The New Gods
Chapter One
Homecoming
A soft wind tousled Naruto's golden hair. He looked out over the turbulent grey sea towards the looming dark silhouette that was their destination. Thanks to its deceased inhabitants ' notorious paranoia, only his mother knew of the island's exact location. She maintained a strict keep over the sea chart she used to direct the small ship's crew. His own attempts to look at the ancient map were met with stern glares from her, along with promises to share more information about the terminus point of their long journey once alone on the island.
Another wave slammed against the side of the vessel. Its wooden frame cracked and groaned under the constant barrage. He gripped the railing tightly to avoid being thrown to the deck. This was his first time being on the open ocean, and while he admired its beauty, he wondered if he would ever find his sea legs. He looked to the bow of the ship where his mother stood. Her flaming red hair flapped in the wind like a flag. She remained perfectly still, seemingly unbothered by the violent rocking of the ship.
She had grown more withdrawn over the past few days as they approached the Land of Waves from the Land of Fire. Her normally cheerful disposition disappeared altogether once they found a captain and crew to take them the rest of the way. She spent most of her time below deck in her personal quarters reading dusty tomes or writing in her journal, only leaving for meals or to speak with him briefly more for his comfort rather than her own desire for company. He respected her space, suspecting the journey held far more importance than he had been told.
The sound of wood scraping against wood alerted Naruto to the captain's presence. He did not have much of a chance to talk with the old man but enjoyed their few interactions immensely. The captain's pegleg remained a particular point of curiosity that he wanted to ask about yet needed to avoid offending the only friendly face on the ship.
"Another two 'ours." The captain joined him at the railing. His sole dull eye looked tired from a lack of sleep. "Seas be calmin' down enough fer me to get you close. Ye'll 'ave to take a rowboat the rest o' the distance. Too many reefs an' whirlpools around 'ere. Ain't riskin' me ship."
"Whirlpools?"
"They be all o'er 'ere. Would 'ave lost the ship last night if not for yer ma.'"
He glanced over at the captain with a frown. "What happened? I felt nothing last night, and she didn't mention anything happening."
"Strange woman she be. I been about to retire to bed when the watch reported eddies. In me fifty years on the oceans, I 'ave ne'er spied such devilish currents. I 'ad just been ready to sound the warnin' bell when yer mama appeared an' began chantin' in some foreign tongue. I don't know what she sang, but she lulled the seas to sleep."
His suspicions about the nature of their journey suddenly narrowed. He looked back at his mother, debating whether to approach her for the truth but decided against it. She brought him along rather than his father or siblings for a reason. Trusting her was the least he could do.
"Where will we meet you for pick up?"
Their plan was to stay on the island for a week before returning to Konohagakure. His father denied her request for a longer stay, citing the village's need for its top shinobi. Naruto liked the praise from his father, a rare admission of respect from the normally reserved man, but he would have liked to spend more time alone with his mother.
"I'll 'ave someone row out to get ye." The captain fished a wooden pipe from his pocket. Naruto lit it with a small flick of his fingers. "Ye be a good lad to come all the way out 'here with yer mama. These are weird waters. Many sailors avoid these parts an' fer bloody good reasons."
"Are whirlpools and reefs that dangerous?" Naruto yanked a cigarette from his jacket. It was a bad habit he picked up from Sasuke during the war. "I mean, looking at your maps, this is a shorter route to the Land of Water."
"They are that dangerous but not the most dangerous. Monsters be swimmin' in these waters. Big tentacled things with maws o' teeth big enough to tear a ship apart. Ain't ne'er spied one meself but others 'ave. That be good enough for me." The captain released a ring of smoke. "Ye noticed it yet? Listen."
Naruto raised his eyebrow at the man's question but did as he asked. The boat whimpered under the sea's assault, and the waves growled menacingly. He heard the distant rumble of thunder just above the wind's unending howling. His eyes landed on the dark island ahead before he noticed a critical missing detail.
"There are no birds."
"Aye. No gulls or albatrosses. They avoid this here part o' the seven seas. I think they know somethin' we don't. Some terrible truth or secret danger that makes 'em stay far away." The captain pulled a small golden coin from his worn jacket. He slipped it into Naruto's pocket. "That there be a good luck charm blessed by a priest. I got the feelin' ye be needin' it soon enough where yer goin'. I 'ave to get aft to the 'elm. Gods watch o'er you, lad."
He watched the old man wobble back towards the helm of the ship before taking the gold coin from his pocket. It looked extremely old with none of the artistry of modern currency. One side contained the crude image of a mermaid holding a sword high. On the other side, there were strange twirling markings that he could tell were letters but of a language unknown to him. He did not believe in such superstitions yet decided to keep ahold of it as a memento.
Two hours later, the captain announced that they were close enough to safely row to shore. Naruto grabbed their few belongings and supplies from the ship's hold before joining his mother on the small rowboat that would carry them on the final leg of their journey. A young man only a few years younger than himself joined them at the captain's orders. The youth looked far from happy about being selected and remained silent as the boat was lowered into the water.
Kushina kept her violet eyes on the ominous island as they grew closer, completely ignoring Naruto's attempt at conversation. He soon resigned himself to the silence and fiddled with the gold coin while trying to avoid picturing a whirlpool suddenly appearing to drag them into the dark depths. It took another hour before they reached the pale, rocky beach. The youth quickly unloaded the cargo before hurrying back into the rowboat to return to the ship.
For the first time that day, Naruto heard his mother speak.
"I'm home."
The landscape was dominated by thick, misty temperate forests instead of the tropical jungles Naruto had expected. Towering willows and imposing pines stood as the silent guardians of the island. The forest floor was adorned with a tapestry of somber grasses, their delicate stems swaying in the salty sea breeze. Throughout the undergrowth, thorned bushes proudly displayed clusters of roses the same color as his mother's hair, adding a splash of vibrant color to the gloomy surroundings. He tried to spot signs of wildlife or traces of human habitation but found nothing. The only sound that permeated the air was the rhythmic pattering of raindrops against leaves, casting a serene, yet eerie ambience.
"This is the Land of Whirlpools?"
"It is! Well, at least, part of it."
They each carried their own pack and a box of supplies while hiking through the forest on an overgrown trail barely noticable. He felt glad that the familiar warmth of his mother was returning now that their journey had come to an end. Her melancholy expression had been replaced by an enormous grin normally reserved for birthdays or Christmas. It reminded him why she was still considered one of the most beautiful women in all of Konoha despite being over forty and having birthed four children.
"The Land of Whirlpools," Kushina explained, "is actually an archipelago spread over some two thousand miles of dangerous seas. Only someone with the right map can safely navigate the waters; even then, sailing around Uzu is dangerous. Our ancestors were famous not only for their fūinjutsu but their nautical mastery. Their fleets were said to be the most advanced in the world. One warship of Uzu was wroth six of any other nation."
"The history books never mentioned that. Actually, they never mentioned the Uzumaki or the Land of Whirlpools."
He sat his crate down and took a seat on an oddly shaped boulder. Being on the ship knotted his joints, and now that they were called to action after a long rest, they protested the exercise. A quick rub to his knee slowly got the blood flowing again. Thankfully, his mother did not seem in a great hurry and joined him on the rock.
"I'm not surprised. Many of the Senju were jealous of the Uzumaki and downplayed our clan's involvement in the founding of Konoha. If not for the trade connections, there's a good chance that Hashirama's village experiment would have failed."
"I thought the Senju liked us. I mean, wasn't Granny's granny an Uzumaki?"
"You're lucky Tsunade isn't around to hear that," Kushina replied with a grin. The playful insult to the Slug-Sanin began with her before passing on to him years later. "Yes. Lady Mito came from the Uzumaki and married Hashirama. The marriage was arranged more for political purposes than out of love, though she had genuine feelings for him. The Uzumaki Clan believed that they would gain a powerful ally by deepening their connections with the Senju. Vast fleets and powerful seals can only defend a nation for so long."
"What happened? I mean, why aren't the Uzumaki around anymore?"
A shadow crossed over Kushina's face. "Civil war. While on the surface united, the Uzumaki suffered from a lot of political and religious divides that boiled into open conflict. Rival nations pounced on the opportunity to invade."
"And the Senju didn't help?"
"Konoha didn't help." She shook her head, clearly restraining herself from slandering their village. "By the time Uzu came under attack, the Senju lost a lot of their political influence in the village due to the Second Hokage's less-than-positive reputation. The Third Hokage, backed by the other clans, believed that any treaties signed between the Senju and the Uzumaki did not apply to Konoha."
An uncomfortable silence fell between them. Naruto understood why the village would want to leave out that bit of history. Despite the lofty promises of education, the Academy was designed to train and indoctrinate the next generation of ninjas for Konoha. A shameful decision made by a past Hokage would only cause doubt in the young, impressionable minds. Still, he felt the village should've at least mentioned the destroyed clan, even if only in passing, instead of actively forgetting about it.
A new question sprang in his mind. "If Konoha didn't help, why did you come to the village?"
"About that…" Kushina took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. "Sorry, this is a topic I really don't like discussing. Your father and I don't argue much, but this has caused some of our biggest fights."
"We don't gotta talk about it if it makes you uncomfortable." Naruto rubbed the back of his head, regretting asking the question. His mother's quick smile put his mind at ease.
"It's okay. I can only talk to a handful of people about it causing a shitstorm." She began to twist a strand of hair around her index finger. "So, I assume you remember me telling you that only a Uzumaki had the chakra to properly hold the Nine-Tails?"
"Yeah! Kurama mentioned that a few times before." Naruto closed his eyes to reach out to the kitsune. A soft snore warned him against bothering his best friend. The fox did not like to be woken for idle chatter. "It's due to the hostility of his chakra, right?"
Kushina hummed in approval. She was always eager to praise him in sharp contrast to his father.
"Right. The Nine-Tails has a habit of trying to flood his jailor's system with his frankly poisonous chakra to kill them. If you don't have enough chakra, you'll die horrifically. Think of being cooked from the inside out. Anyways, with Lady Mito growing old, the Nine-Tails was actively trying to find a way to escape. Fearing the loss of their only Jinchūriki, Konoha promised the Uzumaki military aid in exchange for a new host."
"You came…but they never helped."
Once more, silence lingered between them as each processed reality. Naruto always considered himself loyal to the Hidden Leaf. He was the son of the Hokage and the top candidate to take the mantle when his father retired. It would have been naïve of him to believe that Konoha had a flawless history, but to actively betray an ally stood against everything the village preached. Never had Kakashi's first lesson rang so hollow.
Finally, after a long while, Kushina began to speak again.
"Your father and I clashed over the topic many times. He believes that the Third made the right decision by not helping the Uzumaki. He's probably right in some ways, given Konoha's losses during the Second War. The village was not ready to enter into another war so quickly to help a single clan already decimated from a civil war." A bitter chuckle sent a shiver down his spine. Never had he seen his mother act or speak in such a manner, openly showing a cold hatred. "Try saying that those you're actively betraying."
"I guess you're not a big fan of Konoha." Naruto reached up to untie his headband. It felt wrong to openly wear it on Uzumaki land.
"No. I'm not. I love the people of the Hidden Leaf…at least, I love some of the people of the Hidden Leaf. It's complicated." She wrapped an around his shoulders and leaned in to kiss his cheek. "But that does not change how much I love you, your brothers, and your sister. Never could I imagine having four wonderful children. Now, let's get going! We've got a way to travel."
Naruto jumped to his feet, glad that the conversation was over. He stuffed his headband into his backpack. It was best not to think of Konoha or its dark past while trying to spend time with his mother. There would be time later to brood over the complicated feelings starting to stir within him, threatening to force him to face uncomfortable realizations.
"So, where the hell are we going anyways?"
"Do you remember asking your father for help on sealing?" Kushina bent down to grab the crate. Inside, he noticed numerous bottles of ink and reams of paper mixed with the usual personal items one would need to survive.
"Yeah. He told me that I didn't have the aptitude for it.
"Well, I disagree! You're an Uzumaki! Fūinjutsu is in your blood. You just need a little bit of guidance to get started." She was radiating with nearly uncontrollable joy. "Only an Uzumaki can teach an Uzumaki how to seal!"
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. He had given up on trying to learn any sealing techniques years ago. "You're going to teach me?"
"Damn straight! This isn't just some random island. You're about to see the sacred vaults of the Uzumaki, where our clan houses the largest collection of scrolls relating to fūinjutsu. What better place than to learn?"
"And Dad is not going to get mad?"
"Your father can suck an egg. Each of you brats was given a special gift from us. The twins learned Hiraishin, and Yama got to sign the Toad Contract before anyone else." Her lips twisted into a playful but savage grin. "I never intended to give you the Nine-Tails. So, I figured I still owed you something special. Out of all my kids, you are the most Uzumaki of them all!"
Night fell upon the island like an impenetrable blanket of darkness. Away from civilization, light pollution was completely absent, allowing an unrestricted view of the infinite heavens above. The first signs of wildlife began to stir, with the howls of wolves in the far distance and the buzzing of small glowing insects.
Kushina could not help but smile at the familiar sights and sounds of the island. She remembered visiting with her father decades earlier when life seemed so simple. He used to bring her along when he studied in the hidden archives on the condition she remained quiet so as not to disturb others trying to learn. It was a challenge due to her natural inclination never to shut up, but among the dimly lit hallways and vaulted ceilings, there existed a holiness to the place that gave her the peace of mind to remain tight-lipped. Never had she imagined getting a chance to return, let alone with one of her children.
She glanced back at her son, glad the darkness hid her expression. She loved all of her children. Each of them had traits she admired and talents that left her proud. The twins Isamu and Daichi might have inherited her red hair but got the brilliance of their father to create an unbeatable duo. Yama, ever the lovable ditz, lacked the brainpower of her older brothers but made up for it with a charming personality that could make even the iciest hearts melt. Naruto, however, held a special place in her heart.
At first, she assumed it was due to him being forced to become a Jinchūriki the same day he was born. It was a curse she never wanted to pass onto him or any of her children, but the sudden reappearance of Minato's student during the birthing process weakened the seal enough to allow the fox to escape. Thankfully, her water broke earlier in the day, meaning that most of the village's ninjas were awake and ready to fight. Casualties only reached a hundred dead, including the Third Hokage, who sacrificed himself to seal the demon within her son.
Time, however, showed a different connection between herself and her firstborn. He lacked the traditional intelligence of his father and developed a wild streak that still remained strong even in his twenties. Few thought he would ever be able to match his father's legacy, let alone surpass it. The doubt did nothing but strengthen his resolve, allowing him to reach heights not seen in generations. She saw her own struggles within him and admired how he managed to avoid the bitter trap she often found herself in so often as she got older.
She returned her focus to the task at hand. Nightfall brought out the few predators on the island. They needed to remain alert or run the risk of encountering the nocturnal beasts that came up from the many caves dotted across the island. Thankfully, their refuge was not too far away.
An hour later, she spotted the basalt pillar marked with the clan's whirlpool logo, signifying that they were on the right path. It took only another hour for them to reach the arched doors built against the rugged granite cliffs at the base of the single mountain that dominated the island. She felt the tension melt from her aching shoulders, relieved to have found the place after decades away.
The doors were made of a green rock obviously not native to the island. They were simple in design: rounded and thick without any embellishment. Their designers, at least from Kushina what could remember, crafted the doors to look as uninteresting as possible to throw off any intruders on the islanders. If, by chance, someone did get curious, other defenses were in place to ensure the knowledge within remained uncompromised.
Naruto approached the doors and was about to push them open when Kushina grabbed his hand.
"Careful. You don't want to end up like him."
Kushina shined her flashlight onto the skeleton slumped against the wall. Its uniform marked it as a Hidden Mist ninja, probably someone trying to loot the vaults.
"The Uzumaki went to great lengths to guard their secrets," she explained. "Poison seals were the most common defense. Basically, someone would trigger the seal unknowingly, which would release a deadly neurotoxin into the air. Not a pretty way to die. The good news is that I know how to deactivate the seal temporarily."
She removed a small pocketknife from her back pocket and dug the blade into her palm, wincing at the pain as her hand turned crimson. Using the tip of the knife, she carefully began to place a new seal on the door before activating it with a touch of chakra. The doors flashed a sickly yellow once, then returned to normal. Satisfied, she motioned for Naruto to open the doors while she bandaged the self-inflicted wound.
"Blood seals are difficult to learn but extremely potent. I advise you not to mess with any without me. If someone took the time and effort to seal something using blood, then you can bet your ass that they prepared a nice surprise for any would-be thieves." Kushina bit off the excess bandage and joined Naruto at the descending staircase leading down into the vaults. He rubbed the back of his head, muttering something about ghosts. "Don't be such a scaredy cat. You don't need to worry about spooks."
"That's…good."
"No. You should be worried about the demons!"
Kushina ignored her son's cowardly shout and shined her flashlight down the staircase. The thick cobwebs dangling from the ceilings and thick layers of dust told her that no one had entered the vaults in many years. She frowned, wondering what type of condition the scrolls and archives were in. The Uzumaki took great care in preserving their libraries, but the damp environment of the island could be the undoing of a thousand years' worth of knowledge.
The next challenge would be setting up a comfortable camp inside. She decided against camping outside due to the island's predators and poor climate. Violent storms were frequent, even on this end of the archipelago, far from the home island. Their gear brought from Konoha was ill-suited to such an environment, and her attempts at finding suitable replacements were met with little success. Still, sleeping in the archives was better, even if it wasn't completely comfortable.
Naruto fiddled with the gold coin in his pocket as he followed his mother into the bowels of the earth. The narrow stairway was unevenly carved from the island's bedrock. He suspected that the architects purposely designed it to discourage intruders from hurrying down the steps and give the defenders time to prepare.
The salt air of the sea was heavier here than outside, and his nose twitched at an underlying odor that was not wholly unpleasant but not desirable either. He already missed the open skies, feeling like a sardine trapped in an ever-shrinking can. The claustrophobic oppression only worsened as the passage grew narrower until his shoulders touched the walls.
"It feels like we're in a cave."
"We are in a cave. Our ancestors preferred turning natural features into living space. Uzushio-the capital-was built inside of a mountain originally, only expanding outwards when the population grew. Being surrounded by hostile powers forced them to design their homes with security in mind."
Kushina paused her explanation and raised a hand for him to stop. She wiggled forward through a tight crack, disappearing into the darkness ahead. After a few moments, she reappeared to beckon him through.
"We're here."
Naruto sucked in his gut and then squeezed through the opening to join her on the other side. He exhaled sharply once through, then shined his light around to admire the chamber.
The expansive vaulted chamber extended beyond the reach of his flashlight, with a grand domed ceiling that was equally impressive in its vastness. Numerous open porticoes led into smaller spaces where rows of bookshelves stood undisturbed. Massive bronze bowls hung from the ceiling, still filled with wood, as if anticipating someone's imminent return. As he glanced around, he caught sight of vibrant frescoes on the walls depicting bizarre scenes of naked humans interacting with beasts that walked upright. Yet, those wonders paled compared to the statue in the heart of the chamber.
Crafted from gleaming gold and adorned with a dazzling array of vibrant jewels that shimmered in the light, the statue portrayed a man and woman linked in a sensual embrace. Their delicate, nude bodies were entwined, blurring the lines between them and unified them. Positioned just inches apart, their faces were locked in a powerful expression brimming with profound love and passionate ecstasy, conveying a connection that transcended the physical realm.
"Who are they," he asked with dry lips. The sheer eroticism of the masterpiece lit a flame in his belly like no piece of art had ever done.
"I forgot all about this." Kushina rubbed the back of her head. He noticed a small blush on her cheeks. "The Uzumaki of old were deeply religious, with strange gods not found anywhere else in the Elemental Nations. At the head of the pantheon was the Queen-Mother and Son-King."
"Eh?" Naruto's eyes widened in shock, and he raised an accusatory finger at the statue. "Is that some dude and his mom?"
"Yeah…it is." She took a deep breath. "The story goes that the Queen-Mother lived alone on the islands of Uzu. Burdened with great sorrow, she somehow gave birth to a son who would eventually become her consort and king. Their union started the Uzumaki Clan."
"Gross!"
"Show some respect," Kushina snapped with a much larger blush on her face. He did not know if it came from being extremely embarrassed or extremely pissed. "These are our sacred stories. Show some damn respect, or I'll knock you into next week!"
Flustered and now challenged, Naruto tried to get the statue's image out of his head and the uncomfortable ideas it brought up within him. Unable to shake the mental pictures, he growled in frustration. "I'll show some respect when they stop doing the nasty! Why would anyone make a sculpture of that?!"
"It's a beautiful story!"
"Oh yes! The story of a mom and her weirdo kid fucking is very touching!"
"One more word and your ass is getting kicked!"
He bristled before settling on a new line of attack. "What if I wanted to be your consort, huh? You would think that's pretty gross!"
Kushina's face turned a deep red so that it matched her hair in hue. She cracked her knuckles and stomped forward. "Naruto Uzumaki! This is your final warning!"
"Just admit that it's disgusting! I would be a literal motherfucker!"
Naruto watched his mother's lips tremble, her initial rage slowly turning into amusement at his joke. She stomped again, trying to regain her composure, but a tiny giggle managed to slip past her furious façade. He held back his own laughter in an attempt to be the first one to break.
Feigning cool, Kushina clicked her tongue and turned around. "Of course, you would want to be my consort. You were always a mamma's boy. I should have seen this coming from a mile away."
"Excuse me?" Naruto gawked at the insinuation. "I am not a mamma's boy!"
"That's the part you deny?" Kushina grinned as he began to stammer for a proper response. "I knew sending you away with Jiraiya was a bad idea. He corrupted your mind to the point of desiring your own mother. What would your father think? We must have a family meeting about this right when we return home."
Naruto yanked at his hair. His mind raced through possible counters to turn the battle back in his favor, yet as usual, she managed to counter him completely, leaving only a single reasonable option. "I'm going to get the supplies!"
"Good boy. I'll get this place looking somewhat livable."
Welcome, readers, to this new story. I decided to put an axe to 'Depths of the Force' due to general disinterest in Star Wars lately. I've decided to rework some of the elements into a one-shot I originally had planned that was introducing a cosmic, Lovecraftian flare (with a hint of Greek Tragedy) to a standard Naruto fanfic with all the usual goodness.
The timeline changed drastically due to Kushina giving birth to Naruto during the day instead of at night. This allowed for the survival of both Minato and Kushina while preventing Konoha from getting utterly wrecked by Kurama. They went on to have three more children: a pair of twins and a daughter. While the family remained close over the years, there did form a sharp conflict of personality between Naruto and Minato that I feel would have formed naturally. Minato was always the quiet, reserved prodigy while Naruto grew into a carefree, goofball that never took anything too seriously. While they have a decent relationship with moments of closeness, a certain tension (and perhaps jealously from both parties) exists that can flare into arguments. Thankfully, Naruto has a good bond with his siblings.
In terms of power-levels, Naruto has all of his skills from canon and will gain a whole host of new abilities. While not invincible, it would take multiple S-rank ninjas to present him with a real challenge. The antagonists of the story will present a good fight for him, but the real conflict will be the battles that don't involve fists. Kushina, at least in the beginning, is quite rusty due to her lack of training but has a lot of room to grow.
Below are the current ages for the major characters.
Naruto - 23 years.
Kushina- 46 years.
Minato- 47 years.
Isamu and Daichi- 21 years. - The only children actually planned for.
Yama-18 years. -