Welcome, this story was inspired by ThatReallyWeirdDude and it is an OP Naruto fic. Hope you enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I posted this story on Earth Day to remind everyone, we only have one Earth. Please do what you can in protecting it.
Chapter 1: Becoming The Log
A valley near a flowing waterfall was fraught with cracks, craters, and small wisps of flames. Signs of conflict were easily detected and at first glance, two armies were the reason for the scene. Armies? No. Two boys with equally strong wills? Yes.
Uzumaki Naruto, Jinchuriki of the Kyubi and village outcast with dreams to ironically protect the village that shuns him. And Uchiha Sasuke, wielder of the Sharingan and a prodigy among a clan full of geniuses.
It'd been a real struggle between the two shinobi but in the end, Sasuke emerged victorious once more. He'd never lost to Naruto and it hadn't changed here. Sasuke stood over the unconscious Naruto and looked down at him.
Sasuke stared at Naruto for the longest time as rain began to fall. It would be so easy. Sasuke could kill his best friend and achieve the power to face off against his brother.
"I don't need to stoop to his level." thought Sasuke scoffing at the idea. "When I beat you, I want you to know I did it my own way."
Sasuke made a move to leave only for a sharp pain to run through his body. The battle with Naruto had taken a lot out of him. Sasuke fell forward and landed on his knees with his face but a few inches from Naruto's own.
The raven-haired boy stared at Naruto inadvertently and in doing so, he noticed something weird. As close as he was, Sasuke should be feeling Naruto's breath. He hadn't been which meant-
"Naruto..." said Sasuke weakly not seeing Naruto was moving slowly. By the time he did notice, Naruto was picking up speed from the muddy ground that'd grown slick from the downpour. "Naruto!"
Sasuke wanted to give chase but his body wasn't responding due to exhaustion. He could only watch Naruto slide into the river and get carried away by the current. Sasuke's black eyes were wide as he watched his rival disappear through the waters.
The Uchiha's blood went cold immediately.
"The dobe isn't dead. The dobe isn't dead. There's no way." thought Sasuke trying to will himself to believe.
"Sasuke." The Uchiha didn't have to turn around to know who was speaking to him.
"Kakashi-sensei...Naruto...I didn't mean to-" A chop cut Sasuke off and left him unconscious.
Kakashi stood above Sasuke and let out a sigh from his facemask-covered mouth. He kneeled and looked at the easily noticeable skid in the mud. Team 7's sensei reached down and scooped the Konoha headband that he'd already guessed was his blonde-haired student's.
"Pakkun, can you smell anything?"
A small pug at his side sniffed the air before shaking his head and speaking.
"Negative, Naruto's trail ends right here." Pakkun looked at his summoner before coming to the same conclusion Kakashi already had. "You don't think-"
"We have to keep looking," cut off Kakashi quickly. Kakashi didn't wish to think this way. He couldn't. "Naruto wouldn't die that easily. So, we'll find him."
Pakkun nodded his head as the two took off in the same direction they assumed Naruto went. They would find him. They had to.
(With Naruto)
It was dark, really dark. Naruto looked around at the darkness surrounding him until he spotted a campfire in the distance. Seeing how that was the only thing around, Naruto walked to it. As he did, he could make out one person sitting at the campfire. A redheaded woman now that Naruto was closer as he cautiously walked up to her.
The woman was humming a very beautiful tune before she blanched and turned to see Naruto right behind her.
"Aaahh!" yelped the woman loudly getting Naruto to cover his ears at the loud noise. The woman narrowed her eyes before shaking her fist at him. "What gives you the idea to sneak up on someone, dattebane?! Did your mother not raise you right?!"
"Geez, you scream loud lady," said Naruto making sure his hearing wasn't affected by the high-pitched scream. "And I never met my mom. I am sorry for sneaking up on you though, I didn't mean to." continued Naruto getting no response. Naruto turned to the woman to see her frozen stiff. "What's wrong? Is it something-"
"What's your name?"
"Huh? Oh, right. Uzumaki Naruto, future Hokage, dattebayo," said Naruto with a bright smile as he extended a hand. Instead of a handshake, Naruto was engulfed in a hug by the woman. Naruto was confused by the woman's actions. "Uh, why are you hugging me?"
"Because my name is Uzumaki Kushina and I'm your mother."
Naruto's blue eyes widened slowly as he sat frozen in the hug.
"You're my...my-"
"Yes, I'm your mother."
"...you're my...you're my..." Naruto was choking up as he couldn't believe it. "Ka-chan."
Naruto's eyes welled up with tears as he wrapped both arms around the woman. He was hugging his mom! Who would have ever imagined such a thing? Naruto thought he had died and went to heaven.
Sad thing was, he had died. He simply didn't know it yet.
(Konoha)
Biting her manicured nail, the Godaime Hokage, Tsunade, stood patiently waiting for news about Naruto. He was the last unaccounted-for Genin, other than Sasuke, that'd left on that retrieval mission. Time-wise, Kakashi should have been back an hour ago which raised the beautiful woman's anxiety further.
Tsunade had the other Genin to occupy her mind beforehand due to their injuries upon their return. However, she'd stabilized the three critically hurt ones already and was waiting patiently for the last one out of the five.
"Hime, where's Naruto?!"
Tsunade blanched at the voice and turned to see her teammate, Jiraiya, standing behind her. He had an out of breath and disheveled look about him and looked to be pleading with her to know Naruto's whereabouts. Jiraiya saw nothing but confused eyes back and his heart sank. Pulling the scroll from his back, Jiraiya opened it and showed Tsunade three names.
Jiraiya's own, Namikaze Minato, and Uzumaki Naruto. The toad summoners contract and in red sat Jiraiya's name while Minato's and Naruto's were both in black. It didn't take long for Tsunade to put it together as her eyes widened.
"Naruto...no, you can't be." thought the Kage as tears began to stream down her cheeks.
Jiraiya grabbed Tsunade in a hug as the woman broke down and sobbed.
(Parts Unknown)
"The Kyubi and Uchiha's fight has concluded," spoke a man that was split down the middle, white on one side and black on the other.
"Is it? Tell me who won?" asked a second man who had on an intriguing spiral mask.
"The Uchiha boy prevailed but was stopped from fleeing to Orochimaru. He's being returned to Konoha. The Jinchuriki is..." said the first man before stopping.
"What? What is it Zetsu?"
"The Kyubi boy died in the aftermath of their final clash."
"Hmm, so he perished, did he?" pondered the man for a moment.
"What are your plans for the Kyubi?" questioned Zetsu not caring about the boy's death.
"We capture it once it resurfaces in a few years," spoke the man with a flippant hand gesture. "We won't have to worry about extracting it from a person first. It'll make a good aid in my plans under my control once more."
Zetsu nodded before sinking into the floor and vanishing. Nothing had changed. Perhaps a small delay but the plan was still the same.
(Three years later - Konoha)
"Yes, I am up to the task Godaime-sama," spoke a brown-haired teen with white eyes.
"I'm glad you are, Neji. I approve of your suggested team also. You all should be more than capable," said Tsunade with her hands crossed in front of her. Her go-to pose when speaking to her subordinates. She looked to the three others standing with Neji and addressed them. "Rock Lee, Haruno Sakura, and Inuzaka Kiba. You all, along with your captain, Hyūga Neji, will be providing protection and travel for our VIP. Ensure she arrives safely."
"Hai shishou!" responded Sakura with a nod and adjustment of her gloves.
"Of course, Tsunade-sama!" responded Rock Lee with a thumbs up and a smile that sparkled.
"You don't have to worry. Akamaru and I got it in the bag!" exclaimed Kiba as his dog partner, Akamaru, gave an affirming bark.
"Let us head out then," said Neji as the four of them left.
Tsunade watched the four depart as she turned to her assistant who stood behind her.
"Shizune, do you know what today is?" questioned Tsunade getting the woman to nod her head. Tsunade then stood and nodded back. "Right then. See you tomorrow. Alert me if anything happens."
"Hai shishou," said Shizune watching the blonde Kage walk out of her office. The black-haired woman gave a concerned look at her master's disappearance. "Today is the third anniversary of Naruto-kun's death."
If it wasn't clear before, it became abundantly prevalent over three years. Uzumaki Naruto meant a lot to a lot of people, practically everyone, in Konoha. Most importantly, he was Konoha's war deterrent as its Jinchuriki and left them mightily vulnerable with his passing. That was the most glaring loss and that didn't even account for Naruto the person. And each year, on this day, Tsunade went reclusive.
"Just like many of his close ones do." thought Shizune feeling like doing the same. However, she had a duty. She was a ninja. And a ninja is someone who endures. "I do miss you Naruto-kun."
Shizune thought of the blonde-haired boy a little longer before returning to work. She didn't want to get sad again.
(Several days later)
"You're going to die! Stop trying to protect me!" shouted a pale blonde-haired girl. "Mōryō and his followers are going to kill you all if you-"
"Shut. Up!" said an agitated Sakura while dodging a blast of water. The pink-haired girl was focused on her opponent but the annoying voice of their VIP was getting to her. "We're not going to die. Now let me concentrate."
"Hehehehe, you should listen to the priestess, pinky," spoke Sakura's opponent as the medic-nin bristled at the nickname. Sakura's opponent was an orange-haired girl with white skin and blue markings across her face. "Because you and your friends are all going to die. Suishu Gorugon (Water Attacking Gorgon)."
A massive water serpent spawned around the woman before launching out at Sakura. Sakura was surprised by the attack but dodged it with no real worry. Sakura smiled until the attack didn't continue forward. It stopped and swerved to catch her in midair. Sakura's eyes widened and she braced for impact.
"This is going to hurt." thought Sakura waiting for impact. Seconds passed before Sakura realized she hadn't been hit yet. "...what? She missed?"
Sakura's green eyes popped open to find herself settled within the arms of a masked man. He had spiky black hair and was wearing a dark blue-grey robe with grey lining and a fur collar, and a tattered grey-blue cape. There was a white kitsune mask on his face lined with red markings. The most interesting marking being a circle resembling a third eye on his forehead.
"Hey! What the hell?! I had her!" shouted the orange-haired girl seeing the timely intervention.
"She'd have survived and defeated you shortly thereafter. I plan to do the latter, faster," said the masked man getting the girl to blanch. He then looked at Sakura. The medic sat confused in his arms as he addressed her. "I apologize for taking your fight. I was hired to protect the priestess too."
Sakura was placed down with that said but only stared at the enigma who saved her. She hadn't even heard what he said because she was entranced by his eyes. Eyes colored a heart-stopping gold. It didn't help that they were looking at her with an indescribable warmth.
"Gotcha suckers," said the orange-haired girl with a grin. Her water dragon had swerved a second time and was primed to demolish the two of them. "And checkmate."
The water dragon neared the two shinobi before inexplicably bursting before making contact.
"Right then," spoke the masked man getting the orange-haired girl's eyes to go wide.
"What?! What did-"
"What it was doesn't matter," cut off the man standing before the girl now. She was shocked at his speed because she didn't even notice him until he spoke. An open palm hit her in the chest with a feathery touch. "Rasensho (Spiraling Palm)"
A rotation of the man's palm caused the woman's eyes to widen in shock. The girl's orange hair lightened to its natural color as blood trickled from her mouth. Her purple eyes faded back to their natural black while the three blue markings on her face disappeared altogether. Watching the quick battle was Sakura who couldn't believe what she saw.
"He barely touched her. Was that Neji-san's Juken(Gentle Fist)?" thought Sakura seeing the girl fall backward motionless. The medic couldn't get the slack-jawed expression off her face if someone paid her. She could only watch the masked man make his way to the priestess. "Earlier with the water dragon, I think he used pure chakra to repel it. Is he a Hyuga?"
"It took you long enough," said the priestess when the masked man reached her.
"Apologies, Shion-chan. I didn't think it would take so long." The priestess was scooped into his arms bridal style during his apology.
"I had to hire misfits to do your job at its utmost importance and it has nearly gotten me killed," said Shion before glaring at him. "And it's Shion-sama."
"Mhmm, keep telling yourself that, Shion-chan." The masked man shook his head before turning Sakura's direction. "Did you protect the others?"
Sakura was confused about what he meant. Then she realized he wasn't speaking to her as another masked person landed near her. Sakura turned and gasped in surprise at the individual getting so close without her noticing her presence.
Her presence considering she appeared to be a woman at first glance. A very elegant and angelic woman who wore flowing robes with translucent ribbons to further that description. And she donned a mask on her face that matched the masked man's mask perfectly.
"Yes, they were all very capable themselves. I only sped up the process. They should be here soon," said the newcomer before noticing Sakura's stare. Not lacking manners, she extended a hand in greeting to the medic-nin. "Well, aren't you pretty? Hello, I am Tennyo and it is my pleasure to meet you."
"Hi, I'm Sakura," replied Sakura shaking her hand while blushing at the compliment.
"Tennyo-chan, what did I say about names?" Tennyo flinched hearing the masked man's question.
"Oops, right, sorry about that. Thankfully, it's not like they know me," replied Tennyo never removing her gaze from Sakura. Sakura was getting flustered at the attention she was being given as the woman continued. "They only know yours, Mumei-sama (Unknown Name)." Seeing no reaction from Sakura, Tennyo deflated. "Maybe they don't. I thought you were famous?"
"I am. Perhaps not as famous as you think though," said the masked man, Mumei, before shaking his head. "Either way, we have work to do. Coming back or meeting me?"
"Definitely meeting. I'd like to see this," said Tennyo never-ceasing eye contact with Sakura. The medic's face reddened further at the next line. "I'd like to see her a little longer also. I'm sure she'll meet us there."
Tennyo jumped before dissolving into a shimmer of lights. Sakura gave a silent 'wow' at the shunshin variant from the woman. It was one of the prettiest things she'd ever seen.
"Showoff," said Mumei prepping to leave too.
"Wait!" shouted Sakura getting the man to stop in his departing. "Why did you save me?"
"Hmm, I saved you because you looked like you needed saving, Sakura-chan."
The man smiled behind his mask before he and Shion vanished in a poof of smoke. Two logs dropped to the ground after they vanished as Sakura's eyes went wide.
"Sakura-chan...he just...but that means..." Sakura's brain shut down.
The medic couldn't come to grips with what she'd just been called. So stunned, she didn't notice her teammates had arrived. It'd been three minutes since Mumei left and she hadn't moved a muscle. This was the scene her teammates arrived at.
"Sakura-chan, are you alright?" questioned Rock Lee as Kiba sniffed the air.
"That masked lady who helped us was here. The priestess was here too and some other person. The latter's scent is so familiar," said Kiba as Neji looked to Sakura.
"Sakura-san, what happened to the priestess?"
"Sakura-chan, there was only one person besides Rock Lee who called me. There's no way!" thought Sakura beginning to hyperventilate before noticing Neji. He was trying to calm her down. The medic couldn't calm down though because she needed to confirm what she was figuring out. "We have to follow them, now."
The other three heard the urgent tone from the Hokage's apprentice and all of them took off in chase. They were on an escort mission and their escort was with two unknown commodities at the present moment.
Not good for business.
(Sometime Later)
"Hmm, so the sealing jutsu you knew all your life helped to release him? How quaint," spoke Mumei looking at the massive upheaval going about.
Shion was deceived by Mōryō into activating her jutsu. She believed it would seal the demon of a man and in turn released him given the faux body he'd been possessing. Now, there were swirling black dragons of his chakra chasing them as Mumei held Shion bridal style again.
He was dodging the dragons with ease despite the speed they were moving and his carrying of Shion. Shion would have been fascinated by this if not for how she felt. She'd started the apocalypse. Moryo's revival meant the end of the world and it was all her doing.
"I'm sorry, I thought...I mean, it should have-" started Shion before she was hushed.
"Don't worry. Now, let's end this," said Mumei turning to see the team of four led by Neji had arrived. The man's mask hid his grin as he built up chakra. "I believe it's finally time I stopped hiding."
Dodging once more, Mumei created a lot of space between him and Moryo. The masked man stood dozens of feet high opposite the Konoha shinobi. He then tossed the priestess into the air. Shion screamed her lungs out as Mumei looked down at Moryo from his elevated perch. Moryo was about to attack again until his adversary vanished.
Mumei appeared in the midst of Moryo's dragons in a gravity-defying move. He floated, almost weightlessly, the last four feet down to land on the chakra core creating the dragons. Whilst falling, Mumei pulled out a sword hilt.
"Was that a shunshin? I didn't know humans could move that fast!" Moryo's dragons converged on Mumei.
Sadly, his dragons were too slow. Mumei thrust his sword hilt down at the chakra core. Nothing would have happened until yellow electricity burst from the hilt and stabbed into the black chakra. Moryo and his dragons howled in pain at the paralyzing electrical surge.
"Such power. I can't move."
"This should hold you still for long enough." Mumei stood, leaving his sword, before holding the ram seal. "And for my own sake, I'll seal you myself. Raiton: Fuinshiki (Lightning Style: Sealing Ceremony)."
A pulse rippled out from Mumei before a flash enveloped the area. It covered the entire area Moryo did. This left the demon and Mumei not viewable for a split second. When the flash went away, Moryo was gone completely.
The masked man nodded his head before pulling his sword from the ground. He deactivated its lightning blade before tucking the hilt away into his coat. Up with Neji and his team, the four of them were shocked at what they saw.
"Another fight he finished in no time at all." thought Sakura before another thought hit her. This thought she spoke out loud. "Are we forgetting something?"
Before anyone could answer, everyone remembered the priestess as her scream reached their ears. The team of four all looked to see Shion falling through the air at terminal velocity. They couldn't stop her as they were all too slow to react.
"I'm going to kill him if I survive this!"
"And there's that. Another easy one," said Mumei catching Shion to save her from certain death.
"...and fast," commented Shion after slowing down her heart. She was about to thank Mumei for catching her until remembering he'd been the one to throw her in the first place. "Did you throw me into the air?!"
"Yes."
"We're in a volcano! I could have landed in lava you idiot!"
"Oh yeah, I forgot we were fighting above lava," said Mumei nonchalantly looking around the inside of the active volcano.
"Are you insane?!"
"No, at least I don't think I am," said the enigma in thought. It was then he noticed Shion was glaring at him again. "Wait, are you mad, Shion-chan?"
"Yes! You threw me in the air dozens of feet above lava!"
"And I caught you. No harm done."
"That's not the point!" shouted Shion before narrowing her eyes further. "Shion-sama, not chan!"
"Mhmm, anyhoo, none of that matters. Because it's not important since I caught you anyhow." Shion huffed and turned her face away from Mumei. "I don't have time for this. I should be telling everyone-"
"Naruto."
"-that I am not some mysterious person. I'm actually Uzu..." continued the masked man before trailing off. He turned his head sharply to Sakura who'd said a name. He set the priestess down before turning fully to the approaching medic-nin. "You've got to be kidding me, right?" questioned Mumei before slapping a hand to his mask. "I had this whole thing planned to surprise everyone and you had to ruin it. Way to go, Sakura-chan."
"Naruto," repeated Sakura in a quieter voice while walking closer to the masked shinobi. He reached a hand up to take off his mask as tears formed in Sakura's eyes. A gasp came from Kiba, Rock Lee, and Shion as Sakura shook her head in disbelief. "It is you."
Naruto's black hair shifted to its normal blonde as the six whisker mark-like scars on his cheeks confirmed it. This was Naruto! He stood a full head taller than her but, this was Naruto! And the years had been good to him. He looked distinctly like the Yondaime Hokage with the two bangs framing his face now.
The only difference, outside the scars, was Naruto's eyes weren't blue. They were golden and still looking at her so warmly. The closer Sakura got to Naruto, the more unbridled power she could feel radiating off him. It was scary how powerful he felt.
So focused on Naruto's face and sheer presence, Sakura was surprised when his arms enveloped her in a hug. It was a warm and snug hug that Sakura melted into. She returned the hug full force and stood there contently with her Team 7 teammate. Eventually, Sakura felt Naruto lean his head back to look at her.
"How did you know it was me?" questioned Naruto giving Sakura quite the perturbed look. "You messed up my groove, dattebayo."
"Still a dunce, Naruto," said Sakura smiling at him. She sniffled some to keep herself from crying before gesturing back with her head. "Neji's a Hyūga." Naruto blinked before looking at the brown-haired ninja. His Byakugan was on and Naruto resisted the urge to smack his face again. Sakura added another point. "And you called me Sakura-chan. You're the only one who ever has besides Rock Lee and he's right there. It wasn't hard to figure out."
"Huh, well, hmm, good points." Naruto heard a snicker from behind him.
"I told you it wouldn't work, Naruto-sama," said Tennyo in a singsong voice as she landed next to him.
"Meh, it would have if Neji wasn't here. And if I didn't talk. And if I...yeah, it was a bad plan. Anyone could see this coming," said Naruto before Sakura got his attention.
"How."
"How?"
"How are you alive?! We thought you were dead! There was no body! And it's been three years! What have you-"
"Sakura-chan." Naruto cut off the pink-haired girl. He tilted her chin up getting her to blush lightly. "Please stop crying."
Sakura hadn't even realized tears were falling from her eyes during her tirade. She didn't mean to cry but she couldn't help it anymore. She'd thought Naruto had died. And yet here she was hugging him!
"I have a story to tell. It'll explain all of this. Do you want to hear it?" questioned Naruto getting a nod from the medic. Naruto could feel everyone else did too as he smiled. Gently wiping the tears from Sakura's face, Naruto smiled at her. "Now, allow me to begin. In the beginning, there was nothing. And from nothing, the first Log grew."
"Log?"
"Yes, Sakura-chan, the Holy Log. It was my savior," said Naruto getting Sakura's and everyone's devout attention.
The log pope had returned. And he was about to regale them with the tale of his salvation.
And to the Log be praise. Thanks for Reading
A/N: This story is Road to Ninja-esque. A lot of imagery/themes will appear. I recommend looking at the wiki.