Chapter 2: Workings of a God
Naruto found himself doing something he seemed to be doing far too much since becoming a god. He was standing with his head bend down, left hand on his forehead, deep in thought. He was trying to remember things form almost ten years ago.
In front of him, sitting in his chair, was Chaos. Chaos was leaning forward, his elbows on his arm rests, his hands joined between them and his chin resting on his hands. Elvo was also there pacing back and forth between Chaos and Naruto.
"So it wasn't you that brought them back?" Naruto finally asked.
"No, we've been over this," Chaos said not moving.
"He can plan all he wants but he can't act for three generations," Elvo said stopping and turning to face Naruto.
"Three generations?" Naruto asked looking at Elvo, "that's only like forty years at minimum, and knowing him," he pointed at Chaos," he probably go sooner than that."
"True, but when we speak of generations, we count one generation as 50 years, so he cant act for 150 years," Elvo said.
"142," Chaos corrected.
"How do we know it wasn't Shinigami?" Naruto asked looking at Chaos.
"He wants more people in hell. Akatsuki were all in hell, he wouldn't let them out," Chaos said.
"You're focusing on the wrong parts Naruto, we know how they got back, we need to know why," Elvo said.
"What? How'd hey get back?" Naruto demanded taking a few steps towards Elvo.
"The same way you did. Well, the same source at least. That scroll that brought you back changed hands a lot. It's destroyed now, as are all its copies. But whoever did this got grandfathered in," Elvo said turning and starting to pace again.
"We gotta take them out," Naruto said following behind Elvo.
"No we don't, that's the job of the living, we have no reason to deal with Akatsuki. If we act, it will be on other parts of what seems to be going on," Elvo said looking at Naruto.
Naruto humphed and walked away form the other two, his back to them. He shut his eyes and held out his right hand, a transparent red ball started spinning in it. The ball soon solidified and took the shape of a scroll. The scroll unwound and writing started appearing on it in black ink. The writing abruptly stopped and the scroll wound back up, a seal appearing on it and Naruto closed his fist around it and opened his eyes.
"What's that?" Elvo asked pointing at the scroll.
Naruto turned and looked at the scroll, "no idea," he said holding his left hand even with his right, a transparent blue form moved from the scroll into his other hand where it formed an identical scroll. "But I have two to find out," he said pocketing the one in his right hand and vanishing in a white smoke.
"Any idea what that was?" Elvo asked.
"He made a scroll containing information he didn't know. There's no way to know what the topic of it aside form the obvious," Chaos said.
"I know that, I was asking what you thought it was about," Elvo said.
"Perhaps he couldn't remember his time dead and wished to read of it. But I'm not worried about what he wrote," Chaos said leaning back, "I'm wondering why he needed two copies of it."
Elvo's head snapped to Chaos. "What are you saying?" he demanded.
"If it was information he wished to know, he would only need one. But to have a copy, with an unbroken seal. He's planning something with that second scroll," Chaos said dropping his arms to rest on the armrests.
"We can worry about that later. We have a bigger problem to deal with and you know it," Elvo said.
"Yes. He's resurfaced hasn't He? Noting else would bring you here so civilly," Chaos said smoothly.
"Yes He has. And I think He's the one who brought Akatsuki back," Elvo said giving Chaos a piercing stare.
"We can't act you know. None of us can, and it'd be a bad idea to let Naruto know of it," Chaos said.
"I know we can't act but we can send one in our stead," Elvo said sighing.
"None we can send are any match for Him. Our only option is to watch and hope the mortals take him out," Chaos said leaning forward.
"No, we have one other option. And I only need one other god to agree to it before action," Elvo said looking straight into Chaos' eyes, it was apparent that whatever he was talking about, he didn't want to do.
"You want to send one of the damned?" Chaos asked rising to his feet. "There are few there that we can grant this to whom won't over step their bounds. An all of them are far below what we need," Chaos said folding his arms.
"No, there's one. Crow," Elvo said the word as though it tasted bad.
"Crow?" Chaos asked then paused for a moment, "Oh, you mean Bird," he said.
"Bird? Who the hell is Bird?" Elvo asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Bird is the name me and Shinigami decided to give him. When we caught the bastard each of us asked his name. He obviously gave you Crow; he gave me Hawk and Kami Eagle. All birds," Chaos lowered his arms to his sides. "I won't agree to sending him back out. It took too much to catch him, we have no way to be sure he'll listen."
"Actually, we do," Elvo said grinning and tossing a scroll to Chaos.
Chaos caught the scroll and opened it, reading the few words written there. "smart," he said rolling it back up," fine, you have the agrence of one god," he said tossing the scroll back to Elvo.
"Good, I'll let him know now then," Elvo said turning to walk away.
"Any luck on finding their father?" Chaos asked as he sat back down.
"No, from the omnipotent view it could still be any of the three," Elvo said glancing back at Chaos.
"Have you stopped your investigation into the matter?" Chaos asked.
Temporarily. Whenever there isn't something else on my plate I…" Elvo stopped and looked around, "you feel that?" he asked looking back at Chaos.
"Yes, it seems whatever he was planning he's doing," Chaos said, one of his mirrors appearing before him. "Kami has acted through messengers, they don't seem to be doing the job," he said leaning forward.
"I'm on it," Elvo said vanishing in white smoke.
x-X-x
Naruto was back in his own realm sitting on the ground. The scroll held in his right hand. He broke the seal and opened it, reading what it had to say.
"Holy hell," Naruto shouted standing up and dropping the scroll. His eyes were wide and he was looking at his hands, "it worked… I, I didn't think it would… but it did," he said looking back and forth between his hands and the scroll.
After a few moments he sat back down and took the scroll again, this time reading through what it had to say, his eyes getting wider and wider as he read. After a bit he seemed to be satisfied with what he had and stood up, rolling up the scroll and pocketing it.
Naruto took out the other scroll and looked at it, "it'll work then," he said grinning, "all I gotta do is not get caught," he added before vanishing in white smoke.
x-X-x
It was early morning and Sakura was sitting at her desk doing paperwork, she was still waiting for Shikamaru, Strag and Sage to come and see her. There was a loud poofing sound and Sakura's head snapped up expecting to see any of the three she was waiting on, but none were there. Instead it was Naruto standing just inside her office door. Sakura's jaw dropped when she saw him, lost for words.
Naruto took one step towards her when there was another loud poofing noise and in a puff of blue smoke a man in white robe was standing on Sakura's desk, sword in hand. Sakura's eyes widened and she shot to her feet with the arrival of the man.
As soon as he arrived the man ran at Naruto and stabbed him through the right shoulder. Naruto voiced his pain and jerked back form the hit. He then clenched his teeth and forced himself forward another step, the feet of the man stabbing him sliding backwards. Naruto made two steps this way before a second man appeared and stabbed him through the left shoulder. The second hit stopped his progress a moment but his grip on the scroll tightened and he forced forward another step, he was halfway to Sakura's desk.
Naruto was only a few steps away when Elvo appeared standing on Sakura's desk. Elvo jumped down and ran a sword through Naruto's chest, pushing him back with the two men. "He cannot deliver the scroll," Elvo bellowed to the two and Naruto managed another step forward, blood trailing from the wound Elvo had given him, though nothing came from the other two.
"You can't interfere kid!" Elvo shouted looking Naruto in the face.
Naruto's forward progression had stopped; he was feet form Sakura's desk. Elvo and the two men started pushing back more and Naruto's feet started sliding backwards. A slight smile appeared at the corner of Naruto pained face. He started leaning forward forcing his three opponents to push against him harder. Elvo raised an eyebrow at Naruto before the boy acted.
Naruto stopped pushing against the three and was forced down onto his back. Both men weren't expecting the sudden lack of resistance and tumbled over Naruto. Elvo saw something coming and let go of his sword so that now all three swords were still in his chest and Elvo stood in his way. Naruto started to his feet, when he was halfway up he kicked out at Elvo causing his left knee to buckle.
Naruto took his chance and started past Elvo towards Sakura's desk. He didn't make it very far as Elvo grabbed his right ankle causing Naruto to fall forward. Naruto caught himself on his left hand, the scroll still held tightly in his right. Naruto looked back at Elvo and past him at the two men who were still getting to their feet.
Naruto planted his left foot on the ground and pulled in his right leg, dragging Elvo towards him before lunging out and slamming the scroll on the top of Sakura's desk. His job done Naruto vanished in a white smoke, the three swords clanking to the ground. Elvo cursed as he got up and grabbed the two clean swords. He tossed them to the two men whom vanished in blue smoke once they caught the blades.
Elvo grabbed the bloody blade and looked at Sakura who was standing behind her desk, eyes wide open and mouth slightly open, as she had been since the first man arrived, "We were never here," he said before vanishing in white smoke.
Almost the instant Elvo was gone the office doors burst open and Sage and Strag hurried in," where are they?" Strag demanded.
The doors banging shook Sakura from her stooper, "where are who?" she asked sitting down slowly.
Strag was about to answer but saw Shikamaru walk up behind him, a confused look on his face, "Elvo and his one time student," Strag said after a moments pause.
It took Sakura a second to realize that Elvo's one time student was Naruto. "They're not here, why would they be?" Sakura asked raising an eyebrow.
"Right… never mind then. You wanted to see us," Strag said with a sigh as Sage closed the office doors.
"Yes, did you have enough time to come up with any plans?" Sakura asked leaning back.
Shikamaru opened his mouth to answer when the door burst open again "Hokage-sama, come quick!" the chuunin said as the door banged against the wall.
x-X-x
Naruto was on his hands and knees in his realm, breathing hard. He slowly forced himself to his feet and one he was standing Elvo appeared before him.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Elvo demanded.
"I was trying to help. Give them a fighting chance," Naruto said angered.
"Well you did, you package got delivered," Elvo said flinging his sword into the ground. "Naruto, you can't interfere, your not human anymore, you have to leave these matter to them alone," Elvo said exasperated.
"It is now, you took the scroll," Naruto huffed.
"Don't you know?" Elvo asked and Naruto looked back confused, "you formally delivered something to a mortal. And for the Hokage, if it's on her desk, it's received. I, nor any of the other gods can take it. Its human property now," Elvo said.
Naruto grinned, "Really? I was hoping she'd grab it before you could and you'd let her keep it. But she wasn't moving so…" Naruto sad looking at the ground.
"Why'd you vanished once you placed it then?" Elvo asked.
"I couldn't stay any longer, I had three swords in me, one of which was a god's sword," Naruto said looking at the sword Elvo had brought with him.
"Well, you shouldn't interfere in human matters," Elvo repeated.
"What am I supposed to do? Sit and watch as my home gets destroyed? It was an act of a god that let them come back, you could call it doing my job to even it out," Naruto protested.
"First, it's not your home anymore, this is. Second it was the same act of god that brought you and the terrors back. And third, you're worrying about the wrong thing. We've got a bigger problem, and I was going to handle it, the right way," Elvo added looking intently at Naruto, "when I had to stop you. You see, when a problem happens in the mortal realm that we have to fix we send one of the dead to handle it," Elvo said.
"Yeah I know, two gods agree and the dead becomes the living to sort stuff out. You told me that when I first got the job," Naruto said annoyed.
"Right," Elvo said nodding, "then I'll get back to work," he said vanishing in white smoke.
x-X-x
Sakura shot to her feet, "what is it?" she demanded.
"Uh, you have to see it, it's at the gates," he said, there was something wrong, he was nervous about something.
"Right," she said starting around her desk, she saw the scroll Naruto dropped off and quickly put it in one of the drawers," you two wait here, Sage-sama, if you would accompany me," Sakura said as she followed the chuunin out of her office, Sage right behind her.
"Any reason you wanted me to come?" Sage whispered to Sakura.
"He hasn't been seen in the past four years, bur he could still come back, this is how he got Nomad-sama," Sakura responded just as quietly.
Sage nodded, "A second pair of hands is always helpful, especially when that pair had done the job before," he whispered back.
The three reached the main gate where a small group of ninja were gathered. "What's the situation?" Sakura asked walking up to them.
"It just appeared out of nowhere. We have a few scouts looking in the area for anyone who might've dropped it off," one ninja said walking towards Sakura.
"And what did they drop off?" Sakura asked giving the ninja a questioning glare.
"Uh... well… you see..." the ninja was afraid of something, and Sakura couldn't think of what it was.
She walked past him to see two medic ninja lift a body onto a stretcher. Without thinking Sakura ran to the body, but froze when she got a good look at it, "Sasuke," she whispered.
"He was dead when he was dropped off. He's been dead for hours," one medic said as they lifted the stretcher and started for the hospital.
Sakura spun around to the ninja she was just talking to, "you said you send out scouts?" she asked and the ninja nodded, "Call them back, now. Whoever did this wants to remain hidden and not take the bounty on his head, that means he's just as dangerous to us," Sakura said before heading back to her office with Sage beside her.
"Quite the eventful few days. First you see Naruto, twice actually, and now your other teammate," Sage said calmly.
"I only saw Naruto once, and it was last night," Sakura said in a tone that said the discussion was over.
x-X-x
Elvo appeared in a dark red realm. Before him were giant golden gates and a long wall going off into the distance, behind him was the edge of the realm. Elvo sighed and walked towards the gate. Two figures in black cloaks stood at either side of the gates, one of these four walked towards Elvo as he approached.
"I'm sorry sir, no god is allowed in a realm of the dead without the prior knowledge of the presiding god," the figure said.
"Yes, I'm quite aware of that, as well as the fact the Shinigami has no prior knowledge of me being here. So open the gate," Elvo said calmly.
"I'm sorry sir, but you just admitted to knowing why I cannot open the gate," the figure said unmoving.
"Listen little fella, if I wanted to I could incinerate you with a touch. The reason I haven't yet is to keep this process clean. You see, I have clearance to release one of your prisoners, two gods agree, and right now you are all that stands between me and completing my job. So move and open the gates," Elvo sad with a wicked grin.
The figure was silent a moment, perhaps considering his options. Stay, and be killed by Elvo, or move and be killed by Shinigami. There was only once way he had a chance to survive, "may I see the clearance?" he asked.
Elvo sighed and pulled out a scroll with a black bar and a white bar going across the seal. "Me and Chaos. Now move," he said holding up the scroll.
The figure nodded and stepped aside, signaling for the other three to open the gates. Elvo walked in and heard the gates close behind him. he didn't know where his target was, they were moved around while tortured. But he knew where he'd be when his torture was over and that's where Elvo headed.
Elvo walked past countless souls moaning and screaming in their anguish. He also passed several chained to walls, how they were kept when not tortured. Elvo kept walking, deeper and deeper into the depths of hell. There were three places in this realm furthest from the gates of hell. One was where Shinigami stayed. The second is the most recent, the Uchiha district. The last is the oldest; the place for what Shinigami likes to call the unaccessibles.
To Elvo's knowledge there were only ever five to be held in that place. Two were recently given life again and one was his target. If things worked out as planned when all this was done there'd be six there. Elvo stopped at two large black gates. Beyond them was his destination. But he needed Shinigami's permission to get past or wait for them to open as an unaccessible was transported in or out.
Elvo sighed, "better go see Shinigami," he muttered to himself turning around. As he did the gates began opening stopping Elvo in his tracks. He turned to see two cloaked figures half carrying half dragging a man past the gates. Elvo allowed himself a quick laugh as he ran in after them.
Elvo stood to the side and waited for them to leave again before continuing in, first he wanted to see who was brought in. he could tell be the state of the clothing he wasn't coming for torture, he was a new face, a new unaccessible. He had to hold in the laugh that threatened to escape when he saw who it was, "Orochimaru, you were just brought back, how'd you die again?" Elvo asked taking a step towards the new prisoner.
"Vox… he did a powerful jutsu without hand signs…" Orochimaru said slowly looking at the ground.
Elvo shook his head and walked away, he still had someone to see. At the farthest back wall, past the other three occupants of the area and the spaces to put any future occupants was the one Elvo sought out. he was chained to the wall at the wrists and ankles like everyone else, but unlike any of the others he had one at his neck also. Another addition that only he had, was that all the others had slack on their chains, they could stand and reached the ground, this one was held tight against the wall.
He wore tattered dark pants and nothing else. his chest and arms were muscular and covered in cuts and burse, as well as other signs of torture. His head was down slightly, not to his chest because of the shackle around his neck, but down enough for his face to be hidden behind his long matted black hair.
"Crow, or is it Eagle? Which name would you like to go by at the moment?" Elvo asked looking at the man.
There was a moment of silence before the man raised his head and looked at Elvo with his deep blue eyes, a twisted grin on his face, hell was far from breaking him. "Come for more question about my father? I won't tell you who he is, I enjoy watching you struggle," the man said in a gruff voice, it was obvious he wasn't using it often, not even to scream.
"This has nothing to do with your father. But before we get into that I'd like to know you name, your real name," Elvo said folding his arms across his chest.
"Raven, I'll go with Raven for now. I think learning my real name could aid you in finding my father," the man said smiling.
"Fine, Raven. As I said this has nothing to do with your father, it's your brother I'm here about," Elvo said.
"Finally caught the bastard? Where is he?" Raven asked, his eyes looking around but his head unmoving.
"No, but we found him. you know as well as me that we can't go and get him, and any we send will be annihilated. Everyone except you that is," Elvo said after a pause.
"Me? You're sending me back? What's the catch?" Raven asked, his smile had vanished replaced by curiosity.
"Only that it's temporary. But if you do it right you can earn leniency here. And the chance to kill your brother would probably be a nice perk," Elvo said.
"Yeah, but all the restrictions you gotta run through with me, plus my current place… why not chose my lovely sister?" Raven asked.
"Sister? Elvo yelled, "You never mentioned a sister before! Why the hell didn't you mention your sister before?" Elvo yelled grabbing Raven by the throat.
"You never asked," Raven said grinning, "but I can understand why not to send her, she never manifested. Hence her being in another realm," he added calmly, the shacked on his neck prevented Elvo from actually choking him and they both knew it.
"She's dead then? Never manifested you said?" Elvo asked stepping away from Raven.
"Yeah, but I know you'll check into that anyway. But what was that perk you mentioned again?" Raven asked mockingly.
"Leniency in hell," Elvo said annoyed.
"Ha, that don't interest me. They've gone to extremes with me that they never thought necessary and I've yet to break," Raven said with pride.
"I've noticed. Well, if you'd rather stay here and never go back to the mortal realm, never get the chance to kill your brother…" Elvo said turning around.
"That's the one, killing that bastard brother of mine. Yeah…" Raven grinned widely, "you got yourself a messenger," he said.
"I prefer the term advocate, less direct implications," Elvo said turning back to Raven and folding his arms.
"Yeah yeah, just get me outta here so we can go over the rules I got," Raven said edgily.
Elvo smirked, "I thought you had yet to be broken," he mocked as he walked up to Raven.
"I have, but now I'm anxious to go back, to feel again," Raven said.
"And you don't feel here? This pain and torture, you feel none of it?" Elvo asked releasing the shackles on Raven's arms and neck.
"That's why they have yet to break me," Raven said smiling as his legs were freed and he fell to the ground. "So which god agreed with you on this? I know it wasn't Shinigami, he woulda sent guards," Raven said as he followed Elvo back towards the black gates.
"Chaos. He saw the plans and agreed almost at once," Elvo said.
"Hey, you!" a voice called out form one of the walls. Both Raven and Elvo turned to see Orochimaru looking intently at them. "You... you said something about brother, your brother," he said with a weak grin.
"Yeah, I'm going back to kill my brother," Raven said evenly.
"He…he, is he…" Orochimaru trailed off.
"You've met his brother. We know he was the one who brought you back," Elvo said and Orochimaru's head snapped to him.
"It is!" Orochimaru said with glee before he started laughing.
"What the hell are you on about?" Raven demanded irritated.
"He, Vox, he killed me, only minutes after bringing me back. He said for me to give his brother a message. That's you isn't it? He said hello," Orochimaru said grinning wildly, it seems just being back in hell has broken him again.
"My brother's name isn't Vox," Raven said.
"You don't use yours, why would he use his," Elvo asked.
There was silence for a moment before Raven cursed, "That bastard, he took that from me," he said starting back towards the black gates.
"Took what?" Elvo asked as Raven passed him.
"Knowing the name of something implies power over it," Raven said over his shoulder.
Elvo paused a moment "Son of a bitch," he muttered before following after Raven.
x-X-x
AN: hope you liked it, can't really tell with no reviews, but I hope so.
