Disclaimer:

I don't own Genshin Impact nor Naruto Shippuden. All rights belong to Hoyoverse and Masashi Kishimoto


Chapter 4:

Salt and Snow

Beta: Old man of the mountain/Darklord331


Naruto stood on a precipice overlooking the desolate terrain on top of Vindagnyr.

The kingdom's once-pristine beauty had been marred by the malevolent presence of the Skyfrost nail. Its chilling aura spread like tendrils of darkness, freezing the very earth it touched. Jagged ice formations clawed their way through the land, creating a haunting, otherworldly vista of frozen desolation.

The sky above was a canvas of muted grays and somber blues, a stark contrast to the vibrant, azure heavens it had once been. The clouds seemed heavy and burdened, weighed down by the oppressive energy emanating from the Skyfrost nail.

An eerie silence hung in the air, broken only by the occasional howling of the frigid wind, which carried with it a mournful lament for the kingdom's lost vitality.

As the shinobi's gaze fixated on the Skyfrost nail, he observed its appearance in the sky.

The Skyfrostnail was a colossal, crystalline structure, resembling a jagged shard of ice suspended in mid-air. It sparkled with an eerie, unnatural light that seemed to siphon the warmth from the surroundings. Its surface was etched with intricate patterns, like ancient runes, which pulsed with evil energy, radiating outward in all directions.

The nail's presence in the sky was a stark reminder of the suffering that had occurred Vindagnyr. It hung ominously above the clouds, casting an imposing shadow over the land, as if it were a malevolent deity, indifferent to the suffering it had wrought. Its icy tendrils reached out, ensnaring the once-thriving kingdom, and its eerie glow served as a haunting beacon of despair.

"So, is this it?" the shinobi asked, his eyes filled with curiosity as he gazed at the Skyfrostnail.

"Yes, this is the reason why Vindagnyr became what it is today," affirmed the King of Vindagnyr, Varuch, his voice carrying a weight of history and sorrow. The King observed the shinobi intently as the latter leaped off the ground, causing the spot beneath him to buckle with spiderweb-like cracks.

Naruto's gaze remained fixed on the divine nail, contemplating the best course of action. 'Oh well,' he thought, pushing aside his doubts. He reached out his hand and touched the pillar. Suddenly, a surge of memories flooded his mind, revealing fragmented images of a figure shrouded in darkness.

This figure extended its arms as a haunting voice echoed,

With this, you won't interfere with my plans any longer. Goodbye Uzumaki Naruto!

Confusion enveloped the Shinobi.

Could this be a fragment of his memory or a hallucination induced by the Skyfrost nail?

The figure in his vision felt oddly familiar, yet he couldn't place a name or face to it.

As the pain in his head intensified, the God of Shinobi focused his chakra to resist the negative energy's influence. He held his breath for a moment, his body tensing, and then he panted slightly as the headache gradually subsided. Then his hand glowed with golden ethereal chakra as he clenched his right fist and slammed his hand, shattering a portion of the pillar as his chakra spreads all over the pillar, consuming as a whole and the cracks spread rapidly until the entire structure crumbled, and a cataclysmic event unfolded

Shockwaves rippled across the entire expanse of Vindagnyr mountain top. The very ground beneath their feet quaked with a deep, resonating tremor, and the air itself seemed to vibrate with the force of the explosion.

The shockwaves radiated outward from the epicenter of the nail's destruction, creating a visual spectacle that was both awe-inspiring and fearsome in the King's eyes. The frozen landscape of the mountaintop trembled and quivered as if it were a living, breathing entity reacting to the upheaval.

The dark clouds that had shrouded above the Skyfrost nail were torn asunder by the ferocious winds unleashed by the shockwaves. They billowed and twisted in tumultuous turmoil like tattered banners of a defeated army retreating from the battlefield. The sky above gradually transformed from a dismal gray to a canvas of brilliant, starlit night, as if the very heavens themselves were celebrating the kingdom's liberation.

King Varuch stood in awe before bowing deeply in acknowledgment.

"Glory to the beacon and savior of Vindagnyr!"

Naruto sighed at the King's reaction before offering a warm smile. "Rise," the shinobi commanded, and Varuch complied, gazing up at Naruto with reverence. "With this, Vindagnyr will prosper. So live, and never forget the hardship you have endured; your will to survive is the reason why your prayers have been answered. For you are now one of my people, Varuch."

With those words, Naruto descended gracefully from the air and patted the old king on the shoulder.

"We should go back now, old man."

"Y-yes, Lord Naruto!"

"Just call me Naruto," the Shinobi interjected with a wink.

Amidst the heartwarming celebration in the center of Vindagnyr, the Goddess of Salt, Havria watched her followers dance with unbridled joy. The once-depressed and resentful populace had been transformed into a jubilant gathering. Forgotten happiness had become a reality, and they sang praises to their new deity, Havria, the goddess of salt and snow.

The silver-haired goddess joined in the revelry, guided by the exuberant children who saw her as a beacon of hope. As she immersed herself in the festivities, a shiver ran down her spine, and she looked up to the mountains. There, she saw the shockwave that had dispersed the oppressive clouds, and a wave of relief washed over her.

"He did it, didn't he...?" she whispered to herself, her worry for Naruto momentarily overshadowed by her gratitude. "Of course, he did. He's strong after all."

Havria wiped away the sweat from her brow, determined to savor the moment.

However, she remained oblivious to the envious gaze cast upon her by the Princess of Vindagnyr, Jane. The princess wasn't wearing anything fancy, just a white dress that showed the pristine of her beauty and innocence, the princess was sitting on a wooden log by herself, glancing at her people in a comfortable silence.

The scene felt surreal, like a dream that had lasted for eternity.

Jane had finally witnessed the end of the everlasting snow, and feels the warmth of a gentle breeze, and, above all, the genuine happiness of her people.

It was a fleeting moment that had been buried in the annals of history, considered a fairy tale by the younger generation and a distant dream by the elderly.

Most of her people had lost hope, accepting their bleak fate and the unwillingness of the Celestia to forgive their sins. But Jane's unwavering determination had defied fate itself. She had pushed her limits to bring about a brighter future for Vindagnyr, an impossible dream that had gained the support of all.

As she watched her people dance and celebrate, the princess couldn't hold back her tears any longer. Her face, usually serene and composed, was now a canvas of emotions. She should have been elated, yet these tears represented her unwavering will to live and her desire for a better future for her kingdom.

The Gods had been unjust to her people, and the sins of the past had almost led to the kingdom's destruction. The gods indeed blessed Jane, but their blessings alone couldn't alter their harsh fate.

Innocent lives continued to be lost, and the Celestia remained unforgiving.

'In the end...we're just mortals...' the princess thought somberly, her gaze still fixed on the dancing crowd. She couldn't help but set her gaze on the Goddess surrounded by adoring children.

How fortunate for one be born from Godhood, that naivety will certainly kill the Goddess one day yet she couldn't exactly resent a Deity that is so kind and caring like Havria herself.

Jane buried down her face on the palm of her hands, hiding away her sadness and jealousy.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps interrupted her thoughts as she quickly rubbed the tears off her eyes and saw Ukko approached with the end of his spear striking the ground to announce his arrival.

"We have returned, my Lady."

Jane composed herself and acknowledged him with a nod.

"I see, thank you, Ukko." With a respectful gesture, she allowed the knight to withdraw, leaving her alone again.

Her attention shifted to Naruto, who was conversing with her father.

Naruto, whom kept assuring her that he was a mortal, had single-handedly rekindled hope in Vindagnyr.

He had accomplished the impossible—restoring vitality to the decaying Frostbearing tree, restoring life to the land, and altering its very terrain. He had become the hero to her people and yet at the same time a guardian that protects a naïve goddess.

"How did it go?"

"Easy peasy," the blonde responded with hands on the back of his head.

With a smile filled with gratitude she replied.

"I cannot express how thankful I am for what you did, Lord Naruto."

The shinobi hummed in thought, then with a smirk he suggested, "How about calling me Naruto then?"

Jane sighed but nodded her head nonetheless, accepting his offer.

"I shall take my leave, Lord Naruto," Varuch said, bowing slightly before departing.

Naruto waved him off, then turned to Jane.

"You have a kind father, Jane," Naruto remarked, finding virtue in Varuch's actions. "He wasn't very brave, but he cast aside his fear and led me to the mountaintop."

Jane nodded in agreement, appreciating her father's support. "So…how did it really go?" she asked Naruto, her curiosity piqued.

Naruto's smile widened as he began to share the details of his encounter with the Skyfrostnail and the subsequent events. "It was easy," he started, "but I'm afraid it isn't as straightforward as I initially thought."

Jane leaned in, eager to hear more.

"What do you mean?"

Naruto hesitated for a moment; his gaze distant as if searching for words to describe his complex feelings. "It's just a hunch," he finally explained, "but I'm trying to see the bigger picture. I feel like I lost something important, and I'm unsure what it was exactly since the only."

The princess tilted her head in genuine confusion. "I'm afraid I can't be of much help either…" she admitted with a soft chuckle. "But…the Goddess Rukkhadevata may be able to help you answer that confusion."

Naruto nodded thoughtfully, considering the options. "Havria told me that too. But we're still a long way from Sumeru, right?"

Jane nodded; her expression thoughtful. "Yes, Sumeru is quite a distance away. However, there might be another option. How about seeking the guidance of the Goddess of Time, Istaroth?"

When she mentioned Istaroth, Naruto's face contorted with sudden pain, causing him to grimace and break into a cold sweat.

The princess rushed to his side in alarm.

"W-what's wrong?"

Naruto clenched his teeth, his voice strained as he tried to speak through the pain. "I-its fine…" he managed to utter. His brow furrowed, and he breathed heavily, clearly in distress. Like Jane, he was confounded by the sudden agony that had struck him. "Can you tell me more about this goddess...?"

Jane regarded him with concern before offering the information she had. "I believe she resides within the region of Mondstadt," she then apologized. "I'm sorry, that's the only thing I know regarding her whereabouts. Perhaps the God of Storm, Decarabian, could help you out, however he has been wary of outsiders since ancient times, which is why our civilization exists in the first place."

"Thanks," Naruto managed to say once the pain had subsided.

He was grateful for Jane's assistance and the information she provided, even though it meant embarking on another journey to seek answers. However, he couldn't help but recall Havria's mention of an ongoing war, which he might have to participate once they crossed the border into Liyue.

The question remained:

Was the Goddess of Salt prepared to confront her past and meet old acquaintances in a region that had once abandoned her?

Only time would reveal the answer.

For now, Naruto resolved to focus on the task of reaching Mondstadt.

"My job here is done anyway," he stated with a hint of contentment. "We might depart for Mondstadt tomorrow."

Jane felt a pang of sadness at the thought of Naruto's departure, but she nodded in understanding.

They were wandering Gods, they had places to be, as one of their believers she has no rights to stopped them from their journey.

The princess clasped her hands together, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"I see… well then, I believe I should help some preparation for your next trip. But for today, I wish to dance with you, Naruto."

Naruto smiled warmly, accepting her invitation as she guided him by hand, and joined the revelers in the celebration.

The traditional instruments played with a vibrancy that seemed to draw in the night itself. The music swirled around the dancers, infusing their every step with vitality. The melody resonated with the hearts of the people, compelling them to join the celebration.

The two danced together, their movements synchronized with the joyful rhythm of the music, a captivating spectacle within the heart of Vindagnyr's celebration.

With his agile and nimble movements, Naruto guided Jane effortlessly across the open space. He wasn't that skill per say but he learned a thing or two back when he was a hokage, which was the reason why he was able to matching his steps to the rhythm flawlessly.

His eyes, filled with warmth and kindness, remained locked onto Jane's, creating an intimate connection that transcended the boundaries of the dance.

Jane, in turn, followed Naruto's lead with grace and elegance though she made a mistake once or twice, barely able to follow after him. Her silvery hair glinted in the soft glow of the surrounding torches, and her dress flowed like a cascade of snowflakes as she twirled and swayed in perfect harmony with her partner. Her radiant smile conveyed the joy and happiness she felt in that moment.

The crowd watched in awe as the pair moved gracefully to the enchanting rhythm of the music, their steps perfectly synchronized, and their chemistry evident to all who beheld them.

The music, a lively melody played on traditional instruments, seemed to echo through the night, drawing people closer to witness the mesmerizing performance.

It was as though the very atmosphere joined in their celebration, adding an ethereal quality to their dance.

It was a dance that transcended words, conveying emotions, gratitude, and hope for a brighter future.

"You did well," the former Hokage remarked with genuine admiration, grateful for the respite from their arduous journey.

Jane's breath heaved, panting slightly as she fixed her posture and looked up in profound happiness.

Havria in the sidelines was clapping in joy, her eyes staring at the two in admiration though the Goddess tried to ignored the envy snaring around her heart.

"C-can I go next- "

She was about to take a step forward, wanting to follow the princess footsteps but she saw him soon surrounded by the women. The goddess sighed and retreated away, watching from distance with a solemn expression.

Was she jealous?

How strange…

She recently met him, yet she couldn't control her feelings properly.

The goddess of salt and snow casted her gaze down and sighed, confused with herself and her feelings that has been bothering her ever since she was saved by him.


A pair of emerald, green eyes snapped open, with dry tears trickled down, her lips quivered before she clenched shut, her emotions leaking out yet she tried to contained them. Her messy silver hair moved as she sat up, her eyes gazing at the heavens, staring at the sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of towering, and giant tree, its height seemingly limitless as it stretched towards the heavens, its roots delved deep into the soil, grounding it in the earthly realm, while its branches and limbs reached out, extending their embrace to all who approached.

The Irminsul glow brightly, almost blinding her vision yet she stares at it as she could feel it resonated with her.

A gentle breeze then soothes her down, as she could feel the wind carried out whisperers of the distance, the silverette closed her eyes and smile, feeling contempt with happiness, hiding the sadness away for a moment.

Na…

Naru…

Naruto…

Once she spelled his name out, tears leaked out from her eyes, trickling down her cheeks as she cried in the serene of Irminsul.

All branches possess the memory of the world, be it of the past, present even the future…and no matter how many times she has taken a glimpse through it, she saw nothing but a terrible end that befalls he who has sacrificed everything.

"Is there truly nothing we can do…?" she closed her eyes in thought, "Will the past repeat itself, once more…?"

For a moment, its seems like she was talking to herself until the Irminsul glow in a brilliant light as a voice responded to her will and answered.

"No, not this time…we made that pact, this time it will be different."


Author Note: "Hey, sorry for the delay; there are real-life events going on recently, and because of that, I didn't have enough free time to have peace of mind to update the new chapter. Honestly, I was surprised to see many people liking this. I mean, it's been a long time since the last time I wrote something (ahem The Strongest Human ahem). Nonetheless, I feel relieved and happy to see people taking a liking to something I made, in this case, 'God of Shinobi.' I received some important feedback and questions regarding the story, so I'm going to spend some time answering them.

If I were to be honest, I hope some people would drop by 'Written Future' and give food for thought regarding that story since I'm planning to write a novel soon. The title would be 'The Last Hero,' and it's currently under development. Since I lack some experience, I hope some people would give some good critiques of the story 'Written Future,' so I can fix some things for Kent's character development, as that is the name of the main character of 'The Last Hero.'

Aside from that, an idea recently occurred to me, and I was thinking of writing a 'Naruto x Honkai Star Rail' fanfiction, but no promises on that since I want to continue writing this one. Regarding my old stories, there are some that I wish to update except 'The Strongest Human' due to the fact it has been ages since I watched 'High School DxD,' and the idea behind that fic is probably gone from existence. The others will have to wait; hopefully, I can continue them since some people really did enjoy reading them.

Without further ado, let's give my lovely readers some answers.

Karna1010: You were right; Rukka is actually mentioned within this chapter. But what exactly is she planning to do, and who exactly is this person she has made a contract with? The only way to answer that curiosity is by staying here and continuing to read it. 😄

rosaurocunanan16: I don't know what's making you so fired up, but I hope in the next review you can tone it down a lot since I'm not the type that enjoys toxic environments. Regardless of that, I hope you understood the lore better since you sounded so confident in your question regarding Havria and Guizhong as the same person when they are not. The two are most likely acquaintances with each other, perhaps even friends since Zhongli himself told the real reason how and why the Goddess of Salt Havria perished in the war between the Gods. It's literally being explained in Zhongli's companion quest within the earlier version of Genshin Impact. Whereas Guizhong perished sometime later.

veraricky994: Hey, Vera, I actually read your review and struggled a lot to understand them, hehe. But no worries, we're living in a modern world now, so I did some translation, and voila, I'm writing feedback! I hope I got this right, and hopefully, the translation was accurate. Now then, to answer your doubts, yes, Naruto retains all his abilities, unlike in Boruto, ahem, and I'm planning to use all that knowledge and power in this fic. Some lore might be tweaked to fit his role in this story better since Teyvat is...never mind, you better stay and continue supporting me by providing reviews. I don't care if you use another language than English; at the end of the day, your thoughts matter as well.

rick12: Yes, Rick, Naruto has a form above Rikudo Sannin Mode. And to answer your other question, yes, he is the oldest of all beings, even much older than the Primordial God or the three moon sisters. This will be clarified as the story progresses. So, stay tuned for more in the next dragon ball - I mean, the 'God of Shinobi' series!

Aruto-kun: I can see that happening, how they were connected with each other, feelings of a sense of loss of their most beloved and important people. To make her come out from the plane of Euthemia and eventually express her feelings toward Naruto. I appreciate the suggestion you had provided me with, and I'll see whether I'll make that come true since I'm not promising anything as of yet.

welltall44: Jean, huh...hmm. And as for the other, her name is Shenhe! 😄 No worries, I understand why you would come up with those suggestions. I feel like Naruto could resonate with Shenhe really well; she was pretty much considered a cursed child, almost if not the same as Naruto, both considered as a curse by the people around them. But unlike Naruto, Shenhe was even sacrificed by her so-called father. 😞

As for Jean, yeah, she's too much of a workaholic! We need to change that! 😄 Jean is wife material; damn, I envy Diluc since the two seem close with each other. The interaction between Jean and Eula would be pretty interesting too. But I promise nothing since this is still just the beginning of a samsara. I'll write down your thoughts for consideration as the story progresses when we reach the present Mondstadt. As of now, they're still 500 years in the past, before the fall of Khaenri'ah and the invasion of the abyss.

aukolova840: Yes, probably yes, not 100 percent, but somewhere between 80 percent. The Nahida we know in the game might not exist due to Naruto's presence, but we will see. I want to write something different, one that doesn't follow the current lore 100 percent.

NatsuErzaDragneelSusanoo: Dayum, you have such a long username. 😄 To answer your question, Naruto here is immortal, but he can be killed; however, no one within the Archon war is powerful enough to kill him. The only one that can kill him is probably the Primordial One himself, why probably? Because the current Primordial is split into four shades.

redlox: Spoiler alert, I will write the cataclysm in Naruto's POV and his role when it happened.

Tr1vium: He wasn't really mistaken, just Naruto not realizing it himself since he lost some memories which even, he himself hadn't realized.

AetherialQ: Thank you for telling me that. I agree with that at some point; their relationship is actually moving fast but not that fast, since Havria herself isn't sure about her own feelings. Whether she actually loves Naruto or her love stems from the fact that he saved her from death. About Miko... I adore her too! She always reminds me of Yae Sakura herself; I love her so much. Ughgughgughugh. Anyway, some plans will revolve around her and Kitsune Saiguu herself. As for the pairing, we will see later since I'm still open to some more suggestions.

Kurokawa Uzuna: We will see; I hope I can write a good fighting scene myself. 😄

dfriel1996: Ahh, Yanfei! Mine is at C6; I love her as well. She looks so cute sometimes, but she talks too much as well (her idle). 😄 And yes, I agree, she's lacking screentime probably because she was a four-star unlike Ganyu and the other five-star characters. Nonetheless, thank you for the feedback; I'll keep this for now since I'm still open for some more suggestions.

ZhongEi: Hiya, it's okay mate. Damm, I sounded like Hu Tao herself, lol. You can drop a review in your mother language; I have no problem with that since I can just use some translation tools to help with that. 😄 Anyway, regarding why I picked Havria is because I pitied her. Her story is just sad and depressing. She was loved by many, and she was too naive to see past that blinded love in the end. Because of over trusting others, she was betrayed by the people that she called as family. She even brought her followers when she fled from the Archon war. Bear this in mind; she has no one but herself. Even at the end of her very life, all she saw was nothing but despair. That's pretty much one of the reasons why I picked Havria as the first pair of the harem. Did that satisfy your question? If not, you can drop more reviews or even send me a DM; I'll be happy to answer them. Hopefully, I receive a notification of a fan sending me a message since fanfiction seems kind of wacky these past few months."

Until next time!

Chapter 5: Cleared Blue Sky