Chapter 4: Within Bloody Mists
"Wait, you expect me to believe that the bloody Shinigami himself gave you these abilities?"
Naruto looked at Mei with a quick nod, a smile across his young face as he scratched the back of his head. Mei could tell he wasn't lying, she picked up the talent of figuring out the signs of men lying. It was a useful talent, though she did wish she didn't learn it from several failed relationships from her past.
"Okay, say I believe you. Say I believe you were chosen by the fucking Shinigami himseld, why should I think you are on our side?"
With a simple shrug of his shoulders Naruto kept speaking truthfully. "Honestly? I don't really care that much of this civil war. To be honest I just learned of your rebellion a few months ago when Lord Shinigami tasked me with ending it. Though I should say he didn't specify which side I should assist. I ended up picking the side of the rebellion because I don't really care for needless genocide of the clans the Kage of yours is pushing."
Mei raised her eyebrow at this, again not sensing any lies from the boy before her. She took her smoke pipe to her lips, inhaling the burning herb before letting the smoke escape her lush, red lips. "I see. So why would the Shinigami want you to end this war of ours? Wouldn't he be happy for all the dead coming to him?"
With a sigh and a shaking of his head Naruto answered back. "What the people of the Elemental Nations do not understand is that Lord Shinigami is not a ruthless killer. He sees and understands the need for balance between the dead and living. So when mass deaths happen he keeps an eye on the conflict, and if he judges the bloodshed pointless he will intervene. However, this would be the first time in many, many years he decided to send someone from his village to stop whatever massacre is happening."
"Alright, I guess that's simple enough. You must forgive me for not believing you though, he is a god of death after all."
Naruto smiled and nodded. "I understand."
She took another hit of her pipe before she spoke up again with another question. "His village? I see the hitai-ate on your forehead, and I must admit that I've never seen that symbol in all my life. Is your village new in formation?"
"No, actually our village has been around since the era of feuding clans, before the creation of Hidden Villages. In fact, ours was founded when the First Clan wanted to escape the pointless deaths the clans inflicted on one another."
Mei tapped the end of the pipe against a small ash tray to remove the smoldering ashes, placing the pipe down next to the tray. "So older than the first village huh? Why have you been hidden for so long then? No pun intended."
Naruto chuckled at the pun, leaning back and bringing his hands behind his neck. "Simple. We didn't want to fight for no reason. In fact, when the First Clan was gifted with their Kekkei Genkai from Lord Shinigami he specifically forbade them from entering the conflicts of the world. It was one of the three commandments he made in exchange for helping the newfound village."
"You see, Lord Shinigami didn't like the clan wars happening across the land, but also knew it was needed to cull the weak. He saw the balance in the fighting. However, when he found the First Clan in the caverns my village was settled in, he saw a second side to the war. He saw a clan that wanted nothing more to survive, not just fight. So after months of watching and seeing the acts of the first clan he decided to bestow them a gift. The First Gift."
Mei raised her eyebrow at all this. "First Clan? First Gift? Could you explain that a bit more?"
Before Naruto could answer, a man came running into the tent. The man was Mei's second most trusted advisor and friend, Ao. Ao wore a typical shinobi flak vest of Kirigakure, a black eye patch over his left eye where a few scars ran under the fabric.
"Mei, our scouts have discovered an enemy unit heading towards the village to our east. They got word that the leader of the village and its citizens have been aiding us. They are aiming to level it to the ground to make an example."
Mei shot up from her chair, the interest in Naruto that once burned in her eyes died out at the thought of those innocent people being slaughtered. But before she could speak Naruto stood up, stretching softly as he started to walk towards the tent flap Ao came through.
"Boy, what do you think you're doing?" Mei asked as she saw Naruto walk through the flap. The young man turned, a smile across his face as he spoke.
"Simple Lady Terumi. I am going to stop them. Please, sit back and recover. I can sense many souls in your camp on the brink of death from exhaustion and improperly healed wounds. I will handle this."
Mei was going to protest, but before she could speak she saw the boy bring his hands together in rapid hand seals before disappearing. He was gone with not a single spec of smoke in the air, nor any other indication of what he used to go away like that.
Mei ran out of the tent, looking for the boy before she saw the lizard girl that was with him. Keiko was on her knees, tending to a wounded kinochi and smiled as she finished cleansing the infection of a grim enriched wound she had on her leg.
"There you go, all healed. Here, take this. Brew it like you would tea leaves. It should kill any lingering infection I may not have seen." Keiko smiled as she handed the red leaves to the female ninja. She was about to stand up, but the kinochi wrapped her arms around Keiko's scaly neck.
"Thank you, Lady Keiko. Thank you…" The girl whispered softly before standing up, limping slightly but able to run nonetheless.
Keiko smiled at the work she did, turning to help another injured or sick ninja before she saw Mei standing right behind her. "Lady Temuri, how may I be of service?"
Mei smiled gently at the title that she and Naruto used when talking to her, but the feeling of respect went away quickly when she spoke. "Keiko, correct? You're that boy's partner?"
Keiko blushed under her scales, shaking her head. "I am simply Lord Shingami's humble summon. But I am very close to the young lord!"
The fact that the boy she was just talking to was considered a lord to a summon told Mei that there was much more to that boy then she originally thought. "Just as well, Lord Shingami went to intercept a unit of shinobi heading towards a local village that has been aiding us. He disappeared with no jutsu I've ever seen before. Do you know where he went?"
Keiko brought her claw to her chin, thinking before smiling. "Oh, Lord Shingami simply used his Shadow Flicker technique. It's rather basic for his arsenal, it allows him to travel in between shadows for rapid travel. If he had left already, he is likely about to meet the shinobi as we speak."
The shock was easy to see on Mei's face, Ao now standing behind her and hearing what the lizard girl said. He had told two units of their men to prepare for combat, but by the time he got back that boy was likely already there? The village was at least forty minutes away at top speed. After taking a moment to collect himself, Ao spoke up.
"Lady Keiko, are you not worried for his safety? Yes he has some impressive jutsu under his belt, but this isn't some training or raising a dead body. He is facing trained Chunin and likely Jounin."
Keiko giggled at the concern, her tongue escaping as she made soft hisses before looking at Ao and Mei. "I have no concern for my lord. He is ready for this. In fact, I think he is eager to do this. He has been training the clan Kekkei Genkais since he was six. Master three of the four."
Mei then remembered what she was talking about with Naruto before he left. Gulping at the mention of three of four Kekkei Genkai being mastered. "These Genkais…they are the gifts that the Shinigami gave your village's clans, right?"
The lizard girl blinked, wondering how she knew that. "Yes indeed. He has mastered the First, Second and Third Gifts."
"And what are these Gifts, Lady Keiko?"
Keiko let out another hissing giggle, rather excited to see how these people would react to her lord's abilities. "He has access to both Death and Spirit Chakra. Chakra that only the Shinigami can grant access to. As well as the Desuaizu, a Dojustu that allows him to peer into the Pure World and speak to the souls within its endless expanse."
Seeing both Ao and Mei fall backwards in shock made the giggles go full on reptilian laughter. As the two laid there in a semi knocked out state Keiko went back to working on the sick and injured. She would say no more of the village or her lord's abilities and history.
~~Minor Port Village - Land of Water~~
The village was trying to prepare for the encroaching forces of the Mizukage that their scouts had warned them about, many of the women and children trying to board the few boats they had in port to escape the bloodbath to come. Those who did not try to run stayed at the entrance of the village, mostly sailors and ninja that put their lot in with the rebellion. In total there were only twenty or so of them, the sailors poorly equipped as they held oars, tridents, and harpoons to defend their home. The ninja fared no better, their own equipment in disrepair and rusting from the inability to keep up maintenance during this bloody civil war.
The brave twenty stood there, ready to fight. They held their weapons tight in hand, ready to die to buy time for the others to escape. So when a lone figure appeared before them from their amassed shadows they jumped. All except the shinobi. After collecting their breaths the group looked at the boy before them, wearing the strange hitai-ate across his forehead with golden locks dipped in black braided to the left side of his head. Before the group could say anything the trees around them started to rumble, leaves falling along with at least a hundred loyalist shinobi.
Naruto turned to look at the squadron of enemy shinobi that appeared before him, smiling as he started to make hand signs before speaking loudly. "Shinigami Art: Abyssal Clone Jutsu!"
From the shadows of the trees, buildings, and people around him pure black figures started to appear from the darkness. Each one had glowing, ghostly green eyes before jumping and standing with and behind Naruto and the defenders of the village. Naruto smirked, making more hand signs before a puff of smoke came from his palms, the smoke disappearing to reveal sickles in his grip. The sickles were expertly made, anyone around him could see that. The steel is as dark as the night with the edge of the blades glowing a sickly green like the eyes of the clones.
Naruto rolled his shoulders, getting into his stance as he spoke up. "People of the Land of Water, I am Naruto Shingami, genin of Chikyugakure. I have been sent here to help end this bloody civil war. I already have met and talked to Mei, and she has given me permission to aid you in this fight. Now, with that out of the way: ATTACK!"
The clones acted before the awestruck defenders did, but seeing the nearly fifty Abyss Clones charging with their creator quickly inspired them to act.
Both sides charged at each other, jutsu and weapons making blows against both attacker and defender. The Abyss Clones target the more troublesome foes, mainly Jounin or higher caliber Chunin, while the village defenders take on the lower tier of ninja. Naruto himself was focusing on a single target, the apparent leader of this attack. He and Naruto were trading blow for blow, neither one getting an edge over the other which only served to piss off the older shinobi and energize the younger. Naruto dodged the swipe of the kunai aimed for his throat, bending backwards before rapidly moving back up and towards the ninja with the points of his sickles aiming to lodge into the clavicles of the older man. The ninja dodged the attack as well, jumping back a few feet before rapid hand seals were seen.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!" Shouted the ninja, sending a lurching, highly condensed stream of water at Naruto. The boy in turn smirked, quickly doing his own seals and speaking back.
"Shinigami Art: Null Void!"
A circle of swirling black, white, green and blue smoke wrapped around the field with Naruto in the center. As the water crossed into that field of smoke, it evaporated into thin air. The ninja looked at Naruto, lost at what happened. How could a genin cancel out a jutsu that powerful? And what the hell was Shinigami Art?
The ninja let himself get distracted at the display, failing to see Naruto charging at him. When the ninja saw Naruto coming, he smirked as he started to make more hand signs.
"Water Style: Razor Waterfall!"
He moved to launch the water around them at Naruto, however, nothing happened. His eyes widened in horror as he realized too late that this jutsu too was canceled before his eyes. When he looked down he saw Naruto with his eyes now black as night with glowing green pupils. His sickles sank through the flak vest the ninja wore and into the sides of the older man. The sickles pierced through and ripped into the lungs of the man before Naruto ripped them out, leaving large, bleeding gouges into the man. The man looked up at Naruto, his life fading quickly. The last sight he saw was the smiling face of the child that killed him. The child that made him look utterly useless as a ninja.
~~Two Hours Later~~
Mei landed with almost their entire force behind her as they looked at the village. She was confused, there should have been a battle raging or atleast corpses laid about the ground from a battle won or lost. What she did see was children playing about in the streets, people smiling and talking with no signs of blood or battle anywhere.
She walked into the village, Ao at her side as they looked about. They talked to the locals, asking them what happened. Both ninja were shocked to hear that a single boy came to fight for the village, summoning clones of pure shadows to fight with the few that stood to defend their home. When Mei asked about where the boy was, the villager told her that he was currently sitting at the pier. Thanking the man, she and Ao went to go look for the boy.
When they found him he was sitting on the edge of the pier, legs dangling over the edge of the wooden planks making the docks. He seemed calm, happy almost as he looked over the fast body of water before him. When he heard Mei and Ao approaching, he turned and smiled at the two. "Got the job done, just like I said I would. Even cleaned up the bodies too."
Mei just went to Naruto, sitting down beside him and having her own legs dangling over the edge. "So it seems…uhm, you never told me your name, Lord Shingami."
Naruto blushed lightly at this. "Please, no lord or master title crap. My name is Naruto, Naruto Shingami of Chikyugakure."
Mei chuckled at his antics, finding it rather cute and humbling to see someone so young not wanting what many kids would kill for. "Very well, Naruto. Thank you for stopping them. For saving this village."
He chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Please, it's no issue. I've been wanting to try out those techniques anyways. Training with them is nice and all, but I need more combat experience to grow. Fighting dummies and instructors only goes so far."
She chuckled at his words, nodding and looking to the sea. "So, can you tell me more about your village? Do you think…do you think they'd send help?"
Naruto looked at her, his slowly growing famous smirk proud on his face. "Well, why don't you ask some of the elders? I summoned one of the Metal Lizard Clan and asked them to relay a message to my village. A response came back about twenty minutes ago. Lady Temuri, you have the full support of Chikyugakre."
When he finished his sentence no other sound was made, the only noise being that of the villagers behind them and the crashing waters before them. Mei was lost at what to say. Her eyes watered some as she finally found someone to help them. No other country or village wanted to help them, they didn't want to have political issues with one another. But this…this boy not only saved the local village that aided them, but now he sent word for his village's forces to come and help them.
"Well, they will be here in roughly a week," Naruto said, looking back to the ocean. "They promised full support too! I'm actually really excited to see-"
He was cut off when he felt himself being pulled into Mei's embrace, hearing her whimper softly as tears trailed down her cheeks. He looked up at her, smiling softly as he hugged her back. He was happy. He was truly happy to not only spread the word of his village, but because he was able to help someone that was truly suffering. This feeling of accomplishment, of feeling useful was a sensation Naruto was starting to like. He truly hoped that Lord Shinigami wanted him to keep doing things like this. Things to help people.
~~Kirigakure two years later~~
Naruto stood at the head of the amassed army now standing a few kilometers away from the Hidden Mist Village. To his left was Keiko, his loyal and caring companion. To his right was Mei Temuri, the leader and mastermind behind the rebellion forces. He smiled as he looked at the village, the end goal of their long, bloody two year campaign. He sighed softly, hoping this would be the end of the bloody mist era they had come to finish.
Behind Naruto, wearing an elegant battle kimono of her clan, thick black leather armguards, and thick leather boots was Jin Tuyin, his mother. She was the first to respond to Naruto's call. In fact, their entire clan was the first batch of troops that Chikutgakure was able to send. The family was eager to help their young heir, eager to aid and help the rebellion and in turn fulfilling the task Lord Shinigami had given them.
To Jin's side was Madoka Yantoro, the tactician of both rebel and Chikyugakre's forces. With her and her clan's vast knowledge through the Pure World made almost every tactic the loyalists enacted utterly useless against their strategies, giving heavy losses to the enemy and few to their own forces. Madoka was proud of Naruto as she saw him standing proud at Mei's side, proud to see how much the boy had grown from his time in this war.
The other two clan heads of the village did not come, both Kisho and Genki staying behind to oversee the production of weapons, armor, and food product for the campaign in Kirigakure. Not a single shipment was late under their watch, nor was a single cargo ship containing the supplies ever taken by the enemy. They worked hard to ensure the battle was never ill funded or equipped for their side.
As the combined forces of both rebel and Earth ninja prepared for their final push, Naruto couldn't help but shiver. He felt…worried. He felt that something was wrong with his situation now that he was at the seat of the Mizukage. The sense of deception, the dark feeling of betrayal, lingered in the air. He looked back to the forces, all of the captains and their units prepared to do their part in the assaults.
Mei stepped forward, smiling at the forces as she brought her hand up, pointing to the city, and calling out. "We take Kirigakure back from the tyranny of the Mizukage! We strike to end this bloodshed! Spare only the innocent, leave no shelter for the guilty!"
With those words the army roared out, charging into the city while Naruto stayed behind. Mei had already gone ahead, along with Madoka, Ao, Chojuro and the other lead figures of this assault. Jin, however, stopped and looked at her son. She was worried now, she had never seen Naruto like this since they started fighting two years ago. She smiled softly, taking in the features of the boy as she thought.
Naruto had grown so much, now a boy of thirteen he was standing roughly a meter and three thirds tall. His braids he wore before now cut, leaving the sides of his cut and only leaving the long, single tail running down his back. The trinkets from his sixth birthday adorning the locks. He had picked up a few scars in this war, one being the one running from his lip to the center of his forehead. The others were more hidden under his thick trench coat. The long, white coat has the symbols of the clans surrounding the diamond symbol of Chikyugakure. No one from the village told him, but that coat was the Shodai Kuraikage's. They thought it fitting to give it to him, knowing his destiny to come. Under the coat he wore no shirt, leaving only the necklace adoring his chest to be exposed while he wore the same solid black ANBU pants and ninja sandals.
Jin took a breath as all the forces had left, the sounds of battle now raging in the distance as fire and smoke slowly started to blanket the city skyline. "My son, what is the matter?"
Naruto turned to her, his trademark smirk gone and replaced with a look of worry. "Something isn't right…I feel something in the air. Mother, I don't think-"
He couldn't finish his sentence, the chorus of chaos in the city now thundering loudly as large explosions erupted all across the city limits. Naruto looked at the sight, eyes widening as he felt it. He felt the souls of hundreds of men, women, and…and children. He turned to Jin, rushing with her at his side towards the battle. He needed to be quick, needed to end whatever was causing this damage before he could attempt to use the Soul Revival Jutsu to bring them all back.
The mother and son landed at the edge of a larger building, looking down to see a single person standing around the corpses of countless people, loyalists and rebels mixed with civilians. Naruto jumped down, looking at the man. He wore pure white robes trimmed with blue, a weird hat covering his head that had white draping covering the back and sides of the head. The man looked up at Naruto, and for the first time in Naruto's eyes he saw the gaze of a true madman.
The Mizukage grinned as he started to walk towards Naruto. "So, you are the Shi no Musuko, the Son of Death. I have to admit, when they said that, I didn't think they meant a boy. How old are you, twelve?"
Naruto's eyes narrowed, looking at the man with anger in his eyes. "My age doesn't matter, Yagura Karatachi…I was going to give you the chance to repent for what you did, but it's clear that you don't deserve redemption! Look what you did! What you did to your own people!"
Yagura looked down at the bodies adorning the ground, his foot pushing a corpse's arm aside to see the child it tried to protect from the fighting. He returned his gaze to Naruto and shrugged. "Scum like them don't matter. I would figure someone like yourself would see that."
Naruto didn't speak as he charged forward, sending a fist encased in Death Chakra at the man before him. Before the strike could land, a large mass appeared from behind Yagura. Naruto was flung backwards from the tail that came from the enemy, and watched as two more erupted before the man himself started to mutate and change. Thinking quickly, many of the civilians, loyalists, and rebels ran out from the growing monster that was starting to grow so large it toppled buildings. Naruto acted quickly, turning around and grabbing Jin before jumping a few meters away as he turned to see the monstrous turtle that was now unleashed.
"So…this is a Bijuu?" He asked softly as Mei landed beside him, followed shortly by Ao, Chojuro, and Madoka. The six of them looked at the monster that stared angrily at Naruto. "I know what I need to do…Mei, can you and the others buy me time to prepare?"
Mei nodded, knowing better than to ask what the boy's plan would be after years of working with him. "Ao, Chojuro, let's go. Madoka, will you assist?"
Madoka smirked, pulling her katana from her sheath before joining the others and heading to occupy the three tailed turtle before them. Jin turned to Naruto, worried in her eyes as she saw him sit down and take a scroll out of his coat. He pulled and unraveled the scroll across the ground, taking a deep breath and smiling. "Mom…I am going to use the Reaper Death Seal. When I do it, do not interfere. Please…I know this will work."
Jin snapped "What the hell do you think you're doing Naruto! That jutsu will kill you!"
Naruto smirked, smiling at her as he started to do the seals. "I don't think it will…trust me."
Jin couldn't stop him now, when starting the seals it was better to let it happen. Messing up a single seal, or losing concentration, could end up with disastrous results. AS she watched Naruto focus her eyes quickly turned to the battle happening, watching the four that had become friends to her fighting hard to distract the Bijuu.
When the final seal was finished Naruto shot his eyes open. "Reaper Death Seal!"
He slammed his hand on the scroll he rolled out, and with relief he saw the Shinigami come before him with eyebrows raised. He looked down at his chosen ninja, taking the tanto out of his jaws as he spoke. "Naruto…why do you summon me?"
Naruto kept his concentration as he spoke. "My Lord, I need your help. We are at the cusp of finally ending the civil war like you had tasked me with. However, I did not account for the Bijuu fully being released…my lord, I have a plan. I need you to seal the Bijuu while it is out of the container's control."
The Shinigami looked over to the battle raging on, noticing the large amount of death that had happened due to the Mizukage, and in turn, the three tailed beast before him. He turned his gaze back to Naruto, nodding. "I agree with this plan, Naruto. However…if exchanged you will not be able to revive those who had died today. That is the price you must pay."
Naruto looked up at the Shinigami, taking a deep breath. He had hoped to save those who died for no reason, to save the innocent…but he understood what the Shinigami was trying to make him understand. These things happen, and even if he had the power to revert death, Naruto should not abuse the power. Everyone dies, it was a natural thing.
With a heavy sigh, Naruto nodded his head. "I agree, Lord Shinigami. Please, seal the beast into this scroll. It should be strong enough to hold it within til I find a proper way to keep it sealed."
The Shinigami nodded, turning to the Bijuu and beginning the ritual. As they started, the Bijuu started to feel its chakra being drained. He turned his single eye to the Shinigami, the eye widening large as he knew what was happening and saw Naruto still sitting on the ground to keep the Shinigami anchored to the world to perform the ritual. In a desperate last ditch effort to escape being sealed again, he started to collect a large amount of chakra and formed it into a black ball. Mei and the others saw this, knowing what was coming and raced to intercept the Bijuu Bomb being formed. Sadly they were not quick enough, and instead of waiting for it to fully form the three tailed turtle fired a small, speeding Bijuu Bomb straight towards Naruto. Naruto's eyes widened, but smiled as he saw death coming for him. He took a deep breath, prepared to finally enter the Shinigami's world permanently.
The Shinigami saw Naruto's resolve to accept the end approaching him. This made the Shinigami smirk, it was clear that the people of Chikyugakre never mentioned or forgot what he said about Naruto. He focused and forced the Bijuu into the scroll, finishing the ritual right before the small Bijuu Bomb landed against Naruto, sending him flying back with it's force before expanding and exploding. The ground shook as Naruto's body was enveloped in the deadly explosion.
Jin's eyes widened as she saw what just happened, screaming out in agony as she saw her son's smiling face before being engulfed in the explosion sent by the tailed beast. Mei and the others landed beside Jin, watching the inferno left behind from the Bijuu Bomb. Madoka was quick to be at Jin's side, sliding down to her knees with her friend as their tears ran down their cheeks. Both are feeling the loss of their beloved Naruto.
Mei looked…she simply looked as Ao and Chojuru raced to the inferno to put it out and hoped to find Naruto perfectly fine. The kid defied death itself so many times, bringing people back that had died and cured many wounds with his special chakra. He couldn't die from this, right? He couldn't…he couldn't be dead.
~~The Pure World~~
Naruto slowly opened his eyes, blinking softly as he stood up. He looked around, seeing the vast, grassy plains of the Pure World. He smiled, walking down a path in the fields as he knew he had died. And he accepted that. He did his best, and with his final act ended the civil war like Lord Shinigami had asked him to do. He honored his word, his clan, and his village.
He stopped walking, looking down at his hands as he thought of the village. Of his home and family. He thought about his mother, Jin, and how she would be reacting right now. He thought about the clan heads, the despair knowing their prodigy was taken away in foreign wars. He thought of Keiko, and how she would be ashamed to return home after failing to protect the lord she was tasked to serve. Then he thought about Rika, and how she would likely be afraid and heart broken, knowing the man that raised her and protected her could no longer do so.
He clenched his fists, now understanding what others meant when people got her for the actions you take. He just as quickly let go of his fists though, realizing it was pointless for his regrets now.
"Seems you understand something most mortals never can."
Naruto turned to see the Shinigami floating in the air, descending and landing beside Naruto. "You feel the pain of regret for not being able to stay and make those you love happy."
Naruto only looked down, smiling solemnly as he thought about it. "I did my duty you tasked me with, Lord Shinigami. I know they will heal and be happy to know I made them and you proud with my sacrifice."
The Shinigami looked down at Naruto, a smirk growing on his face. "Indeed, they will be proud of everything you do."
The young man looked up at the Shinigami, confused before the deity started to speak up again. "When I returned you to the land of the living, when I gave you to your mother and the village, I proclaimed to blade or poison would ever have me claim your soul. When I said that, I meant I wouldn't let you come to the Pure World permanently before you died of natural, old age."
"So wait…does that mean…"
The Shinigami nodded, smiling as he waved his hand to open a tear into the mortal world, letting Naruto see the many friends and family he made crying over his battered, bloody corpse.
"Naruto, I chose you to make sure balance was properly restored in this world. Letting you die before you could fulfill my wish would only hinder my desires. Now go…return home, and continue acting as my messenger. You are my choice, Naruto."
Naruto bowed down, his body in a ninety degree angle before standing up again. He smiled up at the Shinigami. "Thank you my lord…I will not fail you." He said before jumping through the portal, his soul within the Pure World now being returned to the mortal world.
The Shinigami chuckled at his antics, a grin coming across his features. "I also promised him a reward for the task when he ended the civil war…maybe I should ensure that when he passes of old age, more of his bloodline can take up the mantle…"
~~The Mortal World~~
Jin sat on the ground, holding Naruto's body as she, Mei, and Madoka wept for the fallen hero of the rebellion. Mei looked down at his mangled body, a hand running across his cheek to wipe away the blood that stained the smile he wore when he welcomed death. Madoka held onto Jin as she shed her tears, the older woman letting some of her own fall freely as the entire rebellion force circled around their hero. Their friend.
Ao and Chojuro kept their heads bowed low in respect, honoring and praying for Naruto's afterlife to be full of bliss. To never feel the pain of war like he had for them. He had fought for them, he had bled for them, and now he had died for them.
The crowd around wept in mourning as they saw their hero lying dead in his mother's arms. They may have one this war, but they weren't sure they liked the cost in the end.
However, as Jin held Naruto's body in her arms, something started to happen. His body glowed a faint white hew, his body making sickening sounds as bones and muscles were forced back and repaired. Jin laid his body down, standing away along with Mei and Madoka as they witnessed what they couldn't imagine happening.
Slowly Naruto's body was repairing itself, his body returning to its proper shape. The lacerations and deep wounds across his body healing, the burns receding and fading away as his body was being restored by the white glow. By the end of it, the body stopped glowing, nothing left but smooth skin.
Everyone held their breath as they saw what happened next.
Laying on the ground, his body twitching as his chest started to rise and fall again, Naruto opened his eyes. He slowly got up, looking around and smiling at them all.
"Hey guys…did we win?"
