Universe 6 World of Shinobi Konohagakure
"From this moment onwards.. the world will know Pain!" Pain declared as he floated above Konohagakure.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Spat out of Tsunade's Slug Summon, Katsuyu, Sakura coughed as she looked around at the destroyed Konohagakure.
"What... what the hell just happened?" Sakura said slowly as her eyes widened due to the sheer amount of destruction that lay before her.
'We need you Naruto...'
"WE NEED NARUT.." Sakura began to shout before a white light suddenly appeared in the centre of Konohagakure.
Universe 7 World of the Kai's, moments before Kibito and Gohan's departure..
"Now go on Gohan.. the world needs you now." Goku said as he quickly hugged his tailed son. "This will be the last time I see you until you make your own journey to the afterlife."
"Don't worry dad, I won't let you down!" Gohan said as he ran over to Kibito.
"Are you ready Gohan?" Kibito asked as Gohan approached.
"Yeah let's go!" Gohan replied as Kibito put a hand on his shoulder.
'Instant Transmission for the win!' Gohan thought as he put his fingers to his head making Supreme Kai's eyes go wide.
"No don't use that! The combined techniques will.."
"Huh?" Gohan replied as the two vanished.
Konohagakure
Looking around at all the destruction before him. Gohan shook his head.
'This is much worse than I thought! I can't even pick up anyone's ki!'
'Wait a minute... I should at least be able to pick up Piccolo's ki.' Gohan thought as he began to float up into the sky to get a better view of his surroundings.
'Something is wrong... very wrong.'
"Who is that!?" Sakura exclaimed as she looked at the rapidly rising Kai outfit wearing Gohan.
"I don't know Sakura-san.. hopefully he is a friend not a foe.." Katsuyu replied as she also stared at the newcomer.
Stirring in the wreckage in different parts of the town, the other inhabitants began to slowly get up.
"HAA!" Kiba shouted as he pushed a large slab of rock away from his body, his mother Tsume already free of her own obstruction giving him encouragement.
"No... sweat!" Kiba exclaimed as Akamaru jumped around him barking in relief.
"What... destruction.."
"And it looks like we aren't done." Tsume said as she glanced up at the skies.
"You are not Uzumaki Naruto... nor from this village.. are you from Iwagakure?" Pain asked as he floated over to Gohan.
'I can't understand him!' Gohan thought in shock as he tried to comprehend Pain's words.
'Why can't I sense anything from this boy?' Pain thought as he looked at Gohan.
"This destruction..." Gohan muttered as he looked over the village. "What could have caused it?"
Alerted by a groan on the ground. Gohan swiftly flew over to the wounded citizens.
"Easy.. easy.." Gohan said as he pushed away the wreckage surrounding the old couple.
"My husband he..." The woman began, tears running down her face as she looked at her unconscious husband.
"He protected you... like any other man should." Gohan said noticing that even though he was unable to understand their language, their body language conveyed what was needed.
"Who are you and are you with Pain?" Said one of the slugs that was near the couple.
"Thank god, someone I can understand!" Gohan exclaimed with a sigh. "My name is Son Gohan." Gohan replied as he looked up at the skies.
"Also who is Pain?" Gohan asked as he observed the land from his position.
"The person who did all of this and also the man who just spoke to you." The slug replied, making Gohan's eyes widen before narrowing.
'Another destroyer...' Gohan thought.
"Don't worry... I'm one of the good guys."
"His name is Son Gohan?!" Sakura said as she helped heal her Hyūga guard. "And you said he's here to help us?"
"His clothes are not from any village I've ever visited.." Katsuyu said as she continued to relay information.
"Let's just hope that he can stand up to Pain..." Sakura said as she and the other inhabitants of Konoha wondered about the newcomer.
But the fact remained...
Where was Naruto?
"Oh no! Gohan's not in this universe anymore!" Supreme Kai said frantically as Kibito returned with a stunned look on his face.
"WHAT!?" Goku exclaimed.
"He didn't know what would happen if he used your instant transmission technique with Kibito's... The techniques must have combined and sent Gohan somewhere else!" Supreme Kai replied.
Narrowing his eyes, Goku focused intently.
"I.. I can't sense him at all in this universe!"
"I just said that!" Supreme Kai exclaimed.
"I had to double check.. after all you misjudged us." Goku replied making the Kai hang his head in shame.
"Well I.."
"Calm down, calm down!" Elder Kai said as he came over to the three. "What's done is done, terrible as it may seem we have to take care of Buu and this universe's welfare for now."
"But my son.. he was our last hope!" Goku shouted.
"No... these our are last hope." Elder Kai said as he pointed to his earrings.
Arriving shortly after Gohan in Konoha due to being summoned by Shima, Naruto in Sage Mode, looked around from the top of the toad Gamabunta's head. Two other large toads flanked them while Fukasaku, a much smaller toad sat between Naruto's legs.
"What's going on? Why aren't we in Konoha?" Naruto exclaimed as he continued to look for familiar landmarks.
"Where is the enemy?" Gamabunta added.
What is the meaning of this Ma-chan?" Fukasaku asked, as his wife Shima appeared. "Why didn't you summon us to Konoha?"
"This is Konoha..." Shima replied gravely.
"WHAT!" Gamabunta exclaimed.
"Look around... not everything got destroyed." Shima added.
Looking in the far distance, Naruto finally caught sight of the Hokage Rock which had been obscured by clouds of dust.
"No way..."
"It should be obvious who did this, I feel the same presence that I felt when Jiraiya had his last stand."
"Then we know what we have to do. Granny-sage, point me in the way of the guys who did this and i'll.." Naruto began as he narrowed his eyes
"There's something else... a new face arrived mere moments before you did." Shima said as she pointed into the village.
"What?!"
"He's not from any village that Jiraiya visited and also appears to have similar abilities to the man that Jiraiya fought."
"Where is he, and how do we know he is not a threat?" Gambunta asked
"We'll just have to see."
Swiftly running through the streets, Gohan helped as many injured citizens to the hands of more capable warriors.
'Gohan.. GOHAN!' Shouted a voice in his mind.
"This is Son Gohan, who's calling?' Gohan replied as he slowed down slightly.
'Ah, you have a much better sense of humour than your father.. This is King Kai talking.' King Kai laughed as he began to relay what he knew about Gohan's current situation.
'I'm not in my universe any more, it's been a year and father fused with Mr Satan?!' Gohan replied as the news that his father had been brought back to life stunned him.
'Yes Gohan, and we were able to defeat Majin Buu.. however there is a problem.. the Dragon Ball's of this universe do not apply to the universe that you are in... which means.'
'You can't bring me back?!'
'Not at this current moment in time.'
'How are you communicating with me anyway King Kai?' Gohan queried.
'With the assistance of the other Kai's, and a being from the universe that you currently reside in.'
'Well that helps I guess... so is everyone else okay?'
'If I may, I need to speak with the Chosen One of your universe.' Said a voice.
'Oh.. okay... and yes your family is okay Gohan.' King Kai replied as he let the voice talk directly to Gohan.
'Son Gohan.. no mere coincidence has summoned you here. Also if you are curious as to how you can understand me it's due to me being a creature of nature and a sage. Did you talk with any other creatures besides myself?'
'Yes a slug actually, is she a similarly unique creature?" Gohan asked.
'Yes, but not like me."
'Also what did you mean by it wasn't an accident I landed here?'
'What I mean is that I summoned you here.'
'WHAT?!'
'Do not misunderstand me, the technique you used did bring you into our universe.. but it would have kept you flying until it had an anchor.. I am that anchor.'
'I guess a thanks is in order but more importantly what is your name?' Gohan replied as his mind reeled from the information that he was given.
'My name is Gamamaru, I am a Toad Sage..'
'Wait a minute you're a Toad!? I thought I was talking to some sort of Mystic!' King Kai exclaimed making Gamamaru chuckle.
'That I am, when you tried to contact Gohan, you came across me.'
'So why did you anchor Gohan to this planet?' King Kai asked.
'There was a vision I saw long ago upon my birth.. a vision that could never have happened if this very event had not occurred. A vision that showed two beings becoming one via an unknown means to safeguard the future of this universe.'
'Go on..' King Kai said.
'At first I dismissed it due to the chances of such a vision coming to pass was very unlikely but here we are now..'
'So what do you need me to do?' Gohan asked as he ran past Sakura who looked at him with hope in her eyes.
'Let the arriving boy fight against the threat that is now attacking the village but if he should he require assistance, fate will show you the way.'
'Ok..' Gohan replied sounding confused as he easily moved the large blocks of destroyed building off of some young shinobi.
'Can't believe I'm talking with a toad right now!' King Kai said.
'How can you be sure that I am one of the men from your vision?' Gohan asked as Choji looked at him with wary eyes as he helped the group out.
'Because of the energy you have.' Gamamaru replied.
"That man.. he has no Chakra network!" Said the Hyūga member that was stationed with Sakura as he used his Byakugan to see if Gohan stood any chance against Pain.
"What?!"
"Whatever power he used to fly is not Chakra based..."
'A guy with unknown skills and a unique energy source... must be one of Orochimaru's experiments.' Sakura thought with a frown. 'And I really thought he was here to help.'
"Naruto's here!" The Hyūga member suddenly exclaimed, snapping Sakura out of her thoughts.
'Naruto... thank goodness!'
'Now remember what I said... do not get involved in his battle unless it is truly necessary to do so.'
'Sure... these people need my help anyway, and since I can't sense what kind of energy those people use I would be going in blind.' Gohan said as he crushed or moved pieces of rubble away from house entrances.
'Not to worry, when the battle is over have the toads that came with Naruto take you to me... I'll explain more to you in person.'
'GUYS THIS IS TIRING!' King Kai shouted on his side of the conversation the other Kai's were getting tired of using their telepathic ability over such a great distance.
'Thank you for your assistance North Kai, with your help I have been able to make a connection with Son Gohan and will be able to personally reach him telepathically.'
'Your welcome... also Gohan... Goku said to keep getting stronger, when you two meet again he wants to see all that you've learned.'
'Tell him I will King Kai,' Gohan replied as tears ran down his face at the thought that his father believed that they would meet again. 'And tell Piccolo that I won't slack off again.'
'I will stay sharp Gohan!' King Kai said as he cut the connection.
'Well that about does it.' Gohan thought as he heard sounds of battle going on behind him. 'These people are my current priority.'
'Still can't get a read off of that guy's energy, it's not Chakra and it's not Senjutsu.' Naruto thought as he continued to battle with the remaining two Paths of Pain. 'If he's a backup trap by the Akatsuki I'll need a plan.
"You are a strong Shinobi indeed. This is the furthest that Pain has ever been pushed... however." The Shinra Tensei using Pain said as he put his hand out.
"Banshō Ten'in."
Working as quickly as they could to gather natural energy, Fukasaku and Shima mentally winced as Naruto got pulled into the arms of the Chakra draining Pain.
'Hang in there Naruto-boy.. this is a long startup genjutsu!' Fukasaku thought as he kept his eyes closed so that he couldn't get distracted.
"Don't worry, I won't kill you.. at least until I have extracted the beast from your body." The Shinra Tensei using Pain said as he gazed at Naruto.
"Heh, don't go underestimating me, I still have my Senjutsu!"
"You are correct, that mode of yours does complicate things."
'What.. the?' Naruto thought as he felt chakra being drained from him steadily.
"Ah... I see you have noticed.. jinchūriki of the Nine-tails"
"But you said that you weren't going to kill me..." Naruto questioned.
"I will bring you near to the brink of death if that is required to achieve my goal.. your life itself means nothing to me."
'So this technique holds me still huh?' Naruto thought as an idea popped into his head. 'Then this is a perfect opportunity.'
"It seems you are a wise shinobi."
'Heh.. don't count out Naruto Uzumaki just yet!' Naruto thought as he continued to draw in natural energy.
Begining to bulge out, the Chakra absorbing Pain stared as his hands began to turn to stone.
"You know... Nature energy is really hard to control." Naruto smirked as the Chakra he accumulated continued to be drained from him.
"HAH!" Naruto shouted as he broke the hold restraining him as the Pain that continued to absorb his Senjutsu turned into a stone toad.
'Ah! That Pain went through a petrified frog transformation from absorbing too much of Naruto-boy's Sage Jutsu Chakra!' Fukasaku thought as he opened his eyes just a bit to see what was the cause of so much Natural energy going towards Naruto.
"Heh! Now it's just you and me." Naruto panted as he crouched low, the markings of sage mode still on his face.
'It's ready!' Shima thought as she and Fukasaku lifted their hands in sync.
'Banshō Ten'in.' Pain said as he pointed his palm in the frog's direction.
"Pa-chan!" Shima exclaimed as Fukasaku was being pulled against his will towards the remaining Pain.
"Geezer Sage!" Naruto exclaimed as he used the bit of Senjutsu to intercept Fukasaku and Pain but he could not escape the gravitational pull of the Banshō Ten'in.
"I've had enough of that particular jutsu.." Pain said as he grabbed Naruto with one hand and stabbed Fukasaku with one of his chakra receivers.
"Oh, no Naruto-kun is in trouble!" Hinata exclaimed as she watched the battle through her Byakugan.
"Hinata-sama, if we go we will only distract him!" Said her guard. "If you go now you will get killed!"
"He is already distracted!" Hinata exclaimed as she vanished from sight.
"HINATA-SAMAAAAAAA!"
"So this is the leader of the village." Gohan said as he looked at a comatose elderly looking Tsunade lying on Sakura's lap.
"Hai... this is indeed Tsunade-sama." Katsuyu said as she looked at her friend/summoner sadly. "She used all of her energy to protect the village, that is why she looks like this."
"Hmm." Gohan mused as he put his hand over Tsunade.
"Wait... what are you doing?!" Sakura said as she moved to protect Tsunade from what she perceived as an attack.
"Severe energy drain..." Katsuyu replied as she translated what Gohan was saying to her to the best of her ability. "Your healing technique is very similar to a friend of mine but you apparently are not as adept as he is. I am giving you a hand."
"I have no idea how much energy this woman has so I may be overcompensating," Katsuyu replied with wide eyes as Tsunade's face began to slowly return to its usual visage due to Gohan's Ki being pushed slowly into her. "Now I do not know when she will come out of her coma, however, she has done what any leader should do for her people."
"What are you?" Sakura said in amazement.
"A..."
Looking up quickly, Gohan saw Hinata's body floating in the air before suddenly being pulled down.
Vanishing when he heard a loud crack, Gohan left a clone of himself behind using Tien's multi-form technique.
"A Kagebushin?!" Sakura exclaimed as the clone continued to direct his ki into Tsunade's chakra starving body.
Grabbing the Hyūga before she got impaled. Gohan stared at the trapped Naruto.
'I know he said not to interfere... but other people are getting drawn into this fight.' Gohan thought as he vanished and put the wounded Hyūga next to his clone before returning to the battlefield.
"Why are you interfering with my mission?" Pain said to Gohan.
'Geez this guy... he's a bit sadistic..' Gohan thought as he used his limited telekinetic skills to pull the Chakra receivers out of Naruto's body and flung them away, causing Naruto to grit his teeth.
'I don't know what those things do to people but seeing as he just tried to kill that girl with one it can't be anything fun.' Gohan thought as Naruto struggled to rise.
"Shinra Tensei!" Pain shouted as he tried to push Gohan away from Naruto's body.
Glancing at the devastator of Konoha. Gohan raised a brow when his clothes ruffled.
'Hmm... that felt similar to a ki repel..'
Eyes widening when Gohan didn't even budge. Nagato, watching on through the eyes of Pain from his hidden spot out in the outskirts of the village changed tactics.
'Banshō Ten'in!'
"Nah... gonna have to be a lot more subtle than that," Gohan said as he grabbed the floating Naruto with ease.
'He's not even affected by any of my moves!' Pain thought as he continued to use his chakra to pull Naruto closer.
'Hmm.. that one is a little stronger...' Gohan thought as his clothes began rippling even faster.
''Give Naruto one of your earrings..' Old Kai and Gamamaru said in his mind. 'Tell the slug to tell Naruto Gamamaru the great toad sage said to take one.'
'Why?' Gohan replied.
'Because you still cannot fight that man, not because you are far stronger than him but because you are not the one destined to truly face him, and neither is Naruto.'
'So having us wear these earrings will make the guy you had a prophecy about appear?' Gohan said as he removed an earring on request and repeated the words that he was told to the slug that he saw in Naruto's clothes.
'Something like that.'
"What on earth is going on now?!" Sakura exclaimed as a loud roar was heard.
'Naruto and that man are becoming one entity!' Katsuyu said making Sakura's eyes widen.
"WHAT!"
'What is this power?!' Pain thought as he was flung away by the energy being produced by the new being.
"HAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The fused being shouted as its merged power source began to pour off steadily making the Katsuyu in Naruto's clothes flee for her life.
Within the mind of the fusion..
'BRAT! YOU'LL REGRET GIVING ME THIS MUCH POWER!' Said the Nine-tails from within the fused body of his respective owners.
'I'M SORRY.'
'BRAT YOU... WAIT WHAT DID YOU SAY!?' Exclaimed the now free from it's cage Kyūbi.
'I HAD NO IDEA OF THE PAIN THAT YOU AND YOUR SIBLINGS WENT THROUGH.' The fusion of Naruto and Gohan said as he knelt before the Kyūbi. 'AND I KNOW THAT SAYING SUCH A THING DOES NOT CHANGE THE PAST OR OUR CURRENT SITUATION... BUT I WILL SAY FROM BOTH SIDES OF MY FUSION, THAT I INTEND TO CHANGE THE FUTURE FOR ALL OF US, SHINOBI AND TAILED BEASTS ALL AT THE SAME...'
'HAH YOU SAY THAT AND YET YOU STILL CALL ME A BEAST?'
'I AM NOT CALLING YOU WHAT NARUTO CALLED YOU IN THE PAST AND I AM NOT CALLING YOU WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE CALLING YOU, BECAUSE YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT IT IS NOT YOUR NAME.'
'SO UNTIL YOU TELL ME YOUR NAME I WILL NOT MENTION ANY OTHER NAME BESIDES FRIEND.'
'WHY?'
'THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION... WHY? I AM NEITHER UZUMAKI NARUTO OR SON GOHAN, BUT A DIFFERENT BEING ALTOGETHER, JUST LIKE YOU ARE NO LONGER JUST MY FRIEND.'
'WHY DAMMIT!'
'WE MAY HAVE HAD DIFFERENT UPBRINGING BUT WHAT BOTH GOHAN AND NARUTO WANT IS A PLACE WHERE WE CAN ALL LIVE IN HARMONY. HOWEVER, THERE ARE THREATS BIGGER THAN THE ONES ATTACKING THIS PLANET RIGHT NOW, THREATS THAT CAN ONLY BE STOPPED BY ENDING THIS CYCLE OF HATRED AND WAR... PERHAPS THAT IS WHY I WAS TO FUSE WITH NARUTO BECAUSE WE BOTH STAND FOR THE SAME THING. AND WE WANT YOU TO STAND WITH US AND IN TIME FORGIVE THOSE WHO PUT YOU INSIDE OF CONTAINERS TO USE AS A THREAT AGAINST OTHERS.'
'YOU TALK LIKE YOU CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING WITH SOME WORDS.'
'YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN WORDS... FORTUNATELY, WE WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.'
'FROM WHAT I CAN SEE THIS PLANET IS NOT AS ADVANCED AS GOHAN'S IS, BUT IT HAS THE RESOURCES TO PERHAPS CATCH UP TO SAID PLANET.'
'THAT'S ALL NICE AND ALL BUT WHAT HAS THAT GOT TO DO WITH HERE AND NOW?!'
'PICTURE THIS IF YOU WILL, A PLANET WHERE EVERYONE GETS ALONG, MAN AND NATURE WORKING ALONGSIDE ONE ANOTHER A FUTURE WHERE WE DON'T USE PEOPLE AS CONTAINERS FOR WEAPONS OF ANY KIND.'
'SOUNDS IMPOSSIBLE.'
'YOU FORGET WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH, GOHAN BY HIMSELF COULD HAVE TORN THIS PLANET APART WITH EASE, BUT THAT JUST INVITES MUCH STRONGER ENEMIES TO ATTACK AND EVENTUALLY WE ARE BACK TO STAGE ONE. BUT... IF WE MAKE SURE TO HELP NOT JUST ONE NATION BUT ALL NATIONS WE CAN BETTER PROTECT THE SHINOBI FUTURE.'
'So what do you propose?' Said an unfamiliar voice making the Kyūbi growl.
'And how do you intend to obtain it?' Said a feminine voice.
'AH FOURTH HOKAGE... HOW NICE OF YOU TO SHOW UP,' The fusion said as he turned around and looked the fourth Hokage dead in the eyes. 'BETTER LATE THAN NEVER HUH?'
'FOURTH HOKAGE? KUSHINA!?'
'THIS IS WHAT I PROPOSE...'