Hello readers and welcome to my new chapter. On this one, we're going to introduce the Akatsuki. Also, I may stray from the canon a bit on this one, such as changing Lightning's goal since Serah is still alive. Also, the main storyline of Final Fantasy XIII may be changed as well. So, enjoy.
P.S. I would like to tell you guys about the votes on the poll. 23 voted for Rick/Beth while 11 voted for Rick/Oc. So that means I'll make a Rick/Beth fanfic. Now, I already work out the beginning for the game version of the Walking Dead, I just have to work out the TV version. I'll show what I wrote so far at the bottom, during the author notes at the end of the story, but right now, here what I thought of.
Lori and Rick divorced two years before the apocalypse. A year after the divorce, Beth was hired to be a tutor or babysitter for Carl whenever Rick is taking care of him (Or if Lori couldn't take care of Carl for some reason). A few weeks after, the two started dating, even though their is an age gap between them, and maybe Rick plan to propose to Beth right before he got shot. And instead of Beth being at the Greene farm, she would be with the Atlanta group, an idea I got from reading a Walking Dead fanfic called Breath of Life, by Pretty Racing. So what do you guys think? Good? Bad?
Also, the idea for my Walking Dead game version is fanfic is Lee having a fifteen year old sister with him in the apocalypse, something I doubt any other reader thought of (I'm also going to decrease his age to thirty). Lee also didn't kill the that senator in my story and I'm planning for Lee and Carley to already know each other.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Final Fantasy XIII
Chapter 8: The Akatsuki
"Does everything in Cocoon want to kill us?" Naruto sigh as he look at the down Dreadnought before them. Recently, they ended up crossing this things pass and had to fight it. It also broke the floor under them and made them fall down to the ground. It took a while, but they manage to beat it and turn it into scrap.
Sazh shrug. "Probably so blondie. Does Pulse have things like that?" He directed that question to Lightning, who is a soldier on the field.
"Got me." Lightning said, staring at the fallen robot. "Not the even Corps have intel on Pulse. Soldiers in the field fight blind."
"I think we notice." Sazh commented. "But isn't soldiers suppose to know what they're up against?"
Lightning merely shrug. "A target a target."
"You like to keep things simple."
"I stick to my goal. Simple as that."
Hope look down on the ground. "As long as you have a goal, you can fight?"
"You can stay alive." Lightning responded, starting to walk again. The group follow her, with Naruto at her side again. Something the others keep noticing. Whenever they travel, Naruto and Lightning are almost always at each other side.
Sazh put his hand under his chin in thought. He wonder if those are a thing. Or have feelings for one another. Curious, walk up to Serah and Snow, who are the only ones who knew the two before this mess up journey. "So, what with these two?"
The couples turn to Sazh when they heard him. He pointed Naruto and Lightning, who is talking with one another about Naruto's travel and Lightning's job. Serah giggle. "The two of them have feelings for one another. I found out about Lightning's feeling a few months before Naruto disappeared…."
"While Naruto told me about his crush on Lightning." Snow chuckled. "I still couldn't believe that Lightning would fall in love. She doesn't look the type to do that."
Serah elbow her fiance in the gut, causing him to wince a little. "Lightning isn't emotionless Snow." Serah chided. "She has feelings like anyone else. Beside, the two have known each other since childhood, so Naruto was already in her heart."
"Do you think the two might become a couple?" Vanille suddenly asked, startling the three. She rub her head sheepishly. "Sorry, I heard you guys talking and I wanted to know more."
"I wanted to know to." Hope said, joining Vanille side. He look at Naruto and Lightning. "I think those two are good for each other. They balance each other out, from what I can see."
Nora and Fang also join the group, watching as Lightning punch Naruto in the arm for something he said. "Yeah, they do. Naruto lay-back attitude with Lightning serious demeanor." Nora said. And they also faced battle before any of them did. Naruto in his travel and Lightning with the Guardian Corps.
"Hey guys." Naruto called out, gaining the groups attention. "We'll camp out here. There isn't any PSICOM or monsters here, so I think it's safe." Many of them sigh in relief. They were getting tired of walking.
The group then set up a camp, with a fire quickly made in the middle of the group. Nora, Hope, Vanille, and Fang are on what spot together. Serah and Snow are with themselves, cuddling with each other. Sazh is laying on the ground with his hands behind his back by himself. And Naruto and Lightning are together at another spot in their camp.
Sazh groan in relief. "Finally, my feet was killing me."
"So was ours." Fang said to him, playing around with her spear. "How long have we traveled anyway?"
Naruto shrug. "Probably twelve hours. Didn't really pay attention. Still, we all should sleep. We can't fight tired."
"We'll need somebody to keep watch though, in case any monsters or PSICOM comes here." Lightning said. Everyone agreed to that. They don't want to be shot while they are sleeping.
Naruto stood up. "I'll take first watch. Out of all us, I still have plenty of energy to jog four miles." Sazh look at him in disbelief.
"You're bluffing."
"I'm not." Naruto answered with a smirk. "I have an unnatural amount of stamina, something I got from mom's side of the family. Been helpful with my travel."
Fang smirk, a thought coming in her head. "Does it help with any female companion you encounter?" Lightning's eyes twitch at the subtle suggestion and her hand subconsciously reach for sword while Naruto blush heavily.
"N-N-No, it didn't." Naruto denied, waving his hands around. "I didn't sleep with anyone during my travel. Didn't have the time nor the desire to." Lightning's hand stop reaching for the sword when she heard that.
Fang still has that smirk on her face. "Well, maybe I can teach you how to put that stamina to good use." Naruto blush even further at the innuendo while Lightning glare at her heatedly, making Fang laugh. "I'm just messing with you. That was funny, seeing your reaction."
"That wasn't funny to me." Lightning grumbled, laying her head on the ground. "Wake me up when you feel tired Naruto."
"Will do Light." Naruto said to her. Soon, everyone else went to sleep. Unconsciously, Vanille and Hope cuddled together, making Naruto smile. Those two look cute together.
Naruto began walking around the camp, taking out his spare pack of smokes and took one. He is glad that he kept a spare one, otherwise, he might've been miserable.
"Didn't know you had a spare one." Someone said from behind. Naruto recognized that it was Fang's voice, so he didn't to turn around. Fang was leaning on a rock, with her spear at her side.
Naruto sigh. "Are you going to tell the others?"
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna say anything." Fang assured him. "Your choice whether you smoke or not. Just hope that your lungs will still stay healthy by the time you get old."
Naruto chuckled at that. "Stamina isn't the only thing my mom gave me. I also have a healing factor that could heal minor sword cuts in the matter of seconds, so I'm not worried."
Fang whistled in amazement. Those are some good genes. "Is there anything else you got from your family?"
"Speed from my dad, natural sword training from both, and also this." He show her the amulet attached to his hand. Naruto then saw a flash of recognition in her eyes, causing him to narrow his eyes at her. "You know something about this amulet, don't you?"
Fang stiffen. "What makes you-"
"I'm not stupid and definitely not blind." Naruto interrupted, before she could lie. "I saw the flash of recognition in your eyes. Now, I don't care how you know about it, I just want any information about it. I've been searching years for something about it."
Fang was about to say something when she saw the look in Naruto's eyes. Knowing that she isn't going to get out of this, she sighed and talked. "Vanille and I heard heard legends about the amulet you are wielding. About nine amulets called demon keys. Each of them have different powers, along with an eidolon trapped inside, though I assume you know about that."
Naruto nodded. "Anything else you know? What it's purpose? What it's the key of?" For a moment, Naruto thought he saw a flash of fear in her eyes.
"It hold a forgotten fal'cie. Something more powerful than Pulse, Lindzei, and Etro combined. Something, that craves destruction. He is called Konton." Naruto didn't know the name, but the description she gave her made him scared.
Naruto look at her with wide eyes. "You said that it's more powerful than all three of the main fal'cie?" She nodded, making Naruto facepalm. "Just when I found the answer of what this keys hold, I wish I hadn't."
He then remember something Gaara told him. "Gaara also told me something. That a group of people are trying to get these amulets. To set Konton free." Fang's eyes widen.
"Are they crazy?!" Fang cried out in a whisper. "If Konton is let out, he will destroy everything in sight. Why would they do that?"
"In order to harness the power themselves." An unfamiliar voice said. Fang and Naruto stiffen before the two move back to back, trying to locate the voice.
Fang lifted up her spear while Naruto took out his swords. "Who's there?" Naruto called out. His sensitive ears suddenly heard sizzling of flames coming fast and look to see a fireball coming at them. "Move!" Fang didn't need to be told twice and the two dodge right as the fire hit where they were at. Luckily, it also woke up the others from their sleep.
"What the heck?!" Sazh yelled, jumping up from his sleep. The others quickly jump up from their positon on the ground, with Lightning instinctively pulling out her gunblade.
"What happen? Who attacked?" Lightning asked, as Naruto and Fang got up. Meanwhile, everyone else pull out their guns and prepared for a fight.
Suddenly, ravens came out of nowhere circled around an empty spot in front of them. Beside the flocks of ravens, tons of water splashed from under the ground. The raven suddenly merged together until it formed a raven haired man with red blood eyes and a black cloak with red clouds while the water was washed away to reveal a shark like man with the same cloak and giant bandaged sword in his hand.
The shark like man grin. "So this is the fox holder. Hmm, he's nothing more than a brat."
"Don't underestimate him Kisame." Itachi told him, his face emotionless. "The reports says that Namikaze is very skilled swordsman and highly dangerous. Be prepare for any tricks he pull."
"Hnn." The man, Kisame, said with a shrug. "Whatever you say Itachi." Naruto stiffen, recognizing the name. Itachi Uchiha, the man killed his entire family, except for his brother, whom he kidnapped. He heard of his abilities, of how he trapped people in their own nightmares by the look of the eye. And also Kisame, the man who killed several PSICOM and Guardian Corps soldier than anyone. Sazh, Hope, Nora, Serah, and Lightning recognize the names as well, due to their tensing.
Snow, however, doesn't recognize them. "Who the heck are you two?" Lightning, Naruto, Sazh, Hope, Nora, and Serah face faulted at that while Fang and Vanille are thinking the same thing Snow is.
Naruto stood up, holding his forehead. "Snow, you need to start watching the news." Naruto stated to his friend, before turning his eyes at the two. "Itachi and Kisame are one of the most wanted criminals in Cocoon. Itachi, for killing his entire family while Kisame is wanted for killing several PSICOM and Guardian Corps soldiers."
"They are both extremely dangerous and very skilled." Lightning continued for Naruto, pointing her gun-blade at them. "Itachi can trap a person in an illusion with just the look of an eye while Kisame has control of water and a skilled swordsman."
"Those two, along with several other criminals, disappeared strangely years ago. And hasn't been heard about since." Sazh finished up for them. Then he realize something. They disappeared at nearly the same time the Namikaze family disappeared, including Naruto. Was there a connection….
Kisame grin. "I'm glad some of you are doing you homework. Although there is one thing you missed." He pull out his sword, unwrapping to reveal shark like scales on it.
"We are part of an organization called the Akatsuki, one that has the goal to get all nine amulets and their holders." Itachi said to them. "And to gain the power from Konton." Naruto's eyes widen at that, along with Fang and Vanille.
"Are you fucking crazy?!" Naruto shouted at them. "Do you actually think that you can get that power from a fal'cie?!"
"Not us, but our leader." Itachi told him. "Now, if you can come with us quietly, we promise not to harm you and to leave your friends alone." Naruto scowl, getting into his fighting stance.
"You can get this amulet when I'm dead." Naruto retorted. Kisame grin.
"Yeah, I was hoping you would say that." Without any warning, Kisame charge at Naruto with sword ready to be swing. Naruto quickly held his swords up right as Kisame slice down at him, causing Naruto to go on his knee at Kisame's overwhelming strength.
Kisame grin even more. "You are far over your head kid." Before Kisame could do anything, he was forced to move back bullets came flying at him, courtesy of Lightning. In lightning speed, Itachi ran at Lightning and took out two knives before fighting her in close combat.
Lightning was forced on the offensive as Itachi send out devastating attacks, but stopped the onslaught when Snow land a punch between the two. He easily dodge the slices and punches from Snow and Lightning before jumping back.
Naruto gritted his teeth. This is going to be the hardest fight yet.
And that's the end. I hope you guys liked the chapter. And sorry for making it short, but I discovered that I do better when the chapters are short. I don't have to think about how much I should add or anything like that. Before I go off, I would like to show you the chapter for the Walking Dead TV version fanfic. Well, what I've written so far. Please give me your opinion about it and tell me if I should change anything:
"So you're going to see the girl's family now?"
Rick look at his partner and best friend, Shane Walsh, when he heard him speak. He knew he was talking about Carl's babysitter and his girlfriend, Beth. "Yeah. She gonna introduce me and Carl to them after my shift is over."
"Wonder why she didn't introduce you sooner, after months of dating."
"Probably because I'm a thirty five year old dating an eighteen year old girl."
"Most likely." Shane responded with a chuckle. The two then sat in a comfortable silence, eating their lunch in the police cars.
Rick Grimes and Shane Walsh are police officers, partners, and best friends. They joined the police when they were in their twenties and been best friends since high school. The two are different in personality, Rick being a calm and thinks about things while Shane is a hot head and goes with his feelings, but they are like brothers to each other.
Recently, Rick has been dating a girl named Beth Greene. A blonde farmer girl with blue eyes. It started when Rick needed a babysitter for his son, Carl, for when he's at work and when his ex-wife, Lori, is unavailable. She volunteered for the job and a couple of weeks after, they started dating.
The sat in silence for a few minutes, before Shane spoke. "Did you had another confrontation? With Lori?" Rick sighed at the question. He divorced his a year after he meet Beth and two years now. They divorced because of how much they argued and Rick knew that they couldn't do that, no matter how hard he tried to make their marriage work. They agreed for them for Rick to be the main caretaker for Carl while she has him on weekends, but recently, they've been arguing about Beth.
That is what I have written so far. For those who watches the Walking Dead (And maybe those that don't), what do you guys think? Good? Bad? Needs more work? Or some changes in the plot? Please give your opinions to me on the review or maybe PM me about it. Review, favorite, and follow and I will see you later.