"Hiiiiya," exclaimed Naruto as he knocked back Kakashi with a kick. It was odd to him that just two months ago he was a eyeless human and two months before that. Well he was the pariah of Konoha seeking to become the Hokage. Now he was a new born titan. Countless possibilities lay before him. He could do, be anything he wanted; however, all he could think about now was becoming stronger. To do that Hinata, Sasuke, and himself all petitioned Kakashi to train them in the arts of war, seeing as Kakashi had survive one himself.
"Nice one Naruto, but you have to learn to hold back. If you end up fighting against a human you'll kill them," preached Kakashi for what seemed like the thousandth time. "Anyways I think that's enough hand-to-hand training for today. Have you chosen an element that you wish to control?"
"You never really explained that whole element thing. Why do I have to chose an element to control," questioned Naruto.
Sighing Kakashi looked at Naruto seriously, "Naruto, you are apart of the lowest tier of Titans. As such you have to choose an element to control. The base elements are the only things someone of your status can manipulate, aside from miracles that is. If you don't choose an element then you'll never rise through the ranks to try and reach the highest rank."
"I suppose if there's a bottom there must be a top, so what are the highest tier of Titans like?"
"You've met two already. Shini and Amaterasu are Goddesses, but they are still Titans. They are Titans that have achieved a certain level of power and renown. They themselves have a tier system apart from the normal one for our race."
"Cool! How do I become like them? I mean you said there was a way to do that, right?" Kakashi sighed again, wondering if Naruto truly listened to everything he said or just heard things he thought were 'cool'.
"Yes, Naruto. There is a way. First you choose an element to control. Then you roam the world performing miracles and deeds. All the while, gaining followers. They will heed your every word and follow your every command. Once you've obtained this level of loyalty from your followers. You'll have ascended to the highest tier of our race, Godhood. Though not everyone is capable of doing this, or all titans would be Gods/Goddesses by now."
"So if Shini and Amaterasu are just powerful Titans, then why did your blood have to be mixed in to turn me into a Titan? Is there really that much of a difference between the three of you?"
Kakashi chuckled and was glad Naruto seemed to at least grasp something. "They bleed Golden Ichor, while I bleed blood like a human. As do you and your friends. My blood dilutes theirs, so you aren't torn asunder and cast into the void." Naruto nodded solemnly in understanding. He remembered the Void. The bottomless abyss at the end of the Afterlife, where criminals sent for all of Eternity. He spent a lot of time teetering on the edge of the Void and Life, while he was transformed into a Titan. It was only two weeks, but the pain made it feel like a life time.
"So... How do I choose an element Kakashi-sensei? Do I just say I'll command this element, or is there some more involved method? You know like how I became a Titan." Kakashi was surprised that Naruto thought of asking something like that. Most things didn't hold his attention long enough, unless they were ramen or the Fall of Konohagakure. He was so impressed he started to clap in amazement, which pissed off Naruto. "ARE YOU MOCKING ME OR SOMETHING?"
"No, Naruto. Now calm down, so we can move on to you gaining an element. Now just to let you know, all Titans can control all elements. When I say choose an element, I merely mean that you will have a greater control and understanding of that element. Unlike shinobi we are only limited by our imagination and current level of power. For instance, a Titan that controls water can make so that they or anyone of their choosing can breathe underwater without issues."
"Oh so if I chose wind could I fly?"
"Well after a lot of training and after gaining some followers, yes you could actually fly around. Though I wouldn't recommend choosing wind solely to fly as all titans who have a shrine can fly. Now once you've chosen an element you must petition your patron to unlock the element in you." Naruto nodded in understanding and after thinking for a bit adopted a face that Naruto doesn't normally adopt. A serious look.
"How did the first Titans gain their elements?"
"Good question. The answer my father gave me was that Izanagi and Izanami were born with all of the power of creation and destruction. Their children then went to them to become stronger. Now once you've chosen an element please head to Amaterasu's shrine as she's your patron." Naruto nodded his acknowledgement, but the proceeded to open his mouth to ask one more question. "Amaterasu adopted you as her child, therefore she is your patron. Now go."
Naruto nodded and turned to leave their makeshift hideout. Looking at the wall clock he noticed that his training session with Kakashi was over with. Sasuke would soon come to start his. Naruto never really liked Sasuke when they were younger, however, after all that has happened to them. Naruto feels as though they are kindred spirits, brothers of sorts. Sasuke still bugged him as he was a technical genius and had mastered the Titan Impulse in five days, while Naruto still hadn't learn to control it. Though neither of them could hold a candle to Hinata who had mastered it in two days.
"I need to learn to control it, or I might do more then kill my opponent. I might obliterate nearby innocents." Though despite what Naruto thought his time, which is still to be determined, so far wasn't the worst. Supposedly there are Titans that have lived for thousands of years and still can't control it, however, Naruto is close he can feel it in his gut.
"Ah, Naruto-sama. Is something wrong? You haven't visited your mother's shrine since you first came here four months ago," chimed in Miyumi, one of the shrine maidens of Amaterasu. He looked up from his clenched fist to smile at her. Hoping to ease her mind, as she was technically right.
"I've come to petition mommy for an element," replied Naruto. His response, however, was met with stark silence as all of the nearby shrine maidens stiffened. You see the last time Naruto called Amaterasu 'mommy' was when he came to after becoming a Titan. The act caused Amaterasu to char a portion of the nearby forest in glee. "You guys oka-," started Naruto before the area became engulfed in a bright light.
"NARU!"
"Shi-," but he never got to finish as he was knocked to the ground. Looking up he saw Amaterasu's child form. Nothing unusual just a cute kid, reminded him of Hanabi but with red eyes. "H-hi mom. Um I need t-"
"Petition for an element yeah I heard. Soooooo, which one?"
"Um, I guess I'll go with the wind element. It seems simple enough," Naruto replied to the impatient Amaterasu.
"FINALLY! I swear most Titans get this over at the start of the training," remarked Amaterasu before kissing his forehead. The act caused Naruto to feel as if a burden was lifted from him. It made him feel lighter as well a stronger. "Now go, my child, and become a master of the winds. Now if you'll excuse I need to go back to work."
With that Amaterasu left once more in a flash of light, "I thought I was impatient." After hearing sighs of relief, Naruto looked around to see the shrine maidens recovering from near panic attacks. "All right already. Back to work," grumbled Naruto.
-1 Month Later-
"FINALLY! I DID IT," shouted an excited Naruto. He had finally mastered Titan Impulse, or simply put the ability to control ones physical and spiritual strength. This would allow him to be around humans once more outside of shrines. He wouldn't have to worry about is aura consuming the surrounding or a punch that wasn't held back enough making a crater in the ground.
"Congratulations Naruto. I'm proud of you, especially since you didn't give up. I can say without a doubt that you can now handle jonin level shinobi. Though I would recommend you limit yourself to fighting no more the two or three jonin at the same time. Anymore might cause you to become overwhelmed," cautioned Kakashi. He then patted Naruto on the back to show that he was happy that despite set backs had finally reached the level that Sasuke and Hinata had reached three months ago.
"So what now," ask Naruto. "I've finished my training with you, so where too next.?" Naruto was lost as the whole Titan business still confused him.
"Well now you have reach the level of Titan that most would consider to be adolescence or being a teenager. With is befitting as you just turned thirteen a couple days ago," joked Kakashi. "Now you're at the point where other Titans can petition you to do jobs for them. This will be good as the more Titans that require your aid means the more reliable and powerful you are. Also you will start to build favors, which will come in handy later on. So be mindful of who you do a job for, as their power maybe require to assist you in the future." Naruto nodded and stretched out the kinks in his muscles.
"Naruto go to Konoha. You'll find a servant of mine. He'll have a mission for you. Be safe," echoed Shini's voice through his mind. Naruto sighed.
"I guess there's no rest for the weary, huh?" Naruto then turned to get ready for his journey to Konoha's Ruins.
"Naruto wait. I have something for you, to celebrate your accomplishment," Kakashi then tossed Naruto a sealing scroll. "Now that you are going out to start your journey towards power, I figured you need an outfit befitting you."
-1 Nice Shower and a Change of Clothes later-
Naruto now stood in front of the mirror looking himself over. Kakashi had gotten him a black zip-up hoodie with a red maelstrom symbol on the back. Under that Naruto wore an orange t-shirt. Naruto also wore black pants and boots with an orange bandana tied around his waist with the triangle going down his left leg. The bandana itself bore the symbol that his religious followers would equate to him and his chosen would bare on their flesh. It was a symbol he spent many days contemplating before deciding on the form of the Nine-tailed Fox curled up to look like his former clan symbol.
"Not bad plus it came with a kunai holder and a pouch, including basic shinobi gear. I should leave Kakashi a thank you note before I leave," mused Naruto. "I also need to come up with my "God" name as I'm sure Naruto wouldn't fly. Ah, I got time. At least until I get to Konoha." Naruto then found a pen and paper and wrote down his many thanks to Kakashi before leaving for Konoha.
-The Ruins of Konoha-
"So this servant person, where are they," grumbled one annoyed Naruto. "It's nearly midnight." Naruto was now near the remains of the Hokage's Office. He had been walking around the ruins for hours trying to find Shini's servant. It was now a minute until midnight and Naruto was still nowhere closer to finding his contact. Then suddenly a breeze blew past Naruto and it sent a chill down his spine.
"Sorry about the wait, my boy. Midnight is when the connection between the living and the dead is the strongest," resounded an old and familiar voice. Turning around Naruto laid his eyes upon Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage. He was wearing his combat outfit and resembled an Edo Tensei corpse.
"Old man Sarutobi," replied Naruto. "I'm so sorry about everything I jus-"
"You were scared Naruto. I'm just glad you're save and not in the clutches of Iwa or anyone else unsavory. Now as for the mission from Mistress Shini. She wishes for you to protect a bridge builder from the Land of Waves and to kill his tormentor. His death can be by your hand or, should you gain any, the hand of one of your servants. Understood," asked Sarutobi.
"Perfectly. Now where is this Bridge Builder. I'd like to get this over with ASAP," replied Naruto. While Naruto didn't have much planned, he didn't want to fail his mission do to not knowing where to go.
"The Bridge Builder is a couple of miles down the road from where the East Gate once stood. Now be swift as his life is in danger and his hired help would last much longer." Naruto nodded and took off at terrifying speeds, but as Naruto got there the last of the Suna ninja that the bridge builder had hired feel to the Oni Brothers.
"Hehehe. Now die, TAZUNA," the said in unison. Tazuna threw his arms up to protect himself and shut his eyes, waiting for the inevitable. Though the embrace of death never came... well for him at least. Tazuna opened his eyes to see a child standing over the corpses of the Oni Brothers. He had a presence about him. It was as if Tazuna was in the presence of a God; however, he was merely kneeling before a Titan.
"I take it you are the Bridge Builder from the Land of Waves?"
"Y-yes and thank you for saving me, but who are you," inquired Tazuna. Naruto smirked as he looked down on this awestricken man. His charge and hopefully future follower.
"I have a few names, but to those who follow me and those who have yet to follow me. Well the will call me Mamoru the Maelstrom," stated Naruto with a finality that only the truly powerful could make.
Wolf: Wow that took some effort. I didn't realize how rusty I was. Was going over some things on the site an noticed that it's been nearly 2 years since I last posted any stories or updates to the site.
Wolf: Anyways to any who were wondering why Mamoru. Well according to some google searching Mamoru means "to protect". Something that Naruto is all about in my opinion.
Wolf: Hope you guys enjoyed and hope you all have a wonderful day.