Lo Siento BB - Bad Bunny Ft. Tainy, Julieta Venegas
Death was pretty lame if Naruto was being honest. Being a Shinobi all his life, a Jinchuuriki at that, he had pondered what death was like at a very young age.
Was there an afterlife? If so, was it peaceful? Was it beautiful? Worry free? No stress? Would he be able to see his beloved parents and friends again?
His father had kind of alleviated some of those questions once he met him during the war. It was clear that there was an afterlife if the words chosen by his father were anything to go by. His mother awaited in the Pure Lands with open arms, longing to hold her son since her untimely death.
It had both saddened him and made him feel happy to hear these things from his father. Though he and Minato would likely never see eye to eye, what with the whole Jinchuuriki sealing business and whatnot, Minato was still his father. And though he had done what he believed to be the only logical choice, his father had believed in him from the start. Which was big praise coming from a man many believed to be the second coming of Hashirama and Madara.
Ahh, but he was going off on a tangent wasn't he?
Death was lame.
Where was the pure lands? The loving faces of his mother and father? The joyous shouts from his peers and friends during his time as a Shinobi?
It was no where to be found. It was only pitch black. A black that was blacker than black. Which honestly didn't even make sense.
How could something be blacker than black? Yes, there was different shades of black but black was black. Didn't make sense if you asked him.
"You are incredibly annoying. Please, stop thinking."
That voice was incredibly familiar...
Deep baritone? Check.
Angry rumbling undertone? Check.
Hate filled words that held just the barest amounts of affection? Check.
"I can assure you that it is only hate. You make me sick."
There was no doubt about it. That was certainly Kurama. But that didn't make sense either. Kurama was just Chakra given sentience with a pseudo-physical body. If he, Naruto, died, then Kurama would just reform in a few years time. And that went for all of the Bijuu as well.
So why was he able to hear Kurama?
"Cus you're not dead, idiot. And that 'blackness' you see is your eyelids you stupid mongrel. The fact you were able to live on your own for so long is a miracle."
That was uncalled for and incredibly rude. It's almost as if Kurama completely forgot that it was the sole reason he had to live on his own to begin with.
Asshole fox.
Naruto released a quiet groan as his eyes slowly fluttered open. Smog, smoke and ash painted his vision as he stared into the sky. Instead of the beautiful blue sky and fluffy clouds that had once painted Takamagahara, it was now nothing more than cinder and brimstone. If he was secretly in Hell then he wouldn't have even challenged the notion.
A small part of him was both confused and guilty. What had even happened? His head was absolutely pounding and he was finding it incredibly difficult to even think. Mentally, he was a wreck but physically?
He felt completely fine. There was no soreness. No injuries. No bruises, no cuts, no pain.
But that didn't make sense. He had been fighting someone... Someone incredibly powerful. Someone who could shake off one of his strongest attacks while barely batting an eye.
What had his name been?
A brief image of a man with white hair and distinct blue eyes suddenly flashed through his mind. An arrogant smile painted his features and two words came to mind, jostling his memory and causing an influx of information to wrack his brain.
Gojo Satoru.
Naruto immediately rose to his feet, silver eyes scanning the ruined and barren landscape. A pit began to form in his stomach as he surveyed the destruction he had caused.
He... He did this?
A wave of nausea swam through him as he took stock of the damages. He had brought ruin and destruction to the home of the Shinto Gods. He had used his power with blatant disregard of those around him.
Shame coursed through him at the thought. He had promised himself to use this power to protect others and those that couldn't protect themselves...
As his eyes scanned the blackened and dead landscape, he couldn't help but feel detached to it all. How could he have done this? How could he have caused all of this?
It wasn't justifiable. Not for a moment.
"Well, look at you..."
Naruto rounded on the familiar voice, eyes burning a brilliant silver. "You...! How did you even survive?!"
The God smiled, as if preening. "Me!" He chuckled at what he perceived to be some kind of joke. "As to how I survived? Who knows? Maybe because I'm just that much stronger than you. Anywho, how ya feeling?"
Was he...?
Naruto's face scrunched up in disbelief. "Are you... Are you serious?"
Gojo tilted his head with a raised brow. "I wouldn't ask if I wasn't being serious." He wagged his index finger side to side as he continued. "It's important to take care of one's body."
Anger swirled to life in Naruto, threatening to overtake his entire being as he stared at the arrogant God.
This... This God was being so lackadaisical! About everything! Even during their entire fight! It was all a game to him!
The worst part about all of it was the complete lack of malice and negative intent during their entire fight. Gojo hadn't been attacking him with the intent to kill or maim or anything. He was fighting him just to fight.
And that angered Naruto even more. It only led credence to the fact that this God had fought him just because he could!
Divine Essence leaked off Naruto as his eyes dilated, becoming glossy and unfocused. A power he didn't recognize nearly burst forth from his pores. It encircled around him, gently caressing him while whispering sweet nothings.
It was enticing and intoxicating. The strength of a trillion men and women sat at the edge of his fingertips begging to be used. He even entertained the thought of just allowing it to lead him, but only for a second!
Reality snapped back into place and Naruto snuffed the power out before it could hope to escape, locking it away.
"Hoh..." Gojo mused aloud with his hands in his pockets. "Your will must be incredibly impressive if you can deny its instinctual calling. You're becoming more and more interesting by the second."
"SHUT UP!" Naruto snapped angrily, eyes burning a deep vermillion as he stared at Gojo. "Do you have no remorse?! Empathy?! Sympathy?!" A hoarse rasp escaped Naruto as he swung his arm to the side, trying to highlight the destruction of the realm they stood in. "Do you think this is fine?!"
Gojo's blue eyes scanned the destroyed realm with a bored hue. His right hand vacated his pocket, producing a black cloth. He then took the cloth before wrapping it around his head, covering his sky blue eyes.
"Takamagahara is not my concern."
Naruto's disbelief only grew. Was this man not a Shinto God?! How could he say that?!
"My only concern is the safety of Japan and all its inhabitants."
Naruto's anger stilled, if only for a moment. "Wha-... Then why fight me?! Why do any of this?!"
Gojo tilted his head and raised one of his hands. "Well, for starters, because I can. Two, because I felt like it. And C, some unknown entity that can decimate an entire Faction and Religion by themselves needs to be watched. And by watched, I mean monitored. And by monitored, I mean babysat."
Naruto didn't necessarily fault those reasons. Well, atleast the third one. This God was arrogant after all, disgustingly so at that. However, that didn't excuse his actions.
He was also an annoying prick and his quirky attitude was grating. He was reminded of Kakashi but on a scale that put his Sensei to shame.
"And you couldn't have accomplished that third one without destroying an entire realm?! A simple talk would have cleared this from the jump!" Naruto's tone shifted angrily as he shook his head with a scoff. "But who am I kidding? You're a God. You don't give a shit about ethics or morality. All you care about is strength, image, and stroking your ego. You think because you have all this power that you can do whatever you want with it. You make me fucking sick!"
Gojo merely offered a small shrug at the boy's words, not really caring. "You already possess a predisposed view of me due to personal beliefs so trying to convince you otherwise would just be a waste of time on both our parts." The God was silent for a moment, letting his words sink in before tilting his head and looking past Naruto. "Also, I don't know why you keep worrying about Takamagahara being destroyed... It's the land of the Shinto Kami for a reason. I doubt that Izanami or Izanagi would allow their precious dimension to be reduced to ashes."
Not a moment later, the very earth and soil began to lurch and rumble.
The charred landscape began to change, life somehow being breathed back into the very soil and earth. The raging fires and mountainous smoke screens began to dissipate, clearing the blackened skies to allow sunlight to shine once more.
Naruto watched all of this with disbelieving eyes.
"Exiled I may be and hated by the Shinto Faction I am, I however am a man of my word." Gojo spoke, watching Naruto's confused expression. "I promised to protect Japan and all its people above all else. You don't have to like me, and I don't really care either way, but I am not your enemy. You'd do well to remember that."
Naruto's bottom lip curled downward as he stared at Gojo. "Save your bullshit for someone else. If you really wanted to assess a threat to your home like you say you do, you would've spoken with me instead of resorting to violence. Don't act like you give a shit about Japan or its people now."
Gojo tilted his head at Naruto's response before making a quiet 'Ahh' noise. "I get it now." He turned his back on Naruto before slowly walking away and waving over his shoulder. "You want everyone in the world to operate on the same philosophical belief, of some kind or another, but can't take having an individual who refuses to operate so mechanically and one dimensionally. You think the world is black and white, kid."
Naruto stared at the God's back, watching him retreat with fierce eyes. "You don't know a single fucking thing about me you arrogant prick! You don't know what I've been through...! The things I've seen and experienced!" Silver eyes bled a bloody crimson as Naruto spat. "How could you possibly think you know me?!"
"I know enough." Gojo retorted easily.
There was a tense silence that followed the God's words. Any amount of goodwill or patience that Naruto possessed seemed to just evaporate. Without truly thinking of the potential consequences, he spat his next few words.
"Step foot into Kyoto and you'll never have to worry about Japan or its people ever again." Naruto threatened.
The God finally paused at those words, coming to a pause and dipping his head. He was silent for several seconds before eventually nodding his head.
"That a threat?" Gojo questioned calmly.
Naruto tilted his head, lip curling downward as he sneered. "A threat would entail that I'm incapable of dealing with you."
The white haired God was silent for several long seconds before shrugging his shoulders with a nod and speaking one last time.
"Enjoy your life... New Blood."
With those parting words, the God shimmered into a thousand particles, disappearing from the Jinchuuriki's senses.
Naruto stared at the shimmering particles with disdain before turning his head and spitting on the reformed grass.
"You have bigger things to worry about right now, kid."
"Yeah? And what's bigger than this Kurama?" Naruto scoffed in aggravation as he kicked a lone rock.
"You're no longer human."
Naruto blinked at his partner's words before glancing down at his state of dress and noticing the odd black and white robes. His previous anger at Gojo began to shift as his fingers curled in random intervals.
Annoyance.
Pettiness.
Naruto proceeded to drop to his knees before covering his face with his hands. He then proceeded to control his breathing to the best of his ability. A deep inhale followed a hearty exhale as he did the only rational and logical thing he could do given the circumstances of his current situation.
He screamed.
Loudly.
Sakura sighed quietly to herself, staring out into the night sky of Kuoh. "Ya know, I really don't have anything against you."
"Yeah, I know."
"If I did, you wouldn't be alive." Sakura stated easily. A wave of cold air caused her hair to whip wildly. "Atleast the city looks kinda nice from here."
Kuroka sighed quietly to herself from her perch. "Yeah, nya. It is kinda nice." She was silent for a few moments, watching as people went about their lives. "What are we doing up here anyway, nya?"
"Waiting for Kakashi. He's going to be taking over my duties while I help Rias."
Kuroka scrunched her face up at Sakura's words. "I still think you're biting off more than you chew with this. What makes you think Rias' previous betrothed will even allow a Rating Game? He could take this matter above us and it could potentially become an issue with the Yokai or even the Shinto."
Sakura was quiet for a minute or so before shrugging. "While I don't think it'll reach that point, I do believe I can atleast guide the issue to keep it relatively close to the ground. It's easy to control an arrogant individual."
"Good luck, nya. Does Yasaka-sama know what you're doing?"
"Nope." Sakura answered easily, glancing down at the phone in her hand. "It's going to stay that way too. I wish to keep this as quiet as possible until it's over."
"You don't have a single clue as to what you've just gotten yourself into, do you?" Kuroka questioned seriously.
Sakura glanced at the Nekoshou with an expression that required an explanation.
The cat Yokai rolled her eyes before speaking. "Who is Rias Gremory?"
"A devil heiress...?" Sakura answered with furrowed eyebrows.
"A devil heiress who just so happens to belong to one of the strongest Pillars left alive, who's older brother is the current and arguably the most powerful Lucifer to exist, and who just so happens to be in a wedding contract with another heir who's a part of one of the other major Pillars left, nya." Kuroka stared at Sakura with a raised eyebrow before continuing. "Questions are going to be asked, history is going to be looked into and affiliations will be cross checked. There's not a single chance that you two get away with this without causing a storm in each faction, nya."
Sakura was silent for a moment and before she was able to open her mouth, someone else did so for her.
"Ehh, she's kinda right Sakura-chan."
The familiar voice caused Sakura to glance away from her phone, spotting her Sensei standing on the edge of the building, reading his dirty manga.
Sakura stared at Kakashi for a moment before shrugging her shoulders. "And? This could also lead to talks of peace between the Yokai and Devil Faction. Kami knows that these two Factions have been at odds for years. If I can manage to secure a direct line to the current Lucifer by helping Rias, then it's a win."
"That's if the Phenex Clan don't retaliate, nya." Kuroka added.
"The Devils would be down an extra Pillar if that happened." Sakura muttered with a roll of her eyes as she scrolled through her phone.
"Now now, we don't have to go that far." Kakashi spoke through a minor bout of chuckles. "I'm glad you're finally channeling your inner Naruto and Sasuke but let's avoid going the Sasuke route, yeah?"
Sakura rolled her eyes with a smile. "We'll see, Sensei."
"So, mind explaining this carefully thought out plan?"
And so Sakura did.
After it all, Kakashi pursed his lips while sitting down on the side of the building. His eyes roamed across the small city, looking at everything and taking it all in.
"Ya know," He began quietly, tucking his book into one of the various pockets of his sleeved shirt. "I can see the benefits of this. I can also see the potential consequences, good and bad, of something like this." He sighed quietly, placing his fingers on the side of the building. "You always were a sucker for a sob story."
Sakura rolled her eyes at the man's words. "Yeah yeah yeah... Look at me, being a good person and whatnot. I'm not only doing this for charity, ya know? If you're good at something then you never do it for free."
Kakashi nodded his head at that. "On that, we most certainly agree."
A bit of silence passed before Sakura spoke once more. "How goes your training?"
A lopsided smile found its way to the man's face as he glanced at his student. "I sense something in you. Something... Draconic."
An uncomfortable gleam shone in the pinkette's eyes as her smile slowly grew. "So you feel it too, huh?" Her right arm slowly rose towards her face, first clenching as Chakra began to surge throughout her body.
Crimson energy then proceeded to manifest around her fist before swirling and then shooting down the entire length of her arm. A metal amalgamation encased itself around her flesh, fit with gnarly talon-like spikes protruding outward. A gleaming green gem shone on the back of her hand, pulsing with a sickening amount of power.
Kakashi's eyes widened upon staring at the Sacred Gear, recognizing it almost immediately. His draconic partner stirred restlessly at the sight, roaring at the showing of power. Off pure instinct, his own Sacred Gear responded to the showing of power, popping out of his back.
"Apparently, all users of the Divine Dividing and the Boosted Gear are destined to fight and kill one another to prove their strength and power over the other." Sakura spoke with a smirk, glancing down at her new Sacred Gear. "But that sounds like far too much work... I don't care about any of that. I just want to get stronger."
Kakashi released a genuine chuckle as he shook his head. "Who would have thought that two of the strongest Sacred Gears, Longinus' at that, would come together under the same faction? Are we finally due our good luck?"
"We won't have to keep looking at Naruto and Sasuke's back anymore... We can stand with them." Sakura insisted with a grin.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Kakashi spoke humbly. "One step at a time."
Kuroka remained silent as she stared at the two superior beings in front of her. To think that these two were incredibly powerful before attaining their Sacred Gears...
The Shinto Pantheon was now playing with some awfully terrifying pieces these days. May the Gods have mercy on any unfortunate individuals who seek to target Japan and its people.
Sasuke landed silently, eyes surveying his surroundings for any sign of his wayward teammate. The last time he had fully sensed the blond was shortly after the destruction of Takamagahara. He had been convinced by Amaterasu that Naruto was surely to parish due to absorbing the unfiltered Divine Essence.
Except he hadn't and yet there was no sign that Naruto was here.
Frustration bubbled deep within Sasuke's veins as his eyes scanned every inch of the terrain. He could see two unique sets of footprints. One of them obviously belonged to that God but the other had clearly belonged to Naruto.
"Where did you go?" He angrily muttered to himself, clenching his fist tightly.
"He's no longer here." Amaterasu mumbled lowly, slowly walking towards Sasuke. Her eyes were no longer their original silver, instead the entirety of the eye and all its features were little more than a golden glow that rivaled the sun. "He's... He's back in Japan...?" A unintelligent mumble left her lips as her head twitched abnormally, shifting to and fro. "He's in Kyoto... No, in Tok-... Wait, now he's-."
Her mouth snapped shut as a perplexed expression painted her face. She scrunched her face up multiple times in what Sasuke perceived to be as frustration.
"Well?" He proposed quietly, crossing his arms against his chest.
A rumble of discontent slipped through the Goddess's lips as her eyes returned to normal. "He's completely masked his presence... In broad daylight..." She released a scoff of disbelief as she turned towards the Avenger. "How can he escape my gaze? The Sun sees all..."
Sasuke shook his head quietly, eyes glancing towards the soil that Naruto had disturbed. "I'm not surprised... As a child, he caused issues for our Village and if he wanted to disappear, then he had little issue doing it. Whether that be outrunning the men forced to capture him or outright smarting them..." He released a quiet sigh, shaking his head as he did. "If he doesn't want to be found, then he won't be and no Divine power is going to change that."
Amaterasu grumbled quietly, crossing her arms against her chest like a child. "Rather rude of him, don't you think?"
Sasuke ignored the rhetorical question from the childish woman, instead turning inward to question Naruto's sudden disappearance.
He knew Naruto. Probably better than the idiot knew him(self). For what reason would Naruto have fled?
Shame? Sasuke scoffed at that thought.
Naruto wasn't a prideful man, not like himself atleast. A simple loss, of this magnitude atleast, where nothing was at stake, wouldn't press Naruto. He'd be annoyed about it and if anything, it'd push him to get stronger.
It wasn't as if his friend was outclassed. He had matched Gojo pound for pound during their fight and had even managed to overwhelm the man at times. Of course, there was no telling just how powerful the man really was, but if he had survived that final attack then he had done so using his Divine Form.
Perhaps he was just frustrated... Naruto had been rather stressed the week leading up to this and perhaps he needed some time to cool off.
"There's something you need to know, Sasuke." Amaterasu spoke aloud, interrupting the boy's thoughts.
He motioned for her to speak.
"Naruto is no longer a human now. He is now a bonafide God, no longer the Demi-God he was when entering this realm." Amaterasu spoke seriously, dropping all childish acts. "Whether he likes it or not, he is now the Shinto Pantheon's responsibility. Whatever he does will now reflect back upon us and Japan... You must explain the severity of this situation to him." She paused for a moment, weighing her words carefully.
"In due time he will manifest new powers that align with his very soul. This power will then become his domain. A domain that he solely controls, including all aspects related to said subject. Whatever power that may be, he will need to control. I trust that you are capable of understanding just how severe this actually is."
Sasuke was silent for a moment before simply nodding his head and turning away. Releasing a quiet sigh, he replied. "I'll make sure to pass the message along."
Amaterasu studied the teen for several moments before nodding her head. "The Shinto Pantheon thanks you."
Sasuke said nothing.
At the boy's silence, Amaterasu narrowed her eyes. "The offer still stands, Sasuke."
Mismatched eyes snapped back to the Goddess, studying her and assessing her words.
"Join the Shinto Pantheon as a God." She offered quietly, reaching out with her hand. "You want to protect Japan and all its inhabitants, yes? You wish to protect your new home, Kyoto?" She turned her palm to the sky, speaking earnestly. "Join us."
Sasuke glanced down at the woman's hand for nearly an entire minute, remaining silent and giving nothing away.
And then, he spoke.
"You've been silent for a long time."
Naruto would have rolled his eyes if they were open. Of course he wasn't talking, he was fucking angry. That's precisely why he was meditating in the first place, to get his emotions under control so he could tackle this new issue at hand.
"Meditating does nothing but push the issue away for a short amount of time. You are stuck like this. It is best to deal with it now rather than later and you know that."
Naruto's nose curled at Kurama's words. "I'd rather be calm about it then shouting about how fucked up my life is. Every step forward is another eight backwards. It doesn't fucking matter what I do anymore. I can't catch a break!" He huffed angrily, Chakra fluctuating due to his emotions.
In doing so, he disturbed the peaceful surrounding he had created. The grassy terrain beneath him began to sway erratically, followed shortly by the trees bending and creaking. The wildlife that she gathered around began to scurry around anxiously, confused as to why the aura had changed so drastically.
The Jinchuuriki grunted quietly, getting his emotions under control. In less than a minute, the peaceful aura returned.
"You're acting as if the cards had ever been in your favor to begin with." The Fox scoffed as it continued. "Why are you allowing it to affect you now? Are you not the one who stared death in the face and said no? Where is my real container?" Kurama sneered angrily, tails slamming the shared mindscape. "You are not Naruto."
At Kurama's words, the blond teen winced quietly.
"Kurama!" Matatabi hissed. "Apologize this instant!"
Several of the Bijuu roared in agreement with the Nibi, demanding their elder to apologize.
Kurama silenced them with its roar. "I will do no such thing! I will not sit here and allow the savior that our father entrusted in to wallow in self-pity!" The Fox's words silenced its siblings. "You do not know the boy as I do! You have seen his memories but I have lived through them!"
Kurama slammed its mighty tails onto the mind scape once more, nearly breaking Naruto's concentration. "You all may accept this pitiful behavior but I shall do no such thing! I expect great things from Naruto... And so did Father. You would all do well to remember his words."
The beast paused for a moment, allowing its words to sink. When Kurama was satisfied that it got its point across, the beast spoke once more.
"The Naruto I know wouldn't allow such trivial matters to truly affect him. Are you going to give up? Wallow in pity and cry? Or are you going to endure?" Kurama released an annoyed huff before slowly closing its eyes and resting its giant body on the mindscape. "Do not speak to me again until you've returned to yourself. No container of mine is allowed to be so weak in the face of adversi
Without so much as another word, Kurama cut off Naruto's connection to the other Bijuu and itself.
The silence was deafening. Kurama's words had been harsh but ultimately, the Fox was right. That doesn't mean that he couldn't be angry and frustrated about the situation, but Kurama was right. He had been rather... pitiful lately. His cracks were showing and the infallible persona he put on was slowly crumbling.
Naruto released a quiet sigh before placing his palms together and gathering Natural Chakra. Meditating and accessing the energy of Nature Chakra always calmed him down and allowed him to think straight.
Naruto allowed the energy to course through his veins, run rampant, before taming it.
It seemed so effortless now. Once attaining Rikudo Chakra, accessing Natural Chakra was merely an afterthought.
But now? He didn't even need to think about absorbing the energy, balancing it with the Spiritual and Physical Chakra. It just... did.
It seemed like his body was constantly absorbing and balancing the energy regardless if he willed it to or not. Which in hindsight, should have been a real negative indicator. But Naruto chalked that up to being a God now.
And again, the negative thoughts festered at that.
Why? Was it too much to ask for in just being a regular human?
You aren't a regular human to begin with.
No, no he was not. He had never truly been one to begin with. He was an anomaly in the Elemental Nations. One of only a handful of individuals that were anything but human back in his own world.
Perhaps he was just making a big deal out of it. This change benefitted him greatly. He was basically immortal, though the problem with that was that he'd be immortal.
At some point, maybe he'd just like to die. It was a morbid thought, but one that was always in the back of his mind. He had been a human. And one certainty that all humans possessed was death. You could not skirt it and one day, it would come for you.
But now? It was different. He could technically live forever. He was also way stronger now.
Not that he really needed extra power to begin with. But he wasn't going to complain... that much.
He still couldn't detect the change in his body. He didn't necessarily feel like a God even though he technically was one. It was strange. He still felt the same. Perhaps a little more alert but other then that, nothing.
Hours came and went as Naruto continued to meditate. Hundreds of thoughts and topics came and went as he effortlessly and mindlessly balanced the Nature Chakra.
He had felt the life forces of various individuals that called Japan their home. He could even tell if they were old, young, healthy and sick. He had theorized early on that if he actively chose to, he could even connect with the person's life force.
It had been an interesting experience to say the least. Connecting with the person's life force had inadvertently caused him to connect to them.
Which made sense. An individual's spirit was tied to their life force and connecting to it would merit the ability of understanding them
It was almost like a simpler version of Ninshu where all he had to do was reach out with his Chakra using Nature Energy/Chakra. The similarities stopped there because he had found that while he could see their entire spirit, they could not see his. Whereas Ninshu allowed both individuals to connect with one another using their spiritual energy, this new ability allowed him to see their entire spirit.
It was also a bit too... invasive for his tastes. It was incredibly rude to just intrude upon someone's thoughts and experiences, so he'd just keep this to himself.
Naruto was idly experiencing with his new ability when he felt eyes on him. He slowly opened his eyes, coming quite literally face to face with a woman.
Or rather, a tree(?) that resembled a woman...? Maybe a plant? Perhaps it was a woman that was covered head to toe in grass?
His head tilted and subconsciously, his Chakra filtered out to prod at the unknown woman's energy, assessing whether or not she was a threat.
He almost wished he hadn't.
Hundreds, thousands, millions... No billions...? Maybe even trillions of stimuli assaulted his senses.
Memories upon memories upon memories of sights, people, events and creatures exploded in his mind.
Gods he recognized from his own research came and went, creatures and animals he had never seen appeared and disappeared, flowing in and out of his brain like a river.
Naruto witnessed the barren Earth, untouched and unblemished by Humanity. He saw the rise of the Gods and their kin... Saw the downfall of these very same Gods.
He witnessed the birth of new Gods... Mighty beings that rivaled the very stars in the galaxy. He witnessed the birth of evil itself and how it encapsulated the world, felling it and birthing it anew.
He saw things he could not comprehend and when Naruto thought he'd see no more, he saw... himself?
His vision exploded as a cacophony of white noise assaulted his senses.
"Are you feeling well, young one?"
Naruto blinked abruptly, coming face to face, with the woman from earlier. Only now, she was looking down at him, hovering over his face with motherly concern.
Motherly, huh? The woman certainly gave off that vibe.
Naruto groaned quietly, massaging his temples as he spoke. "What... happened?"
An amused smile came over the woman's face, like a parent who caught their child doing something they shouldn't be doing. "You unknowingly connected with me."
The grassy woman tilted her head, continuing in that gentle tone. "You should heed caution when doing so. It can be dangerous. You might just connect to something you don't truly comprehend, child."
Naruto continued to rub his temples before slowly raising his upper body up. "Yeah... In hindsight, terrible idea."
The woman made of grass, sticks, and leaves only smiled. "Ah, but you don't plan ahead often do you, Naruto Uzumaki?"
The blond Jinchuuriki chuckled at the woman's words. "Well you'd be-" He abruptly stopped speaking, choosing instead to stare directly into the woman's eyes. "How do you know my name?"
Again, the woman only seemed amused at his question. "I know many things, my dear child." She slowly lifted one of her grass covered arms, placing her hand upon his cheek. "Things that you, now, have seen."
Naruto's silver eyes fell to the woman's hand upon his cheek. He sensed no ill intent from the woman and again, that motherly vibe struck home.
Who was...
He knew.
"Gaia." He spoke, as if possessed by some unknown force. "Mother Nature... The physical embodiment of the Earth... The first Primordial God to exist... The mother who fostered all life..."
The woman, Gaia, just smiled softly at Naruto's words, waving off his words. "I've been known to occasionally go by Terra as well." A sly smile overtook that soft one as she continued. "I'm no God these days, my child. Just a mother, caring for her children."
Naruto stared at the Primordial Being for several seconds before shaking his head. His mouth opened and closed several times, questions warring against one another as he stared at what was possibly the most oldest being in existence.
"Wha... Why, why are you here?" He questioned with furrowed eyebrows.
Gaia relinquished her gentle hold on the boy and instead swiveled her head around the area they sat in.
Trees as tall as skyscrapers swayed to and fro, towering for all of the world to see. Thousands of flowers, all unique in color and species, swayed gently to and fro, blossoming beautifully around the landscape. Hundreds of different animals frolicked around the terrain, completely at ease with one another despite the natural order.
Life itself was all around them.
The Primordial Being turned her gaze back to the boy, speaking softly. "You called me here. I should be the one questioning you, Naruto."
Naruto finally deigned a glance around his surroundings and was shocked to see the overabundance of flowers, trees and animals. He... He had done this?
"But... But I don't remember doing this?" He moreso asked than stated.
Mother Nature herself chuckled quietly at the boy's words. "It would seem so."
Gaia slowly rose to her feet and due to this, Naruto was finally able to get a good luck at the Primordial. And make it no secret, this was very much so a woman.
Naruto lowered his gaze upon noticing the woman's second pair of lips and decided to forget it ever happened. He didn't want to entertain any of these thoughts. Not a single one.
"Humanity..." Gaia chuckled quietly upon noticing the boy's reluctance to look at her. "It is amusing to see humans react to stimuli they themselves impose."
Naruto shook his head quietly, replying to the woman. "It's just... It's a respect thing."
Another chuckle from the embodiment of Earth. "Modesty... An interesting restriction to place upon oneself. Though, in the grand scheme of life, it is rather small, no? Life is naked itself, completely bare for all to see."
"You make good points, excellent ones even, however I'm still not looking." Naruto replied with a shrug of the shoulders.
"My dear child, what a gentleman you are." Gaia quietly hummed as she altered her form, masking the feminine anatomy of her body. "Come, walk with me."
Naruto took a cursory peek at the woman before nodding his head and standing to his feet. His gaze idly swiveled around the terrain, still slightly in awe that he had done this without even thinking.
Was this due to him being a God now? Most likely. He hadn't been able to affect the actual environment while meditating back then. Yes, he could definitely affect the aura of an area but the actual environment itself? This was completely new.
Naruto took a few steps towards the Primordial, standing side by side and allowing the woman to lead. She sauntered off without another word, slowly maneuvering through the terrain.
With each step she took, Naruto noticed that the very environment itself bent and swayed around her.
Life seemed to move around them and Naruto had no words for the phenomenon occuring around him.
"This awes you?" Gaia spoke softly, running her fingers along the bark of a passing tree.
Naruto glanced at the woman, watching as a flower nearly twice his size swayed just out of his reach. "It's... unique. Nature was something I connected with early on in my life. I guess that's why it resonates with me so easily."
Gaia stroked a passing deer, smiling as it nuzzled her palm. "Yes, I can feel your connection quite easily. It is a surprise considering your lineage."
The Jinchuuriki glanced at the woman out the corner of his eyes while replying. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
"You are a descendant from a being that came from the stars, yes?" Gaia answered easily. "Conquering warmongers that eat the mountains and swallow the seas, accruing power to one day become a Primordial themselves." The woman turned her gaze on the teen, taking note of his rather serious expression.
A sympathetic smile reached her face as she spoke softly. "You are not the first of your kind to arrive on Earth, however, you will surely be the last."
That... That hurt more than Naruto would have liked. It wasn't as if it was some secret or something he hadn't expected.
The Elemental Nations no longer existed. The planet was destroyed and with it, the life it had once fostered. To have a Primordial confirm the existence of the Otsutsuki however, was less than pleasing.
Naruto glanced away for a moment, narrowing his eyes as he did. "How much do you know about the Otsutsuki race?"
Mother Nature waved her hands, willing the forest to bend to her will. The scenery changed dramatically, in place of the barren wasteland was something akin to that of a mirror.
"Is this...?" Naruto questioned with raised eyebrows, staring at the mirage-like scene in front of him.
Gaia merely offered a smile. "I am as old as this planet... So long as this planet stands, I too, shall stand. What lives for so long, watches... And what Earth has seen, I too, have witnessed."
The Primordial waved her arm and an almost water-like illusion began to play. Mountainous vegetation encompassed the land, twisting to and fro, like a voracious animal.
And in the middle of it all, was a tree that dwarfed the environment it stood in. It towered over everything in its vicinity, reaching into the very stars itself. It's trunk was wider than any mountain around and it's roots thicker than the very terrain it sat upon.
Naruto's mouth slowly opened as he stared at the giant tree through the illusion. "This... That's a Shinju!"
Gaia hummed quietly as she replied. "A God Tree..." An amused smile painted her features. "Such arrogance... Their pride knows no bounds. Relying on artificial medicine, extracted from the Life of the planet its planted on."
Naruto did not like the smile on Gaia's face, it made his skin crawl. He cleared his throat to alleviate the uncomfortable atmosphere. "H-How did this even get here?"
"I allowed them to plant it." She answered easily, waving her hand and changing the illusion being shown.
The image twisted and churned before revealing Gaia, albeit far different looking, speaking to two unique humanoid beings. Both individuals shared ashen white skin with white, pupil-less eyes and animal-like horns atop their head.
Gaia tilted her head as she stared at the image. "Earth had not been more than a few centuries old when they came. This planet was I, and I, this planet. When she cried, I cried. Her pain was my pain, and my pain, hers."
She waved her fingers and the image swirled once again, revealing a severed Shinju, cut directly at the base with the Chakra Fruit crushed between her hands.
"A young Primordial I was, not quite as versed as I am now." Gaia pauses for a moment, seemingly pondering her next words. "I forced them to leave and demanded they never return."
She waved her hand once more, revealing a new image. One that was full of destruction and ash. Where miles upon miles of beautiful vegetation once laid, was now nothing more than a barren wasteland.
"They did not." She continued, smile gone from her face. "I made them."
Naruto stared at the image in silence, frowning as he did. The image shuddered for a moment before melting away, disappearing and revealing the previous forest he had grown accustomed to on his walk with Mother Nature.
Glancing at the woman, Naruto spoke. "How strong are you?" To force not one but two Otsutsuki off the planet was incredible. Team 7 had struggled against just one and barely won due to her being inexperienced in combat.
Gaia turned towards the teen, staring at him with that tender smile. "As strong as I need to be to protect that which I love, my dear child."
Never had Naruto resonated more with a statement than right now.
Fighting for his friends and loved ones was practically his entire personality, almost annoyingly so. He couldn't help that he was a selfless person.
"Do you think they'll come back?" Naruto asked with furrowed brows, crossing his arms against his chest.
"It is always a possibility." She answered simply. "Though they would need an army this time around. We have only become more powerful."
That helped to alleviate the previous stress and anxiety from finding out that the Otsutsuki were present here in this world as well.
A comfortable silence settled in the forest as Naruto and Gaia continued their unknown journey. It was an amicable silence, one that didn't bother Naruto. However, he still had one more question for the Primordial.
"Why did you really find me?" He asked curiously.
"I take it upon myself to visit those who possess abilities surrounding Life." Her vine-like hair swayed in the wind as she parted the forest, forcing the wildlife to regress and disappear. "Life is important. It is eternal, a cycle. But just as Life is important, so too, is Death. For Life to live, something must perish. It is an equivalent exchange, one that cannot be avoided."
The Primordial briefly paused, glancing towards the young God before her. "You are now a fledgling God, one with an ability that affects Life itself." Her eyes, while soft, held a hardened gleam to them. "Ensure that this gift is used correctly."
Naruto noted the heavy empathsis on the word 'gift'.
"There is a fine balance between Life and Death... It would do you well to not cross it, my dear child."
The new God nodded his head whilst replying. "Noted..." A pause. "When you mean ability, do you mean Domain? Gods get those right? Where they rule over some area or thing?"
Gaia merely smiled at the boy, not answering his question. "Farewell, dear child. Do visit me sometime, yes? My children rarely do so and it does get terribly lonely."
As she bid her farewell, the Primordial began to sink into the ground, melding together seamlessly.
"Uh... Well, how do I do that?" Naruto questioned, watching as Mother Nature sunk into the earth.
"How indeed?" She teased softly, amused smile painting her face. "I believe in you, my dear child."
The new God grimaced lightly at that, watching the Primordial completely disappear.
"Well... That didn't really help."
AN: The first half of this chapter was written back in January. During this period, I contracted Covid and was bed ridden for nearly two weeks.
Afterwards, I just didn't feel like writing and held it off. Then February came around and 57 games released that I wanted to play.
i.e - Elden Ring, Dying Light 2, Destiny 2 The Witch Queen, Horizon Forbidden West, and Lost Ark.
Anyway! Enjoy the chappy. Or ya know, don't. Whatever.
