-Welcoming Notes
Yello readers, I'm SoulEmbrace2010!
Yosa, Rixxell Stryfe at your service! Or is it my own service?
Guh… And welcome to our Shattered Realms!
SHATTERED REALMS
Shatter Realms Productions that is.
Oh come on, the worlds aren't twisted enough to be Shattered Realms just yet...
I know. This is gonna be our intro sequence from now on in our co-written stories. I've been watching a lot of Let's Plays, which inspired this, and they are awesome. Anyway, this is our update to Final Fantasy Uzumaki XIII. And holy crap is this a few weeks late. So much details dumped into this to set up the adventure our hero and heroines will have.
It's alright you poor Soul. My birthday as this chapter was meant for, had to deal with a new PS4, lots of drinking, and other activities Better Left Unsaid (God I wish Kenchi618 would update that)...
Ho-ho-ho. I have school to deal with, and a part-time job that was a nightmare tonight! But moving on- Hold on. Just remember that this story contains Snow Bashing, so if you're a fan of him, please hit that back button, for you lose all right to complain about it. With that said, here is our update, and enjoy! And no drinking, Rix!
Really, that's what you get on me about?! Anyway peeps, read it, love it, live it. Praise your Goddess Lightning! And see you at the end3
Chapter 02: Coming Together as a Team
(NORA Safehouse)
It's been a few hours since the failed Purge, and Team NORA, along with the refugees and outworlders, found themselves at the NORA Safehouse that was underground Lebreau's Beach Bar in Bodhum, away from prying eyes of the authority of Cocoon. Hell, even Lightning didn't know about the place due to her strict personality.
But Lightning and the others who were turned into Pulse l'Cie were the furthest things from Team NORA's minds as they helped pass out rations to the refugees, with Aya, Kairi, Tifa, and Yuna helping them.
Naruto could help, but he suddenly passed out during the ride to the safehouse, and they've been unsuccessful in waking him up, so he was put onto a bed in a guest room.
"Are you sure we should be coming back to Bodhum, Serah?" Averia asked worryingly. Frankly, given the whole Purge, the idea of coming back to Ground Zero of the whole Pulse Fal'Cie incident that caused Serah to become a l'Cie herself was something she wouldn't even think of doing.
"Averia, after the recent events, especially Naruto-kun's massive light show, there is no way PSICOM would even think that we would come here. They don't even know who exactly they're looking for, besides Lightning and Sazh-san. We also have this hidden room in Lebreau's Beach Bar specifically for instances when NORA needed to get out of sight. So yes, Bodhum is exactly where we should be right now." Serah said, a giant smirk on her face as she shut down any arguments about hiding out.
"For someone who just came out of crystal stasis, you're doing rather fine, Serah." Tifa noted with a sideward glance before growling, "Oi, my eyes are up here!"
She threw a ration pack into a leering teenager boy's face, nearly knocking him out and sending him speeding off to a corner.
"Boys will be boys I guess. But Tifa-san's right. Serah-san, are you really fine?" Kairi asked with genuine concern clearly showing on her face.
"I'm a-ok!" Serah assured her, masking her worry about what happened before she woke up, with Neo's soul or spirit or whatever it was latching onto her, causing her eyes to become heterochromic, allowing her eye colors to change depending on her mood. But that's not all she's concerned with.
During the Purge, she'd killed humans, taking their lives, and never had time to dwell on it…until now.
She wasn't fooling anyone, especially Averia, who scowled at her.
"Nice try. You're feeling like shit for the actions we did, just like me." Averia countered in a harsh tone, poking her, "So quit it with that fake smile, now!"
"Girls, take it somewhere else. You're scaring the refugees." Gadot snapped at them with Yuj and Maqui trying to calm everyone down.
"Good idea. Come on." Lebreau said and led them down a corridor, taking them to the Briefing room where they'll have some privacy.
Then, Yuna started making handsigns which Aya began translating, "Serah, no matter how much you think you're fine, you all still went through a traumatic experience. This is compounded by your own recent return to life from Crystal, which only one of us here besides you can attest to, isn't that right, Vanille-?" Aya said before doing a double take after realizing what Yuna was 'saying', "Wait, what?"
Naruto and his team looked over to the redhead who took a place in the corner, who clearly had a shocked look on her face, not knowing how the outworlder Yuna figured out her secret before she could tell them herself.
"Well, that explains why you're dressed like some cave woman. It isn't something one would typically wear here, given the style of clothing here on Cocoon, and judging by the look on your face, what Yuna said is true. Are you really from Gran Pulse?" Aya questioned, with Serah, Averia, and Lebreau worried.
"...I guess there's no hiding it from those who were unaware. Yes, I'm from Gran Pulse. I wasn't necessarily trying to hide it from the rest of you, but you need to understand. When I woke up 13 days ago with Fang in the Vestige, we had no idea what was going on. The last thing I remembered was Fang transforming into Ragnarok and starting an attack on Cocoon, an attack which clearly left a scar that wasn't visible when I became a l'Cie on Pulse hundreds of years ago. How were we supposed to act? How we were supposed to fit in? …When we went to Euride Gorge, we were just trying to get some idea of what was happening in the world. When Fang wanted to attack Kajuta, I tried everything I could to get her to leave it be so we could finally have our peaceful life. But Fang was adamant in continuing our Focus which had somehow been renewed only for myself. I wouldn't have shed a tear if she lived on while I became a Cie'th. Fang means the world to me, but I never wanted any of this to happen." Vanille said, clearly distraught with all that happened, and broke down in tears at that point and Serah moved over to give her a hug.
"I'm guessing Fang is the one with black hair and was dressed in blue? I caught a glimpse of of her when I was chasing the Pulse l'Cie at Euride Gorge the other day. I didn't even think at the time you were involved since I didn't see anything to connect you to the attack when I was trying to follow Fang. I'm guessing from the way you describe her, that she means the world to you, that you and her are lovers?" Averia asked Vanille, who's face turned a bright red cherry red.
"Yes, we are. We were best friends, then like sisters, and then…" Vanille said, before covering her face and squealed in embarrassment.
"My, my, my, how closely the world turns." Tifa said somewhat enjoying the irony in the confession, "I guess it's no surprise that we outside contractors were called in. Aurora clearly needed people who weren't involved with this incident since it seems as if everything started from a single focal point. I wouldn't be surprised if every single l'Cie came in contact with each other after you were released Vanille. In Layman's terms, you are Patient Zero. Everything that is happening now somehow came from your actions and everything that happens from this point on needs your help in resolving."
"Tifa's right, but also she's missing something. Yes, everything may have come as a result of your actions and everything will require your help, but you are not Patient Zero as she so aptly put it. If anything, Serah is the center of it all. This team was created to help the l'Cie fix this world and we were brought in right as Serah was trapped in Crystal. Serah's becoming l'Cie triggered this recent upheaval in your world, no matter how it may have been connected to you Vanille. If anything, we were brought here to ensure Serah's survival, as she seems to be the focal point of everything. Why else would Aurora have conveniently brought in Naruto, who can reverse the transformation of Crystal? Yes, we all have our reasons to ensure the survival of everyone, although I get the feeling we can bend the rules on some things, but Serah is the primary directive." Aya said, while Tifa looked at her and basically nodded off each fact.
"Wait if I'm so important, then why was I put in Stasis? Did the Fal'Cie want me out of the way for some reason? Vanille said something about Fang becoming Ragnarok and the history of Cocoon says that in the war between Pulse and Cocoon a great beast attacked the shell of Cocoon before the Fal'Cie struck a mortal blow killing the beast and ending the war. That was apparently their Focus. My Focus seemed to involve bringing my sister and everyone else to the Vestige during the Purge so that they could become l'Cie, at which point I was encased in Crystal. I still have a l'Cie Mark that can't be activated by the Fal'Cie anymore thanks to Naruto-kun, but why did Vanille come out of her Crystal stasis still holding hers when she already finished her Focus?" Serah asked, clearly confused with everything.
"I don't know imouto (little sister), but if we need to fight our own Gods to save the world, then I say bring it!" Averia shouted excitedly, with Serah and Lebreau groaning before the latter suddenly froze up.
"Agh~!" Serah cried, a beat going through her as she grabbed her head and collapsed in what looked like a seizure before blacking out.
(Serah's vision)
"Why don't you leave Jihl, or rather take your leave? Humans have no business here." Primarch Dysley said as he shot a beam of magic straight into her back killing her instantly.
"Bastard!" Lightning screamed as she rushed forward gunblade in hand ready to kill the leader of Cocoon.
She was easily swatted away like a fly, but she managed to do a backflip but landed roughly on her knees.
"Why? What is this all for?! Why did Serah have to die? Why did Jihl have to die?!" Lightning screamed emotion bleeding through for the first time in a long time.
"Cocoon was built as a factory. A factory for thralls, human thralls for the sole use of serving Fal'Cie. You are merely tools that can't even breath without our help. If it suits our needs, every single one of you lowly beings would die." Dysley said, showing his true colors.
"But if that is the case, then what purpose do l'Cie serve? Why do you need my son?" Sazh asked, confused at this statement.
"You will know soon enough. All you need to do now is die." Dysley said as he pointed his staff at Lightning who was on her knees still, seemingly broken being repair as the mental strain had gone too far.
"No my lord, allow me. This bitch has been pissing me off for far too long." a familiar voice said as he stabbed Lightning through her back with Jihl's sword.
Lightning looked down in shock at the sword impaled through her chest and slowly turned to see her killer.
Snow.
(NORA Safehouse)
"Claire!" Serah screamed, shooting up from Averia's lap.
"Calm down little sis, remember where you are. We're at the safehouse remember? Claire isn't even with us. What happened though, you've never had a seizure before..." Averia said as she guided Serah's head back on her lap.
"I don't know, Averia. But it was awful. It felt like I was right there, Claire and the others were confronting Primarch Dysley, who then went on to kill a woman named Jihl, after which he said was a Fal'Cie, and Cocoon was nothing more than a tool used to keep humans as slaves..."
"Well, now we have our target." Aya said with certainty as she whipped out her notebook out of nowhere to jot down what was said, a habit she picked up from her days as a police officer and a federal agent.
Serah continued, shaking her head, "But that wasn't even the worst of it. After that he went on to try and kill Claire, Snow stepped up and stabbed her in the back with the other woman's sword!"
"WHAT?!"
Averia looked pissed and Lebreau crushed the glass of water she was bringing over to Serah at that moment. Lebreau didn't even bother to worry about the pain as she shouted angrily, "That bastard! I can't believe I'm saying this, we should have killed him!"
"Um, if you don't mind my asking, who is this Snow person and why are you standing there when you should be cleaning that wound Lebreau-chan?", Kairi asked as she suddenly started getting towels.
Meanwhile, Yuna went over to Lebreau and applied a quick Cura spell after removing any glass shards in Lebreau's hand.
"Snow or should I say, Sir Walking Deadman, is my sister's stalker ex-boyfriend who has a penchant for playing 'Hero', breaking apart families, and generally being a fucking tool. Needless to say, none of us will shed a tear if he losses his nuts, gets a few broken bones all across his body, and then suffers an extremely violent and painful death. Oh, I wonder what Naruto-kun would do to him, eh Imouto-chan?" Averia said as a cruel smile was on her face.
"Naruto-kun would probably have a field day on Snow if what we saw him do to people he didn't even know just to send a message. I honestly don't care what happens so long as I get the final shot on the scum." Serah said, feeling the urge to bang her head against the wall.
It seemed she was really shocked at just how much Snow had managed to pull the wool over her eyes.
"Averia, Serah, do you two know who this Jihl woman actually is? Have you heard the name before?" Lebreau asked, genuinely curious as to what she was doing with Primarch Dysley in the vision Serah had.
"I'm more curious at why Claire was so upset over her apparent death in my vision. It really seemed as if Claire was hurt hard by that, because she literally stopped and shutdown in a way that I haven't seen since our parents died. It was honestly shocking in a way and I get the feeling that Claire was close with her." Serah said, confusing Averia and shocking Lebreau who had never seen Lightning actually show such an emotional response despite knowing Serah and Averia for many years.
"Claire aside, whoever she is, your vision intrigues me Serah-chan... It almost sounds like a view of a possible future event, which may in fact be why the Fal'Cie wanted you out of the picture. Being a l'Cie alone provided you with possible power they may not have wanted you to have, but it did grant them a tactical means to remove you from the situation whatever their plan may in fact be. You must admit, these Fal'Cie certainly don't play games in pulling off their plans. As our opponents, it is wise to be aware of their own actions in a better attempt to predict future actions they may take." Aya said, obviously praising their enemies.
"Our enemies actions matter little. We know who we're after and now we need to learn what their goal is. Without that, nothing we do can bring a lasting result. We do have something to go on in this Ragnarok that Vanille was talking about, but what purpose does some massive beast play in this? That even assumes that the Fal'Cie are even after their original goal from Vanille's time and that we are facing 2 separate sets of enemies... I mean, why would Primarch Dsyley, whom I am going to assume is a Cocoon Fal'Cie, want Pulse l'Cie to act on his behalf? We still don't know anything to even make an appropriate action on what to do next." Tifa said, showing Averia that the brunette wasn't just some streetwalker despite her figure.
"Why must we worry about this right now, you all have been through a tough experience in the last day. Naruto-kun is passed out, Lebreau, Averia, and Serah are all under extreme emotional stress, and we are busying talking about fighting a war? No, you girls need to stop! Relax for now, because we can worry about the state of the world later. Lebreau-chan, would you happen to have a bath here? I don't know about you, but I feel all sweaty and a warm bath would be great on my stiff muscles..." Kairi said, trying to relieve the tension that was growing in the room after Serah's premonition.
"Certainly. Follow me, it is down the hall on your left hand side. Serah why don't you come as well since you probably need to relax the most out of any of us.I had spent quite a hefty sum of my profit margins to ensure this safehouse was top of the line." Lebreau said, agreeing with Kairi's suggestion and obviously having a hidden agenda by the slight upturn of her lips.
(Naruto's Mindscape)
"What the?"
When Naruto woke up, he found himself in his mindscape, actually standing high above the air, noticing that his mindscape was completely overhauled, and it was amazing.
Instead of a sewer appearance with pipes, it was now a wide open world with lush forests, vast plains with various land formations and terrains. Hell, there were even floating islands, with the sky being blue with a green tint with misty clouds.
"Someone's been busy, very busy -ttebayo, because it definitely wasn't me." Naruto muttered to himself as he saw the various wildlife with cute and wild animals before his eyes settled on a huge castle, "I wonder if this is an effect of becoming part of Aurora's Familia- Huh?"
He frowned when he noticed a large crystal dome in front of the castle, and floated down to investigate, identifying it as the source of his minor headaches recently.
"It would seem that your future is being decided in that very dome, Naruto-kun." a voice said to the right of Naruto, who turned to see the newcomer in surprise.
It was a young man with jet-black hair that's pulled back in a low ponytail with his face framed with centre-parted bangs that extended to his chin, onyx eyes under long pronounced tear-troughs, and wearing a red cloak over his casual ninja attire, his last appearance just how Naruto remembered him.
"Itachi!" Naruto yelled, pointing at him, with Itachi smiling.
"It's wonderful to see you too again, Naruto-kun and you look much older at that. Rest assured that I mean you no harm in any way. I'm merely an observer. I took our last encounter in the war to implant a portion of my Chakra to protect you in the off chance someone was able to catch you in a Genjutsu that the Kyuubi couldn't protect you from. After Madara absorbed my soul from an Edo Tensei, it was released into your own body when you absorbed him. My soul naturally latched onto the Chakra Echo it once belonged to. Ninshou is a very intriguing subject and my presence here is almost Ninshou personified. Connecting to others through Chakra, truly something fit for a person like you, Naruto-kun." Itachi said with Naruto still looking wary, "Besides, your lady friends wouldn't like it so much if someone was foolish enough to try and take you over, like Zetsu is trying to do right now."
Itachi pointed at the crystal, with Naruto looking closely to see that a battle was waging within it, with his Spirit companions, Milla Maxwell and Muzét, and a beautiful young ten-tailed woman on one side, and a horned woman with Zetsu in her sleeves on the other side.
Milla Maxwell has bright, dirty blonde hair with a strand of teal ahoge hair, pretty bright pink-red eyes, and wearing a black and white outfit consisting of long sleeved top with detached sleeves and gloves, a miniskirt with gold trim, straps styled in an X on her thighs, and knee-high low-heel boots.
Muzét has long, blue-green hair, green eyes, pointy ears; wearing a slightly revealing pink and dark red outfit, as well as hot pink gloves adorned with blue, green, and purple rings on each of her arms, and possesses intricate magneta wings with golden yellow tips, which grant her the ability to float.
"It would seem that Zetsu was the mastermind behind Akatsuki's ambition, just to awaken the Rabbit Goddess who carries the title of the Demon, Ootsutsuki Kaguya. She is our ancestor, as well as the progenitor of the Ootsutsuki, Senju, Uzumaki, Yuki, Hyuuga, Uchiha, and Kaguya ninja clans. She is also the source of the very chakra we use. However, I can tell that she's being manipulated by Zetsu. If anyone can help save her and bring her back to the light, the twilight that is, it's you, Naruto-kun." Itachi told the young Uzumaki, who grumbled before punching his fist on his palm.
"This'll be cake." Naruto boasted before descending to the crystal dome at top speed before smashing his way through, punching the ground to produce a shockwave.
"Woah, what the hell-? Naruto-kun?! Took you long enough!" Kagura yelled at him, drawing his attention to her as the crystal dome reformed its damaged area.
"You're...not Kiyomi. Who are you, and- Why do I feel the souls of my girlfriends within you? As if they...merged together with your own?" Naruto demanded, using his Senjutsu to identify her, "Wait a sec, you're the Juubi!"
"That's right. I'm Ootsutsuki Yoko Kagura, the Matriarch of the Uzumaki clan and daughter of the Rabbit Goddess, Ootsutsuki Kaguya. Call me Kagura, but anyway that piece of scum under her sleeve who has the balls to call her his Mother, when he's the one who killed me and caused her fall into darkness. I don't want her to spend another second as Zetsu's plaything, so please, Naruto-kun, help me save her. Save my mother!"
"Kagura..." Naruto said and looked at Zetsu dead in his yellow eyes.
"Your pleas are in vain. He can't help you, since he's made it easier for me to take him over by absorbing Madara to use his body as my vessel for the second coming of my Mother!" Zetsu declared as Kaguya charged towards Naruto at Zetsu's order.
"Here they come! Naruto, look out!" Milla yelled, looking to get between Naruto and Kaguya, but Naruto stopped her with a hand signal.
"I'll be fine, Milla. Zetsu will never take me over, because he's in the wrong first off, and definitely the wrong place to accomplish such a meager feat." Naruto said with grin.
"And this is where I prove to you that my will is greater! Submit to the might of your foremother and become her vessel, Uzumaki Naruto!" Zetsu said as Kaguya's nail extended, looking to skewer Naruto's heart.
Until she stopped dead, thanks to some Chakra Chains that exploded from the ground and wrapped around her, with a few of the Chakra Chains harpoon ends stabbing into the sleeve where Zetsu was hidden.
"Gah-ahh! What?! What is this!?" Zetsu cried out in pain and coughed up black blood, "Mother and I are… paralyzed?! Impossible! How can this be?!"
"You may have possession of a goddess, but in this realm that is my mindscape, I'm God, so borrowing the power of a goddess like Kaguya and a piece of filth like you, just to use against the both of you is as easy as breathing. Besides, I'm never alone in my mind and having a team to rely on only makes people stronger!" Naruto said with an evil glare directed at Zetsu, and produced a handseal.
The Chakra Chains that were skewered into Zetsu were then retracting back into the ground, trying to rip Zetsu away from Kaguya.
"No, you will not take her, this power, away from me!" Zetsu roared, trying to resist, but ultimately failed as he was finally ripped away from Kaguya.
As soon as Zetsu's essence was ripped from Kaguya, the Rabbit Goddess blinked, shook her head, and held it, trying to get her bearings.
"What-what happened?" she asked softly before Kagura ran up to her and hugged her tightly, "Ah! What?"
"I can sense it! You're finally free, Kaa-sama!" Kagura squealed, looking at her straight into her eyes, allowing her to recognize her.
"Kagura...you're alive! But how?! I-I saw him kill you!" Kaguya said, looking at the restrained Zetsu with hatred.
"His attack on me fragmented my soul, but Shinigami-sama put it back together. I was an empty shell devoid of my true personality at the time, but it didn't stop me from becoming her Soul Reaper. When Shinigami-sama and her sisters reformed the Juubi, my soul was implanted into it, making me the new Juubi, and the souls of Naruto-kun's beloved merged with my own, restoring me, yet making me so much more at the same time. It is really me, Kaa-sama! I missed you so much!" Kagura cried, with Kaguya caressing her cheek.
"My Kagura. My beautiful Kagura-chan." Kaguya murmured and hugged her closely, afraid to let her go.
"No! Stop it! I'm the only one you need! Me! No one else! Just listen to me, and only me, Mother!" Zetsu shouted, reaching out for Kaguya, until a spike of chakra alerted him before turning his attention to Naruto, who had a Storm Style: Rasenshuriken in hand with Truth-Seeking Balls and Crystal Shards orbiting it.
"To think you, a lowly piece of demonic filth, started all this suffering. How about you prepare yourself for a trip to Hell where you belong, Zetsu!" Naruto roared, using his hand to trap Zetsu's limbs in crystal before unleashing his attack, "But first, suffer! Crystal/Storm Style: Truth-Seeking Planetary Rasenshuriken!"
(Guest Room)
"Hmm? What's wrong, Serah?" Averia asked as she and the other girls saw Serah stop at the door to the guest room where Naruto was resting.
"I thought I felt something for a second." Serah replied and opened the door to the room.
"Looks like you weren't the only one." Tifa said as Yuna went in next.
"He looks so peaceful sleeping. Hard to believe that he was the cause of the mass destruction of PSICOM's goons back in Lake Bresha." Averia noted as Serah and Yuna leaned over Naruto.
"I hope he wakes up soon. I haven't thanked him for freeing me from my Crystal stasis." Serah said as she clasped her hands in Naruto's own.
"His whisker marks are so cute!" Vanille squealed, reaching out to touch them.
Suddenly, an Uzumaki Sealing Array appeared from under Naruto and spread around the room.
"Wh-what the hell!" Lebreau cried and yelled out along with the others as a bright light engulfed before they fell over, unconscious.
(Naruto's Mindscape)
The girls awoke in a massive Crystal dome behind Naruto as he was preparing to use another of his massive Rasen-somethings to continue his slow torture of Zetsu.
"Where are we now?" Kairi asked, drawing the attention of Kagura, Kaguya, Milla, and Muzet who looked at them curiously
"More tenants?" Kaguya wondered, with all three of her eyes looking at them with scrutiny and caution.
"No, Kaa-sama." Kagura replied, shaking her head, "They're Naruto-kun's new friends from the outside. It looks like they were drawn in by Naruto-kun's power when they got close. Hello~!" she said cheerfully, waving at them.
"Uh, hello, and to repeat Kairi's question, where are we?!" Serah asked loudly as Naruto threw another variation Rasenshuriken to make Zetsu's life as miserable as possible.
"A realm within a mind, aptly known as a 'mindscape'. It's a representation of one's mind, and can only be accessed by an individual with a strong will and imagination. This mindscape here, belongs to Naruto." Milla explained to them as an explosion occurred over where Naruto was torturing Zetsu.
"And I may have changed it around when I arrived here." Kagura added meekly and stuck her tongue out with a mischievous look, "A lot! I'm Ootsutsuki Yoko Kagura by the way, and this is my mother, Ootsutsuki Kaguya." she introduced her mother, who gave a curt nod.
"I'm Milla Maxwell, and this is my sister, Muzét. We're from another world until a distortion caused us to land in Naruto's world and get sealed inside him alongside the Kyuubi at the time. Muzét 's fault, by the way." Milla greeted, with Muzet giggling, causing Milla to gain a tickmark.
"It's not my fault Milla and besides, you know that neither of us would want to live without Naruto at this point. That man can tether with the best of them, even better then Gaius or Jude..." Muzet said, a far off look in her eye when she started talking about tethering.
Tifa thought it was kinda creepy and shivered.
"Well, that's nice that we're in...Naruto's mindscape, BUT WHY THE HELL IS HE USING THAT BOMB THING AGAIN?!", Lebreau asked loudly, concerned over everything from their own presence in the mind of someone else, to the fact that the last time Naruto used something like that the whole world changed whether they knew it or not. How would it affect them being present in his mind?
"Lebreau, I think you can calm down a little... I doubt Naruto would be using that here if it had any effect on the outside world. Would he?" Serah said, trying to justify Naruto's actions while looking to Milla for a confirmation of sorts.
"ARGH~!" Zetsu screamed as Naruto drilled a very uncomfortable Sand Rasenshuriken into him before a horde of clones who were landing punches onto his blob form.
"Yes ladies, we are safe here while Naruto is using those jutsu. You may in fact awaken the ability to use Chakra yourselves given the potent chakra of an Uzumaki, being in the presence of the Rabbit Goddess who is the first being to use Chakra, being in the presence of myself the Juubi, and finally the very atmosphere of Naruto's mindscape which is causing you to literally breath in the power Naruto holds in his body that'll transfer to your real bodies. I suspect there may be additional factors given we are also in the presence of two Greater Spirits in Milla and Muzét that can further alter your very genetic makeup, but surprises are the spice of life you know?" Kagura said almost too cheerfully, which scared the girls way more than the fact that being linked inside Naruto's mind was essentially changing their own bodies in unknown ways.
"PLEASE STOP! NO MORE! I'm bleeding! It hurts in ways that shouldn't be possible for god's sake! I'm bleeding out of my ass!" Zetsu screamed as Naruto used a time distillation effect to slow down Zetsu time as he stabbed black chakra rods into his worthless form, "Huh?"
"Such language. You're fired." Naruto deadpanned as he formed a Blaze Style: Mini-Planetary Rasenshuriken in the palm of his hand, "...Bitch."
"No. No! Not that! ANYTHING BUT THAT! PLEASE!"
"Please? Please... do it?" Naruto said, pausing for a moment, then shrugging as he adopted a cruel smile on his face, "...Okay."
The newcomers were wide-eyed as Naruto set Zetsu on fire, with Zetsu screaming in pain due to the eternal flames of Amaterasu burning into him, and only got worse as Naruto cruelly stomped on him in a troll-like fashion.
It was surprising to the others that Naruto could attack Zetsu while he was on fire with the eternal flames and not be harmed by them himself, but bending the laws of reality did seem a natural thing when you were in your own mind. After all, a person's imagination did come from their mind and regardless of how real the people here were or not, it made sense that Naruto could make himself as strong as he wanted, even if that meant he was inflammable.
"Is it just me, or is anyone else getting turned on by this torture? Because honestly, I don't think I've ever been so warm..." Kaguya asked the girls, at which point Vanille couldn't hold back any longer and threw up.
"Just wait until you tether with him Kaguya-chan..." Muzét said giggling yet again and looking over to Milla who couldn't contain her blush.
"Naruto, hun? Can you just end this now? We'd like an explanation from you as to why we're here and I don't think Yuna and Kairi will be able to hold their stomachs much longer either!" Tifa yelled, finally getting Naruto's attention to the fact that he had even more visitors present in his mindscape.
"Oh, sorry about that-" Naruto replied quickly, dispelling the black flames of Amaterasu, before doing a double take after realizing that his teammates, Aya, Kairi, Tifa, and Yuna; and his new friends, Serah, Averia, Lebreau, and Vanille, were somehow in his mindscape, "Wait, what the hell?! How did you girls get drawn in here?!"
"Don't mind us, Naruto. It looks like you were having too much fun with that blob." Aya said sarcastically with amusement as Kairi cracked next, hurling on the ground, before Yuna joined her, "Please, continue."
"If you knew what this shit-stain was responsible for, you wouldn't be saying that, Aya. He was the cause of all the bad events in my world, with some of them affecting me directly. Because of this, I had no parents to go home to and a village with annual fox-hunts because of who I once held since birth, so you'll forgive me if I'm enjoying paying him back over thousand times!" Naruto said, trying to keep the negativity out of his voice.
"He grew up without his parents, like my sisters and I, but what did he mean by annual fox-hunts? What happened to you, Naruto?" Averia thought as a dark look flew over Naruto's face before went to smiling cheerfully to cease the others' worrying.
"Damn you, Namikaze. I...will...control...you…!" Zetsu coughed as he hacked up blood that instantly disappeared at Naruto's mental command, "If I cannot be with Mother, then I'll have you! I will win! I will ALWAYS win, because I ALWAYS get what I want!"
"And obviously you've mistaken me for someone who gives a shit about you getting what you want and winning. You act more like a spoiled child than anything, so I'm giving you the discipline you deserve." Naruto countered as his hands blurred through a few hundred handseals before completely with an Uzumaki Seal Array appearing under him, "Kuchiyose!"
A moment later in a flash of dark light, Yami appeared, wearing a black flowing nightgown with a brown teddy bear and pillow, looking disgruntled and grumpy with bed hair, obviously rudely awakened by the summoning, and not happy about.
"I swear to my holy sister, if you Dark Elf idiots gone and done something stupid again, I will fucking-!" she growled angrily before she saw Avatar she shared with her sisters Kami and Shinigami, causing her mood to brighten up a bit, "Naruto-kun!"
"And who the hell is this tramp? Naruto, do you know any females that aren't trying to fuck you! Do you even have friends of your own sex, because I'm drawing a major blank on all of this!" Lebreau again shouted, obviously getting frustrated at all these women who were making her feel quite self conscious about her own looks.
Meanwhile, Yami's eyebrow twitched at being called a tramp, which had Kaguya, who recognized her in horror, summon her own Chakra Chains to keep her from wiping out Lebreau and render her body brain-dead in the real world.
"Back in my world, yes I have guy friends!" Naruto shot back with a tickmark on his head as visions of Iruka, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, Shino, Hayate, Kotetsu, Izumo, Konohamaru, Gaara, Kankuro, and Killer B came to mind, "Oh, and in my line of work, my new family and I really barely had the chance for pleasure, thank you very much!"
"Well, they certainly don't hold much a candle to you though, huh Serah?" Averia suddenly said, showing that she had no qualms at all with all these women being interested in Naruto and wanting to get in on the action.
"Anyway, Naruto-kun, we would like an explanation on all this if you don't mind. This is a lot to take in and we never even really got to know each other before we were sent to this world. Now we are being told that just being in your mind might change our bodies and grant us powers? It's a lot to handle, even for someone like me who also has unique powers that are different from the others.." Aya said, wanting to speed things along here.
Naruto blinked, not familiar with half the things Aya said and looked at Kagura, who cleared her throat, giving the indication that she explained some of those things Aya was talking about.
"Well, that's news to me, dattebayo, but first things first. Yami, I know I have no right to ask this of you, but can you please take out this blob of garbage? I rather not have him in my mind any longer than I'd like." Naruto requested, eying Zetsu with disdain.
"Why certainly Naruto-kun, we'll talk about some compensation later though. You seem to have your hands very full at the moment and probably need a to deal with them first. A few in particular really look stressed right now, so you might want to start with them. So, time to come back to Hell where you belong, Zetsu. You have much to answer for after all." Yami said, eyeing all of the people, some who were sputtering, present in his mindscape right now before putting a frothing at the mouth Zetsu in an inescapable cage, "Also, one last thing, Naruto-kun. I want to speak with you and her at some point when I can get my sisters here. I'll let you know when, ok?" Yami said as she pointed at Serah while speaking and then disappeared with a screaming Zetsu in some unseen cage.
"Well, that was a thing." Averia said after a while, deeply excited after being in the presence of a god.
"Naruto-kun, just how many gods or god-like beings do you know personally or have at least interacted with?" Yuna signed as Aya once again translated for her, the former seemed to have gotten over the weak stomach much earlier than the other girls,
Aya however, she was fine due to her experience in law enforcement.
"I'll explain everything, at length, when I wake my body up shortly." Naruto said, rolling his neck around with a cracking sound, "After I take a shower first."
"Oh-ho no ya don't!" Lebreau countered and pulled Naruto by this ear, making his arms flail about, "I have a better idea than that."
Vanille and Kairi could only feel an impending sense of doom as one by one, everyone disappeared from Naruto's mindscape except for Kagura, Kaguya, Milla, and Muzét, as the Crystal dome shattered.
"Well, I say we take a nice hot bath too! We'll fought Zetsu for hours and now I'm all dirty because of it! Come, sister! No doubt the castle Kagura made has such facilities." Muzét said and dragged a protesting Milla to the castle.
"Shall we, Kaa-sama?" Kagura asked, with Kaguya nodding in agreement.
"I concur. I need to clear my head after all since I have a lot to think about."
With that decided, the Ootsutsuki women followed the Spirits into the castle.
"Hmm. I foresee no problems with everyone working together to take down the higher-ups that's running this world to the brink of destruction." Itachi thought to himself from the trees of the forest before disappearing in a flock of crows.
(Bathroom, a while later)
In the safehouse was a private bathroom that was akin to a public bath. There was only one and was mixed so males were required to wrap their towels around their waists, and females were required to wrap their towels around their chests.
Naruto wanted to hide behind one of the rocks to respect the girls' privacies, but Averia and Lebreau were having none of it, since they could all be together to talk face-to-face in a "campfire" formation and gauge each other's' reactions.
"I never thought that a guy like myself would be the only guy who would share a bath with lovely ladies and not be accused of being a pervert." Naruto said as he looked around.
"As long as you keep your eyes above our necklines, you'll be fine." Tifa told him with narrowed eyes.
"Don't look at me like that. Kinda hard not to. I'm surrounded by absolutely gorgeous women at every turn, am only 22 years old with a very healthy libido, the only male in this bath, and haven't been with a woman in close to 6 months now. It kinda raises a few flags and other things..." Naruto countered listing off his many good reasons after stealing another glance at Tifa's submerged boobs, just like Kairi was doing now that her attention was drawn to Tifa.
Yes, he was justifying being a pervert right now, but honestly what man wouldn't in his current situation?!
"I knew they were huge, but not this much, Tifa-san!" Kairi said, with Tifa groaning.
Kairi and Tifa knew each other when Tifa just happened to drop into Kairi's homeworld of Hollow Bastion, which was really Radiant Garden. In fact, she, as one of Aurora's warriors, was the one who recommended Kairi to Aurora's Warriors of Twilight.
"No matter where I go, I always get that. I'm not a whore, so why does my body have to make everyone think I am…?" Tifa mumbled as she palmed her chest, irking Lebreau.
"Ha! You're complaining, but your motions don't support your words." Lebreau hissed and lunged at an unsuspecting Tifa, grabbing her breasts, "Get over here and let me see! There's no way they can be real!"
"Gaa! Get off me, Lebreau! Don't grope them-" Tifa yelled as she tried to get away, "That's- Ah!"
"Is she jealous?" Naruto asked Averia with a sideway glance as they watched Tifa, despite all her strength, failing miserably to get away.
"Doubt it. We see many people come in and out of Bodhum, and none with boobs as big and bodacious as Tifa's. I'm not jealous myself, but to see that it's possible to fight without big boobies getting in the way. I might be drinking more milk in the future." Averia said thoughtfully, with Serah sighing.
"I have many books, and in one of the book series, Senran Kagura, all of its girls are so well-endowed, to the point that it should be impossible to fight with all that...weight...on their chest, but Tifa-san shows up, effortlessly moving around, breaking the bones of several soldiers without even so much as a sheen of sweat on her brow, and shows that it really is possible after all." Serah said, holding her head in disbelief.
"Boobs aside, we should be talking about everything that's happening now, and what to do in the future. After what happened in the Vestige, this world has started to shift, with its story becoming unpredictable many possible endings, similar to a Butterfly Effect." Naruto said, eying the butterfly-like tattoo on Averia's arm that was previously covered by her clothing.
"And it's up to us to get the best possible ending in this scenario." Aya agreed, thinking about her past, and not wanting to go through another horrible ending like she and her sister experienced.
"You're not wrong there."
Everyone in the bath jumped when Kaguya's voice penetrated their heads.
"Every single choice will affect your fate and the fate of those around you. Which means that you need to be careful about the choices you make now. Everything you action you take, every decision you make from now on, will open doors to various futures. And yes, it's best to get the best ending. But remember, there is no such thing as a happy ending in every scenario. The best possible end may even involve the greatest costs, like your own lives..."
"While Kaguya-san makes a good point, I believe it is possible that almost everyone can come out without paying too much of a cost. I myself have watched someone paying the ultimate price to ensure a happy ending for the masses, yet his price was the cost of my own happiness." Aya said for Yuna. Aya thought on it and figured it must have been a root cause for her current mute state.
"While hearing that makes me sad Yuna-chan, just because your happiness was temporarily upset by this person's death, it doesn't mean we can't find some new way to make you happy. I will do whatever is necessary to make you get the happy ending you richly deserve." Naruto said in a serious voice staring straight into her eyes, which in turn caused Yuna to blush and avert her own gaze towards Kairi who was busy trying to cop a feel of Tifa's breasts alongside Lebreau.
"Um, Kairi? What's with your reflection?" Vanille suddenly asked, pointing at the water.
"Eh?" Kairi was confused until she looked in the water and saw what she was talking about, and instead of her usual appearance, it was overtaken by a smiling blonde-haired girl with the same face and blue eyes as her, "Oh! Naminé! She's my Nobody, made up of my Body and Soul. She's basically my clone, who was created when I fell into Darkness. And she's the not the only one inside me." she stated as her image was then overtaken by a girl with short raven-hair and blue eyes with the same face as Kairi, "Xion…you too? This one's my Replica, an artificial human."
"Three Keyblade users in one body? What a bargain we have on our hands!" Kagura joked with a smirk, "Our team keeps growing in many ways!"
"Excuse me if I think that is somewhat disturbing Kairi-chan, but that is truly something I could never get used to. Is it common where you come from?" Lebreau said, a slight bit of concern in her voice at the idea of her body and soul forming another being.
"She's not the only one. While her reflection isn't showing here, I'm also sharing my body like Kairi here. Her name is Eve, and she's my clone." Ayan revealed with a smirk.
"This sounds really fun! So many different and unique people, right Averia-chan!?" Serah said, almost in a fangasm moment at how this was more interesting than any of her books ever were.
"Yep! So many people inside and out to help with the trouble in our world! " Averia agreed as Tifa successfully slipped from Lebreau and Kairi's grasp, "Whatever they are…"
"And that's why we're here. To find out what we need to know and kick the candy asses of those seeking to harm it." Naruto said with a good-guy thumbs up pose.
"And it's to make sure daddy-dearest Chaos doesn't influence this world in anyway, shape, or form. Good news for you, eh Whiskers-chan. Kami, Yami, and Shinigami have chosen well!"
"Gah!/Woah!/Ah!"
Everyone yelled when they saw the heterochromic raven-haired Goddess of Twilight, leader of her Familia, the Warriors of Twilight, and daughter of Cosmos and Chaos, Aurora, in the bath with them, relaxing in the buff and smiling at them.
"Ah, Aurora! Where the hell did you come from?!" Tifa yelled out quickly before remember that it was her usual habit of popping out of nowhere, "Stop doing tha- AND WHY ARE YOU NAKED?!"
"That's Aurora? Her aura...it's like a princess..." Vanille whispered as she became enchanted by the Goddess's aura and her red and blue heterochromic eyes, "And even more powerful…than the fal'Cie…"
Naruto suddenly grabbed his nose as Aurora slid even closer to him and placed his arm between one of the holiest of holy places. Needless to say, he was very unfamiliar with his arm between breasts, let alone Aurora's attempts to push his hand down south…
"No, what are you doing? What are you doing?!" Lebreau yelled, flailing her arms in anger at the blatant illicit sexual contact between the hanyou and Goddess.
"Well you know what they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do." Aya said as she removed the towel covering her breasts in order to get more comfortable.
Serah was watching the show as Aya took her towel off, which was quietly followed by a blushing Yuna, with Averia being next in an enthusiastic manner, as she just wanna join the fun, and then surprisingly Kairi of all people. She decided to join the fun, sitting on the opposite side of Naruto from Aurora, she removed her towel also before moving closer and hugging Naruto, whispering in his ear, "You truly are the Hero I have always been waiting for. I only hope you don't need to save me again..."
Serah's eye colors started shifting, her left eye switching to dark blue indicating her happiness, while her right eye shifted to orange indicating a desire of some kind.
"Oh my, imouto-chan. Moving a bit fast are we?" Averia whispered before Serah then kissed Naruto on the cheek, much to the shock of herself and Lebreau.
"I'm not exactly a hero, Serah. I'm a shinobi, and in my line of work, we're not exactly the hero type."
"Oh stop being so damn modest, Naruto. You were a hero to all in many ways. On that note, you barely did missions that involved questionable tactics. You may think you're not a hero because you killed, but your actions preserved the futures of many. So in hindsight…you ARE a hero. An anti-hero at best, but a hero nonetheless." Milla told him with everyone hearing and looking at Naruto.
"You never killed innocents either, only the scum of the world, so your hero status is still intact, Naruto-kun." Muzet added with a wink only he could see but her flirtatious tone of voice carried across to everyone listening to the Spirit.
"You are a Hero after all, Naruto-kun." Aya translated Yuna's handsigns before adding, "At least you're better than those in my former world."
"She's right. If you were born in my world, you would've been a better Hero than Sephiroth, who's one of Chaos' top fighters who we no doubt will be butting heads with in the future." Tifa said seriously, feeling that a fight between Naruto and Sephiroth might destroy a world.
"And while Serah and I don't know who the bloody hell this Sephiroth is, you being Mr. Awesome who went balls to the wall badass to send a message to PSICOM not to screw with you, more than qualifies you being the leader of our little gang of misfits." Averia spoke up, with Naruto gaping at her before shaking his head rapidly.
"Na~ru~to~! You can do it! Kami showed me how you led and supported your friends and allies in the Fourth Shinobi World War. You're more than a capable leader who'll keep everyone alive through whatever hardships we might have to come and find the truth of this world. After all, I doubt I could have fallen in love with someone who didn't give his all whenever it counted…" Aurora said to Naruto, to everybody's shock and even jealousy.
"Don't I get a say in this?" Naruto interjected loudly before this head was pressed between Aurora's submerged breasts.
"Nope! All for the handsome blonde leading us to victory?" Averia asked everyone, "He gets my vote!"
Tifa shrugged and nodded before throwing Aurora a dirty look for hugging Naruto's face in her boobs, "Something tells me that Aurora intended for him to lead us as Team XIII regardless. I'd love to see why and maybe even get an idea on why everyone is throwing themselves at him. Sure he's strong, and smart, and brave, and kind, and hot, wait what were we talking about?" Tifa finished a blush adorning her face at her rambling of Naruto's many good features.
"Um, Kairi-san, are you okay?" Vanille sweatdropped as an aura of gloom appeared above Kairi's head at the mention of "Team XIII".
"I believe a change of your team name is in order." Kaguya said in amusement, "That poor girl can't seem to handle it for some reason."
"Gomen. It's just that it sound so similar to Organization XIII, a group who's one of the many enemies in my world that me and my friend are trying to defeat." Kairi mumbled while poking her fingers together that reminded Naruto too much of Hinata out of the corner of his eyes.
"Apologies, Kairi-chan, but you should've spoke up sooner." Aurora told her before flicking her on the head.
"How about Everlasting Hope?" Serah suggested in a bright tone of voice.
"I'm thinking more along the lines of Truth Seekers." Averia suggested as well.
"Holy Awakening." Vanille piped up.
"Bahamut, after the most powerful dragon in existence." Aya translated for Yuna before adding her own choice, "Rebellion, since we're rebelling against the world and something personal within each of us."
"Celestial Guardians, since we're part of Aurora's Familia and we're the guardians of all the worlds across many different dimensions." Kairi suggested.
"How about Cataclysm, since somehow, we will always leave a trail of devastation in our awake." Lebreau said dryly with her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Maelstrom, after Whiskers-chan of course." Aurora said, with Naruto shaking his head, finally pulling himself free from her chest.
"Feels too genetic. Sorry, Aurora." he replied, with the Goddess pouting.
"How about Celestial Maelstrom Guardians in that case? We're working across vast plains of existence, Naruto-kun is our leader, and with all of us standing together, we'll make the best batch of Guardians any world will ever see," Yuna suddenly suggested, with Aya once again translating for the groups benefit.
"I still think we should add Cataclysm somewhere." Lebreau mumbled, with Aurora hearing her.
"Ok then, Lebreau-chan. Let's go with the Cataclysmic Celestial Maelstrom Guardians if you want that word in so badly." Naruto said with finality, "How about it, ladies? Describe us perfectly, wouldn't you agree?"
"Well, Cataclysmic describes you most of all with that display of power like at Lake Bresha. Celestial describes the Goddess, or Goddesses, that you are blessed by (in more ways than one), as well as Kaguya-san. Maelstrom...describes you again, Naruto. And Guardians means all of us. But in time, the words within the new team name will describe all of us." Serah said before adding, "I still think we should've went with Everlasting Hope, but maybe one day…"
"That's settles it. You are now all the Cataclysmic Celestial Maelstrom Guardians, or CCMG for short. It really rolls off the tongue." Aurora added thoughtfully, "CCMG."
"In that case, Team Cataclysmic Celestial Maelstrom Guardians, sortie!" Kagura declared, pointing outwards in an epic manner.
"Not yet." Aurora said sultry and licked her lips, with the ten-tailed beauty facefaulting at that, "Not until after we get to…know each other a little better."
"Oh no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no!" Lebreau squeaked rapidly and continuously as Aurora kissed Naruto full on the mouth while grabbing Serah's breast and giving it a squeeze.
"Geez, you're such a prude, Lebreau. You're much more accepting when you're a certain way. Remember the fun times we had when we were drunk in your bar? Me and you, on your bartop, with me on top, and you on the bottom? Such fun times indeed~" Averia teased her, with Lebreau shaking her head in denial.
"What have I got myself into…" Vanille whined as he watched Naruto and Aurora makeout with poor Serah moaning in pleasure, along with Averia chasing Lebreau around the bath.
'I kinda want to agree with Lebreau-chan, but I find myself very excited by this situation.' Yuna signed; Aya blushed and decided not to translate after a moment as she looked at Yuna who was grinding her legs together with her eyes locked on Serah.
"I don't think my virginity is going to be safe anymore." Kairi said before partly submerging herself and making sound bubbles.
"You say that while topless Kairi-chan, excuse me if I have trouble believing that you might not already have some ideas running through your head..." Averia said while still chasing after Lebreau, causing Kairi to avert her eyes towards Yuna and blush as bright as a cherry.
Tifa could only silently agree, and hoped that Naruto and Aurora would just makeout and leave the sex for later.
They had work to do.
(Briefing Room, the next day)
"I don't know what you're thinking going to war with the Sanctum like an idiot, but after what I saw you do back at Lake Bresha, along with the fact that you're from a different world, I'd say that you'll do just fine. But know this since Lebreau, Serah, and Averia are going with you: If you get them killed, you answer to me." Gadot threatened, getting into Naruto's face.
"No need for the threats, Gadot-san. They're in safe hands, and I know that they can handle themselves when I'm not around. What I heard before they got caught in the Purge proves that. But allow me to fire back from you: If you get the survivors of the Purge killed, then you'll be beyond shit's creek without hands to paddle out of." Naruto threatened back, butting his head with Gadot.
"Boys! Please don't fight!" Vanille wailed, wanting to get between them to break it up, but Tifa held her back, shaking her head and winking, seeing situations like this back at her old bar and knowing how they end.
After a few moments, both guys grinned before rearing back and fist-bumped each other.
"Not only am I glad to see that you're not a wuss and all talk, but you don't back down from anything and everyone. You're a rare breed of man, Naruto. If only you were born here in Snow's place and gathered all of us as NORA." Gadot said.
"Don't go too far. We're born where we were for a reason and we make the most in our worlds. For me, there's no place in my world for me anymore, and as part of Aurora's Familia, I look to make the most out of this experience, exploring new worlds and solving their problems. Being part of a team is awesome, and being in one with so many beautiful ladies is a bonus." Naruto said with a grin.
"Oh stop it before you make the others blush." Tifa chided him as she turned her head away so they couldn't see her own.
"That aside, we should plan our first move, and our first move should be Eden, the floating capital city of Cocoon." Serah suggested with Averia nodding in agreement since it made sense, "It serves as the center of Cocoon's governing body, which is Sanctum. It floats high over Cocoon and can only be reached by airship or railway that's connected to Palumpolum."
"Fun fact: It's also shares the same name as one of the Cocoon fal'Cie who's responsible for the administration and security of Cocoon." Averia added, "It's also runs the complex operations that keeps Eden running buttery-smooth."
"Not to mention it It works as the nexus that connects the other fal'Cie and directs their power in sustaining Cocoon." Lebreau added as well, "But Eden, the continent mind you, houses a great library that-"
"HEY GUYS! CHECK THIS OUT!" Maqui came running into the room and suddenly turned on the TV.
"In a recently convened emergency conference, the Sanctum revealed to have located the fugitive l'Cie in Palumpolum. We're live at the scene with Lt. Colonel Jihl Nabaat as she goes through her planned assault to capture them."
"Sis, this is bad." Averia said to Serah who was just watching when she remembered something.
"Jihl Nabaat! That's the same woman in my vision..." Serah said, suddenly having a bad feeling about how this will play out for Claire, who…wait…is that…?
"Claire?!" Serah and Averia yelled together in shock after the camera zoomed in on the suspected Pulse l'Cie that happened to be Lightning…along with Sazh and the kid from Anima's Chamber in the Vestige.
"Interesting, for the Sanctum to display an attack live on the news, they must be planning to use this as a ploy for something in the future. Given your vision Serah-chan, you said this woman Jihl had your sister, obviously the hot pinkette on screen, on an airship, the chances of their capture here are very high..." Naruto said, contemplating the reasons why a military force would show an attack live. Anyway you look at it, this has more potential to harm the government then... "Dammit! They want to cause panic amongst the masses!"
"You understand don't you Naruto-kun? By doing this Sanctum can call for Martial Law throughout Cocoon in order to make your own movements harder and to further the disorder in pushing forth their own plans." Aurora said through a mental link from her personal realm.
"It doesn't matter, even of they get a good turnout with this by capturing a l'Cie, the chances are that the populace will still be in an uproar. Those two are going to cause it." Naruto said when suddenly a blonde man and black haired woman came on screen.
"Fang!" Vanille yelled, obviously happy to see her friend was safe.
Averia suddenly felt Serah's hand squeeze hers and she could understand why.
"Don't you worry Nee-chan, he'll get his." Averia said giving her sister a hug as she said that.
"Oh? Is that this Snow I heard about? He has himself some skills and flair, but I don't like how he is treating that summon of his..." Naruto said as he saw Snow summon two spirits which began attacking soldiers with Ice magic while Snow literally shot at the spirits and the soldiers, hurting one of them which caused the other to send a dirty look towards him. Snow suddenly glared at the other who immediately backed down, he then gave a signal that he was about to jump towards them. The twin summons transformed into a motorcycle and Snow grabbed Fang, groping her as he did, before proceeding to jump down onto the summon, and never once noticing the look of sheer murder on the face of the raven-haired l'Cie in his company. "Oh boy, does he have some balls."
"He has an Eidolon... It's said l'Cie only get Eidolons after undergoing extreme stressful situations where a l'Cie is forced to overcome a trail and many times it will change how a person looks at themselves and the world around them. Overcoming an Eidolons' trial will have the spirit become a partner one can call on in battle, making them even stronger than a l'Cie could be on their own. I never had an Eidolon in my past experience as a l'Cie." Vanille explained, since as a Pulse l'Cie, she's seen her people who were Pulse l'Cie had Eidolons as their partners who devastated the opposition. She was also furious at Snow for how he touched her lover Fang, but didn't know why Fang did nothing in response. In any other case, Fang had literally killed men who touched either Vanille or herself. It was baffling that she did nothing, even in their current situation. What had happened to her since they last saw each other?
"Interesting, but still it is no reason to attack the Eidolon as well as your opponent. Nothing can ever excuse attacking your allies as indiscriminately as your opponents." Naruto said, but knew that if what Vanille said was true, this could explain why Snow attacked Lightning in Serah's vision, which Serah explained to him before their little "bath".
"When the hell did he managed that? Getting an Eidolon?" Lebreau wondered aloud.
"We'll worry about that later. Eden will have to wait. We need to get to Lightning, Hope, Fang, Snow, and that other guy Sazh, before the Sanctum does." Naruto declared before hearing a gasp at the door.
"Is that Hope?" Nora Estheim asked loud with worry as she came in.
"Yes, and…he became a l'Cie." Vanille said, since there's no reason to hide the unbearable truth.
"It's doesn't matter. He's my baby boy and no l'Cie brand will change that. No doubt my husband, Bartholomew, is worried about us. We all live in Palumpolum, and Bartholomew works for Sanctum. With Hope revealed is a l'Cie, my husband will be interrogated by his own co-workers to get to Hope, and he'll never betray us. If Hope and his friends get to Bartholomew first, he'll try to sneak them past PSICOM." Nora begged before explained, "You have to get to him and my husband before they're taken away and I won't see them again!"
"We will reunite you with your family, so don't worry, Estheim-san. You can count on us." Naruto assured her before turning to his team, "CCMG, we have our first mission: Infiltrate Palumpolum, and extract Bartholomew Estheim, including Hope, Lightning, Fang, Sazh, and yes… even Snow…"
"Not happy about the last part, and I won't be responsible for my actions when my ex-boyfriend and I reunite." Serah said with distaste.
"Like I would stop you, Serah-chan. After seeing this actions on the TV here, I actually look forward to seeing what you do to him. I just have faith that you have something even worse planned for him than what I have planned myself." Naruto said.
"If he touches me, he's dead." Tifa muttered to herself, with her arms holded before her breasts.
"I'd hate to see his Nobody." Kairi whispered to herself as well and shivered at the thought.
"What are we waiting for? Let's do this already and not a minute later." Lebreau said, grabbing her rifle and cocking it.
"Then, Cataclysmic Celestial Maelstrom Guardians, sortie!" Naruto shouted and led his team out of the briefing room.
"A storm is coming." Gadot mused to Maqui and Yuj, who were, just like Gadot, glad to be on the right side.
"Please bring them home safe." Nora said and muttered a silent prayer.
END OF CHAPTER TWO
Next time - Chapter 03: Cataclysmic Celestial Maelstrom Guardians, Deploy!
Oh Soul, wasn't this a fantastic late birthday present for me? I do hope our faithful readers enjoyed it as much as I did...
I know I enjoyed it as I read through it for the last time. To think that this was born from one of Challenger's challenges. I would accept more, but so many ideas floating around this here mind of mine, it's impossible! Hell, my mind houses many different worlds due to my...ahem...IMAGINATION! (shameless Ressha Sentai ToQger reference) …No? Ok. Anyway, hope you readers enjoyed this update here. And to those hounding me for a Naruto vs. Kuroinu update, do not fret! I have most of the chapter done. Just need to get the damn lemonade done.
You wanna accept more Challenges and use some of the other crazy ideas floating through your head, well I want my new computer so I can continue working on my solo Naruto/Highschool DxD story, Tipping the Scales. And then there's Chronicles to work on Soul, the idea that brought Shattered Realms into existence... It's not fair I tell you!
Life isn't fair, mate, and it sucks. I pray to the almighty powerful (and cute) Serafall that you get your new computer by the end of 2015. Readers, you're gonna like Tipping the Scales. It's awesome, and the future of the story is bright. But geez is the prologue long, but that's besides the point. Next time on Final Fantasy Uzumaki XIII: Crystal Legend Beginnings, CCMG heads to Palumpolum for their first mission…and raise some hell! Hopefully the whole of the Palumpolum sequence will take one chapter. One chapter! We'll worry about Chronicles later :)
Enjoy and please review!
No man, it goes like this: so if you enjoyed this update, please favorite, alert, and review, for it adds to our fuel of momentum. Tell your friends and all that jazz, and we'll see you next time! Ja ne!
Released: Tuesday, October 06, 2015