Disclaimer-I own only the plot and the random villagers. FFX/X-2 and Naruto belong to their respective owners.
I hope you enjoy the story. Damn rabbit...
Full Summary- Spira has changed greatly since the time of Summoners. Ninja now rule the land; the Calm long gone in the face of war. Sin was forgotten... until Orochimaru finds Yu Yevon's grimoire. The Aeons have decided to recreate a summoner in Uzumaki Naruto. They send High Summoner Yuna to train him in the ways of a summoner, and hopefully vanquish Orochimaru before he becomes Sin. Mentor!Yuna Intelligent!Naruto. This is AU, obviously.
Chapter One – What the Future Holds
The Seer's Glass was one of the few artifacts powerful enough—and sentient enough—to survive Vegnagun's time in the Farplane. It was an ancient artifact, rumored to be the oldest in existence. It was also the most well known; all those who came the Farplane eventually went to visit it to see those on the other side. Most denizens believed that to be the only function of the Glass. Some (a very privileged few) knew that to be false, and had seen the true power of the Seer's Glass.
In times before dire circumstances, the Seer's Glass would show the many paths of the future.
Bahamut weaved through the crowd expertly, following the powerful call of the Glass. A cacophony of confused voices called out his name as he passed them and casually walked through the shield surrounding the Glass. He ignored as he came close, his breath fogging a miniscule part of the artifact. The barrier behind him clouded itself to prevent watching, though Bahamut didn't even notice. He felt the Glass's aura envelop him; it was relieved he had come so quickly. Images of many futures began to flit through the Glass, all of them clamoring for attention. The child-dragon reared back as he realized what the Glass was showing him.
'What is this!? That book should have been destroyed with Yevon! How?'
The images shifted slightly, showing an effeminate man with snake-like features digging through a pile of ancient tomes. A change in scene, and he was cackling madly with a cursedly familiar book in his arms. Glowing lines raced to connect with other swirling images, and Bahamut recognized the sign of a Fated Event. He cursed under his breath as terror bloomed in his heart.
'What can we do?'
The Glass seemed to shudder, before a new set of images began to dart across the surface. They were oddly cohesive, which terrified Bahamut even more. The Glass was never straight with the future telling unless things were truly dire. He watched as a nine-tailed fox attacked a village and fought a man on a giant toad's head. He watched as the man summoned Death, and sealed the fox within a newborn babe. The Glass seemed to place extra emphasis on the boy.
'Him, then? Interesting. When?'
Words scrolled across the surface.
October 10, 2337, Kyuubi sealed. May 17, 2350, Orochimaru finds Yevon. July 6, 2357, Sin is reborn.
'That is not long from now. You are late in your predictions.'
Vegnagun flashed before fading.
'So it did affect you. Perhaps this is good. The sense of urgency may allow for brilliance. Are you finished?'
The Glass flashed, and Bahamut felt the call dissipate into nothingness. He sighed. This would be difficult to arrange, but if luck were on his side, things would go as he planned. He turned and walked through the barrier. It faded into a light mist, then was no more.
A crowd of silent denizens stared at him. For a second, Bahamut felt himself falter under their expectant gaze, but he steeled himself and the moment passed. His voice seemed to echo around the glade as he spoke.
"The Seer's Glass has returned to normal. It turns out Vegnagun did affect it after all. Don't worry if you cannot see anything in the Glass. It should show the living in a few minutes. In the mean time, I wish to speak with my fellow Aeons, and with Yuna and her Guardians." The crowd parted as he passed, most staring as he and those he summoned left. For a rare moment, everything was quiet. Then, as if an invisible signal went off, the denizens became a mad mob as everyone tried to reach the Glass first.
Bahamut stopped at the entrance of a cave in the far corner of the Farplane and beckoned his companions inside. They went with reluctant confusion, which grew as they watched him secure the chamber within against prying eyes and ears. When he finished, he let his shoulders slump with exhaustion. Communing with the Glass was a draining experience. Combined with his position as 'leader' of the Aeon-fayth, he had a busy afterlife. Sometimes, he wished he had never volunteered to become a fayth… No. Now was not the time. He had a job to do, and he was the only one able to do it. He squared his small shoulders and turned to face his confused audience.
"The Seer's Glass has shown the future once again."
Yuna gasped and stepped back. She lost her balance on the slippery floor and was about to fall when Auron caught her. She gave him a thankful look. Bahamut grimaced; glad his face was shrouded by his hood. Yuna's last years had not been kind to her, and she was very frail even in death. He shoved the thoughts aside and focused on the crisis at hand.
"In 17 years time, a man named Orochimaru will find Yu Yevon's grimoire. Seven years after he finds it, he will use the same ritual Yu Yevon did and become the next Sin. If we do not do something, all the living beings are doomed."
"What can we do, Bahamut? The Farplane isn't touching the Living world anymore. We cannot travel there. The living have no knowledge of any resurrection spells, and even if they did, they wouldn't be strong enough to revive any of us," Valefor said, bitterness coloring her voice, "We can only watch, as we did with the Cataclysm, as we did with the Great War, and as we do with the Bijuu."
Bahamut sighed as the others agreed. He gave a sympathetic look to Valefor from under his hood. He felt the bitterness she did, but his could never measure to hers. Valefor was the most caring of the Aeons, as she had often been their first Aeon and had bonded accordingly. It tore her apart to be unable to do anything when the living suffered.
"This time is different. The Glass showed me our solution. In four years, the Nine-Tailed Fox will attack the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Their leader will seal it into a newborn to be named Naruto Uzumaki. If he is properly trained, he will be able to stop the newborn Sin."
Ifrit laughed. "And how will the boy know how? The living of this age have no knowledge of Sin, summoners, or how it was defeated. He won't know to do anything with his supposed power. You're losing it, Bahamut."
Bahamut growled and let his power show. The ghostly form of his Aeon materialized behind him. The smell of ozone filled the air.
"Do you doubt the Glass, Ifrit? Do you doubt my judgement? I have not led us astray with my plans before, fire dog. Remember? We are here only because of ME!"
Ifrit glared hotly at Bahamut. He let his own aura go, a fiery demon appearing behind him. Brimstone mixed with the ozone.
"I only think we should not pin our hopes on a boy not even born! The Glass shows only a vague solution at best, and most times, the means do not justify the end! I will not let one boy sacrifice himself for us all! I swore when you did so I would never let it happen again!"
Bahamut calmed instantly at his words. He sighed tiredly. Ifrit followed a strict code of honor, one that would not allow him to simply stand by while someone else was sacrificed. He understood where the hotheaded man was coming from.
"He is a sacrifice anyway Ifrit. He is a Jinchuuriki, one who gives their life to hold a demon at bay. He is a human sacrifice, better than becoming a fayth only because he will be able to move. I want him to be able to use the potential he will gain from the demon inside of him for good. He will do the world a great favor, and himself as well. The very people they protect shun the Jinchuuriki. They are viewed as demons themselves, and most never dispel the prejudice. I am giving Naruto a chance to become loved instead of hated."
Ifrit glared at him for a moment more before he restrained his power with a shake of his head. "Fine Bahamut. I will stand with you on this, but I will not like it."
Bahamut nodded, and turned to the other Aeons. Slowly, under his unnerving stare, they agreed. Auron cleared his throat quietly, gaining the attention of the room. "Ifrit raised a good point, Bahamut. How will the boy know what to do?"
The dragon smiled. "Simple. One of you will tutor him. All we need do now is convince Lord Death to allow one of you back to do so."
A chorus of 'WHAT!?' answered him. He continued as if he never heard. "Orochimaru seeks immortality, and when he is Sin, he will gain that and more. Lord Death hates nothing more than someone slipping his leash, so to speak."
"Indeed, little dragon."
The whole room whirled around to face the lord of the Farplane (1). His clawed hands stroked his chin lightly. "Tell me, little dragon, why should I allow one of my subjects to leave before their time, and in their current 'life' at that." He circled Bahamut like a hungry vulture. The child gulped quietly.
"A man by the name of Orochimaru—"
"I heard that already, and I have taken it into consideration. Give me another reason, little dragon."
"Well… I can only hope, my lord, that you do not wish the whole of the living realm to come here so quickly."
"I have taken the moral reasons into consideration, Bahamut," Said boy flinched at his name. Death was being serious, which was much scarier than him being a sadistic joker, "I wish to know what you would offer me for this favor."
Bahamut considered his next words carefully. He knew that the world as they knew it was at stake: if Sin went unopposed, everything would die. Finally, after several tense moments, he made his decision.
"I would offer you my eternal service." Gasps echoed around him; Bahamut was a proud Aeon, and never bowed down to another. For him to offer himself like that…
"You are serious, aren't you, Bahamut? I can hear the sincerity in your offer." Death stopped for a moment, scrutinizing Bahamut very closely. He smiled then, a scary smile showing razor teeth usually hidden. "I will grant your favor, Bahamut, in exchange for dedicated service until she returns. I will restore the summoner Yuna to her prime, and she may choose one of your colleagues to be her Aeon. Do you accept?"
The chamber was floored. Yuna had tears in her eyes. She would be young and healthy again. She never thought she would be free of the disease that had followed her even into death. Bahamut nodded enthusiastically once he regained his composure. "I accept your offer humbly, my lord. If we may have time to prepare Lady Yuna?"
Death nodded and disappeared with a wave of his hand. Bahamut turned to the humans in the room. They were crowded protectively around Yuna, reassuring her with their presence. "Yuna, your task shall be an easy yet very difficult one…"
"My lord, Yuna is ready. She has chosen Valefor as her Aeon."
Death regarded Bahamut with a neutral eye. The normally proud dragon was near prostrating himself to make sure Yuna returned to the land of the living. What had he seen in the Seer's Glass? The future the Glass shown was clouded even to him. He resolved to ask while Bahamut was his to do with.
"Of course. Has she said goodbye to her loved?" Bahamut nodded, which called Death to smile. "Good. Be aware, once she has departed, you are mine for the duration. Take the time I will need to prepare the ritual to bid your own comrades a temporary farewell. You will not be seeing anyone for a while."
Bahamut's nod was stiff, and he left quickly to bid his farewells. He did not have long before Death called him, Valefor and Yuna to him. He bid one last farewell before they appeared before the lord. Death quickly began his ritual, starting first with restoring Yuna to her summoning years (coincidentally making her outfit match the time as well) before invoking a gate to the other side. He hadn't even broken a sweat, and he found that suspicious. He must be needed.
"I am needed. Yuna will appear when she is needed most as well, most likely at a later time than my own. Be aware, Lady Summoner, that the world you enter is lethally suspicious of the new. Are you prepared?"
Yuna nodded, her face showing the very expression of determination she had worn when she faced Sin. "I am ready, my lord."
Death nodded and floated through the gate. Yuna gave the Farplane one wistful look before walking through as well.
And that is that. Next chappie up hopefully soon.
(1) - The Death here is the Death from the videogame, so imagine him, or Google image it or something.
Review please.