Legend Key.

"Talking"
"Thought."
"Bijuu Talking/Monster."
"Bijuu Thought."
{Scene}
[Time]
LOUD SOUND.

Okay, I got sidetracked a little bit. However, I kind of just want to try and make a story where I confront depression. So, get ready for the feelings on this one.

Marigold
Chapter One: I am Naruto.

"Why am I still here…?"
"I don't understand it, none of this."
"I'll…never get back home."
"I…I…I'm…"
"All alone, with me.."

Blue eyes snapped open greeting gray skies as they slowly opened up. Storm clouds gathering overhead, thunderstorms coming in. Blue streaks of lightning crisscrossing the skies above. Mighty drums of thunder echoing throughout the forest. In the center of a small clearing, near a campfire, a mess of blonde hair slowly stirred upward. A scar blatant over the left side of his chest.

His right hand reached over to little headband with a metal plate he placed close to his heart. Looking at it, the little symbol of a leaf almost made him shed a tear. He had shed his tears nearly a year ago. It wouldn't matter how much he screamed. How much he begged, and pleaded.

Whatever God was out there, obviously either was too busy, or deaf, perhaps just plain cruel.

A rumble filled the air to punctuate that thought. He only grimaced, and grumbled as he got up.

His face was hard, his eyes narrowed in focus. He felt the air growing colder, pressure rising, his ears popping as the storm came closer and closer. He had learned from his training years ago that you could measure a storm's distance by counting the time between lightning flashes and the sound of thunder. All you had to do was divide however many seconds by five.

When the twentieth second passed his mind, he heard the rolling rumble. Four miles away, four small miles from this scene was a deluge of autumn rain. That was the strangest thing about this place, this world, wherever he ended up. The seasons here matched almost one-to-one with his world. Save that winter was a bit longer, and fall came slightly earlier.

People lived here, weird people too, those with animal traits. Things that he got made of for as a child, bullied for, were commonplace here somewhat. Still, his training taught him many things of trust, and being in unknown places. Most of all, being in an unknown place, you needed to keep to yourself. Which is why he was out here, all by himself, against the dying of sunlight and the arrival nature's war drums.

Staying in a cave all winter long was a bitter choice. To think, to some degree, he'd miss the insults thrown at him as a child. At least he could've fully understand that, but here, these people wrote and spoke totally differently. Their lack of preciseness, with one word meaning seven different things, and all-around neutrality of most of their words was confusing.

The lack of honorifics had been hardest. He couldn't just go up to a person, and say "Good morning so-so-san." He accidently done it once, and that person looked at him as if he grew a second head. Then again, that was when he spoke their language brokenly.

He still had trouble understanding it, but nowhere near as bad. His accent wasn't perfectly squashed on some words, but most of them were generally okay.

Reaching over to his pack, a rather thick bag. He pulled out a long-sleeved shirt that was blue in color, with a band name on it. Achieve Men, no, that was another group. This band was Dividing Music. The music in this world was varied, strange, of both connotations. Sighing to himself, he allowed the briefest of thoughts to come back to his home. Some of the music, known as cultural music, here, sounded similar. It was one way to kill the boredom of being alone…mostly alone.

Over by his pack was a stringed instrument. The shamisen as they called it, something that was almost one-to-one of their own. The pick it had came with was smaller, but if he had been anywhere else it wouldn't even be in his possession. There was a strange easing that filled him when picked it up, and sighed.

He could only hope that everyone was doing okay. Until he can get back home, that's all he could do.

Walking back over to his bedroll, and packing it up. The young boy sighed as prepared himself for another long run. He reached into the pack, pulling out some jerky. Chewing the rough meat, and quickly downing it. The blonde boy, heavy winds blew his hair onto his face. Sputtering from his lips to move the most irritating strand, he finished packing. Only removing a thick cloak made of dark brown leather.

Draping it over him, placing the hood on his head. The boy began to take a step forward. He then promptly stubbed his toe on the nearest exposed tree root, and then cursed out in his native tongue. Still, he had his moments of struggle with it. Sighing, he simply bent down to rub the afflicted digit and growled at the tree root. This wasn't the first time he hit his toe on this root.

"I swear that you're doing that on purpose." He stated in his native tongue with frustration. Stretching, bending his back backward, and pulling both arms behind him to pop them. "Okay, so, what's plan."

"That village, err, town just south of here isn't too bad. Nice warm bed, shelter for the storm." The young teen reached behind him, fishing a device from back pocket. "Okay, so according to this stupid thing that village is only fifteen miles from here."

"Meh, I could just stay ahead of the rain."

His stomach growled horrendously at that thought. Sighing, not really wanting to go hunting for fresh mushrooms, or fishing. The young teen settled on just slipping on some boots, and tying them. Grabbing his pack from the ground, putting the device back in his pocket, he stretched his legs whilst throwing the pack over his shoulders.

Getting the first few steps in with lunges and loosening up. The young blonde suddenly leapt inhumanly skyward. Right into the canopy of the overhead trees. Daftly going through the tops of the trees, pack on his shoulders tied tight to his waist. His boots dug into the bark of every branch he leapt from.

Winds whistled around his face. He wasn't in a rush, pacing himself. Still to anyone else on the ground they'd sworn a brief shadow would've passed over them. Most of the time, if he was around people doing this, they'd chalk it up to a bird or fast monkey.

This speedy movement of his was matched by the daftness of his steps. Barely rustling the branches, he touched up. Some dying leaves from them fell, but other than that, none would be the wiser. All of this was honed through early childhood teachings, lessons, and dedication to becoming a soldier of his home.

A shinobi.

Perhaps this world had their closest thing to that was these people called Hunters. People who had rather cool weapons, in his opinion, and probably dealt with more of the day-to-day tasks than most Genin every thought of doing. From what he was able to figure out, they weren't soldiers, but somewhat still answered to someone.

It was weird to see something so similar to him, yet so different. Especially when they used those things called guns, and he'd admit it any day of the weak, he rather found them kind of cool. It wasn't the first time he had ever seen them, places back home had things that were similar. Dart Rifles, something here they called muskets, but nothing on the level of firepower they brought to the table.

A large wing swooped down, nearly catching him. About the only thing, other than these Huntsman, that could keep track with him. These foul creatures, terrible oddities that even back home none would dream of. Dark beings with darkness practically melded to them.

Sliding to a halt on top of a mossy branch. He saw the massive bird demon overheard. It screeched, calling to members of kin possibly of possible prey. No different than how ravens hunted, only fitting since it was just pretty much an oversized bird.

He called them demons, because they were the closest things he had ever seen to them minus one exception.

They called them Grimm.

The boy flipped backward as barbed feathers fell from the sky. Grabbing two kunai from pouch located on his left hip, he spun them in his hands as he heard the loud screech. Looking upward he saw the massive bird demon, what they called a Nevermore, circling above him.

He scoffed at it before tying wire around one of the kunai. Twirling the makeshift grabbling hook around as he leapt upward as the beast dove toward him. It was then jerked backward before slung forward. A maneuver that he had seen his best friend do so many times when fighting someone with stringed kunai.

A move he perfected.

It soared, wrapping itself around the beast's left ankle. The kunai ended up knotting itself upon the wire due to the force. It ties itself tight, and the boy braced himself as kicked off the beast's head as it dove past him. Yanking the wire in his hands, and holding it firmly. The wire resounded with a screech as it suddenly yanked the left wing of the massive demon bird back!

It's screech hollered across the land before it crashed into the trees. The young teen let's go of the wire and a gesture with both of his hands. A hand seal, something from his world that never occurred here from what he saw. He smirked as a clone appeared next to him. He held out his free hand, and the clone reached over toward it.

A blue ball of light formed. Swirling, large as a basketball. It screeched to life, spinning with a vortex at the center of it. The boy aimed as he dove downward, cocking that hand which held the orb back. The massive demon bird just looked up, seeing impending death. It could only screech in defiance of it all!

Whereas the boy screamed out at it in a foreign tongue!

"Giant Rasengan!"

The blue orb smashed right into it's face, and the impact paused the boy's descent downward. He floated upward from the backwash of the force. The orb left his hand, blasting forward after a second of the impact. It blasted the beast's body apart, creating a small crater in the ground to form in the size of a house. The young teen dropped down between the many pieces of the beast, seeing them starting to dissolve away into the black dust that all of those demons did after meeting death. Around his neck a headband with a leaf symbol on it fluttered from the wind washing away from the crater after he landed. He clutched it, holding it tightly, and smiled.

"Wonder what you'd think of that, Pervy Sage." The teen thought to himself, remembering a tall white-haired man who taught him the basic form of that technique. "I miss being annoyed by you, ya know."

Looking up at the skies, he sighed. He half expected for that massive bird demon to have a partner in crime. Hell, it wouldn't be the first time. Still, he didn't see anything else coming, nor having the funny feeling that something was. Getting out of the small crater with a jump, he dusted himself after picking up the discarded kunai and wire from the ground.

He started to respool it when heard the growling. There it was, he knew it, and it was almost careless of him to assume that this time like many others would be even remotely different. Sighing to himself, and rolling his eyes ocean azure eyes. The young teen finished respooling the wire before tucking it back into the pack on his left while still holding the kunai.

"You all suck." The teen scoffed over his shoulder as several wolflike demons sprinted from the brush. "Let's do this!"

The teen quickly formed the same hand seal as before. Three clones burst forth from smoke. Launching forward as soon as they formed, delivering either a flying punch, or kick, as they met the beasties in combat. The main leader of the pack, a massive wolf demon with bony white armor plating howled out.

The original launched himself by vaulting over a clone's shoulder. Quickly launching two quick flying kicks right into the face of the massive alpha. He gave a surprised smirk when the alpha suddenly grabbed his leg and slung him toward a tree!

Righting himself midflight, landing with a crouch onto the bark of the tree, and actually sticking to it. The blonde boy smirked as he looked up, and sprung forward as his clones dealt with the alpha's pack. He swiftly rolled to the side to avoid a swipe from the left by the beast's massive claws!

Elbowing it in the face, and delivering three jabs into the exposed abdomen. The young teen sidestepped a bite before delivering a haymaker into the alpha's face! The alpha responded by trying to launch a surprise claw slash with it's right arm, which was caught by the boy's surprisingly strong grip!

With a grunt, and a loud growl as he lifted it up. The teenager threw the monster his shoulder, and slamming it down. The beast only reacting mere moments by rolling out of the way a stump aimed at it's head. Growling in frustration the boy jumped up to avoid a low swipe, and smirked before twirling the kunai in his hand as he came back down.

He brought the weapon up to clash against the beast's claw. Grabbing a second kunai with his freed left hand, and bringing up to block the other claw! He and the beast traded slashes at each other, with neither gaining a true advantage over the other. Still, it wasn't like the boy was taking it seriously, with a small smile plastered across his lips and his clones standing by.

CLING-CLING-CLING!

The deadlock was broken when the boy suddenly backflipped after leaning back to avoid both claws crashing over him. He quickly brought both of his feet up, alternatively, kicking the beast on the bottom it's chin twice. The beast's head flew upward, nearly breaking it's neck from the force!

It's red eyes widened when the teenager suddenly appeared above it! Twirling on his side, delivering a powerful kick right into the crook of it's neck! The bone armor on it shattering from the force as it slammed downward, flushing with the forest floor and sprawled out.

To add the salt to the wound, the young teen landed on top of it. Sitting cross legged, and looking slightly bored now.

"Geez, you guys are so weak nowadays. Guess that's what I get for spending nearly a year in the forest of this world by myself." He mocked the beast in his foreign tongue, and then patted it's head. "I wonder if you guys can be domesticated?"

"What do you say, wanna be my friend, how does the name Sasuke sound?"

The growl that came from the beast as it tried to get up made the boy roll his eyes. He elbowed back down onto the ground, and then slammed both kunai down into it's head for good measure. It was dead, slowly starting to dissolve into blackened dust, or ash, the teenager could never really tell which.

"Ahh, screw you too." The boy joked to his clones, who all laughed with him before dispersing. The teenage boy stretched as the other beasties were all dissolving into black dust. "Man, that was cathartic…"

"Careful now, you almost sound happy at inflicting pain." A dark voice filled his head, making him grimace. "What's wrong, don't like hearing the truth?"

"Screw you furball." The teen replied mentally before crossing his arms with an angry expression over his face. "Last thing I was wanting to hear is you judge me."

"You can shut me out for so long, but know that you're one mistake away from me being out." The voice in his head mockingly warned him. The deepness, and seemingly aloofness to his vessel's situation all detailing hostility. "You're not getting back home."

"Better to accept this, and move on."

"You're such a buzzkill, ya know. As for getting home, I'll figure that out! If I got to get strong enough to recreate what me, and Sasuke, did that day I'll do it. I'm getting there, so shut up, and just you wait!" He smirked at the end of his mental rebuttal. "I never give up."

"You're a fool." The voice cut whatever link it was, leaving the boy in silence.

Sighing to himself, and looking at the coming storm as it continued toward him. He figured it'd be upon him, and that town, within thirty minutes. Without much further delay, other than making sure everything was strapped down onto him, he looked toward the nearest tall tree.

He leapt up into it. Continuing toward the south, the boy moved back into the top of the trees canopy. Dashing forward, quickly leaving the scene behind.

{The Town of Wind Runner.}
[3:00pm, MST.]

Wind Runner was a small town inside of The Country of Mistral. Located on the southern part of the continent of Anima. It's cliffs overlooked The Roaring Straights. These straights were created by the presence of the three small islands from the nearest Shibuya, the middle island of Wei, and further west island of the trio being Latch.

Her walls stood of stone and timber. With some gun positions across them, all of them focused north and east. The only two ways you could get toward this small town. The boy's found this place, beautifully tucked behind the overhead sun that he managed to see as he sped away from the storm. Although, soon enough, those gray clouds would be here to deliver their seasonal deluge.

The slate walls, dark, with oak wood battlements on top, stood intimating for most others. Still, this boy was not most others, and casually walked forward. He was met with little, if any, looks as he walked toward the open gate. Various people ventured from, and to, this town. Some using carts from nearby fields, some simply wondering outward.

A group of them, bearing firearms, were making their way out to do patrols. Not the first time he had seen this, certainly it would not be the last. Still, this place was the best place to be for the storm coming. Passing under the gate, The boy's eyes were met with buildings made of oak and slate.

Streetlamps lined a paved road. Some stone benches near some flower patches that were obviously placed there to spruce the place up. The echoing of various people walking on these roads echoed into the afternoon. Plopping noises of foot falls on stone, marching guards, and such. Stalls lined the main entrance, selling various goods.

A smell caught his nose. He walked over to it, following it to a stall. The woman there that owned it, or worked, it matter neither was currently slow roasting some freshly slaughtered pig on a spit. The teen shuffled over toward her, his mop of spiky blonde hair fluttered from upward winds from cliff nearby.

"Hello, and good day to you young man." She greeted him with a practiced warm smile. "Would you like something?"

He took a glance at the small shop side menu. Reaching into a pouch on his right flank, he pulled out some paper bills. Counting them, and then smiling when he realized he had enough.

"Yes, pork stew, please." The boy answered before taking a seat at the stall, which had a small overhead covering. "Thank you."

"No problem, sir." She replied as she took his money. Going over toward a large assortment of bowls. "I meant to ask, spicy, or not?"

"Spicy," he answers quickly before looking off toward the north, where he had came from. "Storm is coming."

"Ahh, yeah, the radio has been a buzz about it. Monsoon, gonna be raining here for a few days." She conversed with him as her hand reached for a large ladle. She was beginning to pour the stew into the bowl. Giving him a little bit more. "I have to say, a little weird for a kid like you to be out on your own."

"I'm…" He searched for the right response before smiling. "I'm just passing through."

"Ahh, well, can't fault you. You wouldn't be the first orphan to come into Wind Runner." She stated politely before placing the bowl on the counter. "I know the type, young kid, no family around near 'em? You best be careful out in those northern pines and oaks."

"Yeah, there's some monsters there." The young teen said before grabbing the fork as it was handed to him. "I'm scared of them."

"Better than me, I'm terrified of them." She replied before getting a cup of lemonade. "Here kid, I know you didn't ask for a drink, but I got too much to sell today."

"Thank you, um…" He stopped himself trying to spot a nametag. "I'm sorry, what's your name?"

"Oh, my name is Maybell." The woman told him, moving back the cloth on her head slightly to expose whiteish hair. Her yellow eyes observing him curiously before seeing him take a few bites. "Good, ain't it?"

"Really good, Maybell." The boy replied with a small smile, and then looked up at her. "My name is Naruto."

"Ooh, weird name, not many of those. Then again I've heard of something similar, wasn't it a soup topping somewhere?" She rubbed her chin, and shrugged. "Eh, oh well I'm sure I'll remember. Say, kid, where are you headed?"

"Don't know, been everywhere." He said between bites as he quickly devoured the meal. He tilted the bowl back, drinking the spicy juices. "Probably going west."

"Oof, be careful heading west kid. There was a village named Shion out that way. It's completely gone now, damn Grimm hang around the area." She informed him before taking the bowl up. "Want some more, I take pity on you lot. No family, no friends save each other if you're not by yourself."

"Um, no, I'm fine." Naruto turned her down before slowly getting up. "The rain is about here."

"Well, take care kid. Inn's just up the road." She told him, and he smiled and nodded. "See you around, don't be a stranger."

"Will do, thank you." He responded before turning around and walking deeper into the town. "Whew, I've really gotten better. Few months ago, I couldn't hold a conversation, good job me."

"So, if I'm heading west I'll run into some demons. Great, oh well, I can always use the practice I guess. East is where that city is, been there only once, hated it." Naruto summarized in his head, trying to come up a plan of action. "So, she's got me pegged as an orphan. Guess I can run with that here. Better than creating clones, and transforming into different people.'

The young man walked toward the large building near the top of the cliff. Stretching a little bit as he felt some raindrops hit him. The storm must've picked up a little bit since he left it behind. Which meant it was going to be a really strong one. Sighing to himself, resigning to hearing the rumbling roars of wind and thunder into the night. Naruto simply decided to take the paved straight to the inn.

As with most other buildings here. It was built with slate stone, but had birch for a roof. He entered the double oak doors, painted maroon. The door had handles instead of knobs, which was slightly weird. Upon entering the building his eyes were filled a clean space.

White walls running the main lobby with red trim. The lobby had two different couches, facing a television mounted on the wall. A fireplace in the inn was just under the TV. On it was a woman with violet hair going over weather reports, showing massive wall of green with red, and yellow in the center.

Naruto walked past it as he made his way toward the desk. He looked at the man standing at it. Nodding his head in greeting.

"Hello there young man, need a room?" He solicited Naruto before looking over at his computer. "Going rates right now are ten liens a night in the shared room."

"Shared room please." Naruto replied while getting out some paper bills, noting that it was all he had. "I have forty-five, can I get five days?"

"Four nights it is, sorry kid, can't offer a discount." The man replied to him with a smug smirk. "Company policy, and all. Still, it's not so bad, plus you get free breakfast."

"Okay, thank you." Naruto slightly growled out, annoyed at the smug smirk gave him. "Where is the room?"

"Back of the building, last door on the right." The man stated before tossing a little card. "That'll get you in, knock before entering as to give anyone a head's up."

Naruto just nodded before walking toward the hallway of the building. He made it to the door, a door painted yellow. Knocking on it, and hearing no reply. He opened the door, and saw that there was a man asleep on the bed nearest to him.

The room reeked of alcohol!

Scrunching up his nose, and moving toward the next set of blinders. The young teen stretched as he pulled them to shield himself of the crumpled mess of man on the bed nearest to him. He looked over toward the wall, noting that his side didn't have the bathroom. Rolling his eyes, and sighing, the young shinobi sat on the rather comfortable bed.

Then again, any type of mattress, beats the cold forest ground.

Yawning, was he yawning? It'd been a while since he felt himself relax. The idea of shutting his eyes, without creating assurance that something wasn't going to surprise him. In fact, these thoughts made his eyelids become very heavy, fluttering open and closed.

Another yawn, this time long, escaped his lips. Exhaustion making tears brim his eyes from their soreness. Subsiding on just three-hour naps here and there over the week does that to a person. Still, those naps were precious. He turned toward the blinders, seeing no movement was being made from the man next to him other than the obnoxiously loud snoring.

Snoring…did he just snore? Was the lights in the room, no, his eyes were now closed. It was a strange feeling, the state between awareness and sleep. He could feel his body drifting, well his mind, but in his mind his body drifted. Slowly, but surely snores that were obnoxious were being matched by his own.

He guessed it was okay, after all perhaps that guy had it rough too.

{?}
[?]

Drip…
Drip…
Drip…

A droplet of water hit his face, stirring him awake. His blue eyes opening wide to the scene all too familiar to him. Raising up quickly, and stretching, the blonde saw that he was in a forest. The smell of the wood, oak, and not just any oak! He quickly scurried to his feet, running up the tree like a madman. Vaulting upward on the last branch, and coming to see it.

His home was right there!

"No way!" He screamed in joy as he quickly hopped back down. Scooping up his camping gear, and smiling like a loon. "I can't believe it, it's home, I'm home!"

The young teen dashed throughout the forest. Straight west toward the village. It wasn't long that he came to see those mighty walls of stone and oak. Manned by none, but still, it was home! The air smelt the same, and he ran up the wall because the massive doors were closed. Expecting to be intercepted, but surprisingly wasn't, he flipped forward.

Outstretching his arms, screaming to the top of his lungs.

"Naruto Uzumaki is back in Konoha! Hey guys, tell Granny and Pervy Sage I'm back!" He screamed, bending forward slightly from the effort. It took a moment, or two, to realize that his screams were unanswered. "Hey, guys, yoohoo!"

"Naruto Uzumaki, future Hokage?! Hello, anyone there! I'll even take someone shouting idiot!" The blonde stopped himself after the last part of his shout, now confused and worried. "Something's not right, what the heck is up with this place?"

He hopped down, moving quickly between houses. Running atop rooftops to no avail. There was nobody here, not one person, no hint of a single person! It didn't make any sense, why wasn't anyone here, where could they be?! His mind raced, racing harder especially when he made it to the academy, and saw not a soul there as well.

"No, something's not right, this isn't right!" Naruto screamed while hopping over the academy wall. He ran straight to The Hokage Mansion next door. Slamming the front door open, screaming. "Granny Tsunade, Pervy Sage, anyone?!"

"Damn it!"

He ran up to the office, stopping short breaking the door down as he entered. She wasn't in here, it was midday, and she wasn't in here! What the hell was going, this didn't make any sense! Naruto scrambled out of the office, practically busting through the windows to draw any attention.

No one came!

He made a stop over toward Sakura's house. Practically busting down the door, not seeing her mother nor father! He didn't even a give a damn if they scolded him! Cursing out panic now visible on his face. He rushed back out, running toward Ichiraku Ramen's stand. He slammed shuddered door open, seeing nothing but old rotten dishes.

So, there had been someone here, but it had been a while!

"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!" He screamed as dozens upon dozens of clones of himself formed from puffs of smoke. "Find anyone, anything, we need to find something!"

They all scattered, including himself. Every one of them finding nothing no matter what house they entered! He screamed in panic as the feedback from the clones, something he had learned over his year in the other world! Wait, the other world, he remembered that world somehow!

It was just a dream…right?

Scurrying up The Hokage Monument. He leapt upward, seeing something he never saw before. Not until this day, not until now. It didn't matter now, nothing did, and in front stood the tallest of trees he had ever laid eyes on. The land around it, blooming with life seemingly, except there was something off about it all.

The tree was wrong as well, with a massive flower atop it. Then he finally noticed something, the moon was out despite it being midday. That didn't make any sense, why would the moon be out?! It was locked, seemingly just right above the tree's flower itself!

Upon noting this, he noted something else horrifyingly obvious now. That tree, on it's branches, laid hundreds if not thousands of cocoons! He ran as fast he could, screaming as he bounded over trees. His eyes becoming crimson red, his features becoming more feral. His whisker marks even deepened.

Making it to the bottom of the tree, his newly clawed hands reached up to the first cocoon! He grabbed it, pulling it down, and tore it asunder! The only thing that came out of that cocoon was bones, bones with…pink hair. It couldn't…no, it wasn't, it can't be! He then saw the Konoha headband clutched in bony hands, as if it gave whoever this was comfort in the end!

Because this couldn't be her!

He wrenched another cocoon off, pulling it down as hard he could! It ripped open with the first slash of his claws, revealing white hair and clothing with a very familiar looking mask. Naruto shrilled and slammed his hands into the ground. This couldn't be happening, what was this?!

What the hell was this!

"It is the end, and a beginning." A deep voice drummed behind him, and Naruto didn't even hesitate to turn around with punch. The being that caught it was golden in color. "Our greatest maleficence, born of spite, and foolishness."

"Fuck you!" Naruto screamed as he pulled his hand back, forming clones that rushed the golden figure. "What did you do, what did you do to my friends and family!"

The golden being merely raised his hand up. A wave of energy washed over the clones, destroying them. Golden energy passed through Naruto, making his eyes shrink back as he felt pain course through his body as he was blown back into the base of the tree. Coughing up a wad of blood, he got up, and balled his hands into fists.

"Do you intend to continue forward?" The being inquired curiously as he looked at Naruto. "Have you forgotten, do you not remember the fall and rise?"

"I'll kill you!" Naruto screamed out as red energy poured from his body. "I'll kill you for what you've done!"

"It wouldn't be the first time you've tried…" The golden figure solemnly stated as it blocked a careening punch from the boy. It was strong enough to flinch his finger back that he used to block it with. "Pain drives you forward, whether you admit it or not, whether you accept what has happened to prevent what will happen."

"You are not ready."

"Ready for what, tell me what you've done!" Naruto demanded, and then suddenly realized he was suspended in the air still. The golden figure backed up, revealing his other hand outstretch with violet energy glowing from it. "Let me go…let me go so I can kill you, monster!"

"Someone else said these very words to me. At the time, I didn't understand their pain. Through ignorance and foolish folly, I've seen my brother destroyed by creations more maleficent then I'd thought they'd become." The being of golden light stated and then looked toward the boy with…sadness? "I beckon you to find those who sleep, those who wait for the sun, and the moon."

"You'll only remember these words. Find the moon, and those who wait."

Naruto's eyes widened, and then slowly they closed as he felt something inside of him give out. His head pounded, that one sentence resounding itself over, and over in his head. He then drifted off to sleep, floating there. Not noticing as he did the golden figure gently letting him down onto the ground.

Whispering into his ear.

"Find the moon, and those who wait."

{Near The Town of Wind Runner: Cliffside Forest.}
{Twelve Hours Later, 3:54am}

"Find the moon, and those who wait."

Naruto's eyes snapped open to the bombastic voice of the unknown. His azure eyes meeting night sky, and confusion laces his face. Wasn't he just laying in a bed? Then it dawned on him that it had happened again, one of the few times. The young teen noted that he was perfectly situated on top of the tallest stable branch in the forest. Directly being able to observe the silvery broken moon.

"Not again, damn it." He mumbled with frustration before rolling his eyes. He turned them back to the moon. "Find the moon huh, boy that's a weird dream. I already see you there. If only I could remember the rest of the dang thing."

There was no answer to his aloud thoughts. Only crickets chirping into the night, and judging by the rain-soaked clothes he now sported, there was just the briefest lulls in the storms. He was damned lucky not to have been struck by lightning!

Hopping down from the tree, and landing onto a puddle mud with a loud squelch.

"Oh, goddamn it!" Naruto screamed in frustration as sulked out of the puddle that had gone ankle high. "Tonight, just isn't my night!"

ROAR!

A cold chill went up Naruto's spine as he heard the massive roar of a creature. Stopping immediately, he turned toward where the town was on the cliffs. All at once the rain came back in massive torrent, soaking him to the bone as he began to jog back towards the town.

It wasn't far, about a few miles, which he could easily cover. That's when he heard them in the distance. Barking, growling, running across the watery surface of the muddy landscape. He reached down, grabbing a kunai from his soaked pack on his left hip. He brought it up just in time to slice the neck of a beowolf that had was making a mad dash to where he was going.

He flipped the kunai to where the point was reversed, and slid on the mud as he turned to face an entire pack. They were heralded by a massive apelike Grimm suddenly roaring over them. Yet, that wasn't the roar he had heard.

It didn't matter right now, one thing at a time!

He slid under the massive ape demon's attempt to crush him, and quickly formed clones to take off any advantage they had in numbers. His clones appearing in puffs of white smoke, quickly engaging any of the beowolves nearest. He ran towards the apelike Grimm, and practically threw himself upward at it!

The mighty Grimm roared, slamming both of its fists forward at him. Naruto was much nimbler however, and quickly angled himself to avoid both of the fists before using them as leverage. Curling up before delivering a double kick straight to the beast's face!

Instead of letting the beast off easily with the kick, he used his chakra to stick to it's face. Quickly forming a clone that held both of its hands out toward his own. Two blue spheres, swirling as miniature typhoons, appeared in both of his hands.

"Rasengan Barrage!" He screamed out in his native tongue, and drove the balls forward atop the beast's head. It practically forced its body to cave inward, imploding it into black dust and goop. Naruto landed with forward flip, and grabbed his clone's hand before throwing it toward a large Beowolf. "Transform!"

The clone transform into a demon windmill shuriken, slicing across the beowolf's back. It was a deep, almost fatal gash, paralyzing the creature with pain! Naruto's clone wasted no time as it transformed back, throwing a kunai with a heave right into it's widened red eye!

The sounds of fighting died down as his clones dealt with stragglers. Naruto turned his attention toward the town, and saw orange tinge the night skies over the light drizzle of rain. It meant only one of two things. None of them good, and he quickly dispersed his clones with a hand gesture.

They were sent to deal with any stragglers, discreetly if possible.

"Something big is attacking that town, brat." The Nine Tails inside of him almost gleefully commented. "Will it be tonight that you stop hiding who you are?"

"Embrace me, and use my power."

"If I need you, I'll call you, until then get bent furball." Naruto responded hostility before taking a deep breath. He reached into backmost pouch. Pulling out a facemask. It was dark blue in color, made with some type of cotton that was water resistant. "Gotta get ready for anything."

He pulled the facemask over him, and took a deep breath before running forwards. Sliding on the mud with a willingness to increase his speed. As if he was ice skating on it, and when he built enough momentum he launched himself upward. Grabbing the first branch of the tree he got nearest, vaulting himself more upward and faster forward.

The young shinobi launched upward, clearing the canopy of the trees. His eyes lit up from the orange glow of the flames near the cliffside town of Wind Runner. It's wooden slate gate was on fire. Dozens of people firing firearms into a very large Grimm of some sort.

Naruto saw someone, maybe two people, running around the massive beast to draw it's attention away from the village. He growled, feeling anger boiling inside of him. So many people in that place, in that lonely town on a cliffside with nowhere to run. That massive Grimm was holding it's own easily too against whoever was fighting it.

The second leap upward from the trees after he fell. He saw it better, it was a massive snakelike beast with long arms and claws. It also had feet at the back. Long, and webbed at the end with claws. Then it clicked as he started to descending downward, it wasn't a snake, but a salamander!

A salamander that breathed fire!

The waves of flames it spewed forth was orange hot, and glowing almost red from nearest to it's mouth! The one other person fighting it managed to dodge, but not without getting clipped by the flames. The other person, a girl, somehow started to bend the flames around herself.

Barely, via creating some sort of barrier!

Naruto landed in the clear near the cliffside town. He ran forward as the beast lurched back, a temporary lull in the flames tricking the woman into letting the barrier she created down! Almost as soon as his foot touched solid, hard stony ground, Naruto's blue eyes blurred into a streak of light as his footfall snapped with a loud bang from breaking the sound barrier!

The demonic salamander, head adorned with horns as if it was crown, was already starting to lurch forward as hotter dark green flames burst forth from it's mouth! It was at that the moment, the young shinobi reached her. Grabbed her by practically wrapping his arms around her midriff.

Hellish green flames washed over the area they were. However, Naruto was long airborne with her. He landed on top of the gate. People looking near them when the wood around his feet broke from the force. He wasn't used to washing his body in so much chakra to increase his speed, yet another thing he self-taught himself as of late.

Taking a deep breath, he looked down toward the woman.

"Huh, what the, how the hell?" She questioned before looking up at him. "Who the heck are you, when did you-?"

"No time for that, stay here!" Naruto ordered her in this world's language before quickly leaping off the wall. "Alright you big, slimy, bastard! Up here, your opponent is me!"

The massive salamander roared with a loud hiss, gaseous fumes emerging from it's mouth as they congealed into…Grimm! Naruto's eyes widened a little bit, that was certainly new. It didn't matter though because the Grimm it created was just low caliber beowolves. Nothing to truly worry about, right?

Except those beowolves suddenly were set aflame, and charged!

"Holy shit that's new!" Naruto slightly panicked as he leapfrogged the highly unusually fast demon wolves. He twisted midair, sending a barrage of kunai toward them. "This thing most be some sort of freak, even by Grimm standards."

"What a drag…damn it, now I sound like Shikamaru."

He landed on the ground, and suddenly felt intense heat. He rolled out of the way as a massive wall of green flames hit the ground he had been. Rolling right next to the man, who's arm was slightly burnt. Breathing hard, his red eyes were slightly glowing as he readied his large scythe-like weapon.

Naruto stood up next to him, his height definitely not meeting the man's, or young woman he had just saved.

"What the…you're a kid?!" The man nearly hollered as he noticed Naruto. "I assumed that another Huntsman had came for backup, sheesh, just my luck. Go scram before you get hurt, pipsqueak."

Instead of responding, Naruto took a deep breath.

"Damn it, now I have to worry about a kid trying to play hero-!"

"Get ready." Naruto replied with in their language, cutting the man off, and then launched himself forward. Ignoring the sudden yell from the man, Naruto reached down, getting two kunai out. "Looks like I'll be hitting the road after this…again."

"Damn it."

He launched himself upward with a leap. Twirling in the air to avoid the whiplash of the massive salamander's spiked tail. Avoiding it, and then angling himself to where he slammed his feet down on it. He immediately felt the slam ooze on his shoes, it wasn't for the quick reaction and correction of chakra, he'd been flung off as it tried to snap it's tail to the side.

It was too late, however, as he got a firm grip with his chakra. Smirking under his mask, he ran forward, correcting his chakra with each step as he felt the beast ooze more. He got to it's flank, and stabbed both kunai downward. He roared out as he dragged them, slashed large gash revealing sacks of gas under the beast's skin!

Naruto felt it look at him, and smirked before realizing something. That ooze, the slime, it smelled almost like the flames. His smirk became more mischievous under the mask as the beast attempted to bite at him. He leapt up, letting the beast bite itself. It roared out in pain, and Naruto landed in a patch grass. He cleaned the kunai by wiping it on the grass, and then pocketing them back into their pouch.

The massive salamander screamed as it locked eyes with him. It solely focused on him, and not the man who was taking aim with his weapon. The scythe gone, transformed into a large gun. Naruto locked eyes with the beast, holding his finger's up in the likeness of a gun.

"Bang…"

BANG!

The beast's charge was cut very short. A large bang echoed across the air as a red tipped bullet slammed out of the barrel. Spiraling as it caught fire just before impact. It sunk right into the gash, into the air sacs under the beast's skin. A series of chemical reactions took place, but anyone could tell that as the beast's midsection suddenly swelled up.

It yawls in pain, a loud screech. It almost made Naruto feel slightly bad, but he remembered what would've happened if the beast was allowed to continue. It's midsection exploded after that split-second thought, bisecting it in half. Naruto merely sidestepped the front half that shot toward him.

Cheers came from the walls, and judging by the chakra coming back to him, his clones had cleared the stragglers. All of them, save one, dispersed. That one single clone was already inside of the village, pillaging the room he had vacated during his sleep adventure to regain his supplies.

Taking a deep breath, sighing sadly. Naruto saw several people come from behind the walls, through the gate. Obviously looking to where he had gone. He knew though, with the celebrations would come questions, and attention drawn towards him.

He still didn't know what this world would do with him if they knew about him truly. As if stuck in a blizzard of uncertain, Naruto was the man seeking the flame just in front of him, but was in fear of being burnt. Thus, it was no surprise to himself that he already took a step back.

Not ready to risk touching the flame in fear of getting burnt.

In fear of connections.

In fear of uncertainty.

"You'll always be in fear of me, and what you're truly capable of if you just let me lend you my power." To emphasis his fears, The Nine Tails resounded them from its own maw. "You'll just remain a shadow, after all, that was what you always were…just someone's shadow."

"I hate you…" Naruto replied before cutting the connection, but he knew it would just come back. It would always just come back. "At least I try to do the right thing."

"Furball."

Chapter One: I Am Naruto.
End.

{Wind Runner Cliffside Inn.}
[Five Hours Later.]

Qrow Branwen was tired, and sighed as he sat at the bed. His newly bandaged arm still sending some waves of pain. He noted the lack of snoring that had woken him up previously. He snuck over towards the other bed, seeing all of that kid's stuff was gone.

"Nah, it couldn't be." The veteran hunter took a deep breath before looking at the door as Amber entered. She had a few cuts, bruises, bandaged up. "Well, that was certainly a first."

"You mean the Pyro Lizard suddenly able to spew other Grimm via a gas, or that person?" Amber asked, a slight hint of mirth in her voice. "Couldn't believe he got me out before I got burnt. No offense Qrow, I don't like my skin charred. "I nice medium tan is good enough."

"Haha, funny, little shit." Qrow took a swig of his flask, and sighed. "That guy was actually a kid, short kid too. Yay tall, and such."

"Bullshit," Amber crosses her arms before noting how small that guy was. "He could be a midget."

"Uh huh, well, find me a midget that moves like greased lightning." Qrow replied with a cheeky smirk. "Still, this little foray Leo sent us got a little bit more complicated. I'm pretty sure that kid was using magic."

"Okay, now I know the local docs gave you the good stuff. Damn it, I need some for this headache. Using magic sucks, you know. Messes with my head." Amber slightly complained before rubbing her temples. She then thought of something. "Hey, where's the blonde kid you were complaining about?"

"Exactly, where is he?" Qrow rhetorically replied before swigging another flask. "I heard some rumors from other eastern towns. I thought they were all crap until tonight."

"I thought you didn't put stock into rumors, Mr. Branwen." She sat across from in a chair, watching take another swig of the flask. "You're drinking a lot more lately."

"Meh, my arm hurts. The morphine didn't do crap." Qrow leaned back on the wall. "Besides, if it is that kid, then we need to track him down."

"Yeah, right, he was fast enough to get to me without noticing. Brothers know where he is now." Amber before thinking to herself. "Wouldn't his name be on the registry?"

"It might be…" Qrow got up, and was heading toward the door. He opened, only to see the inn keeper panicking at flames at the fireplace. "Or, maybe the brat is a lot better than we think."

"No, my registry book, damn it all!" The innkeeper cried out as the book burnt to a crisp in the hot flames.

"Damn, maybe he's working for…" Amber held that thought back. "No, that wouldn't make sense, why would he help us if he was working for her."

"That's true, but knowing her, she'll be prospecting him. That's the thing about that old witch, very little escapes her." Qrow went back to their room, some rustling could be heard as he walked back out with their bags. "Well, c'mon Amber, let's go hunting."

"I wanna complain, but hopefully the night's rain makes him hunker down somewhere." She grabbed her staff from inside her room, spinning it around. "I can't believe I forgot this."

"Well kid, welcome to my world, don't worry I forget when I last had a drink." Qrow joked with her before looking at her with a playful wink. "When was my last swig?"

She only responded by frogging him in the burnt arm.

{Author Statement.}

Hell everyone, I'm not dead.

I'm just been going through a lot of things recently. School has gotten hard, and my job has been harder. I'm trying to find other ways of making income, and I plan to leave my job soon, hopefully. It's hard working for a place that makes you feel like a criminal for being sick.

My depression has been at an all time high, but it's fine. My wife is encouraging me to get back to doing what I love, which is writing. So, thank you for staying with me so far. You guys have been amazing. I look forward to writing some more over next week.

Hopefully that next chapter of Primroses and Nightshade everyone is craving.

Once again, from the bottom of my heart.

Thank You.

-Blazeraptor54.