Well folks, I have returned from the slump known as The Holidays, bum bum bummmmm!
I'm going to skip the apologies and junk, you all know I don't particularly like messing around and goofing off after the last chapter and the blah, blah that I touched on there, so let's just move on with the chapter.
Word of warning, this chapter was very difficult for me to write, and I didn't particularly enjoy any of it. I forced this one out because it was needed to move along with the story and get passed all of the trust issues and mysteries surrounding Naruto. I could have gone the lazy route and written the story around the idea that everyone was either clueless or obscenely impressed with him, but again that is lazy and boring, and over done to be sure. Instead, I worked myself into a hole and the only escape I found was having a deep sit-down with the team, just to clear the air and put all of those pesky doubts to rest. This chapter is slow, poorly written (in my eyes) and boring, but again it had to be done.
The silver lining here is that I can finally move past all the struggles that I have been having trying to work around Naruto's secrets and his friends' suspicions. With this out of the way, I can move along with the story and start developing the relationships further, as well as return to the comedy that I enjoyed writing in the earlier chapters.
As an act of mercy, I will tell you all now, you may skip this chapter. Seriously, ignore it if you want, it is just one of those cliché chapters used to talk about the past and reinforce how crappy Naruto had it. If I could have skipped writing this, I would have, but as a writer I couldn't in good conscious leave a huge chunk of missing information where one moment characters are questioning each other, and the next they are a bunch of trusting idiots. Also… I freaking hate flashbacks… (which by the way, a good portion of this chapter is unfortunately composed of flashbacks, though I had a bit of fun changing up the past to divert from canon…) So the idea of skipping all of this and then referring to it later on in flashbacks anyway really didn't sit well in my gut!
There may come a time when I rewrite this whole thing, or I may just leave it as the chapter that I will eternally regret having written. Sort of like how the actors of the Super Mario Brothers movie felt after the premiere. I will strive to make this story continue with a much higher quality now that this terrible event is over with.
Answers to questions from the reviews and PMs will be posted at the bottom!
Ugh… here we go. Sorry again!
Flashbacks of Naruto's Past, or, A Guardian in the Making!
Like most days in Konoha the sun was radiating warmth that filled the hearts of the people with a feeling of peace, even during troubled times. While most children would be outside playing games, going for walks, or training in their off time from the academy, one child that was not like most children was sitting inside with an old man far advanced in age, and both were smiling and sharing a meal of warm red bean soup with fresh vegetable stuffed o-nigiri. This child was one of a kind in many ways… a true unique soul among the masses of ordinary drones buzzing about their daily lives. What else could one expect of Uzumaki Naruto?
Yes, the nine-year-old little blonde bundle was certainly of the sort to stand out in a crowd. Besides his looks, seeing as how nearly no one possessed such noticeable hair, he had a bit of a reputation for causing mischief and trouble. Among the population, most considered him a menace and actively sought to either avoid him or punish his actions. There was only one man among the throng who truly knew the boy for who he was, and that was the old man, Sarutobi Hiruzen. The aged man was the leader of his people, and beloved by all. This sort of title often left people feeling intimidated and awed in his presence, and left him feeling incredibly lonely. Perhaps it was this lack of socialization, or perhaps it was the feeling of responsibility to an old friend, but the old man had taken to keeping Naruto as close as he could.
Work got in the way far more than he would like, but he had been able to establish a small bond with the boy. The two trusted one another, which was an incredible feat for the boy. Naruto often pushed others away with his wild behavior and childish antics, but Hiruzen was the only one in the village privy to the secret that the boy held close to his heart. Uzumaki Naruto was no fool, he was no menace, and he was certainly not the monster that the people often whispered about regardless of the laws he had fought to pass all those years ago. No, Naruto was as smart as his father, and as passionate as his mother… the perfect blend of two wonderful people with just enough spice to give Naruto a unique spunk that brightened his day whenever the two of them exchanged banter.
Naruto caught Hiruzen's attention with a subtle wave of his small hand. The old Hokage smiled and nodded toward the boy to acknowledge he was listening, "Hey Gramps, there is something I wanted to talk to you about for a while now… do you have any extra time today?"
Hiruzen rubbed his beard slowly before eyeing the Incoming pile of paperwork that was toppling over as they spoke, "Well, Naruto-kun, I suppose I could procrastinate a little today… so long as you don't tell my secretary."
Naruto laughed lightly with a small smile feeling grateful for that moment of relief from the tension he was feeling, "I wanted to let you know something… something important about me, and I am worried that if I tell you, that you might treat me differently."
"Naruto, I promise you that nothing you could ever tell me would ever change how I treat you, my boy." Hiruzen was quick to reply, hoping that this was something childish or some kind of prank.
Naruto looked into his eyes and spoke softly, "I know why people don't like me. I know why I was always in trouble, why I have to live alone now, why the teachers at the Academy don't seem to want me in class…"
Hiruzen rubbed his beard once more, a habit brought on by old age, and then he sighed, "I know why as well… and I think that you are smart enough to know that I knew. Why would you think that I would treat you differently?"
"A good ninja laces deception with deception and traps his traps. That is the first line of the book written by your sensei that we are told to read at the Academy. We are told to remember that nearly nothing is true, and nearly everything is false… which is kind of redundant when you say it out loud…" Naruto chuckled mirthlessly, "Without a need to lie or deceive, I am worried that you will become like all the others and become angry with me. I understand why… even if I don't like it."
"Naruto…" Hiruzen frowned as he tried to come to grips with his words. This was a child, and yet he was speaking like a seasoned veteran. He knew the boy had been involved in far less incidents in the village over the past couple years, but it never occurred to him to try and figure out why. The way Naruto sounded it seemed like he had accepted what others were doing… was he truly separating himself from the village?
"Naruto, I want you to know that no matter what… you will always have me, my boy. Do you understand?" Hiruzen spoke firmly, but made sure to covey his affection with his determination.
Whatever the boy thought about was his own, but after several moments of silence his bright cerulean eyes looked up into the old man's dark eyes and they were ablaze with life as he spoke a single word…
"Hai!"
Ten-year-old Uzumaki Naruto was seated in his classroom during a chilly winter afternoon with his head laid on his desk with his eyes shut. The droning voice of their tactics instructor was ignored in favor of his own thoughts. The untrained eye, as in everyone in the room, would see a lazy failure missing yet another lesson on something that was almost certainly important to a young ninja's career. In reality, the boy was so incredibly bored by the monotonous tones drifting through the air from the bloated Chuunin instructor that he chose instead to work on his chakra control while maintaining a meditative state.
Beneath his desk the boy had several small stones stuck to his legs with only his chakra. It wasn't the most efficient method, but it was better than listening to a lecture on tactics that he had already memorized during his lessons with Kurama, and of course the free time he spent reading from the dingy old text books he had pilfered from the trash bins behind the Academy. Feeling eyes on him, he came back from his meditation slowly to avoid losing focus on his exercise. When he was 'awake' he opened a single eye to look around. Thankfully he had the forethought to lay his head down facing toward the majority of the class, so he was able to get a good look around without too much trouble. Of course there were two sets of eyes boring holes into him, and both were annoying.
The first set of eyes belonged to a young girl, the Hyuga heiress of their age group. He knew nothing about her, not even her given name, and it made her stalking all the more irritating. It was clear the girl meant no harm, which was why he left her in peace, but that didn't mean he was pleased by her nearly daily surveillance. Call him picky, but he wasn't into being watched by a closet pervert voyeur. Would he allow her to be his friend should she ever get her head out of her ass? Of course he would. Had she ever given him a reason to believe she would ever make that commitment? Absolutely not, no way. Letting his eyes drift about the room he locked onto his second admirerer…
The boy was quite possibly the most popular person in the village, and he hadn't even hit puberty for crying out loud. Or was he a girl? With that hair… anyway, they were another person who spent far too much time spying on him. He knew their name, though he could hardly ever say it without someone screaming about him being unworthy of speaking the most sacred and beloved name of Lord or Lady Duck Butt. Because of his cover, Naruto was forced to maintain a false rivalry with the child, and he absolutely hated it. He hadn't wanted to form such a pointless bond, but it had happened rather suddenly one day while he let a rant go too long.
Naruto was able to keep up the appearance of the idiot by always throwing his sparring matches with exaggerated sloppiness, barely passing written work by carefully choosing the appropriate answers, and avoiding classes on a regular basis to miss out on assignments and the like. The only person who seemed to see through it was that one… those dark brooding eyes always watching, always waiting for Naruto to slip up and show his cards. There were days when Naruto was forced to avoid his physical training until well after dark to avoid the prying eyes of the fowl haired child. During spars and in the classroom the child would let loose with taunts trying to bait out the real Naruto, but the Uzumaki was a stubborn and willful spirit with the wits to realize what the prick was up to.
Closing his lone eye tight once more he could only think of one thing… his one true hope for the future… God don't put that dark one on his team…
Twelve year old Uzumaki Naruto was livid! After the crap that he had to go through in order to gain his Genin rank he was to be put on a team to start earning the funding he would need to improve his life… and he got slated with the two worst possible people in the world! He was currently seated on the edge of the rooftop of the Academy building with his entire body tensed and ready to go for a run to blow off some steam. Looking forward, he nearly growled when he saw the two new banes of his already crappy existence. The Legendary Duck that Laid Nary A Groupie was seated only a few meters away brooding into open space like the damn sociopath they were. Seated right by their side was the female with the pink hair that screamed 'hey, if the orange fuck next to me wasn't bad enough, look at me!' As her type were wont to do, she was admiring the Flaming Trumpeter Duck with a mixture of some sick lustful wanting and severe shyness. The whole spectacle made him want to barf, and he probably would if that one dark prick wouldn't stop staring at him!
Very nearly reaching his boiling point, Naruto was relieved to see their newest sensei finally putting away his reading material in favor of admiring his three new charges. The man was a damn well known Jonin, possibly the only one worth knowing during an apocalypse event, but that was neither here nor there. Naruto caught how the man's only visible eye glanced over each of them analytically, only lingering on the blonde. There was a moment where Naruto saw some kind of spark… maybe it was realization or… a kind of acknowledgement. Those thoughts would probably have left him if he were truly an idiot the moment the Jonin spoke.
"There probably isn't a form of displeasure that can be used to describe how I feel as I look at the three of you. Regardless, you are mine, my adorable little ones…" The man said with a hint of amusement as he observed their reactions.
Naruto was quick to play his part as the overzealous angry boy with a lack of discipline and manners. The entire meeting was taxing on Naruto after that. There were introductions after his initial rude comment, and then a speech that was meant to intimidate them into either quitting or following the rules to an unhealthy efficiency. Naruto was flawless in his execution, even as his stomach turned having to continue this self-destructive charade. He had hoped he would be able to reveal his true self with a new team and develop healthy bonds… but he had been dealt a bad hand once again. When the meeting was officially over they were dismissed, but as soon as Naruto was away from the team he was quickly stopped by the unexpected reappearance of his new sensei.
The man Hatake Kakashi was an enigma much like Naruto, and the young blonde felt a connection with the older Jonin. To keep his cover he had to behave like an idiot so he knew he would never be able to express any kind of kinship or admiration for the man. Besides that, the man was also clearly chosen to nurture the brooding bottom bandit so there was very likely no way in hell the two of them would ever form a bond beyond comrades. It was those thoughts that helped set Naruto up for the shock of what Kakashi wanted with him.
"Naruto… you are quite possibly one of the greatest actors of all time. Your mask is flawless… oh don't look surprised. Do you think someone like me wouldn't know a thing or two about masks?" Kakashi allowed a moment to chuckle at his own joke before returning to his casual seriousness, "We all have our roles to fill… but I want you to know that I will always be there to give you advice whenever you come to me. I may possess the Sharingan that will help your teammate, but I also wear my masks and I can help you master yours."
Normally Naruto would have scoffed at such promises assuming them false or empty. No one except for the old man had ever offered to help him with sincerity. The cruel reality was that Naruto would always be alone in his struggles… Then, Naruto looked into that single eye and he saw something again. It wasn't deception, it wasn't malice… it wasn't fear. This look he was giving Naruto was a look of acknowledgment. In that moment he knew that this man, this Hatake Kakashi, had won him over.
"I understand… sensei."
The breeze blowing through the trees was warm… peaceful. Naruto was kneeling in the soft grass on top of a hill somewhere in the Land of Waves. His eyes were closed as the creeping feeling of despair crushed down on his shoulders. Before him the ground was recently upturned and formed two mounds, one slightly longer than the other. At the head of the two mounds stood a slab of rock that had been formed with a low ranked earth technique. Naruto had taken the time to inscribe the stone with several markings, none of which gave away the identities of the two people now resting beneath him. Suppressing his tears as a true shinobi ought to do, he let his eyes open to gaze upon the smaller of the two mounds with a look of longing and resentment.
"I didn't know you for long… but that will never lessen the impact that you had on my life. There have been few like you… and even fewer that I have wanted to be my friend. I just… I don't think I will ever understand why you did what you did… and if I do I will never forgive your damn stupidity… Damn fool…" Naruto whispered as his voice drifted away in the breeze.
Behind him a tall man he knew to be his sensei dropped lightly from a branch. For a long minute he said nothing as he gave his fallen enemies a moment of silence. When he spoke his voice was soft and consoling, "Naruto, you will learn that we are all fools like him."
"Sensei… he threw his life away because he valued someone else's life more than his own. He died to save a man who taught him to be a tool… a machine." Naruto muttered with distaste.
Kakashi walked over to Naruto slowly and put a hand on his shoulder, "My Genin, you have to forgive him for how he was raised. But I have to ask you… when you looked into his eyes, did you truly see someone who acted on pure instinct? Or did you see his passion for his beliefs burning brightly? In life there are many things that we would give our lives for; its human nature to develop connections to places, things, and people and to hold onto those connections with all our might."
Naruto didn't look at him, but he visibly tensed by the clenching of his muscles and his sudden straightening, "What do you fight for, sensei? What would you die for?"
Kakashi chuckled after a moment and that made Naruto look up at the one-eyed smile being sent his way, "That's easy Naruto. I fight for my home, for my friends, to honor my old teammates and my sensei… and I fight for you, my student. And I would die for you too, if it meant that I was giving you a chance to keep fighting and following your own heart."
The two left that hill top after a short while of companionable silence. Naruto spared the grave site one last glance and he could have sworn he saw a few flakes of snow blow by surrounded by a mist, but as soon as he blinked it was gone. A messenger hawk cried out from high above as it flew toward the Land of Water with a small bundle secured to a harness. Naruto hoped the gesture would help the two of them rest in peace…
Naruto was leaning against a tree in the middle of the dense forests around Konoha, his body half broken and his energy pretty low. He was staring at the prone red head on the ground a few feet away from him, waiting patiently for the boy to wake up. All hell had broken loose what felt like hours before during the Chuunin Exams Final. Naruto had actually declined fighting in the Finals after the brutal hell his team had experienced during the second trial. That didn't stop his two annoying teammates from giving their all, even with their impressive failures in the Forest of Death. Regardless, Naruto knew that his sensei wouldn't be able to handle teaching more than one of his students during the break between trials, so opting out let his sensei dedicate his time to the brat of their team without having to feel the guilt of neglecting the others.
Naruto had hoped to spend his free time lending aid to other teams so that he might finally escape having to keep up his ridiculous ruse, but sadly that was not to be. He was almost immediately accosted by an old man, one who he could tell was almost every kind of terrible person imaginable. He would have refused the man's offer of training, but Kurama had urged him to take what he could from the man, and when Naruto found out the man was one of the three students of the Old Man, he couldn't refuse. As was expected by then, he was underestimated and only given minimal instruction. The whole experience would have been an utter waste of time had the old bastard not performed a small miracle during their first day together.
During the hellish second trial when his teammates had proven without a shadow of a doubt that they were indeed two of the most useless sons of bass he would ever meet, he was attacked by a man who would give him nightmares forever. The snake, for he only felt comfortable calling him such in case the name was booby trapped, had done something that had made it very difficult to communicate with Kurama. The man had been able to identify the problem and fix it with only minimal pain involved, and Naruto felt relieved, and took the old geezer much more seriously from then on, though his cursed mask forced him to act like an idiot. He soon realized though that even if he were acting the fool… he was in good company.
As if in an afterthought the man had Naruto sign a scroll with his own blood, an experience that left a sour taste in the young boy's mouth. For a thirteen year old, he knew that something requiring a blood sacrifice was serious business. He was relieved to hear that it was merely a summoning contract and Kurama heavily supported the signing. Several days after the signing Naruto realized that Kurama had been a little too enthusiastic only because he found the trial Naruto suffered through to be accepted by the Toads absolutely hilarious. It was hours of laughs for the fox, hours of hell for Naruto… as usual.
It had been some kind of act of fate that Naruto had earned the favor of the Toads when he did, because when hell broke loose, he was ready to respond. An invasion by an unknown enemy, and a well known traitorous ally had shook the very foundations of Konoha. While many of the ninja on hand fought valiantly to push back the ground troops, Naruto was the only available ninja with the juice to put down the real problem: a damned rampaging demon. The battle was much shorter than he had expected it to be. With the combined efforts of his Summoned Toad and his fox brother offering tactical advice the three of them brought down the menace which is how Naruto ended up in his current situation.
It had been a while since the mission in Wave, and he had been able to think hard about what happened back there with his… his almost friend. After bringing down the beast and the young boy he was trapped inside, Naruto had spoken briefly with the redhead about life, about the world, and about what holds true worth. He didn't know if the words would make a difference, but even if they didn't the battle was over. The kid wouldn't be getting back up on his own, and from the sound of movement in the area it was clear the enemy was pulling out. He closed his eyes to rest and let the darkness take him so he might see Kurama again for a while… but his attempt was halted by the cold feeling of steel pressed against his throat. Opening a single eye, he looked up into the eyes of a female, if he recalled correctly she was the sister of the boy he had brought down. The two were as still as statues for several moments before she finally broke the silence.
"I should kill you, leaf bastard." She growled lowly, pressing the blade hard enough to cut his skin and make him bleed.
Naruto let the feeling of pain wash over him without a flinch as he eyed the young woman, "I can't say I blame you, considering you guys decided to make us your enemy."
"What, is your life so worthless that you won't even ask for mercy?" She narrowed her eyes.
Naruto chuckled, the action causing his skin to rub against the blade, cutting a little more, "We're ninjas, its part of the job, ya know? Besides, I already did what I had to do to protect the village. I die here, I died doing what was right for my people, no matter how much they don't actually deserve it."
"Die a hero huh? A hero who killed my little brother?! I'll kill you!" She roared while pushing forward with her kunai, only to find a strong resistance. Her eyes widened when she noticed her hands were covered in tightly packed sand.
Her eyes turned toward the figure laid out on the ground as the familiar monotone voice spoke softly, "I'm not dead yet, Temari… don't dishonor our people anymore than I already have by seeking revenge against a man who fought to protect… while all we sought was destruction."
Naruto was standing on water near a large monument dedicated to a great battle of the past, and standing a ways away from him was the androgynous prodigy who had been hounding him since their days at the Academy. The two had been exchanging blows for a long while, and neither was willing to give up. Naruto reflected on how things had come to this, and somewhere deep inside he realized that despite everything he had been telling himself for years, he had let this… person into his life… they had becomes someone that he wanted to find a kinship with.
The brooding idiot had let their lust for power cloud their mind, and it was fueled by a tattoo that the snake had given him back during the Exams. With the help of several scum bags he had left the safety of the village in search of the slippery pedophile, and Naruto had been cornered by some of the other Genin and wrangled into a desperate and foolish rescue mission. Inside he knew this wasn't where he belonged… he shouldn't be here fighting this person… he knew he was too emotionally attached to think clearly. Kurama had supported him through the event, knowing that Naruto's true self was influencing him instead of the mask he had let consume him over the years. Naruto was here because his heart wanted to protect his teammate…
"…..Why are you even doing this? Why abandon your home, the place of your ancestors? I thought your family was the most important thing to you!" Naruto called out, his anger causing his eyes to flash between cerulean blue and blood red.
They scoffed and put on an air of arrogance, "What do you care? This place and everyone in it is pathetic. I need the power to kill my brother, and I know where I can get it…"
"This place has strength! This place can offer any power you need! What of our sensei, what of the team?! Doesn't anything matter to you, you prick?!" Naruto felt himself losing control even as he heard Kurama urging him to take it easy.
They let loose a laugh that was clearly devoid of humor or sanity, "This coming from the most pathetic of them all? You are a worthless piece of trash and you don't deserve to be alive, let alone standing here in front of me."
The battle continued on into the late hours of the day, dusk settling over them. Both were tired and nearly broken. Naruto had snagged his teammate by the front of their shirt to shake them harshly, his eyes intense and his words strong, "I hate you so much! I have always hated you, god damn it! Every part of me wants to just end you right here, right now! But, you know what is really fucked up?! I can't do it! I can't kill my teammate because… because I want to keep you safe. This whole stupid rescue mission is because I want to keep you safe away from that snake… And I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep you away from him."
Silence fell over the two of them for several moments before they spoke in a quiet voice, "Whatever… it takes…?"
Naruto looked hopeful hearing the tone of voice they spoke with. He had hope because he knew in his heart that his teammate would see the light. Over the months they had been teamed up things had always been stressful and tense, but Naruto could feel a begrudging bond form between them. This moment, this would solidify that bond. It only took beating the living hell out of each other to get it done, but they would finally move on from the past. Maybe Naruto would finally let loose and cast away his mask…
"Die."
Naruto froze as he felt it… it was so sudden that he almost dared to believe it was an illusion. And then he coughed, and saw blood splatter across the cheek of his teammate. The look of pure horror that flashed across their face was a small comfort when compared to the inevitable feeling of death creeping through him. He looked down to see that while he had been focusing on the bastard's face, that tattoo had spread down along their arm enhancing the muscles and sharpening the claws. That strangely tattooed arm was now shoved elbow deep through Naruto's chest. Naruto released his grip on the shirt he had been threatening to rip, and then he fell backwards. The sickening sound of the arm slipping from his chest caused his teammate to back away slowly, regarding the scene with a look of shock.
'Sorry… Kyu…' Naruto's thoughts faded as he fell into unconsciousness.
Bacl to Reality...
"…And then I woke up in the Infirmary back in the Garden with Headmaster Cid sitting by my bed giving me the strangest look. I didn't know where I was, I didn't know who anyone was. All I could think was how much I wanted to curse my old master with every horrible pain and misfortune imaginable. I wanted to blend in and become one of the students, honestly, but right from the moment I put on that Junction Watch it became obvious to everyone there was something off about me. I couldn't keep my story straight from day to day because things kept popping up to make people question.
All my life I have had people judge me based on things that I can't control, and I have made a lot of mistakes along the way trying to cope with it. I've lied, manipulated, stolen, and avoided attachments for as long as I can remember. I told myself that if people were only going to see a menace, then I would embrace the idea and live up to the only expectation anyone bothered to have for me. It was obviously a bad idea… but it was the only idea I had. Kurama tried to guide me, but he was in no better a situation than I was. He had been imprisoned from the moment he met human beings to the day that the old bastard used me for a guinea pig. In the end I… we… we became that which we had sworn we weren't. We were monsters… in our own unique ways.
That is why I was reluctant to share my story. Most people do not like to hear a story that doesn't have a happy ending. And besides that, I am scared that now that you all know what I am… then you will never accept me. It won't take long for me to adjust to being alone again, but I really wanted this to work out."
Naruto finished speaking and took a deep breath feeling pretty good having let all of that off of his chest. He had been speaking for close to two hours, not including the fifteen minutes they had to spend silent while Galbadian Soldiers passed through the area searching for the terrorists. He was still worried about losing his friends and having to fend for himself again, but honestly it felt good to tell his story. There were several things his memory had lost permanently, like names, but as he spoke on so many more things had become clearer. It made him remember Kurama's suggestion to write the whole thing out, and to be honest the story telling session here had won him over.
All around him was silent as the listeners allowed the information to sink in. Their reactions had varied during the story from positive to negative, while emotions were on the proverbial roller coaster. Among the troupe the one to express their emotions the most was Rinoa. As a civilian, well the closest to it, she wasn't trained to master her emotions like the soldiers around her. When the story had grown sad, her tears flowed freely, and when the tale took a turn for the better she was alight with joy. By the end of the story telling she had clung onto Quistis for support as she felt emotionally drained.
Quistis had held her cool right up until the moment she was introduced to the man he called 'the old pervert.' At first, though the title had wrinkled her nose a little, she was glad to hear that someone else had finally taken him under their wing to nurture the fine young man he was destined to be. She was sadly let down when the truth about the man began to surface. She had expressed a small bit of anger when she heard of the early struggles he endured in his homeland, but she was downright furious when he told them about his four years of wandering with that man. And then the climax of the story… to betray your own student… it reminded her of Naruto's passionate speech about teachers and their responsibilities seem all the more significant.
Zell was back by the window staring out into the alley below, his mind buzzing as he tried to put the pieces together. How could someone go through all that as a kid and still come out such a nice guy? Well, maybe he had a few issues, yeah? Naruto was pretty secretive and stand-offish with people, but that wasn't all that bad. Thinking back on Naruto's story about the girl he was in love with back in his… home world or whatever… it started to make sense why he never flirted with too many of the girls who had always hung around to watch them spar or train in the Quad. Then there was the big thing… the demon in his stomach or… where ever it had been… which made sense why the guy seemed to get along so well with the Guardian Forces. So many pieces were coming together, but at the same time so many questions kept popping up. And Zell couldn't shake the visions of those people treating his bro so badly as a little kid. Those thoughts running through his head caused his fist to clench tightly, the leather groaning as it was stressed.
Selphie, for all her false bravado and independent sassy attitude, she was barely holding onto her emotions. Unlike the students of Balamb, Trabia was far less prone toward influencing their students to become mindless drones. That isn't to say that she thought Balamb students were harsh or cold, well maybe Leon was from time to time… but still, most of the students were great! But back in Trabia Garden… the students were more a family, and fun loving, and eager to socialize. She put on a front to keep the Balamb students, and now the SeeD Agents, from thinking she was a weak little girl… but she was still a girl, fully capable of sympathy and empathy. Giving credit where it is due, Selphie had not shed a tear, but she would need some outlet for her pent up emotions later on when she had a private moment to reflect on everything.
Seifer had spent the duration of the story telling standing by the wall with his sword twitching in his hand, his face an impressive mix of fury, frustration, and desperate indifference. The scowl that had left natural lines down his face had deepened further than the scar his rival had given him. You see, if was a sad thing to have a need for vengeance and justice, but no means to execute such things. What separated him from those who truly deserved a taste of his blade was an infinite empty space of inaccessible nothingness. The cruel mirage across the scorching dunes just within sight but always out of reach. A morbid part of him wanted to curse Naruto for giving him the pain he was feeling… for it was the damned ninja sitting in front of him that had given him this new sense of worth… a new sense of what really mattered. What a real pain…
Leon suddenly walked over to Naruto and kneeled down so that the two of them were on eye level. Blue met cerulean for a brief moment before Leon spoke, "All right… look… I want to believe you, I do… but you realize that telling us a Goddess of Death saved you after you were burned alive or whatever the hell that was… even in a world where people can throw around fire and lightning, this whole thing is hard to swallow."
Naruto didn't miss a beat as he stared intently into Leon's eyes, "Put your hand on my shoulder."
"Why?" Leon asked hesitantly.
Naruto smiled and looked around the room, "Anyone that wants some kind of proof, just grab my shoulder, or my arm, or whatever you want I don't care. I already had one visitor today, but she wasn't invited. I want there to be no question that you can trust me, and this is the absolute best way to do it… even if it is a little weird."
Everyone was a little hesitant, except for Seifer. The blond put his blade on his belt again and walked over, his hand on Naruto's shoulder as he grinned. Not to be outdone, Zell followed quickly after with a hand on Naruto's back just above the back of the chair he was still siting in, albeit without the restraints that had held him there before. Rinoa slowly took his left hand in hers and gave it a tight squeeze as she flashed him a reassuring smile, which he returned before glancing at Quistis who had cautiously placed her soft hand on his forearm. The two blondes exchanged a look, and something about the way Naruto was smiling told her that everything would be all right. Naruto was broken from that exchange by the feeling of a hand on top of his head. Looking up, he blinked as he saw Selphie's grinning face.
"This is just an excuse to pet my hair, isn't it?" Naruto asked with a blank stare.
Selphie tried and failed to hide her mischievous smirk, "I don't know what you are talking about, all the other spaces are full."
The two laughed while everyone else around them chuckled. The only one still taking everything very seriously was Leon. While he was a fearless man with no qualms over exploring the unknown, Naruto was notorious for his pranks. Obviously there was little chance that this would be the time for a prank, he couldn't just let go of that possibility. Soon enough the two sets of blue hued eyes met again and there were no words exchanged. Without any prompting Naruto held up his hand toward Leon with a sincere smile on his face rather than the grin he usually wore. Leon couldn't help the defeated sigh that escaped his lips as he took the offered hand in a firm grip.
"Thanks everyone… now, focus your magic toward your hands. If you need to, prepare a scan spell to gather your magic easier." Naruto used his authoritative voice that he often used to issue battlefield instructions when he took the lead.
Quistis and Selphie were the first two to gather the appropriate magic, though Quistis obviously hadn't been there for the lecture on the train after the failed hijacking. Zell was the slowest, but he was also the most determined as he proceeded to separate the intent from the magic as Selphie did. Leon and Seifer had prepared their Scan spells with studied efficiency, and both waited for the next instruction patiently. The only one to struggle was his little Rinnie, her face down cast even as she concentrated. Naruto knew she could do it, even if she were relying on the less efficient military gear her resistance group no doubt "borrowed" from Galbadians. When her Scan spell finally glowed her face brightened, and her smile only grew when she exchanged a victorious grin with her big brother.
"Perfect, and good job Selphie, you too Zell. As you can see, the hue of their focused magic has changed in color and intensity. This is due to their magic losing focus and merely pooling up in one spot waitng for a command. Leon, you know what to do. Seifer, Quistis, Rinnie, you three need to try and take away the focus on your spells without letting the magic essence fade. I know that there are warnings about attempting to hold back spells, but you can trust me." Naruto kept his focus on the three of them as they each gave him questioning looks, but all proceeded along slowly.
Once Naruto was able to feel the essence on each of their hands he carefully let his own seek out theirs to try and connect with them. The easy part was finding their magic, the hard part was trying not to draw on it, instead trying to create a small flow back and forth to establish a connection. The amount of control needed to push and pull equal amounts of magic between him and the six of them all at once was unreal, but he was slow and calm. Soon enough he established a link with Quistis, and he could feel how her practiced magical talent allowed the connection and eagerly sought to maintain the link. Pleased, he moved on and found that Selphie was nearly as easy to connect to, though he could clearly tell that her magic was cautious, albeit willing. Even though he was concentrating, he still took a moment to appreciate how the flow of magic seemed alive… sentient.
Simultaneous connections formed between Naruto and the two swordsmen. Unlike before, their magic behaved completely opposite to that of the ladies. Their magic was aggressive and sought to Draw on his own, even as he was sure that neither of them had issued such a command. It became clear that their magic would continue to Draw on his own, so he compensated by counter Drawing from them. The connection was stable, but the tug of war was a pain in the ass. He would have to see if he could teach the two of them how to control their magic better, because such aggressive and needy energy flow was bound to waste a lot of energy. He remembered how aggressively his chakra had always molded when he was younger…
When it came time to establish a connection with Zell, he was very cautious from the beginning. The brawler had admitted on more than one occasion that he hardly ever practiced magic or theory. That was not to say he was dumb, on the contrary he was skilled in many subjects back at Garden. The reality was that at heart he was a physical man with very little interest in flashy spells when his hands could just as easily see him through any confrontation. Remembering this, Naruto made sure to push his magic into Zell with enough force to avoid accidentally draining him with an unintentional Draw. As was expected, the pool of essence he tapped into was like aiming a fire hose nozzle into a shot glass. Because of this, Naruto was pleasantly surprised to find that the flow back and forth, while dangerously precarious during the initial connection, was damn perfect and stable. Another thing, the ex-ninja could almost feel the reserve pool within Zell growing slowly. He wouldn't become a magical powerhouse by any means, but Zell would certainly find his magical Junctions to be more effective and easier to equip, but that was all theory.
Naruto turned his eyes towards Rinoa and he assumed he would need to guide her along, which would be a hassle but it would give the others time to study their own magic introspectively. To his utter shock, not only had she separated the magic, the purity and potency of her natural raw essence pool was almost as bright as his own. He wondered about that a while and considered her potential, and he wondered why someone with little experience with magic would have such raw power. A theory or two came to mind, and while he would love to investigate, time wasn't exactly something that had oodles of at the moment. He gave her hand a squeeze to show his approval before closing his eyes.
For a few quiet moments no one knew what the heck was going on. Naruto seemed in deep thought, but in reality he was going into a meditative state in order to bring the connections into his Mindscape. He had considered having Kurama help, but he was never one to turn from a chance to train and learn. Besides, Kurama only ever did such things in defense of his little brother, and this was a simply social visit. Soon enough he felt that familiar tug and manipulated all of the magic essence threads into a mental representation of a rope that tied onto his own. When ready, he took the dive, and was elated to feel their presence within his mind.
Naruto landed gracefully onto the solid ground of the central chamber where the Guardians housed portions of themselves. Much to his pleasure, Shiva was ready to greet him with a tight hug which he returned instantly. Ifrit and Raikiri were both lounging in their respective areas either drinking from an odd black goblet of magma in Ifrit's case, or sorting through a floating catalogue of Triple Triad Cards for Raikiri. He noticed that Diablos was once again absent, which he found both irritating and very curious at the same time. The last resident Guardian was seated beside Raikiri watching the golden Guardian with a look of… admiration? Longing? Naruto wasn't completely sure, but he knew she would rather be no where else by Siren's pleasant expression. Naruto regarded everyone with a polite wave which was returned by those paying him any mind. Raikiri was too far gone with his obsession over his card collection, but Ifrit lifted his… drink… up in a toasting fashion, which Naruto found amusing.
"Welcome back, Naruto…" Shiva's voice was soft and by the tone he knew there was something wrong.
Naruto put a comforting hand on her back and rubbed which spread warmth through her pleasantly, "This is so unlike your bubbly personality. You would think I got all messed up again." He chuckled and heard two other sets of laughter, and one very familiar snort coming from behind him, which was obviously Kurama hiding in his tall grass again.
"I…I was the only one listening to you here… I made sure that the connection was private. I didn't know if… if you wanted the others to hear. I'm so… so sorry." Shiva was trying to keep her composure as she spoke, but she wasn't just an all powerful Guardian… she was a being with feelings and thoughts, and she was very shaken by the stories that he had told about his life.
Naruto placed his hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her back to look into her icy blue eyes. She was expecting him to look hurt or sad, or perhaps angry if he didn't like her reaction. Instead, he was smiling wide with no hint of any negative emotions whatsoever. "Don't you be sorry about anything, okay? Before I sat there and told that story to everyone I probably would have broken down and been a mess. Now… now I feel liberated. You know, this was the first time I felt confident and comfortable enough to share so much about myself?
The pain is still there, and I doubt it will ever go away fully even if I forget everything about my past. What I am certain of is that with my new friends… with my new family, I will always have people beside me to rely on. No more of this hiding crap, no more self-pity, no more running away… I can finally be me. I want no moping, no tears. What I need from you is your support."
Shiva perked up before nodding, "All right, Naruto, you have it. You will always have me, that's a promise of a life time."
Naruto gave her a blank stare, "I swear, I keep hearing people steal my lines lately." His face broke out into a grin slowly as Shiva's giggling response became contagious.
"Stop being so thoughtful and charismatic and maybe peole won't steal them anymore." She replied with a very cheeky smirk.
Naruto grumbled about copyrights and women bringing him to an early grave before he looked down the tunnel at the sound of footsteps. Knowing his friends were welcome, he had tried to reshape the sewer until the tunnels were dry and adequately lit. Leon was the first to climb the stairs up into the Mindscape central chamber, followed by Rinoa who was keeping rather close to his side. Seifer and Quistis appeared behind them with wide eyes and shocked faces. Comically, Selphie was the last with Zell being dragged behind her. The poor guy looked incredibly creeped out by the dark and gloomy Mindscape.
Naruto took Shiva's hand and walked over, totally missing the blush that Shiva wore and her sideways glance at Siren, "Hey guys, and welcome to my head!"
"That explains why it seems so empty…" Selphie commented which caused several of their faces to light up with realization.
Naruto had to suppress the look of irritation that fell over his face, "Excuse me, Selphie-chan, what was that?"
"She was simply making an observation, kit. I must say… certain things are coming together now that I had never thought to put together…" Kurama said calmly while his red eyes peeked through the grass of his platform.
Naruto fell to his hands and knees dramatically, a dark cloud of gloom hovering over him while Shiva looked on with a nervous smile. Leon walked around the chamber with the others following behind him. The Guardians took notice of the humans and regarded them with friendly nods or waves of their hands, or paws. The brunette leader stopped by the grassy platform and his eyes narrowed wondering where the mysterious Guardian Naruto had could be. He was startled when a low growl sounded from nowhere, and caused him to grab for his weapon, only to find that he couldn't grab it. Looking down he watched his hand phase through the grip like it was made of water. His futile attempts amused the entity and caused soft chuckles to surround Leon.
"Do not be afraid of me, human. As surprising as this may sound, I do not wish to harm you. I know of you… the child who has been giving my little brother such burning glares. I do not sense hate in you… but what is this emotion? Ah… that would be jealousy. You should let go of such pety feelings, they are ugly."
"I feel no such thing. What… who are you?" Leon replied while crossing his arms. His face which was normally an unreadable mask of control looked decidedly uncomfortable.
The two red eyes from before opened in the darkness between the blades of tall grass to peer at him with something akin to amusement, "Naruto has mentioned me before. I am Kurama, the demon that was sealed into him when he was a mere few hours old. I was his prisoner for seven years, and his brother for ten. I have seen every color of emotion that you humans suffer, from happiness to sorrow to jealousy… and you are reeking of it. You should resolve these feelings before they consume you, as they did Naruto's former teammate."
Leon eyed the pair of red orbs staring into him with trepidation, "Kurama… I can assure you that I am not a jealous person. Such feelings are pointless and detrimental to our mission. And the way Naruto told it, it didn't seem like jealousy was what his old friend suffered."
Kurama growled lowly, "That bastard with those eyes was no friend to my little brother. A true friend would never commit such an act against their precious people. I admit that it is hard to understand how jealousy played a part in that event, but I can assure you that it was one of the most important factors that lead up to that day. I would watch and listen through the bond I shared with Naruto as he went about his days of training, missions, and socializing. I was able to observe the nature of his team over time, and they both disgusted me to my very core.
The boy, for he was a boy regardless of how difficult it is for Naruto to remember these days, was a being of pure hatred. It was difficult for Naruto to deal with being around him because of his complete disregard for everything the village did to please him. Think of how a boy with hardly any food, hardly any social interaction, a terrible little hole to live in, and the constant worry for his own safety would feel watching someone throw every privilege they had away in favor of being a complete piece of trash. If anything, Naruto should have been consumed with jealousy as he watched all of this, but my fears were completely unwarranted because he simply ignored the boy. He redoubled his efforts to train in private, kept his silly mask up at all times, and worked extra missions to keep food on the table and the lights on. Of course there were speed bumps along the way, in the form of one particularly ignorant girl…
On the other hand, Naruto's apathy toward the boy infuriated him, especially when Naruto began to let his skills show here or there. It started in small instances where Naruto would decimate several enemies at once during a skirmish, and then escalated over time until that damned tournament… The boy became obsessed with gaining the strength to both eliminate his own brother, and outshine his blonde teammate. He felt entitled to the praise, even as he hated the people who worshipped him. When Naruto would refuse to hand over scrolls detailing techniques or tactics he would cause a fuss. When Naruto found time to speak to members of other teams in passing, he would butt in hoping to discover more about Naruto's secrets.
Eventually his jealousy overwhelmed his common sense, and that led to the day I almost lost Naruto, and my life with him. Naruto had grown complacent and let his guard down around his team. He had never expected any of them to try and kill him, least of all the one who he had begrudgingly seen as a rival and a… a friend, even if he will never admit to it. Jealousy may not have been the driving force that brought Naruto to the brink of death, but it was most certainly a catalyst. So tell me, human… what are you jealous of?"
Leon crossed his arms and closed his eyes as he considered the question, as well as the lecture that he had just unwittingly been audience to. Emotions were a pointless thing to consider during a mission, and even less important while on down time for that matter. Emotions messed with the mind and often times influenced decisions that led to failure. Evidence was even present in the story that Kurama had mentioned. If Naruto had not let his emotions get in the way he would have given the finishing blow to his target and been able to bring him back to base. Instead he let his emotions flare, and then he suffered the ultimate price… almost.
But then… after Leon reconsidered his own thoughts he came to the realization that his emotions had already influenced a few confrontations while on their current mission. He had been utterly unprepared to deal with those emotions because he had always avoided them. Looking at the eyes of Kurama that were regarding him with silent curiosity, he nodded his head before taking a deep breath.
"I think I understand, but not fully. I am feeling… jealous, I suppose." Leon realized that admitting it had been both difficult and liberating.
Kurama sounded pleased by the low rumble he made before speaking, "Very good, you are not as stubborn as you were before… Admission to one's problems is but the first cobblestone on the path to one's solutions. Tell me boy… what gives you these feelings?"
Leon turned his head to peer over at Naruto who was standing beside Shiva. The ice goddess looked nervous as she kept by his side, and yet she fidgeted often to move slightly away from him. He found this odd, but he didn't comment on it.
"Naruto was selected to be the Guardian Enforcer by the two Guardians who have been allied with Balamb Garden since its founding. He was essentially a non entity before the SeeD Agents on their way back from intelligence gathering in Dollet found him broken and bleeding on the side of the road. In a single month he became the most talked about Cadet in Balamb Garden, and even went on to earn the highest grade on the SeeD Graduation Exam. I have been training and learning for years… I have given my life to the system and studied the Guardian Forces since I was old enough to Junction. I just… I just feel like he doesn't deserve the title while there are so many others who are better qualified."
"Others who are better qualified? Who?" Kurama spoke with a calm tone, "Do you mean you?"
Leon clenched his fist tightly while closing his eyes, "It sounds incredibly selfish when I think about it, but yes. I mean… I have been training with Shiva for so long…"
"So you feel betrayed?"
"No, that isn't it. I understand the Guardians are far more powerful than I am, and I am sure that they know what they are doing." Leon amended quickly, wanting to be clear on his intent.
Kurama tilted his head which caused his eyes to shift in an eerie way, "So you wish to posses their strength? To be the one the Guardians trust with their power?"
Leon slowly sighed as he gathered his thoughts. "Yes… I think that's it. But… it feels wrong to say it like that."
"Then tell me exactly what troubles you."
"It seems everyone has a purpose… everyone has a reason to push forward. It almost feels like Naruto has stolen mine from me, without me even knowing it was there. He is from another world… possibly another dimension… he doesn't belong here, and yet it would seem he has found some kind of destiny or calling here. If that is true… did he steal mine?" Leon looked into the eyes of Kurama as he spoke, his voice the usual stoic uninterested drone, but the great fox could see the vulnerable man in the blue eyes looking back at him.
Kurama stood up and walked out of the tall grass to let the human see more of his magnificence and he delighted at the showing of shock and awe plastered on Leon's face, "Know this human… though the kit may be from another world… your destiny is your own and no one can take it from you. It can shift, it can change, it can be great, it can be small… but the one truth that you can be absolutely sure of is that it is yours. The destiny that Naruto is following was thrust upon him by a vengeful female with a cold and calculating heart. Though it may seem great in your eyes, you must understand the weight that is now perched on his shoulders.
He was sacrificed by one of his own for selfish and lecherous gains and instead of the eternal rest that one who has suffered deserves, he was more or less forced to submit to the will of the Shinigami. He is serving the entity who took the soul of his father and held no mercy for the child left behind with no one to care for it. One would think that such a thing was unavoidable, that she was merely doing her duty… but she is a Goddess who may choose to break the rules whenever she deems it fitting. And now he is working to help balance this world on her request. Do not envy him.
My advice to you is to forge ahead and open your eyes to the possibilities. Destiny is a fickle thing that can change by the day. And should you try one thing and fail, then simply try another, and another, and another until you find the one that fits. Live, love, and have no regrets."
Naruto stood watching his friends walk around and speak to the Guardians while he lingered in the center of the chamber. His eyes wandered until he spied Shiva nearby floating a foot above ground with her gentle eyes observing the goings on. He found his lips going cold as he recalled that moment when the two of them shared a kiss. It had been brief… but it was a perfect moment that he would never forget. He vaguely remembered sharing a kiss in the past, albeit not one that he had been very willing to partake in. Forgoing that experience, he could safely say that his first… official… kiss had been a good one. As his musings went on he saw her gaze turn to peer back into his own, and he saw her smile warmly.
As Shiva smiled at the young man beside her she couldn't help the feeling creeping into her chest thinking about the small intimate moment the two of them had shared. In her heart she had wanted it beyond a shadow of a doubt, and she had no regets… until Siren had stepped in. Siren had always been a bit of a mother hen among their family. While she was kind and sweet to most everyone she met, she had a harsh side that only the Guardians had ever seen. Diablos always joked that the two of them were opposites, though none of them had ever seen a kind or sweet side hidden beneath all the harshness he often showed on his sleeves.
As a second generation Guardian, Siren had been around for a very long time and seen many things. Unlike those who governed elements around the world, Siren had more time to observe the world as she governed over Life magic. Besides the tragedy that had befallen poor Ifrit, there had been many times over the millennia that Guardians had fallen for their summoners only to feel the pain of loss over and over again. Mortals were feeble things with delicate bodies and short lives, and as such were particularly risky ventures. Shiva was among the only two to never fall in love with a human, and Siren was incredibly protective of her. The winged Life Guardian had her heart in the right place, but it left Shiva with a troubled soul.
"Naruto, I um… we need to talk." Shiva spoke softly, her feet becoming very interesting as she floated toward him.
Naruto was immediately on guard. Remembering one of the few lessons the old pervert had given him that had actually been worthwhile… he knew trouble from a woman when he heard it. There were a few phrases that were trouble and he had been cautioned to expect pain upon hearing them. Among them were, 'I asked you a question!' 'I told you to…' 'Who do you think is prettier?' and 'We need to talk.' Needless to say, he wasn't looking forward to what she had to say.
"Sure thing Shiva, looks to me like their doubts have all been seen to."
Shiva floated over to him and landed on her feet, the floor frosting over lightly with a thin layer of crisp iced snow. Naruto watched the ice queen take a deep breath before steeling herself and gazing into his cerulean blues, "You asked me what draws me to you. I honestly don't know… you give off a feeling that I can't really explain. It isn't simply that you are a True Summoner, or that you have sorcerer powers… it is something much deeper. When the others look at you they can sense your power, and it has reshaped their bodies and given them strength. Ever since I first laid eyes on you there has been something more… not power, not strength… it is like a calling that I do not understand.
Sister Siren has spoken to me since we shared our… moment together. She has expressed concern for my well being because she knows what this feeling is. She has told me that its love, which is something very new to me and I am… confused on how I should act and how I should feel about it. All of my being is telling me to embrace it as your very presence here in the Mindscape fills me with a warmth that my icy spirit has never allowed before. Even as she warns me of the pain I may endure from it, I cannot fully turn from it… turn from you. To be completely truthful with you… I am scared."
Naruto stood there for a while absorbing everything that she said and not making a sound. His eyes were turned down toward the floor while his body assumed a thinking pose. Shiva began to worry as the moments ticked by, and for a brief instant she was afraid he might turn away from her upset or angry at her hesitation. Her worries were for naught though as he turned his eyes back up towards her as a warm smile danced across his lips.
"I understand, Shiva-chan, things do seem to have been moving a little faster than they should have I think. We are both pretty new at this it seems. I want you to know that I feel something for you too, and I'm pretty sure what it is, and I'm not afraid of it. I won't push for anything you are uncomfortable with though, no matter how much of an idiot my brother tells you I am." Naruto finished with a grin as he gave her a quick nice guy pose.
Shiva smiled softly as she listened to how caring and considerate Naruto was being toward her feelings, and it only served to make her feel guilty. It was obvious the both of them cared deeply for one another, but Siren's warnings kept echoing through her head. Naruto was oblivious to her inner turmoil as he turned to scan the room and make sure none of his friends were causing any trouble. She was so caught up in her own thoughts she didn't notice how forced his smile truly was, but a certain Fire Demon seated on his throne not too far away saw it all too well, and he sighed.
'Siren… your meddling better not ruin anything for Shiva…' Ifrit mused with a silent huff.
The rest of the time spent in the Mindscape was spent with the team surrounding Shiva and Naruto as they listened to the two of them describe their encounter with the Shinigami that brought Naruto to Gaia. Each of them were stunned to put it lightly, but it was clear that none of them would question a Guardian's word, though Naruto had to wonder if that was truly a good thing. His thoughts briefly turned to Diablos as he wondered how a Guardian may abuse such devotion.
Now for those answers!
Ismenian: As to your first question, I would say that I feel where you're coming from in terms of how Naruto is taking a lot more than he is giving. As with most crossovers, the introduction of a character to a new universe often leads to such results. The only way to have avoided such an event would have been to integrate Naruto into the new world entirely, in other words having him born into the world of FF8. And even then, because he is the only odd ball in the cast, he would still likely end up going this route. I would love to hear any suggestions you have in regards to helping balance this out!
Your second point, which was also woven into the first a little, is also something that I have taken into account. In the summary for the story I state that this will not be an overly powerful Naruto. One might say that after having read the first thirteen chapters that Naruto has been a bad ass mother humper with the skills to kills. (I died a little on the inside typing that…) So far, if we review those fights we can break down why he seems like this. So far, we are viewing the world of FF8 from the early moments of the game where enemy levels and difficulties have been very low. The Galbadian soldiers in Dollet and Timber would rank in the D range, possibly low C. Naruto had been training on his extended trip before the incident, as well as his extensive private training with Kurama. These enemies have no chance in realistic terms, and unless I started creating super humans in those uniforms that won't change for a little while. In terms of monsters, I have left those fights hinted at or avoided entirely because the normal encounters in the field would be a bore to read through.
In chapter twelve, I touched on the idea that Naruto is not all-powerful and that he can be vulnerable, possibly more so because of what has always made him so strong. (got some grief about that too, might I add…) Before Naruto's flashy save at the television station I tried to incorporate less one-man-army tactics and more teamwork to emphasize his need for a team, instead of him walking in and slaughtering everything. The only real rapid power boost that I can admit to remembering would be the latest chapter update where Kurama steals elemental magic manipulation abilities from Edea, but I will also point out that Naruto was only capable of such flashy magic because he received a one-time boost in elemental essence. (also of note is that we cannot just assume that Edea got a huge debuff in power…) My final thought on this is that you should consider the fact that the Guardian Forces have been a major power player in all of the intense battles that Naruto has faced so far. In all cases where summoning would only hinder or cause more collateral damage, Naruto has had to lean on his team. We shall see what he is truly capable of, be it godlike power or peasant tricks, when he is forced to face something alone.
As far as the central antagonists, I won't spoil anything about that, but rest assured that I will do my best to give the party something to fight, even without the Sorceress Knight situation. And also, even without some of the angst the characters originally had, there will definitely be new challenges for them to overcome with their past issues resolved.
Third question, honestly I have considered a few ideas in my head for a sequel, and if you want to share your bits of inspiration I would love to hear them!
A raging Ghost: This name, I love it, just had to get that out of the way. Now! On to your question… I would most certainly want to bring my own supply of drinking water if I were to be on the road hitchhiking. Never know what kind of crazy people are out looking to pick up strangers on the road with tainted water or something to mess ya up. If I were just out in the woods hiking, I would bring that map man. Always be aware of the position of the sun and you can never go wrong… unless you're blind… or have no idea how the sun works… or you are lost on the road to life after avoiding a black cat. If I were traveling through the wilderness to avoid the zombie horde… I would bring a steel bat. Enough said.
NanohaXFateXAsuna: So glad to hear that you have been enjoying the story, as well as your rekindled love for the game. Yes, I have some OCs here and there, but I hope that you aren't too mad about them, I made them background characters who will have no effect on the events of the story. Consider them the smooth glaze on the cheese Danish. As far as Seifer, I decided to redeem his character so ultimately he will more likely not be an antagonist. This only alludes to there being different things for him to overcome, so you just wait and see! As far as what Kurama stole from Edea, it was the elemental manipulation abilities. Don't worry though, I haven't forgotten about our holy friend.
Have a Little Feith: I know, it wasn't a question really, but you've been an active reviewer so I thought I would send a little something your way this chapter! Honestly, when I first decided to start posting stories here on FanFiction it was quite literally the most cliché event of history. I read a few dozen stories and then put on my goofy grin to start typing up my own stories. I started by asking a few of the authors here how long their average chapters were, and I almost always got the same sagely advice: It all depends on how long you want to write. If you are happy with the length, that is all that matters. I was like… grss, give me numbers you bass terds, but that doesn't mean I didn't listen! So, I read a few more stories and I really enjoyed the ones with longer chapters.
The next step was finding my own groove, so I started writing Save the Nexus, as terrible as that story was/is. The first two chapters were written on my iPhone, and because of the inconvenience of such a method, the chapters were about five thousand words. That felt like so much! But it was because I was using a phone, the least recommended device for lengthy typing by Garnetio Inc. Some soul searching, a bit of self pity, and a couple boxes of Maruchan brand cup ramen later… and I decided I wouldn't write anything less than ten thousand words unless it was clearly at the transition point where I felt satisfied. Chapter thirteen was so long because I just didn't want to rush through the second half of Timber Take Down, and if I had tried to limit myself it would have taken away from some of the detail. Along with all the emotional and situational crap that was going on in the past week and a half, I just knew it would end up ruining the chapter, so over nineteen thousand words later I let loose a sigh and then cried realizing I would have to go back and edit the entire thing. I swear everyone on the street could hear me cry out about the forty something pages I would have to reread.
Now that's over I want to say thanks for sticking around, and thanks for encouraging me to write with all the favs and follows. To those who have followed me, be prepared for another story to pop up soon. I need to get some of the other ideas clogging up my brain out of there! I hope the holidays were blessed and joyous to all you readers.