Disclaimer: first chapter
The Path Which He Will Take
The Hero's path
Was never set in stone;
He will inevitably face a gruesome obstacle
Not decided by Fate,
Not decided by destiny,
The Wheels of Fate are turning,
But none of it applies to him;
All of them were of his own volition.
The infinite possibilities continue to branch out.
The good,
The bad,
The virtuous,
The sinful…
All lead to nine.
Nine legends
Nine versions
Nine truths
Nine fates
All are welcome to follow
All are welcome to predict
All are welcome to fill the gap in
His stories,
His adventures,
His ends.
Shall he take the path of
The righteous Sword?
"By my name, Naruto Uzumaki, I will cut you down!" He yelled. His sword in front of him blazed in an aura of gold. In this night sky, the moon's radiance was outshone by the pillar of gold. "Let my valor come; my will pour out; my desire be fulfilled; my life as recompense!" Each phrase intensified the glow. A surge of mana and chakra expelled outwards. Wind tore, ebbed, twisted.
In place, he meditated. His enemy was still alive, but unable to move for a while. The final blow was imminent. His grip tightened. A vision of a child cradled in his arms invaded his mind. 'A different dream, a different place…-no, it's far too late. Forgive me, love. This is where it ends for me. The rest have fled as I have wished.' He felt somewhat bitter in the way he said that. Behind him, the remnant forces of the shinobi alliance laid devastated. Dead. The rest were gone. They retreated. His act would be their last stand. "There's no one left to hear me now. But let this luminous sword carve itself into history, and symbolize a world of righteousness!"
The idealistic Arrow?
"Welcome to my world: the world of weapons." He told his caged opponent. "This will blow up in your face for a while, so do your best to hold out." He aimed his bow at the enemy. In his right hand, a drill with a handle appeared. He nocked the Noble Phantasm onto the bow, and pulled on the string of chakra. He kept pulling back until his thumb reached the back of his ear. The arrow altered. Its shaped became far more sleeker -elegant. Four steel fletchings were forged. The drill was no more. A steel shaft had narrowed to that of a normal arrow. However, it widened in circumference, acting as a way to prevent drag on the projectile. The broadhead was where the previous form's resemblance remained as a drill, though far more narrower than the predecessor. Suddenly the arrow bathed in the light of mana that constantly poured into it. All weapons were trained onto the man in the origin. The caster of this world was atop a battleship, which had its cannons aimed at the exact same target as all the others. "Your god-complex won't help you here one bit, you overcompensating albino."
The indomitable Spear?
A lance dug into the ground, and was arced around the wielder. Four blue runes, Algiz, Nauthiz, Ansuz, and Ingwaz, lit up. A suicide move, but not one without merit. He still had enough left in him for an all-out attack. Sure his left arm is kinda broken, he only has one kidney now, a busted left femur and kneecap, and 3/20 vision, but there's still a chance. He would continue until one of them dies. "You are not leaving this place!" The curse of one on one combat had been placed. Both he and his opponent could not leave the battle. And with his opponent out of range and immobile for the moment, he knew his enemy could only be on guard.
Mana collected itself into a large sphere much like Bijudama. The leylines of this battlefield were degrading as he continued to sap mana from everywhere. The remaining grass in this cratered plain withered; soil dried and crumbled. He sapped the very life out of the vicinity for this final attack. His own too. He embraced what's to come -be it life or death.
This was his story: a man who never ran away despite his wounds; a man who never ran away from the fear of death; a man who never ran away from the thrill of battle.
I summon the light of destruction down upon my prisoners. Stars, gather, and become the light which pierces everything. Tear through everything in a blaze of light.
The unstoppable Rider and his mount?
"Trace on!" And so the battlefield was repopulated. Not by shinobi, but by vehicles of war. Tanks of different makes and models formed various firing lines around him. Mobile missile platforms were situated far from the frontline just as the floating battleships, helicopters, VTOLs and other aircraft in the sky. All of there vehicles, made for vehicular warfare were commanded by none other than himself. The original rested on his motorcycle, burning off chakra like gasoline. Up above, Kiryuuin, his dragon rained down lightning and a heavy downpour of hail and rain. His lion, Kiritsugu, was outfitted with more ranged weapons like several missile ports, cannons, laser systems, and a railgun for no reason whatsoever other than overkill. Don't mind the helicarrier above the storm or the various mechs that joined the ground battalion as well. They're only insurance because overkill isn't enough to kill this one. "This is one time I don't mind wasting a ton of bullets and time on an enemy. Aim! Then fire!"
The explosive and tricky Caster?
It was like looking in the mirror. Eight of them at least. Eight identical selves plus him, the caster. Nine different forms. It was confusing to all of them. But they were used to the idea of strangeness in their own realities, and could therefore appreciate the strangeness of
"This form is quite formidable to bring us forth." One of the alternate selves said as he inspected the caster's blade. "Much more versatile than Soleil, much to my annoyance. I'm quite embarrassed that I've not expanded further into this form's potential."
Another hefted his bow. "It's a mirror that can create copies of what they see or bring us out from our own realities. Reminds me more of a jewel than a sword." The archer's eyes narrowed. "Why did she let that vampire tinker in the process of Kyukiseki?"
"Who cares?" Interrupted a spearman. "That blasted vampire gave us a worthwhile gift in Kyukiseki." None could argue with his point. Some of Kyukiseki's greatest features came from the vampire. "I'm much more attuned to the Stratus Breacher form compared to the others." He gained a thinking pose. "Say…if we're from different realities, how are we not destroying the fabric of reality by having multiple existences at the same time?" He lifted his lance. "Actually…nevermind. The better question is…which of us is the strongest?"
"I'm not wasting loot, sweat, and bullets on a draw." Answered a rider on his motorcycle. "But I'm more than willing to waste some on our enemies while riding Arbalest."
"I feel inclined to say I'd rather be in the shadows." The one further away from the group remarked lowly.
"We could always go for an all-out attack." The others gawked at the one who said it. A version of the caster casually placed a single-edged broadsword on his shoulders with one hand on the handle. "Brute force has its merits when all of us can form clones of ourselves by the thousands. Hellion would like to carve up some poor saps."
"I wholly agree, o brute me." A set of gauntlets clashed against each other. "I can't wait to bash some skulls and/or mountains in! Arma is just as excited." His overeagerness infected some of the others with the same reminiscent energy. It's as if they were back in their Genin days.
"Simple-minded, but I share the same sentiments." A thin longsword was drawn. It's metal a vibrant silver with a blazing orange fuller. It's no surprise that there's a single-ended point to the blade. "Pyrrhus Edge is ready to cut them down."
"…Um guys? Can we do something about that meteor?" The caster asked.
The silent Killer?
He stared at the two large groups of armies that clashed against each other. From his vantage point, it would be easy to wipe out his enemies. Flashpoint only needed a visual target and a specific one at that to just teleport that knife into his enemy. Then either let that enemy die by internal impalement or an implosion by that same knife.
Choices…choices.
Flashpoint appeared in his hand. A flick or the wrist, and a handful of them materialized. A quick toss in the general direction of his enemies, and soon the space in front of him was a wall of the same knife he started with. That very wall disappeared. Moments later, the army that opposed the alliance dropped without warning. On their heads were the same knives moments ago.
'That should ease up their load. Now for the big guy. I hope my CQC isn't too rusty.'
The tactical but Insane vanguard?
"I don't like this…"
"Why?"
"They're taking too long."
"Feh! Biding their time for what?"
"That could be one." Someone said as he pointed in the distance. "You don't see shinobi charging in alone."
"NO ONE EXPECTS THE FRONTAL ASSAULT!" Shouted the charging attacker. His sword in front of him, he kept on plowing through with lightning piercing the wall of enemies that stubbornly stayed to impede his charge. Once he broke through the front lines, the wide arcs of his sword swatted away or bisected his enemies on the way. His swings lacked resistance when he cut. Despite the heavy weapon, the space around him was a flurry of sliver; steel's form blurring the surrounding area. "Focus people! I'm motivated, so you do the same!" He demanded. "Come at me!" He slammed his blade on the ground like a hammer. The ground deformed with webbed cracks that originated from the impact. Kyubi's chakra surged outwards, and blew outside the crevices. The resulting explosion gave ample breathing space for one more action. A flick of the wrist shifted the blade's form. The handle lengthened, and the blade shifted upwards before it rotated ninety degrees away from it's usual effective position to cut. Instead, an arc of malevolent chakra posed itself as the weapon's 'edge'.
A harbinger of death had arrived.
The true self?
"U-ZU-MA-KI!" Devastating punches were times to each uttered syllable. Each hit staggered the opponent, who should be dust by the sheer output he expelled. Then again, the others were basically dust that kept stubbornly reforming. Not much of a difference there really. The final syllable rocked his enemy's chin, and sent the victim to the heavens. He reappeared above his staggered foe, and cocked his armored fist. Mana and chakra seeped into the weapon of choice. Runic bands wrapped around the fist like floating rings of a planet. "Meteor Arrow!" The cocked fist shot down into the enemy's gut. The very impact of the punch parted the clouds while it sent the enemy fall back to earth.
The ground cratered and crumbled under the force of the impact. The enemy's body gained a very large hole in his torso. It slowly closed itself. His enemy's body regenerated to such a degree.
"Tch…after that, and you still won't die?!"
"Give up on brute force, boy!" His healing opponent stated. "Seal me if you must, but your useless charade has gone on far enough!"
Eyes of fury blazed. "That's it!" More power surged into his gauntlets. "I won't have you belittling me, deadman!" He pulled back both fists, where a mixture of combined energy culminated, pulsed, thrashed, flailed out of the vessel they inhabited. Unable to hold it all, the gauntlets siphoned off the excess into the battlefield like wings of flame on his elbows. "My weapon isn't named Astral Armageddon for show! I'll demonstrate it by ending you in one blow! Believe it!"
The Mayfly?
"Men and women of this alliance! I'm honored that you placed your trust in me." He shouted to the remaining units, elites of their respective villages. They were ragged from days of battles with little rest. He was in the same situation, but kept on the fight. Their drive was surprising. He would have thought they burned out by now. Their eyes said otherwise. "It's surprising that I've been given this position, one I've dreamed for so long. However, I'm all the more saddened that this is out of necessity instead of being appointed to the seat." His eyes closed. "The Raikage, Tsuchikage, Mizukage, and Hokage that led you before are now gone. They're far more capable of this seat of power than I. The Kazekage next to me has easily earned that right. I don't see why they or you all could trust me. I will be sending you to your deaths! I cannot lie about this. Would you still follow this man before you?!"
"Sir!"
"You would throw your lives away?! For what?" He shouted back at them. "What of your families, your people, your village? What would you gain?!"
"The extermination of a scourge in our lives!" One shinobi shouted to which the others cheered.
"To save our family from this terror even if we are not there to show that it's gone!"
"To protect everything I've known and cherished, and knowing I died protecting it to the end!"
Soon, thousand of responses drowned each other out like waves crashing into a cliff wall. He was overwhelmed by it. His friend, the Kazekage, placed a reassuring hand on his right shoulder. "You spurned these responses. You ignited their flames. You are worthy, Naruto." Gaara said supportively.
"You choose sacrifice for the safety of your precious ones?!"
"Sir!"
"Then I cannot refuse such a noble reason." He replied. "Let it be known that our way of life may be bloody and full of deceit. Let it be known that we the Leaves, Sand, Rock, Cloud, and Mist and all others were enemies. But most of all…let it be known that this night, us shinobi did not fight for greed, information, deceit, and so on. Let it be known that we fought for honor!"
"We fought for peace!"
"We fought for the next generation!"
"And we fought to the bitter end!" He raised his sword above his head. Next to him, a flag that bore the insignia of the united forces fluttered in the wind. The cheers were louder than anything he heard before. However it was nothing compared to his current thoughts. 'It's sad…but I finally see the allure of that hat, Jiji.' He thought somberly. 'I'm kinda running on fumes soon -this will be the final fight. And fight I will to the very last breath…' He sighed deeply.
"Let justice be done though the heavens fall."
His path is still unfinished;
He knows it.
But he will still continue
Now and forever.
Yeah…not an actual chapter again. Sorry. This is more of a precaution more than anything. More than likely I won't finish this story and its several branching stories. I'll still work on it, but at least this way, all of you see the potential Naruto has. Since this is crossed over with the Fate franchise, it's natural to have routes. This particular story I've decided to be the Archer route, which ties to the 5th Grail War story.
I'm debating whether or not to allow others to make their own versions for the remaining routes. Like the content says "All are free to fill the gap." It means I can allow people who are interested in expanding this miniature universe me and Element-Overlord have created to make their own versions. Though I'm not sure if I should.
What do you guys think? Are any of you interested in this proposition?
If not, it's okay. Review, follow, favorite, I don't care.
This is Azure signing off.