I do not own Naruto or Warhammer 40K
AN. This is fic is set immediately after the events of the novel "Lord of the night." by Simon Spurrier. It is not necessary to have read it to understand this fic, but it is an amazing book and I highly recommend it. For those new to the Warhammer40k universe there will be a glossary at the end of each chapter. This will be a darker Naruto than in canon. At the moment there are no pairings. But ill let the readers decide. I'm taking suggestions. Leave them in your review or PM me.
Heir of the Talon-Master.
Chapter 2. Talon-Master
The smell.
It was the same scent.
It was always the same.
Opening his eyes Naruto looked up at a familiar ceiling. He was in the hospital.
Looking around slowly without moving his head he searched the room. A single dark furred ear attached to an equally dark furred body was lying on a couch next to the wall.
Opening his mouth to speak only a strangled squeak came out.
Kuromaru sat up with alarming speed, head and ear swiveling around to face the boy. Concern etched in to every movement of his body. "Pup. Lie still. Your badly hurt." He rumbled out. " No. Don't try and speak I'll get the nurse." Turning in place he stuck his head out the door and howled.
Thoughts still fuzzy Naruto tried to sit up anyways. But his body refused to move.
So tired. He thought. Somewhere deep in his mind a part of him was aware of just how hurt he was. Hurt so bad his mind flinched away from the very thought of it. For now he closed his eyes again.
oOo
"What could have done this?" Kakashi murmured. Standing on either side of him were Tsume and Anko. The former with one arm in a sling and various bandages crisscrossing her arms legs and chest.
They stood at the edge of what used to be a pristine section of forest. Now it was a veritable of wasteland of craters, shattered trees, and fires. Here and there trees were bent to one side roots torn out of the ground and clawing towards the sky. What looked like enormous claw marks had been torn into the ground, and smooth lipped craters dotted the black charred ground.
"You know what did this." Tsume snarled as she took in the scene. On the far side of her Anko nodded her expression bleak.
"The Kyubi no Yoko." Kakashi whispered.
oOo
Naruto dreamed.
He stood at the edge of a vast canyon it was miles wide and unfathomly deep. It stretched to either side of him as far as the eye could see. Everywhere the air rang with screams of rage and the metallic crash of weapons. His nose was filled with the coppery tang of blood. From time to time the air shuddered with the bellowing of some titanic beast.
Turning around Naruto looked out across a vast desolate wasteland covered in rust red sands with white dunes poking up out of the ground. Here and there he could spot dark shapes wandering across the sands. In the distance an enormous brass building squatted at the edge of moat filled with a bubbling red liquid. Huge black, spine covered towers festooned with chains clawed their way towards the sky as far as the eye could see belching fire and smoke into the sky. Overhead the sky was the color of an angry bruise. Vast flocks of crow like creatures wheeled in the sky, adding their shrieks to the chaotic sounds already filling the air. In all his waking or sleeping moments he had never encountered anything like this.
Everywhere he could see there was fighting. Mighty giants in blood red armor wielding screaming axes crashed into waves of unarmored men wielding rusted chunks of metal, there men dueled with one another. The victors offering their opponents heads to the sky.
They swept over the lands in a black and red tide, spilling blood with every stride, and every sweep of their weapons. Everywhere he could see blood was being spilled in an orgy of bloodshed and violence.
Stepping forward he heard a crunch. Looking down he saw that his feet were covered in boots of yellow trimmed, blood red metal. Taking a closer look at himself he saw that his entire body was covered in the same red metal. Ignoring himself for the moment he turned his attention back to the ground. Reaching down with one armored hand he shifted a bit of the red sand aside. Revealing a cracked white shape. Picking it up in his hand he lifted a cracked skull out of the sand.
Curiously indifferent he began to exert pressure with his fingers, with a brittle snap the skull shattered in his hands. Tossing the fragments off to one side he continued his steady march towards the copper colored building, his boots crunching bones underneath with every heavy step. As dreams went this was a particularly vivid one.
As he walked he began to grow aware of a presence.
Heavy thudding steps sent small tremors through the sand. Turning he saw an enormous horned beast come around from behind one of the spiked towers. Its vast bulk moving easily through the shifting sands. It resembled a large bull the size of a small house. Covered entirely in thick red sheets of metal it had a single enormous horn jutting from the the tip of its snout. Underneath the horn steel teeth shined dully as its spiked maw opened and closed. As it approached it casually bit a man in two as he ran screaming by. It came to a crashing halt. It shook its head rattling the thick bronze chains hanging from its frame.
Swinging himself onto the back of the beast Naruto grabbed the thick chains and yanked the beasts head around. As he settled into his seat a feeling came over him. No a word. A title. 'Juggernaut'. The word echoed in his mind giving him flashes... Blood spraying in the air. Screams. The stink of burning flesh and bone. Shaking his head once he pulled on the reins causing the juggernaut to rear up on its hind legs bellowing. Smashing its hooves back into the ground it set off into a lumbering run.
As it ran it began to pick up speed until it was thundering across the wastes like a lightning bolt.
Soon howling began to echo all around them. Riding up alongside them mounted on the same blood colored steeds were red skinned monsters pulled from a nightmare. A huge crested head with a long tongue hanging out from between triple rows of sharp serrated teeth. In one thin arm they each held a long black sword that gave off a long keening scream as it moved through the air.
As they got closer Naruto let go of his reins and stretched out his arms. As he did so wreaths of black fire appeared in his hands and flared brightly until he was holding a long handled ax in each hand.
But the monsters 'Blood Letters' his mind whispered, simply rode up until they flanked him and he was riding at the head of the flying wedge of mounted 'Blood Letters. Dropping his hands the axes disappeared in a burst of black flames. Together the unlikely group thundered across the plains without incident for a time. Passing roving bands of warriors occasionally yelled out challenges or praises as they rocketed past.
But then ahead of them a roving band of marauders saw their approach. Brandishing their weapons the howled a challenge to a Naruto and his "friends".
Shrieking the Blood Letters howled back. Screeching in joy they slapped the sides of their mounts with their swords egging them on to even greater speed. Riding in their midst Naruto felt a curious elation.
Dropping the reins to his mount he spread his hands. The black fire returned and once again he was holding two axes.
The two forces met in crash of blood and bone and red hot fury. The first ranks of the marauders simply disappeared, trampled into a red mist by the hooves of the juggernauts. Howling Naruto and the blood letters carved a bloody swathe through the massed ranks of men. As they charged Naruto sent marauders howling into oblivion with every swing of his blades. All too soon they had charged straight through the men leaving behind nothing but a bloody stain and a few mewling corpses.
Naruto and his escorts kept riding.
They finally arrived at the shores of the blood moat. Riding along the shores of the moat they approached the gate house to the Brass Citadel. The group thundered across the bridge to the very walls of the citadel. The group came to a crashing halt as a lone figure barred the entrance to the citadel
A Blood Letter mounted on a massive Juggernaut barred the way into the citadel. 4 horns sprouting from its head, two swept up and two forward. Wearing massive ornate armor and wielding a massive blade it barred the gates of the bronze citadel. Slung on its back was a large cloak, seemingly sewn of pale leather, the strips threading through the jawless sockets of uncountable skulls. Grinning like a shark it beckoned Naruto forward with one clawed hand.
Naruto nudged his mount forward its massive hooves booming on the metal plates of the floor. The two juggernauts's crashed their heads together shoving at each other with their horns. As he gazed at the Blood Letter a name floated to the forefront of his mind.
"Skulltaker" He whispered, even as his mount chose that moment to shove the Skulltaker's Juggernaut back a few steps.
Laughing the Blood Letter saluted Naruto with its blade before yanking on the reins of its steed and clearing the way. Alone Naruto and his mount rode into the Brass Citadel.
Bronze pikes lined the halls in evenly spaced intervals. Mounted on each was a skull, some were recognizably human, some weren't. Finally he had ridden through the halls and out into center of the citadel.
Sliding off his mount Naruto stalked forward past the forges at the base of... It was a mountain of skulls. A mountain of skulls that rose at the very center of the brass Citadel. Thousands of feet high the pile of skulls was an awe inspiring sight. On the very edge of his vision something vast landed with an earthshaking crash.
"So, Son of Skarbrand, you have returned to us." A mighty voice thundered out from his left. Striding through the smoke a vast shape came briefly into sight. 'Bloodthirster' Naruto's mind helpfully supplied. "Go. Our lord awaits you." Laughing the immense silhouette walked back into the smoke and was gone.
Looking at the mountain of skulls Naruto began his climb.
How long he climbed he didn't now. It might have been minutes, it may have been years. As he climbed skulls would occasionally fall from the sky, sometimes singly, sometimes in great bloody streams.
Eventually though he reached the peak of the mountain, his eyes widening at the sight of a massive brass throne. From where he stood the shape on the throne was indistinct, but it radiated unimaginable strength and power. A sword sat next to the throne its shape and color changing constantly.
"Naruto" the voice came everywhere and nowhere at once.
Terrifying in its strength and intensity.
The voice of a god.
"Naruto"
"Naruto"
"What" Waking up with a startled shout Naruto bit back a scream as every muscle in his body seized up in agony. Flinching as jagged bolts of lightning shot through his body he threw himself back against the bed. Gentle hands held him down as a sharp sting in his arm injected a numbing coolness into his body.
Gasping in relief as the numbness spread throughout his body he let out a long rattling breath. Looking around he spotted the Old man. Standing beside him was Sakura's Mom. She was also the Hokage's personal physician.
"Hey Ji-Chan, Miya." He croaked out.
"Shush boy." Miya pushed a strand of pink hair out of her eyes. A small smile teasing the laugh lines around her mouth. Turning to the Hokage she nodded once. "Hey squirt you got hurt pretty bad. But you're all right now. I'll let you and Sarutobi talk for a bit." As she walked out of the hospital room she gave the Hokage a significant look.
"So Naruto how do you feel?" Sarutobi asked kindly.
"Thirsty." Naruto said his voice hoarse. "Can I have some water?"
"Sure." Standing up the Hokage walked over to a small table poured and poured water into a glass. Opening a drawer he picked up a straw and slipped it into the glass. Walking back to the boy he handed him the cup. Seeing the boy wince as he tried to move his arm he held the cup next to his face, letting him take a few sips of water before finally nodding.
"Better?" He asked.
"Yeah." Naruto smiled at the Hokage. "Ji-Chan what happened to me?"
Suppressing a look of surprise the Hokage took a moment to answer. "We found you in the woods. Do you remember anything, anything at all?"
Closing his eyes Naruto tried to remember. "I was hunting with Kuromaru. We killed something. Kuromaru said it was sick. And then." Naruto paused.
"And then." Sarutobi prompted.
"I went back home. But something stopped me."
"What was it Naruto?"
"I don't know."
Licking his lips Sarutobi began again. "Well don't worry about it. You were attacked by another Marr-Elk. It knocked you around a bit before the Ninken came and saved you. That's why your here."
"Oh. Ji-Chan what about the genin exams?" Naruto asked.
For the first time a genuine look of sorrow crossed his features. "I'm sorry Naruto but you've been in the hospital for 2 months now. The genin exams were 3 weeks ago. I'm sorry Naruto."
"Oh." Turning his head to one side Naruto stared out the window. His eyes bright with unshed tears.
"Well get some rest then." Patting the boy on his shoulder the Hokage left the room.
oOo
Outside Koharu and Homura were waiting for him.
Without any preamble Koharu began. "Is the seal intact?"
Nodding as he led the two into an empty room, Sarutobi removed his hat and ran a hand through his graying hair.
"Does he have any suspicions about what really happened?" Koharu continued his questioning.
"No." Sarutobi said shortly.
"When is the boy going to be told?" Homura asked speaking up for the first time.
"He is still too young." Sarutobi snapped at his former team member.
"I am well aware of that." Homura replied a trace of indignation coloring his tone. "But surely you don't believe that he is unaware that there is something different about himself. Should he learn the truth by some other means it is not unlikely that he could turn against us. As it stands he has precious little to tie him to this village."
"Is that concern I hear." Sarutobi asked his old friend.
"For the village yes. The boy himself is irrelevant to me but his value as a jinchuriki is literally incalculable."
"You want to turn him into a weapon? How strange it seems like I am talking to my friend yet my ears hear the words of Danzo." Sarutobi replied calmly although his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Enough you two." Koharu snapped stepping between the two. "We all know that Danzo wants to turn that boy into a tool of destruction, but that is not the issue here." She stopped to take a deep breath before continuing. "But Homura is correct. No matter how we choose to look at it the boy is a weapon. Nothing we say or do will change that. From the moment the Kyubi was sealed within him it was inevitable that his life would be marked by conflict. So let me ask you my friend. How is it possible for him to live a normal life? Even now can it really be called normal?" She asked passionately.
"Perhaps trying to protect the boy from his fate was the wrong choice." Sarutobi said quietly.
"Choosing to protect someone is never the wrong choice my friend." Homura interjected. "But failing to prepare is."
"Yes your right." Sighing once Sarutobi straightened up fresh resolve etched into his face.
"So where do we begin." Homura asked pushing his glasses a little higher on his face. "A private sensei should make up for his shortcomings as a ninja, I also think we should have a personal hand in his training. It will emphasize his value to the village, both to him, and the citizens."
Rubbing his chin Sarutobi nodded his approval.
Sighing theatrically Koharu cut the two men off. "We need to get him a new home. Power without strong ties and good reasons to use it will only breed another Orochimaru!"
The three continued their talk as they left the hospital.
oOo
Alone again Naruto stared blankly at the wall of his room. The words "the genin exam were 3 weeks ago" resonating in his mind endlessly.
Three times. Counting this time it was the third time he had failed the genin exams. The third time. The words were like ashes in his mouth. So absorbed in his misery that he didn't notice the dark haired woman sitting next to him until he tried to reach out and grab a cup of water and found her handing the cup to him.
"What!" He gasped out and dropped the cup.
Instead of falling to the ground the cup stayed hovering in the air spinning slowly. At a snail's pace the cup floated over to the bedside table finally settling down with only the barest whisper of sound.
At a loss for words Naruto simply gaped at the cup before tearing his eyes away to the woman who sat beside him.
A curiously, serene, smile curved the edges of her lips, her hair was dark and wavy and her face was curiously young, her features reminding him of an expensive doll he had seen once. Her eyes were dark, intense.
She was wearing a long black, high necked velvet dress exquisitely embroidered with golden lines and strange symbols. Her long elaborately braided hair was streaked with silver and gold strands. Oddly, long strips of paper were woven into her hair as well, dense writing visible on the weathered parchment. Her feet covered in equally fancy boots, the thick soles oddly contrasting with the material of the footwear.
On a short skirt of cloth hanging from her shoulder a crest was embroidered. A silver winged skull was set against a midnight blue background. Stylized lightning bolts framing the skull.
Around her neck on a silver chain a strange silver pendant with a skull in the center hung.
Noticing the direction of his gaze she reached down and cupped the chain in one ring covered hand, bright gems of every color flashing on her fingers.
"This? This is a memento of a past life. It's beautiful isn't it?"
"Who are you?" Naruto croaked out.
"My name is Mita Ashyn, you are Naruto Uzumaki." Her tone made it clear it wasn't a question.
"Yes. What do you want?"
"Many things. Drink." Waving her hand she caused the cup to rise off the table and approach Naruto.
Reaching out with one shaky hand he took the cup of water and took a long drink. "Thank you." Naruto replied politely.
Nodding graciously the woman, Mita, lifted the pitcher of water and poured herself a glass. All without moving her arms. Taking the floating cup of water in one hand she took a sip before returning the cup to her lap.
"You have a lot of questions don't you?" Mita asked.
Naruto nodded.
"How about a trade. For every question you answer I'll answer one of yours. Does that seem fair?" She asked.
"Yes." Naruto nodded. "Can I go first?"
Nodding Mita gestured to him to proceed with one hand.
"Why are you here?" Naruto asked curiously.
Tilting her head to one side Mita took a moment before answering. "My partner and I are looking for allies."
"Oh, I meant why are you here? Talking to me?"
"I told you were looking for allies." Mita replied calmly. "And that's two." She said smiling at his surprised look. "But I'll count that as just one."
"Now my turn. Why is it in the entire time you've been here has no one come to visit you?"
"I don't know." Naruto murmured quietly. Arching a single eyebrow Mita stared him down.
"I really don't know, but the grownups call me monster Demon and... other things. They don't let anyone play with me. I only have a couple of friends."
"I see." Despite the words Mita seemed satisfied with Naruto's answer. "You know once upon a time they called me the same things."
"What happened?"
"I discovered the truth about myself. About my powers and about the people around me."
"How?" Naruto asked excitedly.
"What about our deal?" Mita asked laughingly. "Oh never mind. I'll tell you anyways. I was sent on a mission to hunt down a killer. And when I found him I discovered something I never expected."
"What?" The look on Naruto's face was bright with excitement.
"Loneliness, despair, sorrow, bitterness, ambition, pain." As she spoke the words she watched Naruto's face closely. With every word his face twitched ever so slightly as if they caused him pain. "And rage so much rage. It was like looking in a mirror. It frightened me."
"So what did you do?"
"I hunted him up and down the city. Even disobeyed orders to try and get him. But he was too good, in fact he was amazing. In my entire life I never saw anyone so dangerous. Eventually I found out he was looking for something."
"What?"
"Something priceless. Not in the material sense but it meant everything to him. It had been stolen from him. By my master." Naruto eyes were wide as he listened. "You know what he did? All by himself he brought a city to its knees using nothing but fear, and then. And then they ambushed him. Four hundred men all armed with crossbows and torches. They trapped him in one room. And he beat them all including me."
"Wow."
"That's right. And then he hunted my master down and took back what was stolen, and when he did he shattered the lies that had kept me afraid and alone my entire life, we've been together ever since, but that's my story Naruto. What's yours?"
"I don't know. I'm just a kid." Naruto replied. "I don't have a story."
"Yes you do. I learned the truth about myself, are you ready to learn the truth about yourself?"
"I don't understand." Naruto said confusedly. "What truth."
"The truth about who you are, what you are, and where you come from." Mita replied seriously.
"What? Tell me please." Naruto sat up in his bed desperation evident on his face.
"Naruto. The truth is a dangerous thing. You would have found the truth eventually. Learning it now will change your life forever, perhaps for the worst. Are you sure you want to learn it now?"
Naruto nodded once.
"Very well then. My partner and I will meet you on the roof at midnight. Come alone. Promise me you'll think about what I've said."
"OK." Naruto said seriously.
Standing up Mita smoothed her dress with one hand and swept out of the room, leaving a thoughtful Naruto behind. It wasn't until much later that he realized that Mita had only had one arm.
oOo
Midnight couldn't come quickly enough for Naruto, but eventually it did come around. Sneaking out of his room was hard but not impossible, and he did eventually made his way onto the roof. A full moon shone overhead spilling, a soft silvery light over the rooftop.
After a moments searching he spotted Mita leaning against a large metal fixture, one of many sitting on the rooftop.
She turned her head and watched his approach silently. As he got closer to her his legs began to tremble. The reality of the situation began to dawn on him. Tonight his life would change. Finally he stood in front of her. He couldn't read the expression on her face because she sat in the shadow of a large machine.
"Hey." He called out into the still night air.
"I see you've made your choice." she responded calmly.
"So where is your partner?" Naruto asked as he looked around the rooftop.
"Right here." Mita said waving behind her.
"Behind the metal thing?" Naruto asked tilting his head to one side.
"No I'm right here." A harsh metallic voice came from just behind Mita.
Unfolding like a flower something loomed up behind Mita. It slid across the roof top like liquid. Bronze and blue armored plates sliding across one another with barely a whisper of sound. Red eye-slits set in a beaked helmet jutting forward aggressively. Above massive shoulders two metal shapes lay across its back like furled wings. Bloody red claws swished through the air.
"Naruto this is my friend and partner." Mita spoke her tone soothing, calming.
Choking back his fear Naruto stood his ground.
It finally stopped a few long steps from Naruto. A huge armored form, man shaped and terrifying.
"I am Zso Sahaal. First of the Raptors, bearer of the Corona Nox. Talon-Master of the Night Lords."
oOo
Remember pairings are still up in the air. So throw in your votes.
oOo
AN: Thanks to my Beta's Whitedragon17 and Psudocode Samurai who as always provide me with unparalleled help and support. Both are amazing authors and I highly recommend All of their fics. And thanks to all my reviewers. Also check Out PersonalFable he just started a pretty amazing warhammer40k/kim Possible crossover.
AAN: If you think I made a mistake or have a suggestion or an idea, Please PM me or leave it in a review.