With their meal done, the shinobi of Konohagakure sat down, preparing to read another chapter as Uchiha Sasuke breathed deeply and opened the next page, his eyes moving to the book as he began reading while others listened to the Uchiha Heir.
Demons evil? Angels justice? Who was it that decided such things?
"A misconception, a common one." Madara said, his expression stern. "From an early age, it is indoctrinated within us that light means good and darkness means evil but it is not the darkness that is inherently evil or the light that is inherently good, but it is what you do with these gifts."
"I am loath to agree with Madara." Tobirama said, glaring at the smirking Uchiha. "But, he speaks true. In my lifetime, I have seen men with powers of light and justice commit unspeakable acts of cruelty and I have meet seen with abilities born from darkness and hate commit heroics that even my brother cannot stand up to."
Hashirama said nothing, merely agreeing with a solemn nod.
The younger generation was silent as they listened to their elders.
My General: Erisu
"Ah. So we learn more about your servants." Danzo realized as he looked as the heir of Namikaze Minato who appeared as curiously interested as the rest of them. Even Shikamaru, lazy and unmotivated as he was, sat up, eager to learn what was happening.
An excerpt from the yokai encyclopedia, Yokai, A Mysterious Calamity, whose author is unknown.
...There are three ways to become a yokai.
"Finally, we are going to learn how you exactly became a demon." Tsunade said, leaning forward, desperately wishing for more, scowling when her grandfather ruffled her hair, finding her reaction cute before she slapped his hand away and Mito threw her head back, her laughter like bells chiming.
Everyone attempted to contain their laughed.
Uzumaki Naruto had no such qualms.
With a glare at her laughing son in all but blood, Tsunade focused on the story as the reading once again began.
The first, to hold within yourself the deepest, and darkest, and vilest of hatred whilst you spill mortal blood onto the ground. Alternatively, you can be turned by a youkai of great enough power as you stand on the cliff of death. This is the path of humans.
The second, to embrace your otherworldly heritage as you stand within the crossroads of man and demons, to fall and allow your more sinister and darker instincts override all semblance of humanity. This is the path of half-bloods.
The third, to be naturally born from two other yokais. This is the path of yokais.
...Dried blood splotched the rest of the page, rendering further information illegible.
"As you do not seem the kind to depend on hatred, in this world or that one, nor were you born a demon, it seems you are a half-blood that folded to his inner desires." Hiruzen commented, wondering how on earth Naruto could be a half-blood. Was it Minato, or Kushina?
Naruto appeared curious, wondering if that was why he could hold the Nine-Tailed Fox as easily as he did.
Among the ruins and debris of an old monastery that had fallen out of use and into disrepair... That was where I first met her.
"Okay, so I guess it is showing how he gathered his supporters." Neji commented, looking more than a little interested.
"Interesting." Madara commented, humming in thought. "It seems that we are allowed to see his methods as a leader."
Those born and raised in the Warring States Period were more than a little intrigued.
It was a serene night, as the land was overcast by the sea of ebony black that hung among the heavens, the sole source of light the pale silvery white orb suspended in the sky, glowing to grace the land with its bounties, as dark clouds hung in the air in defiance of gravity.
That day, I arrived to investigate the numerous rumors of a monstrous beast who lived in the old monastery who attacked the people of the nearby village. Apparently, the locals had tried numerous times to subdue the beast without much success, only leading to further casualties.
The rumors depicted the monster as demonic; a terrifying winged beast.
"Ha!" Tobirama barked out a laugh as he looked at Naruto who was arching an eyebrow. "You have, without a doubt, inherited the foolish bravery of your grandfather."
"Grandfather?" Naruto tilted his head to the side. "Did you know my grandfather, Tobi-oji?" He asked, ignoring Madara who laughed and Izuna who smirked.
"Indeed." Tobirama said, grumbling about golden-haired brats under his breath. "There is none in the Warring States that do not know the Old Uzumaki. A man who could stand against Madara and my brother and not lose."
"The Old Uzumaki was a man to be respected." Madara agreed, nodding.
"Indeed." Hashirama agreed while Hiruzen and Danzo nodded while Sasuke glared at Naruto in envy once again.
Naruto, on the other hand, was grinning alongside Mito.
But what I found there was...
A pale, fragile woman. With hair of purest shade of ivory white, with eyes of crimson red, the woman donned a black scarf that fluttered in the gentle wind. Dressed in a black coat, her foot was covered by black boots. Red sigils snaked its way from her shoulders across her chest, emitting an eerie and mystical power. Exuding an air of ethereal beauty, she was elegant, graceful... And it was obvious hers was an existence not within the realms of all mortal knowledge, wisdom and strength.
That was where I met her... The one who would in the future, become one of my closest confidante. My General.
Yosuzume. Or to call her by the name I gave her...
Erisu.
"It looks like it is finally getting into the nitty gritty." Kiba said, grinning with excitement as he rubbed his hands together.
"Ho? What are you doing here, woman? Are you lost? The way to the village is that way." Naruto pointed his thumb over his shoulder, his eyes peering curiously at the figure before him.
"Again, Naruto, women have names." Ino huffed, glaring at the smirking Uzumaki while Anko and Mito looking knowingly between the two.
"Got a problem, woman?"
Ino reddened and marched up to Naruto, right into his face and moved to slap him but Naruto held her hand tightly but gently causing Ino's heart to stutter.
"Watch yourself, woman."
As Ino become as red as beet and scurried back next to the girls, Anko cackled as Naruto took a seat, arms crossing over his chest.
"The boy really is your brother's grandson." Madara told Mito with a smirk as Mito just looked at the young Uzumaki fondly, seeing the shadow of her beloved younger brother in him.
"Indeed, he is." She accepted.
"Get out." The woman curtly said, irritation colored in her tone.
"Ah. Not the most inviting of lasses." Hiruzen realized, smiling lightly. "I do wonder how Naruto managed to snare such a cold young woman."
The other men were as intrigued while the women rolled their eyes at them.
"Ho?"
The red seals of power carved on the woman's chest glowed an eerie red, as an ominous purple wind, infused with an astronomical amount of energy such that it was visible and held a color, the purple of velvet and violet, blew across the debris.
"Get out!"
That flash of youki was all the confirmation Naruto needed.
"There is no doubt, you are..."
"If you leave now... I'll spare your life." The woman replied, her tone as deadly as any blade. Her presence, filled with killing intent, was a knife so sharp that it would cut anybody that got close to her. She was serious, she meant every words she uttered.
Without a doubt, she would not hesitate to attempt to cut him down if he did not do as she said.
"I am sure you are strong, young Erisu, but I very highly doubt that she is truly a challenge for this version of Uzumaki Naruto." Danzo commented, his eyes moving between the book and the Naruto with them.
"You do know you are talking to a book, right, old man?" Jiraiya asked with a cheeky grin, cackling as the normally emotionless man's cheeks reddened.
"Be silent, Toad Sannin."
Tobirama merely smirked, amused at his student who was a stick in the mud even in his time.
"Why..." Naruto curiously asked. "Why did you attack the villagers?"
"Ah. So this is the 'monster' that attacked." Shikamaru commented, his dark eyes concentrated as he wondered why Nurarihyon Naruto would recruit her.
"Why the hell would you recruit someone that hurt innocents?" Ino and Sakura demanded, unknowingly echoing one another and Shikamaru and as they realized they said the same thing, they glared at one another, completely ignoring Naruto who they had been mad at a few moments ago.
The reading continued.
"...I was only minding my business here. After traveling to and fro, this is where I ended up. But apparently..." She closed her eyes, her face as passive, as icy as ever. "The locals do not approve of my presence here... The presence of a disgusting creature like me."
Naruto's expression darkened, realizing why his other recruited her and by the looks of the older shinobi, they knew as well.
The younger, on the other hand, were just angry on Erisu's behalf.
Naruto kept quiet, his formerly cheery expression slowly melding into one of seriousness, his eyes freezing into glaciers. The woman took this silence and mistook it for disbelief.
"I think it is the opposite, dear." Mito whispered, a kind smile on her lips as she looked at Naruto who wore an expression of icy wrath.
"You don't believe me? The words of a monster-"
"You're wrong. I do not believe that you are a monster."
"God," The younger girls groaned. "No wonder he has a bunch of women that hang on his every word." Ino whispered, glaring at the oblivious Naruto. "Lines like that are too much for a maiden's heart."
Tenten, Sakura and Hinata agreed readily, each knowing how much they would flush if their respective crushes said such words to them.
Madara, Izuna and Danzo were intrigued, applauding Naruto for his efforts of showing kindness to inspire loyalty while Jiraiya, Hiruzen and Hashirama were smiling at the fact that despite his darkness, this other Naruto still had Naruto's kindness.
TH-THUMP!
"Thump, indeed." Anko whispered to Kurenai who smirked at her friend who was once again looking at the young Jinchuriki in a way Kurenai had not seen her look at any other man, even the one's she offered one-night stands to.
For an instant, her ruby-colored eyes widened in surprise, taken aback by the sheer conviction the man in front of him held in his words. Without hesitating for a single instant, he disputed her belief. She quickly collected herself, schooling her features back into its icy visage.
"...I am not human. And I am not an animal. Not a god, not an angel, and neither am I a devil. Therefore, the only label left that could possibly classify me is... monster. And if you intend to stop me, a monster..." She trailed off, standing up, her formerly expressionless eyes glinting with wrath, with hatred, with anger. "You'll have to kill me."
"Oh gods, she's one of those types." Sasuke rolled his eyes as he looked at Naruto. "How is it that every woman you come across has had a shit past that you are bound to save them from, you bloody dobe?"
"Jealous, teme?" Naruto grinned wildly at his rival as sparks clashed between the Uzumaki Heir and Uchiha Heir.
"Be quiet." Hashirama and Madara said to their respective relatives while Naruto and Sasuke crossed their arms over their chests, huffing as they turned away from one another while the girls in their age group, even Hinata, rolled their eyes at their immaturity.
Naruto peered into her eyes, his gaze peering deep into her soul, as if searching for something. "You do not regret for a single instant, killing those humans?"
"Don't make me laugh. Regret? Remorse? I am only looking out for myself. They oppress me, calling me a monster, a devil, a demon... How am I wrong for disposing of them?!" She exclaimed, her eyes aflame with an indigo fire. "Towards them, towards those despicable humans who deny my existence, this is my personal justice!"
"That is not justice." Hashirama said, his expression solemn. "That is only vengeance, wishing to hurt when you have been hurt."
"Justice and vengeance are the same." Madara snapped, glaring. "The villagers have taken her dignity, her pride, there are debts that must be paid and those debts are justice."
Hashirama sighed, shaking his head.
Tobirama glared at Madara as Izuna glared at his rival's brother.
"Can you two stop debating philosophy for one second and let us read the damn book?" Mito demanded, her eyes angry and her face red.
Flinching, the two gods in battle turned silent while Naruto looked at his great-great something aunt in awe.
"Justice, huh? I see..." Naruto muttered to himself, a wry smirk plastered on his face, as if he found something amusing in their conversation. "A man I knew once said to me... We are but men, drawn to act in the name of revenge we deem to be "justice". But when we call our vengeance "justice", it only breeds more revenge... forging the first link in the chains of hatred."
Hashirama gave Naruto a proud look and Madara a look that screamed 'I told you so'.
"Just because a man from another dimension says it does not make it true." Madara muttered under his breath.
Hiruzen smiled, proud of Naruto, even if this wasn't the actual Naruto while Naruto beamed proudly.
Danzo, on the other hand, was slightly disappointed that for all his strength, Hiruzen's ideology still existed within the Namikaze Heir.
"...I am getting tired of talking to you. If you continue spewing such foolish nonsense..." The flame in her eyes raged into an inferno. "I'll kill you."
"I do not condone those humans' behavior... but neither can I condone such indiscriminate killing. And it seems that you will not listen to reason..." His eyes were tinged with a vague resignation as he reached for the sword held at his hips, pulling it out in a swift stroke, metal grinding against metal, the hissing of steel announcing the blade's release from its sheath. He pointed its edge at the figure before him. "Very well. I shall teach you the error of your ways."
"Finally, time for some actual battle!" Kiba grinned, excited to see how this other Naruto was in the field of battle.
Even Madara, who was usually stone-faced, cracked a smile, eager to see battle and the limit of this Yokai Lord's strength.
Hashirama, on the other, seemed as resigned as the other Naruto at the idea that someone as innocent and youthful as the current Naruto could become so resigned and used to bloodshed as this other version of the boy was.
Her eyes followed the blade all the way to the hands that held it, and then further up to the eyes of the man who wielded it.
TH-THUMP!
An image of her as a child, a small palm pressed up against an eye to staunch the blood from a recent wound, her eyes exuding her anger, her hatred, her despair at the unfair and unjustifiable world. This image flashed through her mind. "You don't understand anything... You..."
"For fuck's sake, what is it with bigots hating innocent children!?" Tsunade scowled, clenching her fists as she wished she could go into the story and break every bone in the bodies of those child abusers.
Naruto wore an expression colder than the icy land of the Land of Snow, a very unusual expression on his usually grinning face and Anko was as enraged, so much so that she could not even seek to calm the volatile son of the Yondaime down as she usually did.
Hell, everyone from the ruthless Danzo, to the emotionless Shino, to the vengeful Madara were too wroth to speak, each wishing they could bring death and destruction for the men and women that would do such things to an innocent child.
She extended her arms, her fingers angled as if grasping an invisible blade, ready to take hold of a blade that had yet to exist in the human realm at that instant. The red lines that curved its way through her body lit up once more, as she exuded a purple miasma of concentrated demonic energy. Indigo and violet flames sparked into existence at each of her palms, each molding and shaping itself into a separate weapon of hellfire and brimstone. Six wings, three pairs of the deepest and darkest black wings sprouted into existence from her back. With a mere glance, Naruto immediately identified what manner of yokai she was.
Yosuzume, a bird yokai that reigned over darkness. It was said that their feathers could infiltrate the closest opening in one's eyes and totally blind one to the world, trapping them into a realm of eternal darkness.
"Preachy types like you... are the worst!"
"The tragedy in her life makes here refuse to see reason." Mito realized. "She thinks everyone is out to get here, even when they try to help her." She said with the older generation of shinobi agreeing with her.
"You really are preachy, though, aren't you?" Sasuke deadpanned, smirking at Naruto as the Uzumaki glared at him with a huff.
"Sorry I don't grunt my way through conversations, teme." Naruto snarked, laughing as Sasuke flushed in anger or embarrassment, Naruto could not tell.
"Behave boys." Mito said gently causing Naruto and Sasuke to turn away with one another with almost identical scowls.
"I didn't realize it until now, but Sasuke is as childish as Naruto." Ino whispered as the other girls, even Sakura reluctantly, agreed.
She lunged, her dual blades screeching against the air as she aimed to decapitate her foe. But her speed, while impressive, was not unmatched. CLANG! Her opening strike was parried. Two steps. CLANG! Ten steps into the battle. CLANG! All of her strikes were blocked, deflected.
"Sacred Gear? I see, you were a half-yokai... Those are wonderful blades, strong blades that you are fortunate to still remain possession of..."
"Wait, how the hell did Naruto figure out she wasn't a full yokai?" Kiba wondered, tilting his head to the side in curiosity.
"And what is a Sacred Gear?" Tobirama wondered, looking towards Tsuchi who had not spoken in a while and as he expected, the God jumped up with an excited smile and clapped happily as he began explaining.
"Sacred Gear, also known as God's Artifacts, are items with powerful abilities bestowed upon humans by the Biblical God." He explained, taking a deep breath before he continued. "And the Biblical God is the only deity that is the sole god of his kingdom." He continued, observing as they couldn't even grasp the idea of one god for an entire religion. "Sacred Gears can also give humans the powers to kill gods."
"Interesting." Danzo murmured, rubbing his chin with his good hand. "And that is why Uzumaki-san knew that the creature was not a pureblood yokai because she had one of these Sacred Gears."
"Yes. Only humans have this ability." Tsuchi confirmed. "If they did not, they would be no much for the supernatural creatures out there."
The shinobi, even the younger generation, were interested to see the abilities granted to this yokai with a Sacred Gear.
She grunted, as she continued swinging her two blades in their dance of death, a competition which held their very lives at stake, all in an attempt to strike a blow against her foe. With her was Rulegnis, the blue blade that held the flames of hell within it, and Fernognis, the violet infernal blade that held the ability to cut into the soul. Twin blades that came together as a set of Sacred Gears.
"Terrifying abilities, to say the least." Hiruzen realized, humming in thought. "To summon flames of hell and cut through the soul is not something to be taken lightly. I wonder how Naruto-kun will stop her."
Madara, on the other hand, looked terribly excited, overly so, at the chance to fight a woman with such powers, with flames hotter probably than Amaterasu and a blade as powerful as the Shinigami's own. Damn, he was getting too excited, he realized, as he sat down, trying to calm his bloodlust.
"But even so, even with the strongest weapon in the world, without skill, you cannot obtain victory!"
"That is the truth." Kakashi applauded with a approving nod. "Even when I created my prized jutsu, because I lacked the skill to use it, it was useless." He said, looking directly at Sasuke, wanting him to understand this lesson above any of the other youngsters.
Sasuke said nothing, knowing exactly what his teacher was hinting at.
He blurred, flashing into motion within her guard, his sword up high, ready to strike a deep slash downwards. Now it was her turn to block, her two blades clashing against the single katana of her foe in a contest for strength, for supremacy, for victory as metal screeched against metal. Naruto, eyes narrowed in concentration, jumped back just when the woman overpowered him in their clash of strength.
"What an absurd amount of strength... You are indeed strong, yokai Yosuzume... I am Uzumaki Naruto, the one who will become the lord of pandemonium and master of all spirits in the future! What is your name?"
"You do not lack for ambition." Madara said, interested in the young Uzumaki Heir as he gave an approving nod.
"No matter the world, it seems you always seek the highest position, Naruto-kun!" Lee declared, punching his fist into the air. "What youthfulness!"
"Indeed, Lee, Indeed!" Gai agreed, grinning widely.
"Gai-sensei!" Lee called.
"Lee!"
"Gai-sensei"
"Lee!"
"Gai-sensei!"
"Le-"
Before the two overgrown trees could continue, Tenten kicked them both in the wall, her face red with embarrassment.
"Can you stop that stupid ritual for one second!?"
The two men cowered, embracing one another.
"And I thought the Warring States was horror." Madara whispered, the rest of his fellow shinobi born in the Warring States agreeing. "What sorcery was that?"
"...Name? I don't have one of those." She answered in reply, as calm as darkness, her tone inflected with the stillness of water, as if she was merely discussing the weather. "But if one were to define a "name" as "identity", then my "name" would be "monster"."
"For fuck's sake, how fucked can people be?" Kiba demanded, flinching as Kurenai gave him a sharp slap to the head for his language.
"Though your language is not appropriate, I do agree." Kurenai said, her expression cold. "I can understand shunning something they do not understand, though I do not agree with it, I can even understand hating something innocent, though I loath it, but to refuse to even give a person, a child, a name, is beyond vile."
By the cold looks on everyone's faces, they agreed.
Naruto held his gaze unflinchingly. "As I have said before, you are not a monster. If you do not have a name, then I shall give you one."
"Naruto, I do not think you can just name random people because you feel like it." Sakura deadpanned, arching an eyebrow at Naruto who did not seem at all surprised.
"Why not?" He asked as if he was asking about the weather.
"Because they didn't ask you to do so." Ino agreed with Sakura.
Naruto shrugged, as if their words where like wind was to a mountain.
Huffing, the two young women sat back down, but the older woman, including Anko and Kurenai, smirked at how Naruto could rile them up so easily when he was just acting himself.
"What?"
"...Erisu. After the Grecian goddess of strife and discord... As a yokai, a being of fear and chaos, that name fits quite aptly."
"...I didn't say will accept being named by you." She quietly complained, her eyes giving away her surprise at the sheer audacity of the man before her to name a stranger he had met.
But what was this strange warm feeling in her chest? There was no way she actually liked the name... could she?
She was cut off from her musing by Naruto.
"Man, she is trying so hard not to be pulled in by his charm." Tenten groaned, while Ino and Sakura gave her strange looks. "What, you gonna tell me if that you weren't in that position your heart would not be beating outside of your chest?"
Hinata, Sakura and Ino flushed, casting wishful glances to the young Jinchuriki.
"Then, defeat me. Defeat me and you shall be free, be it from the name Erisu or me. But if I were to win, I will have you join my Night Parade... Erisu!"
"Pushy, ain't he?" Anko whispered to Kurenai who smiled lightly. "But not gonna lie, I like it a hell of a lot."
Kurenai laughed, sound like chiming bells as everyone else just looked at them strangely, wondering if the Yuuhi was going insane.
With the conditions of their battle set, the two beings lunged headfirst into battle once more.
"...With all of my power, I will destroy you." She held Rulegnis, her sapphire-colored blade over her shoulder, as it lit up with a violet flame. Shining brightly in the darkness of night, it glimmered like an unknown star. Without a single ounce of hesitation, she swung, her sword's arc continued by a blade of youki that roared furiously as it sliced through the air to its target. The blade was sharp, wide, and moved at a speed of a speeding car. Without a doubt, a normal being would be dead in an instant. "Mikazukigiri."
But Naruto was not a normal being. He was the lord of all ayakashi and youkai! Master of fear! Creator of chaos!
"Oh, don't be too humble, Uzumaki." Kiba snarked, smirking at Naruto who glared at him at the insult.
"Oh, go back to the kennels, mutt breath." Naruto insulted as harshly and if it wasn't for Kakashi who pulled Naruto back and Kurenai who pulled Kiba back, the two troublemakers would have come to blows.
"This current generation is much more volatile than even our own." Madara realized, turning silent for a moment before grinning. "I like it!"
"Of course, you would." Tobirama deadpanned, rolling eyes while Hashirama and Izuna just stayed out of this argument, knowing how their brothers could be.
"What's that supposed to mean, Senju?" Madara challenged.
"You know exactly what it mean, Uchiha." Tobirama pressed back.
Before the two could come to blows, Mito glared at the two of them, causing Tobirama and even the mighty Uchiha Madara to flinch.
"Shut it!"
"Yes mam!" They cowered as the reading continued.
He raised his sword, and a azure blue-colored ball of youki immediately started forming at its tip, as he channeled his demonic energy through his blade, using it as a conduit for energy. He got into a particular stance, his sword-wielding arm pulled back in preparation for his next move, his sword held parallel to the ground, and thrust. In a motion so sublime that it was obvious it was practiced until it was instinct, in a motion so swift that it resembled an elegant dance, Naruto completed his technique in less than a second.
"Rasengan!"
Both blade and balls of demonic energy left their respective blades and expanded as they flew towards each other. They met in the middle, their clash disintegrating the very earth around them and releasing so much power that the fighters had to brace themselves so as to prevent themselves from being blown away. The energy techniques, releasing a purplish blue light, were too bright to look at, but the light was rapidly decreasing in luminosity as both blade and ball attempted to overcome and erode the other into non-existence.
"You learn the Rasengan?" Kakashi gasped before turning to Jiraiya who was as stunned as the Last Hatake.
"The Rasengan? What's that?" Naruto wondered, the rest of the genin looking as curious as the class clown.
"The Rasengan is a A-class technique created by the Yondaime Hokage." Tsunade explained, her expression curious. "And the Rasengan is the highest form of shape manipulation. To master it takes no less than a genius."
Naruto puffed up, grinning proudly but was curious when Anko poked him.
"Oh, I just wanted to pop your big head." She cackled.
Naruto deadpanned.
"Though the Rasengan is usually created through the use of hands, to use the jutsu from the tip of your blade…is beyond anything the Yondaime did." Danzo commented, looking impressed despite himself.
Naruto, once again, puffed up like a big balloon of pride and arrogance as Sasuke harshly glared at Naruto, jealous of all his abilities, or the abilities of his other selves.
Both were equal, and both blade and ball dissipated into thin air. But Naruto gauged this faster than the Night Sparrow and immediately charged up and released another ranged Rasengan.
The spiraling sphere of energy punched through the air at a high velocity. In an instant, she realized that the futility of attempting to dodge. She would not be fast enough. In that case, there was only one thing she could do.
"Hiketsu!"
Augmenting her wings with youki, she curled and crossed them before her, all six of them, forming a makeshift shield to defend herself. She stood her ground, and withstood the barrage. The world flashed into white.
"Do you want to stay locked up in here forever? Nothing will ever be resolved this way. As long as you hide from your problems..."
"Ah. It's one of those situations." Kakashi realized, nodding in understanding while Sasuke groaned and Sakura sighed.
"Those situations?" Hiruzen arched an eyebrow, curious.
"Well, Naruto has this trait, not sure if I call it admirable or annoying, where he makes even his greatest enemies his friends." Kakashi explained. "You've got Gaara, and Sasuke, and Haku, and Shion and Koyuki, as well." He listed off with his fingers.
Naruto merely flushed as Anko ruffed his hair and kissed his cheek.
Madara, Izuna and Tobirama, on the other hand, gave Hashirama pointed look as the Shodaime Hokage flushed as much as his great something nephew-in-law.
"Such idealistic words..." The light faded to reveal... nothing, that the night sparrow had disappeared. Only a few black feathers that fluttered in the air where the yokai Yosuzume once stood. "You... have not experienced any form of hardship, have you? That is why it is so easy for you..."
A spot of darkness on the ground behind Naruto suddenly glowed an eerie dark purple. Naruto immediately turned around, shock evident in his eyes. A dark figure erupted from the violet portal, sword poised to cut through skin, rend through bone and reap through muscles. "...To spew such nonsense!"
There was a large intake of breath as they looked towards Uzumaki Naruto who was silent, refusing to say anything.
She flew past the blonde, and for an instant, it appeared that she had succeeded in ending the life of her current foe. But it was not to be.
For he was Nurarihyon, Lord of Pandemonium and Fear. The figure of the cut blonde erupted into a black mist, flying and converging onto another spot to reveal the uninjured figure of Uzumaki Naruto.
Madara appeared excited, wishing he could fight this other Uzumaki Naruto if he could survive such an onslaught of attacks with no damage.
"I didn't think you would survive that."
A tense silence descended upon the monastery.
"What's wrong? Have you lost your nerve? Unfortunately, it's too late for you. You're the ones who have made me this way... into this monster. There is no mercy, from a monster like me."
"You just keep... calling yourself a monster, a demon. Retreating into your shell... It's your own weakness that made yourself a monster! If you want things to change... You should change yourself first. But you have forsaken hope, given up on yourself..." Naruto answered. "You're nothing but a coward."
"Harsh, but true enough." Hiruzen agreed. "A person that will not change to better themselves or their lives is afraid of what could be and thus do not act on it." He gave a fond smile to Naruto as he ruffed his hair. "That is why I count Naruto-kun as the bravest person I have met."
"Whatcha mean, old man?" Konohamaru wondered, wanting to know how more awesome his boss could become.
"Naruto-kun, in all the time I have know him, has never shied away from change. He has continued to change and adapt to become the strongest, to become Hokage." He explained, nodding at Hashirama and Tobirama who were impressed at the praise that their student was giving, knowing he was not a man that easily gave praise. "I have no doubt that one day those dreams of his will be fulfilled because of his bravery." He looked to the other genin now. "How many of you can be as confident as Naruto-kun when telling your dreams? Do you have the confidence in declaring to a village of naysayers as he does?"
The genin, even Sasuke, seemed ashamed as they stayed quiet while Konohamaru just grinned, his idea that Naruto was the best shinobi solidified in his head.
"More idealistic nonsense..."
"It might be idealistic to you, but it is what I believe. It is the path I follow, and the path I will continue following in the future."
"Well then, I guess that path..." She trailed off, her eyes narrowed. Fernognis, the purple blade, vibrated with a metallic hum, akin to the buzzing of an insect, as it lit itself with a purple flame. She leaped, blurring into motion, her sword brandished for a giant slash. "...Ends here!"
The two duelists met in the middle, sword meeting sword, blade clashing against blade, steel grinding against steel in a contest of strength, of power, of dominance as old or perhaps even older than man. Their fight, it was a dance of death, a whirlwind of destruction, a maelstrom that eradicated any who dared to interfere.
The night sparrow was stronger, yet the lord of fear was swifter. They were evenly matched, so far. Yet why was it... he held such a grin on his face?!
"The longer this match goes on... the more I want you in my Parade... Erisu!" Naruto roared, jubilation dancing in his eyes and joy in his smile. With that, he sped up his blows.
"Horahorahorahora!"
"The more I read about him, the more this other Uzumaki boy reminds me of a mix between Madara-aniue and Hashirama-dono." Izuna commented to Tobirama who reluctantly agreed with his rival.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! A slash. An overhead cut. A thrust, a stab, a vertical strike. Yosuzume did not have the time to ponder the sheer absurdity of the sudden increase in speed. It was all she could do to hold back the barrage of blows Naruto rained down upon her, her attention solely focused on defending herself from the onslaught.
Yet, with each stroke of his sword, he only seemed to move even faster. The speed and viciousness of his blows was akin to that of a wild beast, a primal, unrefined animal.
For the first time in her life, she realized, "Ah, I am outmatched." And yet...
...She did not give up.
"A perfect match for the dobe." Sasuke rolled his eyes, knowing how Naruto would only give up when he was dead. It seemed only fitting that his first subordinate would have such a foolhardy trait.
Her body twisted and turned, her muscles burned and ached, as she tried her hardest to keep up with the overwhelming assault. She refused to fall. Her pride would not allow it. Keeping up with the onset was no small feat, and it took every ounce, every fiber, every iota of her being to not be completely bulldozed over. Even then, she was slowly but surely losing ground.
Had she been less hard pressed she would surely have noticed the change. Had she been more attentive she would have just conceded her loss and be done with it.
But she didn't.
His boisterous laughter, it invaded her ears, resounded in her mind, echoing throughout her body, as it became twisted by her own mind, her mind distorting it and adding non-existent elements of condescension, warping it into a laugh that held the intent to mock, the intent to ridicule.
"This woman really does love to project her sorrow." Jiraiya sighed, having met many people like this, that could not get over their past to form new relationships.
"That is the affect of childhood trauma." Hiruzen sighed deeply, saddened that yet another child had faced the ridicule and hatred that his surrogate grandson and.
Speaking of the Kyubi Jinchuriki, Naruto wore a strained expression that revealed he had similar experiences of people genuinely smiling at him and him thinking that they were mocking him.
TH-THUMP!
The image of blood, inked onto her eyes, flashed before her mind once more.
"Shut up..."
The laughter, it reminded her of those despicable humans...
"Shut up!"
...Those despicable humans who denied her existence!
"Shut up!" She screamed.
Naruto cursed, realizing who exactly she reminded of. He just hoped that he could reach her much earlier than he did Gaara.
As Naruto beat himself up, the room was silent, a sense of solemnity through the room, felt even by Madara and Danzo.
She swung her blades with great force, her twin blades swept in an overhead arc as she aimed to pulverize her opponent.
CLANG! With a sweep of his sword, Naruto met his blade against Yosuzume's two blade once more, in a final clash to decide the victor.
"Ahhhhhhh... AHHHHHHHH!" She screamed and shouted, pushing her entire being into this single strike, her eyes aflame with rage as she tried to overcome her opponent, to destroy, to kill, to eviscerate her opponent!
"...Just because you are sad and lonely... You can't stay holed up in your shell... forever!"
With that, Naruto, pushed, and with a sound of shattering glass, broke both Rulegnis and Fernognis, the twin blades of Yosuzume. The Night Sparrow's eyes widened in disbelief. It was that shock which paralyzed her for a mere second.
Taking that small opening, Naruto swung with a kick, launching the bird yokai across the monastery. He lifted his blade, and once more, channeled youki into his sword and forming a spiraling sphere at the tip of his blade... and released.
Grunting in pain, Yosuzume could only gaze at the bright blue light that served to slowly engulf her world, enveloping her in an ocean of azure blue. And she thought, "Ah, this is my death."
The world faded into white.
"And it's finished!" Kiba slapped his thighs, preparing to get up before Tsuchi pulled him back down without even moving his body.
"No, its not~!" Tsuchi sung, an infuriating smirk curving at his lips.
The other genin, even Shikamaru who chuckled, laughed.
When the world regained color, it was to the scene of an open clearing, the ceiling and walls of the monastery erased from existence.
Groaning in pain, Yosuzume slowly opened her eyes, her frail figure supported by the debris of the ruined monastery. She gazed at the clouds that floated in the sky, and the beautiful dawn that rose in the distant horizon, gradually lighting up the world.
"There. Now you no longer have a shell to hide in." A familiar voice spoke, directly behind her.
She gritted her teeth, her tone held with rancorous and bitterness. "Why didn't you finish me off? A monster like me?"
Hiruzen smiled gently, glad to see that the young lady was coming along, slowly but surely.
"Because you are not a monster... And living in a dark place like that will dim your spirit. Thus, I got rid of the shell binding you... idealistically speaking, that is."
The clouds floated in the air, gently, slowly, patiently.
"Ah... It's always the same..." Her palm tightened around the handle of the ruined sword she was still holding. Her eyes welled up in tears, years of repressed emotions finally taking its toll on her. "Why... why... why doesn't everybody just leave me alone?"
"I... I didn't want to become like this... I wanted to- I tried to change! But... But!"
"Stop! I'm not a demon!" A small girl screamed, two sets of wings curled up beside her, as she held up her tiny hands in a feeble attempt to defend herself. "I- I just want to become friends!"
A black figure walked up to her, his hand tightly gripping and clutching something. He raised up his arm, and threw.
A rock sailed through the air, smearing the small girl's face with blood. "Why... Why are you doing this?"
"You monster! Filthy abomination! You half-blood!"
The girl could only whimper in pain and fear, her tiny hands pressed desperately on her head, trying to stop the blood from flowing profusely from her wound.
"Why..."
The men grew stonily angry, the boys were snarling, the women were scowling with pursed lips and the younger women were crying, sobbing at such cruelty done to an innocent child whose only crime was being born.
"What should I have done?" She cried. "In the end... I have no place in this world... Despair... and loss... I'm so... tired of it all..."
"...I think we were fated to meet, Erisu." Naruto smiled grimly, images of a pale, androgynous male, a visage of beautiful snow raining down on a misty bridge and facsimile of a mask flashing through his mind. Pictures of an endless desert, of a single-tailed raccoon, of a man hair the color of fire, with a large gourd on his back ran through his mind. Flashes of a small child, with blonde hair standing alone in a void, desperately trying to garner some form of attention from the crowd around him, only to fail.
"Don't get close to him!"
The state of not having a place in the world... The condition of living without a dream... The status of not having a purpose for existing... That was a pain, a hollowness he was too well acquainted with.
"Not. A. Word." Anko hissed, glaring at anyone who dared comment on the younger ninja's suffering as a child while Hiruzen merely smiled sadly at his surrogate grandson, cursing his weakness for not being able to protect the Yondaime's Heir from such cruelty.
Jiraiya and Tsunade were stuck between being angry and guilty, angry at the village's ignorance and guilty at their lack of action in taking their godson out of such a toxic environment.
Madara and Tobirama, however, were impressed that a child that had faced such hate could be as cheerful as this Naruto was. It showed a strength that many did not have.
"There is definitely a place for you in this world. You simply haven't found it yet. And even if you lost your place, you simply have to search for a new one. You... and me. You know, everybody in the world... is simply searching for the value of their existence."
"I did not know you even had the ability to become wise." Sasuke snarked, growing jealous of the respectful glares the former Hokage's were giving him.
Naruto said nothing, but he clenched his fists.
"Even now, Uzumaki Naruto has wisdom you could never learn, Uchiha." Neji scowled, upset that the Uchiha Heir was being so cruel to the man that saved Neji from himself.
Sasuke glared and would have attacked the Hyuga if Kakashi did not give him a sharp glare that caused him to scoff and cross his arms over his chest like a child that did not get the cookie.
"You children have such loyalty to this boy." Izuna realized, motioning towards Naruto who flushed at the praise. "Why?"
"He's strong." Konohamaru grinned.
"He is kind." Neji huffed.
"He is hard-working." Hinata squeaked.
Madara laughed, throwing his head back.
"You really are your grandfather's grandson!"
Hashirama agreed, remembering the loyalty that the Uzumaki Head inspired, a loyalty neither he or Madara could ever inspire, even after he became Hokage.
Click, clack. The sound of wooden geta against concrete resounded throughout the clearing. Within her field of vision, a hand slowly reached out to her. Her eyes trailed and followed the hand up along the arm to the eyes of the man who held it out, the cerulean blue orbs that held such warmth, such acceptance.
"And if you are still searching for a purpose, how about coming with me? How about it? Want to turn the world upside down, and search for the purpose of our existence along the way? For our place in this world?"
"Your wisdom cannot last without your ambition." Tobirama commented, amused. "You were sounding very like Hashirama until that Uzumaki came from you. Turn the world upside down, eh?"
Naruto beamed, nodding eagerly.
Hashirama joined in, laughing boisterously while Madara gave his rival an unamused look, clearly telling him that he was an idiot with his eyes.
Hiruzen smiled fondly at Naruto, glad to see that he was receiving the recognition that he always thought the Last Uzumaki deserved.
"You... did you plan for this all along?"
"Well... who knows?"
"You really are as sly as a fox, you little brat." Anko cackled, ruffling Naruto's hair as he pulled him under her arm, his face squishing against the side of her boob causing the young shinobi to flush and drool at the same time ignoring the angry glares of the older women, the jealous ones of the younger and the glares of envy from the men of all ages.
That hand... looked so warm, so inviting... so... welcoming...
"Really... you preachy types... you preachy types... really are..." A tear welled up in her eyes, trailed down her face and dropped to the ground. "...the worst."
She reached out for that hand that looked so warm.
"Seduction Complete!" Anko cackled which Naruto joined in with his boisterous laughed as he threw his head back.
"You know, he is handsome." Tenten commented, earing the blushing of her fellow kunoichi genin. "In a wild, savage kind of way."
Ino and Sakura looked at Naruto in a different light, realizing they could see what the slightly older kunoichi was talking about.
"Hahaha! Let's turn Kyoto and the world upside down, Erisu! To fulfill my dreams, my ambitions! For the sake of a world where humans and ayakashi can coexist!" Naruto turned around, laughing uproariously. "Alright, let's go! Hahahahaha!"
"I know not whether to call him selfish or heroic." Madara commented to Hashirama. "He seeks conquest for the sake of coexistence. Have we ever met a general that sought both?" He asked his rival knowing that while Madara had sought conquest, Hashirama had sought coexistence, but never both.
"I cannot say either." Hashirama agreed with his rival and best friend and enemy while Tobirama and Izuna rolled their eyes at their brothers, wondering why the hell could not decide if they were enemies or friends already!
"You are as selfish in that world as in this one." Sakura scoffed, knowing how infuriating Naruto's strong personality could be.
Naruto grinned brightly causing Sakura to growl and turned away, trying to ignore her flaming cheeks.
And Erisu found that she could not take her eyes off her future lord's back. For she found it so dazzling, amazing, awe-inspiring, breathtaking. She found it so... magnificent. She was taken in by the great ardor, the sheer intensity of Naruto's presence. Even if she was physically stronger, she felt as if...
She was no match for him.
"Oh, honey, there are some men where you can only go along for the ride." Kurenai shook her head, knowing that her own sensei – Uzumaki Kushina – had met one such man that had made the normally dominant woman act in a way that Kurenai had never seen her act.
Anko grinned at 'ride' getting Kurenai to slap her head playfully.
"Trust me, Erisu, I know the feeling." Hinata whispered, knowing the exact feeling that the sparrow yokai was talking about as he gaze flittered to Naruto who was still grinning, everywhere in her body flaming.
"Ahh... So this is the rumored "fear" of the Lord of Pandemonium..."
"The Fear of the Lord of Pandemonium?" Madara questioned, looking over to Tsuchi who was basically shaking from excitement to answer.
"The Fear of Yokai denotes the select skills and abilities of a yokai." He explained. "The Lord of Pandemonium's fear, as the Lord of the Yokai, is particularly dangerous and powerful as Hashirama and Madara's abilities are far greater than anyone else's." He explained, his eyes moving towards the Senju and Uchiha.
The shinobi nodded, understanding what they meant.
"So, that is this chapter done." Tsuchi told them, a question in his eyes. "Would you like to rest before we start the next chapter of the story?"
"Let's read one more chapter before bedtime, I think." Anko said, wanting to learn more about this yokai version of Naruto.
"Yes! More boss!" Konohamaru cheered.
"Very well, who wants to read?" Tsuchi wondered, extending the book to whoever had the guts to grab it.
"My turn, bitches!" Tsunade cackled as she grabbed the book away from the God before opening to the next page, breathing deeply and beginning her reading of the second chapter of the story.