Naruto: The Rabbit Prince.
This Fanfiction is a crossover with Naruto, Darkstalkers, Summer Wars featuring: King Kazma, and Watership Down.
Rated: M for violence, blood, swearing, physical combat, mentions of sexual content, murder, and death.
Fair warning, this fanfiction contains the following tags/clichés: Good Kaguya. Competent, Kekkei Genkai, Potent Chakra, Rabbit Summons, and Animalistic Naruto. Antagonist Sasuke and Sakura within.
Summary: Kaguya wasn't evil, the Chakra Fruit drove her mad. She had another son that was her true firstborn and was to be King of the Rabbit Summons. Naruto is adopted and raised as the son of King Kazma and named a Human Rabbit Prince nonetheless. Not only that, he has another Godfather that comes from a world long past in history. For knowledge, It's worth embracing the dark for.
Disclaimer: I do not own the following Anime, Books, and Games. Naruto is rightfully owned by Masashi Kishimoto. Darkstalkers is rightfully owned by Capcom. Summer Wars and King Kazma are rightfully owned by Madhouse. Watership Down is rightfully owned by Richard Adams.
Chapter 1: Prologue.
The world is full of mystery, whether it is of darker origins or light. For a long time, the world had changed for the better or the worse, to be a blessing or a curse by the very Kami that watch over it all.
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, the Progenitor of Chakra. She was the mother of the Sage of the Six Paths, and leader of her branch of the Ōtsutsuki clan. This clan, as legends state, came from beyond the stars in search of the Chakra fruit of the divine tree, the Shinju. Eating the fruit of the tree would grant the consumer the powers of chakra. Over time, Kaguya gained the title: Rabbit Goddess from her appearance, the features that came with the fruit's consumption.
Legends say that Kaguya had two sons, one that would grow up to be the Sage of the Six Paths, and the other would seal her within the moon with the rest of the Ōtsutsuki clan. But those legends were false as she had not one, but three children. And the third child alone was her true firstborn. Having this child would contradict some of the stories that have depicted her as evil. Those old tales have faded with time, but one day they would be reawakened.
Yin-Yang Style: Creation of All Things, a technique that had various uses, changed a snowshoe hare dying from old age into an infant claimed by the blood and power of Kaguya herself. This child would be one of the first few to wield chakra until man and beast received this gift for themselves. This child was known as Ōtsutsuki Kazuma.
Five Years Later...
Five years had passed since Kazuma's birth. Kazuma liked to read, play, and loved to spend time with his mother. He was curious, always wanting to explore the world around him. He loved to chase butterflies and sneak around in the tall grass to give others a good scare, and he was easily excitable. But the most important thing was that he was innocent.
Though he acted like it, Kazuma was not like other human children. He was a young, anthropomorphic rabbit, his rabbit ears giving him extra height. He had white fur all over his body, chocolate brown tips at the end of his ears, and an elongated rabbit tail. He also had a head of shaggy blonde hair that fell to his neck and blood-red eyes. He wore a small black and white kimono adorned with the Ōtsutsuki clan symbol, a crescent moon with a small orb by its tips.
On this day, young Kazuma was playing in his mother's garden within the Ōtsutsuki clan compound, running around like there was no tomorrow. The wind blew ever so softly with the gentle touch of summer, and the sky was clear and blue with a few lingering clouds.
The boy had his fun in the garden until he heard his mother's voice calling to him, "Kazuma, come here!"
His head turned to the doorsteps of the compound's main house, and he saw his mother standing in the shadow of the porch with a smile on her face.
Kaguya was a beautiful woman that possessed pale skin, long snow-white hair that reached the floor with pupiless eyes to match. She wore red lipstick and donned a long, white hime-kimono adorned with tomoe and purple and gold trim. The most shocking features were the two brown horns on the top of her head akin to rabbit ears alongside a hidden third eye. This eye held the Rinne-Sharingan, a Dōjutsu said to have untold power.
She invitingly brought her hand out and motioned for the boy to approach. "Come, it's time to begin your training for today."
"Yes, Kaa-chan!" sweetly responded Kazuma as he turned to face her and ran through the grass, giddy with excitement as he got closer.
The boy's training would only take him to new heights as he grew. There were benefits to being the Rabbit Goddess's son, and one of them was having the best his clan and mother had to offer in terms of education. For a few hours, Kazuma would practice in utilizing his chakra and work on his taijutsu through his katas because of his young age.
For now, the mother and son took to the porch. Clan members passed them by without even looking at them as this was a normal thing for the mother and son to do. Both faced one another as Kaguya was questioning her son and testing his education on what he was taught.
"Now, Kazuma, tell me this. What happened with the old world, and why did it fade away after so long?" the Rabbit Goddess firmly questioned as she leaned in with a book on her lap, wanting to see if her son knew the answer.
"Uhh..." the little rabbit boy drawled out as he looked about before looking his mother in the eye. But he couldn't help but stutter, "T-The—"
"It's okay," reassured the mother as she reached up to grab her son's shoulders. "Just tell me what you know. It doesn't matter if you're wrong or not, just that you tried."
With newfound assurance, the boy sat up straight as he answered, "The old world died off from the war until the Kami had to change the Earth."
"Correct. Very good, Kazuma."
It was true. The world once had multiple languages, advanced technology, and many other treasures, but it eventually died out due to constant war. After that, the Kami then decided to change the earth and make it new once more, hoping and encouraging humanity to learn through its hardships and struggles to bring peace. The Ōtsutsuki clan had salvaged what was left of the old world before its destruction: books, stories, recipes, songs, languages, all saved from oblivion.
"Say, Kaa-chan, is the old world the reason why we cook food that looks so different?" the rabbit boy curiously asked as he turned his head, his ears following along cutely.
"Yes. So that's why the food we cook in the compound is sometimes different than the food made here. The clan recovered recipes from the old world before its destruction," Kaguya answered as she leaned back, closing a book to wrap up today's history lesson.
"Is that why we have cookies?"
Kaguya chuckled and reached out to tousle Kazuma's hair. "Yes, that's why we have cookies."
She held out her hand and used Creation of All Things to forge a chocolate chip cookie out of mid-air. A purple flame flickered in her hand until it took the shape of the desired pastry. As soon as she handed it to her son, it got devoured in an instant. Kazuma was not a regular rabbit anymore, which meant he could consume human food, including cookies.
The mother and son were enjoying a moment of peace, not one moment was wasted as they looked out to the beautiful landscape illuminated by the sun. The the fields of green and rice, the bright blue sky, the way the wind rustled through the grass as if it were a melody. Nothing in the world could truly break this moment.
Kaguya turned to look down at her son sweetly, her smile brighter and gentler than any other benevolent creature known. "Kazuma-chan, do you want a Tou-san? Do you want Tenji to be your Tou-san?"
The Rabbit Godess was speaking of her lover Tenji, the Emperor of So no Kuni. He was a good man, and his heart was in the right place. Tenji had met Kazuma before, and they got along great. She believed he would be a great father towards Kazuma.
But as various thoughts shifted through Kazuma's head, Kaguya knew, at his age, he would probably not agree with her, so she was not surprised when he crossed his arms with a pout, shouting, "No!"
The Rabbit Goddess chuckled at her son's antics. He probably saw Tenji as competition for his mother's affection. She passed her hand through his blonde locks as he began to purr.
There was so much to do and so little time, but these moments had to last. At the thought of not having enough time with her son, Kaguya jumped up a bit, startling her son as he jolted back as a result, his eyes on her. Her breath had come to a shudder as she looked down. "I-It's happening..."
She could feel something deep within her soul... a presence. It was radiating darkness and madness as it chilled her heart and shook her body from the inside out. The Rabbit Goddess knew that she had to send her son away.
Turning to her son, Kaguya tried to contain the chaos she held within as she forced out a smile. "Kazuma-chan, why don't you go play? I have to take care of something." She nodded her head to her right.
After hearing his mother's words, her firstborn got up from the porch and shot of to do just that. Various thoughts were contemplated in her head as an episode of madness overwhelmed her.
Kaguya gripped her head as she could hear voices of madness calling to her, all of them speaking in different tones.
"He'll die soon, don't you get it, Kaguya?"
"You killed him... you killed your own son..."
"You don't deserve to be a mother!"
"His blood will be spread upon the tree like an offering!"
Images of carnage and bloodshed were the only things she saw as she suffered from her mental attack. The Rabbit Goddess could see her son's decapitated on the bloodstained grass as his body just laid on feet away. The head looked at her with it's eyebrows turned down in sadness, the look of betrayal etched onto the young bunny-boy's face as it began to look directly into her eyes and speak.
"Kaa-chan... why?"
The grip on her hair was so tight that she was close to pulling it out from the roots. Sweat dripped down her face as she began to pant and whimper helplessly. "K-Kazuma... I didn't do it, I'm sorry. Please forgive me..."
Kaguya closed her eyes, knowing that she had to focus in order to beat this... force that was terrorizing her. The only things that came to mind after that was her son, her lover, her clan, the life she was supposed to live for them as she ushered in the new era of peace. It couldn't end like this.
She almost screamed as more images of bloodshed filled her mind, the mental strain almost too much for the Rabbit Goddess to bear. "Argh! It's happening again!"
Is this the price to pay? Losing yourself and being consumed by your power? Panic ran through Kaguya's mind like the rapids of a river, never ceasing to give her peace as this... episode passed.
She took deep breaths and put her hands down as she focused on all that she had before her, calming down from this surge. After regaining her composure, she looked to the woodwork of the porch and called out a physical presence... and it was irritatingly familiar. "You can come out now, Kohei. Kazuma's in the garden."
A black rabbit emerged from the shadows and cracks of the porch's woodwork. After taking form, one could see the specific markings on the rabbit as it opened its eyes. It looked to be a Flemish Giant that held golden markings on its black fur that traced around the legs, arms, and chest. There were also golden markings of the shape of crescent moons on both shoulders and tips of its large ears. This rabbit was the young Sage of the Rabbit Summoning Contract, now identified as Kohei.
"Kaguya-sama, it's been a while," greeted the rabbit. It had been a month since they last talked. Kaguya had signed the Summoning Contract with her blood, which made her the first summoner for this era, the current summons at the moment were young and developing. Overtime after signing it, they bonded and became good friends; Kohei was always the kind of person one could turn to in a time of need, but at times he could be stern and mysterious.
"Kaguya, why didn't you bring the boy over to me? You know I can help with his training," the Sage said, eager to help the young rabbit's growth. Ever since the beginning of Kazuma's training, Kohei would always come over and try to convince her to let him meet and train the boy.
"Kohei, as I said before, he's too young. Not until he's fourteen," Kaguya said in annoyance. These discussions were all the same, yet this one was different.
Now annoyed, the Rabbit Sage's face contorted into a snarl, his teeth almost bared as they began to sharpen into razors. "You can't protect him forever, Kaguya. You knew the price of eating the fruit of the Shinju! You're going to be consumed by your darkness!"
The Chakra Fruit of the Shinju had many drawbacks to its consumption, but the Ōtsutsuki had their ways of dealing with it. However, the fruit was that of one of the oldest Shinju, so it had many drawbacks to its grand power, a gamble that was too risky to take if one knew the consequences.
"Let's not forget the visions I have that concern you, your son, two mysterious figures, and the world as we know it. We can't just put this in the closet and forget about it, Kaguya! Do you understand? The world could be at stake here!" The Sage was worried. There was so much that could happen according to these visions.
The alien woman whipped her head towards the rabbit and shouted back, "You don't think I know this? Do you think I want to become some monster that will kill anyone that defies her?! Do you think I want to lose my son or any other child I might have to the madness this thing creates?!"
The Rabbit Goddess motioned to a gigantic tree that seemed to be miles away, yet was big enough to gain a look of awe. It was almost god-like, as it looked to reach the heavens. It was tinted gray with a spiral that went upwards, and the top of the tree had massive clouds covering its summit due to its height.
Kaguya put her hand on a support beam of the porch in sorrow. Closing her eyes and letting out a sigh, she knew the inevitable. "I don't want to lose my son, Kohei; he's one of the only things I have in this world that gives me my sanity." She saw her son play in the field, not hearing her screams from earlier.
The herbivore was sympathetic to Kaguya; all she wanted to do was guide this world into an era of peace with no bloodshed at all. Now it was all a pipe dream. The Sage got closer to the Rabbit Goddess in an attempt to comfort her. "Kaguya, I know you don't want to lose your son, but one day the madness of the fruit will consume you, and you will do something unspeakable to the point where you could never forgive yourself. Spend as much time as you can with your son, but you will have to send him to me to continue his training sooner or later."
The white-eyed woman didn't say anything to object his argument; she knew she was slowly falling into the depths of madness, and she would be consumed by it eventually. She looked to her son out in the garden and saw that he was trying to chase butterflies, but they were escaping his grasp. "When the time comes, you will take him to the Summoning Realm to continue his training there; I have years until he has to leave, so I must make the most of it. I have plans, Kohei, ones that you will have to put blind faith into."
Let's hope our plans fall into place, Kaguya, for the better of our world, Kohei thought with only a snort as he left to the Summoning Realm in a plume of smoke.
Nine Years Later...
Nine years had passed, and today was Kazuma's fourteenth birthday. However, it was the day his mother would be sending him to the land of the rabbit summons in the Summoning Realm. Over time, Kaguya had reached her limits and was about to succumb to the madness of the Shinju.
He awakened in his room with a groan as the early morning sun illuminated it all from the foot of his bed. On his left was a dresser, and past the foot of the bed was a closet. Most of the colors in the room being red as it was Kazuma's favorite color.
The bunny-boy got up off that bed and raised his arms as he began to streach with a yawn to accompany it. He then looked down to his dresser and quickly grabbed the two knobs to reveal a red version of the Ōtsutsuki battle kimono.
Kazuma had gone through the rebellious teen phase, but always held respect for his mother at the moments when she was firm and strict. He was mischievous and developed a tendency to prank his fellow clan members with his mother sometimes joining in on the fun, much to their annoyance. Kazuma also developed a love for combat during his sparring lessons and always wanted to fight. And after training, he spent his free time exploring the forests of So no Kuni and reading from his clan's exploits. Deep down, he was still the same boy that held innocence towards the world but knew of its dark history.
He had learned how to use chakra to great extents due to his mother's training and was beginning to use various elemental combinations. The progress was going great. All of this was according to plan, but today was a day of sorrow.
Leaving the main house, the rabbit boy walked to the back of the compound where there was a large entrance filled with greenery and flowers of all kinds. Much to his surprise, he found his mother with tears streaming down her face and looking towards a black rabbit with gold markings on its body.
"Kaa-chan, what's wrong?" As soon as he said that, they turned to face him. Kazuma was concerned because it was a rare occasion to see his mother like this. Silence took place as the son of Kaguya tried to piece together what was wrong.
One minute felt like hours until Kaguya had finally regained the composure to respond. "You need to continue your training so your skills can reach their true potential."
She wasn't making any sense. Kazuma spoke up. "What do you mean? What is going on here?!"
The nervous tension in the air was making it difficult for the mother and son to communicate. The rabbit unknown to Kazuma had noticed this and intervened, "Little one, you must understand that your mother wants the best for you, and the only way to do that is to send you off with me."
Kazuma's jaw dropped as soon as the rabbit spoke. He pointed at the small mammal. "Y-You! You're a rabbit! H-How c-can a rabbit speak?!"
"And you're a rabbit-boy, so I don't see why I can't speak if you can," answered the rabbit playfully. The Sage grinned. "Allow me to introduce myself, little one. My name is Kohei, and I'll be your Sensei for the coming years of your training."
"Kazuma-chan, you need to go with him," Kaguya finally said. "He is the only one who can train you to your highest potential. I can only teach you so much, but he can teach you so much more. Today is the day that you are supposed to go with him to complete your training."
Kazuma was speechless. I have to leave? Why? Can't I train here?
Kaguya had gotten closer to her son, put her hands on his shoulders and spoke softly to the young boy, "Please understand, I'm doing this for your benefit so you can flourish in life. I want what's best for you."
The young Lapine let his head fall and let his hair cover his eyes, his voice filled with sorrow, "Why now? Why can't I stay here?"
It wasn't long before tears streamed down his face. For Kazuma, the thought of leaving home was too much for him as rabbits were social, affectionate creatures. Kohei jumped onto the boy's right shoulder as a means to comfort him. He began to nuzzle the boy's face every time a tear fell from his face. Kaguya felt helpless to do anything for her son. It was inevitable; the madness was beginning to be too much for her, so sending Kazuma away was the only way to ensure his safety.
"Did I do something wro-"
"NO!" Kaguya and Kohei roared in unison.
Kaguya had only herself to blame for this incident. Her son blamed himself for him having to leave, and it destroyed her. Meanwhile, Kohei had enough of the boy thinking he was at fault. "Kazuma, your mother has plans for you, good ones! Kaguya-sama has made you a kingdom where you will rule and never be alone! She has never revealed this to you, but you must understand, you are not mortal!"
Kazuma was startled and began to wipe the tears from his face. What did he mean by that?
The Sage gave the boy time to process what was said before continuing, "Your mother has granted you immortality; you will stop aging when you reach maturity. However, death is not out of your reach. Understand that you are not an animal with a short lifespan, but a child reborn from her chakra and blood."
Kazuma's tears had come to an end. One of the many truths his mother kept from him was now being exposed. And the Sage wasn't finished yet. "She wishes to give you something real like a family, a mate, kits, friends, love, and so much more. The kingdom is small, but you can help forge our land within the Summoning Realm as its King. It is the birthright your mother wanted to give you ever since you were a child, making you a Prince. And you are also going to be part of a contract that will make you one of two boss summons. When you come of age, I will bow down and call you my King."
Kaa-chan wanted me to have all this? the newly dubbed Rabbit Prince thought in awe.
"Today is your birthday, little one, so let's celebrate." Kohei's voice was like that of a father comforting child.
Hours later, the mother, her son, and his teacher spent the day having fun. Kohei had gotten to know Kazuma much better with the only regret that he didn't get to bond with the boy when he was younger. When it was about nightfall, they all knew it was time.
"I-I'm going to pack my things," Kazuma anxiously stated. No one could blame him. He left for his room with rampant thoughts.
It won't be that bad. I'll learn new things along the way, make friends, find love; so many things could happen. If what his sensei said was true, then he was going to live a happy life.
He made it to the entrance of the compound, carrying a pack filled with his belongings. Kaguya and Kohei were waiting right there. The Rabbit Goddess was still coming to grips with the fact that this might be the last time she would see her son. Kazuma hugged his mother, saying his goodbyes to her. Deep down, they both knew that everything was going to be alright.
Kohei decided to speak up as soon as they separated. "Alright, are you ready?"
The reply he got was a hesitant nod from the future Rabbit King. Kohei jumped on his shoulder and took him to the Summoning Realm in a plume of smoke.
Goodbye, Kazuma. Stay safe. Kaguya knew that the next time she saw her son, she would unintentionally try to kill him. Unknown to Kazuma, his mother was pregnant with his twin brothers.
And you two, she thought, rubbing her stomach slowly with anxiety, if I ever do wrong by both of you, please forgive me.
The Summoning Realm: The Land of the Rabbit Summons...
When Kazuma and Kohei arrived, they found themselves in the dark, and the only source of light was coming from one direction. The Rabbit Prince then knew that he was in a cave as the night vision from his animalistic heritage helped him adjust to the sudden change in environment. Looking outside the cave, it appeared to be night.
Kohei smiled warmly. "Welcome to the warren of Usagi no Kuni. This will be your new home and your kingdom. It's not much, but over time, it will develop by your hand. Your mother made this long ago for you and built it as a massive warren for the clan that you will have a hand in creating. She also created it in a way that suited personal comforts, the same as home."
Kazuma looked around until Kohei had motioned for him to walk into the light outside the cave. When they got outdoors, Kazuma found himself gazing upon the night sky and an open green prairie that stretched for miles until he could see a forest out in the distance, a sight that was calming to the soul. Kazuma was in sheer awe. Most of his life he had ventured into the forests of his home and saw open prairies much smaller than this, but the view before him was breathtaking. The feel of the air was a summer night's, and the cooling breeze was soft and gentle. The next thing he saw was a beautiful moon that illuminated the night sky like a second sun, and it filled the land of Usagi no Kuni with its light as if it were close to dawn.
Kohei grinned as he noticed the look of awe on the young prince's face. "Usagi no Kuni lies in the custom-made part of the Summoning Realm your mother created. The landmass expands exponentially as the populace increases like it knows our presence."
Kazuma nodded in acknowledgment, distracted by the scenery before him. However, Kohei was far from finished, "The warren faces south, and the forest you see in the distance is a ground for children to explore and play. The north is a massive forest filled with various amounts of flora that have many uses and wildlife for hunting and—"
"But I don't know how to hun—"
The Sage shot into the air crash to the ground, leaving a crater in it's place.
SMASH!
The young King's ears quickly folded to his neck in submission as he jumped back in fear and began shaking. Kohei's herbivore teeth had sharpened into razors as his face curled into a snarl.
For rabbits, a stomp on the floor meant two things: one was a warning of danger, and the other was a parent's punishment. That stomp set off old instincts Kazuma kept buried due to living like a human ever since his rebirth as Kaguya's son. One stomp from a figure of authority was all it took to reawaken those old instincts.
"Never interrupt your superiors, understood?" growled Kohei in false anger as he jumped forward, making the boy step back out of fear. He needed to awaken those old instincts within the boy if he was going to train him.
Kazuma nodded rapidly, afraid of being punished again.
Confident in his methods of discipline, the Sage continued as he began to circle the boy like a predator on the prowl, "That feeling you have? That was instinct, my boy; an innate behavior connected to the primal side of both humans and animals. What I just triggered was an old instinct that was kept locked away, and that was due to your mother keeping you from real experience." He then cocked his head. "Do you understand what I am trying to say?"
"Y-Y-Yes, sensei," Kazuma stuttered, shaking in fear of making his new teacher angry.
Kohei jumped onto the trembling Prince's shoulder, whispering praise and comforts. "Good boy. Now for the torture—" The herbivore caught himself of and stuttered. "I-I mean training begin."
These years of training were going to be harsh, but the results would be quite satisfying. And all of this would make the boy into a fine King.
One Week Later...
It had been one week since Kazuma arrived, and Kohei decided to reveal some of Kaguya's gifts to the future King. One of them was that Kaguya had made specific chakra fruits for the rabbit summons so they could share the same capabilities as their Prince.
Another gift, set in the eastern part of the land, held chakra fruits of a different variety, much different from the personal ones Kaguya made for the summons. There was a lake that held an islet and a small forest. It held a special sapling that would be known as the Tree of Blood. The berries that grew on the tree could grant any elemental Kekkei Genkai depending on their color.
The last gift would be revealed during Kazuma's training. Today, Kohei would introduce eleven other disciples, each a young kitten fresh out of the nest as a teenager, six does and five bucks. They were going to be Kazuma's friends and family as they trained alongside him. These years were going to be harsh, but at least they wouldn't have to do it alone.
Eighteen Years Later...
All these years, Kazuma had matured and changed for the better, and he now had a mate and a family with people he considered his brothers and sisters. The young Rabbit King had learned everything the Sage had to teach him and expanded whatever he knew even further alongside the others. He had become King, but the most important thing to him was his family. Everything was going great, just as his mother and teacher had promised.
His family had managed to create massive burrows underneath the mountain that would maintain the way they lived through agriculture. Over the years, the young Rabbit King was taught sealing by Kohei and managed to make ones alongside his siblings to help sustain their way of life.
Seals were used as a means to create an artificial sky with sunlight to support their farms, orchards, and environment. The warren's structure would depend on the fields that went deep underground. The farther down one goes, the temperature and environment would change depending on the specific crop that was desired. However, the seals had to be replaced over time as a part of it once worn out.
Today was exiting one of the many sunlit orchards that was made through the utilization of Earth Style and walked through the cave all the way to the enterance. And as he walked into the main cavern that lead outside, he could see sunlight coming from up ahead, a soft cool breeze flowing through the cave. A serene calm took the world around him.
Kazuma couldn't help but sigh in content as he looked dreamily towards the outside world, every step taking him to his goal. Kazma, you really have made the warren your home. Kaa-san would be proud of you.
Oh yes. Over the past eighteen years, Kazuma had shortened his name to Kazma thanks to his mate, and he grew to love his new name. But it all truly started when his family also started addressing him by the nickname.
Flashback...
Kazma. Kazma!" two voices of a brother and sister called out.
It was a bright day in the thick northern forest. Sunlight peered through the cracks and gaps of the trees as they along with the grass swayed with the summer breeze. Warmth filled the air, and it seemed as if life flourished all around from the melody of the forest.
"Stop calling me that!" Kazuma demanded as he turned around, to scowl furiously to see one of his brothers and sisters.
Both of them were as tall as the young Rabbit King himself. They both wore similar black battle kimonos. The sister had purple fur, long locks of black hair, and golden eyes. And to his right, the brother had cerulean fur with shaggy brown hair that covered his grey eyes. Both had a mischievous and playful air about them. The female's name was Rabendaa, and the male's name was Sora.
"Why not?" asked Rabendaa with a turn of her head. "My dear sister seems to love calling you Kazma, so why can't we?"
"Because she's the only one that can call me that. And that was just between us," Kazuma retorted with a sneer. "And last I heard, we aren't courting each other, so drop it."
Sora decided to add to this as he stepped forward to mediate the situation. "Kazuma, no one means to insult you. In fact, we all like the name she gave you. It shows how close you are to her as a lover."
Rabendaa continued with a wave of her hand, "C'mon Kazma, you were quite the prankster back then. Is a little nickname enough to get you riled up? Besides, you know she has always had eyes for you the second you two began training together."
The young Rabbit King growled at that statement. However, Rabendaa wasn't done yet as she held her head high in a very noble fashion. "There is a time to be serious and a time to be loose with yourself. This is not one of them. If you want to be with her and be a King instead of a dictator, I suggest you calm down. It's unbecoming of a King to lash out at his subjects."
Kazuma forced himself to regain his composure. He clenched his fists in frustration while Rabendaa and Sora came closer towards him. They put a hand on each of his shoulders as Sora spoke up once more. "Kazuma... you need to relax. We like the name Kazma because it suits you; not because we want to insult you."
The golden-eyed female followed up and drew herself closer to her soon-to-be brother in law. "Yeah. When my sister gave you that nickname, we all thought it was cute, especially when you started to let loose around her and be yourself. Besides, she's into you and wants to be with you Kazuma. So can you consider it to be more than just a nickname she gave you?"
Kazuma began to blush at the thought as he looked towards the ground. "I guess I can. But what if she doesn't want to be with me?"
Chuckling a bit as his future King said that, Sora just shook his head. "She will, Kazuma. Just be yourself."
"Kazma," he corrected as a confident smile replaced his blush. "Call me Kazma."
Flashback end...
Throughout the years of his training, Kazuma went to the west of Usagi no Kuni. It was there that Kohei revealed that the earth there had a powerful force of gravity. Kaguya had taken the land there from a dimension she traveled to and integrated it into the west of Usagi no Kuni as a training ground. If one were to hone their fighting skills there, they would find themselves to be faster, stronger, and even control over one's chakra would increase.
Kazma had now exited the cave of the warren, the warmth of the sun enveloping him in an embrace as the wind joined it. He looked about to see everyone of the Lapine that had grown up alongside him training with one another.
The Rabbit King couldn't help but bite his lip. Maybe I should spar with Sora again, try to let off some energy.
Kazuma thought to join them and spar with one of his many brothers. However, his gaze went left towards his sensei, who was sitting on a rock.
Something seemed off with Kohei. The Sage looked like he had seen a ghost. Usually, the black and gold rabbit was always calm, stern, but now he was shaking and scared. What could have caused the the great black rabbit to be so terrified? He trekked over to his surrogate father figure, worried about his state of being.
"Sensei? What's wrong?" Kazma asked with great concern as he approached the herbivore.
Kohei slowly turned towards his former student. As soon as the Sage looked Kazuma in the eye, he spoke hesitantly, "K-Kazma... I think it's time you knew everything."
Then and there, everything Kohei and his mother kept from him came out. The truth about the Shinju, his mother's condition, his twin brothers, and so on and so forth. Kazuma looked horrified as Kohei's confession ran its course.
Kaa-san, this is what happened to you? Why didn't you tell me anything? Kazuma thought as he stared out into the distance of the land. He listened to every word as the black rabbit let on with his explanation.
"Kaguya was consumed by the will of the Shinju. And your brothers are about to engage in combat with her for the sake of the world."
Kazma took a minute to regain his composure before speaking, "Sensei... I'm going back. Besides, it looks like my chance for a 'heartwarming reunion' with my mother. And I get to meet my little brothers for the first time." The Rabbit King changed from shocked to giddy and excited in an instant.
The Rabbit King stood as tall as ever, ready to return to the land he once called home. He knew what he had to do. He had to stop his mother from taking any more lives and help his brothers put an end to the very madness which would evolve into the world of Shinobi.
Let me guess, you expected Naruto to be put front and center in this chapter and just hand things to him, right? Sorry, but no, I don't plan on doing that. So, if you like stories that build, I'm your guy.
I originally made this story and kept it in my head from 2014 all the way up until now. When I first saw the movie Summer Wars at that time, King Kazma reminded me of Naruto, and not because of blonde hair. And there's the fact that Kaguya was labeled the Rabbit Goddess.
I'd like to say thank you to my Beta Reader, Conejo-sama. They helped me with my writing and helped me improve while going through my work. I could not have posted a story like this without their help and guidance.
Feel free to review and give some feedback or comment on something.