Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor Sekirei, all characters, thoughts and ideas that exist in this story that were taken from the original works belong to their specific creators, Masashi Kishimoto and Sakurako Gokurakuin. Only original thoughts and or characters created in this story are my own.
Author's Notes: This chapter, was actually only meant to be a small sub section… And then it grew into this enormous chapter as I wrote it out. It was just too good of a location to lay some more groundwork for the future.
Chapter 46: The Old World
"This is remarkable," Yuuchi said as she glanced around the dimensional space that existed between Earth and the Elemental Nations. Yuuchi was a true seal master, but what she was seeing here was an application of that knowledge that was far beyond her.
"Early on in my attempts to find our old home I realized it would be a very bad thing if I accidentally let another nightmare into our current universe," Naruto explained as he led Yuuchi, Ramen and Kurumi across the island. "So I decided to create this pocket dimension just in case. This place could be destroyed at a moment's notice to prevent anything from coming through."
"Did you ever need to?" Yuuchi asked.
"Thankfully, no, at least I'm not aware of anything attempting to get through. The portals were never kept up for very long, just long enough to see if it was the Elemental Nations or not," Naruto said.
"Hmm, perhaps after Orochimaru is ended the student can become the teacher," Yuuchi said as she continued to take in everything around her.
"I can do that," Naruto said with a smile. Yuuchi had taught him so much already, and had asked for nothing more than stories in return. She deserved a lot more than that for what she was teaching him, not that he would have withheld the knowledge even if he didn't owe her.
Yuuchi was probably the only person he'd trust with this level of knowledge. He wasn't sure he even trusted himself but he didn't have a choice right now.
Naruto paused momentarily as they reached the portal to the Elemental Nations. The opening was oval shaped, seven feet high and four feet wide. Large enough for them to walk through single file comfortably. The portal itself was only two-dimensional. If one were to walk to the side they wouldn't see it. Even from the back the portal didn't exist, although anything in front of it would be hidden from view. It would look like the universe was warped, pinched, in front of you as everything in front of the portal was cut out from what you were able to see.
As for what was through the portal itself, Naruto could see a portion the landscape on the other side. It seemed the portal opened up onto a cliff overlooking a city of some sort, a very advanced look city. He couldn't make out much more than that from this side.
"As much as I want to find living people there… I kind of don't," Naruto said.
"Oh? And why is that?" Yuuchi asked.
"He's probably scared of them finding him less impressive than the stories suggested," Kurumi said as she stared at her host with an amused grin of her face.
"Ha ha, very funny," Naruto muttered as he kept looking forward, "I was referring to the fact that all four of us are naked," he said and walked through the portal to the world beyond.
"I'm pretty sure it'll just be you," Kurumi said as she followed after her host, "I'll just dispel and hope back inside you if someone comes."
"I can summon the front part of my suit on a whim," Yuuchi said as she followed.
Ramen remained silent as she followed the three back to her old body. She didn't need to say anything; she wasn't corporeal in the first place. She just took this form to make interacting with mortals easier. It didn't need to be said that she could materialize clothing, or even dematerialize herself, at a moment's notice.
"This is so not…" Naruto trailed off without finishing his complaint as he took in his surroundings. "That's… an impressive city," he said as his eyes continued to go up as he traced the spires into the sky.
The city was enormous, not just in size, but in height. The spires really did pierce the sky; they dwarfed anything back on Earth. The tallest pierce through into the stratosphere almost ten miles up. The technology required to ensure that those structures didn't buckle under the strain of the high winds at those altitudes must be incredible.
But the size of the city was incredible as well. To either side all he could see were buildings, enormous buildings, and an intricate transit system that seemed to weave through the entire city. Sky lanes that seemed held aloft by intricate and delicate seals that still held strong even now.
However the city felt dead, empty. There wasn't a hint of life, or even movement, in sight.
"Is there really no one left?" Naruto asked sadly as his eyes scanned every nook and cranny he could find.
"Yes, father, there is no life on this world save us," Ramen said as she closed her eyes. "The atmosphere is still in place, the world is still warm, I can restore it, but nothing breathes here save us."
"I suppose the stasis pods expired as well," Yuuchi murmured.
"No, they're still active," Ramen replied as she sensed small pulses of chakra emanating from various parts of the world.
"But you said we're they only ones here," Naruto said.
"I know," Ramen said. They were still active, but not for long, she needed that chakra and biomass to help bring life back to this world. Or rather, bring back the life that was lost as life would return one way or another with Naruto's plan.
Naruto gave Ramen a queer look but then shrugged. Ramen wasn't human so he wasn't surprised that he didn't understand everything she said. Instead he focused on else, "So where are we exactly?"
Yuuchi looked around and took in the city in its entirety. A sad smile crossed her face, "The poisonous miasma seems to have dissipated," she said, "This is Val'Amon, the center of our world, politically speaking of course," she added as she glanced at Ramen.
"And the place where Konoha once existed," Ramen said as she stood at the very edge of the cliff. Her eyes were still closed and her arms spread wide as if she was trying to take in everything.
"Konoha?" Naruto said excitedly as he ran up beside Ramen and looked over the edge.
Ramen was right, this was Konoha, the cliff edge they were on was actually the head of one of the Hokages. In fact the head they were on was actually his own.
"Someone rebuilt the Hokage Monument," Kurumi said as she sidled up beside Naruto. The original had been completely annihilated when Madara had dropped the meteor on Konoha.
"It was Orochimaru-san," Yuuchi said as she joined them, "He rebuilt Konoha and made it the center of his operations after you disappeared. He named himself Hokage and had his head engraved into the mountain beside you, Naruto-san," she said as she pointed at the sculpture of Orochimaru's face on their left.
"Tsk, as much as I want to wipe his face off the mountain that's not why we're here," Naruto said as he promptly ignored Orochimaru's mug and concentrated on everything else around them, "In a way I'm glad you came Yuuchi, you can help verify that this is our Elemental Nations."
"It is," Ramen said before Yuuchi could respond, "I can feel it, whether or not this is the one Yuuchi-san is from, it is the one we're from."
"Really? That's good, I had to admit that was a worry of mine," Naruto said with obvious relief.
"Yes, and now I must leave you and rejoin with my former body," Ramen said as she turned to face the three of them, "You are still rejected by this universe, the amount of time you can remain here is limited before it ejects you again, only my will is preventing that from happening. I can extend it by remerging with the world and taking control of the laws that governs it."
"Thank you, will you be staying here then?" Naruto asked, he was of course referring to when they returned to Earth.
"Yes, but you can still connect to me through the earrings. And besides, we will be reunited soon regardless," Ramen said, referring to Naruto's plan.
"I've run into a problem with that…" Naruto muttered.
"It's not a problem," Ramen disagreed, "Earth doesn't like to be tampered with and it has become less accepting of you after I claimed you as my own. You will not have the same issues here as you would there."
"So the planet itself is preventing me from accomplishing my goal?" Naruto asked in confusion.
"Yes, although that's only part of it. The size, makeup, and the laws that govern it also interfere with your ability. I know what your plan is, and I desire it to succeed as well, send your clones here when it is time, you will succeed."
"That still doesn't address the problem with—"
"Do not worry about that," Ramen said, "I will deal with Gaia when the time comes, it will work well enough when it needs to work."
"Thank you," Naruto said as he bowed his head to Ramen.
"Do not thank me, I benefit from this as much as you do, more in some ways," Ramen replied, "Now I must go and rejoin with my old body."
With that said Ramen's corporeal form disappeared and in its place was a giant mass of multi-colored energy. The energy pulsated once and then disappeared flashed over the edge of the monument and disappeared into the ground below.
"I think I'll take my leave as well, I just wanted to mess with you," Kurumi said with a grin and disappeared as she dispelled the clone.
Naruto shook his head and let out a sigh, he thought that might have been the reason for Kurumi to appear. She had vowed vengeance against him for renaming her without her consent. He'd have to be more on guard in the future against any such attempts, and ready to counter at a moment's notice. He wasn't going to take it sitting down.
Naruto was drawn from his reflection when Yuuchi held her hand out to him, "Do you wish to see?" she asked.
"See what?" Naruto asked as he took her small hand in his own, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"My home," Yuuchi said with a small smile on her face.
The world shifted around them and Naruto found himself in a different place. He was on the veranda of an old style Japanese home, at least that's the way it appeared at first glance. The floor felt and looked like wood, but upon closer inspection you could see that it was anything but. The sound was all wrong and the 'groves' between the boards weren't actually groves. It was actually some artificial material constructed to look and feel like wood.
Naruto suspect most of the home was constructed from the same material. Considering the collapse of the world he suspect trees were one of the first plants to go considering the abundance of uses they had.
The veranda looked out onto a small, square section of barren rock and sand. Naruto had suspected it had once been a beautiful garden but any evidence of its former beauty was gone, only fragmented paths and plots of dirt remained. The former garden was enclosed on three sides by the veranda. The fourth side was blocked by a chest high wall, a wall that was just high enough to prevent Yuuchi from looking over it. The wall was still in immaculate condition, aside from a small section of it where the top had been knocked clean off.
Probably by a small individual with incredible strength that was annoyed by the inconvenient height of the wall.
Out past the wall Naruto could see nothing but water, whether the cliff went straight down to the water's edge or if there was a small beach he didn't know but regardless, it provided and incredible view.
"This is your home?" Naruto asked Yuuchi with interest as he looked around the beautiful place.
"Yes, this is where I grew up," and where she had helped raise the other pillars, "Kouten aside, it was the last place to become desolate. The seals here are powerful, ancient, originating from a time before Gaia was lost and improved upon since, some are active even now, a testament to their creator's prowess in the arts." It also meant that some secrets had been lost forever as the people of her time still had yet to create a perpetual chakra generating device, the one that had existed on her stasis pod had been created by Ramen, "Their presence, the fact that they had existed before the Great War, allowed this place to flourish long after many others withered and died," Yuuchi said as she brushed her hand along the edge of the worn pillar holding up the roof.
"There's no doors," Naruto noted as he glanced around the edge of the veranda.
"There was no need, it had ceased to rain almost a three hundred years before we left this world, although the barrier around the home would have kept the rain out regardless," Yuuchi explained.
"Barrier?"
"Yes, I used to charge it every few years or so, to keep it strong. It kept out the wind and the dust that blew over here from the mainland."
"Where IS here anyways?"
Yuuchi turned to Naruto and gave him a little smile, "Why, our home of course, the ancestral birth place of the Uzumaki Clan: Uzu no Kuni."
"Really?" Naruto said excitedly as he looked around with renewed interest. He jumped off the veranda and quickly made his way to the stone wall at the far side. His breath hitched in his throat when he got there. The view really was breath taking, but eerie all at the same time.
They were almost a hundred meters above sea level; it allowed him to see far into the distance. Just past the wall was a steep slope that made its way down to a large beach. The beach was about two hundred meters wide and ended at pair of rock walls that towered almost twenty meters above them. The walls curved out and around, almost meeting each other. However they stopped just shy of touching, just enough space between them that one could jump from one to the other without the aid of chakra. At the water line was a large number of jagged, serrated spikes that pierce the water, and due to how clear it was he could see many more that didn't quite break the surface.
It was a private beach and swim area, and obviously extra care had been taken to ensure that it was kept that way. Naruto could still see the faded outlines where seals had been engraved into the stone walls. Whatever had been there before, wasn't anymore, or at least there was no chakra empowering it.
The water was beautiful as well, it was perfectly clear, you could see straight down to the bottom with a problem.
But that in itself WAS a problem. The water was completely still, there wasn't a single ripple in it. No waves crashed against the shore, it just sat there, unmoving. And even beneath the waves there was nothing, just sand and rock, no fish, no plants, not even algae. It was completely dead, barren and void of life.
It almost caused him physical pain to look upon it. He could almost see how beautiful this view had been long ago. To see it like this was hard to accept, especially since he had always wanted to visit the birthplace of his mother, but not like this.
"The desolation had begun even during my time," Yuuchi said sadly as she stood near him, looking out over the wall through the smashed portion. "But there had been some life in the water, the waves still moved, and this garden was still green and vibrant. It used to be filled with many different kinds of exotic flowers, most of which had long since perished in their native lands." Yuuchi let out a long drawn out sigh, her next words came out so quietly Naruto would have missed them had the land not been so silent, "I watched them die off, one by one, until all that was left was grass, even the weeds had given up. I was almost happy to leave, glad that I did not have to watch even the green disappear."
"So much lost," Naruto whispered.
"And we will lose a lot more if we do not triumph," Yuuchi added.
"All the more reason succeed with my Plan, if all goes well this place may once again been green and verdant," Naruto said softly.
"Plan?" Yuuchi asked, drawing Naruto from his reflection.
"Yes, plan, just one of many I've put into motion for dealing with Orochimaru. This one just happens to be a bit more involved than the others," Naruto replied evasively.
"You do not wish to speak of it?" Yuuchi asked.
"Have you spoken about your own plans?" Naruto countered.
"Fair enough," Yuuchi said with a slight nod of her head, "I intend to interface with Kouten directly. From there I had intended to reactivate all the Sekirei taken there, send them back down to Shinto Teito, and then crash Kouten into the moon. Orochimaru-san has added increased security and locks on it and it has taken some time to break them down. I just recently finish breaking through them all. That is partly why I am here, to test out the interface before I use it to connect with Kouten."
Naruto started in surprise, "What? Why? Isn't Kouten a piece of the Elemental Nations?"
"It is, however Orochimaru-san is doing something with it, something that does not bode well for the rest of us. I do not intend to let him accomplish whatever it is he's trying to do," Yuuchi replied.
"I'm sorry but I can't let you do that!" Naruto said sternly.
"That is not your decision to make," Yuuchi said firmly.
"I've already lost enough precious people over the course of my life! I don't want to lose you as well!" Naruto shouted at her. While he wouldn't say Yuuchi occupied the same place in his heart as Hanabi and his Sekirei, he still cared about her, as a friend, a comrade, a mentor and more.
Yuuchi gave him a gentle smile, "It is nice to hear you say that, but Orochimaru must not be allowed to succeed in whatever it is he is doing. Destroying Kouten will have the greatest effect with the smallest loss of life."
"I don't intend to let him get away with whatever he's doing either," Naruto said as turned away from Yuuchi and glanced out across the deserted city, "I intend to take Earth away from him."
Yuuchi tilted her head in puzzlement.
Although he wasn't looking at her, he could sense her confusion, "I have two plans. Both of them would make your sacrifice irrelevant. Thankfully with Ramen's assurances I don't need to go with Plan X," Naruto said.
"Plan X?" That plan sounded as ominous now as it had back at Charlie Point.
"Yes," Naruto said as he grimaced, "A Hokage must sometimes make hard decisions; some decisions are harder than others. Plan X was my final plan, the final solution. If all else failed, if Orochimaru looked as if he was on the verge of succeeding in whatever it was he was planning…"
Naruto took a deep breath, "I was going to slam the moon into Earth, I was going to completely annihilate everything."
Yuuchi stood there shocked. For the first time since Naruto had known her she had been struck silent.
Naruto turned to her and gave her a sad smile, "It's all about numbers Yuuchi," he said sadly, "Eight billion on Earth, or the countless multitudes that exist out there in the universe now and in the future? I know Orochimaru, I know him far better than I wish I did. He was always obsessed with immortality during my time. He's obviously achieved that. What's left after achieving immortality? After living for ten thousand years he would have had ample time to learn everything there was, so what's left? The answer is simple: everything that was yet to be. Whatever he's planning, it's monumental, and involves more than just us. It involves the whole of the future as well. I won't let him take control of everything."
"Destroying Kouten would stop his plans," Yuuchi argued, "and with far less loss of life."
Naruto shook his head, "No, it would simply delay them. He spent ten thousand years planning for this, we foil him here, and he'll simply spend another ten thousand planning something else. We can't simply stop his plan, we need to prevent him from ever making another."
The two of them stood there silently for a few minutes as they measured the weight of their words. Plan X wasn't much of a plan, it was simply something to turn a win/lose situation into a lose/lose situation. Neither of them liked it very much, but in Naruto's opinion, letting Orochimaru win was even worse.
After a time Yuuchi finally spoke, "You mentioned another plan?"
"Yes, thankfully I don't think Plan X is needed," Naruto said with a smile. He was still unsure about the whole thing actually working but Ramen had given him her assurance and that meant a lot.
"And?"
"The plan I'm going with now is simple but complex at the same time," Naruto said. "The plan is…"
Naruto began to explain the plan to Yuuchi. Within moments Yuuchi understood what it was that Naruto wanted to do, he was right, it was very simple on paper. However to actually accomplish what he wanted to do, it would take an incredible amount of power, skill, and more than a little luck. It was the single most monumental achievement she had ever heard of being accomplished.
Or even thought of for that matter.
And in a very real sense it actually accomplished the original, albeit false, purpose that the Sekirei Plan had been created to do. It also explained why Ramen was so willing to support Naruto in his endeavor. She had far more to gain from it than anyone else by far.
"…and that's everything," Naruto said as he finished up explaining the entire thing, "So please don't crash Kouten into the moon, that would make things… difficult."
"Yes, I can see how it would," Yuuchi said as she thought about everything she had just been told. "It seems I will need to adjust my plans slightly."
"Thank you," Naruto said.
"It is no problem Naruto-san," Yuuchi replied, "It is not as if I desire death, there is still much I wish to experience before the end." She brought a hand up to her chin and went into deep thought.
She would still need to directly interface with Kouten. By doing that she would be able to restore the downed Sekirei that had been brought there. What Naruto was not aware of was that it wasn't just Miya's Sekirei that were there, but many of the other Sekirei from the other seven ships, including many of Orochimaru's, were also stored there as well. They wouldn't be in any condition to support Naruto in his fight against Orochimaru, indeed most of them probably wouldn't anyways, believing Orochimaru to be their saviour and all.
However she would definitely need to get them up and off Kouten before the final battle between Orochimaru and Naruto. Otherwise there was a very real risk of them getting caught up in the middle of it and perishing. She wanted to avoid that if at all possible. Then she could explain things afterwards, next to Orochimaru her voice held the most weight amongst the Sekirei. Of course she'd have to wait for things to have calmed down first, but most of them would listen. They were reasonable individuals for the most part.
Also she may be able to support Naruto while in control of Kouten. At the very least she'd be able to prevent Orochimaru from using it against him, and that would be worth more than any direct aid she could provide.
"Like what?" Naruto asked, curious about what it was that Yuuchi wanted to do, "I figured you'd have done everything by now."
Yuuchi gave Naruto a wry smile before looking back out over the ocean, "Hardly," she said as reached up and traced her fingers across the edge of the broken wall. "There was much that the people of old took for granted that the people of my time were no longer able to do, and of which I did not have the time to do after we landed. I wish to walk on the clouds, surf the waves of the ocean, learn an instrument and even…" she trailed off.
"Even what?" Naruto asked curiously.
"I have never been with a man," Yuuchi said as she turned back to Naruto. "My position never allowed me that luxury. I am not like the other Sekirei, there is no biological need to find an Ashikabi."
"I thought everyone had the biological need to procreate," Naruto said.
"Most do, yes," Yuuchi agreed.
"Do you?"
Yuuchi let out a short sigh, "I do not want an Ashikabi if that is what you are asking. I am content with my current status there is no point in winging me. I have already unlocked my complete potential and adjusted the bonding process. I cannot have an Ashikabi even if I were to go through the ritual." Nor did she want one, she would have to suffer them growing old and dying while she lived on. Long lasting attachments were not something she wanted to create, not with people she would outlive many times over.
She still wasn't sure if she should curse Evangeline for what she did to her or thank her for allowing her to live long enough to experience all the wonders life had to offer. She never would have made it to her sixteenth birthday without Evangeline.
"That doesn't exactly answer my question," Naruto said, pointing out that she never actually said she 'didn't' want to have children.
"No, I do not want children," Yuuchi stated clearly. She didn't want to have to watch them grow old and die. She had already been forced to watch all the friends she had played with as a child grow old and die, along with their children.
It was a pain she did not want to experience again.
"But you want to be with a man?"
"Being with a man does not mean one must carry a child," Yuuchi pointed out.
"Any man you're with will try, you may not want to carry but as Miya puts it, men have 'beastly desires,'" Naruto said.
"It would not matter."
"You're sterile?"
"Of course not," Yuuchi said shortly, she actually sounded a little offended by that.
"Then how can it not matter?!" Naruto demanded.
"Because I can freely control my body, it would not happen," Yuuchi said.
"That won't be enough, you've never been with a man, you don't know what it's like, you'll lose your control, I know it," Naruto argued.
A silence opened up between the two as Yuuchi turned to face him fully. She stared intently at Naruto for several long moments. It was more than a little unsettling and Naruto was afraid that he had unknowingly offended Yuuchi in some way.
When Yuuchi spoke again, her voice was filled with curiosity.
"Why are you so disturbed by the thought of me being with a man?" Yuuchi asked quietly.
"What?! I'm not—"
"You are," Yuuchi interrupted him, "From the moment I mentioned my desire to not have children you have done everything you could to refute that, to say that it's impossible to be with a man without getting with child. Why?"
"I—" Naruto stopped himself.
Why was he so disturbed by that thought?
He eyed Yuuchi's body up and down, taking in everything from the tips of her toes to the hyper-advanced machine on her head. His eyes memorized every aspect of her suit and the flawless skin it exposed.
That was when it hit him, he understood why he had such a problem with Yuuchi's desire and he was more than a little ashamed of the thought.
Plenty of women had seen her naked, but women always saw each other in the nude. This view however, this side of Yuuchi, he was the only man she had ever shown it to. The thought of another man's eyes drinking in this sight, drinking in Yuuchi, touching her, caressing her, taking her as their own.
It left him feeling uncomfortable, upset, almost angry even.
She was his and his alone.
"And who else's would I be?" Yuuchi asked.
Naruto started in surprise, "I ah… didn't say that last part aloud did I?" he asked hastily, hoping against hope she was just really good at reading expressions
"You mean the part where you said I am yours and yours alone?" Yuuchi asked curiously.
Naruto groaned and let his arms sag at his side, "I ah… didn't mean to say that, I just realized there were some rather ugly emotions boiling inside me, you're not mine to claim, you belong to yourself," he said as he tried to clarify and cover his ass.
Had he said anything like that to Miya or Hanabi they probably would have kicked his ass into next week, and then kicked him back after they chased him down again.
"The reasoning behind your words is clear now," Yuuchi said as she nodded her head sagely, "you are trying to dissuade me from being with a man because you do not like the thought of anyone else seeing this," she said as she gestured at her body.
Naruto flinched as if he was struck, "Ah, ya, again, sorry, I have no right to decide what you do with your own body," he apologized.
"You are quite right," Yuuchi said, "my body is mine to freely give to whomever I choose." There was a soft hiss as several pieces of machinery moved within Yuuchi's head piece. The small Pillar reached up and pulled the machine off her head, her hair cascaded out from within the device and down her back. With a quick flare of her chakra the device disappeared within a storage seal located on her body.
"Ya…" Naruto said sadly. Why did it hurt so much to admit that?
"I wish to be with a man and so I will be. If the man I currently desire to be with does not share the same desire, then I will look elsewhere," Yuuchi said as she turned back to look out over the wall, watching the waves gently lap at the shoreline. "You should not let Miya-san or Hanabi-san dictate your sex life."
Naruto gaped at Yuuchi, "How do you know that…" he stopped as she gave him a pointed look, "Oh, the ventilation system, you mentioned that before."
"Yes, a word of advice, it is not for Hanabi-san and Miya-san to dictate how the others interact with you. You know your Sekirei best, you know what they like and dislike, you decide what is best. If they wish to have 'the beast unleashed,' well that is for the two of you to decide, not Hanabi-san and Miya-san. They are your Sekirei, not theirs, despite how much Miya-san would like to believe otherwise."
"I don't think they were entirely seriously," Naruto said as he came to their defense.
"Serious or not, if you do not draw the line it will become actuality. Women will often say things 'in jest' to see how you react, if you do not push back hard enough, they will turn it into reality."
"I will keep that in mind," Naruto said as he brushed some hair from his eyes. The light breeze felt nice on his skin, the air was very hot and dry.
"Good."
"You really don't understand women do you, father?" Ramen said as she materialized before them, hovering just a couple feet about the ground just past the stone wall.
"Ramen! I didn't think I'd see you for a while," Naruto said as he beamed a smile at her. The smile quickly disappeared when he realized what she said, "hey! I do so understand women!"
"No, you don't," Ramen said with finality.
"Have you reconnected with your old body?" Yuuchi asked.
Ramen gave her a dry look, "Do you mean to tell me you haven't noticed the breeze or the waves yet?"
"Well… now that you mention it, ya," Naruto said. He did feel a light breeze, and the water was definitely moving again, although neither was anywhere near the strength it should be at.
"It'll take some time before it's back to its normal speed, but the planet is spinning once more," Ramen said with satisfaction.
"That's good to hear," Naruto said.
"Yes, but you have something you must do, father," Ramen said as she stared at him, "You need to place your markers across the planet."
"Oh right! That was the entire reason I came here!" Naruto said, completely forgetting the entire purpose of coming back to the Elemental Nations due to everything that had happened.
"I have my own markers all across this world, would they suffice?" Yuuchi offered.
Naruto shook his head, "No, I've made some modifications to mine." He couldn't use hers as much as he wanted to, he needed the pinpoint accuracy and refinement he had incorporated into his own seals.
"I see, come then," Yuuchi said as she started for the house, beckoning Naruto to follow after him.
"What is it?" Naruto asked as he followed after the small pillar.
Yuuchi didn't respond, she simply disappeared down one of the hallways into the home. With a shake of his head Naruto quickly followed, but paused momentarily at the entrance. He looked behind him at the garden wall, Ramen was gone once more. With a shrug he turned back and headed inside.
It was easy to follow Yuuchi's presence through the house, she was the only living thing Naruto could feel anywhere in the vicinity. After heading down two different hallways that looked identical to one another he found her standing in the middle of one of the many rooms in the house.
The room was fairly nondescript. The walls, floor and ceiling were made to look like a typical Japanese room with tatami mats and paper walls, but Naruto could see that like the veranda they were made of something else meant to simulate those materials. The only furnishing in the room was a large cushion in the center of the room and beside it a strange contraption that looked similar to Yuuchi's futuristic headgear, but at the same time very different.
"What are we doing here?" Naruto asked curiously as he entered the room and stopped just before the large cushion.
"I am going to share some of my knowledge," Yuuchi said as she picked up the machine and carried it to the center of the cushion. She sat down in the very center and beckoned Naruto to join her. "With this machine we can share knowledge, through it I can give the location of all my markers, using those you can send your clones to the far corners of the world easily, and quickly."
"Oh!" Well that was certainly convenient, but Naruto wasn't about to complain. It would greatly cut down on how long he would have to spend here laying down markers.
"Please, sit," Yuuchi gestured to a spot in front of her.
"Right," Naruto said and hurried onto the cushion. He took up his usual cross-legged position before her, the same as he did when she taught him.
No sooner was Naruto in a seated position then Yuuchi crawled into his lap. She unfolded his legs and straightened them out so that she could easily place her knees to either side of his hips.
Naruto couldn't help but swallow hard as Yuuchi pressed her body against his, dragging her chest across his as she raised her hips high enough so that her face was level with his own.
He kept silent however as Yuuchi lifted up the machine and fastened it over her head. Upon closer inspecting it looked very much like the machine Yuuchi had on earlier, except this one looked more like an amalgamation of two of them stuck together face to face. Another key difference was that this one covered the entire face, including the mouth. Taking queue from Yuuchi's action Naruto pulled the other side of the machine over his head.
"Please channel some chakra into the device," an electronic voice murmured into Naruto's head. At first Naruto thought it was the device talking to him but quickly realized it was a digitized version of Yuuchi's voice.
Channeling some chakra through his head he felt, heard and saw the machine whirl into life. The lights came on and he could see Yuuchi. Her face was a hairs breadth away from his. He could literally feel her breath on his face and smell the delicate herbal scent that always clung to her. He could make out every single detail on her face and he had to remark once more just how flawless her skin was, there wasn't a single imperfection to be found anywhere. The only thing that separated the two appeared to be a thin film made out of some unknown material that he couldn't identify.
"How does this work?" Naruto asked nervously. He wasn't quite sure what to do from this point on and being so close to Yuuchi made him ache for things he wasn't sure he should take.
"Do not worry, this device was used by teachers to teach students quickly, you just need to relax and not resist," Yuuchi replied.
"Right," Naruto said as he pushed his nervousness away and relax his mind and body, adopting the serene state normally reserved for the gathering of natural chakra.
"Yes, good," Yuuchi said as the noise within the machine picked up. Yuuchi's eyes glowed momentarily and then seemed to glaze over.
At first Naruto thought that something had gone wrong when suddenly he knew where one of the markers were, a second appeared soon after.
You should probably make some shadow clones, Kurumi whispered from within his head.
Another memory appeared in his head.
I don't want to disturb her, Naruto sent back.
You won't disturb me, Yuuchi added to their conversation.
Two more locations became available.
Yuuchi-san? Naruto asked with some alarm.
A sixth location appeared.
I am here, Naruto-san, for now, I will leave when you have the knowledge you require, Yuuchi replied.
Ah, right, making clones now, Naruto sent. He didn't find it too uncomfortable to have Yuuchi in his mind so he didn't dwell on it for very long. He channeled chakra through his hands out in the real world. Six clones suddenly appeared in the room. They took a brief moment to take stock of their surroundings before they disappeared, heading to one of the locations that had appeared in his head.
This actually feels kind of pleasant, Naruto sent as Yuuchi continued to implant more knowledge into his mind. He could feel her hands upon his mind, her breath between his thoughts. It felt warm and cozy, like relaxing under a warm kotatsu on a cold winter's day.
It is exhausting however, Yuuchi replied as she imparted another location.
Will you be alright? Naruto sent as he made some more clones, sending these ones off to the new locations.
This is very chakra intensive, but I should have enough to finish, Yuuchi replied.
Should?
It means she's asking for assistance, Kurumi snapped at him, how dense can you be?
That didn't sound like a request to me, Naruto pouted.
I would take any assistance you are willing to provide, Yuuchi replied, her voice sounded a little more strained than before, I should have enough to accomplish this but it will leave me too exhausted to do much else.
How can I help? Naruto asked as he made another batch of clones. When it was put like that he understood. It wasn't that Yuuchi needed help transferring the memories, it was more she needed help if she wanted to be able to move afterwards.
Have sex with her, Kurumi said.
Ha, ha, I'm trying to be serious, Naruto retorted.
No, Kurumi is correct, Yuuchi said, causing Naruto to do a mental double take, the chakra absorption seal within my womb will transfer the energy in your seed into energy that I can use.
But you said you can't trigger a Norito, Naruto protested.
Of course not, but I can still absorb and utilize the energy you provide, Yuuchi responded, I will not pressure you any further, as I said, I can accomplish this task without your aid.
You're really going to just let her handle this burden entirely on her own? Kurumi asked incredulously, I had thought you better than this.
But she can't really want this… Naruto trailed off. It would be her first time.
You certainly are slow when it comes to women, Naruto-san, if I was not interested why would I willingly show so much of myself to you? Yuuchi asked.
But you insulted my manhood earlier… Naruto trailed off, not really believing the turn of events.
Yours is the first I have ever seen, Yuuchi sent with a mental shrug to Naruto, your ego was getting too big for your head so I decided to do something about it.
Ugh, so that comment was just poking fun at my manhood?
Yes, Yuuchi said as she gently brushed her fingers across the tip of Naruto's manhood, it is actually quite impressive.
Ah, fine, I'll give you the energy you need! Don't complain when it's more than you can handle! Naruto sent.
I am quite certain I can handle it Naruto-san, Yuuchi replied.
I just hope Hanabi doesn't learn of this, Naruto muttered.
It would not matter, you are her Hokage, command her to stand down. This is being done for the sake of your Plan to deal with Orochimaru, Yuuchi replied.
You have an answer for everything, don't you, Naruto sent as he began to caress her body with his hands.
Of course, I would have thought that obvious by now, Yuuchi replied, her thoughts laced with amusement.
Naruto couldn't help but smile at that comment as his hands continued to explore Yuuchi's body. His hands slipped between them and gently cupped Yuuchi's small breasts. Her body jerked slightly at the unexpected touch.
Naruto-san? Yuuchi sent curiously. As pleasant as it was she couldn't absorb chakra through her breasts.
Just trying to prepare you, Naruto replied as he explained his actions.
I can make myself wet enough for easy entrance without the foreplay, Naruto-san, Yuuchi pointed out.
I know, Naruto sent back, remembering her ability to make herself orgasm at will, but there is a certain process that needs to be observed, this is your first time.
I see, then I shall defer to you in this case, Yuuchi finished, essentially giving Naruto free reign to do as he pleased.
Just relax and enjoy the feeling, Naruto sent back as his hands massaged and caressed her sensitive breasts, making sure to pay extra special attention to the tips. They became hard and stiff almost instantly, indicating the rise in Yuuchi's arousal.
Leaving his left hand there to continue its gentle ministration of her breasts, his right hand dipped down between her legs, leaving a trail of goose bumps on her flesh in its wake. Yuuchi let out a quick gasp as two of his fingers slipped past her pink folds. His fingers began to make slow circular motions inside her causing a wave of pleasure to crash down upon Yuuchi, momentarily breaking her concentration.
Yuuchi quickly gathered her thoughts and went back to imparting knowledge into Naruto's mind. However she quickly realized it was become more and more difficult as Naruto's ministrations brought her closer to her release.
She had to admit that Naruto's words earlier may have had a hint of truth to them. Pleasuring oneself, and having someone you care about do it for you, are two very different things. Still she could handle this much, even if obscene noises did start to pick up from between her legs. She could definitely feel her own wetness.
It felt different than usual though, more real and erotic, than when she had forced herself over the edge when teaching Naruto how to project seals.
Or any other time she had pleasured herself for that matter.
I think you're about ready, Naruto sent to Yuuchi as he pulled his fingers out of her.
Yuuchi's heart skipped a beat has her mind, I see, I am ready, she said as she tried to focus on her own task.
She's having trouble concentrating, Kurumi noted in amusement.
It is nothing, Yuuchi dismissed and imparted the location of another marker.
I already know that one Yuuchi, Naruto pointed out.
Yuuchi frowned, he was right. In her distraction she had forgotten where she had left off. My apologies Naruto-san, Yuuchi said as she gave him another marker location, this time she was certain it was a new one.
I'm entering, Naruto sent as he positioned himself at her entrance.
You do not need to describe every step-AHH! Yuuchi's thought was interrupted and she flooded Naruto's mind with a powerful burst of pleasure as Naruto buried himself deep within her body.
All thoughts of imparting the marker locations disappeared as her mind became wholly consumed with this new feeling of fullness. Naruto was large, and her body small, so he filled her completely and still had length to spare. There was no pain, no discomfort, her body was too refined and enhanced for that, but she had never felt this full before.
Wow, this is incredible, you're tighter than Blanc, and yet there's less resistance, Naruto thought in amazement.
Of course, Yuuchi gasped out, I have refined my body to the utmost and if it is not enough I can adjust it more. There was a hint of pride in her thoughts.
Pushing the haze of pleasure from her mind she went back to work. Or at least she tried to as her mind was quickly slammed with another wave of pleasure as Naruto buried himself inside her a second time. She quickly pushed that haze aside only to be hit with another wave of pleasure, and another.
She couldn't concentrate. Every time she tried to impart knowledge a wave of pleasure would slam into her and break her concentration. This wouldn't work; she had to go at this from a different angle.
With a quick application of chakra she broke her connection with Naruto's mind and turned off the machine. She grabbed the machine and pulled it off their heads and set it to the side. She took a deep breath of fresh air and instantly noticed that it was heavy with sweat and sex, her sweat and sex.
"Yuuchi?" Naruto asked in confusion. He didn't understand why Yuuchi had stopped, he was certain they weren't finished.
Yuuchi glanced down at where Naruto was slowly pumping in and out of her. She instantly saw the reason for her sense of fullness, she could actually a slight bulge in her stomach each time Naruto buried himself inside her. And her distraction coincided with the waves of pleasure that crashed upon her mind with each thrust.
Glancing up Yuuchi gave him a deadpanned look, "It appears you were somewhat correct in your earlier assessment of being with a man," Yuuchi said, admitting her error in a rare admission, "It seems being taken is somewhat of a distracting process."
"I told you so," Naruto said smugly.
"There's a different between delicately imparting knowledge into another's mind, and controlling my ability to bear children," Yuuchi said curtly as she cut down Naruto's sense of satisfaction.
"So, what now?" Naruto asked.
"We continue," Yuuchi said as she wrapped her arms around his neck, "I have given you almost two thirds of the markers I know. I am not quite exhausted yet but now is as good a time as any to take a break and recharge."
"So you still want me to fill you up?" Naruto asked.
"Of course, and without the machine it can be done more effectively," Yuuchi said.
"Not seeing—" whatever he was trying to say was cut short as Yuuchi kissed him.
Oh, now he understood. Sekirei had two chakra absorption seals, one in their mouths and one in their womb.
Naruto wrapped his arms around Yuuchi's small body and shifted their position. He placed her back against the cushioned floor and covered her body with his own. Their mouths were locked together as Yuuchi's tongue greedily sucked in his saliva. Down below Yuuchi had her legs split wide to give Naruto complete and unimpeded access to the inner most parts of her body.
It didn't take long for either of them to reach a climax. Yuuchi reached it first, this being her first time with anyone. Her eyes widened as she felt her body crash over the edge. Her body tightened around Naruto and sucked him in deep. Naruto let out a surprise gasp into Yuuchi's mouth as he himself slide the rest of the way in, penetrating into the very inner most depths.
And that was all he could take, in that exact moment his release exploded out from him, filling her completely.
For a singular, brief moment, Yuuchi's mind blanked as the waves of pleasure became too much for her to take all at once. However once she regained control of her faculties she activated the seal within her womb and began to absorb Naruto's release into her body.
Breaking the lip lock for a moment Yuuchi gazed up at Naruto with lidded eyes, "You sure are vigorous; there is a lot of energy stored within your seed."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Naruto said with a grin.
"It is, at this rate I will only require four more releases to be fully restored," Yuuchi replied.
"Four?" Naruto said in surprise.
Yuuchi tilted her head to the side and looked at Naruto in confusion, "Yes… four, did you think that a single release would be enough for me?" she asked with a small frown on her face.
"I ah… well…" Naruto stopped and let out a long sigh, "Never mind, I give up."
"Good, as you should. Now, let us continue," Yuuchi said with as she locked her lips with Naruto's once more.
With all that needed to be said, said, the two continued on without conversation, becoming wholly absorbed in the other's body. Naruto continued to feed his endless supply of chakra into Yuuchi and her body continued to absorb it like a bottomless pit.
Each time Naruto brought her over the edge, her body sucked him into her deepest parts and drove him to the brink as well. Naruto quickly lost count how many times he had released himself within her.
After a dozen times it just didn't seem to matter anymore.
Yuuchi was in no hurry to end any time soon. True to her word her chakra had been fully restored by Naruto's fifth release. After that she stopped absorbing it and simply allowed it to flow through her and dribble out onto the cushion.
This was one of the things she had always wanted to experience, and there was no guarantee she would ever experience it again. She would never be Naruto's Sekirei, or his wife. But at the very least, at this very moment, she would find some solace in his arms. She had been alone for so long that she wasn't in any hurry to end it so soon.
Naruto must have sensed that somewhere deep within him, as he too seemed to have no desire to end things early. He seemed content to pleasure her for as long as she wished to be pleasured.
They ended up in a variety of positions as they shifted multiple times over the course of the day. Yuuchi wanted to experience everything she could, and Naruto did his utmost to fulfil her desire.
It was many hours later when the two of them had finally had their fill.
Naruto was laying on his back, panting slightly from his last release. Above him, straddling his waist, was Yuuchi. He was still buried deep inside her and she didn't seem inclined at all to pull out.
"Twenty-seven times," Yuuchi said as she rubbed her stomach, "you truly are vigorous, is this your own natural stamina or is it being enhanced by Kurumi?" Yuuchi asked curiously.
"The stamina is mine," Naruto said. He reached out and lightly brushed the place where the two of them were joined, "Kurumi just makes sure certain parts of my anatomy can keep up with my stamina."
"Ah, yes, that does make sense," Yuuchi said as she nodded sagely, "I did find it a bit odd that you never decreased in amount or thickness."
I made sure it was extra potent, Kurumi said viciously, Yuuchi will regret those lapse in concentration.
You don't seem very 'angelic' for an angel, Naruto commented. He had a feeling he knew what Kurumi was trying to hint at.
Did you really expect my personality to change? Kurumi asked in disbelief.
Maybe a little, Naruto admitted
I told you before! I may have the body of a woman, but I have the soul of a fox!
Those are still mutually exclusive things…
"Are you ready to restart the transfer of knowledge?" Yuuchi asked.
"Ah, ha, well, that's not needed anymore," Naruto said sheepishly. "We were having sex for so long my clones were able to get everywhere they needed to be."
"Oh, I see, that is good," Yuuchi said, she sounded a little disappointed despite her words.
"Yes, father is quite efficient when he needs to be," Ramen said as she suddenly appeared beside them.
"Ramen!" Naruto started in surprise, "Were you watching?"
"Of course, I have a vested interest here. I witnessed everything," Ramen said.
Yuuchi frowned, "My control did not slip."
"It did," Ramen said, "Each time Naruto released himself into you, you blacked out for a moment, well it is more accurate to say that your mind was overwhelmed by pleasure. In that short interval your control slipped, there is a child growing within you now."
She had made sure of that herself, she had noticed the fragment helping as well.
Yuuchi's frown deepened, "That is… most unfortunate," she said as she focused her attention on her womb. They were right, she could feel meiosis beginning to happen inside her. "I will need to purge it from my body. This will complicate interfacing with Kouten."
"Do not worry, this war against Orochimaru will be over before the week is out," Ramen said. "Your child won't have time to develop enough to cause complications."
Kouten wasn't the only problem Yuuchi was afraid of. She was tired of seeing people she cared about grow old and die while she lived on. Necessity had dictated that should would be forced to accept the same again, here, with Naruto, Miya and the others, but she had hoped to keep her distance as much as possible.
It was hard to keep one's distance from their own flesh and blood.
"And I would prefer it if you did not dispose of your child," Ramen added before Yuuchi could rid herself of her future heartache.
"May I ask why you seem to be so interested in my child?" Yuuchi asked suspiciously. Ramen may seem like she was on their side, but she was still the living embodiment of an entire world. It was hard fathom why she would hold so much interest in a single piece of it.
"In a moment," Ramen said as she turned to Naruto, "come out UPUAO MYHNTLUA VM AOL NBHYKPHU, P DVBSK OHCL H DVYK DPAO FVB (ninth fragment of the Guardian, I would have a word with you)."
Naruto's mind exploded in pain as Ramen spoke. With a hiss of anger and pain he grabbed his head and held it tight. The pain was excruciating, and it had nothing to do with Kurumi being forcibly pulled from his stomach.
"You're killing them!" Naruto heard Kurumi shout at Ramen.
Them? What did she mean them? The answer came quickly as he felt Yuuchi's body clench, her legs wrapped tightly against his waist. Through bleary eyes he could see that she was in just as much pain as he was. He couldn't understand a word Ramen was saying, it didn't even sound like a language. It was just a giant mass of noise and feelings, many of which he couldn't even comprehend.
"AOLF HYL UVA AOHA DLHR (They are not that weak)," Ramen replied, "FVB OVDLCLY, OHCL MHPSLK PU FVBY KBAF (You however, have failed in your duty)."
"Maybe if you had created something other than a giant mass of power with no real intelligence we wouldn't have!" Kurumi snapped back.
Suddenly Kurumi found herself flattened to the floor as an unimaginably powerful force slammed into her. Try as she might she couldn't lift a single finger or channel an ounce of chakra. Ramen had rendered her completely powerless. Here, Ramen was absolute, Kurumi was simply a tiny fragment that had been given form to protect her against threats. Or rather that was what the Jubi had been, but as the largest fragment of the Jubi the blame ultimately landed on her shoulders.
"KV UVA XBLZAPVU TF HJAPVUZ, AOLF ZBMMPJLK MVY IPSSPVUZ VM FLHYZ, PA DHZ AOL SHWZL VM AOL NBHYKPHU AOHA HSSVDLK OBTHUZ AV OHCL JOHRYH PU AOL MPYZA WSHJL (Do not question my actions, they sufficed for billions of years, it was the lapse of the Guardian that allowed humans to have chakra in the first place)," Ramen snapped angrily. Her expression softened as she continued on, "IBA P HT UVA OLYL AV KDLSS VU AOL WHZA, UVY AV WBUPZO FVB. AOLF OHCL JOHRYH UVD HUK DL OHCL AV HKHWA. H TPUKSLZZ ILHZA DPSS UV SVUNLY ZBMMPJL (But I am not here to dwell on the past, nor to punish you. They have chakra now and we have to adapt. A mindless beast will no longer suffice)."
The pain was beginning to subside, although Naruto felt like his head was still on fire. What's more he was starting to understand what it was that she was saying. It was one part vocal, one part emotion, and one part something completely alien. The first two were completely meaningless to him without the third part and his mind wasn't capable of putting all three together to form coherence.
As the conversation between Kurumi and Ramen continued Naruto was able to pick up on more and more of the conversation. He still couldn't make heads or tails of what the two of them were talking about, and it wasn't until the very end of the conversation that he was able to completely understand what was going on.
"… you will pass that on to the others when you rejoin them," Ramen said.
"Yes," Kurumi whimpered, sounding very much like a kicked puppy.
"Good, it seems Yuuchi and father can finally understand me," Ramen said in satisfaction as she turned to the two of them.
"You changed them?" Kurumi asked tentatively.
"I did," Ramen said.
"Change?" Naruto asked in confusion. His head was still throbbing.
"It appears that Gaia has modified us," Yuuchi said as she delicately rubbed a couple fingers over her temple, "she has modified our brains so that we can understand her." She could feel the changes in her head. It would take her a few days to go thoroughly over everything that Gaia had modified. It wasn't an unwelcome change though she would have liked some warning.
"Is that why my head feels like someone set it on fire?"
"The discomfort will pass, growth and evolution never comes without pain," Ramen replied.
"You will explain why I should keep my child," Yuuchi stated firmly as she gave Ramen an even look.
"I would like to ask something of you two," Ramen said calmly, unperturbed by Yuuchi's demand for answers.
"What is it?" Naruto asked, wondering what he could possibly offer. Up until now Ramen had essentially been the one helping him, and all simply because he had given her a body to use.
Yuuchi stared at Ramen for a long moment, "I take it this request has to do with why you wish for me to keep my child?"
"Of course, I would not ask you to suffer needlessly."
"I will listen."
"The one you know as Kurumi has agreed, it has no choice, but you two do. Please think carefully about what I ask of you next, it will decide the course of your future," Ramen said.
"That… sounds ominous," Naruto said slowly.
"Perhaps," Ramen said, "In the past the Guardian, which you have labeled as the Jubi, was my sole defensive measure, it is no longer enough. Humans have chakra and while they are not as powerful, their ingenuity and adaptability will allow them to come out ahead. That Guardian of old shall be no more, there will be a new Guardian, with a new form, and a new will, one capable of the higher levels of thinking needed to deal with empowered humans."
"And you do not believe that will be enough?" Yuuchi asked, already guessing where this conversation was headed.
"Correct, to put it into an analogy you can readily understand, I do not wish to put all my eggs in one basket," Ramen said, "I would like to have you two to also act as my Guardians."
"You would curse Naruto-san with immortality?" Yuuchi asked.
"It is not a curse if you have others to spend eternity with," Ramen returned, "Naruto will be able to protect the Sekirei and their descendants for as long as he desires."
Naruto slowly sat up, wrapping arm around Yuuchi and pulling her tight against his chest. There was a worried look in his eyes as he stared down at the small woman in his arms. "Yuuchi… you're immortal?"
Yuuchi let out a soft sigh, "Yes, Naruto-san, Evangeline turned me into an immortal vampire a long time ago," she said. She pulled back slightly and gazed up into Naruto's eyes, "that is why I know the pain, sorrow, and regret that comes with it. To be forced to watch everyone you care about grow old and die is a fate I would not wish upon anyone, it is why I cautioned you against throwing away your mortality."
"I don't understand…"
"It was thanks to her that I live, I would have died had she not changed me. Do not concern yourself with my fate, it is something I have come to terms with already, but it is not something I wish for you to deal with," Yuuchi explained further.
"That's why you don't want kids, you don't want to have to watch them grow old… and die."
"Yes."
"If the both of you agree, that will not happen," Ramen said as she interjected into the middle of the conversation, "If both parents are immortal, the child will be immortal."
"You are trying to guilt him into accepting," Yuuchi said disapprovingly. She knew Naruto well enough by now to know that if Ramen appealed to his 'softer' side that he'd agree to almost anything.
"I am simply laying out the facts, it is for him to decide," Ramen replied refuted her. "I will not force him, I do not want an unwilling Guardian. Neither will I force you. If you decline, then there is no reason for you to keep your child, you will be free to rid yourself of it. The Gaia of Earth had the right idea, one singular, powerful being, the 'Beast of Gaia' to deal with extreme threats, and a number of lesser Guardians, or 'True Ancestors' as they have been labeled, to deal with the lesser ones. The Gaia of Earth simply chose incompetent Guardians, like a mindless beast that is easily swayed or worthless children who can barely control their own urges. I will not have that problem with you."
"I don't know…" Naruto said softly. He was torn. His sense of duty, of protecting the Sekirei, Konoha, the world, everything, urged him to accept. The thought of leaving Yuuchi all alone after he was dead was also a fate too cruel to want to entertain.
But could he stand the heartbreak of watching his other Sekirei die of old age while he lived on? Hanabi, Yume, Akitsu, Blanc, Chime, and even Miya. They would all eventually pass on leaving him behind.
"What about the others? My Sekirei?" Naruto asked softly.
"I have no intention of including them. They are each too flawed in one manner or another. And would you really wish them to share in your immortality? It is not the curse that Yuuchi believes it to be, but it is a great burden."
"No… no you're right, I wouldn't want that for them," Naruto agreed. As much as they all said they were his 'forever and ever' he doubted they ever truly understood what eternity meant. Of all his Sekirei, Hanabi was the sole person he felt could truly handle immortality.
But he loved her far too much to do that to her. The first thousand, even ten thousand, years would be wonderful, but after that? She would come to hate him for what he did to her, better to spend a hundred long, enjoyable years with her and immortalize those memories then to cheapen them with ten thousand years of mediocrity.
But did he himself want immortality? He did not know, he wasn't sure if even he would be able to stand it.
"Naruto-san, I…" Yuuchi took a deep breath, "I will follow your decision. If you wish to become her Guardian, I will as well, if you do not, I will decline. There is nothing to say that I would not someday be free of my immortality and I will be quite content exploring all life has to offer in the meantime."
To her she'd rather be Gaia's Guardian. She was cursed with immortality regardless, and living with a purpose was better than living without one. However she didn't want her decision to be the deciding factor that pushed Naruto into accepting Ramen's deal so she had left her decision in his hands. If she was not bound as Ramen's Guardian then she was free to live out the rest of her days as she willed.
Ramen, however, despite her words however, desired only one answer.
She saw Naruto struggle with himself; she knew that he was on the edge. That it would only take a single push to knock him to one side or the other. And thankfully she knew just what to say to push him in the direction she desired.
"Blanc is immortal."
"NO!" Yuuchi screamed at Ramen, aghast at what she just did. She had known about Blanc since the beginning but had deliberately kept silent to prevent Naruto from trying to achieve immortality.
Blanc could be killed or die due to sickness, but she was extremely resistant to both, and did not age. The same went for Neptune, Noire and Vert. All four of them shared the same type of immortality.
Naruto's eyes slowly widened in disbelief as he looked back and forth between Yuuchi and Ramen, "… what… what did you just say?" To say that he was shocked was an understatement, both at the revelation and Yuuchi's rare outburst. It was the first time he had ever seen her lose her composure.
"Blanc is immortal," Ramen repeated herself, "by accepting to become my Guardian you will not only have Yuuchi and the children you two sire together to keep you company, but Blanc and the children the two of you have as well—"
"No! Stop!" Yuuchi cried out, her composure completely shattered. The last thing she desired of Naruto was immortality. If he accepted, he would eventually come to regret it. She was certain of it.
"—The children of two immortals will be immortal, that is the rule I have set in place," Ramen said, continuing over Yuuchi as if she had never spoken, "if you do not become my Guardian, any child you have with Blanc will be mortal. She will be forced to watch them grow old and die, watch you grow old and die."
Naruto just sat there, shell shocked by the sudden revelation. To think that two of the people he interacted with on a daily basis suddenly turned out to be immortal was almost beyond his ability to accept. Yuuchi he could see, she had that personality, that presence, that aura that shouted 'wise,' 'ancient,' and 'venerable.'
He did not see that with Blanc.
He turned to look at Yuuchi who now had her head buried helplessly in his chest. Her tiny hands were clenched into fists and he could feel a slight dampness on his chest.
"You knew?" Naruto asked.
"I know everything about every Sekirei," Yuuchi whispered, "Blanc-san is immortal, but she can die from injury or sickness like anyone else. She can live forever, yes, but she will only live for as long as she desires. She has the ability to end her life when she grows tired of it."
"Can't you do the same?"
"No, my immortality is a little different, closer in truth to that of Ayesha's although not quite as extreme. I can die, but I am not strong enough to kill myself."
That spoke volumes for how difficult it would be to end her permanently. Yuuchi was incredibly powerful, but if the power she wielded wasn't enough to end her own life, it would take a power beyond even his own to end her.
Naruto let out a long sigh, "So two of the people I care about are immortal…" he said.
"Yes," Yuuchi said quietly, "I never wanted you to find out, I wanted to spare you the pain that comes with immortality."
"Do you regret your own immortality?" he asked.
Yuuchi very much wanted to tell him yes, to say that it was her biggest regret. But that was not entirely true. There were times that she was extremely glad that she had been saved. Naruto deserved to know the truth.
"Sometimes, yes," Yuuchi said as she pulled away. She looked down at where the two of them were joined, "but sometimes I come across a wonderful experience that makes me thankful that I lived long enough to be a part of it."
Naruto looked up at Ramen, the expression on his face resolute. He knew his answer, they all did, but the words needed to be said. He had been leaning towards that answer even before Ramen had dropped the bombshell about Blanc. He was never one to shy away from helping another simply because it caused him a little bit of suffering.
He was used to suffering.
"I accept, I will become your Guardian," Naruto said.
"Are you certain? You will not be able to go back on your decision afterwards," Ramen asked.
Naruto nodded. He was certain Hanabi and the others would kick his ass when they found out, holler and scream at him and demand that they be made immortal to spend forever and ever with him as well.
But he wouldn't let that happen, he wouldn't let them share in his fate.
"I am certain."
"It is done," Ramen said.
"That's it?" Naruto asked in surprise. He hadn't felt anything. He had assumed there would have been a giant explosion of fireworks or a shifting of flesh and bone.
"That is it, I desired you to be my Guardian exactly because you are what you are, I am not going to change that. Time simply no longer affects you, nor will it any child you have with another immortal," Ramen said simply. It would be a different story with his children of course. Any child of between Naruto and Yuuchi would be born with a great many benefits that they wouldn't normally possess.
"Oh," Naruto said.
"Remember you have always been, and will always be, a part of me. Your acceptance has simply granted me the ability to empower you when you need it."
"Will you help me with Orochimaru?" Naruto asked hopefully.
Ramen shook her head negatively, "Not directly, no. While you are now my Guardian, in truth there won't be any way to empower you until after this current crisis is over." She needed her body back and full of life before she was willing to lend energy enough to be of assistance. The natural energy she provided through the earrings was the most she could do to support him for the time being.
"I see," Naruto said a little disappointed. It would have been nice to have more fire power to bring to the battle against Orochimaru, he was going to need every advantage he could get.
"And you?" Ramen asked Yuuchi as she turned her gaze to the small Pillar in Naruto's arms, "You do not have to agree simply because father has. You are already immortal, you do not need to bind yourself to me if you do not wish."
"No, I accept as well. I will not leave this responsibility to Naruto-san alone," Yuuchi replied.
"Then it is done," Yuuchi said in satisfaction. "You will keep your child?"
Yuuchi rubbed her stomach again and let out a small sigh, "I will, although with this small body I foresee complications."
"We can address that later," Ramen said, "do not worry, I will not allow any complications."
That child, and any other children the two have, would also become Guardians in her service. She wasn't going to let anything happen to them. They were all hers now, and through them she would ensure that she was taken care of properly. She would not fall like the Gaia of Earth has.
"I guess I need to start looking for a ring for you after all," Naruto said to Yuuchi.
Yuuchi shook her head, "No, do not bother. You have enough with the other six. So long as I can experience this," Yuuchi gestured towards their joining, "from time to time I am content."
"Are you sure?"
"I am quite sure," Yuuchi said as she crossed her arms beneath her breasts, "it will give us something to do in the far future."
"I need to leave you two now," Ramen said as she stepped back from them, "there is still much I must do before the end." And with that she disappeared once more into thin air.
"Interesting," Yuuchi said suddenly as she peered over Naruto's shoulder.
"What?" He asked as he turned around. Sitting there with her back against the wall and her wings splayed out around her on the ground was Kurumi. "Kurumi?"
"She pulled me out," Kurumi said as she lifted her eyes to look at Naruto. There was still a pained look in her eyes from when Ramen had berated her, "you're no longer a Jinchuriki."
"What?"
Naruto wasn't sure how many more bombshells he could take before he had a mental break down. He didn't even know how to begin to process this little bit of information. While he was happy that Kurumi was now free, what did that mean about his Angel Cloak?
"So… you're free now," Naruto said slowly.
"Yes, looks like I'll be able to help out a bit more directly from now on," Kurumi said with a weak smile. She too understood what being pulled from Naruto entailed. She could provide more firepower, but at the cost of her protective capabilities.
Naruto still had Sage Mode and the Celestial Gates but he wouldn't be able to open the eighth gate without her inside him.
"Looks like we're going shopping for clothes," Naruto said, depressed. The last time he went clothes shopping with females he had almost hung himself with their lingerie, just to end the pain.
"Tsk, I don't need clothing," Kurumi said in annoyance.
"You will if you ever want to go outside, you're a very remarkable looking female," Naruto pointed out.
"I'll rip the eyeballs out of the first one hundred that stare, that should dissuade the rest," Kurumi replied.
"No, no you're not, we're going clothes shopping, I don't like it any more than you do," Naruto said with a long sigh.
"Do not fear, Kurumi-san, I am sure Chime-san and Yume-san will enjoy dressing you in interesting outfits," Yuuchi said in a comforting voice.
"That's not a very comforting thought," Kurumi said in a dry voice.
"Well, things sure have been interesting," Yuuchi said as she turned her attention back to Naruto.
"Ya, this… is not how I expected today to turn out…" Naruto said as everything came crashing down all at once.
"There has been a number of surprises," Yuuchi agreed.
"Does anyone else have anything they want to do while we're here?" Naruto asked Yuuchi and Kurumi. The two of them shook their heads, "then we should head back. We've been gone for quite some time and knowing Hanabi she's grown impatient."
He had only intended to come here to place his markers across the planet, more specifically create a large number of clones to do it while he was back on Earth. He had not anticipated everything else that had occurred.
Still, regardless of the rather roundabout path he had taken, his job here was done, and despite his prolonged absence from Earth, much faster than anticipated.
He brought Yuuchi up with him as he stood, holding her tightly to his chest as he did so. She was so short her legs didn't touch the ground when he stood and he didn't want to hurt either of them in the sudden change of position.
He shifted his grip on the small Sekirei so that he held her just beneath her arms. However when he tried to pull her off him he encountered a problem.
"I'm stuck," Naruto said in surprise.
"I noticed," Yuuchi replied, she had felt the strong tug inside her. He had been stationary inside her for so long that her walls had clamped down around him like iron. It didn't help that his tip was inside her womb.
Kurumi started to laugh.
"This isn't funny," Naruto growled at his old friend.
She just laughed harder.
Suddenly Naruto felt the flesh inside Yuuchi begin to move on its own. "Try now Naruto-san," Yuuchi said as Naruto felt the opening to her womb expand.
"Right!" Naruto said and quickly pulled himself out of Yuuchi. He came free with a loud pop. His seed, no longer stoppered, began to leak freely from the small Sekirei Pillar.
"Damn, I wanted to see how Hanabi would react to your situation," Kurumi said with a little pout.
"Well I don't, let's head back," Naruto said as he picked out the marker he had left behind at the Hokage Monument. He grabbed Yuuchi's hand in his own and looked over at Kurumi, "You coming?" Naruto asked as he held a hand out for his friend.
Kurumi groaned as she picked herself off the ground, "Yes, I'm coming," she said as she slowly made her way over to Naruto and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Ramen had not been gentle with her.
"Next stop, our other home!" Naruto said cheerfully as he jumped back to the portal.
The world shifted and warped for that split second he jumped through time and space. A moment later they were back on his head at the Hokage Monument.
And what awaited him there instantly wiped the cheerful mood out.
"Naruto-kun!" Hanabi said in surprise as he suddenly appeared out of thin air. "Naruto-kun?" her voice became confused as she noticed several strange things. "Naruto-kun…" her voice went low.
It always amazed Naruto how a single word could have so many different meanings just by shifting the tone in which it was said.
What's worse was that she wasn't the only one there. Miya, Yume, Blanc and Chime were all there as well.
"Oh, this should be just as good," Kurumi said with a laugh as she stood back to watch the events unfold.
"Uh, hi?" Naruto greeted them with a hesitant wave of his hand.
Hanabi crossed her arms beneath her chest and glared at her husband angrily, "Naruto-kun, would you like to tell me why you've been gone all day and why you're… dripping from Yuuchi-san?"
"We had sex, I am now carrying his child," Yuuchi said serenely as she stepped forward.
"Yuuchi… that's…" Naruto trailed off.
"There is no point in hiding the truth, Naruto-san. The evidence speaks for itself," Yuuchi said, glancing up at Naruto as she pointed at white liquid dripping from between her legs.
"Oh, yes, it most certainly does, and I am also quite certain that Naruto-kun has an excellent explanation for this," Miya said as she stepped forward to stand beside Hanabi.
Naruto just let out a long, drawn out sigh.
"Why me?"
Author's Notes: Yes, I was an intentional bastard by hiding Naruto's plan. You're not going to find out until it happens. The hints are there though, for those observant enough to pick up on them.
Also, yes, I KNOW some climate events on the old world should continue even if there is no life, such as rain. The water cycle wouldn't stop simply because life did, the heat from the sun would cause the oceans to evaporate enough water to at least rain a little bit. However in my story it didn't happen because that's the way I want it. The planet is still 'capable' of doing all that, it just 'stopped' doing it because Gaia was gone. Considering it like driving a car and the driver was suddenly ripped out. It'll stop eventually, but it'll roll along for quite some time yet depending on how fast you were moving. Consider this situation to be the same, it just took almost 10,000 years for the planet to stop moving because there's a lot more weight behind its motion than a regular vehicle.
This chapter gave you all a closer look into the character that is Ramen. Some of you have probably come to the realization that, Ramen is not as 'nice' as she appears to be. You need to realize, Ramen isn't human, so you can't assume she'll have human emotions or reasons for doing things.