Through the Heart and Soul
a Kingdom Hearts/ Naruto crossover
by L33t Horo
Chapter notes:
When outside "Dive to the Heart":
"Words like this"= normal talking
"Words like this"= Thoughts
On "Dive to the Heart":
"Words like this"= normal talking
"Words like this"= Thoughts
Chapter 1: Twilight Begins
I land again on the window panel, only this time the room was brimming in white... only a dark speck of darkness remained in the place.
"I see you are a glutton for punishment young boy" the disembodied voice said.
"Eh? I am not dead? so... what am I doing here?" I ask.
"You are here because the weapon in you is calling you here... you need to learn how to wield the powers it can give to you" The voice said.
"Okay... but... why does this place look... I dunno... different?" I ask.
"Different you say... what do you mean?" The voice ask.
"I dunno... it looks... kinda fractured" I said pointing at the stained-glass bellow me, "it looks a bit... cracked" I said.
"Yes... that is to be expected... what you are seeing is... a physical representation of a broken heart" The voice said.
"Broken heart? What do you mean?" I ask.
"You think your friend almost killing you and his defection did nothing to your heart? No... even if you won't show it... the event that has transpired has wounded your heart greatly... both physically and emotionally... the fracture you see is the wound left by your friend" the voice said.
"So... what can I do now?" I ask.
"You must get stronger... if you do not... you might just lose your heart... and darkness will take over."
*enter song Fragments of Sorrow *
"And so... you must train... face off against the unversed as the first step... choose a door!" the voice said.
I pick a door with the spiral design... the door of wind.
I enter, concentrate and will the keyblade to my hand... but rather than the keyblade I was given I find myself holding a kunai inspired keyblade.
"What the fuck?" I ask confused.
"They keyblade you wield is the keyblade your heart made... this is your starting weapon... the one you held... it was loaned to you, this is YOURS... now boy, in this room you will fight the unversed... after you fought with them I will grade your performance... and depending on it... I will grant you an ability to make you stronger... GO!" the voice said.
Then, from the floor dark figures rose up to attack me.
A sleek humanoid creature with blue skin, its arms and legs ended in points and had no distinct digits. It had a triangular head with two long, jagged, lightning bolt-shaped antennae, it looked rather angry... and there was a swarm of them.
I twirled the keyblade in my hand and rushed in, slaying them fast... like a maelstrom, with the ninja training I had, these enemies were easy... however another set of enemies appeared.
This one had predominantly blue skin. Its hands are silver and end in three-fingered claws. Its head is diamond-shaped and sports two short horns on either side of it. Its red eyes are set in a sorrowful expression.
However... they attacked with a lot of skill and were nimble and began to attack, I parried as best as I could, but they were over-whelming me with numbers...
"Wait... two can play the number games" I said with a smirk.
"KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!" I called out as I multiplied myself by the thousands and they all went and attacked the monsters.
I then managed to eliminate the unversed... however I was panting, tired of this ordeal...
"Congratulations young man... you managed to defeat the unversed, in turn you have acquired the ability of the wind... repeat the words I say and raise the keyblade up "Aero"" the voice said.
"Aero!" I said, then the wind itself bended and began like a small whirlwind around me.
I look around and I see a sign of a wave and I feel compelled to go forth as I feel a gentle voice calling me.
I walk into the door... this time the window panel showed the beautiful young lady in it...
"Aqua..." I said to myself
"This is odd... this shouldn't happen... she is... gone... isn't she?" the voice said.
"Help me... please..." the female voice called out... it sounded damped.
"Who... what... are you... are you Aqua?" I ask.
"Please help me... the darkness... they wish to steal the sky and the wind... please... help us" the voice sounded worried.
"But... where are you? How can I reach you?... no better yet... how are we even... talking like this?"
"It appears the trinity is still alive... this might be good for you... as I said before... of the trio, it was Aqua who received the mark of Mastery" the voice said.
The stained window panel broke down as the woman shouted in pain.
"I can't stay in the Dive to the Heart... I am being tracked... the darkness is coming... Please... look for me... in... Ra...garden..." Aqua said.
"But... how... h ow do I find that place?" I ask.
"Your time is up young keyblade bearer... you must return... they are looking for you" The voice said as Naruto exited his own Dive to the heart.
Naruto slowly opened his eyes, he saw Jiraiya looking at him with worried eyes.
"Hey kiddo... looks like you made it" Jiraiya said with a smile.
"Eh? Ero... senin? Wha... what's wrong?" Naruto asked.
"Naruto... you should stop searching after Sasuke... he made his point VERY clear, Naruto... if you choose to keep going after him... I will have no choice but to stop your training" Jiraiya said.
"That's okay... I found someone else who could help me" Naruto said looking into the dawning sun.
"Eh! Somoene else? Do I know him?" Jiraiya said.
"No... I don't think you ever come across with this person... but she is powerful... and she is the one who can help me control this new power" Naruto said.
"New power? What new power?" Jiraiya asked.
"Do NOT tell anyone what I am about to show you... well... except Obaa-chan" Naruto said as he stretched his arm out.
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow but the shielded his eyes from the bright light.
On Naruto's hand was a huge kunai shaped key... he slapped his face.
"Please... don't tell me you are one of em too" Jiraiya said.
"EH! You know what this is?" Naruto asked flabbergasted at this revelation.
"Damn... how many years has it been already... since I last saw that kid that handed my ass so badly... the pale violet haired punk who handed my ass in the tournament... I think... his name was... Ruku or something" Jiraiya said... I meet him when I was still training under the sandaime" Jiraiya said.
"So... last I heard of him he was looking for someone named Rocksas or something... can't remember... been a rather long time" Jiraiya excused himself.
"Anyways... now I CAN'T leave you alone... if my research... no... not THAT research... I have other research projects going on besides for my novels... anyways... that weapon is called a keyblade, it has the ability to open or close the hearts of peoples, open any locks, uncover any secrets, this... is a heavy burden Naruto... you already had the fox... but now this... man... I don't know if the kami's like messing with you or what..." Jiraiya said as he sighed.
"Anyways... regardless... people will see your weapon... why not just tell them it's a gift from me to you? And because of this... we are going to look after this person you spoke of? What's his name?" Jiraiya said
"It's a girl, and her name is Aqua... I don't know exactly WHERE to find her... but she said something about a garden..." Naruto said.
"I see" Jiraiya contemplated.
"... so... are you going to stop being my teacher?" Naruto said looking at Jiraiya
"Nah... you grown too much into me... besides I am going to take you to travel around to train you... a time away from Konoha will do you some good" Jiraiya said "Also I will be able to train you on the way... and practice with your new weapon" Jiraiya said.
"So... when are we heading out?" Naruto asked.
"Right now... we are leaving... pack the necessary stuff and say your goodbyes... we are not going back for a while" Jiraiya said
"Right... I will pack some stuff..." Naruto said as he tried to move but gritted his teeth in pain.
"You know what... how about till the day AFTER tomorrow?" Jiraiya said wincing at Naruto's obvious pain.
"Yeah... that would be best... I can walk home but I don't think I am in any condition to travel..." Naruto said.
Jiraiya left the room as Naruto twirled his keyblade while laying down trying to pass the time.
"What did she mean... "Dive to the heart"? Is that the name of the place I was in? And... where can I find that garden she spoke of... it was cut out... something about... Ra... Ransemses? Radius? I need to check the maps in the elemental countries and find a place with a name similar to the one I heard..." Naruto thought.
The next day
Naruto walked around the streets, his mind felt... for a lack of words, clear... he knew for the first time what he had to do... and how to do it... but... the unknown... what could happen, and what he heard about the tales of the wielders of this weapon... he felt scared... and so isolated... this weapon granted him power... but... will the power will be like the fox's? Will it inevitably consume him?
There were too many questions... and not enough answers... and the voice... the one who keep talking to him while on "Dive to the heart" it sounded like he seen this before...
The power of the light... and the power of the darkness...
"I am a shinobi... so... should I be aligned with darkness? Or should I be the light?" Naruto asked himself as he felt a headache coming in from too much thinking...
"Maybe I should ask someone... but who?" I mutter to myself.
"Shikamaru is pretty smart... and he should be ok after the mission, he's the one who suffered the least amount of injuries after all, I'll go check on him" Naruto said to himself as he vanished.
Nara compound
Naruto appeared at Shikamaru's family estate, it was close to the Yamanaka's and Akamichi's, members' of his squad.
He knocked on the door and a stern looking lady greeted him, after Naruto told her about him needing to talk to Shikamaru for a while she called her son and he came out.
"Naruto, what is it? I was just gonna take a nap... mondosuke... what do you need?" Shikamaru said.
"I need some advice Shika... and you are one of the smartest guys I know" Naruto said.
"... I'll see what I can do" Shikamaru said after sighing in annoyance, Naruto looked desperate... and after failing his team at their attempt to 'Rescue' Sasuke (cause you can't rescue someone who is leaving willingly)
After they left into the forest they sat down...
"Shikamaru... I got a question... this is serious... so don't laugh okay?" Naruto said.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow but agreed.
"If you received a power that could make you so powerful, even kage's would look like toys... but... that same power had an edge to it... either a power that dwells in darkness... or a power that is bathed in light... how and witch one would you choose?" Naruto asked.
Shikamaru frowned... this question was too deep for someone like Naruto to normally ask, nonetheless he complied.
"Darkness... light... those are words, it doesn't matter WHAT you aligned to... it's what you do with the powers that matter" Shikamaru said.
"You think so?" Naruto asked.
"Of course... we are ninja... we are darkness... however... even in darkness... lies a light for us to follow" Shikamaru said.
Naruto smiled "Thanks Shika... I need that" Naruto said as he left his friend.
"Naruto... why do I feel it will be a long time before I see you again?" Shikamaru thought to himself as he watched the blonde leave.
Naruto left to his apartment and began to pack, just some necessities... the rest he could get it on the road. He took the picture of his team and a set of clothes... a bunch of kunai and shurikens, a Fuuma Shuriken and a few scrolls. He put down his head band and looked at it.
"I won't be coming in a long time" Naruto said to himself.
He summoned his keyblade and noticed something at the end of it... it was the leaf insignia.
"I will always keep Konoha in my heart... wow I never thought it would be literally" Naruto said to himself with a slight chuckle.
The next morning
As the sun rose, Naruto met with Jiraiya, they met up at the Northern gate where they began to their journey.
"Not saying goodbyes?" Jiraiya asked.
"It would be harder for me to do so..." Naruto said with a sad smile... Jiraiya frowned... the kid was beginning to be too introspective... but hey... he just had his heart almost rammed by a chidori... by his best friend... so he was going to cut him some slack on that.
As they were leaving they saw a dust cloud.
"Aww crap! I forgot about them" Naruto said as he did a face-palm.
"NARUTO-KUN!" a voice yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Guy? And his student?" Jiraiya said.
"Hello master Jiraiya... and hello you too Naruto-kun, what are you doing here so early in the morning? Gonna try to do our workout regime?" Guy asked.
"Ahh... no... we have a mission, we will be back sometime... until then we should be going" Naruto said as he tried to squirm his way out of the fashion disaster area.
"Eh? A mission you say... did you say your goodbyes to your friends?" Guy asked.
"Ah..." Naruto couldn't lie that well and Guy tsked.
"Naruto... I don't think that is the right thing to do... your friends would worry about you... even more so due to what happened with Sasuke, don't they deserve to know about your new mission?" Guy asked.
"Urgg... what is all the racket" a feminine voice said as she walked over.
"Keep it down... some of us ARE trying to sleep" another voice said.
"Eh? Naruto?"
"Naruto-kun?"
"Eh? Ino? Sakura? Hinata?" Naruto said surprised at the trio of girls.
"Damn it Guy-sensei... I can't keep up with the speed you two have" another girlish voice said
"EH? Tenten?" Naruto said.
"It's hopeless... those two are in their own little world" a masculine voice said.
"Neji? What the hell?" Naruto said.
"Eh? Naruto? Are you going somewhere?" Sakura asked.
"You can say that... I have a mission... and I don't know when I will be back" Naruto said. "So... I am sorry... but... you will be missing one more on the team for a while... but don't worry... I will bring the bastard back with me" Naruto said with a smile.
Sakura and Hinata tried to reach out but Naruto simply looked a tad sad... and swing his head left and right.
"Sorry... but I don't wish to make it long... otherwise I might not be able to go... but I will visit as soon as I can" Naruto said.
With that Jiraiya and Naruto left Konoha.
Somewhere else
"My lord... I bring news... another one has awakened... this one is rather odd himself... I think you might find him... interesting" a black cloaked person said.
"They are looking for the girl... foolish one at that... we know her whereabouts... but it will take time... the world HAS been sealed off to us after all... and her heart is strong" another cloaked person said.
"I see... don't worry about it... even now her heart is slowly loosing it's once radiant light... and no one will stop from achieving project 'Ω'" A person in a lab coat said.
"So... you wish to open it and start THAT again eh? First with the SOLDIER program... now this... but I gotta hand it to you... you DO know how to make life interesting" a cloaked figure said with amusement.
"I don't do this for FUN... this is for enhancing my scientific knowledge... those idiots... they had it all wrong... but me... I AM A GENIOUS... I can open it... and make this world as it should be... kuhuhuhuhuhu... no matter how many piles of bodies I have to put bellow me... they are but a steppingstone and ... necessary and acceptable losses for harbinger it... Kingdom Hearts" the person said as his eyes were covered with the light that reflected off his glasses.
"What about the new player?" another one asked.
"What about him? Play with him... once you lose interest... you can kill him... after all, it's just a kid" the lab coat wearing person said as he turned back.
"You are free to use what you will... but DO go easy on the lad... try with some artificial unversed... after studying Vanitas's remains I was able to make a machine that produces unversed, as well as repairing and even enhancing the heartless machine" he said as he left.
Back with Naruto and Jiraiya
"Man... this sucks...are you SURE there is no place named like that?" Naruto asked as they traveled north.
"I am pretty sure... I checked... the only place with a name similar to that is Raining Garden..." Jiraiya said.
"Well... it's a clue... we should head over there first" Naruto said with a sigh.
"Hey now... you should be grateful... after all it was pretty damned hard to get a pass to there... it's near the mist village after all" Jiraiya said.
"Let's go... maybe there will be some clues there" Naruto said
After a small trek they were going to the Village hidden in Flowers, it was a peaceful village that was pretty much open to all... however their border control was rather strict... after all the documentation was done they entered and looked around, the place was beautiful and soothing... a contrast to the history of the land of the mist.
"Go on and ask around... I am going to check into the inn around here" Jiraiya said.
"Not looking for women to spy on?" Naruto said raising an eyebrow.
"Even I know WHEN to behave... this land is beautiful and the place is serene... I don't wanna ruin it" Jiriaya said.
Naruto walked around asking for a person that fitted the description of Aqua, but to no avail.
"I knew it... nothing" Naruto sighed.
"Hey kid... you looking for a girl named Aqua?" a person asked.
"Who are you?" Naruto asked
"The name is Axel... A-X-E-L, got it memorized?" he said with a smirk.
The newcomer was wearing black gloves and boots. His black coat, however, had its sleeves close up tightly around his arms. He had red hair and a widow's peak, rather small eyebrows and thick, shoulder-length, bright red hair styled into slicked-back spikes. His eyes are a bright emerald color and he has a purple reverse-teardrop shaped marking under each eye.
"I am not stupid you know" Naruto said while glaring at the odd person.
"Who are you?" Naruto asked.
"Me? I am a Nobody... just hanging around... looking the sights... wanting to see the new keyblade master... you know... the usual?" Axel said.
"Ah... I...wait... 'keyblade'?" Naruto realized and jumped back.
"Who are you?" Naruto asked.
"I said it before... I am a Nobody" Axel said as the area turned grey and dull... a cold shivering sensation washed over the village as monsters began to rise up from the shadows.
"Unversed! But... HOW! The person who could make them... he was defeated!" Naruto said.
"Ah...so you DO know your kins history... good, show me what you got boy" Axel said with a smirk as he sat down.
"NARUTO!" a voice yelled.
It was Jiraiya who arrived at the scene.
"Who's the old timer? Bah, no matter... the unversed will take care of him" Axel said as the unversed attacked Jiraiya.
Axel then jumped up and looked at Naruto.
"Well... you certainly ain't no Sora... but I wanna see how strong you are boy" Axel said as he pulled a pair of chakrams from his robes and dashed forward to attack Naruto in a flurry of melee attacks.
Naruto pulled his kunai keyblade and parried Axel attacks, he smirked and jumped back after a short exchange.
His body began to glow red "TAKE THIS!" he yelled as he made a pillar of fire rise up following Naruto who either ran or rolled out of the way using his ninja skills, Axel was impressed, he had a solid grasp on battling at the get go... like the trinity before the second war.
"FINAL LIMIT!" He yells as he pushes his chakrams together and form a large fire chakram... Naruto's eyes widened at this, but he steeled himself. "Be engulfed by the eternal flames!" Axel shouted.
Naruto roared as he put the keyblade on the ground and a barrier erected to protect him.
Naruto grinned at this and jumped towards Axel and attacked with a flurry of blows.
Axel's laid back initial attitude shifted quickly, not expecting the kid to be so strong.
"Naruto!" Jiraiya yelled as he finished the last unversed.
"Well... will I be damned, the old coot there is pretty tough as well eh?... well I had my fun... I will see ya later kiddo... oh, and the place you might be looking for... is Radiant Garden... but good luck finding it here ahahahaha" he said as he disappeared into a dark portal.
"Ero-senin! Are you okay?" Naruto asks worried.
"Yeah, I'll live" Jiraiya said as he cracked his neck. "What the hell were those things... seems like you knew a bit about them" Jiraiya asked.
"Long story ero sennin... but I had a clue to where Aqua MIGHT be" Naruto said.
"Oh? Really now? Let's go" Jiraiya said.
"We can't... not anytime soon anyways" Naruto replied.
"What do you mean?" Jiraya asked.
"You will come to know soon enough... I just hope I am stronger than my predecessors for what is to come" Naruto said mostly to himself.
"I see... so there are more with a weapon like that" Jiraiya said pointing at the keyblade.
"Somewhat... they keyblade comes in all shapes and sides... I only know how to attack it... nothing else... or nothing fancy... that's why I am looking for her... Aqua... the 'Dancing water forming bonds'" Naruto said.
"What a poetic nickname" Jiraiya said scratching his chin.
"It suits her thought, she does make bonds... she is like a sea of light in her heart... at least... that is what I could feel from it... but... her light... it is dimming" Naruto said.
"What... do you mean with "her light is dimming"? Explain yourself a bit better" Jiraiya asked.
"The darkness... is something we all have... apparently we live in the world of shadows... a place where neither darkness nor light has a stronghold... that's all I know about this world so far... that's most of what I got from Aqua during our conversation" Naruto said.
"Conver-... how? How did you talk to her?" Jiraiya asked feeling a bit confused and mad at his charge's being indirect.
"We talked with our hearts... ah... that's right... you don't know about it... since only a few can do it... "Dive to the heart" that is" Naruto said as he pulled his keyblade and pointed it at Jiraiya
"Naruto... what?" Jiraiya asked a bit nervous.
"It's ok... it won't hurt a bit" Naruto said as a ray of light came out of the kunai keyblade.
The world went black for Jiraiya.
"Where am I?" He asked as he felt himself like he was in the ocean... deep inside it.
Jiriaya then landed on a stained-glass platform, an image of him, Tsunade, Orochimaru and the symbol of Konoha was on it.
"What in the world?" Jiraiya said as Naruto appeared next to him.
"This is the "Dive to the Heart" a special ability we keyblade wielders and a few special people can do... I made it possible with the keyblade for you to enter into your own heart... so we can speak to her... please follow me... so we can go into my heart" Naruto said as he pulled the keyblade and made a door appear.
They entered... as they exited the door the place look the same as Jiraiya's... only difference was that there was a "ceiling" on Naruto's, on it a beautiful girl's image adorned the stained-glass
Jiraiya whistle "What a beauty" he said.
"Yeah... but the thing is... she is in danger... and so are her friends... I need to find her... and see what we can do about the others" Naruto said.
"Why?" Jiraiya asked.
"If I don't... who will? Besides... if I don't... darkness will take over this world as sure as Sasuke left us... I... am the ONLY one who can do something about this" Naruto said.
"So... you are the one... the one who has a light so bright... it was your light that called me here" A female voice said.
"Aqua" Naruto said as he held tenderly at the ball of light putting close to his heart.
"You meet them... haven't you? The enemy?"Aqua asked.
"Yes... the nobodies" Naruto said.
"Nobodies? That... that can't be! They were defeated... by the one who came before you... and after us" Aqua said.
"Why do you say that?" Naruto asked.
"When a Nobody is defeated... they stop existing..." Aqua said "and the leaders of the Nobodies... Organization XII... they were defeated by them... the one who inherited Terra's will and power... but a strong heart... and the one who inherited Ventus's heart."
"Who is this person whom you brought with?" Aqua said as she gave the look-over.
"I am his... master, not a keyblade master like yourself... but a master of the shinobi arts" Jiraiya said.
"Is there a way for him to travel with me?" Naruto asked.
"That is generally prohibited... but the rules have been broken and regulations don't matter much... however... it's going to be nigh impossible... at least right now... I will try... to contact someone to help you out... I am not sure if he will accept without payment" Aqua said.
"If payment is an issue... I think I can arrange something" Jiraiya said.
"Thank you... Master Jiraiya" Aqua said as she rose above and disappeared..
"Wait for us... we will find you" Naruto said as he clasped the remainder of the light and put it in his heart.
"Naruto... he's growing up..." Jiraiya thought to himself as they exited the "Dive to the Heart"
Jiraiya gasped as he returned to the real world.
"Did... that just happened?" Jiraiya asked.
"Yeah Ero-senin... Now... we just need for the one who will help us to come forth."
In another world
"I see... if that's the case... I will send someone to help the young keyblade wielder..." a feminine voice said.
"Gadget dear? Can you be a darling and find Cid... we are going to need a gummy ship... and the people we are picking up are... well, they don't have access to that kind of technology... also.. since Jeremy is out with Sora... I want you to keep his adventures in a journal... since they will need all the help they can get" the voice said.
"Should I take Chip and Dale with me?" Gadget asked... the person was in fact a small female mouse with goggles and a blue jump-suit.
"It would be impossible... without them we would lose all competent mechanics... after all the persons who need you most... the keyblade wielder would be more at ease with you... and they will need your mechanical expertise as well" the feminine voice said.
"Golly... I will do what I can... Queen Minnie" Gadget said as she took a personal carrier gummy ship to route towards Cid's workshop... Traverse Town.
Chapter End