling half a dozen Chunin who were caught unaware. Some of them died instantly, the sharp rocks piercing their vital organs. They were the lucky ones.
"Bawhahahaha!" The great demon fox roared as he scooped up a handful of ninjas with one paw, and tossed them carelessly into the sky above. "Behold humans! The instrument of thy destruction has arrived! Suffer and burn in my flames of hatred, and wallow in thy miseries for all of eternity!"
So spoke the fox as fire shot out from his throat, consuming a dozen Jonins in its blistering heat.
"Hold your positions until the Hokage can get here!" One of the Jonins screamed as several more shinobis were flung back by the fox's immense powers.
It was utter carnage throughout, and the swordsman watched it all from afar with mild interest.
It was pitiful to say the least. These shinobis – at least that is what he thought they were called – are absolutely the worst warriors he had ever seen. Their techniques, which seemed to be performed with some sort of hand movement, are a disgrace. Even mid leveled magic packs more punch than that!
He saw with a shake of his head as one of the ninjas breathed fire from its mouth, forming a dragon of blazing flames that streaked towards the fox, only to singe its fur. Pathetic. A Fira spell could do far more damage.
If this is the full extent of the strength that these people possessed, then they deserved whatever end coming to them. The world is cruel and unsympathetic, its mercies reserved only for the strong. Such was natural selection at its most brutal.
He had heard some one in the crowd call the great creature a demon. A demon? What of it? If they cower in fear just because their opponent happened to prove the stronger, then they are pitiful indeed. For only in conflict does one grow stronger, and only in death can one defy fate. SOLDIERs understood the concept, and thrived in carnage.
Right now, however, he had matters that are more important at hand than to teach those shinobis the true meaning of strength. He had almost found a way back to his world – for whatever this place is it was definitely not the same place he had come. For one thing, the Materias are useless here, an impossibility since the life stream from which the Materias drew power circles the entire planet. For the Materias to be totally cut off from the life stream, there was only one explanation.
Looks like he's not in Kansas anymore.
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Sors immanis
Et inanis
Sors immanis
Et inanis
The fourth Hokage swore as he dodged another falling tree branch. The entire forest was on fire, hungry embers licking at the dried leaves and grasses. Damn it all! He was not going to make it on time!
He had been on some special S ranked mission when he received the urgent summoning from one of his ANBU subordinates. He knew that the ANBU would not have asked for his attention unless something dramatic had taken place, but nothing had prepared him for this. How could anyone expect the demon fox to just drop in and say hi?
He was not going to make it on time. The chakra around Konoha is wild, unpredictable, fluctuating in their intensity. In all this chaos, Yondaime could not even begin to locate the seal he had placed in Konoha in order to perform his Hiraishin no Jutsu. The Flying Thunder God Technique had taken him as far as the edge of the forest that surrounded Konoha, but no more. The rest of the way must be made on foot.
They had been far too lax after the Iwa-Konoha war. Peace is fine, but it dulls the senses and clouds the mind – a dangerous thing for a shinobi. They were totally unprepared for the fox's invasion, and now they are paying the price.
He could hear the screams of the dying as he sped through the woods, his eyes narrowed in barely suppressed anger, Yondaime tried to block out the sound from his ears. A shinobi must remain emotionless at all times while confronting an opponent stronger than he is, the Fourth reminded himself coldly, and his enemy would be none other than the nine tailed fox himself.
It was a battle that he had little chance of winning, but still, he had to try. On the day he became Hokage, he had made a silent promise beneath the Hokage Monument. He will protect Konoha with his life, if there is even one person left to save.
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Estuans interius
Ira vehementi
Estuans interius
Ira vehementi
Sephiroth
Sephiroth
The swordsman looked up in slight surprise as he felt a spike in the energy level of the place. Granted, it was a minor spike, almost infinitesimal compared to the relatively massive Mana that the fox generated.
However, he had taken notice of it, when the others would not. After all, he was not a First Classed SOLDIER for nothing.
So, another piece is added to the playing field. The swordsman mused with interest as he regarded the scene of complete pandemonium around him. I wonder how this will alter the game at hand.
That man, for the Mana signature the new comer radiated is human in nature, would never make it on time. He is fast, for someone outside of the SOLDIER, that is. This much the swordsman was willing to admit. However, without any teleportation spell to aid him, he would never reach this village before it is burned to the ground.
Should he help the man, then? The warrior wondered. True, he did not want to involve himself in such pitiful battle, but…
At this, the pale swordsman grinned darkly. He did want to see how this fight would reach its conclusion. "For your sake." He muttered silently as his being began to fade away. "You had better put on one hell of a show for me."
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Veni, veni, venias,
Ne me mori facias
Veni, veni, venias,
Ne me mori facias
Yondaime looked up in surprise at the figure that blocked his path. The man was in his thirties, tall and rather handsome, in a cold and emotionless way. Short black hair rose in spikes on his head. His features were sharp, though slightly pale.
The man wore what seemed to be a blue combat uniform, with twin brown straps extending out from the belt, over both shoulders, and secured in place at the other end of the belt. Twin metallic shoulder guards were set up his suit, though they seemed to serve as decoration more than anything. Gloves of a strange material encased the stranger's hands, giving off an unearthly glow beneath the moon light. A single broadsword was secured at the stranger's waist, one that could no doubt deal out much destruction.
But the most unsettling thing about the stranger was still his eyes. Though green eyes were not unusual amongst the populace of Konoha, eyes that shined an eerie light on the other hand, were.
"Who are you?" The Yondaime asked uncertainly. "Friend or foe?" Even as he waited for the answer, his hand reached towards one of the kunais strapped behind his belt.
The swordsman held up a hand in response. "That depends. Who are you?"
The Fourth Hokage grabbed the hilt of the small throwing dagger. "I am the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, and I suggest you move away. As you surely can see, my village is under assault from that demonic beast. Do not get in my way, or I WILL kill you!"
The figure laughed, an unsettling sound, cruel and dark. "In that case, put away that toy of a knife that you call weapon. I am here to lend you my aid. You will never reach your precious village otherwise."
The Yondaime loosened his grip in surprise. "What? But why?"
The swordsman chuckled again, a condescending, mocking sound.
"My motive is my own, Hokage." He smirked as he began to draw upon the Mana that surrounded them both. "Though I would suggest that you do not turn down help when it is being offered, especially in such… critical time."
"Damn! It's almost breached our defenses! It cannot reach the village!" From the distant came the loud cry.
"I think your men do not have much time to waste." The swordsman observed casually.
The young Hokage nodded.
"Very good." The swordsman smiled in self-satisfaction. "Let us get going then." With a quick gesture, both he and the Yondaime disappeared from the forest clearing, leaving only his parting words hanging silently in the night air.
"By the way, my name is Zeon."
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Veni, veni, venias,
Ne me mori facias
Veni, veni, venias,
Ne me mori facias
Yondaime cursed again as he narrowly dodged the fox's attack. Nothing was working on the demon! Even his most prized Rasengan could barely leave a mark on the beast's fiery furs. Damn it all.
The stranger who had called himself Zeon was nowhere to be found. The Yondaime had the oddest feeling that if Zeon had wanted to, he could have defeated the demon. Then again, even if he could, the Yondaime would not burden another with his own battle.
This is his village, this is his fight, even if it means to the death.
But how can one fight against an opponent that could not be beaten? The Yondaime's brain worked furiously as he sought the answers, and in came in the form of a memory.
It was his predecessor, the Sandaime Hokage, who had showed it to him.
"Remember, Yondaime (1)." The old man had said as he drew opened the weathered scroll, dust and god knows what else filled the ancient chamber, wherein contained the deepest secrets of Konohagakure. "Of all the forbidden techniques that I have showed to you, of all the powers held by we, the Hokages, this Jutsu is the most terrible and cruel by far. Swear to me now that you will never attempt this unless nothing short of absolute doom has befallen our village."
Sarutobi's eyes grew deadly serious as he gazed into Yondaime's own. There was no laughter within those eyes, nor the optimism and a slight lecherous air that had always been present in the old Hokage's eyes. There was only a great sadness.
"Why?" The newly installed Yondaime had asked. The technique, now that he had glimpsed at it, seemed unrealistically powerful, supposedly able to seal away any and all living things. Such a seal does not come without a price, thought Yondaime, whose own sensei, Jiraiya had been a master of the sealing art.
"Because," The Sandaime began in a grave tone. "To use this technique requires the ultimate sacrifice."
The Yondaime nodded, he had expected this. The stronger the Jutsu, the heavier the price, such is the way of things, always had been.
"What kind of price?"
"A human life." From the old man came the shocking response.
Yondaime had not been prepared for that answer. A human life?! What kind of monstrous Jutsu would require a living sacrifice! How could something so vile be part of Konoha's history?
There have been techniques that required living sacrifices before, but those were practiced by the most despicable kinds of villains and low life. But the Fourth could not understand why such a hateful practice would be found here of all places.
Seeing his successor's shocked expression, the smile – if one could call it that – on Sarutobi's face grew more pained. "This is called the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. It allows the user to summon the Death God Shinigami, at the cost of his own soul. However, the scroll you now see is an extension of this technique, one that is more atrocious by far."
He continued, ignoring the look of disbelief the Fourth shot him. Something even worse than human sacrifice? "This Jutsu does not require just any human life… it requires the life of the most innocent of all, a being upon whom no sin, no evil could leave its mark… making the act of this sealing the greatest crime of all."
The old Hokage's next words seemed to the Fourth, as if they had been spoken by the devil himself.
"It also requires the sacrifice of a new born child."
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Veni, veni, venias, (Gloriosa)
Ne me mori facias (Generosa)
Veni, veni, venias, (Gloriosa)
Ne me mori facias (Generosa)
"I am so sorry…" The Yondaime spoke softly, unaware of the chaos all around him as he stared into the child lying asleep in his hands. "Forgive me, spirits of the heaven and earth… forgive me, child… for what I am about to do…. There is no other way."
Allowing a single tear to fall free from his eyes, the Hokage began the forbidden ritual.
Above him, Zeon took it all in with cold detachment. So, the man was willing to pay any price necessary in order for victory. Good for him. Zeon knew only too well the feeling. In war, the good of the many always comes first.
Once he too had been carefree and cheerful, as all children had been. Then when he joined SOLDIER, when he made his first choice in battle, his childhood had died inside of him, and the warrior took its place.
Emotions were for the weak. And so Zeon stripped himself of it. He had forged his mind into a chisel, removing mercilessly anything that weakened him. He had become the ultimate swordsman, and in exchange, he had given up his humanity.
It was a difficult price to pay, no doubt. But if he were offered the choice again, he would have taken it still. There some things that cannot be changed… the nature of men being one of them.
Below him, the Fourth had nearly finished the preparation. Strange arcane symbols were painted all around the screaming child, and six low burning candles – the only source of light and heat in the small room – encircled him.
With the final brush stroke that finished the sealing, the Yondaime begin to chant in an alien tone. Only those of the Kage level would have recognized the words for what they are – the incantation necessary for summoning one of the most powerful deity in the astral plane. Yondaime was going to summon the Shinigami, and imprison the spirit of the fox, forever.
As the last syllable left his lips, a whoosh of dark fire roared to life from the candles, as a phantom figure appeared above the now sleeping child. Wisps of ghostly flames burned around the translucent god, giving him an unearthly aura.
"Who hath summoned this one to the mortal planes?" The death god demanded as his (?) hollow eyes searched the premise of the room, coming to rest upon the kneeling figure of the Yondaime, who had spent much of his chakra in the summoning attempt.
"I, great one." Came the shuddering response as the Hokage tried to regain his energy. "I have called thee forth to aid me in the sealing of a great evil."
The Shinigami remained unimpressed as he waited to hear the rest of the story. Good and evil are moral applications not associated with those who dealt with death. "What is it that thou wish this one to seal?"
The Yondaime gave one last look at the doomed child and steeled his voice. "The nine tailed fox – Kyuubi."
At this, the Shinigami looked surprised. "The demon fox's power is formidable; even I could not contain the soul of one such as that."
The Yondaime nodded. He had expected as such. The fox was an immortal by all accounts, and a soul with an endless life does not depart so readily. However… he had come prepared. "I understand… if thou cannot devour the soul of the fox, then seal it into this child…"
The Shinigami looked from man to child, and waved one of his arms, causing wisps of ghostly flame to flare up around him.
"Done. When I return, thy soul I keep."
And with that, he was gone in a swirl of astral energies.
"Forgive me… Uzumaki Naruto, for the sin I forced you to bear." With that, the Fourth rushed out to join the battle, not realizing that hovering above the small structure, a figure watched it all with something akin to interest in his glowing green eyes.
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Veni, veni, venias, (Gloriosa)
Ne me mori facias (Generosa)
Veni, veni, venias, (Gloriosa)
Ne me mori facias (Generosa)
So, the child's name is Naruto. Thought Zeon as he watched the scene playing out from afar. He had been relatively surprised when the Yondaime had managed to summon the Shinigami. The creature's strength was impressive, and would make a dangerous opponent, if they were to confront one another. Fortunately, for him, it did not come to that. He had cloaked his essence from the Shinigami. And when Zeon wanted to hide, no force on earth could have sought him out.
The newborn is strange. Zeon mused as he observed the child. And for some reason, he saw a familiarity between the child and himself, a rare occurrence indeed. From what he could gather after listening to the exchange below him, the child would become the vessel to a great power.
He was again reminded of himself, after all – Zeon too had housed an alien strength within himself. The Mako energy of the planet flowed through his veins, just as the power of the Kyuubi would soon flow through the child's.
He could be great, as great as you are. A voice in his head spoke softly, a voice that rarely chose to make itself known, but a voice that Zeon almost always listened to, when it did speak up.
Zeon stroked his chin absentmindedly as he landed softly before the child. Yes,… he could almost sense the potential of this puny life form before him, and only a child, too.
"Just imagine what Shin-Ra could do with one such as you…" The SOLDIER commander spoke aloud, his voice reverberating in the small room. "You could become one of the greatest warriors my world has ever seen… and who know…"
A strange smile graced his lips as an idea dawned upon him. The boy, if left to his fate, would have nothing but the hatred of his village. Human mind is truly a pathetic thing – so easily overwhelmed by fear and hate, and logic so readily abandoned. And after this night of death, it is doubtful that the survivors could see the child in any other light.
Of course, Zeon did not care at all what the village's reaction is to be. He is far above such trivial matters. He would save the boy from this fate, for his personal agenda.
For although Zeon would never admit it, he was bored beyond belief. He was all but unstoppable in the world of Gaia (2), and in time, such strength without challenge also bred boredom.
However, here was a new challenge to be sought, and one that he had never before dealt with. To raise a mere child to become one of the strongest in the world, now that would sufficiently divert his attention from more tedious tasks that he had spent his time later on.
Besides, that bastard of a scientist, Hojo has been pestering him forever for a new subject to his 'experimentations.'
"Come child; let us see what fate holds for you in her hands."
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Sephiroth
Sephiroth
A black light surrounded the child as the Fourth looked on with nervous anticipation. Screams of fury rose from the ashen soul of the Kyuubi as it struggled against its jailor's will. But it was not to be. For even the strength of the nine-tailed demon lord could not match up to that of the Shinigami. And soon, there came a deafening silence as the mist retreated, leaving the boy as he had been before the sealing had begun.
Well, not exactly. Several whiskers like markings had developed on the boy's cheek, probably the after effect of the Kyuubi's chakra.
"It is done." The Shinigami spoke without feeling. "Now thy soul I shall take from thee."
The Yondaime nodded, and with one last sorrowful look at the sleeping child, fell to the ground, dead. His soul now apart of the Shinigami, for all of eternity.
"Be strong… Naruto…" He whispered as he fell. "Be strong… my… legacy…"
Then, everything stood still for a single moment, before the shadow over took the light.
Zeon appeared before the child yet again, moments later. His face strangely subdued. However foolish that sacrifice had been, it was nevertheless a noble act. Zeon had always held those with courage in the highest esteem.
"Come, child." He said as he scooped up the babe in one hand. "It is time to leave behind this place."
Slowly, a green glow began to envelope the SOLDIER, until there was nothing left of the commander. Zeon had vanished from this world, and with him, a newly born Uzumaki Naruto.
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Sephiroth
Sephiroth
When the third Hokage arrived in the sealing chamber, all that greeted him was the still form of the Fourth, and an empty sealing platform.
There was nothing to indicate what had taken place here, though the Third had thought it was obvious. He was quite sad that his successor had sacrificed his life for the village, but there was nothing he could do to help.
And so, as ANBUs carried the fallen Hokage to his final resting place, the Third informed all those that had gathered that the great Kyuubi no Kitsune had suffered its defeat and subsequent death at the hand of their fourth Hokage, who had given up his life to save the village he had loved so much.
Yet in their euphoria at their victory, and their sadness of the Yondaime's passing, none of the inhabitants of Konoha could ever guess the true fate of the boy that had been sacrificed for their sake, or the strength he could obtain at the hands of the One Winged Angel Sephiroth.
A new legend is about to begin.
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(1) I am currently under the impression that the Yondaime has no official name, and that the name Arashi, found in many fan fictions, is a fan name. However, if you have any evidence of otherwise (manga pages, episode number, ect.), please inform me ASAP.
(2) This is the probable name of Cloud and Sephiroth's planet. The clearest evidence being the location 'Gaea's Cliff' found in FFVII. Gaea can also be translated to Gaia.
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Preview:
8 years have passed since Zeon's arrival in the 'other' world. Now, a man by the name of Sephiroth has taken the post of the SOLDIER commander. But when Sephiroth is summoned to Hojo's lab, what dark secrets await him? And just who is this Uzumaki Naruto?
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This is the old story of Silent mouse before he stopped writing on Fanfiction but does not delete his profile, please check out his story, this does not belong to me, it belong to the original old stories to their own profile.