A/N: Preparing for something big, here, an absolute slew of updates.

Despite the site breaking, I'm hoping folks will see this, and the next few updates coming up. RWBY, Elden Ring, Eminence in Shadow, Archon, the works.

So here we are, a different teaser of sorts. As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. They're tributes to legends far greater than I.

I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild, wacky world, one word at a time.

Time and feedback will determine what remains a story and what doesn't. Simple as that.

In other words...the fate of this is up to YOU, the reader. Doooo let me know~!

May this whet your appetite.

Theme is Dark Aria from Solo Leveling. You all know the one.

"Power like mine cannot be hidden, cannot be cowed...

~?

Try Again

There was a knife in his neck.

Or perhaps it was a sword? It was so difficult to tell the difference these days. Naruto noted the injury as one might a mosquito bite; annoying, but rather inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. Oh, it stung to be sure, and it itched like a bitch, but it wasn't enough to kill him. Nor were the blades in his chest, the broken bones, or even the inferno currently burning him from the inside out. He'd been burned and battered, bruised and butchered, nearly beheaded even, but it wasn't enough.

The curse inflicted upon him saw to that; ensured that he remained, even as he was now.

With a long-suffering sigh he reached up, wrapped his fingers around the hilt of the blade, and removed it. A flick of the wrist cast it aside, sending it clattering across the wooden floorboards of his once humble home. His tattered neck bled black blood like so much tar and knit back together in its wake, mending his pale flesh. He heard someone gasp, but the sound was distant, faint, muted, even.

Why...?

It took him a moment to understand before his eardrums popped back into place, bringing with them a faint ringing sound. That last explosion must've ruptured them. There was hardly any pain. He'd become desensitized to it after all these years. Scarlet veins flowed fresh across his face as he finished healing, corrupted arteries beating in time with his bleak, black heart. He shook his head, cracked his neck once, frowned now as he ran a hand through the pale, ashen mess of his hair.

It had been blond, once upon a time. Before. So long ago. Hadn't it? He had trouble remembering sometimes.

He still recalled the pain from when he'd first thrown himself into the Pool of Darkness an eternity before.

Compared to that? This was nothing. No, less than nothing compared to the sacrifice he'd made.

A counterbalance was needed. He'd made his choice long ago. The Grimm were too dangerous to be remain under the control of a single master; so he'd made certain that would never happen again. He'd acted without a second thought, thrown himself into oblivion for the greater good.

But even now. After all these years. SHE just wouldn't let him be.

At least Ozpin knew not to poke the bear.

...some people never learned.

"Really?" he hated the sound of his voice these days, it sounded dark, cruel, angry, when in truth he was anything but. "I offer you a meal, and this is how you repay my hospitality?"

Belatedly, he looked to the "sword" on the floor and scoffed as it crumbled away. The Relic of Destruction. No doubt they thought themselves clever. Insipid children. Not even Destruction could destroy that which was deathless. Did they think he hadn't tried this himself?

"She didn't tell you who I was, did she?"

He regarded his attackers with baleful eyes. Three of them. A pale boy with grey hair and pale skin, a dark-skinned lass sporting red eyes and green hair...

.

..

...and a woman with golden eyes. Mustn't forget the last one. He sensed a hunger for power about this Lady in Red. Salem's latest pawn, no doubt. Almost as bad as Ozpin. She one wasn't even a Maiden. She had none of the Fire about her. The Sword of Destruction must be a holdover from Salem's last campaign, back when she'd destroyed Vacuo. A shame. He'd been rather fond of the desert kingdom after the Great War. The others just weren't the same. Come to think of it, wasn't Menagerie a Kingdom these days?

No, no, focus. He hadn't thought Salem the sort to sacrifice a Relic against him. This didn't seem like something she'd do; which meant...

"...earlier," he looked down on her, saw his golden-black eyes mirrored in her own horrified gaze. "You said I was going to die, didn't you?" he looked to the terrified trio before him with a tired sigh. "That's funny. Naruto Uzumaki died a long time ago with his family...the man you see before you now is what remains...

The woman with golden eyes bridled. "What the hell are you?! How do you have that power?! Its mine! GIVE IT TO ME!"

He placed a finger to his lips.

"Shhh...

Something jabbed at his mind just then, twisting his vision. For a moment he could've sworn he saw his wife. Hope kicked in his heart but-no. An illusory semblance. How annoying; he glared back at the red-eyed girl, pushed out with killing intent, forcing her to recoil with a yelp. Another glance froze her, and her companion with her. To move was to die, to protest meant they would suffer. He ignored them and looked back to this quivering twit before him, an old ember of anger sparking in his heart.

...do you honestly think this...meager effort is enough to kill me? No. It'll take much more than this. So...

He retrieved the Relic and dropped it at their leader's feet.

...try again."

They didn't dare move.

"What's wrong?" he nudged it forward. "Pick it up."

They shrank back and undaunted, he kicked the sword their way.

"Pick. It. UP."

None moved.

Cowards.

They'd been so brave and bold before,when he'd opened his door to them; when they'd come sauntering in. Smug. Ruthless. Arrogant. He'd shared his resources with them, broke bread and salt with them, despite sensing their ill-intent; because deep down, he wanted to hope; believe that he might yet turn them away from the path before them.

No hope now. Not anymore. Not for them.

"You had no idea, do you? Either your Master sent you here, throwing your lives away on the off chance that you might kill me, or you came here of your own volition to try and take my power. I don't know which was worse. But judging by the look in your eyes, the latter's more likely." he looked back their leader, this mewling quim who thought she deserved the world, just because she suffered. He knew her type; she thought she could just walk in and take whatever she wanted."Cinder, was it? I'm afraid I've got some bad news for you...much like your master...

His right hand closed around her face and smashed her down to the ground.

...I've been immortal this whole time.

An obsidian Rasengan snarled to life in his palm the same palm holding Cinder's face. Her eyes widened, but not for long; her skull burst like an overripe watermelon.

Blood spattered the floors, the walls, the ceiling, coated his face. The girl with green hair screamed in grief, but not for long. He raised his arms and behind him, the fire in the hearth flickered, faded, faltered now when the shadows boiled around him, filled with teeth and claws as a dozen Grimm tore forth from the darkness.

To call what followed a fight would've been a mercy; it was a slaughter.

And besides, he wasn't feeling merciful at the moment.

Mercury and Emerald died screaming.

A/N: I wonder if you know which story this will be in, or perhaps one of its own?

I'll do my best to post more once this life calms down and the site gets fixed.

Until then,

~Nz.