Yo!
Been a while isn't it? As the story started on my birthday last year, I'm back with the next chapter of The Seal of Fate as a present on my birthday this year. I will try to release more chapters of the story in the coming year seeing how Boruto manga is getting interesting again. Thank you for your continued love and support, people. You are the best!
Before we dive into our newest chap, there is one thing I like to share-
I've made a new discord server where I'll keep on updating sneak peeks of the chapters, character designs, polls and where you can freely talk and ask things regarding my fics directly from me. I'm most active there:It's a relatively new server, so please show some love!
Link: discord . Gg / SPsSwAcq4b
Remove the spaces
Name: Black Dawn
Thank you for your continued love and support.
Without further ado, let's get started.
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Ōtsutsuki/Bijuu/Summons"talking.
'Ōtsutsuki/Bijuu/Summons' thinking.
"Jutsu"is being used.
Enjoy.
The Seal of Fate
Chapter 4
The Maelstrom
As they prepared to leave, Naruto couldn't help but ask for the umpteenth time.
"Don't question, gaki. Just follow me." Jiraiya said and Naruto nodded and stood beside Pa and Ma who sat on Jiraiya's shoulders.
'It's finally time, Minato. Your son made us all proud. Now he is in the last leg of his training and I'm confident he can master it.' Jiraiya thought a tear slipping from his eyes in joy.
Naruto knew what Mt. Myōboku was. It's the land of Toads. The place where they live. But he couldn't figure out why he is being taken there yet he is sure that it was for further training. With that excited thought in mind, he eagerly waited.
While the Toad Elders stared at the blonde boy. The boy on whose shoulders everything depended. Whose actions have more severe consequences than anyone knows. Whose decisions will shape the world they are in.
They can still remember that day. The day everything changed. The day the Great Toad Sage remembered a name. The day when the change took place. The day on which Fate was sealed.
Flashback
Shima and Fukasaku were urgently summoned by the Great Elder, Gamamaru to his quarters and they quickly made their way there even though Shima was not thrilled. 'Why can't I be left alone when I'm cooking?' she thought grumpily.
They stood respectfully in front of Gamamaru, though a bit grumpy in Shima's case, as Gamamaru slowly jerked awake from his sleep.
"Uh, what's it?" He asked, looking around lost. Then suddenly, "Yes, have you heard about the child of prophecy and the seal of fate?" He croaked in a low tone. Fukasaku and Shima each looked at each other.
"We have heard about the Child of Prophecy from Jiraiya-chan, but this Seal of Fate, we haven't. What is it about, Great Elder?" Fukasaku asked respectfully. He knew the Great Elder was alive for more than millennia and saw many things and is not one to summon them for something futile. Only if his wife can understand that.
"Uh, I wasn't sure about it a few moments ago, but now, I'm certain. This is about Uzumaki Naruto, the young shinobi from Konoha. He is the Child of Prophecy who will bring about the end of the world, either positively or negatively." Gamamaru said in a low tone.
"That sounds very ominous, geezer. What makes Naruto-chan so special?" Shima questioned impatiently. Though Fukasaku disapproves of Shima's disrespect, he is curious to know as well.
"Yes, the child, Naruto was born and was burdened with Kyuubi. But the seal I'm talking about now is far superior to that and from the long-forgotten members of an Ancient clan."
"Ancient clan? Can you name them?" Fukasaku asked in interest. It's rare for Gamamaru to be serious about many things and remember as much due to his age and experience, but Fukasaku felt this is a matter of utmost concern.
"Uh, it's-" Gamamaru started, Fukasaku and Shima inching closer to not miss it only for the older toad to fall asleep immediately before he said anything. Fukasaku and Shima sighed.
"It's always like this with this old geezer," Shima said in frustration.
"Don't demean him, Ma," Fukasaku said, chastising Ma.
"It sounds like Naruto's journey is not an easy one. Do you think he'll be able to fulfil the prophecy and bring peace to the world?" He asked Ma.
"It's difficult, but I have faith in Hag@#*mo's child. Whether he succeeds or fails, his journey will be one that will be remembered for generations to come." Gamamaru suddenly spoke and before they could ask him something again, went to sleep.
"Let's bring him here and train." Pa finally said, unable to bear the silence and suspense. Ma nodded her agreement.
Flashback End
And so, they began Naruto's training in Mt. Myōboku under the careful guidance of Toad Elders, Shima and Fukasaku and the watchful eye of Jiraiya, who despite his protests was forced to oversee Naruto's training. Knowing Naruto better, Jiraiya brought some ramen packs as a last resort as he knew how attached the blonde became to them irrespective of his growth.
Time Skip: 3 Months Later
When Naruto first came, the Toads checked for everything Jiraiya reported about Naruto's training and progress. Confirming it to be true, they proceeded to search for the 2nd seal on Naruto's body Gamamaru mentioned but didn't find any seal. So they moved on with testing Naruto's capabilities.
Naruto won in a wrestling match with Gamabunta, the chief Summon and was able to outrun Gamataro, their fastest messenger toad and was able to easily defeat Jiraiya in many mock spars. They couldn't believe how strong the 15-year-old boy was.
And so he was trained in the basics and advanced techniques of Toads, from Frog Kumite to partial and complete body transformation to a Toad. Naruto observed how his appearance as a Toad is different from others with squiggly orange lines across his body with odd tomoes and circles around him.
He didn't mind them much as it only made him look cool. Obviously. He's going to kick Sasuke Teme's ass when he meets him. Dattebayo! Though he had grown physically and strength-wise, his mind was still of the knucklehead however much Jiraiya tried to make him pass that phase.
He decided to pause his attempts to make Naruto mature for the time being as Ma and Pa shared the latest prophecy the Great Told Elder shared with them and focused more on mastering his own sage mode and after 3 months of nonstop effort, here they are.
Naruto stood in front of them, facing the mountain, gazing up at the lush greenery and oilfalls that cascaded down its rocky face. He was just told that he is going to learn sage mode and his excitement knew no bounds.
He saw over the months how Jiraiya did his best to complete his sage mode and though the blonde wanted to try it then, he was forbidden by Ma and Pa, the elders saying the Kyuubi may escape if he does now and though disappointed, Naruto relented.
Now as they have the support of another Sage in Jiraiya, they are willing to give it a shot and so they all assembled in front of the Toad Oil Falls, the starting place of Senjutsu training.
"Are you ready, Naruto-chan?" Pa asked, looking up at Naruto with his large, bulbous eyes.
"I'm more ready than ever, dattebayo!!" Naruto replied, his excitement evident in his voice.
"Good," Pa said, patting Naruto on the back. "But remember, senjutsu is not something to be taken lightly. It requires intense concentration, focus, and discipline."
Naruto nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He knows that this is going to be tough, but he is determined to succeed. After all, Jiraiya-sensei promised to make Naruto his best student and Naruto is going to do his best to achieve that.
Ma and Pa led Naruto up the winding path that snaked its way up the mountain, pointing out various landmarks and explaining their significance as they went. Jiraiya silently followed them.
Finally, they reached a small clearing at the top of the mountain, surrounded by tall trees and overlooking a breathtaking view of the valley below filled with cold grey rocks of many toads.
"This is where we'll be training," Ma said, gesturing to the area around them. "You will meditate here for many hours a day, every day until you can fully grasp senjutsu and once that's done, we will guide you on how to maintain it." She explained in her lecture mode.
Naruto nodded, sitting on the ground and closing his eyes. As Ma instructed, he tried to focus his mind, but his thoughts kept wandering, and he found it hard to concentrate. Ma and Pa watched him for a few moments, then exchanged a knowing look.
"Naruto-chan, try absorbing the natural chakra around you," Pa told the boy to make him understand how hard the senjutsu is to absorb so that he can focus better. Naruto followed and used his chakra to observe where the senjutsu was.
Unknown to him, Naruto released a small pulse of his chakra into his surroundings to sense where the senjutsu was and feeling the highly saturated chakra around him, he wondered if this is Senjutsu chakra.
As the Kyuubi with 2 Toads and a human observed, Naruto pulled the saturated chakra around him into his body through the Tenketsu in his body and for a second, he felt the darkness in front of him flicker into a bright colourful landscape of kaleidoscope, filled with myriad range of colours full of life.
Naruto is taken back by the rich colours around him and yearned to see it again, unconsciously absorbing large amounts of Senjutsu into him. Seconds turned minutes and minutes turned hours as Ma and Pa waited for Naruto to show any signs of exhaustion or overcharged with Senjutsu, but there was no sign of it.
In Naruto's mindscape, the Kyuubi wearily observed the Kāma seal as the abundant Senjutsu chakra started to pour into it. Initially, the Kyuubi used the chance to refill his chakra reserves a bit, his newest brainchild and so dragged the senjutsu chakra into Naruto's mindscape.
But he didn't expect the Kāma seal to adapt to the senjutsu chakra around it and it started to pull from the chakra the Kyuubi dragged and slowly increasing its share to a large chunk and finally taking over the full senjutsu chakra into it after hours of starting.
Knowing better than making its enemy stronger, the Kyuubi released a potent wave of its chakra, disrupting Naruto's concentration, and cutting him off from absorbing more Senjutsu.
On the outside, unaware of the implications, Ma and Pa jumped back with Jiraiya coming to the front to their defence as a potent wave of Kyuubi's chakra got released from Naruto after hours of continuous absorption.
With Naruto
While the blonde is clueless about everything going on and enjoyed the peace and tranquillity the Senjutsu is giving him, he began moving his chakra around and changing it to the elements he can use when he felt a sudden stomach ache, like his stomach is burning, disturbing his tranquil state, he fell down, clutching his stomach in pain.
"GGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Naruto screamed in agony as chakra burst out of him in all directions. Though they wanted to help, the sages couldn't bear the vileness of the Red and Purple chakra that's been released from Naruto and had to run to take cover as a strong chakra shockwave shook the mountain.
Few Minutes Earlier
Naruto's Mindscape
"You will not harm Naruto!" Kyuubi said in rage as it observed a dark form rising from the diamond in front of him.
"Tsk, you foolish beast. You cannot stop me like last time those 2 humans did. I have control over this boy's chakra now." Dark Urashiki said with a malicious smirk.
"I will never let you take control! I will fight you with everything I have!"
"As if that changes anything. But I'll let you amuse me. Don't think I am as weak as last time." He said as a red hook and rod formed in his hand making his face cackle in mad glee. Kyuubi remembered the black mass last time shouting something about his weapon and he decided to be weary.
Urashiki unleashed his chakra, and Kyuubi from inside the cage met it with all his strength. The mindscape shook as the two potent chakras clashed, unleashing waves of chakra that threatened to tear it apart.
"For all the chakra you got, you are still locked up and can be suppressed." Urashiki mocked. Kyuubi's eyes widened at that. That's what stopping him!
He forcefully brought Naruto into the mindscape making him tear the seal. He knew that Yondaime would have planned something for a case like this and he was proven right. Time froze for a second, Urashiki's mocking smirk still on his lips as everything came to a standstill.
"Kyuubi, I'm entrusting Naruto to you." Minato's voice echoed as the cage opened. A pair of Rinnegan flashed and Urashiki broke the frozen time. "You can't hide anything from my eyes, you senseless beast," Urashiki said as his Rinnegan bled, closing off. 'DAMN IT, I CAN'T COMPLETELY ACCESS THEM!!!' Urashiki screamed in his mind.
"For one claiming to be strong, you sure are weak," Kyuubi said with a smirk as he walked out of the cage and stood in front of Naruto protectively. The blonde was in a daze as he lost control of both his body and chakra. Urashiki got enraged by the sheer audaciousness of the beast and decided to put an end to this.
"Your determination is admirable, beast. But it will not save you." He said his Byakugan activating with his favourite Hook and rod in hand. They both ran towards each other and clashed in the middle, Kyuubi not holding anything back.
Urashiki easily matched all of Kyuubi's attacks with his hands and rod. But Kyuubi managed to dodge the hook attacks with grace, avoiding his chakra being stolen. The Senjutsu chakra they absorbed pushing them.
Kyuubi used everything at his disposal — physical strength, Wind and Fire Jutsu and going as far as firing a few Bijuudama at Urashiki. Urashiki easily deflected or caught them but was unable to absorb them as he still couldn't access his Rinnegan.
The battle raged on for what felt like hours, with Urashiki slowly gaining the upper hand. As Naruto's mind began to be torn apart by the sheer force of the battle, the Kyuubi was struggling to hold on.
'I can't hold on much longer.' Kyuubi thought, breathing heavily. If only he could absorb the abundant natural chakra in the air. Though he has control of Naruto's body, to absorb Senjutsu, he needs to concentrate and maintain the balance of chakra inside Naruto. He can't do that while facing Urashiki. Pushing any further would cause irreparable damage to Naruto.
As the intense clash continued reverberating through the very air itself, the environment surrounding Naruto took on a palpable stillness. His body lay motionless as if suspended in time by the sheer force of the battle that raged within him.
Jiraiya, flanked by Ma and Pa, moved with deliberate steps towards the young ninja who is at the eye of the silent storm. Their experienced eyes noted the subtle, yet unmistakable, flicker of chakra around Naruto—a testament to the fierce engagement locked within his psyche.
As they drew closer, the Kyuubi sensed their presence. Their chakra is rich with the essence of nature—Senjutsu. Though he can't move Naruto, he can still use the blonde's senses.
With a gentle touch that seemed almost reverent, Ma, Pa, and Jiraiya reached out to Naruto, their hands hovering over him, making contact to check if everything is alright. It is a silent blessing, as they thought Naruto is exhausted by the over-absorption of Senjutsu.
The Kyuubi seized upon the Senjutsu with a fervour born of desperation and resolve. The chakra flowed like a rejuvenating tide, filling his reserves, mending his spirit, and reigniting the flames of his vitality.
Urashiki observed the scene, a deceptive calm settling over his features. To him, this looked like a final, sombre farewell—a forfeiting of hope as the mighty Kyuubi relented to the inevitable. He allowed himself the faintest curl of a smile, believing victory was his.
But the truth is far different. The Senjutsu from the three sages coursed through Kyuubi, a silent promise that the fox hadn't given up the fight. He is merely biding his time, gathering strength for the moment of the final clash.
Urashiki slowly walked towards Kyuubi. "Did you finally see the futility of this, Kyuubi?" Urashiki asked, his hands forming a big black ball to end the Kyuubi. He can feel the abundant chakra locked behind the stupid form of the fox releasing and replenishing and rejuvenating him, pushing him over the edge to take over Naruto's body.
"As soon as this attack is complete, you will join the brat and become part of me." He said with a happy smile and soon, the ball bloated.
"Farewell, Kyuubi," Urashiki said and sent the ball towards Kyuubi. While the Kyuubi charged a final Bijuudama, putting everything he had and stole into it. Sensing the massive build of chakra in Naruto, the 3 sages jumped far away from Naruto knowing the physical repercussions of a strong chakra battle.
Both attacks met, Urashiki's overpowering the Bijuudama and as Urashiki smirked in victory, his attack got ripped to shreds as a pair of pale lavender eyes opened behind Kyuubi, empowering the Bijuudama.
"What! This is impossible! How can you be so strong?! How did you do this!?" Urashiki asked in horror as his body got engulfed in black markings from the Kāma.
"You underestimate me, Otsutsuki. Be gone!" Kyuubi said with a boastful smirk. In a final burst of chakra, Urashiki was driven back into the Kāma as the Kyuubi slumped in exhaustion.
He shrank considerably due to the amount of chakra exertion and went into a slumber while more orange marks spread on Naruto's body covering his face and his eyes. A black circle formed on his forehead reminiscent of a target locked and it broke, as if releasing something. With a dim glow, the marks recede back into the Kāma. Leaving no trace of their encroachment on Naruto's body.
With Others
In the wake of turbulent chakra uproar, the dust of conflict had finally begun to settle, like a heavy silence after a great cacophony. The battlefield, which is the clearing, strewn with the detritus of the fray, bore testament to the ferocity of the combatants. At its centre lay Naruto, his once erratic chakra now pulsing with a steady, calming rhythm.
Jiraiya, accompanied by Ma and Pa, approached cautiously. The trio, seasoned warriors of many battles, could not help but feel a twinge of concern as they took in the sight before them. Naruto's body was still, too still for the untrained eye, but the subtle rise and fall of his chest offered a silent reassurance.
With a practised eye, Jiraiya scanned the area, searching for clues that might illuminate the events that had transpired. Ma and Pa huddled close, their keen sage senses probing the ambient energies, trying to piece together the story etched in the lingering chakra signatures.
"It doesn't make any sense," Jiraiya muttered, his brows knitting together. "The chakra fluctuations were off the charts, and now... this calm. What happened here?"
Ma shook her head, her face etched with worry. "It's like the world itself has swallowed the violence of before. Whatever Naruto faced, it was no simple adversary."
Gently, as if fearing to wake a slumbering dragon, they knelt beside Naruto. Pa's webbed fingers reached out, trembling slightly as he touched Naruto's forehead, whispering an incantation that glowed with a faint light. The wounds, both seen and unseen, began to knit together, the worst of the injuries mending under the sage's healing touch.
"We need to get him to a safer place," Jiraiya decided, his voice barely above a whisper. "Somewhere he can rest and recover properly."
Without a word, they worked together, Jiraiya carefully lifting Naruto into his arms while Ma and Pa watched over them, their eyes scanning for any sign of danger. The air is thick with the unknown, each sage's mind racing with possibilities and unanswered questions.
The journey back is quiet, each step taken with a solemnity reserved for the aftermath of great and terrible events. They are a convoy of guardians of the Child of Prophecy, each lost in their thoughts but united in their purpose.
As the sun dipped low, casting long shadows across their path, they finally reached their destination. Naruto was laid upon a futon, his breathing easy and deep, the peace of his features belying the ordeal he had just endured.
"Now we wait," Jiraiya said, his voice a soft sigh. "He'll have quite the tale to tell when he wakes up." He gave a low chuckle.
Ma and Pa nodded, settling into a vigilant watch. They would be there when Naruto opened his eyes, ready to aid him, ready to listen, and ready to continue the fight if necessary. For now, the uncertainty of what had occurred could wait. They had their charge to tend to, and they would guard him until he was ready to face the world once more.
Week later
After a week of silent vigil, the atmosphere in the small, dimly lit room is punctured by a subtle shift. The gentle rise and fall of Naruto's chest had been the only constant in that time, a metronome counting out the seconds to recovery.
The first hint of change came not with fanfare, but with the faintest flutter of eyelids that had remained resolutely closed for the past week. As dawn's light crept through the paper screen windows, it seemed to carry life itself, coaxing the young shinobi back from the realm of unconsciousness.
Jiraiya, who had barely left Naruto's side, immediately noticed the change. His book, a constant companion in the quiet hours, dropped to the floor, forgotten. Ma and Pa, equally attentive, hopped closer, their ancient eyes wide with anticipation.
Slowly, as if emerging from a deep ocean dive, Naruto's eyes opened. The room held its breath. But the eyes that met Jiraiya's were not the bright, cerulean blue pools reflecting a spirit unbroken; they were a pale lavender, deep and enigmatic, speaking of untold power and mysteries yet to be uncovered.
"Naruto?" Jiraiya's voice is tentative, a mix of hope and a dawning realization that something profound has changed.
Naruto blinked, his vision clearing, the lavender of his irises catching the light in an almost ethereal glow. He looked around, recognizing the familiar faces, but there was a depth to his gaze that hadn't been there before.
Ma and Pa exchanged a glance, their experience as sages telling them that this is no ordinary aftermath of a battle. The lavender hue... it is significant, a sign of an awakening, perhaps, or a transformation that went beyond physical healing.
Jiraiya leaned in closer, his own reflection visible in the changed eyes of his pupil. "Naruto, your eyes..." he began, his voice trailing off as the full impact of the situation started to dawn on him.
Naruto's gaze finally focused on Jiraiya, and a flicker of confusion passed over his features. "What about them, Ero-sennin?" he asked, his voice hoarse from disuse.
"Naruto, why do you have Byakugan!?"
And Cut.
That's it for this Chapter, folks. Hope you all liked it. Tell me, what you think of the chapter and story in general. Hope to see you on the server.
Any suggestions are welcomed.
See y'all in the next chapter.
Black Infinity 1289,
Ja Ne.