Naruto: A Rift In Time
By: Arthemis N. Remison
CHAPTER 7: HANKETSU (THE JUDGEMENT)
After the surprise for Team 7, sadly being from another time, they couldn't really share all their memories with his past teacher and fellow ANBU in Itachi's case, so Naruto and Sasuke decided not to bother them, though Kakashi could not take his eyes from the Last Uchiha and the Nine Tails Jinchuriki. Sarutobi and Kakashi analyzed the situation and finally answered.
"I will allow it, but you will both need to stay in the ANBU cells for at least a month so nobody sees you." Said Hiruzen.
"Just one month? After all my crimes?" said Zabuza.
"Crimes? How can I sentence a dead man to prison? I will have to change your names after a while, but your stay in the cells serves valuable purpose. After your month in jail I will give you and Haku a house in the farthest district. It will give you privacy and its very close to the training areas. We will discuss everything else after that, depending on your performance" explained Sarutobi to the previous missing nin.
As he was finished, Kakashi made a silent command and two ANBU joined him. "Take these two to their cell. Do not put them apart. Do not over abuse them. They are not spoils of war, they are shadowy guests" commanded Kakashi to his ninja.
"Everyone, go home. Take some rest. Itachi-kun, I need you for a moment. Please stay" commanded the old Hokage.
"Hai, Hokage-sama" answered Itachi.
As Naruto got home, he fell directly on his bed. This adventure certainly was eventful. As he began to go to sleep, a voice he had not heard in a while ringed in his ears.
"Kit" spoke a demonic voice.
"Kit… I know you're listening. Answer me" commanded again the voice.
"I was wondering when you were gonna show up" said Naruto talking to his guest.
"Last thing I remember is a certain god casting us to another timeline. Good thing I'm still inside you. I couldn't handle another host." Said Kyuubi realizing her position.
"How far did he send us?"
"Well…."
Naruto proceeded to tell Kyuubi everything from the now good Itachi, the not so sulking Sasuke, and his semi-relation with Hinata. After Kyuubi's help on his last timeline, they bonded pretty well. Not as well as Killer Bee and his Hachibi but pretty close.
"And now you just came back from the mist. Allright, I think its time."
"Time for what?" asked a very intrigued Naruto.
"Time to give you something that I planed to give you on our past timeline. Can you give me control of you for a minute? I promise I wont go on a rampage. He he."
Naruto's features changed little by little. His whisker were more pronounced, his hair stood up at odd angles, and his eyes were blood red.
"I haven't taken over someone in a while. Feels different not having tails" said Kyuubi with Naruto's body in his control.
"Don't get too accustomed to it fur-ball. Now what is it that you wanted to give me?" said Naruto from his mindscape.
"I need some parchment and a few hours. Just be patient. It'll be worth it"
2 hours 37 minutes passed before Kyuubi was finished with her project. Naruto was definitely tired. His body kept working so he didn't get the rest he needed. And of course, our blonde ninja wasn't known for his patience.
"Here you go, Kit. Its done. Now all it needs its your consent, since I am already giving you mine… as Clan Head of the Kitsune" said Kyuubi as he could see Naruto's eyes widen when he understood the meaning behind Kyuubi's words.
Naruto slowly took the scroll in his hands. He began thinking about Gamabunta, Gamakichi and all his other summons from his past timeline. And even though he wanted to be friends with them, he realized these summons were more suited as support instead of attacking on their own. He had a deep connection with them, but seeing as it was in his previous timeline he understood something important.
"I know how I feel about my previous summon clan, but… seeing as Aion sent us here, and I don't think its reversible, I think I'll make a new life. So to speak. Kyuubi, I humbly accept this summon scroll and will sign it with your permission."
Naruto took out a kunai and was about to cut his finger to sign the contract, but Kyuubi stopped him.
"Wait a minute Kit, our clan is a little bit more … unruly than other summon clans. We cannot simply accept a blood contract signed with only a little blood. We need you to prove your worth before signing it"
"And how exactly do I do that?"
"You need to take our test. I cannot tell you what it is, but I know you will succeed."
"…All right, Kyuubi. When do I take this test?"
"Right now!" as Kyuubi said this he emitted a roar so fierce that it escaped by itself through Naruto's throat. The roar opened a portal in front of Naruto, but nothing was reflected in that portal. It was completely black. As Naruto's roar ended his body was pulled to it and everything went dark.
-Unknown location-
Naruto woke, and he was standing in a completely red circle with smaller circles growing to the center. The ground smelled differently, but still it was a smell that Naruto knew.
"Blood." Said Naruto as he revealed the contents at his feet.
As he looked up he was surrounded by an amazing amount of foxes. Almost all of them with a crimson colored fur, with different shadings of it.
His gaze was pulled in almost magically to a black fox towering above the others. This black fox then started to address Naruto.
"Namikaze Uzumaki Naruto, you stand before us to receive our approval … or our denial. This is your test. You will answer with only ONE or TWO. Anything else said and you will die. The blood at your feet is proof of this warning. Hinata…your beloved Hinata… and Jiraiya, the great Toad Sage, are both trapped in a burning house in the Earth Nation. There is no one near you, you're all alone. No back up coming your way. They are both unconscious and you can only save one. Which one would you save? ONE for Hinata. TWO for Jiraiya. This is your test. You have 5 seconds" said the great black fox.
Naruto stood there. No sound could be heard from him.
"5" said the fox beginning his countdown.
"4"
"3"
"2"
"1"
His time was up but Naruto still did not give an answer.
"Your time is up, young Namikaze. Seeing as you did not choose an answer, we will pass judgement…. Namikaze Uzumaki Naruto…..we judge you….. UNWORTHY!" as his final words were uttered the black wolf threw himself at Naruto and open his grand fangs at Naruto aiming for his head. Its mouth was closing to fulfill its purpose, but they stopped after the fangs made a small cut in his neck.
The black fox, retreated his fangs and saw Naruto with his eyes wide open looking directly at the black fox.
"Only one of the previous candidates passed this test before you. And his name was heard from every corner of the planet. He was a young boy at the time, with eyes full of circles."
The black fox retreated his stance and the horde of foxes fell back …. and bowed.
"My name is Saibankan. I pass judgment on souls. There are a set of keys needed to pass this test. The first one is approval from the current Clan Head. Even though Kyuubi was imprisoned in you almost 30 years ago, she remained alive and nobody challenged her for the title. The second one, is the correct answer to the question. By choosing neither ONE nor TWO you demonstrated your pure heart, incapable of making such a desition. And third, and most important of all, is fearlessness. If I need to bow to a leader, I cant do it if he fears those that he will command. You have gained my respect, Namikaze-san. The Fox Summon Clan is yours to command." said Saibankan, as he too bowed in front of his new summoner.
- O.0.o.0.O -
Hello. Its been a while. I sincerely apologize for the long wait. It has not been in my plans to allow this wait to continue, but studies and work take my free time to the point of exhaustion. On behalf of Linelly, I would like to excuse her readers if any, since she has not been able to post newer chapters for technical reasons. I am deeply honored to see so many followers in such a short time in my first story. I would like you all to continue reading and I shall keep writing whenever I can to please you.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.