Chapter 37

As the pulses increased in frequency, the Naruto clone continued to meditate. After the elves and Riders got over their initial shock, they looked back at the clone, wondering what it was doing. Oromis and Glaedr knew that it was Naruto that was causing the current situation and were curious about why the clone itself was meditating. However, their questions were soon answered when suddenly, the clone's eyes opened, revealing a glazed over look as its eyes had switched from their sapphire blue to the violet of the Rinne-Sharingan.

Arya was the first to act upon noticing that the clone was not acting as its usual self and took a step towards it while disregarding her discomfort towards it before asking, "Clone of Naruto, are you alright?" When the clone didn't respond, the others frowned as she took another step forward with an arm outstretched, intent on shaking the clone's shoulder. Before she could however, the clone snapped its gaze towards her and as it did, the hurricane that surrounded the original Naruto made itself known to all of Alagaesia.

Rapid winds roared throughout the land as a deluge of rain flooded the rivers of the continent. This was all accompanied by bolts of lightning that did not burn or set aflame grass or trees, but instead created craters wherever they landed, indicating the abnormality of the storm. Yet despite all of this, no harm came to anyone or any sentient being. And in the midst of the storm, the clone mouthed a string of words in the ancient language as the original did the same.

I am the wind that will slice apart all barriers that stand in my way.

I am the rain that will wear away all opposition.

I am the lightning that will strike hard and fast to all those that stand in my way.

For none shall stand between me and my way.

Soon after mumbling these phrases, the Naruto's volume grew louder until it was as loud as his regular voice.

I want to go home, and yet I also do not, for there is no one to go home to. All of them are either dead or dying and hardly anyone truly knows me.

I tell myself that I am no god, just a human, but what kind of man can hold a goddess for so many years?

I believe myself to be no monster, but what kind of man can kill thousands if not millions with one blow? How could some go pale with fright and despair when I merely lift a hand, yet some view that same hand as a symbol of love, hope, and security?

If I had to choose whether to save the innocent, or save the ones I consider precious to me, what will I do?

Naruto's voice grew deeper and stronger as he questioned who he was, laying bare to all that could hear: his hopes and dreams, his fears and insecurities. It brought up the questions that he always had, but were shoved to the side in order to better operate as the shinobi and Hokage Konoha and the Elemental Nations needed. And as he did, his voice grew to a roar that could have been heard for miles if it weren't for the hurricane that only grew larger and larger as it seemed to absorb the wind, rain, and lightning that swept through Alagaesia.

I am a human, yet not a human!

I am a man, yet not just a man!

I am a god, yet not a god!

I am the darkest fear to some, but the brightest hope to many others!

I am the defender of the innocent, but will abandon everything to protect my loved ones!

The glaze that covered Naruto's and his clone's eyes soon faded as they discovered what kind of person Naruto was. However, the two became troubled when they realized that there was no word in the ancient language that defined an important part of him: chakra. The original Naruto could feel that if he could not get over this obstacle, then the true name he was so close to finding, may just fade away.

As the two meditated, a word suddenly made itself known; a word that seemed to encompass the entirety of the ancient language. When it revealed itself, Naruto somehow knew, that this word was the name of the ancient language.

"Could this be the name of the ancient language? The word which has been missing centuries ever since the Grey Folk disappeared? How interesting, I bet if I let Arya or Oromis know of this, they would never stop asking me questions about it. But although I trust them, if the name became widely known, all magic would be rendered useless and from I have learnt from the library of the elves, a catastrophe worse than whatever Galbatorix could come up with would occur, and that is something I don't want to see." The blonde pondered as he came up what he thought was a bright idea. "I know, if I can't find a suitable word…I'll just create one!"

Back in the mindscape and in a cave, Kurama observed everything that was happening since the start of Naruto's true name awakening. When he first observed the pulses and the words of the ancient language scurrying across the landscape towards wherever Naruto was, he became enlightened on certain things. Imitating Naruto, the giant fox sat in a meditation stance, much like when he gathered Nature Chakra for Naruto when he had fought against Sasuke so long ago. However, after a few moments, Kurama grumbled as he went back down onto his belly, "This just isn't working. I guess meditation is just not for me. Might as well continue watching the show, although I have a feeling that the brat is about to do something either utterly stupid or pure genius."

Coming to this conclusion, the original Naruto exited his meditation stance to stand up on the prow. Unconsciously, Naruto started to unlock some of the many seals that restricted his chakra and as he did so, the pressure around him increased to the point that the storm itself stilled, with the ocean beneath him forming a funnel as water was forced away from him. Lifting his head to the storm sky, Naruto uttered in the ancient language as his Rinne-Sharingan became more and more luminescent, "In the name of the ancient language, I, Naruto Uzumaki, add a new word: Chakra! And in the name of the ancient language, this word shall be hidden for all time except to those I tell it to."

The moment he made the declaration, Naruto could feel as if the chakra within himself, which he already felt was a living being, suddenly come to life with a roar that only he himself could hear. Looking at his body, he could see, with his Rinne-Sharingan eyes, the rapid changes that should have taken years if not decades happening to his chakra pathway system. He looked in awe as his chakra, which was already dense, become at least 2x denser. The chakra pathways that were once entirely distinct from his muscles, bones, and organs seemed to integrate directly into them. If a Byakugan user had taken a single look at him, rather than seeing a chakra pathway system, he or she would have instead seen a mass of chakra, similar to the Bijuu themselves, except still having blood, muscle, and bone. But it was not the physical changes that startled Naruto the most, but rather the new intimacy that he felt with his own chakra and the surrounding chakra.

Closing his eyes, Naruto gave a sigh as he whispered, "So this is what it feels to know myself. Not only has my chakra capacity doubled, even its potency has increased drastically...I already have the same capacity as Kurama did with both his Yin and Yang halves, but with the increased concentration..." Suddenly, another voice entered his mind, but it was not the gravelly voice that he associated with Kurama.

"Congrats Boss! But do you mind resealing yourself? I can feel your power all the way here in Ellesméra, and it's overwhelming." Naruto twitched his eyebrows as he recognized it was the clone he left with Arya and Eragon, before he froze.

"Wait a sec…we're able to mentally communicate?" The clone cringed as its head started ring from the astonishment that it heard from its Boss.

"Apparently, after you found your true name, it seems like us clones are now able to communicate mentally with each other and you." Informed the clone as the real Naruto raced through the possibilities that this new ability opened up.

Before he could further communicate with the clone, an annoyed voice grumbled its way into their minds, "If you are done talking to your clone, get back onto the boat before it sinks and get over into your Kamui!" The two rolled their eyes as they ended their mental connection and Naruto, for the first time, realized that they were currently in free fall in the funnel of the ocean that he had previously formed. Hurriedly, he reactivated the seals on the boat that originally prevented it from sinking and watched as the ocean started to rapidly collapse on itself, refilling the void that was once devoid of water.

"Boss, uh, what about me?" asked the clone that was still steering the boat. Performing the Kamui, Naruto looked back at the clone that was still steering the boat. Suddenly, he gave a wide smile, "You didn't really think I didn't hear you or your thoughts…did you?"

With its eyes wide, the clone watched as Naruto disappeared into the Kamui and as tons of seawater approached it and the boat in all directions, "Well…shi-KAITEN" the clone didn't get a chance to finish before it desperately performed the Kaiten of the Gentle Fist Style in order to stay in the world.

"Ha, that should teach my clones to speak behind my back! Oi, Kurama, what did you want?" Laughed Naruto as he went towards the cave that he knew the ten-tailed fox usually napped in.

"Humph, so you found your true name, and even created a new word in a language that apparently controls everything on this primitive continent…anything else?" Kurama snorted as he poked his head outside his cave.

"I sure did," Naruto proclaimed happily until he saw the slightly upset look on his friend's face, "Wait a sec…don't tell me, did you also try to discover your true name, but couldn't?" When the second Juubi snarled at him, Naruto doubled over in laughter as he pointed at the fox, "Was it because you're still hung up about your rabbit…" before he could finish the lighthearted insult, he looked with wide eyes as multiple Bijuudama formed at the end of each of Kurama's ten tails and at his mouth, each easily able to wipe out continents…with all of them pointed directly at him.

"Oh come on." Naruto muttered as he immediately activated his wards, went through a few hand seals and activated his Preta path on the interlocking wooden pillars that appeared after he yelled out, "Mokuton: Mokujoheki!"

Not a moment later, the Kamui dimension was bathed in white light without a single shadow.

When the dust settled, Kurama looked in satisfaction at the broken surface of the jutsu that had in the past, deflected his Bijuudama with ease, came into view as the dust slowly settled. Then he saw purple orbs that shined with annoyance, followed by a slightly ruffled looking Naruto with his seals undone.

Before Naruto could counterattack, Kurama abruptly coughed, "Ehm, as I was about to say, I wanted to ask how exactly did you find your true name? The benefits you received were terrifying, which is an understatement by the way. Just on the surface, can tell that your body is closer to that of a Bijuu, just that you still have blood, muscle, and that other mushy stuff that makes you a human. No doubt, if it weren't for your Uzumaki cells, you would have probably turned into a humanoid Bijuu, unable to improve physically or chakra-wise without much difficulty. This is completely unlike what we read about true name awakenings; for others, their power did not generally increase and even if they did, it was not by much. "

Naruto glared up at the giant fox for a moment longer before nodding his agreement. "I agree with you, the improvements I have gained after being enlightened is mind-boggling, but I think I know the answer to this." He answered as he relayed over what happened to Kurama. The giant fox shuddered as he felt chills going down his spine as he remembered what the blonde said.: "I am a god, yet not a god!" It was one thing to casually say one had the power of a god, but it was completely different when said in the ancient language that did not allow for lies. "If Naruto is a god, then I can be no less! I am Kurama, the eldest and most powerful of the Bijuu, and now the Juubi, I will not allow a human, even if it is Naruto, to trump me in anything!" And with that vow, there appeared a small subtle shift within the fox, but not enough for anyone to feel anything.

The two remained silent in the Kamui dimension until Naruto suddenly cried anime tears, "Because my chakra is suddenly 2x greater and denser and my chakra 'pathways' changed, my control is shot to hell again! Nooooooooo!" Kurama just face-palmed at his container's 'misfortune'.

"Here we go again." Sighed the fox as he retreated back into his cave and closed his eyes.

Notes

I've been feeling uncertain about this chapter so I apologize if it's not up to par. Thank you for reading!