A/N: As an apology for not updating in so long, I'm going to give a little information on one of the points on which Naruto was changed to lead to the current era. The era preceding Naruto's involved a debate over how to create peace. Akatsuki, formerly led by a member of the village of Frost, and Hakubo, formerly led by a member of the village of Rain, had differing views on how to create this peace. Akatsuki won, creating the world of Naruto we are presently aware of. Many of the changes to the world began during that era. Now, on with the story.
The woodland trees creaked. Starlight poured through the trees, white against the dark moon. The earth trembled. Branches bobbed in the creaking midnight.
The group advanced slowly.
Kōju trembled, glancing from side to side of the eerie woods.
Naruto gritted his teeth. I'm not scared of whatever's in here!
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "You sure this is the right way?"
"I should know the path. I've walked it often enough, I think." Nōtō raised his hands, his eyes narrowing. "Hold up." He held up one hand. His body tensed, the shoulders drawing forward.
The shadows twisted. A form emerged from the darkness of the woods. "You shouldn't have come here."
Nōtō's eyes narrowed. An enemy. But of what type?
The glimmering starlight reflected off the leaves.
A tall man stepped out of the brush. Toned skin reflected the light, sparkling white. His golden hair shone in the starlight. He walked forward, his face stern and dark.
"You shouldn't have come here either. The elder requested the presence of a jōnin from Hidden Leaf." Nōtō raised his arms, moving them in a circle.
Naruto frowned. What's going on…?
Sasuke tensed, reaching toward the scroll at her side.
Kōju's eyes widened. She recalled bloodied sand, and shivered, her body shaking slightly.
"This won't be resolved by mere words!" the blond man roared. His palms rose rapidly in the air.
Nōtō scowled. His hands rose in response.
"South Star Style: Fist of the Meteor!" the blond man shouted, his hands blurring forward.
"Shrine Maiden Entry!" Nōtō roared, his fists flurrying forward in a blur of motion.
Nōtō's palms whirled in a circle.
The blond man's fist rushed forward, breaking through Nōtō's guard.
Nōtō gritted his teeth. As expected, those eyes of his are quite amazing.
Naruto's eyes widened. I can't even follow what's going on!
Sanzengan! Sasuke's eyes spun, the tomoe forming in the center of the eyes. Her crimson eyes narrowed, studying the battlefield.
The blond man's fists whirled in a circle.
Leaves fell from the trees.
Nōtō's palms spun in a circle.
Leaves fell rapidly, cut in half by the palms' nervous dance.
Nōtō's foot spun in a circle. The foot drove toward the blond man's head.
The blond man twisted backward.
Nōtō's foot passed over the blond man's head. If it was anyone else, I would already have killed that man, by accident or otherwise. Of course my brother is more difficult...
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Holy shit. My eyes can barely keep up. Well, it's not as though I could copy this anyway…
Nōtō's palm spun around. Blood poured down from Nōtō's chest.
"ORARARARARARA!"
"UCHIHIHIHIHIHIHI!"
The blond man's fist slid downward, diverted by Nōtō's palm.
"ORA!" Smiling, Nōtō slammed his palm against the center of the blond man's chest.
The blond man flew backward.
A wave of pressure shot through the air.
The blond man's body slammed into the tree, loud noise echoing from the impact mark. The tree shattered into pieces.
Nōtō lowered his palm. Blood burst out from Nōtō's chest. "…Eh?" Nōtō's eyes widened as he stared at his hand.
"As skilled as you are, you can't finish this matter by yourself." The blond man lowered his head. His fist rose. He smirked as he raised his hand.
Splinters drove into the loam ground and Nōtō's hand.
"SENSEI!"
The blond man stepped closer, his expression stern.
"We're here to deliver medicine." Coughing, Nōtō rubbed his chest. He winced. Blood stained the shirt.
The blond man's eyes narrowed. "…You brought this plague upon us, didn't you?" he questioned.
"I brought nothing, but myself and the medicine." Nōtō coughed. He righted himself.
"Who is this?" Kōju asked tentatively, looking up at Nōtō.
Nōtō looked upward. "I see you haven't been introduced properly to him." Nōtō extended his hand.
Grunting, the blond man grasped Nōtō's hand. He pulled Nōtō upright, reluctantly.
"Aka." Nōtō held out his arm, gesturing to the blond man.
"Aka?" Naruto demanded, his eyes widening. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"That is his name. He is my brother in blood, and my fellow student of the art of the stars. I learned the North Star method, Susano'o Mikoto." Nōtō bowed his head, his glasses glinting with light.
Naruto gasped.
Kōju's eyes widened.
Sasuke covered her mouth.
"…Nōtō. They can pass with you." Aka turned his gaze toward the darkness. "There have been many movements…"
Nōtō frowned alertly. "What movements?"
"Whisperings in the wood."
The town's lights shone in the distance. Stars shimmered in the sky.
"The world is shifting. At any rate, the wood is no longer safe and pleasant. It is your deed."
"I have already said I did nothing of the type." Nōtō scowled, irritated. "What you did at that time cannot be called medicine."
Kōju shuddered, glancing upward at the trees again.
Creaking echoed through the woods.
Sasuke swallowed.
"Who is elder now?" Nōtō questioned.
The group resumed walking, passing along the well-tread path.
"Rahu." Aka gestured up at the trees, his two fingers pointing. "He is king now, among those dark lights."
Nōtō's eyes narrowed. "I see. How unfortunate."
The trees glimmered.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"In that case, I'll see you later, on the other side of this curtain." Nōtō hurried away, vanishing into the path.
Dew dripped from the leaves.
Webs crossed and crisscrossed the trees above the path, tying together the leaves.
Nōtō paused in his path. He waited for the others to catch up. He looked upward, pointing with one finger. "Was it truly thus," he asked aloud, "when last I visited?" A single bead of sweat formed on his forehead.
"If you mean the black webs, no. Some new breed of widow has begun weaving above us."
A silence followed. Water dripped from the webs, falling onto the ground and pooling beneath the trees.
"I see."
Naruto swallowed. "I don't like spiders."
"These are not spiders." Aka's eyes narrowed. "They are demons, who seek to lead us astray."
Naruto's eyes widened.
Sasuke snorted. "Please. Don't talk about such foolish things. How dangerous can one spider be?"
Kōju glanced around, water pouring from her hair and dripping onto the ground.
"Each is large and wide as a human." Aka turned grimly, looking into the trees. "And as dangerous likewise. One might call them wise, but the spider demons that fell from the heavens can have no wisdom but harming others."