Warning: From this chapter on, these will be one-shots till the rewrite of this story is done. They will be remove once I begin posting the rewrite and placed in their own story later.
Authornote: Howdy, everyone. Sorry about taking down the last poll so soon, but my personal issues went downhill faster than I expected. The winning choice was to not add a fanfiction to make up for the time it will take to get the rewrite of Persona:Parallel Paradox done and up. However, I am thinking of possibly doing the story in arcs like I been doing with Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles. Let me know in the reviews what you think of doing that.. Though, as promise, this update is one of the few one-shots that will appear here till the rewrite is ready for posting.
However, before I get to that, a quick announcement. Some of you might have already seen this, but I put up another poll. It's a long term, three-part poll that will help me figure out some things for keeping my fanfiction up. First is a means of community communication like a blog or forum, second is possibly changing my penname to an alternative of Auto-nin, and last is possibly moving off of Fanfiction.
That last one is correct and don't freak out. I am not stopping my fanfiction, just thinking of moving to a new location. The issue is Fanfiction is it really needs update some things as right now it is really author unfriendly at the moment. I understand the phrase "If not broke, don't fix," but the Fanfiction's userface is quite outdated in some really important features. Mainly, uploading(including editing chapters on the site for posting) and communication with fans. Hence the really big urge to move with seeing better options like using Wordpress or Blogger to make a site specifically for my fanfiction or moving to Wattpad.
Wattpad is a free reading site that is superior in in a lot of things… Well, minus the search engine. Fanfiction beats Wattpad in that for sure. But, considering I would have a means to communicate with fans without authornotes/chapter notices and uploading is much better(going to test this, but other authors have told me it is quite good) than , that's a pretty damn good trade-off in my book. Hence why this is up for vote on the poll on my profile and will be up for a while as it is something I am taking serious thought on these matters and want your options on it. I am giving Fanfiction a chance to update, but the fact a past fanfiction writer(now web serial writer) told me it hasn't hardly changed since 2000 when he was last on… Yeah. Let's move on.
Now, these one-shots will randomly appear here when I have time and an idea to write them. However, you can suggest one-shot ideas you might want to see in the reviews. I got one lined up for Digimon: Sinned Tamers, but haven't had the time to hit it yet. This one-shot is one of my "idea dumps" where I write out ideas that won't get out of my head. That and see how they work together for future reference. You might see some of these concepts in the rewrite, some you won't. I also sometimes make them challenges like this one. I purposely force myself not to use thoughts and focus almost purely on dialogue and some description in this one-shot. Again, if you have a suggestion for a one-shot, let me know in the reviews. I might use it. Sorry for the long authornote, but really needed to get those things out of the way. Hope you enjoy this one-shot and vote on the poll.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Persona. This is just a geek-out piece that works as a skill-builder for myself. Also don't own any games and such that might be reference in this story.
One-Shot #1 - Life is a Game
"I got you now," An arrow blazed through the air, hitting a large hand like creature and cracking its mask. "Yatta, I hit-Oh, shit!" The hand ran towards where the arrow came from.
"I'm sorry!" Sasuke squeaked, getting on his knees and bowed as the monster closed in on him. His arrows hit his head with falling out of his quiver.
"You should really focus on AoE skills."
"Huh?" Sasuke asked, looking up to see the hand cut into pieces with silver wire. He sat up as relief came to his face.
"I don't want to accidentally cut even a strand of your hair." Sasuke noticed a pair of hands in his peripheral vision, one on each side of his head. Someone leaned against Sasuke's back. "Very few Shadows have sweet spots you can one hit kill. Well, unless it has quite a punch in attack and pin-point accuracy."
"That's what I am trying to do," Sasuke said. He looked up to see the sick grin on Naruto's face. The blond's bangs hanging over his almost closed eyes. "How the hell am I suppose to le-And I just got a level."
"Stop worrying about hitting the enemies. If you just ride, you'll get plenty of Exp off my kills." Naruto said, getting a pout from his fellow eight year old. "Though, I am a bit worried with your career choice. If you are having that much trouble killing Shadows, then humans will be worse."
"Shadows are different!" Sasuke shouted, picking up his arrows and putting them back into his quiver. "They are scary and creepy. And there is more to being a ninja then just killing, ya know?"
"I know quite well." Picking up an arrow, Naruto pointing the feathered end to Sasuke. "But, what are you going to use your newly earned points on?"
"Saving them up. I want to see how far my title boosts my stats." Sasuke said, standing up while tapping his bow on his shoulder. "But, I hate our Persona ability. It sucks."
"What's wrong with the Game Card?" Naruto asked, facing Sasuke. He was walking backwards, not even worried of the twisted corridors they were standing in.
"What's wrong? It's impractical, "Sasuke gripped his head in frustration, belting out a groan. "Why couldn't it be like control over fire or even illusions? I mean, outside the game mechanics, our Personas are pure support."
"But, what's the fun in that? It's a nice challenge full of surprises to find solutions to," Naruto said, joy filling his face. "I mean, there is also no way to enjoy the torment of your victims if ya burn them to death. Illusions, now, I might agree with you on that. I heard you can get some really surprising emotional and mental trauma from vits with that."
"Thank goodness you're never Killer in the academy," Sasuke said, unable to hold back a shiver. "Still, for a sociopathic murder, the skills you chose from the Game Card are even more useless than mine. Carpentry and archery are my only good ones. Bows are annoying to find for a good price."
"I am not a sociopath. I have emotions and care for others. However, we are both fools as I am a murderer. Useless as the number zero, yet full of potential. It is the only reason I have lived this long world where everything must have a use or else be discarded."
"Like your title of Unkillable Target?" Sasuke asked. A skeptical look on his face.
"Hey, what can I say?" Naruto asked. He shrugged at his friend while doing a slight spin. "My only talents is murdering, surviving, and playing games. I would even place a bet that I would survive execution if I was ever being charged for my crimes."
"If people could ever find the bodies," Sasuke said, rolling his eyes. "You're better than an undertaker ninja."
"Oie. That's why I am becoming a ninja," Naruto hummed. "Since killing and such is my only good traits, might as well put it to use. Though, I clearly suck as a ninja."
"Yet an amazing murderer," Sasuke said before his face paling while looking behind Naruto. "Behind you!"
"Huh?" Naruto leaned back to look. They had reached an opened space filled with dark beings wearing masks. Those masks looking right at them. "Oh, this will be fun."
"No, it won't!" Sasuke shouted as the Shadows charged at them. Naruto simply flung out his arms. Wires to coming his fingertips as he spun around. The wires sliced through the first wave of weaker Shadows. "Yeesh, you're broken."
"Of course I am broken! Why would I use games as my escape?" Naruto asked, forming a mesh cage to block the next wave, "But, you're broken as well."
"I don't mean that broken," Sasuke grunted while gripping his head in pain. "Hansel!" A blue mist came off of Sasuke. It formed into a metal bird cage around Sasuke. A puppet like boy sitting on the swing just above Sasuke. "Observation!" Sasuke shouted, the puppet boy throwing white stones out that stopped under all the Shadows and Naruto. "All Shadows don't have weaknesses to main elements you can use. Buff yourself with Gretel."
"A perfect challenge for tonight," Naruto said. He flicked his wrist for a ribbon like to come out of his palm. He grabbed the other end and wrapped it around his neck.
"Gretel!" Naruto shouted, pulling onto the ribbon. The wire dissolved away into a blue mist. The mist transformed into a puppet like girl in puffy dress and tied up straight jacket. The girl unleashed a silent scream while Naruto's body steamed. "My only complaint of my Persona," Naruto said, appearing behind the second wave with a kitchen knife covered in black."Is the fact Gretel uses up my magnetite." Naruto chuckled while watching the Shadows of the second wave collapsed with gashes appearing.
"Focus, Naruto," Sasuke said. He pulled back his bow with an arrow and fired at the Shadows that got past Naruto. They were heading for Sasuke. "You have to keep moving and not get overwhelmed without your wires."
"Of course. That's clear," Naruto dodged the Shadows and worked to slashing them down one by one. "Though, as long as you're safe, I can go all out!" A slasher grin graced the blond's face. He not even caring for the cuts he was getting on his body from the attacks he missed.
"Naruto! Retreat," Sasuke shouted. The Shadows attacking his cage. He kept firing arrows to keep the Shadows from really damaging his cage. "There's too many of them. Summon one of your demons with an Almighty attack to break the numbers. That way we can retreat."
"Nope," Naruto said, dodging the Shadows and taking out any in his path as he moved towards Sasuke. "No way I am bringing any more of my friends in danger."
"They are freakin' demons!" Sasuke shouted, glaring at Naruto. "They can handle Shadows. Also, Hansel's barrier won't last long like this." Sasuke jumped with one of the Shadows hitting the cage before he killed it with an arrow to the mask. "I'm running out of arrows, too."
"Denied. I already have two friends I got to protect," Naruto said while getting behind Sasuke and his cage.
"Why won't-Wait, two?" Sasuke asked before noticing the Shadows looked away from them.
"Alice!" A blue mist appeared and turned into a puppet girl wearing a torn up blue dress and white apron. Chains came off her body, connected to the cuffs on her wrists and ankles. "Megidola!" The girl raise up her arms for a white orb to form. She swung her arms down and the orb hit the ground. Sasuke covered his eyes from the explosion and flash it caused, taking out most of the Shadows.
"Flashy as always." Naruto sighed, running around from behind the cage when the flash died down from the explosion. He easily took out the injured left behind with the help of kunai from near Alice. "Though, the spells from Persona and demons are a bit OP for my tastes."
"Aniki," Sasuke shouted. Hansel dissolve away with his cage as he shot forward. He tackled his older brother to the ground. Sasuke sobbing as the ANBU mask hit the floor from being knocked off. "You came to save us!"
"Of course," Itachi said before covering his mouth and coughing. Blood seeped through his fingers. "S-Sorry." Itachi said, some blood dripping onto Sasuke's face.
"Tch, tch." A vial of green liquid flew at the two brothers, which Itachi caught. "You need to stop using Alice so much. You're going to hurt yourself if you keep depriving your chakra of the magnetite it needs. My medicine only works so well against our condition." Naruto scolded, blood dripping down his mouth as well.
"I do what I can," Itachi said. He opened the vial and gulped the medicine down in one gulp. "Huh? Mint flavor?"
"I have been messing with my apothecary skills. Though I love seeing your disgust faces, Sasuke and I also need to get it down." Naruto said, taking a sip from his own vial.
"But... You flavored life saving medicine?" Itachi asked, dumbfounded at the blond.
"Yep. Pretty neat, huh?" Naruto said. He did the good guy pose.
"Yes and no. I am scared now. This means you can make poisons taste completely different, too." Itachi said, his face pale with looking at the eight year old. "Though, I hope you haven't torment my brother too much." Itachi ruffled his brother's hair, allowing Sasuke to calm down.
"Only his normal Killer self," Sasuke snorted. "I can't wait for Happy Naruto to be back!"
Naruto faked a gasp. "I thought you hate Killer!" Sasuke froze, realizing what he said. "You said you hated being a sour puss during the day."
"Of course I do!" Sasuke snapped back. "And why the hell do all the girls love Killer me's personality? I am a freakin' jerk," Sasuke facepalmed, blushing in embarrassment.
"If only we didn't have that seal, I might be the one with the girls." Naruto grinned, making both Uchiha shiver. "They all hate my Happy personality." Both brothers got up and followed Naruto towards the stairs the Shadows were guarding.
"More like torture and kill them if you had Killer," Itachi said, "And why are you two talking about girls? You're eight year olds."
"The girls at school are crushing on my Killer personality," Sasuke groaned. "But, how long have we been in here this time?"
"Three days. I was forced on a mission right when I realized they put a replacement for Sasuke." Itachi rubbed his shoulders. "I am thankful you guys did not end up higher up on Tartarus. My whole body is aching from both the mission and rescue."
"Well, you should just stop," Naruto said, "You know they will keep doing this to Sasuke and me. They expect you to keep coming here and kill yourself trying to save us. All three of us are rejects, but at least you have the potential to not be one. Your Persona is attack oriented."
"True. But, just like you say. We are stuck playing their game." Itachi smirked at the two eight year olds. "We just have to wait for the right time to turn the tables."
"True... But, seriously, if this keeps up, I am scared you might die on me!" Sasuke whined, worry written on his face. "You're the only family member I can trust as mother and father's hands are tied."
"What about me?" Naruto asked with a grin, "I'm like your brother with how long we been together."
"You're freakin' immortal. I don't have to worry about you." Sasuke smirked at Naruto collapsing from the rejection. "I just wish you would use your demons to help us out."
"No. They can be harmed by Shadows due to their magnetite." Naruto pointed out, making both brother's eyes widen. "Plus, my deal between them was if they lost, they became my friends with giving me their names. Nothing about them serving me to fight for me. When I make a promise, I keep it." Naruto chuckled with a smirk. "Hence why I always follow the rules of the game. Because you can often use them against the very one who made them. It's only a matter of time before the tables turn for us without the game masters realizing it."
Endnote: And cut! Thanks for looking at the one-shot. Suggest an one-shot idea in the reviews and check out the poll on my profile. Other than that, have a great day and thanks for coming by!