Rain: And I am back with a brand new chapter. So this chapter will have the Shinigami explain everything as well as some other things so sit back, relax and enjoy!
Mario: Here we go!
Reaper's Blood: Final Mix
Chapter Ten
Tamashii Nohara
Royal Guard Chambers
"Naruto...Naruto, wake up..."
Iruka said as he shook Naruto in his arms, a concerned look on his face.
Iruka honestly couldn't understand what was going on.
He had just watched his student battle with the Shinigami's Royal Guards with skills he had never seen before. It was something beyond what he and Anko had taught him.
And from what that spirit said, it was because of Naruto's drive to send him to Heaven that caused it.
Iruka was touched that Naruto pushed forward and took on odds that feasibly, he shouldn't be able to overcome but he was going to force it no matter what.
The minute Naruto had collapsed, the Shinigami ordered Urara and Houka to lead them back to their chambers to get Naruto healed up once more.
Once Urara was finished healing Naruto, the two had left at Iruka's insistence to speak to the blond Uzumaki alone.
Iruka heard Naruto's guilt during his battle with the four Royal Guardsmen of the Shinigami and needed to address it with him before the Shinigami did what he was going to do.
"Come on kiddo," Iruka said as he shook Naruto again. "Wake up..."
"Nnngh," Naruto grunted out as he slowly opened his eyes and murmured "Hey Iruka-sensei..." with a drowsy smile on his face. "You're okay..."
Iruka laughed tearfully and pulled Naruto into a tight hug and said "I'm okay little brother...I'm okay..."
He could feel Naruto's right hand grip his back and the chūnin could tell by the shudder Naruto gave that he was trying to hold back tears. "I-I'm so sorry..." He heard Naruto say as the young shinobi-wannabe choked back a sob.
Iruka laughed softly and placed an affectionate peck on top of Naruto's head and said "Hey now, no need to apologize Naruto. I don't want you to feel that my death was your fault..."
"But it was!" Naruto insisted with a shout but Iruka shook his head.
"No...It was Mizuki's fault...He used a child to do what he couldn't...what he was afraid to do," Iruka said softly before he pulled back and wiped the tears falling from Naruto's eyes and added "I blame him for my death, not you. You were just trying to be the shinobi you always wanted to be...And that you've proved to me on this day."
Naruto looked at him in confusion and this prompted Iruka to untie his hiate-ite from his forehead and said "It may be late to do this but better late than never. Uzumaki Naruto, for not giving up in the face of adversity along with the many skills I have seen, I grant you the rank of Genin of Konohagakure no Sato."
Naruto stared at him in surprise before he lowered his gaze and murmured "Thanks Iruka-sensei but I...If becoming a shinobi meant for your death, I can't accept it...It doesn't feel right to me anymore..."
Iruka frowned at Naruto's words.
It seemed despite his confidence in battle, Naruto's confidence in himself had taken a huge blow and seeing Naruto so subdued and cowed made Iruka's heart hurt.
Naruto was supposed to be the brash, hyperactive, unpredictable shinobi that all of Konoha had ever seen...Not...Broken like this.
Iruka knew he meant a lot to Naruto but to know that his death had caused a dramatic change to the youngster had truly stunned him.
Especially considering how they were years ago.
Iruka knew that once Naruto started on this path, there would be no changing him so Iruka did the one thing he could do.
Iruka leaned back and punched Naruto hard in the face, which sent Naruto off the bed and to the ground.
"Ow! What was that for?!" Naruto exclaimed as he held his cheek.
Iruka frowned down at the Uzumaki and said "You are not Uzumaki Naruto."
Naruto's eyes widened at this and he said "The hell? I am Uzumaki Naruto!"
"No you are not!" Iruka responded with a shout, which made Naruto flinch slightly.
"My Naruto has made many mistakes in his life but the one thing he has never done was back down from anything, especially his dream of becoming Hokage. He once told me that he would do all he can to become the leader the village needs and that no matter what happens, he would achieve it!"
Iruka then let a sad smile form on his face and said "He was always confident in himself and his goals. Despite you fighting with all you had out there, you showed shades of Uzumaki Naruto but the person in front of me is just his clone...A clone born of guilt."
Iruka then turned away from Naruto and said "Death happens, It can't be escaped or stopped. It can be delayed, sure, but it is a constant shadow that hovers above us. Some get swallowed up by it prematurely. Others get taken by it at the very end of their life or even fall into the shadow themselves. As a shinobi, the shadow clings to us at the ready..."
Iruka then turned back to Naruto and said "That is a lesson that Anko and I have drilled into your head for ages. I always knew that my shadow would take me whole. Not through battle, but by me saving those I care about and I accepted that because the life of those I care for trump my own."
"Iruka-sensei..." Naruto breathed out softly.
"I do not regret doing what I did Naruto," Iruka interrupted with a smile. "Not even for a moment. Does it bother me that my death caused you to go through all of this? Yes. Does it bother me that my death caused you to feel such overwhelming guilt and Anko-chan's tears? Yes, but I'd rather you both be alive and sad than all of us together in death. You can mourn me, you can miss me but don't ever feel guilt about me dying. I died saving someone I loved. To me, that is the best way to go."
He could see tears falling down Naruto's face and without warning, the blonde launched himself to Iruka and hugged him as tightly as he could as he openly sobbed against his chest, which prompted Iruka to hug him back as he murmured "I love you too Naruto...I love you too...Now no more guilt, ok?"
Naruto pulled away from him and wiped his tears away before he looked at Iruka and said "What kind of shinobi would I be if I undermined your willing sacrifice by feeling guilty?"
"Good boy," Iruka said as he patted Naruto on the head affectionately.
Just then, the door to the chambers opened up to reveal Houka, who said to the older man "The Shinigami requests both of you. It is time for him to explain what is going on."
Iruka nodded before he turned to Naruto and said "Let's go..."
Tamashii Nohara
Shinigami Throne Room
"And there he is. The man of the hour. I do apologize for all of the secrecy but I needed to be sure of the one I sought out," Shinigami said as he leaned back against his throne as Naruto and Iruka stood side by side, with all six of his Royal Guard behind the two.
"Before we start," Naruto said softly. "Will Iruka and Seishin be ok? I know you said that I passed your test or whatever but I just need to be sure."
The Shinigami laughed softly and said "They were never in any danger of going to Hell...I just needed to put some fire under you to see if you could rise to the challenge that I set. Seishin will continue to be my assistant and Iruka will be going to Heaven once this is done."
"Thank goodness," Naruto replied with a relieved exhale.
As he promised to Iruka, Naruto had forced all of the guilt from his mind about Iruka's demise but he still worried that Iruka would still go to Hell for Naruto technically failing his mission, despite passing the Shinigami's test.
"I may be known as the "Emperor of Death" but I do have a heart," The Shinigami responded with a chuckle before he then said "But now it is time for me to explain why I have done all of this."
The air grew tense as the Shinigami began to explain.
"I originally had a much longer test for you to go through. Originally, You were supposed to gain power by defeating each and every one of my Royal Guard to achieve their skills and then at the end, you and I was supposed to battle. My condition would have been to lay one single blow to my body. However, I had to speed up the process due to your soul being called back to your body..."
"What? How?! I'm dead!" Naruto shouted in amazement but the Shinigami shook his head slowly before he let out a sigh.
"The truth of the matter is that you weren't dead. You were merely in a coma," The Shinigami admitted which made Naruto's eyes widen in surprise.
"A-A Coma? But Seishin-chan told me-"
"She was incorrect. You were in a coma. It was I that bought you here to my domain in order to test you. To see if you were worthy in becoming my Champion," Shinigami answered, which made Naruto stare at him in silence before the genin began to laugh.
Naruto laughed long and hard until his gut hurt.
He didn't know what to say to all of that. All of this...Was just a test for him to become the Shinigami's champion?
"Wow...Out of all this shit I've been through, this has to be the second worse," Naruto finally said after a minute of laughing. "So you wanted to test me to becoming your champion? Why didn't you just ask?! Why this grand lie?!"
"Because becoming my champion isn't just an "Ask and Answer" deal Uzumaki Naruto," The Shinigami responded. "I needed to test your resolve and dedication to the cause. And despite your body's interference, I have seen enough to know that I chose wisely."
"What makes you think I'll do it now?" Naruto asked angrily. "After practically destroying my body going through this gauntlet only to find out that my goal was a lie, what would possibly make me want to become your champion?!"
"If you don't, the world that you know will be destroyed," The Shinigami responded, which made Naruto pause.
"I'm sorry, what?" Naruto asked.
"There are mortals down in your realm that wishes to erase death from the world. One wants to trap the world in an infinite genjutsu that would trap your entire realm to what they wish your world to be. The second mortal is trying to perfect a jutsu that would bring dead beings back to life and the last mortal is trying to extend his own life. With these plans, they wish to usurp the natural course of reality. Something that cannot happen," The Shinigami explained.
"I see..." Naruto responded softly. The second issue really didn't seem like such an issue to Naruto. If they succeeded, Iruka would be bought back into the world but he had to look at the bigger picture.
If the person was good, Naruto wouldn't have any issues with it but if they were evil, and with how grave the Shinigami sounded, they just might be, then Naruto could see the issue., Especially if they were working with the first person the Shinigami spoke of.
A world trapped within a genjutsu? That sounds horrifying enough but Naruto didn't even know what side they were on troubled him more. Was there times in his youth that Naruto wished he could change the world?
Yes but that would possibly mean warping people's personalities...or even mind controlling them.
Something Naruto himself finds morally wrong. As much as he wanted people to change, he wanted them to change naturally, on their own. Not by a jutsu or by force. But there were also many other issues with the plans of these two mortals that Naruto truly didn't want to think about right now.
"So what does that have to do with me?" Naruto finally asked.
The Shinigami chuckled and replied with " Back in the Sengoku Jidai (Warring State Period) where the Uzumaki clan was in its infancy, your ancestors quickly gained an enemy that served the god of destruction and death, Jashin to use them as sacrifices to their god. Many were lost and in their desperation to combat these living incarnations of Chaos, they prayed to me."
"Holy hell..." Iruka muttered, which made Naruto agree with him.
"I despise that fake god but I knew how strong he could become if his cult were to gain members so I gave them their request by giving them a single drop of my godly blood in a large chalice to drink."
"With that single drop of blood, I gave them their ability to possess incredibly a strong life force, granting them tremendous stamina and vitality. As such, they have very long lifespans and to keep them in their prime a lot longer, causing them to age slower as a result. This also enables any Uzumaki to survive and endure much more severe injuries while also being able to recover from said injuries and exhaustion with much greater efficiency in short periods of time. I even made these traits strong enough to survive the removal of tailed beasts, although they are still left severely weakened afterwards. Such as what happened with Mito and your mother, my former champion, Uzumaki Kushina."
"Whoa...That is amazing," Naruto breathed out in surprise.
"And along with all of that, I gave them the ability to be very powerful Fūinjutsu practitioners. They were able to defeat and destroy all but a tiny handful of Jashin users. But my gifts came with a sacrifice. There was a catch to my generosity..."
"Oh really?" Naruto asked sarcastically before Iruka smacked the genin upside the head, causing the shinobi to pout.
The Shinigami chuckled before he said "For any Uzumaki, no matter what percentage they are, that dies, their spirits become part of my Royal Guardsmen. But only the strongest of those spirits become something more..."
"When a catastrophic event that could cause the death of all life on earth was on the horizon, I would choose an Uzumaki to become my champion to stop this event before it could occur or stop it if it reached completion. With the Uzumaki as my champion, I would grant them the power to use their ancestors as their power in the form of the Kioigan...The Fighting Spirit Eye."
"Whoa, wait a minute. My ancestors...So does that mean that all of them are..." Naruto started, unable to fully finish what he was going to say.
The Shinigami laughed and said "Yes, in their past lives, the six of my strongest Royal Guardsmen were Uzumaki. The very clan you belong to."
"Fucking...Holy...Whoa..." Naruto stammered out as he turned to the six and noticed their surprise as well by this admission.
"Did you guys know about this?" Naruto asked.
"N-No," Houka replied with a stammer.
"No freaking away," Tsubasa muttered.
"I always figured," Kai muttered.
Makito only laughed at this reveal while Miyuki and Urara remained quiet, which told Naruto that those three had always knew.
"It is true, The six you see, on the exception of Kai, don't share the trademark red hair of the Uzumaki but they are Uzumaki. Half blooded Uzumaki, but Uzumaki nonetheless. With Miyuki, Urara and Makito being here the longest. Exactly one century."
"So...All Uzumaki become either part of your guard or part of the Kioigan..." Naruto said softly.
"Yes but I have allowed for catch for that as well for my champions," The Shinigami replied with a smile. "For my champions that stop the catastrophic events, their soul, along with the Kioigan souls are sent to heaven instead of being in my service as a reward for their service."
"And those that fail?" Naruto asked.
"They go to their eternal prison, the Tower of Souls...Every prisoner that resides in that tower are failed champions. They are forced to relive their failures and the feelings of all that had died because of them for all eternity, never knowing peace...Only violence and regret...And not only that, if my champions fail, the spirits that helped him would share their fate, not only replaying their own failures but the failures of the one that held them..."
The Shinigami then let out a sigh and said "That is why this was not a simple "Yes or No" answer Uzumaki Naruto. It may sound like a light punishment but it is not...Believe me. It is a heavy risk. Be rewarded by going to the gates of Heaven...Or be damned to relive your worse nightmares with no reprieve."
"But why me?" Naruto asked softly. "Why make me go through this test to be your champion? I'm not one special."
"But you are...Their are many other Uzumaki in your world, despite their village and many of them perishing but you, being the son of my previous champion, showed more promise, despite their being close competition by my previous champion's daughter, Uzumaki Tayuya."
"Wait!" Naruto suddenly shouted as Iruka gasped in shock. "You said my mother, Uzumaki Kushina was your previous champion...But I am an only child! I can't have a sister!" Naruto explained.
"But you do...Perhaps you should look to your village elders to see what had occurred but be aware Uzumaki Naruto, you do have a sister and she also a prime candidate for the Kioigan should you fail or need assistance."
Naruto couldn't believe it.
His entire life, he had been told that he didn't have any family. That his parents had died and he was the only child by the Sandaime and yet...He was lied to...
But if he did have a sister, that sounded alive and well, then what else wasn't he told? "Wait..." Naruto said as he realized something important.
His mother was the previous champion of the Shinigami. The holder of the Kioigan...
"Shinigami-sama! I must know...If I have a sister...Then what of my mother? Did she truly die as well?"
"Her fate is that she is alive... " The Shinigami replied.
Naruto's heart stopped.
His mother...Was alive?
"T-That...That Can't..." Naruto breathed out, suddenly feeling light headed.
"It is true. She is alive...However, she is deep in a coma in an area even I can't see," The Shinigami replied. "I have tried to retrieve her soul but it is trapped within her body which is trapped in an unknown void...Unreachable to even I."
"Damn it, that could mean anything," Iruka said in frustration. "But still Naruto, you have a sister out there and your mother is somewhere alive...Not to mention, there are still Uzumaki out there."
Naruto remained silent for a moment, his mind racing with so many thoughts.
He had a sister...His mother was alive and they were both out there...Out of his reach...Not to mention, the world was heading into a catastrophic event that threatened the lives of many...
"So...I think I have my answer Shinigami-sama...But just to make sure, what happens if I refuse, do I even have that choice?" Naruto asked.
"You do but if you refuse, you leave here with no memory and when you die, you go instantly into the Tower of Souls," The Shinigami responded.
Naruto chuckled and said "Then fuck that. I was going to say yet due to the catastrophic shit that was going to happen but now that I know that I have a sister our there and that my mother is somewhere alive...I can't refuse now. So Shinigami-sama, consider me your champion."
The Shinigami nodded and said "Perfect. Then kneel before me Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto knelt before the Shinigami and that was when Naruto felt an unbelievable amount of pain coming from his chest.
Behind him, Iruka noticed that Naruto's body began to glow beneath his clothes. Iruka could see Kanji being written down Naruto's back in crimson that read " Champion of God of Death" and from that kanji, crimson lines began to flow across Naruto's body, two thick crimson lines spiraling down Naruto's legs and arms while two thick lines crossed over Naruto's shoulders and across his chest, meeting the crimson line that formed around his hips.
"From this moment on, Uzumaki Naruto shall become Senshuken no Shinigami (Champion of the God of Death), holder of the Kioigan. Wear this title with pride and bring my the souls of those that dare defy fate."
The glow on Naruto's body faded away where Naruto panted heavily, suddenly feeling very exhausted.
The Shinigami then looked to the six of his guard that still knelt and said "Tsubasa, Miyuki, Urara...Step forward beside Naruto."
The three guardsmen followed their leader's orders and knelt beside the Uzumaki. "You three were defeated by Uzumaki Naruto. Therefore, the three of you will become the starting spirits for his Kioigan. So I wish for the three of you to place your hands onto his back and I shall do the rest."
The Three spirits nodded and placed their hands on Naruto's back before the Shinigami raised his right hand. Suddenly, the three began to glow brightly until they became three beams of white light, which then flew into Naruto's body, which caused him to gasp in agony, streaks of white lightning crossing his body.
But thanks to Miyuki's previous actions when she put that orb in his chest, Naruto didn't pass out and the pain quickly subsided.
"Kai, Houka, Makito, the original plan was for you three to be his spirits but considering the circumstances, your union with him will wait until the opportune moment of your choosing...provided he passes your tests..." The Shinigami told the three, who nodded in unison
"Now stand, My champion," The Shinigami commanded. Naruto stood up on shaky legs and looked up at the Shinigami, still panting heavily from all that had just occurred to him.
"It is now time for you to return to your body and begin your quest," The Shinigami then pointed behind Naruto where a large beam of ethereal blue light appeared. "That is your way back to your body. Miyuki, Tsubasa and Urara will be excellent teachers to you and they will continue to unlock your abilities until the remaining three will join in but considering all I have seen you do, you are destined to be my greatest yet, surpassing even your mother."
"T-That's a lot of praise for someone who hasn't even started yet," Naruto noted with a weak laugh.
"Very true...Let's hope you live up to my expectations, Uzumaki Naruto..." The Shinigami replied before he said "And to show my appreciation, your sister's current whereabouts are within the clutches of one of the ones that are trying to defy fate...Look towards the Grass."
"Great...That'll be easy to find out," Naruto noted.
"And Umino Iruka..." The Shinigami said as he pointed behind Iruka where a white beam of light with flecks of golden sparkles appeared. "The gate to your new home await you...And I believe your parents will be waiting at the spawn point."
"Thank you Shinigami-sama," Iruka said appreciatively with a bow before he and Naruto stared at each other.
"Well...I guess this is it Iruka-sensei...This'll be the absolute last time I ever see you," Naruto said softly as he gazed up at his big brother.
"The last time you'll see me, yes," Iruka said as he knelt down in front of Naruto before he added "But I will always be watching you and when you ever need me, I'll come running...I promise." Iruka and Naruto then embraced long hard and once to two broke away, Iruka said "Just promise me two things. Be careful and watch after Anko...She's going to be a wreck I'm sure so she'll need all of your support."
"And she'll get it. That is a promise of a lifetime," Naruto said with a determined smile on his face.
"Thank you Naruto...You may not hear this for awhile but I love you and go in peace, my brother..." Iruka said as he gave Naruto one more hug, which Naruto returned with his own hug and his own muffled "I love you too big brother," before he broke away and turned away to hide the tears that had then fallen down in his face.
Iruka looked back to Naruto and said "Stay safe," before he turned forward and walked through the beam of light, which instantly vanished.
Naruto wiped his own tears away and murmured "Just relax Iruka-nii...I'll take of everything back in our world..." Naruto then turned to the Shinigami and gave him a bow and said "I'm off," before he turned to the remaining three guardsmen and said "Welp, until we meet again!" before he walked to this own beam of light and vanished through it.
Konohagakure no Sato
Yondaime General Hospital
"How many times have I come in here, Gaki?" Anko asked softly as she sat by Naruto's bedside, dressed in black dress with a morning cap on top of her head. She had just come from Iruka's funeral, unable to take the ending sadness that was in the air.
When she had come in here, Hinata and her little sister, who was sleeping in her arms, were just leaving, allowing Anko to be alone with the blonde Uzumaki.
When she entered the room, she noticed that there tons of flowers placed at his bedside along with "Get well soon," cards on the table.
But she didn't pay any mind to that at all.
Instead, she found herself at his bedside again.
She didn't know why she tortured herself like this.
It had been a week since Naruto had been put into this state and Iruka was killed and from the last time she spoke to the doctors, they stated they didn't know when he would wake up.
"Damn it...This is just...This is just killing me at this point," Anko said as she brushed the blond hair from his face. His hair had gotten a bit longer since she last saw him. "I made a decision...Until I get word that you wake up, this'll be my last visit. I can't handle dealing with Iruka not being here and you not being here either."
Anko took a shuddered breath as she closed her eyes and let tears flow. She suddenly fell to her knees and said "So wake up already! Wake up so I never have to walk into this place to see you again! Wake up so we can walk out of here together...Just wake up...Please...Don't leave me in the dark like this Gaki..."
Anko lowered her head into her arms and sobbed against the bed but then she felt him move beneath the covers.
She looked up and saw turning from side to side before he opened his eyes slowly.
"Oh my god..." Anko whispered out as she watched Naruto slowly lean up off the bed to sit upright before he slowly turned to her, a gentle smile on his face.
"Anko-nee..." Naruto said softly.
Anko felt more tears fall from her eyes before a watery smile appeared on her face and without any hesitation, she lunged for Naruto embraced him as tightly as he could, which caught Naruto by surprise before he reached up and returned her embrace.
"Please don't be a dream," Anko whispered against his chest through her intense sobbing, her body shaking.
"I'm here," Naruto whispered softly as she squeezed him tighter. "I promise I will never leave again you again Anko-nee...That is a promise of a lifetime..."
Rain: And that ends this chapter. So, what do you guys think of how it all went down. Do let me know in a review so until the next chapter...
Mario: See you next time!