The smiling white one stepped forward until she was right in front of him and bent her head down to look him in the eyes. Naruto and Fu was confused as to what she was doing, but he didn't turn his gaze from hers.
After some time, she pulled back and nodded with her smile growing ever so slightly. "Welcome to our realm, young Uzumaki. You cannot fathom how long our people have awaited a summoner to arrive here. I am Celestia, one of the Head Summons and the raiser of the sun in this realm. Behind me is my sister Luna, the other Head Summon and raiser of the moon."
The blonde leaned to his side slightly so that he could get a better look at Luna and offered a small wave. She returned the gesture with a small nod and a faint smile. As his blue eyes returned to Celestia's purple ones, he questioned, "So, how did I get here? Did the scroll bring me?"
"In a sense," answered the white alicorn as she motioned for him to follow her with her wing. The three of them were walking down a hallway of the castle as she continued, "The scroll acted as a medium for my sister and I to use our powers to bring you here. We reverse summoned you so that we could see you for ourselves."
"Summoners can be summoned too?" asked the Uzumaki in slight surprise and his minty friend nod "you learn something new everyday" Fu said.
"That is correct," Luna answered. "It usually only occurs when a Summon Clan has some important news for their summoner. In this sense, we did it to test your worth for ourselves."
The blonde nodded as he glanced at the decorated halls. Celestia looks at the Minty hair jinchuriki she was curious about her.
"are you a Uzumaki by any chance?" The the Alicorn ask and she shake her "Nope, just Fu" She says it with goofy smile, making the white Alicorn smile.
Naruto remembering what the The Sandaime had told him that, while also having rules and guidelines, Summon Clans test their potential summoners to see if they have what it takes. "So, what is my test?"
Celestia led the two of them to a chariot of sorts that had a team of pegasi leading it. "For your test to occur, we must go down to the lower city. Once there, I will call the six who will test you."
Naruto nodded and carefully stepped inside the chariot with them, but he had to hold on to one of their legs since it wasn't built to carry humans. The ride itself was actually enjoyable to him. The feeling of the wind in his face and the peacefulness of the realm itself was indescribable to one who knew nothing but scorn and rejection his entire life.
Once the chariot landed, the three stepped off and Celestia had her horn glow a bright white before a shot of energy flew into the air and exploded much like a flare.
"They will be here shortly," she assured as they waited patiently. Sure enough, not much time later, the blonde caught sight of six ponies calmly heading their way.
The first was a unicorn with a light purple coat and horn. Her mane and tail were colored dark blue with a streak rose and violet. She had purple eyes and a mark on her flank that was in the design of a rose colored six-point star surrounded by white sparkles.
The next was a simple pony with an orange coat and a blonde mane and tail. Both the mane and tail were held like a human's ponytail and her green eyes brought some distinction to her. She wore what Naruto could only assume was a cowgirl hat and her flank had a mark in the design of three apples on it.
The third was a pegasus with a bright blue coat and wings. She had red-violet eyes while her hair and mane were colored like a rainbow and were slightly spiked, making her appear to be a tomboy to Naruto. Her flank's mark was in the design of a cloud with a rainbow coming out of it like a bolt of lightning.
The fourth was another pegasus with a pale yellow coat and smooth light pink hair. She had cyan blue eyes and her mark was designed as three blue butterflies with pale purple wings. She had this timid aura about her that reminded Naruto of that Hyuuga girl that was in his graduating class.
The fifth was a unicorn with a white coat and horn. Her purple-blue mane and tail were styled into two long curls, giving Naruto the feeling that she enjoyed style. Her azure blue eyes were enhanced by the sky blue eye shadow and her mark looked like three bright blue diamonds.
The last mare was a pony that already had Naruto giving an unnoticeable smile. She had a light pink coat that had a mark in the design of three balloons – one yellow and two blue – on her flank. Her hair and mane were a darker, almost red, pink and were both "poofed" in a way that made her already happy and cheerful aura more pronounced. She had bright blue eyes like his and a near constant smile of joy on her face.
When they reached the two alicorns and human teen, Celestia turned to the blonde and declared, "Naruto, these will be your testers." She then gestured to each and said, "They are Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie."
Luna then gestured to the Uzumaki and introduced, "Girls, this is Uzumaki Naruto and his Friend Fu. You are to see if he has what it takes to be our summoner."
Twilight stepped up and asked, "How do we test him?"
Celestia smiled and answered, "See if he has the qualities of the Elements of Harmony."
While Naruto looked confused, the six mares nodded and Rainbow Dash stepped forward. "Okay, I'll go first. My element is Loyalty, so let's see if you got what it takes." When he nodded, she asked, "If you had to choose between your home and someone you cherish, what would you choose?"
His answer was immediate. "I'd choose my loved one. Mito-sama said that family is everything, and while I have no family of my own, I have those who I will protect with my life."
Dash looked to the two alicorns and they nodded, showing that he was being truthful. The pegasus nodded to him and said, "You pass my test, Blondie."
Applejack was next and she tipped her hat to him in greeting. "Alright partner, my element is Honesty. I want you to tell me something truthful that comes from your heart or soul."
The blonde looked slightly reluctant to do so, but he nodded. "I...I hold the Kyuubi no Kitsune within me, just as Mito-sama and Kushina-san did in the past."
The orange coated mare looked to her leaders, who both nodded sadly, and offered the blonde her hoof. When he slowly grabbed it, she pulled him in for a gentle hug, surprising him greatly. "You have Honesty, even amongst strangers. But you should also know that you have our support, Naruto. We don't see you as the fox and we never will; remember that."
Fu smile at the interaction they separated, the Uzumaki nodded to her in thanks while Rarity stepped forward. She spent a good five minutes circling him and humming in thought while most of the other mares rolled their eyes at what she was bound to say. When she finally stopped circling him, she frowned slightly. "Well darling, I believe that a change of wardrobe is long overdue. Whether you pass or not, visit my store when we're finished and I'll see what I can whip up for you."
"I agree with her" Fu said knwoing the he looks like target practice sign.
"Uh... Okay?" he said a little unsurely, making her nod with a smile.
"Very good. Now dear, my element is Generosity. Have you ever given or done something for someone with no expectancy of compensation?"
The blonde closed his eyes and searched his memories before his first meeting with Haku came to mind. While his face grew depressed due to knowing she was dead, he answered, "Yes... I helped a girl look for herbs to help heal the one she cherished most. I never expected anything in return and just wanted to help her."
After receiving confirmation, Rarity smiled and placed a hoof on his shoulder. When he looked into her eyes, she nodded to him. "You are a generous man, Naruto; I can easily see that. You know what it's like to have nothing and strive to prevent others from experiencing that. You pass my test."
The Uzumaki nodded in thanks as Fluttershy nervously stepped. He offered her a reassuring smile, which seemed to help her confidence as she spoke, "My element, Naruto, is Kindness. How do you treat those you meet?"
"To be honest, most people I meet are not exactly 'kind' to me and my childhood wasn't...good. I tend to ignore those people now and treat those who see me as a person with respect."
The yellow pegasus nodded sadly. "It is hard to be kind in a place that has none. But, as long as you have those who care, you will never lose that kindness." She then gathered up some courage and hugged him like Applejack did, surprising both him and the others. "I can tell that you are a pure and kind person, Naruto. You have regrets about things you could've changed, but you were kind enough to give those people you think you failed a respectable send off." His eyes widened at what she was getting at as she let him go. "Those two...Zabuza and Haku...they were your enemy but you tried to help them turn over a new leaf. Kindness to your enemy is the greatest of all, Naruto. You pass my test."
The blonde nodded as he wiped away a stray tear. Pinkie Pie was next as she bounced up to him with a smile. "Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie! It's nice to meet you!"
He couldn't help but smile at her and greeted back, "I'm Naruto. Nice to meet you too, Pinkie."
She nodded and sat down in front of him. "Okey Dokey Lokey, my element is Laughter! Got any times where, instead of acting negatively, you smiled and laughed it off?"
He closed his eyes in thought over her question. One thing came to mind, but he was unsure if it would count. "Well, before I started to just ignore the people who treated me unfairly, I used to prank them to get back at them. I had fun with my pranks and made sure that no one was hurt by them." He then looked to Pinkie with an anxious gaze. "Does that count?"
The pink mare nodded. "Yep! You could've made those pranks harmful, but you didn't and got a good laugh out of something that most people would be negative about. You pass my test!" He nodded in thanks before she got in his face and asked, "By the way, mind sharing your pranks with me? I always love a good prank!"
The others grew worried while Naruto actually grinned. "Sure, I don't mind."
The happy pony cheered before she went back to the others and Twilight stepped up. "Okay, my test is actually very simple. My element is Magic, so I want you to release as much energy as you can. Okay?"
The blonde nodded with a faint smirk before he made a ram seal and flared his chakra. To the others, it was like a tidal wave of energy flowed from him and washed over them. A literal dome of chakra surrounded him before it slowly grew larger in diameter and covered them all. In the center was Naruto releasing the energy with no sign of stress or exhaustion on his face.
'Incredible...' was the collective thought of the mares while Twilight had Naruto stop releasing his chakra.
When the energy died down, the unicorn nodded to the Uzumaki. "I have to say, your energy output is unreal. I don't think I've ever witnessed someone with that level of energy in them. You pass my test, Naruto."
The Uzumaki nodded with a faint smile before he turned to Celestia and Luna. "Well, you certainly have the requirements needed to be our summoner," commented the white alicorn.
Luna nodded. "To think that after nearly forty years we finally have someone worthy enough to be our summoner. You honor us, young Uzumaki."
Naruto felt a little awkward at hearing that. He didn't really feel like he did anything all that special, but it still felt nice to have people thanking him; even if said people were Summon Creatures.
"Well, I have no qualms with you being our summoner, Naruto. However, you should know that the six of us here with you are the only ones capable of being summoned at this time," Celestia explained.
"Why's that?" asked the Uzumaki.
"Over the years we were without a summoner, many of the ponies who were volunteer summons resigned themselves from the list. The number grew higher and higher over time until it was just the eight of us left. As such, your summoning options are somewhat limited and-"
"It doesn't matter to me," interrupted the blonde, making the others look to him and Fu smiles knowing what he's going to say next. "Whatever help and support you can offer me is better than having none at all. Even if it was just one of you that I could summon, I'd still be grateful. So, don't worry about numbers because I'm sure you all are more than enough."
The mares were taken aback by his sincerity and couldn't keep the smiles from forming on their faces. "You have our gratitude, Naruto," replied the white alicorn with a small bow that was followed by the others. When they straightened themselves, she continued, "Now, I believe you have some clothes to replace."
Rarity was quick to step up and grab Naruto's sleeve with her teeth before she practically dragged him to her store. The others followed the two with amused faces.
[Rarity's Shop]
"Now, just hold still darling and I'll whip you up a dashing outfit. Any preferences?" asked Rarity as Naruto stood in the middle of her shop.
"Something that's both sturdy and allows me to blend in to most crowds," he answered with a shrug.
"Color preference?" she asked as she stood next to the fabrics.
"something with black and red. Also, could you place the Uzu Swirl somewhere on it?"
She smiled and nodded as she measured his arm length, torso, waist, leg length, and neckline. After that, she grabbed some black and red fabric and set to work. "I have an idea of the outfit and your measurements already, dear. Come back in an hour or so and it'll be finished."
Naruto nodded and left the shop only to run into Applejack. "Howdy there, partner! Think you can help me with something?"
"Sure. What did you need?"
The orange mare led him to her apple farm, he couldn't Fu anywhere but he knows she is alright. Applejack pointed to the apple-filled trees. "I reckon you could be a mighty big help in getting those down. I usually just kick the tree and shake them loose, but my leg has been sore for some time. Think you could help?"
The blonde didn't answer and just made some clones that each went to a separate tree. The many blondes used their chakra to walk up the tree and pull the apples off of the branches. Applejack waited below with various baskets for them to toss the apples into. It took some time to collect them all, but they got it done within a half hour.
"Thank you kindly, Naruto. Don't think I could'a done it without ya."
The blonde wiped some sweat from his brow and replied, "No problem, Applejack. Glad I could help."
"Hey Blondie!" called out Dash as she descended from the sky next to them. "Rarity said that she's almost done and that you could head back to her shop."
"I thought she said it'd take an hour?"
Applejack rolled her eyes. "She must really not like your jumpsuit and worked double time to get your outfit ready."
The blonde looked to his attire and sweatdropped at how beat up and worn out it looked. "Yea... I think you're right," he said as he made his way back over to Rarity's.
As soon as he stepped inside, Naruto was pulled into a changing room where a neatly placed set of clothing awaited him. Rarity's voice floated through the door with a mix of excitement and urgency.
"Hurry up now, darling! I simply must see how you look in that masterpiece I designed just for you."
Naruto chuckled at her antics and stripped out of his jumpsuit, folding it neatly on a nearby stool. Grabbing the clothes, he began putting them on, marveling at the fabric's quality and fit. Unbeknownst to him, Rarity had gathered the others outside to witness his transformation.
When Naruto finally stepped out, Rarity's face lit up with pride. The others murmured in awe as they took in his appearance.
The outfit was a long black coat with striking red panels on the shoulders and front. The coat featured sharp, geometric patterns with silver accents, giving it a futuristic yet militaristic look. Zipper and strap details adorned the sleeves, enhancing its tactical aesthetic. Fitted black pants with reinforced sections at the knees suggested durability and mobility. Knee-high black boots with a mix of laces and straps added to the rugged, functional design, complemented by silver buckle details and a streamlined vibe. Behind him, the iconic Uzumaki swirl was emblazoned on the back of the coat. Completing the ensemble were sleek gloves, tying the look together.
Naruto noticed their stares and rubbed the back of his head bashfully. "So, how do I look?"
Celestia smiled warmly. "You look very sophisticated and professional, Naruto. Rarity, you've truly outdone yourself."
"Thank you, my lady," Rarity replied with a proud smile. "But I couldn't have done it without Fu's help."
Naruto blinked in surprise. "Fu?" he repeated.
"Right here, whiskers," came Fu's voice.
Naruto turned and froze. His jaw nearly dropped as he took in her outfit.
Fu's ensemble featured a bold yet sleek design. Her top was a fishnet mesh with green accents, layered beneath an off-the-shoulder piece with green straps wrapping around her arms and collar. The striking design highlighted her lithe frame while exuding a fierce warrior-like presence. The waistline transitioned seamlessly into a split, layered skirt. The outer layers were black with green trims, while the inner layers featured quilted textures for added depth. Her pants had an asymmetrical design—one leg was wrapped in bandages, suggesting practicality, while the other flowed smoothly into knee-high boots with red and white details that matched the outfit's striking color scheme. The overall look was dramatic yet cohesive, with subtle white highlights enhancing its bold aesthetic.
(Change the red with green)
Naruto couldn't help but blush. She looked not only attractive but also incredibly badass.
"Now, Naruto," Rarity began, snapping him out of his stupor, "these clothes have mesh armor sewn into the fabric for added durability. I'll start working on extras for both of you, but I must say, you both look quite dashing."
"Thanks, Rarity," Naruto said, scratching the back of his head bashfully.
Fu twirled playfully, flashing Naruto a grin. "What do you think, whiskers? Pretty cool, huh?"
"Yeah, you look awesome," he admitted, his cheeks still tinged red.
Celestia stepped forward, addressing them both. "Now, we'll send you back to where you found the scroll. Keep it safe, and remember where you place it. We cannot risk waiting another forty years for a summoner to call upon us."
Naruto nodded. "Got it. What about the Kekkei Genkai you mentioned earlier?"
Celestia's eyes twinkled. "Over the years, my sister and I have studied your shinobi arts, including Kekkei Genkai. We won't go into details now, but you'll see for yourself soon. For now, continue your ninja careers and summon us whenever you need assistance or simply wish to talk."
Naruto and Fu bowed respectfully to the assembled group. "Thank you. What you've done for me today is more than anyone has ever done. I promise not to tarnish the name of my clan or your people."
The mares smiled warmly at his words, while Pinkie bounced forward to hug him tightly. "Don't forget to have fun, Naruto! Don't become a stick in the mud!"
He chuckled, patting her head. "I promise, Pinkie. As long as you promise to be there for me when I need you."
Pinkie grinned and made her signature vow. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!"
With a final farewell, the two alicorns cast their magic, sending Naruto and Fu back to their world.
As the group watched them disappear, Luna turned to her sister. "He'll help us rebuild the bond with the Uzumaki Clan, I know it."
Celestia nodded. "And we'll be with him every step of the way. At long last, our connection to the Uzumaki will be reforged."
Rarity added, "Fu seems like a darling. She was a wonderful assistant with the designs."
Celestia tilted her head thoughtfully. "I didn't get to know her well, but she did seem kind."
Rarity's expression grew more serious. "She's not just kind, darling. Fu's the Jinchuriki of the Nanabi."
Celestia froze, her eyes widening. "She's... what?"
"And," Rarity continued cautiously, "she can transform her body parts into various types of insects. A fascinating but... unsettling skill."
The white alicorn blinked, her jaw slightly slack. A moment passed in stunned silence before she muttered, "Fuck, Kimera."
to be continued...