Relics of the Past

by NebulasPrime

There have always been an order to the world. Families line thrive and others are cursed to fade out. Some families are even cursed or blessed to continue on with duties handed to them by the gods. Duties cased upon to guard what is precious to them or seek eternal glory. One family glory and duty is to protect a relic that gave birth to nations of old and new.

4. Guardian Duty

Naru: We have return to bring the next part of the saga.

Yami: Yes, death, destruction, MAYHEM!

Naru: Yami, please just be quiet and quit scaring the readers.

Yami: But Naru….It is my job to scare them. I am your darker half after all.

Naru: Darker yes, scary no.

Yami: *pouts* Meanie.

Naru: Apparently you are also the whiner out of the both of us. Now we would like to reintroduce our old co-host and friend, Kyūbi-san!

Kyūbi: Whoop! *growls deeply at Yami*

Yami: NO! *runs away*

Naru: HA! *cough* Revenge is so sweet. Anyway, like to thank TigrezzTail for review our last two chapters. Nice job on noticing on our guy tendency of showing off and temper. The Uzumaki clan were known for those traits to the people close to them. Anyway, on with the chapter!

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Disclaimer: We do not own any brand of the Naruto franchise, the Final Fantasy franchise, that of the Elder Scrolls franchise or any other franchise that we might include in the story.

WARNINGS: Yaoi, Yuri, Neglect, death, Sex, Possible torture, mention of possible rape, Abuse, Mpreg, lack of morality, gore, beast, language, mild Jiraiya bashing, mild Sakura bashing, strong Sasuke bashing, strong Kakashi bashing, and anything else that I can possibly come up with along the way.

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Chapter 3: Guardian Duty

Balthier sighed as he sat near the lake that's part of the training ground. It's been two months since being here. During these months, both he and his ward have grown greatly in their training. A good amount of weight finally clung to Naruto and he finally able to move onto water walking after getting proficient in the other exercises. The warrior was able to expand his own chakra pool to match the Hokage when he was able to figure out how to do so. Balthier had a few shinobi come to him about the apartments once word got out he finished two of them with security seals in placed. Renovations were all possible thanks to the kage bunshins once he was able to figure out how to expand the small army of clones.

Balthier looked over to the two yellow haired children in the distance. The warrior smiled as he remember the day he introduced them to one another that didn't require them being in the academy. Naruto wasn't close to anyone in his class which was a very bad thing when it came down to the field of battle years later when there is no trust between comrades. His decision to bring Naruto along one of his deliveries during the personal time on the schedule was all about doing some good by forming a friendship with Ino. Balthier was hoping that Ino responsible, hardheaded nature would rub off on Naruto so he won't be as foolhardy and reckless as those males in class.

With the clan permission, Naruto was helping Ino with her clan techniques from what little information he was allowed to know. He sighed happily how his luck turned out but he needed to get to business before complicacy took hold. He needed to find the tomb he could feel it was hidden somewhere in or around this village. Balthier was able to figure out that it must be underground when he didn't hear stories or legends about the walking dead around here when he asked around during deliveries. Not even when Kurama attacked years ago did any of the living dead appear from the tomb to protect it from the massive fox. From the little clues he was able to gather since being here, Balthier thought, 'So, the tomb is underground and hidden from everyone. It's unknown to the masses, thus, all the artifacts and knowledge from the clan hasn't been robbed. No walking dead outside, so there must be a large amount inside. The tomb is still fully intact even though there has been several wars and a rampaging demi-god like being attack the village several times.'

With this resolve, Balthier set for to plan he needed to find the tomb by summoning several clones and quietly gave them these orders, "Alright my men. I want you all search out the training fields, including area 44, in search of the tomb. We need to find it before the relic is gone along with the knowledge. You guys know what to do if you find it."

With this mind the clones disappeared from the clones from the field. Balthier turned to the children to see their questioning looks of what was going on. The ancient creature just smiled as a lie fell from his lips as thoughts went over to the ANBU that still watched over them, "I remember I have errands that needed to be taken care and they are going to do it."

Believing the lie they return talking about the jutsu before them. The blond also knew better to question him about it with Ino around but Naruto felt what he told them was a lie. Good thing it was the weekend so there was plenty enough time to ask about it.

-Training Ground 44, the Forest of Death-

Anko Mitarashi, one of the skilled kunoichi in the village but also seen as a traitor due to her relationship with her ex-sensei. A person that the mistress of snakes use to greatly admire when she was younger to only see the truth about him some time later in her short life. This was the reason Anko brought herself to this area notorious for the training field many have died in before. A forest massive chakra dense forest called training ground 44 but is better known as 'The Forest of Death.' Anko was currently patrolling the forest for any intruders that could be hiding around and in it. Like that was going to happen since the forest is only used for the Chūnin exams when Konoha wins the bid to host it.

Anko did not notice a figure made its way up onto the wired metal fence and over as she proceeded to patrol the field in anger. This figure was one the clones that Balthier sent out in search of the old tomb. The clone made its way through the dense jungle of a forest it before it 'henge' into a bird that was native to the area. Hoping this would lessen the likely of being caught by any shinobi that came into the forest to scout it. An unfamiliar force seem to have drawn the clone to a cave with a large opening that was next to the river. Flying up high to see that the cave was midway from red tower and the fence he left moments ago. The clone contemplated if it should dismiss itself now or check it out further to confirm that the tomb was even in there. Going against better judgment the illusioned clone went inside the dark cave.

The ever narrowing tunnels seem to go on forever as the glow from the 'Candlelight's' guide the group way. Weaving and bending the winding passage. Soon the travel in the thing passage ended when the light from the orb expanded to show he now entered a cavern. Flying high, the light of the orb illumination caused it to see the face of an ancient tomb, a few walking dead and few other things that was common place for this style of old structure. The clone went over to the door to better inspect it after dodging several of his dead clansmen. The clone could see the old designs of clan protection rituals that all lead to a circle in the middle of the door with four indents. The indents was meant for dragon shaped key that was notoriously done by the Yui clan as a deterrent, security lock and trap. On a pedestal near the door was a claw key made of solid gold and emeralds that kept the pressure trap at bay. Glad that it was able to complete it mission the clone was about to dispel itself until it heard the familiar noise of a bow being drawn. Turning around to see one of the undead warriors did indeed have a bow drawn at him. The last image it saw was that of an arrow hitting him in the head. The clone was gone with a popping sound and a small amount of smoke.

-Apartment Complex-

At the dinner table Balthier sat up quickly as the information from the last of the clones was dispelled. This one found the temple in the last place he wanted it to be in. Balthier scared the children in the room a bit when he made an audible growl out of anger. Being the braver one of the two children, Naruto asked his sensei, "All you alright Balt-sensei?"

"Yes I am fine Naruto," Balthier answered as he composed himself from the small bout of anger. He didn't want to scare the children any more than necessary. The rest of the dinner past quietly as it could when there are children talking and laughing. Balthier picked up the dishes and put them in the sink as he told the youngling, "Naru-kun, please escort Ino back home. It's starting to get dark out now so be quick about it."

Naruto nodded as both children left the apartment. This gave Balthier enough time to think about the tomb in the chakra dense forest. It had the key, which was a good thing, but the downside was the fellow undead warriors that guard the tomb. Balthier hoped the undead men and women still retained enough intelligence to recognize the rank that has been imprinted on him so long ago. He and a group of clones will go forth to the tomb later tonight. That is if he had enough energy to create a good amount of clones. Then a great idea popped into the undead warrior mind that made the warrior go to the empty unit next to theirs. Balthier created about fifty clones with the seals for chakra absorption in the living room of the apartment. There should be enough clones and chakra for a full take down of the old tomb by the time he was ready to go. He went back to the apartment with a happy smile on his henged face to finish cleaning up the mess left behind.

-Twelve-thirty in the morning after the next, Forest of Death-

Balthier had to push back the time to the day after the next since the warrior tended to forget the ANBU watching him. The warrior was currently henged into a proud hawk while all of his clones were transformed into one of three types of common birds of the region. The transform man looked at the dense forest full of chakra and animals in anticipation of what is to come. A small amount of fear also settled into the pit of stomach. The high possibility that he would have to fight his clansmen over some scrolls and a chance that a piece of jewel could be in the old building was the fear he held within his body.

Balthier went over the memories of the clone before being hit by an arrow. It was truly a magnificent place that reminded him of jungles that he passed through many times before during his travels as a living person. Sounding off with a loud caw, Balthier and his clones set forth to the temple inside the dangerous ground.

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Each false bird flew into the cave one by one in a slow swooping action. This was done so they would not bring suspicion that there was something in the cave in case anyone was scouting the area. An overly large hawk had taken the lead of the massive group of clones. Each had summoned a magickal orb to light their way in the natural made tunnel. The light of the orbs slightly expanded at the end of the tunnel which brought the large group down before it. It was telling of them they were about to enter the large carven. Balthier signaled the group to stay back as he took off the illusion in order to do the part of the plan that he view as a gamble. The tunnel opened up as he walked in to show a large room with thick columns supporting the smooth carved ceiling. Art or stories of valor, glory and death that have long since passed many generations ago decorated the majority of the walls and supporting structures.

Balthier would gaze at his clan art some more if it wasn't for the fact that the moans of the walking dead did not bring forth his attention. Many of the dead stood proudly on the ledges of small cliffs that have been eroded into the place by thin streams of flowing water and damp air. Fog seem to cling to the place as the old warrior sends out a multitude of glowing orbs. From the amount of new light in the area Balthier could see the many things he had missed in the first look around. More of the undead than he had thought was in here filled the area along with several pressure traps.

An undead creature with a horned helmet stepped up in front of the others. The warrior could tell this one was stronger than the rest of the group. He would be the one to decide if the rest shall sacrifice themselves to his fellow undead man. Much to Balthier surprise, the leader of the band of people took sword in hand and plunged into a one of the few soft patches of earth that littered the rocky terrain. The minor general knelt down behind the weapon to show he would do no harm to the outranking officer. The others soon followed as he felt a small pulse of charka sweep through the cavern and the tomb. Balthier pulsed his own chakra to signal his clones to not attack and to follow. The armada transformed back to their original formed to follow as he went for the entrance. The mob of undead got up and parting the way to the locked vaulted door as the visitors walked by.

The creature sees the golden dragon key with claws made of emeralds on the pedestal. Examining it to study the emerald circles with creatures of old carved in the back of the key. Looking around to find the spear holes on the wall and floor that is linked to the pressure trap the key is on. The original went to the side of the trap to quickly grab the golden key. With a fast swooshing sound the long spears from the ground and wall propelled themselves out to only go back to where they belong slowly. Going back to the door with a nearby clone and started to turn the three large circles to match the back of the claw. Balthier turned the key once they all the carvings to match. After placing the claw into the socket in the middle of the door Balthier turned the lock. The circle whirled around quickly to suddenly stop of three images of owls of various sizes before the door slide down. Dust flowed cascaded onto them as it fell from the sealed hall making the warrior to quickly pull the claw from the door before it broke.

Balthier placed the claw into one of the bags he augmented to carry about five hundred pounds worth of items. He was planning on raiding as many things he could from this place while leaving behind the useless belongings that would weigh them down too much and were worthless in this era.

Balthier hurried into the tomb towards the main chamber after gathering the remaining courage he could muster. Never noticing the red tint starting to glow in the leading creature hollowed out eyes or the bodies of every undead living dead he had passed earlier starting to fall apart. The magick's binding them to the cavern was failing. An unwarranted failure as the power appeared to be traveling somewhere in this place.

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Balthier was starting to feel uneasy of this place even if he was in the class of the undead. The reason for his uneasiness was because of the warriors that were supposed to be walking the halls were now strewn all over the place. He could feel the magick's that once held their bodies together was completely gone. Gone to was the magick's in large black basins that kept this place lit. Another eerie thing was that the Yui could feel the magick's travel somewhere deep into the temple. Balthier fear grew as to the idea of who or what was gathering the magick. Even with the fear ever presence in his heart the undead warrior was ever ready to face the enemy within the main chamber of the temple.

Along the way the large group gathered many scrolls, secrets, monetary treasure, a few weapons, an alchemy set, and many more things that were seen as useful to him and his ward. Balthier even gathered the strings and pieces of metal that used in various traps that he disabled along the way.

Soon he made to a long tunnel with another sealed door that was known to many of his clan as the hall of historia. This hall is dedicated to the story of the dragon lords of old in where it is carved into the walls until it ends at the locked wheeled door. The final trap that kept you away from the bodies of the social elite and the treasure that is hidden behind the door. Looking at the panels that told the story of a dragon lord who was the first to die bravely during a war that taken place long ago. This lord was one of the few that was graced to follow the direct orders of great dragon, Aludin. Only to find that powerful dragon claims was nothing more than lies upon his now dead breath.

Balthier stopped in front of the mechanized door to better analyze it before he and a clone shift the wheels on the door to the same pattern that was done earlier in the expedition. The warrior took out the claw once it was done and stuck into the socket to turn it. Balthier quickly took it out as he sees the wheels of the door quickly turn to stop on the familiar owl they saw earlier in the tomb. The door went down as the eerie factor went sky high. The sound of dust and bits of rock hit floor as it fall from the carved ceiling above. Balthier sent out several orbs of light into the room to see what awaited the group. The room of course was the biggest of the bunch. It was to be expected from being a main chamber and where the elite was buried.

Balthier just stared at the room knowing what was going to happen to all of them. That being the dragon lord, along with several of the most loyal followers, will rise up to protect the most valuable part of the treasure in this chamber. A horde consisting of a word wall, probably a mask, the best weapons, more of precious metal that will be melted down, a small chance that the family pieces that he wanted the most. Letting out a loud sigh escape his lips Balthier lead the group into the chamber with the rest of the orbs. A small prayer was said in the faith no one here would release the final trap within this place.

Coffins lined both sides of the room to the point of the word wall while one overly large one lay in the middle of raised step way. Balthier mentally prepared himself before making his way to the raised coffin in the center of the room. A heavy stone box made of finely crafted onyx with designs carved all over. The warrior motioned for the clones to start to spread out but not to get close to the lids of the upright coffins of the lesser warriors. As soon as he made midway on the steps the lid of the main coffin flew open. The lid took out a few of the clones when it landed a few feet behind the original.

By the grace of the divine the lid only dispelled a small bunch of the large army. Out of the stone box a body floated upwards into the carven like chamber. Wearing purple robes with a small amount of armor made of steel and a metal mask with eye slits to see the enemy. The metal armor only covered only the chest, stomach, and in the front it extended to the bottom of the now ragged robes. This lord wielded a wooden staff that was curved at the top. A blue white orb glowed in the arced part of the staff before it quickly vanished to become a shield of ice crystals around the floating lord. With a war cry the dragon lord was able to awaken his sleeping followers. More lids popped open to reveal more of the undead warriors of old that were ready to fight off the intruders with weapons in hand.

Balthier gave a battle cry of his own to commence the battle. Clones with weapons in hand charged with their own roars. Each side cutting as many they could from each side before they were taken out the field of battle. Soon the last of the summon warriors fell to leave the lord alone to fight the stragglers of Balthier army. Balthier looked at the damage done to his men to see about ten to eleven of his clones were left. Gazing back at the enemy to see sorcerer soaring around as it gave a loud wail over the loss of his own champions. Damage done by earlier clones that were able to successfully hit was clearly seen on the lord. Due to the ice wall protecting the mage the group kept their distance but it gave Balthier an idea.

"Okay men, follow my lead when I attack," the original said as did the hand seals for one of the clan spell and called out the strongest one he could do, "Firaga!"

A massive ball of fire appeared in front of the warrior and shot off towards the floating dragon lord. It was a direct hit when the lord let out a high pitched shrill of pain. The other clones done the same by doing various sizes of fireballs go forth. A few more of the clones vanished once their chakra reserves were depleted. The dragon lord was also able to take out a few more of the clones with several attacks made of ice. It was clear that the guardian power was waning as fast as that the army made up of a Yui. It was time to end this battle before his own body fell apart from lack of magick. Dismissing the last of the clones, Balthier gathered the free magick's in the air to called out, "Ardor!"

A large amount of fire appear on the creature to make the mage shrill loudly before falling onto the ground in a fiery blaze near its own coffin. Its own magick now feeding the flame Balthier had casted. The flame lit up the room so brightly that it was able to show the bodies of ancient humans that now scattered the room. Soon the flames died away to revel a moaning burnt body of the dragon lord. He went over to the burnt ancestor to see if he would get up again. The image he saw of the body will be one of many on a long list of memories that he would never forget. To see a human body burned again after such a long time was a sickening experience to anyone. The steel armor and mask were the only things that remained with the dragon lord.

The sorcerer moaned once more before speaking in the language of the old tongue, "Child of dragon born long ago, my legacy, you have been proven to be worthy by defeating me. With your success you have gained the right to my horde and the piece. In this treasure trove there is one piece you must protect with your life. The reason is because I have sense the disappearance of my brother in arms far up in the north. You and our last remaining descendants are all that is left to protect it. Please, regain what was stolen from us for vile forces are in the works."

Balthier understood some of the words the old undead man spoke but was confused by some of it. The dragon lord made a loud hollow laugh when seeing the confusion the Balthier held, "You won't be able to sense the rest of our legacy. I am able to because I have been here far longer than you have. I have felt them being born, live, fight and die. The one to look for beside your ward is a woman that left this village long ago. She is the only trustworthy enough to put the lives of the clan into. Just beware the few of our descendants for there is wickedness in thy heart."

The undead lord finally slipped into peace it wanted for a long time after he spoke those final words of warning. The body of the lord, along with those of his followers, turned into ash as they released the last amount of magick's that held him together into the air. Balthier took the mask off the ground as he got off the ground. Making sure no one could feel the large amount of chakra underneath the ground the warrior sucked it all up.

Thinking of the reasons as to why he was only able to sense Naruto even though there was more of his children out there in the world. Kyūbi chakra could have been a factor in amplifying the child blood while masking the ability to sense everyone else. If that was the case then being around Naruto did not help the fact. The clan grimoire should be able to help with the history of the family since each one in every tomb magickally updates when someone writes in them. That is if the enchantments on the books were still working during the time nearly all the magick was sucked out the world. It did not guarantee the information he wanted was in there. He just hoped the backup plan with the books was still working now.

Balthier just sighed and went to the word wall before him. Hearing the whispers of the hundreds of voices that belong to the spirits dead forever trapped in the wall in order to give their power to whoever found them or proven themselves worthy of the gift. Filling his ears and growing louder as he got closer until to the point it was deafening. Soon it the voices died away with the last whisper of the word given to him. The word of power that was given to him was 'Kaan' for the shout 'Kyne Peace.' This will come in handy whenever he is summoned to the world of Pulse Grandeur.

Looking around for anything he missed to find a large chest somewhat hidden by the wall. Going over to it and opened it to find various things inside. Many of the stuff inside were either too far gone to be used or just plain useless. One thing Balthier thing that he found strange was jar full of a multi-colored orbs. The jar was not ordinary by any means when Balthier examined it even further. There were plenty of entrapment seals placed on the fragile items to make sure whatever inside remained stuck until their release. He could feel the muted rumbling of ancient roars of the souls held inside. These souls were not that of trapped animals or humans, no, these were more ancient than that. Not usual by any standard because the spirits were those of dragons whose bodies have long since returned to the earth. He really needed to restore his body as soon as possible now.

Balthier placed the jar into the bag so he finish his raid on the tomb before morning come. All that was left to was search for the hidden room that the Yui clan was notorious for. Balthier went to the walls to feel around for the pressure switch somewhere on it. Pressing the wall in regular intervals until a soft click was heard followed by the sound of a lid of an unopened coffin coming down next to it. The warrior went inside the thin tunnel. Traversing the hall until it opened up into a small room with the last of the horde that was left. Balthier ignored the minor treasure once something more important caught his eye in the room. In the middle of the chamber was an item he hoped would been looking and hoping would be in here. On a small table sat a small emerald orb sitting on a skinny, black pedestal. It was one of the relic pieces that the men were looking for. He looked around the room to see where the trap could be at. Balthier spotted holes to the left and on the ceiling of the room. The relic itself was a pressure trap meant for anyone foolish enough to just grab it.

Balthier picked up an arrow that was on a ground near him. He poked the jewel off the trap after edging himself a little closer to it. The emerald rolled to the other side of the room as poisoned darts shot at an empty wall. Soon the darts started lessen before completely running out. Once it was completely empty a set of metal spikes fell from the ceiling before going back up. Balthier gathered the last of the horde, one of them being the clan grimoire, and the orb once he made sure there no more traps in the room.

Balthier went on down the tunnel to find it went back to the entrance of the temple. Bodies of the undead he saw earlier lay in pieces on the carven floor. Stopping at the opening to turn around to face the place he was leaving. Unlike the other earth temple, the undead man now had the chance to give a prayer to now fully dead clansmen. With that Balthier left the cave to be greeted by the early morning sky starting to change colors. He showed a sad smile as he tossed the small bag full of stuff and transforming into a bird. Balthier headed home to his ward after grabbing the bag in mid-air. Once again leaving behind something he always knew and loved.

To Be Continued…