Yo!
I'm back with the next chapter of The Seal of Fate. Hope you like it.
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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 2
Overwhelming Discoveries
With Sasuke
"That went well, Sasuke-san," Boruto said as they landed in the forests around Konoha.
"Yes, I'm glad that we didn't screw anything," Sasuke said, sighing in relief.
"Locking Branch World, complete. The world is now sealed off." A new voice spoke out of nowhere and both shinobi went into a defensive stance.
"Who is there?" Sasuke called.
"I'm here," the Turtle in Sasuke's hands said, shaking himself to get some attention. Sasuke looked at him in surprise.
"You can talk?" He asked incredulously.
"Yes, I'm perfectly capable of talking." The turtle said with what they thought was a smile.
"Then why didn't you talk till now?" Boruto asked in surprise.
"I shouldn't talk when I'm being used as it may result in causing unnecessary problems." From his tone, they understood the Turtle was male.
"Why is that? And what unnecessary problems will your talking cause?" Sasuke proded.
"My name is Karasuki. And the reason I shouldn't talk is that I'll tell the users when a world breaks off from the main timeline and forms a branch world, a separate world where the original timeline changes.
It may or may not have the same set of circumstances and the same things may or may not happen in the future. Because of this uncertainty, some events that take place in the original timeline might turn out differently or might not happen entirely. This only affects the future of that branch world and not the past of that or this world, so that the damage is not 2 way." Karasuki explained.
"So what you just sai-" Sasuke stopped at the realisation.
"Yes, a major change has occurred in that timeline, which made that world a branch world of this one. It is sealed off to not further change the events. It's a safety mechanism we possess. Sealing off branch universes so that they don't affect the present and whatever happens stays there and there alone." Karasuki said with a hint of pride.
Sasuke was speechless. What happened? Where did he fail? What effects will it have on that world's future? Boruto just understood the full grasp of the situation and was stunned.
"This means, anyone, you, he or even the Ōtsutsuki won't be able to travel to that world as it is locked from Travel. Problem solved." Karasuki said happily. This made Sasuke speak.
"Can you tell me what changed in the timeline to cause this?" He almost pleaded. Karasuki went into a thinking pose.
"Hmm, as it is already locked, I don't see why not. It concerns the Kyuubi Jinchuriki." He said and gave a pause as if to recall what exactly happened.
This made Sasuke and Boruto anxious. Naruto is closely related to both of them and anything concerning him is a life-changing issue to them. Boruto couldn't bear the tension and took Karasuki from Sasuke's hands.
The contact made Karasuki shudder and seeing how this may adversely affect what they want, Sasuke immediately took back Karasuki. "That's it! He got one of them!" Karasuki yelled in terror. Sasuke and Boruto didn't understand what the turtle is pointing.
It took them a second to see where he is pointing and both their eyes landed on Boruto's Kāma. Their eyes almost popped out at how wide they widened.
"NARUTO/DAD GOT KĀMA?!" They yelled in horror in unison. The echo of shock spread across the forest, disturbing the tranquillity it previously held.
"Quick, take us back there. Take us back there!" Sasuke shook the turtle wildly.
"Take me to him, take me to him!" Boruto yelled in all directions staring at the turtle.
"STOP! I CAN'T TAKE YOU!" Karasuki yelled, trying to stop being shaken wildly.
"WhY!?" They asked in desperation.
"That world is locked from outside access. No one from the outside world can go there to not further screw the timeline." He explained.
"But we just want to stop the damage. We don't want Naruto/dad to have a Kāma. He/Me having it is messed up already." They said in sync.
"I can't. I shut the world up with the rest of my power and sent the message to my fellow turtles to deny access to that world. I can't break my race laws." Karasuki explained.
"We will give you as much chakra as you want if that is what you want, I'm sure the whole of Konoha will be willing to help us if it concerns Naruto. We must change this." Sasuke asked in desperation.
"I'm sorry, it's too late. Even if I want to, I can't. Performing such a task has already drained my life force. I'll be dispersed into my world to recover and be reborn elsewhere. This is why time travel is discouraged. You may unknowingly make a mistake that will screw entire timelines." Karasuki said in a sad tone.
"How does this affect the Ōtsutsuki then?" Sasuke asked, seeing the point the turtle was trying to explain.
"The Ōtsutsuki?" Sasuke nodded.
"Only the people who were aware of our race will know what happened if they were in the immediate vicinity. If they are far aware, then they can only sense one of them, not me, not you or anything else." Karasuki explained.
"Then how does this change their arrival into that world?" Sasuke continued.
"It all depends on the choices that worlds people make. They may come early. They may be late. It doesn't change this timeline. So none of my concern." Karasuki said with a turtle shrug.
"One last question. How does this change the future events of that world?"
"You didn't hear me the first time? The events that follow now might happen, might not happen. It all depends on the point of change. AKA UZUMAKI NARUTO!" He yelled at the single-handed Uchiha. Sasuke got a smile at that.
"Thanks, Karasuki. Thanks for your help and information. Take this chakra as part of my gratitude." Sasuke fed him a chakra pill and a satisfied turtle vanished in front of them.
"What's that for, Sasuke-san? We should help Tou-san!" Boruto said in urgency.
"If it all depends on Naruto, I'm sure things will turn out good, Boruto," Sasuke said with a fond smile. Boruto was confused at that.
"Your father is Unpredictable. That unpredictability made him what he is today. If that world's fate depended on Naruto, then it will turn out well. I don't doubt that." He elaborated. Seeing Boruto's confused face, he laughed.
"It is hard to understand. But this world's fate also always depended on Naruto. The choices he made echoed through the world at one point. See where we are. Enjoying peace, many living their dream, and many more lives out of danger.
That world has a Naruto with a Kāma seal that's it. It's the difference our Naruto has from that Naruto. He still has time to grow and I'm confident he will turn into a fine man like your father. So no worries. Let's report this to Naruto." Sasuke said, confusing the young Uzumaki even further.
"The part about Naruto having Kāma is our little secret. Never reveal that to anyone for our safety. It will cause unnecessary panic." Sasuke added and Boruto dumbly nodded.
With Jiraiya
It's been a long night and Jiraiya had enough fun. He managed to sweet talk the owner of the hot spring into opening up for him which involved some secret volumes of Icha Icha and a promise to send him the first copy of this one.
She is quite a looker and a big pervert as well. Jiraiya didn't know he had a large female fanbase as well. He always thought he was famous among the male populace. But it was a fruitful trip.
After a farewell chit-chat with the beautiful woman, he left in search of his knucklehead student in fear of what else Naruto destroyed. Naruto got this destructive habit recently when they started on their training trip a few weeks ago from Konoha. He can still remember the day he ordered Naruto.
Flashback
"Ok, brat. I have 3 years to train you and I want you to become the strongest shinobi Konoha has ever seen!" Jiraiya said with his head high.
"Aye, Ero-senni-" Jiraiya gave Naruto a stern look at that.
"I mean, you bet, Jiraiya-sensei!" Naruto agreed.
"And Naruto, don't hold back. I want to see you at your strongest every day." He said and Naruto gave him a big smile and thumbs up.
And so started the destructive blonde's chaotic training. He started using everything with the highest amount of chakra he can push and most Jutsu were overloaded. Though there are not many as Naruto didn't know many.
He tried explaining to Naruto what he meant by 'strongest'. But the stubborn blonde didn't listen to him and stuck to the 'strongest' he meant at the beginning of his training. Seeing the futility of it, he gave up, chiding Naruto when he pushed too far.
Flashback End
"Naruto you moron, wake up already. It's high noon." Jiraiya yelled and it didn't change anything. He tried punching Naruto but the blonde changed position at the same moment and he hit the hard ground.
"Guess that's the only way," Jiraiya said and pulled out an instant ramen cup and poured some hot water and waited for 3 mins. Soon he saw the cup puff out and opened it and started eating.
The delicious smell of Ramen hit Naruto's nostrils. "Mmm, Ramen. How bad I missed you. I'm coming for you, wait for me!" Naruto exclaimed and jumped towards Jiraiya as he instinctively knew where Ramen was.
"Hah, you can't catch it, brat. I tied you…up." Jiraiya was surprised to see Naruto pull the Ramen cup out of his hands and started devouring it with his trademark horrendous table manners.
'Did he just…grow?' Jiraiya scratched his head. Naruto is one of the short boys in his class and he didn't grow much in the past 6 or so months he was out of the academy.
Jiraiya measured his height just to measure his growth after the training trip and from the angle he took it out of Jiraiya's hands, he is at least 2 inches taller as he is 2 inches away from the blonde's height. 'Sudden growth spurt?' Jiraiya thought for a moment.
"Hey brat,"
"Ha,"
"How about you try and catch this as well?" Jiraiya said, pulling out another ramen cup. Naruto eagerly nodded, swallowing the remaining noodles and lunged towards the new one. Jiraiya moved an inch back and Naruto still got it.
He continued swallowing the new pack as well. This made Jiraiya curious. He thought of making a thorough body check and allowed Naruto to eat as much as he want.
After Naruto happily butchered table manners and ate 17 more cups, Jiraiya got to work. Naruto emptied his emergency stock of Ramen in case there is a need for them.
Jiraiya pulled all the tools he needed for all his tests for Naruto. Naruto came out of his Ramen trance after filling his stomach and turned to Jiraiya with a satisfied smile.
"Now walk a few meters here and stand in this circle," Jiraiya said and though Naruto didn't understand why he need to walk, he did so without any complaint.
Understanding Naruto's metabolism, which is faster than normal shinobi, Jiraiya made him walk so that all the Ramen he ate doesn't affect the tests the pervert is going to make.
Though he is a super pervert, he has a keen eye for attention to detail and knows the blonde like an open book. His experience with the blonde's parents only helped.
"Don't move until I further say so," Jiraiya said and Naruto nodded. He stood there with a satisfied smile while Jiraiya measured him.
'What's this? He grew by at least 3 inches. That too overnight.' Jiraiya thought in surprise and got his final measurements when Naruto moved, trying to scratch an itch he couldn't control.
"Naruto, don't move." Jiraiya chided.
"I'm trying, Ero-sennin," Naruto complained but stretched to scratch a bit too far and they both heard a ripping sound.
"Uh, what's that?" Naruto asked in surprise. It felt way too familiar to one of those ripping sounds he got when his shadow clones ganged up on his bed. He doesn't like that sound.
"It's like a stretching sound. I think your shirt is torn." Jiraiya said with a thinking pose and inspected Naruto's clothes to see all the threads lose at his arms.
"Huh, where?" Naruto asked and lifted his hand to search only for the shirt to completely tear apart.
"..."
"..."
"Why did you think that's the best idea to go about it again?" Jiraiya asked and Naruto looked away in embarrassment.
"Anyway, let's see. You grew 3.33 inches over the night and now stand at 5.3" instead of your short height of 4.11. Your body seemed to bulk up as well. Interesting occurrences if you ask me."
"So this helps me catch Sasuke?" Naruto asked and Jiraiya gave him an exasperated look. It pained him to see his past self in Naruto.
"You can if you follow everything I say." He said with a widening smile. He doesn't want his godson to be another him in the future. He will do anything to avoid that.
He knew they didn't do much in the time they started from Konoha and all he did was peek around while Naruto did his thing with the Rasengan.
Thinking of all that broke a part of himself. He is neglecting Naruto for a long time since Minato's and Kushina's death to be exact. He didn't want his vulnerability to come out and be taken as a sign of weakness.
As a spy and from previous experience, he knew how dangerous a vulnerability can be leveraged. So he hid his fatherly, loving and caring side when he was with Minato and Kushina.
He didn't even show a fraction of that to Naruto though the poor kid thought the opposite when he greeted him and agreed to train him as he grew up without any of it. He doesn't want his fate for Naruto.
He doesn't want Naruto to be another him. A successful Failure. A Failure who failed to bring back his friend from the other side. A failure who couldn't protect his loved ones. A failure who couldn't express his love to the woman he loved.
He still remembers the day he heard of the brat.
"Sensei, Kushina is pregnant," Minato said excitedly when he walked in.
"And we decided to name him Naruto," Kushina, a woman that despises his perverseness with her entire being said with a happy smile. He was speechless. He was honoured with many things in his life for his achievements but never he felt like he achieved something that gave him more honour than this.
"We loved the Hero in your book, Sensei and want our son to be like him. Will you be his Godfather?" Minato asked, to which Kushina nodded. The smile they gave brightened his life.
Seeing what Naruto had become stung his heart too much. He didn't his training seriously. At that moment he decided.
His Godson will be the strongest student he ever trained, surpassing his father. He can do it. He is Jiraiya, the Gama Sennin after all. He is Jiraiya, a master spy. He is Jiraiya, the strongest of the Sannin. He is Jiraiya, the greatest-
"Ero-sennin," Naruto called, interrupting Jiraiya's self-motivating pep talk. He turned to the ignorant blonde with his eye twitching.
"What do you think happened for this change to happen?" He asked innocently. The genuine question made gears turn in Jiraiya's brain. Though he can't figure as only Tsunade can give an accurate assessment in his opinion, he decided to satiate Naruto.
"Its Ra-"
"Ramen right? I know Dattebayo!" Naruto exclaimed excitedly. This time Jiraiya's eye fully twitched.
"No, you knucklehead. I was about to say something, but you have to go and ruin it with your Ramen." Jiraiya huffed. He turned to give Naruto another earful and saw the blonde running around with empty ramen cups he just ate worshipping them madly.
Though his experienced eyes also noticed something. Naruto is running at low Jounin speed with ease and Jiraiya can see him easily reach high Jounin speeds with ease at this pace as the blonde is a stamina freak.
That's when he observed something else. The path the headless chicken ran has stomp marks on them as if a lot of pressure was applied to them. These many changes in a night seemed too good to be true for a growth spurt.
'Maybe I should-' Jiraiya started seriously when a beautiful woman passing on the road disturbed him and he went with the flow. While Naruto is still running around with his Ramen cups.
'Hmm, these changes are not half bad. If only that damn pervert trained this brat right.' Kyuubi thought in interest. His wait has resulted in a favourable outcome.
In his mindless running, Naruto rammed into a senseless Jiraiya who is ogling the beautiful woman in front of him and the crash resulted in the tall Sannin being thrown into the forest, crashing into many trees.
"Ero-sennin?" Naruto asked in surprise as he couldn't find the White-haired pervert. Hearing the name, the woman laughed uncontrollably and continued on her way.
"Ugh, what the hell, Naruto!" Jiraiya said in pain. The situation reminded him of when Guy kicked him during his encounter with Itachi. He walked towards Naruto, rubbing his head to ease the pain.
"Oops, sorry Ero-sennin," Naruto said with a sheepish smile. Jiraiya looked up with anger but realized something. His angry face turned to a smirking one.
"Naruto, I've decided on your training." He said with his chest swelling out in pride. Naruto eagerly waited for his answer with rapt attention.
"Endurance Training!" Jiraiya yelled with boisterous laughter. Naruto fell face-first into the ground.
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.