Hello, again!
I figure it's about time we look a bit more into a few things that change between this and canon Naruto. I know it seems like he might have already gone into a bit before, but ultimately, he's been rather quiet. Thought it was about time to go a bit into that.
Also, with how this one ends up going, it just really how things ended up for this chapter.
Bold and Italicized is in a different language to the main language.
Don't own Harry Potter or Naruto.
Let it truly go
Harry woke up in a bit of a groggy state Christmas morning, being gently shook awake by Naruto.
"Naruto?" he asked.
"First off, I believe you all say 'Merry Christmas' today, correct." said Naruto, "But this is mainly as part of my gift to you, actually."
That got Harry attention pretty quickly. What could Naruto possibly give him at about five in the morning, let alone on Christmas?
"One part is a chance at being Jade for the entire day instead of a few hours." explained Naruto, "Among other things, it should be a pretty decent joke to play on people such as the Weasley twins. Especially if you start the day before them. And the other part, mainly, is that...well...I'll be telling you and the others about some of my personal past."
That snapped Harry awake. Even with all the time they had spent together, Naruto had never truly gone into any sort of real detail about his personal past. If he was going to be going into it, Harry wasn't about to miss out one bit.
And to be honest, I have been kind of wanting to see what would happen if I stuck to my Jade form for the entire day. Thought Harry.
"Just make sure that you get ready as Jade this morning, ok?" reminded Naruto before getting up and moving to the Gryffindor common room.
Getting up, Harry placed his hands in the Ram hand-sign that Naruto taught him, and concentrated on his chakra. He flared it out a bit, and felt the now normal change to his original form. The reshaping of his body, the lengthening of his hair, and the slight decrease in height. Once it was all done, he put on the clothes set aside for times like this. *(Remember, he'll still be a 'he' until he FULLY accepts himself as Jade, and that's not quite yet. Also, for clothes, one word for description: Hermione.)*
Coming out to Naruto waiting with Hermione and Ginny, she idly noted that their housemates, even for Christmas, had slept in. Standard for just about every witch and wizard, except for them.
But then again, when was I ever truly normal? Harry mused absentmindedly, walking up to them.
"Shall we, ladies?" asked Naruto, holding out an arm, "I have a few other gifts, but that will be after breakfast. But first..."
He led them outside, where Luna was waiting, before suddenly slammed the ground and sending out a wave of dark energy throughout the castle. A gong-like sound echoed right afterwards.
"Let's see how well they can laze in after this." said Naruto, earning a giggle from Luna when she figured out just what exactly the boy was talking about with that sentence. The Gryffindor girls were left confused as they walked towards the Great Hall before pretty much everyone else, including most of the teachers. At least out of those that were still at Hogwarts for the holidays.
A few were already on their way as well when the sound went off. Although it was just Snape and Dumbledore, they still wondered what exactly happened that morning.
Dumbledore had woken up to a rather strange and minutely unpleasant feeling, as though things in the near future aren't exactly something to look forward to at that moment. Least of which in his mind was when he had to answer for what he did to Harry so long ago. When the echo sounded, his confusion grew. What exactly would result in the signal for everyone in the castle to come to the Great Hall for a meeting?
Around the staircases, he found the answer to his query, in the form of Naruto, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and Harry. However, he also saw that Harry was in his female form, which wasn't something he liked to see out in public just yet.
But with Naruto near, I'm not going to be able to do anything about it. Thought Dumbledore, concerned with how things will turn out. He was quickly distracted when he started seeing floating masses of dark energy pop up, but without doing any sort of damage of setting off any alarm.
What's going on? The girls wondered when they saw patches of black vapor like energy appear as they walked. Not long after, images formed inside them. When they were solid enough, a younger Naruto could clearly be seen in them in various scenarios. There was a pretty decent variety, but for the most part in the beginning, they were either dark and scary or sad and lonely. But the negativity was somewhat offset when Naruto surprised them with singing. They couldn't help but be mesmerized by his tone, having a majesty defying his more simple/animal being.
*****[Check 'Disney's Frozen "Let It Go" Sequence Animated Performed by NateWantsToBattle (Male Version)' for tune]*****
"Snow glows white on the grounds tonight, not a footprint to be seen." Naruto started as they past a window to the outside, showing the unblemished snow on the grounds, "A life of isolation, and it looks like I'm the king. My heart is howling from this swirling storm inside." A few of the floating patches showed Naruto either being chased by a mob, covered in blood and surrounded by dead bodies, or looking longing at distant families. "Couldn't keep it in. Kami knows I've tried." A few changed to Naruto attempting to either hurt or kill himself, shocking Harry and Co.
"Don't let them in, don't let them see. Be the good guy you always have to be." A fight between a silver-haired man and a man with a scar on his face appeared, before quickly switching to Naruto with a girl they recognized as Hinata and a boy with long hair and pale eyes, "Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know. Well now they know!" A raged-filled Naruto was posed jumping at the pale eyed boy with a stormy background. A little bit later, the scenes took on a brighter tone as it showed a few of Naruto's adventures, showing a snowy train, a man with a big black sword, and a giant slug, toad, and snake, among other things, "Let it go, Let it go, can't hold me back anymore. Let it go, Let it go, go ahead and break the door. I don't care what they're going to say! Let the storm rage on, the night never bothered me anyway."
By then, the five were coming close to the bottom of the staircases, where the Great Hall was located. The patches have also died down, leaving a few that showed more of the people in Naruto's life than anything else, although there were still a few moments of Naruto out on missions and such. One that got some snickers was when he got into a scuffle with a cat. "It's funny how some distance, makes anything seem small. And the fears that once controlled me, can't get to me at all!" Bloodied Naruto was shown again, before it switched to Naruto and Hinata hugging together in a hospital room. Then it switched to the pair training together. "Past time to see, what I can do. To test my limits and break through. Real wrong, real right, real rules for me. I'm free!" With those words, Naruto's shadow grew, transforming into a platform that he got all of them on before it lowered the rest of the way. "Let it go, Let it go, I'm one with the nighttime sky. Let it go, Let it go, no more tears I'll cry. Now I stand, and now I'll stay!" Now the scenes were taking on a more action-packed tone, focusing on the actual fights Naruto's been in. "Let the storm rage on."
Next thing any of them knew, they were in the hallway leading to the Great Hall, and it was as though Hogwarts itself was responding to Naruto's voice. Torches lit up as he passed, glowing a tranquil blue. Suits of armor raised an arm in front of their chest pieces, saluting him with a slight bow. "My power flurries from my soul into the ground. My heart is spiraling with sparkling vapors all around. Then one thought solidifies like a Biju's blast." He momentarily stops as a scene of him being comsumed in a bright light before it shows Naruto and Hinata standing together overlooking Konoha during a sunrise, "I'm never going back. The past is in the PAST!" The Great Hall opens up as they finish up their little trip, revealing one single table due to lack of people requiring more than one table. "Let it go, Let it go, time to rise with the break of dawn. Let it go, Let it go, that little boy is gone. Now I stand in the light of day." The floating patches disappeared as they found their seats at the table, "Let the storm rage on! The night never bothered me anyway."
With those final words, Naruto created a few clones and showed the girls to their seats, before sitting down himself. Although they were momentarily distracted by Dumbledore clapping by the door.
"Quite remarkable, my dear boy." said Dumbledore, walking up to his own seat while looking at Naruto, "Music like that is something I haven't heard in a great many years."
Naruto nodded in acknowledgment of the man's words.
"However, I must ask. Why is Harry currently a girl?" asked Dumbledore.
Naruto merely raised his eyebrow at the question, while the eyes of the girls narrowed at that. It was pretty well obvious that Dumbledore knew, especially after Naruto had told them the full story, but to hear it straight from the source.
Dumbledore also realized his little slip up, and internally winced. They knew, and having four teenage girls upset at you isn't something he would really like to face. He's seen the result one too many times for his personal liking, and that was just one of the male students played multiple girls at the same time. Although he should've expected it. Unless something came up, Naruto was by now known in the castle as having a rather honest and blunt mouth, so people could go to him if they had a dispute to settle.
Sirius had gotten rather lucky he didn't share that fate. Thought Dumbledore.
"You know why Harry's a girl," said Naruto, "but as for currently...just wait and see."
It wasn't long after the food actually started showing up that the rest of the remaining people in the castle came to join them. And each time someone showed up, the either didn't notice Harry, or were confused as to who the girl was. And Naruto wasn't about to say anything, wanting to see how long it would be until they figured it out.
The last one to arrive, was a surprising addition to those who knew her.
"Professor Trelawney?" asked Dumbledore, "What brings you out of the tower?"
"Another of her so-called visions." said Naruto, cutting the women off before she could speak, "She thinks that it was fated for her to be here now, when it was just her drunk and possibly irritated."
"He's right on both accounts, I'm afraid." Harry heard in his head, shocking him slightly because he had heard from the fire connected man for at least a month.
But before Harry could respond, Naruto spoke again. "Anyways. Girls, any questions in particular you might have, although I retain the right to deny if it gets into rather uncomfortable territory."
Luna was the first to speak as they started eating. "Could you describe how it feels as Void Heart?"
"...honestly, that wasn't the first question I expected." said Naruto, "But it is one of the easier ones, mainly because there isn't much to say. It's more snippets and feelings I get every time Void Heart appears, so I only have assumptions until I get the full story."
Luna could understand that. Most cases with similar situations didn't allow much to flow to the host. As a result, they would normally need a separate eye witness in order to learn just all that had happened while they were possessed.
Although we can't quite classify this as possession, huh? Thought Luna, getting a feeling of a nod in return that caught her internal interest.
"There is one thing I would like to know, Naruto." started Ginny, a question on her mind for a good while, "In the beginning, you guys mentioned something about a dream and a chase with Void Heart. Would you mind explaining about it?"
Ginny's answer was a rather depressing feeling in the air as Naruto kept silent. When he did speak, all he said was, "It's one of the things I'm not proud of."
Remembering that incident, Luna turned to Ginny and explained. "Let's put it this way: Naruto may be willing to threaten his enemies, but he doesn't like doing the same for his precious people."
Ginny bowed her head with that, understanding enough.
Snape then cut in with a light sneer. "Sounds a lot like he's lying to me."
The depressing air was quickly replaced by an aggressive one, with Naruto glaring at Snape quite vehemently.
"If there is one thing I can guarantee, right here, right now," said Naruto, "is that I'm not a liar!"
Hermione then got a question of her own from that statement. "Sounds like you really don't like being called a liar. Why's that?"
Her question calmed Naruto down enough that he stayed normal, but his anger was still clear as day. "Now is not the time for that answer, but I will tell you. I promise."
At the very least, you'd want to actually eat. But since I'm done, might as well get those. Thought Naruto as he got up and concentrated. A small flash of dark smoke later, and four small boxes appeared on the table.
"Jade, Hermione, Luna, Ginny." said Naruto, "Remember when I mentioned the Rinne Festival?"
At their nods, he continued. "If you don't mind standing up for a moment, I'd like to show you how we go about giving."
After all four stood, done eating either way, Naruto created three clones, each with one of the boxes. That was when four symbols were noticed on the boxes, in the shape of a bolt of lightning, a book, a crescent moon, and a flame respectively. Then, as one, Naruto and his clones bowed, presented the boxes, and said "Please accept my Rinne Festival present."
Smiling at the sentiment, but a bit embarrassed from the public location, Harry started the process by accepting and opening the box presented to her. Harry gasped at what laid within, eliciting similar reactions from the others.
Silver necklaces, each bearing a set of what they remember were called magatama, all of them in various colors. The beads between them shone silver in the lighting.
"The magatama are mainly to represent the group." explained the real Naruto as the four helped put the necklaces on the recipients. "Black is me, White is Hinata, Green is Jade, Red is Ginny, Blue is Luna, Gold is Hermione, Pink is Sakura, and Purple is Ino. Even though we're not completely together right now, I'd say you all especially would become a pretty close circle of friends."
Dumbledore smiled at those words, happy to see the sentiment and tone in Naruto's actions. Despite the mistakes he's made over the years, he always wanted integration and understanding to prosper. Unfortunately, too many people don't seem to care, and he was getting up there in years, so he wasn't able to do much.
He internally sighed. It may have been the wrong thing to do, but maybe Naruto is just what we need to save our world.
"Just not entirely sure where the ones I got for-" Naruto started to say before he was suddenly over-washed with feelings from Hinata, Ino, and Sakura. "The heck?"
"We love the necklaces! Thank you, Naruto!" They all told him in unison, right before Void Heart said "You're welcome, Naruto."
Naruto quickly realized just what had happened to the other necklaces. Void Heart had already sent them on their way to their recipients, and it was pretty obvious to the three just who they came from. So he responded accordingly. "At the very least, I couldn't possibly leave out you girls. I just had no idea on how to get them to you until Void Heart dealt with that issue."
Naruto then spoke up again. "There is one other thing, Jade."
What could top this? Harry wondered, only to hear the hall doors open, with Sirius Black coming through while carrying a long, thin package.
"You're getting your British home earlier than expected." Naruto said simply, moving aside so that Harry didn't have to go through him to his godfather, who caught Harry's hug.
Only Dumbledore really knew the full truth, so the rest of the staff at the table were generally confused that Sirius would hug a girl like that when Harry Potter was his godchild. That's also when the Headmaster understood just why Harry was in his girl form that day.
"For the record, that's Harry real form." explained Naruto.
"...WHAT?!" the teachers couldn't help but cry, even Snape.
Like I said, Harry will still be classified as Harry until she fully accepts her reality as Jade. She hasn't quite gotten to that point yet.
The necklaces were just a 'momento/because' thing, to signify the connection between them all. Same thing with his little 'Let it Go' number, just more with Naruto's life starting dark and turning brighter. And as a (more or less) final note, I'm not about to try anything with Christmas, so don't ask.
Until next time. Please let me know what you think.