Warning: This is a fanfic written out of crack boredom mixed with incredulties and haphazardly connecting ideas.
("Kit, I have something to confess to you. One last thing before we go…"
"Yeah?" The blond man with spiky hair and a long cloak of flames asked, looking up at the gargantuan fox. They were alone again in the place where they first met. It was just the two of them standing on the peaceful calms of ever-stretching water. Unlike their first meeting, though, they reflected the dark waters that rippled no more. It was an intimate feeling shared alone together — one never to be felt again which made it all the more ephemerally beautiful.
"That day…" The fox began hesitantly before looking determinedly down at those blue eyes, "I changed your genes. I was angry. And I was… a fox."
It was a bit lame. The last excuse, that is, but the man understood what was meant as he looked at his new reflections in the waters to see who he truly was. It didn't surprise him. He had a feeling. And he wasn't mad, surprisingly not at all as he forgave the being of hate with a hug,
"I know."
Her whole life had been a lie yet a truth and frankly it didn't matter at all as she made the final seals to their last act. Nothing mattered at all in this time and space except their friendship and their trust.
"You know… I really hate annoying female redheads." Kurama smiled as he began to disappear into soft red glows like firefly orbs in the darkness. It wasn't a smirk or mischievous grin or any other mockingly sarcastic thing that he always gave. No, it was a real smile and that's what made it special. "But I have always, will always love you. Sorry, and thank you, Naru… mi."
She couldn't reply with words as her lips formed the new jutsu's name, but her newly purple eyes conveyed the message and that was all Kurama needed to go on with all the love and warmth to make up his isolated days in negative miasma. He felt as if all he was born for was for this moment and thanked Rikudo and the heavens who created him for that.
And then, they died together, shredding through the illusory world, killing Madara, sealing all that the Jyuubi was into themselves… into the great Tree that they became. The world revitalized under their power, turning the wastelands caused by innumerable wars — both now and of past — into restored biomes capable of life. Energy flowed throughout the world, sending vitality to both life and death.
The Fourth Shinobi War ended…
Heck, even the Shinobi Era ended…
But she had faith in all of them that they can survive. They will survive. They were her friends.)
Three centuries later, the tree flowered one giant fruit. It laid unseen by the world through the leafy veils of the soaring tree that touched even the clouds of the heavens. But it was alive as it trembled and moved, giving birth to a beautiful teenaged girl with long red hair with soft spikes towards the top and mildly well-endowed areas.
Her purple eyes awakened.
She saw the world.
…
The world was always at war. No matter what time period, no matter what proportion of kind people existed all about, there were always evil to balance with the good. In that perspective, it was always evil that triumphed in the end.
Peace was possible, but only in short quantities.
With a lifespan longer than human, she finally understood how their ideal could never be achieved. The eras were like cycles; history was repeated except with different names. It was not futile to fight, but it was not in her place anymore to do it. She was an outsider. She was nature. She had already abandoned her hero's complex, solved her people-saving problem, and ignored her morals since long ago; she was content to be selfish and neutral.
It was a bit sad, but no longer was her comrades, friends, or family alive. She was alone. Even the Bijuu were gone — the Bijuu completely sealed within her and the tree wilting once she left. No, that wasn't completely right. The Bijuu were absorbed into her. All chakra taken by Rikudo's mother (whose name she did not remember) was back within her. Humans still had spirit and chakra, but only as much as they should have — an amount proportional to their bodies like the other animals in the world.
The Shinobi Era was gone. Forever gone.
They seemed to move on well without abundant chakra though. She really had to gaze in wonder at the machines, the technology and weapons mankind came up with after the absence of supernatural powers. Gai would have liked it were he still alive. The humans all used taijutsu and bukijutsu, calling their arts forms of martial arts.
It was interesting, especially when she studied under a master despite being better from war experience in harsher times.
There, she met the first Emperor.
In reality, she actually did help that guy at the very least. She encouraged his beliefs and advised his plans from the shadows. She helped with the creation of the Empire and later the Teigu, fighting monsters they called "Ultra-Class Danger Beasts" for material to work with. Her personal favorite Teigu was Shambhala, which reminded her of her dad's Hiraishin.
There were really 72 Teigus created from the start. Some were destroyed. Some were kept a secret. Some were to be family heirlooms in disguise. 48 became the official number and 500 years later, about half of that number was gone as well.
She didn't really care. Teigus were the weapons of humanity, but they weren't the only ones. As long as they had the weapons called 'heart' and 'will', then she was sure that they would all be alright. For herself, well, she already came eye to eye with the fact that she was always going to be overpowered.
...well, maybe not in strength, for she had yet to age from her body despite the passing centuries since her birth. Her body always remained static in the end no matter what she did, but with how she was always going to be strong with chakra and fast with speed, she guessed it was alright. No one could get as much experience in fighting as her anyways.
Loneliness never hit her hard as she made acquaintances along the road while traveling everywhere without destination. She never even thought about it, done with that people-obsession from her child days. Or so she had thought until she met her.
She was a beautiful woman with long blue hair and a headband with a cross insignia. Emune was part of the Partas Clan in the North, a hunting tribe specializing in taking down Danger Beasts. Emune taught her that she still had emotions — she still was human despite it all. She gave her a home with their little tribe, convincing them to let her stay. The redhead had helped with their hunts, increasing their quotas and dying the floor red like her hair.
The young handsome tribe leader was still nice back then; he still had his ideals and optimism despite his gruesome work. She rejected him once, but he paid it no mind — his real love was her, Emune. And they did get together. That was where all his carefree joy left. Emune was killed by an Ultra-Class Danger Beast when they were away for a hunt. Too much time passed and she couldn't save her even with jutsu. The daughter though was still alive and when she was going to help the girl out… it was him who pushed her with those dead eyes and cut his own wife open to take his baby out.
He broke.
"Are you alright?" She gazed up when the man grabbed her arms, pinning them above her. He was her close friend in her time's stay and she was an immortal with long lonely years so she guessed that she didn't mind, even if the man already had a daughter. A teasing smile momentarily lit her lips, "You shouldn't do this. What if I get pregnant?"
The man groped her chest. It wasn't as big as the mature woman that was his wife, but it was still quite developed and well-shaped for a forever-teenager like her. Throughout the years, her emotions and sensitivity never seemed to change as she gasped in pleasure like a virgin. A virgin whore probably. He merely ripped the clothes obstructing him, gazing down at the beauty that he have always admired before Emune. Even now, he still admired her but rather purely for her strength. Not physical — the girl didn't have any muscles with that lean, lithe frame of hers. He guessed that was the fault of being immortal. But… He gazed at those purple eyes.
She didn't break yet.
And probably never will even if tortured like the Danger Beasts, the people in the Capital. Even if she was raped by a close friend, who already married a woman that was like her own sister-figure, as he was now. She never will. He was always jealous of that, but he didn't want it. Not after today. Even after he learned his lesson… not after today.
"If you get pregnant, then you will give birth to the strongest child. There is no greater honor than that in this world where only the strongest can win."
Her eyes flickered with amusement, but she accepted his advances this time. He didn't know why he felt something so horrible in his chest, something so harrowing. But after he finally fully connected with the girl that was his dream, he felt so warm and embraced and forgiven. They hugged each other that night Emune died. He cried from the overwhelming pleasure, the kind eyes, and maybe something more.
Emune was gone.
After he calmed down from the ecstatic bursts, he gazed down at her marked body, hugging it tightly against his frame, not even wanting to pull out yet. "...Narumi, are you leaving?" They both knew that it would eventually happen. They both knew the inevitable and that nothing he did changed her mind. Even now. She nodded,
"I will." But added, "I will stay for the girl until she grows up however. With Emune gone, your tribe will need more hunters. This time, I will be with the women."
He finally cracked a smile, "You are a woman. A girl in body, but always a woman at heart. Raise Esdese into a strong girl, Narumi."
"...of course, Partos."
…
"Wah! You're right, Naru-sensei~! It is easier to stab like this~"
The redhead smiled at her little student, patting her head. The blue-head beamed at the gentle touch. Though her mother was different, she always viewed Narumi to be her mother and her child to be her brother — both of them fully hers along with her father. Her real mother was too weak if she died so easily; that was what her father told her and he had to be right~
Esdese playfully waved her sword, jabbing towards the little four year old; her blade a millimeter away from the toddler's head. The girl pulled back, laughing,
"I have more control too~!" Esdese patted the other's head; admiring the fluffy red spikes and the blue-grey eyes of her little brother. The deep colored orbs reminded her of her father's except they were brighter and more vibrant than her father's dull ones. She loved them. They were always focused on her during practice; they made her feel strong. Akoumi (Red Sea) was her precious most adorable little brother! "Akoumi is a good boy, trusting his big sister to not hit him~"
Narumi watched as the girl glomped her child; their child born from that one night stand. She could read the child's emotions, but didn't know what to make of it. Fear. There was fear in Akoumi of his own (half) older sibling. Deciding to save the kid, she plucked him out of her hands into her own arms, high above the girl.
"Now, now, I think it's time for the big sister to train to get stronger before she can make claims to protect her little brother."
Esdese pouted, but stabbed the air above her, "Hai, Naru-sensei~!" She laughed as she ran away from said woman's teasing push forward, turning back to the kid at a safe distance away, "Just watch, Akoumi, Naru-sensei! I'm going to become the strongest person in the world!"
"Hai, hai."
"It's true!" The girl blushed at her sensei's disbelief and then at her confident,
"I know."
…
"Eeeh~? You're leaving?" Esdese drooped, hugging her mother figure tightly. But in the end, her mother figure was only a mother figure and not her real mother. Narumi nodded, patting her son's head; the little boy already packed up as well with his things tied to his back in a bundle.
"We are, Esdese." She confirmed, giving the girl a firm hug, "I stayed too long. It's time for me to wander as always. It's been nice taking care of you~" She patted her precious little student on the head with a warm smile that captivated the girl as always as she stared up at her mother's beautiful face, "Remember to take care of those close to you as well~"
"Mm!"
Partos smiled, giving the woman a hug as well, "It's been nice knowing you, Narumi. May your son grow up to become a strong boy."
Esdese and Narumi whacked him lightly, "Our son!"
He blinked and then laughed boisterously, correcting himself while giving the boy a pat on the head as well, gazing into those grey stained blue eyes that reminded him of himself once upon a time, "Our son. Become a strong man, Akoumi."
The kid nodded with his composed gaze as always. Esdese glomped him one last time,
"I'll miss you, but I know it won't be the last time we meet. Stay awesome, Akoumi~"
"Mm, Esdese."
Though it was their last meeting, the silent boy's words surprised them all. They never heard him speak much; the little guy stoic as his father, calm like his mother. Esdese beamed as she glomped him tighter before letting go; her gaze turned distant as she watched them walk South, away from home. Partos took out his arrow after seeing their figures disappear into the horizon,
"Well, then. Narumi taught you how to fight, right?" She nodded and he grinned, "Jya, I'll teach you how to hunt. It'll be fun!"
"Mm, Father!" She beamed as she took out her sword. "Should I call you sensei now too?" She laughed as she asked. Her father gave a small smile,
"No. You are your own woman now. Don't call anyone sensei or master or anything anymore — you are strong and you will become strongest."
She gazed at the tall man in wonder and awe before nodding, "Yeah!"
And so they left.
At first, she hated the screams and blood, but it was the creed of the world, right?
The strongest wins; the weak perish.
That was nature's law. Always.
…
Narumi didn't comment when her son became much more relaxed and happy once leaving the Partas Clan. As always, she only watched and taught the kid to become strong. She only watched and guided the kid who saw the new reality of the Empire. She only watched and smiled as they traveled together across the world, even outside of the Continent.
Finally, the day came when she decided to leave. Akoumi wasn't surprised at all, having lived as if each day together was their last,
"You're leaving."
It wasn't even a question. They both gazed at each other and she nodded, "Yes. It's time for you to make a name for yourself — to live your life and whatever you do, do it the best."
"Yeah." He nodded with a smile. He was eighteen now and he couldn't wait to be independent and free — and destroy that Empire. He knew that his mother wouldn't help. She was always neutral about most things. It was natural; he could understand her because she was immortal. While he grew, she stayed and now he was about the same age as she physically was.
What he couldn't understand was his sister.
Despite being on another continent, they still heard news of her accomplishments and feats. It was amazing as it was horrifying. And after seeing everything, there was just something wrong with that Empire and her. He wanted to change it, destroy it and rebuild it anew. His home. His blood. His fists clenched because that was the one thing he couldn't be carefree about. He gazed up at his mother,
"I will kill her."
"Maybe." She answered; her eyes softened and voice became a whisper. He already turned around and left. His resolve wasn't going to waver anytime soon.
People of her blood don't do things half-assed or incompleted. This time, she really couldn't see the future though. Because though not her blood, Esdese was her daughter as well.
With that, she left from the spot as well.