Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and VIZ Media, with the elements of Brütal Legend being the property of Tim Schafer, Double Fine Productions, and Electronic Arts (EA). I do not claim any of these characters or elements as my own, and am only writing this story as a leisurely past time and because I am a humble fan of both these universes simply telling a story. This story is rated "M" for safety, due to cursing, violence, suggestive themes, alcohol reference, and more gore than you can swing an axe at!
Okay gang, you asked for it and here it is, the Prelude from which the rest of this story will spring off from. Here, we'll see what transpires in the years following the arrival of Ormagödden into the world of the shinobi, as well as how the power of metal and the allies of the Guardian have impacted several heroes and villains that reside with in that world. Don't think of this as a speaking chapter, more as a narrative look at what has gone on in the past few years since the Fire Beast appeared. Well, best get the carnage started, now shouldn't we? Let's lock and load!
Prelude; The Influence of Metal.
And so began the rise of the Age of Metal among the world of the shinobi, heralded by the arrival of Ormagödden and the choosing of his champion. Taking a vow of secrecy to all he had been told by the Guardian of Metal, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sandaime Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato, shared the happenings of that night with only his most trusted of companions. Thus, the rest of the village was as oblivious to the true nature of the destruction that occurred the night of October 10th. As such, many remained under the impression that Naruto Uzumaki, the champion of Ormagödden, was thought to be the host of the Kyuubi, causing him to be feared and hated by the villagers in spite of the wishes of his father that he be thought of as a hero. There was also his strange affinity to the teachings of Metal that had begun to circulate, as he found some solace in the words of the music, which many of the shinobi elders found barbaric and vulgar. And though their accusations stung and their prejudice hurt, the boy was not discouraged, striving to become the next Hokage of the village, not only to gain their respect, but to get stronger so though that he could protect his loved ones. And when his fifth birthday came around, Sarutobi bequeathed to him the belt-buckle that the Guardian of Metal had promised, saying that he gave this to the boy as a gesture of good faith, confident that he would make a fine Hokage one day. That single object, the one gesture of good faith and kindness he'd received in years, became his most prized possession.
Over the years, the Guardian of Metal wasted no time in introducing the people of the Elemental Nations to the ways for his world and to the power of Heavy Metal. Though he rarely left his forge in the very heart of the Hokage Monument in Konohagakure, when he did so, his influence spread far and wide, until the music's influence and its message became a popular concept for the world of the shinobi. Through his teachings, the people learned many things, and the power of the Metal Gods grew strong.
Though the Guardian was not alone in his workings, for his warning to Sarutobi was not given in jest. Powerful figures from the Age of Metal began to appear, and new legends began to form in their wake.
The Legend of the Beast Mistress.
Upon inspecting the forest in which the Kyuubi-no Kitsune had met his end at the hand of Ormagödden, the Sannin known as Jiraiya confirmed that the place was the keeper of the Bijuu's powerful chakra, and urged that it be sanctioned as a private preserve to ward off any attempts to enter it, as doing so could cause harm in a number of ways. And so, the Namikaze National Park was formed, and the Inuzuka Clan, Konohagakure's most legendary trackers and expert trainers of the village's prized ninken (ninja hounds), were charged with the protection of the park, lest anyone try to cause mischief through it or the Akatsuki attempt to steal the creature's chakra from the forest. Patrolling the area daily, the clansmen and their hounds were the law in the forest, their legendary speed and brutal fighting style making them a force to be reckoned with.
However, that isn't to say that no one was able to make their way into the forest.
One night, while out on patrol, Tsume Inuzuka, the clan's matriarch and leader, and her daughter Hana, were ambushed from the trees by a strangely garbed woman that seemed to simply emerge from the shadows. Dressed in skimpy black attire, with black and white makeup like that of a tiger, the woman looked like some leather-clad savage as she brandished her spear at them. But, she made no move to harm them. Instead, she tried to put their fears at ease, and told them that she was an old friend of the Guardian. Initially skeptical of the woman, Tsume and Hana's suspicions were quickly laid to rest when their ninken abruptly began to jump on her and lick her face affectionately as though she had been one of their own pack from birth. When the dogs finally calmed down, the Inuzuka women apologized for their behavior and asked for the woman's forgiveness, as someone so beloved by their dogs could never be an agent of evil. Accepting their apology, the woman brought them to her camp and they exchanged pleasantries.
She called herself Rima, warrior chieftain of the Zaulia.
For over three years, Rima stayed with the Inuzuka Clan in the Park, using that time to teach them the ways of her people. Under her instruction, they found themselves relearning the ways of the traditional shinobi, roots of ninjitsu and stealth that had been submerged by the ways of ninjutsu and chakra-weaving. They learned how to hunt and trap, how to set ambushes and how to take down prey in a group, using strategy and guerilla warfare to destroy their opponent and get inside their heads. They were introduced to the companions of the Zaulia, the fearsome, cat-like creatures known as Metal Beasts, and though initially afraid of the giant fire-breathers, they soon grew to affectionately care for them. They even found a way to crossbreed traits from the creatures into their own ninken, creating a new breed of ninja dog. These hounds grew to be the size of horses, with incredible strength and durability, able to breathe fire on command, and even speak like a human! Their coats were as black as the night itself, and their faces as pale as death. This breed was known as Gunyouken, the Dogs of War
Along with teaching the Inuzuka of her clan's fighting styles and creatures, Rima also imparted upon them the ways of Metal and the culture of the Zaulia. The Inuzuka learned the ways of the Amazon tribe, and learned them well, taking every principal to heart. It was Rima's influence that gave way to the tradition that the dominant female of the clan be its leader, cementing Tsume's position as clan matriarch. The Ritual of the Mating Challenge also became commonplace, women and men courting through way of combat and strength. And though the few people from Konohagakure who knew of Rima's involvement with Inuzuka condemned her teachings as barbaric, the Inuzuka found her ways to their liking, taking great pride in their new Amazonian ways.
And when the time finally came for Rima to return to her world, she was saddened by this, she had come love the Inuzuka Clan as though they were her own people, her own flesh and blood. The night before she would leave, the Inuzuka held her a grand farewell celebration, with a Challenge of the Hunt, a tribal dance ceremony, and the exchanging of gifts and stories over the fire. They did not focus on the fact that their sister and teacher would be leaving them, but chose to indulge themselves in the merriment and joy of the evening, remembering the good times they had with Rima and all that she had taught them. And the morning of her departure, the Zaulian queen imparted a prophesy to Tsume before vanishing into the forests, one that still lingers with her to this day.
"Instruct your son, Kiba, wisely, my sister," she told her. "For their will come a day when he shall fight alongside the chosen one of Ormagödden for your very world."
The Tale of the Shaman of Strings.
Now in those days, iryo-nin (Medical Ninja) were still a rarity, as the program to initiate their creation into the ranks of the shinobi had only just been approved. Healing from the Third Shinobi War was still underway, and doctors themselves found it difficult to both save lives and mold others into medical professionals at the same time. There just didn't seem to be enough healers to go around, and many people, both civilians and shinobi, went without healthcare for months, and years at the most. Some people even died before they could even see sight of a doctor. Try as they might, shinobi villages just couldn't churn out enough iryo-nin fast enough. Thankfully, things weren't always as bad. Forces were at work to ensure that the sick would be restored to full health, no matter what.
Though it was debunked by many specialists and medics alike, a rumor circulated about a mysterious stranger that traveled from village to village and town to town, always riding a strange metal vehicle that seemed to move on its own, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake as it roared across the landscape. He was a tall man, his height only increased by the odd hat he wore, garbed in black apparel and a leather jacket as well. His eyes were always shaded by the large, aviator sunglasses he wore, and the gruff look that his thick sideburns and beard gave him was only slightly offset by the two moles on his left cheek. Adding to his strangeness, was the implement by which he practiced his trade: a stringed instrument similar to a shamisen, but longer and with a deeper tone. This he called, "a Rickenbacker 4001 Bass Guitar." Everywhere he went, people were healed and made well again with just a strum of his guitar-strings. Sickness fled the bodies of the ill, and the wounds of the crippled were repaired like new. Even those who had life-threatening conditions or were on the brink of death found themselves restored to the peak of physical health and fitness, feeling as invigorated as a child. And though he was content and found joy in his practice, he knew that undesirable characters might seek to use his talents for evil, and always gave the same foreboding name where ever he stopped.
The Kill Master.
As his legend grew over the years, it was said that at one point he took on an apprentice, a stunning beauty of long blonde hair and almond-colored eyes. This woman was said to have sought him out after the loss of the two people in the world she had held dear to her, hoping that his magical song could bring them back to life for her. When she finally found him, she fell to her knees and pleaded on behalf of her loved ones, crying as she made her request. Though he told her that this was impossible, as resurrection the dead was both unattainable a power and an effrontery to his gods and to the deceased themselves, Kill Master was moved by her plight and offered to teach her his ways, an offer which she accepted on the spot. As time wore on, the woman came to master the man's shamanistic art, becoming as skilled as he at healing through music, even to the point where he created a guitar for her as well. He shared with her the ways of caring for his vehicle, which he told her was called a 'motorcycle,' and the teachings of his religion, the worship of the Metal Gods. They spent years traveling all across the Elemental Nations, with her riding bitch on his motorcycle, arms wrapped tightly around his waist.
Sadly, no one can be a student forever. One day, the Kill Master told her that his time in her world had come to an end, and that he must return to his own world, for there were still people there in need of his healing tone. Though she initially begged him to stay, saying that she still had much to learn, he put her fears to rest and told her that she had learned all he had to teacher, that she was every much the Kill Master as he was. With her bass guitar and a pair of aviators as his only goodbye present, the Kill Master said fair well and rode off into the sunset, never to be seen again. Some say that the woman vanished after that, retreating into the mountains to practice her craft away from the corruption of man. Yet others say that she wanders the Elemental Nations like her master, traveling from town to town in search of the injured and ill, with an apprentice of her own in tow. And so, as one legend dies, another is born.
Her's is the Legend of the Kill Queen.
However, not all legends that were born in this age were fortuitous to the forces of the Guardian and Konohagakure. There was a darkness in this time as well, for the most vile of forces known to those of the Age of Metal were afoot, looking to make the world of the shinobi their own.
The Saga of the Demon Kage.
Now, in this age, the influence of Heavy Metal was being spread far and wide across the world of the shinobi, due to the workings of the Guardian and his companions. Through their instruction, the power of Metal was being shared with others far and wide, its inspiring lyrics and pulse-pounding tones resonating deep within the souls of those who heard it. And as the news of Heavy Metal surged through the community like wildfire, so it was that the Metal Gods gained ground in the hearts of the people. This both worked in their favor, and against it. For the presence of Doviculus' demonic energy in their world was not pleased by this turn of events.
Enraged by the sudden rise of Heavy Metal, the shadowy force doubled its efforts to find a host in this world of shinobi, seeking the most corrupt of hearts to house its evil power. For decades, the conscious power of Emperor Doviculus scoured the lands of the Elemental Nations, circulating from host body to host body as it sought out a vessel whose evil desires and intentions were powerful enough to support its own. However, no matter where it went, no matter how many hosts it possessed, none of them had the capacity for sheer evil that it was searching for. They simply didn't have the potential for pure evil, they limited themselves to acts of villainy that were purely infantile in the eyes of Doviculus' essence. There was such a lack of true masterminds that it was forced to possess people whom it deemed as 'vermin,' people such as bandits, crime lords, and even nuke-nin (rogue ninja). It made the energy being sick to be forced into taking refuge inside such fools and weaklings, and many times, it would betray its hosts and drain their life-force to both sustain itself and kill them for offending its nature. However, after many years of searching, it finally found a host that suited its preferences. A man of great evil, who resided in a place far to the north of Konohagakure and Hi no Kuni (the Land of Fire).
A land called, Oto no Kuni, the Land of Sound.
The man was a pale creature, with long black hair and eyes like that of the devil himself. He had a cruelty about him that brought a chill of horror to whomever he came in contact with. Whenever these people acted this way, the man simply smiled evilly and gave a sadistic chuckle of amusement at their antics. While his gangly figure would have caused many who did not know him to dismiss him as a weakling, this man had managed to conquer the former rulers of his country, the Land of Rice, and establish his own law in this place, ruling over all within its domain with an iron fist. For days on end, the spirit of Doviculus simply observed the man and his actions, and for days on end, it was amazed at the sheer amount of pure evil the man possessed. This was the one he had been searching for, the perfect host.
Finally, after two weeks of observation, the spirit of Doviculus made itself known to the man in the form of a black cloud of energy that spewed forth lighting and fire with eyes that burned like the darkest pit of Hell itself. Though startled by its presence at first, the man was not frightened. Even when the demon's words scrapped across his mind like nails on a black board, he showed no signs of discomfort or pain or terror.
'Mortal,' boomed the voice darkly. 'I have observed you for many days and many nights, and for many days and many nights I have seen you commit acts so heinous that they make even my skin crawl. You are truly the one I have searched for all these years, as your soul possesses the taint of darkness that I have sought for decades on end.'
"Hm, I am flattered by your words, spirit," replied the man calmly, as cold and unfeeling as the winter's wind. "In all the years that I have lived in this world, you are the first to truly find stock in my work. To many, I am an abomination, a creature thought to be a demon by my people. But I simply seek knowledge, to know everything in this world and to make it all mine. When I am through, all of creation will be but pawns for me to move and play with as I see fit."
'And yet you still toil for hours on end to unravel these mysteries through such trivial means,' hissed the spirit mockingly, circling around the man menacingly, though he still would not show signs of fear.'This… "ninjutsu" that you study is merely a crutch, a hindrance that ties you to the casting of power through hand signs and words and the energies of one's own body. HA! A fool's way of weaving spells. But… allow me to fill you with my own energies and power, and you will not be bound by these weaknesses. You will have the power to move mountains with a thought, or crush your enemies' souls with but a turn of your fingers! Not only this, but you shall finally have the knowledge that you seek, as you will possess the benefit of my wisdom and learning in both this world and my own. You will be able to remake this world in your own image!' Silencing itself for a few moments, the spirit let the man think about his offer for a fashion, watching his eyes as he considered the benefits of this union and what it could bring him. After a moment, his spoke once more to the man with the serpent's eyes. 'Well? Do we have a deal?'
The pale skinned man looked at the spirit with a devilish gleam in his eyes, a sickening grin slowly spreading across his face as he considered the possibilities of such a union. The thoughts of what he could accomplish with this demon's power, with its knowledge, was nothing short of mindboggling! He would finally be able to know all there was about his craft, and not only that, but he would also have the power to finally do away with those that stood in his way. "Of course we do, spirit," replied the serpent man in a voice as smooth as silk. "However, I have but one request before this union is made."
'Really?' queried the specter in a surprised voice, as he had already offered the man the power and knowledge he knew that he desired more than anything in the world. 'And that would be?'
"That my mind not be overwhelmed by your own," answered the man slyly. "You see, there are those in my world with a similar bond, but their "inner demons" do not always a lot them the freedom to control their own actions, and often try to usurp control over their host, driving them to insanity. Naturally, this is something I would like to avoid."
'Very well then,' replied the spirit in agreement, 'I accept the terms of your deal. Now, if there are no further questions-' With that, the demon drew itself up to its full height and then slammed down upon the man's form with incredible spiritual force, so much so that the man felt as though his soul was being crushed by some awesome weight that it quickly began to overwhelm him and he thought he would black out. Then, as swiftly as the sensation came, it vanished.
Taking in a deep breath, the mist-like essence of the specter was drawn up into the man's body, flooding his senses with the scent of sulfur and ash and brimstone as it forced itself into his mouth and nostrils. Seconds later, the man's eyes snapped open to glow with a red hot intensity, and his mouth opened wide to reveal a twisted smile, even as a pair of tusk-like fangs erupted painfully from the sides of his gums in a warm spray of blood. As he stood there reveling in his metamorphosis, a steady column of smoke rose from his throat, as if his bowels were now a pit of fire from Hell.
"Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" chortled the man gleefully, his voice now a disturbing fusion of his own and the demon's. "We. Are. one! With our power, we shall finally be rid of those who stand in our way, and together, we shall rule this world as our own! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"
Thus was the rebirth of Lord Orochimaru, the host of Emperor Doviculus and the new leader of the Tainted Coil.
And so it was, that deeds of great good and great evil followed the arrival of Ormagödden in the world of the shinobi. But the emergance of the Cremator of the Skies and the rise of his host to power would not come for many years, thirteen to be exact. In this time, Naruto was able to grow and learn, to enter into the Konohagakure Shinobi Academy to train and become a ninja like his father, and though the odds were stacked against him and he failed to pass the Genin Exams several times, he perservered and finally found himself a graduate, the hitai-ate of his teacher, Iruka Umino , worn proudly on his forehead. He was given a sensei, a man who had been a pupil of his father and thought the world of the Yondaime in his life, a man by the name of Kakashi Hatake. He was placed on a Genin squad, alongside two of his friends. There was Sakura Haruno, his not-so-secret crush, who was smart, out-going, and just as headstrong as he. And there was Sasuke Uchiha, a dark, brooding child who kept to himself and only thought of destroying his brother, the man who had killed everyone he had ever cared about. He was Sakura's crush, and Naruto's rival in every sense of the word, but this actually worked in their favor, as they pushed each other to do their best to one-up the other.
Life was good to young Naruto Uzumaki. He had moved past the feelings of loneliness and hopelessness that had enveloped much of his childhood, as he now had friends and people he cared about, even if they drove him crazy at times. And he always had his music, the ways of Metal that ran through his veins, intermingled with his very blood. In this time, Ormagödden remained dormant within the boy's soul and mind, awaiting a time when he was most needed, a time when there was no one else for Naruto to turn to. And in that dark hour, he would finally reveal himself, and his purpose for the child's life. It would be then that things would begin to move, that the world of shinobi would begin to change.
And that is where our story truly begins…
AN: Whew! That's a lot to take in, huh, True Believers? Well, don't tune out just yet, because in the next chapter we will learn just when Ormagödden will appear to Naruto, how they will interact, and just what will become of the son of Yondaime. With that in mind, be sure to keep it here until the next installment to this story rears its head. I'll be bace soon, same Metal time, same Metal channel. Until then, stay cool and rock on!
Next Time: Rebirthing.