And here we are with the final chapter of the prologue part of the story, after this is where the story truly begins. Like always I DO NOT own anything in this story as all characters and references belong to their respective owners. And with that I hope you enjoy.
When it came to men like himself, he was uncertain what exactly awaited him, his deeds were too unforgivable, in fact they were all damning enough to send him to hell. He chuckled a bit at the thought, wondering if what he said to that fat bastard, Gato, was his true thoughts or just adrenaline-filled bravado to scare the hell out of the man before ending his miserable life. He couldn't help but think back to the bridge, that blonde haired brat of Kakashi's, and then towards his pseudo son, Haku.
He laughed at the irony of some of it. He was no fool, but he wasn't one to show some of his true emotions. For quite awhile now, he claimed to view the child as nothing more than a tool for his personal use, only a means to help him fulfill his goal and retake the village from the Mizukage. Now, what awaited him? What awaited them both. He was sure that wherever he was going, he wouldn't be going with Haku. Hell was certainly what he expected, it was what he deserved and something that he was more than ready to walk in. Perhaps he would fit in well after all.
Some time had passed, he didn't know how long of course, but it seemed like no matter what, his soul wouldn't move on. Or was he already in his final resting place. Was this his hell, to be lost and alone in the void forever? If so, he was disappointed. He expected much worse, tortures beyond his imagining, demons to torment him for his deeds, not him floating isolated in an endless pool of darkness. Or was this fate playing a prank on him, knowing he would prosper in hell and instead tortured him the endless boredom.
Because despite his annoyance, despite everything, spending the rest of his afterlife floating inside of a void was something that would drive even him mad. And he hated the thought of it. 'Tch, whatever... not like I can do much' he muttered crossing his arms as his spirit seemed to be free from the injuries he sustained from Kakashi, the dogs and those hired thugs of Gato's.
"Not much you say?" a voice called out from the void, earning the man's full attention as a figure stood in the darkness, it was what he expected from the start, a demon that looked at him with a grin on it's face. "How very bold of you to think that you belong in hell, perhaps you are right... no in fact you truly do deserve to burn" the monstrous Shinigami taunted him as Zabuza remained mostly unfazed.
"Heh, so... you here to judge me or something?" the former masked shinobi asked with his arms crossed, not even caring what happened to him beyond this point. He made peace with his demons, he doubt that they would make peace with him but he accepted that long ago. A shinobi wasn't afraid to die, they were not afraid to use others and in turn face the punishments afterwards. That was the way of the Shinobi in the reign of the Bloody Mist. To take life, to lose life, to walk in the rivers of blood you bled and shed. That was the way of Kirigakure. And that was something he wanted to change.
Yagura... he changed since becoming the Mizukage, becoming too heartless, too much of a monster, worse than the Sanbi he held within him. Something was wrong, something he heard rumors of and wanted to disprove. No, he was after the Mizukage and if those rumors were true, the one responsible for his change. The Shinigami perked at that, a thought that would've worked well.
"The Mizukage, you say... now isn't that interesting. I know of dear Yagura well enough... how he died just recently... a successful coup made by a particular kunoichi..." the Shinigami muttered to itself, practically gleaming with excitement. "Zabuza Momochi... how would you like to have a second chance?" it offered as Zabuza looked at it. His expression wasn't what the Shinigami expected. Instead of shock or happiness, he found another expression, with a matching tone of the silent killing specialist.
"...Huh?" he asked, not confused but like he was hit with something that made absolutely no sense. "The hell do you mean by second chance? I died, you know that right?" Zabuza asked, not believing anything. It sounded far too good to be true, and knowing the monster before him... probably was.
The Shinigami chuckled, what a cautious man. Truly it had served him well in his life as the Demon of the Mist. But it was not messing with him. Rather it was being serious. "No, I suppose you are right to be doubtful. Allow me to explain the situation for you" the Shinigami began. "To make a long story short, I need a favor done by a particular champion of mine. This champion is tasked with something... beyond his normal limits" the Shinigami said, trying to phrase things a certain way. Before he could continue, Zabuza scoffed.
"Pass" he said bluntly as the Shinigami was truly taken aback by the sudden denial of it's request. Most people would normally hear it out but not this man apparently. "I have no need for a second chance, and I am not becoming some demon's puppet for whatever purpose you have" Zabuza stated clearly, having a strong sense of honor within him. "I already expected the worst of things, tortures not even I could fathom. I am no one's pawn, not Gato's not Yagura's and certainly not yours."
"No... I suppose not. You did betray the village and try to kill the late Mizukage. Ironically enough the man you spoke of has... or will die rather soon. But the one controlling him has yet to be caught" the Shinigami said, causing Zabuza to perk up a bit.
"One controlling..." he muttered as his eyes narrowed. "So those damn rumors were true. Who on earth could control Yagura though?" he asked as the Shinigami grinned.
"A man with powerful eyes, claiming onto the false identity as Madara Uchiha" the Shinigami said as Zabuza froze in shock before glaring at the reaper instead.
"Madara Uchiha? Impossible, that man had died years before I was even born. Are you expecting me to believe that he is still alive?" the man scoffed as the Shinigami shook it's head.
"I said "False" Identity, did I not. No, the one behind it is another person, someone who has connections to the Uchiha, someone... who I asked another to help me get rid of. You yourself betrayed your village, left the ones you once called allies, went on the road of a mercenary, all to kill a man you believe turned your village into a living hellscape. Yagura is already going to die, your goals of killing him coming true in the end. But the one controlling him, he will escape undetected... unless..." the Shinigami said as Zabuza easily connected the dots.
"Unless you want me to hunt him down?" Zabuza asked as the Shinigami nodded.
"Indeed. Though there is more to it than just that. The man himself is being mislead by another monster altogether, a monster which I had tasked another to deal with. But as I said, this task is a bit too much for him to do alone. And he will need someone who is compitent enough in the shinobi ways. More so, you get your chance at life... and more importantly-"
"At the man who started all of this" Zabuza said calmly, almost too calmly as he looked at the demon in question. "And what do I give you in exchange? How do I know you aren't just playing me for your own reasons?" Zabuza demanded, knowing full well that this would be too good to be true.
"I am the master of death, Zabuza Momochi. I have no need for you and seek to withhold the balance of death, very seriously" the Shinigami said darkly, a wave of fear itself filling the man as he knew just what he was now dealing with. "And as such, reviving you would be a blow to such a balance I am meant to keep. However, there are times where I am able to intervene. And this is just one of those such times" the Shinigami stated. Zabuza said nothing as he glared at the Shinigami.
"...Let's say I agree to this, just what would I have to do?" Zabuza asked as the Shinigami grinned.
"Before that, let me tell you a small story. A story about Kakashi's blond-haired brat" it said, causing the missing shinobi to be taken aback, looking confused. The Shinigami continued. "A story in the making, about four heroes, a dark power and a particular magician."
Back in reality, Zabuza looked at the magician, now back in a human body with Haku beside him. The Shinigami was correct, seeing how the brat had changed in more than just looks. Still, he decided to put his foot down on one specific subject. "Kid, let's get something straight" he began with a glare, Menma having his hands in his coat pockets as he looked at his fellow masked shinobi. "I have my own reasons to help you here, I'm going to give you a hand on my own terms" he said as Menma frowned.
"And those terms are?" Menma asked curiously as Zabuza grinned.
"For starters, I'm not your tool, and neither is Haku" he said as Menma nodded almost immediately.
"Of course, I don't expect you to be a meat shield or a tool like you yourself claimed Haku to be. Though then again, we both do know the truth" he said, while Zabuza frowned before glaring while Haku smiled slightly, having seen the man he called his master's final moments. "But I agree that coopperation is needed here. Otherwise we'll be at one another's throats. It's better to have a partner than a weapon, so to speak" he said as Zabuza nodded, understanding what he meant.
"Good, second... I want that man dead" he said, mentioning the masked man that he learned controlled Yagura, who started this entire thing. "From what I was told, he was responsible for your death as well. We can both agree that he has to get what's coming to him" the man said. The way he said it was clearly meant to be non-negotiable. It was a condition, a condition Menma was all-too-happy to agree with.
"True enough, but you do have to wait in line. I have my own score to settle with the man, Whatever's left I'll leave for you, like a nice Christmas present, wrapped up in ribbons and bows for a nice little child at year's end" he said, Haku frowning and not quite understanding the last part. Zabuza however didn't care, but he was going to kill that man first.
"So long as you don't interfere, Uzumaki. That man is mine" he said as Menma grinned.
"Whoever gets him first is irrelevant to me. If you want him, by all means, who am I to hold you back?" he asked, accepting the condition before him. So long as the man was dealt with, it didn't matter by who he supposed. But even if he agreed to let Zabuza take a shot, he was gunning for the man's head as well. "Are there any other conditions you wish to make known?" he asked, arms crossed as he sat in mid-air, arms crossed while he floated without any trouble.
"Just so long as you don't get in my way, kid" he said as Menma nodded. Looking at Haku, he cocked his head slightly to the side.
"And you? Do you have any conditions for our unexpected alliance?" he asked curiously as Haku frowned at him for a moment. Looking at the masked man, it reminded him less of that young boy he met in the forest and more of Kakashi or that Uchiha he battled on the bridge. Haku was curious about something however.
"Menma, tell me" he said as the masked magician looked at the young shinobi with interest, "Do you still have people you consider precious to you?" he asked as Zabuza frowned.
"Really, Haku?" he asked, slightly annoyed as he crossed his own arms. "We saw his memories with that Chaos Heart thing, I don't even know if I can fully trust you" he admitted to the magician who was pondering the asked question. People he held precious to himself, huh? For a moment he was ready to shrug of such a thing but instead gave it some thought, only because it was how he and Haku had first technically met.
The more he thought on it, the more he questioned it. Did he truly care about anyone without them having some sort of use to him. He was more than willing to end the games of the brotherly heroes, and then the heroes and the count themselves upon his ascension to claim the Chaos Heart and become that Super Dimentio thing as the Pixl had called him. Still, thinking back on his time in the last several years, he did come up with an answer.
"For the longest time, I viewed no one as precious to me" he stated bluntly as Haku seemed to frown. "However, as much as I loathe to admit it, I suppose there are a few people in the worlds that I do care for more than I want to admit. Still, I do hope you understand that after having my soul ripped in half, forced to be enslaved by a civilization that saw me as a mere thinking tool. Losing the one person at the time I truly gave any love towards and then being consumed with the darkness of the Dark Prognosticus not much later than that, that I am allowed to have some leeway in how much I truly care about others." With that said he crossed his arms. Haku said nothing for a moment but a small grin did form as Zabuza sighed.
"Good to know, and you sure you won't stab us in the back?" he asked with a frown as Menma grinned towards him.
"I should be worried about you stabbing me in the back. Though I suppose since we both betrayed our former employers it is a matter of trust. No trust among thieves as they say, or in this case, Shinobi" he said amused as he held out a hand. "Let's agree not to kill one another and work for a common goal or ridding this world of that Weed of Kaguya, shall we?" he asked joyfully as Zabuza nodded, having known the details regarding the creature known as Zetsu.
"So long as we're clear on that, I have my own ambitions, brat. I'm helping you out only because of that" Zabuza said as Menma chuckled, wishing the assassin well on his personal hunt.
"That being said, I suppose you still have questions regarding my thoughts?" he asked as a wide smile formed on his face. "I do have an idea how to proceed, and since we are currently aligned towards the same goal, it would be remiss for me to leave you out of it entirely" he said as he caught the other two shinobi's attention.
"The Shinigami did mention something like that? you even mentioned that earlier" Haku said as Zabuza seemed curious himself. "All he said was that you were planning an organization, something called... KADO?" Haku asked, not sure what that was supposed to mean.
"KADO, or Kado for short, I suppose you can also call it Card, is a spicy little concoction I am making to combat the Akatsuki and keep our movements and true agenda a little more... in the dark" he said as he held out a hand, two fingers extended upwards. "I plan on having two factions in my little organization, A red and a black faction to be more precise. The goal of the Akatsuki is to capture all the Bijju, Jinchuriki if the Bijju are sealed away. And from that, revive the creature known simply as the Juubi. By making someone a Juubi Jinchuriki, they plan to use a particular jutsu and use the amassed chakra to revive Kaguya. This is a very strange goal, but I suppose it's not the most complicated one I have seen" he said as he crossed his arms. Haku however quirked an eyebrow, recalling something he was told.
"The Shinigami said we can't just kill the Bijju, or this Zetsu creature. And that you're on a time limit at that" he said as Menma frowned. Apparently his benefactor had told them quite a bit about their current position in this long game of chess of theirs.
"Indeed, all we can really do is try to find someway to destroy the weed without it activating a Kama Mark and going into hiding. And while we can add mass continental genocide to an idea, I'm not very found in going in that direction unless I need to" he said with a blunt tone. "We can't kill it off normally, it's structure as some sort of jutsu makes it immune to nearly everything we can normally throw at it. So far only fuinjutsu seems to have any real effect on it, and as our benefactor mentioned, it has it's downsides" Menma explained as he came up with blanks on how to stop it.
"Those Kama Marks" Zabuza asked, "Can't you find a way to get around them?" he asked curiously as Menma frowned, his thoughts coming back to what the Shinigami had told him.
"Normally we might have found something, the Rikkudo Sennin had done something similar to that in his initial battle against Kaguya, the only issue is that the only two people who know anything about such a seal to do that are currently missing" he complained as the two others frowned.
"Missing? What the hell does that mean, kid?" Zabuza asked as Menma rolled his eyes.
"I mean their souls are missing. If the Shinigami had known what happened to them after they died then it would've brought them here and gave us a hand at stopping the weed. However their souls aren't located in the world of the living, they aren't in heaven or hell, or in limbo or anywhere. Their souls just disappeared and not even the Shinigami can find them" he said, causing the two others to feel a little concerned. "So with that being a current dead end, I suppose looking into fuinjutsu might be a good idea, or to see if there are any leads I can find."
"So what, you're just going to look for that sealing jutsu?" Zabuza asked, not even bothering to question if the Rikkudo Sennin was real or not. The fact he was revived by the brat, who was once an inter-dimensional traveler from the future who could wipe out multiple other worlds kind of made him believe almost anything was possible. Seeing the battle against Kaguya himself also confirmed his existence.
"I suppose, apparently the descendants of the younger brother outside the Hyuga clan and this Kaguya clan all but disappeared" he said as Zabuza and Haku both recognized the name of the later. The Kaguya were connected to this, seriously? "Not only that but the three descendants of the sage himself are nearly wiped out. The Uchiha being of no real use since two of them are currently our enemies. The Senju only has the Hokage herself, and the Uzumaki... honestly I don't even know where to begin there."
The fact that the Uzumaki, his clan, were the ones who were masters of fuinjutsu and were wiped out really didn't help matters either. If he was a betting man he would've thought the weed involved itself in their destruction just to prevent any information of the Kama Mark to get rediscovered. But as things currently stood, he would have to find something out.
"So, what's the deal with this organization then?" Zabuza asked, changing the subject as he decided to focus on the weed later as Menma perk up a little at that.
"That is the current cover for us to work under. Kado, as I mentioned, will consist of two sections, the Red and the Black... or I suppose we can call them the Magicians and the Jesters" he said as Haku frowned. Zabuza wasn't that great on his knowledge of cards, but he did know what Menma had meant.
"The red magician... and the black jester?" he asked as he recalled the jokers of a deck that were often taken out. Menma grinned at that and held out his hands to them.
"And what a fine duo I have found. Though I suppose I'll have to find someone else to take on the magician part of things, I take it you are still traveling alongside Zabuza?" he asked Haku, curious but already knowing the answer. Haku nodded his head, his eyes filled with conviction.
"Zabuza-Sama is who I'll follow, Menma-San" he said, curious and respectful as Menma nodded. "However, what did you mean by the magician and joker?" he asked as Menma continued.
"The Magician is to be my shields for the Bijju, the Jesters purpose to be my swords. While the Jesters will head out and act the part of a rouge mercenary guild that takes on missions, their true purpose will be to take out members of the Akatsuki, acting as a rival to them of sorts. Our mission however, is to eliminate their ranks. Strong shinobi and kunoichi are required to stand against them, for among them are at the very least Itachi Uchiha and Kisamae Hoshigake" he said as Zabuza narrowed his eyes at the later, Haku confused at the former.
"Itachi... Uchiha?" he asked as he turned to Zabuza for a moment before seeing him think about the shark-looking shinobi. "Menma, Itachi is an Uchiha, related to your friend, Sasuke?" he asked as Menma was curiously caught off guard. Did Haku not know that Sasuke was Itachi's younger brother?
"Tch, and let me guess" Zabuza spoke up, "Kisame was in on it as well?" he asked as he recalled how Kisame had killed of Samehada's original owner, a man named Fuguki Suikazan. "Tch, well I guess I better deal with him down the line as well" Zabuza muttered to himself, having a second target in mind.
"Itachi, from what I was told, is Sasuke's older brother who killed his clan for whatever reason there was. Still, I believe you both are aware of Kisame?" he asked as Zabuza glared.
"Oh we are aware of him, brat. And if he was in on it as well then killing him is going to be a great pleasure for me" he said, recalling how he was betrayed by one of those who helped him form a coup. He had a suspicion on who it was, but if it was Kisame, then it would make sense. Then again, if he went rogue as well, then that either meant their was no reason to stay in Kiri, or that he was out doing another mission and his time as a "Loyal" Kiri shinobi was over.
"Great. Then I suppose you seek to kill him for the sake of your honor or something like that? If so then I'll happily welcome you both into the Jester Division" the magician said as he placed his hands in his pockets. "As for the magicians, I plan on having them protect any Jinchuriki or Bijju we can snag for ourselves until the time has come for us to end the weed's existence. At least if we keep one of them out of the way it should be do-able. We just need to find a trust-worthy group who are eager to help us. And with the stakes as they are, surely it shouldn't be all that hard."
"True" Zabuza said as he crossed his arms. If his role in helping the kid was to track down and eliminate that masked man and Kisame then who was he to disagree or argue against it. Haku was next to him, frowning slightly and considering taking the role as the magician. However if Zabuza was going after the Akatsuki, then he would be beside him, even if it was to the death once again. "Then I'll stick with hunting down the Akatsuki. Just keep us informed when you get any word about either Kisame or that masked man."
"...If that is your choice then I'll welcome you among the ranks of my blades" he said, ready to return them to Nami no Kuni before realizing something. Snapping his fingers, he recalled two other boxes that appeared out of nowhere, recalled from his pocket dimension. "But, wait one moment. I also have gift for you both. Consider them as a work-in-progress project of mine. You see while I was busy working on some change of attire, I borrowed some from a particular organization and, shall we say, modified them more to my particular needs" Menma said as the two of them seemed confused. grabbing the boxes, they opened them up to reveal a cloak of some kind.
"Cloaks?" Haku asked as Menma nodded.
"Indeed. Those one-size, fit-all black coats as they are called, are modified variations I have created that I planned on working on. While normally those were to prevent people from losing themselves to the dangers of darkness, I saw a better use for it's other abilities" he said as he snapped his fingers. Before the others knew it, they found themselves now wearing the black cloaks, with boots, gloves and more matching apparel under them.
"What the, what did you do?" Zabuza asked with a frown as Menma grinned.
"Nothing much, just used a bit of magic to place them on you is all. But while they might not scream fashion and stylish, their abilities do have a greater purpose. For starters, wearing those hoods will keep your identities hidden better, but your voices will remain unchanged. I tested it before I arrived and not even the use of those with strong magic could fully pierce them. However should someone use a jutsu like the Sharingan or Byakugan... I am less certain those will hide your appearance" he explained, the two of them looking at the cloaks in contemplation.
"Not only that, but I did try to add another aspect to them, making them fire-proof, water-proof, lightning-proof and more akin to fight off illusions. If memories serve me correctly, you were once bested by the Sharingan before finding out how to disable it. And while you are a master of silent killing and capable of disabling the basic Sharingan... the man who you're after is certainly stronger in using his than Kaksashi is his own. Consider that a means to not only help you in a fight but also keep your identified hidden. You are, after all, supposed to be dead."
"Heh, sounds like you planned for a war. If this thing can ward off genjutsu?" Zabuza said, eager to see how good it actually is. Menma laughed, albeit somewhat embarrassed.
"Genjutsu was by far my weakest skill. And as Dimentio, while I learned how my illusions could trick many and multiople people at a time, sadly I was still very susceptible to them myself." Clearly while he could conjure them, fighting them was still such a task. Honestly he was hoping to find a teacher who could help him better fight them off. But as to who could teach him that was trustworthy, he was unsure at the moment.
"Heh, so I guess you have your limits as well?" Zabuza said as Menma sighed.
"We all have our strengths and weaknesses, my eyebrow-less companion. But let's not focus on my weaknesses and focus on yours. More accurately, what you should do if you find yourself in a rather sticky situation" he said as he pulled out a card from his pocket. "A final gift from me to you" he said, handing Zabuza the card, who took in confused.
"And what is this supposed to be?" he asked as he inspected the card that had a green diamond pattern with a black heart in the center of it. Menma grinned as he began to explain.
"It is a very unique card that I channeled some of my magic into. Simply put if you channel your chakra into the center then you'll be able to teleport yourselves back here in this location I have dubbed Dimension D. That being said, it is a one-time use, and there will be no way back. Like a one-way trip to some foreign location to seek shelter in your most dire of times" he said with a smile as Zabuza pocketed the card. Haku looked at Zabuza once more, interested in the card the man had on him before a second one appeared and floated before the youngest of the three of them.
Taking it, Haku smiled and kept it in his own pocket. Menma nodding as he decided to return them to the greenwoods away from the graves, having a clone stationed there to keep an eye out for any onlookers in the area. Dispelling the clone to see if it was truly alright, a snap of the fingers was all it took to send them back to his initial arrival spot. "And voila, back in the Elemental Nations we are."
"Tch, and you couldn't bring us back to the graves?" Zabuza asked as Menma frowned.
"I wanted to keep this a little more private. This is where I first technically met Haku, and I'm sure he recalled the way back to whatever hideout you were in. Besides, from the news I heard, this is a little closer to your sword" he said as Zabuza paused momentarily.
"My sword? Kubikiribocho?" he asked as he recalled the fact that he never reclaimed it. Looking at Menma to see if he had his sword, Menma elaborated.
"Yes, well... from the rumors I heard, after your demise a man named Tenzen Daikoku took it as some sort of means of revenge. Apparently you killed some of his men... like, a lot of his men. Some of them hired by that Gato guy from our time here" he said as Zabuza said nothing. Haku was quiet as well, however he looked at his master nervously, knowing just how the older shinobi was regarding others holding his sword.
"...My sword, was taken, but some nobody crime boss?" he asked quietly as Menma could feel a wave of killing intent radiate from the man. "I see, and where would I find him?" he asked as he was clearly unimpressed as the thought of someone like Tenzen Kaikoku grave robbing him and taking his sword he worked hard to earn truly pissed him off.
"From what I was told, he has a small fortress of a few underlings around several hundred miles that way" Menma said calmly as he jabbed his thumb behind him, "I don't fully know the details, but if you want to get it back, do try not to reveal yourselves. But by all means, feel free to rampage as much your hearts contend to. I'll be busy on another errand however. When you finish any and all unfinished business, by all means use that card I gave you. It will alert me of your arrival when you do. And I'll be happy to pick you both up" Menma said as he began walking away.
"Another errand, what do you mean by that, Menma?" Haku asked as the magician walked away for a moment. His smile showing from behind his mask as his eyes began to glow with magical power behind them.
"Oh, nothing much. Just a little family inheritance and a reunion I was convinced to go to" he said before letting out a small chuckle. "But until then, I must bid you, chao" he said before departing in his dimensional traversal. Haku and Zabuza said nothing as he left, the later focused on reclaiming something of his own.
"Haku, let's get going. It's time I got back my sword" he said as Haku nodded, both pulling up their hoods to disguise themselves from view. Haku didn't like it, but knew and accepted what was about to happen. The only other time he saw his master this upset didn't end all-to-well.
Even he still recoiled in fear as he recalled the massive geocide the swordsman performed that ended in over a thousand dead. Still, he did wonder just what Menma was currently after and what he meant by inheritance. Whatever it was, he seemed eager to claim it.
Near an hour later, Menma found himself flying around a heavily forested area. By the look on his face, he was annoyed and unsure if it was even really worth claiming at all. Though then again, it was better to take any advantage he could get by this point, his arrival back to the greenwoods outside the village he once called home as he and his clones searching around the outskirts of the the nearby settlement, was taking longer than he had hoped. with a frown on his face and hands placed his behind his back, a gesture he had done all through habit as Dimentio as he flew with his magic, he scanned the area, keeping his magic to a low, only having a few clones looking for it to prevent anyone from noticing him.
Still, he was a little annoyed at what he was told. 'Oh, just find it around the village's outskirts, you'll be fine' he recalled the Shinigami's words with some sarcasm. Oh sure, it wasn't like the Shinigami could have been specific. Did it know how big the village was or how much room he had to cover. Oh, and let's not forget it didn't give him any directions.
"Please, you're just complaining" the Shinigami said as Menma sighed. "You'll find it sooner than later, besides I don't know the exact location, I can just tell you the general location on where it is around" the Shinigami said as Menma rolled his eyes. Still, he supposed that was something. As he continued to fly around, he contemplated how this was supposed to help.
"And you're sure this is supposed to help me?" he asked aloud, the Shinigami nodding.
"If we convince them then yes. Not only will I explain it to them all in detail, but they can help you prepare for your own mission as well. The real Madara might be gone, but that doesn't mean he isn't a part in this issue" the Shinigami said as Menma came to realize something.
"If you went through all the trouble of bringing me and the other two back, why not talk to Madara himself and explain the situation as well. We would have a better shot with him revived. Or at least if a part of the plan was to revive him than maybe stop the weed's plans?" Menma asked as the Shinigami frowned.
"Because, despite my best efforts, I am unable to locate his soul" the Shinigami replied as Menma was taken aback at that bit of knowledge. "After his death, I was unable to find him and I am willing to bet that Zetsu had a hand in that. Whatever the case is, I won't be able to do much regarding him. Just be on your guard, Madara is a powerful man, so whether this is a trick of his or not, I'm not entirely sure" the Shinigami said, Menma not liking that as theories came to mind. But he had to concentrate on something else.
For now it was only a matter of time for finding the- wait, hold on. His clone dispelled, his eyes widened, his mouth curled upwards and into a grin. 'About time, I finally found it' Menma thought as he disappeared to the last location his clone was at. Soon enough he found himself at the base of an old shrine. By appearance, the temple was in a decrepit state, aged and tattered as the magician made his way up the stairs that he was uncertain could even support his weight.
Despite the ruined state however, he did notice a familiar symbol etched above the doorway, a familiar spiral that he himself once wore on the back of his orange jacket, a symbol that even now those of the Chunin and Jonin wore on the back of their own vests. Cracked and far past it's prime, the symbol of the Uzumaki Clan stood despite the disrepair of the building it marked.
'At least my clan isn't fully gone' Menma pondered sarcastically, recalling from the Shinigami some of the more interesting things that he had heard about his clan. The Uzumaki, gifted with such longevity and skilled in the arts of fuinjutsu like a talented artist breathing life upon the canvas with a brush of many colors. They lived in some far off place known as Uzushiogakure, or at least until the nations and the villages, growing fearful of their talents, viewed them as a threat and wiped them out, much like the Uchiha and several other clans throughout the years. 'Perhaps I had a few more things in common with Sasuke and Haku than I thought.'
With that thought in mind, he walked through the entrance, his hand held out as he used his magic to produce an ember of flame in his hand, the light from the flames helping illuminating the dark halls with the aid of the moonlight that broke through the holes of the shrine. With his steps echoing in the abandoned shrine, Menma smiled, a sensation of dark power awaiting him, one that he had met and grown accustom to from his several years with his benefactor.
Aligned upon the wall before him were several masks, each designed as a particular figure. Grey skin, elongated fangs, frightening design, the masks of the Shinigami laid strung up on the wall with a tattered and hole-ridden curtain decorating the wall that served as the main chamber. With the flames dwindling from his hand, Menma observed the area with a grin, finding his prize.
'Alright then, which one of you little masks is the real deal?' he thought with his eyes scanning the multiple masks, his normal black eyes was slowly illuminating with a dark and chilling purple, the powers of the Shinigami flowing within him as one mask followed suit. As if paired with one another, the mask was slowly shrouded in a matching darkness. With his prize now revealed, Menma's eyes began to glow a contrasting yellow, holding out his hand and turning it upwards, his two fingers extended and curled up. The mask that had once generated such a darkness was surrounded in a faint barrier of magic, lifting gently off the wall and floating into the magician's grasp.
Menma looked at the mask, sensing it's power, reminding him of the Dark Prognosticus that held such powers to do unspeakable things. It was then that he heard the Shinigami's voice echo in his mind once more. "So, you recieved my mask then?" the Shinigami said as Menma nodded. He was about to disappear before the Shinigami stopped him. "No, do it here. This is my shrine and a place where only those deem fit can truly enter" the Shinigami stated, making the magician stop in his tracks.
'A place where only those deem fit could enter?' he thought to himself as the Shinigami nodded.
"Your clan placed sealing tags around the shrine, they have several guardians here, those who reads the minds of those who enter and will punish those accordingly" the Shinigami stated as Menma looked at the other masks more closely, sensing a faint presence from the other masks. "However, in time the powers of these seals will fail, the protection of this shrine will vanish. It is our link that keeps you safe, that and your bloodline" the Shinigami finished as Menma hesitantly nodded at the information. That was good to know. Looking at the mask, he sighed and made a clone of himself, using magic to keep in tangible, even if it were to be destroyed.
Unlike his clones from his Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, these clones were made to last, even capable of dying, albeit have such a much weaker life-span than him. He recalled using them in Castle Bleck to play with the heroes in a room of mirror to hide a key. How the mustached heroes battered them away with that hammer of theirs like snowballs thrown in a winter warzone of childish play. Giving the clone the mask, the clone begrudgingly took it as Menma stepped back, waiting for the ritual to begin.
He also summoned from his dimension, a card, one that resembled the much loathed Catch Cards from his time as a Pixl. Despite his dislike of using them, there was something he wanted to claim, outside of the initial reason. Seeing the clone place the mask upon his face, he watched with a mix of uneasiness and uncertainty at seeing the clone let out a scream of terror, slowly becoming possessed by the mask's power as a very familiar figure formed behind him. The Shinigami, looking down at his champion, nodded his head as he had a dagger in his mouth, akin to his role as a sealing jutsu.
Recalling the next step in this process, he eyed the clone and nodded, the clone, puppet-ing himself and the Shinigami, grabbed the dagger that was in the Shinigami's mouth, and slowly but surely moved the blade down the it's torso. The sounds of ripped flesh was expected but not a belief of seeing trails of blood escaping from the lethal wound the clone dealt itself. It was moments like this that he was happy his clones, despite looking human, were constructs of magic or chakra as it were now Instead of actual blood and flesh. As the clone fell to it's knees, it's power failing, Menma noticed five spiritual presences pour out of the stomach, one of which caught his eye.
First, he snapped threw his card at one of the spirits, the smaller and weakest of them being dragged in and sealed away in the card to be used later. Addressing the four other souls he looked at the Shinigami-controlled clone of his. Soon a darkness flooded from it as the shrine was covered in a sense of darkness. It reminded the magician of the void and to much like he was informed before hand, the spirits stopped flying about, instead lining up and forming a more human-like appearance.
The first man was one who wore red armor and had long brown hair, the second one being someone with similar hair to his former teacher, albeit shorter and of a different shade. Despite that his gaze stated clearly he was no-nonsense, serious and stern as Menma felt the powers from both of them, not afraid due to their inability to actually hurt him as they were as ghosts.
The third man however appeared in another sort of armor, he was a familiar one at that as vague memories of the grand-fatherly elder who had tried to raise him looked confused. Still, despite his failings to be a proper guardian, he at least tried so it wasn't as if he blamed the man. Especially when he could only imagine what sort of conflicts he had to deal with after the Kyuubi attack and having to take over right afterwards. The final man however was one that resembled him from his previous existence. Blond hair and a white and red coat, he was torn on how to feel about seeing his father once again.
"What the..." the first man began, the First Hokage: Hashirama Senju asked himself as he realized he was no longer sealed away in the Shinigami, looking around confused as he noticed his brother nest to him. "Brother, is this your doing?" he asked confused while the white-haired man frowned.
"Of course now, this is a resurection jutsu, but not my own" he said with a frown as observed his body and came up with a different conclusion. "No, this is something different entirely" he surmised before he noticed the masked magician who had his hands in his coat pockets, looking at them in interest and with a glint in his eyes, showing that he was happy at the result. "However, I take it that you are the cause of this?" he asked with anger as Menma grinned.
"In a manner of some speaking, I suppose" he replied as he pointed to where his clone currently was, still supporting the Shinigami, who stood above it with a grin, amused at the four newcomers with a grin. "I have reason to summon you, or at the very least at least one or two of you. But don't worry, I just came here to talk and retrieve something for an important task at hand" he said, summoning the thrown card back to his hand and sending it back to where he first called it from.
"Retrieve something?" Minato asked, eyes narrowed as all of them didn't seem to trust the masked man. Menma looked at the once-older Namikaze with a sense of confusion, not sure what to feel about the man. It was not Menma who spoke up next however, nor the four Hokage that were summoned back from their seal. The Shinigami spoke up with a tone of seriousness in his voice.
"I think it would be best" the Shinigami said, earning everyone's attention, "That we start from the very beginning." Menma lost count of how long it actually was as they explained the situation, the magician himself having to step in at some part of it.
"Which brings us to our current predicament..." Menma said, having taken over the conversation for his benefactor with a small smile on his face, the four Hokage each having their own reactions to what they were told. "...Quite the story, is it not?" Menma asked, amused at their faces at his own tale, something he had simply grown to laugh at than feel bitter about. Well, mostly bitter about. It was Hashirama who spoke up first, clear disbelief in his voice.
"I can't believe it... if what you said is true" he said more to himself than anyone else while thinking back to his old friend. 'Madara... just what did you really have planned? And just what have you gotten yourself into?' the oldest Hokage thought to himself as Tobirama, the second eldest of the four former leaders spoke up next.
"This could've been avoided it you just killed Madara in the first place, brother" Tobirama said annoyed as he addressed the magician with a frown. "And I don't exactly trust you of all people to deal with this" he said, having seen the memories of Menma himself. They all did, and while Hashirama was angered, Minato and Hiruzen were both fully lost. Seeing your son or adopted grand-son of sorts twisted and becoming a true monster was something that shook them to the core. The sad part was that both men blamed themselves.
'Naruto... what have we done to you... If I only finished that man off when we fought' Minato thought, horrified at the life after death his son endured, how he became the madman known as Dimentio and enslaved by others as a mere thinking tool.
'He is completely different now, he has truly strayed from the Will of Fire' Hashirama said, reflecting on both Naruto and Sasuke. While he was disappointed in Sasuke's betrayal, his attraction to the alluring powers that Orochimaru promised him and his own quest for revenge against his brother, he questioned whether or not he should've done more for the boy. 'If I had done something different with the Uchiha... then this could've been avoided' the man lamented in rage, believing that another mistake of his not only caused Sasuke to fall into Orochimaru's hands, but Naruto being a casualty in a way the elderly spirit wouldn't have ever believed.
"Whether you trust me or not is not really my concern or care at the moment" Menma said bluntly as he just smiled at the spirit. "Then again, I suppose you have reason to worry" he taunted as Tobirama glared. It was Hiruzen that spoke up next, his tone filled with lament at the once-cheerful blonde's casual dismissal for the Second.
"Naruto... no, Menma now, is it not?" he asked as Menma turned towards the elderly man in question. "I have truly failed you and Sasuke, this is all on my shoulders... I am sorry" he apologized, bowing his head to the magician as the others stayed quiet. Menma said nothing for a moment before sighing.
"I have nothing to blame you for, old man" he said in a slight teasing voice, making the Third Hokage stunned. "Nor do I blame you for this either" he said, addressing his father, who looked at him in shock. "I have lived quite a hellish existence but neither of you knew about the other worlds, the ancients or anything like the Pixls. I already said my peace when I met you and mom moments before my initial demise. To lash out and hate you both for my role as the Master of Dimensions would be more or less pointless and unwarranted" he said with a shrug.
"Besides, it's not like it'll matter in the end. I was said to become a madman and played the part of my own accord. What matters now however is dealing with the situation at hand" he said with a frown now on his face. "The weed is after the Bijju, the Akatsuki it's pawns in this century and time is against me more-so-than-ever" he said as he rather focus on the task at hand. Minato nodded, wondering what would happen next. He saw the memories of his son's and how, in the end, he had forgiven them, ready to take the Akatsuki down with him.
'Kushina... I hope you can forgive me, but you were right when you said I should've let you seal the Kyuubi inside of you. Still, even if he changed, even if this isn't the same boy we might have met to help him, he's our son and I know you would do the same' he thought, earning a chuckle from the Kyuubi he held within.
"The kid is certainly surprising, Minato" the Kyuubi said as behind the man in his mindscape came the Kyuubi himself, fur a darker shade that the orange that his other half had. "Still, it's a good idea for me to look after the brat. Even if I don't fully trust him, the things he did, I can sense nothing to indicate him lying to us" the Kyuubi said as Minato nodded.
"Alright" he said, making Menma and the other kage look at him. "Naruto" he began, not bothering to use his code name as he made several hand seals. "...I know that if I did a better job as the Hokage, this might not have happened at all. I wish I could take your place, and give you a better life than any of this. But if it has to be you, then just know, that I'll always have your back" he said, smiling as he placed a hand on his son's shoulder, channeling the Kyuubi he sealed within him into the magician.
Menma nodded silently, looking down as he smiled faintly. 'Right... I suppose a parent would support their child, no matter what' he thought to himself. "Heh, I guess, all things considered, this isn't the worst I could've turned out" he said with a small joke, Minato smiling as both father and son shared a bit of a laugh. As the Kyuubi was fully sealed inside the magician now, Hiruzen spoke up next.
"Menma, I doubt it might help you, but perhaps I might know someone who could help you" he said, earning looks from the onlookers. "But first, I think I should tell you something important, a secret that the village had kept more guarded than your status as a Jinchuriki. The truth behind the Uchiha" he said as everyone frowned. "As you know, it was stated that Itachi Uchiha went mad one night, killing his entire clan for power" he said, using that as the "Truth" behind his actions. Minato and Hashirama stared at the man in horror as Tobirama looked alarm, "However, that was a lie we told on Itachi's behalf" he said, shamefully at that.
"On his behalf?" Menma questioned as Hiruzen continued.
"The truth of the matter is that there was a second force at work that night. After the Kyuubi's attack on the village, blame was cast upon the Uchiha, people believing the had something to do with the event. In time, the clan began to be blamed and viewed as traitors. Despite telling the people there was no proof of their involvement, the tensions still rose. Eventually it reached a boiling point, rumors of a coup to take place had reached me and the elders.
"A coup?!" Minato shouted as Tobirama glared, Hashirama frowned.
"However, despite this, two of the Uchiha came to us, asking to help lower the tension, hoping to prevent such a thing. However, soon a new situation arose. Danzo acted behind our backs, nearly killing one of the two Uchiha. Stealing Shisui's sharingan as a result" Soon later, Itachi came to me. Apparently Danzo had decided to act first, set out on eliminating the entire clan, all but one.
"Sasuke" Menma said, not knowing what to say to any of this. The reason he died, the reason Sasuke went rogue was purely because of Itachi's actions. And here it turned out it was because of the very village itself?
"Danzo made a deal with Itachi, that if he could eliminate the Uchiha Clan, taking the burden as a traitor, that Sasuke would be spared from the battle. However Itachi had a partner that night, a masked man who claimed to be Madara" he revealed as Minato finally stepped in.
"You can't possibly mean... the same masked man I fought during the Kyuubi Incident?!" he yelled as Hiruzen nodded.
"Apparently Itachi was recruited into the organization known as Akatsuki, I asked him to join and act as a spy for the village to keep tabs on him. Danzo was then stripped of power, for having not once tried to assassinate me for the seat of Hokage but for conspiring the Uchiha Massacre" Hiruzen sighed as Tobirama frowned.
"But they were still aiming against the village, why punish him for dealing with a threat in the first place?" the white-haired Hokage asked as Hiruzen was about to speak up, it was however the Shinigami who spoke up instead.
"Because it was your prejudice against them that made them victims to suggestion. That masked man had managed to make contact with the head, Fugaku Uchiha, playing both sides of the coin. His hope, from what I was told by the man, was that he promised the Uchiha with power and freedom, away from the village's spite. Much like how the Mizukage was manipulated, but far more subtly. He had hoped to recruit the Uchiha Clan into Akatsuki, but indirectly, Danzo and Itachi stopped it."
"They were but pawns themselves, the higher ups being manipulated by this masked man, who you still won't tell us who it is?" Menma asked more with a frown as the Shinigami said nothing. The Shinigami didn't know who was behind the mask, only that it was partially made up of White Zetsu with two sharingan eyes. That was it.
"Itachi had a similar feeling to that, he joined as a spy to keep tabs on the masked man. If you can find anyone willing to help you with information, Itachi would be a good place to start" Hiruzen suggested as Menma frowned, the thought of the man who indirectly caused his first "Game Over" was not exactly welcoming. But if they were right, he would see it himself. He was tasked with eliminating them one way or another, he would have to coax the truth out of the mysterious man known as Itachi first.
It might have been easier to just kill the man and be done with it.
"As much as I'd like to continue this moment, we are running out of time" the Shinigami said as Menma nodded and turned to his father.
"Dad, when you fought this masked man, this fake Madara... what was he like?" Menma asked as Minato stopped to think about the battle at hand. A frown on his face as he recalled the masked man in question.
"The masked man, was skilled in time-space ninjutsu, his technique being some sort of teleportation jutsu" he said as Hashirama, who had recovered and Tobirama, who had calmed down, seemed confused. "Whenever I attacked him, I would just phase through him, only when he attacked me was when I managed to lay a hit. I was about to be pulled in once, it was like a vortex. Naruto... I don't know what happened between then and now, but looking back, I think it was something to do with his Sharingan."
"It makes sense" Tobirama said as he recalled the different effects of the Sharingan. "While in it's natural state, the Sharingan is a powerful technique, it's the evolved form, the Mangekyou Sharingan, that had shown to have different effects. Perhaps this strange jutsu is akin to that" he said as he turned to Menma and frowned. "The sharingan is a powerful eye, one that is capable of many things. If your opponent is skilled enough to use it, you must not take him lightly" he warned as Hashirama nodded.
"More so, Madara never used any technique like that, but if you do however encounter the real Madara, be prepared for anything and everything. From what you told us, Madara somehow survived our battle, and if you can't find his soul, then I wouldn't doubt he's up to something. I don't understand how he was able to do it, but when I defeated him I was sure he was dead, but something seemed off" he said with a frown, as if he was being watched, observed. Could that have had something to do with this?
"Madara is skilled in all aspects of ninjutsu, genjutsu and taijutsu. He was able to control the Kyuubi before we managed to seal it inside of Mito. He was the strongest opponent I have ever faced, and his strongest trump card as the Susanoo. A poweful jutsu that was said to be the strongest of all the Mangekyou Sharingan techniques. Even me in my prime would have had a hard time against him, And that doesn't count for anything else he picked up over the years" he explained as Menma frowned.
'So basically, if I fight him I'll die' was all the magician thought as he contemplated whether he wanted to risk the man being revived or not by the weed. 'Well that's just great, can't I just have one of them fight him?' he complained as the fox frowned.
"Madara, the last I recall him, was the strongest shinobi minus Hashirama. He is powerful, but not invincible. However taking him head on is suicidal, it would be best to avoid him entirely" the fox informed as Menma nodded, he was never the strongest in a fair fight, he was an assassin by nature, content with claiming the kills through under-handed tactics or overwhelming magic. The thought of facing Madara in battle was enough to have him try and find a way around him.
Before the conversation could continue however, the darkness began to fade, Menma looked towards his clone as both the Shinigami and the four Hokage started to flicker out of existence. "It seems our time is out, it is time for you four to return to the afterlife... Menma, from here on out, you will be on your own. I won't be able to help you out anymore than I can now. I trust you to handle the rest from here" the Shinigami said as Menma nodded. Turning to the Hokage, he noticed their expressions. Hashirama had a small smile, Minato nodded, trusting his son to get the job done. Hiruzen was looking at him in hope while Tobirama frowned, but nodding his head as well. As the four kage finally vanished, Menma was left alone in the shrine.
Walking over to the mask, he picked it up and frowned, a small crack from the seal being broken now etched into the design as the energy of the Shinigami no longer dwelt within. Looking at the masks, Menma sensed nothing from them either, the shrine now being abandoned, now completely empty as it had seemed to have serve some sort of final purpose. Placing the mask back on it's spot, Menma sighed as he made his way out of the shrine, his job done there and for a new destination coming to mind with a lot to think about.
Now he had the news Itachi was a spy, how this masked man fought and how much of a monster the real Madara would be if they fought. However he also had a bargaining chip and the Kyuubi sealed within him, even if the fox would slowly drain his time faster than he initially had, he would have to not use it's chakra to keep the timer running and the eyes off of him.
"I see, so that's why this sealing formula is different" Kyuubi said from the new seal, frowning a bit at the formula the Shinigami made for them both. "The way the seal is set, I won't be able to send you chakra beyond some minor healing and chakra recovery. It would be impossible for you to use any of the tailed states of a Jinchuriki."
"True, but that's for the best. I hope you understand that I don't plan to be a Jinchuriki for long. Until I find a more suitable partner to become your Jinchuriki, if that's alright by you" Menma admitted as the fox nodded.
"I suppose I can make due, but if they're anything like the other Jinchuriki I dealt with, I'm not promising to play nice. If it wasn't for this entire situation being as bad as it is now, then honestly I wouldn't even bother to help you out. But we both have our reasons for stopping this Zetsu creature. I hate Madara more than you, kid. Let's try and keep it that way."
"Of course" Menma said as he kept a grin on his face. "After all, for better or worse, we're partners now. Might as well work together with the cards we're dealt with" he said with an amused tone. Kyuubi frowned as he let out a sigh.
"Is that why you named that organization of yours Kado?" he asked as Menma grinned, not at all mad that the fox had access to his memories. In fact it made it easier for him. And with the game just beginning it was time to start making moves, and like two sharks waging war with all at stake, the strongest cards would take the game with the wisest gambler coming up on top. "So, what's the plan, kid?" the fox asked curiously as Menma let out a small laugh.
"My dear fox, are you in the mood to go on a little snake hunt?" he asked with the fox grinning as he got the message, the magician teleporting away, out of view and to another location in mind as he prepared to investigate a certain village nearby.
And with that, Menma begins his mission. Also I apologize for any typos. I finished this on my phone and spelling and grammar checks are normally done on my laptop However I got back to my computer and wow... there were a lot of them. Like a whole lot. Moral of the story, double check grammar but I digress. Still Zabuza and Haku are in play, Menma has the other half of Kurama and I hope you all enjoyed. And even if you might not celebrate it, Merry Christmas.