A/N: Shorter than I'd like, but I'm writing this with a busted arm and a cough.
Also, my computer is on its last legs. Please have mercy.
Can anyone see this?
Posted this chapter two days ago -with at least three other updates but THEY NEVER APPEARED FOR SOME REASON.
Said updates were Rise of the Beast Hero, Far From Home, and this.
Site glitched out. -_-
So lets try this again!
Apparently the site is eating random chapters for many authors? If that's the case, seems I'll have to go back and repost the ones that got gobbled up by the site. More work...
In other news, I finally got around to watching season one of JJK -saw Gojo's backstory arc first, not ashamed to admit it- and then I hit THAT SCENE.
Poor kid.
*Inhales deeply*
Nope, nuh-uh, not having it, protection instincts activated full steam aheaaaaaad!
We're now at Day 36 of no notifications/emails or stats FOR ANYONE on the website, with no end in sight. I'm starting to lose heart, motivation, even inspiration now, which is affecting my writing. It hurts, and I'm losing hope. Will this ever be fixed? Follow me through the Fanfiction app, if you're able. We're getting notifications over there at least. As for the older web/desktop version...I don't think this is getting fixed anytime soon. Fictionpress twitter is imploding with more than 700 people demanding answers from the admins and getting none. Its a crying shame, but at least now I know why, given the site slowly breaking/dying. Everything is still bugged to heck with notifications/email alerts and its driving me mad.
More than a month of this, with no fix from the admins, and the web/desktop version is getting progressively worse. But hey, the app works right? Only problem is, some of us can't us the app, or don't wish to. That's a lot of people not getting alerts AND KILLING MY MOTIVATION TO WRITE. Because folks can't see chapters, which means less feedback, which hurts even more.
Its driving me batty, and as a result, I'm also posting on other sites. I can't take much more of this Fanfiction mess, but I'm trying to endure because I love this site...
But for now, I'm still here, still writing.
As ever, I own no quotes, references, quotes, themes or memes! They're simply tributes to legends far greater than I. I'm just an old man who writes as a pastime. I don't make any money doing this, not a single cent.
This is ALL done for free. Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story.
Simple as that. In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know!
Chapter title's from Rob Zombie. I did tell you I'm old, remember?
Now let's skip the boring, boorish bits...
...and get right into the good stuff.
"Scum? True enough. To you I very well may be. But to that child...well.
I made a promise. In case you've forgotten, I keep them.
Remember what I promised you...?
~A future scene.
Scum of the Earth
Naruto was no stranger to one night stands.
Moments of fleeting passion between strangers, two ships passing the night, and all that. They were his bread and butter. When you lived forever, it was little things like that sustained you. He couldn't have kids after all. Sage knew he'd tried, and tried, and TRIED but it never seemed to work out. Which was a shame really, because he'd like to be a dad; for a long time it was all he'd ever wanted. Adopting just didn't have the same feel to it ya know, and while he was a regular patron of a great many orphanages -only right, really, given his past- he knew he wouldn't make a reliable father without a partner to help him raise said child.
An eccentric uncle? Sure, great. He got to be a parent vicariously that way, AND hand them back at the end of the day. Win-win!
In all fairness wasn't sure why he was dwelling on such things as they crossed back into the barrier of Jujutsu High. A flight of fancy maybe? Parental longing? It wasn't like him to dwell on the past; he preferred to think of the future and all the delightful chaos he could cause. It distracted him from his more human emotions. Still the question persisted:
Why was he thinking of starting a family now? Why had that itch come back after hundreds of years?
Kurama might've been able to answer if he weren't taking a nap, the sleepy bastard.
But enough serious thoughts.
Toji was going to make his move any minute now. He could sense Megumi's father, lingering just on the edge of his perception, waiting like a watchful wraith. Pity, that. He hadn't listened to him after all. A pity. Worse, he had either forgotten or chosen to outright the dire warning he'd given him, the promise he'd made. It wasn't a matter of sensing his cursed energy -he had none- but his life force. That, everyone had. Still he couldn't help but wonder why Megumi's old man had broken their agreement. Greed really was a terrible thing...
.
..
...that said, despite his anger, her was half-tempted to let Toji try his ill-fated mission, if only to help Gojo and Geto improve. But then they might die fighting him and that wouldn't be fun at all. Hmm. Decisions, decisions! What to do, how to do it, and when to allow it?
In the end he decided to let fate run its course and events play out -mostly!- as fate had intended.
Gojo was strong, but his best buddy knew he would lose a fight between him and Toji; not die, because he was already taking several steps to ensure otherwise; yet he would simply underestimate his opponent. Likewise, he would inevitably became stronger because of this loss. There was nothing quite like having your teeth kicked in, your arrogance bulldozed, and your worldview shattered to make you stronger.
After all, it did wonders for him! Sure, it might've made him a little crazy, but all the best ones were!
So when Toji sprang his ambush and stabbed Gojo in the back, he pretended to be surprised. He feigned shock, then helped Geto usher Amanai and Koroi to safety, deep into the bowels of the academy. Everything worked out about as he intended. Make no mistake, he didn't like leaving Gojo to take the fall, but his bestie better-than-the-restie would never improve otherwise. Failure was a terrible teacher, but she was an effective one.
Sure enough, he sensed the moment Gojo lost and "died" to Toji.
Strange. It took a little longer than he expected.
Hmm.
His gaze strayed to Geto, considering him.
This might be a suitable lesson for him as well, if he played his cards right.
Naturally he couldn't let his dear little niece die. That wouldn't be very uncle-y of him now, would it?
He could sense Toji following at a leisurely pace now; the man was cautious, he'd give him that. Had he brought backup? No, he wouldn't want to split the payout. The wayward Zenin might be terrible at saving money, but he didn't like to share. Most of it would go to his dear wife and Megumi, but the rest...
"We're in Tengen's territory now," Geto declared, simultaneously snapping him back to reality and drawing his attention to the vast corded tree looming above them. "This is the foundation of the nation's key barriers, the main hall of the Tomb of the Star. Only those invited are able to enter it. Tengen will protect you until the assimilation...
...or we can turn back around and go home with me and Kuroi." Naruto looked to Amania with a winning smile. "Its your choice."
His adorable niece paused, taken back by the sudden offer.
Kuroi stiffened behind her, eyes on him.
Geto took up the torch with aplomb. "Satoru and I already talked it over before we met you. We're the strongest. And we've got this guy with us." an elbow sank into Naruto ribs, drawing a small smile from him. Good. He had taken their little heart-to-heart on the beach after all, it seemed. "No matter what decision you make, we'll guarantee your future."
"And I'll have a word with Tengen." Naruto began cracking his knuckles for good measure. "I'm really not a fan of this whole assimilating thing...
Amanai looked to him with wide, teary eyes. "I don't have to die...?"
"You never did." he patted her head. "You just had realize it.
And she did.
He wasn't surprised when Riko broke down in tears. This was something she needed to understand for herself. They couldn't just tell her, they had to teach her.
"Well?" Geto prodded her ever so gently. "What do you want, Amanai?"
The floodgates burst and the poor girl began to bawl.
"I want to be with everyone longer"! she scrubbed at her face with both hands fruitlessly wiping the teas away, only for more to pour forth. "I want to go to all kinds of places with everyone! I want uncle Naruto to treat me to lunch!"
Greedy girl. Her so-called lunches always took a big bite out of his wallet. But if it meant making her happy...
He pulled her into a hug. "Lets go home, Riko."
His sixth sense shrieked a warning.
Amanai didn't see his small smile.
Probably for the best, that.
SHOWTIME.
"Riko!" he hissed in her ear. "Duck!"
His niece let go of him and obeyed without hesitation.
A bullet whistled harmlessly over her head...and landed in Naruto's open palm. It actually hurt! Catching it blew a hole right through his hand and took several fingers besides. That was surprising. Seemed someone had upgraded their arsenal since they'd last spoken.
It should've worried him.
In another life it most certainly would have.
Now? His smile became a devilish grin, revealing pearly white teeth.
"So this is what pain feels like. I'd almost forgotten." he cracked his neck and chuckled before flicking the round into his belt for later inspection. From there, he willed the hole in his hand to close and turned to face the shadowy space where he knew the gunman to be. "Come on out, Toji...no point in hidin' now."
"Aw, hell." a familiar voice sighed from the gloom. "And here I was hoping you'd be a little less quick on the draw...
His old adversary emerged from an adjacent tunnel, pistol in hand, cursed object slung round his shoulder. A bead of sweat ran down the old Zenin's brow as he saw his smile. Too bad. So sad. He'd chosen this path. He could've walked away. Instead he sought to shoot his shot and paid for it. A quick death wouldn't cut it. Not here. Not now. Not after what he'd just done.
His punishment must be more...severe.
Geto's face went ashen. "Why are you here?"
"Hmm?" Toji tilted his head. "Ah, I get what you're saying. Because I killed Satorou Gojo, of course.
Naruto took great delight in poking a magnificent hole in that particular statement. "Actually, you didn't."
Geto balked, heaved a sigh he hadn't realized he was holding, and visibly relxed. "He didn't?"
"Nope. Give him a few hours and he's gonna be right as rain. Maybe a little high, buuuuut...
Toji blinked slowly, baffled by his words. Wasn't the answer obvious? "But I killed him...?"
"No, he shook his head. "You didn't. You should've aimed for the head."
He scowled at him, irked by those words. "But I did!"
"Not with the right tool, buddy."
Comprehension dawned.
"Run along now." Naruto let him stew in that revelation under Geto's watchful eye, took Koroi's hand in his and brought it to his mouth. From there he delivered a brief peck just shy of her knuckles. "Take Amanai back up the elevator. I'll play with Toji for a bit and join you later tonight.
Her eyes widened just so at his declaration, utterly unaccustomed to such civil behavior from him.
At length, she granted him a small smile. "So you can be a gentleman when you want to be."
He winked her way and nudged her hip with his. She smacked his flank for it.
Riko absolutely gagged. "Ewwww! Not in front of me, you two!"
"Seras, if you would...?"
Police Girl wasted no time in ushering the exasperated girl away after that. Toji didn't even try to intercept them. Good on him. It wasn't going to save him from his wrath, but he seemed to realize any aggressive action on his part now would only worsen the situation.
"Well, this is more than I bargained for." he flicked a look between him and Geto, then shrugged. "I don't suppose you're willing to let bygones be bygones?"
Naruto shrugged off his coat. "You tried to shoot my niece while I was holding her. I'm going to feed you your own-
Bzzt!
His phone vibrated violently in his pocket.
"Hold that thought. He held up a finger, retrieved it, and flicked it open. "I need to take this." he glanced to his ally. "Mind handling him for a second, Geto?"
A giant white cursed dragon burst into the air and barreled into Toji at speed, sending him hurtling away. Seras vaulted after them.
He'd take that as a yes.
"Hello, hello~!" he pressed the receiver to his ear. "Naruto speaking~!"
...Naruto."
His right ear twitched.
He knew that voice. "Yoshino! How ya been! Its been awhile!"
It had been a good long while since he'd last heard from Yoshino Nagi. She sounded older. Tired. Not at all like the energetically exuberant woman who'd wrestled him into bed. He wondered why.
"I need your help."
"Anything for an old friend." he looked back to Geto's battle, wincing a little as Toji cut that white dragon in two. "Need help with something?"
...someone, actually." her voice hitched a little, piquing with...was that fear? "I tried to do it on my own, but I just can't...
Whiskered cheeks dimpled in confusion. "I don't follow."
His phone pinged, informing him that he'd received a photo.
He held the phone away from his face and looked down at hit.
A small baby stared back a thim with dark hair, darker eyes...and whiskered cheeks.
"His name is Junpei." Yoshino's voice continued haltingly. She sounded like she was on the verge of tears. "He's yours. I haven't been with anyone else since...you know.
He believed her. Yoshino had been wild, but she'd been loyal. So had he while they were together...until they had a tiff -a fight- and went their separate ways.
Come to think of it, that was aabout year ago...
.
..
...was that why?
A little flare of parental pride flared up in his chest.
Son. A son. He had a son. He must tell everyone absolutely EVERYONE-no, no, calm down.
"Just a second." A few quick presses of phone keys remedied that. "Done! Wired some funds your way."
He heard her choke. "This is...how did you get this much money?!"
A giggle. "Various ways."
"Did you steal it?!"
"No, no, no. I would never...
He heard her exhaled with relief. "Alright-
"I just visited a few banks and made a couple withdrawals!"
"Naruto!"
Hehehe. She really was too easy to rile up.
A distant crash from below reclaimed his attention.
Whoops. Geto seemed to be at the end of his rope. Time to jump in.
"Text me your address and I'll swing by tonight," he chirruped happily, blackened heart singing in his chest. "Keep the lights on~!"
"Just like that?!"
Just like that. He'd always enjoyed her company.
Naruto blew her a quick kiss through the phone. "Yuploveyatalktoyoulaterbyeeee~!"
He ended the call and crashed down between Toji and Geto before the former could slash the latter.
A blade bit into his shoulder almost immediately, spattering rich red blood every which way.
Rather than cry out in pain as any sane person would he doubled over with a laugh.
Geto balked at him, the poor boy. "Are you insane?!"
Possibly...?
"Sorry about that! I'm just in a really a good mood! I'm a daddy! See, look!" He thrust his phone at them, revealing the image within, a young woman holding a boy in her arms. "His name's Junpei! I have to tell everyone! But first...
"...!"
Toji swore.
Naruto's fist barreled into his face.
In the same instant, Toji stabbed him in the chest.
Both men grinned and the world dissolved into a red slurry of violence.
(.0.0.0.)
Geto watched two monsters duke it out.
Monsters. Yes, that was the word.
They were just so damn fast...!
A/N: FULL FIGHT NEXT CHAPTER.
That said, would you like weekly updates?
Do you want this to remain a story? Yes? No? Maybe so? Make yourselves heard! Really need to hear from you, here.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself isn't popular? Well...I'll not continue it. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy.
So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write. So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly? Hope you enjoy the previews.
We've got some new ones and some are...intense.
They've been expanded and then some!
I cut down on them to not spoil things.
Read at your own risk:
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
SPOILERS AWAIT YOU!
YE BE WARNED!
(Previews)
"ARE WE HAVING FUN, TOJI?!"
Hello, Naruto. Its nice to see you again."
Sit your ass down, Tengen. We need to have a talk...
"Listen, son. Everyone has a heart. Be it a human, or a curse, or a monster."
What about you, dad? Every time I ask mom, she just laughs."
...yup. Even me. Now drop and give me twenty!"
"I take it back! You're a heartless bastard!"
"Says my slacker of a son! Hop to it~!"
Hello, Mahito. I'd like to have a word."
"Seras! Time to use the canon~!"
"These are children, you idiot. Not monsters." Naruto looked away from the cage. "Where are their parents?
The portly man beside him bridled. "Dead, as they should be! Those two are the source of our village's woes! They're responsible for it all! If you won't kill them, then WE WILL-
Enough.
He slashed a hand backward, casually obliterating the man's skull before he could finish speaking. The woman beside him shrieked and tried to run, only to burst into blue flame before she could reach the door. She fell to the floor, shrieking, flinging herself around in a mad frenzy, trying to put the blaze out. He left her to that, uncaring as she expired; as the fire from her body began to engulf the room. Idiots, the lot of them. Sometimes he forgot how STUPID humanity could be.
Another flick of his fingers shattered the bars of the cage, freeing the occupants within.
"Well aren't the two of you just adorable!" he crouched down before the twins with a smile. "What're your names?"
...Hanako. the smaller girl mumbled.
"Mimiko." answered the other, warily meeting his eyes.
"Hmm. Alright then." he patted their heads. "You work for me now. How's that sound?"
...I've only ever met a handful from the Zen'in clan that I liked. Maybe we should teach the rest a lesson."
Geto sighed. "Naruto, no."
"You gonna stop me? What about you, Gojo? You saw what they did to Maki. Doesn't that make you angry?"
Satoru tilted his glasses down. "What're you suggesting?"
"Let me go for a walk."
"Isn't it obvious? You're weak.
"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME! I'm going to enjoy swallowing up that smug face of yours!"
"Hey, Sukuna! Long time no see!
An eye creaked open.
"You again...?"
EDIT: Hope you enjoyed! Looking forward to your feedback~!
Hope you have a great day,
~Nz.