Author's Note: Between this fic, Heir of Deathwing, and Rise of the Dragonborn. I will only update until I am near equal to total amount of chapters with each other. So for now, I will focus soley on updating this one in the long run. Wish me luck and make sure to give me ideas of how to spice this up and does NOT go against what I'm planning.
Oh, and the creature Naruto speaks to is voiced by the late Tony Jay. Rest in peace you glorious legend!
/Abyss/
"I know you Naruto..." the baritone voice rang in his head like a powerful force in his ear as he eyed the creature with great caution. "You are worthy." it spoke to him. "What's happened to me Old One?" Naruto asked, knowing this thing was an ancient horror of a lost era that was probably better left forgotten with its twisted dark secrets and forbidden truths better left lost. "You did not survive the Abyss. I have merely spared you from total oblivion." it answered as Naruto looked over at what has become of his human form.
"I am destroyed..." he grieved. He was no longer capable of truly feeling any emotion now that his heart was separated into light and dark once again and scattered. "You are REBORN!" the creature's voice boomed as Naruto looked up to the being. "You are a Cypher who sacrificed most of his powers and ended his contract with his god-partner prematurely to save countless lives from a mad tyrant who destroyed you. You no longer live among the living, but as the dead and damned. Here my young Uzumaki, is the demise of the multiverse." it spoke as Naruto was on his knees, looking at the single ominous eye that had its gaze upon him.
"Deus plans to bring forth Armageddon, destroying countless lives while blessing his 'chosen' with eternal life. If that were to happen, I cannot spin their souls in the Wheel of Fate, they can not fulfill their destinies." it explained as Naruto looked down at the ground. "Why does this involve me?" he asked as the cephalopod's lone eye widened at him. "Because Shana is going to be a victim of Deus' cruel experimentations."
That answer jolted Naruto's body as it snapped up and both eyes were attentive at that information. "As we speak, Deus is concocting his formula of eternal life, experimenting on countless lifeforms for his own twisted amusement. He seeks to capture Shana for two things, to improve his potion of eternal life, and to study her connection to Absolute Death."
Naruto knew that Absolute Death is Shana's ultimate power. She was a being whom partnered with a goddess of death whose name she did not know yet, had awoken the power to kill anything. Whether it be god, demon, human or any other kind of life form. She can kill it and it will stay dead, forever. Even other Cyphers had feared her terrifying power. Deus was serious in trying to claim true immortality if he sought to study Shana's powers.
"Redeem yourself Naruto, or perhaps...avenge yourself?" the Elder God asked. "Settle this clash of ideals with Deus. Destroy him and your brethren who've betrayed you and your family. Reave their apostate souls...I can make it possible. Become my Soul Reaver...my Angel of Death."
Naruto stood as he walked forward, listening to the Elder God's words to word as he knew of this creature and why it was called the Elder God. An ancient being related to Cthulu with their nature and appearances, and only one of these Lovecraftian gods had survived the eons of change. They know things that doomed mortals to fates worse than death. The Elder God here was his benefactor, and he was indebted to repay this favor for the chance of vengeance.
"Come now child, it is time for you to learn of your gifts...and what has become after your demise." the Elder God spoke as Naruto followed the entity as it 'swam' in the 'water' of the realm.
/Alternate World-Konoha Forests/
Naruto kicked back as he avoided the punch and swung his ethereal blade at the offending appendage as the Kumo Ambassador clutched the now severed limb in agony as Naruto charged in and knocked him onto his butt with a fist square into the face and a spinning kick to the right cheek as he was knocked unconscious. Satisfied his work was finished, he dismissed his blades and walked over to the shaken Hyuga girl and with a soft squeak escaping her lips, he lifted her bridal style and leaped to the top of the trees as he surveyed Konoha as he noticed the kidnappers were being retained. "You okay?" he asked as the girl shyly nodded her head as she shivered from the cold air.
Taking notice of it, he undid his red scarfed and wrapped it around her neck as her cheeks turned a gentle shade of red. "Let's get you home." he told her as he leapt in the air with her in his arms bridal style, their shapes silhouetted by the full moon's gentle light.
Hinata looked into the once blue eyes, and had taken notice of the storm grey they were now. It was gentle and soft, yet also a sense of emptiness and loneliness in them that was drawing her in. Those eyes reminded her of herself, as if staring at her own reflection in this boy. His heartbeat was a drum to her ears as her head was in his chest as she snuggled against it. She felt safe in these warm arms, and she didn't want to let go.
He landed before the shinobi of Konoha as they turned to him alert and armed. There, Hiashi Hyuga walked towards him, noticing his daughter in his arms and safe. "Thank you boy, for saving my daughter." the Hyuga patriarch bowed his head in respect as Naruto gently placed Hinata on her feet and bowed his head in respect. "Not at all Hiashi-sama, I couldn't tolerate kidnappers and he is still going to answer for his crimes and betrayal. He's unconscious and if you're lucky, Kumo will be in trouble for this stunt." Naruto replied calmly as he noticed Kakashi and proceeded to head off with him back to his house.
"A-Ano..." a soft voice spoke up, making Naruto pause as he turned to the source. "Th-thank you for saving me, Naruto-kun." Hinata stuttered as Naruto gave her a gentle smile, something that caught every shinobi and even Hiashi himself off guard. It was a well-known fact that Naruto Uzumaki never had expressed emotions or even a small smile, heck, the Anbu had a betting pool on who could have made him show even a twinge of emotions and many betted on Tokiko in pulling it off while a few betted that a different person would do so. Whoever made a bet that someone else would make Naruto show even a shred of emotion was going to be one rich bastard indeed.
"No problem, you take care now. I know you will be a great kunoichi one day." he replied as he turned and walked off, with Hinata smiling gently at the boy as Hiashi noticed the scarf on his daughter's neck. It was probably best not to say anything of it.
The minute Naruto took a single step into the house, Tokiko tackled him like a missile yet he did not budge from the attack as Kushina wrapped her arms around him and he sensed her worry. "It's alright Okaa-san, I'm alright." he assured her as Kakashi decided to bring trouble with him. "He saved the Hyuga Heiress with some sort of strange technique, and even smiled for her after she thanked him for saving her."
The room was still as the air turn cold. If Naruto had emotions, he would be downright pissed and would kill Ka-no, Bakashi Hate-ke a thousand deaths for spilling it out. "YOU DID WHAT?!" Kushina and Tokiko exclaimed.
"Story of my life people..." Naruto thought with a mental sigh of resignation.
/Abyss/
For some reason, even without his lower jaw, Naruto's upper facial muscles curled up under the cowl in the form of a smile of sorts. He saw that memory from his fragmented soul and there was a reason why. Hinata Hyuga was a childhood friend of his in the Cypher life and they were quite a team when working together. Together, she and Shana were his unbeatable team in facing dangerous adversaries and making the impossible possible. He was in for a twist in life.
"You are weak child, you must feast." the Elder God spoke as Naruto looked around the area as he sighed at the sight before him. "The old hunger for regular food is long absent, but there is that deeper hunger I rarely indulge in that is more ravenous than before..." he replied as the Elder God agreed with him. "You are my reaper of souls. Here in the Abyss, the souls thrown in by Deus have lingered in eternal torment, waiting for rebirth in the Wheel. But be wary child, for powerful souls linger here as well, lost through the alteration of time, and because they were a threat to anything else." he warned as Naruto saw the glowing form of a human soul, it was humanoid shape with an undistinguished face floating there.
"Indulge your hunger..." he spoke as Naruto slowly placed his hand over his cowl before lifting it up, revealing his jawless face as he sucked the soul down his throat. The burning and slimy feeling of the soul raging down his throat turned into energy as he felt his strength returning to him. "I must feast more..." he realized as his hunger was slowly fading away with just one soul. He must eat more to regain his strength. This emptiness within his gnawing form must be filled. He must seek more souls, and regain his strength.
He heard screeching, from the kind that only monster spirits make when they prey upon an unsuspecting soul. If he had his lower jaw, Naruto would have grinned. For now though, he knew he was in for a treat. Flexing his claws, he stalked his unsupsecting prey in the dark, the Elder God watching his new champion slowly grow accustomed to his new form and appetite.
The Elder God knew this would be his ultimate weapon, the one who will restore balance to the cycle of life, and the Wheel of Fate continuing to turn as the countless destinies fulfilled. Should his newest agent please him, he will reward the boy greatly for this favor. For now, he will wait and see what his Nobody is up to, and how to make sure nature runs its course.
/Konoha/
Naruto sighed as he read his book in class. Since word got out of his abilities, he was immediately placed in the academy with all of the others as he had no choice but to blend in. He cared little for their annoying questions and chirpy atmosphere, he was content to read it out through the school years. One of the things he could care less is the lessons of class. If there's one thing he's been known for even with his lack of shinobi abilities, is his intelligence. But frankly, he prefered acting like a normal person and only use the intelligent part for pranks or some sort of mischief, only to kill time.
As he sat in the corner of the class, he pulled out a stethoscope and a massive safe as he began trying to crack the code.
-With Minato-
"Um Kushina, have you seen my safe containing information on the Hirashin?" Minato asked sheepishly as Kushina placed her hands on her hips with an annoyed expression on her face. "Minato, how many times do I have to tell you to not leave things lying around?" she scolded him.
-Back with Naruto-
"Hmm...a little more to the left..." Naruto muttered to himself as Sakura Haruno, his fellow classmate that sits next to him, looked around, as everyone was totally oblivious to it. "How come nobody is noticing it?!" the rosette girl thought to herself. When a faint, audible click was heard, even the other seatmate, one Sasuke Uchiha turned his head in disbelief at the sight of what Naruto was doing.
*The Next Year*
"Okay, so next I will..." Naruto mumbled as Sasuke watched with interest as Sakura sighed in defeat. Everyday of the class Naruto is always goofing off with wierd projects or stunts that made her wonder if her life was some sort of school life anime in an alternative universe where there was no such thing as chakra as she watched Naruto's latest stunt. His latest stunt froze her and a big chill ran down her spine. He had fine dinnerware, probably his mother's that's used on certain occasions, on top of a white tablecloth as his hands were at the edges.
He was trying that one classic tablecloth removal trick that involved in the dinnerware to remain undisturbed. If he screwed up, the sounds of broken dishes will definitely get Iruka-sensei's attention and the three of them will get busted. Truth be told, both Sasuke's and Sakura's grades were slipping slightly due to being distracted by their blond classmate's crazy antics of killing time.
It wasn't that big of a dent, it would only depend on how crazy the antics of Naruto's were that was all. And if it was on the label of Batshit Insane-Get the Hell outta the way Dodge! Then those two would pack up and camp outside of Konoha for the next three days. They didn't care if rumors that the two were planning to elope or not, they just didn't want to victims of one of Naruto's antics again. Boxer Shorts Rebellion, Curdled Milk Revolt, and oh so (in) famous Moldy Toast Assassination Plot. Even Stocking Strike or heavens forbid when Naruto was aided by Shino just one time, the infamous Mutant Roach Insurgance.
The Academy was closed for three solid months trying to rid the pests and even now, there were signs of them still making their nests in the water works of the school. Funny part was that none of the adults ever suspected any of the students to do anything like this, until Kushina saw that glint of mischief in her son's eye as she promised to keep it a secret. After all, where else did her children inherit their nature of pulling pranks from?
Sakura sighed in defeat and prepared to be chewed out by Iruka-sensei if they're caught. Key word 'if' of course.
*Two Years Later*
They were all twelve years old now, and Tokiko was joining the Academy herself as Sakura dosed off. She recalled Naruto was doing something with all that paper, an over head, and somehow, he got a freaking computer into the class and Iruka-sensei still didn't notice it! She noticed it was a drawing of herself, Naruto and Sasuke and was skimming through them in some sort of...wait.
"Is that flip animation he's doing?" Sakura whispered to Sasuke who was nodding his head slowly at Naruto's work. "He's seriously doing an anime of us slacking off in class?" he asked in utter disbelief. It was true, story boards, color guide sheets, x-sheets, frame animation, now all it was lacking was the voice recordings of seiyu and then it was all set.
Naruto handed over something to Sasuke and Sakura blinked as two books read the title "Tonari no Naruto-kun", they blinked twice as they looked up and saw Naruto with headphones on and a microphone to start recording them. This made Sakura snap, "Yamete!" she snarled as Iruka looked back from his board and eyed Sakura curiously. "Haruno-san, is there some sort of problem with my assignment?" he asked. Sakura jolted with shock as she realized she said it outloud in class as Naruto merely gave her a deadpan thumbs up as her eyes looked like they were burying him underneath a thousand ton of stone, sharp pointy stones.
Watching from the Hokage's office, Kushina laughed hard as she observed from the crystal ball as Minato chuckled sheepishly as several of the Jonin ninja there cracked a smile at Naruto's latest stunt. He was a legend amongst the Jonin whom taken Naruto's ability to kill time by goofing of onto new levels to be refreshing and never stayed the same. He was inventive, creative, intelligent, cunning, sneaky, and best of all, capable of getting people to join in on his fun. "I definitely want this kid on my team." one of the Joinin spoke up as a few glared at said shinobi. "Sorry, but I made reservations for him already." another spoke up. "No way, I called dibs!"
Minato merely sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Leave it to his eldest child to leave a wake of headaches for him to deal with. His abilities were not chakra powered, and his overall stats from the reports during his time in the Academy are above average. He wanted to see what potential his own son had that seeing this was irritating him to no end. When he turned his gaze unto Kushina's smiling face as she watched her son goof off in the exams, Minato had an empiphany. Some shinobi wake to their real potential in life-death situations, and it might be possible that Naruto's potential might...
Minato shook his head at that, he knew Kushina would give him the beatdown of the century if she ever found out he had tried something like that on their own son. He dared not risk invoking the wrath of the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero by endangering their son. Of course, his son has to take a special graduation exam to see if he was ready, and Jiraya-sensei was pretty adamant of having sent the ones to test him.
The office door opened and three Ame ninja walked in, one with orange, blue and red walked in as the orange haired one smiled. "I'm Yahiko, this is Nagato and Konan, and we're Team Jiraiya reporting in." he greeted as Minato smiled and nodded his head in acknowledgement. "I'm expecting you three, I need you three to help me with a favor."
*Unknown Location*
Naruto narrowed his grey eyes as he knew of this place. The training mountain that his supposed 'godfather' Jiraiya (the name brings a surge of malice he could feel from his former complete self at the time) and Minato. Booby trapped and capable of killing reckless shinobi, Naruto knew that he was set up for a harder challenge. He knew the man wanted to see more of his abilities, but alas, he has no intention of doing so even though he is still discovering the extent of his power. He was to wait for someone by order of his 'father' to see this test to see if he was worthy of genin. If he had a heart to express it, he would hate this.
That was when he sensed it, a deep sense of emptiness and a powerful darkness behind him on the bridge. He turned, and saw a man in a black cloak with the hood up, hiding his face in the shadows. "Who are you?" Naruto calmly asked.
You are an unusual one...
"You know what I am?" Naruto asked, knowing that what this man is saying, is that he knows what he must be in this life for these unusual powers to be wielded were to say anything.
Young, inexperienced with Nothingness...yet, similar to my own...
"You have the same power as me?" Naruto asked, a fake suprised expression on his face.
You are nothing more than an empty shell...that survived not reverting to a Dusk. You must be tested.
Naruto had a bad feeling of what this man was saying as he summoned an ethereal blade to deflect a strange bolt of lightning as it destroyed part of the bridge the man was on unflinching.
Most impressive...Show me more...
The cloaked man took a stance, and ethereal blades manifested in his hands and Naruto's instincts told him that he is a master of his abilities, powerful, dangerous, and if he made one mistake with this mysterious figure, will spell his end.
