Ayo guys, this is the second upload. I just wanted to let y'all know that the more reviews I receive, the quicker I'll be updating.
I won't spoil what will happen, but Naruto will finally be arriving at the town of S.E.E.S!
Also, for those that are questioning her, Meka isn't an OC, rather a Genderbend of a character! Some of you got it straight away, well done, AND YES, there is romance in this story :D
And yes, this will progress into Persona 4! So romance may be characters from P3, or P4 ;)
Naruto is 15 at this point in time, but due to him being born in October, he's the oldest in his class, but still two class years lower than everyone else.
Chiaroscuro
Chapter two
"What do you mean we're leaving Tomorrow?!"
Naruto sighed for what felt the hundredth time as he leaned up again against his bedroom's door, trying his best ignore the screaming of his angry mother- she seemed super calm when Minato had first brought up the news of them leaving Tokyo at dinner time, but not to shortly after Naruto had left the room to pack, the arguments started.
First, it was quiet enough, they gave him some peace and silence so that he could start pack the things he wanted without interruption.
But that was 2 hours ago.
At this point, Naruto was starting to worry if they were ever truly going to calm down and finally start discussing when they were suppose to move.
"This is a golden opportunity honey, our dream of retiring early is within our grasp!"
Naruto sighed again for the hundredth and first time- a new personal record! Deciding he had more to do than sit around and mope, he climbed to his feet and went over to his not yet packed chair, grabbing his laptop from his backpack as he pulled said seat up to a pair of boxes, using them as a make-shift table.
Quickly signing in, the blonde was met with a login screen for Grandia Online's beta, a game that Meka loved, and had no-doubt installed it when he wasn't paying attention. Smirking at the thought, Naruto closed the app, but not before making a note to play the game when he had some free-time.
"Let's see here,"
Opening up Internet Explorer, Naruto snorted when he found that his browser had been changed. His cursor was now that of a cute little fox, that waved it's tail as he moved the mouse, and the colour theme had been changed to orange.
"Cute Meka, cute."
Clicking on a familiar pink circle, the laptop showed a loading screen before opening into his Orkut profile- the first thing on the page being a picture of himself spiking a volleyball mid air.
"What was the school called again?"
Thumbing his chin in thought, Naruto couldn't quite remember what school he was attending as of next week.
But, be it fate or just good luck, a notification pinged on his screen from a, quite frankly, beautiful redhead fencer, who's profile captured her grace from just pictures alone.
And directly under her picture was her name and title: Mitsuru Kirijo- Student council President of Gekkoukan High School
"Hello~ '°˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖° Sorry for randomly adding you (/▽/)!"
Naruto smirked at the casual greeting the girl sent, it would seem the girl was a lot more friendly then he expected.
"What's up? And no problem, I was actually about to join the school social group ;P"
Three notifications pinged on Naruto's screen, all being invitations to a different social group.
"Hehehe, there you go, I hope that helps (^∀ ^*)"
Clicking on one of the links, the blonde found that he was taken to the school's social media page: it was pretty empty, showing only a couple of event listings, and some minor announcements.
Next was CLASS 1-E, a group with just under 20 students and two teachers, which Naruto assumed was his new class.
And one finally for the SEES, a club he knew nothing about.
"Oh wow, thanks pres ~( °٢° )~"
"No worries (o^^)o(^^o) Once we meet in person next week, I'll introduce you around the school too!"
"You know, that sounds awesome ヾ(●ε●)ノ I'm looking forward to it!
Oh, and also, I just so happen to notice you do fencing, which is cool! Does the school have a volleyball team.…φ( 。。*)?"
There was a twenty five minute gap of no texting, so Naruto used the time available to quickly check around the room, making sure everything was ready for their stuff being picked up in 4 hours.
He could even hear the hushed growling of his mother as she packed up clothes.
And based on the almost continuous sighing of his father, he was being forced to help, or risk being in the doghouse for who knows how long
PING
"Sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off |･ω･`*)ッ. I'm a little busy preparing for a trip for my club ᕙ(‾̀◡‾́)ᕗ" Mitsuri clarified, getting Naruto to chuckle before glancing at said club, the SEES one that she had invited him to?
"Oh yeah! I invited you to it, so maybe you can come too?٩(｡θᗨθ｡)۶"
Humming in thought, Naruto considered the invite. True, he didn't really know the president too well, and neither did he know the group.
But Naruto wasn't known as the most unpredictable person around for nothing.
"Surrrrre, that sounds awesome, count me in! (￣个￣)"
"OK, I'll make sure to prepare for you! I do have to go now though, but we can speak soon, okay?"
Smiling at the fact that he had made a friend so naturally, the blonde felt a surge of happiness go through his core, before, un-usually, a snapping of what sounds like metal echoed in his head for a moment. "What the?" Glancing around and finding nothing, Naruto shrugged in dis-concern and turned back to his laptop.
"OK! Talk to you soon Pres :D"
"Bye bye captain, speak to you soon ( ˘ ³˘) "
Recalled message
"Lets speak again soon, Mr Uzumaki."
Naruto stared at his screen for a moment.. did she? She totally did! She sent him a kiss emoji. Laughing with a light blush on his face, Naruto was unaware of his parents peaking through the crack of his door, smiles on their faces as they watched their son dance on his chair.
"He reminds me of me when I was his age." Minato whispered to Kushina, squinting his eyes to see the profile picture of the person he was talking to, already assuming it was Meka, only to blink in surprise when he saw a redhead. "He even has the same taste."
Smiling widely, Kushina absorbed her son's happiness and let her annoyance from earlier fade- a sense of joy washing over her, cleaning her mind. Nodding, her fists on her hips, she took a stance of complete confidence, Kushina shouted out "What can I say, us redheads are the hottest, dattebasa~"
"Mom?"
Kushina slowly opened her eyes as she turned to her son, his face set to that of embarrassment. "Oh, my sweet boy is growing up." She shouted as she rushed her body and smothered him, parading his new "girlfriend's" beautiful features loud enough that all the neighbours could hear, much to Naruto's mortification
"Dad, save me!"
"Sorry son, accept your fate, and join the red-head crusade."
Naruto's cries of horror, and his parents laughter, replaced the gloomy aura, returning the family to a state of happiness that had been long missing.
As the family celebrated, a young seventeen year old red-head watched on through a large monitor, a large blush on her face.
"Good evening, Miss Kirijo, are you okay?" Regaining control, the president turned her gaze towards her companion, a brown haired teen wearing a pink sweater and a short black skirt. "What are you watching?"
"Good evening Miss Takeba," Mitsuri replied, smiling calmly at the teen as she zoom-in with the hacked computer camera, revealing the blushing whiskered face of Naruto. "This is Uzumaki Naruto- he'll be joining our school as of next week, but more importantly, our team very very soon." She continued, changing the screen so that it revealed videos and pictures of the blonde late at night, specifically midnight, showing that he vanished at 12am, and reappeared somewhere else at 0.01am. "We have reason to believe he's had access to the phantom hour for over 6 months now, and if he can survive that hellish landscape for so long, he is no doubt strong enough to be an asset to our team."
Hearing the sound explanation, Takeba Yukari traced the face of the blonde, a strange sense of relief overcoming her now that the team was getting someone so experienced.
One thing did bother her though,
"Say, Miss Kirijo, do you know Mr Uzumaki well?" Glancing at the messages on the large monitor, Takeba couldn't believe how friendly and cute the messages the president had sent.
She even sent a kissing emoji, how scandalous.
The calm face of Mitsuri shattered in an instant as the president shot up to her feet and promptly shut off the monitors, a heavy pink hue replacing the calming smile she normally wore. "N-no, not at all, Naruto and I are simply friends."
"Naruto, huh?" Takeba replied with a knowing smile, turning from the now heavily blushing president as she walked away, a sense of accomplishment holding her chin up high-
Afterall, she had found the presidents weakness, and boy was she going to tease the her as much as possible. "Ok... pres." Closing the door in haste, the brunette blocked the three pillows thrown her way with a laugh, rushing away and leaving the president to sit in embarrassed silence.
"Stupid hormones."
XXxx - - - - - xxXX
"Nestled off the Japanese coast like a hidden jewel, Tatsumi Port Island unfolds its narrative with an intricate tapestry of modernity and tradition. This unique locale, known for its rich history and enigmatic allure, invites visitors into a captivating fusion of old-world charm and contemporary vibrancy."
Naruto scoffed at the 'introduction' recording about his home, its grainy audio playing in his headphones doing little to draw his attention, after all, the trip from Tokyo to Tatsumi port had been a rocky one, and for some reason the jet lag had pretty much killed his family's joy, and replaced it with sickness.
So, instead of moping at home with his super sick parents, the blonde decided on his first day he would traverse his new town, starting from mid day and finishing late into the evening: the grazing lowering sun floated down the western horizon, casting a warm glow on the island.
"Gekkoukan High School, an architectural marvel, stands as a sentinel of knowledge and tradition. Its elegant design, a blend of ancient motifs and cutting-edge structure, reflects the island's commitment to preserving its cultural heritage while embracing the future."
Wandering through the labyrinthine streets, Naruto took in the plethora of sights and sounds that define the island's character. The air was perfumed with the fragrance of street vendors selling traditional snacks, their stalls adorned with colourful paper lanterns that sway gently in the breeze. The marketplaces were practically alive with the chatter of locals and the hum of commerce, exposing the blonde to a diverse array of goods from handmade crafts to the latest technological marvels.
Naruto continued to traverse the city, his steps taking him into the island's cultural heart, where ancient shrines and temples coexist with the bustling urban landscape.
The serenity of Meiji Shrine, surrounded by lush greenery, provided a stark contrast to the high-tech neon lights that illuminate the streets during the evening. The interplay between ancient spirituality and modern aesthetics creates a mesmerizing harmony that defines Tatsumi Port Island's identity.
Or at least, that's what Naruto thought Meka would have said.
He did have to admit, every corner of Tatsumi Port Island told a story to him; from the quiet riverbanks where cherry blossoms bloomed, to the panoramic views of the cityscape, to the very tippy top of lush hills. Traditions and innovation danced together, where the mundane and the mystical intertwine, creating an intricate mosaic that beckons explorers to delve deeper into its secrets.
"Tatsumi Port Island is not just a location; it's an ever-unfolding narrative, inviting those who venture there to become part of its intricate tale."
As the audio cut off, Naruto reached the peak of his journey, Gekkoukan High School. The journey from his family's new house to this school, mixed with all the exploring, meant by the time he arrived the sun had long vanished. Flipping out his phone, the blonde smiled as the screen glitched for several moments, a familiar sense of adrenaline rushing around his system.
"Finally!"
A thick green miasma, unlike Tokyo's red, appeared as the clock struck midnight: Tatsumi Port twisting and twirling in a surreal transformation.
The blonde gazed out in surprise as the surroundings became cloaked in an ethereal glow, a realm existing between one day and the next, its buildings undergoing a profound metamorphosis. Its mundane façade peeled away to reveal an imposing tower that emerged from the heart of the school grounds. The moonlight bathed the structure in an otherworldly glow, and the eerie silhouette of the clock tower pierced the night sky.
"What is this?" Naruto thought in shock, blue eyes tracing the spectacle in front of him, nothing like this existed in Tokyo. "Holy crap!" Jumping back in surprise, Naruto gasped when he saw people, ACTUAL PEOPLE, were seemingly moving around the insides of this mysterious place.
"Okay, calm yourself Naruto, there is a perfectly good reason for all this, and the people inside no-doubt have the answers." While he never really considered himself a social butterfly, the sensation of needing to meet someone who also travelled at this time was enticing, but also was an unforgettable feeling.
Gritting his teeth in anticipation, the teen ran towards the entrance- a staircase of royal blue easily 100 steps tall leading into a broken golden Victorian clock.
Whatever this labyrinthine structure was, it defied the laws of reality, its manifested interior was an intricate maze of corridors, staircases, and hidden chambers with chests. Each floor represented a unique challenge for the blonde, as seemingly around every corner was one of those malevolent monsters prowling the darkened halls, their hate spicing the very air, meaning he had to sneak around every corner, using the walls and darkness to avoid them.
Speaking of the air, Naruto could feel something, like a heavy invisible blanket that drained his stamina, but also made him feel unnaturally stronger. The sensation was akin to a supernatural energy, and with each floor, whispers of ancient echoes struck like lightning through his mind. It got even worse as he went up, with each floor it got harder to breathe, and even harder to move.
Bypassing the 4th floor, Naruto sighed heavily as he slid down the wall of the entrance, a wave of Nausea hit him like a freight-train, his world spinning faster than any carousel.
Seconds passed like hours as Naruto regained control of his body, the sickness was still there, but with great effort he could continue on his way, hopeful that he could find another person in this hellhole.
And, hopefully, they knew what the hell was going on!
RAWRRR
Taking a step forwards turned out to be a massive mistake however.
As his foot passed by the barrier of the door frame, a hulking bird, easily five times that of an eagle, glided into view, its piercing red eyes locking on his form almost instantly.
It was a giant monster, with scales that gleamed in the moonlight and eyes that burned with malevolence, and it loomed over him.
"Well fuck me," Was all the blonde got out before the bird launched at him, easily knocking through his quickly raised guard, throwing him into a wall; his elbow smashing through a window and his back cracking the wall.
BANG
"Shit!" Naruto had barely enough time to roll out the way, let alone complain, as the bird followed up with its sharp talons, their long sword sharp texture easily ripping through the wall and kicking up a cloud of debris.
Using the lack of vision to his advantage, Naruto backed up before turning around fully and sprinting away, hoping to outspeed the fading of the dust.
GARUUUU
Naruto crashed through a partly opened door as a massive gale of wind smashed into his side.
"Shit, that hurt." Stumbling to his feet with vibrant blue eyes dimmed with exhaustion, Naruto knew he was in trouble. Glancing around, the only thing the blonde could see was a single chest.
A deep menacing growl echoed through the floor, causing him to freeze.
Before Naruto could react, the beast appeared at the doorframe, its piercing red eyes glaring at the teen.
Struggling to summon any of his remaining strength, the blonde rushed over to the chest, praying to karma that luck was on his side.
"You've got to be joking me?!"
Inside the chest was a collection of shuriken and kunai, old Japanese tools that the blonde didn't have a clue how to use. Growling, Naruto grabbed several of the shuriken and threw them with all his remaining might.
SCREEEEE
By some divine luck, one of the five spinning stars he threw struck the floating beast in its eye, a blood curling screech shook the room as it slammed its body against the walls causing it to shake intensely. Using the monster's moment of weakness to his advantage, Naruto grabbed the remaining 3 shuriken and threw them at the beast, before picking up the 2 kunai and rushing at the bird.
"I am thou, thou art I…."
With the bird thrashing around, the three shuriken did little damage, leaving minor nicks on its chest, which only seemed to enrage the beast, its wings flashed out slapping the blonde into a wall, making him grunt and collapse.
"My vow stands renewed in pursuit of the truth. In breaking free of doubt, the chain that impedes thee, is thy strength of heart made manifest."
Naruto's eyes flashed in anger as he stared at the approaching beast- he wasn't going to die here, not now, not in a random area with some dumb bird.
"With the rebirth of the Faith Persona, Thou hast obtained the winds of blessing that shall guide thee to the furthest depths."
Talons stretched out at the blonde, preparing to strike, only to be distracted by a sudden flash of energy materializing nearby. The air shimmered with an otherworldly glow, and a figure emerged from the mystical portal.
"KYUUBI!"
With nine flowing tails and a presence that commanded respect, a giant blue fox positioned itself between Naruto and the colossal monster. Its eyes glowed with ancient wisdom, assessing the situation.
"Naruto Uzumaki," It spoke with a melodic voice that carried an air of authority, "you seem to be in quite a predicament."
Naruto attempted to speak, but his words were caught in his parched throat. Instead, he weakly nodded, acknowledging his dire circumstances, his eyes glued to the 9 tails swaying with graceful movements.
MAGARU
The monster screeched as it released a large amount of energy: a massive pool of green appearing under the feet of fox and blonde a fraction of a second later before razor sharp winds erupted.
Only, instead of being diced in small pieces, a large purple protective barrier appeared a fraction of a second before the eruption, blocking the wind. The monstrous creature roared in frustration as its attacks bounced off the magical shield.
Without warning, the purple barrier changed shape into an ethereal foxfire, its giant maw launching towards the monster. The flames danced and intertwined, wrapping around the colossal creature. The once ferocious roars turned into desperate cries as the foxfire consumed its form.
Naruto watched in awe as the Kyuubi's magical prowess overwhelmed the monster. The fox spirit gracefully moved, its nine tails weaving a mesmerizing dance as it channelled ancient energies. In a dazzling display of power, the monster dissipated into motes of light, leaving behind a stunned Naruto and the serene fox spirit.
"That was…." Standing to his feet slowly, the blonde slowly approached the fox, only for his vision to tunnel, a darkness etching-in.
He collapsed before he could reach the fox, wholly unaware that said fox was slowly fading into blue.
The last thing the teen saw was the shadowy figure coming around the corner.
XXxx - - - - - xxXX
White…
He could see… white.
It moved like a wisp of smoke, floating over him like a wave of feathers, blocking his view and keeping him from knowing his destination.
"..."
A voice, without meaning or volume, thundered across the clouds, parting a path in front of him.
"..."
He walked for minutes, maybe for hours, possibly for days: all he knew was the clouds, and the earthen ground beneath his feet. Vision of a tree-line, with shadowy figures skipping across them, filtered in-and-out several times, only to fade when he got close.
"..."
The ground soon became rough stone before becoming steps that led up and up, until finally he came to a pair giant doors.
Pushing against it, he could only grunt in exertion, the doors easily weighed more than a car- and they refused to budge.
"Not worthy yet…"
He felt something force him back; back down the steps, back down the rocks and stone, and back down to the beginning of the tree line. A looming figure with 9 tails towering over the clouds, its size so beyond any skyscraper, its ominous presence sending shivers down his spine.
"Be gone."
!
Naruto woke up with a gasp, his lungs burned like a fire, his throat twisted as he struggled to get words out, and what's worse, his vision was blurred to the point where all he could make out were shades of pink and red.
"...ay?"
A deep ringing split the blonde's mind like a hammer to glass, making his already distorted world a jumbled mess.
"...ake?" The colours around the blonde blurred from shades of pink to red and brown, his eyes still struggling to adjust to any light.
Wait….the light?
Was he dead?!
An thunderous roar smashing against his temple quickly knocked the thought right out of him.
"Dammmmn it." Naruto groaned in pain as he tried to his best to ignore all the fire coursing through his soul, pushing against the surprisingly soft floor as he tried to support himself.
"...down, ple…." Familiar words, confusing as they were, gave Naruto a point to focus on, using his inner strength to push past the walls of force trying to keep him down, both mentally and physically.
An sharp slap echoed in Naruto's mind, or was it the room?, as the blonde lunged forwards, the restraints holding him back gave out.
"Finally!" Bringing up heavy hands, the blonde rubbed the gunk out of his eyes while blinking out the infesting lights in his pupils.
Finally, after a couple seconds of star filled blindness he finally regained his barings, his sight becoming clear.
An silence lingered in the air as Naruto took in his surroundings- a large office of sorts with indigo walls; a large table stretching 20 feet long sat in the centre, several decorative small trees lining it, a large crescent moon shaped window loomed over the table, and last, but not least notable, was the butterfly shaped bed he lied on. The presence of a single individual quickly became apparent, their sharp purple hair was slicked back, an their light purple narrowed eyes stared at him intensely.
"So you're finally awake, mystery boy." His voice was strange, almost like a collection of hundreds of different tones, and it made it very hard for the blonde to understand him. The thing, as Naruto refused to call him a man, seemed to notice his confusion quickly, showing off their keen intellect. "My apologies, its been a while since I've spoken to a human."
"To a human?" Raising his brow in surprise, Naruto let the thing's words sink in, confusion evident on his face. "Wait wait, are you… an alien?"
The "man" laughed loudly as it hunched over, holding its non-existent ribs as it chuckled in myth. "You know, out of all the things I've heard, your the first human to ask me that question." The being chuckled in myth, his form shimmering and shaking on the spot, changing into different races, heights, and genders in fractions of moments, slow enough for Naruto to see that this things wasn't human… and it sent chills down his back. "I guess you can say that, but for the sake of our future conversations, you can call me Philemon."
"Right, well, nice to meet you, Philemon. My name is Uzumaki Naruto." The blonde replied awkwardly, something about this person was so off, and not just his shifting nature.
"Oh, I know who you are, Uzumaki Naruto." The man stopped laughing, a sharp gleam in his eyes. "Or more specifically, what you are." The man's smile became wide, gleaming white teeth illuminated the man's face, a unsettling feeling emanating in the form of a purple aura. "So human… yet so not. Half alien, half native, swimming in the sea of subconscious, without a thought."
Staring blankly at the man-thing before him, Naruto couldn't comprehend the oddities it spouted, the sheer nonsense making him want to embrace the darkness that was sleep.
"It seems our times holds short, be it that we meet again, chained fox."
Darkness reclaimed its hold on the blonde, dragging him back down in sleep, and hopefully away from the freak before him.
XXxx - - - - - xxXX
"Ehhhhh."
When Naruto woke up, he expected alot of things; the giant corpse of a bird laying nearby perhaps? Maybe to wake up in his bed back in Tokyo, like the last week was some strange fever dream, or even, just maybe, he had somehow made his way into a bathhouse or something.
The last thing he expected was a familiar redhead sitting mere inches away from him, a small smile on her face.
"I'm glad you're awake, would you like some tea"
"Ehhhhhhhhhhhh!?"
Xxxx Chapter End xxxX