A/N: This is a test run, because...I ran out of time.

I'm working crazy hours with the holidays coming, sorry.

A Man of Many Faces and Surpass Your Limits are nearly ready, as is Rise of the Beast Hero.

I should be able to post those chapters tomorrow.

But until then, here we are.

This is a request from KrimsonSage22 that Slifer and I may be entertaining soon.

I'll just paste it up here so you can get the gist:

"A while back I saw that you mentioned a Naruto as Marika story would be hard. I came up with a concept and decided to pitch it to you. Back in Naruto Shippuden's Gaara Rescue arc, Naruto fought a blood clone of Itachi. When they beat it, it turned out to be a different person. It had all of Itachi's abilities. So I figure you can work it like this perhaps. Naruto decides to makes an agreement with the Great Will but doesn't trust it at all so decides to keep an eye on it. He makes a Female Shadow Clone (He has done this many times. Sexy jutsu) and turns it into a blood clone. He then splits Kurama in the yin and yang half, giving the blood clone the other half. He tasks it with keeping vigil over the Great Will.

Over time it takes on its own independent personality and can be considered a separate being from Naruto. I see the two as siblings. Naruto gets Renalla, and "Marika" gets Godfrey. Also, the Shattering here happens differently. Instead of breaking the elden ring intentionally, there is a big battle where "Marika" gets fed up with the Elden Beast and its b***, and they clash. She beats it down but in the process the ring is accidentally shattered causing the current world crisis."

And there you have it.

No questions this time. Someone complained. Ah, well. I think I've kept you waiting long enough already, dear reader.

As ever, I own no quotes, references, themes, or memes. Not a wit or a one!

They're tributes to legends far greater than little old me.

Fair warning, this one's an AU. You know the one.

"A blood clone might be a good idea. Sure, why not. It'll go back to me after it dies.

"What pray tell is a blood clone?"

"Nothing~!"

~?

Pieces

"Can you really bring them back to life?"

...it is a fair trade." came the rumbling reply. "I offer you the means to save hundreds in exchange for this."

Naruto tapped his fingers against the the table and considered the emissary of the God before him.

Really, it was hard to take a giant glowing space slug seriously, but what it offered him...

"And pervy sage-erm, I mean Jiraiya would be whole? In one piece? Just as he was?"

That sounded amazing! And besides, he missed his mentor. Surely a bargain wouldn't be so bad. Yeah, ressurecting others was nice and all, but that also meant Neji and Obito would come back to life as well and that helped play into his eagerness as well.

Not that he was being foolish, mind you. He had a plan.

Gods were tricky. He'd learned that lesson from Kaguya. So he would be tricky in return.

Kurama scoffed. "So long as you send a piece of me with you. It ought to keep you out of trouble at the very least."

The Elden Beast swayed its head. "I honor my bargains, mortal. I ask only that you hear me out and accompany me."

His brow furrowed. Caution was warranted clearly. And yet. "I'm listening...

A/N: Aaaaand scene. Hope you enjoyed.

Hope this little tidbit of a teaser made you smile!

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, as such, 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?

Only a few previews here. Sorry. In a lot of pain.

(Previews)

Bonk.

Well, there went a mountain.

"You know, I've always wanted to shoot down a god.

Are you kiddig me?! I leave you alone for a bit and you do this?!"

Gransax blinked.

...why was their a mortal on his face?

Marika reared back with her hammer. AND THEN THERE WAS PAIN.

EDIT: Hope you enjoyed this, and may your day be filled with lots of luck!

Warm regards,

~Nz.