Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Wolverine, Weapon-X or anything else pertaining to the Naruto and Marvel Comics universes.
A/N: As promised, this chapter was my first Naruto installment, however, it is far different than the one I had originally planned. I had first planned on doing a post-Akatsuki/Bringing home Sasuke fic, with Naruto being Hokage, but I got a fit of writer's block. However, I was playing Marvel Ultimate Alliance and got the idea for this as the beginning of the sequel to 'Ultimate Experiment: Weapon-X'. Yes, that's right, I only have three chapters written and a fourth underway and I'm already planning a sequel to it.
Spoiler Warning: The following installment has POSSIBLE spoilers for my current fic Ultimate Experiment: Weapon-X. The events referenced to have not been written yet and thus are subject to change. The only definite details are all three generations of Horsemen of the Apocalypse. So be warned if you don't want to know who they are, don't read this chapter for a LONG time as I barely scratch the surface of the Horsemen until AFTER the time skip in which they are reformed by Orochimaru to deal with both Naruto and Akatsuki, which the first generation failed to do.
Implied Naru/femHaku, Naru/Hina
Chapter Five: Ultimate Experiment 2: Legacy of the Weapons
In a dark, dank cavern hidden from all but a select few, four people assembled to form a plot of revenge, retribution and domination.
Three people sat at a table, the fourth stood at the head, addressing the others. He wore a purple hooded cloak and a full suit of body armor that covered every part of his body. His face, save for his eyes was completely concealed as well.
"I have called you all here for a very specific reason," he told them, the torch light glimmering off of his armor. "I want you all to join me in re-forming the Mokushiroku no Yonkishu (Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse)."
"That worked out so great for Orochimaru both times he did so," said one of the addressees.
The figure at the head of the table chuckled. "We hold two advantages that he did not have either time."
"And that would be?" asked a second attendee.
"First, the element of surprise," he said, his voice echoing down the stone corridors, he paused for effect, "The second is a fifth rider."
"Let's say we agree, what's in it for us?" asked the third.
"Revenge. Against Konoha, against the remaining Jinchuuriki, against 'X' in particular," said the man at the head of the table. "Take your pick."
"How do you propose that?" asked the second. "If I recall correctly, not even the reincarnation of 'X', nor the second installment could defeat 'X'. If I understand correctly, only Uchiha Itachi has ever truly beaten the Wolverine."
"Naruto-kun was far more resourceful than either Orochimaru-dono and myself gave him credit for, however... I will be utilizing two weapons Orochimaru-dono did not employ as one he did not have, and the other remained in stasis as he had hoped to re-appropriate Naruto-kun, whether willingly or by force..." said the figurehead. "Gentlemen... Behold... Weapon-XX. The Basilisk..."
A fifth figure stepped out of the shadows. Despite the lack of lighting, his eyes were hidden behind dark glasses. He was heavily muscled and carried a katana strapped to his back. He had long black hair tied in a ponytail with a few stray strands that hung loosely in front of his face.
"That sword... The Muramasa?" asked the third attendee. "I thought it was lost when X defeated the reincarnation and X-2 ."
"I managed to recover it before it was lost forever. It is currently one of two weapons left in existence that can harm the Wolverine," said the figurehead, "Fitting it should reside with the animal's executioner. As such... Basilisk shall be given the title, Sandaime Shikyo no Kishu, (Third Horseman of Death), replacing the Wolverine and the Arch-Angel."
"How can you be so sure 'Basilisk' can defeat 'Wolverine'? Weren't Deathstrike and Sabertooth supposed to so the same?" asked the second attendee.
"Despite what Orochimaru-dono believed, Deathstrike was a poor imitation of the real thing and Sabertooth was a mere copy of the original. Though he lacked the what made Wolverine and Deathstrike special, Sabertooth's resiliency was matched only by Naruto-kun's own, which allowed him to survive and recover from X's assault. One could expect nothing less from those possessing the 'Will of Fire', I suppose..."
"I'm surprised he isn't here among us then, he has just as good a reason if not more than we do to be here," said the second attendee.
"A valid point, but unlike my former master, I do not have any use for brainless animals," the 'leader' said distastefully. "He wouldn't have become so... Damaged... Had he not pushed Wolverine so far by going after his... Mate..."
"Let's get to the chase, shall we? You called us all here for a reason, did you not?" said the first impatiently.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, Karasu," said the leader, "Under my control, are the remnants of Orochimaru-dono's weapons, the obvious exceptions aside. As good as they are, they can not stand up to Konoha's elite jounin or the Weapons that reside there. That is where you three come in. You, Karasu, shall be the Sandaime Ekirei no Kishu (Third Horseman of Pestilence), replacing Vinsento and Kabuto. Your information skills rival, if not surprise theirs. Plus your skills will allow for some more versatile uses of your infiltration skills."
"So, am I to assume that Varentain Vinsento would be my primary target?" asked Karasu.
"You assume correct," said the leader, "This will also allow for your own personal vendetta against the Shodaime Ekirei no Kishu as he had killed your father."
"I'm surprised..." said the second one, "After the things he had done to you..."
"Blood runs thicker than water..." said Karasu, "Besides, I had wanted to be the one to kill him. I'm in."
"Then I suppose I am as well," said the third one, "Who's my target?"
"What makes you think you have one?" asked the leader.
"I figured each of us would have a target coinciding with our respective predecessors," said the third one.
"Ah, but you currently have no predecessors, Gaia no Rishu (Rishu of the Earth)," he answered, "Being from Iwagakure gives you more than enough incentive to join in our crusade. The fact that you will get a chance to assist in bringing about the end of the Namikaze line with the death of Weapon-X should be the icing on the cake. After all, didn't the Yondaime Hokage kill your father? Now you have the chance to kill his son."
"I thought that honor was reserved for Shikyo," said Rishu.
"Correct, much like your father against the Yondaime, you would not stand a chance in defeating X in combat. However, your Kekkei Genkai would allow for wide scale assault much like both Shiroi and Kimmimaro-kun. You shall be the Sandaime Senken no Kishu (Third Horseman of War). Wolverine's greatest strength and biggest weakness are those he considers his 'precious people'. He will become stronger if they are in danger, but his spirit and fragile psyche will weaken to the point of breaking should they be killed."
"Ah yes... We all heard about how well that went when the Hyou Otome (Ice Maiden) was raped and killed," said Rishu sarcastically.
"Sabertooth was a fool for going after her like he did. He then immediately went for the Hyuuga Heiress, where Naruto-kun caught up to him. The resulting battle destroyed half the compound. Sabertooth was driven off after the Wolverine dominated him, but Naruto-kun did not make chase. It is reported by our spies that he fell to pieces over his lost love. The only thing that saved him was the Heiress herself. Had the Hyou Otome not hidden both Muramasa and Masamune either we would have killed him then, or he'd have done it himself."
"And then there was one." said the second attendee.
"If you haven't already guessed, your principle target will be Suigetsu, the former subordinate and apprentice to Momochi Zabuza. Your designation, naturally, will be Sandaime Kikin no Kishu (Third Horseman of Famine), Kounetsu. Your unique abilities naturally make him your enemy, but be wary... Much like his former master and his comrade, he too is a master in the Muon Satsujin Jutsu (Silent Killing Technique). I have little doubt you could beat him in a straight fight, but that isn't the type of fight he fights."
"Understood," said Kounetsu.
"You said five riders, did you not?" asked Rishu, "I assumed you meant Basilisk until you designated him Shikyo, so I take it the fifth rider is you?"
"You are correct that I am the Godaime Mokushiroku no Kishu (Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse)," he told them. "Call me... Meiun."
"Why? Why should we follow you? What is your stake in all of this," asked Karasu.
Meiun chuckled. "Perhaps... I will show you my true face..."
He reached into the purple hood and undid a few clasps. Slowly he pulled of his metallic mask revealing to those present his identity.
"You!" said Kounetsu.
He chuckled. "Yes... me..."
A/N: Weapon-XX, a.k.a. The Basilisk, is an almost completely original character. He is sort of a cross between Marvel Comic's 'The Gorgon', who actually did kill Wolverine, and The Emerald Ignot's Bloodline!Naruto in his fic 'Cell Shift'.
Both Karasu and Rishu were pulled from YuYu Hakusho and Kounetsu is Japanese for Pyro, which is the name of a character in Marvel Comics who is often allied with Magento's Brotherhood of Mutants.
Orochimaru worked with a variety of other scientists who so far include Amachi (from the Naruto filler), Gero (from DBZ), Hojo (from Final Fantasy VII) and Ichigaki (from YuYu Hakusho). I may add other scientists later who will contribute to Orochimaru's lab of horrors and the entities known as 'The Weapons' later, but for now there are only 20 official Weapons.
For the fic, Karasu and Vinsento's skills are similar in many ways and far different as well. For the purpose of the fic, Karasu is Hojo's son and both he and Vinsento were experimented on in similar ways. In someways, Karasu is almost considered as an upgrade.
Kounetsu is the last of his clan who could manipulate the fire element. However, it was difficult for the clan to create and control fire simultaneously. Orochimaru experimented on them until he found a way to increase their control over fire. However increased control came at the cost of ever using fire chakra ever again.
Rishu is a powerful Iwa-nin looking to get vengeance for his father and restore his families honor, though in truth he has very little of it himself as he will do anything to achieve his goals.
The leader of the Horsemen is designated Meiun, which is Japanese for Doom, thus the full body armor worn by the said character. Much like Marvel's Dr. Doom. His identity is probablly easily guessed as well, but I wanted to keep you all speculating a bit on his identity.
Wolverine, Sabertooth, Arch-Angel, and Deathstrike are all codenames. Naruto is obviously Wolverine, though in UE: Weapon-X he hasn't received his codename yet. Most all of you could probablly accurately guess the true identity of Sabertooth, though I hope the identities of Arch-Angel and Deathstrike are more difficult to anticipate. I purposely did not reveal their identities to keep you guessing as to who they might be.
That's it for now, Ja Ne!