Chapter 12

Reaping what has been Sown

His eyes fluttered, breath drawn in sharp contrast to his previous calm, and finally, so softly now, Naruto opened his sapphire gaze. Head swirling with the minor affliction of after-sleep, Naruto hardly recognized the ivory-haired Kaneki laying in front of him as real, still thinking she was but a dreamy illusion obscured in a veil of beauty. After blinking rapidly a few times, he came to find she was still there, despite his initial disbelief. Smiling, Naruto leaned his head into her temple, for a moment, then retracted himself softly, noticing that they still clung to the other-his long arms nearly wrapping two fold about her while she barely reached around his broad back. Their legs seemed to be in a tangle of sorts, one of his legs trapped between her thighs, whilst the hook of their ankles and feet seemed knotted together.

Had they really slept like this the whole of the night?

Regardless of such, Naruto noticed beyond Kaneki, that there remained in her bed, Kaguya, whom'st had her back to them out of pure respect, still laying in dream-land on the far side of the conscious mind. Naruto would guess she knew the tender moment as it was, and since she recognized it, she did not bother to rouse herself this gentle morn' and rather simply left the two be.

Sighing, smiling, and warmth brimming in his chest, Naruto decided that it was about time to awaken the two white haired goddesses, and perhaps make plans with Kaneki concerning what she talked to him about the night before. Taking his hand to her shoulder, softly gripping it, he shifted her lightly about.

"Wake up, Kaneki," he breathed with low sweet tunes.

Her gaze came to his suddenly, yet sweetly did they soften when they came to realize that it was his face she came to see, and an absent hand of absent thought came to his cheek, rubbing the whisker marks there with half-lidded eyes smiling up at him. They remained still for a moment, a minute perhaps, before they raised themselves, half-reluctantly, up from their cozy position in bed. Rubbing his eyes, Naruto stood fully, coming to Kaguya's bedside, placing a hand on her to wake her from slumber.

After all was awake, coffee and other sorts-mainly for Naruto and Kaguya-of food was prepared, bacon and eggs sizzling on pans, bread toasting, and plates being set for themselves. Of what Kaneki was having was just coffee, little more than that, for she could not stomach even such sweet ham and eggs. Naruto offered if he could go down to Anteiku instead and buy something for her, but she denied his offer with a polite manner, however, as he was told by her that they would go later.

"Why's that?" He wondered.

"Remember what we talked about last night," she told, and his brows raised, but soon after he nodded.

Yes, Naruto remembered well of what they talked about that night, whispered oaths and unspoken words exchanged between the two, and understanding of what was to be done in the world that was so cruel as to diminish the innocence that Kaneki once had. He despised it, and nodded even now, knowing that such as they were to do was to-hopefully-change the views of the world, make it better than what it was.

Reaching over the table, Naruto clasped Kaneki's hand, clutching her palm lightly between his own more thick skinned hands. Both smiled to one another, and such a faint giggle came from her, so small, diluted though compared to what it used to be, yet still did it hold genuine sway in its chimming tune.

Over to the side-by the stove-Kaguya stood, listening, vaguely glancing back without turning her head towards them. Something pegged her heart then, a pin in her chest, something she knew little of, held no experience in, yet it was there, lightly prodding her further while they talked and stared into the others gaze so lovingly. Was this...was this jealousy, envy to the one she had informed of concerning Rize and of what both desired? Was she mad, angry because it was not her sitting there, speaking to him instead?

Am I-

-no, she needed to stop this now, these feelings of green rancour, she had no right to step into such territory. Kaguya knew that, although she had been found out about her feelings for him, had no jurisdiction to grow cross with the half-ghoul, for she had yet to do anything about her feelings 'cept speak behind a line of respect towards Naruto. Kaneki, Rize, they had surpassed such a line long ago, yet she had yet the courage to tred beyond that. She held him there, on that peistule, above her and higher still, for her to see, yet never to touch.

Though still, she yearned, hand itching for his touch.

Shaking her head of these plaguing thoughts, Kaguya finished up breakfast, spading Naruto more heapings of sizzling bacon and eggs due to his appetite, and then passed out the steaming coffee thereafter. Naruto thanked her as if she were a five star chef-although she would humble herself to the regard of a simple house-cook. Regardless of who held standing where, Kaguya smiled, finding small joy as he gobbled down the stacks of food he had as if it were the last he would receive in months. With much more...reserved motions, however, she ate as well, enjoying too the coffee she did brew.

By the time they were all filled with coffee-or food for the two that could eat such that was made-the slightly groggy 'trio' soon became a 'quad' as a tok of the door came to all their ears.

Naruto looked at the stove clock, smiling. "On time as always." He spoke just as the door opened on its own, and a smiling Rize came in. She drifted on light steps towards the kitchen, gaze falling on Kaneki almost in an instants notice, and something passed between them. It was a look of fear-in Rize-a fear that was not physical, but of something greater, that what might be soon known is not that which she desired to know. Of what surrounded them was small tension, of an anxious want, to be regarded with the hopeful answer, to be assured of something pre-established in an agreement. Many a thought passed within both, weather or not it should be, but Kaneki made the first move, pouring a mug of coffee, soon whipping 'round on feet that soon turned into a gentle, languid, glide to the former binge-eater.

"You want a drink?" A smile accompanied Kaneki's lips when such was spoken.

Blinking back the mixture of estranged emotions, Rize came to mirror the slightly shorter lass, smiling just as gentle, and nodded with a gleeful gaze, peering through her purple rimmed glasses.

Rize afterwards found that they had a certain destination to go to today-a few actually-as they walked down towards Anteiku. A strange band they were-she became aware of such when people began staring their way. To be fair, however, it was not that they were plainly a strange group-two white haired women and a purple haired one, all following a large, muscular blond man. It was mostly men, she saw, staring their way, and she scowled, for once, feeling pervaded by such glares they gave. It was not exactly their faces that were being observed.

A slight angry-yet not really knowing why such bothered her now-Rize tried to hide herself some, crossing her arms over her chest, walking closer to the rest of them. When this did little but redirect their gazes lower, she suddenly found Naruto's arm over her shoulders, pulling her close. Gaze lifting, she noticed he was not looking at her, but instead shooting glares at the men who still thought themselves brave.

It was such a stark look, from his usual cheery self, to one that sent chills down even her spine.

The men finally averted their eyes, noticing a pressure against them, and upon finding the giant mans gaze cutting into them, stood stock still, and turned back suddenly from the direction they were going. She watched him finally smile again, and let go of her, letting her walk without his arm around her. Mentally-only-would she ever admit to long for him to curl his arm around her once more, oddly missing Naruto's touch to some extent.

When they arrived at Anteiku, Kaneki broke away from Naruto and the others, heading towards the back to find Yoshimura. While Naruto waited, he got situated at a window-side table, the two woman left sitting opposite of him. After some time passed, and with no one else really there, Touka came by, smiling, glad to see him and the others back.

"Hey, where's Kaneki?" She asked, looking between them and finding the girl missing.

"She's talking to the manager. I don't think she's going to be working here anymore." Naruto told, and the petite girl seemed quite surprised by this. "W-was the news about her mother that bad?"

"No. she never really got to learn about her mother. Some...things happened. Its not my place to tell what, but she's resigning, and asking Yoshimura some other questions. So..."

Touka seemed to take a step back, nervous on her feet, wondering what happened, feeling left out of Kaneki's life. She was about to say something when the pad of small shoed feet came thudding, and soon before them all was a small girl-somewhere around ten or so. A cute little thing, small and innocent, big brown eyes that catch you and make you smile due to such lack of sin that pinioned you with gentle gaze. Her white shoe's teetered a bit anxiously when she approached them, auburn dress swaying with her when the sight of Naruto came to view, her short cut hazel hair swaying as she hide behind Touka.

The taller girl seemed to give an exasperated expression, as if a slight annoyed, but held in her face a smile despite that, genuine in of itself. Turning, Touka let her hands come to her knees, leaning down so that she was eye level with the little girl. "Hinami, why are you hiding?" She chuckled a little, lightly, chiming was her voice just as well, trying to ease the lass.

"S-sorry." She told to her 'big sis.'

"It's alright, tell these three hello won't you?" Touka asked of her, standing straight, moving to the side for the girl to look at them better.

Hinami, as she was called, took a tentive step forward, trying to muster up as much courage as she could in her small chest, trying to look up and speak as well. When her gaze lifted to do so, she looked between the three, saying a cute, small, "h-hello. My names H-Hinami. What's yours?" She asked, wringing her hands in front of herself in nervous wonder.

"My name is Kaguya, little one." The former goddess nodded to the little girl. "Rize." Answered straight forwardly did the woman, smiling kindly.

"Naruto Uzimaki," told the blond, partially grinning.

The little lass smiled a little bigger then, chuckling when the big mans last name clicked in her head. Naruto laughed a bit when she said his last name was funny, that, "fishcake can't be your last name."

"Heheh, I get that a lot, but it actually means maelstrom."

As soon as he said that, her chuckle ended, the little girl tiltering her head to the side a little.

"You don't look dangerous." She told, taking the name as such. "You look nice like me!" Her light voice came soft as she beamed.

Naruto's grin fell, and instead, he smiled, nodding with enthusiasm, agreeing with little Hinami. Soon, Hinami turned towards Touka, telling the blue haired woman that she was done with her school work. She asked after if she could go play, to which Touka nodded, saying she could until eight, then she had to take a bath and go to bed.

"Thanks big sis!" She shone with joy, turning to Naruto and the other two. "Bye mister fishcake." Her voice quieted, though still her tone was infested with slight laughter, and she left a smiling blond behind.

When the brown haired lass turned the corner, down the hall, the four of them shared a look, though soon Naruto asked if she lived here. To the blond's surprise, Touka's expression grew dim and melancholy, the question seemingly haunting her some as a memory struck the petite lass. "She lives here...but her parents...are...well they died," she told, and just like that, a cord seemed to be plucked in the whiskered man's heart.

Soon, Naruto found out all that occurred, all that happened while Kaneki was away and Touka was left in idle wonder, finding out that it was a collective effort that wiped Hinami's family out. The father was killed by Jason-to which Naruto regretted not making the man's death slower-and that the mother died at the hands of two investigators. One, a white-scraggly haired man whom had crazy eyes, and a younger, more stoic man were the culprits.

"Did you try and find them." Naruto grit his teeth, looking away from Touka, fists clenched.

"On the second occasion that I fought them, I tried to kill the white haired man while his partner was preoccupied with another staff member of ours. I nearly died protecting Hinami but...before he could...deal the final blow..." She trailed off, then stopped, looking away as Naruto turned to set his gaze on her, mouth hanging open, eyes wide.

"D-do you mean...Hinami, that little girl, was forced to kill. She killed that man...a little girl..." His eyes drifted away as his voice too, drifted and trailed off, his mind trying to understand such a thing. It was almost like the world persisted in making people suffer, that the dim witted man that is in everyone just screams for hate against his own kind, or those so closely made to them. The sad thing is, everyone just seems to listen to that voice, no matter where you go, tragedy striking the weak, and the strong misguided in their efforts to make the word better.

"Sorry to wast your time, Naruto." Touka began to move away, when suddenly the blond's hand snapped out, grabbing her wrist. All were surprised by this, the two women across from him held Naruto with wide eyes.

"What was his name." Naruto asked, voice graveled and low.

"Wha-"

"Touka. Did you catch the younger mans name."

It was here, upon such a dark and angry tone, that Touka came to understand the reason why this man wanted to know the investigators name. She shivered slightly, feeling an unnatural cold take hold of her spine, that which gripped with frigid fingers her mind.

"Amon, the older one kept calling him Amon."

Just as soon as such was told, Naruto let go of her arm, his own limb falling back to his side, and then, the cold that had yet before taken Touka, was gone. Replaced by a warm, friendly feeling that sent relief throughout her form, Touka found the grateful eyes of Naruto upon her. He looked soft then, his facial muscles loose as he thanked her, even with his tone, as he gave her a smile.

When she left, Naruto sat back, closing his eyes, rubbing them with his palms. Letting his hands rest on the table top. He looked towards the two woman across from him, who stared at him, wondering what he might do next. Rize was the one to ask-finally when her silent wondering grew too troublesome-what on earth they were going to do now. They weren't just eating out-for they ate before hand-and something was suspicious about Kaneki suddenly resigning and asking the manager 'questions.'

"Oh that." Naruto spoke flatly, moving to stand up when he heard Kaneki's footfalls come down the hall. "Well...between all that's happened, up until now, me, Kaneki, you, and Kaguya are gonna make some changes around Tokyo."

"How so?" The purple haired ghoul asked with raised brow and pinched lips.

"We're gonna start a war."

Rize, Kaguya, and Naruto all turned as Kaneki was the one whom answered the most former's inquiry. She stopped before the wide eyes of both Rize and Kaguya-of which both were not informed of such before-while Kaneki held a white parchment folded in her grasp. She unfurled it, looking down even when Kaguya asked, "why would you do something like this?"

"The world is wrong," she answered simply, "everyone blames others for the collective mistake. What we are going to do however, that, you will soon find out. I can only say two things as of now. For one," she paused, reading an address and name off the many others down below on the list.

"We are going to raise an army." She told, folding the piece of paper, stuffing it in her pocket.

"And the other," Naruto turned, answering the last question, that, "what we are to stage is gonna suck."

And with that, as Rize and Kaguya accepted helping in such an effort-trusting even this vague promise of 'fixing' the world-and after which they left, in search to gather their forces.

In the same moment, whilst in his favorite testing lab, the black haired man-whom sicked those devilish beasts upon Naruto-was in a duress state. What for, could he whom worked for such a master in himself could be anxious for? Why would he who seemed so assured of future glory, now was worried like a fickle child having discovered something he should not have. This, in actuality, was not far from the truth.

He shook now, trying to move against his limbs that seemed stitched to strings that pulled them about, arms moving unbidden. A piece of flesh lay atop his cluttered, metal table, with two rods attached to either end, wires soldered on each exposed pole. The man picked up a vile of red blood from the one of many, his hands shaking, nearly spilling it as he tried to resist his 'master.'

The truth was, as it still perpetrated the mans mind much like the parasite that was in him, was that the master he had served for the past month intended upon much more than just gaining back his former body. The master intended far more vile and horrible things, ones that the man of science would soon no longer be around for. It was due to such plans, and the length so far that he had gone already to fulfil them 'till now, that he was able to see into the master's mind. No, it was not just the master's mind in the back, barely there to peer into, for his mind was becoming the master's.

In short, the master, that being in him, intended upon taking over his body, claiming it as his.

Come now, servant, power for us is at hand, do not resist, came the smooth voice inside his head, or...or was he the one saying these things now, his own lips forced to move on their own accord, speaking out of the mouth that which spoke with what was soon not even his own voice. It frightened him, this feeling, it pursued him with dread, stabbing him with the realization that soon he would be no more, that this parasite would become whole, and that he would be hollow.

The blood of that white haired escapee, that he had been trying to keep from the flesh, dripped, and ran all over the piece of gnarled meat. When he was allowed control again, he tossed the empty vile across the room, eyes wide with fright as soon, the process would be complete, the blood catalyzing with the flesh. Even now, he saw atop the table, the piece of tissue grew faintly luminescent, becoming brighter, more flame like, as time progressed. Suddenly, the little light, the minute flame that had been the flesh, suddenly burst forth in a brilliant, brilling light that which brimmed with naught but the most high of intensity.

When this happened, the man became more frightened, more terrified than he could ever have been before, body shuddering further as if he were under a stroke, gaze wide in horror as Rc cells and Chakra broke down and rebuilt themselves to stronger heights. A myriad of golden hands spread out amongst themselves, sprouting from the blazing flesh and soon moved in tentacle formation, reaching for that black haired man. Stricken with fear, he barely had enough wit to move, feet stumbling as he moved around the center-table of his lab, tripping and gaining back some form of footing as he tried so desperately to get away.

Slamming himself by accident against a cage-which held the last beast that had received the man his ill gotten piece of flesh-the cage door opened just as the golden hands finally dove in on the man. They raised him up in bright light, encompassing all that was inside the room in a flash.

When the light died and disappeared there remain what could be called a human figure, yet seemed far more strange and odd in its own right, not quite human or overall understandable. It fell flat with a resounding thud, and at first, lay unmoving. Whilst it continued on in persistent stillness-for not even breath seemed to remain in that new figures form-the black beast had come out of its cage. It lumbered over on talon claws that clicked with a menacing air, its maw soon hanging loose and wide. As it was upon and just before the thing that could be called man, when it was to snap its teeth over the being in its own animalistic hunger, the 'man' snapped open its purple ringlet eyes.

Suddenly, the snapping maw caught nothing but thin air as it was hoisted with ease, lifted in the air, by naught but some invisible force yet unknown to it.

"How...quaint." Spoke a grueling voice that could have been that of a specter of millennium's past, shrill at its fringes yet dark, brooding, and completely harsh in body of tone. The being, without even taking a glance to the struggling beast, sat up, then stood, then smiled. It was such a sickening one that if the beast above the 'mans' head were to look, would shudder. Blinking one eye, there suddenly, the man found it to be different, and with such a stark difference, came new abilities, new information flooding him.

One eye was pale-the one he just blinked-while the other remained a purple ring set that which alofted the beast above. Then, suddenly, he felt something else, something entirely intoxicating, yet familiar. A third eye opened betwixt his center temple, and he soon knew what it was, knew that the unexpected-yet completely welcome-abilities were all due to his former followers experiments, and of the mixed DNA of his former nemesis and progenitor.

An infinite mangekyo sharingan, a byakugan, and a renningan, the bottom two easily interchangeable yet still holding all the power they should, and obviously to him, able to be combined in every which way.

Before he could do anymore, he decided to test one last thing that should-and by design must-be accessible for him if he was to do what he planned. Seeing as the beastly animal above was all he had in the vicinity to test such a vile thing on, he let it come down, holding its maw and claws shut or away from him as it continued to struggle. When it was close enough, the man lifted a hand to it, and bidden by mere thought, suddenly sifered away all Chakra that it held. The beast froze up, then shuddered, and finally, its eyes closed, dim grey was its gaze veiled by its heavy, dead, eyelids.

The onrush of Chakra was so tantalizing and shorty filling, he let the beast drop, its heavy body slamming against the floor.

Uncaring for it, the being moved around the things unmoving form towards the closest mirror. He found a smooth metallic surface instead, and admired his handy-work, finding his face the same-baring the third eye-just before it was taken over by that black Zetsu. A strong chin line, squared in the middle, with a smooth nose and thin brows. On either side of the third eye were horns, long and protruding, ending in pointed spear tips. This time, however, remained black did his hair-instead of ivory white-and too did it lengthen in a jagged sort, all the way down the length of his back.

Madara Uchiha, oh how he grinned viciously into the metal surface.

"Oh this is grand, this is rich! Hehehehahaha! I can't wait to find you Naruto! When I gain enough control over this new form, you will pay dearly!"

And thus, soon, in the next set of months and coming end of the year, this man who had re-ascended to god-hood, would do just that.