I Do Not Own Naruto or Final Fantasy VI
As the morning sun began to rise over the horizon, Naruto was wide awake. Despite not sleeping due to the burial, Naruto was standing on the bow, looking into the ocean before them as he had set sail soon as both Celes and he returned. He had his clone guiding the ship as he was currently too conflicted to steer it himself.
Watching the boat cruise through the waves, he sighed before running his hand through his unkempt hair. He had lost yet another friend, a good friend. While he stayed secluded to keep the world from knowing of him, he still traveled the world and helped those in need.
Cid happened to be one of those people and he happened to become good friends with him. He was a good man; he was only used by the Emperor to create magiteck, tricking him into believing they would use it for good. Of course he should have known better, but he was very gullible as all scientists, believing their inventions would benefit the world, not destroy it.
Being splashed by a large wave, Naruto wiped the water from his face as he looked towards the rising sun. The sparkling water mesmerized him, allowing him to momentarily forget his problems. While he knew he would have to deal with them, it felt good to forget about them, even if it was briefly.
The sight was so mesmerizing; he could literally see his own memories in the water as they drifted away. They may not have been his best or the ones he was most found of, but they were still part of him and one particular memory stood out beyond the others. Both of the promises he had made.
(Flashback)
"Naruto, my good friend! What's the occasion that you come to visit me?" Cid joyfully greeted Naruto as he entered his home, glad to see his friend was alive and well.
Shaking his head as Cid was always quite the character, Naruto shook his head before looking around the room and noticing the scientific notes. Taking a close look at them for a brief moment, Naruto sighed before scratching the back of his head. "Well, I was in town to see what Emperor Gestahl was up to. I've heard some really bad things and I've come to see what is going on myself."
Cid only scoffed at his old friend before taking the food he had cooking out of the burning oven and setting it out. "Nonsense! Emperor Gestahl is a noble man that wants to help the world. Some of his actions may be questionable I admit, but if there was something I disagreed with I would obviously tell him and try to convince him otherwise."
"I know that, but still I need to do my own investigating. And that is why I am here… Other then wanting to drop by hearing you had a daughter? Didn't hear you ever got married." Naruto changed the subject as questioning Cid wouldn't get him anywhere.
"Oh, that reminds me. Dinner's on, Celes!" Cid yelled as he began carving into the brisket. From what fiend it was Naruto didn't want to know as the smell wasn't that great, mainly because it was burned pretty well.
A second later, a young girl covered in dirt entered the house, holding her nose. Naruto had to guess she could be no older four or five at the most as she was still having some trouble walking. "Ah, granddad! You burned the food!"
Hearing what she said, Naruto was able to quickly realize the blonde wasn't his child. If anything, he had adopted her or her parents were close friends with Cid and they passed away. "Ah, she is quite the little angel. Now I can't believe you could have such a beautiful little girl."
Cid wanted to throw the burnt food at Naruto for that comment, but he only shook his head at his friend's humor as it seemed Celes was laughing to. "No, no. She isn't mine, but she is as good as any kid I could have. I've been looking after her more as we just infused her with magiteck."
"Really?" Naruto stated with a little surprise at Cid actually admitting to such an experiment and the fact that this girl was used in the process. While Naruto could be fooled, there was no fooling him on his friend's emotions as he could tell Cid loved the girl just from a single glance.
Nodding, Cid carved further into the meat before pulling out chunks of it that hadn't burned, but still were rather well done. "Yes and I'm glad to say there are no side effects… Except for the occasional lighting bolt that comes down and strikes me."
Watching him hand Celes a plate, Naruto motioned that he had already eaten before looking towards the girl. "Well, isn't she the little prodigy. Maybe before long she'll be using Thundara, Thundaga and just maybe Ultima one day."
This made the young Celes give him a broad smile before she quickly scarfed down her food. "Granddad, can I go back out and play? Leo is teaching me how to use a sword?"
Cid frowned for a moment as he momentarily didn't like what he heard before the name she said registered. Nodding, he smiled at her before walking over to her and kissing her on top of the head. "Alright, but be careful and listen to Lieutenant Leo."
Frowning as she didn't like being kissed like that, Celes quickly ran her fingers through her hair before nodding vigorously. "Thank you!"
And with that, she ran out without another word making Cid chuckle at her. "Quite the rambunctious little girl, but I wouldn't trade her for the world. Too bad that she will be going into the military soon. I won't be able to see her as much…"
Patting his friend on the back, Naruto walked out of his little house and watched as Leo guided Celes, who was using an undersized, wooden sword. "Don't worry my friend, she will do fine. And in a few years, Leo will become a General and a lot of your problems will be solved as he will take good care of her."
Knowing that to be true, Cid could only shake his head and sigh. "I know, but it doesn't keep me from worrying as I'm an old man. I'm just not sure what would happen to her, if I wasn't around. …Naruto, could I asked you a favor?"
"Sure, as long as it is reasonable. I may be a miracle worker, but there are things I can't do, you know?" Naruto responded in jest, elating a small chuckle from Cid as he knew that all too well.
Looking over Celes and Leo, Cid smiled as Leo corrected her before looking towards Naruto. "If something was to happen to me, or Leo, would you take care of her? Even if I don't believe Gestahl is a bad person, that Kefka… I'm just not sure about that guy gaining power like his is. He may be young and talented, but there is something about him I just don't like."
Catching the drift of where his friend was going, Naruto simply nodded before he looked over towards Celes and laughed a little as she tripped over her own feet. "Consider it done, my friend. And I'll see what I can find out about this Kefka."
Cid briefly smiles at Naruto response before calling over to Celes. As she walked over with Leo, he smiled again before taking her hand. "Time for bed. Leo, thank you for looking after her for me. Naruto, thank you. I'll try and stay in contact, but I might get wrapped up in my work."
Naruto only chuckled as he waved him off. "I wouldn't expect any less. I will see you later. Leo, keep up the good work and remember what I taught you."
"Sensei, I will." Leo bowed lightly before Naruto waved him off as he put on an old beggar cloak and slowly began walking away.
(Flashback End)
(Flashback)
"What the fuck?!" Naruto yelled as he arrived neared the gate to the Esper's world, looking at the destruction of the area around the cave.
What caught his attention was the amount of injured or dead soldiers. They were obviously Gesthal's troops, as their uniform was easily distinguished. Growling as the empire was pushing its boundaries once more, Naruto looked through the dead.
To his surprise, there were no casualties for the Espers, but then it hit him. Why they would have come to the gate in the first place? They wanted the espers so they could gain the power of magic. So, did that mean Cid or Leo was apart of this?
Shaking his head, not wanting to think along those lines at the moment, Naruto noticed something odd near the gate itself. There was a woman, barely even moving, on the land bridge to the gate. But what unsettled him was that it was about to break.
Without second thought, Naruto whisked her off the bridge just as it began to crumble and fall into the canyon below. Looking at the woman he had just saved and looking over her wounds, he could tell her time was near. But there still was something off about why she was here.
The Imperial Army didn't accept any women soldiers except for special circumstances. Celes was one of them as she was infused with magiteck. They would allow them office or commanding positions, but kept them out of battle. So how did she get here?
That was when he remembered about an Esper and a human woman falling in love… Was this the woman?
"Shit, better get her some care as fast as possible." Naruto told himself before he closed his eyes and concentrated on his home before disappearing in a flicker.
(Fast-forward)
"Ugh… Where am I?" The woman stated as she attempted to push herself up. The next moment, she screamed as pain ripped through her entire body.
The next instant, a calm and relieving flow entered her body and began to wash the pain to nothing but a mild numbness. While she could still feel it was there, it was something she could handle as she slowly opened her eyes, noticing there was two hands pressed on her stomach.
To her surprise, she didn't see her husband, Maudin, anywhere. Instead, she saw this young man with untamed blonde hair and calm, crystal blue eyes that seemed to contain boundless wisdom. While this frightened her to an extent, she noticed that a light blue aura coming from his hands before he slowly moved his hands from her stomach.
Feeling the pain creep back slowly, but staying to a point that she could handle it, she spoke very softly. "Where am I… and who are you?"
Naruto smiled a little at her, though it was a grim smile at best as he could feel her life was dripping away ever so slowly. Even with his medical abilities, which were nothing compared to any of the medics of his day, he knew there was no way she would live. He was only prolonging her life, for why he wasn't sure.
"I am Naruto and you are in my house. I've been taking care of you since I found you near the gate. I don't know why you were there, but you picked the worst time to do so." Naruto answered her honestly as he wiped a few beads of sweat from his forehead as he hadn't had an ounce of sleep since he brought her in.
"Pa! I got the herb you sent me out for!" A young and smaller Ultros yelled out as he entered through an odd door entry, four large rocks separating from one another pulled by seemingly nothing.
This made the woman slightly frightening seeing the fiend, but Naruto quickly calmed her as he took the herbs from the octopus before turning back to her. "Thanks little guy. And don't worry madam. Ultros is only my pet, closer to a son if you would."
Soon as the word son left his mouth, something clicked in her and without second warning she attempted to jump out of the bed. She wished she hadn't as extreme pain rippled through her entire body as she collapsed.
Naruto was quickly beside her, but she simply pushed him away as he attempted to get her up and heal her as blood began to flow freely from her various open wounds. "I need to find her!! Where is Terra?! She was with me before I… Did they take her?! Did you find my baby girl?!"
"Calm down! Calm down!" Naruto yelled out to try and calm her, but she continued struggling as she was in a frenzied stated, wanting to know what happened to her baby girl.
Being at a loss as there was no one else alive at the cave, having sent a few clones to check and to bury the dead, and he would have noticed a young baby if she happened to be there. But there wasn't so that could only mean one thing… The empire must have taken her, suspecting that she had esper blood…
Keeping his anger in check as it would do no good for him to get angry, he could tell all the wounds that she received were opening and being unable to heal her due to her frantic struggling, there was only one way to end this.
Casting a calming genjutsu, her struggling stopped and after a few moments he managed to lay her back down onto the bed with her blood covering his arms. It was all that was need for her to realize why he had been trying to get her back into the bed. "That's mine… Isn't it?"
Nodding as that was all he could do, as she had lost too much blood over the last few days to be healed again. Her time had come and there wasn't anything he could do, just like with all of his friends. "It is… I've been keeping you here… Trying to keep you alive for a little longer so I could hear what happened."
While it hurt to hear what he had said, she could accept it. If this young man had the decency to try and save her, maybe… Just maybe. "…Could I, get you… to do something for me?"
Naruto simply knelt beside her before nodding, letting her know he would listen. She smiled seeing this, as this reminded her of Maudin, she took a few ragged breathes before speaking. "Please, find my daughter. …And make sure she is in good hands. …I know this is too much to ask for all you have done for me… but please she is all… I have left. I can feel… Maudin didn't make it…"
Knowing the name as he visited the esper world every five to ten years, Naruto nodded as his mind was made up as he gripped her hand gently. "You have my word. I, Uzumaki Naruto, will find your daughter and make sure she is okay. I promise you that…"
After a brief pause, she smiled before slowly closing her eyes. "Thank you…"
"Wait! …What is your name? I must know… So I can tell your daughter…" Naruto asked solemnly as he gripped her hand tightly, trying to make sure he had her attention as he flowed some healing chakra into her body, giving her a few more moments of life.
Still closing her eyes, she spoke softly, barely audible, as the blood loss took its toll. "It's Maduline…"
Feeling her hand going limp in his hand, Naruto closed his eyes before placing her hand on her chest. He knew she was still within this world, but it would be only moments before she passed onto the next. He didn't want to wait, but he had to as he had to give her a proper burial as it was the right thing to do.
Walking out of the room, leaving her to her thoughts for her final minutes, Naruto noticed the fiend was skipping rocks into the lava. "Get ready for a long trip. …After she has passed, we will head out to find her daughter, Terra and to bring the Empire down as it has gone too far this time."
Ultros simply nodded before chunking another stone into the lava, not letting his excitement show. He would finally get to see the outside world as he wasn't allow out of their property.
(Flashback End)
"Up early, I see." Celes' voice broke him out of memory lane.
Naruto simply grunted before turning around, seeing the former general was wearing new clothes, probably what she had got from the stash of clothes Terra got Naruto to give her. "Haven't slept. Been thinking too much to do so."
She was wearing a with, long sleeved ruffled dress that reached her thighs along with a tight pair of green shorts that reach her knees, probably just to keep herself from being exposed as the dress was a little short on her.
Catching that he was looking at her clothing, Celes shook her head. "I was tired of my old clothes and these are what Terra had. They don't exactly fit seeing as I'm quite a bit taller then her, but still. I think it looks good."
"True, true. …Feeling any better?" Naruto tried to allude to Cid's passing, but really didn't want to bring it up if she didn't want to.
Celes nodded, before looking over to the helm to see another Naruto steering. Not letting that bother her too much, thought she was a little freaked, she sighed. "It still hurts and always will, but I have to get over it. Death is natural, and he was trying his best for me. I think he lived so long just for me…"
"No doubt about that. If it wasn't for you, I think Cid would have passed away years ago. You were the spark that kept him going for so long because he loved you so much. Even if you weren't related, he was your grandfather by heart." Naruto responded as he walked over to her and hugged her in an attempt to comfort her.
It worked as Celes smiled, despite having a few tears dripping onto her cheeks, after he broke the hug, looking a lot better then she had been when they had found her. "Thank you, that makes me feel a little better."
Nodding, glad that he was of some help; Naruto shook his head as his clone yawned and looked like it was ready to fall asleep at any moment. Sure, he was tired too but he guessed due to the clone being only a small percent of his chakra tired quicker then he would.
As he yawned too, Celes walked over to the clone before simply taking the wheel. "Get some rest. It doesn't help us any if you are worn out, Captain. Just tell me where we are heading and I'll get us there."
Chuckling at the captain part, knowing Celes was jesting with him as she knew he was much older then what both Sabin and Terra thought. Dispelling his clone, Naruto nodded and yawned as he noticed Terra walking out of the cabin while Sabin had apparently been on the other side of the boat for a while.
"We're heading to Nikeah to check out a rumor of a new leader of a group of bandits that is trying to get into the sunken Figaro castle. It could be anyone, but I have a good feeling it is Edgar trying to find a way to save his people." Naruto told her as he tried to stifle another yawn but failed miserably.
As Celes nodded, Terra, who was still waking up, was surprised to see that they were out at sea before jumping back as something caught her attention. "Whoa! What the… When did we leave shore?! Naruto!"
Sighing as he knew Terra was only worried, both that they were no long at land and for Celes, not knowing that she was there when he buried Cid. "Terra, just stop now. I took Celes to Cid's grave last night to grieve and we need to move quickly and reunite everyone to stand a chance."
Terra blinked at him a moment before raising her eyebrow at him. "That wasn't what I was going to say at all. Celes told me about that last night, I just didn't know we already left shore…. I yelled because you have a visitor clinging to the side of the boat and I almost attacked him."
"Pa! Pa! I need to talk to you!" Ultros' voice caught his attention, which naturally made Naruto face fault before he crawled over to starboard side and looking over to see Ultros cling to the side of the hull.
"If this isn't important, I swear I will chop you up into sushi. You got that?" Naruto stated with a deadly tone, radiating both his and his demon's killing intent, merging it into one potent killing force that made the octopus buckle slightly.
After releasing ink into the water, Ultros quickly spoke hoping this would be of use to his owner. "There has been a rumor going on that Kefka has found a more powerful source then even the Warring Triad, but he was looking for the final piece to make it complete and create the ultimate being and fuse with it."
"What?!" Naruto yelled out, no longer being even slightly tired. If that had any truth to it… It meant that Kefka would be looking for Kyuubi and him… "Where did you hear this from and are you sure the source is reliable?!"
Frightened as he never heard Naruto so serious before, even after the death of Maduline, Ultros nearly wanted to make a break for it as he knew his father wouldn't like where he got the information from. Even still, he told him. "Siegfried… He said he dug it up on Kefka looking up on the ancient's history."
Growling as he heard Siegfried was involved, his first response was to say it was an outright lie. But to his displeasure, the bastard always spoke the truth and verified his sources as he did before checking something out. It was peculiar how he worked, it being so much like his method, but he didn't think of it too much and simply thought Siegfried to be a careful and methodical person.
"Dammit! Of all times for this to happen again! I knew I should have killed him when I had the chance!" Naruto cursed before violently slamming his hand into the railing, snapping it in two from the contact and shaking the boat from the force alone.
Four sets of eyes were upon him, frightened and unsure why this had angered him so much. Both Celes and Sabin wondered why Ultros was much calmer around him and not attacking, but that wasn't as pressing as Naruto looking like he was ready to rampage as red energy flowed around him.
"HOW DARE THAT CLOWN?! HE DARES TO TRY AND REFORM US TO BRING JYUBI BACK! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!" Kyuubi raged from within, being just as angry as his vessel, if not more so as he never wanted to be united with the rest and he liked to keep his title of the strongest of the bijuu.
Ignoring the fox's rant in his mind, Naruto clenched his fists and closed his eyes before calmly bringing himself back to an accept level of rage. The red aura burning around him quit as he was in control of his emotions and didn't have the same mindset of the demon within.
Opening his eyes, they were still bright red as Kyuubi's chakra was still within his system. Naruto, however, didn't care as he looked back overboard to Ultros. "This is an emergency, so I'm going to need you to go out and find Gogo, Mog and Umaro and bring them to me if you can. If not, tell them to stay put so I can find them."
"Wait, why? I thought you said they were the guardians of… This doesn't make any kind of sense!" Ultros yelled out, trying to put together everything he knew of the subject, which was very little as Naruto had never told him about Kyuubi nor did he ever ask as it never crossed his mind.
"Just go! I'll explain everything when you return with them!" Naruto yelled at the octopus, angered he was hesitated despite saying this was an emergency and he was ready to knock the fiend back.
From his owner's demeanor, Ultros knew he had to get going. Whatever this was, it was extraordinarily important as he had never seen the panicked look in his eyes before. In fact, he never seen Naruto panic even when they dove into the Dragon's Den as Siegfried challenged Naruto to do so…
Being splashed by the water as Ultros fell into the ocean and swiftly swimming away, Naruto wiped the water from his face before taking a few deep breathes. This was very, very bad for him as Kefka's power had grown significantly after resurrecting the Warring Triad and that power wanted him to complete…
Shivering, he knew he had to regain his old form and fast to stand a chance. Kyuubi would be very useful, but each time he used his power now it would be putting a nail into the coffin. Limiting the use of his power in high quantities would be a must if he didn't want to bring too much attention his way.
Then again, he really didn't have to as he would be going to face him in the first place. So all the bastard had to do was wait… 'Damn. So it doesn't matter what I do… Or I could use my wits and out maneuver him. But the upper hand belongs to him now as he must know where the other eight are and I don't since the shift of the earth.'
Naruto was so caught up in his own thoughts that he hadn't noticed that both Terra and Sabin approached him and were nearly beside him. So he was surprised when Terra suddenly spoke. "Naruto, what's wrong? What is this thing about an ultimate being?"
Wincing at her question, Naruto sighed as he walked away from the broken railing before leaning against the cabin door. "Where do I begin…? Thousands of years ago, way before the War of the Magi, a great civilization existed. I don't know too much of it, but almost all of the technology that is around now was built by them."
"But, because of their lack of respect for nature, they awoke a great demon of immeasurable power. It was said that in one night, he obliterated all the nations and the continents they stood on. All that was left were a few large land masses with thousands of islands. The demon continued his destruction through the centuries, making sure none could advance."
"Finally, a lone man with great power came to being and sealed the great demon within him. Most of his story, however, is another tale. When he was about to die, he knew the beast would become free once more so he did the only thing he could do. He split it into nine separate demons, each with great power but significantly less then the great demon's."
"Many people over time have tried to fuse all nine pieces to recreate the beast and merge with it over then eons, but all have failed to get all nine pieces. However, the problem with… Most of those pieces were used in order to give birth to the Warring Triad. If one has the triad…" Naruto stopped as he let the information think so they could figure it out on their own.
After a few moments of silence, Sabin was the first to speak as he had more of an idea of what to do then either Celes or Terra. "Then, we must keep Kefka from claiming all nine pieces… Because if he does, we might not be able to stop him."
Frowning at what she heard, Terra wasn't sure what they could do. If he had the triad, he must have already known of the nine… "Wait, he only knows were some are? That means there are a few that he doesn't and if we could find those…"
"No, he knows where all but one is. Only one was not used in the Warring Triad's creation and if it was… The beast would have been released then. All that is left is the ninth, yet the most powerful of the nine as it was capable of holding off all the other eight in combat." Naruto responded before lifting himself off the cabin.
Stretching for a moment, popping a few joints in each of his arms, Naruto spoke as he created five clones of himself. "But as of now, we aren't ready to deal with that yet. First thing is first, we better get to Nikeah and hope it is Edgar. Now…"
His vision turned to his clones before four of the five disappeared soon as his tone had changed to dead serious. Naruto's aura burst around him before his smirked wildly, ready to see where he truly was as he hadn't fought seriously in ages. "It's time I let loose as I need to blow some steam off. Whatever you three do, don't get involved. We will stay nearby and my last clone here will drag my ass back to the ship."
Before any arguments could be made, Naruto leapt off the boat, ready for a brawl. He just hoped his clones didn't put him in his own grave as he gave them the order to go all out. He cursed soon as he hit the water and four shuriken like spheres were hurled at him.
This was going to be a looooong day.
Breathing heavily as he sat back on the deck of the boat, Naruto wiped the sweat from his brow while the others went on with their routines. After the first few hours, everyone was over the shock of watching Naruto battle on the water.
That didn't help their time as Celes was not paying attention to where they were going. Plus she had to keep asking Naruto's clone for directions as the seas had changed since she had last sailed across them. So she was having a hard time not getting lost even after she got over her amazement.
Sabin was the quickest to recover as he had heard there was an old teaching that allowed people to walk even run across water. It was just amazing to see that he was so fluid with it that he could even battle on water without loosing a step. It was as if it was second nature.
Terra was the least shocked that he could travel over water, it was the devastation he was causing that was frightening. She couldn't believe that he could cause that kind of damage without drawing upon that red energy he had used to kill Humbuba.
In fact, she was the only one that had watched his fight with his clones start to finish. Sabin would have, but Celes needed some help so he did what she asked of him as did the clone which kept Terra from having to be called on.
Walking towards him as he sat on the steps leading up to the wheel, Terra stopped a few from him before leaning up against the railing. Seeing him look over towards her, as if expecting a question from her, she felt kind of sheepish as that was all she was really doing other then yelling at him. "Um, never mind. I wanted to ask you something, but…"
"It's fine. I'm use to people asking me questions as they don't understand the things I do." Naruto said before taking a swig of a bottle that magically appeared out of God knows where.
"No, it's not that. There are many things I don't or didn't understand, so I'm fine with that." Terra responded as she looked out to sea before gazing back towards Naruto. "…Do you really think we have chance against him? …I've seen what he can do and I'm just…"
Looking up towards her, Naruto was taken aback from her question. While it wasn't too shocking as he could see that Terra had some confidence issues, it was still something he wasn't expecting to be said as everyone had that thought going through their head.
He knew that as both Celes and Sabin were paying attention. Neither were exactly looking on to them, but he could tell they were listening intently through the slight tension of their muscles and changes of their demeanor moments before.
Naruto sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. "To be honest, alone none of you do. …And I hate to say it, but as a group things don't look too good either. However, the bond each of you share with one another is strong enough that it might tip the odds to your favor… But…"
Not even bothering to look at them as he knew the three were hanging onto his every word, Naruto closed his eyes as his head sank. "Now that Kefka has learned of the existence of the 'perfect being', the chances of success are now limited. We have to act quickly and pray that we succeed."
"…And God help the world if he ever got a hold of the last piece as the horror that awaits is simply indescribable." Naruto finished as his fist clinched as he had witnessed, while not a similar end of the world, an end of the world as he knew it. That was a fate he wished for no one to live through.
A few moments passed and there was nothing but silence other then the slight turning of the wheel and the crashing of the waves against the boat. No one moved from their spot as what Naruto said sank in. Fear set in at first, knowing the fate of the world was one their shoulders.
But that same fear was what made them want, no must succeed. As if they didn't, the world would end and everything left they cherished would no longer exist. They may have different reasons for setting out, but their drive and goals were the same.
Standing from his position, Naruto made his way to the cabin below before stopping just outside. "We should make port Nikeah tomorrow at dawn. Then we'll continue our search, starting with Edgar. After we either locate or fail to locate him, we head east to Kohlingen as I know for a fact that Setzer is there. Celes, my clone will take over when you retire."
Watching Naruto head down into the cabin, Terra actually frowned as there was something off about what he said. In fact, the way he had said it sounded as if that all of them, without him, had limited chances. Did he think that highly of himself?
Getting slightly angry, she stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder to notice that Celes had let Naruto's clone take the wheel. "Hey, don't let what he said get you down. …He may be a little arrogant but that's because he's been around for a while, much more so then what his appearance… But he knows what he is talking about. If there is anyone to trust, it is him."
Knowing that he was a little older then what he physically looked like, Terra gave a half nod before shaking her head and sighing. There were many things she didn't know about him so she couldn't judge his actions as he did seem to know a lot about what was going on.
"There's something fishy about him." Sabin suddenly said, catching both Celes and Terra off guard as they were not expecting him to speak. "It isn't that I don't trust him as if he was a bad guy he wouldn't have done half the things he's done for us so far. …It's just…"
Trying to find a way to say what he wanted to as both the young women were awaiting his thoughts, Sabin thought for a moment before getting them in order. "I might not know a lot of things, but I do know fighting very well. When he and I sparred the other day, I could tell that he was experienced much beyond his looks. …To be honest his movements seemed to be like that of a Grand Master that has trained all his life in one style."
"But the thing is… he shifted from one style to another almost instantly and flawlessly… I'm not saying anything bad about his character, but I think there's something going on here… As I don't think his age is anywhere close to his looks." Sabin finished as he couldn't help but think he was much older then he was letting on.
"It isn't." Celes responded, catching both Sabin and Terra off guard, almost sending them falling to the deck.
Shaking her head at their responses, she sighed before unsheathing her blade. "He was best friends with my granddad and he trained Leo and helped him become not only a great warrior, but an excellent general that had the respect of all those around him as he cared for every single person, whether it be on our side or the enemies."
"The sword style I know was taught to me by Leo, which is a style Naruto had taught him. The years it took me to hone it to the level I have know tells me alone that he was much older then he lets on as he taught many things to Leo that were passed down to me. …In all honesty, I believe he is over a few centuries in age." Celes finally finished before sheathing her sword and gazing towards not only both of them for their reactions, but Naruto's clone as well.
Seeing the clone said nothing, she had to figure she was either correct or it didn't care. Sabin didn't looked to horribly shocked, but still had widened eyes as to be that old was mind blowing. Terra's reaction, however, caught her off guard.
She wasn't shocked in the slightest. That in itself had shocked Celes into stumbling before Terra caught her and sighed. "That would make sense. I've caught some of the things he says when he thinks no one is around and none of them are things that you expect to hear from some of our age group."
"Hey! If you are going to continuously talk about the boss, you might not want to do it around me. When I disperse, everything I saw, heard and did is transferred to him. Just letting you know that… And don't bring up his age again, he doesn't like when that's brought up." Naruto's clone suddenly spoke up from the wheel, getting slightly irked at their conversation.
The look on all three of their faces was priceless as they dispersed and went their separate directions having been caught, not knowing the information of the clones transferred to the original.
A/N: Well, there is chapter four. Most of this wasn't originally planned, for this chapter at least. The flashbacks, while unplanned, were simply to show Naruto's involvement in this world and there are still plenty more, at least one being alluded to this chapter. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed and stay tuned for the next installment, heaven knows when that will be.
Peace Out.