Forgive the long wait but I was busy with my schoolwork and my other fanfic, Forget me Not.
Anyway, the new chapter of Naruto, Heir to Frostmourne and Ashbringer is here!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Warcraft.
Chapter 16: Kel'Thuzad
Next morning, Teams 7, 8, and Haku found Naruto missing in the house.
"Kakashi-sensei," Setsuna said, "I can't find Naruto-san anywhere."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Well, let's ask your other teammates if they saw him."
With that, they went to Kurenai, Hinata, Shino, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kiba (which three said that they didn't know where he is and they don't care). They didn't see him, either. So, they went to Tazuna, Tsunami, and Inari to see if they saw him.
When they saw them, Kakashi began. "Excuse me, Tazuna-san, Tsunami-san, Inari, have any of you seen Naruto? We didn't see him anywhere."
Tazuna spoke up. "Well, no, we didn't see the guy anywhere."
Inari and Tsunami also said that they didn't see him. Kakashi sighed in defeat.
"Alright, thanks."
Tazuna spoke up. "Maybe, he's in town. We'll help you find him." Tsunami and Inari agreed.
They went to the town and split up to search for him, however, it took nearly all morning and they resigned to let him come back here on his own, later on.
When they were about to enter Tazuna's house, a villager, both overjoyed and tired, ran to them.
"Tazuna!" He shouted. Everyone turned to him.
"What? What's going on? What's the rush?"
"Tazuna!" He panted. "The women that Gato took...they've returned!" Everyone was wide-eyed.
"Wait, what? Even though, Gato is dead, some of his thugs are still in his building. How could they get out of there?"
"We asked them how. They said that when the thugs are about to come in their cells, someone killed them."
"What? Who?"
"They didn't know. All they did know is that he was wearing some sort of fur coat and armor, and holding two blades, one was glowing blue and the other was glowing white." Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
Glowing...blue? And armor? It's possible that it was Naruto...
"Tazuna-san, do you know where Gato's building is?" He asked Tazuna, who, along with everybody else, looked at him.
"Well, everybody does. It's the tallest one here." He replied.
Kakashi nodded and said, "Come on, let's see who is the person responsible for their release." With that, they went towards Gato's building.
The group cautiously entered the building, which seemed to be void of life.
When they got in, nobody was there. In fact, there was nothing at all, except the structure of the building. No bodies, no blood, nor any sign of a fight.
Kakashi spoke all of their thoughts, "Weird. There's no sign of a fight...nothing...none at all. What happened here?"
They searched the dungeons, first, and saw it empty. They moved to the higher floors and found nothing. So, they continued higher and higher, and found nothing per floor, until they got to the top floor.
When they got there, they saw an armored figure walking towards a safe door. The figure stopped. It was Naruto in his Lich armor.
"Took you long enough, guys." He said as he dispelled his Lich armor and turned to look at them. "I already disposed all of the guys here." He smiled as he led them towards the safe. "Ah, yes, here we are. Gato's safe."
"Naruto, how did you dispose of the bodies?" Kakashi asked as he saw Naruto enter the combinations into the safe.
"I'm afraid that is all a secret." He said as the safe popped open and he went in and took all the money in it, using a sealing scroll.
"So, there's no way that you could tell us where the bodies are."
Naruto grinned as he walked out of it. "Nope. Either way, nobody would discover this place as I've put explosive tags everywhere. This place would go 'boom' on my mark." He tossed the scrolls to Tazuna. "There. Those are the money that Gato...took from Wave. Use it well." He smiled as he made a cross-shaped seal and several Kage Bunshins came into life and grabbed the people there.
"Wh-what?" Tazuna said, confused, as he was led towards a window, along with the others.
"Eep!" Went the females and blushed as some Naruto clones carried them bridal style and to the window.
"Hey! What the?" Kakashi exclaimed as one began to carry him piggyback and went towards the same window.
Inari said, "Hey!" as another clone hoisted him into his shoulders and went towards the window.
Shino just stared at the clone as it carried him piggy back as well on towards the window.
Naruto jumped in front of the clones as he spoke, "Time is of the essence, and as such, we must make haste. Come, let us leave through the window." He pointed a thumb towards the window as he turned and opened it.
"Naruto, are you crazy? We have civilians here! Besides, didn't you say that the explosive tags will only go on your mark? What's the rush?" Kakashi shouted.
Naruto grinned as he turned his head towards them. "Like I said, time is of the essence. I wanted this building wiped off of the face of the earth, as soon as possible. Now," he said, as he crouched down as did the other clones, "hold on tight."
This they did as they held on to the clones as tight as they could. Then, as soon as they held onto the clones as tight as they could, the clones jumped.
Naruto shouted, "We have lift off!"
Inari screamed as he squeezed the life out of the clone holding him.
Tazuna tightened his grip on the clone as they went falling.
Kakashi and Shino just held onto their respective clones, no tighter, no looser.
Kurenai tightened her grip on the clone holding her, a little.
Haku, Hinata, Setsuna, and Tsunami held their respective clones closer to them as they fell. The clones blushed when they felt something from their chests touch their own.
Naruto grinned as he twisted his body so that he was going feet first. They landed safely on the ground. When Naruto landed last, he turned towards the flustered group. "Heh, sorry about that. Anyway, let's get out of explosion range." They complied as they ran towards a safe place.
When they got to a safe place, Naruto smirked as he made one hand seal and said, "Boom." Immediately, the whole building was covered with explosion. Everyone from Wave, including the other three genin came to the scene.
"What's going on?" Kiba asked. When he saw the explosion, he dropped his jaw. "What the hell happened here?" Everyone seemed to be agreeing with his question.
"What you are seeing, Kiba," Naruto spoke as the explosion subsided and the building fell towards the floor, "is the complete and utter destruction of Gato's building." Everyone from Wave looked at him in wonder and awe. The three genins, on the other hand, looked at him in disbelief and doubt.
"What he meant was who was the culprit." Sasuke said.
"Oh...I did it. I destroyed Gato's building." Naruto confessed.
Sasuke scoffed. "Yeah, right! You may be strong to go hold off Zabuza before, but not even Kakashi could get in the building, with all the thugs, and manage to destroy it."
"Believe what you will, I do not care, Sasuke." Naruto responded.
Sasuke grunted before moving back to the house, accompanied by Sakura. Kiba carried Akamaru and went back to the house as well.
Naruto turned to Tazuna. "I believe that you have an announcement to make." Tazuna nodded and turned to the populace.
"Everyone! Since a long time ago, we have been hounded by Gato's maliciousness. Now, we have been freed! Freed by these ninjas who did everything to help us! And now, this young man here," he gestured towards Naruto, "has just given us a new beginning!" He took out the scroll of money. "Behold! Within these scrolls are the money that Gato took and stolen from us! Given to us by him! Taken from Gato's own building!" Tazuna shouted as the people cheered for thanks to the ninjas and, mostly, to Naruto.
The next day they finished the bridge, which was the same day that the ninjas would be going back to Konoha.
When the ninjas were about to leave, however, the population of Wave intercepted them.
"Now, now, where do you think you're going? The bridge is finished! Party with us!" Tazuna said.
Kakashi shook his head. "I'm afraid that we should leave as the mission is done."
"Ah! We'll have none of that! Come on! We insist!" He said.
Kurenai said, next, "I'm afraid that protocol says that we should return back to our village after a mission."
Tazuna sighed in defeat. "Alright...at least, stay a little while for a speech."
Kurenai and Kakashi looked at each other. Kakashi said, "Sure, why not?"
Tazuna grinned as he turned to the people. "Everyone! Today, we see the finishing of the bridge that symbolized hope for our people! Let us name it with a name that gave all of us hope in these darkest times! Now, decide which name would you like?"
Everyone gave names but none had that certain ring to it! Finally, it was only Tazuna's daughter and grandson who were left to name it (whew, that's gotta be a lot of suggestions!). They, however, were having a conversation.
When they finished, they said, in perfect unison, "How about 'The Great Naruto Bridge'?"
Tazuna grinned at the name. "Perfect! I didn't think of that! Named after the person who has saved us from Gato. Yes! Henceforth, the bridge shall be known as, 'The Great Naruto Bridge'!" Everyone cheered as the ninjas stood with jaws dropped. Who knew that Naruto had that big of an impact?
Naruto's tenants beamed with pride at this.
When the cheering subsided, they turned to the flabbergasted blond.
Naruto shook his head and grinned. "Everyone...thanks!" He exclaimed. The crowd cheered again. Then, the crowd, one by one, began to thank the ninjas, ending with Naruto.
Tazuna went third to the last. He shook hands with the other ninjas, while patting Naruto on the shoulder.
Inari went second. He bowed to the other ninjas, and gave Naruto a big 'onii-san' hug. Naruto returned it.
Tsunami was the last one. She, like Inari, bowed in thanks to the other ninjas. When she got to Naruto, she crouched low to reach his height and hugged him...not just any hug, she squeezed him such that her breasts were in contact with him. Naruto, along with the others, were shocked, with Naruto blushing red. When she detached from him (in which she did very slowly), she leaned into his ear and whispered, in a suggestive voice, "Come visit us sometime, Naruto-kun. Okay?" She kissed him on the cheek, making Naruto even more red, Kakashi giggle pervertedly, Kushina to fume (She's being goody-goody with my sochi!), Minato, Arthas, and Alexandros to burst out laughing, Kyuubi to giggle, Hinata and Setsuna to feel slightly jealous, Haku to glare at her, Kurenai to raise an eyebrow, Shino to look on with an unreadable face, Inari to go wide-eyed and open-jawed, Tazuna to chuckle, and the three other genin to shrug in apathy.
Naruto was blushing red at her boldness. Whoa, what was that? He's dense, isn't he? When Tsunami stood up, she smiled at him as she went back to the other crowd.
Teams 7 and 8 thanked the crowd for their hospitality and left. Haku followed and left, as well. Naruto quickly bowed and ran off.
Tsunami giggled at him. "He's kind of cute when he's flustered."
Tazuna raised an eyebrow at her. Inari looked at her. "Kaa-san, what happened a while ago?" He innocently asked. Tazuna told him that he would tell him when he was older.
Tsunami sighed. With him, it would be quite lonely here.
Naruto, Haku, Teams 7 and 8 approached the gates of Konoha. Izumo and Kotetsu stepped in front of them.
"Halt!" Kotetsu said.
Kakashi said, "Teams 7, 8 and Naruto's team coming back from a successful mission from Nami no Kuni. The young lady accompanying us is Haku."
Izumo nodded. "Alright, your identification checks out. Report to Hokage-sama."
Naruto, Kakashi, and Kurenai nodded as they went towards the Tower. Kakashi turned to his students and said, "Alright, team dismissed." Sasuke shrugged and left, with his so-called number one fangirl, Sakura following him. Kiba stretched his arms in relief as he went home.
With that, they went to the Tower.
The Sandaime sighed. "So, let me get this straight, the client lied to you, saying that Gato took all the available money for an A-Rank Mission. Then, you were attacked by Momochi Zabuza, were pinned down, and had help from Naruto-kun before a missing-nin managed to save him which is Haku here," he pointed to Haku, "however, she had a slavery seal on her put by Zabuza to save his sorry ass when he was in trouble. Afterwards, you went to the client's house, trained your teams in whatever you think they needed. Naruto-kun met Haku in the woods, finds out about the seal, removes it and plans something for Zabuza. Then, the time came, they fought, using the you-know-what's chakra in the process, Naruto-kun kills Zabuza, he takes Zabuza's body in a scroll. Then, Gato came. Naruto-kun gives the cleaver to Haku and began to kill everyone. Then, Gato turned to a horned, blind monster and Naruto, to the Lich King. They fought. Naruto-kun manages to kill the monster and kills Gato. Afterwards, Naruto-kun infiltrates Gato's building, saving slaves in the process and takes the money and destroys his building. In the end, Wave thanks all of you. And, one last thing, the client's daughter flirted with my surrogate grandson. That's all?" A nod was seen. The Sandaime sighed. "I'm getting too old for this shit."
Then, Hinata spoke up. "Ano, Hokage-sama?"
The Sandaime turned to her. "Yes?"
"I wanted to ask if this 'you-know-what' that you talked about earlier was connected to that red chakra that Naruto-kun released in Wave."
The Sandaime and Naruto looked at each other. Naruto nodded followed by the Sandaime. The Sandaime looked at Team 8 and Haku. "You know, all of you are lucky that Naruto trusts you. If not, then, we might not be having this conversation, now."
Team 8 and Haku tensed. Naruto trusted them that much? What is this secret that got the Sandaime riled up?
"Do you know about the fate of the Kyuubi no Yoko during its attack before?" The Sandaime asked.
Setsuna answered, "Well, we were told that Yondaime-sama killed it...however, from the feel of Naruto-san's chakra in Wave, which was almost demonic in nature, it wasn't true, was it, Hokage-sama?"
Minato chuckled. The Hikashis always were the sensory type...they can sense any type of chakra, be it demonic, humane, or hybrid, in a 50 meter radius...the best ones managed to stretch to 60.
The Sandaime nodded. "Yes, the Yondaime couldn't kill it. No human could. So, he sealed it in an infant." He gestured towards Naruto, who was cross-armed, as if expecting their response. The genins and Haku gasped. Kurenai already knew about the Kyuubi.
Shino, then, spoke up. "Hokage-sama, I have to ask, why would the Yondaime choose Naruto for the Kyuubi? I find it highly doubtful that Yondaime-sama would just choose any infant for this kind of burden."
Minato shook his head. Aburames and their logical reasoning.
Naruto looked at the Sandaime, who looked at him. He nodded. Naruto turned to the group. "You're right, Shino. Yondaime-sama wouldn't just choose any infant, since, some might abandon the child, others might train it to be a weapon behind the Hokage's back, other might kill it in hatred. He chose someone that he knew would trust with this responsibility, someone that would use this power not for evil but to bring peace to the shinobi world. He chose me, his son, for that purpose." This time, Kurenai joined in the gasping, leaving only Naruto, Kakashi and the Sandaime not gasping. No one knew (with Shino having suspicions) that Naruto was the Yondaime Hokage's son.
Shino nodded his head. "That makes sense...however, there's another thing that bothers me. What is this Lich King that was discussed earlier?"
The Sandaime looked at Naruto, who nodded. Naruto turned to the group. "The Lich King is a very powerful being that dated back beyond the time of the Rikudou Sennin." It earned gasps from the jonins and genins. "The Lich King was once human before until a demon came to him and promised him power, through a blade...a runeblade, Frostmourne." He unsheathed Frostmourne and showed it to the awestruck group. "This was it...until it was purified. You see, when the human took the blade and the power corrupted him, he instilled fear into the world using the undead, like the ones you saw at Nami no Kuni. However, people tried to fight against him, and all failed. However, they managed to defeat him using a holy weapon, exorcising the demonic power in the runeblade." He sheathed it. "Since then, the blade has been passed down from generation of generation...the generation of my father, Namikaze Minato." That earned more gasps.
"S-sensei used that blade?" Kakashi asked.
Naruto shook his head. "From his journals, he said that he didn't use it. He said that it doesn't feel right in his arms."
The Sandaime interfered. "Alright, that's all you need to know, for now. Naruto-kun and I trust all of you enough to keep it quiet from anyone and everyone. Am I clear?" He began releasing KI, which said, 'or else.' They nodded and the KI subsided. "Good, now, Kakashi, Kurenai, you are dismissed along with you, Hinata, Shino, Setsuna, and Haku. I have something to discuss with Naruto-kun. Everyone except Naruto left. Haku was about to leave but Naruto grabbed her to stop her.
Naruto said, "Ojii-san, Haku doesn't have any place to live, so I thought that she might live in the mansion, however, she still doesn't know the way and the mansion does not recognize her yet, so..." he trailed off.
The Sandaime nodded. "Ah, I see. Say no more. However, if she could just stay outside for a little while, since this is a very private matter." Haku nodded and left.
When the door closed, the Sandaime took a puff from his pipe. "First of all, Naruto-kun, I want to say that I'm glad that you were alright in that mission. Not anyone could handle an A-Rank missing-nin and live. With that, you might be placed in a Bingo Book, listed as a high A-Rank, possibly, low S-Rank nin. Second, I have a mission for you. An S-Rank."
That shocked Naruto and his other tenants. An S-Rank? Who, in their right mind, would send a genin, a genin in a one man team, for that matter, in an S-Rank mission? Granted that he can kick an A-Rank's butt, but still, who said that he can kick an S-Rank's ass?
The Sandaime chuckled. "I know what you're thinking. Who, in their right mind, would send a genin, a genin in a one man team, for that matter, in an S-Rank mission? Simple." He turned serious. "It can only be done by you, since we are dealing with the undead in this mission."
Naruto immediately turned serious. "Details." He droned.
Instead of responding, the Sandaime took out a photo from the mission folder and gave it to him. "This photo was taken by a desperate farmer somewhere within Mizu no Kuni. The Mizukage sent some Mist ninjas but they never came back."
Naruto took a look at it and frowned. It showed hunchback skeletal creatures, at least, 5, eating on a bunch of corpses while one pale man in a robe was on the sidelines and raising his staff, which the end was glowing.
Arthas, also, frowned at it. Ghouls and necromancers...who managed to survive that long period of time?
Naruto said, "I'll take it."
The Sandaime nodded and gave him the scroll. "Get Haku-san to your house and leave for your mission. Oh, and you can turn in Zabuza's body to the Mizukage while you're at it."
Naruto nodded and left.
Naruto and Haku entered the mansion. They saw Mikoto having bits of small talk with Kyuubi. Naruto cleared his throat and they turned to him.
"Naruto-kun!""Naruto-sama." They said, respectively. Naruto went a little pink at the suffix by Mikoto but recomposed himself.
Naruto gestured towards Haku. "Mikoto-san, Kyuubi-chan, this is Yuki Haku, the last remaining member of the Ice Kekkei Genkai-wielding clan, as her mother was killed by her father in fear of the bloodline...get acquainted, guys, I have another mission to attend to. Bye!" With that, he grabbed some supply packs and left.
Mikoto and Kyuubi smiled warmly at her.
"So, let's begin introductions, shall we?" Mikoto started.
Naruto jumped on the tree branches as he approached the border of Mizu no Kuni.
When he got to the farmer, he gave the mission scroll. The farmer laughed at him but a glare from Naruto shut him.
"Listen, I will either do this or not. Your choice." With that, Naruto jumped off to the target area.
When Naruto landed on the ground in front of the ice-covered area, he was surrounded by skeletal archers, mages and warriors (both of orcs and humans).
What have we here? Do those people think that we would show mercy to a child? They are fools to even think that...I'm afraid that we have to kill you, now.
Naruto closed his eyes and had Arthas, per request of him, control him. When he opened them, it showed his bluish eyes and he was covered with a cloud of frost. When it cleared, the figure showed the Lich King armor, complete with Frostmourne at hand. Arthas pointed it at the skeletons.
I warn you now, you take one more step, you will know the reason why I was once called the Lich King.
That stopped the undead in their tracks. They tried to sense lies and deceit in his words, but no such thing came out...also, he was radiating with undead energy as the runeblade that the person in front of them held in his hands began to glow with such intensity that it was almost humming with power.
The undead beings asked, Are you really the Lich King? If so, prove it.
Arthas smirked. 'Gotcha.' Yes, I really am the Lich King. If you require proof, then, all of you, come at me, and I will assure you...all of you will fall from me.
The undead relaxed their stance. If that is the case, then, we'll have our lord and master, Kel'Thuzad, decide if you really are who you say you are.
Lead the way, then.
With that, Arthas and the skeletal beings went into the frosty area.
As Arthas and the skeletal beings trudged the snowy land, Arthas noted some of the curious looks given to him by some of the Scourge's minions. Ghouls, necromancers, abominations, banshees, shades, acolytes and other minions of the Scourge, as he finally saw their target place, surrounded by frost wyrms. The previously-floating-and-now-on-land necropolis, Naxxramas. Arthas smiled when he saw it.
The head skeleton mage went up to the entrance and banged on the door before going back to the line. The door opened and out came five beings, four of them are riding horses and one, on foot.
Inside his head, Arthas and Alexandros briefed them about the Scourge.
...and the five people you see before me are the four strongest death knights and the Grand Necromancer and commander of my legion in my time, Gothik the Harvester.
I was once one of those four death knights until my freeing from undeath. The first one on the left, son of Kushina, is Thane Korth'azz, who holds immense power over flame. The next one is Lady Blaumeux, who lures souls into her then captures them with shadow. The third one is Sir Zeliek, who is a very firm believer of the Light, that it even serves him in undeath, using it to smite his foes. The last one is Baron Rivendare. I have no other knowledge of him other than him being a friend of Kel'Thuzad in the past and was easily swayed by him into undeath. The only other thing I know about him is that he is one impressive melee fighter.
And, as I have told you earlier, the person not on a steed is Gothik the Harvester. He is the Grand Necromancer and commander of my legion. His command over the undead is so great that even the weakest Death Knights can summon the dead to fight for him.
Naruto and the others were jaw-wide, even Kyuubi, whose open jaw is smaller than the rest.
Arthas chuckled. Anyway, the next level holds the Scourge's most dangerous and lethal abominations, Patchwerk, Grobbulus, Gluth, and Thaddius. Patchwerk is a very titanic and powerful abomination that none believed his strength and even fewer believed of his fall. The next one, Grobbulus, is a flesh giant abomination which was infused with the plagues of Naxxramas, which he uses to poison his foes and make them fall. The third one, Gluth, is a plague-dog abomination. His hunger is so insatiable that humans can't sate it...they had to feed him with an army of undead, daily, and used the remains to create other undead beings. The last one, Thaddius, is the most massive of the abominations and had control over lightning.
And finally, the last floor contains the lord over Naxxramas, my most loyal subject...and friend...Kel'Thuzad and his guardian, the strongest of all the frost wyrms, Sapphiron.
Gothik the Harvester, with the four Death Knights behind him, glared at the figure standing in the midst of skeletal beings.
What is the meaning of this? This fool cannot be the Lich King. He was destroyed the moment those humans destroyed Ice Crown where the frozen Lich King was stationed before.
The undead beings said, However, my lord, his appearance and runeblade matches that of the previous Lich King, Arthas Menethil and Frostmourne.
Then, you are a fool, since he has died since that holy blade, Ashbringer, broke Frostmourne and smote the Lich King. This fool cannot be him.
Immediately, the whole area was covered by a very dangerous aura of death that only the most powerful Lich King, Arthas Menethil, can muster. Then, Gothik was held up in the air by a chokehold by Arthas with Frostmourne threatening to stab him on the stomach.
You DARE call ME a fool, Gothik? I, the one who gave you free reign over MY ARMY? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't end your undead life!
Then, another voice, a cold, calm voice answered. Because, there would be less of the undead to lead your army, King Arthas.
Arthas turned to see the archlich that he had trusted his kingdom to. It has been a long time...Lich.
Kel'Thuzad floated all the way down to the ground, as the four Death Knights and the other undead beings bowed to him.
Indeed it has, my king. He replied.
How did you know that I was the real one?
Kel'Thuzad smiled, though, it was barely seen since he is skeletal. Dear me, why shouldn't the person whom you have claimed to be your friend and whom you have appointed over your kingdom know you, King Arthas? After all, no one can and ever will imitate your Lich energies nor your runeblades lethality.
Arthas let go of Gothik and walked to him. Tell me, what has passed since my death?
Haha! I have to end there, people! Why? Because I want to! The next chapter will explain the events that had transpired since Arthas' death.
Bye!