Nione's Secret Files 6-Tampering with Creation Part 2

At last I've acquired it, one of the most powerful artifacts in the Multiverse...an Infinity Stone! I spent time and money on safely securing this thing and it was worth the wait. This is the key to honing Naruto's mind to another level, the Mind Stone! I have to be careful with it though, it does things to the mind that could be rather disasterous if used carelessly. Thankfully I had the device set up to harness the Mind Stone and begin the procedure.

...

Brain activity of Cypher Naruto has increased, there are a few abnormalities that is similar to that of telepathic communications, even telekinesis. I believe that Cypher Naruto has developed a synchronized link with the girl, his fraternal twin sister. My guess is that as the girl developed her education, that knowledge is shared with her brother, allowing him to possibly speak and understand us the minute he wakes. I must return the Mind Stone to its resting place, Thanos must acquire it for the Infinity War that has yet to come-

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Cypher Files 1-Trials of the Divinity

Brothers and Sisters of the Cyphers, we the gods you've bonded with to complete our mission to protect the balance of the Multiverse have bestowed upon you a challenge. Seek deep into the darkest areas of the earth, within caverns and lost areas of old places in civilizations. There, a distortion shall seize you and a trial be there to be challenged. Each challenge once mastered, a blessing through sacred springs serve as your boon. Drink from it, and be blessed with renewed strength and gain might.

Might heralds itself in many forms. By overwhelming strength, great wisdom of old, skill of honed masters, endurance of great guardians, and mystic powers of old. Each spring offers its own form off boon, should one drink a total of nine sacred springs, a new gift, a new power fitted to one's nature shall be gifted to thee by the gods. Drink from them and grew fat on strength, oh champion mine.

-Unknown God

Naruto descended into the lost tunnels of London, sensing that his pursuer has given up at the moment as he felt his creations take cover in the shadows. He sensed an eerie distortion as he dove deep into the darkness, a calling of sorts. He smashed through old stone and cement and discovered a great catacomb lost to the ages. There he saw it, a shimmering portal that called to him and it felt familiar in some way he could not describe. He leapt in, drifting between dream and reality to an unknown location.

When he came to, he saw that he was in a hallway of sorts, with indents and various grooves within and it gave him a sense of edge on it. Then he heard that voice from long ago speak to him.

It has been some time Naruto, and now a trial has been set for you...should you pass this trial of skill, your own skills will grow ever stronger. Overcome this trial, and I, the god of whom you've contracted with shall bless you with renewed skill.

"Why set this trial for me, if I may humbly ask dear Kami-sama." Naruto politely asked since he owed this deity that bonded with him for allowing him to survive this long.

These trials will help hone your power; think of yourself as a sword, newly forged by a beginner so the edges are dull and the blade itself brittle. These trials serve to hone you to become a more perfect blade with each successful endeavor. You will be more durable, sharper even than most normal humans could ever hope to achieve in fifty lifetimes. Prove yourself to me, oh champion mine. And I shall reward you with power to make your own path as a Cypher.

The voice of the god he contracted with went silent within his soul as traps began activating en masse. Despite what looked like years have passed since anyone ever tried these challenges, the bladed traps were still sharp as they day they were forged, as dried blood still dyed their edges.

Naruto swallowed his saliva as he carefully observed the hallway of every detail he could, for if he missed out on even the tiniest of things, he could be one of the unfortunate Cyphers that failed if the bones near certain traps were to say anything. He noted the patterns of the saw disks on the walls, of how they move at a certain speed that would allow anyone to move safely if they were swift about it. Spinning wood columns armed with teeth of steel that traveled across were another thing in this hallway to be wary of, for they make the place claustrophobic enough as it is, for one bad timing could spell death. Then there was the floor ahead with the other two traps, holes and slighty raised floor meant that if pressure was applied, the traps would spring and he could be impaled from below.

Naruto had to be agile with this one and he had to time it right or else die. He slowly sat in seiza position and began to calm himself. His training with his sister while in Nione's custody taught him that meditation before faceing dangerous trials ahead would make things run smoother. He stayed like that for ten minutes, letting his mind ease as his body relaxed from the tense encounter earlier as he opened his eyes once again. They were focused and everything seemed slower now as he felt the adrenaline flow through. He mentally timed himself as the moving traps move past each other and noticed the key moment of when he should move. Patiently waiting for them to come around again-he flew like a silver bullet.

The spikes erupted behind him as Naruto narrowly dodged the spinning columns and jumped over one of the saws that would have claimed his legs if he was careless. Darts erupted from the walls as a few pierced him. He ignored it as he slid under another saw and brushed pass the last few steps.

Naruto took a breather as he was finally free from the series of traps as he checked himself. Several darts were imbedded on his side, several cuts from the spinning pillars, and a few strands of hair lost via sawblades. So far he's alive and he'll take that as a positive sign he's passed the trial. He heard running water and walked towards the source and beheld a spring there. Without thinking, he cupped some of the water and drank deeply and beheld a surge of power swell within him. He hovered, eyes glowing white as he fell into a trance before blacking out.

Well done child, you've broken the limits on yourself once again. You are now capable of honing your skills to adept levels. Should you find more, perhaps you will gain the strength needed when this war of yours is over...for another battlefield will seek you out.

Above on the surface, Team Seven felt the surge of power and looked at each other with surprised expressions. They were all familiar with encountering sacred springs that the gods set up as trials for Cyphers to see if they were worthy of such boons. This Cypher Naruto was first generation and had yet to die all while gaining his first boon through a trial. Was this Naruto a prodigy?

Sasuke recalled his first trial, in his first human life with that version of Team Seven. The beginning of the end-the new path that Sasuke Uchiha would walk as he died and born anew. The cycle of life would forever remind him of how immature his life was when he died and with each rebirth, each trial he failed until he mastered it. Now he was eager to clash blades with Naruto once again after they bring him back home to his family. He will not kill Naruto no-a spar that will echo through his mind as each second made them grow into more powerful warriors.

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"You are going after the disgrace of a champion?" one of the clerics asked as the young girl nodded her head. "Yes, I want to know...why did Lord Bahamut's Champion throw the fight to Tiamat's Champion. He must have a reason why he did that." the girl answered as another cleric scoffed at that. "He's a human like all of us, Tiamat's Champion must have either seduced or bribed him to throw that fight." he said with disdain.

"Still, I have to know...There is something about him that compels me to know the truth." the girl spoke up, her voice was growing with resolve as she turned and walked away.

"Be careful young Cecilia, and may Lord Bahamut guide you to the right path." the main priest spoke from afar, watching the conversation in silence.