Yeah, so Naruto had to admit, a rainbow was not what he was expecting. To be completely honest, he wasn't entirely sure what he was expecting. Flames, or frost, lightning, light, shiny gates… but a damn rainbow? It was kinda cool, though.
"Where are we?"
"This, my dear boy, is Bifrost. It bridges the gap between Asgard and the other realms. It is also referred to as…"
"Rainbow Bridge?"
"My, however did you know?" Loki grinned at him, earning a glare from the blonde. "Now come, we're nearly there."
"Nearly where? And where's the wolf? Wasn't I riding him?"
"I already told you, Asgard. And Fenrir is a tad too large to cross the Bifrost. Therefore I have sent him back to his lair. We are off to meet Father."
"Father?"
"Well, stepfather, really. If you want to get technical his title is 'Allfather'. He is chief among us. Our King. And he wants to speak to you. Now, now, don't fret." He chuckled at Naruto's nervous face. "Father has a soft spot for children. But don't tell him I said that."
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Loki was a lying bastard. At least that was what Naruto thought. It took them ages to get off the damn rainbow. His feet almost fell off. What Naruto failed to realize, of course, was that the God of Mischief did tell the truth. From a certain point of view. His, specifically. Immortals do not tire as easily.
The sight that greeted the blonde was amazing.
Asgard was the realm of the Gods. Their home. It spanned several hundred miles from the gates of Bifrost. Stone, wood and gold were the main building materials used for the houses and halls. At the center of the city was a gigantic hall at least a couple of miles long. It was there they were headed.
The gigantic door opened before the two to a long throne room filled with large tables. Meany people were gathered there, some short, some tall, and most decked out in heavy armor, holding various weapons. The throne at the back on an elevated platform, made from wood and furs, simple but very impressively built. On it an old man with broad shoulders was seated. He had long grey hair and beard, and a single stormy grey eye. The other socket was empty.
"Welcome to the Halls of Valhalla, Naruto." Loki whispered to the awestruck and nervous boy. "This is where warriors slain in battle would feast during the day, awaiting the night, when they would do battle, prepare for Ragnarök."
"Then where are they?"
"It is, ah… complicated. Father will explain in due time." The two walked up to the throne. Loki gave a small bow and stood to the side, next to a massive blonde man who clapped him on the back, earning an annoyed glare.
Naruto really didn't know what to do. He just stood there awkwardly, looing in the single eye of the large old man in front of him, who did nothing but stare back.
Naruto blinked. The old man blinked back.
"Hello." The god was the first to speak, in a deep, wise voice.
"Hello. I'm Naruto. Who are you?"
"My name is Odin, dear child. The Allfather. King of Asgard. We have much to talk about."
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Back in the Shinto version of Heaven, in a round room with various thrones put in a circle, three gods stood.
"Have you talked with your servants, Jashin?" Kami turned to the third man, dressed in blood red armor, with wild red hair and eyes, and a crazy grin on his face.
"Yeah, don't worry boss, I got it covered. Brat won't know what hit him. My boys'll kill him dead."
"He's already dead, moron." The Shinigami muttered next to him. "Killing him might not even be possible."
"What are you thinking, Shinigami?"
"If they do turn him into one of those damnable zombies he might not be able to die. Not for long, at least. I don't even know how that works." Kami nodded in thought.
"The souls?"
"The first two are slightly less of a problem; they are deep in our faith. The last one… I don't even think we can use him. He's too strong, and his love for the brat is too big. Even mentioning his name sets him off. I still have indigestion."
"We'll forget him for now, then. Maybe keep him as a hostage. Jashin, you have three years to at least double the number of those crazy followers of yours." Jashin cackled as e disappeared.
"Three years, boss?"
"We need time to prepare as well. And we don't know when they'll send him. Tend to your duties for the time being. I'll call you when I need you."
"You got it boss."
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Back in Valhalla, the conversation shifted from the large throne to the large table covered in various foods, mostly composed of meat, and many pitchers filled with mead. Most of the various gods had already left, leaving only Loki, Odin, Odin's other son Thor, the blonde man from before, a woman with black hair who introduced herself as Lady Sif and Frigga, Odin's wife. They watched as the blonde ate the meat, taking a small break in conversations for the moment.
"Why am I here?" Naruto asked, putting down a bone form a boar's leg.
"What do you mean?" Odin asked.
"Why have you sent him to get me?" He motioned to the grinning Loki. "Why not just leave me to the Shinigami? Does it have something to do with my family? My father?"
"Smart child." Loki chuckled.
"Aye, t'is gladdening to see such a strong man sitting in Valhalla once more!" The blonde god practically yelled out.
"Inside voice, brother. We have talked about this."
"Ah, yes, you are right, of course, Loki. My apologies young Naruto." The boy nodded before turning ack to Odin, waiting for answers.
"Many, many lifetimes ago the entire world was slit into several continents, and each continent in countries." Odin started, stroking his beard. "Many of these countries had different religions, spanning from pacifistic to human-sacrificing. We were one of the religions, a 'Pantheon' of gods worshipped by the Nord Vikings of the cold Northern regions." He paused a bit do take a gulp of mead. "The Shinto Pantheon, the gods you have worshiped thus far, was another, resident in the deep East isles of Ancient Japan. We gods had survived on the faith and prayers of our people, giving them miracles in return."
"They, after a couple of thousand years of the world working, a young man called Isa of Nazareth appeared in the sandy countries of Africa and the Middle-East." Naruto grabbed a nearby flagon and brought it to his nose, sniffing cautiously. "Be careful with that, it is somewhat strong." Naruto shrugged and took deep gulps from it, coughing a bit.
"Ha. That's how a real warrior drinks." Thor bellowed, slamming his own flagon on the table and slapping the boy on the back.
"Thor, please."
"Apologies, father. I had gotten carried away."
"Yes, but please try to restrain yourself. Where was I?"
"Isa from Nazareth." Lady Sif supplied helpfully.
"Yes, thank you my dear. That young man had stared converting followers to his own, monotheistic religion."
"That means 'one god'." Loki explained to the confused boy.
"Yes, thank you. He first started converting from the Greco-Roman Pantheon, but soon his religion spread all over the world. In less than two thousand years Jehovah, the god of that Judeo-Christian Pantheon, had claim to much of the world."
"It was another thousand years before some of us other gods started fighting back. There was a great war between the Indian, Greco-Roman, Shinto, Norse and Judeo-Christian Pantheons, which sundered the world, reshaping it into what it is now. And the Shinto gods, headed by Kami, had won. We others were forced to back off completely."
"That is where I come in." Loki grinned somewhat smugly, obviously happy with his part in the story. "I had a talk with Kami, and very subtly tricked him into signing a contact. Not your standard, mortal signing, mind. To gods, blood is more important than ink."
"Yes, my brother was most crafty that day, and is the main reason we are still here." Thor proudly slapped Loki's back.
"Enough you brute!"
"Ignore them, child. They do not always get along." Frigga smiled kindly at the blonde boy. Naruto decided he liked her; she was very kind and didn't yell a whole lot. Ironic, seeing as how Naruto himself would be yelling just as loudly as Thor in a few months. "Husband, please continue your story."
"Yes, of course. Loki managed to work out an agreement between us and the Shinto gods: we would choose one bloodline to claim as ours, but would wait until the last one of them dies. When he does die, we would claim his soul for our own, and we would get the other souls of the bloodline as well. We chose the Namikaze clan, because they had the looks and the attitude of our old Viking worshippers."
"Namikaze? I know that name…"
"The Fourth Hokage was named Minato Namikaze."
"Right… wait, are you telling me the Fourth Hokage is my father." Odin nodded. "That is so awesome." Naruto muttered, raising his pitcher of mead. "To dad." He drank a gulp, letting out a smaller cough than before. He liked the honey drink. "You said you'd get the other souls. So where is he?"
"Yes, I was coming to that. The rest of the Namikaze souls are already in transit to Valhalla, they will be here in a few weeks. Your father is another matter. Because he called the Shinigami, the Death God ate his soul, and they are using that to keep him, we believe as a hostage against you."
"But why? What can I do, I'm dead."
"You are." Odin nodded. "But the Norse have something we call 'Einherjar'. They are the souls of warriors died in battle, brought to Valhalla by the Valkyries, who have been sent back to Midgard to do battle once more."
"Valkyries?"
"Beautiful women riding winged horses." Thor explained simply, now holding Loki's head in a hold, dodging the punches the black-haired god was throwing at his face.
"Thank you my son. And put your brother down." He did as told. "Children, I swear." Odin shook his head.
"So, I am to be this Einherjar?"
"Yes. We will train you for a few years in battle and strategy, and when you are strong enough for the dangers ahead of you, we will send you back to Midgard to start converting the Shinto followers to our religion."
"Sure. Sounds like fun." Naruto grinned, knocking his pitcher against the Allfather's.
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I changed the concept of the Einherjar somewhat. In Norse mythology they were the warriors who occupied Valhalla, waiting for Ragnarök. Here they are the ones sent back to Midgard. Like in Age of Mythology.
