Chapter 2-Truth and Secrets
It had been years since Robert's Rebellion came to an end. Aerys II Targaryen was dead. Slain by his own Kingsguard Ser Jamie Lannister of House Lannister. His son Rheagar Targaryen was also dead. Slain at the Trident by Robert himself with his war hammer to the man's skull. Soon after, Robert proclaimed himself King of Westeros, and the Seven Kingdoms. All with the backing of House Stark, Tully, Arryn of the Vale, and of course House Lannister after the battle at the Trident was won to enforce his position.
Still, not all were happy with this new King sitting on the Iron Throne.
Namely the Iron Islands led by Balon Greyjoy of House Greyjoy nine years following Robert sitting on the throne.
Many claim it was the vast numbers that brought the Greyjoy's down. One house VS the entire might of the Iron Throne. But that wasn't the case. It wasn't just one house VS the Iron Throne.
It was one house VS the might of the Iron Throne and one infamous "Demon Sage", who was crucial during Robert's Rebellion. When Robert had summoned the might of his throne into war to combat the Greyjoys, Ned had sought out Naruto to ask him one more time to help put down this unprovoked attack on the Seven Kingdoms. Of course this time around, Ned wasn't as welcome in Naruto's house like the first time, and for good reason.
Naruto had fought for Robert during Robert's Rebellion, getting some odd looks from the future King, and the armies in question when they saw him dressed like Obito had been when facing the Shinobi Alliance during the Fourth Shinobi War. Many snickered while others openly called him a freak of nature (due to his third eye) that should be put down in the name of the Seven. When Robert saw him, he was inclined to agree with his men at first despite Ned vouching for him and asking the man to give Naruto a chance to prove himself.
So Naruto being Naruto decided to make a wager with Robert. A wager surrounding his life. Naruto wagered he could kill well over 2000 men with a single swing of his gunbai. Or rather, kill 2000 men with a single swing of Uchiha Madara's gunbai, which he had taken following the end of the Fourth Shinobi War. If he failed to do that for Robert, the future King of the Seven Kingdoms could take his head, and that would be the end of it. Robert had looked at him like someone had just told him the Mad King was sane before glancing at Ned, who nodded at him to accept, and did so in front of the other soldiers of the army around him.
Though none of them too him seriously. And why should they? He was a strange, mask wearing individual, with three eyes, none of which were now identical to those that could actually see them, and live to tell the tale. One eye was red, the other purple, the third one a light lavender that could be mistaken for a failed eye that could no longer see anything.
But the joke was on them when Naruto walked forward, alone toward the army across the way, laughing at him for thinking he could fight them all alone. Even Robert's own army was doing the same while thinking the masked Sage was mad and simply wanted to die.
He shut them all up with a single swing of his gunbai and the enemy army of 12,000 men had been reduced to 8,000 with the 4,000 he killed becoming bloody chunks in the wind.
After that, no one laughed at him. Quite the opposite. But that wasn't why Naruto was not welcoming Ned so much when entering his house to speak to him.
The reason? Elia Martell of House Dorne. Wife of Rheagar Targaryen and Mother to their children. Innocent children at that.
Elia Martell of House Dorne and her children of Targaryen blood were the main reason for this friction between himself and Robert. Naruto had warned Ned that Robert was not of sound mind when on the march to take King's Landing, nor should they trust Tywin Lannister when the man had sent a raven to Robert with a coded message stating how he would help him take the throne from the Mad King. After the victory at the Trident with Rheagar dead, Naruto knew that Tywin knew where the winds of victory were blowing, and didn't want to be caught in the fallout when the Mad King eventually died. So the lion made a power play of his own when Robert marched his army to King's Landing and Jamie had killed the Mad King himself with a sword to his back.
To ensure no one of Targaryen blood lived to sit on the throne in the future or challenge Robert, Tywin ordered Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane and Amory Lorch to kill Elia Martell along with her children. When the sacking of King's Landing occurred through Twyin's brilliant act of coming under the understanding by the King to help defend the city and the King himself from Robert's approaching forces, the two monsters in armor made their move. Killing the Kingsguard of the Red Keep in a brutal fashion befitting their reputations and moved to end the life of the Queen and her children per their Lord's orders.
Fortunately, Naruto put a stop to that before the two could carry out their mission. Not that anyone, but Naruto himself knew that part. Just as the two monsters smashed down the door to Elia's room, Naruto himself quickly appeared via Kamui, and put the two in a Genjutsu which immobilized them for a time of a mere 30 minutes. It was still plenty of time for what Naruto needed to do, which involved getting Elia (after explaining some things to the woman), and her children out of King's Landing the same way he came into the Red Keep.
After that, Naruto proceeded to use the Corpse Clone Jutsu, and used several bodies he had acquired in the form of dead men he had killed. A quick appliance of Fuinjutsu to put up a Genjutsu on all three of the bodies to make them appear as if they were Elia and her children to anyone else seeing them. When Gregor and Armory Lorch were free from the Genjutsu, they were standing over a blood soaked rug covering the bodies while under the impression they had done the deed their sick minds had easily created through the illusion Naruto put them under.
When the two men went into the throne room, they saw Robert sitting on the throne, Ned standing beside him on one side, and Twin Lannister on the other a few steps down. Not far away from them was Jamie Lannister, stained in blood of the Mad King, and the Mad King himself dead on the floor with his mad look still on his face. As they approached the Iron Throne, Tywin was smug over what he had done, and knew his reward for this was whatever he wanted it to be once asked. Ned glared at Jamie from time to time over the breaking of his oath to serve the King faithfully despite the King in question not being of sound mind.
The friction between the Starks and the Lannisters got worse though when Tywin's two mad dogs came in with the "bodies" of Elia Martell and her children. The long trail of blood leaving the rug while dragging it effortlessly across the floor to the foot of the steps leading up to the throne only made it worse. Gregor proceeded to open the rug himself to show Robert the three bodies and was praised by Tywin for a job well done while the new King merely looked at the bodies for a few seconds before nodding his head once in acknowledgement of the deed done. Ned however, wanted to reach for his sword, and kill the two men right there on the spot for this act of barbarism these two had done. Anyone with eyes capable of seeing could tell these "deaths" were not clean in the slightest and Ned knew there had been suffering behind each one. But Robert wouldn't allow it. As far as the new King of the Seven Kingdoms was concerned, the only good Targaryen was a dead one, and any who gave birth to them. So long as he didn't know how they died, only that they did die was enough for Robert.
But not for Ned. The two had argued about it for weeks following Robert becoming King and how Jamie, Gregor, and Lorch should be sent to the Wall for their crimes if not put to the sword. But for all their strength in terms of the bond of friendship, Robert would not agree to any of it. Not when Tywin now held so much influence over him and the Iron Throne. Finally, Ned had enough of Robert's stubbornness, and left King's Landing with his own army back to the North following the grand wedding between Robert and his new wife Cersei Lannister. When Ned was leaving with his army back home, Naruto had kept himself hidden from everyone until now, and spoke to the Lord of the North about the questionable actions of his most trusted friend, now King of the Seven Kingdoms after the sacking of King's Landing.
Ned had tried to justify Robert's refusals to punish the three so called knights, but the excuses themselves were weak even when explained to Naruto, and the Sage shook his head at Ned's own stubbornness. But at least Ned knew what Tywin's mad dogs did was wrong and should be punished for it. Sadly, the Ned did not have the strength of Will to act on it so long as Robert sat on the throne, and swore fealty to the man sitting on it.
Naruto of course told Ned that a true test of a man is to give him power and see what he does with it. Only time would tell what Robert would do on the seat of power and who around him would seek to manipulate the man with it. Fortunately, Jon Arryn of the Vale was named Hand of the King ,and helped raise both Robert and Ned properly growing up. At the very least, Robert's rule was off to good start on some level with Jon Arryn being in the second highest position below royal authority.
But that wasn't why Naruto was having problems with Ned when they met a second, and third time to ask for the man's aid. One was to help deal with the Greyjoy Rebellion and the second was to help Ned's supposed bastard son Jon Snow survive the Pox. Naruto had no problems saving Jon, but the Greyjoy Rebellion was going to be a one sided fight, and he knew that Ned knew it too.
Still, Ned had persisted with him regarding House Greyjoy, who at first went unopposed by the Seven Kingdoms since no one knew it was coming until it was too late. Many had suffered when the Greyjoys attacked, raiding, pillaging, raping, kidnapping, and torching everything in sight. Eventually, Ned wore Naruto down and he agreed to help end the war quickly, but the Sage told him not to call upon him for anything after the Greyjoys were put down.
By the time Robert got a fleet ready to sail for the Iron Islands to end the rebellion against him, Naruto was already half way there, walking on water, cutting a bloody path through the Greyjoy fleet with just Kubikiribocho. It was at that point in time the "Demon Sage", as he had been called by the many barbs following Robert's Rebellion spoke in songs had soon given him the title "The Demon Sage who made the Drowning God Bleed" given just how many men died single handedly by Naruto's hands. When Robert, Ned, Stannis, and their armies/fleet made it to the Iron Islands and the Pyke itself where Balon Greyjoy of House Greyjoy lived, Naruto had done a great deal of damage to the man's home. Well over half the army representing the Iron Islanders had fallen by his skills alone. Balon's own first and second born sons being chief among them with Naruto's sword slicing them in half.
In fact, only Balon's third son Theon, and only daughter Yara Greyjoy were the last two remaining children left the man had that were still alive. To make it even worse for Balon on a personal level, Theon was being taken as Ned's ward back to Winterfell to keep the Greyjoys from making another attempt, and for Ned see that at least one of the Greyjoys didn't act like the rest in regards to their house motto of "We do not sow!" when the boy was old enough to become his own man.
And now here Ned was again. A fourth time.
"Damn it Ned! I know you're there! Don't knock. Just come in, take off your boots, and meet me in the living area!" exclaimed Naruto to Ned, who was about to knock on the door of the Sage's house.
'I will never understand how he knows I'm here,' thought Ned, as he was stupefied all the other times Naruto knew of his arrival, and figured it was one of the man's abilities yet to be disclosed.
Still, Ned did as he was told by Naruto, and eventually made his way to the living area of the house where Naruto was found to be sitting on the long far side of the table waiting for his guest. Though like before when Ned came to ask for his assistance regarding the Greyjoy Rebellion, the Sage in front of him was not happy, and it showed in his eyes. All three of his eyes no less. Ned still didn't know how Naruto's two blue eyes could change into one red and the other purple with strange designs in each one. Part of him didn't want to know and felt it was best not knowing.
"Sit down Ned and tell me your worries or problems," grumbled Naruto while looking at some kind of game board with pieces already on it.
From what Ned could surmise, the game had been played for awhile by Naruto along with someone else, though who that someone was, the Lord of the North had no clue. Again, he didn't want to know, and decided not to ask despite Naruto looking so focused on the board game himself.
"I need your help Naruto. I am in need your advise. Your very council on something of great importance," said Ned with worry and concern in his voice and eyes.
"The last time you spoke this way, it was to ask for my help to save Jon from the Pox he got somehow when he was a mere boy," remarked Naruto with Ned nodding since he had remembered that fateful day.
It was the day he revealed the truth to his wife about Jon not being his bastard son, but his late sister's son.
(Flashback-Winterfell-Many Years Ago)
Catelyn Tully Stark, sometimes called Cat for short, sat in a chair right beside the bed of Jon Snow. Bastard child of her husband Ned Stark. She had been beside herself when the boy had gotten sick. Her prayer to the Old Gods and even the Seven to have the boy not of her blood, but of her husband's through infidelity to perish from this world had hit her hard with guilt. She had wanted an innocent child to die because he was the progeny of her husband and a woman whose memory Catelyn herself despised for seducing the man she married into breaking his oath to be faithful. But she had no idea her prayers would be answered in such a way, whether by the Old Gods, or the Seven with their own rules in regards to such sin against the oath of marriage. To have an innocent child die simply because of her own spite was not something befitting of a Stark or a Tully, and Catelyn was both in that regard.
So she had prayed again. Prayed to them all again. The Old Gods. The Seven. She was had been praying for the Pox to go away. To cure the boy of the disease and let him live.
No sooner had she made the prayer and the promises attached to it, did Naruto arrive with Ned via Kamui. The man looked ready to throw up, but the sheer willpower, and control helped keep him from releasing the contents of his stomach.
"Ned? What are you doing here? And with him no less?!" questioned Catelyn at seeing her husband appear practically out of thin air with Naruto, who was wearing his mask once more.
Only Ned, Rodrik, and Luwin were worthy of seeing his face at this point in time since they understood his need for privacy.
"He came to help Jon. I asked him to help cure him of the Pox," answered Ned after he had the strength to speak again while Naruto walked around the bed to the other side to take a good look at Jon.
"It seems I don't have to do anything. The Pox is already receding inside of him," said Naruto after putting a now glowing green hand on the boy's forehead to scan the boy's illness to see how it was progressing.
"It is?" asked Ned in shock while Catelyn looked happy about it despite said happiness beginning to wane every few seconds.
"Yes. Recently too. Though the reason behind it is strange," commented Naruto with a frown behind his mask.
"Strange? In what way?" asked Ned with a hint of concern in his voice.
"The disease was not defeated by Jon's own body fighting it. He had help. Something or someone cured Jon of his disease," continued Naruto with his scan of the boy showing the Pox was now on the retreat and Jon would be awake sometime tomorrow.
"Thank the Gods," whispered Ned while Catelyn nodded in agreement.
But Naruto wasn't convinced it was something to be joyous about. Not yet. This wasn't some cure made my a Maester or Grand Maester. No. This was divine intervention. And the only way divine intervention could happen is if someone prayed hard enough and had put themselves in a binding contract.
And the only one in the room when Ned and Naruto arrived was...Catelyn Stark.
"What did you do?" asked Naruto curiously when he turned to look at Cat and saw the woman stiffen at his words.
"Naruto?" questioned Ned when he saw how the Sage look at his wife with those three piercing eyes.
"I don't know what you mean Great Sage," replied Catelyn respectfully, but couldn't keep her eyes on him when she answered.
"Don't lie to me Catelyn Tully Stark. Now is not the time to lie and keep secrets from me when it comes to this matter," replied Naruto firmly with Ned frowning further.
"I would appreciate it you didn't question my wife's honor about this Naruto. You are a Sage of ancient lost forgotten arts, but I will not tolerate your words aimed at my wife," said Ned fiercely toward the man.
"And I would appreciate it if your wife were being honest with me and with you about the boy being cured. What did you promise the Old Gods and the Seven?" Naruto shot back while still keeping his eyes on Catelyn.
"I don't know what you mean," replied Catelyn again while Naruto's three eyes narrowed.
"You prayed for Jon to be cured of the Pox before we arrived. The Gods of either the Old or the Seven answered your call. You put yourself in a binding contract with them. You made a few promises to them. Important promises. Promises that if not kept by you, will have severe and dire consequences for yourself, your husband, for House Stark, and even House Tully. So what did you promise them Catelyn?" questioned Naruto with Catelyn going pale at being discovered and it was seen by Ned when he looked at her.
"Is it true? You promised the Gods something in return for Jon's health returning?" asked Ned with Catelyn reluctantly nodding.
"I did. When you went off to find some means to cure Jon, no doubt seeking him to aid you, I prayed to the Old Gods, and to the Seven for mercy. To save Jon from the Pox," answered Catelyn while Naruto leaned down and began to actually sniff the boy like an animal searching for some kind of scent.
"And they answered? I almost can't believe it! This is great news indeed!" exclaimed Ned happily since it showed Catelyn was warming up to Jon despite how things had started out between the two.
"No its not Ned," replied Naruto for Catelyn despite the good news the Lord of the North just received about Jon.
"What do you mean? Jon is cured by the Gods themselves," countered Ned while Naruto shook his head.
"You forget, Catelyn made a promise to them. Or rather promises. Plural. As is more then one promise. You should be asking yourself just what are those specific promises she had made to them? And if it is within your power to see them fulfilled," said Naruto with Ned now looking at Catelyn, who looked away from them both.
"What did you promise them? Catelyn! What did you promise them for Jon's life being saved by the Pox?" asked Ned when Catelyn was hesitant to answer.
"I promised I would push for you to legitimize Jon to become a Stark and that I...I would raise Jon as if he was my own son. My own child," answered Catelyn at last while Ned looked at her in shock before hugging her.
"I had no idea. I'm sorry my love. I didn't mean to burden you so much," whispered Ned while he held her close to him.
Only for Naruto to laugh and shake his head at them.
"You shouldn't embrace her so suddenly Ned. Not after what I just found," replied Naruto while he was done examining a still sleeping Jon.
"Why? Catelyn will keep her promise and I will help her in anyway I can," said Ned, as he still held his wife close, and scowled slightly at the Sage.
"I don't know about that first part, but what I do know is Jon got sick because the boy was given the Pox by the same Gods that cured him. And the only reason they would do that is if someone prayed to them to kill him," replied Naruto while giving Ned a pointed look before they went to Catelyn.
"No. No I won't believe it!" stated Ned with Naruto shaking his head.
"Believe what you will Ned Stark. But I know what I sense and smell on Jon. The same Gods that cured him of the Pox, gave him the Pox, and they only cured him because they were moved by Catelyn's words in the agreement she made to them. She bound herself, you, your children, and basically your two houses into this agreement of promises made. Promises I suspect she would not have kept and would never told you about in the first place," remarked Naruto while Ned looked at Catelyn and could tell from the way his wife could look back into his eyes that the Sage spoke the truth.
"Catelyn...why? Why would you wish...why would you pray for Jon to die? To be given the Pox? He is as innocent child!" questioned Ned while Catelyn began to cry and had a fierce look in her eyes.
"Because I hated what he represented Ned. You rode off to war to fight the Mad King. I accepted it. Given what happened with your family. Men go off to war. Fight each other. Kill each other. When you came back, I was so happy to see you had retuned alive, and still whole despite knowing a piece of you that I couldn't see was lost in the process. But when you also brought back Jon and called him your bastard, I couldn't stand for it. I did not want to stand for it. You made an oath to me when we married Ned Stark. A sacred oath to be faithful to me and to never lay with another woman so long as I was alive. The boy was living breathing proof of you having broken your sacred oath to me. Everyday I watched Jon grow and the constant reminder of your infidelity. So yes, I prayed for Jon to die. To be struck down in some manner and let his continued existence that was your very shame haunt me no longer," confessed Catelyn, as she felt the need to hold back no longer possible, and just air out what her heart screamed to be said.
"But that changed when he got the Pox," surmised Ned with Catelyn nodding.
"I hated Jon. Or rather, I hated the woman who brought him into the world. I hated the fact you laid with a woman who wasn't me and gave birth to this child of your blood, but not my own. I wanted Jon to die, but not by means of the Pox. A riding accident. Falling down the stairs. A lose rock from the tower striking him on the head. A quick death is what I wanted Ned. Not the Pox. Not something that would cause an innocent child, even a bastard such as yours to suffer. When I realized what I had done to put Jon through this suffering, the guilt I felt over it shamed me greatly. I am a Tully by blood. You know our house motto is 'Family, Duty, Honor.' Deep down, I knew what I had done to Jon, and his possible death went against all those things my House stands for. So I prayed. I prayed that the Pox would be removed and I would be given a chance to remove such dishonor from myself and my House. But even though Jon has been cured of the Pox by the Gods, whether by the Old, or by the Seven themselves, part of me does not want to honor my promise to them," answered Catelyn while Ned looked at her in shock and Naruto sighed.
"You have to honor it Catelyn. You must! If you don't, both of our houses will suffer for it. Our children will suffer!" exclaimed Ned while Catelyn nodded, but it was clear she was still angry with him.
"It would not be this way had you kept your vows Ned Stark and not sired a bastard with some woman I will never know. For years, I have lived with the fact there was a woman with no face to her name that I can openly hate and the closest person I am capable of hating for your crime is in this bed recovering from the disease my anger and prayers put into him," said Catelyn with Ned looking away in shame since he knew this was partially his fault.
Again, Naruto laughed at them both.
"Damn it Ned, when you fuck up something big, you fuck up something big," remarked Naruto while moving away from Jon and sitting in another chair near the door.
"What do you mean?" asked Ned with Naruto giving him a pointed "you damn well know what I mean" look that told the Lord of the North he knew the truth about Jon.
"What do you think I mean Ned? Honestly, I know you made a promise to your sister, but I think in this case, you can let Catelyn in on the secret," replied Naruto with Ned glaring at him and Catelyn looking at the two in confusion.
"What promise? Ned, what is he talking about? What secret have you been keeping from me about your sister Lyanna?" asked Catelyn while Ned was hesitant to answer.
"It is not something I wish to tell. Its not that I don't want to tell you Cat, but I fear the eyes, and ears of the walls around us in Winterfell will be listening when I do not want them to listen," replied Ned while Catelyn was confused.
"If you are worried about someone overhearing what they shouldn't...," said Naruto lazily before smashing his monk staff on the ground and the room was soon covered in lines upon lines of Fuinjutsu.
"Ned?" asked Catelyn worriedly while seeing the line of Fuinjutsu on the walls and was a bit frightened by it.
"Relax Catelyn. Naruto is just ensuring no one overhears us in this room. Right?" said Ned with Naruto nodding.
"That's correct. No one outside of this room will have the ability to see or hear anything that goes on in here. So go on Ned. Tell her what you couldn't after coming back from the war against the Mad King about Jon," said Naruto with Ned taking in and letting out a long breath before he readied himself to reveal his secret.
"Jon is not my bastard. He's not my son," said Ned while he looked Catelyn in the eyes with his wife looking at him in shock.
"If he's not your son or bastard...then who...who is his Mother? Who is the Father?" asked Catelyn while Ned looked at Naruto, who nodded to him to continue.
"He's Lyanna's child. Jon is not a Snow. He has the blood of a Stark and Targaryen in his veins," replied Ned with Catelyn gasping in shock.
"Lyanna's child? And of Targaryen blood too? But that would mean Rheagar...he violated her!" said Cat in shock with Ned shaking his head while Naruto rolled his eyes.
"No. She was not raped. She wasn't even kidnapped by Rheagar like I first thought. My sister went with him willingly. You remember the tournament from which he won and proclaimed Lyanna the Queen of Beauty in front of everyone there? Even in front of Elia Martell herself? Everyone was shocked by what he had done, but despite that, my sister actually accepted it, and was not appalled by his actions as I thought she would be upon being given the title given it was from a married man. In truth, Lyanna had fallen in love with Rheagar, and went with him in secret to Dorne at the Tower of Joy where they had eloped. The rules of marriage in Dorne are much more...open there and thus allowed the marriage to be legal despite the secrecy," said Ned while Catelyn looked at him shock.
"How do you know all of this?" asked Catelyn with Ned closing his eyes for a second and recalling the memory.
"Because Lyanna told me this...right before her death. After bringing Jon into the world, Lyanna died shortly after from too much blood loss. I promised her I would protect Jon from his future enemies. I swore it on my honor as a Stark and so I hid Jon's true identity from everyone else. Even the name of the woman I supposedly laid with is false. Wylla was the closest name I could think of at the time to keep both Robert or Tywin Lannister from knowing the truth when they saw him for the first time when I told them he was my bastard," replied Ned with Catelyn looking at her husband with a frown at the last part.
"Tywin Lannister I can understand given his betrayal to the Mad King, but...Robert? Why would you wish to protect Jon from Robert? Jon is Lyanna's son!" stated Catelyn since he knew how much the man loved Ned's sister.
She was the reason Robert went to war in the first place.
"Because Robert's hatred for House Targaryen in general is sadly far greater then his own love for Lyanna Stark," said Ned before he told her about Robert approving what Gregor Clegane and Amory Lorch did to Elia Martell after they killed her children.
"And add in Jon is Rheagar Tagaryen's child from his time with Lyanna in Dorne would make Robert see red and smash their child to pieces with his war hammer," added Naruto since he knew it was true.
"But Jon is Lyanna's child!" protested Catelyn while Ned shook his head.
"And Rheagar is Jon's Father. Lyanna loved Rheagar. Not Robert. If Robert ever found out the truth, he would have realized his reasons for war were based on a lie. A love that would not be returned by her in the slightest. He would have killed Jon in a heartbeat. I know he would have done it himself without a hint of mercy or regret. So when the time came to pass Jon off as my bastard in the hopes of saving Lyanna's legacy, I provided a story of how I was drunk after Lyanna's death in the Tower of Joy, and had surrendered myself to a night of passion with a woman I did not truly know. Robert didn't even think I would deceive him with my lie and didn't even question it. If anything, he was amused by the idea I would do such a thing, and joked how the one time can be the most damning given my marriage to you. Tywin I know would have questioned Jon's birth more closely if not for the noticeable fact Jon's own Stark features are too strong to say he is anything else but a Stark," explained Ned with Catelyn looking from him to Jon and began to cry.
"I don't believe it. I almost killed Lyanna's child. Oh by the Old Gods and the New, what have I done?!" said Catelyn before she hugged her husband and cried into his chest.
"You prayed he would live Cat. That is enough," replied Ned while holding her close.
"Not quite Ned. She still has a promise to keep. Two of them if I remember correctly," said Naruto while he glanced from the two and over to Jon's sleeping form.
"Aye, you are right Naruto. We need to keep those two promises Catelyn made. One does not make promises to the Old Gods or the Seven and come out of them unscathed," said Ned while the man looked at Catelyn, but she was clearly worried.
"But how? The only way to get Jon legitimized is to ask Robert to make it a royal decree with the backing of the High Septon. If he were to find out about Jon's true heritage being part Targaryen...," said Catelyn while the image of Jon now being killed by Robert's war hammer making her cringe.
"He won't know. I won't tell him about Jon being part Targaryen. He's being legitimized as a Stark. If Robert or the High Septon ask, I will tell them Jon became ill with the Pox, and you prayed to the Gods to save his life. How they answered when you promised to help me legitimize him as a Stark. I can have countless witnesses testify to Jon having the Pox and Maester Luwin confirm Jon was near death. Robert knows I would never lie to him about such a thing and the High Septon could easily claim what happened to Jon being cured was the act of the Seven," said Ned since he knew Robert would do this for him if asked and with the evidence of the Gods acting on Jon's behalf would be perfect to make him a Stark.
Like he should have been from the start.
"But what about Cersei? Robert's wife? She's a Lannister? I have heard about that woman and how she acts around others seeking to strengthen her House. That woman will fight Robert tooth and nail to keep Jon a bastard," replied Catelyn with Ned grimace since he had heard the same about the woman being a very possessive woman when it came to the coveting of power.
"She's not wrong Ned. Cersei will see this as an attack on House Lannister's power base in the Western Lands and on the Iron Throne," added Naruto since he knew what Cersei did to poor Maggy the Frog when the wood witch and his last true disciple all those years ago during his travels throughout the world, even prior to when Ned found him, had hidden herself away on Lannister Lands.
Naruto had warned Maggy about trying to use her power he taught to look into the future was dangerous for anyone to openly know about. Naturally, Maggy had decided to ignore him, and do it anyway. Which was a shame since Maggy had such potential and it was rare for him to see such potential during his travels throughout Essos. Sadly, Maggy got into some major trouble with some highly wealthy, and equally powerful people there with the use of her fortune telling. As such, she had to flee Essos, and arrive in Westeros where she believed the woods near Casterly Rock would be safe to live in.
At least until Cersei came along and took the description of her future personally when the answers to the questions Maggy gave her were NOT the ones she wanted. Cersei had repaid Maggy for her fortune telling by having the wood witch killed violently under the premise of living unlawfully on Lannister lands.
"Even Queen Cersei cannot stop the High Septon from acknowledging what happened to Jon was divine intervention and the binding promise my made," replied Ned knowing he would have some trouble in the future with Cersei and make Robert's life difficult in the process when asking to legitimize Jon as a Stark.
But that was the life of a King.
"Well, if I'm no longer needed here, I will take my leave, and entrust the future Jon Stark to your loving care once more," said Naruto before giving a mock salute, removed the lines of Fuinjutsu from the walls, and vanished from their sight via Kamui.
"I will never get use to seeing that," remarked Catelyn with Ned smirking.
"You should try traveling in that manner," joked Ned since the trip from the Sage's house to Winterfell nearly made him vomit.
"I think I will pass," replied Catelyn before she smiled and sat down in the chair next to Jon Snow, who would soon become a true member of the family.
And Catelyn Tully Stark would do what she should have done from the start with young Jon when brought home by Ned. She was going to love him as if he were her own child.
(End Flashback)
"I have seen some disturbing signs as of late. Signs by the Gods themselves of something threatening my House. And I received word by raven from King's Landing informing of John Arryn's death. At the same time, Catelyn got a message from her sister Lysa stating the Lannisters were responsible for his death by poison, and had fled to the Vale with their only son Robin," said Ned with Naruto sighing a long sigh and continued to smoke from his pipe while his eyes were still on the board game.
"I take it that's not all that's got you spooked Ned. Those instances were by the hands of mortals. Not Gods," remarked Naruto with Ned nodding though his face got increasingly worried.
"I was out in the woods hunting with my sons, Jon, and Theon. We noticed a dead female dire wolf near a stream. She had been killed by the stag in a fight with the antlers of the stag in her throat. At the same time, we noticed a litter of dire wolf pups, and realized the female dire wolf had somehow given birth despite her death. Each pup has been claimed by a member of my family, but it speaks ill to me since the dire wolf is the symbol of my house," replied Ned with Naruto nodding since that did seem a bit odd in his mind.
"And you want me to try interpreting the signs correctly to see if all these signs of Gods and men are a combination of something bigger aimed against House Stark," surmised Naruto with Ned nodding.
"I would greatly appreciate it. I know I am asking much from you for doing this for me when you wish to be left alone. Especially after the issue with House Bolton five years ago," said Ned with Naruto giving him a pointed "you should have kept a better eye on them" type of look.
"After the Greyjoy Rebellion, I made it clear to Robert, you, Stannis, and just about every other house on the war path that I wanted to be left alone. Robert didn't care by this point since he found out from his younger brother Stannis that I prevented him from capturing and killing both Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen during his own Rebellion. Back when the two Targaryens were still just children on their ship fleeing Dragonstone for Essos. He couldn't punish me so Stannis was his next best target. And as for House Bolton, the greedy asshole, and his bastard son should have left me alone like everybody else!" stated Naruto angrily, as he had been content being in his home, alone, and in blissful solitude away from the violence of the world.
Only for Roose Bolton and his bastard son Ramsey Snow to pay him a visit to ask for his help in giving them both similar powers to increase the greatness of House Bolton. Roose had made it no secret to him that he was not happy being under the thumb of House Stark and wanted to become the new Warden of the North. He had tried to appeal to Naruto to see his point of view on how the North was getting soft and weak under the rule of House Stark. Roose wanted his House to rise up and become the rulers of the North and control it with an iron fist that was not afraid to flay those who defied him instead of sending them to the Wall.
Naruto had told Roose no in regards to taking down House Stark so House Bolton could rise simply on the reason the man speaking to him was an idiot. A greedy idiot, who had long since enjoyed hurting people, and wanted to make his practices legal after Ned Stark made the very thing House Bolton was known for illegal. Naruto explained to Roose that his power was not transferrable to others. Even if it was possible, Naruto had no intention of transferring any such power over to such a sadistic asshole like Roose, much less his evil bastard spawn Ramsey.
And yes, Naruto had told Roose and Ramsey those very same words to their faces.
They didn't take his words well.
This was proven roughly a week later when Roose and Ramsey came back with the most elite men from their House, who shared in the same sadistic tendencies. All of which surrounded flaying, torture, raping someone regardless of their gender, and all around killing anyone simply because they all believed it was their right as members of House Bolton. In fact, Roose's banner men were people who were sadistic, cruel, and were not afraid to betray a fellow Northerner or anyone else if given the chance or command by Roose himself.
Sadistic bastards both figuratively and in some cases literally.
Each man had brought their own set of weapons and skills to take Naruto down so they could find out how to get the power of the Sage out of him so they could have it. With this power, House Bolton would rise up, and become the dominant power in the North, and maybe even all of the Seven Kingdoms.
Roose and Ramsey of course failed to realize that Naruto was not one to face threats from his pawns and simply cower in fear of them. He had seen worse odds in terms of numbers aimed against him. He had faced worse odds aimed against him. Worse opponents too in the form of the White Walkers ages ago long past when Bran the Builder asked him for his help in keeping everything beyond the giant wall of ice at bay from reaching the rest of the Seven Kingdoms.
If only the people knew it wasn't magic keeping the ice on the wall from melting, but the nature chakra itself infused into it.
In any case, Naruto saw the small army of 200 men, plus Roose and Ramsey among them sporting weapons, and bloodlust filled looks aimed at his person. Roose believed he had the edge despite Naruto's legendary skills in killing well over 10 times as many men as Roose brought with him. Taunting Naruto while calling the Sage an idiot for not giving him and his bastard what they wanted. Saying how when they claimed his secrets, all of House Bolton would claim his power, and the North would fall under his "gentle hands" with the way it was spoken making the men around him chuckle.
It stopped when Naruto let out a chuckle of amusement.
(Flashback-Five Years Ago)
"You find something amusing about my words oh great Sage?"mocked Roose Bolton at the sight of Naruto surrounded on all sides by his men.
"No. I just find it terribly amusing and sad how after so many years of being alive to see one age after the next, I find the human race is still filled with greedy, power hungry, cock sucking morons. Greedy, power hungry, cock sucking moron like you, your son, and all these men who follow you so blindly. Its people like you that makes me wish the White Walkers would come back and kill every single fucking human and bring about their endless winter. Maybe then I get some proper sleep at night and not have to worry about whether or not humans are worth saving anymore,"Naruto mocked back and saw Bolton men looking infuriated by his words.
Ramsey especially took major offense to that despite being so young and didn't like it when anyone talked back to him. Even his Father when being taught by the man, but the boy wanted said Father's approval despite being a bastard, and thus listened to him every chance he could. Still, when you are a boy who gets off on the suffering of others and have done so in the past, its to be expected. How Ned let this one particular family do what it wanted for years was beyond Naruto's understanding.
"Kill him! Bring me his third eye. I want to eat it right in front of him. I bet if I do eat it, I will gain some form of his power!" commanded Ramsey angrily while point his sword at Naruto.
With a mighty roar and a charge, members of House Bolton tried to attack Naruto with their greater numbers, and supposed skill with their weapons. Not that it mattered, Naruto just had to wait until they were close enough to mutter two simple words with the left eye going from normal blue to purple to show his Rinnegan was now activated.
"Shinra Tensei!" exclaimed Naruto before hitting the men with a massive blast sending bodies, blood, and body parts flying everywhere.
It was a gory end to Roose Bolton's men. Their blood, guts, and limbs covering the snow to taint the pure color of white. It would be covered up in an hour due to the snow coming down this year being extra heavy in this part of the North.
As for Roose and Ramsey, they were shocked to see such a minor use of his power killed their banner men in such a violent manner. Deciding to play his one trump card, Ramsey was able to grab a bound girl hidden by the man horses due to being tied horizontally so she wouldn't be seen by him.
"Give us your power! Give us your power or this bitch dies!" commanded Ramsey while he held the girl close and a blade to her throat.
"No. I can't give my power away. Besides, even if I could do that, you would just use it to torture everyone in your line of sight for kicks," replied Naruto calmly though his tone was just as cold as the winter here in the North.
"Of course I would torture people for fun! Those who have power make the rules. I want your power so I can do whatever I want! That is what people with power do and I want that power! I will have your power or this girl's wonderful blood all over my body as payment for your disobedience!" exclaimed Ramsey like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Ramsey is definitely your son despite being a bastard child Roose. He takes after you in many ways. All the more reason for me to kill you two now and then sack the Dreadfort to ensure House Bolton can never rise again with any of its men,"commented Naruto dryly before cracking his neck.
"You won't kill us. My son will kill the girl and being a Sage means all innocent life to you is precious. Meaning if you try to kill us, she dies too, and her death will be on your hands just as much as it will be Ramsey's when he slits her throat," remarked Roose in a confident and smug tone
"Are you so sure? What if I know she is a part of your plan to make me surrender? What if I know for a fact she is not really a hostage, but a willing participant in this plot, and has gone with Ramsey in the past on one his many 'hunts' with the various smallfolk he finds to amuse himself with on a weekly basis? Do you really think I care whether this cunt for a sadist who helps you is killed by boy she is so fond of despite knowing she can never be with him when they are older?" questioned Naruto with Roose's smile and his confidence fading a bit.
"I will kill her! I will kill her to get to your power. If she dies, the blood will be on your hands!" exclaimed Ramsey with an insane look in the young boy's eyes.
"Actually it won't. And since the girl has helped in your little sadistic hunts in the past, I don't care whether the girl lives or dies by your hands, or by mine. Either way, it does not really matter since none of you are going to make out of this region of the North alive!" replied Naruto before he moved in a flash and was behind a shocked Roose Bolton.
Before ramming his fist though his back, out the man's chest, and threw the body away like it was trash. Considering what the man had done during his time alive, it seemed to be quite appropriate to throw him away in such a manner.
Ramsey of course was now livid. His Father was dead. Any chance of proving his worth to being a legitimized Bolton was now lost to him. Even after taking steps to forcing his Father to consider it in the future by secretly poisoning his half brother in order to have the man die. Without the natural born heir, Roose would have to legitimize Ramsey in the future to provide House Bolton with an heir at all. In a few years time, Roose would have had no choice, but the make Ramsey a Bolton.
But now his death changed that.
In his rage, Ramsey slit the girl's throat, much to her horror, and shock that the boy she loved would kill her in such a way. Of course, it didn't really matter since Naruto was going to kill her, and Ramsey together. All this did was quicken her death a few seconds before Ramsey's own, which happened when Naruto flashed in front of the bastard, and rammed his fist through the brat's face with the force of a sledgehammer.
The boy's brains were turned into mush and Ramsey himself was dead before hitting the ground.
Letting out a tired sigh, Naruto easily made some Shadow Clones to clean up this mess, and proceeded to head for the Dreadfort like he was going through a stroll in the park. It would take some time on foot to reach the Dreadfort, but Naruto felt that was okay since he didn't want to bloody his hands too soon, and wanted to enjoy the wondrous beauty of nature that was around him.
Before putting a giant hole where the Dreadfort had been and filling it with lots and lots of dead bodies. Literally.
(End Flashback)
"Well Ned, the good news is the act of Jon Arryn is not the will, or the wish of any Gods watching over Westeros. Whether they be Old Gods, the Seven, or any other religion throughout the Seven Kingdoms. That was done by multiple figures currently lurking in the shadows to move pieces into play for their own machination and plays for power," replied Naruto at last while staring at the board game.
"And the bad news?" asked Ned knowing well enough that the good news came with bad.
"There are signs from what you told me of some kind of deity working against you. Not the Old Gods and not the Seven so its not them. Especially since I know you and Catelyn kept your promises regarding Jon after that little talk we all had despite the ripple it sent through Robert's Court," replied Naruto with a frown and moved a piece forward on the game board.
"But what deity would go against us?" asked Ned since he didn't think any of the Gods worshipped throughout the different realms and Seven Kingdoms as a whole would seek them harm.
"It's not an actual deity per se. It's more of an actual demon from Hell who is trying to ascend into becoming a deity by removing all others in the process. He has worshipers in Essos too blinded by their devotion to him and is considered the 'Lord of Light' they have there. He gets stronger in times of war, strife, pain, and of course burning people alive at the stake with fire of all things so long as its in his name. Of course, this only makes him stronger IF all those things are done in his name. The more people are killed/sacrificed by means of fire in his name, the stronger he eventually becomes, and wishes to use you as a pawn or stepping stone to one day challenge the other Gods via conflict. No doubt he has one or will have one of his priests or priestess already in Westeros if not soon enough to begin the 'conversion' process," answered Naruto while still smoking his pipe calmly.
"So a demonic false deity is trying to stir trouble for my House in the hopes it will cause problems and make him stronger to combat the other Gods," surmised Ned with Naruto nodding.
"Yes, but all the same Ned, you need to keep your wits sharp, and eyes open in the near future," replied Naruto with Ned nodding again, but looked hesitant to say something.
"Naruto, my wife believes Robert will come up here in the North to Winterfell to name me Hand of the King. If that is indeed true and the Lannisters are behind Jon Arryn's death, a sinister plot is being made in the shadows. A place for all my skills as a warrior of the North, I cannot see in the slightest. I know I have no right to ask you this, but...will you come with me to King's Landing?" asked Ned with Naruto groaned at his request.
"Ned, you know I'm not loved by Robert. Or the Lannisters. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if the High Septon urged the King to order my execution simply because of my powers, and how they are frowned upon by the Seven. Which contrary to what the Septon may tell you, is one hundred percent false! The Seven don't hate magic. They just hate it when people use magic for dark purposes!" stated Naruto before letting out a sigh.
"I need you at King's Landing with me if I become the Hand of the King there. I am not so naive as I once was to believe those surrounding Robert are honorable and will help him protect his Kingdom from falling into ruin. What you left as proof of House Bolton's treachery after destroying the Dreadfort was a hard lesson for someone my age and with my beliefs to learn," said Ned since the issue with House Bolton's destruction and the reason behind it by the Sage's own hands showed Ned that not everyone in the North was trustworthy.
"Say Robert does make you Hand of the King, who will run Winterfell, and the North?" asked Naruto casually with Ned so focused on him that the Warden of the North failed to see a piece on the board move discreetly under his very nose.
"My son Robb can rule over the North in my stead. He is my heir after all. And Jon will be able to help him should something happen further North at the Wall as a member of the Night's Watch," answered Ned since Jon had talked about taking the Black to be with his uncle Benjen.
"Jon going to the Wall is fine, but as a member of the Night's Watch? I would strongly advise against that," replied Naruto with Ned frowning.
"Why?" asked Ned curiously since he thought Jon going willingly was a good thing.
"Don't get me wrong, Jon is a good lad, and you trained him well to be a good fighter when using a sword. But the fact remains the Night's Watch is not what it once was in days of old. Its filled with murders, rapists, thieves, dishonorable scum, who go there to avoid being put to the sword. Those on the Wall who are honorable and can keep them in line are either too old or too few in number. Everyone in the Seven Kingdoms knows Jon became a legitimized bastard at this point and those of the vile or poor people sent to the Wall will look at him with great distain. They'll still see him as a bastard, who got lucky in having a loving Father for a High Lord despite everything else, and was given a cushy lifestyle. The only type of bastard that is hated even more then a bastard of a high ranking noble or King, is a bastard legitimized by his Father, and claims what many would say is one he is not meant to have in life. Those on the Wall will not welcome Jon with open arms Ned," said Naruto with Ned frowning at this words.
"I had not thought of that. But Jon wishes to go to the Wall and he is old enough to make his own decisions in life. I won't try to take away his right to forge his own destiny," said Ned with Naruto nodding since he agreed.
"I understand. What I'm suggesting is Jon visit the Wall under the pretense of inspecting it for weaknesses and visiting his uncle. Don't have him take the oath needed to become a member of the Night's Watch. Not yet anyway. If what I have seen so far is anything to go by, him as one of its members will not do you, or House Stark well in the future. For now, just have him go as your representative to the Wall to see how many men are there, and inspect the various defenses before reporting them back here to Robb," said Naruto with Ned giving him a reluctant nod.
"Jon won't like that. Not at first anyway," remarked Ned with Naruto shaking his head.
"I know. Just tell him to hold off on making the commitment until after going up there first to make a report on the status of the Wall itself. That you want him to get a feel for the Wall before swearing his life to it," replied Naruto with Ned thinking it over before nodding.
"I will talk to him when I get back. If anything, this will allow Jon to think about all of his choices before making any decisions," said Ned while Naruto smirked at the man.
"That's the idea. As for me going with you to King's Landing...are you really sure you want me there? Robert has no love for me and neither does his wife. It may cause quite a bit of friction, even before we leave Winterfell for King's Landing," questioned Naruto again with Ned nodding.
"I know Robert well enough that he will listen to me regarding this one way or another despite his dislike for you on a personal level. Besides, you helped in the securing of his kingship to the Iron Throne more then he is willing to admit," replied Ned with Naruto being silent for a moment.
'If he only knew I helped Elia Martell and her children escape from King's Landing alive to Dorne. I told the Dornish Prince to keep up the facade they were dead and his side of the Seven Kingdoms was stewing angrily over it. Prince Doran has no problem with that since he is the cooler and calm head of the ruling family in Dorne. Prince Oberyn is the more aggressive of the two and nearly went to war with just the Lannisters on that alone had I not told him to his actions would only endanger his sister and her children. Robert hates all things Targaryen and would have no problem hiring assassins from every corner of the Seven Kingdoms to kill anyone with Targaryen blood or was married to one. So long as Robert believes them dead, Dorne along with the royal family there are safe from harm, and there is still the issue of the Mad King's own children. I should probably pay the two a visit or see if either of them inherited their Father's madness. Damn inbreeding does more harm then most people even realize,' thought Naruto while sighing again and looking at the game board before moving another piece.
"Naruto?" asked Ned while seeing the Sage was deep in thought.
"Fuck it. I will help you out in King's Landing Ned. But seriously, I'm not going to hold your hand while there every damn time you hit a snag. From what I know, a lot of snakes have been making their nests in King's Landing, and the Stag no longer has the strength to keep them in line. No that Robert ever did in the first place. Don't be surprised if these snakes plan to strike you at some point where their venom having long lasting effects if bitten," warned Naruto with Ned nodding, but smiled all the same.
"Thank you my friend. I know I am asking you for much given how you prefer solitude given your past. But the Seven Kingdoms and the Realm of Men need you now more then ever. I can only do so much for Robert as Hand of the King and I am just one man from the North. I cannot see, hear, or understand the language of shadows, and deception. I am a soldier, who fights, and kills his enemy on the battlefield where I can stare them in the eyes," said Ned with Naruto nodding to him and watching the Warden of the North leave his home after shaking his hand in respect.
"While I loathe to come back into the world once again, I feel even I have no choice in the matter if what my visions showed me recently. To beware the lioness and her cubs, who are not true stags. To not trust the man with little fingers. To ensure the wolf's den is protected from the slumbering kraken should the beast of the ocean realize how empty the den of the wolf truly is when one of its own returns with such news. Then the issue of the White Walkers and their hatred for all things alive. Damn Zetsu clones. I thought I had killed you off over a thousands of years ago. But it seems you not only survived, but changed your bodies genetic makeup, actually found a way to reproduce, and evolved into these abominations the North calls White Walkers. At least they no longer have that damn Kaguya's Will driving them to do this. Though now their own is just as bad if not worse," said Naruto to himself while more pieces on the board were now moving and he let out another sigh.
The pieces among this game of thrones were moving once more.
(A/N: YAY! Another good chapter. A longer one too so don't say I didn't give you guys something good. Hope you like it. Until next time...PEACE!)