I OWN NOTHING
Fear's always overwhelming me every time I try to write something. I always think it's never good enough even if everyone likes it. Maybe that's why I try to improve even if I'm a mess.
X-X-X-X-X
"Alright, that should hold her."
Pleased, Riku wiped his brow with a smile. The raft was bigger than before and got a new mast. The three other teens admired it.
"Will she really take us to another world?" the new inclusion to their team asked the albino.
"Only one way to find out." Riku commented, "Although, since you're here, maybe we can settle something."
A smirk spread on his face which infected Sora's, "Oh yeah, you're on!"
Blinking owlishly, Naruto looked around, "Did I miss something?"
Kairi sighed, "Just them being, well, themselves." A small smile appeared on her face, "So, up for a little race?"
"What?" the blond questioned, aiming a finger at his face, "I mean, I'd like to, but I don't even know if they'd want me to…" he recalled how one time he tried ended in parents pulling their kids away from him.
"I think they've given you plenty of reasons to know you're welcomed" the redhead beamed cutely, "Isn't that right guys?" she aimed a finger where the two boys were. Key word being were, "Where did they go?" Looking around from left to right, they spotted them too late. Sora was in a headlock but also managed to put Riku in one, the two trying their hardest to make the other quit.
"Does this happen often?" Naruto asked in confusion.
To his growing bafflement, Kairi giggled, "Yup, and I wouldn't change it even if it does get tiring at times." She walked to them and – shocking Naruto even more – managed to break them apart easily. He watched as she pulled them into her own headlock, "Okay you two, behave or Mama Kairi will have to get mean."
"Alright, alright, sorry!" Sora chuckled as he was under one arm, Riku under the other.
And the albino was mad, "Oh come on, that's cheating!"
"You know I'd still beat you." She proclaimed proudly.
Naruto put a hand on his mouth, barely stifling a chuckle, "Heh..."
And it put a bigger smile on Kairi's face, "Good to see you smile. See? Told you these two could cheer you up."
"Thanks, but...I think Sora needs air, he's getting red." He pointed out.
"Oh, yeah, please!" a bright red Sora exclaimed, though he didn't sound breathless, more like flustered.
Riku grinned, an idea of pure mischief glinting in his eyes. "So, Naruto... Would you say you're fast?"
"You better believe it, why?" he retorted with a smirk, hands on his hips.
Riku winked, putting a hand on his shoulder, "Follow my lead to mess with Sora." And Naruto's inner-prankster agreed before he even spoke, "Because I know a good price for a race, naming our ship. Do tell, what is a better name. Highwind, a simple, efficient, and memorable name, or...Sora's childish choice?"
"Hey, Excalibur's a name that exudes coolness!" the brunet exclaimed.
Naruto crossed his arms in mock-thought, "I dunno, I'd go with Maelstrom Lord."
"So, it seems we got a race to settle this with." Riku grinned.
Sighing, Kairi stood by the sides, "Alright, same as usual." She aimed to a tree with a star on it, "Use whatever means to get to that tree, tap it, and come back. Winner's the first to come back."
Sora smiled as the three boys got ready, Naruto throwing his arms back already, "If I win, I'm captain. And if you win-"
"I get to share a Paopu Fruit with Kairi."
Riku's nonchalant response stunned Sora, "What!?"
The albino smirked, "Deal? Winner shares one with her. What say you, Naruto?"
Feeling sorry for Sora pushed him to tell the truth, but... "I dunno, I may let whoever comes closer to me choose who does so."
"You're pure evil!" Sora yelled, but the race was already set by Kairi.
Once the redhead told them to run, the blond skipped on the water, and grunted, "Ugh, it seems I can't walk on water yet..."
He sighed as his knees were touching the salty liquid but ignored it and ran off. The two other boys took the high road, jumping from platform to platform. Riku climbed up a tower to get to a zipline, while Sora hurriedly ran past it and jumped to the tree tops. Naruto took the longer route, deciding to let them get ahead. All touched the tree around the same time before darting back.
As they did, a smile spread on Naruto's face when seeing his new friends. Despite what had been told, there was a grin on Sora's as he did his best to win, running against the other two at a decent speed. Riku had an amused but well-meaning smile as he didn't go easy on his friend. In fact, he ran hard to try to pass Naruto. And, as soon as they reached the finish line, they jumped!
"Oh yeah!" Sora exclaimed, sliding on his knees to a halt, fists up in celebration.
"Heh, he sure had fun." A panting Riku told Naruto, then whispered to him, "You went easy on him, didn't you?"
"I felt like being a bit mean, but not cruel." He replied.
"Well, leave a bit of cruelty to me." Riku winked, "Hey Sora, remember the deal?"
And all emotion drained from the yellow-shoed boy's face, "Oh crap, what do I do!?" he grabbed his head in despair.
Riku couldn't contain himself, "Hey, I was joking, no one had to do anything they didn't want, captain!" he snickered as he answered.
"Oh come on, I thought it was...You... Even Naruto... Ugh!" the brunet let his back hit the ground and groaned, feeling like he lost.
"Okay, now I feel bad." Naruto said.
"Best source of entertainment." Riku responded, and then got slightly serious, "Besides, he has to treat that kinda thing like it'll kill him if he doesn't do a thing. Otherwise it's painful to watch." He sighed softly, his eyes set on the sky, "Anyway, it is getting a bit late. We should prepare to leave." He smiled at the blond, "You're free to enjoy celebratory ice cream, though."
Naruto didn't need to hear that twice, so he helped Sora up, "Hey, sorry for following Riku along." He couldn't remember the last time he apologized like that, but he meant it.
Even more odd was Sora's reaction, a genuine grateful nod and smile, "He put you up to it, I'm glad you didn't really plan to..." his cheeks grew red as Kairi approached, "N-Never mind."
"What did I miss?" the girl asked curiously, but the blond shrugged.
DESIRING
FOR
LOVE
SHALL
ONLY
BRING
HEARTACHE
"Sorry about the mast."
As the quartet finished and sat on a small island connected to the main one by a bridge, they stared at the ocean. Sora and Kairi sat on a palm tree, Riku leaned against another, and Naruto's legs hung over the small island's edge. Everyone had finished the repairs and it looked like the day to leave was nearing. Apparently, the trio had already gotten their supplies ready before he arrived.
"Again?" Riku smiled amusedly at Naruto, "Really, take it easy."
"Just...sorry." the blond didn't know what else to say, rubbing the back of his spiked mop.
"Listen, if I held a grudge I'd be very unsubtle about it." Riku joked to reassure him.
"It's just that...no one ever took one of my mistakes like that." The blond said with no better words for it.
"Wow, seriously?" Sora asked, baffled, "Remind me to be careful in your world."
"It's not like others had it easy, but at times people went after be for being, well, just...me." he sighed at that.
"For how hard you're trying to go back, it almost sounds like it's better not to go." Kairi commented.
"Perhaps you should consider staying with us." Sora offered, "Hey, that sounds great. Once we go back to your world, you can check what you need and see if you'd like to keep traveling with us."
"Hehe... I...I wouldn't mind that." Naruto shook his head, "However, I want to stand atop the highest peak for everyone home to look at me and recognize who's the best."
"Even if that place hurt you?" Riku was deeply curious.
"After all I went through, it'd be disappointing not showing them I'm alive, kicking, and ready to prove I'm better than them." The blond smiled right at them.
"Good, that should be the confidence you hang on to." Sora grinned back.
Kairi hummed in mock-thought, "Not sure, you two already have more than enough to spare. I wish I could bottle it and sell it to swim in munny."
Everyone chuckled, Naruto thinking to himself, 'I wouldn't have minded if I had been born here.' He looked at the island, smiling almost nostalgically, "You know... I'll greatly miss this place. I had fun with you all, I even learnt how to make a raft." He got up, admiring the island, "Sure, it's small, but...it's cozy and welcoming."
Beaming didn't help Riku's slight frown, "Well, I wouldn't mind leaving it." He stared at the horizon, "Did you ever wonder why you were in your world, Naruto?"
"Huh?"
"After Kairi and now you arrived, I've decided to see why we're here." The eldest teen turned to the other three. "If there are other worlds, why not go somewhere else?"
"I don't know." Sora replied and lazily laid back on the palm tree.
"Exactly." Riku nodded, "And I got you, Kairi and Naruto, to thank for letting me think this way."
"Heh, you're welcome." Naruto's cheeky grin could've put the sun to shame with its brightness.
"Haha, well, I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow." Kairi commented with a cute small smile.
"Yeah, tomorrow..." repeating that word suddenly felt heavy.
"Something the matter?" Sora asked.
"It's just..." he sat down and stared at the island, "I'd like to go, sure. I want to settle things at home, but..." suddenly, he realized he wasn't focusing on the island, but the three before him, "I...I really don't want to just go." He ruffled his hair, "Even if it's been a day, you've all treated me so nice. Like you not only want me here, but...you enjoy it."
Concern grew in the other three teens, "Hey, you're free to talk. We don't judge." Riku told him, kneeling to put a hand on his shoulder.
Sora extended his hand to help him up, as did Riku, "Yeah, and of course we're enjoying ourselves, you've been fun to hang around."
The brunet's smile warmed Naruto's heart, along Kairi's kind words, "Good friends are supposed to see who you are, not what face you wear."
"Guys..." Naruto felt something sting his eyes, so he squinted them hard, forcing a grin, "S-Sorry! I shouldn't get you worried over me! Thank you, I mean it!" he pumped up a fist, "Alright, how's this!? If there's any kind of trouble in our way, leave it to me! I'll make sure you're safe regardless of who I'd have to face and I…" a surge of determination burnt deep in him "I'll never lose! Consider it a promise as your friend!"
"Hahaha, sure!" Sora laughed.
"You're on!" Kairi agreed as Riku chortled from the enthusiasm.
CAN
YOU
HOLD
ON
TO
THEM
? ? ?
After that, the group left the island, but before setting sail Sora turned to Naruto from his boat, "You sure you don't want to come?"
Shaking his head, the blond smiled, "I think I'd weird your parents out, and I don't deal well with adults." He looked at the island, "Besides, you'll come tomorrow, right? I can sleep easily with that."
"Alright, suit yourself." Sora smiled, giving him a grin, "Take care, alright? It wouldn't be a fun trip without all of us together."
Once they were gone, Naruto had the island all to himself. A rather bizarre feeling of loneliness filled him. Unlike back home, he felt like smiling as he walked through the beach, the sound of the waves relaxing his mind and soul. Lazily, he walked to the raft and sat there, before lying flat on his back, staring at the darkening skies. Stars filled his view, though there weren't as many as he recalled.
"Found you!" a feminine voice exclaimed. Naruto couldn't react as he was grabbed by the lapels by a petite hand which then yanked him in and tossed onto a floor.
"Hey, what's the big idea!?" he exclaimed flat on his ass, and finally noticed where he was, a dark dungeon with stone brick walls and a forge with a small woman who could be his age.
She had pale white skin, and long red hair tied back in a black spiky hair tie with bangs covering her right eye. He stared at her beautiful if only visible orange eye, fangs, pointed ears, and yellow-orange horns. Also, to top it off, her arms had three spikes each. For their meeting she wore a yellow ballgown with an orange brim, brown high-heeled boots, and a spiky black tiara. A small orange flame hovered over her head.
"Finally, after so long." She sighed, sitting on a bench near the forge. She eyed him curiously, "Huh, for such a troublesome guy I expected you to be bulkier." She walked to him and poked his arm, which got him a bit warmer than comfortable when seeing she had a curvaceous figure that put hourglasses to shame, "Do humans always have to get in trouble?"
"Are you...an oni?" he asked, swallowing some spit involuntarily.
"Nope, something else." She said and booped him on the nose, "Why do most guys think they're dead?"
"Hey, why not tell me what's going on!?" he exclaimed and got up and was slightly surprised to be taller than her, although not by much. Rather nonchalantly, the redhead pulled out a pair of scissors and cut into the air to create a portal! Naruto was already surprised by the change of pace, but he didn't expect such a thing or the fiery gates to whatever real she opened so casually.
"You've been jumping through worlds, one minute you were in yours, and the next I need two months to track you." She huffed, "Whoever did this has made it difficult, too."
"Wait, someone brought me here?" he asked in shock. "Do you know who?"
"I wish I knew..." the redhead took a deep breath, "Anyway, I've looked through many worlds for you. My best guess is that they had no idea where you'd end up. However, I'd bet my horns that maybe something may have interfered, and I have a guess at what it is."
"Can you stop being so cryptic?" he groaned.
"Fine, but first, introductions." She placed a hand on her large chest, "Name's Hekapoo, forger and the one who made these scissors."
"Oh...Naruto." he responded a bit stiffly.
"Before I decide what to do with you..." she hummed, walking around him, "Whatever made you such an interesting target? I know your world's full of crazy strong people, but you don't seem like much." She had a bored expression on her face which angered the blond.
"Did you just call me here to mock me!?" he asked furiously.
"If I did, I could've seen if you could fight me." she answered with a laidback grin.
Angry, he was tempted to yell, but something more important hit him, "Listen, could you let me go back?"
That surprised her, "Do you mean...to that other world? Why not back to yours?"
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, "I...I do want to go back home and see if everyone made it out okay, but I want to go adventuring with Sora, Riku and Kairi." He took a deep breath, "Unlike everyone else at my village, they wanted me to be with them. Please, don't tell me I can't go back and see them." He was serious, his eyes hardened despite his pleading.
Dreams of acceptance and hope to smile again tomorrow, it made his determination burn so bright Hekapoo took a moment to think, "You are certainly asking for a lot out of nowhere." She commented, "And you do so with such cheek." Playfully, she flicked one of his bangs, smirking, "Fine, but you won't like it..."
"Anything, name it!" he exclaimed, hardening his eyes as he gave a single step forward.
"Anything?" she replied, her eye glinting.
"I'm not repeating myself." He gave her a hotheaded smirk, a fist up.
Smiling, she leaned close to him, "Alright, let's help you decide for sure." She opened a second portal, "One of these will take you to your home world, the other leads back to where I found you." She playfully put a hand on her hip and a grin on her face, "You can go to both, come back here, and visit the other."
"Hah, piece of cake." Naruto chortled, attempting to move forward only to feel his arms get yanked, "What!?" he gasped when realizing his arms were inside pitch-black gauntlets. Diamond-shaped crimson crystals on the back of the hands adorned them, a bizarre dark steel showed their great resistance. His jacket's sleeves were forced in them as well as his fingers, and chains shackled him to the floor.
Hekapoo checked her nails, "Oh yeah, I made those." She smiled in a carefree manner as she explained herself, "Those chains were made to keep anyone who had an indecisive heart locked in place. Breaking them is not easy unless you follow your heart." She walked to Naruto, looking at him closer, "It seems you can't hear your own heart. If so, how can I let you go to any world?"
"D-Don't joke with me!" the blond exclaimed, blood boiling, as he yanked on the sturdy chains, which didn't budge an inch. "I know I want to check on Lee, Chouji and Shikamaru. Even if Neji and Kiba are a pain, it's not like I want to ignore whatever happened to them, but I'm not leaving Sora, Riku or Kairi behind either!"
"You say that, but there's turmoil in your heart." She commented, "I can feel it, a fight inside you."
"I told you..." Naruto snapped, stomping forward, "I've made my choice!"
And, to Hekapoo's surprise, the chains started to break, "What!?" she choked slightly, "B-But that's impossible!"
"I..." Naruto started, but then saw something from the portal to Destiny Islands, "Ka...iri?"
Leaning her body to the side to look behind the horned woman, he did see the redhead. Hekapoo stared mainly at him in interest, "His heart, what is happening with it...?" the boy watched as the other redhead walked, steps loose but guided. Something felt off and Hekapoo noticed what it was first, "Is she asleep? Her eyes-"
Looking closely, the boy could tell her half-lidded eyes and tired expression were signs of Kairi needing immediate attention. Hekapoo only heard a snap of the chains before seeing that he had jumped in. Without any better way to assess the situation, she jumped after him. Naruto landed on the sand, arms still clad in Hekapoo's gauntlets but with parts of the chains still attached.
"Kairi!" Naruto called, but got no response, "Kairi, answer me, what's going on!?"
"He broke the chains, but the gauntlets remain..." Hekapoo whispered to herself, "Something's definitely wrong with this one."
"Oi, Hekapoo-chan, help me with Kairi!" he exclaimed, drawing her attention.
"W-Wait, what did you call me!?" she felt baffled, but when seeing him dash forward she groaned and followed once again. However, a voice stopped the two. Something dangerous laced the words of a grown man, his deep and rather harmonic voice heralded a darkness that froze Hekapoo on the spot. Naruto felt like a predator facing another.
"Darkness is calling her, for she is chosen." Said a tall, cloaked figure in an eerie monotone, "Why do you resist its call?"
"Stand back!" Hekapoo said, taking out her scissors and splitting them into two short daggers for battle.
"It is he who can rule the shadows that I talk to." The man approached Naruto, the blond baring his teeth, "Chosen by the darkness concealed under that mask, you are a true enigma."
"Let Kairi go." The blond said, readying his magic-steel clad fists for battle, "Whatever trick you pulled on her ends now."
Instead of answering directly, the man walked towards him slowly, "Light has tainted you, theirs. If you cling to that which denies your rightful duty, then..."
All around Naruto and Hekapoo tiny imp creatures rose from the shadows. Darkness started to cloud the skies even more than the night as if to make their entrance more grandiose. Forming from puddles of a deep darkness, three-foot-tall beings rose. All had round heads, beady yellow eyes, antennae like ants, hunched postures, large bunny-like feet, and arms with claws that gripped and slashed at the air hungrily.
Hekapoo got closer to the blond while Naruto ground his teeth, "Hey," she whispered, "get Kairi. I'll clear a path."
"Wha-" he choked out.
"I can handle myself, she needs your help!" she exclaimed to snap him out of his confusion.
Nodding reluctantly, he stared at the place the other redhead was going, "Take care!" he stepped closer, and her eyes widened briefly.
"Bet on it, now go!" she shouted as Naruto dashed forward and threw a punch at the man's face.
Observing such actions, the man tilted his head to the side, dodging the attack easily...and saw the small woman on the boy's back. Naruto had pulled Hekapoo and got her to hop on his back, from which she jumped over the tiny dark imps. Running once her feet hit the ground, the girl clutched her weapon and rushed to help her friend. The cloaked man ignored her, focusing on Naruto.
"Now you take care!" Hekapoo said and went after Kairi, 'Just what is going on?'
"Choosing to fight, commendable but foolish." The mysterious man told the blond.
"What're you talking about? I made sure someone could keep Kairi safe from you, creep. Now all I gotta do is break your jaw!" the blond yelled and leapt at him.
"Reckless is one who can't control their heart." He said as Naruto found his next punch phasing through the man.
"What!?" he yelped, and then groaned as he felt a weight on his back.
"Weak is he who doesn't break their limits." The man continued as the imps piled on Naruto.
"Dammit, get off!" he tried to shake them off, standing up until several more jumped for a classic dogpile.
"And yet, with your heart forced to carry what your smile hides, you desire to bask in light." He stopped before the blond, golden eyes staring at sapphire ones. "Futile hope, for this world will end. And as the light did casting its shadow, darkness will devour it." He then moved a hand to Naruto, "Unless you with the power to claim darkness acts."
"Listen..." Naruto growled, "I don't know or care what you're blabbering about! I know you're behind this, so do your worst but burn in your mind that I'll be there to make you pay for this!"
"Resistance, an attempt of bravery or despair turned into denial?" he asked almost genuinely curious, "It matters not when those girls will have their hearts taken."
"What...?" Naruto felt himself go cold, something stirring within him as that chill burnt.
Stepping back, the man was confused, "Was that anger in you? What accompanies it?" His monotone remained, but he couldn't fully hide his surprise. "I see, the light which you cling to has tainted you. Bothersome as it may be, it is an obstacle easily overstepped. All that is needed is for you to understand this," he kneeled before Naruto, whispering, "even if you saved them, you are bound to end them."
"What're you talking about!?" Naruto roared, struggling to break free and shaking the pile of shadowy imps.
"That is enough." Said a new female voice, "He will come to terms sooner or later, but he does not need you, failed ruler."
Walking past the blond to approach the man was a tall woman in a concealing white kimono. Cascading white hair reached her ankles while two bone horns akin in shape to a rabbit's ears stood above her head. Her otherworldly pale skin gave her grace while her eyes left the blond speechless. Pearly eyes with no pupils, and a vertical slit in the middle of her forehead like a car.
Ruby red lips twisted into a frown as the man stepped away from the blond, "Dare I ask if you're as interested in him as you were in his world or something more?" he asked her.
"Disappear mere shadow." She said as her hair flowed threateningly around her, "For it is my duty to nourish our true king."
Knowing who the woman was served as enough of an incentive for the man to retreat, "Fare thee well, then, O Failed Goddess."
Surely there was no love lost. Darkness flourished around the man before he disappeared in it. Before Naruto could try to make sense of what happened, he saw the woman swipe the air with her hand, and all the imps were gone. However, it wasn't because she commanded them to do so. With a flicker of her wrist the imps' bodies shatter and glowing hearts float up.
Getting up, the blond sighed in relief, "Thanks, lady." He stared at her, "Are you from the Hyuuga Clan?" he asked awkwardly.
Smiling softly, the woman reached to him, his body stiffening nervously, "There is nothing to thank, my king."
"What, me, a king?" the blond pointed to his face, and then froze again when her hand cupped his whiskered cheek.
"For now, it seems you have to grow." She then snapped her fingers, and everything changed.
Eyes wide, the kid jumped away from her, looking at the landscape, "Where are we!?" he had been transported to a dark world. A living environment made of darkness with everything being shades of black, gray, and merging of both. No sky, just endless void. And before him the woman reached to her chest, opening to reveal something much to his growing embarrassment and shock.
Swallowing his spit, he felt tempted to say he needed an adult, until he remembered he was alone with only one, "Fear not, my dear king. I am a humble servant hoping to bring order and end the madness brought by those fighting over all worlds." She revealed a shattered heart emblem over...quite a sizeable bosom, "I have accepted this mark to find you and end the limitless suffering of all worlds."
"What are you say- What am I saying!? Get me back!" the blond demanded, frowning at her, "I can't leave Kairi and Hekapoo near that creep!"
Chuckling through her nose, the woman walked closer, "If you desire to save them, all you need to do is claim them as yours." She leaned closely, the boy clenching his fists defensively, "Love is nothing but a form of greed. Desiring to possess others' affections. How blind we are to the ways it destroys us." She placed her hand on her chest, "I, too, loved. As you can see, it left me as a shadow of my former self."
Glaring, Naruto took a defiant step forward, "Sorry, but I've got..." he struggled to find the word, shaking, "I've got friends that need me!"
His furious shout amused the woman, "Is that so?" she waved a hand, and immediately appeared at his right. "And who are these friends?" she leaned on him, hands on his shoulders, "People who barely know you or those that were forced to spend time with you?" placing her head on the other side of his, she spoke again, "Or what of those who obviously want to use you?"
"N-No, I'm talking about..." he tried to argue, but lacked anything solid.
Smiling wider, she continued, "And those three who wanted you as their guide. Isn't it obvious? If you weren't useful for their plans, they wouldn't have aided you."
"Don't lie to me!" he stepped away from her, glaring.
"Am I?" she retorted calmly, "All relationships are built on what you desire. And your desire is to leave the shadows hiding you from being more than a soon-to-be forgotten memory." She smiled sweetly, "Is that's not so," she extended her arms to her sides, "strike me where I stand. Do not doubt I am your loyal subject, My Liege."
He was about to ask what she meant, but saw a familiar dark sword floating before him, "The...dream was..." he shook his head, "No, your voice isn't like theirs!"
"Do not be deceived, they fear you as much as they need you." She walked to him, and by instinct he grabbed the sword, aiming it at her, "But I wish for us to bring everything to a close. No need for darkness or a light to be fought over. If you are to rule the shadows, then make light and darkness fall."
He gasped when her hands grabbed his wrists and aimed the tip of the sword at her heart, "You're insane!" he yelled, shaking at how soothed her smile was.
"And this is the form I took for you, My Liege." She then sunk the tip into her chest!
"W-Wait!" he cried, unable to understand what happened.
A serene smile filled her, light overtaking her body as it started to vanish. Slowly, dark wisps of energy flowed from her, and soon were absorbed by the blade, "Do not worry, My Liege. This is a temporary form. I'll aid you from now on, giving you power beyond your imagination." She held his chin, smiling as she lowered her face, and tenderly kissed his forehead, "I, Kaguya Ootsutsuki, will be waiting for you."
Once Naruto regained his senses, he was back on Destiny Islands, but everything was even darker. Stormy skies, lightning flashing in the clouds, thunder booming. A weight in his hand appeared to show something new. Realizing what he held, it didn't take long for more problems to arise. The creatures from before arrived, surrounding him with their eyes fixed on him, bodies twitching.
"You possess the power of destruction..." a voice said.
"Yet you hold the heart of a caring guardian." Her sister said.
"Destroy those who cast countless in their shadows."
"Defend those who share your pain."
And together, they said, "The choice is yours as is this sword."
A name rang inside Naruto's mind:
Keyblade
A 4-foot-long key. Its blade was a flat rectangular slab of pitch-black steel half-a-foot wide meant more for slashing than stabbing. Its purple handle stuck through a crimson heart-shaped guard. The teeth were two spikes close enough that the gaps between them resembled a heart. Although, he noticed a single chain on its end which ended in a broken link and a tear-shaped purple jewel where the handle and blade met.
Feeling as angry as he was confused by what happened, when one of the imps rushed him the boy slashed it, cutting it clean in half singlehandedly. And if that wasn't surprising enough, its body's matter became a dark mist which the blade absorbed. Of course, the dark imps wouldn't just let go as they wobbled at him, slashing wildly with their claws as if their lives depended on it.
Growling at the little monsters, he aimed his new sword at them with a glare, "King or not, that title doesn't matter to me. You've all just signed up for your death the moment your creep master dared to touch Kairi and ruin this island!" he took a two-handed stance, the tip at his face level and leant forward, aimed at the imps like he was a samurai.
The imps rushed at him, forming a wall between him and the girls. Bad idea. Letting out a thunderous battle cry, the blond ran at them, swinging his new sword wildly. Every strike cut down the imps, and everyone disappeared in the same dark matter to be absorbed by his blade. At the moment, he didn't care. All that mattered was taking them out and helping Kairi and Hekapoo.
"Naruto!"
"Sora!"
Both exclaimed simultaneously when seeing each other, only to be halted by a new batch of imps. Every single one wobbled around them, staring predatorily. Baring his teeth and hefting his large sword on his shoulder, the blond was doubtful he could to keep the imps at bay. He tried to stay beside the brunet, staring at the horde before him.
"Naruto, where's Kairi?" Sora replied.
"She's in a cave near that waterfall." Naruto retorted, bringing up the sword for a wide slash to kill five of the imps, only for eight more to take their place, "Do you guys ever run out!?" he asked furiously, letting a good chunk of that anger fuel his next three swings when four attacked him, cutting the last two in the same move.
"Just cut through!" Sora shouted, putting a hand on his friend's back for support to jump over him.
Shock overcame Naruto as the brunet sliced five imps in half with a giant key. Its handguard was golden, its handle black, and its blade looked like that of an old, standard key. It was a straight cylinder with part of its teeth making the shape of a crown. Last but not least, it had a keychain in the form of three circles that somehow reminded the blond of a mouse.
"Where did you get that?" he asked.
"This isn't the weirdest thing that's been happening." Sora said, and when more imps appeared the two put their backs together, "I'll tell you later, but you got some answers to give me, too."
"Let's make it out of this alive first!" Naruto told his friend firmly.
Nodding at each other, they ran at the monsters, cutting down as many as they had before them. However, the same result as before happened. The more monsters they cut, the more appeared to replace them. If they were cannon fodder, they were doing a good job wasting their energies. Overwhelming the two teens, they kept the two away from the girls. Sora still had energy, but Naruto had been fighting longer.
"Are you okay?" he was concerned.
"I'd like to catch my breath, two months in a bed didn't help." The blond huffed, and growled when one tried to strike him, to which he replied by raising a foot and side-kicking it like when Tidus got a couple hits on him. "Man, these guys just never run out or quit! If only..."
"If only what?" Sora echoed, "Please, anything would be welcomed!" he urged the blond, getting him to sigh.
"Fine, it's about time I see if it works." Naruto held his sword with both hands, the tip aimed down as he crossed his fingers. However, before he recited the same words as before, he heard a voice, his very own. It whispered, and he repeated, "Doppelganger!"
Sora's jaw reached for the floor as when an imp leapt at Naruto another Naruto slashed it! He wasn't the only one. The original blond did his best impression of a deer about to be run over. Before him was a pitch-black version of himself. Hair, clothes, skin, eyes and copy-sword, all darker than coal. And as soon as it was done cutting them down, it merged with his shadow!
"What was that!?" Sora asked as the imps' dark matter was absorbed by the original's sword.
"I-I don't know, it's the first time this happens and-" Naruto started, but more imps ran at them, "Doppelganger!" and then his doppelganger jumped out of his shadow again, cutting three imps! "I never made one like this, but it seems this guy will have to do." He told the brunet as his doppelganger posed beside him, readying his own sword.
"Alright, just keep it up!" Sora told him as the imps' dark matter flew into the whiskered boy's sword.
"Don't worry." he told him, and aimed at the waterfall, "You go forward, this guy and me will keep these guys busy!"
"Got it!" Sora ran towards where Kairi was. When more imps tried to get him, Naruto and his doppelganger cut them in half.
Suddenly, as Sora ran forward, the ground shook under Naruto's feet, "Whoa!" he yelped, almost tripping until his doppelganger held his arm.
However, cracks appeared on the ground, separating the land along a good chunk of the sea. Looking down, a dark abyss waited for him as the entire world collapsed, breaking apart into pieces. As the storm raged on, the ground shook again, the piece of land Naruto was on trembled...
DO
NOT
FEAR
FOR
YOU
ARE
THE
KING
SHADOWS
NEED
A light. A guiding beacon. And then...water!
"Glub!?"
Eyes akin to saucers with their width, Naruto looked up to the sky and swam upwards as quickly as possible. Once out, his lungs greedily took in air in the middle of a pond. Gasping and coughing, he tried to get all the water that got in out, as well as feel alive. Regaining his bearings, he saw that he was in a well. Rock walls and a cylindrical tunnel leading upwards to wherever he could be.
"Hmm, someone there?" he heard a man ask. "Hello!? If there's anyone there, can I get some water!? Anybody!?" Naruto was too busy breathing to bother answering, "Guess not." And then a bucket was thrown, making the kid gasp as it fell on his head with an echoing thud, "Huh? Is this well dry?"
After swimming back up, the boy snapped, "Hey, what's the big idea!?" he was nursing his head with a hand and holding the bucket with the other.
"Wait, why didn't you answer?" the man asked.
"I was too busy drowning, now can you get me out?" the blond answered.
"Oh shoot, yes, sorry! Hang tight!" the man started to pull him up by the bucket. "What's a kid like you doing there!?" Once out, Naruto saw a middle-aged man. He had a blue jacket with the sleeves rolled up, a white T-shirt underneath, brown cargo pants, black boots, and black gloves. He had shoulder-length black hair and a handsome if dorky appearance. A few gray hairs gave away his age.
"I just woke up there." The blond panted once out, throwing the empty bucket back in. A quick look around showed he and the man were in the middle of a forest, a road leading to a small town.
"Are you one of those sleepwalkers?" the man mused, a hand on his chin, "It must have been a real bad case if you can't explain how you suddenly dropped in a well."
"It's not..." Naruto started, but the story behind it was long and he had a mission, "Forget it, old man. I need to go."
"Old man!?" the man was shocked, not offended, just really surprised, "Hey, at least call me seasoned!"
Giving the man a brief look, the blond sighed, "You, seasoned?"
Shocked once again by such negative attitude, the man tried to put on a cheerier demeanor, "Yup, they don't give anyone this unless they're a bonafide soldier." he reached near the well, pulling out a big rifle, "I may look like your random handsome and rugged fellow, but I know a thing or two about dealing with nasties." Then he gave the boy a thumb up, "I'm also great at making sure little girls don't cry."
His attitude started to tire Naruto, who had more pressing matters, "Uh-huh, laters."
At that, the man gasped in shock, "Come on, kid, don't be that way!" Then the man smiled softly, "At least you could thank good old Laguna for getting you out."
Squinting his eyes, the blond summoned his sword, "Why are you so intent on following me?" he aimed the sword at the man.
Laguna yelped at the sword inches from his face, hands up in surrender, "Calm down, kid! I'm not trying anything funny! Truth is I've been looking around other worlds!" Naruto's didn't lower his sword, thus Laguna had to put his step back, "Alright, alright, I can take you around if you want, but only if you help me look around."
"Fine..." The blond conceded, "What're you looking for, old man?"
"Come on, you could be nicer." The man sighed, "Anyway, I've got a ship to go around worlds. She gets the job done, at least. And I can take you somewhere safe to meet your friends."
"And I should trust you because..." after experiences with old men promising help, the boy found elders fishier than a seafood stand, 'At least I didn't meet him peeping on girls.'
"Wow, stink eye much?" Laguna groaned tiredly, "Okay, if you need a reason, I also had trouble with Heartless back home."
"Heartless?" Naruto repeated.
Laguna nodded, "Yeah, they're...those guys!" he exclaimed and took aim. Both readied themselves as the imps that attacked Destiny Islands arrived with help, "Shadows and Soldiers, those two are persistent and bouncy pests." Laguna referred to the imps and their new companions respectively, humanoids clad in jester-like costumes with helmets.
"Are those the Heartless?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah, real nasties, they eat people's hearts!"
It felt like a bad joke for the smaller, much younger blond, "They what!?"
"I'll give you the full story once I take them out!" Laguna took a careful step forward, sliding his foot to the front, "Stand behind me-" and he was ignored as Naruto let out a battle cry to charge at the monsters, "-or I can cover you!" he shouted and ran after him, only to be attacked from the side by some Shadows, "Yikes!"
Hearing the man yell, the boy turned to help him, only to see him pull out a smaller gun from his pocket. A cable shot out, connected to a pointed hook at the end which latched onto a tree for Laguna to swing up. Faster than lightning, he took aim and started unloading lead on the Heartless. Realizing the boy was still alone, he landed beside him, and gave him a cheery smile.
"Ok, so you can fight." The blond retorted.
"Uncle Laguna at your service, kiddo!" the man chortled.
But before he got too cocky, one of the Soldiers in question brought up a leg. Launching itself forward, the Heartless spun as a dangerous pinwheel to kick Laguna. Jumping over the older man, the blond swung his blade down, effectively cutting the monster in two. After a brief nod, the two turned to the remaining dark creatures. Everyone twitched and tried to surround them.
Laguna did well keeping his distance and avoiding their strikes before shooting with precise shots while Naruto was himself. He'd rather get up front and personal with enemies, one of the reasons none thought he should be a shinobi. A mistake they regretted once he used his tricks. Once some Heartless thought they had him, the boy used his side-kick to push one back and launch himself backwards.
Upon landing, he dashed forward and slashed them when they were in a circle. And those that tried to run away were greeted to a grinning Laguna. The man brought up a hand, showing a pin. The Heartless looked at their feet, a grenade on the ground. For a brief second, their beady eyes widened before they were blasted away in a fiery inferno, killing some of them them instantly.
A few managed to withstand part of the blow, only to be cleared out with more swings of the boy's sword. "So, they're in other worlds too..." Naruto summed up.
Laguna nodded, "Yup, like ants at a picnic." He ruffled his hair, "Although, for someone who doesn't seem to have seen them much you're quite the bug killer. You pack quite a punch and weapon..." he looked at his weapon, arms crossed, "Feels like forever..."
Arching a brow, the younger blond questioned him, "Alright, what do you know? And can you really get me back home?"
"Of course." The man nodded firmly, "I am currently doing rescue duty, so I'm not leaving someone behind if they need a hand. But for the Heartless to go after you like that..."
"Do you think they're really singling me out?" Naruto aimed a finger to his face.
"Yup. Heartless have a taste for hearts, especially strong ones." Laguna explained, "If you managed to arrive here without a ship, you must be strong. That weapon of yours, though..." he tried to analyze it, looking over it with a cocked eyebrow, a hand on his chin, and his arms still crossed, "Did I imagine it, or was it feeding off their darkness?"
"Should I worry that it does the latter?" the boy asked.
Shrugging, the man groaned an answer, "Beats me, I've been wandering as a rescuer for a while. I've never picked a book on those things." Rubbing the back of his head awkwardly, he looked at Naruto carefully, a genuinely caring look in his eyes, "Ok, that's it. I'm not leaving you alone. And before you argue, Heartless try to snack on your heart because they fear it."
"For real?" the blond ruffled his hair, which fell back into its mop state, "This is getting too weird. But...fine, just help me find someone first."
"Sure, as long as you don't forget to do the same for me." Laguna smiled friendly as he said that.
"They're four guys I met. Two girls and boys, Kairi, Sora, Riku and Hekapoo. Have you seen them?" he held some hope, but Laguna's sullen expression dashed that.
"No, but hey..." he forced a grin, "If you're here, chances are they're out there." Then, a hopeful grin spread on his face, "Oh, I know, they could be in Traverse Town!"
"Are you serious?" hope returned to the boy.
Laguna beamed, "Have I given you a reason to doubt me?" a pause in which Naruto dully stared at him, "Ok, don't answer that, please."
Naruto sighed. He got a strange companion, irritable but reliable.
"Oh dear…! Help! H-h-heeelp! A-anyone…!" a boyish voice cried out in terror.
Laguna blinked as did Naruto, "You hear that?"
Naruto slowly lifted his sword up, growling as he responded to the older man's query, "I can feel that." Indeed, they both did. The rumble of the forest was clear, they could hear the sound of more of the Heartless running through the trees. One landed down in front of Naruto and Laguna, yet another Soldier which seemed to command the impish Shadows chasing after a small figure.
Behind the Heartless was a small form running towards them. Stopping to a halt and looking fearfully at them, both got to see just what the Heartless were chasing. Or really, who they were. He, most likely a boy due to the voice, appeared to be a small child barely three feet tall. And that was the most that they could make as he tripped and fell flat on his face, defenseless against the Soldier.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no!" the boy cried, clutching a pointy hat as he shivered.
As the Shadows surrounded him, the two blond fighters didn't stay still, "Pick on someone your size!" Naruto shouted, leaping at them at high speeds before cutting two in half.
Laguna watched the leader rearing back its leg for its kind's spinning kick attack. Getting an ingenious idea, he grinned, "Kid, heads up!" he fired his grappling hook, wrapping it around the Soldier's leg.
Thus, the Soldier tumbled comically to the blond. Seeing that, the boy side-stepped the other Heartless and held up his weapon like a baseball. All of them realized too late that their leader was rolling right at them! What happened missed the sound of bowling pins falling thunderously when they all went flying at the readied blond.
Stomping forward, he hollered, "And away with you!" and hit the ball of Heartless like he was a team's star batter, sending them up briefly before they became motes of darkness which his sword absorbed.
"Ok, that was easy." Laguna cheered, a bright grin plastered on his face, then he knelt before the little one, "Hey, you alright there?"
"Y-Yeah, I think…" the boy sniffled briefly, getting up.
Both taller males stared in disbelief. He was a kid, true. His outfit consisted of ballooning dark green pants, a light blue jacket with a high collar, large brown shoes and black gloves, and a big pointy hat. Said hat was yellow, had a zipper which resembled a mouth and a star on its right side and a spiral on the left resembling eyes. And that was all they could see save for two piercing yellow eyes hidden in shadows.
"You alright, little buddy?" Laguna asked as friendly as usual. "What's your name? Are your mom and dad around?"
"…" the kid looked down.
"What's the matter?" Naruto asked, his worry growing.
"…don't have parents." The kid finally said.
"Oh, sorry, scamp…" Laguna felt like kicking himself. "Why were those things chasing you?"
"Ah!" the tiny boy yelped in realization, gripping his hat in worry, "I was running away from the ferryman!"
"Did he send those things after you?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, and he's taking children to some place called Pleasure Island!" the boy exclaimed.
"What!? Oh no, this guy has to be stopped!" Laguna looked sick, "Hey, scamp, where is he?"
"By the docks." The tiny boy answered, looking at the two curiously, "Will you really stop him?"
"Of course." Naruto said, 'If he has Sora, Riku or Kairi, he's regretting it.'
"Name's Laguna, this boy's name is Naruto." The gunman introduced the two of them with a serious if confident look, "What's yours, buddy?"
"Oh, uh...I'm Vivi..." the boy answered shyly.
"Alright, we're counting on you to get us there." Naruto said firmly.
ONLY
YOUR
OWN
POWER
CAN
SAVE
YOU
Keeping themselves close to the shadows, the odd trio hid behind a bush. From inside they saw a large cart packed to the brim in clothes Naruto had never seen. They looked rather old-fashioned. What also called for his attention was the dozen donkeys that were forced to pull such a thing. It looked to weigh around a ton already with so many kids. And watching as the kids fought to get in was the ferryman.
"Come one, come all, to an enjoyable night at Pleasure Island!" chanted a fat elder. He had a flat hat, a double-breasted red trench coat, gray gloves and a purple scarf. His large red nose and glinting eyes gave a friendly appearance, but Laguna and Naruto could tell it was all a façade.
"Okay, so what's the plan?" Laguna asked.
"I sneak behind him, beat him to a pulp and make him cry." Naruto said as he cracked his steel-covered knuckles.
"But he has Heartless and kids who could be hostages..." Laguna retorted.
Naruto paused before he turned to the other kid, "Alright, Vivi, what's plan B?"
"Y-You're asking me?" the shy boy gulped, "He was doing his best to take me to that island, the only reason he singled me out was because I didn't want to in the first place."
"Now that gives me a great idea!" Laguna exclaimed, a large grin on his face.
Naruto frowned, "Come on, we can take him by surprise!"
"Yeah, but we could also go to the island and find out where he keeps the other kids, and who we're looking for, too." Laguna explained.
"Fine..." Naruto conceded.
Laguna sighed, "Hey, I hate liars and manipulators as much as the next guy. However, your friends could be in that island."
"Alright, fair enough." The blond then looked at Laguna, "Wait a minute, how'd you get in?"
"Observe Master Laguna at work as you sneak in, kids." He said and walked to the side, giving them a thumb up, "Just get in, I'm sure there won't be trouble. I'll cover you."
"Wait, you're really leaving us to go alone like that?" Vivi asked.
The man pointed at the blond, "No, I'm leaving you with Naruto, the kid who could make that ferryman wet his pants."
Naruto gave the tiny boy a friendly, reassuring nod, "Don't worry, I can keep you safe."
And so, Naruto learned that despite how many cheerful sides life may have, there would be darkness in his newest and biggest adventure.
X-X-X-X-X
And that's my rap!
Thanks a LOT to the many people who downloaded the file and tried to send it to me. However, a friend already did so all too late. Sadly for some of you, I decided to keep this new version as I'll use the older one for reference to avoid being too repetitive with certain scenes as well as some plotholes I barely covered. Again, thank you for your support and love, everyone, but I want to improve myself and will try to do so with this new fic.
Now, to address some obvious changes:
1. Kaguya will act differently than the previous version and try to be subtle, as for her goals and methods, I will try to set them up earlier or save them to not make a big mess with too many plotlines and little time to tie them up. Trust me, I've got many ways to twist this and all of them could make sense given the Kingdom Hearts universe and my crazy mind.
2. Naruto's new Keyblade is complete and yes, it is a mixture of Terra's and the one Riku-Ansem used to fight Sora. Reason being, well, it's supposed to be the original. For this - as you know from the previous fic - the villains want to use the power of the King of Darkness, so Ansem's Keyblade there is an imitation of the real deal. The one Naruto has feeds from darkness, for starters.
I'll never claim that it's an original idea, but it seemed logical for what I want to set for this as well as set that Naruto could be both an asset or a threat to anyone. So, of course, they will try to keep an eye on him as Kaguya has done.
3. Replacing Steven and Connie from the previous version are Laguna Loire from Final Fantasy 8 and Vivi from Final Fantasy 9. Say what you will, but I like Laguna despite how idiotic he tends to be. Reason being his scenes as a surrogate father. He did his best to make a little girl smile, and that endeared him a LOT to me. Also, Vivi is one of the best characters in FF9, fight me if you disagreed but you won't change my mind.
4. Naruto's adventure starts in a new world, but will go to the ones you know and love, trust me.
5. Yes, I do love Hekapoo like most of the internet, she's amazing, fun and flirty. And before you call her a bitch, don't. She thought Naruto was indecisive, but mistook the light and darkness fighting for dominance around him for his heart not being set. Like she does for fun and to test possible warriors, she tried to see if he had what it took. This surprise will lead to her coming back later.
Swordslinger out!