"I've never seen you use that sword before" said Cloud as they sat down at the Inn.
Zack smirked at those words a moment "If I use it it'll just get dirty, worn and rusted. That would be even more of a waste" Zack explained to Cloud a calm smile on his face
"Your life is more important than the sword. Well just a little," Angeal's voice echoed. "Never lose your dreams. Also, no matter the situation never let go of your pride as a SOLDIER,"
"This here is a symbol of dreams and pride. Rather, it is just that. I almost lost sight of that. Thanks Cloud," Zack smiled.
"Eh?" Cloud Questioned,
"All right! As for now sleep!" Zack announced as he fell back onto the bed.
7 days later.
Naruto shivered a moment as he pulled the rather itchy blanket,
"Time to get up," Tifa chiming as she opened the curtness Naruto tossed a pillow at her as he hugged the blanket even titer. "Is that any way to treat your host, throwing things at them?"
"I am sleeping on a couch," Naruto "Seriously, what have got," Naruto stopped his ranting as he noticed a very nice smell, "What's that?" Naruto asked crawling out of the couch.
"You never had waffles?" asked Tifa as her father came down the stairs giving Naruto a rather cold look, but went over to the dining room table.
"And he couldn't have stayed at the Inn because?" Tifa's father asked, as he picked up the day's newspaper.
"Because he is a good friend as well as my teacher it would be rude to ask him to stay at the Inn," Tifa hissing between her teeth "No be nice okay daddy," her father grunted as he went back to the paper. Naruto inspected the breakfast a moment as he looked over at Tifa's father. Tifa sat down pushing her black hair behind her ear as she grabbed a few waffles, Naruto followed suit watching Tifa prepare her food out of the corner of his eye.
"This is embarrassing I have no idea what I am doing," Naruto thought as his hand went for the bottle assuming it was a topping like soy sauce. Catching Tifa's hand on the bottle,
"Sorry " Apologizing as she snapped her hand Back Naruto picked it up offering it to her. She held her hand up refusing. Tifa's father narrowed his eyes at the transaction before rolling them and going back to his paper. Tifa grabbed it, and breakfast went on without a hitch.
Tifa walked off she had been looking around for the silver haired man after his disappearance in the old Mansion. Naruto looked down as he flipped open his phone,
"Forgot I set it on vibrate, Hello Naruto speaking,"
"Hey Sensei,"
"Aerith, how did you get this number I am suppose to be dead," Naruto asked,
"I just know these things it would take a lot for you to fool me with a fake death," Aerith giggled.
"Well how did you get this number?" asked Naruto,
"Cloud have it to me, He found out about you giving me some training and contacted me, He never found lighting or Yuffie,"
"They were with me we were hiding in underground city but still how did Cloud get my number?" asked Naruto.
"He is a Turk, maybe his just saw the brand number or he could have stolen it and just pushed info," She offered, Naruto snapped his fingers.
"Possible I guess, Cloud picked up more than I thought from me," Said Naruto,
"So how is Lighting and Yuffie?"
"Not Bad still arguing, all the same they have gotten stronger," Naruto said as he leaned up against the water tower. "Cloud seems to have left the scroll behind that I left him,"
"Yes he gave it to me, but it is so hard, still on the first jutsu," she answered she sounded a little ashamed.
"Not to worry I will see if I can come over and help a bit, but between you and me this whole thing here stinks I fear something bad is going to happen so it might be a while," Naruto advised as He looked over at The Inn Tifa had just went in.
"I'll keep that in mind,"
"All the same if anything does happen, Lighting and Yuffie will head to your home in an emergency, is that okay with you?" asked Naruto "I need someone I can trust that isn't working for Shinra,"
"Uh sure I guess,"
"I got more than enough money for them to take care of themselves set the up at the old church I fixed a room in the upper area they should be good for a long time if need be,"
"Ok" said Aerith, "Anything else?" she asked,
"Yeah remind me to introduce you to a friend of mine named Zack. Naruto said as he hung up his phone. Zack walked past heading over to the mansion Naruto shrugged as he walked back to Tifa's.
"Naruto, something is up it's been a while and the general has been acting a bit weird, Naruto turned to see three massive fire balls go up then dropdown smashing into the homes. The flames sky rocketed as people started to scream as Sephiroth, He didn't blink as every poor soul who ran to him for help was cut down, Naruto grabbed a Kunia charging the maniac, The two blades crossed for a moment then Naruto felt nothing his whole body was numb,
"Impossible," Naruto thought "How?" Naruto felt the man's sword plunge into his gut, Naruto's vision blurred as he looked up at those cruel un-blinking eyes for one moment. Naruto , felt a punch His vision swimming as he tried to call on his chakra. A second blow his body went limp.
Cloud POV
Cloud just watched His mentor his best friend get killed as second time, dashed outside as Tifa exited her home. Cloud grabbed Tifa and ran, The Turk in him realized one simple fact Naruto was stronger, he was a dead man if he didn't run now His mind slowed Down Tifa had latched onto his neck trying to get out of his grip as he went for his home. Cloud dropped a few seals the pieces of paper exploded, as he saw Zack exit the mansion a look of horror on his face. The silver haired man turned Cutting three more villagers down before leaving to the reactor. Cloud Dropped Tifa, and went to find his mother. Zack leaped into the village heading into one of the other houses.
"Don't go anywhere," Cloud ordered as he quickly went into his mother home. "Mother?" Cloud called out shielding his eyes from the heat , The hood cracked under his feet as the house lurched the structure being eaten away. "Mom!" Cloud shouted as he pushed into the house Wood started to collapse. He turned to the bed, the ceiling had collapsed, on top off it her hand lay limp, under the burning lumber. "No!" Cloud Shouted as he leaped ignoring the heat as he dug his hand into the burning wood shoveling to the side the best he could he uncovered her Face. "NO, No, No, No , Mom it's me please," Cloud begged whipping away a bit of dirt from his mothers face. She stirred a moment giving Cloud a soft smile before closing her eyes again.
"My baby boy, Cloud," she smiled her eyes still closed,
"I am not your baby boy anymore, " said Cloud trying to move the burning house of her.
"You will always be my baby boy," she smiling, she slipped free a single hand. Grabbing his Blond hair and pressing his head against her chest. Cloud closed his eyes and the slow beating of her heart. "By my poor baby, I hope you won't have to fight anymore, you always got into fight I was always so worried about you," her voice fell still as Cloud heard the last thump of his mothers heart beat. Cloud bowed his head a moment, coughing he quickly got out of the house as the attic caved in behind him. He quickly drew his blade; Cloud quickly charged putting two and two together he headed for the reactor.
Naruto Groaned as he blinked, He pushed of the ground landing on his feet in one solid motion. Naruto flipped open his PHS (Phone) "Lighting, get your ass over here I need you to keep a close eye on me god knows this isn't going to end well," Naruto hung up, quickly crossing his hands in a flash of seals a flash rainstorm accrued dousing the flames. Naruto looked over the area spotting a foot soldier dead Naruto, dashing over grabbed his AK-47, and after a quick check on the ammo, swung it over his back and dashed after Cloud. Naruto aimed hard gunning the monsters in his way he quickly dashed the path the group had followed earlier in the week coming up to the out bridge he leaped over landing on the other side without an issue.
Naruto dropped down to the main floor of the reactor walking slowly he looked to see Tifa's dead father "Oh no," Naruto checked the man's pulse but felt nothing. He stood up and entered the main room. Zack laid limp on one of the pods, Naruto Grabbed the Buster sword dropping the now empty Ak-47. Tifa lay limp Cloud dashed in confused at seeing Naruto here,
"Guess I am a little faster, Get Tifa to the side," Naruto ordered as he used a cure momentarily healing her wound. Cloud picked her up setting to the side.
"You came for me you kept your promise," Tifa smiled, Naruto took a deep breath and started up the stairs,
"Naruto Kick his ass," Zack muttered, Naruto gave the black haired boy a confident smirk but it faded as he turned to enter the room. The nine tails appeared sitting down on one of the pods,
"You go in you are going in alone, I won't help you this time," she spoke playing with a daisy, in her clawed hand.
"As if you would ever help me any way," Naruto tossed a small scroll," Feel free to leave at any time," said Naruto as he brought the buster sword.
"I have an idea let us go to the promise land," The silver haired man proclaimed. Naruto rolled his eyes, taking a Kunai and tossing it at the man's neck.
"That's pretty low," said Sephiroth, having plucked the weapon out of the air, he brought it around spinning the weapon between his thumb and index finger. He flicked the weapon away, turning to see Naruto, gripping the buster sword in both hands.
"Naruto, you couldn't beat Genesis, and I considered him weak before my assent, So put that toy down and walk away, I have no interest in stomping out anymore ants,"
"Can't believe I am say this but I liked the old you better, at least he knew the value of human life," Naruto didn't move, the silver haired man finally turned to face Naruto slowly drawing out his sword. The man Charged Naruto blocked the two blades sparked as the tube they were sanding on split Power dimmed as Naruto fell down landing on a thin platform.
Sephiroth descended his green eyes unblinking as he stared at Naruto "Human life?" he asked a cold line of a smirk moved onto his face."Human life has no value even to Humans, the so quickly kill one another, Rather sad isn't it?" he asked as he landed. The two clashed Naruto held his ground absorbing the blow, His whole body quacked from the blow but Naruto didn't move, The thin blade cracked again Naruto lost his balance his body twisting to avoid from snapping like a twig. Naruto recovered again each time the silver haired man brought down blow after blow but Naruto refused to give an inch. The bridge cracked but neither figure moved. Naruto leaped away as the bridge shattered gripping the metal wall as the solider charged at him Naruto Brought out his sword smashing it down. Sephiroth Blocked but was sent spiraling down the shaft. Twisting The Black dressed man plunged his hand into the wall tearing part of the steal as he stopped. Cloud looked up to see Yuffie enter the room Naruto gripped the buster sword and leaped up to meet her,
"Get out of here," Naruto barked Yuffie seemed to jump, at her sense's words. Cloud saw Yuffie's eyes go wide he spun blocking a downward chop. Naruto blocked but Sephiroth spun his blade around quickly slicing Naruto's right hand in an upward thrust, The Buster sword flew out of the room stabbing into the ground Cloud yelped having nearly been hit.
"Yuffie get out of there," ordered Cloud "were is lightening at," Cloud wondered as he charged into get the girl.
Naruto's speed nearly triple as he quickly charged smashing The grey haired man's jaw with a quick boxing combo. Quickly falling into his sage stance Naruto go in close smashing the man in the jaw. The tube Cracked as the liquid stated to seep out. Yuffie tossed her shuriken at the man but it was quickly deflected. Yuffie started to shake as Naruto pushed her out of the room, she scrambled running past Cloud then out of the reactor.
Naruto smiled as he returned his attention to Sephiroth. Then crescent like strikes soon started flying at Naruto he dashed clinging to the wall as the attacks sliced into the wall leaving a large gash. Naruto leaped higher keeping himself close to the wall as the grey haired man started spamming the attack at Naruto. Naruto grinned crossing his fingers as the steal walls became black with Clones of Naruto. Each drew Kunai and Shuriken. The gray haired man quickly swatted them away as thousands of the bladed knifes soon splashed into the lifesteam below. The clones quickly took out scrolls unsealing Ak-47s and unloaded at the man. Naruto almost Chocked, Not a bullet, not even one managed to graze him.
"What does it take to hit him?" Naruto wondered
"Naruto," cried a Female voice, Naruto's clones al vanished Memories flooded back As Naruto leaped out of the way of a whirlwind of blade attacks.
"Lightening," Naruto recognized the silver haired man Vanished Naruto didn't thing he vanished in a yellow flash of light. Time stopped as Cloud entered to See Lightening on the ground bleed from a punctured gut. Narto was standing his gut holding Sehpiroth's sword in him, Naruto choked up some blood a crazed grin on his face, "dumb bastard, That's fucking low even for you," Naruto spat out, as he stabbed the man in his gut, catching Sephiroth of Guard .
"You could move," he realized, The grey haired man kicked Naruto Ramming him into Cloud both tumbled down the stairs slamming into the metal wall at the bottom. Sephiroth soon exited the room carrying his 'mothers' head with him. He quickly stomped his way out, Cloud pushed his way up to his feet. Cloud got up as well, Cloud winced as his right arm went slack broken form the impact.
"Go Check on Lightening," Naruto ordered, "That's an order Cloud," Naruto muttered gripping the corner over door his hand making a blood print. Cloud Frowned but followed it all the same. Naruto took out his ninja stars throwing them into the man's back,
"That was my student you attacked," Naruto growled Forcing himself up right. The grey ahired man staggered a bit, "Never been hit so hard in my life but what you did to my student hurt worse than anything before today, I never thought I would meet a man that I knew I had to kill, You're not human anymore, Even Zabuza had some humanity in the end but for you; not even Pain, hurt me this badly," Naruto growled as he grabbed the man by his hair and tossed him over the bridge. Naruto watched, as the man, smirked as he dropped into the lifestream. Naruto looked, confused as he got back up using cure to revitalize. As his body started to heal Naruto looked to see a large group of soldiers as well as Hojo walk in,
"Naruto so glad to see you alive," the scientist smiled, The troops quickly drew their weapons, Naruto looked down a moment,
"That was too easy," Naruto thought Hojo looked confused a moment, Studying Naruto before motioning with his hand to open fire. Naruto easily blocked the blows. A Turk quickly opened up his phone, as Naruto refused to move.
Cloud heard his phone ring he opened it, up after dragging lightening over to Tifa as well as getting Zack down off the pod. "Yeah I am in the reactor, sir, yeah Sephiroth went nuts he almost burned the town. We have three wounded," Cloud explained when a Martial artist, Tifa's first teacher entered the reactor,
"I am here for my student," said the Zangan, Cloud drew the first with his only able hand; the man seemed surprised at Cloud's strength.
"Cloud we have a problem, Naruto is keeping us at bay we have medical supplies we can save the three injured but Naruto won't move we need you to take him down," said The Turk. "Cloud stepped on his phone the device died as Cloud and Zangan charged,
"Let me take my student and run they will do terrible things to her if she stays," Zangan pleaded, quickly jumping into the air delivering a hard kick. Cloud blocked the blow with the flat of his blade
"She is my friend I can protect her, she needs medical attention they have that," Cloud countered.
"Hojo is a nut and is in charge of this operation, she won't be helped she will be experimented on," Zangan claimed "I don't want to fight god knows how long Naruto can hold the line,"
"He can hold it as long as it takes," Cloud countered as He charged Zangan Nailed Cloud's other arm smashing his working arm's bone. Cloud stumbled dropping his sword, Zangan Grabbed Tifa and quickly ran
"If she dies I will KILL you!" Cloud Shouted after the man, "Naruto stop we need medical attention," Cloud yelled over the guns. Cloud stumbled Up "I am so sorry," Cloud apologized as he rammed his head Into Naruto's back. Both fell down as Hojo smirked, Naruto looked horrified as the bullets tore into his now defenseless body. He rolled to his back to see a red head looking down at Him. Naruto twisted his head in confusion before a needle pricked him in the neck.
Yuffie ran she could hear the gun fire she didn't care she closed her eyes as she ran head lights blared in the night. Yuffie dropped away landing behind some rocks, the Truck didn't stop, Yuffie looked down at her hands they were still shaking.
"I have to go back," she told herself "No there is no way I can help Naruto sensei
"I have to go back," She kept telling herself, he body refused to move.
"Another one huh?" asked a red head in a Turk uniform, Yuffie spun round quickly realizing she no longer had her weapon. She quickly drew her much smaller shuriken in her hand, "I am sorry but I have orders, you need to come with me, don't worry I will protect you.
"Bull shit, Naruto was unable to hold his own against that monster some Turk isn't going to be able to protect me, besides I want nothing to do with you or your company," Yuffie growled.
"Sorry, you don't get a say in the mater," The Turk growled, tossing her shuriken at Yuffie. Yuffie shifted to the side grabbing the weapon out of the air.
"Sasuke?" Naruto questioned,
"Your pathetic, how could you ever consider yourself my rivial?" Naruto felt like he was on every drug in book. "You Bring me home don't make me laugh I'd kill you, SO much for that promise, or are you following in my foot steps and dreaming of the past?" "Either way your pathetic, All that power and you still lose, no matter how strong you will always be a loser a Dobe!" Sasuke Mocked "Just Give up AND DIE YOU DUMB ASS!" Naruto shattered the tube he was in, the top fell as Naruto landed on the cold stone floor. Wet and Naked, He looked to see Cloud and Zack in a similar position that he was in moments ago. He felt like a hell as he dragged his naked ass over to his clothes, Slowly putting on his clothing, he heard the sound of footsteps Naruto grabbed a metal test tube holder and Bashed the man on the head. The food spilled onto the floor as Naruto looked at it drugged. Naruto frowned as he scrambled back to Zack and Cloud both fully clothed.
"No fair," Naruto opened Zack's tube first, He was flushed out coughing and sputtering as he pushed himself to his knees.
"What the hell happened," Zack choked out "What is that awful smell?" he looked behind him a moment "Never mind don't want to know,"
Naruto fished out his phone quickly dialing up Yuffie, Nothing, Lighting Nothing, and then Aerith, "Damn it no signal," Naruto swore. He unlocked Clouds Tank grabbing the blond teen he gently set him down.
"I will go look for some new cloths,"
"No need," Naruto took out a scroll and unsealed to new sets of clothing, Advent brand new stuff wasn't meant to come out for a while," Naruto tossed one to Zack then took a deep breath "Sorry Cloud but we need to get you out of those cloths," Naruto gave a weak grimace as slowly started the very unwanted job of dressing Cloud. Naruto stood up all both dressed in new black clothing. Naruto bulled up his old mask and unsealed a new hat black and similar in style to the Hokage's he set it down, the only thing not black on it was a white diamond with the word Kage in Kanji. Naruto focused and with a smile the outfit changed coolers into a more suitable camouflage. Naruto stretched "Stay here and rest I am going to see what we are dealing with," Zack nodded,
"Hey Naruto, I am done, I got nothing now they betrayed us, I was thinking of becoming a mercenary, What do you say we team up?" Zack asked,
"Well, sure I got a few friends we can look up and a small hideout, look for work, preferably anything that's a pain to Shinra," agreed Naruto. "You know I was planning on going home but this world we need to do something to help it since I am here might as well try right,"
"Well you got my sword from now on Naruto, you were right, but I am still keeping My Solider pride,"
"I would expect no less," Naruto smirked as he vanished out of the room. Naruto leaped up scaling the Mansion, he couldn't sense Hojo at all. "One nice thing about a All time Sage mode anyone I know I can find, well in the general area," Naruto smirked. "A small army of drops to keep an eye on us but nothing I can't handle," Naruto scouted the area. The whole town had been re built and Naruto bet a covered up. Quickly creating a few shadow clones "Shit Naruto thought the whole roof was cover with more of him. "I only wanted three," Naruto thought he looked down at his hands "What you do Hojo?" he questioned, Naruto flexed his fingers as his clones quickly dealt with the garrisons "Dam I am going to have to re build my whole spy network thanks to this," Naruto snapped his fingers in frustration. "Well not like I would get swept up in some massive quest preventing myself from such a thing anyway," Naruto shrugged after quickly checking the system Naruto and his small group had a week now before they were discovered missing plenty of time. Naruto entered the room grabbed Cloud putting his Arm over his shoulder and Zack got up to follow.
"Okay we have a week at the most before we are discovered we need to get rested up and grab a vehicle of some kind,"
"Shouldn't they have a van or something here for the troops?" Zack asked as The two walked up the wood stairs. Naruto stopped a moment, he heard snoring. "What is it?" asked Zack looking around,
"Nothing I could have sworn I heard something, Here Take Cloud to a bed get some sleep yourself I got to find something, or more appropriately someone," Naruto dropped back down as he started to listen for the source of the noise. Naruto leaned up against a coffin, Naruto rattled it a bit but it was locked Naruto growled as he checked his person for his kit. Naruto stopped a moment than smashed his fist into the top pulling the top of to see a black haired man wide eyed looking up at him.
"Um, Hello," Naruto greeted, The two staired at each other a moment,
"Hello," answered the man "Can I have the lid back?" he asked,
"Uh, Sure if you tell me what you are doing in the coffin," Naruto offered hopping for a reason a man would sleep in a coffin.
"I am a vampire it isn't time for me to wake up now hand it over," said the man.
"I doubt that wait I recognize you you're a Turk that went missing a long time ago you haven't aged a bit," Naruto realized snapping his fingers "Vincent right,"
"Yes," answered Vincent, "You would be?"
"Naruto Uzumaki former solider I guess, recent Hojo experimentation,"
"Hojo?" The man question sitting up "I was here to protect him as well as, a few other scientists here many years ago,"
"What were they working on?" Naruto asked Tossing the lid to the side,
"Project S," said Vincent,
"Tell me everything that project just caused one man to go bat shit insane I want every detail," Naruto demanded.
Vincent, seemed to think a moment, "Who went insane?"
"A man by the name of Sephiroth," said Naruto. Naruto took a deep breath before explaining everything that had happened.
"It is as I feared, you have added a new layer of skin to me I must return to my sleep," The man leaped into a new coffin and slammed it shut.
"Hey I want some damn answers," Naruto shouted, The coffin wouldn't break or budge "Listen what ever happened in the past sleeping will not help you, this isn't a punishment your just running away from your problems," Naruto left heading upstairs frustrated at the lack of new knowledge. Naruto entered a room to Find Zack sprawled out on his bed his cover half way on the floor, Naruto shook his head Cloud was unmoving but his rising chest showed he was alive. Naruto crawled into a bed himself and went to sleep his dreams plagued with uncertainty.
Short but sweat couldn't thing about who to extended it But all the same it works,
Zangan is Tifa's mentor in the original game and the Turk is from before crises core given no name and various faces. That helped clean up after the incident.