The Immortal

by yurei king

Rewrite is up under the name: Shinju Among the Spirits.

2. Awakening

Please Read!

Okay, so as anyone who actually read the original work can see I've re-published the second chapter. A lot is the same just some touchups but I changed some things as well. I decided to pull back Naruto's awakening so he has some time to train and get his power under control and the location is different as well so his training doesn't have a negative effect on the humans.

Hope y'all like it now, ON WITH THE CHAPTER!

Deep in his chamber of stone hidden deep within the earth, a lone figure lay on the polished floor. He lay with his arms and legs spread, clad only in a tattered pair of black shorts. The soft light radiating from a layer of intricate kanji written across the ceiling above him reflected on his long mane of golden hair that was spread out around him like the rays of a sun.

The wall his feet were pointed toward rippled as the black half of Zetsu stepped out from the solid stone. Moving forward it reached out to place two fingers against the blonde's neck only for the hand closest to him to snap up and grab is wrist like a vice. "So you have awoken at last," he stated calmly. "Tell me, is the man I am speaking to the original owner of this body or has a new mind taken control."

A single eye cracked open, the bright blue iris flashing in the light as it met the expressionless yellow of the plant man. "Heh...don't sell me short...Naruto Uzumaki...is still number...one." The man let his grip go slack and forced himself into a sitting position. Joints popped and limbs stretched after extended time without use.

He made to speak again only to let out a harsh cough. When his eyes opened again they found a bowl being offered in the black creature's hand, the fresh water it contained rippling with the subtle movements of its bearer. "You had best drink," Zetsu advised. "Such a long time without speaking has left your throat unused and thus unfamiliar with making sounds. You must soothe them."

Naruto nodded and accepted the offering, gulping it down with a fervor. When the water was drained it was promptly replaced via a waterskin and the process repeated itself several times until his thirst was properly sated. "So, where's the other half?"

"I thought it best that I be the one to check in on you in the off chance you had awakened." The embodiment of Madara's will placed the bowl and skin to the side as it drew slightly back to let the blonde sit up fully. "He has never been one for sensitive matters."

Naruto snorted and rolled his shoulders, the stiffness in his muscles still present. "And when have you been qualified for sensitivity?"

"I figured you would prefer a more mature company once you awakened. If not I can easily go fetch him."

The blonde shinobi simply waved off the gesture. "No, you'll be enough." His expression turned somber as he ran his left hand through his long hair. "Well, no sense delaying it. How long?"

The plant-human hybrid paused, his yellow eye staring at the blonde as if measuring the wisdom of answering the question. Finally, he seemed to nod. "Just a little over two-thousand years I'd believe."

If not for the widening of his eyes it would have been almost impossible to tell that the news had affected him. "You believe? And how did you live that long anyway?"

"After a while the concept of time and counting the years of our existence seemed pointless," Zetsu responded, his single shoulder shrugging as if to say it didn't really matter. "As for the how, well when we were created we were more plant than human. Our bond with the earth keeps the white half and myself young and strong in body. In truth the only thing we require is protein from the animals and occasional dead corpse we can find."

Naruto let a single eyebrow raise at the nonchalance such a response was spoken with before sighing. "Well ignoring the cannibalism, that's pretty impressive," the sage admitted. "So where are we anyway?"

"A few kilometers below the surface of the island that was once Uzushiogakure."

"They moved me to Uzu? Wow that's pretty cool. What's the world like out there?"

"It is...different. You will need to actually see it to understand."

Naruto nodded and was about to stand when he suddenly thought of something. "Wait, I better take a look inside and see how things look."

Zetsu nodded. "A good idea. I shall prepare a new outfit for you and then scout out the area directly above us so we'll be able to decide the best way of exiting the ground."

Naruto thanked the clone before crossing his legs and resting his hands on his knees. Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes and let himself sink into his mind like so many times before. When he opened them again it was to find himself sitting on a familiar place, the top of his father's head on the Hokage Monument of Konohagakure. Glancing down he hoped to find the village he once called home but instead all he found was a sea of trees.

Next he noticed the vast tree in the distance, an ancient twisting monolith that towered over the rest that surrounded it. This tree greatly resembled those he had seen during the second phase of the Chunin Exams. A towering behemoth of solid oak with branches that stretched out to cast a shadow as dark as nightfall over the surrounding area. So numerous and wide were its branches the blonde could almost picture an entire city living within its leafy embrace. 'It must have some significance,' he thought as he leaped down to the base of the mountain and proceeded to jump through the branches of the trees toward the giant palm.

He reached it shortly but what he found was not what he had been expecting. Carved into the trunk of the palm tree were the images of the nine bijuu. Each appearing ready for battle as they glowered out at the world. Next his eyes turned upward, questioning why he seemed able to see just fine despite the thick branches he was currently standing under. His inquiry was instantly answered when he saw small specks of light, almost like the stars in the heavens, dotted throughout the branches as if it were bearing fruit. On their own it may not of granted much light, but together they shone with a brilliance that greatly resembled the night sky on a clear evening.

"Just what is this thing?" he whispered.

"This is the true form of the Juubi," a voice he had never wanted to hear again answered. Blue eyes snapped downward to lock with the obsidian orbs of Madara Uchiha himself perched on one of the many roots that littered the ground at the base of the great tree. "The great god tree...Shinju."

For a moment there was no movement, not a sound was heard as the blonde faced the man who, at least to Naruto, was still an enemy he only recently been locked in combat against. "Madara? What are you doing here?"

"Peace Uzumaki," the former leader of the Uchiha clan raised his hand to ward off any aggressive actions. "I am not here to take over your body like the Kyuubi attempted to do before you tamed it. The truth is that I have been absorbed into you by the technique I attempted to use against your little alliance."

Naruto relaxed slightly but kept his guard up, a fact Madara seemed to actually smirk at. "So if you were absorbed, how are you still here?"

When the former patriarch opened his mouth to respond another voice quickly cut him off. "Because those with a strong enough mental awareness were capable of at least manifesting a form of themselves in this mindscape of yours."

Naruto turned to find the Nidaime Hokage, Tobirama Senju, leaning against a tree to his right. "Of those are myself, Madara and –"

"Me of course!" Dropping from his perch in the same tree was the Shodaime Hokage, Hashirama Senju. "All three of us have been in here this whole time. Seriously, it's about time you showed up, these two's bickering was starting to get a little annoying."

"Who was bickering brother," Tobirama growled while Madara dropped down to stand next to the group.

"All I recall was a certain little runt arguing I should 'know my place' in the world and let myself be absorbed," he commented before scoffing. "As if I'd let such a weakling order me around. Besides, you're one to talk of accepting fate considering you're here too."

"I stayed because I knew this boy was more like my brother and thus would be an impulsive idiot." He ignored the whine from said brother and glare from the blonde. "Thus I decided to take a role as the voice of reason for him."

"HOLD IT!" The three legendary shinobi turned to the source of the yell as Naruto rubbed his head with a grimace. "Ugh, you guys are giving me a migraine. Okay, long story short. Madara tried to assimilate Bee, Obito and me with his jutsu but instead I ended up absorbing everyone in the alliance that was there. Thanks to that I've been in hibernation for over two thousand years and now I've got three people who can't agree on one Kami-blasted thing to act as my guides in life?"

The three men though it over before nodding. "That's about the sum of our issue," Madara answered.

The deadpan look the sage presented in response to that statement spoke wonders, not to mention the similar style in which he spoke his next response. "Yup...we're doomed." Hashirama suddenly moved to the side, crouched on the ground with a thundercloud over his head while the two rivals facepalmed.

"Joking aside," in a bid to return some logical direction to the conversation, Tobirama began talking. "Once you find a method to take you to the surface, I would recommend that you locate a secluded place to begin your training."

"Training?"

"Yes you simpleton," Madara growled. "You have the Shinju, a chakra source more than three times the size of the Kyuubi's, sealed inside of your body. On top of that you now have all the knowledge and experience of the entire alliance, counting three powerful Uchiha clan members, two Senju, an army of kekkei genkai and jutsu ranging across all five of the main elements. Not to mention weapons skills, stealth capabilities and add on that you've got the genius of myself, Tobirama and almost the entire Nara clan and you're body is going to require a great deal of work."

Naruto's eyes narrowed at the insult be he nodded all the same, scratching his head idly as he absorbed everything the much older shinobi had to say. "Honestly, I don't know whether to be excited or concerned," he finally replied.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" the Nidaime demanded.

Naruto frowned and pointed at the white-haired man. "Well first of all I don't think we'd be in this kind of mess if it weren't for your damn paranoia," he growled. "These two had finally gotten around to making the village they used to dream about and then you went around spouting about how you still didn't trust them and how the whole village feared them. Then after you got to sit in the chair and make the rules you made the Uchiha a police force in the village which only made them even more isolated to the point they considered actually following Madara's example and attempting to take the village for themselves."

Tobirama glared at Naruto but it was only half as heated as it could have been. He knew the boy was right, even if he was loathe to admit it. The sage then turned to Madara, who had been smirking at the sight of such a young boy chastising the younger Senju.

"Then we have the world's biggest sore loser over here." Said smirk instantly turned to a harsh glare but it had no effect on the teenager before him. "You got so bent out of shape because of somebody's opinion that you actually tried to kill the only man that ever sought a solution other than the total slaughter of your clan. Then, when he smashes you to the ground you play dead and then try to enslave the world just to erase the memory of that and finally call yourself the winner. How childish can you get?"

Finally, Naruto faced Hashirama. For all his legendary strength, the Shodaime could not help but feel nervous under the harsh glare that was focused on his person.

"And you. You were so caught up in your attempts to bring peace that you even gave away the bijuu just to placate the other leaders. Did you even have a contingency plan or did you just pray it would all work out? Not to mention that after being considered so compassionate to your enemies but yet you looked at the bijuu and saw only wild animals that needed to be caged up like rabid dogs and used like lifeless objects. Did it ever occur to you that they have feelings, or that maybe they had some insight to how things could be? Considering the fact they were CREATED BY THE RIKUDOU SENNIN HIMSELF, they might be more than mindless chakra constructs."

The three men stared at the young man before them with expressions ranging from shock, anger, shame and more. To have their mistakes and shortcomings placed in plain view to anyone was not a pleasant thing, but for someone as influential and powerful as them, it was a very eye-opening experience.

Naruto held their gazes with his own for a few moments longer before sighing and running his hands through his hair. "It doesn't matter," he said. "It's the past and there's nothing we can do to change that. Let's just focus on trying to do it better this time around. So, am I stuck with your voices in my head now?"

The Nidaime was the first to recover, nodding as he frowned in thought. "Only until we've established a firm foundation in your skills," he answered. "We are still absorbed by you after all and eventually we will be absorbed into the Shinju, and by proxy yourself, as just like the rest of the Alliance."

"So what's first?"

"I'd suggest getting to the surface," a once-again jovial Hashirama suggested. "After that you should locate an area devoid of human population so that you can start training."

Nodding in agreement he waited to see if the others had anything to add. When they remained silent he prepared to leave but froze when a sudden realization came to him. "Wait, shouldn't my dad be here? And what about the old man?"

"I convinced Hiruzen and Minato to allow the assimilation," the Nidaime said. "I possess all of the same knowledge in fuinjutsu that your father did and more and you are currently in possession of the memory of every single jutsu be it elemental, supplementary, healing and otherwise. Other than their relation to you their presence is unnecessary. Once I pointed out that your father's experience with the Hiraishin and Hiruzen's knowledge of the shinobi arts already being hardwired into your memory would be able to accelerate your capability of mastering the techniques once you are able to perform them."

"...You what now?"

The blue-armored kage sighed and his frown grew even more as he struggled to find a more...simple way of explaining. "I told him that you having his knowledge in using the Hiraishin already in your mind would make it easier to learn the technique once you are capable of making it by yourself."

"Oh..." Naruto's head tilted forward, his long bangs casting a shadow over his face as the small smile he had worn originally slowly sank into a deep frown. Growing concerned, Hashirama made to step forward and place a hand on his shoulder but before he could even make contact, Naruto bolted forward and slammed his fist into Tobirama's face.

Woefully unprepared for such an action, the Nidaime was sent crashing through the forest, trees breaking in half when he crashed into him and embedding spears of wood into his back. Finally coming to a stop, the white-haired man had barely managed to sit up when Naruto was over him again, landing a vicious stomp onto his stomach.

"Now, Nidaime-sama," the blonde growled. "Would you mind telling me...IN WHAT WAY DID YOU EXPECT ME TO REACT?" Grinding his foot into his sternum, the blonde continued his interrogation. "Those two are the only family I could have interacted with. I met my father for the first time when I was sixteen and about to let Kurama out of his cage. The old man was like a grandfather to me and is one of the main reasons I didn't turn out like the King of Emo back there."

Naruto growled and started to walk away as Tobirama heaved himself to his feet, the wood fading from his back while his wounds and clothes repaired themselves. "I only did what I believed best for the greater good," he said, arms folded as he watched the boy stop walking. "They would have been a distraction. Nothing more."

They stood like that for several minutes before Naruto let out a hollow chuckle. "The Hokage, always thinking about the many and discarding the few. Makes me wonder why I wanted the job so damn much back then. He glared over his shoulder at the man who was one of four that he once idolized. "If the job means turning into somebody like you then I'm glad I didn't get it. Did it ever occur to that logical mind of yours that maybe I could have used a sense of familiarity that the old man could have provided as a mentor? Or that maybe I would have wanted to spend some time with my own father?"

The tactician cupped his chin in thought. He hadn't considered such a thing, his only focus had been on the efficiency of the boy's training and mastering of the skills he now possessed. He made to comment but Naruto had turned away fully and made one last comment.

"Just because your father and Madara's were so obsessed with war and conquest they couldn't consider the happiness of their own children doesn't mean you had to become so jaded. The war was over, but you wouldn't let it go. You thrive on conflict Tobirama, just like Danzo did. My father and the old man wanted peace so badly they sacrificed great amounts of blood for it but you and Danzo were so obsessed with securing Konohagakure's strength you created enemies that would later destroy everything."

His piece said, Naruto walked away, leaving the Nidaime to ponder his words as he wandered the mindscape for a time. "We truly have made too many mistakes," his brother said, emerging from the nearby shadows.

"I did what was necessary," the younger Senju stated. "I have no regrets."

"And that may be your greatest mistake yet brother," Hashirama responded before he too walked away, moving towards the mountain that bore the faces of those who led the village he had helped create.

XXXXXXXXXX

The blonde sage had walked for what seemed hours around the base of the tree and had yet to reach the point where he had met with the three legendary shinobi. His anger had long since cooled and now he was merely exploring.

A sudden change in the terrain below him caused him to look down and find that he was walking on sand. The golden-brown sand of the deserts that surrounded Sunagakure. "Heh, took you long enough to find me runt," a powerful, yet strained voice growled from nearby.

Naruto turned his gaze to the bark of the tree to find the head and shoulders of the Shukaku protruding from the bark in a similar way Hashirama's face had been a part of Madara's chest. "You weren't fully assimilated?"

"None of us were fully absorbed into the jutsu," the tanuki said. "We've simply been around too long and developed for that entire time so really there's too much to absorb." The massive beast of living sand shifted a bit, still unable to extract himself fully from the tree. "Thanks to that we still possess some manner of self-awareness but unlike those three ningen, we do not have the ability to move about freely."

"Do they know you're still here?"

Shukaku shook his head. "I don't believe they do. We have been hiding our power within the Shinju. We don't trust them."

"Heh...I don't blame you."

"But we do trust you Naruto Uzumaki. Which is why I am contacting you now. Would you stand beside us should they try to subjugate us again?"

"Without a moment's hesitation."

The tanuki nodded before his gaze turned back to the direction from which Naruto had come. "Good, now you best return to them. They may come looking for you soon."

"Alright, take care Shukaku. Tell the others I'll try and find a way to let you move about the mindscape freely." With that Naruto waved, turned to backtrack his steps, and took off running. The bound tanuki watched him until he vanished, a small smile on his face. 'Just like the old man,' he thought before drawing his consciousness back into the tree to mask his presence once more.

Naruto soon rejoined his three self-appointed mentors, nodding in greeting to the Shodaime and Uchiha Patriarch while ignoring the Nidaime for the moment. "Well, I better get out there and find a way to the surface. I'll contact you guys when I find a good place to start training." They nodded and the jinchuuriki closed his eyes, willing himself to fade from his inner world.

The blonde soon faded and the three legendary warriors were alone once more. "So, when are we planning on telling him about what happened?" Madara inquired.

"There is nothing he can do about it for now," Tobirama said, arms crossed as his naturally-red eyes turned to gaze at the Shinju. "We will teach him how to use the skills that have been planted into his head by your miscalculation and then he will be informed. Until then, it is best that he remain ignorant."

The Uchiha nodded and turned to walk away but only managed to take a couple of steps before Tobirama's voice stopped him. "I am still intrigued by the fact you agreed to teach him at all considering the fact he is part of the cause for the failure of your great plan."

Madara was silent as he pondered the statement, his eyes trailing up to the red moon that hovered above the mindscape forest. He followed the turn of one of the several toma-filled rings that crossed the glowing surface. "The only thing of that boy that remains after the original is his mind. His body is a construct composed of the Shinobi Alliance, the nine bijuu, the original body of the Juubi, and those that were long dead, such as the three of us."

He glared over his shoulder, meeting eyes with the slayer of his younger brother as his Sharingan flashed briefly. "In short, that child is the legacy of the shinobi world. That means the Uchiha, the Senju, Uzumaki and countless others survive through him. Since he is part of my own legacy now, I will ensure that he becomes the god among men that my technique made him to be."

"And what he does after achieving this great potential?" Hashirama questioned.

"Heh. That, old friend, will be for him to decide."

XXXXXXXXXX

When Naruto opened his eyes, he found that Zetsu had indeed set out an assortment of clothes for him to wear. Making a mental note to thank the clone when he returned, the sage set about replacing the tattered rags that just barely conserved his dignity. Moments later he was dressed in a pair of plain black pants similar to those worn by the Anbu of his time except there were no bandages taping the cuffs to his ankles, a dark gray shirt with a deep V-neck that stopped just below his chest and black sandals.

"Are you prepared?" Zetsu asked, slipping out of the stone to his right.

"Depends, was there anything else of worth sealed away with me?" The plant-human hybrid nodded and placed his hand against part of the glowing seal, summoning three scrolls equal in size to that of a summoning contract.

"The kages collected these shortly after you were buried here," he explained. "The one labeled "Weapon" contains the legendary tools of the shinobi, including those once used by the Rikudou Sennin himself. The one marked "Clothes" contains an assortment of armor and clothes used by the key members of the alliance you absorbed, including the armor of the Shodaime, Nidaime and Madara himself. Finally, the one marked "Memories" contains reminders of those close to you. Certain items that you may desire to keep close to honor those you can no longer see."

"What kind of things?"

"There are too many to list...but there are three I believe you would appreciate most at this time." He held out a small bundle wrapped in a brown cloth which Naruto took carefully. "I unsealed them not too long ago, expecting you to awaken soon."

He hesitated for a moment before untying the string and peeling the wrapping away. What he found instantly brought tears to his eyes and he sank to his knees as he examined them. The first was a horned metal plate marked with the kanji for "Oil." It was the headband worn by Jiraiya, the previous Gama Sennin and Naruto's former teacher.

Fighting back a sob, Naruto tied the headband across his forehead where it would hold back the annoying bangs that kept getting in his eyes. Next he picked up a blue cloth that he instantly recognized as the mask worn by his original jonin sensei, Kakashi Hatake which he immediately donned as well. The final item was a plain jacket the same shade as fresh grass. On the back, at the point just between the shoulders, was a red circle bearing the kanji for "Gamble."

This last piece Naruto slipped on, idly noting that it even still smelled of sake and wood, the smells of his surrogate grandmother and the office she spent so much time in. "Thank you," he whispered. Zetsu nodded in understanding before continuing with his next objective.

"Now then, how do you wish to leave this location?" he asked. "I can transport you through the earth with my abilities, or would you prefer a method of your own choosing?"

"I want to try something first." Turning his eyes upwards, Naruto's thoughtful frown grew into a broad grin as his knees bent and he prepared to spring into action. He paused for a moment before leaping upward, with a grunt he reared back before sending a chakra-infused fist forward to slam into the reinforced walls of the stone chamber. The results were instantaneous. The force of that single blow crushed the stone and forced the earth above it to compress until the chamber became twice as large as it had been originally. "Huh...not bad."

He glanced down at his hands, experimentally flexing them only to pause. There, on his right hand was the very same symbol that had appeared when the old sage had given him the power to control the power of Yang chakra, the image of a full moon. Curious, his gaze shifted to the left palm to find the crescent moon Sasuke had possessed to symbolize his newfound gift of Naruto's counterpart, Yin.

Zetsu's voice cut through his musing as he decided to make an inquiry. "And what purpose did that fulfill exactly?"

Naruto's gaze lifted from the marks to meet the ever-stoic gaze of the one-eyed plant man. "I just wanted to see how strong I am now," he answered as if the matter were obvious. "What's wrong with that?"

"Perhaps you would consider the fact we are buried beneath tons of rock and dirt and that your little act will most likely result in this entire place caving in."

The former genin's eyes widened in sudden realization before he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Oh yeah...that would be bad."

"Indeed, now will you take my hand so I can transport us to the surface? I'd much prefer that over being crushed to death."

Slumping forward the blonde nodded and placed his hand on the clone's shoulder. The black half nodded in return and placed his lone hand against the stone. Naruto had just enough time to take a deep breath before they sank into the wall and made their way to the surface. In what seemed like mere seconds, the boy found himself standing on flat, broken stone, the warmth of the sun bathing him in a radiant light.

Releasing his black guardian's shoulder the blonde turned his eyes to the surrounding area, his heart twisting at the sight that greeted him. They were standing in the remains of a courtyard, once perfectly set stone now pitted and cracked under the constant ravages of time and nature. There were barely any structures left standing, for the most part there were a few remains scattered about, two walls here, an old chimney there, even an old tiled roof but the rest had been claimed by the creeping vines and relentless tree trunks of a forest that surrounded him.

All this Naruto took in before turning his attention back to the important things he needed to consider. "So Zetsu, where exactly are we?"

The black half hummed to himself. "I believe the island of your clan's former home is currently located in the middle of what the modern humans refer to as the…Bermuda Triangle," he replied. At the questioning glance he received at the unfamiliar words he moved to elaborate. "It is an area in the ocean where strong weather phenomena are a common thing. Many lives have been lost exploring this are so it is commonly regarded as a place to be avoided."

"So there's not much risk of somebody stumbling across me while I'm getting back in shape?" When his companion nodded the blonde's grin was obvious despite the facemask he had donned in honor of his sensei. "Alright then, you might want to get some space. I want to find out how much juice I'm working with right now."

Zetsu quickly drew back to the outer edge of the courtyard, barely visible in the shadows of the trees growing around the area. He was quickly joined by his white half who quickly joined to form the whole body entrapped within the jaws of a plant similar to a carnivorous plant. Both sides watched as Naruto carefully removed the green jacket, sealing it into one of the scrolls the black half had given him which he then tossed to said half for safe keeping.

Now sure his memento was safe, the blonde spread his feet to a width level with his shoulders and then bent his knees slightly. His arms bent at the waist, hands tightening into fists gripped so tensely one could hear the joints creaking before he inhaled deeply, letting the breath out in a drawn out manner and closing his eyes. Seconds passed and nothing happened, and then the atmosphere shifted.

At first they dismissed it as a simple breeze, until they realized the wind was pushing out from the blonde in all directions and was growing in strength with each passing second. The air around his body seemed to shimmer like the haze one saw on an exceptionally hot day and then…it was like the world around Naruto exploded.

As if a damn had broken the sheer pressure of his chakra washed over the island like a tsunami. The very air seemed to quiver and the ground shattered like a heavy weight had been dropped on top of it. Wave after wave of pure force slammed into the bi-colored being that had watched over the boy since the technique that had created his new body had been activated. Yellow eyes gazed unblinking at Naruto who roared his challenge to the heavens, somehow calling on even more of the powerful energy that coursed through his very being and the biggest wave yet was unleashed. The trees shook, ancient wood groaning in protest as they attempted to stand against the onslaught of pure force this monster in human form was unleashing.

Just as it seemed the whole island was going to be destroyed and reduced to rubble on the ocean floor the pressure just vanished. In the heart of a newly formed crater Naruto stood, slowly letting the tension flow from his body as he rolled his shoulders and stretched. It felt so good to move again.

Lost in relishing the sensation of life Naruto was just about to take a step when his senses flared, instincts long dormant erupting into action and guiding his movements. In a flash he ducked and glanced up just in time to see a few strands of his long hair be sliced away by the razor sharp claws of some strange creature.

Thinking fast he pushed up with his bent legs, extending his right arm in a thundering uppercut that slammed into the attacker with enough force to shatter a diamond. The crunch of bone and the squelching of pulverized flesh rang loud in his ears as the monster was launched skyward and Naruto was able to get his first glimpse.

The beast he had just sent flying had the body structure of an ape but was dark red in color. Pure yellow eyes glared down at him from a mask of bone twisted into an angry snarl as its opened mouth screamed in pain. Still, there were two details in particular that seemed odd to the blonde observing this new creature.

The first was that the ape, which had managed to right itself in the air and was now falling down to the ground, possessed a perfectly circular hole piercing through the direct center of the chest where the sternum was located. The fact it would exist with such a hole was truly off looking for the sage if he were to be honest.

The second factor was that the area where his fist had connected looked hardly affected. He had put a considerable amount of chakra into that punch and the fact it hadn't blown away the attacker's side as a result confused him.

That was when he felt it. Some of the people from his original time may not have known exactly what Naruto's training as a sage had entailed but many had seen the physical aspects it had come with. What they couldn't see, however, was the latent potential as a sensor his training had begun to unlock. Granted when he had taken Kurama's power as his own he had gain the ability to sense negative intentions but now with the Rikudou Sennin's powers infused into his very body the boy's sensory skills remained strong even with the fox technically buried deep within the Shinju.

This very sensing ability alerted Naruto to the fact that this beast was fueled by nothing but negative emotion. There was no light within this monster's soul that he could detect while glaring into the beast's eyes

"Ah, so they sensed you after all." Naruto glanced to his right to find the joined Zetsu rising from the ground to stand next to him.

"What are these things?"

"I do not know what name they go by as I have yet to see one talk," the informant explained, unfortunately the white side decided to break his current streak of silence. "Hehehehe, I call them Holes cuz they got those big holes in their chest!"

"Be quite you idiot," Black grumbled. "These creatures appeared after the shinobi faded from existence. They exist on a spiritual plane, similar to a ghost only from what I have observed they sustain themselves by devouring spirits and even each other."

"Spirits huh?" The ape creature raised its head and opened its mouth wide, revealing a second mouth within the black cavern. From this mouth emitted a scream that was a strange mix of mournful, angry, and even conveyed a certain hunger that set Naruto's teeth on edge. He made to speak only to hear a second howl from above, followed by a third and again by a fourth. Blue eyes rose instantly and widened to find that a mass of these masked creatures was gathering, each bearing their own unique shape and mask while glaring at him with eyes of molten gold. Once more he felt the negative intentions flooding from this mass of creatures and felt a cold shiver down his spine…why did it have to be ghosts? Demons he could take, monsters he'd chuckle and laugh all the way up to the point he shoved a fist through their skull but ghosts? Seriously did Kami hate him or was he just that unlucky?

'Cease your pitiful complaining and focus,' the irritated growl of a late Uchiha sounded from within the depths of his subconscious mind. 'This is the perfect opportunity to test your current level and gauge where to move from here.'

Naruto sighed and raised a hand to run through the spiked mass of hair that fell down to just level with his buttocks. "Well…I needed to get a warm up anyway," he said. The blonde tilted his head to the side until a loud crack rang out and then repeated the process in the opposite direction accompanied with yet another crack. "So I'm guessing normal chakra won't work on these guys?"

"I am not sure as I never chose to engage one in combat. But considering Yin is the substance of mental and spiritual energy, it is logical to believe it may have some effect."

Naruto grinned, raising his left hand and clenching it into a fist. Acting on the same instinct that had driven him when the Rikudou Sennin had given him the Yang half he let his chakra feed into the Yin's crescent moon and was rewarded with a surge of energy as black as night igniting into a raging inferno around his hand. He pondered the form, remembering the black flames of Sasuke's Amaterasu and finding it very similar, except for the fact it wasn't burning his hand off which was handy.

"Now is as good a time as any to get a handle on my powers I guess," he mused while taking a step toward the closest "Hole" as the white half had called it. "Don't make this too boring now, I haven't had a decent fight in a couple thousand years so the least you can do…IS LET ME HAVE SOME FUN!"

As the blonde launched himself once more into combat, blazing fist stretched back to unleash a punch straight into the creature's face, Zetsu watched on and realized the world was seeing the return of an ancient being who had almost literally all the power of the Shinobi Era at his fingertips…and this being happened to be a hyperactive knucklehead with a stubborn streak as bad as Madara and Hashirama combined.

White Zetsu giggled. "This is gonna be fun!"

And Cut!

Okay so what did y'all think? Good? Bad? Constructive criticism is appreciated while flames will be used to cook my meals and warm my home on cold winter nights.

Also once again thanks to the genius known as Kamen Rider Arashi, without whose insanity that is in tune with mine own I would be lost to the ever encompassing onslaught that is writer's block.

Another thing, in case people decide to chastise for changing the look of the Shinju or just want to have a better idea of what I am trying to describe, my partner Kamen Rider Arashi suggest I say to look up Cleyra from Final Fantasy IX. Either that or just imagine a giant oak tree if you really don't feel like doing that. The lights were a personal touch I got after reading some of the new chapters of Toriko when they went under that big tree on their way to the huge mountain where the monkey king lives.

Hopefully I'll be able to get another chapter for all my work out soon. Till then, I thank those who stuck around for their patience and to those who come in the future, I hope you enjoy the chapters to come.

See ya around, Yurei King signing out!