Author's Note: () indicate Mad Enhancement in stats. [ and ] indicate the boost from Rage.
Servant Berserker
True Name: Unknown at present time
Male
189cm 187kg
Alignment: Chaotic Mad
Stats
Strength B (A) [A+]
Endurance B (A) [A+]
Agility A (A+ )
Luck E (C)
Magical Energy C (A)
Nobel Phantasm ?
Abilities:
Mad Enhancement B: Rank up parameters as marked by parenthesis, but most of one's reason is robbed. Mad Enhancemnt at this level will negate or lower mental skills such as Bravery and Instinct as well as some Noble Phantasms, namely the ones that require activation. Passive Noble Phantasms are not affected
Magical Resistance A: Cancel spells of A-Rank or below. In practice, the Servant is untouchable to modern magi and Ninja.
Skills:
Battle Continuation A:Strength of vitality for predicaments. Also, the ability to withdraw from combat and reach allied territory alive after being defeat. At this rank it makes possible to fight even with deadly injuries and can remain alive so long one does not receive a decisive fatal wound.
Instinct B (C): The power to 'feel' the most favorable developments for oneself during battle. Skill reduced one rank due to Mad Enhancement. At this level, is able to feel when ambushes and fatal blows are incoming about 25% of the time. Bravery A: The ability to negate mental interference such as pressure, confusion and fascination. Bonus effect of increasing melee damage. Cannot be used due to mad enhancement.
Divinity D: Measures whatever one has Divine Spirit aptitude. Son of Thetis, a minor deity.
Pride A: Stats reduce three ranks if forced to do something he dislikes. Skill nullified by Mad Enhancement.
Rage A+: A battle fury that clouds the mind and enhances stats. Not to be confused with Mad Enhancement. At this level, Rage boosts strength and endurance by one rank indefinitely. At this rank Servent gains mental pollution from the pure hatred dwelling within
Mental Pollution B (A): Due possessing a distorted mentality, it is highly possible to shut out any mental interference. However, at the same time it becomes impossible to come to an understanding with individuals that do not possess an equivalent rank of mental pollution. Note: goes up one rank due to Mad Enhancement.
Weakness to Arrows A: Weakened defense to arrows due to certain circumstances in life. Note: this skill only applies to a certain area on the Servant.
Noble Phantasm:
Shield of Hephaestus
Granted to Achilles on the eve of his most famous duel.
Conceptual Shield
Each of it's dozens of Icons on the shield are as strong as Fortresses
All Icons on the shield must be destroyed before the shield will break.
Shield adds about 100 defense to Servant when used.
Equivalent to Dragonkin in defense when used
Type: Passive Support
Maximum Targets: One
Rank: A+
Armor of Hephaestus
Granted to Achilles on the eve of his most famous duel after his armor was stripped from Patrocles
Burnished Bronze Armor that can light up like fire
Adds one hundred to the defense of covered areas.
Does not cover the feet.
Type Passive Support
Maximum Targets One
Rank A
Gift of Thetis
As a child, Achilles was dipped into the River Styx.
Achilles' skin became like that of the gods except for his heel that he was held from.
Golden skin results from the divine protection.
Skin becomes highly resistant to damage and decreases damage done from a repeat attack
Negates any Attacks below A rank
Any non-fatal damage to the skin is healed within moments
Type: Passive Support
Maximum Targets: One
Rank: A+
Description:
Achilles is the famous King of the Myrmidons who fought in the Trojan war. Quite possibly the most famous Servant in the world. Son of the nymph Thetis and Pelieus. As a child, his mother dipped him into the River Styx to grant him near immortality. As a child, Achilles was tutored by the legendary centaur Chiron. A prophecy stated that Achilles could either fight in the Trojan war, die and be remembered throughout the ages, or stay home, find love, have a family, and be forgotten as the ages pass. Achilles chose to go to war. During the conquest of the country, Achilles captured a woman, Briseis. When Agamemnon declared he wanted Briseis, Achilles flew into a rage and refused to fight anymore for the insult. While preparing to leave, Hector attacked the allied Greeks. Patrocles was able to convince Achilles to let him fight instead.
Patrocles was killed in combat by Hector and the Armor of Achilles was stripped from his corpse. Achilles fell into a black rage from which he would never recover. Thetis was able to convince Hephaestus to giver her son a new armor and shield. Achilles then dashed into combat killing everything in sight looking for Hector. Finally spying upon the Trojan, he chased Hector around the city three times before Hector was forced to confront the madman. Achilles slew Hector and dragged his body around the battlefield for nine days before giving the body to Priam for burial.
Achilles was later slain by an arrow shot into his heel by Paris. It is said that the arrow was tipped from the blood of the Hydra slain by the legendary demigod Herakles. It is also said that Apollo also guided the arrow towards Achilles heel.
Heroic Accomplishments:
Gained near Invulnerability and Immortality as a child
Sacked the temple of Apollo
Kidnapped Briseis
Killed Hector, crown prince of Troy and Toilus, another prince of Troy
Killed Memnon, king of Ethiopia
Killed amazon queen Penthesilea
Challenged the river god Scamander
Yeah, sorry for the long description, but it is important. Anyway, enjoy the story.
Sing, Goddess, of the rage, of Peleus' son Achilles the accursed rage, which brought pain to thousands of the Achaeans First two lines of the Illiad
There is a certain satisfaction one gets when an enemy is sent flying like a can in a child's game. And this...this was one of the most satisfying times ever.
Saber was amused at the whole thing. The mighty Achilles, terror of Troy, killer of Hector, Champion of Ancient Greece, now the world's largest soccer ball.
"You made an alliance," Archer stated as he walked up to Saber with a massive slap mark on his cheek.
"Yes," Saber nodded as he traced his bow and an sword that became an arrow. The arrow was tipped with some of the deadliest poison known to man.
"That probably won't kill him." Archer smirked as he traced his own bow and a different sword arrow.
Saber glanced at the sword turned arrow and felt his eyes widen. "You found the sword of Julius Caesar?"
"Crocea Mors? Yes." Archer said as he aimed at Berserker who was righting himself from the latest collision with Pegasus. "Then again, the Burial Squad let you see the Sword of Solomon."
"Yeah, they let me see Shamshir-e Zomorrodnegar and more after I killed Seras" Saber said as he also took aim.
The whole scene was amusing in a way. The two were comparing swords like guys comparing cars or golf clubs. The whole being attacked by Berserker wasn't even considered a danger for the two.
"Any clue which heel?" Saber asked.
"Traditionally it was the right." Archer shrugged.
The two finished aiming as Berserker charged heedless of the danger.
Just as they were about to finish off the raging lunatic, there was a voice that yelled out, "Return Berseker."
Berserker instantly vanished sparing him from his death. Saber and Archer looked over at the Master who had just used a command spell to save his Servant. It looked like the Master was undergoing a massive migraine as he kept apologizing with someone called mother.
Archer took aim at the boy, but Saber knocked the bow away.
"What are you doing?" Archer hissed.
"I will not make war on children, even ones like him." Saber informed Archer as he placed his body in front of Archer.
"You're too soft, this is the perfect opportunity to finish him." Archer argued.
Saber shook his head, "Look at him, he's helpless at the moment. We know his Servant, we can kill him easily, and he's outnumbered here. Besides, this whole ceremony is a joke."
Archer pointed a finger at Saber's chest, "What was all that about the ideal. Look at him, it's clear he's killed before and will kill again."
Saber batted the hand away, "All the more reason why we need to help him. No one that young should have to become a monster."
"He's already a monster, put him down like the mad dog he is." Archer argued.
"Don't let him." Naruto called out as he entered the clearing.
"How did you like the fight Master," Saber said with a slight grin.
"That has got to be the most awesome thing I have ever seen." Naruto said, "You have got to teach me that later."
Rider descended with Pegasus and landed next to her Master. "What do we do now Saber?" Rider asked.
Saber sighed, "Traditionally, we would kill all the observers to keep our abilities secret."
"And I suppose you want to spare them as well Saber," Archer sneered.
Saber sighed, "It seems a lifetime of bad habits is hard to kill Archer. Yes, we will spare them all. No one has to die today."
Archer sighed and muttered something about being naive and crazy idiot.
Berserker's Master took the opportunity to flee not looking a gift horse in the mouth.
"Master," Rider whispered to Naruto, "I can still catch up to him quickly. What are your orders?"
Naruto shook his head, "No, let them go. If they try again, we'll take care of him."
Archer smirked, "At least your master is not as innocent as you Saber."
Saber glared, "I haven't been innocent since the Grail war, I just follow the ideal to the best of my ability without being a fanatic like you."
"Would you two stop it." Naruto yelled, "You two argue worse than me and the Teme."
Archer blinked while Saber shook his head, "Nonsense Naruto, you two would be at each others throats at this points. We've still got a while before that happens."
Naruto pointed to the training field full of craters, "Oh? Then what's that?"
Saber felt a bit of heat rise in his cheeks, luckily, his skin was too dark to tell in the nightlight.
Saber composed himself then said, "Master, at the moment, there are thirteen unaffiliated observers. Normally, a Servant will kill anyone who watches, but it is your decision in the end. What are your orders?"
Naruto thought back to a dream he had, "You mean like Lancer did to you? No, bring them out and tell them about yourself."
Archer scoffed, "Never mind, he is as naive as you." Archer began to trace a bow when his own master yelled out.
"Don't even think about it Archer." Yugito ordered as she stomped towards him. "We are not killing the Hokage during the exams. I will not be responsible for the Fourth Shinobi War."
'Hokage?' the others thought as the old man and his guard came out of the clearing.
"Ah," Saber said as he watched the Hokage trot towards them. He took his bow and traced a simple arrow and fired it at the other source of observers. "Come out this instant. We all know you're there."
Anko and Hanabi both carefully came out of hiding and moved to join the Hokage. When the thirteen observers came close enough, they stopped save for the Hokage.
Yugito took the time while waiting for the old man to walk towards them to ask a question. "Who are you?" she asked Naruto. "It's clear you are a master as well."
"Naruto Uzumaki," Naruto said with pride.
"Uzumaki." Yugito said with a bit of wonder. "I thought they were all extinct."
Saber narrowed his eyes at that fact, but he had no time to ask as the Hoakge was close enough for conversation.
"As much as I respect you sir," Saber said, "You have no idea how close you are to getting yourself killed."
The Hokage grunted, "So you say."
Yugito nodded her head, "They aren't kidding, Lancer nearly killed the Raikage when Lancer discovered him watching his fight with Archer."
"Lancer hmm..." Saber mused, "So, only Caster and Assassin are unaccounted for."
Archer glared slightly at his Master, "Master, it is folly to reveal any extraneous information to the enemy."
Yugito snorted, "What enemy? You were spared and Saber let Berserker's master flee. As far as I see, only you want to continue this confrontation."
Archer shook his head. Right now he dearly wished he had Rin for a Master again. At least Rin would have kept her mouth shut even if she was also an idealist and a perfectionist.
"So tell me, why would we all have to die?" the Hokage said with a trace of steel in his tone.
Saber, Rider, and Archer all pointed to the crates and the site where a Reality Marble took place.
"Who wouldn't want to keep their abilities a secret." Saber said with a trace of amusement. "But, as it is, the masters have ordered for us to let you live."
The Hokage smirked a bit, "Hrupf, and if they ordered you to, you'd kill us all."
Rider, Saber, and Archer all nodded various degrees.
"Nothing personal, it's just how these things are supposed to go. Luckily, none of us...well most of us aren't big believers in pointless killing. I must ask that you all keep quiet about tonight's activities though." Saber said with a trace of amusement.
The Hokage nodded, "Agreed on one condition."
Saber slashed a hand through the air cutting him off. "No, no conditions. You will keep silent or I will be forced to kill you all. Even Hanabi, though I would probably weep while doing so."
"That's a problem," The Hokage said as his guards all tensed up. They had all seen the battle before them. It had been like a battle of Kages. The sheer scale and level of the unknown jutsus were S rank or higher. "I am going to need a full memory scan if I am to allow you to continue to live here." The Hokage continued. The battle had shown how powerful the two were.
Yugito shook here head violently. "No, bad idea. No offense, but our own village mind reader went insane when he tried to read Archer's mind."
Saber added, "No offense, but you have no ability to enforce that short of exiling my master or sending your entire village on a suicide mission."
With that, Saber vanished for a moment. The Hokage knew what was going to happen next, but he had no clue as to how Saber could vanish so easily in front of him. The Hokage pulled out a kunai to block the sword that would inevitably come next to his neck, but he wasn't the target this time.
Instead, it was his guards who found swords against their necks. Saber had somehow appeared in the middle of the ten Anbu and placed his swords against the necks of the two best agents in the Anbu forces at the moment. In an instant, Rider and Archer had done the same thing.
"If we wanted you all dead Hokage-sama, we would have done so a long time ago instead of talking. We're all professionals at our jobs." Saber informed him before he removed his swords. "as it is, we are all violently loyal to our Masters. If they want to work for the village like Naruto does, then neither I nor Rider will ever betray the village. Archer here will do the same for his Master."
The Hokage sighed and felt resigned to the whole thing. "Very well, but I need some sort of assurance that you will not harm the village."
Archer snorted, "Are you deaf man? We are loyal to the Masters not to villages. There is no way to prove it as we are not loyal to the villages to begin with."
Rider nodded and added, "Master's order's are absolute. If he is loyal, we will be loyal. If he betrays, we betray."
Sarutobi felt a major migraine rising in his head. He knew that this would happen but didn't like what he would have to do next, luckily, Saber helped him out.
"According to village charter Section three sub section eight, paragraph twenty four, bodyguards for important individuals will be treated as guests and not required to prove their loyalty to the village. At least, that was what I remember. It might have been section eight, subsection three." Saber spoke up then shrugged. "Hard to remember, it was months ago when I read it."
The Hokage's face lit up, "Yes, that's true you are basically bodyguards." The Third nodded his head, "Yes, as long as the person they follow the legal rules of the village they are free from interference."
Archer looked over at Saber, "Since when did you read dry materiel like that?"
Saber smirked, "What? You think I wouldn't try to find loopholes for my reason being here. The last thing I need is for them to separate me from my master." 'God that was dry material though. And it was when I was looking for that stupid summoning scroll. Speaking of which, I need to get back to looking for it again.'
Rider noticed the look Anko was giving Saber. It was a cross between admiration and anticipation. Rider inwardly smiled knowing exactly what was going on in Anko's head. Anko was the kind of woman that was attracted by strength and a tad of violence. At the moment, there were few men who were stronger than Saber. Besides, Saber was definitely one of the best proverbial fish in the sea.
Just thinking about all the fun she could have at the expense of Saber was making Rider smirk. The man was running out of places to hide.
Saber may have failed to notice Anko's body language, but Hanabi's expression was as obvious as the sun. Or in this case, stars
"Onii-chan," she yelled as she performed her flying tackle again. Saber could feel the air being forced out of his lungs from the blow. Yes, there were definitely stars in her eyes. How that happened was beyond anyone. "You're so strong onii-chan."
'Cant' breathe' Saber thought in panic. 'What does she train with?'
Archer began to chuckle, "Behold the strongest Servant beaten by a little girl."
Rider snickered a bit as well, "He has the power to rewrite reality, yet he cannot even release himself from an eight year old."
A couple of Anbu agents also thought the whole thing was amusing as Saber tried to detach the little leech from his chest.
"H-Hanabi...need...air." Saber gasped as Hanabi held him in a death grip.
"Strong, onii-chan is the strongest." Hanabi tried to jump for joy while gripping Saber's chest.
"One would think she would worry about being killed." Archer muttered.
"Do you honestly think he could do that?" Rider asked with amusement pointing at the struggling Saber.
Archer sighed, "No, no he wouldn't."
Rider stalked up to him and whispered, "I think you wouldn't either. You two are far too similar."
Archer snorted, he would kill the girl if he had to...probably...maybe...
The next several hours consisted of the Hokage trying to find out the Servant's abilities while the Servants pointedly refused to answer. Finally, the Hokage, his guard, Anko, and Hanabi agreed to leave.
After the others left, Archer turned to Saber. "By the way, why was she there in your world?"
Saber shrugged, "Just a illusion. Nothing more. It always felt like she was with me, so her image ended up inside there."
Archer nodded. It made sense in a way, reality marbles were ideal battle grounds and reflections of the soul. In Saber's case, though he was a weapon, he was still filled with life. Archer was nothing more than a body of swords and his reality marble reflected it.
Archer and his master walked away, but Rider gripped Saber's arm preventing him from leaving as well.
"Tell me Saber, why does your chant change?" Rider asked. Saber had used two different ones when he fought her.
Saber smiled evilly, "Red Herrings. Only one chant activates it. The rest were trial arias I tried in life, but never got anywhere. What? Did you think I was able to create that in a sinlge try? No, I created over a hundred dead end arias before I got it right. The others serve a purpose however. Through them, my concentration and skills improve, but they do not active my Noble Phantasm."
Rider resisted the urge to slap herself. She had gotten worked up on failed arias. This was more depressing than the time her sisters hid Pegasus from her.
Saber patted her on the shoulder. "Cheer up, we're all alive and we now know the identity of Berserker."
Rider snorted, "Yes, but only you and Archer have a chance against him. My abilities are useless against him."
Saber began chuckling, "At least you can always play kick the can with him."
"Guys...can we go now? It's the middle of the night." Naruto asked as he rubbed his eyes sleepily.
Saber and Rider nodded and escorted their Master home. It had been a long night.
Gaara ran for some time. For the first time in years, he was afraid. Mother was angry at him.
"Angry is an understatement you little brat. Do you have any idea how screwed I am? Not only did you engage three Servants, Berserker's identity is known." Mother railed at him. "Any minute now I'm going to die and you with me."
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry mother." Gaara wept. Berserker, his greatest weapon, a gift from mother was beaten and battered like his old ball. The sheer difference in power was obvious even to Gaara's fragmented mind. Berserker was going to die right then and there. Berserker was the only person besides Mother he could trust. He couldn't let the only other person who cared about him to die. So, he used a command seal, against mother's wishes.
"Damn brat, I take care of you, I protect you, I am the only one who loves you. And now you spit on all my hard work. I was going to be the strongest. Never again would I be thought of as the weakest once I win the Ceremony." Mother raged, "Now look what you've done. I'm never going to win like this."
"I'm sorry mother," Gaara kept apologizing.
Mother considered it, "If you're really sorry, let me take over. I'll kill all three of them with Berserker."
Gaara suppressed a shudder. Mother always wanted to take over, but even Gaara could tell that was a bad idea.
"Damn you brat," Mother began to rant again and Gaara was forced to endure it all.
It was a long night for Gaara, now like all the others, one without sleep
That night, Naruto dreamed.
Saber wakes up slowly. He is still tired from the fight with Berserker, but Saber is still used to getting up early. Breakfast, everyone is going to be hungry when they wake up. Saber begins to make japanese hamburgers for everyone as they begin to gather. First Ria arrives, she too is used to waking early even after combat. Rin moves shakily through the house and grabs the carton of milk and drinks it straight from the carton. Rin, unlike the two others is not a morning person.
Then comes Illya. Ria and Rin both glare at the girl that nearly killed them all, but Saber is unconcerned. He calmly places the food in front of them all and sits down.
It's a lot like what Saber does now. Regardless of the issues the others have, Saber brings the food out and the others are expected to eat then they can do things like fight.
The food is good, but the table is silent...except for Illya. The girl is exuberant at the level of cooking Shirou performs. After everyone eats, Rin and Ria try to decide what to do with Illya, but Saber is adamant. Illya can stay. This causes Illay to hug Saber around the neck, rather tightly if truth be told. Ria tries to get Illya off, but Illya spins around Saber using his neck as centrifuge to dodge.
Unfortunately, this causes Saber to black out.
Yeah, Saber is really bad with little girls.
The rest of the day, Ria and Saber spar with Illya watching, though Ria's rhythm is off for some reason. There is a break for lunch, sandwiches using the leftovers. There is a moment where Ria and Illya bond as Ria acts motherly cleaning Illya's face and clearing her hair.
It's rather heartwarming when Ria smiles. For the first time, she is smiling a simple smile of happiness. The whole room seems to light up as she smiles. It is there that Saber also smiles, a smile of pure happiness that Ria is happy.
It's obvious, Saber is truly smitten by Ria. If there was any doubt before, it is gone now.
The day passes without anymore incid-whoa! Naruto gets to see a strange bathroom scene when Saber walks in on a bathing Ria. Awkward...very awkward. Not violent, just awkward as Ria is worried about looking too muscular to be feminine.
The words cute and fragile immediately attach themselves to Ria.
Moving on, there are no other incidents that day.
The next day, the routine begins anew. Saber gets up and cooks breakfast then goes and spars with Ria again with Illya watching. Again, Saber seems off somehow. What would have been merciless strikes are slightly hesitant.
It is dinner time when things go differently than yesterday. The others are confident in their victory. Berserker, the strongest opposing Servant is dead, Rider is dead, Archer is dead, all that remains are Caster, Lancer, and Assassin.
They know the identities of Lancer and Assassin, so only Caster remains, and Saber is immune to most magics. Yes, the war is looking good for the team.
It is there that Saber asks, "What would you all do if you won the war?"
Rin admits she only entered the war to win, to her, the grail is nothing more than a trophy. Illya says she was ordered to obtain the grail as it was hers to begin with. So, she has no real interest in what was already hers. She's much more interested in gaining what she doesn't have. Saber admits he only wanted to keep the grail from falling into the wrong hands and repeating what happened in the fire ten years ago.
But Ria, she has a wish. She explains how she made a deal with the planet. Once she obtains the grail, she will serve as a Heroic Spirit. But, until then, the planet will allow her to fight for the grail until she obtains it. Ria is different, unlike other Servants, she is not dead yet. Until she obtains the grail, she is stuck in a half dead existence. Neither dead nor alive, she fights for the grail.
Why does she want the grail? It is simple. She regrets what happened to her country. She wishes for the grail to redo the test for kingship. She wishes for the grail to unmake her decision to pull the sword from the stone so that a better king might take the throne.
Saber is pissed. Ria wants to undo her entire life, unmake every action she did as king. No, this is not right. People should not undo the past. They made their choices, and to undo them is to spit upon themselves. It's not like Ria did anything wrong. The country gave up on her first and threw her away while she was the perfect king.
Saber prepares to fight, when chimes sound. It is the signal for an attack.
Caster has arrived...
The dream shifts
Pegasus has finally grown big enough for Rider to ride on. Rider's first flight is a thing of joy. The sheer freedom she has as she soars through the air is beyond words. She's free.
She sisters take one look at her when she gets back and begin laughing. Rider got his by bird poop along the trip. Yet, rider couldn't care less. For one day, Rider could have been shaved bald and not cared.
Of course the next day she would have torn the temple to the ground if anyone was that stupid.
At first, Rider flew to enjoy the freedom of flight and to get away from her sister's pranks. But...things begin to change. Rider begins to visit the temple of Poseidon. The two spend hour talking about nothing. Rider enjoys the company as the God of the Ocean acts like a kindly grandfather. Always listening and providing advice, and just a hint of mischief. The water nymphs all envy Rider's hair. Rider makes friends with the various minor deities and demigods.
But still...Poseidon still has that look in his eye. That hungry look of a predator.
Naruto's House
Naruto woke up to a sharp pain.
"Ow, what the hell?" Naruto yelped.
He saw that it was Rider who woke him up. She merely pointed out the window to the rising sun.
"Gah," Naruto thought, "I woke up late."
Rider nodded her head and smirked, "Breakfast is ready Master."
"Naruto. Na-ru-to." Naruto told her knowing full well that she would call him master again. It was a running competition between the two now. Naruto would lose a point if he failed to correct her, and Naruto would gain a point if Rider called him by his name. So far the score was dead even.
Naruto got ready for breakfast and headed downstairs.
"Good Morning Naruto," Saber called out.
Naruto sniffed the air enjoying the scent of a hot breakfast when he froze.
"That smell, I dreamed of it last night." Naruto declared. Sure enough, it was Japanese hamburgers.
Naruto told of what he had dreamed which made Saber smile.
"Yes, those were some of the happiest days in my life." Saber told Naruto. Naruto finished up by telling his dream of Rider's past. Saber looked up at Rider who seemed to refuse to look at the two of them. Saber's eyes narrowed for a second, but refused to tell Naruto why.
Sasuke Teme soon joined them and they ate their meal in relative silence. Naruto thought back on the dreams last night. It was the simple things like today that were truly special. Saber had fought some of the most horrendous monsters in existence and had earned a few days of reprieve. It was the simple days like this that a person fought long and hard to preserve. The peace and happiness was something Naruto knew he would treasure now.
Had it been less than a year ago when he was alone, hated by almost everyone? Now it seemed so long ago to him. First there was Iruka and Saber, then came Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi. Now, Rider and many of his peers respected him and treated him like a human.
"What are you staring at?" Sasuke asked glaring at Naruto.
Naruto blinked, he had been staring in Sasuke's direction for a while. "Nothing, just thinking."
Sasuke snorted, "That's a first."
Naruto sighed, he was sure that he would have argued and yelled at Sasuke, but it seemed pointless right now. Compared to Rider's past, this was nothing. Rider had spent centuries being tormented by her sisters and the other gods. Compared to Saber's past, words were flimsy compared to Herakles' wrath. What was a few words by an irritated rival? Nothing.
Sasuke noticed Naruto's change from the norm. "Hey, dumbass, you sick?" Normally Naruto would have yelled at the top of his lungs at Sasuke.
Naruto looked up behind Sasuke seeing a familiar sight and smiled, "Nope."
Sasuke saw the gleam in Naruto's eyes and turned around nervously. There was Saber, wooden sword in hand.
"Sasuke, what have I told you about respect?" Saber asked.
Sasuke sighed and accepted the inevitable. "Treat others with respect if I want to receive the same courtesy."
The sword whacks Sasuke on the head causing him to flinch in pain.
"Indeed," Saber said as the wooden sword vanished.
Sasuke mentally berated himself on not copying that move. His eyes turn red. "Saber, could you show me where you get that sword?"
Saber thought for a moment, smiled, and shrugged, shrugged and did as he was asked. The sword appears in his hand and immediately sends Sasuke into a convulsion.
Imagine this, all your life you have read English and have never heard of or seen a foreign language. The whole concept of a foreign language is unheard of. Imagine being used to reading English books and having no concept that there is another way to write other than English. Now, have someone place a book filled to the brim with Japanese language. Not only does that person not know what the words are, the person has no idea that he has to read from up to down going right to left.
For all Sasuke's time with Sharingan, jutsu's were like the English papers. All of a sudden, he has just witnessed something so complex it hurt his head, and it was all in Kanji. It sends his mind into a frenzy. Not only can he not understand what he just saw, but he can't forget the madness that he just witnessed.
Naruto is on him in a flash with Saber smiling.
"Serve you right for trying to copy that which cannot be copied." Saber said smugly. Only seven or eight people have ever been able to use Reality Marble, and Saber's abilities not only rely on his reality Marble, but his is quite possibly the most unique one ever recorded.
"What happened?" Naruto asked as Sasuke is sent through another convulsion.
Saber shrugged, "There's only two people on this planet that can use my ability. Me, and Archer. No other person has what it takes, what it requires to use my abilities. By using his eye, he tried to copy my ability for himself. As you can see, this is what happened when he tried."
"Will he be alright?" Naruto asked.
"Sure," Saber assured him, "As soon as he deactivates his eye and does his best to forget what he's seen."
Sasuke stops convulsing after a bit, but it takes a while before he can get back up. Sasuke has to hold back on vomiting.
"And the lesson today Sasuke is that while you might be able to copy most moves, it doesn't give you the right to steal them from someone." Saber instructed. He then took his wooden sword and smacked Sasuke on the side sending a new wave of nausea
Naruto looked at his Servant. The man was strange. At times, he was the kindest man in the world. At other times, he was worse than that bastard Danzo.
Sasuke got up shakily and bowed his head in apology. "It was my mistake Saber I shouldn't have tried to copy your abilities."
"Yes, it was your mistake, and you have paid for it enough. Next time, ask if you can copy a person's ability." Saber said. "You will find plenty of people in this village who are willing to teach you if you ask nicely. They may not show you their best moves, but they will probably give you some basics and a few advanced moves if you are respectful."
Sasuke nodded and swore to never try something that stupid again. Next time, he would be more careful before he tried to copy the moves of others. He was an Uchiha, but even the mightiest of eyes could not copy the moves of a bloodline limit. It was clear that what Saber had was something like it,but Sasuke could still remember what he saw. He just had no idea how to recreate what he saw. The whole process was foreign to him and his eye. If he wanted to recreate that move, he would have to spend his free time analyzing that ability and see if he could decode it.
Inwardly he smiled, it would be a challenge, but he was sure that he could do it. He was, after all a genius.
Too bad he had no idea how many 'genius' magi had tried that already.
Team Seven was officially off for a few days before the chunin exams began. Saber left Naruto in Rider's hands while he went off to the library to do some research. Last night, he had been struck by an inspiration. Uzumaki, it was his Master's name, so there had to be something on his Master's family. There had to be a reason the boy was chosen. Only the most foolish of people would pick a child at random to host a being as powerful as the Demon.
With Saber heading off for public archives, Naruto and Rider began to wander the city. Sasuke opted to remain home and practice. Sasuke was sure that if he concentrated enough, he could figure out Saber's ability. Sakura went of her own free will to find Anko. During the training camp, the two had formed a strange bond that defied the males of Team Kakashi. Only Rider understood the bond two hunters form while chasing their prey.
Sakura had seen the looks Anko gave Saber and offered to work as an inside woman in the group when it came time to corner him. Anko cheerfully agreed and offered more lessons after the camp.
"And you mix these two together and add it with the rest. Dilute the whole solution with half a cup of water and you're done." Anko said proudly as Sakura finished the concoction. "Good job brat, you just finished making a quick acting paralysis drug."
"Sensei," Sakura asked, "Can this be used for medical purposes?"
Anko nodded, "Sure can, best thing to use on a patient that needs treatment and you're out of pain killers. Freeze 'em up and work on them inside of a minute."
Poisons in small doses can be used for medicines, but too much and it would kill the patients. Sakura had been fascinated with Anko's knowledge of poisons. Between medical lessons, she had taken time to train under the blood thirty woman and learned not only a great deal on poisons, but also a bit of her taijutsu. Anko had learned the Way of the Snake from her teacher and was now teaching Sakura the basics of the lightning quick style. Sakura learned very quickly to never ask about Anko's teacher, lest Anko begin a round of 'dodge as many needles as you can while I throw ungodly numbers of them at you.'
Still, the two were good comrades in arms in their pursuit of their prey. Sasuke and Saber had no idea how much danger lay ahead for them
Naruto and Rider were quietly walking together enjoying the peace and quiet.
"You know Rider," Naruto asked, "I was wondering...would it be possible if I could, ya know...ride your flying horse?"
Rider smiled, "Ah, jealous master?"
Naruto shook his head, "No, it's just...you looked so happy when you were flying on it."
Rider nodded, "As you command master, tonight I'll bring out Pegasus."
Naruto smiled, he could just imagine the feeling of flight. He had dreamed of it before, but to actually fly. It would be for lack of a better word, magical.
The two walked on, but soon stopped when they saw the strangest sight before them. It was a box colored like a rock with an eye hole punched into it.
Naruto pointedly ignored it and kept walking leading a smiling Rider beside him. As they closed in, they heard a distinct sound of laughter coming from the box. Naruto walked about two feet past the box when he stopped and turned around and pointed at the box. "You know, there's no rocks out there with corners and eye holes."
"As expected of my rival," a young voiced called out.
Out of the box came Konohamaru and his two friends Moegi and Udon. What was interesting was that they all were sporting goggles. "Hey," Naruto asked, "What's with the goggles?"
"We're copying the old you bro." Konohamaru answered.
"Hmm," Naruto grunted placing his hands behind his head.
"Don't say hmm bro, you've gotten so cold lately." Konohamaru yelled out.
"This is wonderful master, you have you're own following." Rider praised.
Naruto found himself smiling at that statement. He felt a small bit of pride that three kids were emulating him, if only because of his pranks. Slowly, he was getting the village to treat him with respect.
"So, what can I do for you three?" Naruto asked.
"We want to play ninja with you." Konohamaru declared, then suddenly focused on Rider, "Hey boss, who is she?"
"This is Rider," Naruto introduced, "She's like Saber."
Konohamaru paled, one of the reasons he hadn't played with Naruto much lately was because Saber was still actively searching for him about the whole Sexy-no-jutsu incident.
"Don't worry," Naruto said, "She doesn't mind pranks as long as you don't harm her hair."
Moegi found herself admiring the woman. Rider was like a divine being of strength for woman to her.
"Hey boss, is she your squeeze?" Konohamaru asked bluntly. Naruto was lost by the slang. "Huh?" Konohamaru held out a fist with his pinky sticking out. "You know, this."
Rider smirked, leaned down and held her master to her breasts. "I am whatever he wants me to be."
Naruto, Udon, and Konohamaru all began to have nosebleeds. Moegi found herself blushing ferociously.
"Good job boss," Konohamaru declared. "So she's your bitch."
Suddenly, the whole area became cold. Konohamaru's words had struck a deep wound on Rider courtesy of Shinji, Perseus, and Poseidon. The area began to flood with killing intent. Konohamaru and gang found themselves backing away from Rider as she released Naruto.
"Whoa, whoa." Konohamaru said trying to calm the situation, "I thought you said that you were anything he wanted."
Naruto found himself in front of Rider backing away from her as well, "She was just joking kid."
Konohamaru paled, he knew that women got violent if they were called bitches. Yet, he had used that word anyway. Right now, the kid wished he could take those words back.
"You want to play Ninja?" Rider asked, "Very well, lets begin."
The four kids turned tail and ran as Rider pulled out her nail weapons. Rider wasn't as mad as she seemed, but the little kids needed to learn to watch their words. She decided to take a page from Saber's book and use fear and intimidation to teach them. The chase was on.
The four of them ran as fast as they could, but Rider was faster. They decided to dash into an alley on the right to evade her. Konohamaru out on a burst of speed and dashed forward ahead of the pack.
*Thud*
The boy ran smack into a man in a black suit with purple paint on his face.
"Ow, that hurt you little punk" the painted boy said. Beside him was a blond girl with four pigtails in fish nests and a a light purple outfit. On her back was a fan.
The painted boy picked up Konohamaru by the scruff of his neck and held him at eye level. "You little shit."
"Don't. We'll get yelled at later." Temari told her brother.
"Let him go." Naruto told him.
"Why should I punk?" Kankuro asked. Naruto was spared from answering when Rider appeared next to Kankuro and held a nail weapon against his neck.
"Because it is in you're best interest." Rider told him simply.
Temari and Kankuro paled a bit. The two of them were basically jonins in everything but name. Yet, this woman had appeared out of the blue faster than anyone except maybe their father.
Kankuro let the boy down gently and let him run towards the other brats. Kankuro swore that this woman had the same aura as Berserker. No... Berserker was different, he only wanted to kill everyone. This woman felt like a spider or a snake looking at prey.
"Look, see. He's free." Kankuro told her wishing that the woman would leave him alone. As he looked her over, he could not see a headband anywhere. The woman was an unknown.
"Like what you see?" Rider hissed at him.
"What? No, no, I mean yes, no I mean." Kankuro felt himself tripping over his words trying to tell her that he wasn't looking her over for her shape, as fabulous looking as it was.
"Rider," Naruto ordered, "Let him go. Konohamaru is safe."
Rider backed away and said, "As you command Master."
Temari looked the boy over. If this woman called him master, then he was probably from a powerful clan. Yet, she didn't recall any clan with yellow hair in Konoha. She did admit the boy was a bit good looking, but the woman was terrifying. She could tell that the woman would kill her on command.
"Welcome to Konoha," Naruto said, "Here for the chunin exams?"
"Ah, yeah." Kankuro answered trying to recover his composure.
Naruto nodded, "Then we'll be seeing you ther-" Before he could finish, Rider was suddenly in front of him as she looked on at a tree. "Rider?" Naruto asked.
"Get back Master, Berserker and his Master are here." Rider said as she backed away forcing Naruto to do likewise.
Temari and Kankuro tensed up instantly and looked over in the direction. Sure enough, Gaara was standing upside down on a tree branch.
"What are you two doing?" Gaara said glaring.
"N-nothing Gaara." Temari answered shaking a bit.
"Don't do anything stupid, or I'll kill you." Gaara threatened. Temari and Kankuro both began to sweat and promised that they wouldn't. Gaara then turned towards Rider. "I'll get you for last night."
Rider smirked, "Ara? So you want me to send Berserker flying again?" Honestly Rider did not like her chances against Berserker one on one, but she knew that she could hold him off until Saber arrived to finish Achilles off.
If looks could kill, he'd have done so with the glare he gave Rider, or would have if she wasn't the original gorgon.
"Who is your Master?" Gaara asked.
"That would be me browless." Naruto said with pride. "Naruto Uzumaki"
Temari and Kankuro suddenly wished they were miles away. Gaara had killed for less.
"Uzumaki huh, your death will be the ultimate proof that I am alive." Gaara stated with a maniacal grin.
"You and what army?" Naruto wisecracked. "Your Servant cannot beat mine and we know his identity. Our victory is assured."
Temari swore the kid had bigger balls than the Ichibi. No-one talked like that to Gaara except her father. And even worse, he was bragging that his Servant, whatever that was, could beat Berserker. No-one could touch that monster. Every attack the village had thrown at him had been shrugged off.
"We shall see Uzumaki." Gaara said before vanishing in a could of sand.
Temari and Kankuro relaxed a great deal when their brother left.
"Boss," Knohamaru and gang said as they looked at Naruto in admiration, "You are the coolest person ever." They proceeded to tackle him in a major group hug. Naruto could feel looks of admiration/apprehension coming from the two nins from Suna.
"You know he's going to try to kill you kid." Kankuro said, "Gaara never lets anyone live for that."
Naruto shrugged, "As long as I have my friends, I'm not worried."
Temari shook her head, "Look kid, I admire that you stood up to him. Only the Kazekage could do that, but listen to me. Gaara will kill you. This is your chance to run before he hunts you down."
Naruto smiled, "And yet, Rider here sent Berserker flying, repeatedly last night. I'm not worried."
Kankuro and Temari stared at the woman in wonder as she nodded her head in agreement.
"So long as I am here Master you shall never know defeat." Rider told her little Master.
Temari and Kankuro shook their heads, there was no way that this beautiful flower could have kicked Berserker around. It wasn't possible.
"Ah, there you are Master." Saber called out as he landed in the alley.
Temari took one look at the stranger and blushed. The man was tall, dark, and handsome. It was clear that he was a mighty warrior. His very stance spoke of a readiness to fight at a moment's notice.
"So Saber, you finally show up. And we had a nice reunion with Berserker." Rider scolded Saber. Saber looked around and noticed a distinct lack of combat with Berserker. The walls were all intact, there were no bodes on the grounds, there had been no earth shattering roars.
"I can see that you didn't fight." Saber pointed out.
Rider sniffed, "No, but if there had, it would have been better if you were here. You truly are a failure of the Saber class."
Saber shrugged, "I would have been an Archer, but it seems that I was beaten to the punch...or was I?"
Naruto and Rider resisted the urge to smack themselves on the head. Saber and Archer were going to be sources of headaches for a long time. How could anyone be in two places at once without a clone was still disturbing. Especially when considering the two were from alternative realities or time lines or something along those lines.
Saber turned to the two unfamiliar faces and bowed slightly, "Hello, my name is Saber."
Temari and Kankuro reciprocated the bow and introduced themselves.
"Subaku Temari."
"Subaku Kankuro."
Saber looked Kankuro over, "You know, that outfit reminds me of something from my youth. Puppeteers if I recall."
Kankuro felt a bit nervous as Saber looked him over. With one glance, the man could tell what he was. "If you say so." Kankuro said nervously. The last thing he needed was his trump card being revealed at the moment.
Saber shrugged and turned back to Naruto, "Did you know, there have been two people in this village with the name Uzumaki?"
Naruto felt his eyes widen, he had never considered family before. He had always been an orphan. The thought there might be other Uzumakis gave him conflicted emotions. On one hand, he was upset that no-one had come for him, yet the thought of family made hum feel dizzy with excitement.
"Before you get your hopes up Naruto, you need to know that they are both listed as dead." Saber told him reading Naruto's face. Naruto was again bombarded by conflicting emotions. He was upset that there were no long lost family members, but he was also relieved that he hadn't been abandoned. If they had died, then there was no reason to hold a grudge. In fact, it could be that Saber had discovered who his parents were.
"The first one interestingly enough was the wife of the First Hokage, Senju Mito, she died a long time ago." Saber told him. The others all perked up at the news. If that was true, that would mean that Naruto was family to two of the founders of the village, the First Hokage, and his little brother the Second Hokage.
"The second, one also married a Hokage. One Namizake Kushina, formerly Uzumaki Kushina." Saber said getting a large number of gasps. Namizake was the name of the Fourth Hokage. To think that two Uzumaki's would marry Hokages...
"So...I'm what, a nephew of the Fourth?" Naruto asked.
Saber shrugged, " Don't know, though I think it is prophetic that an Uzumaki wants to be Hokage when two of them married Hokages."
Naruto nodded, this was good news in a way. It seemed like fate was driving him to be Hokage. Yes, with that kind of history, it seemed like Naruto had no choice but to try to be Hokage. But a sudden thought occurred to him. The Fourth Hokage had died young, but his wife was never mentioned in the histories. As far as the academy was concerned, Minato Namizake had been a bachelor. "Wait, what happened to her? Mito probably died of old age, but what about her?"
Saber shrugged, "I don't know at the moment, the records about her were spotty. The best I could tell you is that she died on the same day the Nine-tails arrived."
Naruto felt his chest tighten. He was housing the monster that had killed a relative of his.
"That can't be right." Temari broke in. "The Uzumaki's were all killed during the Third Shinobi War."
Naruto looked over at her, "Wait, there were more?"
Kankuro nodded, "Yeah, they were famous for their seals, and they went and got themselves killed."
Naruto felt his body turned to ice. An entire clan, all his family, killed in the Shinobi wars.
"Clearly not all of them died if Naruto still bears their name. He wasn't born until the Fox appeared, and that came after the war ended." Saber countered.
Naruto couldn't take much more of this. One moment, he was filled with hope, the next, his hopes were being dashed against the rocks. "Saber, am I the last one or not?"
Saber shrugged, "I don't know, all I know is that there are two of them mentioned in the histories of your village, and they are both dead. It could be that you are the last, or it could be that there are others in other villages hiding."
Naruto nodded and had to accept it. "They were famous for their seals?" he asked the boy with makeup.
Kankuro nodded, "Yeah, they were considered the best until they were destroyed."
Naruto nodded, "Then it seems that I need to look into this if I am the last."
Saber held out a hand, "It would be best master if you waited until after the chunin exams. We've spent a great deal of time this month preparing. It would be best if you focused on other things later. Besides, the chunin have access to more secure files than the public records."
Naruto nodded and vowed that he would pass the exams. He had to, he needed to find out more. "Thank you for telling me Saber, this is good news. I had a family, even if they are all dead."
Saber bent down and hugged his young master, "No matter if you were the heir of the mightiest country or the poorest beggar, you are my Master. I will be your sword and shield until my body turns to dust."
Naruto nodded and felt like crying, but he had to be strong now. He had purpose and drive to win the exams. "Saber, I order you to do everything in your power to help me prepare for the exams. The same goes for you Rider."
"What about us bro?" Konohamaru asked.
"I'm sorry you guys, but I really need to pass the exam now. I'll play after I beat the exams." Naruto promised.
Saber and Rider escorted Naruto home while the Konohamaru gang ran off to practice themselves. They weren't going to be left far behind their idol.
Temari and Kankuro were stunned by the events of the day. First, Gaara had held back from killing someone. Then a kid claimed that his Servant beat Berserker, and now the kid was supposedly the last of the dead Uzumaki clan. Baki needed to hear about this.
Location Unknown.
Inside of a stone chamber, a man awoke from his bed.
"It is good to see you awake and alive again child." a feminine voice said.
A young man with blond hair and green eyes examined himself. He had not expected to be alive again, but mother had always been more powerful than she let on.
"How?" he asked simply.
"It seems that I have been summoned for a ceremony child" the voice answered.
"So why did you need me mother?" the man asked.
"Why child, I want to win. Once I do, I will have a wish granted. Of course, I'll extend it to you when we win." his mother answered.
The man looked over at another man hung on a cross, alive, but unconscious. All around the man were circles of power draining him of Prana.
"Who is he mother?" the man asked.
"A fool who thought to use me to ensure his survival." mother answered. "Of course, no man may command me on what to do."
"That was not honorable mother." the man reprimanded.
"Oh child, are you still clinging to those decadent and outdated ideals? You were betrayed once before by them. Why do you follow them still?"
The man did not respond. It was a private matter that mother had no business dealing with.
"What do you want me to do mother?" the man asked.
"I need you to protect me child for the duration of the ceremony." his mother answered. "I'll send out your other brothers and sisters to scout out for me, but I want you here."
The man looked over down the hall. He could see dozens of inferior copies that looked very much like him, though far inferior to his skill.
"They will die without training mother. Let me train them first." the man offered.
"Hmm, very well, train most of them, but some will be heading out as scouts." mother answered.
"Yes mother." the man answered.
"Oh yes, before I forget, call me by my class until the end of this ceremony." his mother commanded.
"And what is that?" the man asked.
"Caster."
Author's note: Right. Next chapter is the chunin exams. How will having Servants and a new drive affect Naruto? While some of you were hoping for a finishing battle between Berserker and the other Servants, bear with me. The battle will be worth the wait. Besides, it would have messed the story up too much.
Oh yes, there are a few hints as to who Caster is. Guess.
And the blond man? He is both similar and dissimilar to Assassin in FSN. Bear with me, he won't come into the story for a while.
L33t Horo is my beta and I don't own either franchise. I also want to thank all my loyal readers who have stuck it through this far. I admit the first several chapters were far inferior to what they should have been, but rewriting them was too difficult. So, to all of you who have stuck it out, I thank you for your time and your responses and hope you enjoy the rest of my story.
Side note: I have finals over the next two weeks, don't expect many updates for a while.