Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Harry Potter
This chapter is dedicated to The Lovely Kaykai-sama. Because you have requested.
The sounds of two nearly silent sets of footsteps rebounded on the marble floor of the hall way that lead to the potion rooms within the southern wing of the Rikujou no Kami of the Central Elemental Nations. The sounds of footsteps seized right before the closed doors.
Naruto reached for one of the door's handle but paused before his hand touches the piece of metal-work. He closed his hand; his head turned to look at Shin.
"I'm not sure I want to know what is behind these doors"
Shin raised a brow. "It's up to you, Naru. Would you like to find out what happened first hands or..."
Naruto sighed. He turned back to the door and without preamble pull the door open. The sight that greeted him was unlike anything he had ever seen before. He heard gasps, one his own and the other could only belonged to Shin. What once was a typical Potion room had transformed into the wondrous space of the universe. The room was no longer a room. The sight before him was the night sky. There was no floor nor ceiling. The four wall, nonexistence. His eyes moved at random. He did not know what to look at, could not decide a focus. The hand still linked with Shin clinched. It was his only anchor to conscious abandonment. He moved around. He could not identify the directions, only that his feet continue to take nearly measured steps. His arm reached out. He yearned to touch the bright lights. The hair on his skins stood on its ends as was what must be galactic winds transferred cold air into him. How he was able to breath if this was truly outer space, he did not know nor does he particularly care at the moment.
He closed his eyes. It was done more on instinct than anything. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. There was a brush in his mind. Immediately after, he heard sounds. They were muffled, vibrated in jumbles and heard to decipher just beyond the roaring winds. His free hand moved to cover one of his ear and his brow furrowed in concentration. The silent his breathing as much as possible and pressed on. The voices got more distinctive. He was at an indecision as to which one to focus on, there were so many.
"..ease! Someone, help me" the voice was waning to sounds to low for the human ears. It was only because of the enhancement that Kyuubi chakra granted him that he was able to hear it. He dared not make a sound, terrified as to cause disturbance and loose the connection. His eyes snapped open and he zoom into one specific star. The illumination was barely visible. His hand reached out, instinct overtaking. He soon felt a low warmth touched the skin of his palm and his fingers reflexively closed over it. He brought his arm back to his body, his hand placed right before his eyes. His fingers slowly unfold.
"A jewel" he whispered. The gem pulsated. The rhythm resembled a weak sequence of heartbeats.
"Naruto..."
"Shin, what is this?" he whispered. His voice cracked and shaking.
"..."
Not receiving an answer, Naruto turned to face her. Shin's eyes were sad. Naruto followed her gaze back to the jewel in his palm. Shin moved her free hand to cup the back of his hand and Naruto felt a warm flow of her divine power breezed through his hand and into the jewel.
"You hold in your hand someones life, Naruto"
He gasped and nearly drop the gem. He reflexively closed his fingers and managed to save it at the last moments. His eyes bugged as he stared into her eyes, searching. He gulped and looked away. His gaze fell back to the gem, it glow had intensified somewhat. The pulsation was stronger, if only by a small amount. Naruto gaze became unfocused. His mind was blank. A long moment of complete silent, even the winds of unknown origin made not a sound or at least did note registered in Naruto's mind.
"What is this place?" he asked. His eyes slowly moved and take in his surrounding at a leisure pace.
"...this place...this place has no name...but if I were to name it, this place would be called Faith Dome"
"Faith? Nande?"
"This place, these stars that you see are incarnations of sentient beings' faith in the divine; more specifically, our Father, the creator of everything."
"...and this jewel in my hand?...what does it mean?"
Shin closed her eyes and sighed. "this person only shimmered a minimal amount of faith on there death bed"
"They are dying?" he nearly squeaked.
Shin nodded but said nothing. Naruto stared intensely at the jewel. "So what will happen now? What do I do with this? What will happen to this person?...I want to help them" he whispered the last part.
"Are you sure?"
He nodded.
"There is a way..." Naruto looked up; his eyes, expectant. Shin searched his eyes. An infinite second later she nodded. Her hand closed over the gem seated on his palm. She closed her eyes and murmured an unheard prayer. She removed her hand as she finished. Naruto glanced down. The gem was gone and in its place was a seed. His brows furrowed and he gave her a questioning look.
"Plant it, make it grow, nurture it. Its health and life is now in your hand"
Sarutobi Hiruzin, the Sandaime Hokage, was having a rare day. He was ahead of his paperwork which left him time to enjoy his guilty pleasure, reading his students international successful novel called the Icha Icha Paradise. He was having one of his giggling feat when his eyes caught a blond glimpse from the corner of his eyes. His eyes shifted and was quickly zoomed and focused on the portrait of his late successor, Namikaze Minato the Yondaime Hokage. His mood instantly shifted and he was no longer experiencing any more enjoyment.
He closed the book and sat it down on his desk. His head fell back and rested on he back of his comfortable chair. He closed his eyes and let out a tired sigh.
"How would you react to this village's treatments of your child, I wonder. The child, he is not living in the village you gave your life for. This old man have failed you" A silent tear streamed down his cheek.
Three measured knocks sounded from his office's closed door. "Hokage-sama, a missive just arrived for you"
Sarutobi checked himself. He replaced his Icha Icha book back to its hidden place and granted entrance. The door opened soon after and his secretary strode in. she gave him a bow in greeting and made her way further into the room. She stopped before his desk and placed the thick parchment envelope in his waiting hand. She quickly murmured a few words and pretreated out of the room.
Sarutobi studied the envelope. He was curious as the whom would use such material. The parchment was thick and ornate. Who ever the sender was, they must be very well of to be able to afford such luxury. His name was written in graceful calligraphy in the front of the envelope. He flipped it over and frown when he could not find a sender note. He brought the letter to his nose and found the scents of expensive ink and ozone.
'Who could it be?' he opened the envelope and pulled out the letter. The paper was similar to the envelope only thinner and more flexible. He unfold the folding and read the letter's content. His mind subconsciously noted that the handwriting matched with the ones on the envelope.
To the Sandaime Hokage,
By the time you receive this missive, the one you know as Uzumaki Naruto have left the village of Konoha for six years and a day. His destiny require him the need to be reintegrate in this village. Do know that it was not my will for this migration. It is in your best interest to prepare a place of resident for Naruto. His father's ancestral manor will do. Also, you would do well to prune your tree of legislation. You have been negligent in your duties as the dictatorial leader of your village. What is the need for a civilian council when Konoha is a ninja village. In another note, please summon the man that hold the undeserving honor of being Naruto's godfather. You would do well to summon his godmother as well. You will be in for an interesting show. Finally, expect Naruto and his guardian to arrive on the eve of the solar new year.
Guardian of Central Elemental Nations
Sarutobi reread the missive thrice over. His mind reeling. He could not wrap his mind around the fact that he had receive a letter from a Rikujou no Kami. He acquired the knowledge of the existence of the Land gods only because he accidentally found an old diary that belonged one of the Children of Destiny. The location of this diary was lost soon after he had made this discovery.
'Civilian council, Ninja village, negligent in duties, dictator' these thoughts were reeling in his mind. His eyes darken and harden. His brows furrowed. "This will not do. Cannot be continue" 'I just got scold by a Kami!'
"Dog" A ninja of Anbu ranking with a mask of a dog appeared, seemingly out of thin air and knelt before him.
"Hai, Hokage-sama?"
"I have a mission for you"
"Why must I go? Please, Shin. Don't make me go back there"
"I will be there with you, Naru"
"I know, but it doesn't make me anymore willing to go back to that horrid place"
"Naru..."
Naruto sighed. They have been having this conversation for a good part of several weeks. Naruto knew that the decision were already made. He just didn't want to go without making it known that he is forever against this. No one in particular is happy about this arrangement either. He was to leave the only place he considered his home. He had to leave his brother figure, Haaris. And he will even miss his love rival, Merlin. He had to give all that he know and love for the same people that had shunned him and want him dead. The only good thing that he could think of that came from his situation was that he would have Shin all to himself again.
"How to take care of your plants by Greenfield, Flora" Naruto read. He was sitting on a stone cushioned chair under a shaded ancient Chinese style gazebo that was located half way to the center of the large pond. On the stone table sat his ceramic pot that held soil and his star seed. Next to it was a small water pot and a bamboo-shaped solid Jade flute.
"Do you have someone precious? Your precious person(s) make do feel a certain way and you at according to that. You care for that person, you love them. Caring for your plant follows the same concept." Naruto seized his reading and glanced at his pot of soil. "Love you like I love Shin? Care for you like I would care for her," he whispered. "uhm.."
"What plants needs. Plants require sunlight, water, and nutrients. Those are the 3 essential things. There are specialty plants that would require different things however this chapter will focus on general plants..."
"Well, that was informative" a soft voice spoke in his ears. Naruto jumped. His head snapped around to face a twinkled eyed, smirking Shin. He opened his mouth to scold her but his words sink to his stomach as she placed a soft kiss on his cheek.
"I brought you lunch, Naruto. Have you waited long?" she asked as she set the table with different dishes. She relocated his things further away, to the far side of the table. She sat down at his right after she finish. Naruto lean in and gave her a kiss on her cheek but changed his mind at the last moment and kissed her soft lips. He wanted to deepen the kiss just as he ended the small touch but refrained. He did not want to risk the possibility that they would be caught by Merlin. As much as he want to place a claim on Shin, he knew that such conflict between them would upset her. Naruto opened his eyes in time to catch her rosy cheeks as she turned away. He hide a smirk behind a happy smile.
"Shall we eat, Yosei-chan?" he said cheerfully.
Gosh! i have not work on this fic in so long. It feels like forever. Now that i think about it, i've been neglecting my Amythest Eclipse too.
I'm so cruel. I blame it on Draco Malfoy. That blond is stealing all of my attentions.
Well, people; do leave review.