Disclaimer: I don't own anything belonging to Code: Geass or Naruto.
Lelouch had to rub his head because of the splitting headache he was experiencing because of the day's events as he walked to the clubhouse, spotting three familiar students coming out of the entrance. Lelouch had to suppress the urge to grimace at the sight of Kallen, remembering their meeting earlier today.
Kallen glanced at Lelouch, wondering if Lelouch was still angry for her guessing his secret but to his credit he looked calm as he walked up. "You asked for me?"
"Just a little something me and C.C. set up, making use of the school's basements." Naruto smirked as he gestured into the club house, walking in with a curious Lelouch and Kallen following him.
He led them to a door at the end of a hall and opened it up, revealing…
"A gym?" Kallen questioned as she looked around, taking note of the spacious and obviously well kept gym. "That's what you wanted to show us?"
"Partly. This is a private gym that only members of the Student Council can use. Luckily for us, the only person on Student Council that actually works out is Shirley but she prefers the Swim Club so almost no one ever comes here."
"I'd have thought you'd be happy, Kallen. You have to be at top physical condition to be a Knightmare pilot but it must be hard to exercise because of how 'sick' you are." C.C. commented with an amused smile.
Kallen bit back a retort as she knew C.C. was right. "I guess you're right. But you said that's not all."
"Yeah, we dipped into the budget for this." Naruto said as he walked to the elevator.
"The budget? Naruto, I set up the budget to properly fund the Black Knights. Even if Kyoto is backing us we can't waste the money." Lelouch said, unhappy at what he heard.
"And this was done to help the Black Knights, specifically the leader and one of its aces." Naruto replied as he put in the code and gestured as the elevator opened. "Take a look."
Lelouch frowned but walked into the elevator, followed by Kallen and C.C. Once they were all inside the elevator went down to the basement. Kallen still found it hard believe that these tunnels and garages existed under the school but she remembered that the Ashford family used to produce Knightmares for the military. Naruto led them through the garages to a door and opened it up, allowing Lelouch and Kallen to look inside.
"Are those-" Kallen started.
"What I think they are?" Lelouch finished, both startled by what they saw.
"That depends. What do you think they are?" C.C. rhetorically asked.
"You used the budget to purchase a set of Knightmare simulators?" Lelouch asked as Kallen walked forward to examine the training machines.
Kallen sat down on the seat on one of the simulators and watched as it powered up, seeing various training programs. "These have got basic and advanced courses on them. You got all this and no one was suspicious?"
"You know us, Kallen. A Shinobi values stealth above all else." Naruto answered with a smile. "They're military grade simulators, modeled after Gloucesters because they're the highest performing Britannian Knightmares aside from the Lancelot."
"And this is what you meant by training, isn't it?" Lelouch glanced at Naruto, trying to not to be impressed by what he saw.
"We're not expecting you to make ace pilot but the training you get now will help in the future. Besides, you didn't argue with me after I explained my point." Naruto commented.
"You're referring to the conversation of when you said if I didn't start training you'd kidnap me, dump in a forest and hunt me like the Predator?" Lelouch retorted.
"Yes, that time." C.C. smirked as she would have loved to help out with 'playing' with Lelouch.
Lelouch sighed. "Well, they will come in handy for keeping everyone's skills sharp and you were right about what you said of the danger of me facing someone like Cornelia or Suzaku alone."
"It's a miracle. He sees the light!" Naruto proclaimed dramatically, making C.C. and Kallen chuckle while Lelouch simply waved Naruto's joke aside.
What else could he do?
"Has anyone seen Lelouch?" Shirley asked, walking into the Student Council room seeing Milly and Nina at their usual spots.
"Sorry, haven't seen him all morning." Milly sighed as she finished her paper work. "It's really annoying as I can't have him finish the paper work if he's not around. On a lighter note it seems Naruto, Tsunade, and Kallen are gone again."
'Again?' Shirley thought with a worried look.
"Yep. I imagine Naruto and Tsunade on another date… or something else." Milly grinned evilly.
"MADAM PRESIDENT! PLEASE DON'T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT!" Shirley exclaimed.
"Oh relax, Shirley." Milly waved Shirley's outburst. "There's nothing to worry about… unless."
"Unless what?" Shirley asked, calming down.
"Maybe…" A glint appeared in Milly's eyes. "Perhaps Lelouch and Kallen went on a double date with our local lovebirds."
"A… double date?" Shirley gasped.
"It would make sense in a way. I think they've been hanging out more than usual." Milly continued, sounding dramatic.
"That's not it! Kallen's probably back home because she's sick again!" Shirley exclaimed as she turned and walked out of the room.
"Oh, the joy of teenage love." Milly sighed happily while Nina glanced at Milly, pondering what she said. "Well, maybe Nunnally knows where they are."
Though they were partially right as Kallen and Lelouch were with Naruto and 'Tsunade' they had no idea what was really happening and the four would prefer that no one knew.
Not yet.
"Oh. There they are!" Milly pointed out the window.
Shirley walked over the window and saw Lelouch with Kallen, C.C., and Naruto, coming out of the clubhouse. "They were in the clubhouse? Why were they in there?"
"Who knows?" Milly sighed dramatically. "It could be… anything ."
Shirley and Nina glanced at Milly, both of them wondering what she meant.
"Lelouch, can we talk for a second?" Kallen asked, stopping on the path to the school which caused the other three to stop.
Lelouch stared at Kallen for a second. "Sure."
"Okay, we better go." Naruto said, sensing some tense emotions from the two.
C.C. didn't seem to care all that much. "Whatever. I want to some pizza anyways."
"Again with the pizza." Naruto sighed as C.C. dragged him off.
Kallen walked towards the bushes with Lelouch following her, not knowing that they were being watched.
"Where are they going?" Shirley wondered, seeing Lelouch and Kallen walking to the bushes. "Is Lelouch… taking Kallen gambling with him?!"
"Maybe or they're going to…" Milly grinned evilly. "Make out passionately where no one will see them."
"That's not what they're going to do!" Shirley cried out, blushing madly.
"Well, what would they be doing that they don't want anyone to see?" Milly asked rhetorically. "You don't think they're going to do something else other than making out?"
Shirley and Nina both blushed at what Milly said and Shirley cried out. "THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT EITHER!"
"So what did you want to talk about?" Lelouch asked once they were sure they were far enough they wouldn't be seen or overheard by anyone.
"It's about what we talked about yesterday." Kallen turned and faced the student that was her leader. "When I first thought you were Zero I was afraid that you were using me and my friends, and then when you told us about your Geass it made me think back to you and I was afraid that you used it on me." Kallen then narrowed her eyes. "Then when you revealed you did I was positive you tricked us into following you. And now there's this… you."
"You refer to my history." Lelouch stated, knowing what she was talking about.
"I'm not sure what to think of this. An exiled Prince of the Empire I swore to hate helping us with a power he can use to make anyone obey him without question. I spent the whole night wondering if this was all some kind of crazy joke but the articles, what Kirihara said, and who you are… It makes too much sense even though it's all crazy with Geass and the other powers I've seen. I know it upsets you that I went digging into your past, Lelouch but I need to know: Are you helping us because you want revenge or because you want to protect Nunnally?" Kallen stated.
Lelouch narrowed one eye but didn't look away. "Honestly it's a bit of both."
"Both?" Kallen asked.
"I hate Britannia and for what it stands for because it dictates that the weak should be cast aside and what do you think that means for Nunnally, a girl who was formerly blind and still can't walk. I hate the Emperor for refusing to bring my mother's killer to justice and for abandoning me and my sister in a foreign land. And I know what's like to suffer in a war like how the Japanese suffered as I carried my sister through the carnage. She couldn't see the field of dead corpses I carried her through and I knew if I told her the truth would terrify her so I said we were passing by a waste facility." Lelouch stated, clenching one fist. "But the feelings that came from experiencing it all, it doesn't go away no matter how hard you try to forget. Nunnally is happy to be just living in the clubhouse with her big brother and were our futures not in danger of being discovered and shipped back to that man where he can use us as puppets again I would be content to live our lives as well… But we don't have that option so I choose to fight."
Kallen was surprised to hear that Lelouch carried his sister through a war zone. She couldn't blame him though because she had seen the devastation brought on by the war just by looking at the Ghettos.
"However revenge is not motive enough to declare war against a third of the world. I've seen how the people in the settlement look down on the Japanese, refusing to land a helping hand to anyone without the promise of a reward or good publicity. So I'm not lying when I say I sympathize with what the Japanese and the other so called Numbers have gone through under Britannia's tyranny and wish to change it. So honestly, I am working to free Japan but I'm not planning to stop there because even if Japan is freed within a year that does not guarantee its freedom is forever. What I want… I want Britannia's reign to end forever." Lelouch answered, keeping himself calm but Kallen could see the emotions flaring in his eyes.
"You want to destroy Britannia? Are you going to drag us into a war with them even after Japan is freed?" Kallen asked, trying to see what Lelouch was thinking.
"If you're saying I'll declare war on Britannia the instant Japan is freed than no. I'm not that revenge driven but I recognize the chance that Britannia will try to try and re-conquer Japan in the future. With that in mind I have to consider finding other allies against Britannia, like the Chinese Federation and the E.U. but that's too far in the future to think over." Lelouch answered honestly.
"I see… That's good enough for now." Kallen stated. "I just have a few conditions I'd like to lay down."
"And those are?"
"One: Don't lie to me. If I ask something I want an honest answer no matter what. Two: I want to be treated as an equal like Naruto and C.C. are." Kallen answered.
"I thought they already made you an equal when they gave you Geass." Lelouch pointed out thoughtfully.
"But I know it wasn't your choice to give me Geass or reveal yourself so I'm making it a point now. I want you to acknowledge me as an equal, your knight, your fellow contractor, your partner from now on." Kallen retorted, not looking like she'll accept any other answer.
"All right. Since Naruto and C.C. already consider you an equal the least I can do is accept it." Lelouch said, annoyed he'd have to share his plans with someone else but recognizing the need to keep Kallen from ratting him out.
"And third: even if you want your identity kept secret from the others at the very least I want you to share a few of your plans rather than retreating back into the dark or let Naruto or C.C. explain it for you. Trust is a two way street, Lelouch, and even if you're trying to help us we need a reason to trust you. You don't have to reveal your entire plan but at the very least you should consult Ohgi because he was the original commander of the group." Kallen continued.
"You want me to share power with the others?" Lelouch questioned.
"We're not your servants and even if you acknowledge that you're not a Prince anymore you like to keep things to yourself a little too much. I can see at least Naruto has a different idea on how things should be run but he prefers to be a fighter than a leader and trying to keep the peace in the group. We put our trust in you, Lelouch, now it's your turn to put some of your trust in us." Kallen said, standing her ground.
Lelouch sighed. "All right, I'll make an effort to consult you and Ohgi but you should know that I cannot promise victory in every encounter even if I share my plans."
"I know but I want you to try." Kallen stated. "In exchange for that I won't tell them anything about your past."
"I see… All right, Kallen Kozuki, I accept your contract." Lelouch agreed calmly. "So as long as you do two things for me."
"And what are those?" Kallen asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"One: If you want to me treat as one of my knights then I'll have to trust you to watch my back but in the event that something happens to me I ask that you… take my place as leader of the Black Knight." Lelouch said hesitantly.
"What?" Kallen asked with slightly widened eyes. "Take your place?"
"Though Naruto and C.C. can take over I believe the Black Knights would be more willing to follow you if something happened to Zero. I don't plan on dying but these are dangerous times." Lelouch explained. "You'll have Naruto and C.C. to help if anything goes wrong."
Truthfully Lelouch didn't have any intention on naming a successor but Naruto and C.C. had picked Kallen to possibly replace him if something had happened and though he had no intention of dying at the very least he could rely on Kallen to continue his fight to destroy Britannia and Sayoko could protect Nunnally even after she regains the use of her legs. He decided to go along with the chance of Kallen replacing him and asked to her to take over as a way to show his sincerity and to fully earn her trust. He didn't know if Kallen could succeed him completely but with Naruto and C.C. backing her up it was likely the Black Knights wouldn't fall apart if Zero suddenly died.
"And the second?" Kallen asked, trying to shake her of shock.
"Don't call me Your Highness ever again." Lelouch scowled. "I discarded my title and my claim to the throne. So, do w have a deal?" Lelouch held out his hand.
Kallen reached with her own hand and shook it. "Don't let me down, Lelouch Lamperouge."
"LULU! KALLEN! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Shirley's voice rang through the forest.
Kallen and Lelouch both stumbled when they heard Shirley's voice. If she had followed them and heard what they were talking about…
"What do we do? We run?" Kallen asked, slightly on edge.
"No. If she suspects we disappeared she and Milly will be all over the place looking for us." Lelouch looked around. "I have an idea."
When Shirley came out she gasped when she saw Lelouch kneeling down next to Kallen was sleeping with her back against the tree. "Lulu! Is something wrong with Kallen?"
"Oh, Shirley." Lelouch looked up. "Don't worry. Kallen just had a fainting spell. I guess her blood sugar might have been a tad low. She mentioned she skipped lunch because she wanted to get home for some reason but fainted. I was actually a little worried about her so I followed her."
"Is she going to be all right?" Shirley walked up and knelt down next to Lelouch.
"She'll be fine. Just a little sleep and she'll be back on her feet in no time. I was actually going to call Milly and ask if she could arrange a ride." Lelouch said reassuringly. "I just didn't want to move her and risk waking her up."
"Oh… okay." Shirley nodded. "I'll go see Milly."
Lelouch sighed in relief as Shirley walked away and looked back at Kallen. "Okay, she's gone now…"
"Zzzzzz…." Kallen lightly snored.
"You actually fell asleep?" Lelouch questioned with both eyebrows raised by the sudden surprise. He couldn't leave her alone like this, especially since there might be some crazy boys who could do almost well… anything to her while she was asleep so he sighed and sat down next to her. "I guess all these late nights have left you with little time for sleep."
He sighed and looked up at the blue sky, feeling content for some reason. Little did they realize that they were being watched someone with an evil smile.
"It's been a while since we could spend time like this." Cornelia lied her head down on Euphemia's lap, enjoying the calm silence. "There have been so many unexpected events since we came here." She reached up and pinched both sides of Euphemia's stomach, causing her to giggle. "All of that desk work, it's making you fat."
"Hey cut it out! It's not funny!" Euphie said but kept a smile on as Cornelia giggled and rolled off her lap. "Cornelia, don't you think this garden looks familiar? It's like Lady Marianne's."
Cornelia looked up around the garden, seeing the similarities and wondered if this was why she felt so peaceful. "Now that you mention it."
"I heard Clovis ordered them to build it like this." Euphie commented.
"I'm surprised he liked her Villa that much, since he was always fighting with her son, Lelouch there." Cornelia remarked.
"He must have thought of Lelouch as his… rival." Euphie speculated.
"Even though Lelouch was younger?" Cornelia questioned.
"Well he kept paintings of Lelouch and the others. We found them after he was killed." Euphie trailed off, looking away slightly.
"I see." Cornelia said solemnly. "We need to stabilize this area and capture Zero fast, to avenge Clovis. As well as Lelouch and Nunnnally. This land has taken the lives of three of our siblings; it's soaked in our family's blood."
Mito was looking over the laptop in front of her, examining the progress of the Knightmare she and the boss were building.
A window showing Rakshata appeared on the screen. " What's the status? "
"The IDF system is still having a few problems reacting with the MAS but I'm making progress in fixing that. The ECS system is online and working at a sixty seven percent success rate but the PROVIDENCE system is correcting these flaws as they present themselves. I got to say, creating the PROVIDENCE system is an unexpected addition on your part." Mito remarked with a grin.
" Well, Naruto did say that a shinobi remains unpredictable and Zero needs a little handicap to stay alive. " Rakshata chuckled. " I haven't had to go through this much trouble when designing the Guren and Shen-Hu but we're making a command unit this time. We need to make a few… new experimental additions thanks to the library provided by Ruben Ashford. "
"It works perfectly. It's identified over eight design flaws in our new Knightmare that would have taken a few more weeks to correct if we were doing it the old fashioned way." Mito nodded in agreement.
" Perfect. That means that it'll be ready in just a week. " Rakshata grinned eagerly. " Just in time for when I arrive to Area Eleven. "
Naruto sighed as he sat under the make-shift waterfall he created to mimic the water fall at Mount Myokobu to help him relax. He was clad only his boxers but next to him was C.C. who was wearing a two piece white swim suit as she was working to finish the final part of her training. The art of summoning nature chakra from the environment around her, Senjutsu. They were also meditating to try and learn the extent of their powers.
They had unlocked the basic powers of the Rinnegan, understood the power of Absolute Harmony and Unity, but they believed it wasn't the extent of their power. Their chakra resonated against each other, seemingly physically manifesting the bond forged between them. Eventually after a few hours something happened as they were both pulled into their minds.
Rakshata fell forward onto her table, barely hearing someone shouting her name as her vision faded.
Sayoko collapsed onto the ground, not missing the sound of Nunnally crying out her name as she lost consciousness.
Naruto and C.C. didn't know what to make as they found themselves standing on water and before them was a man dressed in a white robe, hovering before them in a meditative position, holding a staff with black orbs circling underneath him.
C.C.'s eyes widened when she saw the man. "It's you…"
"Where are we? Are we in each other's heads?" Naruto asked.
"Your personal ethical view towards the mind differs greatly from someone of my era. By what means do you believe this to be either of your minds? For one who believes he understands the concepts of the mind your mettle is quite impressive." The man stated.
"Okay, who are you?" Naruto asked.
"As to why the two of you are here that is surely a valid inquiry. Though I do worry if perhaps by revealing my name it may influence your thoughts and opinion as it had your predecessors." The man continued.
"I know you. You're the man I saw when I made the contract with Naruto." C.C. spoke up.
"Uh?" Naruto looked confused. "Wait, if he's the guy you saw does that mean he's-"
"I am the creator of law, peace, and order. I am he who is known Hagoromo." The man answered Naruto's question.
"…." Naruto and C.C. were silent, staring at Hagoromo.
"Your reaction, being that I am able to read omens and signs, precognitions, premonition, and such I had already anticipated such response."
'Huh? What is he talking about?' Naruto thought. "Sorry gramps but I-"
"He means he knew we'd react the way we did when he told us his name." C.C. clarified. "I remember seeing him and those eyes."
Naruto looked at Hagoromo's eyes. "The Rinnegan!"
"You posses quite a scrupulous and eye for scrutinizing others. Perhaps if you both were to turn it upon yourselves you would gain a realistic comprehension of your circumstances." Hagoromo stated.
"And how can we do that when we do not know where we are or how we appeared here? Are we dead? Are we in either of our minds or are we somewhere else completely?" C.C. asked, seemingly understanding the man.
"This is your inner world, inside your spirits, inside your minds, forged by the connections you two share. I can comprehend why you would feel such urgency but in this particular haste we would be best to find ourselves idle. You see-"
"GET ON WITH IT ALREADY?! CAN'T YOU JUST TALK NORMALLY FOR A SECOND?!" Naruto shouted but stopped as C.C. slapped him on the back of the head. "OW!"
"He's talking clearly to the both of us. If you stop shouting and listen you can understand what he's saying." C.C. stated, sighing at Naruto's cluelessness.
"I am an oddity of time and space. The stream of time has long flowed past me. Cultural traditions and notions, ethics and morals have all undergone changes. I who have journeyed across time and space to this world to meet the two of you, clearly you have differences amongst these areas."
"Time changes everything, even the concept of what is human I suppose." C.C. stated with a small smirk. "Please forgive my friend though, he doesn't have the patience for listening sometimes."
"Hey!" Naruto protested.
"What you pursue are words but their meanings are vague at best, insubstantial, transient." Hagoromo continued. "Without mutual comprehension of our values and selves, their definitions are ambiguous and what they stand for lost. Very well though, I will attempt to compensate for my enlightened knowledge and understanding of the material and speak plainly."
"Huh? Are you like an alien for something?" Naruto said and was whacked on the head by C.C. again.
"He's saying he'll try and talk normally." C.C. answered for the man again.
"Hrmm… That is a bit much isn't it? An alien you say?" The man chuckled without any humor in it. "Although, that is not far off."
C.C. chuckled at the clueless look on Naruto's face.
"You still can't follow my speech?" Hagoromo asked. "I had not thought conversation would prove to be this complex a task…"
"No, no! The way you're talking is totally fine!" Naruto laughed. "I was finally able to understand you! It's just the way you talked shifted so quickly startled me!"
"Really? He said he was going to try and speak your language. Then again, knucklehead language is a complexity of its own." C.C. retorted.
"Like for reals? Then I talk like this? Ya feel me? Ya know what I'm saying?" Hagoromo asked.
"…." Naruto was caught off guard again. "Yeah but…"
"He wants to say he can understand you perfectly now." C.C. clarified with a sigh.
"There's something really creepy about the way you're talking doesn't match with your face at all. I guess you should leave a bit of complexity otherwise you end up sounding like an idiot." Naruto said and was awarded with another slap to the head. "OW! Cut it out Cera!"
"Aren't you going a bit too far? Calling me an idiot now? Well… if that's how talking that way makes me sound that's how it is. Well…" Hagoromo changed his tone to sound a bit more normal. "How about this then?"
"Yeah! Just like that! Perfect!" Naruto sighed. "I think I understand now."
"Now that we can finally talk can we continue this… conversation?" C.C. said, wanting to get on with it. "Who are you? Are you the same man Naruto told me about? The man who had all these powers to begin with?"
"Don't ask too many questions at once. I died a long time ago. I'm a priest who now exists as pure chakra, and I have traveled to this world to witness what Ninshu shall bring here." Hagoromo said. "My name is Hagoromo and is he who founded Ninshu. I am also known as the Sage of the Six Paths."
"Ehh?! The same guy that Pervy Sage and Nagoto talked about?!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Oh, so you do know me?" Hagoromo asked.
"You are the man who created ninjutsu in the beginning aren't you?" C.C. asked.
"Not ninjutsu, Ninshu!" Hagoromo gripped his staff. "My Ninshu was to inspire hope. Do not confuse it with ninjutsu that was made to create war."
"That's right. Kurama told me that you created Ninshu to combine people's spiritual energy together to share thoughts and feelings." Naruto realized.
The water beneath them shifted and when they looked down they saw the image of a young man dressed like Hagoromo.
"You are my son Asura's….Anyways, everything seems to be in order. There is something I must entrust you both with." Hagoromo continued.
"Asura? Entrust? What are you talking about?" Naruto asked.
"I ask that for now you both listen to me as I tell you of the story of my family." Hagoromo used his staff to shift the water again. "We'll start with my mother and my children."
On the water appeared the image of a woman dressed similarly to Hagoromo with long light colored hair that reached down to the ground with horn like protrusions, resembling rabbit ears. Her eyes were pure white with a third eye vertically slit in her forehead.
"My mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki came to the land known as the Elemental Nations from a faraway place. She had come pluck a fruit of the Sacred Tree. The very same tree that you, inheritor of Asura's will had seen in the war on your world. She had come for its fruit of chakra. With the power Kaguya gained from eating the fruit she was able to rule over the land."
"Where did Kaguya come from? Is she even stronger then you Sage of the Six Paths?" Naruto chuckled. "It really is true; moms are scary when you piss them off!"
"Where she came from is of no importance. My mother was powerful, more powerful than anyone." Hagoromo seemed sad now for some reason. "The people either called my mother the Rabbit Goddess or the Demon. They worshiped her in fear. Later Kaguya gave birth to two children, one of which was me. In order to repent for the remaining sins of our mother we fought against the physical incarnation of the sacred tree, the Juubi, and we sealed it within ourselves. The Sacred Tree frenzied and struggled to reclaim the chakra fruit that had been stolen." Hagoromo then showed them the image of two boys. "As time went on, I too had children. The older son I named Indra and the younger Asura. I taught them both Ninshu, however there was a huge difference between the two. One inherited my strong chakra genes and one had not. The difference of genes manifested itself in an extreme manner between the two. "
"So, one inherited your power and the other didn't?" C.C. clarified for Naruto.
"The superior older brother, Indra." Hagoromo gestured to the man with long black hair and red eyes. "And the flunky useless dropout younger brother, Asura." He then gestured to the man with shorter hair.
"Useless dropout, even though his dad was the Sage of the Six Paths?" Naruto muttered glumly.
"Perhaps I shouldn't tell you this, but no matter how superior or excellent the parents are that power won't necessarily be inherited by the child as I'm sure you know." Hagoromo stated as the images of his sons were replaced by Naruto's parents. "You were very much the same weren't you, Naruto?"
"I figured this was what you meant." Naruto sighed sadly.
"And you really do resemble Asura with what you've done too." Hagoromo said.
"Hmm? What I've done?" Naruto asked.
"Indra and Asura walked very different paths. Since birth, the older brother Indra had powerful eyes and a strong sense for battle. He was touted for a genius. He did everything with his own power and understood that his power was special and different from those around him. He also came to believe that with power anything was possible." Hagoromo turned to the image of Asura. "On the opposite side, the younger son Asura who since childhood was bad at everything he did. He couldn't do anything by himself. To achieve the same result as his brother he needed huge amounts of his own effort along with the cooperation of those around him. And soon through harsh training the chakra inside him bloomed and he found the same power level as his brother. He also understood that working together to help him was what made him strong." Hagoromo stopped for a second. "He came to understand what it meant to care for others… Through the way Asura lived his life I began to realize a new possibility… I divided the power of the Juubi that was inside of me and gave names to its parts. I believed the bonds of cooperation was where true power laid."
Naruto smiled in understanding.
"I also made Asura the leader of Ninshu, so that he could guide everyone. I thought his brother would join and cooperate but…" Hagoromo stated with regret. "Indra would not accept that and that was the very moment the long war began."
"The two brothers fought each other and that feud continued through their descendants." C.C. stated, having heard of the story.
"Yes, and when their bodies were destroyed their chakra didn't disappear but was reborn throughout the ages, time and time again." Hagoromo replied.
"Yikes, that's like being possessed by a ghost or something? So who's the unlucky guy being possessed by them now?" Naruto chuckled.
"I think that's obvious, Naruto." C.C. stated with an annoyed look on her face.
"You, Naruto." Hagoromo looked into Naruto's eyes. "Asura was reborn in you."
As he spoke a humanoid figure made of chakra with Asura's face appeared behind Naruto.
"Hm?!" Naruto's eyes widened.
"With my eyes I can clearly see Asura's chakra clinging tightly to you." Hagoromo stated.
'Could it be?' Naruto looked away.
"You're not surprised, Naruto." C.C. stated, being calm through the startling revelation.
"You've probably felt Asura's presence inside yourself. As I suspected…" Hagoromo stated. "In that case then you've probably already figured out who Indra's successor is."
Naruto closed eyes as he pouted before opening them. "Sasuke. It was him wasn't it?"
"Correct. So you did feel it." Hagoromo nodded.
"What about the successors? The ones before us?" Naruto asked.
"The successors of the previous generation were Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha. Hashirama was Asura and Madara was Indra. I believe you know what happened to those two." Hagoromo answered. "But before Madara could pass onto the next successor he introduced a problem. He had become consumed with his lust for power and took Hashirama's strength. In other words Asura's chakra and Indra's chakra fused together into one vessel. This ultimately led him to my own power and awoke the Rinnegan."
"So you've been watching your children's right this whole time?" Naruto asked.
"… I suppose so." Hagoromo answered.
"… I see." Naruto looked down at the water.
"The purpose of Ninshu was to connect people to one another. It's my belief that no one should be more powerful than the other. My mother, even though she managed bring an end to troubled times she controlled the world with the power of a single person. Before long her power gave birth to great hubris and people began to fear that power. My mother, who was once called the Rabbit Goddess came to be feared as a demon for this reason. If power is accumulated into one person that power before long drives that person mad. Madara attempted to gain the power of the Juubi, a power close to mine, and attempted to gain my mother's power. Fortunately he failed as you are here with the Biju, far from his reach and left him unable to claim that power."
"Do you know what happened after I was sent here?" Naruto asked, wondering what happened to his home world.
"I cannot explain everything yet but I can tell you that Madara failed to seal the Juubi in himself when you came here with the chakras of the Biju. In time you will know what happened when you master your powers." Hagoromo answered and though Naruto wanted to ask more he reluctantly conceded.
"If the Rinnegan was awakened when the power of your sons merged together why did Naruto and I gain the Rinnegan when I granted him Geass?" C.C. asked.
"Geass, the power you claim to be the Power of the King. A power that is able to manifest in the form of the desires of whoever awakens it. It is only limited to the imagination of the person's desire as you know well, Cera Celeste." Hagoromo replied.
"How do you know my name?" C.C. scowled.
"Your mind, your life, all of it became open once you made a connection with Naruto. Your Geass, the Power to be Loved. You used it to garner the loving attention of those around you, until you were betrayed." Hagoromo commented.
"You've seen my life?" C.C. narrowed her eyes.
"You wandered hundreds of years looking for someone to take your Code, you served in the conflict known as the Hundred Year War under a person who was dear to you, you gave Geass to a young boy who gained the power to read minds but left him when he become emotionally and mentally consumed by his power." Hagoromo continued. "And when you offered the contract of Geass to Naruto who had been brought to the same base as you it changed everything."
"I'm well aware of that. Is that why you are here? Because of the contract we made?" C.C. asked.
Hagoromo pointed his staff and above them appeared a large planet that resembled Jupiter that glowed bright. "Your Geass, your Code, all of it is the Power of Desire given form. The Collective Subconscious of humanity, known as the Pure Land from our world. The wills and personalities of all things living and dead merge together to create a world that transcends all individuality. In our world those who are enlightened call it the Pure Land while in this world it is called-"
"C's World." C.C. finished for Hagoromo.
"It's the afterlife?" Naruto asked, trying to keep up as he stared at the planet.
"It is possibly that and more. It is the origin of Geass as the Codes function as imprints of the collective consciousness of humanity itself and thus has the power to awaken the power of desires in other beings. However when that desire reaches its full power and absorbs the imprint, that desire merges with the collective which is all of humanity's desires." Hagoromo replied.
"And that's why a Code Bearer loses the power of Geass, isn't it? Our Geass is our desire given form and when we receive the Code that desire merged with it, leaving us immortal and the bestow Geass onto others but lose our own." C.C. said, understanding what Hagoromo was saying. "That still doesn't explain why we gained the Rinnegan or why you are here."
"The Rinnegan was the result of combining the power of imagination that gives shape to anything the mind wishes, and the power that breathes life into form, combining them to create the perfect balance of power that only a few beings have managed to gain. The Shinju was the first, containing the world's mystical energy that gave life to our world. My mother was next when she consumed the fruit, which I inherited followed by Madara who combined the chakra of my sons together, and you two were next. The power of my son, Asura reacting to the Code that represents the Collective Will of Humanity itself that can grant anyone the power to give their desires form." Hagoromo answered. "It resulted in the awakening of the Rinnegan in both of you due to the bond that created by Code Bearer and Geass Holder but at the same time it is different from the previous users, including myself. The power of Earth… and Humanity's Will. It could lead this world to an era of peace but at the same it is dangerous as it could lead you down the same path as my mother and Madara."
"That's why you're here. You're worried C.C. and I might end like them?" Naruto asked with a surprised look on his face. "I wouldn't do that! I fought Madara to save my world from being enslaved! I'm doing the same against Britannia!"
"I know and I see the good in your wish, Naruto. I do not come to accuse you of being corrupted. I come to ask you, what do you believe that must be done to achieve peace?" Hagoromo asked and glance at C.C. "I ask you this question as well as you share this power. Never before has the Rinnegan been granted to two individuals at the same time and you granted this power to two more. Not even my mother showed this ability but if she had she never used it."
Naruto and C.C. turned around and watched as Sayoko and Rakshata appeared out of thin air.
"Rakshata? Sayoko? When did you get here?" Naruto asked.
"We've been here all along, Naruto-san." Sayoko answered as she bowed her head to Hagoromo. "I am Sayoko Shinozaki, 37th successor of the Shinozaki School of Martial Arts."
"Greetings, Sayoko Shinozaki and to you as well, Rakshata Chawla." Hagoromo bowed his head.
"So, you're the famous Sage of the Six Paths." Rakshata smiled. "You know, I never believed in afterlife or God or the millions of Gods I was forced to pray to when I was a child in India. I am a woman of science, though I must say you answer a lot of questions about the unknown. A few questions of the afterlife possibly and some legends surrounding several religions."
"The matters of science and of belief are to bring forth answers to questions we cannot answer alone, seeking knowledge that we can either see with our eyes or rely on a strong sense of faith that our questions are answered when our time comes to a close." Hagoromo stated.
"So, in death all questions are answered? How droll." Rakshata chuckled. "Have you answered your questions?"
"Death is not an end. It is merely the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. Those who ascend to the Pure Land are given the chance to understand but it is a journey, much like all quests for knowledge." Hagoromo said.
"Hmm… What an interesting man you are." Rakshata mused.
"I gathered you all so that I may ask you, can you both lead this world to an age of peace? What are your beliefs?" Hagoromo asked.
C.C. and Naruto shared a look with each other as C.C. reached out with her hand which Naruto grasped.
"I think we both know the answer to that, old man." Naruto said with a smile.
"My allegiance is to my Master Lelouch and Lady Nunnally. I will follow their path no matter what." Sayoko answered without hesitance.
"Well, at the very least I believe that these kids can lead the world to peace, whatever that might be. I'm not a leader and to be honest I deal more with logic and statistics then I do with faith. So I'll leave it to them." Rakshata stated, looking at Naruto and C.C. with a small smile.
Hagoromo looked at both of them as a slight smile appeared on his face. "I see… Very well. I will leave this world's affairs to you. You will both face challenges but each quest to the future is filled with challenges. Until then, Naruto there is something I need you to do."
"Hm?" Naruto tilted his head slightly.
With that said they were all engulfed in a bright light.
Naruto and C.C. opened their eyes, seeing the blue sky and water fall they had made for meditation. They turned and looked into each other's ringed eyes.
"… Did that just happen?" Naruto asked.
C.C. shrugged. "Who knows? Who cares? I've seen too much to be wondering if a dream or vision I had was real."
"Still though," Naruto offered a small smile. "It was pretty cool to meet the man who made history."
"Your history you mean." C.C. stood up and stretched her limbs. "I've seen people who made history literally make history for the last few centuries. Anyways, it seems we got his blessing to try and change the world for the better."
"Yep!" Naruto stood up. "Who knows? We might be the Sages of the Six Paths in this world!"
"Hm…" C.C. made a small smile as she stepped out of the water and walked over to her clothes. "Whatever. Come on, it's getting late."
"Come on, Naruto. Stop moving around."
Naruto fidgeted as he tried to remain still as the students around him worked on sketching him. "Why did I agree to this again?"
"Because it was coin toss between you and Lelouch and it came up heads so you're it." Milly answered, as she continued sketching. "Besides, with how you look there is a fan-club about you that's as big as Lelouch's."
"What's the matter, Naruto? You're not shy are you?" Lelouch smirked as he drew on his sketchbook.
"Maybe I'm just more attractive because I don't like a walking stick man." Naruto retorted, causing a few chuckles.
"Perhaps I or a few ladies should sit in with him." C.C. offered, smirking at a few girls that had to cover the blood coming from their noses. "Perhaps we should… shed some outer clothing to make it more… memorable." At this point the boys were blushing while the girls were either blushing or looking scandalized.
"That's sounds like a great idea, Tsunade!" Milly grinned. "Are you volunteering or are you going to let some other girl have the honor?"
"Are you offering Madam President?" C.C. asked, spotting Rivalz shaking his head desperately. "Or maybe Shirley or Nina would like to try."
"WH-WHAT?!" Shirley gasped while Nina stuttered, her face turning red.
"Aw come on! First Lelouch and Naruto! Leave some woman for us average guys!" Rivalz complained.
"Relax, Rivalz. I'm sure she's just kidding." Lelouch said to try and calm Rivalz down but knew C.C. was most likely not kidding.
"Right, kidding." C.C. said in a dull tone.
"Oh, Lelouch I'd thought you'd want to see something." Milly grinned over at Lelouch who for some reason was slightly afraid.
"Yes, Madam President?" Lelouch asked.
"Come with me." Milly gestured for Lelouch to follow which he did. Once they were out in the hall Milly spun around and showed a picture to Lelouch. "Take a look at this!"
Lelouch froze as it was picture of him and Kallen sleeping against a tree yesterday. He told Kallen to pretend to fall asleep when Shirley came looking for them but had actually fallen asleep, leaving Lelouch to stay with her to make sure nothing happened to her. He had fallen asleep too and hadn't woken up until a few hours later when Kallen had woke him up. The two had gone their separate ways after that, thanking whatever God that was looking out for them that no one had seen them and made any wild speculations even though they hadn't been in any embarrassing positions and hadn't even touched each other.
"Look at you two, you both look so cute." Milly gushed over the picture.
"What are you up to, Milly?" Lelouch asked, trying to stay calm.
"Oh nothing, I was just thinking of posting it all over the school." Milly answered, sounding casual and evil at the same time.
"Milly, if this picture gets out Kallen and I are in big trouble." Lelouch shook his head.
"Oh?" Milly raised an eyebrow.
"If people see this picture they'll spread it around, increasing the chance that someone will recognize me and let's not forget Kallen will get harassed by my fan clubs. You really want to put her through this?" Lelouch asked, hoping Milly would see reason.
To his surprise Milly looked serious as she nodded. "I know, Lelouch. I'm not that eager for a little dirt on you." She grinned. "Of course that doesn't mean I can't show it around to the Student Council."
"So you just wanted to make me squirm… again." Lelouch observed with an annoyed look on his face.
"Yep. Now come on, let's go find Kallen and show it to her!" Milly said as she grabbed Lelouch's arm and dragged him along to help her find Kallen.
"Excuse me?" Inoue asked.
Kaname Ohgi looked up from his lunch of octopus shaped hot dogs when he heard footsteps approaching him from behind. "No it's not what you think!"
"We have visitors." Inoue said simply. "They also have an introduction from Kyoto."
Quickly closing his bento, he turned around to face the four members of the JLF's Four Holy Swords.
Surprised to see the four most famous warriors after Todoh himself in front of him, Ohgi quickly rose from his seated position and made to shake the nearest one's hand. "You're the Four Holy Swords!"
"I'll get straight to the point here. The heavyset man interrupted, waiting for Ohgi to nod before continuing. "We've come today to ask for your help."
"Huh?"The former teacher raised his eyebrow upon hearing this. "What do you mean?"
What could these almost legendary warriors possibly need from them? It sounded crazy that group that could fight on par with the elite units of Cornelia's forces would here come here to ask for aid.
"Lt. Col. Todoh has been apprehended. He sacrificed himself so we could escape."