Chapter 7: Terror Given Form, Bloodthirsty God of Destruction, Omega

(Outside the ruins...)

Azura was watching the workers as they scrambled across the campsite. Moments earlier, the entrance slammed shut and all communication lines were cut off after a sharp whistle-like noise rang out. They couldn't even contact the Hokage through the transerver Naruto left them. She looked over at Kagura and the others. Sakura was biting her nails while Ino was staring at the locked doors. Shikamaru had his hands cupped in an odd hand sign that Asuma said was a habit that showed up when he was deep in thought. Kurenai was frantic over Hinata and Kiba being trapped inside while Shino simply waited for the situation to change. Sasuke, for once, was silent as he sat on a bench. His hands were clasped and his whole body was tense. Hayate looked at his student with worry. He and his teammates had been in the entryway when the door slammed down. They pushed him out of the way as it crushed them, saving his life. Azura saw him freeze at the blood oozing out from under the door and knew that he was having flashbacks to the massacre. Kagura, while worried for his friends, held his cousin close for the first time since that horrible day. Sasuke didn't resist.

She looked up at the setting sun, seeming like an bad omen, and had a bad feeling that the others were in grave danger. Familiar danger.

(With the others...)

"Omega."

Fear he'd not felt since he was chased into the Forest of Death seven years prior filled his form. Shaking like a leaf, the scion of the Uzumaki laid eyes upon the living nightmare before him. He couldn't believe it. It wasn't possible, and yet, it stood in front of him nonetheless. He stared at what could only be considered a ghost of the past in utter terror. Damaged though it was, the armor was unmistakable. The sword unquestionably genuine. Sweat poured from Naruto's brow as the horribly familiar visage of Weil's demon, Omega, stared back.

Arashi stared at his childhood friend in disbelief. For as long as he had known Naruto, his friend had never shown an ounce of fear. But as he looked into Naruto's eyes, it was clear as glass. The son of Minato Namikaze was terrified. The name he spoke, despite not recognizing it, sent chills down his spine for reasons he couldn't fathom. It was as if a distant memory of a near-fatal injury was trying to make itself known to warn him of the danger this thing represented. Chancing a look over at Ryu, he saw a similar expression to his own. Regardless, whatever this Omega is, it was definitely a threat.

Ryu shook slightly on his knees, feeling the phantom pains of wounds he had never taken. At least, he thought he had never taken them. They suddenly throbbed harder, as if protesting that notion. As he looked up at Omega nervously, an odd feeling struck him, as if he had been in this position once before.

In all of Kakashi's years as a shinobi, he had never seen anything like this. No elaborate puppet of the Hidden Sand Village or golem of the Hidden Stone came anywhere close to it. Every instinct, born of hundreds of life-threatening situations, registered it as a threat of the highest caliber. He tensed, ready to make a move the moment it proved hostile.

The others immediately dove behind a large pile of scrap when they saw Naruto's expression. Pride be damned, even Kiba knew that Naruto was far stronger than them. Anything that could scare him so badly was WAY out of their league. They would only be a hinderance.

"Ze..Z..Ze..Zero. I..I..wi..will..kill...you. ZERO!"

Omega's words were punctuated by his sword slamming down in Naruto's direction. Bringing the Z-saber up, he blocked it. The clash sent lances of energy whipping in multiple directions, and Naruto came to a horrifying realization.

Due to his appearance, Omega had mistaken him for Zero. As he struggled to hold the monster back, he knew one thing was certain.

He was not Zero. He couldn't beat Omega, but he had to try, because if it got out of the ruins, there was only one thing humanity could do.

Pick a god and pray for mercy, because the Bloodthirsty God of Destruction would not grant it.