Disclaimer: Fan of Fanfics21 does not own Naruto or Final Fantasy XIII

It was nighttime and a 13 year old Lightning in a kimono is currently looking for the elusive Naruto Uzumaki after he killed an Iwa-nin with his bare hands, she was worried about him because he would never harm anyone let alone kill somebody. Of course the Iwa-nin was trying to do something to her and she would have made him enter a world of pain without Naruto's help, but she saw the cruelty in his eyes that one time during training and then when he killed that Iwa-nin. She checked the outskirts of the town and finally found him sleeping in the tree branches as she noticed dried up tears in his eyes. Willing herself, she returned to Naruto's mindscape to find answers.

*In the mindscape: Boundaries between Heaven and Hell*

Lightning noticed something was wrong with Naruto's mind, the clouds were black with thunder roaring as down below, the fiery cavern of Hell was burning even hotter than before. She ventured down to the Hell Pit of Naruto's mindscape to see what the Kyuubi was up to. As she drew near, she heard two voices talking.

"You worthless piece of trash, if it wasn't for this seal I would gorge your flesh and crush your soul!" the voice said as Lightning realized it was the Kyuubi, for some reason he seemed angry at something or more specifically someone. She heard a dark chuckle as another voice spoke up. "You couldn't even break the seal on your own. So why should a mere harmless plushy like you try to threaten me?" the voice said and when Lightning heard that voice, it unnerved her when she heard it.

The voice was cold, vile, filled with hate and malice, and of above all, it was pure evil. There was no sense of love, happiness, joy, or even hope in that voice as she peeked around the corner to see Naruto's C'ieth form but different. The body was made of pure black crystal with glowing red fissures covering its body. It had foul yellow eyes that had bloodlust and a powerful desire to kill and even hunger in them as the Kyuubi glared at the creature. "You're just as annoying as the brat I give you that. But what exactly are you? You are Naruto, yet you are not at the same time. I even sense his hatred in you." The fox asked as the C'ieth chuckled.

"I am a Shadow, the true self. I am his dark emotions he had held over the 13 years of his life taking form of his C'ieth form, albeit a better color scheme as I slowly destroy the boy's soul from the inside." The creature said as the fox looked at it with one eye. "Really? Then you are doing a terrible job at it, only influencing him a little but nothing at all." The fox replied as the C'ieth fumed.

"Shut it! I can't help it that his soul is too strong at the moment. I just need something that would either split his soul or even break his willpower for me to do anything effective at all." The C'ieth replied as the fox rolled its enormous eyes at that. "Good luck with that, because this brat has an iron will and I doubt there is any jutsu that could affect his soul." The fox replied as the C'ieth started to chuckle before turning into a full blown laugh.

"What's so funny exactly you pathetic speck of hate?" the fox demanded as the C'ieth looked at him with a grin that would make a fox proud of. "Because I had a vision that during this mission, Naruto will split his soul in two in order to save someone he cherishes which will give me the opportunity to corrupt his soul for good!" the C'ieth shouted as both Lightning's and the Kyuubi's eyes widened.

"You can see the future?" the fox asked as the C'ieth nodded with a twisted smile on its face. "Indeed. Even Naruto can have visions but those are rare for him as I can see them more often, I also got the front row seat of seeing him killing his own best friend hahahahaha!" the C'ieth said laughing as the fox looked down at it.

"You are by far the most twisted creature that ever existed." The fox stated as the C'ieth looked at him like he was stupid. "I'm not the most twisted creature in existence sadly, that one belongs to some whack job named Kefka who was insane and actually became a true God and destroyed the world." The C'ieth replied causing both the Kyuubi and Lightning who was listening to sweat drop at that. Always leave it to a clown to be the ultimate villain these days.

"So I take it that it was you that made Naruto kill that genin?" the fox asked as the C'ieth nodded. "So simple really, I manipulated his anger to my advantage when the mere genin pointed a kunai at Lightning so it was just like that." The C'ieth said with a snap of his fingers. "I'll be back when the time comes, so I can give you the front row seat of MY power…."

And with that, the C'ieth vanished as the fox looked out to the corner where Lightning was. "You can come out girl, though I am surprised that you are a lot younger this time." The fox said as Lightning walked up to the cage. "Kyuubi…do you know where the memory of Naruto killing that ninja?" Lightning asked as a giant tail appeared and the tip had a red orb that resembled a dew drop as it fell to the floor. "That thing has all of Naruto's dark memories, find what you're looking for and get out." The fox replied as it retreated into the depths of its cage.

Lightning wondered what that was about and was very cautious of the red orb, with just a finger she poked it and felt nothing. Just as she was about to grab the orb, something whacked her in the head hard as she fell unconscious. Kyuubi heard this and went to see what the racket was about to see a male figure standing over her dumping rocks on her from his bag.

"Ahehehehe…Ehehehehehehe…AHAHAHAHAHA!" laughed Nione as he held his sides at his stupid stunt. Seeing this, the Kyuubi didn't know whether to smack his head into the bars for the stupidity or sweat drop at it so he did both.

Hearing the bars being whacked, Nione turned around and saw the Kyuubi and waved to it. "Hey foxy! Long time no see eh?" Nione asked as he walked up to the fox that looked at him. "Even when I was whole you still do stupid stunts like these and somehow piss me off without trying." The fox snarled as its eye twitched as Nione smirked. "It's what I do best at after all." Nione said with a bow as the fox looked at the unconscious Lightning.

"Why did you knock her out? All she was doing was trying to erase that memory from today." The giant fox asked as Nione rolled his eyes. "First thing was simple, Naruto will remember it soon afterwards, secondly I was going to rewrite this little scenario and see the look on Lightning's face." Nione said with a devious smile on his face.

Kyuubi recognized that look on his face, being around Death when he was the Juubi tended to have some very…interesting memories. "You really are one sad, sad being you know that?" the fox asked as Nione nodded his head and grabbed the red orb only to start dodging an attack from a spear with its blade resembling more of a combat knife. When Nione turned to see who it was he looked like a kid who was just told that everything in the candy store was free.

The person wielding the spear was wearing a long coat reminiscent that of a banchō had black gloves with silver claws for fingers on them with black pants, a white turtle neck shirt underneath the long coat and grey boots with an imitating mask with two slits on the cheeks of the mask as a long bandana that reached to his feet and two yellow eyes from behind the mask was glaring at him.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Cipher himself. What brings you out? I thought you would still be sleeping." Nione asked as the figure pointed its spear at him. "I woke up sensing you in here, I don't know where this place is, but I'm kicking you out." The figure said in a calm, noble, majestic tone that many would bow in respect when in this voice's presence. "All I'm doing is a little favor for your reincarnation is all. Though you'll be back to sleep soon as well." Nione pointed out as the figure was turning transparent. "So be it, when I fully awaken I will be demanding answers then." The figure said as it vanished. "Whatever you say…Dios Del Yang." Nione said as he grabbed the red orb and at the same time, time and space began to be rewritten.

*The next day*

Lightning jolted up from her futon gasping for breath at the dream, looking down, she was wearing a white bathrobe as she got up. She heard a knocking on the door as a familiar voice she thought was supposed to be dead by the hands of Naruto last night was heard. "Lady Éclair, Lord Naruto and Master Jiraiya are outside." Said the Iwa-nin as Lightning checked through the peep hole in the door way to see him still alive. "What the hell happened? And how did he know my name?" Lightning asked as she noticed she was still in a 13 year old body and her kimono was folded nicely to the side.

No other choice of clothing, she wore the kimono and got out of the room to see the Iwa-nin kneeling before her. Deciding to get some answers, she began her search for answers starting with that Iwa-nin. "What's going on? And how are you still alive exactly…?" Lightning asked only to realize she didn't know the boy's name.

"It's Jaken Morooka Lady Éclair, I was spared by your words alone to convince Lord Naruto from snapping my neck but in exchange I am his loyal vassal that will travel to the ends of the earth with him. I am forever in your debt Lady Éclair." Jaken said as he kept bowing to her.

"How do you know my name exactly?" Lightning asked as Jaken looked at her. "Well…for some strange reason you and Lord Naruto were married. I, Master Jiraiya, and two people named Nione and Pandora were there to witness it, though that Nione character had a mischievous look on his face for some reason." Jaken explained as Lightning's eye twitched at the mention of the jerk responsible for her being sealed and…wait did he say married?

"What do you mean by "married" exactly?" Lightning asked as Jaken looked at her, "You too? Lord Naruto has been bothering Master Jiraiya nonstop trying to find out what happened last night." Jaken explained as Lightning narrowed her eyes. "Jaken, get me a spoon, any kind will suffice." She ordered as Jaken nodded and dashed off to find the item while wondering why she needed it.

Once Lightning found both Naruto and Jiraiya, Naruto was in his trade mark L'Cie outfit he acquired when he time-traveled to the Vile Peaks was currently bothering Jiraiya who was clearly annoyed. "Is that all? Are you certain of it?" Naruto asked as Jiraiya glared at the boy. "Of course I did you brat now stop bothering me so I can get some info on Tsunade!" Jiraiya shouted as Lightning checked his body language and noticed he was lying.

"Jiraiya!" Lightning shouted as said man froze at that tone of voice, he knew that kind of tone when Tsunade found out he was lying to her and got the living daylights beaten out of him when he saw the younger version of Lightning glaring at him with the fury of a thousand Tsunade's.

"Hey Lightning, what's up?" Jiraiya asked trying not to say her real name because the look in her eyes made him feel like he's died in 49 extremely painful ways. "You better tell me what happened or so help me I'll make you spill your guts." Lightning said in a cold voice that sent chills up both Naruto and Jiraiya's spines. "But I already told Naruto all that I know already!" Jiraiya exclaimed as Lightning's eyes narrowed.

"Nice try, but I'm trained to know when someone's lying and you better not hide anything from me or else." She said in a threating tone. "Or else what?" Jiraiya shot back as a challenge, the poor fool. "Lady Éclair! I got the spoon you wanted!" Jaken shouted as he handed the spoon into her waiting hand as she had an evil look in her eye. "Let me show you how I can interrogate someone with just a spoon." Lightning said to Naruto and Jaken as they stood to the sides.

What happened next was so horrifying that it couldn't be described as Jiraiya's screams of terror were heard as Naruto and Jaken looked at the site with pure fear.

"NOOO! IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BEND THAT WAY!"

"Actually it can."

"WAHHHH! I WANT MY MOMMY!"

"Take it like a man!"

"AAAHHHH!"

*few minutes later*

"Lightning, that was THE MOST disturbing thing that I have ever seen in my entire life. I would jump to my death just to avoid being interrogated by you of all people." Naruto muttered as Lightning was back in her 24 year old body in her Sanctum Soldier outfit as Jiraiya laid on the floor whimpering and asking for his mommy.

"If he couldn't handle a beginner's level of interrogation, then I doubt he could live through the other ones." Lightning replied as Naruto and Jaken paled at the thought and decided to come clean with anything she asks so they don't have to suffer the same fate as Jiraiya. "So…find anything?" he asked nervously as she nodded her head.

"From what I heard, you spared Jaken's life here," she said pointing to the former Iwa-nin, "and in exchange for sparring his life, he will follow your will to the point of death." She said as Jaken nodded his head. "Then there's Nione," she said as her eye twitched at the name as Naruto scowled at the name.

"He somehow drugged our candied apples with some weird drug that would break down our resistance and willpower and he somehow telepathically ordered us to get married, Jiraiya was in on this as he ordered a book in a chapel for our marriage, with a wedding certificate as evidence." She said as it left a sour taste in her mouth. How is she going to deal with this mess exactly?

"Hmm…well it said only Naruto Uzumaki and Éclair Farron right?" Naruto asked as she nodded with a raised eyebrow. "It didn't mention anything about your codename with your last name so they think it could be someone else then. If they ask for Éclair Farron, all you have to do is take on your 13 year old form." Naruto said with a small blush on his cheek that Lightning noticed.

"What's with him?" she thought as she noticed him grabbing a water balloon and was staring at it. First there was nothing for a few seconds then suddenly the balloon started moving around violently as multiple bulges were seen before the balloon popped soaking Naruto's hand with water.

"You actually popped it?" Lightning asked in mock disbelief as Naruto gave her a mocked hurt look. "Geez Light, I thought you would congratulate me on successfully popping it." Naruto said as Jaken looked at awe. "That was amazing Lord Naruto, I've never seen this technique before. What is it called?" Jaken asked as Naruto looked at him.

"It's called the Rasengan; I believe people from Iwa like you would recognize the name." Naruto replied. "Oh that jutsu, that technique is just as infamous as the Fourth's Hiraishin no Jutsu. It is well known to break through multiple walls with just one attack alone, a technique that just relies only on pure chakra control." Jaken explained as Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"Is that the full power of a perfected Rasengan without any elemental affinities added to it? I must say father sure has created something ingenious when he was alive." Naruto thought as he noticed Jiraiya looking over his shoulder.

"Not bad, you actually got it down in two days, how did you do it?" Jiraiya asked as Naruto, Lightning, and Jaken thought Jiraiya had a bloodline that allowed him to endure such punishment and recover that fast. "Actually I had help from that little guy." Naruto replied pointing to the hotel owner's cat that was lazing around the porch.

"I saw him play with a water balloon earlier and it popped afterwards making me guess that the water in the balloon was spinning in multiple directions. It also reminded me of Neji's Kaiten which involved rotation which the Rasengan resembles in some way." Naruto explained as Jiraiya looked at the cat and Naruto with disbelief.

"He truly lives up to his reputation as the number one unpredictable ninja for nothing." Jiraiya thought as he noticed Naruto flinching a bit in pain as his right hand was stiff. "He's used a lot of chakra from the looks of it; with this being a pure chakra control type jutsu he's straining his chakra system. Can he handle the strain for the next phase?" Jiraiya thought as he noticed a white light coming from Lightning's hand flowing towards Naruto's right hand as he sighed in relief.

"Thanks Light, my hand feels better already." Naruto said as Lightning patted his head. "Learn to take it easy with your training, the last thing I need is for you to lose an arm or something when using jutsu." She said scolding him like a mother. "Yes ma'am." Naruto said saluting her as Jiraiya chuckled at the scene.

"Maybe getting those two married was a good idea; now someone can teach the brat manners and handle his L'Cie training while I go researching." He thought giggling before pulling something out of his pocket. "Here ya go." He said tossing a rubber ball to Naruto who caught it with a raised eyebrow.

"Now let's see you pop this one." The perverted sage said as the ball suddenly became bumpy and popped in a few seconds surprising Naruto while Lightning and Jaken looked on with interest. "Let me tell ya that this stage is a lot harder than a water balloon." Jiraiya told him as Naruto looked at his ball and started trying to make it bumpy before it reverted back to its normal appearance. "He's right; it is harder than a water balloon. Looks like I'm in for a challenge." Naruto thought as Jiraiya began explaining why the ball didn't pop.

"You see, the first step which you mastered was rotation, the second step is force. But the object you have to pop is solid with no water in it so it will be a lot harder for your chakra rotation inside the ball." Jiraiya explained as Naruto looked at the ball. "Looks like I'll be at the drawing board again." He thought as Jiraiya left the three to go look for info on Tsunade's whereabouts.

"Lightning, why don't you go and train somewhere else or something, I have to master this alone." Naruto said as Lightning nodded her head as she ordered Jaken to go and get supplies to restock on as Naruto was left alone to try and pop the rubber ball.

*Nighttime Four Days Later*

Naruto was exhausted, lying down on his back he willed himself not to flinch in pain as his arms were bandaged up as he slept as Lightning slightly healed his arms with a Cure spell as Jaken was using a special ointment that eases strained chakra networks as Jiraiya looked at the boy with a solemn look on his face. The next morning Naruto was at the outskirts of town trying to pop the ball before thinking of an idea, he began pushing chakra into the ball while working with the pain and dished out as much chakra as he could as it started bulging before a hole was made in the ball and all the chakra leaked out deflating it.

"I did it; I've gotten closer to making it pop. Although it's nothing more than a mere hole in the ball, but at least I'm getting closer to mastering the second phase." He thought as Jiraiya, Lightning and Jaken looked at the site from behind him. "Well, well, well. You've seemed to have made progress." Said Jiraiya as Naruto turned around with a happy look on his face.

"You've done great Lord Naruto, you're getting stronger every day the more you put effort in it." Jaken complimented as Lightning only let out a "Good job." Comment to him.

"I know; I just sprung a leak, not bursting it though." Naruto confessed as Jiraiya had a bag and gave one of the items to Naruto who realized it was a Popsicle. "You've gone far all by yourself; I can tell that you might even surpass both me and all of the Hokage's before you Naruto." Lightning said with a small smile on her face as Jaken began rubbing the same ointment on Naruto's arms as Naruto thanked him. They were all soon eating Popsicles as they felt the wind blowing peacefully around them.

Meanwhile in Konoha, Sakura Haruno was at the hospital sitting down by the unconscious body of Sasuke Uchiha who was still in the nightmare world of Tsukuyomi. At the Sound Village, Orochimaru had just killed another person in his fit of rage as Kabuto told him of Naruto's location causing the Sannin to smile. "Soon Naruto, I will have my revenge on you for ruining my plans of destroying Konoha…and it will all be with the help of your mother." Orochimaru said chuckling as he looked at the coffin with the Uzumaki symbol on it.

*Secret Clip: The Beginning of the End Part 1*

"Nione…" said an ancient voice from a crystal tomb as Nione appeared before it. "Hello Buniberzei, still a crystal tomb I suppose?" he asked as the crystal glowed red. "Don't mock me boy, if I didn't have a job for you I would take you on now!" the ancient god shouted as Nione glared at the god.

"Are you challenging me, Death you pathetic god? I've seen many people try and defeat me but you will never cheat Death for even you will meet your end you insolent child!" Nione shouted as he released a deadly aura that instantly made the crystal turn icy blue. "F-forgive me, I just don't like being mocked is all." The crystal said as Nione scoffed.

"You and every male god I've met so far are like that, so what do you need Death for exactly?" he asked as the crystal turned clear. "I want you to end all life on Gran Pulse for good." The crystal tomb said as Nione rose an eyebrow. "That's it? Alright then, but it will cost you big time." Nione said as he vanished missing the crystal chuckle. "Soon, I will be the god that has truly conquered Death itself!" the crystal shouted as it laughed diabolically.

*on Gran Pulse*

"Wow, I forgot how beautiful this world is…too bad I have to destroy it." Nione said as he observed the place before he felt a pull. "What the-"was all he could say before he was dragged into the Historia Crux and into a new world. "Well I'll be slapped sideways and handed to me mama. It's Valhalla itself!" Nione shouted as he ran towards the temple area and looking around.

"I've heard of this place being a resting place for the goddess Etro, but I never thought I'd be able to come here in person." Nione said to himself as he noticed a crystal throne as he heard a soft voice. "Are you the physical form of Death?" it asked as Nione noticed it was a female's voice as he nodded his head.

"And I take it you are the famous Etro, the proclaimed Goddess of Death am I correct?" Nione asked as the voice giggled. "It's been so long since I've talked to someone after Lightning left Valhalla. But yes, I am Etro."the goddess replied. "Can you explain to me why you have summoned me here exactly?" he asked. "It's my father, I need someone to defeat him and end his mad plan of cheating death. Because of him, the Chaos created from my brother Pulse and sister Lindzei when they created the Fal'Cie had caused an imbalance in the world as I bear the burden of keeping it balanced so this universe won't collapse." She explained as Nione narrowed his eyes.

"That fool, he thought of death as a curse from your grandmother Muin when she died but it was actually fate that kills life. I can't do anything against a god since it will ruin my reputation so I will have to find another god to slay him." Nione said. "Another god? I thought my father was the only god in this universe." Etro said completely confused as Nione had a smile on his face.

"Truth be told, there are many other gods and goddesses in this universe before even the birth of Muin herself. But that is a different story though. Since we are dealing with a god, I will have to awaken the Descendant of Cipher who is also a god like your father." He explained as Etro raised an invisible eyebrow.

"Descendant of Cipher, what's that?" she asked as Nione looked at her before sighing. "The Cipher is a power of unlimited possibilities and is the most sought after power that many gods and goddesses tried to find only to be found in one single soul that is reincarnated when needed to save the world and such. He was once my test subject when I created him. He was unknowingly born with Cipher which is actually the Fool Arcana." He explained as Etro became more curious of this and began asking more. "What are the Arcana exactly?" she asked as Nione laughed at her because she was like a curious little elementary girl.

"The Arcana is a power force that decides on affinities and roles in the world, you Etro are connected to the Temperance Arcana which is fitting for you because it is the symbol of balance." Nione lectured as she had another question. "What Arcana are you aligned with Nione sir?" she asked politely. "Mine is Death, the concept and the Arcana itself and I can bestow certain beings with my power that in the 13 Legends is symbolized by flowers." He explained as Etro recalled Lightning and the rose petals that appeared when she and Odin fought enemies before making her decision.

"Nione, I…want to make a pact with you." Etro said suddenly as Nione raised an eyebrow in interest. "Oh? And what are the details then?" he asked. "If the Descendent of Cipher is the only one who can defeat father, then I want to bring him back into existence then!" she said as Nione chuckled at that. "Alright, but we are going to have to plan this step by step. And I get to mess with the Cipher and his companions as well when the time comes." Nione said with a devious smile on his face that would make even villains cower at the site of.