Disclaimer: I own NOTHING!

Chapter 1


Naruto stared out the windows once again, this time keeping an eye out for anymore strange creatures that this new world had. He had moved out of the bedroom and climbed to the topmost floor, where he had settled in a relatively small room filled with clutter and some other old things. With the various street lights in the area, he wasn't quite comfortable with just heading to the roof for a better vantage point even if it was a sensible suggestion.

The last thing he wanted to do was draw attention to themselves, especially in their current predicament.

What really caught his interest about the creatures they had seen earlier was the fact that they lived, essentially, in plain sight yet still managed to hide their existence from the people walking about. Hinata had suggested that the mist that permeated the area was what kept them unaware of the creatures, which he could see happening as of this moment.

Narrowing his eyes, he watched as a couple bumped into one of the smaller creatures and just give it a quick glance. As he continued watching, he noticed that the man had stooped a little to pet a pocket of air, roughly a head lower than the creature's actual head.

He rested his head in his palm, a strange calm settling over him. It was so strange; had he been who he once was, he would've already been in motion to try and get rid of the creature. He would've charged in recklessly, with no coherent or logical plan in his head, and would most likely only end up making things worse.

It honestly made him uncomfortable at the changes that were happening to him.

Glancing down at the mirror that he had found in the room, he stared at the image that looked at him. Kaguya's eyes stared back at him, eyes that conveyed the power and otherworldliness he had experienced when he first laid eyes on the Mother of Chakra. Even with the knowledge that they were now his, that they could be used for as much good as they had been used for destruction, those eyes still unnerved him greatly.

Rubbing his eyes tiredly, he let out a small sigh. He had to find a way to keep his fatigue as far away as possible.

He hadn't slept a wink since they first arrived here. The first time he tried, he had experienced only a few minutes of peace before the memories started to play. The first ones were so graphic and horrible that he had immediately woken up, gasping and retching at the phantom sensation of being blasted apart by the Truth Seeking Balls used by Obito.

That was his second indication that something had happened to him, with the first being his new eyesight. He had seen, experienced, events from Jii-san's perspective with such vivid intensity that no dream of his ever gave him. He had smelt the stale air, the stench of blood from the dead, and the hopelessness that engulfed the army. He had felt the mind-blowing pain of having his upper body blown off by the less lethal form of the Truth-Seeking Balls. He had heard Hashirama's recollection of the struggles between the Uchiha and the Senju, as well as the tale of the epic battle between him and Madara.

Whatever it was he had experienced, it was no dream.

Focusing on the creatures once again, he wondered if he should go out and survey them from a closer distance. The house was roughly 40 meters away from their position, so he had to use his increased eyesight to keep track of them, but getting in closer would allow him to test out their abilities without getting caught…at least, he thought he wouldn't get caught. Plus, if he did get into a fight with those creatures, he'd be able to get a more comprehensible idea of their capabilities and weaknesses, something that would majorly benefit them.

His mind drifted to Hinata and he shook his head. No, he had already decided that they would stay the night here and start integrating themselves into the world the next morning. If she woke up and he wasn't around, she might try going out of the house to try and look for him, which would just waste their time.

While he could use a Kage Bunshin to go gather information on them, his chakra had changed and grown much larger and stronger. As such, he believed that his control had been shot to all hell and discretion was most important for their survival. It wouldn't do to have him accidentally summon a hundred or so clones and cause a scene.

Call it a hunch or whatnot, but he suspected that the denizens of this world would be more than eager to try and get their hands on chakra if Hinata and he were ever exposed.

So, without his go-to jutsu to help him out, he would just have to stay put and wait for the next morning. Which meant he was stuck in the small room with no means to pass the time other than waiting. Glancing out again, he noticed that the creatures had already moved away, meaning he couldn't even watch them to pass the time.

He wished he at least had somewhere he could practice his chakra control.

A thought struck his mind and he suddenly sat up. Actually, there was something he could distract himself with. With a happy smile, Naruto headed back down the stairs to search for any possible flowers in the house.


In a plane of existence that transcended all others, the sole occupant of that level of existence frowned heavily. His aged hands gripped the black shakujo tightly, the only other indication of his increased frustration.

Floating atop a seat of Truth-Seeking Balls, his rippled purple eyes stared at the waters that covered the plane. As the rippled echoed along the surface, his old frowning visage was replaced by that of the current successor of Asura. As he saw the changes that had happened, his breath caught in his chest as he saw those dreaded eyes again.

It wasn't supposed to be like this…

He had always been told by Hamura that he was too optimistic and naïve when it came to people. Ever since he had proposed the idea of giving them chakra and teaching them ninshuu to make them understand one another, Hamura had been steadfast in his refusal to help him.

Hamura had always been the more cynical and hardline of the two. While he agreed that their mother's way of ensuring peace was wrong, he was also of the mind that people would need guidance and rules to truly have peaceful coexistence. In many ways, the Senju brother of Asura's previous successor resembled Hamura.

He hadn't listened, of course. Why didn't Hamura believe in them? They weren't like their Mother, and he was giving them the power to understand each other, to come closer and eventually forge a new era of peace in the lands. Why was he so insistent that it wouldn't work?

He had known that it would take more than one lifetime to usher in the New Age, so he had chosen Asura as his successor. He had believed that Asura's love would allow him to temper the powerful flames of Indra, and that they would work together to ensure peace would come to be.

Looking back, he almost couldn't believe that he had been so foolish.

Indra had lashed out, rejecting his brother's outstretched hand and turning his back on Asura. He had renounced his 'responsibilities', leaving his brother to always walk in their father's shadows. When he had first achieved this state and watched his sons, he hadn't believed it. He desperately clung to the hope that Indra was just upset at not being named his successor and that Asura would be able to talk some sense into him.

Later events showed that his hope was a dream. Indra had never wanted peace; he desired, lived for, thrived in battle. He was always at peace with himself during the motions of battle, always happy whenever he fought someone strong enough to challenge him. Looking back, he could remember Indra always frowning whenever he spoke of peace. Back then, he had believed his eldest was contemplating something else.

Indra had no desire to complete his father's dream. He had never wanted to establish peace in the lands. To him, a world of constant warring nations was the most desirable outcome.

Asura had pleaded with him. Begged him. Done everything he could to try and change Indra's mind. Indra then stabbed him in the heart, a cruel smile on his handsome features.

From that day onwards, they were no longer brothers.

Hamura had disappeared mysteriously, an event that had further facilitated the turn of events. Asura went on to spread his father's teachings to the people, trying to take his mind off his brother's deep betrayal. Indra had retreated into obscurity, which allowed Asura and his followers a decade to spread Ninshuu throughout the world. For a time, there was some progress.

Then Indra appeared once again, spreading his own teachings to the world with his family and followers. Instead of understanding others, they understood the power the Sage had granted them. They began to use this power within them to do all kinds of things, which attracted more people to Indra's cause. With this new power, they learned to kill more effectively, steal more efficiently, and fight more devastating wars amongst each other.

Ninjutsu came into existence, a perversion of the arts he had taught his eldest child.

That day, as Asura stared at the bloody remains of his youngest daughter, Indra's joyful laughter ringing throughout the land, was when the brothers became mortal enemies.

He had watched, horrified beyond belief, as the two sons of his began a long, bloody war against each other. Ninshuu became lost to the records of history, now regarded as a mere useless concept. As more and more people followed Indra's teachings, the more his own heart wept with grief.

He breathed out shakily, still feeling the acute pain of watching his efforts fall apart. Even as his mind regarded Indra bitterly, his heart still held love for his sons. As he watched the situation unravel even further, he cursed his helplessness. With his mighty chakra, there was no body suitable enough to house his spirit for more than a few years.

Worse, Indra and Asura's chakra had achieved the same state of enlightenment he had, though they did this by reincarnating into different people over the years.

The Uchiha and the Senju, descendants of Indra and Asura respectively, had been on the path of ending the bloody feud between his children. Two children, Hashirama and Madara, the latest successors, had started reaching out to one another, rapidly becoming friends. When he saw them, a small but strong hope arose; maybe they would be the ones to bring peace to their clans and, eventually, the world.

He had watched them grow. Watched as they fought, one reluctant and the other with resignation. Watched as they lost more members of their family, friends and loves. That small flame of hope had died down to little embers; it was a possibility, especially with Hashirama's constant attempts to persuade Madara, but he feared history would just repeat itself.

However, to his immense surprise, Madara agreed. The two leaders had come to peace, both weary of the constant fighting. Soon enough, Konohagakure came into being. He had hoped things would get better.

Alas, it was not to be. Before his death, Indra had left a tablet to his descendant, a tablet which carried an extensive record of his findings and theories. Madara, whose visual prowess rivalled Indra's, managed to read as much as his Sharingan could decipher and deserted the village he had dreamed of creating.

During their infamous fight at what later became known as the Valley of the End, Madara had come close to death. Using the opportunity granted to him, he had appeared before Indra's successor. He had tried to sway him off the path he had embarked on, to prevent him from going through with Indra's ideas.

He had failed. Once again, he wondered if his Mother was laughing at him, watching as his supposed 'better' means of peace brought about more conflict.

Madara escaped the clutches of the Shinigami through sheer force of will, allowing him to integrate Asura's chakra within himself. Several years later, he managed to awaken his own eyes. Using them, he had taken steps to do what he thought nigh impossible; become the next Juubi Jinchuuriki.

Now, as he searched fervently for the successor he had placed his hopes on, Hagoromo Otsutsuki wished his weary soul could just move on to the Pure World.


When she opened her eyes, Hinata noticed almost immediately that Naruto had disappeared from the bedroom. A second later, her Byakugan flared to life, activated by nothing more than a thought. The transition should've caught her off guard, made her disoriented at the abrupt change in vision…but that didn't come to be. Like a well-oiled machine, the action had been eerily smooth and instinctive, just like her father's.

Immediately, she saw that Naruto was only one floor above her. He was resting on a chair, with his hands drumming along the side of the wood. Even from her position, she could see the fatigue in his movements.

She frowned, deactivating her bloodline limit and rising to a seating position. By now, the uncomfortable feeling she had been experiencing was all but gone, which meant her chakra pathways were mostly done expanding. Furthermore, she was pleased to note that the awkward lack of control had also disappeared, which made getting dressed much easier.

Before she had fallen asleep, she had taken a look around in the wardrobe to find something comfortable to wear. Luckily, she had managed to find some underwear she could use, though she didn't find any really comfortable shirts to go with them. So she put on one of the smaller male shirts and her usual pants, which had survived mostly intact.

Heading out of the bedroom, she took the spiraling staircase to the next floor, wondering why anyone would want to be going up and down in a circle as opposed to just going normally.

She found Naruto pretty easily, since he was seated right at the door of the room. Even in the dim light of the early morning, she could tell that something was on his mind. "Good morning, Naruto-kun."

Her greeting brought him out of his thoughts, prompting him to smile back at her. She made a note of how tired he looked, something she rarely ever saw him as. "Good morning, Hinata. How was your sleep?"

She made a non-committal grunt in response, which surprised her again. She usually wasn't this rude in the morning. "What about you? Why didn't you try and rest throughout the night?"

He glanced at her in surprise, a look that she wasn't sure she could ever get used to. The Rinnesharingan just didn't mesh well with certain facial expressions, she guessed. "H-how could you tell?"

She couldn't deny that she was pleased he hadn't deflected the topic or tried to lie about it…at least, not yet. "I searched for you the minute I woke up. Even a civilian would be able to tell you've been staying awake this entire time, let alone another shinobi." She lowered herself to the floor, kneeling down in a formal seiza. She didn't make another word, understanding that she couldn't force him to open up to her but still willing to offer her support if he needed it.

He sighed heavily, rubbing his hand over his right eye. "Yeah, you could say that." He paused, feeling somewhat conflicted. Should he burden her with his troubles? He had always dealt with his issues by himself, and he didn't want to make Hinata worried about him.

The moment passed when he realized that he himself had no clue what was going on with his own body, whereas Hinata might have some idea what might be happening to him. Last he heard from Sakura, Baa-chan had been teaching as many people she could get who were interested in medical jutsu and Hinata had been one of those she had seen.

"Well…I'm not sure how to explain this," he scratched the back of his head, finding the ground suddenly more interesting to look at, "When I slept, I kept…seeing things. Memories, I guess."

Hinata frowned thoughtfully, "What sort of memories have you been seeing? Any really bad ones?" She had initially thought that he had been having nightmares, but having them throughout the night was very odd. Perhaps he had some traumatic memories that had been triggered by something in the house?

Naruto grimaced, "Yeah, but…they're not my memories." He really hoped she didn't hit him for making up stuff to her. While he wasn't sure whether or not she had learned Baa-chan's super strength technique, it wouldn't do to make her angry for wasting her time. "I've…I've been seeing things that Jiji knows, even some things that the Second did…"

"You mean transferred memories?"

He glanced at her, completely surprised that she wasn't thinking he was pulling her leg. "Eh?"

She smiled at his confusion, but there wasn't anything mocking about it. "Tsunade-sama mentioned something like that in one of her lessons. It was discovered that memories could be transferred from one person to another during the Third Great Ninja War; in fact, Hatake-san was one of the cases we studied during that lesson."

He blinked, "Kakashi-sensei? How does he fit into all this?" Inwardly, he was hoping beyond hope that Hinata could tell him how to stop the memories from playing out. There were some things he really didn't want to know about the Hokage.

She relaxed against the wall, watching the sun rise from her position. They had been conversing for about five minutes, but the sunlight had already grown several times brighter than before. "Yes, Kakashi-san has gone through something like this before. Tsunade-sama said that some of Obito's memories and mannerisms had been captured and stored within his Sharingan, something that I believe you've witnessed before."

Naruto nodded, earning another smile from her. "From what she told our class, the memories either get integrated within your mind or are subconsciously deemed 'unimportant' and forgotten. Unfortunately, the only advice I have would be for you to try and get past them. The only other means she talked about involved a Yamanaka accidentally taking away a piece of his target's memories, which led to him beheading himself just to stop the memory dreams, but I don't see you doing something like that."

Naruto shook his head vehemently, the thought of suicide leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He had never been one to run away from his problems, and suicide was what he considered to be a very cowardly move. "Hell no," he declared.

Hinata nodded in agreement, "Hai, it wouldn't be you if you didn't face this head on." She smiled at him once again, "Thank you for opening up to me, Naruto-kun. I'm glad I was able to help you out with your problem, even if it wasn't much."

"No, no, you've been a big help! If I hadn't asked you, I wouldn't have known anything about all this." Naruto was quick to let his gratefulness show. "I'm glad you were here to help me with this."

This time, Hinata couldn't deny the blush that spread over her cheeks. "A-Anyway, what are we going to do now?" She bit her lip worriedly as she glanced at him, "We still know nothing about this place, and the language is totally different from ours."

Naruto grimaced, "About that…I actually had something in mind to help us out somewhat." He swallowed the lump in his throat. Really, he couldn't just keep dancing around this issue. When Hinata cocked her head at him, he began to explain, "One of the Rinnegan's powers is the ability to read the mind of any target through the Human Path. I don't really understand, but I feel like I could pull it off if I get a chance to use it."

Naruto took in a breath, gearing himself for what he was about to reveal. "The thing is…this jutsu inevitably kills the target, because to read their minds I'd have to pull out the soul of the target. I know we need to do all we can to survive, but…"

"You don't think taking someone's life so casually is how we should go about it, huh?" She could see where he was coming from; was it right to take someone's life just to facilitate their interests? Tsunade-sama had told her once before, during one of the rare times she had a one-on-one session, that Naruto had inherited Jiraiya's dream of peace. As such, killing was something Naruto had most likely grown adverse to.

However, they were shinobi. Deception, death and espionage were their calling cards. Even though she had a strong belief that Naruto would help bring peace, she couldn't really admit that it would occur before he died. Kurenai-sensei had killed to protect them during their Genin days. ANBU killed because they had been ordered to by the Hokage.

To shinobi, killing wasn't that big of an issue.

Placing a hand on his shoulder, she gave him another smile. "You'll find a way. I know it."


Frederick Chase sighed heavily as he parked his car. This was rapidly becoming a usual occurrence, something he hadn't wanted. Grumbling to himself, he stepped out and locked the doors before heading towards the modest house he lived in.

Fishing in his pockets for the keys, he idly wondered what to have for lunch. Should he order some food? His mother had left him some recipes to try out, and it wouldn't hurt to do a little experimentation in the kitchen.

When the lock clicked, he swung open the door and stepped inside. Closing the door behind him, he turned to head towards the kitchen but damn near screamed his head off.

A strange, creepy looking man was standing before him. His face was fixed in a blank expression, one that he had seen in a few movies he watched. Before he could open his mouth to scream, he was paralyzed by an overwhelming fear. The demonic eyes rotated slowly, further driving his fear to horror.

"Gomenasai."

The hand reached towards him.


Several kilometers away, an extremely fat woman in a denim dress stood on a bridge. Even as she stared out towards the north, she was also wondering why those three had approached her. Even though Zeus had indeed left her and her children as a challenge to future heroes, it was always her stumbling unto those pesky demigods, not her actively searching them out.

At her side, a fearsome looking chihuahua growled menacingly.

"That's alright, Sonny. We can kill them the minute we find them, but until then it would be best to not attract any unsavory people here."

She grinned widely, displaying a row of shark teeth. Even as the winds blew past, she could already catch the faintest whiff of a scent. Her grin, impossibly as it sounded, stretched further.

Books. Weaves. A spear. Arrogance.

There was a child of Athena nearby. Ooh, she hadn't had Athena's spawn in so long…

"Come along, Sonny. Clortho doesn't like it when we take our time."


A/N: Freedom always tastes best after exams, yet is the worst thing when you're on vacation. How interesting.

Hope you like the twist I made with Indra. To be honest, I never really understood why not being named Hagoromo's successor made him butthurt enough to attack his brother, who Hagoromo said he respected and loved, and why Asura also retaliated despite being the one to value bonds. Unless Asura was a dick about it. Soo…like it?

Next fic to be updated will be 'Immortal Transcendent', then I'll work on 'Legacy of the Bijuu' and 'Demon King'. I'll try and do this before January comes around.

Read and review! Can we aim for a hundred?!

MaelstromBankai