Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any other universes mentioned in this story. Nor do I own enough money to be worth suing.
Prologue:
Departure Arrival and ReturnTimeline 1
Konoha - Night of the genin exam.
Naruto had a last look at the scroll before him. Making a cross seal he began to mould chakra. Distracted as he was he didn't sense Mizuki's arrival.
Mizuki almost panicked at seeing the demon about to attempt a jutsu. Some of those had been forbidden for a reason and even if it had no hope of actually performing them a failure with that much chakra behind it could have catastrophic consequences! Why did the demon have to be so damned hard to catch?
Drawing a giant shuriken he charged it with as much chakra as the seals would hold and let fly.
Naruto had learned long ago to pay attention to the sound of a blade cutting air, but unprepared he couldn't even turn before the chakra sheathed metal ripped into his stomach. Into the seal.
The prison of the Kyuubi was a masterpiece. A precisely balanced multi-dimensional construct designed to withstand any degree of pressure. From the inside. But with foreign chakra and half formed energy flooding back into it the delicate seal shattered.
For a moment the immortal Kyuubi knew fear. But foxes are sly, bijuu are stubborn and the nine-tails was powerful. Such as he were not to be ended so easily.
With a roar he grasped the fractured seal and pulled. Holding it together even as it wrenched free of the physical world, pulling the great beast and his would-be jailor into the void.
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Whateley Academy, workshop - 2006 Weapons fair
"This is my dimensional disruptor, guaranteed to nullify any warper effects."
"'Guaranteed'? I hear your devises aren't all that reliable when someone else uses them. Don't see a safety catch either."
"How dare you accuse me of selling faulty equipment! My work is perfect! Unsurpassed! What could a retard like you possibly know of such matters?! I am a genius and…"
Once more a devisor was dricking out while holding a working, physics defying, safety catch deficient energy rifle.
With a mighty crack a bolt of octarine power launched from the rifles barrel. Streaking across the room it impacted on a force field. Unfortunately it was a devisor force field not well rooted in physics. Even worse it was a force field that was just caught up in one of Delta Spike's legendary catastrophes.
In the confusion of every PFG in the room going haywire no one noticed the vortex forming as reality bending energies clashed. Only when Delta's short-circuiting devise was disabled did people turn their attention to this new potential crisis.
Someone had the good sense to erect a shield just before the vortex exploded. In the wake of the detonation all that was left of the empty stall was a pile of rubble and a young, naked and hideously injured boy. A boy glowing with ominous crimson energy.
"Someone get him to the infirmary! And call security!"
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Timeline 2
Konoha, forest of death - Second phase of the chunin exam
Sakura screamed as Orochimaru drove his hand into Naruto's stomach.
"Five Elements Seal!"
That was an error on his part. But then, he had always been somewhat reckless and too eager to try things just to see if they worked. The seal failed. Demonic chakra exploded forth.
Naruto and Orochimaru were obliterated instantly.
Sasuke, mere feet from the blast, fared little better.
In a futile gesture Sakura rushed into a substitution. Knowing she didn't have enough time. Knowing that even if she succeeded the jutsu couldn't take her far enough to escape. Still she tried.
Across Konoha people trembled as a tsunami of killing intent washed over the village. From the heart of training ground 44 a colossus was rising. The nine-tails was free.
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West edge of the Blighted Marshes
The equipment was set up. The engineers were ready. Soon the clan would have unlimited resources and be assured a place on the council of thirteen.
Power began to flow. Bolt of energy sparked from the crystallised magic at the heart of the machine. An inhuman whine split the air as reality rent asunder. For a moment, the winds of magic blew unimpeded into the world. Fire was born.
Everything within a hundred yards of the rift was incinerated. All life for almost a mile was destroyed by the short lived flames.
In the centre of the new crater the rift collapsed, leaving a single figure amongst the devastation. She collapsed to the earth, her pink hair spilling over her face as she passed out from exhaustion. Had anyone been around to search her they would have discovered a full pack of survival gear and an impressive supply of knives. But for now she lay undisturbed.
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Timeline 3
Valley of the End - Final moments of Sasuke and Naruto's duel
Sasuke and Naruto charged, leapt, lunged. Two of the strongest attack jutsu ever created, both powered by something at once more and less than human, clashed. Tainted life energy mixing with pure destructive power.
Reality groaned under the pressure. This valley has seen such blows struck before. They had left the veil between dimensions thin, frayed. All things have a breaking point and this was one struggle too many.
Naruto was pulled from the maelstrom by Kyuubi. The demon was not done with this world.
Sasuke had no such aid.
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Stromgarde keep - One year before the Dark Portal reopens
Trying to summon demons while being attacked is rarely a wise action. But a few people pull it off. The local syndicate forces was certainly making a good try at it.
The alliance troops had overrun this part of the city and would soon break down the doors of this strong house. But if the remaining five conjures could complete the ritual first it would not matter.
A Pit Lord was unlikely to be particularly concerned about a few soldiers.
As the penultimate chant, which would aim the spell began, a knife flew from the shadows and buried itself in the throat of the lead conjuror. In a panic the remaining men finished their spell, reckoning that whatever demon they summoned they would have a better chance of surviving an unbound demon than a trained assassin. But it was no agent of the burning legion they called from the Nether.
In a flash a creature appeared, grey skinned and with winds formed in the shape of hands. Cuts covered it and even the lurking rogue could tell it was in no condition to fight anything. As it collapsed the rogue leapt.
It was a short fight against the exhausted conjures. As blood began to cover the ground Stephen Swiftblade looked at the creature lying in the centre of the ritual cercal. He watched in amazement as its wings shrank into its back and the greyness faded from its skin. After a moment all that was left was a young boy, battered but alive.
Stephan considered for a moment. This demanded investigation and the best way to get information was straight from the horses mouth.
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Main timeline
Konoha - Midnight, days after the genin exam
There was no flash, no city wide shimmering, no howl of reality being abused. Nothing dramatic. Just three gasps as souls returned to their rightful places.
Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke each stared wide eyed for a moment before unconsciousness claimed them. Minds frantically trying to assimilate years of experience.
They had been given a second chance at a life stolen from them. This is their story.
Authors notes: This is the first major story I have posted on . I don't pretend to believe this idea is original but with luck this particular arrangement hasn't been used before.
As always constructive criticism is welcome.